bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aldehyde dehydrogenase 6 family member A1 negatively regulates cell growth and to cisplatin sensitivity in bladder cancer
Authors: Guo Qi , Zhang Tao , Gong Yuwen , Tao Yan , Gao Yanjun , Wang Yuhan , Tian Junqiang , Zhang Su , Wang Hanzhang , Rodriguez Ronald , Wang Zhiping
Published: April 2022

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 6 family member A1 (ALDH6A1) is a highly conserved member of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDHs) family. Recent studies reveal that it broadly involved in tumorigenesis and drug metabolism in kinds of cancer. However, the critical role of ALDH6A1 in bladder cancer progression and cisplatin resistance of cancer cells are still poorly understood. In this study, we researched the significant function of ALDH6A1 in bladder cancer. Our results showed that ALDH6A1 exhibited a decreased expression in clinical bladder cancer tissues and bladder cancer cell lines. Stable ALDH6A1 knockdown not only could promote cell growth and colony formation in bladder cancer cells, but also enhance drug resistance to cisplatin treatment. On the contrary, we found the active transcript factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α, NR2A1) by alveriene could upregulate ALDH6A1 expression, significantly inhibit the cell growth and colony formation of bladder cancer cells, and improve cisplatin sensitivity of bladder cancer cells. Together, our results show that ALDH6A1 plays as a tumor suppressor in bladder cancer, which regulated by HNF4a. ALDH6A1 could be a promising diagnostic marker and treatment target in bladder cancer.
Fluorine spin–spin coupling constants of pentafluorobenzene revisited at the ab initio correlated levels
Authors: Ukhanev Stepan A. , Fedorov Sergei V. , Rusakov Yuriy Y. , Rusakova Irina L. , Krivdin Leonid B.
Published: April 2022

All possible spin–spin coupling constants, 19F–19F, 19F–13C, and 19F–1H, of pentafluorobenzene were calculated at five different levels of theory, HF, DFT, SOPPA (CCSD), CCSD, and the SOPPA (CCSD)‐based composite scheme with taking into account solvent, vibrational, relativistic, and correlation corrections. Most corrections were next to negligible for the long‐range couplings but quite essential for the one‐bond carbon–fluorine coupling constants. Hartree–Fock calculations were found to be entirely unreliable, while DFT results were comparable in accuracy with the data obtained using the wave function‐based methods.
Perceived utility of electrodiagnostic testing in critical illness myopathy and polyneuropathy: A survey of intensive care unit providers
Authors: Isfort Michael , McVerry Bryan J. , Shutter Lori , Kim Minji , Lacomis David
Published: April 2022

Introduction/Aims

Critical illness myopathy (CIM) and critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) are common disorders associated with substantial morbidity. Electrodiagnostic studies (EDx) are effective in diagnosing CIM/CIP and identifying mimicking conditions. We surveyed intensive care unit (ICU) providers to better understand their approach to ICU‐acquired weakness (ICU‐AW) and the perceived utility of EDx.

Methods

This was a single health system, Web‐based survey of ICU providers.

Results

Survey responses were received from 52 providers with a response rate of 22.1%. Most providers were somewhat familiar with CIM/CIP and median perceived prevalence was 30–49%. The majority (92.3%) of providers had no standard evaluation approach for ICU‐AW. Electrodiagnostic testing was commonly considered, but many providers obtained it infrequently in presumed CIM/CIP cases. Electrodiagnostic studies were used to rule out other causes of weakness or to confirm the diagnosis of CIM/CIP. Many providers ordered EDx within 1 wk of identifying weakness. Finally, EDx were overshadowed by personal experience as the most helpful management tool for ICU‐AW.

Discussion

Overall, ICU providers perceive that CIM/CIP are commonly encountered, but they may not have a standard approach to evaluation. Clinical experience increased familiarity of ICU‐AW and is central to management. EDx results are usually thought to be helpful, albeit not often ordered, and more study is needed to determine when implementation is of most assistance. Increasing education and developing institutional standards may lead to increased awareness and improved evaluation of CIM/CIP, but more study is needed to determine if algorithmic approaches would change patient outcomes.
Reinforcement learning‐based optimized backstepping control of nonlinear strict feedback system with unknown control gain function
Authors: Zhou Ranran , Wen Guoxing , Li Bin
Published: April 2022

The article develops an optimized control via learning from the design idea of optimized backstepping (OB) technique for the nonlinear strict feedback systems containing the unknown dynamic and control gain functions. OB technique requires to deal with the actual and virtual controls of backstepping as the optimized solutions of corresponding subsystems so that the entire backstepping control is optimized. In the work, for achieving the optimization control, reinforcement learning (RL) of critic‐actor structure is constructed in every backstepping step on the basis of the neural network approximation of the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation's solution. Since the unknown nonlinear control gain function is considered, the complexity of control algorithm is greatly increased. However, the proposed RL is with the simple training laws, it can greatly alleviate the algorithm complexity for the optimized control. Finally, the feasibility of the method is demonstrated by both theory and simulation.
Design and characterization of a novel braided biodegradable double‐J ureteral stent
Authors: Cui Haipo , Zhang Kui , Gao Chenguang , Kang Yahong , Jiang Hongyan
Published: April 2022

Ureteral stents in current clinical use are non‐degradable and have a large degree of curling at the ends. This end curling can cause discomfort to patients as well as renal or bladder irritation. In this study, a braided degradable ureteral stent was designed and characterized to eliminate these problems. Eight‐, 12‐, and 16‐strand poly(lactide‐co‐ε‐ caprolactone) (PLCL) monofilament‐braided degradable ureteral stents were prepared, and their tensile performance, radial support performance, in vitro degradation, fixation performance, bending resistance performance, and drainage performance were tested. Compared with the commonly used polyurethane (PU) stent, the tensile strengths of the three types of PLCL stents were higher, with the 12‐strand monofilament‐braided stent exhibiting the highest tensile strength (~508.06 MPa). In terms of radial support, the three PLCL stents meet clinical requirements. After repeated crimping‐rebounding of the braided stent, the support force recovery rate of the 12‐strand monofilament‐braided stent was the best, reaching 92%. In vitro degradation results showed that the 12‐strand stent still maintained good radial support after 8 weeks. The fixation strength of a 12‐strand monofilament‐braided stent with a single loop on the J‐shaped end meets clinical requirements. Even after repeated bending, the 12‐strand monofilament‐braided stent can maintain the stability of the structure with excellent drainage performance.
Integrative analysis of the DNA methylome and transcriptome in uterine leiomyoma shows altered regulation of genes involved in metabolism, proliferation, extracellular matrix, and vesicles
Authors: Carbajo‐García María Cristina , Corachán Ana , Juárez‐Barber Elena , Monleón Javier , Payá Vicente , Trelis Alexandra , Quiñonero Alicia , Pellicer Antonio , Ferrero Hortensia
Published: April 2022

Uterine leiomyomas (ULs) are the most common benign tumors in women of reproductive age. Despite the high prevalence, tumor pathology remains unclear, which hampers the development of safe and effective treatments. Epigenetic mechanisms appear to be involved in UL development, particularly via DNA methylation that regulates gene expression. We aimed to determine the relationship between DNA methylation and gene expression in UL compared with adjacent myometrium (MM) to identify molecular mechanisms involved in UL formation that are under epigenetic control. Our results showed a different DNA methylation profile between UL and MM, leading to hypermethylation of UL, and a different global transcriptome profile. Integration of DNA methylation and whole‐transcriptome RNA‐sequencing data identified 93 genes regulated by methylation, with 22 hypomethylated/upregulated and 71 hypermethylated/downregulated. Functional enrichment analysis showed dysregulated biological processes and molecular functions involved in metabolism and cell physiology, response to extracellular signals, invasion, and proliferation, as well as pathways related to uterine biology and cancer. Cellular components such as cell membranes, vesicles, extracellular matrix, and cell junctions were dysregulated in UL. In addition, we found hypomethylation/upregulation of oncogenes (PRL, ATP8B4, CEMIP, ZPMS2‐AS1, RIMS2, TFAP2C) and hypermethylation/downregulation of tumor suppressor genes (EFEMP1, FBLN2, ARHGAP10, HTATIP2), which are related to proliferation, invasion, altered metabolism, deposition of extracellular matrix, and Wnt/β‐catenin pathway dysregulation. This confirms that key processes of UL development are under DNA methylation control. Finally, inhibition of DNA methyltransferases by 5‐aza‐2'‐deoxycitidine increased the expression of hypermethylated/downregulated genes in UL cells in vitro. In conclusion, gene regulation by DNA methylation is implicated in UL pathogenesis, and reversion of this methylation could offer a therapeutic option for UL. © 2022 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
The Arabidopsis gene co‐expression network
Authors: Burks David J. , Sengupta Soham , De Ronika , Mittler Ron , Azad Rajeev K.
Published: April 2022

Identifying genes that interact to confer a biological function to an organism is one of the main goals of functional genomics. High‐throughput technologies for assessment and quantification of genome‐wide gene expression patterns have enabled systems‐level analyses to infer pathways or networks of genes involved in different functions under many different conditions. Here, we leveraged the publicly available, information‐rich RNA‐Seq datasets of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana to construct a gene co‐expression network, which was partitioned into clusters or modules that harbor genes correlated by expression. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analyses were performed to assess functional terms and pathways that were enriched within the different gene modules. By interrogating the co‐expression network for genes in different modules that associate with a gene of interest, diverse functional roles of the gene can be deciphered. By mapping genes differentially expressing under a certain condition in Arabidopsis onto the co‐expression network, we demonstrate the ability of the network to uncover novel genes that are likely transcriptionally active but prone to be missed by standard statistical approaches due to their falling outside of the confidence zone of detection. To our knowledge, this is the first A. thaliana co‐expression network constructed using the entire mRNA‐Seq datasets (>20,000) available at the NCBI SRA database. The developed network can serve as a useful resource for the Arabidopsis research community to interrogate specific genes of interest within the network, retrieve the respective interactomes, decipher gene modules that are transcriptionally altered under certain condition or stage, and gain understanding of gene functions.
Synthesis of D‐A copolymers based on thiadiazole and thiazolothiazole acceptor units and their applications in ternary polymer solar cells
Authors: Keshtov Mukhamed L. , Konstantinov Igor O. , Khokhlov Alexei R. , Ostapov Ilya E. , Alekseev Vladimir G. , Xie Zhiyuan , Dahiya Hemraj , Sharma Ganesh D.
Published: April 2022

We have designed and synthesized two wide bandgap new donor‐acceptor (D‐A) copolymers consisting of the same alkylthiazole‐substituted benzo[1,2‐b;4,5‐b′]dithiophene (BDTTz) donor unit and but different acceptor units, i.e., thiazolo[5,4‐d]thiazole (TTZ) (P122) and 1,3,‐4 thiadiazole (TDz) (P123) and investigated their optical and electrochemical properties. We have employed these copolymers as donor and fullerene (PC71BM) and narrow bandgap non‐fullerene (Y6) as acceptor, to fabricate binary and ternary bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells (PSCs). The overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) of optimized binary bulk heterojunction PSCs based on P122:Y6 and P123:Y6 is 12.60% and 13.16%, respectively. The higher PCE for PSCs based on P123 than P122 counterparts may be associated with the broader absorption profile of the P123 and more charge carrier mobilities than that for the P122 active layer. With the incorporation of small amount of PC71BM into either P122:Y6 or P123:Y6 binary blend, the corresponding ternary PSCs showed an overall PCE of 14.89% and 15.52%, respectively, which is higher than the binary counterparts using either Y6 or PC71BM as acceptor. Incorporating the PC71BM in the binary host blend increases the absorption in the 300–500 nm wavelength region, generating more excitons in the active ternary layer and helping to dissociate the excitons into free charge carriers more effectively. The more appropriate nanoscale phase separation in the active ternary layer than the binary counterpart may be one of the reasons for higher PCE.
Prodromal depression and anxiety are associated with worse treatment compliance and survival among patients with pancreatic cancer
Authors: Davis Nathaniel E. , Hue Jonathan J. , Kyasaram Ravi K. , Elshami Mohamedraed , Graor Hallie J. , Zarei Mehrdad , Ji Karen , Katayama Erryk S. , Hajihassani Omid , Loftus Alexander W. , Shanahan John , Vaziri‐Gohar Ali , Rothermel Luke D. , Winter Jordan M.
Published: April 2022

Objective

To determine the frequency of depression or anxiety preceding a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer (PC). Further, to examine the association of PC‐associated depression or anxiety with treatment compliance and survival.

Methods

856 patients with PC from a single institution were identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. For each case, two non‐cancer age‐ and sex‐matched controls were included. Dates of depression or anxiety diagnosis identified using ICD codes were compared to the date of PC diagnosis. The medical record was queried to further explore psychiatric symptoms. Multivariable analyses were performed to examine if prediagnosis depression or anxiety was associated with receipt of treatment or survival.

Results

A greater proportion of patients with PC experienced depression or anxiety in the year preceding diagnosis than the overall frequency in controls (4.6% vs. 2.6%, p = 0.005) based on ICD codes. Patients with PC exhibited signs of prodromal depression or anxiety based on ICD codes, clinical documentation of psychiatric symptoms, or initiation of new psychiatric medications more often than controls (20.7% vs. 6.7%, p < 0.001). Prediagnosis depression or anxiety was associated with a reduced likelihood of receiving chemotherapy (OR = 0.58, p = 0.04). There was an associated decrease in overall survival among patients with metastatic disease who experienced depression or anxiety before PC diagnosis (HR = 1.32, p = 0.04).

Conclusions

The frequency of depression or anxiety among patients with PC was higher than the general population. Prediagnosis psychiatric symptoms were associated with reduced chemotherapy utilization and worse overall survival. Thus, timely identification and treatment of these symptoms may improve outcomes.
Effect of sulfur vapor pressure on SnS thin films grown by sulfurization
Authors: Mikami Shuntaro , Yokoi Tsubasa , Sumi Hiroki , Aihara Satoru , Khatri Ishwor , Sugiyama Mutsumi
Published: April 2022

Tin monosulfide (SnS) films were grown by sulfurization of sputtered Sn thin films. The effect of S vapor pressure (PS), which varied from 10 to 105 Pa, was analyzed through depth profiling of SnS films. S atoms were diffused into the surface regions of the SnS layer to approximately 100 nm at PS = 10 Pa. The activation energy for S diffusion in the Sn thin films was 1.4eV. At PS = 103 Pa, on the other hand, S atoms were diffused into the SnS layer to a depth of approximately 700 nm. Accordingly, the activation energy was 1.1 eV. The experimentally obtained crystallite size was found to increase from 12 to 35 nm with the increase of S vapor pressure. Furthermore, by varying the sulfurization temperature range, a similar tendency was likewise observed. Under the photovoltaic properties with a structure of Al/ZnO:Al/ZnO/CdS/SnS/Mo/SLG, a current density of 6.2 mA cm−2 was obtained when the SnS crystallite size was 35 nm.
New applications of chalcopyrite crystals in nonlinear optics
Authors: Petrov Valentin
Published: April 2022

The properties of chalcopyrite crystals relevant to nonlinear optics are considered comparing existing representatives. The applications of such birefringent noncentrosymmetric crystals for laser frequency up‐ and down‐conversion in the mid‐IR are reviewed with emphasis on the newly developed LiGaTe2 and CdSiP2.
Effects of H2S annealing for Ag/Sn and Ag/SnS thin films deposited by a thermal evaporation method
Authors: Akaki Yoji , Akita Hayato , Nakamura Shigeyuki , Araki Hideaki , Seto Satoru , Yamaguchi Toshiyuki
Published: April 2022

We investigated the effect of H2S annealing for glass/Ag/Sn and glass/Ag/SnS precursor thin films deposited by vacuum evaporation. The glass/Ag/Sn and glass/Ag/SnS stacked precursors were deposited on soda‐lime glass substrates at 300 °C. After the evaporation, the stacked precursors were annealed from 300 to 500 °C for 60 min in H2S atmosphere. A Ag8SnS6 thin films can be prepared with Ag2SnS3 and SnS2 crystals. The grain size of the crystals in the thin films using a glass/Ag/SnS stacked precursor was larger than that using a glass/Ag/Sn stacked precursor. The absorption coefficients and band‐gap energy of Ag‐Sn‐S thin films with Ag8SnS6, Ag2SnS3, and SnS2 crystals were above 104 cm−1 and approximately 1.3 eV, respectively.
Impact of Electron Irradiation on N‐ and O‐Enriched FZ Silicon p‐in‐n Pad Radiation Detectors
Authors: Lauer Kevin , Xu Xumei , Karolewski Dominik , Gohs Uwe , Kwestarz Michael , Kaminski Pawel , Täschner Robert , Klein Thomas , Wittig Tobias , Röder Ralf , Ortlepp Thomas
Published: April 2022

Nitrogen and oxygen enriched FZ silicon p‐in‐n pad radiation detectors are investigated with respect to the radiation hardness. The leakage current and the charge carrier lifetime are measured before and after 1 MeV electron irradiation. Before irradiation the leakage current was found to increase due to enrichment by nitrogen and oxygen. After the irradiation the leakage current as well as the radiation induced defect density are found to be reduced in the nitrogen and oxygen enriched samples. Hence, increased radiation hardness for the enriched FZ silicon is observed. The defect reduction efficiency of nitrogen was found to be about two orders of magnitude higher than that of oxygen.
Note on the Coulomb blockade of a weak tunnel junction with Nyquist noise: Conductance formula for a broad temperature range
Authors: Mošková Antónia , Moško Martin
Published: April 2022

We revisit the Coulomb blockade of the tunnel junction with conductance much smaller than e2/. We study the junction with capacitance C, embedded in an Ohmic electromagnetic environment modeled by a series resistance R which produces the Nyquist noise. In the semiclassical limit, the Nyquist noise charges the junction by a random charge with a Gaussian distribution. Assuming the Gaussian distribution, we derive analytically the temperature‐dependent junction conductance G(T) valid for temperatures and resistances , where and is the single‐electron charging energy. Our analytical result shows the leading dependence , so far believed to exist only if and . The validity of our result for and is confirmed by a good agreement with the numerical studies which do not assume the semiclassical limit, and by a reasonable agreement with experimental data for R as low as RK. Our result also reproduces various asymptotic formulae derived in the past. The factor of 1/4 in the activation energy Ec/4 is due to the semiclassical Nyquist noise.
Gold‐induced crystallization of amorphous germanium deposited on glass: Bilayer and multilayer films
Authors: Bouhadda Ismail , Laidoudi Lamia , Simon Claude , Bebiche Sarah
Published: April 2022

Gold‐induced crystallization (GIC) of amorphous germanium (a‐Ge) using bilayer and multilayer films was performed through electron beam evaporation on glass substrates. The GIC of a‐Ge was studied while the post‐annealing temperature was varied between 250 and 550 °C for a fixed annealing time. The structure of polycrystalline Ge films was investigated by employing X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In both the bilayer and multilayer films the crystallization of a‐Ge took place from 250 °C. The amount of crystallization fractioning and film quality were improved as the annealing temperature increased. However, preferentially (220) oriented crystalline Ge was formed in the bilayer films, indicating a micro‐crystalline structure of the Ge. In the multilayer configuration (111) oriented crystalline Ge was observed indicating a poly‐crystalline structure of the Ge. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images clearly highlight the grain size difference between these structures, especially for annealing temperatures above 400 °C.
Blue Phosphorescent Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes Using N‐Type Semiconductor Extra Emission Layer
Authors: Yun Geum J. , Yoo Seung I. , Lee Song E. , Kim Jin W. , Kang Jin S. , Kim Young K. , Kim Woo Y.
Published: April 2022

Blue phosphorescent organic light‐emitting diodes (PHOLEDs) are fabricated using n‐type and bipolar extra emission layer with structure of ITO/TAPC (700 Å)/mCP:FIrpic‐8% (250 Å)/mCP:x:FIrpic‐8% (50 Å, x: CDBP, TPBi, TmPyPB)/TPBi (300 Å)/LiF (20 Å)/Al (1200 Å). The electrical and optical characteristics of blue PHOLEDs with different extra emission layer (EEL) material located between EML and ETL such as current density, luminous efficiency, efficiency roll‐off, and EL spectra are observed and proven that the extra emission layer material trapped charge carrier. The blue PHOLED with TPBi EEL improved driving voltage, luminous efficiency, and efficiency roll‐off compared to reference blue PHOLED without EEL.
Thermal Impedance Extraction From Electrical Measurements for Double‐Ended Gate Transistors
Authors: Cutivet Adrien , Bouchilaoun Meriem , Chakroun Ahmed , Rodriguez Christophe , Soltani Ali , Jaouad Abdelatif , Boone François , Maher Hassan
Published: April 2022

Transistor's thermal impedance is a parameter of prime importance to predict the device peak temperature in applications of power and RF electronics featuring time‐dependent dissipated power. In the context of the upcoming GaN HEMT technology, an innovative methodology is hereby detailed for the extraction of a transistor thermal dynamic behavior. This technique uses the dependence of the Gate resistance over temperature and thus only requires common electrical measurement of the device. An original technique is introduced to make this method robust to an inherent electrical coupling effect.
Updated Analysis of Low‐Temperature Data of Hall‐Effect Measurements on P‐Doped n‐Si on the Basis of an Impurity‐Hubbard‐Band Model
Authors: Kajikawa Yasutomo
Published: April 2022

The low‐temperature data of Hall‐effect measurements on uncompensated P‐doped n‐Si samples with different P concentrations ND reported in literature have been analyzed on the basis of an impurity‐Hubbard‐band model. In the model, the drift mobility and the Hall factor of nearest‐neighbor hopping in the top Hubbard band are assumed to be expressed as μ2 = μ20(E2/kBT)3/2 exp(−E2/kBT) and AH2 = (kBT/JH2)exp(KH2E2/kBT), respectively, according to the small‐polaron model, while those of variable‐range hopping in the bottom Hubbard band are assumed to be expressed as μ3 = μ30(TES/T)1/3 exp[−(TES/T)1/2] and AH3 = AH30(TES/T)2/3exp[(1−) (TES/T)1/2] according to the Efros‐Shklovskii model. With the critical concentration of Nc = 3.52 × 1018 cm−3 for the metal‐insulator transition, the deduced values of TES have been proved to obey the relation of TES = T00(1−ND/Nc)p with p = 2.9 and T00 = 11 000 K. In addition, the Coulomb gap has been proved to obey the relation of ΔCG = ΔCG0(1−ND/Nc)n with n = 2.5 and ΔCG0 = 30 meV.
Probabilistically certified region of attraction of a tumor growth model with combined chemo‐ and immunotherapy
Authors: Moussa Kaouther , Fiacchini Mirko , Alamir Mazen
Published: April 2022

The recent progress in immunology lead to a considerable interest in modeling cancer dynamics in order to better understand and analyze such complex systems. Many works have been carried out in order to design cancer treatment protocols using mathematical models. One of the main complexities of such models is the presence of different types of uncertainties, which remains less considered in the literature. This article deals with the estimation of regions of attraction (RoAs) under parametric uncertainties for a cancer growth model with combined therapies. We propose a framework of probabilistic certification, based on the randomized methods, in order to derive probabilistically certified RoAs of a cancer growth model. The model considered in this article describes the interaction between a tumor and the immune system in presence of a combined chemo‐ and immunotherapy treatment, with considerations on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of both treatments.
De novo SNP calling reveals the genetic differentiation and morphological divergence in genus Amaranthus
Authors: Lin Ya‐Ping , Wu Tien‐Hor , Chan Yan‐Kuang , van Zonneveld Maarten , Schafleitner Roland
Published: April 2022

Amaranth species (Amaranthus spp.) serve as pseudo cereals and also as traditional leafy vegetables worldwide. In addition to high vigor and richness in nutrients, drought and salinity tolerance makes amaranth a promising vegetable to acclimatize to the effects of global climate change. The World Vegetable Center gene bank conserves ∼1,000 amaranth accessions, and various agronomic properties of these accessions were recorded during seed regeneration over decades. In this study, we verified the taxonomic annotation of the germplasm based on a 15K single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) set. Given that the yield components of grain amaranth are different from those of leaf amaranth, we observed that grain amaranth species presented larger inflorescences and earlier flowering than leaf amaranth species. Dual‐purpose amaranth showed larger leaves than leaf amaranth and later flowering than grain amaranth, which seemed reasonable because farmers can harvest more leaves during the prolonged vegetable stage, which also provides recovery time to enrich grain production. Considering frequent interspecific hybridization among species of the grain amaranth complex, we performed an interspecific genome‐wide association study (GWAS) for days to flowering, identifying a AGL20/SOC1 homolog. Another GWAS using only A. tricolor L. accessions revealed six candidate genes homologous to lba1, bri1, sgs1, and fca. These homologous genes were involved in the regulation of flowering time in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. This study revealed the usefulness of genotypic data for species demarcation in the genus Amaranthus and the potential of interspecific GWAS to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) across different species, opening up the possibility of targeted introduction of specific genetic variants into different Amaranthus species.
Computational Concepts for Reconstructing and Simulating Brain Tissue
Authors: Schürmann Felix , Courcol Jean-Denis , Ramaswamy Srikanth
Published: April 2022

It has previously been shown that it is possible to derive a new class of biophysically detailed brain tissue models when one computationally analyzes and exploits the interdependencies or the multi-modal and multi-scale organization of the brain. These reconstructions, sometimes referred to as digital twins, enable a spectrum of scientific investigations. Building such models has become possible because of increase in quantitative data but also advances in computational capabilities, algorithmic and methodological innovations. This chapter presents the computational science concepts that provide the foundation to the data-driven approach to reconstructing and simulating brain tissue as developed by the EPFL Blue Brain Project, which was originally applied to neocortical microcircuitry and extended to other brain regions. Accordingly, the chapter covers aspects such as a knowledge graph-based data organization and the importance of the concept of a dataset release. We illustrate algorithmic advances in finding suitable parameters for electrical models of neurons or how spatial constraints can be exploited for predicting synaptic connections. Furthermore, we explain how in silico experimentation with such models necessitates specific addressing schemes or requires strategies for an efficient simulation. The entire data-driven approach relies on the systematic validation of the model. We conclude by discussing complementary strategies that not only enable judging the fidelity of the model but also form the basis for its systematic refinements.
Design of the Thermal Insulation Envelope of Energy-Efficient Buildings
Authors: Azinović Boris , Kilar Vojko , Koren David
Published: April 2022

The chapter describes the theory of designing the thermal insulation envelope of energyefficient buildings. The procedure of functional analysis of the building connection details is described and presented for three structural assembly connection types (»L«, »T«, »+«). Such theoretical knowledge of structural detailing is essential to eliminate thermal bridges and their negative impacts.
Structural Details in Energy-Efficient Buildings
Authors: Azinović Boris , Kilar Vojko , Koren David
Published: April 2022

In order to meet the EU Green Deal requirements, the thermal envelope of a modern energy-efficient building must be “wrapped” all around the building with no thermal bridges. This chapter describes the most important structural details and their effects on energy consumption and seismic resistance of the building as a whole. Those details where the energy efficiency might be inversely proportional to its earthquake resistance, are further explored and analysed.
Higher Education in the UK
Authors: Benner Mats , Grant Jonathan , O’Kane Mary
Published: April 2022

On the basis of the theoretical template of universities in society, this chapter outlines the evolution of higher education in the UK. The chapter shows the way in which British universities have been shaped in the interplay between academic, political and economic forces in recent decades, and how the adopted model of university governance has exposed them to vulnerabilities that ensue in periods of rapid ruptures in society. The chapter pays particular attention to the responses that have unfolded to the COVID-19 pandemic but also more generally to how universities have balanced the orientation to global templates with that of societal expectations.
The Lived Experience of Academics During the COVID Pandemic
Authors: Benner Mats , Grant Jonathan , O’Kane Mary
Published: April 2022

This chapter is composed of short recollections of events and responses during the pandemic, in particular how the experience of individual academics coalesced with the organisational dynamics of universities, and how each of the contributors responded to and was affected by the pandemic, on a personal and a professional level. The experiences of faculty form the centrepiece, and how this group adapted its ways of doing teaching and research, as well as relating to students, staff and management in so doing.
Student-Centred Music Education: Principles to Improve Learning and Teaching
Authors: López-Íñiguez Guadalupe , Pérez Echeverría María Puy , Pozo Juan Ignacio , Torrado José Antonio
Published: April 2022

Please keep calm, dear reader, this book is nearly at an end, and we began it by drawing attention to the need for a profound change in instrumental music education. The first two chapters examined the reasons why this change seemed necessary and the presence of a general social awareness that instrumental teaching is currently a non-starter.
Kinase inhibitors increase individual radiation sensitivity in normal cells of cancer patients
Authors: Jost Tina , Schuster Barbara , Heinzerling Lucie , Weissmann Thomas , Fietkau Rainer , Distel Luitpold V. , Hecht Markus
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Kinase inhibitors (KI) are known to increase radiosensitivity, which can lead to increased risk of side effects. Data about interactions of commonly used KI with ionizing radiation on healthy tissue are rare.

Patients and methods

Freshly drawn blood samples were analyzed using three-color FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) to measure individual radiosensitivity via chromosomal aberrations after irradiation (2 Gy). Thresholds of 0.5 and 0.6 breaks/metaphase (B/M) indicate moderate or clearly increased radiosensitivity.

Results

The cohorts consisted of healthy individuals (NEG, n = 219), radiosensitive patients (POS, n = 24), cancer patients (n = 452) and cancer patients during KI therapy (n = 49). In healthy individuals radiosensitivity (≥ 0.6 B/M) was clearly increased in 5% of all cases, while in the radiosensitive cohort 79% were elevated. KI therapy increased the rate of sensitive patients (≥ 0.6 B/M) to 35% significantly compared to 19% in cancer patients without KI (p = 0.014). Increased radiosensitivity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) among patients occurred in six of seven KI subgroups. The mean B/M values significantly increased during KI therapy (0.47 ± 0.20 B/M without compared to 0.50 ± 0.19 B/M with KI, p = 0.047).

Conclusions

Kinase inhibitors can intensify individual radiosensitivity of PBMCs distinctly in 85% of tested drugs.
The evolution of regional entrepreneurship policies: “no one size fits all”
Authors: Ortega-Argilés Raquel
Published: April 2022

In the last two decades, entrepreneurship policies have gone through a radical transformation in many parts of the world. New theoretical and empirical approaches have helped to identify better the drivers of entrepreneurial creation, the main actors in the process, and the significant contribution of entrepreneurship to socio-economic prosperity. One of the main conclusions of these new theoretical and empirical approaches is that the drivers and outcomes of entrepreneurship are heavily shaped by place. There is no single ideal entrepreneurship policy formula because entrepreneurial mechanisms take a different form depending on different places. However, concepts such as path dependency, industrial ecology and heritage, connectivity, culture, and intra-and interregional knowledge spillovers are all linked in different ways with regional entrepreneurship in general and the Entrepreneurial Ecosystems literature. This paper discusses the impacts of these different influences on the evolution of modern entrepreneurship policies, examines what the current evidence points to, and identifies areas for further consideration. Examples will be drawn from different countries and regions. On the basis of the evidence reviewed, the paper contends that both conceptual and policy-thinking regarding the relationships between entrepreneurship and place are increasingly shifting to the challenges facing less successful regions, even though the current approaches are heavily based on the insights of successful places.
Abdominal pregnancy: a case report and review of 17 cases
Authors: Chen Yu , Peng Ping , Li Chunying , Teng Lirong , Liu Xinyan , Liu Juntao , Cao Dongyan , Zhu Lan , Lang Jinghe
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To analyze the clinical characteristics of abdominal pregnancy, and to explore the diagnosis and prognosis of different treatment methods.

Methods

The cases of patients with abdominal pregnancy admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 1, 1989 and January 1, 2021, were analyzed retrospectively.

Results

The median age of 17 patients was 34 years (22–42 years); the median gestational duration was 57 days (from 41 days to 32 weeks). Among all 17 patients, 15 (88.24%) presented with abdominal pain. The implantation sites of the gestational sac included the bladder peritoneal reflection, anterior wall of the rectum, omentum, serous membrane of the uterus, and inside or on the surface of uterosacral ligament. In all, only 29.41% cases (5/17) were diagnosed before surgery. All 17 patients were treated via surgery. Further, 58.82% (10/17) patients recovered without complications, 29.41% (5/17) developed fever, 5.88% (1/17) underwent reoperation because of intra-abdominal bleeding, and 5.88% (1/17) developed double lower limb venous thrombosis. All 17 patients survived.

Conclusion

The preoperative diagnosis rate of abdominal pregnancy is low. Planting sites in the pelvic peritoneum and pelvic organs are more common than the others. Laparoscopic surgery in the first trimester of pregnancy can achieve better therapeutic effects. However, the blood supply of the placenta should be fully evaluated before surgery. When it is expected that attempts to remove the placenta will cause fatal bleeding, the placenta can be left in place, but long-term close follow-up should be paid attention to.
The contribution of respiratory and hearing protection use to psychological distress in the workplace: a scoping review
Authors: Leung Richard , Cook Margaret M. , Capra Mike F. , Johnstone Kelly R.
Published: April 2022

Objective

Workers from various industries use personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks, respirators, and hearing protection to reduce their exposures to workplace hazards. Many studies have evaluated the physiological impacts of PPE use, but few have assessed the psychological impacts. The aim of the present study was to carry out a scoping review to compile existing evidence and determine the extent of knowledge on workplace mask, respirator or hearing protection use as a psychosocial hazard (stressor) that could result in a stress response and potentially lead to psychological injury.

Methods

The scoping review followed recognized methods and was conducted using Ovid Emcare, PubMed, Sage Journals, ScienceDirect, Scopus, SpringerLink, Google Scholar and preprint databases (OSF Preprints and medRxiv). Articles on the stressors associated with the use of masks, respirators, and hearing protection were included. The extracted data included author(s) name, year of publication, title of article, study design, population data, stressors assessed, and key findings.

Results

We retrieved 650 articles after removal of duplicates, of which 26 were deemed eligible for inclusion for review. Identified factors associated with PPE use that could potentially create a stress response were identified: communication impacts, physical impacts, psychological illness symptoms, cognitive impacts, and perceived PPE-related impacts. Evidence for respirators suggest that there may be psychological injury associated with their use. However, hearing protection appears to have a protective effect in reducing psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and aggression.

Conclusions

Mask or respirator use may lead to an increase in work-related stress. Whereas hearing protection may have protective effects against psychological symptoms and improves speech intelligibility. More research is needed to better understand potential psychosocial impacts of mask, respirator and/or hearing protection use.
Seasonal diversity dynamics of a boreal zooplankton community under climate impact
Authors: Bellier Edwige , Engen Steinar , Jensen Thomas Correll
Published: April 2022

Seasonality and long-term environmental variability affect species diversity through their effects on the dynamics of species. To investigate such effects, we fitted a dynamic and heterogeneous species abundance model generating the lognormal species abundance distribution to an assemblage of freshwater zooplankton sampled five times a year (June–October) during the ice-free period over 28 years (1990–2017) in Lake Atnsjøen (Norway). By applying a multivariate stochastic community dynamics model for describing the fluctuations in abundances, we show that the community dynamics was driven by environmental variability in spring (i.e., June). In contrast, community-level ecological heterogeneity is highest in autumn. The autumn months (i.e., September and October) that rearranged the community are most likely crucial months to monitor long-term changes in community structure. Indeed, noises from early summer are filtered away, making it easier to track long-term changes. The community returned faster towards equilibrium when ecological heterogeneity was the highest (i.e., in September and October). This occurred because of stronger density-regulation in months with highest ecological heterogeneity. The community responded to the long-term warming of water temperature with decreasing species diversity and increasing abundance. Unevenness associated with variabilities in abundances might affect species interactions within the community. These can have consequences for the stability and functioning of the ecosystem.
A spatio-temporal autoregressive model for monitoring and predicting COVID infection rates
Authors: Congdon Peter
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 epidemic has raised major issues with regard to modelling and forecasting outcomes such as cases, deaths and hospitalisations. In particular, the forecasting of area-specific counts of infectious disease poses problems when counts are changing rapidly and there are infection hotspots, as in epidemic situations. Such forecasts are of central importance for prioritizing interventions or making severity designations for different areas. In this paper, we consider different specifications of autoregressive dependence in incidence counts as these may considerably impact on adaptivity in epidemic situations. In particular, we introduce parameters to allow temporal adaptivity in autoregressive dependence. A case study considers COVID-19 data for 144 English local authorities during the UK epidemic second wave in late 2020 and early 2021, which demonstrate geographical clustering in new cases—linked to the then emergent alpha variant. The model allows for both spatial and time variation in autoregressive effects. We assess sensitivity in short-term predictions and fit to specification (spatial vs space-time autoregression, linear vs log-linear, and form of space decay), and show improved one-step ahead and in-sample prediction using space-time autoregression including temporal adaptivity.
Novel materials in magnetic resonance imaging: high permittivity ceramics, metamaterials, metasurfaces and artificial dielectrics
Authors: Webb Andrew , Shchelokova Alena , Slobozhanyuk Alexey , Zivkovic Irena , Schmidt Rita
Published: April 2022

This article reviews recent developments in designing and testing new types of materials which can be: (i) placed around the body for in vivo imaging, (ii) be integrated into a conventional RF coil, or (iii) form the resonator itself. These materials can improve the quality of MRI scans for both in vivo and magnetic resonance microscopy applications. The methodological section covers the basic operation and design of two different types of materials, namely high permittivity materials constructed from ceramics and artificial dielectrics/metasurfaces formed by coupled conductive subunits, either in air or surrounded by dielectric material. Applications of high permittivity materials and metasurfaces placed next to the body to neuroimaging and extremity imaging at 7 T, body and neuroimaging at 3 T, and extremity imaging at 1.5 T are shown. Results using ceramic resonators for both high field in vivo imaging and magnetic resonance microscopy are also shown. The development of new materials to improve MR image quality remains an active area of research, but has not yet found significant use in clinical applications. This is mainly due to practical issues such as specific absorption rate modelling, accurate and reproducible placement, and acceptable size/weight of such materials. The most successful area has been simple “dielectric pads” for neuroimaging at 7 T which were initially developed somewhat as a stop-gap while parallel transmit technology was being developed, but have continued to be used at many sites. Some of these issues can potentially be overcome using much lighter metasurfaces and artificial dielectrics, which are just beginning to be assessed.
Error Estimates of the Godunov Method for the Multidimensional Compressible Euler System
Authors: Lukáčová-Medvid’ová Mária , She Bangwei , Yuan Yuhuan
Published: April 2022

We derive a priori error estimates of the Godunov method for the multidimensional compressible Euler system of gas dynamics. To this end we apply the relative energy principle and estimate the distance between the numerical solution and the strong solution. This yields also the estimates of the$$L^2$$L2-norms of the errors in density, momentum and entropy. Under the assumption, that the numerical density is uniformly bounded from below by a positive constant and that the energy is uniformly bounded from above and stays positive, we obtain a convergence rate of 1/2 for the relative energy in the$$L^1$$L1-norm, that is to say, a convergence rate of 1/4 for the$$L^2$$L2-error of the numerical solution. Further, under the assumption—the total variation of the numerical solution is uniformly bounded, we obtain the first order convergence rate for the relative energy in the$$L^1$$L1-norm, consequently, the numerical solution converges in the$$L^2$$L2-norm with the convergence rate of 1/2. The numerical results presented are consistent with our theoretical analysis.
Performance of Forwarding Operations in Biomass Recovery from Apple Orchards
Authors: Cataldo Maria Francesca , Marcu Marina Viorela , Iordache Eugen , Zimbalatti Giuseppe , Proto Andrea Rosario , Borz Stelian Alexandru
Published: April 2022

In recent decades, the use of forwarders in agroforestry systems has been increasing. In agroforestry systems, the possibility to use these machines in various operational contexts allows the reduction of hourly costs and favors its use also in small enterprises. In Europe, agroforestry or farm forestry represents an important resource that offers alternative and more sustainable land uses in agricultural or forestry areas. By covering large areas, fruit orchards represent an important source of income, but they require annual pruning which leaves abundant residues on the ground. And when fruit production declines, the trees are dismantled to make room for new ones. This study evaluated the performance of biomass recovery from dismantled apple orchards using a HSM 208 F forwarder. Time studies were implemented to estimate the productivity and fuel consumption of forwarding operations. Data was collected by means of a GPS unit, a video camera and an electric fuel pump, and 30 work cycles divided into elemental tasks were monitored. Models for time consumption and productivity as a function of extraction distance were developed by means of least-square simple regression, at different scales needed to characterize the forwarding operations. The average forwarding distance was of ca. 830 m and the net and gross forwarding production rates were of 21.79 and 15.35 loose m3 h − 1 (volume of woodchips produced), respectively. The study provides reference data for forwarding operations and demonstrates the successful use of forestry machines in the agricultural sector.