bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The influence of platinum surface oxidation on the performance of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell—probing changes of catalytically active surface sites on a polycrystalline platinum electrode for the oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Eckl Maximilian Johann , Mattausch Yannick , Jung Christoph Karsten , Kirsch Sebastian , Schmidt Lasse , Huebner Gerold , Mueller Jonathan Edward , Kibler Ludwig Alfons , Jacob Timo
Published: October 2021

To obtain fundamental insights into the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells, we perform a parallel investigation of the influence of platinum surface oxide (PtO) formation on the electrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for a polycrystalline platinum electrode in comparison with a commercial PEM fuel cell. PtO is formed by holding both systems at a constant potential for a given period of time. Conditioning potentials between 0.5 and 1.0 V versus SHE and conditioning times from 5 s up to 10 h are explored, respectively. We find that the voltage difference of the ORR between the oxidized and oxide‐free states depends on both the conditioning potential as well as the conditioning time at a given potential and furthermore increases with the applied target current. The change of the voltage loss over time, the so‐called voltage loss rate α, shows a maximum at potentials between 0.85 and 0.9 V and increases with increasing current density. We discuss various hypotheses to explain these findings obtained by linear voltammetry, Tafel slope analysis, Auger electron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy experiments. Finally, we conclude that the voltage loss rate is influenced by changes in the relative electrocatalytic activity of different crystal facets for the ORR as the oxide coverage varies.
Combination of antiseizure medications phenobarbital, ketamine, and midazolam reduces soman‐induced epileptogenesis and brain pathology in rats
Authors: Lumley Lucille A. , Marrero‐Rosado Brenda , Rossetti Franco , Schultz Caroline R. , Stone Michael F. , Niquet Jerome , Wasterlain Claude G.
Published: October 2021

Objective

Cholinergic‐induced status epilepticus (SE) is associated with a loss of synaptic gamma‐aminobutyric acid A receptors (GABAAR) and an increase in N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptors (NMDAR) and amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPAR) that may contribute to pharmacoresistance when treatment with benzodiazepine antiseizure medication is delayed. The barbiturate phenobarbital enhances inhibitory neurotransmission by binding to a specific site in the GABAAR to increase the open state of the channel, decrease neuronal excitability, and reduce glutamate‐induced currents through AMPA/kainate receptors. We hypothesized that phenobarbital as an adjunct to midazolam would augment the amelioration of soman‐induced SE and associated neuropathological changes and that further protection would be provided by the addition of an NMDAR antagonist.

Methods

We investigated the efficacy of combining antiseizure medications to include a benzodiazepine and a barbiturate allosteric GABAAR modulator (midazolam and phenobarbital, respectively) to correct loss of inhibition, and ketamine to reduce excitation caused by increased synaptic localization of NMDAR and AMPAR, which are NMDA‐dependent. Rats implanted with transmitters to record electroencephalographic (EEG) activity were exposed to soman and treated with atropine sulfate and HI‐6 one min after exposure and with antiseizure medication(s) 40 minutes after seizure onset.

Results

The triple therapy combination of phenobarbital, midazolam, and ketamine administered at 40 minutes after seizure onset effectively prevented soman‐induced epileptogenesis and reduced neurodegeneration. In addition, dual therapy with phenobarbital and midazolam or ketamine was more effective than monotherapy (midazolam or phenobarbital) in reducing cholinergic‐induced toxicity.

Significance

Benzodiazepine efficacy is drastically reduced with time after seizure onset and inversely related to seizure duration. To overcome pharmacoresistance in severe benzodiazepine‐refractory cholinergic‐induced SE, simultaneous drug combination to include drugs that target both the loss of inhibition (eg, midazolam, phenobarbital) and the increased excitatory response (eg, ketamine) is more effective than benzodiazepine or barbiturate monotherapy.
Feminist pedagogy through the small fieldnote
Authors: Bedi Tarini , Aggarwal Aditi , Chaet Josephine , Malik Lakshita
Published: October 2021

This collectively written essay reflects collaborations between three graduate students and their dissertation advisor. We turn to inspirations like Zora Neale Hurston to make our fieldnotes central to collective writing, thinking and translation across language and discursive traditions. We usesmall fieldnotein a subversive sense to illustrate a feminist mode of this pedagogical exercise and to refuse foreclosure of our analysis. We push back against the burden of working with complete pieces of writing, and the anthropological commitment to the thickness of description. Anthropological pedagogy conventionally attributes to thick description and completeness, not just scholarly superiority but also a moral one. Using a feminist pedagogical approach that centers the small as possibility troubles presumptions of conventional anthropological pedagogy. Instead, we picked notes from one or two ethnographic encounters or a single day of fieldwork to experiment collectively with where they could lead us. The essay that has resulted from this collective feminist classroom is what we see as afeminist‐dividualpiece of pedagogy and writing. We anticipate that it will provide others a hopeful way to begin and sustain intellectual collaborations and writing across scholarly generations by celebrating the potential of small, incomplete, and otherwise uncelebrated pieces of writing.
Elective cesarean delivery at term and its effects on respiratory distress at birth in Japan: The Japan Environment and Children's Study
Authors: Horiuchi Sayaka , Shinohara Ryoji , Otawa Sanae , Kushima Megumi , Akiyama Yuka , Ooka Tadao , Kojima Reiji , Yokomichi Hiroshi , Miyake Kunio , Yamagata Zentaro ,   The Japan Environment and Children's Study Group
Published: October 2021

Background and Aims

Early‐term birth between 37 and 38 weeks of gestation increases the risk of mortality and morbidity. This study investigated the status and impact of early‐term birth among neonates born by cesarean section in Japan.

Methods

All singleton live births that had data of gestational age at birth available in the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), a nationwide birth cohort study launched in 2011, were eligible for this study. Neonates born by cesarean delivery at term without indications for early delivery were included to examine the association between early‐term birth and respiratory distress at birth. The gestational age at birth was categorized as 37 weeks 0 day to 38 weeks 6 days (early‐term), 39 weeks 0 day to 40 weeks 6 day (full‐term), and 41 weeks 0 day to 41 weeks 6 days (late‐term). Respiratory distress at birth included respiratory distress syndrome, transient tachypnea, and difficulty in breathing after birth. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed using logistic regression models with a two‐tailed significance level of 5%. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS, version 9.4, for Windows (SAS Institute, Cary, NC).

Results

In total, 32 078 of 100 011 (32.1%) neonates had early‐term birth. At 37 gestational weeks, 49.7% of the deliveries were via cesarean section, and half of the cesarean deliveries were due to a previous cesarean section. Among the 10 051 neonates born by elective cesarean delivery at term, neonates with early‐term births were more likely to have respiratory distress at birth (adjusted odds ratio: 4.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.70, 10.34) than those born at full term.

Conclusions

Early‐term birth is associated with a high risk of respiratory distress in births involving cesarean delivery without indication for early delivery. There is a need for guidelines for early delivery considering adverse effects of early‐term births.
Prognostic value of gamma‐interferon‐inducible lysosomal thiol reductase expression in female patients diagnosed with breast cancer
Authors: Ye Chunmiao , Zhou Wenzhong , Wang Fei , Yin Gengshen , Zhang Xiaoxia , Kong Lingyu , Gao Zhongcheng , Feng Man , Zhou Chengjun , Sun Dianshui , Wang Lei , Liu Liyuan , Zheng Chao , Xiang Yujuan , Guo Mingming , Huang Shuya , Yu Zhigang
Published: October 2021

Because of the high heterogeneity of breast cancer outcome, identification of novel prognostic biomarkers is critical to improve patient stratification and guide precise treatment. We examined the prognostic value of gamma‐interferon‐inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT) expression in a training set of 416 breast cancer patients and a validation set of 210 patients, and performed functional studies to investigate the functions and underlying mechanisms of GILT on breast cancer prognosis. Our results indicated that high GILT expression in breast cancer cells was associated with improved disease‐free survival (DFS; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.189, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.099‐0.361) and breast cancer‐specific survival (BCSS; HR = 0.187, 95% CI: 0.080‐0.437) of breast cancer patients both in the training set and the external validation set (HR = 0.453, 95% CI: 0.235‐0.873 for DFS, HR = 0.488, 95% CI: 0.245‐0.970 for BCSS). In vitro and in vivo studies showed that GILT overexpression inhibited breast cancer cells proliferation, invasion, migration and tumor formation in nude mice and increased sensitivity of breast cancer cells to standard treatment. Proteomics analysis indicated that GILT inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) and autophagy activation in breast cancer cells, and GILT overexpression‐mediated tumor growth was further enhanced in the presence of autophagy or ROS inhibitors. Our results demonstrate that GILT expression can be effectively used to predict the prognosis and guide treatment strategies of breast cancer patients.
Rational confinement engineering of MOF‐derived carbon‐based electrocatalysts toward CO2 reduction and O2 reduction reactions
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu , Xue Dongping , Jiang Su , Xia Huicong , Yang Yanlin , Yan Wenfu , Hu Jinsong , Zhang Jianan
Published: October 2021

The goal of global carbon peak and neutrality gives an impetus to the utilization of clean energy (e.g., fuel cell) and carbon dioxide (CO2) at a large scale, where the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) are the key reactions via the sustainable system, respectively. As a main precursor for fabricating affordable carbon‐based electrocatalysts with uniformly dispersed active centers and tailorable performances for ORR and CO2RR, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have captured a surge of interest in recent years. Despite the facilitated development of MOF‐derived carbon‐based electrocatalysts by many investigations, it is still plagued by high overpotential and unsatisfied life span, which are greatly determined by the efficient and alterable confinement effect on synthesis and performance. In this review, firstly, the confined synthetic strategies (doping engineering, defect engineering, geometric engineering, etc.) of MOF‐derived carbon‐based electrocatalysts with multi‐sized active centers (atom, atomic clusters and nanoparticles (NPs)) are systematically summarized; secondly, the confinement effect on the interaction of ORR and CO2RR intermediates, as well as the catalytic durability and activity, was discussed from chemical and physical aspects. In the end, the review discusses the remaining challenges and emerging research topics in the future, including support upgradation and catalyst innovation, high selectivity and effective confinement synthesis, in situ and operando characterization techniques, theoretical investigation, and artificial intelligence (AI) assistant. The new understanding and insights into these aspects will guide the rational confinement concept of MOF‐derived carbon‐based electrocatalysts for ORR and CO2RR with optimized performances in terms of confinement engineering and are believed to be helpful for filling the existing gaps between scientific communities and practical use.
Predicted Cardiac Functional Responses to Renal Actions of SGLT2i in the DAPACARD Trial Population: A Mathematical Modeling Analysis
Authors: Yu Hongtao , Basu Sanchita , Tang Weifeng , Penland Robert C. , Greasley Peter J. , Oscarsson Jan , Boulton David W. , Hallow K. Melissa
Published: October 2021

Sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) have been shown to reduce the risk of worsening heart failure (HF) in subjects with HF and a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in multiple clinical trials. The DAPACARD clinical trial was conducted to examine the effects of dapagliflozin on cardiac substrate uptake, myocardial efficiency, and myocardial contractile work in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. As a complement to the clinical study, a mechanistic mathematical model of cardiorenal physiology was used to quantify the influence of established natriuretic/diuretic effects of SGLT2i on cardiac function (myocardial efficiency and global longitudinal strain). Virtual participants reflecting the participant‐level characteristics in the DAPACARD trial were produced by varying model parameters over physiologically plausible ranges. A second virtual population was generated by inducing a state of HFrEF in the DAPACARD virtual participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus for comparison. Cardiac responses to placebo and SGLT2i were simulated over 42 days. Cardiac hemodynamic improvements were predicted in DAPACARD‐HFrEF virtual participants but not in DAPACARD virtual participants. In particular, the natriuresis/diuresis induced by SGLT2i improved the global longitudinal strain and myocardial efficiency in DAPACARD‐HFrEF virtual participants within the first 14 days (change from baseline: global longitudinal strain, –0.95%; and myocardial efficiency, 0.34%), whereas the global longitudinal strain and myocardial efficiency in DAPACARD virtual participants were slightly worse (change from baseline: global longitudinal strain, 0.35%; and myocardial efficiency: –0.01%). The results of the DAPACARD virtual participants modeling were in line with the clinical data but do not preclude additional effects from other mechanisms of SGLT2i.
Antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria: Occurrence, spread, and control
Authors: Jian Zonghui , Zeng Li , Xu Taojie , Sun Shuai , Yan Shixiong , Yang Lan , Huang Ying , Jia Junjing , Dou Tengfei
Published: October 2021

The production and use of antibiotics are becoming increasingly common worldwide, and the problem of antibiotic resistance is increasing alarmingly. Drug‐resistant infections threaten human life and health and impose a heavy burden on the global economy. The origin and molecular basis of bacterial resistance is the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Investigations on ARGs mostly focus on the environments in which antibiotics are frequently used, such as hospitals and farms. This literature review summarizes the current knowledge of the occurrence of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria in nonclinical environments, such as air, aircraft wastewater, migratory bird feces, and sea areas in‐depth, which have rarely been involved in previous studies. Furthermore, the mechanism of action of plasmid and phage during horizontal gene transfer was analyzed, and the transmission mechanism of ARGs was summarized. This review highlights the new mechanisms that enhance antibiotic resistance and the evolutionary background of multidrug resistance; in addition, some promising points for controlling or reducing the occurrence and spread of antimicrobial resistance are also proposed.
Synthesis and characterisation of an iron‐ion‐responsive coating with core–shell electrospun fibres containing a chelation agent
Authors: Song Liying , Shi Hao , Han Peng , Ji Xiaohong , Cheng Qingli
Published: October 2021

A self‐healing coating containing an electrospun nanofibre encapsulating 3,4,5‐trihydroxy benzoic acid cyclohexyl ester (GACE) was prepared. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that the nanofibre had a core–shell structure. The shell thickness of the electrospun fibre was approximately 270 nm, while the core thickness was approximately 380 nm. The self‐healing process of the coating containing GACE nanofibres over a carbon steel surface was simulated in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution for 30 days. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that the synthesised GACE reacted with iron ions and formed a stable Fe–O–C compound, which could repair the scratched coating. The self‐repair performance was evaluated through electrochemical measurements, and then a healing model was developed.
Acoustic Absorption Properties of Polystyrene‐Pyrolytic Pinus Resinosa Composite Foams Prepared by Torsion‐Induced Extrusion
Authors: Jian Ranran , Shahi Peyman , Semeniuk Maria , Tan Jing , Yang Weimin , Sain Mohini
Published: October 2021

A lightweight acoustic composite foams with unique sound absorption feature is reported, that is, the foam acoustic composite demonstrates surprisingly stable sound absorption performance in a wide bandwidth of frequency. The unique acoustic properties are attributed to the highly exfoliated nanolayered biocarbon nucleation, derived from the pyrolytic pinus resinosa, with tailoring the foam structure and properties. Polystyrene (PS) composite foams with porous graphitic biocarbon are obtained by sequestering recycled supercritical carbon dioxide assisted with torsion extrusion technology. Unique design concept is validated and implemented in the torsion‐induced extrusion process, with good mixing and thermal management, offering a suitable environment for the nucleation, uniform growth, and stability of the cells on the foam structures. The presence of porous graphitic nanolayered characteristics of biocarbon in the composition changes the sound insulation behavior from resonant absorber of pure PS closed cell foam to stable acoustic performance over a wide range in high frequency band (3.5–6.4 kHz), while preserving the closed cell structure. This allows the tailoring of cell structures and properties with varying renewable carbon content, so as to better adapt to a broadband sound absorption applications including absorbing panels, anechoic chamber with high accuracy and aircraft acoustic stealth technology.
Characterization of the genetic switch from phage ɸ13 important for Staphylococcus aureus colonization in humans
Authors: Kristensen Camilla S. , Varming Anders K. , Leinweber Helena A. K. , Hammer Karin , Lo Leggio Leila , Ingmer Hanne , Kilstrup Mogens
Published: October 2021

Temperate phages are bacterial viruses that after infection either reside integrated into a bacterial genome as prophages forming lysogens or multiply in a lytic lifecycle. The decision between lifestyles is determined by a switch involving a phage‐encoded repressor, CI, and a promoter region from which lytic and lysogenic genes are divergently transcribed. Here, we investigate the switch of phage ɸ13 from the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. ɸ13 encodes several virulence factors and is prevalent in S. aureus strains colonizing humans. We show that the ɸ13 switch harbors a cI gene, a predicted mor (modulator of repression) gene, and three high‐affinity operator sites binding CI. To quantify the decision between lytic and lysogenic lifestyle, we introduced reporter plasmids that carry the 1.3 kb switch region from ɸ13 with the lytic promoter fused to lacZ into S. aureus and Bacillus subtilis. Analysis of β‐galactosidase expression indicated that decision frequency is independent of host factors. The white “lysogenic” phenotype, which relies on the expression of cI, could be switched to a stable blue “lytic” phenotype by DNA damaging agents. We have characterized lifestyle decisions of phage ɸ13, and our approach may be applied to other temperate phages encoding virulence factors in S. aureus.
Optimizing an equitable micro‐hydropower deployment: Application of a multi‐objective method for rural Indonesia
Authors: Maghfirra Dini , Cohon Jared L. , Jaramillo Paulina , Morgan M. Granger
Published: October 2021

Much of the developing world is still struggling to provide electricity to rural populations. Extending the grid is frequently not feasible or too expensive in rural and remote areas. In such situations, micro‐hydropower (MHP) can be a cost‐effective source of renewable off‐grid electricity and can be easier to implement and more reliable than a number of other generation technologies. This study employs multi‐objective mixed‐integer‐linear programming (MOMILP) to identify nondominated MHP portfolios to meet rural electricity needs across Indonesia. Besides maximizing the new MHP generation capacity within a fixed budget, this study also incorporates equity as an objective. The equity issue becomes crucial to ensure that government resources are deployed in a manner that considers impacts for the entire population. The MOMILP optimizes a weighted objective function that applies different relative weights to the objectives of generation capacity and equity, subject to several constraints on resource availability and capacity shortfall, as well as budget. In this way, we identify solutions on the Pareto frontier for investment in MHP generation in remote Indonesian rural communities. We illustrate the tradeoffs involved in meeting capacity shortfalls with and without considering equity across provinces and identify non‐dominated MHP portfolios that the Indonesian government could implement to increase rural electrification efficiently.
Effect of dielectric parameters on the transformation of operation mode and the energy cost of nitrogen fixation of surface microdischarge in air
Authors: Lu Chen , Chen Xingyu , Wang Yuqi , Zhu Yu , Zou Zhenping , Xiong Zilan
Published: October 2021

In this study, we examine the effect of dielectric parameters (permittivity of the dielectric sheet and thickness of the dielectric sheet ) on the operational mode transformation and energy cost of nitrogen fixation in surface microdischarge (SMD). Three dielectric materials with different thicknesses were used. It was found that has a negative correlation with the power consumption, while a larger could effectively lower the applied voltage for mode transformation and decrease the energy cost. The trend of energy cost has the shape of a checkmark symbol (√), and the lowest energy cost in this investigation was 489.07 GJ/tN. Increasing and reducing could further decrease the energy cost in SMD. Finally, the mechanism was briefly discussed.
Prevalence, variability, and predictors of sinus surgery in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Virgin Frank W. , Thurm Cary , Sanders Don B. , Freeman Alvin J. , Cogen Jonathan , Gamel Breck , Sawicki Greg , Fink Aliza K.
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Chronic rhinosinusitis is common among individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) and has an impact on quality of life. Sinus surgery is a treatment option, but minimal literature exists regarding prevalence and indications.

Methods

Using the linked CF Foundation Patient Registry (CFFPR) – Pediatric Health Information Systems (PHIS) database, we investigated variability in receipt of surgery, predictors of surgery, and time to first surgery. We included individuals less than 18 receiving care between 2006 and 2015 at a CF Foundation care program that is also a PHIS‐participating‐hospital. We used logistic regression to examine predictors of receipt of surgery and a Kaplan–Meier curve to examine time to first surgery among those born 2005–2007.

Results

There were 11,545 children and adolescents and 2156 (18.7%) received at least one surgery. Variation in number of surgeries was observed across hospitals (median: 63 [IQR, 33–110]). There was an inconsistent pattern between receipt of surgery and markers of disease severity; those receiving surgery having increased odds of treatment use and pulmonary exacerbations and decreased odds of lower lung function and body mass index. Among the cohort of young children, 159 (14%) had at least one surgery with a median age at first surgery of 5.6 (IQR, 3.9–7.0).

Conclusions

The use of sinus surgery is frequent, but variable, among children and adolescents. Clinical factors are associated with receipt of surgery, but further understanding is needed on other factors that impact variability in use. Our study indicates the need for additional evaluation of the management of CF‐related CRS and indications for surgery.
Pesticide spraying robot for precision agriculture: A categorical literature review and future trends
Authors: Meshram Ashish T. , Vanalkar Anil V. , Kalambe Kavita B. , Badar Avinash M.
Published: October 2021

Pesticide spraying is one of the risky and very essential task in agriculture to protect plants from harmful organisms. Many farmers are used manual pesticide spraying devices that they carry these devices on their shoulders and spray on the entire plant. Due to this, harmful pesticide chemicals spread into the air and may enter into the body of farmers and farm workers through the breathing system and mostly affect their body parts even, so many farmers lost their life. For this serious problem, we present the best solution to perform this task without the intervention of man is to utilize a robotic system in an agriculture. This paper analyses the state‐of‐the‐art reviews in the development of autonomous pesticide spraying robots that are divided into four main categories; platform mobility and steering, localization and navigation control, sensing and target detection, and pesticide spraying arrangement. This paper also focused on the efficient methodology that can be used for future perspectives to enhance pesticide spraying operations in an agriculture. In this paper, to achieve target spraying operation, a suitable navigation control algorithm for platform movement and an efficient trajectory planning algorithm for shortest link movement are designed which covers the shortest distance to visit all targeted pests on the plant. This technique will help to reduce the overdose of toxic pesticides hence minimize the wastage of pesticides and also control its dangerous effects on the human being and on the environment.
Feline acquired thymoma‐associated myasthenia gravis managed with surgery and therapeutic plasma exchange
Authors: Dörfelt Stefanie , Fischer Andrea , Meyer‐Lindenberg Andrea , Dörfelt René
Published: October 2021

A 3‐year‐old cat with thymoma‐associated myasthenia gravis underwent thymectomy. Skeletal muscle weakness deteriorated after surgery, and the cat became non‐ambulatory tetraparetic. A higher dose of pyridostigmine failed to improve the weakness. Therapeutic plasma exchange was performed twice, 4 and 8 weeks after surgery, with continued pyridostigmine treatment. Improvement in clinical signs was noted after each therapeutic plasma exchange. Improvement was short‐lasting after the first and long‐lasting after the second session. The dose of pyridostigmine was reduced 4 and 21 months after thymectomy without relapse. Thirty‐two months after thymectomy, the cat remained in clinical remission with continued pyridostigmine treatment, but serum anti‐acetylcholine receptor antibody titre remained elevated (2.0 nmol/L). This is the first report of therapeutic plasma exchange in a cat with acquired thymoma‐associated myasthenia gravis. Therapeutic plasma exchange may be considered an additional immune‐modulating option to medical treatment in cats with acquired myasthenia gravis.
A generalization of decomposition in orbifolds
Authors: Robbins Daniel G. , Sharpe Eric , Vandermeulen Thomas
Published: October 2021

Abstract

This paper describes a generalization of decomposition in orbifolds. In general terms, decomposition states that two-dimensional orbifolds and gauge theories whose gauge groups have trivially-acting subgroups decompose into disjoint unions of theories. However, decomposition can be, at least naively, broken in orbifolds if the orbifold has discrete torsion in the trivially-acting subgroup. (Formally, this breaks finite global one-form symmetries.) Nevertheless, even in such cases, one still sees rudiments of decomposition. In this paper, we generalize decomposition in orbifolds to include such examples of discrete torsion, which we check in numerous examples. Our analysis includes as special cases (and in one sense generalizes) quantum symmetries of abelian orbifolds.
NLO electroweak potentials for minimal dark matter and beyond
Authors: Urban Kai
Published: October 2021

Abstract

We calculate the one-loop correction to the static potential induced by γ, W and Z-exchange at tree-level for arbitrary heavy standard model multiplets. We find that the result obeys a “Casimir-like” scaling, making the NLO correction to the potential a “low-energy” property of the electroweak gauge bosons. Furthermore, we discuss the phenomenology of the NLO potentials, the analytically known asymptotic limits and provide fitting functions in position space for easy use of the results.
Horizon acoustics of the GHS black hole and the spectrum of AdS2
Authors: Porfyriadis Achilleas P. , Remmen Grant N.
Published: October 2021

Abstract

We uncover a novel structure in Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton gravity: an AdS2 × S2 solution in string frame, which can be obtained by a near-horizon limit of the extreme GHS black hole with dilaton coupling λ ≠ 1. Unlike the Bertotti-Robinson spacetime, our solution has independent length scales for the AdS2 and S2, with ratio controlled by λ. We solve the perturbation problem for this solution, finding the independently propagating towers of states in terms of superpositions of gravitons, photons, and dilatons and their associated effective potentials. These potentials describe modes obeying conformal quantum mechanics, with couplings that we compute, and can be recast as giving the spectrum of the effective masses of the modes. By dictating the conformal weights of boundary operators, this spectrum provides crucial data for any future construction of a holographic dual to these AdS2 × S2 configurations.
An identification system based on the explicit isomorphism problem
Authors: Kiss Sándor Z. , Kutas Péter
Published: October 2021

We propose a new identification system based on algorithmic problems related to computing isomorphisms between central simple algebras. We design a statistical zero knowledge protocol which relies on the hardness of computing isomorphisms between orders in division algebras which generalizes a protocol by Hartung and Schnorr, which relies on the hardness of integral equivalence of quadratic forms.
Clinical Prediction of High-Turnover Bone Disease After Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Keronen Satu M. , Martola Leena A. L. , Finne Patrik , Burton Inari S. , Tong Xiaoyu F. , Kröger Heikki P. , Honkanen Eero O.
Published: October 2021

Bone histomorphometric analysis is the most accurate method for the evaluation of bone turnover, but non-invasive tools are also required. We studied whether bone biomarkers can predict high bone turnover determined by bone histomorphometry after kidney transplantation. We retrospectively evaluated the results of bone biopsy specimens obtained from kidney transplant recipients due to the clinical suspicion of high bone turnover between 2000 and 2015. Bone biomarkers were acquired concurrently. Of 813 kidney transplant recipients, 154 (19%) biopsies were taken at a median of 28 (interquartile range, 18–70) months after engraftment. Of 114 patients included in the statistical analysis, 80 (70%) presented with high bone turnover. Normal or low bone turnover was detected in 34 patients (30%). For discriminating high bone turnover from non-high, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, and ionized calcium had the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of 0.704, 0.661, and 0.619, respectively. The combination of these markers performed better with an AUC of 0.775. The positive predictive value for high turnover at a predicted probability cutoff of 90% was 95% while the negative predictive value was 35%. This study concurs with previous observations that hyperparathyroidism with or without hypercalcemia does not necessarily imply high bone turnover in kidney transplant recipients. The prediction of high bone turnover can be improved by considering alkaline phosphatase levels, as presented in the logistic regression model. If bone biopsy is not readily available, this model may serve as clinically available tool in recognizing high turnover after engraftment.
CD4 + T cells are found within endemic Burkitt lymphoma and modulate Burkitt lymphoma precursor cell viability and expression of pathogenically relevant Epstein–Barr virus genes
Authors: Sidorov Semjon , Fux Lara , Steiner Katja , Bounlom Samyo , Traxel Sabrina , Azzi Tarik , Berisha Arbeneshe , Berger Christoph , Bernasconi Michele , Niggli Felix K. , Perner Yvonne , Pather Sugeshnee , Kempf Werner , Nadal David , Bürgler Simone
Published: October 2021

Endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL) is an aggressive B cell cancer characterized by an IgH/c-myc translocation and the harboring of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). Evidence accumulates that CD4 + T cells might contribute to eBL pathogenesis. Here, we investigate the presence of CD4 + T cells in primary eBL tissue and their potential dichotomous impact on an EBV-infected pre-eBL cell model using ex vivo material and in vitro co-cultures. In addition, we establish a novel method to study the effect of IgH/c-myc translocation in primary B cells by employing a CRISPR/Cas9 knock-in approach to introduce and tag de novo translocation. We unprecedently document that CD4 + T cells are present in primary eBL tumor tissue. Furthermore, we demonstrate that CD4 + T cells on the one hand suppress eBL development by killing pre-eBL cells lacking IgH/c-myc translocation in vitro and on the other hand indirectly promote eBL development by inducing crucial EBV Latency III to Latency I switching in pre-eBL cells. Finally, we show that while the mere presence of an IgH/c-myc translocation does not suffice to escape CD4 + T-cell-mediated killing in vitro, the CD4 + T-cell-mediated suppression of EBV’s Latency III program in vivo may allow cells harboring an IgH/c-myc translocation and additional mutations to evade immune control and proliferate by means of deregulated c-myc activity, resulting in neoplasia. Thus, our study highlights the dichotomous effects of CD4 + T cells and the mechanisms involved in eBL pathogenesis, suggests mechanisms of their impact on eBL progression, and provides a novel in vitro model for further investigation of IgH/c-myc translocation.
Prognostic Impact of Indicators of Systemic Inflammation and the Nutritional Status of Patients with Resected Carcinoma of the Ampulla of Vater: A Single‐Center Retrospective Study
Authors: Shimizu Yuji , Ashida Ryo , Sugiura Teiichi , Okamura Yukiyasu , Ito Takaaki , Yamamoto Yusuke , Ohgi Katsuhisa , Otsuka Shimpei , Notsu Akifumi , Uesaka Katsuhiko
Published: October 2021

Background

Several indicators of systemic inflammation and nutritional status were recently shown to serve as novel prognostic factors for certain cancers. Here, we aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of preoperative indicators of systemic inflammation and nutritional status associated with the survival of patients with resected ampulla of Vater carcinoma (AC).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the records of 91 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for AC from January 2002 through December 2018. Indices for systemic inflammation and nutritional status (Systemic immune‐inflammation index [SII], Prognostic nutritional index [PNI], modified Glasgow prognostic score [mGPS], and Controlling nutritional status score [CONUT]) were determined using preoperative blood tests. Clinicopathological factors and these indices were analyzed to identify predictors of overall survival (OS).

Results

The median preoperative SII and PNI values were 456.7 and 47.5, respectively, and their optimal cut‐off values were 670.0 and 50.0, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that high SII, low PNI, mGPS ≥ 1, and malnutrition, assessed using the CONUT, were significant predictors of shorter OS. Multivariate analysis revealed that high SII (HR = 2.71, p = 0.023) and malnutrition assessed using the CONUT (hazard ratio = 3.98, p = 0.006) were independent predictors of shorter OS.

Conclusion

SII and the CONUT predicted the survival of patients with AC after radical resection. These indicators are easily calculated using preoperative blood tests and may contribute to the development of improved strategies to treat AC.
Systemische Therapie und soziale Ängste im Erwachsenenalter
Authors: Hunger-Schoppe Christina , Immel Nina , Braus Niels , von Oepen Rebecca , Schweitzer Jochen
Published: October 2021

Hintergrund

Soziale Angststörungen zählen zu den häufigsten Angststörungen in der Allgemeinbevölkerung. Der Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über verschiedene systemtherapeutische Ansätze zur Behandlung sozialer Ängste und die Evidenz störungsspezifischer Systemischer Therapie bei diagnostizierten sozialen Angststörungen.

Material und Methoden

Entlang zuvor festgelegter Kriterien und über elektronische Suchmaschinen (PsycINFO, PSYNDEX, Google Scholar) erfolgte eine Auswahl systemtherapeutischer Arbeiten zur Behandlung sozialer Ängste und zur Erfassung der Wirksamkeit bei der systemtherapeutischen Behandlung diagnostizierter sozialer Angststörungen.

Ergebnisse

Es fanden sich 6 Ansätze einer Systemischen Therapie sozialer Ängste und 3 Wirksamkeitsstudien zu diagnostizierten sozialen Angststörungen. Die systemtherapeutischen Ansätze fokussieren ressourcenorientierte, problemaktualisierende, symptomverschreibende und systemtherapeutisch-integrative Interventionen. Die Wirksamkeitsstudien berichten Vorteile der Systemischen Therapie gegenüber den Vergleichsbedingungen mit Blick auf v. a. die patientenbezogene Symptomreduktion sozialer Ängste. In einem Fall wurde auch die bezugspersonenbezogene Reduktion psychosozialer Belastungen erfasst. Es werden zumeist Systemische Therapien im Einzelsetting und weniger im Mehrpersonensetting realisiert.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Systemische Therapie verfügt über vielfältige und effektive Ansätze zur Behandlung sozialer Ängste und diagnostizierter sozialer Angststörungen. Zukünftige Forschung und Praxis sollte sich verstärkt der symptom- und gleichfalls systembezogenen Perspektive auf betroffene soziale Systeme unter Einbezug aller bedeutsamen Systemmitglieder widmen. Diese Betrachtungsweise sollte auch stärker in systemtherapeutischen Ansätzen im Mehrpersonensetting zum Ausdruck kommen.
Survivable hypothermia or torpor in a wild-living rat: rare insights broaden our understanding of endothermic physiology
Authors: Nowack Julia , Turbill Christopher
Published: October 2021

Maintaining a high and stable body temperature as observed in endothermic mammals and birds is energetically costly. Thus, it is not surprising that we discover more and more heterothermic species that can reduce their energetic needs during energetic bottlenecks through the use of torpor. However, not all heterothermic animals use torpor on a regular basis. Torpor may also be important to an individual’s probability of survival, and hence fitness, when used infrequently. We here report the observation of a single, ~ 5.5 h long hypothermic bout with a decrease in body temperature by 12 °C in the native Australian bush rat (Rattus fuscipes). Our data suggest that bush rats are able to rewarm from a body temperature of 24 °C, albeit with a rewarming rate lower than that expected on the basis of their body mass. Heterothermy, i.e. the ability to withstand and overcome periods of reduced body temperature, is assumed to be an evolutionarily ancestral (plesiomorphic) trait. We thus argue that such rare hypothermic events in species that otherwise appear to be strictly homeothermic could be heterothermic rudiments, i.e. a less derived form of torpor with limited capacity for rewarming. Importantly, observations of rare and extreme thermoregulatory responses by wild animals are more likely to be discovered with long-term data sets and may not only provide valuable insight about the physiological capability of a population, but can also help us to understand the constraints and evolutionary pathways of different phenologies.
Evaluation of ultrastructural alterations of glomerular basement membrane and podocytes in glomeruli by low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Lan Ping , Kang Dedong , Mii Akiko , Endo Yoko , Tagawa Masako , Yu Xiaoyang , Lyu Jia , Xie Liyi , Shimizu Akira , Terasaki Mika
Published: October 2021

Background

Low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy (LV-SEM) is applied to diagnostic renal pathology.

Methods

To demonstrate the usefulness of LV-SEM and to clarify the optimal conditions of pathology samples, we investigated the alterations of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and podocytes in control and experimental active Heymann nephritis (AHN) rats by LV-SEM.

Results

On week 15 following induction of AHN, spike formation on GBM with diffuse deposition of IgG and C3 developed. Using LV-SEM, diffuse crater-like protrusions were clearly noted three-dimensionally (3D) on surface of GBM in the same specimens of light microscopy (LM) and immunofluorescence (IF) studies only after removal coverslips or further adding periodic acid-silver methenamine (PAM) staining. These 3D ultrastructural findings of GBM surface could be detected in PAM-stained specimens by LV-SEM, although true GBM surface findings could not be obtained in acellular glomeruli, because some subepithelial deposits remained on surface of GBM. Adequate thickness was 1.5–5 μm for 10% formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and 5–10 μm for the unfixed frozen sections. The foot processes and their effacement of podocytes could be observed by LV-SEM using 10%FFPE specimens with platinum blue (Pt-blue) staining or double staining of PAM and Pt-blue. These findings were obtained more large areas in 2.5% glutaraldehyde-fixed paraffin-embedded (2.5%GFPE) specimens.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that LV-SEM is a useful assessment tool for evaluating the alterations of GBM and podocytes in renal pathology using routine LM and IF specimens, as well as 2.5%GFPE specimens.
Functionalization of Electrospun Polycaprolactone Scaffolds with Matrix-Binding Osteocyte-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Promotes Osteoblastic Differentiation and Mineralization
Authors: Nieuwoudt Mechiel , Woods Ian , Eichholz Kian F. , Martins Carolina , McSweeney Kate , Shen Nian , Hoey David A.
Published: October 2021

Synthetic polymeric materials have demonstrated great promise for bone tissue engineering based on their compatibility with a wide array of scaffold-manufacturing techniques, but are limited in terms of the bioactivity when compared to naturally occurring materials. To enhance the regenerative properties of these materials, they are commonly functionalised with bioactive factors to guide growth within the developing tissue. Extracellular matrix vesicles (EVs) play an important role in facilitating endochondral ossification during long bone development and have recently emerged as important mediators of cell-cell communication coordinating bone regeneration, and thus represent an ideal target to enhance the regenerative properties of synthetic scaffolds. Therefore, in this paper we developed tools and protocols to enable the attachment of MLO-Y4 osteocyte-derived EVs onto electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds for bone repair. Initially, we optimize a method for the functionalization of PCL materials with collagen type-1 and fibronectin, inspired by the behaviour of matrix vesicles during endochondral ossification, and demonstrate that this is an effective method for the adhesion of EVs to the material surface. We then used this functionalization process to attach osteogenic EVs, collected from mechanically stimulated MLO-Y4 osteocytes, to collagen-coated electrospun PCL scaffolds. The EV-functionalized scaffold promoted osteogenic differentiation (measured by increased ALP activity) and mineralization of the matrix. In particular, EV-functionalised scaffolds exhibited significant increases in matrix mineralization particularly at earlier time points compared to uncoated and collagen-coated controls. This approach to matrix-based adhesion of EVs provides a mechanism for incorporating vesicle signalling into polyester scaffolds and demonstrates the potential of osteocyte derived EVs to enhance the rate of bone tissue regeneration.
Examining Mediators of the Relationship Between Community Mobilization and HIV Incidence Among Young South African Women Participating in the HPTN 068 Study Cohort
Authors: Leddy Anna M. , Neilands Torsten B. , Twine Rhian , Kahn Kathleen , Ahern Jennifer , Pettifor Audrey , Lippman Sheri A.
Published: October 2021

We previously demonstrated that village community mobilization (CM) was associated with reduced HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in South Africa. Little remains known about the mechanisms linking CM to HIV incidence. Using longitudinal data from 2292 AGYW in the HPTN 068 cohort (2011–2017), we examined whether school attendance, pro-social engagement, and hope for the future mediated the relationship between CM and HIV incidence. CM was measured at the village-level via two population-based surveys (2012 and 2014). Mediators and incident HIV infection were measured through HPTN 068 surveys and HIV testing. Mediation analyses were conducted using Mplus8.5, adjusting for village-level clustering and covariates. Hope for the future mediated the relationship between CM and HIV incidence (indirect effect-RR 0.98, bias-corrected 95% CI 0.96, 0.99). Pro-social engagement and school attendance did not demonstrate indirect effects. CM reduces AGYW’s HIV acquisition risk, in part, by engendering hope.
Unsupervised learning in images and audio to produce neural receptive fields: a primer and accessible notebook
Authors: Urs Namratha , Behpour Sahar , Georgaras Angie , Albert Mark V.
Published: October 2021

Sensory processing relies on efficient computation driven by a combination of low-level unsupervised, statistical structural learning, and high-level task-dependent learning. In the earliest stages of sensory processing, sparse and independent coding strategies are capable of modeling neural processing using the same coding strategy with only a change in the input (e.g., grayscale images, color images, and audio). We present a consolidated review of Independent Component Analysis (ICA) as an efficient neural coding scheme with the ability to model early visual and auditory neural processing. We created a self-contained, accessible Jupyter notebook using Python to demonstrate the efficient coding principle for different modalities following a consistent five-step strategy. For each modality, derived receptive field models from natural and non-natural inputs are contrasted, demonstrating how neural codes are not produced when the inputs sufficiently deviate from those animals were evolved to process. Additionally, the demonstration shows that ICA produces more neurally-appropriate receptive field models than those based on common compression strategies, such as Principal Component Analysis. The five-step strategy not only produces neural-like models but also promotes reuse of code to emphasize the input-agnostic nature where each modality can be modeled with only a change in inputs. This notebook can be used to readily observe the links between unsupervised machine learning strategies and early sensory neuroscience, improving our understanding of flexible data-driven neural development in nature and future applications.