bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Colonisers of the dark: biostalactite‐associated metazoans from “lu Lampiùne” submarine cave (Apulia, Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: Rosso Antonietta , Sanfilippo Rossana , Guido Adriano , Gerovasileiou Vasilis , Taddei Ruggiero Emma , Belmonte Genuario
Published: January 2021

Metazoan/microbial bioconstructions, or biostalactites (BSTs), discovered in submarine caves of Apulia c. 20 years ago—and later found in several shallow‐water Mediterranean caves—are receiving increasing attention in the last years. Examination of a single BST from the “lu Lampiùne” cave (Apulia), at the limit between the Adriatic and the Ionian seas, has been addressed for the first time in this paper. The BST started growing at c. 6,000 years ago with a rapid accretion of large‐sized serpulids (Protula), slowing down since about 3,000–4,000 years ago with a shift in main bioconstructors, probably caused by environmental changes. The present‐day community on the outer BST surface is dominated by skeletonised epibionts, mostly small‐sized serpulids, bryozoans and foraminifers, which contribute carbonate to the BST growth, by encrusting sponges, and by a few endobionts, including boring bivalves and insinuating sponges. New data remarkably increase biodiversity known for the “lu Lampiùne” cave and the cave habitat in the region. Thirty‐five taxa (16 bryozoans, 10 serpulids, 3 brachiopods, 2 foraminifers, 2 sponges, 1 bivalve and 1 cirriped) are recorded for the first time from Apulian marine caves, highlighting the need for further research in the area. In addition, the BST‐associated community seems to differ from those of individual BSTs from other Mediterranean caves, revealing the individuality of these communities.
Intraspecific variation in symbiont density in an insect–microbe symbiosis
Authors: Parker Benjamin J. , Hrček Jan , McLean Ailsa H. C. , Brisson Jennifer A. , Godfray H. Charles J.
Published: January 2021

Many insects host vertically transmitted microbes, which can confer benefits to their hosts but are costly to maintain and regulate. A key feature of these symbioses is variation: for example, symbiont density can vary among host and symbiont genotypes. However, the evolutionary forces maintaining this variation remain unclear. We studied variation in symbiont density using the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and the bacterium Regiella insecticola, a symbiont that can protect its host against fungal pathogens. We found that relative symbiont density varies both between two Regiella phylogenetic clades and among aphid “biotypes.” Higher density symbiont infections are correlated with stronger survival costs, but variation in density has little effect on the protection Regiella provides against fungi. Instead, we found that in some aphid genotypes, a dramatic decline in symbiont density precedes the loss of a symbiont infection. Together, our data suggest that the optimal density of a symbiont infection is likely different from the perspective of aphid and microbial fitness. Regiella might prevent loss by maintaining high within‐host densities, but hosts do not appear to benefit from higher symbiont numbers and may be advantaged by losing costly symbionts in certain environments. The standing variation in symbiont density observed in natural populations could therefore be maintained by antagonistic coevolutionary interactions between hosts and their symbiotic microbes.
The prognostic significance of clinicopathological features in meningiomas: Microscopic brain invasion can predict patient outcome in otherwise benign meningiomas
Authors: Banan Rouzbeh , Abbetmeier‐Basse Merle , Hong Bujung , Dumitru Claudia A. , Sahm Felix , Nakamura Makoto , Krauss Joachim K. , Hartmann Christian
Published: January 2021

Aims

Brain invasion (BI) was firstly defined as a single criterion of atypia in otherwise benign meningiomas in the revised fourth edition of 2016 WHO classification of brain tumours after being previously inconsistently addressed. However, recent studies have raised doubts about the prognostic significance of BI in otherwise benign meningiomas. In our study, we investigate the reproducibility of such a prognostic effect.

Methods

We identified two cohorts one consisting of 483 patients with meningioma WHO grade I (M°I) or atypical meningioma WHO grade II (M°II) from Hannover Medical School and the other including atypical meningiomas defined according to the classical WHO criteria (M°IIb) from the University Hospital Heidelberg. Follow‐up data with a median observation time of 38.2 months were available from 308 cases. These included 243 M°I and 65 M°II patients with the latter group consisting of 25 patients with otherwise benign meningiomas with BI (M°IIa) and 40 with M°IIb.

Results

A significant difference of progression‐free interval (PFI) was found between patients with M°I and M°II, M°I and M°IIa and those with M°I and M°IIb of both cohorts and each separately. However, PFI of M°IIa and M°IIb patients showed no significant difference. In the multivariate regression analysis adjusted for M°I/M°IIa versus M°IIb, sex, age, extent of resection and tumour location, BI exhibited the strongest risk of relapse (Hazard ratio: 4.95) serving as an independent predictor of PFI (p = 0.002).

Conclusions

Our results clearly support the definition of BI as a single criterion of atypia in WHO classification of 2016.
Nationalism and the lost homeland: The case of Greece
Authors: Koulos Thanos
Published: January 2021

As evidenced by the radical changes to state organisation, legitimacy and the international order in the past couple of centuries with the development of nationalist ideology, nationalism inherently carries a spatial dimension that translates into an assertion for control of land. This way, it transforms the land to an ancestral national homeland rightfully belonging to ‘the nation’. But what if that land was lost to another nation? Embarking from Anthony Smith's ethno‐symbolist approach on the construction of national homelands, this article will attempt a theoretical approach on the construction of thelostnational homelands. These are usually cases where military defeats led to mass expulsions of populations from their ancestral lands, while nationalist ideologies appropriated them aslostnational homelands. The main argument is that the idea of the lost homelands has turned into a symbol of these nationalist ideologies and a constituent element of the respective national identities. Drawing from Greek perceptions of their lost homelands, this article will explore the mechanisms of the nationalisation of space process that elaborated the nationalisation of those homelands even after they became ‘lost’ for the Greek nation. This article contributes to the studies of the spatial dimensions of national identities, the effects of forced population transfers in identity politics and the creation of national myths and symbols.
Temperature and pH define the realised niche space of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Authors: Davison John , Moora Mari , Semchenko Marina , Adenan Sakeenah Binte , Ahmed Talaat , Akhmetzhanova Asem A. , Alatalo Juha M. , Al‐Quraishy Saleh , Andriyanova Elena , Anslan Sten , Bahram Mohammad , Batbaatar Amgaa , Brown Charlotte , Bueno C. Guillermo , Cahill James , Cantero Juan José , Casper Brenda B. , Cherosov Mikhail , Chideh Saida , Coelho Ana P. , Coghill Matthew , Decocq Guillaume , Dudov Sergey , Fabiano Ezequiel Chimbioputo , Fedosov Vladimir E. , Fraser Lauchlan , Glassman Sydney I. , Helm Aveliina , Henry Hugh A. L. , Hérault Bruno , Hiiesalu Indrek , Hiiesalu Inga , Hozzein Wael N. , Kohout Petr , Kõljalg Urmas , Koorem Kadri , Laanisto Lauri , Mander Ülo , Mucina Ladislav , Munyampundu Jean‐Pierre , Neuenkamp Lena , Niinemets Ülo , Nyamukondiwa Casper , Oja Jane , Onipchenko Vladimir , Pärtel Meelis , Phosri Cherdchai , Põlme Sergei , Püssa Kersti , Ronk Argo , Saitta Alessandro , Semboli Olivia , Sepp Siim‐Kaarel , Seregin Alexey , Sudheer Surya , Peña‐Venegas Clara P. , Paz Claudia , Vahter Tanel , Vasar Martti , Veraart Annelies J. , Tedersoo Leho , Zobel Martin , Öpik Maarja
Published: January 2021

The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are a globally distributed group of soil organisms that play critical roles in ecosystem function. However, the ecological niches of individual AM fungal taxa are poorly understood.

We collected > 300 soil samples from natural ecosystems worldwide and modelled the realised niches of AM fungal virtual taxa (VT; approximately species‐level phylogroups).

We found that environmental and spatial variables jointly explained VT distribution worldwide, with temperature and pH being the most important abiotic drivers, and spatial effects generally occurring at local to regional scales. While dispersal limitation could explain some variation in VT distribution, VT relative abundance was almost exclusively driven by environmental variables. Several environmental and spatial effects on VT distribution and relative abundance were correlated with phylogeny, indicating that closely related VT exhibit similar niche optima and widths. Major clades within the Glomeraceae exhibited distinct niche optima, Acaulosporaceae generally had niche optima in low pH and low temperature conditions, and Gigasporaceae generally had niche optima in high precipitation conditions.

Identification of the realised niche space occupied by individual and phylogenetic groups of soil microbial taxa provides a basis for building detailed hypotheses about how soil communities respond to gradients and manipulation in ecosystems worldwide.
Micro‐marsupialization technique with suture thread modification for improving the management of oral mucoceles and ranulas: A case series
Authors: de Arruda José Alcides Almeida , Jácome‐Santos Humberto , Kato Camila de Nazaré Alves de Oliveira , de Noronha Mariana Saturnino , do Amaral Márcio Bruno Figueiredo , Silva Tarcília Aparecida , Mesquita Ricardo Alves
Published: January 2021

Aim

Micro‐marsupialization is a technique that can be applied in the treatment of mucoceles located on the floor of the mouth (ranula), lower lip or ventral surface of the tongue. The technique is simple, low cost, little invasive and consists of using sutures to promote mucous drainage. Absorbable sutures may have advantages over regular silk sutures. Herein, we report a case series of oral mucoceles and ranulas treated by the micro‐marsupialization technique using synthetic absorbable suture thread.

Material and methods

The convenience sample consisted of five individuals, three males and two females.

Results

Three individuals had a clinical diagnosis of oral mucoceles and two of ranulas. The treatment resulted in the resolution of all cases. Although there was a slight accumulation of plaque, no signs of inflammatory reaction, pain, bleeding, or recurrence were observed after at least 30 months of follow‐up.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that the use of absorbable suture thread during micro‐marsupialization can be beneficial, mainly because of its similar performance compared to conventional silk suture thread, without the need for removal.
Lessons from low seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in schoolchildren: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Szépfalusi Zsolt , Schmidthaler Klara , Sieber Justyna , Kopanja Sonja , Götzinger Florian , Schoof Anja , Hoz Jakub , Willinger Birgit , Makristathis Athanasios , Weseslindtner Lukas , Stiasny Karin , Bohle Barbara , Krotka Pavla , Graf Alexandra , Frischer Thomas
Published: January 2021

Background

Children are discussed as hidden SARS‐CoV‐2 virus reservoir because of predominantly mild or even asymptomatic course of disease. The objective of this cross‐sectional study in May‐July 2020 was to assess the prevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies and virus RNA in schoolchildren, consistent with previous infection by contact tracing.

Methods

School authorities approached parents for voluntary participation. Interested families were contacted by the study team. A nasal and oropharyngeal swab, a blood sample, and a questionnaire were employed. Primary endpoint was the frequency of SARS‐CoV‐2 real‐time PCR (RT‐PCR) and antibody‐positive children. Antibody positivity was assessed by a highly sensitive first‐line ELISA, and a neutralization assay and two other immunoassays as confirmatory assays.

Results

Of 2069 children (median age 13 years, IQR 10‐15), 2 cases (0.1%) tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA and 26 cases (1.3%) tested positive for specific antibodies. SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific antibodies exhibited detectable virus‐neutralizing activity in 92% (24 of 26 samples). Seropositivity was associated with a history of mild clinical symptoms in 14 children (53.8%), while 12 children (46.2%) remained asymptomatic. Among 13 seropositive children being tested concomitantly with their siblings, only one pair of siblings was seropositive. Contact tracing revealed adult family members and school teachers as potential index cases.

Conclusion

In schoolchildren, the infection rate with SARS‐CoV‐2 is low and associated with a mild or asymptomatic course of disease. Virus spreading seemed to occur more likely in intergenerational contacts than among siblings in the same household. The presence of neutralizing SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in children may reflect protective adaptive immunity.
Diagnosing Omenn syndrome
Authors: Cutts Louise , Bakshi Arti , Walsh Maeve , Parslew Richard , Eustace Karen
Published: January 2021

Omenn syndrome is a rare combined immunodeficiency mostly associated with RAG1 and RAG2 mutations; the clinical manifestations are well‐described and include neonatal erythroderma. Mortality due to opportunistic infections is a serious risk, and a timely diagnosis with a skin biopsy is an important part of the diagnostic workup. We wish to highlight key clinical features of Omenn syndrome and discuss the relevance of a skin biopsy.
Facial hemihypertrophy in a girl with sturge‐weber syndrome: Treatment with oral sirolimus
Authors: Giacaman Aniza , Salinas Sanz José Antonio , Navarro Noguera Samuel , Lastra Rodríguez Juan , Montis Palos María Concepción , Martín‐Santiago Ana
Published: January 2021

In the last few years, the use of oral sirolimus has shown promising results in the treatment of some complex vascular anomalies, and recently, it has been used in patients with Sturge‐Weber syndrome (SWS). We present the case of an 11‐year‐old girl with the diagnosis of SWS and hemifacial overgrowth treated with oral sirolimus. Throughout the eight months of follow‐up, improvement of the port‐wine birthmark, intraocular pressure, and neurocognitive development was noted. The mTOR inhibitors may be useful in the treatment of some patients with SWS.
Beliefs about sexuality and their associations with sexual passion
Authors: Hanna‐Walker Veronica , Busby Dean M.
Published: January 2021

Beliefs that individuals bring into their relationships about sexuality can influence sexual passion. In the first study to comprehensively analyze this association, we assessed how sexual destiny and growth beliefs and sexual sanctification influenced harmonious, obsessive, and inhibited passion. Data were collected from a national sample of couples (N = 482 dyads). Utilizing actor/partner interdependence model, we found that men and women's sexual growth beliefs and sexual sanctification predicted their own and their partner's harmonious sexual passion. Men and women's sexual sanctification had a strong association with their own levels of obsessive passion. Sexual destiny beliefs of men and women predicted their own levels of obsessive passion.
The mechanism of 5‐aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy in promoting endoplasmic reticulum stress in the treatment of HR‐HPV‐infected HeLa cells
Authors: Li Zhijia , Teng Muzhou , Wang Yajie , Wang Qi , Feng Yingjun , Xiao Zixuan , Li Changxing , Zeng Kang
Published: January 2021

Background

5‐aminoketovaleric acid, as a precursor of the strong photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), mainly enters the mitochondria after entering the cell, and the formed PpIX is also mainly localized in the mitochondria. So at present the research on the mechanism of 5‐aminoketovalerate photodynamic therapy (ALA‐PDT) mainly focuses on its impact on mitochondria. There are few reports on whether ALA‐PAT can affect the endoplasmic reticulum and trigger endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS).

Aims/Objectives

Here we investigated the effects of ALA‐PDT on endoplasmic reticulum and its underlying mechanisms in high‐risk human papillomavirus (HR‐HPV) infection.

Materials and Methods

The human cervical cancer cell line HeLa (containing whole genome of HR‐HPV18) was treated with ALAPDT, and cell viability, ROS production, the level of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm and apoptosis were evaluated by CCK8, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry, respectively. The protein expression of the markers of ERS and autophagy and CamKKβ‐AMPK pathway was examined by western blot.

Results

The results showed that ALA‐PDT inhibited cell viability of HeLa cells in vitro; ALA‐PDT induced autophagy in HeLa cells ; ALA‐PDT induced autophagy via the Ca2+‐CamKKβ‐AMPK pathway, which could be suppressed by the inhibition of ERS;ALA‐PDT induced ERS‐specific apoptosis via the activation of caspase 12.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that ALA‐PDT could exert a killing effect by inducing HeLa cell apoptosis, including endoplasmic reticulum‐specific apoptosis. Meanwhile, ERS via the Ca2+ ‐CamKKβ‐AMPK pathway promoted the occurrence of autophagy in HeLa cells. Inhibition of autophagy could increase the apoptosis rate of HeLa cells after ALA‐PDT, suggesting that autophagy may be one of the mechanisms of PDT resistance; The Ca2+‐CamKKβ‐AMPK pathway and autophagy may be targets to improve the killing effect of ALA‐PDT in treating HR‐HPV infection.
Physiological and metabolic adjustments in the xero‐halophyte Haloxylon salicornicum conferring drought tolerance
Authors: Panda Ashok , Rangani Jaykumar , Parida Asish Kumar
Published: January 2021

Drought is one of the most catastrophic abiotic stresses that affects global food production severely. The present work investigates the metabolic and physiological adaptation mechanisms in the xero‐halophyte Haloxylon salicornicum to counter the effects of drought. This xero‐halophyte can withstand a prolonged drought period of 14 days and recovered within 7 days of irrigation with minimal effects of drought on growth and physiological parameters. Photosynthetic parameters such as PN, gs, and E decreased significantly, whereas WUE increased under drought condition. Drought induces a significant decline in the Fv/Fm ratio. However, the value of Fv/Fm ratio successfully recovered within 7 days of the recovery period. Differential regulations of various antioxidative enzymes increase the drought tolerance potential of H. salicornicum. The metabolomic analysis of H. salicornicum shoot identified 63 metabolites: 43 significantly increased and 20 significantly decreased under drought conditions. These metabolites mainly include amino acids, organic acids, amines, sugar alcohols, sugars, fatty acids, alkaloids, and phytohormones. The metabolites that have a significant contribution towards drought tolerance include citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, d‐erythrose, glyceric acid, sucrose, pentanoic acid, d‐mannitol, ABA, and palmitic acid. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the vital drought‐responsive metabolic pathways mainly include galactose metabolism, aminoacyl‐tRNA biosynthesis, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, citrate cycle (TCA cycle), alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. This study offers comprehensive information on physiological, antioxidative and metabolic adaptations and overall drought tolerance mechanisms in H. salicornicum. The information gained from this study will provide guidance to plant breeders and molecular biologists to develop drought‐tolerant crop varieties.
Myo‐inositol transport and metabolism participate in salt tolerance of halophyte ice plant seedlings
Authors: Li Cheng‐Hsun , Tien Hsing‐Jung , Wen Meng‐Fang , Yen Hungchen Emilie
Published: January 2021

Myo‐inositol and its metabolic derivatives such as pinitol, galactinol, and raffinose affect growth and development and are also involved in stress adaptation. Previous studies have identified myo‐inositol transporters (INTs) as transporters of Na+ from root to shoot in the halophyte ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum). We found that the supply of myo‐inositol could alleviate the dehydration effects of salt‐stressed ice plant seedlings by decreasing the Na/K ratio in roots and increasing the Na/K ratio in shoots. Analyses of the uptake of exogenous myo‐inositol revealed that ice plant seedlings contained intrinsic high‐affinity transporters and inducible low‐affinity uptake systems. The presence of Na+ facilitated both high‐ and low‐affinity myo‐inositol uptake. Six INT genes were identified from the ice plant transcriptome and named McINT1a, 1b, 2, 4a, 4b, and 4c, according to the classification of the Arabidopsis INT family. In seedlings treated with myo‐inositol, salt, or myo‐inositol plus salt, the expression patterns of all McINT members differed in shoot and root, which indicates organ‐specific regulation of McINTs by salt and myo‐inositol. The expression of McINT2, 4a, 4b, and 4c was induced by salt stress in shoot and root, but that of McINT1a and 1b was salt‐induced only in shoot. The expression of pinitol biosynthesis gene IMT1 was induced by salt and myo‐inositol, and their combination had a synergistic effect on the accumulation of pinitol. Supply of myo‐inositol to salt‐treated seedlings alleviated the detrimental effects by maintaining a low root Na/K ratio and providing precursors for the synthesis of compatible solute to maintain the osmotic balance.
I Perceive Therefore I Demand: The Formation of Inequality Perceptions and Demand for Redistribution
Authors: Bussolo Maurizio , Ferrer‐i‐Carbonell Ada , Giolbas Anna , Torre Iván
Published: January 2021

This paper shows that perceptions of inequality matter for demand for redistribution and investigates how individuals form their perceptions. Using data from the ISSP, we present new evidence on the significant changes of perceptions of inequality for more than 20 countries during the last three decades and how these are not in synch with changes in objective inequality. Rather than indicating misperceptions, these discrepancies reflect a broader view of inequality that for most individuals encompasses poverty, insecurity in the labor markets, availability of public goods in addition to objective income disparities. We then show that these perceptions have much stronger correlation with demand for redistribution than objective inequality, or any of the mentioned contextual variables that mold perceptions. Ideology and self‐interest also contribute to demand for redistribution. Much more than those on the left, right‐leaning individuals adjust their demand for redistribution in line with their inequality perceptions.
End of the (Pipe)Line? Understanding how States Manage the Risks of Oil and Gas Wells
Authors: Nelson Steven , Fisk Jonathan M.
Published: January 2021

An understudied aspect of the “fracking” debate involves questions and challenges associated with abandoned wells and well closure. States regulators have a variety of options when it comes to policies and financial tools related to site closure and remediation including bonds, fees, and specific legacy funds. Those advocating more robust financial programs suggest that they are necessary to mitigate risks to the public. Opponents contend that they dissuade operators from investing in older fields and add costs that are passed on to consumers. Using a novel index of state financial tools, this paper assesses why some states adopt more robust financial assurance while others do not.
Oral health status and parental perception of child oral health‐related quality of life among children with cerebral palsy in Bangalore city: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Sruthi KS , Yashoda R , Puranik Manjunath P.
Published: January 2021

Aim

To assess and compare the oral health status and parental perception of child oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) among children with and without cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods and results

A cross‐sectional comparative study was conducted among 300 children aged 5‐15 years with and without CP in Bangalore city. Oral health status was assessed using WHO 2013 criteria, and malocclusion was assessed using Angle's classification of malocclusion. Parental perception of child OHRQoL was assessed using parental caregivers perceptions questionnaire. Chi‐square test, Student's t‐tests and logistic regression were applied. Majority of the study participants were males with a mean age of 10 years. Caries experience, gingivitis, dental trauma, and dental erosion were significantly higher among children with CP than the comparison group. Mean parental perception of child OHRQoL score among CP was significantly higher than that of comparison group (P < .001). Odds of having caries experience, gingivitis, dental trauma, and Angle's Class II/III malocclusion were significantly higher among CP children with poor OHRQoL compared to those without these conditions.

Conclusion

Oral health status among children with CP was poor than the children without CP. Parents perceived poor OHRQoL among children with CP when compared to those without CP. Hence CP has an impact on oral health necessitating preventive care.
Acting in Light of a Fact and Acting in Light of a Belief
Authors: Vogelmann Rafael Graebin
Published: January 2021

We conceive of ourselves as beings capable of acting in response to normative reasons. Given that our normative reasons are usually facts, this self‐conception entails that we are capable of acting in response to facts. Arguments from error cases might seem to force us to deflate that self‐conception, for they seem to show that to act in light of a fact must simply be a way of acting in light of a belief. The goal of this article is to argue against this deflationary view. I offer a counterexample to it and argue that in order to reject the argument from error on which it is grounded we should adopt a disjunctive view of acting in light of a consideration. According to this view there are two subjectively indistinguishable but distinct ways of acting in light of a consideration: acting in light of a fact and acting in light of a belief. This view allows us to take seriously the idea that our motivating reasons can be identical to facts and not mere true considerations and thus to take seriously our self‐conception as beings that respond to and are capable of being moved by normative reasons for action.
The novel HLA‐A allele, HLA‐A*02:952, first described in a Brazilian individual
Authors: Vianna Romulo , Lopes Giovanna , Villela Anna P. , Villas‐Boas Paulo R. , Porto Luís C.
Published: January 2021

The novel HLA‐A*02:952 allele, first described in a potential bone marrow donor from Brazil.
The impacts of the World Trade Organization on new members
Authors: dos Reis Magnus , da Silva Pôrto Sabino , de Azevedo André Filipe Zago
Published: January 2021

In recent years, there has been intense debate on the effects of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) on global trade, triggered by Rose’s article (2004) suggesting that the WTO/GATT did not promote world trade at all. In addition, Subramanian and Wei (2007) pointed out a series of asymmetries in trade liberalization led by international organizations. In this paper, we estimate the WTO impact on new members considering both total and disaggregated trade flows from 1995 to 2014 using the gravitational model and Poisson Pseudo Maximum Likelihood (PPML) estimator. The sample includes bilateral imports from 133 countries in the primary, textile, and industrial sectors. This article provides strong evidence that the WTO has promoted new member trade, but weakly and unevenly between developed and developing countries and across sectors examined. Developed countries continued to benefit most from the increase in world trade promoted by the WTO, but more recent liberalization has also brought gains in exports to the group of the least developed countries (LDCs). Furthermore, the gains, although small, are concentrated in primary products.
Ocular fundus abnormalities in cats affected by systemic hypertension: Prevalence, characterization, and outcome of treatment
Authors: Cirla Alessandro , Drigo Michele , Andreani Valentina , Barsotti Giovanni
Published: January 2021

Objectives

To determine the prevalence of ocular fundus abnormalities in cats with a diagnosis of systemic hypertension, to characterize the abnormalities observed, and to evaluate ophthalmoscopic evolution during treatment with amlodipine besylate.

Animals studied

Cats diagnosed as affected by SHP in a 2‐year period.

Procedures

Systemic hypertension was assessed by oscillometric blood pressure measurement, and its etiology was also established. All the cats received an ophthalmic examination, and ocular lesions were classified with a score from 0 (no abnormalities) to 4 (severe abnormalities). All cats received amlodipinebesylateby mouth, and those that showed fundus abnormalities were regularly rechecked from 7 to 365 days after diagnosis. Data were statistically analyzed to compare Psysand Pdiawith all the variables and to correlate Psysand Pdiawith the fundus score.

Results

A total of 225 cats were enrolled in the study, and the prevalence of fundus abnormalities was 58.6% (21.2%: grade 1; 18.2%: grade 2; 36.4%: grade 3; and 24.2%: grade 4). Systemic hypertension was diagnosed concurrently with chronic renal failure (60.4%), hyperthyroidism (28.9%), both chronic renal failure and hyperthyroidism (7.6%), and hypertrophic myocardiopathy (3.1%). A significant effect of Psysvalues on the fundus score was detected. Amlodipine therapy improved fundus abnormalities in 50% of cases at the 21‐day follow‐up.

Conclusions

This study showed that fundus abnormalities are common in hypertensive cats at the time of the systemic diagnosis, and most of the abnormalities are moderate to severe. Treatment with amlodipine appeared to improve ophthalmic lesions over time.
Influence of repeat abdominal radiographs on the resolution of mechanical obstruction and gastrointestinal foreign material in dogs and cats
Authors: Miles Samantha , Gaschen Lorrie , Presley Trace , Liu Chin‐Chi , Granger L. Abbigail
Published: January 2021

Mechanical obstruction is a common cause of acute vomiting among small animals and radiography is the first line diagnostic tool. Due to many circumstances, surgery may not be an immediate treatment option. The purpose of this retrospective, cross‐sectional design study is to determine the incidence of radiographic resolution of mechanical obstruction or gastrointestinal foreign material with medical management. Inclusion criteria included: clinical signs of vomiting, radiographic diagnosis of mechanical obstruction, suspect mechanical obstruction, foreign material suspected or definitively identified on the first set of radiographs and a second set of repeat radiographs within 36 h. Radiographic resolution was dependent on the location of dilation; 18/48 (37.5%) resolved were gastric, 6/35 (17.1%) were small intestinal, and 4/35 (11.4%) had concurrent gastric and small intestinal obstruction. Gastric dilation was more likely to resolve than SI dilation or both gastric and small intestinal dilation (P = .0119). Forty‐nine animals without resolution went to surgery, with two developing pneumoperitoneum, and seven requiring intestinal resection, three of which had linear foreign bodies and three had intestinal masses/strictures. In conclusion, only 17.1% of animals with small intestinal dilation and a radiographic diagnosis of mechanical ileus resolved on repeat radiographs, and only 11.4% of animals with both small intestinal and gastric dilation resolved. Gastric dilation alone was more likely to resolve than small intestinal dilation or a combination of both. This may help to guide practitioners in recommendations for medical management of mechanical ileus in the future.
Systematics of tardigrada: A reanalysis of tardigrade taxonomy with specific reference to Guil et al. (2019)
Authors: Fleming James F. , Arakawa Kazuharu
Published: January 2021

The Tardigrada are a clade with a disputed and complex taxonomy. The three traditional tardigrade classes are the Heterotardigrada, Eutardigrada and the dubious, monotypic Mesotardigrada. A recent molecular study by Guil et al (Zoologica Scripta, 48, 2019, 120) suggested that the Apochela, previously considered an order of Eutardigrada, should become a new class, Apotardigrada, with the Parachela becoming THE new Eutardigrada. This new diagnosis was presented alongside compelling morphological evidence. Here, we test the assumptions of the molecular evidence for Apotardigrada by analysing tardigrade 18S and 28S data under four separate conditions, along with new BUSCO data, across both Bayesian‐ and maximum‐likelihood phylogenetic approaches. We found variable conclusions regarding the status of Apotardigrada could be drawn by comparing the ribosomal RNA and BUSCO results, and caution against using branch length data to determine taxonomic hierarchy.
O Uso Retórico do Antigo Testamento na Carta aos Colossenses
Authors: Gonzaga Waldecir , Ferreira Belem Doaldo
Published: January 2021

A Carta aos Colossenses, além da questão se de fato é ou não deuteropaulina, entrou no centro do debate sobre a Metodologia do uso da Antigo Testamento pelo Novo Testamento. Se durante muitos anos foi considerada uma das poucas cartas do corpus paulinum a não possuir nenhuma citação do Antigo Testamento, Beale conseguiu encontrar várias alusões. Foster criticou a metodologia utilizada em Colossenses, o que mereceu uma resposta por parte de Beale. Entretanto, Beetham confirmou o uso detectado por Beale, especificando a diferenciação entre alusão e eco – embora analisando menos passagens do Antigo Testamento. Este artigo propõe dar um passo além, ao analisar como essas alusões e ecos estão inseridas na disposição da carta segundo a Análise Retórica Bíblica Semítica. Os comentadores paulinos têm indicado, cada vez mais, que em Paulo a retórica e a teologia caminham juntas. Aliás, nas cartas paulinas, a retórica, de fato, não é apenas uma moldura, mas um grande instrumento para se transmitir a mensagem do ressuscitado. Segundo Meynet, a contribuição da Análise Retórica Bíblica Semítica permite ver como o paralelismo dos membros, o quiasmo e os diversos níveis de um texto bíblico têm sua função na estruturação e mensagem do texto. Isso se torna mais eficiente quando se procura analisar a presença de citações, alusões e ecos do Antigo Testamento no Novo Testamento, a partir do método do Uso do Antigo Testamento no Novo Testamento integrado com a Análise Retórica Bíblica Semítica, como aqui em Colossenses. São duas metodologias distintas, mas que podem colaborar muito nas investigações bíblicas para demonstrar que a ausência de citações do Antigo Testamento nesta carta foi um recurso retórico utilizado por Paulo para oferecer ao leitor um magnífico texto capaz de unir cristologia, eclesiologia e a presença do Antigo Testamento, ainda que por meio de alusões e ecos, e não de citações explícitas.
Bio-Inspired Vibration Isolation: Methodology and Design
Authors: Yan Ge , Zou Hong-Xiang , Wang Sen , Zhao Lin-Chuan , Wu Zhi-Yuan , Zhang Wen-Ming
Published: January 2021

Various bio-inspired vibration isolators have been emerged in recent decades and applied successfully in the protection of sensitive components, improvement of operating comfort, enhancement of control accuracy, etc. They are generally developed by exploiting favorable nonlinearities in biological structures. The main contribution of this work is to provide a comprehensive review of recent studies on the bio-inspired isolators. The methodology of bio-inspired vibration isolation is proposed from the perspective of mechanics based on the elemental theory and design principles. The key isolation mechanisms are classified into three categories according to different dominant forces: stiffness adjustment mechanism, auxiliary mass mechanism, and damping mechanism, respectively. Some representative designs, performance analyses, and practical applications of each type of bio-inspired isolators are also provided. In bio-inspired isolators with variable stiffness, the inherent structural performances can be adjusted to deal with variation in external load. The auxiliary mass mechanism utilizes nonlinear inertial effects to achieve ultralow frequency vibration isolation. Unique damping mechanism of bio-inspired structures is often studied to protect devices and equipment from impact loads. Bio-inspired vibration methods can also be applied in active/semi-active control systems with advantages of low energy consumption and high robustness. Finally, the review ends with conclusions, which highlight resolved and unresolved issues and provide a brief outlook on future perspectives. This review aims to give a comprehensive understanding of bio-inspired isolation mechanism. It also provides guidance on designing new bio-inspired isolators for improving their vibration isolation performance.
Origami-Based Bistable Metastructures for Low-Frequency Vibration Control
Authors: Zhang Mingkai , Yang Jinkyu , Zhu Rui
Published: January 2021

In this research, we aim to combine origami units with vibration-filtering metastructures. By employing the bistable origami structure as resonant unit cells, we propose metastructures with low-frequency vibration isolation ability. The geometrical nonlinearity of the origami building block is harnessed for the adjustable stiffness of the metastructure’s resonant unit. The quantitative relationship between the overall stiffness and geometric parameter of the origami unit is revealed through the potential energy analysis. Both static and dynamic experiments are conducted on the bistable origami cell and the constructed beam-like metastructure to verify the adjustable stiffness and the tunable vibration isolation zone, respectively. Finally, a two-dimensional (2D) plate-like metastructure is designed and numerically studied for the control of different vibration modes. The proposed origami-based metastructures can be potentially useful in various engineering applications where structures with vibration isolation abilities are appreciated.
Tuning the Mechanical and Geometric Properties of Electrochemically Aligned Collagen Threads Toward Applications in Biohybrid Robotics
Authors: Sun Wenhuan , Paulovich Jason , Webster-Wood Victoria
Published: January 2021

Electrochemically aligned collagen (ELAC) threads fabricated by the isoelectric focusing (IF) of collagen have previously shown potential in tissue engineering and more recently in the fabrication of biohybrid robot structures. For applications in biohybrid robotics, ELAC structures are needed that are both robust and compliant enough to facilitate muscle actuation. However, studies on the effects of IF parameters, and the interactions of such fabrication parameters, on the mechanical and geometric properties of resulting ELAC threads have not been previously found in literature. Understanding the impact of these manufacturing parameters on the material properties is critical to facilitate biohybrid robot design. In this study, the effects of IF duration, IF voltage, and collagen solution concentration were investigated and showed statistically significant effects on adjusting ELAC properties via single-factor experiments. The interactions between parameters exhibited significant joint effects on ELAC property tuning through two-factor experiments. Scanning electron microscopy and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic (TNBS) assays revealed the correlation between high mechanical properties and a combination of low porosity and high degree of crosslinking. By simply tuning IF parameters without changing other fabrication steps, such as crosslinker concentration, ELAC threads with a wide range of mechanical and geometric properties were fabricated. The average tensile modulus of the resulting ELAC threads ranged from 198 ± 90 to 758 ± 138 MPa. The average cross-sectional area ranged from 7756 ± 1000 to 1775 ± 457 μm2. The resultant mapping between IF parameters and ELAC thread properties enabled the production of strong and flexible threads with customizable properties.
Thermal Simulations of Cancerous Breast Tumors and Cysts on a Realistic Female Torso
Authors: González Francisco Javier
Published: January 2021

Medical thermography has been around for several decades however due to its low specificity it has not become a popular medical diagnostic technique. The development of computational models of heat transfer in biological tissue can provide a deeper knowledge of healthy and nonhealthy thermal patterns which could increase the specificity of this technique increasing its usefulness in clinical diagnosis. In this work, the thermal pattern of cancerous tumors and cysts are calculated through finite element computer simulations using a real human female torso. The simulation results show a thermal pattern that agrees with infrared thermal images taken from female subjects, the simulated thermal patterns show real thermal features that do not appear in simulations performed using other approximate geometries of the breast. Results show that the temperature on the region of the skin closest to the tumor decreases for cysts while it increases for malignant tumors. The temperature patterns show a 20% deviation from thermal simulations using a hemispherical model of the breast, these results reinforce the notion that the geometry used for thermal simulation plays an important role in the accuracy of the simulations. These results are a first step in understanding benign and malignant thermal processes of the breast which might help increase the usefulness of infrared imaging in breast clinical diagnosis.
A Computational Fluid Dynamics Investigation of Pneumatic Atomization, Aerosol Transport, and Deposition in Aerosol Jet Printing Process
Authors: Salary Roozbeh (Ross) , Lombardi Jack P. , Weerawarne Darshana L. , Rao Prahalada , Poliks Mark D.
Published: January 2021

Aerosol jet printing (AJP) is a direct-write additive manufacturing technique, which has emerged as a high-resolution method for the fabrication of a broad spectrum of electronic devices. Despite the advantages and critical applications of AJP in the printed-electronics industry, AJP process is intrinsically unstable, complex, and prone to unexpected gradual drifts, which adversely affect the morphology and consequently the functional performance of a printed electronic device. Therefore, in situ process monitoring and control in AJP is an inevitable need. In this respect, in addition to experimental characterization of the AJP process, physical models would be required to explain the underlying aerodynamic phenomena in AJP. The goal of this research work is to establish a physics-based computational platform for prediction of aerosol flow regimes and ultimately, physics-driven control of the AJP process. In pursuit of this goal, the objective is to forward a three-dimensional (3D) compressible, turbulent, multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model to investigate the aerodynamics behind: (i) aerosol generation, (ii) aerosol transport, and (iii) aerosol deposition on a moving free surface in the AJP process. The complex geometries of the deposition head as well as the pneumatic atomizer were modeled in the ansys-fluent environment, based on patented designs in addition to accurate measurements, obtained from 3D X-ray micro-computed tomography (μ-CT) imaging. The entire volume of the constructed geometries was subsequently meshed using a mixture of smooth and soft quadrilateral elements, with consideration of layers of inflation to obtain an accurate solution near the walls. A combined approach, based on the density-based and pressure-based Navier–Stokes formation, was adopted to obtain steady-state solutions and to bring the conservation imbalances below a specified linearization tolerance (i.e., 10−6). Turbulence was modeled using the realizable k-ε viscous model with scalable wall functions. A coupled two-phase flow model was, in addition, set up to track a large number of injected particles. The boundary conditions of the CFD model were defined based on experimental sensor data, recorded from the AJP control system. The accuracy of the model was validated using a factorial experiment, composed of AJ-deposition of a silver nanoparticle ink on a polyimide substrate. The outcomes of this study pave the way for the implementation of physics-driven in situ monitoring and control of AJP.
Integrated Remanufacturing and Opportunistic Maintenance Decision-Making for Leased Batch Production Lines
Authors: Xia Tangbin , Zhang Kaigan , Sun Bowen , Fang Xiaolei , Xi Lifeng
Published: January 2021

With the development of the product-service paradigm, many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have begun to provide remanufacturing services besides maintenance services as the lessors. An integrated contract including remanufacturing and maintenance service brings extra leasing profits and complex scheduling challenges as well. The use of machine remanufacturing in conjunction with system-level opportunistic maintenance (OM) has not been previously studied. This paper tries to integrate remanufacturing planning into maintenance optimizations for improved system performance in terms of saved leasing profits. An integrated remanufacturing and opportunistic maintenance (R&OM) policy is developed and applied to a leased manufacturing line in batch production. The system-level saved profit achieved via the R&OM policy is estimated and maximized through a sequential decision-making programming. Performing this integrated policy, it is possible to utilize the sequential R&OM opportunities raised from the random batch orders. In addition, preventive maintenance (PM) and preventive remanufacturing (PR) can be dynamically optimized to form profit-effective schemes. Numerical examples based on the collected information from a leased batch production line of engine crankshaft demonstrate that this proposed R&OM policy could efficiently achieve saved leasing profit maximization, reduce joint decision complexity, and expand OM theory.
Walking Speed Estimation From a Wearable Insole Pressure System Embedded With an Accelerometer Using Bayesian Neural Network
Authors: Wei Wang , Kaiming Yang , Yu Zhu , Yuyang Qian , Chenhui Wan , Min Li
Published: January 2021

In this study, we introduced a machine learning method for estimating human walking speed using plantar pressure and acceleration data. A pressure-derivative method using pretest feature selection was proposed to extract speed-related features from plantar pressure sensors. The maximum, minimum, and standard deviation of acceleration data were also selected as neural network inputs. To improve the generalization ability of the neural network, Bayesian regularization method was adopted. Experiments were conducted under seven different walking speeds to validate the performance of the proposed method. The results show that a strong linear correlation (R = 0.995) exists between the estimated and actual walking speed. The average error of the proposed method is 0.003 ± 0.043 m/s (mean ± root-mean-square error), which is better than previous works. It is suggested that including the speed-related information of both stance and swing phase would give a new insight for achieving a high accuracy of walking speed estimation.