bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Burgeoning right of publicity: An overview of the Indian experiences
Authors: Mahalwar Vandana
Published: February 2021

The Right of Publicity is one of the emerging rights in India which protects individuals from unauthorized use of their name and likeness by others. While some countries like United States recognize the right of publicity and have specific statutory law for the protection of right, on the other hand, India recognizes the right merely through few judicial pronouncements. This article looks into the origin and embryonic development of right of publicity through the jurisprudence evolved by Indian courts. It reviews how the courts' disparate treatment through the privacy doctrine, the IP laws and the tort of passing off has complicated the jurisprudence relating to the right of publicity. In this context, it goes on to critically analyse, first, the legal possibilities through the Indian Intellectual property laws which can be resorted to prevent the unauthorized use of persona, second, some leading case laws which offer guidance on enforceability of the right of publicity. In light of this analysis, the author suggests that in India, right of publicity needs to be detangled from other overlapping rights. It attempts to rationalize the need for an exclusive law addressing the right, instead of any adjustments or alterations to the current legal framework.
Sexual trait may simultaneously indicate sperm production and nutritional fitness in uniparental nest‐guarding fish: a case study on Amur sleeper
Authors: Mozsár A. , Specziár A. , Pirger Zs. , Czeglédi I. , Kati S. , Nagy S.A. , Nyeste K. , Somogyi D. , Antal L.
Published: February 2021

The reproductive success of uniparental males depends much on their nutritional stage (i.e. body condition). Therefore, secondary sexual traits should convey information not only on fecundity but also on nutritional stage. To test this hypothesis, we evaluate relationships between head crest height (HCH), as a secondary sexual trait, relative testes mass (an indicator of sperm production), body condition (an indicator of nutritional status) and body mass of males of uniparental Amur sleeperPerccottus gleniiin two contrasting habitats. Furthermore, we examined whether head crest is only a pure investment to advertise male fitness – either to females, rival males or other fish approaching the nest – or it comprises some regainable energy as well. We found that HCH is closely related to relative testes mass, and body condition especially at the beginning of the reproductive period. The head crest consisted of a swollen connective tissue in the supraorbital region of the head, and an oedematous epaxial muscle in the nuchal region. Furthermore, the head crest also comprised of adipose tissue, although not as much as assumed. Therefore, we argue that HCH represents a reliable signal of multiple aspects of male quality; it indicates readiness to spawn and could potentially effectively facilitate female choice towards large males with high fecundity and great nutritional stage, which is essential to good guarding performance. Moreover, the head crest itself also could contribute to nest‐guarding performance by virtually enlarging body size and by representing a minor fat reserve.
Grasping behavior in the white‐tailed sea eagle (Accipitridae, Aves) explained by muscle architecture
Authors: Mosto María Clelia , Cassini G. H. , Picasso M. B. J. , Krone O.
Published: February 2021

Hindlimbs of raptors play an essential role in feeding due to the grasping abilities that allow them to hunt and kill their prey. This study explores and quantifies for the first time the structural and mechanical features of the digit flexor muscles in one of the largest piscivorous European raptors, the white‐tailed sea eagle. We studied the myological architecture of nine muscles of five females and five males of Haliaeetus albicilla. We found that (1) reversed sexual dimorphism was not reflected in any of these structural or mechanical variables; (2) when the physiological cross‐sectional area values of muscles were scaled altogether against body mass, they had a positive allometric tendency, implying that larger muscles have proportionally higher physiological cross‐sectional area values than smaller ones. Conversely, different scaling patterns were obtained when each flexor was analyzed individually: Only three muscles were positively allometric, and four muscles were isometric. (3) Three major groups can be identified in relation to the different features here analyzed: (1) flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus and tibialis cranialis: large muscles, with high physiological cross‐sectional area and tendon cross‐sectional area, low tendon/belly ratio and isometric; (2) flexor hallucis brevis: small muscle, with intermediate physiological cross‐sectional area and tendon cross‐sectional area, low tendon/belly ratio, short fiber length and isometric; (3) musculi perforans and perforans et perforatus: intermediate muscles, with low physiological cross‐sectional area and tendon cross‐sectional area, high tendon/belly ratio and allometric. Haliaeetus albicilla hunts mainly fish, an elusive prey, and their muscles have an anatomical design related to their common purpose, to grip prey. However, different patterns that characterize each muscle might respond to different requirements related to this particular prey item and hunting behavior and to the role each digit can perform.
A 3‐year longitudinal survey of overactive bladder in community‐dwelling male residents aged 40 years and above
Authors: Yang Evelyn , Hu Suh‐Woan , Chen Sung‐Lang , Chen Gin‐Den , Ng Soo‐Cheen
Published: February 2021

Objectives

To evaluate the short‐term evolution and risk factors of overactive bladder (OAB) in community‐dwelling male residents aged 40 years and above in central Taiwan.

Methods

This was a 3‐year longitudinal cohort study. From January 2012 to December 2012, community residents aged 40 years and above, living in central Taiwan, were invited to participate in this study. A yearly Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) questionnaire was used to assess the prevalence, incidence, remission, persistence, and relapse of OAB for three consecutive years. OAB was defined as total OABSS ≧4 and urgency score ≧2.

Results

Nine hundred forty‐one male residents aged ≧40 years were recruited. The prevalence of OAB was 15%. The male residents with OAB were older, had a history of urological surgery, were unemployed, had lower educational levels, and lower yearly incomes compared with male residents without OAB. The prevalence increased with age when stratified into different age cohorts (40‐49, 7%; 50‐59, 12.7%; 60‐69, 18.2%; ≧70, 32%; P < .001). Age ≧60 (odds ratio [OR] 2.58; 95% CI, 1.62‐4.11) and history of urological surgery (OR 2.85; 95% CI, 1.29‐6.30) were the major risk factors after multivariable logistic regression analysis. Eight hundred participants completed all the 3 years' questionnaires. The second‐ and third‐year incidence rates of OAB were 10% (69/691) and 6.2% (42/674), respectively. The remission rates were 47.7% (52/109) and 46% (58/126), respectively. The two‐year OAB persistence rate was 30.3% (33/109).

Conclusions

The prevalence and yearly incidence of OAB are high in community‐dwelling male residents aged ≧40 years in central Taiwan. Age is an important risk factor.
Bats and wetlands: synthesising gaps in current knowledge and future opportunities for conservation
Authors: Mas Maria , Flaquer Carles , Rebelo Hugo , López‐Baucells Adrià
Published: February 2021

Wetland areas have decreased by up to 33% globally over the past ten years, threatening the biodiversity they support and essential ecosystem services they provide. Despite this, the importance of wetlands for bat conservation and the consequences of losing these habitats are not comprehensively understood.

Through a systematic literature review, we quantified the knowledge gaps regarding bats in wetlands by: 1) assessing research trends over time; 2) evaluating research biases in geography, themes, species, seasons, and methodology; 3) creating the ‘bat Knowledge Index’ (bKI), a standard indicator for measuring how well‐studied bats in wetlands are per country; 4) compiling and summarising the ecological responses of bats to wetlands; and 5) assessing how bat researchers perceive the role of wetlands for bat conservation.

We found strong similarities between the reviewed studies and the bat researchers’ perceptions. However, although 75% of respondents considered wetlands important for bat conservation, they rarely studied these habitats. Most of the studies took place in developed countries, leaving critical gaps in countries where wetlands are rapidly decreasing. The bKI can be used as a tool for land managers to prioritise conservation actions and resources for the protection of bats in wetlands geographically.

Research topics were found to be biased towards habitat selection and species inventory, with many topics only superficially explored. There was also an important seasonal bias, resulting in many unanswered questions during energetically demanding periods for bats (e.g. migration). However, constantly evolving technological developments, such as bat lures and tracking devices, might aid new studies in these habitats.

Up to 66% of studies reported that wetlands benefit bat activity or species richness, mainly because of high prey densities and the availability of fresh water. However, the low number of studies and all the identified research gaps make ‘bats and wetlands’ a largely underexplored ecological interaction between a poorly studied animal taxon and an increasingly threatened habitat.
A compressive sensing method for processing and improving vision‐based target‐tracking signals for structural health monitoring
Authors: Ngeljaratan Luna , Moustafa Mohamed A. , Pekcan Gokhan
Published: February 2021

Monitoring large structures using a vision‐based target‐tracking (TT) system while maintaining the full resolution of high‐speed cameras may limit the data size or the sampling rate selection. Also, similar to wireless sensors networks where data loss often occurs during data transmission, TT signals could possibly lose data due to overexposure. The overall goal of this paper is to demonstrate the validity of compressive sensing (CS) for TT time signal processing when faced with challenges such as data loss. The first part of the study is concerned with signal length where TT signals could be further compressed while original data length is already minimum. Next, CS is investigated for improving and recovering TT signals from the possibility of signal loss as well as enhancing sampling rate for system identification purposes. Two case studies were used to obtain the signals for CS processing. The first case included four field‐monitoring tests of a footbridge that were conducted using different sampling rates TT with limited data length to use full cameras resolution. The second case study was concerned with measuring the shifting of the modal properties of a large‐scale bridge model from white‐noise excitation after earthquake loading. The results show that with limited signal length, lower sampling rates, or data loss, CS techniques can successfully improve TT signals.
Machine Learning and Theological Traditions of Analogy
Authors: Davison Andrew
Published: February 2021

Progress in machine learning or artificial intelligence presents us with computer systems that exhibit properties at least in some way akin to aspects of human (or wider animal) cognition. In naming and thinking about these machine learning capacities, it would seem ill‐advised either to suggest simple equivalence with human faculties, or complete disjunction. A rich seam of theological writing on the subject of analogy offers a middle way, explored here from the writings of Thomas Aquinas, Thomas de Vio Cajetan and Francisco Suárez. These authors offer a wide variety of accounts as to how an analogy might function, or be justified. We begin with accounts that place the emphasis on the ingenuity of the speaker, in applying a word beyond its usual domain, and move through to accounts where analogy is said to rest more objectively on a connection in reality, in this case between the human being and the computer. Such a connection may be direct, arising from the human as maker, or rest upon a joint relation to something more ultimate still. This, towards the conclusion of the article, raises questions about the origin, from a theological perspective, of all such faculties or capacities in God. We end with the observation that while much theological writing on scientific themes involves the theologian taking account of what the sciences reveal about the world, sometimes, as here, it is possible for the theologian to offer resources, often philosophical, in return.
Epidemiology and Mycology of Candidaemia in non‐oncological medical intensive care unit patients in a tertiary center in the United States: Overall analysis and comparison between non‐COVID‐19 and COVID‐19 cases
Authors: Macauley Precious , Epelbaum Oleg
Published: February 2021

The epidemiology and mycology of invasive candidiasis in the ICU is well‐described in certain types of critically ill patients but not in others. One population that has been scarcely studied is non‐neutropenic patients admitted specifically to medical ICUs. Even less is known about the broader category of medical ICU patients without active oncological disease. This group constitutes a very large share of the patients requiring critical care across the globe, especially in the era of the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic. We analysed medical ICU candidaemia episodes that occurred in non‐oncological patients in our tertiary academic centre in the United States from May 2014 to October 2020 to determine the incidence and species distribution of the associated isolates. We then separately considered non‐COVID‐19 and COVID‐19 cases and compared their characteristics. In the non‐COVID‐19 group, there were 38 cases for an incidence of 1.1% and rate of 11/1000 admissions. In the COVID‐19 group, there were 12 cases for an incidence of 5.1% and rate of 51/1000 admissions. In the entire sample, as well as separately in the non‐COVID‐19 and COVID‐19 groups,Candida albicans accounted for a minority of isolates. Compared to non‐COVID‐19 patients with candidaemia, COVID‐19 patients had lower ICU admission SOFA score but longer ICU length of stay and central venous catheter dwell time at candidaemia detection. This study provides valuable insight into the incidence and species distribution of candidaemia cases occurring in non‐oncological critically ill patients and identifies informative differences between non‐COVID‐19 and COVID‐19 patients.
Notes on the taxonomy of some perennial species of Trigonella sect. Ellipticae (Fabaceae) in Iran
Authors: Sharghi Hamid Reza , Azizi Majid , Moazzeni Hamid , Joharchi Mohammad Reza
Published: February 2021

In the course of revision of Trigonella sect. Ellipticae (Boiss.) Sirj. (Fabaceae) in Iran, herbarium and living material were studied. As a result, T. laxiflora Aitch. & Baker is reported as new for Iran, and T. torbatejamensis Ranjbar and T. korovinii Vassilcz. are reduced to its synonymy. Moreover, T. binaloudensis Ranjbar & Karamian and T. stipitata Ranjbar & Joharchi are synonymized under T. subenerνis Rech.f., and T. heratensis Rech.f. is excluded from the flora of Iran. Detailed descriptions, distribution maps, IUCN conservation status assessments and illustrations of T. laxiflora and T. subenervis are provided.
Two new species of Spiradiclis (Rubiaceae) from limestone areas in southwestern China
Authors: Li Jian‐Ling , Yuan Quan , Liu Yan , Song Xiao‐Fei , Pan Bo , Qu Chen‐Hui , Wu Lei
Published: February 2021

Two new species of Spiradiclis (Rubiaceae), Spiradiclis repens L. Wu & Yan Liu and S. reticulata L. Wu, Q Yuan & Jian‐Ling Li are described and illustrated here. Spiradiclis repens is morphologically similar to S. karstana in having a creeping habit, puberulent stems, elliptic to oblong leaves and slenderly salverform corolla, but differ by having less numerous flowers on linear stipules, terminal cymose inflorescences, peduncles 4.0–12.0 mm long, and corolla lilac or pale pink and glabrous inside. Spiradiclis reticulata is close to S. emeiensis and S. malipoensis in that their capsules are ellipsoid and slightly compressed from both sides, but the former can be distinguished from the latter two by having 2‐lobed stipules, monostylous flowers and slenderly cylindrical corollas.
Born with a silver spoon: dandelion parents’ life experiences affect the lives and afterlives of their offspring
Authors: van Moorsel Sofia J.
Published: February 2021

This article is a Commentary on Puy et al. (2021), 229: 3497–3507.
Practical Intelligibility and Moral Skepticism: Should Realists Worry About Grass‐Counters and Hand‐Claspers?
Authors: Lott Micah
Published: February 2021

The focus of this paper is the following claim: as a purely conceptual matter, the moral truths could be pretty much anything, and we should assume this in assessing our reliability at grasping moral truths. This claim, which I call No Content, plays a key role in an important skeptical argument against realist moral knowledge – the Normative Lottery Argument. In this paper, I argue that moral realists can, and should, reject No Content. My argument centers on the idea of practical intelligibility. I explore different aspects of practical intelligibility, and I argue that such intelligibility sets a constraint on the possibilities we should consider when assessing our reliability at grasping moral truths.
Calm on the surface, dynamic on the inside. Molecular homeostasis of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 nitrogen metabolism
Authors: Perin Giorgio , Fletcher Tyler , Sagi‐Kiss Virag , Gaboriau David C. A. , Carey Mathew R. , Bundy Jacob G. , Jones Patrik R.
Published: February 2021

Nitrogen sources are all converted into ammonium/ia as a first step of assimilation. It is reasonable to expect that molecular components involved in the transport of ammonium/ia across biological membranes connect with the regulation of both nitrogen and central metabolism. We applied both genetic (i.e., Δamt mutation) and environmental treatments to a target biological system, the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp PCC 7120. The aim was to both perturb nitrogen metabolism and induce multiple inner nitrogen states, respectively, followed by targeted quantification of key proteins, metabolites and enzyme activities. The absence of AMT transporters triggered a substantial whole‐system response, affecting enzyme activities and quantity of proteins and metabolites, spanning nitrogen and carbon metabolisms. Moreover, the Δamt strain displayed a molecular fingerprint indicating nitrogen deficiency even under nitrogen replete conditions. Contrasting with such dynamic adaptations was the striking near‐complete lack of an externally measurable altered phenotype. We conclude that this species evolved a highly robust and adaptable molecular network to maintain homeostasis, resulting in substantial internal but minimal external perturbations. This analysis provides evidence for a potential role of AMT transporters in the regulatory/signalling network of nitrogen metabolism and the existence of a novel fourth regulatory mechanism controlling glutamine synthetase activity.
“Everybody Needs to Do Their Part, So We Can Get This Under Control.” Reactions to the Norwegian Government Meta‐Narratives on COVID‐19 Measures
Authors: Moss Sigrun Marie , Sandbakken Ella Marie
Published: February 2021

On March 12, 2020, the Norwegian government put the country on lock‐down to get the COVID‐19 situation under control. Making people adhere to restrictive measures is difficult. Even so, the Norwegian government largely succeeded in getting the population to comply and became the first European country to announce control over the situation. In this study, we ask what narratives the government put forth in their communication of the measures and how these measures were handled and made sense of in personal narratives at the general population level. We base our discussion on near daily government press conferences in March–April, as well as qualitative interviews with 16 individuals. Using a cultural narrative perspective on the data, we tie these meta‐narratives and personal narratives together. Persuading people to comply with prevention and control measures in a crisis is crucial, and our study shows the importance of the selection of meta‐narratives. There will be cultural differences in governance and receptiveness of the population across different settings, and our study suggests that governments will have to balance where on different continua they place their COVID‐19 narratives, balancing freedom up against restrictions, hope against fear, and individualism against solidarity.

Highlights

Practitioners and policymakers need to be aware of the narratives they use to communicate COVID‐19 measures and how these fit with the overarching narratives in society. Using narratives that resonate as much as possible with people's personal narratives may aid meaning making and compliance.

Practitioners also need to balance where on different continua they place their COVID‐19 narratives: balancing freedom against restrictions, hope against fear, and individualism against solidarity. The ideal placement of the narratives depends on culture and context.

Ambiguously communicated messages make room for subjective interpretations in people's everyday lives, allowing for differing and conflicting personal narratives. Therefore, communication should be as concrete and consistent as possible.
Hildenbrandia (Hildenbrandiales, Florideophyceae) from Japan and taxonomic lumping of H. jigongshanensis and H. japananensis
Authors: Vieira Christophe , Akita Shingo , Uwai Shinya , Hanyuda Takeaki , Shimada Satoshi , Kawai Hiroshi
Published: February 2021

The genetic diversity of freshwater Hildenbrandia species (Florideophyceae, Hildenbrandiales) from Japan was reassessed based on specimens collected from Kagoshima (Kyushu), Hyogo and Kanagawa Prefectures (Honshu), using rbcL and 18S rDNA sequences. Phylogenetic results suggested the occurrence of only one species of freshwater Hildenbrandia in Japan, H. japananensis. The clade H. jigongshanensis–H. japananensis is sister to H. rivularis. Hildenbrandia angolensis was paraphyletic and positioned basally among the freshwater Hildenbrandia clades. Furthermore, the genetic similarity between H. jigongshanensis and H. japananensis determined by rbcL and 18S sequences as well as the intraspecific morphological plasticity led us to the conclusion that the species from China and Japan were conspecific. Accordingly, we propose the taxonomic lumping of H. jigongshanensis and H. japananensis. In addition, we recommend additional molecular and morphological studies on Asian freshwater Hildenbrandia to determine whether H. jigongshanensis is conspecific with H. ramanaginae previously described from India.
Usage‐based insurance and its acceptance: An empirical approach
Authors: Śliwiński Adam , Kuryłowicz Łukasz
Published: February 2021

This study aims to explore the motor insurance market's attitude towards usage‐based insurance (UBI), and thus its readiness for a launch in the near future. Data on client perception was collected using a structured questionnaire. On the basis of this, an initial selection of factors, other than income, that could influence the declared attitude of drivers was demonstrated showing that it is primarily dependent on certain demographic characteristics like their age, sex, or place of residence. A strong relationship was also demonstrated with respect to the intensity of the vehicle's use, to the amount of the insurance premium they have paid, and to the self‐assessment of the respondents' driving skills. Clients are likely to accept the concept of UBI once implemented, but that they are not ready yet to give up the traditionally used methods of premium calculation. Their attachment to discounts granted can be very strong in particular to the no‐claims bonus.
Self‐Care Dependency Evaluation Form: Psychometric properties of the revised version with 27 items
Authors: Parente Paulo , Costa Andreia , Pereira Soraia , Machado Paulo , Martins Teresa , Pereira Filipe , Silva Abel
Published: February 2021

Introduction

The Self‐Care Dependency Evaluation Form assesses dependency in performing self‐care activities, but its original version is extensive and provides redundant information. The present study aims to scrutinise the items of the scale with the purpose of creating a revised version and to evaluate its psychometric properties.

Methods

The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, an exploratory and correctional analysis of the items of the original form was performed from a database with 282 participants, followed by a review by a panel of experts who analysed the discriminatory ability and the contribution and relevance of each item, which resulted in the revised version. In the second phase, a new study with a sample comprising 150 participants was conducted to test the psychometric properties of the revised version. All ethical aspects and matters of confidentiality and privacy were assured.

Results

The scale with 27 items shows good internal consistency, ranging from 0.67 (taking medication) to 0.96 (walking). It was moderately correlated with the Barthel Index and the Lawton and Brody Scale, proven to be a discriminatory measurement instrument.

Discussion/Conclusion

This measure will enable health professionals to better evaluate self‐care activities and provide more efficient, simple and effective prescriptions.
Updates on hemodialysis techniques with a common denominator: The personalization of the dialytic therapy
Authors: Monardo Paolo , Lacquaniti Antonio , Campo Susanna , Bucca Maurizio , Casuscelli di Tocco Teresa , Rovito Stefania , Ragusa Antonino , Santoro Antonio
Published: February 2021

Hemodialysis (HD) is a life‐saving therapy for patients with end‐stage renal disease. In dialyzed patients, the prevalence of multi‐morbidity is rising driven by various factors, such as the population aging, the incomplete correction of uremia, and the side effects of the dialysis therapy itself. Each dialyzed patient has their own specific clinical and biochemical problems. It is therefore unthinkable that the same dialysis procedure can be able to meet the needs of every patient on chronic dialysis. We have very sophisticated dialysis machines and different dialysis techniques and procedures beyond conventional HD, such as hemodiafiltration (HDF) with pre‐ and post‐dilution, acetate‐free biofiltration (AFB), hemofiltration (HF), and expanded HD. Each of these techniques has its own specific characteristics. To solve some intradialytic clinical issues, such as arterial hypotension and arrhythmias, we have biofeedback systems with automatic regulation of the blood volume, body temperature, arterial pressure, as well as potassium profiling techniques in the dialysis bath. New technical innovations, such as citrate‐containing dialysate or heparin‐coated membranes, could reduce the risk of bleeding. To better address to patient needs, the strengths and weaknesses of each of these systems must be well‐known, in order to have a personalized dialysis prescription for each patient.
Men, masculinities, and gender‐based violence: The broadening scope of recent research
Authors: Peretz Tal , Vidmar Chris M.
Published: February 2021

Men's relationships to gender‐based violence (GBV) have long been an area of sociological inquiry, but until recently men have primarily been framed as perpetrators of violence against women. More recently, research on men and GBV has broadened to include studying men as victims/survivors, as investigators and law enforcement officers, as passive or active bystanders, and as allies in working to address this social problem. We review this research in an effort to bridge these divergent bodies of work; we identify methodological trends and gaps in existing research, make recommendations for improved theoretical and methodological robustness, and suggest that research perspectives on men and GBV have shifted over time as wider understandings of gender and masculinities become more hopeful and more inclusive. While we see optimism and promise in new directions of GBV research, we urge ongoing research to retain the wisdoms and critical perspectives that marked the beginnings of GBV inquiry.
Prescription Opioid Misuse and Property Crime
Authors: Giles McCaslin , Malcolm Michael
Published: February 2021

While there is an extensive literature on the relationship between drug use and crime, research on crime stemming from the recent uptick in opioid misuse is surprisingly sparse, and much of it provides contradictory answers. Using state‐level data and dynamic panel techniques, we find evidence of a large, positive association between nonmedical use of pain relievers and property crime. The correlation is strongest for the youngest users, holds for multiple classes of property crime, and its magnitude suggests hundreds of thousands of excess property crimes over the study period resulting from even modest increases in opioid abuse. We also present evidence of a link between prescribing rates and crime. Evidence of a link between pain relievers and violent crime is much weaker, as is evidence of an association between other drugs and crime. Our use of robust panel inference helps to address endogeneity concerns that can arise in other studies, many of which also draw conclusions from small or nonrepresentative samples.
The flight of the self: Exploring more‐than‐human companionship in rural Pakistan
Authors: Kavesh Muhammad A.
Published: February 2021

The construct of multispecies anthropology has helped explain some of the ways through which humans develop sensory and embodied connectedness with the more‐than‐human. Yet there is a need to fully comprehend how such connectedness leads to the discovery of the inner self. Through an ethnographic study carried out with rural South Punjabi pigeon flyers in Pakistan between 2008 and 2018, this paper argues that companionship with pigeons allows people to generate a meaningful relationship with their animals, explore their inner emotions and achieve a deeper understanding of the self. This paper takes inspiration from Donna Haraway's critique of Jacques Derrida's cat encounter, and philosophical thoughts of a 12th‐century Muslim mystic poet, Farid ud‐Din Attar, to examine how becoming‐with pigeons enables the flyers to structure their lifeworlds, develop entrenched companionship and shape their social choices to achieve wellbeing despite everyday social troubles and emotional anxieties.
Identification of the novel HLA‐C*01:202 allele in a Korean individual
Authors: Ha Changhee , Hwang Sejun , Kye Bongmin , Kang Eun‐Suk
Published: February 2021

HLA‐C*01:202 differs from HLA‐C*01:02:01:05 by single nucleotide substitutions in codons 16 and 20 in exon 2.
The new kid on the block: a dominant‐negative mutation of phototropin1 enhances carotenoid content in tomato fruits
Authors: Kilambi Himabindu Vasuki , Dindu Alekhya , Sharma Kapil , Nizampatnam Narasimha Rao , Gupta Neha , Thazath Nikhil Padmanabhan , Dhanya Ajayakumar Jaya , Tyagi Kamal , Sharma Sulabha , Kumar Sumit , Sharma Rameshwar , Sreelakshmi Yellamaraju
Published: February 2021

Phototropins, the UVA‐blue light photoreceptors, endow plants to detect the direction of light and optimize photosynthesis by regulating positioning of chloroplasts and stomatal gas exchange. Little is known about their functions in other developmental responses. A tomato Non‐phototropic seedling1 (Nps1) mutant, bearing an Arg495His substitution in the vicinity of LOV2 domain in phototropin1, dominant‐negatively blocks phototropin1 responses. The fruits of Nps1 mutant were enriched in carotenoids, particularly lycopene, compared with its parent, Ailsa Craig. On the contrary, CRISPR/CAS9‐edited loss of function phototropin1 mutants displayed subdued carotenoids compared with the parent. The enrichment of carotenoids in Nps1 fruits is genetically linked with the mutation and exerted in a dominant‐negative fashion. Nps1 also altered volatile profiles with high levels of lycopene‐derived 6‐methyl 5‐hepten2‐one. The transcript levels of several MEP and carotenogenesis pathway genes were upregulated in Nps1. Nps1 fruits showed altered hormonal profiles with subdued ethylene emission and reduced respiration. Proteome profiles showed a causal link between higher carotenogenesis and increased levels of protein protection machinery, which may stabilize proteins contributing to MEP and carotenogenesis pathways. The enhancement of carotenoid content by Nps1 in a dominant‐negative fashion offers a potential tool for high lycopene‐bearing hybrid tomatoes.
Cell‐type action specificity of auxin on Arabidopsis root growth
Authors: Ding Tingting , Zhang Feng , Wang Junxia , Wang Fengxia , Liu Jiajia , Xie Chuantian , Hu Yangjie , Shani Eilon , Kong Xiangpei , Ding Zhaojun , Tian Huiyu
Published: February 2021

The plant hormone auxin plays a critical role in root growth and development; however, the contributions or specific roles of cell‐type auxin signals in root growth and development are not well understood. Here, we mapped tissue and cell types that are important for auxin‐mediated root growth and development by manipulating the local response and synthesis of auxin. Repressing auxin signaling in the epidermis, cortex, endodermis, pericycle or stele strongly inhibited root growth, with the largest effect observed in the endodermis. Enhancing auxin signaling in the epidermis, cortex, endodermis, pericycle or stele also caused reduced root growth, albeit to a lesser extent. Moreover, we established that root growth was inhibited by enhancement of auxin synthesis in specific cell types of the epidermis, cortex and endodermis, whereas increased auxin synthesis in the pericycle and stele had only minor effects on root growth. Our study thus establishes an association between cellular identity and cell type‐specific auxin signaling that guides root growth and development.
A longitudinal study of convalescent plasma (CCP) donors and correlation of ABO group, initial neutralizing antibodies (nAb), and body mass index (BMI) with nAb and anti‐nucleocapsid (NP) SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody kinetics: Proposals for better quality of CCP collections
Authors: Wendel Silvano , Fontão‐Wendel Rita , Fachini Roberta , Candelaria Gabriela , Scuracchio Patricia , Achkar Ruth , Brito Mayra , Reis Luiz Fernando , Camargo Anamaria , Amano Mariane , Machado Rafael , Araujo Danielle , Soares Camila , Durigon Edison
Published: February 2021

Introduction

Little is known about the neutralizing (nAb) and binding antibody kinetics in COVID‐19 convalescent plasma donors, especially during the first 100 days after disease onset.

Materials and Methods

A cohort of previously RT‐PCR positive (detected by nasopharyngeal swab during the acute phase), male convalescent patients, all with mild symptoms, were enrolled in serial blood sample collection for a longitudinal nAb titers and anti‐nucleocapsid (NP) antibodies (IgM, IgG and IgA) evaluation. NAbs were detected by a cytopathic effect‐based virus neutralization test (CPE‐based VNT), carried out with SARS‐CoV‐2 (GenBank: MT350282).

Results

A total of 78 male volunteers provided 316 samples, spanning a total of 4820 days of study. Although only 25% of donors kept nAb titers ≥160 within 100 days after the onset of disease, there was >75% probability of sustaining nAb titers ≥160 in volunteers whose initial nAb titer was ≥1280, weight ≥ 90 kg or obese, according to their body mass index (BMI), as evidenced by Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox hazard regression (all p < .02). There was no correlation between the ABO group, ABO antibody titers and persistent high nAb titers. High IgG anti‐NP (S/CO ≥5.0) is a good surrogate for detecting nAb ≥ 160, defined by the ROC curve (sensitivity = 90.5%; CI95%: 84.5%–94.7%).

Conclusion

Selection of CCP donors for multiple collections based on initial high nAb titers (≥1280) or BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 provides a simple strategy to achieve higher quality in CCP programs. High IgG anti‐NP levels can also be used as surrogate markers for high nAb screening.
Increasing competence in compression therapy for venous leg ulcers through training and exercise measured by a newly developed score—Results of a randomised controlled intervention study
Authors: Protz Kerstin , Dissemond Joachim , Karbe Daniela , Augustin Matthias , Klein Toni Maria
Published: February 2021

Compression therapy with short‐stretch bandages is the most common treating option for patients with venous leg ulcers in the decongestion phase in Germany. This randomised controlled intervention study examined whether a training is suitable to sustainably improve the skills of health care professionals. Altogether 55 nurses from hospitals and outpatient care participated. They were randomly assigned to case and control groups. Participants' abilities to properly apply a compression bandaging were assessed before and after a training session as well as after 1 and 3 months using a newly developed score (CCB score) based on six control parameters (CPs): padding, starting point, heel inclusion, heart direction, pressure at forefoot (A) and calf base (B1). After training, a significant increase in competence was observed, which only decreased non‐significantly over the observation period: The average CCB score was 2.796 at V0, 4.89 at V1, 4.88 at V2, and 4.66 at V3. The CPs for pressure at A and B1 were met by a maximum of 42.6 and 43.6%, respectively, at all timepoints. The CP starting point was fulfilled by at least 61.7% after training, the CPs heart direction, heel and underpadding by at least 89.4, 96.4, and 97.9%, respectively. As a result of our study, it can be concluded that training improves the ability of users to apply compression bandagings, but one‐off training does not appear to be suitable to improve the ability to apply compression bandagings with a therapy‐relevant pressure. Therefor more training especially with pressure measuring devices would be necessary.
Identification of transcriptomic characteristics during nasal capsular contracture progression using RNA deep sequencing
Authors: Li Ming , Wu Meng , Xie Hong‐ju , Liu Hong‐wei
Published: February 2021

Nasal capsular contracture is a prevalent complication commonly observed after rhinoplasty. However, the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of nasal capsular contracture is largely unclear compared to that of breast capsular contracture. This study aimed to identify the key genes implicated in nasal capsular contracture progression using RNA deep sequencing (RNA‐seq). Biopsy samples were taken from Grade II to Grade IV nasal fibrous capsular tissues. The former is regarded as the relatively normal tissues and thus was set as control group, while the latter was treated as pathological group. Results from RNA‐seq underwent GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis and subsequent verification by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and western blot assays. RNA‐seq analysis showed that 3149 genes were up‐regulated and 3131 genes in pathological groups compared with controls. The top 30 up‐regulated genes included many chemokines (e.g., CCL18, CCL13, CCL17 and CCL8), matrix metallopeptidases (e.g., MMP9 and MMP12) and integrin proteins (e.g., ITGAM and ITGB2). GO enrichment analysis demonstrated that the up‐regulated genes affected various immune functions, including immune system process, cell activation, leukocyte activation, defence response and positive regulation of immune. The down‐regulated gene primary influenced muscle development and functions as well as metabolic processes. In summary, this study reveal that abnormal changes of immune functions, muscle develop and metabolic processes are probably implicated in the pathogenesis of nasal capsular contracture.
Quantifying Uncertainty in the Residence Time of the Drug and Carrier Particles in a Dry Powder Inhaler
Authors: Badhan Antara , Krushnarao Kotteda V. M. , Afrin Samia , Kumar Vinod
Published: February 2021

Dry powder inhalers (DPI), used as a means for pulmonary drug delivery, typically contain a combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and significantly larger carrier particles. The microsized drug particles—which have a strong propensity to aggregate and poor aerosolization performance—are mixed with significantly large carrier particles that cannot penetrate the mouth-throat region to deagglomerate and entrain the smaller API particles in the inhaled airflow. Therefore, a DPI's performance depends on the carrier-API combination particles' entrainment and the time and thoroughness of the individual API particles' deagglomeration from the carrier particles. Since DPI particle transport is significantly affected by particle-particle interactions, particle sizes and shapes present significant challenges to computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelers to model regional lung deposition from a DPI. We employed the Particle-In-Cell method for studying the transport/deposition and the agglomeration and deagglomeration for DPI carrier and API particles in the present work. The proposed development will leverage CFD-PIC and sensitivity analysis capabilities from the Department of Energy laboratories: Multiphase Flow Interface Flow Exchange and Dakota UQ software. A data-driven framework is used to obtain the reliable low order statics of the particle's residence time in the inhaler. The framework is further used to study the effect of drug particle density, carrier particle density and size, fluidizing agent density and velocity, and some numerical parameters on the particles' residence time in the inhaler.
On Using a Low-Density Flash Lidar for Road Vehicle Tracking
Authors: A. R. Vimal Kumar , Subramanian Shankar C. , Rajamani Rajesh
Published: February 2021

This study uses a low-density solid-state flash lidar for estimating the trajectories of road vehicles in vehicle collision avoidance applications. Low-density flash lidars are inexpensive compared to the commonly used radars and point-cloud lidars, and have attracted the attention of vehicle manufacturers recently. However, tracking road vehicles using the sparse data provided by such sensors is challenging due to the few reflected measurement points obtained. In this paper, such challenges in the use of low-density flash lidars are identified and estimation algorithms to handle the same are presented. A method to use the amplitude information provided by the sensor for better localization of targets is evaluated using both physics-based simulations and experiments. A two-step hierarchical clustering algorithm is then employed to group multiple detections from a single object into one measurement, which is then associated with the corresponding object using a Joint Integrated Probabilistic Data Association (JIPDA) algorithm. A Kalman filter is used to estimate the longitudinal and lateral motion variables and the results are presented, which show that good tracking, especially in the lateral direction, can be achieved using the proposed algorithm despite the sparse measurements provided by the sensor.
Determining the lifetime of long-lived particles at the HL-LHC
Authors: Banerjee Shankha , Bhattacherjee Biplob , Goudelis Andreas , Herrmann Björn , Sengupta Dipan , Sengupta Rhitaja
Published: February 2021

We examine the capacity of the Large Hadron Collider to determine the mean proper lifetime of long-lived particles assuming different decay final states. We mostly concentrate on the high luminosity runs of the LHC, and therefore, develop our discussion in light of the high amount of pile-up and the various upgrades for the HL-LHC runs. We employ model-dependent and model-independent methods in order to reconstruct the proper lifetime of neutral long-lived particles decaying into displaced leptons, potentially accompanied by missing energy, as well as charged long-lived particles decaying ihnto leptons and missing energy. We also present a discussion for lifetime estimation of neutral long-lived particles decaying into displaced jets, along with the challenges in the high PU environment of HL-LHC. After a general discussion, we illustrate and discuss these methods using several new physics models. We conclude that the lifetime can indeed be reconstructed in many concrete cases. Finally, we discuss to which extent including timing information, which is an important addition in the Phase-II upgrade of CMS, can improve such an analysis.
Condensates and pressure of two-flavor chiral perturbation theory at nonzero isospin and temperature
Authors: Adhikari Prabal , Andersen Jens O. , Mojahed Martin A.
Published: February 2021

We consider two-flavor chiral perturbation theory ($$\chi $$
χ
PT) at finite isospin chemical potential $$\mu _I$$

μ
I

and finite temperature T. We calculate the effective potential and the quark and pion condensates as functions of T and $$\mu _I$$

μ
I

to next-to-leading order in the low-energy expansion in the presence of a pionic source. We map out the phase diagram in the $$\mu _I$$

μ
I

–T plane. Numerically, we find that the transition to the pion-condensed phase is second order in the region of validity of $$\chi $$
χ
PT, which is in agreement with model calculations and lattice simulations. Finally, we calculate the pressure to two-loop order in the symmetric phase for nonzero $$\mu _I$$

μ
I

and find that $$\chi $$
χ
PT seems to be converging very well.
Assessment of anisotropic minimum-dissipation (AMD) subgrid-scale model: Gently-curved backward-facing step flow
Authors: Zahiri Amir-Pouyan , Roohi Ehsan
Published: February 2021

The impetus of this study is to evaluate the performance of the anisotropic minimum-dissipation (AMD) subgrid-scale model (SGS) for flow over a gently-curved backward-facing step (BFS) at a Reynolds number of 13 700. Minimum-dissipation sub-grid models were developed as simple alternatives to the dynamic eddy-viscosity SGS models. AMD model is a static type of eddy-viscosity SGS model incorporating anisotropic SGS effects into numerical predictions through the large-eddy simulation (LES) approach. The open-source CFD package of OpenFOAM was used to implement the AMD model. Before focusing on the BFS flow, we investigated the impact of the AMD model coefficient magnitude on the numerical predictions of the decaying isotropic turbulence flow. In the next step, numerical solutions were obtained for the curved backward-facing step using the AMD model and Dynamic Smagorinsky model (DSM). The curved backward-facing step was considered here for the evaluation of the SGS model predictions due to its weak adverse pressure gradient and high sensitive flow mechanism. The rescaling/recycling method was employed as a turbulent inflow generation technique. The AMD model results were compared with the prediction of the DSM and Vreman model. Moreover, AMD model predictions were compared with the reported solutions obtained using different turbulent inflow generation methods. The assessments revealed the high capability of the AMD model to capture decaying turbulence and predict velocity profiles and resolved flow statistics turbulent parameters in the gently-curved backward step flow.