bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in fatigue, barriers, and predictors towards physical activity in advanced cancer patients over a period of 12 months—a comparative study
Authors: Frikkel J. , Beckmann M. , De Lazzari N. , Götte M. , Kasper S. , Hense J. , Schuler M. , Teufel M. , Tewes M.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Physical activity (PA) is recommended to improve advanced cancer patients’ (ACP) physical functioning, fatigue, and quality of life. Yet, little is known about ACPs’ attitude towards PA and its influence on fatigue and depressiveness over a longer period. This prospective, non-interventional cohort study examined ACPs’ fatigue, depression, motivation, and barriers towards PA before and after 12 months of treatment among ACP

Methods

Outpatients with incurable cancer receiving treatment at a German Comprehensive Cancer Center reporting moderate/severe weakness/tiredness during self-assessment via MIDOS II were enrolled. Fatigue (FACT-F), depression (PHQ-8), cancer-related parameters, self-assessed PA behavior, motivation for and barriers against PA were evaluated (T0). Follow-up data was acquired after 12 months (T1) using the same questionnaire.

Results

At follow-up, fatigue (p=0.017) and depressiveness (p=0.015) had increased in clinical relevant extent. Physically active ACP did not show significant progress of FACT-F (p=0.836) or PHQ-8 (p=0.799). Patient-reported barriers towards PA remained stable. Logistic regression analyses identified motivation as a positive predictor for PA at both time points (T0, β=2.152, p=0.017; T1, β =2.264, p=0.009). Clinically relevant depression was a negative predictor for PA at T0 and T1 (T0, β=−3.187, p=0.044; T1, β=−3.521, p=0.041).

Conclusion

Our findings emphasize the importance of psychological conditions in physical activity behavior of ACP. Since psychological conditions seem to worsen over time, early integration of treatment is necessary. By combining therapy approaches of cognitive behavioral therapy and exercise in interdisciplinary care programs, the two treatment options might reinforce each other and sustainably improve ACPs’ fatigue, physical functioning, and QoL.

Trial registration

German Register of Clinical Trials, DRKS00012514, registration date: 30.05.2017
Insights into the Spin–Orbital Entanglement in Complex Iridium Oxides from High-Field ESR Spectroscopy
Authors: Kataev Vladislav
Published: February 2021

Complex iridium oxides have attracted recently a substantial interdisciplinary attention due to an intimate entanglement of spin and orbital degrees of freedom which may give rise to a novel spin–orbital Mott insulating behavior and exotic quantum spin liquid phases. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy is known to be an instructive tool for studying the spin–orbital coupling (SOC) effects as it can directly access the relevant parameters sensitive to SOC, such as the g factor tensor, magnetic anisotropy gaps and spin dynamics. In this article, a systematic study at the Leibniz IFW Dresden of the static and dynamic properties of selected Ir-based materials with multi-frequency high-field ESR spectroscopy will be reviewed. Specifically, evidence for a surprisingly isotropic antiferromagnetic spin dynamics and the inversion of the orbital states in the prototypical spin–orbital Mott insulator $$\text {Sr}_2\text {IrO}_4$$

Sr
2

IrO
4

, observation of the collective resonance modes in the family of double perovskites $$\text {La}_2$$

La
2

B$$\text {IrO}_6$$

IrO
6

(B = Cu, Co) and the origin of the unexpected magnetism in the double perovskite $$\text {Ba}_2\text {YIrO}_6$$

Ba
2

YIrO
6

will be highlighted.
Stabilisierende Wirkungen durch Kurzarbeit
Authors: Pusch Toralf , Seifert Hartmut
Published: February 2021

In der Corona-Pandemie werden durch Kurzarbeit und weitere Hilfsmaßnahmen ganze Branchen stabilisiert. Dies gilt insbesondere für die stark betroffene Gastronomie. Kurzarbeit sichert bedrohte Arbeitsverhältnisse und dämpft Einkommenseinbußen, die bei Verlust des Arbeitsplatzes eintreten würden. Eine wesentliche Rolle spielen aufstockende Leistungen, die Kurzarbeiter:innen in tarifgebundenen Betrieben häufiger erhalten.
Wirtschaftspolitische Implikationen der COVID-19-Pandemie im Luftverkehr
Authors: Scheelhaase Janina , Ennen David , Frieske Benjamin , Lütjens Klaus , Maertens Sven , Wozny Florian
Published: February 2021

Der Luftverkehr ist durch die Maßnahmen gegen die COVID-19-Pandemie besonders stark betroffen. Der Verkehrsrückgang betrug 2020 zum Teil mehr als 90 %. Da die Branche von großer Bedeutung ist, sind besondere staatliche Unterstützungsmaßnahmen sinnvoll, wenn die Pandemie vorbei ist und neues Wachstum einsetzt. Dabei sollten jedoch nicht nur bestimmte Unternehmen unterstützt werden, sondern die Hilfsmaßnahmen sollten auch an bestimmte Kriterien gebunden sein.
Berechnung Paris-kompatibler Emissionspfade mit dem ESP-Modell am Beispiel der EU
Authors: Wiegand Daniel , Sargl Manfred , Doerenbruch Kerstin , Wittmann Günter , Wolfsteiner Andreas
Published: February 2021

Das hier betrachtete Extended Smooth Pathway Model bietet einen Rahmen, um mit dem Pariser Klimaabkommen kompatible nationale Emissionspfade herzuleiten. Am Beispiel Europa werden exemplarische Emissionsziele gezeigt.
Psychiatric Emergencies in the Community: Characteristics and Outcome in Switzerland
Authors: Moetteli Sonja , Heinrich Raphael , Jaeger Matthias , Amodio Camillo , Roehmer Jan , Maatz Anke , Seifritz Erich , Theodoridou Anastasia , Hotzy Florian
Published: February 2021

Psychiatric emergencies occur frequently in the community setting, e.g. the patient’s home or public places. Little is known about the characteristics and outcome of these situations. This study describes psychiatric emergencies in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland, and examines determinants of their outcome. We retrospectively analyzed 620 medical records of consultations classified as psychiatric emergencies of a 24/7 service of community-based emergency physicians. Information on sociodemographic, clinical and situational factors was extracted. The observation period was 6 months in 2017. Binary logistic regression was used to examine predictors for involuntary admissions. Most emergency consultations (64.5%) took place at the patient’s home, followed by police stations (31.0%), public places (3.2%), and somatic hospitals (1.3%). Patient characteristics and reasons for consultation varied considerably between the locations. The first involved person was commonly a relative. Of all consultations, 38.4% resulted in involuntary admissions, mainly in patients with psychosis, suicidality, aggression, refusal of necessary treatment and previous involuntary admissions. Situation-related factors and the involvement of relatives were no significant predictors of the outcome. Psychiatric emergencies occur in different places and in patients with a variety of psychiatric symptoms. Although half of the emergency situations were resolved in the community, the rate of involuntary admissions was still high. For additional reduction, the further development of quickly available alternatives to psychiatric inpatient treatment is required. These should be specifically geared towards acute situations in patients with the described risk factors. Additionally, the role of relatives during psychiatric emergencies should be further studied.
Generation of a Novel In Vitro Model to Study Endothelial Dysfunction from Atherothrombotic Specimens
Authors: Gallogly Susan , Fujisawa Takeshi , Hung John D. , Brittan Mairi , Skinner Elizabeth M. , Mitchell Andrew J. , Medine Claire , Luque Neus , Zodda Erika , Cascante Marta , Hadoke Patrick W. , Mills Nicholas L. , Tura-Ceide Olga
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Endothelial dysfunction is central to the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome. The study of diseased endothelium is very challenging due to inherent difficulties in isolating endothelial cells from the coronary vascular bed. We sought to isolate and characterise coronary endothelial cells from patients undergoing thrombectomy for myocardial infarction to develop a patient-specific in vitro model of endothelial dysfunction.

Methods

In a prospective cohort study, 49 patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with thrombus aspiration. Specimens were cultured, and coronary endothelial outgrowth (CEO) cells were isolated. CEO cells, endothelial cells isolated from peripheral blood, explanted coronary arteries, and umbilical veins were phenotyped and assessed functionally in vitro and in vivo.

Results

CEO cells were obtained from 27/37 (73%) atherothrombotic specimens and gave rise to cells with cobblestone morphology expressing CD146 (94 ± 6%), CD31 (87 ± 14%), and von Willebrand factor (100 ± 1%). Proliferation of CEO cells was impaired compared to both coronary artery and umbilical vein endothelial cells (population doubling time, 2.5 ± 1.0 versus 1.6 ± 0.3 and 1.2 ± 0.3 days, respectively). Cell migration was also reduced compared to umbilical vein endothelial cells (29 ± 20% versus 85±19%). Importantly, unlike control endothelial cells, dysfunctional CEO cells did not incorporate into new vessels or promote angiogenesis in vivo.

Conclusions

CEO cells can be reliably isolated and cultured from thrombectomy specimens in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Compared to controls, patient-derived coronary endothelial cells had impaired capacity to proliferate, migrate, and contribute to angiogenesis. CEO cells could be used to identify novel therapeutic targets to enhance endothelial function and prevent acute coronary syndromes.
Engagement with a Multi-Component, Preventative Program to Reduce Child Maltreatment: Program Satisfaction and Acceptability
Authors: Leckey Yvonne , Stokes Ann , Hickey Gráinne , McGilloway Sinéad
Published: February 2021

The development and implementation of interventions to prevent child maltreatment (CM) is particularly challenging in view of the numerous stressors experienced by families within the child welfare system (CWS). Difficulties engaging families, particularly those who are most vulnerable, can lead to lower program dose and poorer outcomes. This qualitative study, conducted as part of a larger process evaluation, explored participant perspectives of a newly developed, multi-component, community-based intervention designed to reduce the risk of CM in families with young children. The study involved one-to-one interviews with a sub-sample of mothers (n = 12) recruited through statutory and community-based social work services. Several brief program satisfaction questionnaires were also completed by parents. Mothers reported a stronger parent–child bond and greater use of positive parenting strategies (e.g. improved communication and discipline strategies) following the intervention. Facilitator and group support emerged as strong themes throughout the interviews and were important factors in facilitating engagement and reducing drop-out. High levels of program satisfaction were also reported. The study findings demonstrate how a multi-component program, which combines an evidence-based treatment (EBT) with community-based supports, may offer a promising approach for social work practitioners in reducing CM and in better meeting the more complex needs of families within the CWS. However, a more thorough understanding of the factors which promote program engagement and retention, is crucial to maximizing the benefits of interventions designed to support more vulnerable families.
The Relation of Test-Related Factors to Software Quality: A Case Study on Apache Systems
Authors: Pecorelli Fabiano , Palomba Fabio , De Lucia Andrea
Published: February 2021

Testing represents a crucial activity to ensure software quality. Recent studies have shown that test-related factors (e.g., code coverage) can be reliable predictors of software code quality, as measured by post-release defects. While these studies provided initial compelling evidence on the relation between tests and post-release defects, they considered different test-related factors separately: as a consequence, there is still a lack of knowledge of whether these factors are still good predictors when considering all together. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive case study on how test-related factors relate to production code quality in Apache systems. We first investigated how the presence of tests relates to post-release defects; then, we analyzed the role played by the test-related factors previously shown as significantly related to post-release defects. The key findings of the study show that, when controlling for other metrics (e.g., size of the production class), test-related factors have a limited connection to post-release defects.
Bayesian Updating When What You Learn Might Be False (Forthcoming in Erkenntnis)
Authors: Pettigrew Richard
Published: February 2021

Rescorla (Erkenntnis, 2020) has recently pointed out that the standard arguments for Bayesian Conditionalization assume that whenever I become certain of something, it is true. Most people would reject this assumption. In response, Rescorla offers an improved Dutch Book argument for Bayesian Conditionalization that does not make this assumption. My purpose in this paper is two-fold. First, I want to illuminate Rescorla’s new argument by giving a very general Dutch Book argument that applies to many cases of updating beyond those covered by Conditionalization, and then showing how Rescorla’s version follows as a special case of that. Second, I want to show how to generalise R. A. Briggs and Richard Pettigrew’s Accuracy Dominance argument to avoid the assumption that Rescorla has identified (Briggs and Pettigrew in Noûs, 2018). In both cases, these arguments proceed by first establishing a very general reflection principle.
Flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator based on [P(VDF-HFP)]/ PANI-ZnS electrospun nanofibers for electrical energy harvesting
Authors: Parangusan Hemalatha , Bhadra Jolly , Al-Thani Noora
Published: February 2021

Over the past decade, piezoelectric nanogenerator have attracted much attention to harvest mechanical energy from abundant resources in nature. Here, the ZnS microspheres is prepared by hydrothermal method and core-shell structured PANI/ZnS microspheres are synthesized by in situ polymerization method and then used as filler for the preparation of flexible [P(VDF-HFP)] based piezoelectric nanogenerator. The flexible P(VDF-HFP)/PANI-ZnS piezoelectric nanogenerator is prepared by Electrospinning technique. The core-shell PANI/ZnS composite improves the content of electroactive phase in [P(VDF-HFP)] and significantly improves the interfacial polarization between the PANI/ZnS particles and polymer matrix. Among all the samples, [P(VDF-HFP)]/2 wt% PANI-ZnS composite nanofibers exhibited the high piezoelectric peak-to-peak output voltage of 3 V compared with the neat [P(VDF-HFP)] (~ 120 mV). In addition, the high dielectric constant is observed for the [P(VDF-HFP)]/2 wt% PANI-ZnS composite nanofibers. These results implies that the fabricated flexible and efficient piezoelectric nanogenerator can be utilized for energy harvesting system.
Children’s Emotions after Exposure to News: Investigating Chat Conversations with Peers as a Coping Strategy
Authors: Ebbinkhuijsen Ming , Bevelander Kirsten E. , Buijzen Moniek , Kleemans Mariska
Published: February 2021

Hardly any research has been conducted regarding coping strategies that children can use in response to negative news, although they are frequently exposed to and emotionally affected by such news. Chat conversations with peers about the news could be a coping strategy for children in this regard. To investigate this, children (N = 307; 46.3% girls; Mage = 10.51; SDage = 0.98; range 8–13 years old) participated in a preregistered experiment in which their emotions were measured before and after exposure to a news video on a smartphone and also after a postexposure activity (i.e., chatting about the news as an experimental condition versus chatting about something else or solving a puzzle as control conditions). The results showed that the decrease in negative emotions and the increase in positive emotions were weaker for children who chatted about the news than for those in the control conditions. Thus, seeking social support in online chat conversations did not have the anticipated effect—and might even have an adverse effect.
Learning programs by learning from failures
Authors: Cropper Andrew , Morel Rolf
Published: February 2021

We describe an inductive logic programming (ILP) approach calledlearning from failures. In this approach, an ILP system (the learner) decomposes the learning problem into three separate stages:generate,test, andconstrain. In the generate stage, the learner generates a hypothesis (a logic program) that satisfies a set ofhypothesis constraints(constraints on the syntactic form of hypotheses). In the test stage, the learner tests the hypothesis against training examples. A hypothesisfailswhen it does not entail all the positive examples or entails a negative example. If a hypothesis fails, then, in the constrain stage, the learner learns constraints from the failed hypothesis to prune the hypothesis space, i.e. to constrain subsequent hypothesis generation. For instance, if a hypothesis is too general (entails a negative example), the constraints prune generalisations of the hypothesis. If a hypothesis is too specific (does not entail all the positive examples), the constraints prune specialisations of the hypothesis. This loop repeats until either (i) the learner finds a hypothesis that entails all the positive and none of the negative examples, or (ii) there are no more hypotheses to test. We introduce Popper, an ILP system that implements this approach by combining answer set programming and Prolog. Popper supports infinite problem domains, reasoning about lists and numbers, learning textually minimal programs, and learning recursive programs. Our experimental results on three domains (toy game problems, robot strategies, and list transformations) show that (i) constraints drastically improve learning performance, and (ii) Popper can outperform existing ILP systems, both in terms of predictive accuracies and learning times.
Research progress of natural compounds in anti-liver fibrosis by affecting autophagy of hepatic stellate cells
Authors: Shu Yongxiang , Liu Xuyou , Huang Haifeng , Wen Qi , Shu Jianchang
Published: February 2021

Chronic liver diseases caused by various pathogenesis are marked by inflammatory infiltration and wound healing reaction, while their normal regeneration ability is impaired. The unbalance between the generation and the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) leads to collagen accumulation and develops into liver fibrosis. Inflammation, oxidative stress, and autophagy interact closely in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) can not only stimulate Kupffer cells to release massive inflammatory factors, but induce autophagy. However, the latter may suppress inflammatory reaction by inhibiting proinflammatory complex formation directly, and removing damaged organelles or pathogenic microorganism indirectly. At present, effective anti-fibrosis drugs are still lacking. Previous studies have found various natural compounds enabled liver protection through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other mechanisms. In recent years, autophagy, a vital life activity, has been found to be involved in the mechanism of liver fibrosis. As a new target, developing anti-liver fibrosis drugs that regulate the activity of autophagy is very promising. In this review, we summarize the latest studies about natural compounds in the treatment of liver fibrosis by regulating autophagy.
Lumbricus terrestris regulating the ecosystem service/disservice balance in maize (Zea mays) cultivation
Authors: van Capelle Christine , Meyer-Wolfarth Friederike , Meiners Torsten , Schrader Stefan
Published: February 2021

Background and aim

Plant pathogenic and mycotoxin-producing Fusarium species are globally widespread and lead to large annual yield losses in maize production (ecosystem disservice). Systems with reduced tillage and mulching are particularly under threat. In the present study, the bioregulatory performance (ecosystem service) of the common earthworm species Lumbricus terrestris was analysed regarding the suppression of three economically relevant Fusarium species, and the reduction of their mycotoxins in the maize mulch layer, taking into account the size of maize residues.

Methods

A mesocosm field experiment was conducted in a reduced tillage long-term field trial on loam soil. Artificially Fusarium-infected maize residues of two size classes were used as a mulch layer. Impacts of the earthworm species on DNA amounts of Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, and F. verticillioides and concentrations of the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-AcDON), and zearalenone (ZEN) were analysed.

Results

The results reflect that Fusarium regulation by L. terrestris was species-specific and covered the whole spectrum from suppression (F. graminearum) to slight promotion (F. verticillioides). Regarding the mycotoxins, a significant acceleration of the degradation of all three toxins was detected. Fine chopping of the chaff (< 2 cm) did not significantly alter the earthworms’ regulatory capacity.

Conclusion

While L. terrestris can shift the ecosystem service/disservice balance in both directions with respect to Fusarium regulation, it shifts it towards ecosystem services with respect to mycotoxin degradation. In synergy with adapted agricultural management, this natural bottom-up effect can help to keep soils healthy for sustainable production in the long run.
The effects of social spending on entrepreneurship in developed nations
Authors: Solomon Shelby , Bendickson Joshua S. , Liguori Eric W. , Marvel Matthew R.
Published: February 2021

Understanding how national policy can spur entrepreneurial activity is central to entrepreneurship research. Over the past decade, there has been a limited set of research findings to suggest that social spending may increase entrepreneurship in addition to serving more direct social purposes. We examine the topic through the lens of market failure theory and Austrian economics. In accordance with the Austrian perspective, we theorize that social spending increases the opportunity cost of entrepreneurship, thereby decreasing the attractiveness of entrepreneurship in comparison to salaried employment. Drawing from a sample of 31 developed countries spanning 2004–2011, we investigate the effects of social spending on entrepreneurial attitudes and activity. Our results indicate that country level social spending negatively affects entrepreneurial activity, business ownership, and the public’s view of entrepreneurship as a career choice. The findings suggest that social spending may be better suited for addressing social issues compared to spurring entrepreneurial attitudes or activity. Our findings have implications for both the entrepreneurship and national policy literature.
Dynamic evolution of Panax species
Authors: Shim Hyeonah , Waminal Nomar Espinosa , Kim Hyun Hee , Yang Tae-Jin
Published: February 2021

Background

Panax ginseng is one of the most valuable medicinal plants in Korea. However, deciphering its full genome sequence information for crop improvement has been hampered due to its complex genomic, genetic, and growth characteristics. Many efforts have been made in the past decade to overcome these limitations and understand the genome structure and the evolutionary history of P. ginseng.

Methods

This review aims to discuss the current status of genomic studies on P. ginseng and related species, and the experimental clues suggesting phylogenetic classification and evolutionary history of the genus Panax.

Conclusion

The development of sequencing technologies made genome sequencing of the large P. ginseng genome possible, providing fundamental information to deciphering the evolutionary history of P. ginseng and related species. P. ginseng went through two rounds of whole genome duplication events after diverging from the closest family Apiaceae, which was unveiled from complete whole genome sequences. Further in-depth comparative genome analysis with other related species and genera will uncover the evolutionary history as well as important morphological and ecological characteristics of Panax species.
A genome-wide association study for prolificacy in three Polish sheep breeds
Authors: Smołucha Grzegorz , Gurgul Artur , Jasielczuk Igor , Kawęcka Aldona , Miksza-Cybulska Anna
Published: February 2021

Reproductive traits (especially litter size) are usually characterized by low heritability, and thus, phenotypic selection is often ineffective and slow. In order to improve fertility characteristics such as ovulation rate and litter size, it seems more effective to select breeding animals based on their genotype. The aim of the study was to use genome-wide association study (GWAS) in three sheep breeds to identify the genetic variants affecting the litter size in sheep. The study allowed us to identify one genome-wide significant SNP (rs402032081—located in ephrin type-A receptor 6,EPHA6) showing an association with litter size in Polish Mountain Sheep. We suggest that theEPHA6gene can be a candidate gene for prolificacy trait in selected breeds of sheep; however, it needs further functional data for validation.
Healthcare Professional Training Regarding Gestational Weight Gain: Recommendations and Future Directions
Authors: Olander Ellinor K. , Hill Briony , Skouteris Helen
Published: February 2021

Purpose of review

The aim of this review was to summarise recent evaluations of healthcare professional training regarding gestational weight gain and provide recommendations for future training.

Recent findings

A number of evaluated healthcare professional training sessions regarding gestational weight gain show promising results in terms of increased participant confidence and knowledge and impact on women’s outcomes. It is clear that the interventions which have also implemented resources in the practice environment to support training are the ones most likely to influence gestational weight gain.

Support from healthcare professionals are key to influence pregnant women’s weight gain and should be offered within the standard curriculum and through mandatory training. Factors influencing this support include women’s and healthcare professional characteristics, interpersonal and healthcare system and policy factors. All of these need to be considered when developing healthcare professional training to support women with their gestational weight gain.
Dynamics of risers analysed by means of the segment method, with consideration of bending and torsional stiffness
Authors: Adamiec-Wójcik Iwona , Brzozowska Lucyna , Wojciech Stanisław
Published: February 2021

The paper presents the application of the finite segment method to the analysis of coupled bending torsional vibrations of risers. The method is formulated by means of joint coordinates using multibody methods for kinematics and dynamics. A new approach to calculating bending and torsion moments is presented. The mathematical model and computer program enable us to analyse both free and forced vibrations of risers caused by the motion of the base (vessel or platform) as well as hydrodynamic forces. The model is validated by comparing frequencies of free and forced vibrations calculated from the authors’ own models with the results presented by other researchers. Natural frequencies are also compared with analytical solutions. The influence of sea currents and of the initial twisting of the riser on its natural and forced vibrations is analysed.
Evaluate the priority of product design factors in the process of complex product innovation
Authors: Yu Yinyun , Li Congdong
Published: February 2021

Whether the design of product innovation can highly match the customer demand is the key to extend the product life cycle, and it is also the basis for enterprises to carry out continuous production and operation. The first step of product innovation is to identify the relationship between customer demands and design factors of product innovation. This paper focuses on the problems of market control, due to the wide range and deep level of knowledge from customer demands in the process of product innovation. To better meet the customer demands, combined with Entropy Theorem, Prospect Theory and Grey Correlation Method, this paper puts forward a method of importance of design factors of product innovation considering customer demands. First, the Entropy Theorem and Prospect Theory are introduced to calculate the importance of demand factors from the perspective of customers and experts. Second, the priority ranking of design factors of product innovation from the perspective of customer demand is calculated through Gray Correlation Method and Fuzzy TOPSIS. Finally, this method is availability and feasibility thought taking the continuous innovation of electric vehicle as an example.
Benchmarking Quantum Annealing Against “Hard” Instances of the Bipartite Matching Problem
Authors: Vert Daniel , Sirdey Renaud , Louise Stéphane
Published: February 2021

This paper experimentally investigates the behavior of analog quantum computers as commercialized by D-Wave when confronted to instances of the maximum cardinality matching problem which is specifically designed to be hard to solve by means of simulated annealing. We benchmark a D-Wave “Washington” (2X) with 1098 operational qubits on various sizes of such instances and observe that for all but the most trivially small of these it fails to obtain an optimal solution. Thus, our results suggest that quantum annealing, at least as implemented in a D-Wave device, falls in the same pitfalls as simulated annealing and hence provides additional evidences suggesting that there exist polynomial-time problems that such a machine cannot solve efficiently to optimality. Additionally, we investigate the extent to which the qubits interconnection topologies explains these latter experimental results. In particular, we provide evidences that the sparsity of these topologies which, as such, lead to QUBO problems of artificially inflated sizes can partly explain the aforementioned disappointing observations. Therefore, this paper hints that denser interconnection topologies are necessary to unleash the potential of the quantum annealing approach.
EU Pension Law
Authors: van Meerten Hans
Published: February 2021

EU pension law is a relatively new and rapidly growing field. The call for a broader practical understanding of EU pension law is growing, as pension markets are increasingly internationalized. The handbook EU Pension Law discusses the most important financial EU legislation (IORP and PEPP) and non-financial legislation (such as the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union) and its consequences for pensions. The book contains a collection of relevant articles and offers necessary basic knowledge. More importantly, it contains interesting practical cases, creating a unique bridge between theory and practice. Whether you are a student, a committed policymaker, an experienced market practitioner, or someone interested in European pension developments, EU Pension Law is designed for you.
Multivariate Analysis on the Ionospheric Responses to Planetary Waves During the 2019 Antarctic SSW Event
Authors: Gu Sheng‐Yang , Teng Chen‐Ke‐Min , Li Na , Jia Mingjiao , Li Guozhu , Xie Haiyong , Ding Zonghua , Dou Xiankang
Published: February 2021

A rare minor sudden stratospheric warming is observed in the Antarctic polar region during September 2019, which results in the enhancement of a westward wavenumber 1 quasi‐6‐day wave (Q6DW) in the mesopause region. The impacts of this Q6DW event to the ionosphere are then comparatively investigated with multiple data sets, including the ground‐based total electron content (TEC) from geostationary BeiDou satellite receivers and F2 layer maximum frequency (foF2) from ionosondes ranging from 20 to 40°N over eastern Asia. Besides, the global TEC maps from the International Global Navigation Satellite Systems Service (IGS) are also utilized to study the longitudinal variations. The ground‐based TEC and foF2 observations clearly shows planetary wave (PW) signals with a similar period as those in the mesosphere, which are further verified to be westward with zonal wavenumber 1 by IGS TEC maps. The ground‐based TEC and foF2 also show that the peak of the ionospheric response is at around 1,200–1,400 LT and 25°N over eastern Asia with maximum amplitudes of ∼9 TECU and ∼1.5 MHz, respectively, which are also well captured by IGS TEC maps. Nevertheless, the wave amplitudes exhibited by ground‐based TEC are 2–3 times larger than that in IGS TEC. Besides, the IGS TEC map shows that the ionospheric oscillations at different longitudes peak in the equatorial ionospheric anomaly crest region at similar solar local time, but with significant variabilities in their amplitude. Our analysis shows that the ground‐based ionospheric observations and IGS TEC maps generally exhibit consistent latitudinal structures on the neutral‐ion coupling through PWs.
Determining EMIC Wave Vector Properties Through Multi‐Point Measurements: The Wave Curl Analysis
Authors: Vines S. K. , Anderson B. J. , Allen R. C. , Denton R. E. , Engebretson M. J. , Johnson J. R. , Toledo‐Redondo S. , Lee J. H. , Turner D. L. , Ergun R. E. , Strangeway R. J. , Russell C. T. , Wei H. , Torbert R. B. , Fuselier S. A. , Giles B. L. , Burch J. L.
Published: February 2021

Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves play important roles in particle loss processes in the magnetosphere. Determining the evolution of EMIC waves as they propagate and how this evolution affects wave‐particle interactions requires accurate knowledge of the wave vector, k. We present a technique using the curl of the wave magnetic field to determine k observationally, enabled by the unique configuration and instrumentation of the Magnetospheric MultiScale (MMS) spacecraft. The wave curl analysis is demonstrated for synthetic arbitrary electromagnetic waves with varying properties typical of observed EMIC waves. The method is also applied to an EMIC wave interval observed by MMS on October 28, 2015. The derived wave properties and k from the wave curl analysis for the observed EMIC wave are compared with the Waves in Homogenous, Anisotropic, Multi‐component Plasma (WHAMP) wave dispersion solution and with results from other single‐ and multi‐spacecraft techniques. We find good agreement between k from the wave curl analysis, k determined from other observational techniques, and k determined from WHAMP. Additionally, the variation of k due to the time and frequency intervals used in the wave curl analysis is explored. This exploration demonstrates that the method is robust when applied to a wave containing at least 3–4 wave periods and over a rather wide frequency range encompassing the peak wave emission. These results provide confidence that we are able to directly determine the wave vector properties using this multi‐spacecraft method implementation, enabling systematic studies of EMIC wave k properties with MMS.
Measuring Ripple and Dune Migration in Coprates Chasma, Valles Marineris: A Source to Sink Aeolian System on Mars?
Authors: Boazman S. J. , Davis J. M. , Grindrod P. M. , Balme M. R. , Vermeesch P. , Baird T.
Published: February 2021

Active aeolian systems are present across the martian surface, with active dune fields commonly found in depressions such as craters and valleys. There are many dune fields within the equatorial region of Mars, including Valles Marineris, but the effects of topography on wind regimes and consequently dune migration in Valles Marineris is poorly understood. We investigated both the ripple and dune migration in a dune field in Coprates Chasma using High Resolution Science Experiment Images (HiRISE) and Context Camera (CTX) images. Migration rates of dune brinks and ripples were measured over varying time scales, between Earth years 2007–2014. The dunes here are some of the tallest on Mars, with heights of up to 182 m. The dune brinks are migrating eastwards at a rate of 0.1–0.3 m/EY through the valley due to topographical influences on the local winds. Potential sediment sources for the dune field were identified and investigated by studying thermal inertia and mineralogy. The topographic slope‐related katabatic winds travel down the valley walls and converge with the dominant winds traveling through the center of the valley, causing overall eastwards dune migration. Topography is likely the dominant control on the local wind regime; slope winds travel down the sides of the valley walls and are funneled through the center of the valley. These local winds subsequently facilitate the migration of the large dunes in Coprates Chasma, thus expanding our understanding of local winds in the Martian environment.
Calibration Strategies for Detecting Macroscale Patterns in NEON Atmospheric Carbon Isotope Observations
Authors: Fiorella Richard P. , Good Stephen P. , Allen Scott T. , Guo Jessica S. , Still Christopher J. , Noone David C. , Anderegg William R. L. , Florian Christopher R. , Luo Hongyan , Pingintha‐Durden Natchaya , Bowen Gabriel J.
Published: February 2021

Carbon fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems and their response to environmental change are a major source of uncertainty in the modern carbon cycle. The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) presents the opportunity to merge eddy covariance (EC)‐derived fluxes with CO2 isotope ratio measurements to gain insights into carbon cycle processes. Collected continuously and consistently across >40 sites, NEON EC and isotope data facilitate novel integrative analyses. However, currently provisioned atmospheric isotope data are uncalibrated, greatly limiting ability to perform cross‐site analyses. Here, we present two approaches to calibrating NEON CO2 isotope ratios, along with an R package to calibrate NEON data. We find that calibrating CO2 isotopologues independently yields a lower δ13C bias (<0.05‰) and higher precision (<0.40‰) than directly correcting δ13C with linear regression (bias: <0.11‰, precision: 0.42‰), but with slightly higher error and lower precision in calibrated CO2 mole fraction. The magnitude of the corrections to δ13C and CO2 mole fractions vary substantially by site, underscoring the need for users to apply a consistent calibration framework to data in the NEON archive. Post‐calibration data sets show that site mean annual δ13C correlates negatively with precipitation, temperature, and aridity, but positively with elevation. Forested and agricultural ecosystems exhibit larger gradients in CO2 and δ13C than other sites, particularly during the summer and at night. The overview and analysis tools developed here will facilitate cross‐site analysis using NEON data, provide a model for other continental‐scale observational networks, and enable new advances leveraging the isotope ratios of specific carbon fluxes.
Multicentennial Variability Driven by Salinity Exchanges Between the Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean in a Coupled Climate Model
Authors: Jiang Weimin , Gastineau Guillaume , Codron Francis
Published: February 2021

The IPSL‐CM6‐LR atmosphere‐ocean coupled model exhibits a pronounced multicentennial variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC), driven by delayed freshwater accumulation and release in the Arctic. The AMOC fluctuations are preceded by salinity‐driven density anomalies in the main deep convection sites in the Labrador and Greenland seas. During a strong AMOC, a combination of reduced sea ice volume and anomalous currents reduces the freshwater export from the Arctic and leads instead to a slow accumulation of freshwater in the central Arctic. Simultaneously, the saltier Atlantic inflow through the Barents Sea results in a positive salinity anomaly in the Eastern Arctic subsurface. When the surface Central Arctic freshwater pool finally reaches the Lincoln Sea, the oceanic currents around Greenland reorganize, leading to the export of the anomalous Arctic freshwater to the North Atlantic, enhancing the stratification in deep convection sites. The AMOC then decreases, positive salinity anomalies appear in the Central Arctic, and the variability switches to the opposite phase. These AMOC and sea ice fluctuations have broader climate impacts, with a strong AMOC leading to a mean warming of about 0.4°C north of 20°N, reaching up to 1°C in the Arctic lower troposphere during winter. In all seasons, a northward displacement of the intertropical convergence zone is also simulated.
Hydrodynamics, Sediment Transport and Morphological Features at the Confluence Between the Yangtze River and the Poyang Lake
Authors: Yuan Saiyu , Tang Hongwu , Li Kun , Xu Lei , Xiao Yang , Gualtieri Carlo , Rennie Colin , Melville Bruce
Published: February 2021

Confluences act as critical nodes in a river network as they affect flow, sediment transport, water quality, and ecological patterns. A complete knowledge about hydro‐morpho‐sedimentary processes at river confluences is still incompleted and it has been usually accepted that secondary flows are weak because of the significant role of form roughness in large rivers. In this study, two field surveys were conducted on the flow structure, suspended sediment transport and morphology of the confluence between the Yangtze River (the largest river in China) and the Poyang Lake (the largest freshwater lake in China). Dual counter‐rotating cells were observed during high flow conditions and a single secondary cell appeared in low flow conditions. These helical cells restricted the core size of high sediment concentration and downwelling flows acted as a barrier hindering the exchange of sediment between the two rivers. Furthermore, the observed large scour hole was likely related to the downwelling and upwelling flows caused by helical motions. In low flow conditions, the scour hole looked like a deep channel, which was likely related to a long‐surviving helical cell. The scour hole disappeared further downstream, when either the helical motion got weak during low flow conditions, or when a reverse helical cell occurred during high flow conditions. Hydrodynamics, suspended sediment transport and morphological features observed at such a large confluence demonstrated that river planform geometry and discharge ratio affected the flow structure, especially the helical motion. This in turn affected sediment transport as well as the local bed morphology.
Evaluating inter-study variability in phthalate and trace element analyses within the Children’s Health Exposure Analysis Resource (CHEAR) using multivariate control charts
Authors: Mazzella Matthew J. , Barr Dana Boyd , Kannan Kurunthachalam , Amarasiriwardena Chitra , Andra Syam S. , Gennings Chris
Published: February 2021

Background

The Children’s Health Exposure Analysis Resource (CHEAR) program allows researchers to expand their research goals by offering the assessment of environmental exposures in their previously collected biospecimens. Samples are analyzed in one of CHEAR’s network of six laboratory hubs with the ability to assess a wide array of environmental chemicals. The ability to assess inter-study variability is important for researchers who want to combine datasets across studies and laboratories.

Objective

Herein we establish a process of evaluating inter-study variability for a given analytic method.

Methods

Common quality control (QC) pools at two concentration levels (A and B) in urine were created within CHEAR for insertion into each batch of samples tested at a rate of three samples of each pool per 100 study samples. We assessed these QC pool results for seven phthalates analyzed for five CHEAR studies by three different lab hubs utilizing multivariate control charts to identify out-of-control runs or sets of samples associated with a given QC sample. We then tested the conditions that would lead to an out-of-control run by simulating outliers in an otherwise “in-control” set of 12 trace elements in blood QC samples (NIST SRM 955c).

Results

When phthalates were assessed within study, we identified a single out-of-control run for two of the five studies. Combining QC results across lab hubs, all of the runs from these two studies were now in-control, while multiple runs from two other studies were pushed out-of-control. In our simulation study we found that 3–6 analytes with outlier values (5xSD) within a run would push that run out of control in 65–83% of simulations, respectively.

Significance

We show how acceptable bounds of variability can be established for a given analytic method by evaluating QC materials across studies using multivariate control charts.
Repurposing dextromethorphan and metformin for treating nicotine-induced cancer by directly targeting CHRNA7 to inhibit JAK2/STAT3/SOX2 signaling
Authors: Wang Lu , Du Liang , Xiong Xiao , Lin Yusheng , Zhu Jianlin , Yao Zhimeng , Wang Shuhong , Guo Yi , Chen Yuping , Geary Kyla , Pan Yunlong , Zhou Fuyou , Gao Shegan , Zhang Dianzheng , Yeung Sai-Ching Jim , Zhang Hao
Published: February 2021

Smoking is one of the most impactful lifestyle-related risk factors in many cancer types including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). As the major component of tobacco and e-cigarettes, nicotine is not only responsible for addiction to smoking but also a carcinogen. Here we report that nicotine enhances ESCC cancer malignancy and tumor-initiating capacity by interacting with cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 7 subunit (CHRNA7) and subsequently activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. We found that aberrant CHRNA7 expression can serve as an independent prognostic factor for ESCC patients. In multiple ESCC mouse models, dextromethorphan and metformin synergistically repressed nicotine-enhanced cancer-initiating cells (CIC) properties and inhibited ESCC progression. Mechanistically, dextromethorphan non-competitively inhibited nicotine binding to CHRNA7 while metformin downregulated CHRNA7 expression by antagonizing nicotine-induced promoter DNA hypomethylation of CHRNA7. Since dextromethorphan and metformin are two safe FDA-approved drugs with minimal undesirable side-effects, the combination of these drugs has a high potential as either a preventive and/or a therapeutic strategy against nicotine-promoted ESCC and perhaps other nicotine-sensitive cancer types as well.
Cancer-associated fibroblast secretion of PDGFC promotes gastrointestinal stromal tumor growth and metastasis
Authors: Yoon Hyunho , Tang Chih-Min , Banerjee Sudeep , Yebra Mayra , Noh Sangkyu , Burgoyne Adam M. , Torre Jorge De la , Siena Martina De , Liu Mengyuan , Klug Lillian R. , Choi Yoon Young , Hosseini Mojgan , Delgado Antonio L. , Wang Zhiyong , French Randall P. , Lowy Andrew , DeMatteo Ronald P. , Heinrich Michael C. , Molinolo Alfredo A. , Gutkind J. Silvio , Harismendy Olivier , Sicklick Jason K.
Published: February 2021

Targeted therapies for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) are modestly effective, but GIST cannot be cured with single agent tyrosine kinase inhibitors. In this study, we sought to identify new therapeutic targets in GIST by investigating the tumor microenvironment. Here, we identified a paracrine signaling network by which cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) drive GIST growth and metastasis. Specifically, CAFs isolated from human tumors were found to produce high levels of platelet-derived growth factor C (PDGFC), which activated PDGFC-PDGFRA signal transduction in GIST cells that regulated the expression of SLUG, an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) transcription factor and downstream target of PDGFRA signaling. Together, this paracrine induce signal transduction cascade promoted tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Moreover, in metastatic GIST patients, SLUG expression positively correlated with tumor size and mitotic index. Given that CAF paracrine signaling modulated GIST biology, we directly targeted CAFs with a dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, which synergized with imatinib to increase tumor cell killing and in vivo disease response. Taken together, we identified a previously unappreciated cellular target for GIST therapy in order to improve disease control and cure rates.