bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zero‐Dimensional Cs3Cu2I5 Perovskite Single Crystal as Sensitive X‐Ray and γ‐Ray Scintillator
Authors: Cheng Shuangliang , Beitlerova Alena , Kucerkova Romana , Nikl Martin , Ren Guohao , Wu Yuntao
Published: August 2020

Low‐dimensional halide perovskites with highly efficient luminescent properties have attracted huge attention in optoelectronic and radiation detection applications in recent years. Herein, a highly efficient 0D Cs3Cu2I5 perovskite crystal is presented for X‐ray and γ‐ray detection that can be easily grown from the melt by the Bridgman method. The crystal structure of Cs3Cu2I5 belongs to an orthorhombic system with a space group of Pnma. The Cs3Cu2I5 crystal is nonhygroscopic and self‐absorption free due to a large Stokes shift of 120 nm originated from its self‐trapped exciton emission. Its scintillation emission centers at 440 nm with a principal decay time of 967 ns. The Cs3Cu2I5 crystal not only demonstrates a high scintillation yield of about 32 000 photons MeV−1 and an extremely low afterglow of 0.03% at 10 ms under X‐ray radiation, but also possesses a high light yield of 29 000 photons MeV−1 with an excellent energy resolution of 3.4% at 662 keV under γ‐ray radiation.
MicroRNA216b mediated downregulation of HSP27/STAT3/AKT signaling is critically involved in lambertianic acid induced apoptosis in human cervical cancers
Authors: Lee Jae Chul , Sim Deok Yong , Lee Hyo‐Jung , Im Eunji , Choi Jhin‐Back , Park Ji Eon , Park Woon Yi , Jung Ji Hoon , Shim Bum Sang , Kim Sung‐Hoon
Published: August 2020

Since heat shock protein (HSP27) is a prognostic marker in cervical cancer, in the present study, the apoptotic mechanism of lambertianic acid (LA) was investigated in human cervical cancers in association with HSP27/STAT3/AKT signaling axis. LA exerted significant cytotoxicity, induced sub‐G1 population, and increased the cleavage of Poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) and cysteine aspartyl‐specific protease 3 (caspase3) in HeLa and Caski cancer cells. Consistently, LA downregulated anti‐apopotic genes such as B‐cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‐2) and inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (c‐IAP) in HeLa and Caski cells. Furthermore, LA‐inhibited phosphorylation of HSP27, signal transducer, and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and Protein kinase B (AKT) through disturbing the binding of HSP27 with STAT3 or AKT in HeLa cells. Notably, LA upregulated the level of miR216b in HeLa and Caski cells. Consistently, miR216b mimic suppressed phosphorylation of HSP27 and reduced the expression of pro‐PARP, while miR216b inhibitor reversed the ability of LA to attenuate phosphorylation of AKT, HSP27, and STAT3 and to reduce the expression of pro‐PARP in HeLa cells. Overall, our findings suggest that miRNA216b mediated inhibition of HSP27/STAT3/ AKT signaling axis is critically involved in LA‐induced apoptosis in cervical cancers.
Assessment of scalar relativistic effects on halogen bonding and σ‐hole properties
Authors: Kolář Michal H. , Suchá Denisa , Pitoňák Michal
Published: August 2020

Halogen bond (X‐bond) is a noncovalent interaction between a halogen atom and an electron donor. It is often rationalized by a region of the positive electrostatic potential on the halogen atom, so‐called σ‐hole. The X‐bond strength increases with the atomic number of the halogen involved; thus, for heavier halogens, relativistic effects become of concern. This poses a challenge for the quantum chemical description of X‐bonded complexes. To quantify scalar relativistic effects (SREs) on the interaction energies and σ‐hole properties, we have performed highly accurate coupled‐cluster calculations at the complete basis set limit of several X‐bonded complexes and their halogenated monomers. We found that the SREs are comparable in magnitude to the effect of the basis set. The nonrelativistic calculations typically underestimate the attraction by up to 5% or 23% for brominated and iodinated complexes, respectively. Counterintuitively, the electron densities at the bond critical points are larger for SRE‐free calculations than for the relativistic ones. SREs yield smaller, flatter, and more positive σ‐holes. Finally, we highlight the importance of diffuse functions in the basis sets and provide quantitative arguments for using basis sets with pseudopotentials as an affordable alternative to a more rigorous Douglas‐Kroll‐Hess relativistic theory.
The processes of preferential flow in the unsaturated zone
Authors: Nimmo John R.
Published: August 2020

Preferential flow, a major influence in unsaturated soil and rock almost everywhere, occurs by multiple phenomenologically distinct hydraulic processes. For the mode known as funneled flow, concentrated in particularly conductive portions of the medium, the surface‐tension/viscous‐flow processes of traditional unsaturated flow theory predominate. Fingered flow, through conductive paths of higher water content than surrounding material, requires amendments to traditional theory concerning instabilities and dynamic flow‐regime boundaries. Macropore flow, the most recognized preferential flow mode, poses unanswered questions and major difficulties in practice. Accumulated evidence shows that water flows preferentially mostly through macropores that are (a) only partially filled with water, and (b) surrounded by matrix material that is drier, sometimes much drier, than saturation. With partial filling, geometric characteristics such as aperture have much less influence than was previously thought, and the intra‐macropore configuration of the flowing water phase, about which little is conclusively known, is then a dominant controlling influence. With unsaturated surroundings, macropore/matrix exchange interactions control, for given input and medium, the initiating circumstances, conveyed flux, and duration of macropore flow. The multiple processes in play during such interactions have different sensitivities to the matrix water state and different directions of influence. The net influence of matrix water content on macropore flow is thus highly complex and a major research need. Additional high‐priority topics are: flowpath connectivity, for watersheds as well as small scales; intra‐macropore processes, to discern their importance and possible means of quantification; and the identification of measurable soil and rock properties that can be utilized predictively.
Development and validation of an analytical method for quantification of potential genotoxic impurity 4‐dimethylaminopyridine in linagliptin active pharmaceutical ingredient using Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Al‐Sabti Bashar , Harbali Jehad
Published: August 2020

A sensitive analytical method was developed to estimate the potential genotoxic impurity 4‐dimethylaminopyridine in linagliptin pharmaceutical ingredient. 4‐Dimethylaminopyridine is a reactive reagent used in synthesis of linagliptin. Sensitivity of the studied method was excellent at a level of 30 ppm of 4‐dimethylaminopyridine relative to linagliptin when samples of linagliptin were prepared at 10.0 mg/mL. A silica (150 mm × 4 mm, 3 µm) column was used to analyze the samples in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography mode. A mobile phase of water–acetonitrile (15:85, v/v) containing 10.0 mM ammonium acetate was prepared and adjusted to pH 6.2. Flow rate of the method was 1.3 mL/min and the ultraviolet detector was set at 258 nm. This method was validated according to the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use guidelines in terms of detection limit, quantitation limit, linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity, and robustness. The method had excellent linearity in the concentration range of 15–450 ppm with a correlation coefficient of 0.999. Detection limit and quantitation limit were 4.46 and 14.87 ppm, respectively.
Investigation of silicone rubber composites reinforced with carbon nanotube, nanographite, their hybrid, and applications for flexible devices
Authors: Kumar Vineet , Alam Md. Najib , Manikkavel Amutheesan , Choi Jungwook , Lee Dong‐Joo
Published: August 2020

New technology is constantly required for updating new generation flexible devices, such as stretchable sensors, flexible electronics, and actuators. In the present study, a stretchable strain sensor, and actuator were developed based on room‐temperature‐vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubber reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), nanographite (GR), and CNT‐GR hybrids. A CNT‐based strain sensor developed for RTV silicone rubber showed improved stiffness and brittleness. For example, at 5 phr of filler loading, the compressive and tensile modulus for the CNT‐reinforced RTV silicone matrix improved by 287% and 240%, respectively. Similarly, the improvements in the compressive and tensile modulus were moderate for the CNT‐GR hybrid (210% and 235%) and low for GR (135% and 125%). The improved brittleness resulted in a higher fracture strain of 170% and 155% for the CNT‐GR hybrid and GR, respectively. The improved mechanical properties were tested in real‐life applications of actuation. The actuation displacement at a filler loading of 2 phr increased to 1.65 mm (CNT), 1.25 mm (CNT‐GR), and 0.08 mm (GR). From 2 to 8 kV, the actuation displacement increased by 825% (CNT), 830% (CNT‐GR), and 32% (GR). The strain sensor showed a stretchability of >100% (CNT) and >100% (CNT‐GR). In addition, the gauge factor was higher for the CNT‐GR hybrid composites. The durability measurements showed that the change in resistance was negligible for up to 5000 cycles in both the CNT and CNT‐GR rubber composites. A series of experiments confirmed that compared to the composite based on RTV silicone rubber and CNT, the CNT‐GR hybrid showed a robust flexibility and stretchability as a piezo‐resistive strain sensor and actuator.
Resultate der operativen und strahlentherapeutischen Behandlung von adenoidzystischen Karzinomen der Speicheldrüsen
Authors: Bastian T. , D’Heygere V. , Deuß E. , Lax H. , Wittig A. , Sauerwein W. , Arweiler-Harbeck D.
Published: August 2020

Die chirurgische Resektion stellt die wesentliche Säule zur Behandlung der adenoidzystischen Karzinome (ACC) der Speicheldrüsen dar. Hinsichtlich einer zusätzlichen Strahlentherapie gibt es in Bezug auf den Zeitpunkt und die Art der Therapie unterschiedliche Ansätze. In dieser Studie werden das Gesamtüberleben und das rezidivfreie Überleben zweier am Universitätsklinikum Essen behandelter Patienten mit ACC der Speicheldrüsen verglichen, die (A) entweder unmittelbar nach operativer Therapie oder (B) erst bei Auftreten eines Lokalrezidivs eine Strahlentherapie mit schnellen Neutronen und Photonen (Mixed-beam-Technik) erhielten. Gruppe A (n = 28, Erstdiagnose [ED]: 09/1991–09/2009) erhielt unmittelbar postoperativ eine adjuvante Strahlentherapie, Gruppe B (n = 24, ED: 06/1979–11/2001) erhielt dem damaligen Therapieregime entsprechend primär ausschließlich eine Tumorresektion und wurde erst bei Auftreten eines Lokalrezidivs bestrahlt. Gruppe A wies im Vergleich zu Gruppe B eine geringere Rezidivrate und ein signifikant längeres lokal rezidivfreies Überleben auf, Gruppe B dagegen ein signifikant höheres Gesamtüberleben. Eine Fernmetastasierung trat in beiden Gruppen gleich häufig auf, der Zeitpunkt des Auftretens war in Gruppe A jedoch signifikant früher. Fernmetastasierung hatte generell einen relevant negativen Einfluss auf das Gesamtüberleben. Nach alleinig operativer Primärtherapie ist die lokale Rezidivrate sehr hoch, die unmittelbare adjuvante High-LET(linearer Energietransfer)-Radiatio senkt die lokale Rezidivrate. Eine Bestrahlung nach Eintreten eines Rezidivs beeinflusste das Gesamtüberleben positiv. Insgesamt ermöglicht die definitive High-LET-Bestrahlung in Mixed-beam-Technik sowohl primär postoperativ als auch bei lokoregionären Rezidiven hohe Kontrollraten.
Einfluss der Distanz zum Thrombus bei akutem Verschluss der Arteria cerebi media
Authors: Mühl-Benninghaus Ruben , Nebilir Salman , Simgen Andreas , Wagenpfeil Gudrun , Kettner Michael , Fousse Mathias , Reith Wolfgang , Yilmaz Umut
Published: August 2020

Hintergrund

Die Therapiestrategie von Patienten mit akutem Schlaganfall der Arteria cerebri media (ACM) wird durch die Lokalisation der Okklusion beeinflusst. Diese Studie zielte darauf ab, die klinischen Ergebnisse bei Patienten mit akutem ischämischem ACM-Verschluss, die mit endovaskulärer mechanischer Thrombektomie (EVT) behandelt wurden, entsprechend dem Okklusionsort zu analysieren.

Methoden

Es wurden 54 Patienten (Alter: 73 ± 15 Jahre; 59 % weiblich), die aufgrund eines akuten ACM-Verschlusses mittels EVT behandelt wurden, eingeschlossen. In koronar reformatierten MIP-Bildern (Maximumintensitätsprojektion) der CT-Angiographie wurde die Distanz zum Thrombus (DT), also dem Abstand vom Karotis‑T zum Beginn des Thrombus, gemessen. Die Korrelation zwischen DT, klinischer Symptomatik und klinischem Outcome der Patienten mit EVT-Therapie wurde analysiert.

Ergebnisse

Die DT korrelierte mit der klinischen Symptomatik, gemessen an der National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS; p = 0,017; R = −0,324), bei Aufnahme. Sie korrelierte auch mit der modifizierten Rankin-Skala nach 90 Tagen (90-Tage-mRS; p = 0,014; R = −0,333). Die DT ist ein Prädiktor für ein gutes klinisches Outcome (mRS nach 90 Tagen) nach EVT; Odds-Ratio: 1,113 (p = 0,02; 95 % Konfidenzintervall [KI] 1,017–1,219). Eine DT >10 mm korrelierte signifikant (p = 0,036) mit einem guten klinischen Outcome (90-Tage-mRS ≤2).

Schlussfolgerung

Die DT korreliert mit der klinischen Symptomatik von Patienten mit akutem ACM-Verschluss. Darüber hinaus sie ein unabhängiger Prädiktor für das klinische Outcome von Patienten, die an einem akuten Schlaganfall durch ACM-Okklusion leiden.
Enhancing the differentiation of pulmonary lymphoma and fungal pneumonia in hematological patients using texture analysis in 3-T MRI
Authors: Kim Damon , Elgeti Thomas , Penzkofer Tobias , Steffen Ingo G. , Jensen Laura J. , Schwartz Stefan , Hamm Bernd , Nagel Sebastian N.
Published: August 2020

Objectives

To evaluate texture analysis in nonenhanced 3-T MRI for differentiating pulmonary fungal infiltrates and lymphoma manifestations in hematological patients and to compare the diagnostic performance with that of signal intensity quotients (“nonenhanced imaging characterization quotients,” NICQs).

Methods

MR scans were performed using a speed-optimized imaging protocol without an intravenous contrast medium including axial T2-weighted (T2w) single-shot fast spin-echo and T1-weighted (T1w) gradient-echo sequences. ROIs were drawn within the lesions to extract first-order statistics from original images using HeterogeneityCAD and PyRadiomics. NICQs were calculated using signal intensities of the lesions, muscle, and fat. The standard of reference was histology or clinical diagnosis in follow-up. Statistical testing included ROC analysis, clustered ROC analysis, and DeLong test. Intra- and interrater reliability was tested using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC).

Results

Thirty-three fungal infiltrates in 16 patients and 38 pulmonary lymphoma manifestations in 19 patients were included. Considering the leading lesion in each patient, diagnostic performance was excellent for T1w entropy (AUC 80.2%; p < 0.005) and slightly inferior for T2w energy (79.9%; p < 0.005), T1w uniformity (79.6%; p < 0.005), and T1w energy (77.0%; p < 0.01); the best AUC for NICQs was 72.0% for T2NICQmean (p < 0.05). Intra- and interrater reliability was good to excellent (ICC > 0.81) for these parameters except for moderate intrarater reliability of T1w energy (ICC = 0.64).

Conclusions

T1w entropy, uniformity, and energy and T2w energy showed the best performances for differentiating pulmonary lymphoma and fungal pneumonia and outperformed NICQs. Results of the texture analysis should be checked for their intrinsic consistency to identify possible incongruities of single parameters.

Key Points

• Texture analysis in nonenhanced pulmonary MRI improves the differentiation of pulmonary lymphoma and fungal pneumonia compared with signal intensity quotients.

• T1w entropy, uniformity, and energy along with T2w energy show the best performances for differentiating pulmonary lymphoma from fungal pneumonia.

• The results of the texture analysis should be checked for their intrinsic consistency to identify possible incongruities of single parameters.
Die kommunale Spielapparatesteuer und der bundesstaatliche Finanzausgleich
Authors: Broer Michael
Published: August 2020

Das Bundesverfassungsgericht hat in der Vergangenheit Urteile zum föderalen Finanzausgleich in Deutschland gefällt. Eine wichtige Frage war, welche Steuern Teil der Umverteilung im föderalen Finanzausgleich sein sollten. Das Gericht hat Kriterien entwickelt, anhand derer eine Entscheidung möglich ist. Auf Grundlage dieser Kriterien lassen sich Steuern, die Teil des föderalen Finanzausgleichs sind, mit der kommunalen Spielapparatesteuer vergleichen, die dort noch nicht berücksichtigt ist. Der Vergleich zeigt, dass die Spielapparatesteuer in den föderalen Finanzausgleich einbezogen werden sollte, da ihre Einnahmen unter anderem wesentlich höher sind als diejenigen von bereits berücksichtigten Steuern.
Telekommunikationsnetze in Deutschland — mit einem öffentlichen Unternehmen ausbauen
Authors: Ilgmann Cordelius , Störr André
Published: August 2020

Die Debatte um den Ausbau von Mobilfunk- und Glasfasernetzen in Deutschland bedarf einer Objektivierung. Statt Ängste zu schüren, gilt es nüchtern zu überprüfen, ob die Privatisierung der physischen Infrastruktur vor rund 25 Jahren sowie die getrennte Betrachtung von Glasfaser- und Mobilfunkausbau noch zeitgemäß ist, insbesondere wenn der Zugang zum Netz zunehmend unter dem Aspekt der Daseinsvorsorge bewertet wird. Vor diesem Hintergrund bedarf es einer ganzheitlichen Ausbauplanung für Glasfaser und Mobilfunk, die Versorgungsziele losgelöst vom Übertragungsweg mit Blick auf die tatsächliche Nutzung flächenbezogen definiert. Am effizientesten lässt sich dies durch eine öffentliche Infrastrukturgesellschaft umsetzen, die keine Änderungen im bestehenden Wettbewerbs- und Beihilferecht erfordern würde.
Modified mRNA as a Therapeutic Tool for the Heart
Authors: Kaur Keerat , Zangi Lior
Published: August 2020

Despite various clinical modalities available for patients, heart disease remains among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Genetic medicine, particularly mRNA, has broad potential as a therapeutic. More specifically, mRNA-based protein delivery has been used in the fields of cancer and vaccination, but recent changes to the structural composition of mRNA have led the scientific community to swiftly embrace it as a new drug to deliver missing genes to injured myocardium and many other organs. Modified mRNA (modRNA)–based gene delivery features transient but potent protein translation and low immunogenicity, with minimal risk of insertional mutagenesis. In this review, we compared and listed the advantages of modRNA over traditional vectors for cardiac therapy, with particular focus on using modRNA therapy in cardiac repair. We present a comprehensive overview of modRNA’s role in cardiomyocyte (CM) proliferation, cardiac vascularization, and prevention of cardiac apoptosis. We also emphasize recent advances in modRNA delivery strategies and discuss the challenges for its clinical translation.
Vision guided robotic inspection for parts in manufacturing and remanufacturing industry
Authors: Khan Aamir , Mineo Carmelo , Dobie Gordon , Macleod Charles , Pierce Gareth
Published: August 2020

Environmental and commercial drivers are leading to a circular economy, where systems and components are routinely recycled or remanufactured. Unlike traditional manufacturing, where components typically have a high degree of tolerance, components in the remanufacturing process may have seen decades of wear, resulting in a wider variation of geometries. This makes it difficult to translate existing automation techniques to perform Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) for such components autonomously. The challenge of performing automated inspections, with off-line tool-paths developed from Computer Aided Design (CAD) models, typically arises from the fact that those paths do not have the required level of accuracy. Beside the fact that CAD models are less available for old parts, these parts often differ from their respective virtual models. This paper considers flexible automation by combining part geometry reconstruction with ultrasonic tool-path generation, to perform Ultrasonic NDT. This paper presents an approach to perform custom vision-guided ultrasonic inspection of components, which is achieved through integrating an automated vision system and a purposely developed graphic user interface with a robotic work-cell. The vision system, based on structure from motion, allows creating 3D models of the parts. Also, this work compares four different tool-paths for optimum image capture. The resulting optimum 3D models are used in a virtual twin environment of the robotic inspection cell, to enable the user to select any points of interest for ultrasonic inspection. This removes the need of offline robot path-planning and part orientation for assessing specific locations on a part, which is typically a very time-consuming phase.
Vertebral growth modulation by posterior dynamic deformity correction device in skeletally immature patients with moderate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Floman Yizhar , El-Hawary Ron , Lonner Baron S. , Betz Randal R. , Arnin Uri
Published: August 2020

Study design

Retrospective, comparative, multicenter.

Introduction

Growth modulating spinal implants are used in the management of scoliosis such as anterior vertebral body tethering. A motion-sparing posterior device (PDDC) was recently approved for the treatment of moderate AIS. The purpose of this study was to determine if the PDDC can modulate growth in skeletally immature patients with AIS.

Methods

From a database of patients treated with the PDDC over 4 years, we identified those who had a minimum of 2 years follow-up. Pre-operative and post-operative Cobb angles and coronal plane wedging of the apical vertebra were evaluated on standing full length radiographs. Independent sample t test and one-way ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey HSD analysis was used to compare three groups in varying skeletal maturity: Risser 0–1, Risser 2–3, and Risser 4–5.

Results

45 patients (14.2-years old, 11–17) were evaluated with a mean pre-op curve of 46° (35°-66°). The average preoperative major curve magnitude, of either Lenke 1 or 5 curve type, was similar among the three groups 47.6°, 46° and 41.5°. Deformity correction was similar in the three groups, with reduction to 26.4°, 20.4° and 26.2°, respectively, at final follow-up [p < 0.05]. Pre-op wedging 7.4° (3.8°–15°) was reduced after surgery to 5.7° (1°–15°) (p < 0.05). Of those patients, Risser 0–1 (n = 16) had preoperative wedging of 9.5° (6°–14.5°) that was reduced to 5.4° (1°–8°) postoperatively (p < 0.05); Risser 2–3 (n = 15) had pre-op 7.7° (4°–15°) vs. post-op 7.0° (3°–15°); Risser 4–5 (n = 14) had pre-op 4.8° (3.8°–6.5°) vs. post-op 4.7° (3.7°–6.5°). Delta Wedging in Risser 0–1 stage was significantly different than for Risser 2–3 and for Risser 4–5.

Conclusion

The posterior dynamic deformity correction device was able to modulate vertebral body wedging in skeletally immature patients with AIS. This was most evident in patients who were Risser 0–1. In contrast, curve correction was similar among the three groups. This finding lends support to the device’s ability to modulate growth.
Representation of the People: Franchise Extension and the “Sinn Féin Election” in Ireland, 1918
Authors: de Bromhead Alan , Fernihough Alan , Hargaden Enda
Published: August 2020

Do large franchise extensions bring about dramatic electoral changes? Electoral reforms in 1918 nearly tripled the number of people eligible to vote in Ireland. Following the reforms—the largest franchise extension in U.K. history—the previously obscure Sinn Féin party secured 73 of Ireland’s 105 seats, an outcome that precipitated a guerrilla war and ultimately independence from the United Kingdom. However, our analysis finds little evidence that the franchise reforms benefited Sinn Féin. New female electors appear less likely to have supported Sinn Féin while new male electors were no more likely to vote for Sinn Féin than the existing electorate. Women also appear less likely to have cast a vote at all. Economic and social factors did matter when it came to voting, however, as did public opinion in relation to armed rebellion. These results remind us that dramatic political changes, such as those that took place in Ireland 1918, do not require dramatic changes in political participation. Sinn Féin’s electoral success was more likely driven by a change of heart on behalf of the Irish electorate, rather than a change in its composition.
‘I had never seen so many lobbyists’: food industry political practices during the development of a new nutrition front-of-pack labelling system in Colombia
Authors: Mialon Melissa , Gaitan Charry Diego Alejandro , Cediel Gustavo , Crosbie Eric , Scagliusi Fernanda Baeza , Perez Tamayo Eliana Maria
Published: August 2020

Objective:

To identify and monitor food industry use of political practices during the adoption of nutrition warning labels (WL) in Colombia.

Design:

Document analysis of publicly available information triangulated with interviews.

Setting:

Colombia.

Participants:

Eighteen key informants from the government (n 2), academia (n 1), civil society (n 12), the media (n 2) and a former food industry employee (n 1).

Results:

In Colombia, the food industry used experts and groups funded by large transnationals to promote its preferred front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FOPL) and discredit the proposed warning models. The industry criticised the proposed WL, discussing the negative impacts they would have on trade, the excessive costs required to implement them and the fact that consumers were responsible for making the right choices about what to eat. Food industry actors also interacted with the government and former members of large trade associations now in decision-making positions in the public sector. The Codex Alimentarius was also a platform through which the industry got access to decision-making and could influence the FOPL policy.

Conclusions:

In Colombia, the food industry used a broad range of political strategies that could have negatively influenced the FOPL policy process. Despite this influence, the mandatory use of WL was announced in February 2020. There is an urgent need to condemn such political practices as they still could prevent the implementation of other internationally recommended measures to improve population health in the country and abroad, nutrition WL being only of them.
Impacts of Lower Thermospheric Atomic Oxygen on Thermospheric Dynamics and Composition Using the Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model
Authors: Malhotra Garima , Ridley Aaron J. , Marsh Daniel R. , Wu Chen , Paxton Larry J. , Mlynczak Martin G.
Published: August 2020

The exchange of energy between the lower atmosphere and the ionosphere thermosphere system is not well understood. One of the parameters that is important in the lower thermosphere is atomic oxygen. It has recently been observed that atomic oxygen is higher in summer at ∼95 km. In this study, we investigate the sensitivity of the upper thermosphere to lower thermospheric atomic oxygen using the Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model (GITM). We use the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with thermosphere and ionosphere extension (WACCM‐X) to drive the lower atmospheric boundary of atomic oxygen in GITM between ∼95 and 100 km and compare the results with the current mass spectrometer incoherent scatter (MSIS) driven GITM. MSIS has higher atomic oxygen in the winter hemisphere while WACCM‐X has higher atomic oxygen in the summer hemisphere. The reversal of atomic oxygen distribution affects the pressure distribution between 100 and 120 km, such that the hemisphere with larger O number density has stronger equatorward winds, and lower temperature mainly due to adiabatic and radiative cooling. This affects thermospheric scale heights such that the hemisphere with more O has lower N2 and thus enhanced O/N2. This behavior is observed in the opposite hemisphere when MSIS is used as the lower boundary for GITM. Overall, O/N2 for WACCM‐X driven GITM matches better with the global ultraviolet imager (GUVI) data. We find that the impact of lower thermospheric atomic oxygen on upper thermosphere is not just through diffusive equilibrium but also through secondary effects on winds and temperature.
Force and Energy Balance of the Dipolarization Front
Authors: Song Liangjin , Zhou Meng , Yi Yongyuan , Deng Xiaohua , Zhong Zhihong , Man Hengyang
Published: August 2020

We have performed a particle‐in‐cell simulation to understand the dynamic evolution of the dipolarization front during its early stage after ejected by magnetic reconnection, focusing on the force and energy balance around the dipolarization front. We track the temporal evolution of the force and different energy channels in the Lagrangian frame of the dipolarization front. We find that the curvature force continuously accelerates the dipolarization front moving outward, while the thermal pressure gradient force hinders the movement of the DF. The DF is accelerated outward because the total force is positive. The maximum value of Bz at the DF gradually increases during the outward propagation of the front. Although the dipolarization front is the site with significant energy conversion from the magnetic field to plasma, that is, J · E > 0, the compression of the magnetic field by the convergent flow at the front leads to the gradual enhancement of Bz. The released magnetic energy bulk accelerates and heats the plasma. The plasma thermal energy increases at the front that is primarily due to the work of the pressure gradient (v · (∇ · P) > 0), while the enthalpy flux emitted from the front reduces the thermal energy. Both the pressure‐strain interaction −(P′ · ∇) · v and the pressure dilation p∇ · v contribute to the ion and electron temperature enhancement. Our results are important for revealing the dynamic evolution of the dipolarization fronts and will aid us to understand the energy transport in the disturbed magnetotail.
Modeling Diffusivity Tests in Heterogeneous Aquifers: A Stochastic First‐Order Approach
Authors: Cheng Kan Bun , Dagan Gedeon , Rabinovich Avinoam
Published: August 2020

The diffusivity test considered here consists of injecting (or pumping) a volume of water through short segments of a well for a short time and measuring the travel time of the peak of the head signal at different points in the surrounding aquifer volume. The specific storage is assumed to be constant, while the hydraulic conductivity of the heterogeneous aquifer is modeled as a random lognormal field. The axi‐symmetric anisotropic structure is characterized by a few parameters (logconductivity mean and variance and horizontal and vertical integral scales). The paper determines the mean and variance of the peak travel time as function of distance from an instantaneous source by solving the flow equation using a first‐order approximation in the logconductivity variance. The mean travel time is recast in terms of the equivalent conductivity, which decreases from the harmonic mean near the source to the effective conductivity in uniform flow for a sufficiently large distance. Similarly, the variance drops from its maximum near the source to a small value. Application to field test is discussed and topics of future investigations are suggested.
Routing valley exciton emission of a WS2 monolayer via delocalized Bloch modes of in-plane inversion-symmetry-broken photonic crystal slabs
Authors: Wang Jiajun , Li Han , Ma Yating , Zhao Maoxiong , Liu Wenzhe , Wang Bo , Wu Shiwei , Liu Xiaohan , Shi Lei , Jiang Tian , Zi Jian
Published: August 2020

The valleys of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) offer a new degree of freedom for information processing. To take advantage of this valley degree of freedom, on the one hand, it is feasible to control valleys by utilizing different external stimuli, such as optical and electric fields. On the other hand, nanostructures are also used to separate the valleys by near-field coupling. However, for both of the above methods, either the required low-temperature environment or low degree of coherence properties limit their further applications. Here, we demonstrate that all-dielectric photonic crystal (PhC) slabs without in-plane inversion symmetry (C2 symmetry) can separate and route valley exciton emission of a WS2 monolayer at room temperature. Coupling with circularly polarized photonic Bloch modes of such PhC slabs, valley photons emitted by a WS2 monolayer are routed directionally and are efficiently separated in the far field. In addition, far-field emissions are directionally enhanced and have long-distance spatial coherence properties.
Mint3 depletion restricts tumor malignancy of pancreatic cancer cells by decreasing SKP2 expression via HIF-1
Authors: Kanamori Akane , Matsubara Daisuke , Saitoh Yurika , Fukui Yuya , Gotoh Noriko , Kaneko Shuichi , Seiki Motoharu , Murakami Yoshinori , Inoue Jun-ichiro , Sakamoto Takeharu
Published: August 2020

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most fatal cancers without druggable molecular targets. Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a heterodimeric transcriptional factor that promotes malignancy in various cancers including pancreatic cancer. Herein, we found that HIF-1 is accumulated in normoxic or moderate hypoxic areas of pancreatic cancer xenografts in vivo and is active even during normoxia in pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. This prompted us to analyze whether the HIF-1 activator Mint3 contributes to malignant features of pancreatic cancer. Mint3 depletion by shRNAs attenuated HIF-1 activity during normoxia and cell proliferation concomitantly with accumulated p21 and p27 protein in pancreatic cancer cells. Further analyses revealed that Mint3 increased transcription of the oncogenic ubiquitin ligase SKP2 in pancreatic cancer cells via HIF-1. This Mint3-HIF-1-SKP2 axis also promoted partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition, stemness features, and chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer cells. Even in vivo, Mint3 depletion attenuated tumor growth of orthotopically inoculated human pancreatic cancer AsPC-1 cells. Database and tissue microarray analyses showed that Mint3 expression is correlated with SKP2 expression in human pancreatic cancer specimens and high Mint3 expression is correlated with poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients. Thus, targeting Mint3 may be useful for attenuating the malignant features of pancreatic cancer.
Machine learning for effectively avoiding overfitting is a crucial strategy for the genetic prediction of polygenic psychiatric phenotypes
Authors: Takahashi Yuta , Ueki Masao , Tamiya Gen , Ogishima Soichi , Kinoshita Kengo , Hozawa Atsushi , Minegishi Naoko , Nagami Fuji , Fukumoto Kentaro , Otsuka Kotaro , Tanno Kozo , Sakata Kiyomi , Shimizu Atsushi , Sasaki Makoto , Sobue Kenji , Kure Shigeo , Yamamoto Masayuki , Tomita Hiroaki
Published: August 2020

The accuracy of previous genetic studies in predicting polygenic psychiatric phenotypes has been limited mainly due to the limited power in distinguishing truly susceptible variants from null variants and the resulting overfitting. A novel prediction algorithm, Smooth-Threshold Multivariate Genetic Prediction (STMGP), was applied to improve the genome-based prediction of psychiatric phenotypes by decreasing overfitting through selecting variants and building a penalized regression model. Prediction models were trained using a cohort of 3685 subjects in Miyagi prefecture and validated with an independently recruited cohort of 3048 subjects in Iwate prefecture in Japan. Genotyping was performed using HumanOmniExpressExome BeadChip Arrays. We used the target phenotype of depressive symptoms and simulated phenotypes with varying complexity and various effect-size distributions of risk alleles. The prediction accuracy and the degree of overfitting of STMGP were compared with those of state-of-the-art models (polygenic risk scores, genomic best linear-unbiased prediction, summary-data-based best linear-unbiased prediction, BayesR, and ridge regression). In the prediction of depressive symptoms, compared with the other models, STMGP showed the highest prediction accuracy with the lowest degree of overfitting, although there was no significant difference in prediction accuracy. Simulation studies suggested that STMGP has a better prediction accuracy for moderately polygenic phenotypes. Our investigations suggest the potential usefulness of STMGP for predicting polygenic psychiatric conditions while avoiding overfitting.
Fabrication of multifunctional TANI/Cu2O/Ag nanocomposite for environmental abatement
Authors: Botsa Sathish Mohan , Basavaiah Keloth
Published: August 2020

During past decade, the ternary nanocomposite is ubiquitous in nanotechnology. Herein, a simple fabrication of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles into Tetraaniline (TANI) matrix by in situ-polymerization approach to attain Tetramer-Metal Oxide-Metal (TANI/Cu2O/Ag, shortly TCA) ternary composite was reported firstly. The synthesized materials were further characterized by a series of instrumental techniques to understand its structure, morphology and thermal properties. This nanocomposite showed promising applications in wastewater treatment by the testing of photocatalytic activity over the pararosaniline hydrochloride (PRA) dye degradation under visible light radiations, removal of Cadmium ion (Cd2+) by adsorption, corrosion resistance and antibacterial activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacterial strains. The obtained results of TCA compared with the pure TANI and binary nanocomposite (TANI/Cu2O) declared that the TCA composite is excellent material to solve the environmental issues due to lesser bandgap energy, visible light respond, high absorptivity, and long-life excitation.
Proton pump inhibitor use and risk of hip fracture in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Chou Ya-Shuan , Jiang He-Jiun , Chen Chung-Hwan , Ho Pei-Shan , Lee Tien-Ching
Published: August 2020

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with a high rate of comorbidity, including osteoporosis and peptic ulcers. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a group of acid-suppressing drugs commonly used for treating peptic ulcers. However, observational studies have reported an association between PPI therapy and osteoporotic fractures. This study investigated the association between PPI use and hip fracture (HFx) among patients with T2DM. We conducted this population-based propensity-matched retrospective cohort study using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Patients newly diagnosed with T2DM between 2000 and 2008 were identified. After excluding those who previously used PPIs or suffered HFx, 398,885 patients were recruited (44,341 PPI users; 354,544 non-users). HFx risk data from 2000 to 2013 were collected to calculate the cumulative rate of HFx in these two groups. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of PPI dose. After propensity score matching of 1:4, 44,431 and 177,364 patients were assigned to the PPI user and non-user groups, respectively. PPI user group showed an increased risk of HFx with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.41 (95% CI 1.29–1.54) without dose–response relationship. Thus, there is an increased risk of HFx in patients with T2DM receiving long-term PPI treatment.
Zona pellucida shear modulus, a possible novel non-invasive method to assist in embryo selection during in-vitro fertilization treatment
Authors: Priel Elad , Priel Tsvia , Szaingurten-Solodkin Irit , Wainstock Tamar , Perets Yuval , Zeadna Atif , Harlev Avi , Lunenfeld Eitan , Levitas Eliahu , Har-Vardi Iris
Published: August 2020

The present study investigated the association between oocyte zona pellucida shear modulus (ZPSM) and implantation rate (IR). Ninety-three oocytes collected from 38 in-vitro fertilization patients who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection were included in this case–control study. The ZP was modeled as an isotropic compressible hyperelastic material with parameter $$C_{10}$$

C
10

, which represents the ZPSM. Computational methodology was used to calculate the mechanical parameters that govern ZP deformation. Fifty-one developed embryos were transferred and divided into two groups—implanted and not implanted. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the association between ZPSM and IR while controlling for confounders. Maternal age and number of embryos per transfer were significantly associated with implantation. The IR of embryos characterized by $$C_{10}$$

C
10

values in the range of 0.20–0.40 kPa was 66.75%, while outside this range it was 6.70%. This range was significantly associated with implantation (p < 0.001). Geometric properties were not associated with implantation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis that controlled for relevant confounders indicated that this range was independently associated with implantation (adjusted OR 38.03, 95% confidence interval 4.67–309.36, p = 0.001). The present study suggests that ZPSM may improve the classic embryo selection process with the aim of increasing IR.
Prevalence of canine obesity in the city of São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Porsani Mariana Yukari Hayasaki , Teixeira Fabio Alves , Oliveira Vinicius Vasques , Pedrinelli Vivian , Dias Ricardo Augusto , German Alexander James , Brunetto Marcio Antonio
Published: August 2020

Canine obesity is associated with comorbidities, a shortened lifespan, and a poorer quality of life, but epidemiological studies characterizing canine obesity in Latin America are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of canine obesity in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the possible associated causal factors. Randomly-selected households from different city regions were visited. Dogs in each household were evaluated and owners completed a questionnaire whilst their anthropometric measures were taken. Total of 285 dogs from 221 owners were included, and the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity was 40.5%. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was greater in female dogs (P = 0.003) and in dogs that were neutered (P = 0.001). There was also a positive association between BCS and frequency of visits to a veterinarian (P = 0.026), feeding frequency (P = 0.033), and higher snack intake (P = 0.011). Further, the BCS of dogs was greater when their owners reported consuming more snacks themselves (P = 0.005) and whose had a presence of elderly people in the household (P = 0.006). In conclusion, the prevalence of obesity found in a Brazilian metropolitan region was similar to that if other countries, and neutering and snack intake were associated with the development of this disease.
Consistent differences in a virtual world model of ape societies
Authors: Wilson Bart J. , Brosnan Sarah F. , Lonsdorf Elizabeth V. , Sanz Crickette M.
Published: August 2020

Practical and ethical constraints limit our ability to experimentally test socioecological theory in wild primates. We took an alternate approach to model this, allowing groups of humans to interact in a virtual world in which they had to find food and interact with both ingroup and outgroup avatars to earn rewards. We altered ratios and distributions of high- and low-value foods to test the hypothesis that hominoids vary with regards to social cohesion and intergroup tolerance due to their feeding ecology. We found larger nesting clusters and decreased attacks on outgroup competitors in the Bonobo condition versus the Chimpanzee condition, suggesting a significant effect of feeding competition alone on social structure. We also demonstrate that virtual worlds are a robust mechanism for testing hypotheses that are impossible to study in the wild.
Microbioreactor for lower cost and faster optimisation of protein production
Authors: Parekh Mayur , Ali AbdulAziz , Ali Zulfiqur , Bateson Simon , Abugchem Fathi , Pybus Leon , Lennon Christopher
Published: August 2020

Microbioreactor system, with inset the microbioreactor element, and an example cultivation growth profile showing dissolved oxygen, pH and dry cell weight.
Fluorescent pattern recognition of metal ions by nanoparticles of bovine serum albumin as a chemical nose/tongue
Authors: Fan Yu-Lin , Lu Yi-Fan , Ding Xu-Yin , Wang Nai-Hong , Xu Feng , Shi Guoyue , Zhang Min
Published: August 2020

A sensor array mimicking a chemical nose/tongue based on bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (BSANsn) has been developed for the fluorescence pattern recognition of metal ions in biofluids.
Haemoglobin-loaded metal organic framework-based nanoparticles camouflaged with a red blood cell membrane as potential oxygen delivery systems
Authors: Liu Xiaoli , Jansman Michelle M. T. , Hosta-Rigau Leticia
Published: August 2020

Metal organic frameworks are used to protect hemoglobin from denaturation thus preserving its excellent oxygen-binding and releasing properties. Decorating with cell membranes minimizes protein adsorption holding potential for long circulation.
Functionalization of colloidal nanoparticles with a discrete number of ligands based on a “HALO-bioclick” reaction
Authors: Garbujo Stefania , Galbiati Elisabetta , Salvioni Lucia , Mazzucchelli Matteo , Frascotti Gianni , Sun Xing , Megahed Saad , Feliu Neus , Prosperi Davide , Parak Wolfgang J. , Colombo Miriam
Published: August 2020

A recombinant HALO-GFP fusion protein was designed and isolated to demonstrate the feasibility of controlling the number and orientation of protein ligands to be conjugated on colloidal gold nanoparticles.
Cu/CuxOy NPs architectured COF: a recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of oxazolidinedione via atmospheric cyclizative CO2 utilization
Authors: Sarkar Somnath , Ghosh Swarbhanu , Mondal Jahangir , Islam Sk. Manirul
Published: August 2020

This work emphasizes the utility of COFs in establishing a heterogeneous catalytic system for the generation of value-added oxazolidinediones under alkali-free conditions (sustainable approach).
A visible light-mediated, decarboxylative, desulfonylative Smiles rearrangement for general arylethylamine syntheses
Authors: Whalley David M. , Duong Hung A. , Greaney Michael F.
Published: August 2020

A decarboxylative, desulfonylative Smiles rearrangement is reported for the synthesis of a wide range of biologically relevant arylethylamines, including fluorinated phenylethylamines, heterocyclic amphetamines and an unnatural amino acid.
2-Mercaptoimidazolium halides: structural diversity, stability and spontaneous racemisation
Authors: Braun Doris E. , Lampl Martin , Kahlenberg Volker , Wurst Klaus , Schottenberger Herwig , Hummel Michael , Griesser Ulrich J.
Published: August 2020

The complementarity of experiment and theory unravelled structural features, potential polymorphism, moisture and temperature dependent stability and the racemisation behaviour of 2-mercaptoimidazolium salts.
Upconversion luminescence and optical thermometry properties of transparent oxyfluoride glass ceramics embedded with Ba4Y3F17: Yb3+, Er3+ nanocrystals
Authors: Li Yong , Wang Wenming , Pan Yan , Chen Hongmei , Cao Qianwen , Wei Xiantao
Published: August 2020

Transparent glass ceramic embedded with Ba4Y3F17: Yb3+, Er3+ nanocrystals can be realised as a promising temperature sensor.
Nitrogen-doped carbon integrated nickel–cobalt metal phosphide marigold flowers as a high capacity electrode for hybrid supercapacitors
Authors: Shinde Pragati A. , Khan Muhammad Farooq , Rehman Malik A. , Jung Euigeol , Pham Quang N. , Won Yoonjin , Jun Seong Chan
Published: August 2020

The fabrication of advanced MOF-derived multicomponent NiCoP/NC marigold flowers electrode for high-performance hybrid supercapacitors.
van der Waals heterostructures based on MSSe (M = Mo, W) and graphene-like GaN: enhanced optoelectronic and photocatalytic properties for water splitting
Authors: Idrees M. , Nguyen Chuong V. , Bui H. D. , Ahmad Iftikhar , Amin Bin
Published: August 2020

The geometric structure, electronic, optical and photocatalytic properties of MSSe–g-GaN (M = Mo, W) van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures are investigated by performing first-principles calculations.