bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strengthening climate-resilient development and transformation in Viet Nam
Authors: Rana Arun , Zhu Qinhan , Detken Annette , Whalley Karina , Castet Christelle
Published: January 2022

Climate change is presenting an ongoing and eminent threat to various regions, communities and infrastructure worldwide. In this study, the current and future climate impacts faced by Viet Nam due to Tropical Cyclones (TCs), specifically wind and surge, are evaluated, and different adaptation measures to manage this risk are appraised. The level of wind and storm surge risk was assessed focusing on three categories of assets: residential houses, agriculture, and people. The expected damage to these assets was then evaluated based on their exposure to the hazard under current and future climate scenarios. Physical adaptation measures such as mangroves, sea dykes, and gabions, and financial adaptation measures such as risk transfer via insurance were applied to the expected future risk and evaluated based on a socio-economic cost–benefit analysis. The output will give decision-makers the ability to make more informed decisions, prioritize the most cost-effective adaptation measures and increase physical and financial resilience. The results indicated significant TC exposure in future climate scenarios due to economic development and climate change that almost doubles the current expected damage. Surge-related damage was found to be many times higher than wind damage, and houses had more exposure (value in total) than agriculture on a national scale. The physical adaptation measures are successful in significantly reducing the future wind and especially surge risk and would form a resilient strategy along with risk transfer for managing TC risks in the region.
The association between serum interleukin-1 beta and heparin sulphate in diabetic nephropathy patients
Authors: Jiang Liqiong , Zhou Jianying , Zhang Li , Du Yufeng , Jiang Mingming , Xie Liqian , Ma Zhenni , Chen Fengling
Published: January 2022

Inflammation is considered an important mechanism in the development of diabetes mellitus (DM) and persists for a long time before the occurrence of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Many studies have demonstrated that a decrease in the endothelial glycocalyx (EG) is negatively correlated with proteinuria. To elucidate whether EG damage induced by inflammasomes in DM patients leads to the occurrence of microalbuminuria (MA) and accelerates the progression of DN, this study screened 300 diagnosed DM patients. Finally, 70 type 2 diabetes patients were invited to participate in this study and were divided into two groups: the T2DM group (patients with normal MA and without diabetic retinopathy, n = 35) and the T2DN group (patients with increased MA and diabetic retinopathy, n = 35). Circulating heparin sulphate (HS, EG biomarkers) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β, inflammasome biomarkers) of the patients were measured by ELISA. Laboratory data were measured using routine laboratory methods. Patients in the T2DN group had increased serum HS, increased IL-1β, increased CRP, decreased haemoglobin, and increased neutrophils compared to patients in the T2DM group (all P < 0.05). Increased HS and decreased haemoglobin were independently associated with T2DN patients. ROC curves showed that the AUC of HS for the prediction of T2DN was 0.67 (P < 0.05). The combination of HS and haemoglobin yielded a significant increasement in the AUC (0.75, P < 0.001) with optimal sensitivity (71.2%) and specificity (79%). Furthermore, serum IL-1β was positively correlated with HS and was an independent associated factor of HS in the T2DN group. The relationship between HS and IL-1β was not significant in the T2DM group. Our findings surgessed the inflammasome may be associated with and promote damage to the EG during the disease course of DN that manifests as increased MA.
Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty: analysis of clinical outcomes of patients with 8–10 years follow-up
Authors: Weller Julia M. , Kruse Friedrich E. , Tourtas Theofilos
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes up to 10 years after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Methods

In this retrospective, consecutive, single-center case series the medical files of eyes which have received DMEK between 2009 and 2012 for the treatment of endothelial dysfunction was evaluated regarding follow-up time and clinical outcomes.

Annual examinations of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), endothelial cell density (ECD), central corneal thickness (CCT) of 66 eyes which fulfilled the criterion of a minimum of 8 years follow-up were analyzed.

Results

BCVA improved from 0.55 ± 0.37 logMAR (n = 54) to 0.15 ± 0.11 (n = 47) in eyes without ocular comorbidities one year after DMEK (p < 0.001), and remained stable up to 10 years after DMEK. Mean ECD decreased to 744 ± 207 cells/mm2 (n = 39) after 9 years, and to 729 ± 167 cells/mm2 (n = 21) after 10 years, respectively. CCT decreased from 650 ± 67 μm before DMEK to 525 ± 40 μm (n = 56) after 1 year, increasing slowly to 563 ± 40 µm (n = 39) after 9 years, and to 570 ± 42 µm (n = 21) after 10 years, respectively. Graft failure occurred in 4 of 66 eyes after year 8. These 4 eyes required repeat DMEK after 101–127 months.

Conclusion

This study shows the long-term outcomes in a small subset of DMEK grafts. Visual acuity remained stable in spite of slowly increasing corneal thickness and diminishing endothelial cell density during the 10-year period after DMEK.
Beyond pulmonary vein isolation for persistent atrial fibrillation: sequential high-resolution mapping to guide ablation
Authors: Malaczynska-Rajpold Katarzyna , Jarman Julian , Shi Rui , Wright Piers , Wong Tom , Markides Vias
Published: January 2022

Purpose

We aimed to evaluate whether outcomes with ablation in persistent (PsAF) and long-standing persistent (LsPsAF) AF can be improved beyond what can be achieved with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) alone, using individualized mapping to guide ablation.

Methods

We studied 20 pts (15 M, 68 ± 11y) with PsAF (14) or LsPsAF (6) referred for first-time AF ablation. Following antral PVI, individualized mapping (IM) was performed using a high-density mapping catheter stably and fully deployed for 30 s at each of 23 ± 9 sites per patient. Activation data were reviewed, and an ablation strategy designed to intersect areas of focal and rotational activity. Mean follow-up was 429 ± 131 days. The study population was compared to a matched contemporary control cohort (CC) of 20 consecutive patients undergoing conventional ablation.

Results

Despite the IM group having a higher median comorbidities score, 3.5 vs. 2.5 in the CC group, indicating potentially more complex patients and more advanced substrate, cumulative freedom from AF after a single procedure was achieved in 94% of patients in the IM group vs. 75% in the CC group at 1 year and remained the same in both groups at the conclusion of the study (p = 0.02). There was a similar trend in atrial arrhythmia-free survival between both groups (84% vs. 67% at 1 year) that did not reach statistical significance. The procedure duration was longer in the IM group by a median of 31.5 min (p = 0.004).

Conclusions

Individualized mapping to guide AF ablation appears to achieve significantly greater AF-free survival compared to conventional PVI when applied as a primary ablation treatment. The results of this pilot study need to be confirmed in a larger, randomized trial.
Modelling and condition-based control of a flexible and hybrid disassembly system with manual and autonomous workstations using reinforcement learning
Authors: Wurster Marco , Michel Marius , May Marvin Carl , Kuhnle Andreas , Stricker Nicole , Lanza Gisela
Published: January 2022

Remanufacturing includes disassembly and reassembly of used products to save natural resources and reduce emissions. While assembly is widely understood in the field of operations management, disassembly is a rather new problem in production planning and control. The latter faces the challenge of high uncertainty of type, quantity and quality conditions of returned products, leading to high volatility in remanufacturing production systems. Traditionally, disassembly is a manual labor-intensive production step that, thanks to advances in robotics and artificial intelligence, starts to be automated with autonomous workstations. Due to the diverging material flow, the application of production systems with loosely linked stations is particularly suitable and, owing to the risk of condition induced operational failures, the rise of hybrid disassembly systems that combine manual and autonomous workstations can be expected. In contrast to traditional workstations, autonomous workstations can expand their capabilities but suffer from unknown failure rates. For such adverse conditions a condition-based control for hybrid disassembly systems, based on reinforcement learning, alongside a comprehensive modeling approach is presented in this work. The method is applied to a real-world production system. By comparison with a heuristic control approach, the potential of the RL approach can be proven simulatively using two different test cases.
Food Insecurity: Child Care Programs’ Perspectives
Authors: Noerper Tracy E. , Elmore Morgan R. , Hickman Rachel B. , Shea Madison T.
Published: January 2022

Background

Households experiencing "food insecurity" have limited access to food due to a lack of money or resources. Poor nutrition, from food insecurity, can impact physical and cognitive development of children. Study objectives were to document the prevalence of Tennessee child care programs screening for food insecurity, explore differences between programs receiving child and adult care food program (CACFP) funding and those screening for food insecurity, and understand possible burdens food insecurity places on child care families as perceived by child care program directors.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study of licensed Tennessee child care programs, a 10-question survey and four-question follow-up survey were electronically distributed. Analysis included descriptive statistics, a chi-square of programs receiving CACFP funds and screening for food insecurity, and themes analysis of open-ended responses.

Results

The average child care program enrollment (N = 272) was 80.16 with programs serving mostly preschoolers (98.53%) and toddlers (91.91%). Over half (56.99%) of programs reported they received CACFP funding, yet only 9.19% screen for food insecurity. Chi-square analysis found that programs receiving CACFP funds differ significantly on whether they screen households for food insecurity $$\chi$$
χ
2 (1, n = 237) = 16.93, p ≤ 0.001. Themes analysis (n = 41) revealed that many child care program directors do not view food insecurity as a burden for families.

Conclusions

Child care programs receiving CACFP funds are more likely to screen families for food insecurity than programs who do not. Programs indicate a willingness to include food insecurity screening questions on child care paperwork.
Paltusotine, a novel oral once-daily nonpeptide SST2 receptor agonist, suppresses GH and IGF-1 in healthy volunteers
Authors: Madan Ajay , Markison Stacy , Betz Stephen F. , Krasner Alan , Luo Rosa , Jochelson Theresa , Lickliter Jason , Struthers R. Scott
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Evaluate the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and safety of paltusotine, an orally bioavailable, nonpeptide, somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SST2) agonist being developed for the treatment of acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors.

Methods

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single center, single and multiple ascending dose phase 1 study was conducted in healthy male volunteers who received (i) single-dose of oral paltusotine 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg (solution); and 40 and 60 mg (capsules) or (ii) multiple-dose oral paltusotine capsules once daily 5 mg (× 7 days), 10, 20, and 30 mg (× 10 days). Main outcome measures were pharmacodynamics (changes in growth hormone-releasing hormone [GHRH] stimulated growth hormone [GH] and insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-1]), pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability.

Results

Single-dose cohorts: n = 41 active, n = 14 placebo. Multiple-dose cohorts: n = 24 active, n = 12 placebo. Paltusotine was well tolerated, orally bioavailable, associated with increased plasma concentrations to doses up to 40 mg, and was eliminated with a half-life of approximately 30 h. Single-dose paltusotine 1.25 to 20 mg suppressed GHRH-stimulated GH secretion by 44% to 93% compared to 15% with placebo. Multiple-dose paltusotine 5 to 30 mg administered once daily for 10 days suppressed IGF-1 by 19% to 37% compared to an increase of 2.4% with placebo.

Conclusions

Paltusotine suppresses GH and IGF-1 in a dose-dependent fashion, with a safety profile similar to currently approved SST2 receptor ligands. Paltusotine is a promising once-daily oral nonpeptide SST2 agonist candidate for managing acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors.

Trial registration

NCT03276858, registered September 8, 2017, retrospectively registered.
Balancing litterfall and decomposition in cacao agroforestry systems
Authors: Sari Rika Ratna , Rozendaal Danaë M. A. , Saputra Danny Dwi , Hairiah Kurniatun , Roshetko James M. , van Noordwijk Meine
Published: January 2022

Backgrounds and aims

Litter protects the underlying soil, depending on litterfall and decomposition, but dynamics of the standing litter stock in agroforestry systems remain poorly understood. We aimed to unravel effects of litter quality, temporal patterns, microclimate, and a possible home-field advantage (HFA) on standing litter dynamics across a land-use gradient.

Methods

We quantified litterfall, the standing litter stock, and microclimate during a year in (remnant) forest, cacao-based simple and complex agroforestry, cacao monocultures, and annual crops in a cacao producing area in Indonesia. We conducted a reciprocal litter transfer experiment, and tested decomposition rates of pruning residues. Standing litter stocks during the year were estimated from monthly litterfall and decomposition rates.

Results

Variation in litter quality influenced decomposition rates more strongly than variation in microclimate or HFA. Lower litter quality in complex agroforestry and in the cacao monoculture decreased the decay rate compared to simple agroforestry systems; mean litter residence time was over a year. Mixing high- and low-quality material in pruning residues modified the decomposition rate, soil C and N changes, offering options for targeted management of soil protection and nutrient release.

Conclusions

The seasonal patterns of litterfall and relatively slow decomposition rates supported permanence of the litter layer in all cacao production systems, protecting the underlying soil.
Life cycle inventory data for the Italian agri-food sector: background, sources and methodological aspects
Authors: Notarnicola B. , Tassielli G. , Renzulli P. A. , Di Capua R. , Saija G. , Salomone R. , Primerano P. , Petti L. , Raggi A. , Casolani N. , Strano A. , Mistretta M.
Published: January 2022

Purpose

For the development of any life cycle assessment study, the practitioner frequently integrates primary data collected on-field, with background data taken from various life cycle inventory databases which are part of most commercial LCA software packages. However, such data is often not generally applicable to all product systems since, especially concerning the agri-food sector, available datasets may not be fully representative of the site specificity of the food product under examination. In this context, the present work investigates the background, sources and methodological aspects that characterise the most known commercial databases containing agri-food data, with a focus on four agri-food supply chains (olive oil, wine, wheat products and citrus fruit), which represent an important asset for the Italian food sector.

Methods

Specifically, the paper entails a review of currently available LCI databases and their datasets with a twofold scope: firstly, to understand how agri-food data is modelled in these databases for a coherent and consistent representation of regional scenarios and to verify whether they are also suitable for the Italian context and, secondly, to identify and analyse useful and relevant methodological approaches implemented in the existing LCI databases when regional data are modelled.

Results

Based on the aforementioned review, it is possible to highlight some problems which may arise when developing an LCI pertaining to the four Italian agri-food supply chains, namely:

1. The need for specific inventory datasets to tackle the specificities of agri-food product systems.

2. The lack of datasets, within the existing DBs, related to the Italian context and to the abovementioned supply chains. In fact, at present, in the currently available LCI DBs, there are very few (or in some cases none) datasets related to Italian wine, olive oil, wheat-based products and citrus fruit. The few available datasets often contain some data related to the Italian context but also approximate data with that of product systems representing other countries.

Furthermore, the present study allowed to identify and discuss the main aspects to be used as starting elements for modelling regional data to be included in a future Italian LCI database of the abovementioned four supply chains.

Conclusions

The results of the present study represent a starting point for the collection of data and its organisation, in order to develop an Italian LCI agri-food database with datasets which are representative of the regional specificities of four agri-food supply chains which play an important role in the Italian economy.
Marketing control in international headquarters-subsidiary working relationships of industrial goods firms: the role of environmental context
Authors: Isenberg Lukas , Kreiter Susanne , Helm Roland , Schmitz Christian
Published: January 2022

The use of marketing and sales control mechanisms is a core management activity for multinational corporations. However, research on controlling marketing and sales of international subsidiaries is scarce. In particular, the influence of a firm’s economic and cultural environment on different control mechanisms has not been thoroughly examined yet. In attempting to fill these gaps, we build on Jaworski’s (J Mark 52:23–39, 1988) framework from a subsidiary perspective on marketing and sales controls, applied by the headquarters of medium-sized industrial goods corporations. Through a rival model analysis, we determine the impact of the local environmental context on marketing and sales control types exerted by headquarters on subsidiaries located in foreign countries. To analyze the proposed model, this study deploys survey data of 184 subsidiaries from different industries and different European countries with headquarters in Switzerland. The results show that while environmental factors influence the marketing and sales control configurations, the effectiveness of marketing and sales controls is not contingent on environmental factors.
Risk Aversion and Timber Harvest Strategies: A Case Study of Nonindustrial Private Forest Management in Louisiana
Authors: Wang Hua , Adusumilli Naveen , Blazier Michael , Pathak Santosh
Published: January 2022

Forest owners face many challenges regarding forest management due to the long period from planting to harvest. Along with the economic and environmental factors that influence management actions, the owners' attitude to risk plays a crucial role in forest management decisions. This study shows that understanding the effects of the owner's risk preference for management actions is an important step to form an effective forest policy. The objectives of the study are to (1) assess the economic advantage of forest management alternatives over a range of risk aversion coefficients and (2) determine the financial incentive (risk premium) corresponding to a forest owners' risk attitude. We implemented the stochastic efficiency with respect to a function framework to evaluate a set of fertilization, herbicide, and thinning management alternatives at mid-rotation loblolly pine plantations in Louisiana. Results from this study indicate that forest owner's risk preference affects their decision to select management actions. Financial incentives are substantially different for specific management alternatives between risk-neutral and risk-averse forest owners. The results can guide forest policy development where agencies can modify financial assistance programs to improve the adoption of management actions.
The Mechanism of Stem Cell Aging
Authors: Mi Liangyu , Hu Junping , Li Na , Gao Jinfang , Huo Rongxiu , Peng Xinyue , Zhang Na , Liu Ying , Zhao Hanxi , Liu Ruiling , Zhang Liyun , Xu Ke
Published: January 2022

Stem cells have self-renewal ability and multi-directional differentiation potential. They have tissue repair capabilities and are essential for maintaining the tissue homeostasis. The depletion of stem cells is closely related to the occurrence of body aging and aging-related diseases. Therefore, revealing the molecular mechanisms of stem cell aging will set new directions for the therapeutic application of stem cells, the study of aging mechanisms, and the prevention and treatment of aging-related diseases. This review comprehensively describes the molecular mechanisms related to stem cell aging and provides the basis for further investigations aimed at developing new anti-stem cell aging strategies and promoting the clinical application of stem cells.
Base Editing of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells for Modeling Long QT Syndrome
Authors: Wu Fujian , Guo Tianwei , Sun Lixiang , Li Furong , Yang Xiaofei
Published: January 2022

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have great potential for disease modeling, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine as they can differentiate into many different functional cell types via directed differentiation. However, the application of disease modeling is limited due to a time-consuming and labor-intensive process of introducing known pathogenic mutations into hPSCs. Base editing is a newly developed technology that enables the facile introduction of point mutations into specific loci within the genome of living cells without unwanted genome injured. We describe an optimized stepwise protocol to introduce disease-specific mutations of long QT syndrome (LQTs) into hPSCs. We highlight technical issues, especially those associated with introducing a point mutation to obtain isogenic hPSCs without inserting any resistance cassette and reproducible cardiomyocyte differentiation. Based on the protocol, we succeeded in getting hPSCs carrying LQTs pathogenic mutation with excellent efficiency (31.7% of heterozygous clones, 9.1% of homozygous clones) in less than 20 days. In addition, we also provide protocols to analyze electrophysiological of hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes using multi-electrode arrays. This protocol is also applicable to introduce other disease-specific mutations into hPSCs.

Graphical abstract
A strategic reflection for the management and implementation of CAR-T therapy in Spain: an expert consensus paper
Authors: Zozaya N. , Villaseca J. , Abdalla F. , Calleja M. A. , Díez-Martín J. L. , Estévez J. , García-Sanz R. , Martínez-López J. , Sierra J. , Vera R. , Hidalgo-Vega A.
Published: January 2022

CAR-T cell therapy represents a therapeutic revolution in the prognosis and treatment of patients with certain types of hematological cancer. However, they also pose new challenges in the healthcare, regulatory and financial fields. The aim of the RET-A project was to undertake a strategic reflection on the management of CAR-T therapies within the Spanish National Health System, to agree on recommendations that will help to better deal with the new context introduced by these cell therapies in the present and in the future. This think tank involved 40 key agents and opinion leaders. The experts identified three great challenges for implementing advanced therapies in Spain: therapeutic individualisation, with a multidisciplinary approach; acceleration of access times, by minimizing bureaucracy; and increase in the number of centers qualified to manage the CAR-T therapies in the NHS. The experts agreed on the ideal criteria for designating those qualified centers. They also agreed on a comprehensive CAR-T care pathway with the timings and roles which would ideally be involved in each part of the process.
Letter visual similarity of Japanese hiragana and katakana based on reaction times
Authors: Higuchi Hiroki , Kobayashi Tessei
Published: January 2022

Abstrac﻿t

Letter similarity (i.e., perceptual distance) is a critical measure to better understand letter perception and literacy development. Despite its importance, however, measurements of letter similarity for non-alphabetic scripts are limited, and the shortage of letter similarity for non-alphabetic script interferes with the identification of the universality and the uniqueness of letter perception systems across different scripts. In the present study, we provide a comprehensive matrix of letter similarity for Japanese kana letters (hiragana and katakana). We obtained the discrimination reaction times for simultaneously presented letter pairs and calculated the perceptual distance of 4,278 letter pairs by inversing the time. The matrix showed significant correlations with previously obtained letter similarity for hiragana and katakana. An additional experiment showed that letter pairs for the same sounds (え–エ) produced significantly slower responses compared with those for different sounds (え–コ). However, the differences in reaction times between the same and different sound conditions were smaller than the sequentially presented conditions, suggesting that the matrix was partially attributable to knowledge-based factors (e.g., letter-sound knowledge). This first comprehensive matrix of letter similarity (i.e., perceptual distance) for Japanese kana letters (hiragana and katakana) will be useful for researchers interested in letter perception and literacy development.
Omnichannel Business
Authors: Lehrer Christiane , Trenz Manuel
Published: January 2022

The widespread diffusion of digital technologies along with evolving consumer behaviors and requirements have fostered the emergence of omnichannel businesses, i.e., firms that can exploit integrated processes and information systems to realize a seamless and consistent consumer experience across a plenitude of digital and physical channels. To date, omnichannel research has been cluttered and characterized by significant terminological ambiguity that creates unnecessary challenges for researchers and markeeters trying to navigate and advance research and practice in this area. This fundamentals article seeks to address this problem by presenting a definition of omnichannel business that is grounded in its unique characteristics involving technology, organizational, and market perspectives and clearly distinguishes omnichannel from other terms, such as multi-channel or cross-channel. We leverage this conceptual clarity to analyze and structure the previous research on omnichannel business and conclude with an integrated framework that signifies fields of interest for future omnichannel business research.
Integrated approach to functional analysis of an ERBB2 variant of unknown significance detected by a cancer gene panel test
Authors: Harada Yohei , Sato Akemi , Araki Mitsugu , Matsumoto Shigeyuki , Isaka Yuta , Sagae Yukari , Abe Tomonori , Aoyagi Yasuko , Sueoka Eisaburo , Okuno Yasushi , Kimura Shinya , Sueoka-Aragane Naoko
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Dealing with variants of unknown significance (VUS) is an important issue in the clinical application of NGS-based cancer gene panel tests. We detected a novel ERBB2 extracellular domain VUS, c.1157A > G p.(E401G), in a cancer gene panel test. Since the mechanisms of activation by ERBB2 extracellular domain (ECD) variants are not fully understood, we aimed to clarify those mechanisms and the biological functions of ERBB2 E401G.

Methods

ERBB2 E401G was selected as VUS for analysis because multiple software tools predicted its pathogenicity. We prepared ERBB2 expression vectors with the E401G variant as well as vectors with S310F and E321G, which are known to be activating mutations. On the basis of wild-type ERBB2 or mutant ERBB2 expression in cell lines without ERBB2 amplification or variants, we evaluated the phosphorylation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and related proteins, and investigated with molecular dynamics (MD) simulation the mechanisms conferred by the variants. The biological effects of ERBB2 E401G were also investigated, both in vitro and in vivo.

Results

We found that ERBB2 E401G enhances C-terminal phosphorylation in a way similar to S310F. MD simulation analysis revealed that these variants maintain the stability of the EGFR-HER2 heterodimer in a ligand-independent manner. Moreover, ERBB2 E401G-transduced cells showed an increased invasive capacity in vitro and an increased tumor growth capacity in vivo.

Conclusion

Our results provide important information on the activating mechanisms of ERBB2 extracellular domain (ECD) variants and illustrate a model workflow integrating wet and dry bench processes for the analysis of VUS detected with cancer gene panel tests.
The Patterns of Democracy in Context of Historical Political Science
Authors: He Jiacheng
Published: January 2022

The patterns of democracy are related to the success or failure of national governance; hence, they are a key topic in the theoretical research of political science. It is difficult to comprehend the worldwide political conflicts caused by the promotion of liberal democracy in the study of democratic models that have liberal democracy as their core. The emphasis of historical political science on the genes of civilization provides an opportunity to reinterpret the patterns of democracy. Relying on specific civilization genes, the patterns of democracy can be divided into the “value pattern”, which is shaped by historical civilization genes, and the “practice pattern”, which is based on the “value pattern”. Based on Christian concepts, Western civilization produced liberal democracy as the value pattern, and the value is inherited through the practice pattern of party democracy. Chinese civilization has continued the tradition of people-orientation and consultative practice, establishing socialist democracy in value and consultative democracy in practice. Theoretically, the analytical framework of the value pattern and the practice pattern of democracy illustrates the source of the diverse patterns of democracy, which helps demonstrate the limitations of liberal democracy and points out the possibility of developing a non-liberal democracy pattern.
On the difference of inverse coefficients of convex functions
Authors: Sim Young Jae , Thomas Derek K.
Published: January 2022

Let f be analytic in the unit disk $${\mathbb {D}}=\{z\in {\mathbb {C}}:|z|<1 \}$$

D
=
{
z
∈
C
:
|
z
|
<
1
}

, and $${\mathcal {S}}$$
S
be the subclass of normalised univalent functions given by $$f(z)=z+\sum _{n=2}^{\infty }a_n z^n$$

f

(
z
)

=
z
+

∑

n
=
2

∞

a
n

z
n

for $$z\in {\mathbb {D}}$$

z
∈
D

. Let F be the inverse function of f defined in some set $$|\omega |\le r_{0}(f)$$

|
ω
|

≤

r
0

(
f
)

, and be given by $$F(\omega )=\omega +\sum _{n=2}^{\infty }A_n \omega ^n$$

F

(
ω
)

=
ω
+

∑

n
=
2

∞

A
n

ω
n

. We prove the sharp inequalities $$-1/3 \le |A_4|-|A_3| \le 1/4$$

-
1
/
3
≤
|

A
4

|
-
|

A
3

|
≤
1
/
4

for the class $${\mathcal {K}}\subset {\mathcal {S}}$$

K
⊂
S

of convex functions, thus providing an analogue to the known sharp inequalities $$-1/3 \le |a_4|-|a_3| \le 1/4$$

-
1
/
3
≤
|

a
4

|
-
|

a
3

|
≤
1
/
4

, and giving another example of an invariance property amongst coefficient functionals of convex functions.
Fibro-adipogenesis in Injured Rotator Cuff Muscle
Authors: Subhash Ajith K. , Davies Michael , Gatto Andrew , Bogdanov Jacob M. , Lan Rae , Jensen Andrew , Feeley Brian T. , Petrigliano Frank A.
Published: January 2022

Purpose of Review

Fibro-adipogenic progenitors were first characterized in 2010 and later found to contribute significantly to muscle regeneration and mediate degenerative changes in muscle following injury. These progenitors were also found to have an influence on the rotator cuff muscle’s response to chronic injury which is defined by fibrosis accompanied by massive fatty degeneration. The purpose of this review is to highlight progenitor cells, their contribution to fibro-adipogenesis in rotator cuff tissue, and the factors influencing fibro-adipogenesis in this tissue.

Recent Findings

Fibro-adipogenic progenitors are a key mediator of the fatty infiltration notably prevalent in rotator cuff injury. Relative to other muscle groups, the rotator cuff has relatively high rates of fibro-adipogenesis following massive chronic rotator cuff tears. This may be linked to the pre-injury density of fibro-adipogenic progenitors in muscle tissue affecting post-injury levels of fibro-adipogenesis. In addition, suprascapular nerve injury in rat models of rotator cuff tears has demonstrated worse, histologic, and biomechanical properties and lower healing rates of rotator cuff repairs. However, fatty infiltration in the rotator cuff following suprascapular nerve compression has been shown to be reversible following release of the nerve compression.

The fibro-adipogenic response to acute and chronic injury in rotator cuff tissue is determined by a complex array of factors including progenitor cell influence, transcriptional pathways, chronicity of the injury, anatomic location of injury, microenvironmental influences, and the severity of nerve involvement. Elucidating the complex interactions of these factors will provide potential targets for therapeutic intervention in vivo.
Mapping Cell Phenomics with Multiparametric Flow Cytometry Assays
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhao Haichu , Fu Boqiang , Jiang Shan , Wang Jing , Wan Ying
Published: January 2022

Phenomics explores the complex interactions among genes, epigenetics, symbiotic microorganisms, diet, and environmental exposure based on the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of individuals and groups. Increasingly efficient and comprehensive phenotyping techniques have been integrated into modern phenomics-related research. Multicolor flow cytometry technology provides more measurement parameters than conventional flow cytometry. Based on detailed descriptions of cell phenotypes, rare cell populations and cell subsets can be distinguished, new cell phenotypes can be discovered, and cell apoptosis characteristics can be detected, which will expand the potential of cell phenomics research. Based on the enhancements in multicolor flow cytometry hardware, software, reagents, and method design, the present review summarizes the recent advances and applications of multicolor flow cytometry in cell phenomics, illuminating the potential of applying phenomics in future studies.
Atmospheric Oxygen Abundance, Marine Nutrient Availability, and Organic Carbon Fluxes to the Seafloor
Authors: Cole Devon B. , Ozaki Kazumi , Reinhard Christopher T.
Published: January 2022

The global‐scale oxygenation of Earth's surface represents one of the most fundamental chemical transformations in our planet's history. There is empirical and theoretical evidence for at least two distinct and stable regimes of Earth surface oxygenation—a “low‐O2world” characterized by pervasively anoxic deep ocean waters, and a “high‐O2world” with dominantly well‐oxygenated deep ocean waters represented by our modern surface environment. Numerous biogeochemical processes and feedbacks control the redox state of the marine system, particularly when considered globally and on geologic timescales. It has therefore proven challenging to provide quantitative and internally consistent estimates of the atmospheric oxygen levels (and thereby, productivity, nutrient availability, and reductant consumption) necessary to oxygenate the deep seas. Here, we leverage an Earth‐system biogeochemical model that tracks the carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur cycles to provide new quantitative constraints on this relationship. We explore ocean biogeochemistry and fluxes of reduced carbon to the seafloor across a wide range of atmospheric oxygen levels from 0.01% to 100% of the present atmospheric level (PAL), and implement a stochastic approach to provide formal estimates of uncertainty on our results. We find that deep ocean waters remain largely anoxic, and ocean productivity remains significantly muted relative to the modern marine biosphere, untilpO2levels reach ∼40% PAL. These results have major implications for quantitative constraints on atmosphericpO2levels during the latest Proterozoic and Paleozoic, both in terms of environmental habitability for early animals and with respect to potential energetic constraints on growing and diversifying benthic communities.
Increased Fire Activity in Alaska Since the 1980s: Evidence From an Ice Core‐Derived Black Carbon Record
Authors: Sierra‐Hernández M. Roxana , Beaudon Emilie , Porter Stacy E. , Mosley‐Thompson Ellen , Thompson Lonnie G.
Published: January 2022

Wildfires emit large quantities of particles that affect Earth's climate and human health. Black carbon (BC), commonly known as soot, is directly emitted to the atmosphere by wildfires and other processes and can be transported and deposited in remote regions including high‐altitude glaciers and the polar regions. Here, we present a continuous, high‐resolution record of BC and ammonium (NH4+) from 1933 to 2001 extracted from two ice cores retrieved in 2002 from the col between Mt. Bona and Mt. Churchill in the Wrangell‐St. Elias Mountain Range, southeast Alaska. Despite the substantial increase of BC from fossil fuels in the Arctic since the Industrial Revolution, BC at Bona‐Churchill originates primarily from biomass burning and thus provides a record reflecting a fire history for Alaska. The BC record from Bona‐Churchill reveals that high fire activity became more frequent after 1984 in agreement with Alaska fire records. Most years associated with high BC or high NH4+ before 1984 occurred during El Niño events when precipitation in Alaska was below “normal,” suggesting that precipitation played an important role in modulating fire activity in Alaska prior to the 1980s. Conversely, years with high BC or NH4+ after 1984 coincided with years with “normal” and low precipitation, but elevated temperatures, strongly suggesting that temperature became a more dominant factor influencing fire activity in Alaska after the 1980s as suggested by other studies. Recent Alaska fire records and temperatures indicate that this trend has continued in the 21st century.
An Ambitious Vision for the Future of Scientific Ocean Drilling
Authors: Bontempi Paula
Published: January 2022

Scientific ocean drilling is an enduring paragon of global research, advancing knowledge of Earth and informing scientists and educators for 55 years. A new road map plots the way to further discovery.
Puf-A promotes cancer progression by interacting with nucleophosmin in nucleolus
Authors: Cho Huan-Chieh , Huang Yenlin , Hung Jung-Tung , Hung Tsai-Hsien , Cheng Kai-Chun , Liu Yun-Hen , Kuo Ming-Wei , Wang Sheng-Hung , Yu Alice L. , Yu John
Published: January 2022

Previously, we identified Puf-A as a novel member of Puf-family RNA-binding proteins; however, its biological functions remain obscure. Analysis of tumor samples of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) showed that high Puf-A expression correlated with high histology grade and abnormal p53 status. Kaplan–Meier curve for overall survival revealed high expression of Puf-A to predict poor prognosis in stage I NSCLC. Among patients with colorectal cancer, high Puf-A expression also showed an adverse impact on overall survival. In lung cancer cell lines, downregulation of p53 increased Puf-A expression, and upregulation of p53 dampened its expression. However, luciferase reporter assays indicated that PUF-A locus harbored the p53-response element, but regulated Puf-A transcription indirectly. In vivo suppression of p53 in CCSP-rtTA/TetO-Cre/LSL-KrasG12D/p53flox/flox conditional mutant mice accelerated the progression of the KrasG12D-driven lung cancer, along with enhanced expression of Puf-A. Importantly, intranasal delivery of shPuf-A to the inducible KrasG12D/p53flox/flox mice suppressed tumor progression. Puf-A silencing led to marked decreases in the 80S ribosomes, along with decrease in S6 and L5 in the cytoplasm and accumulation in the nucleolus. Based on immunofluorescence staining and immunoprecipitation studies, Puf-A interacted with NPM1 in nucleolus. Puf-A silencing resulted in NPM1 translocation from nucleolus to nucleoplasm and this disruption of NPM1 localization was reversed by a rescue experiment. Mechanistically, Puf-A silencing altered NPM1 localization, leading to the retention of ribosomal proteins in nucleolus and diminished ribosome biogenesis, followed by cell-cycle arrest/cell death. Puf-A is a potential theranostic target for cancer therapy and an important player in cancer progression.
Recent progress on polyvinyl alcohol-based materials for energy conversion
Authors: Qiao Zhiyong , Ding Changming
Published: January 2022

The recent progress in PVA-based materials for electrocatalytic energy conversion has been summarized.
Two-phase synthesis of Fe doped cerium phosphate ultra-fine nanocrystals for efficient oxygen evolution
Authors: Zhou Rui , Li Yanxin , Wang Ruonan , Su Ge , Gao Rongjie , Cao Lixin , Dong Bohua
Published: January 2022

An enhanced OER catalyst based on Fe doped CePO4 exhibits higher turnover frequency, more active sites and more oxygen vacancies than CePO4.
Size-tunable MoS2nanosheets for controlling the crystal morphology and residual stress in sequentially deposited perovskite solar cells with over 22.5% efficiency
Authors: Zhang Zhanfei , Wang Jianli , Lang Lizhong , Dong Yan , Liang Jianghu , Zheng Yiting , Wu Xueyun , Tian Congcong , Huang Ying , Zhou Zhuang , Yang Yajuan , Wang Luyao , Kong Lingti , Chen Chun-Chao
Published: January 2022

MoS2nano-scaffolds are introduced into the PbI2skeleton during a sequential deposition process to realize the homogeneous growth of perovskite crystals through expanding the physical volume of the PbI2layer and reducing film residual stress.
Device performance and strain effect of sub-5 nm monolayer InP transistors
Authors: Xu Linqiang , Quhe Ruge , Li Qiuhui , Liu Shiqi , Yang Jie , Yang Chen , Shi Bowen , Tang Hao , Li Ying , Sun Xiaotian , Yang JinBo , Lu Jing
Published: January 2022

The performance limit of the sub-5 nm monolayer (ML) indium phosphide (InP) FETs is explored. Ion, τ, and PDP of the ML InP FETs could meet the ITRS demands for the high-performance/low-power devices until gate length is reduced to 2/4 nm.
L‐band high power solid‐state power amplifier for aerospace usage
Authors: Yang Fei , Li Jun , Yu Hongxi , Yin Kang , Zhao Hengfei , Chen Xiaoming , Zhang Anxue , Jin Zhonghe
Published: January 2022

This work presents the design, implementation, and experimental results of an L‐band solid‐state power amplifier (SSPA) developed for the next generation high‐power transmitter for the space usage. The microwave frequency nircuit (MFC) is realized by cascading a channel amplifier, a drive power amplifier (PA) and a high PA section. By utilizing the gallium nitride (GaN) HEMTs, the efficiency of the drive PA and high PA are improved to more than 70% over the frequency range from 1.45 to 1.55 GHz, which ensures an overall efficiency of the MFC higher than 66%. Then a high efficiency power‐supply based on the phase‐array bridge topology is proposed for voltage conversion and output sequence control, which delivers a high efficiency of about 94% at the rated power range. In the 100‐MHz operating bandwidth, the SSPA delivers more than 200 W of output power with an associated 3rd order intermodulation product (IM3) and power added efficiency (PAE) better than −18 dBc and 60%, respectively. The gain can be varied from 25 to 56 dB with a minimal step of 0.5 dB through telecommand, whereas the phase can be adjusted within 360° range with a minimal step of 5.6°.
A FAST survey of H I narrow-line self-absorptions in Planck Galactic cold clumps guided by HC3N
Authors: Liu Xunchuan , Wu Yuefang , Zhang Chao , Tang Ningyu , Liu Tie , Wang Ke , Li Di , Qian Lei , Qin Sheng-Li , Esimbek Jarken , Wang Junzhi , Yuan Jinghua , Xu Fengwei , Yuan Lixia
Published: January 2022

Using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), we search for H I narrow-line self-absorption (HINSA) features in twelve Planck Galactic cold clumps (PGCCs), the starless core L1521B, and four star forming sources. Eight of the 12 PGCCs have detected emission of J = 2–1 of cyanoacetylene (HC3N). With an improved HINSA extraction method more robust for weaker and blended features with high velocity resolution, the detection rates of HINSA in PGCCs are high, at 92% overall (11/12) and 87% (7/8) among sources with HC3N J = 2–1 emissions. Combining the data of molecular spectra and Planck continuum maps, we studied the morphologies, dynamics, abundances and excitations of H I, CO and HC3N in PGCCs. The spatial distribution of HINSA is similar to that of CO, implying that HINSA features are confined to regions within and around CO emission kernels. HINSA tends to be not detected in regions associated with warm dust and background ionizing radiation, as well as regions associated with stellar objects. The L-band continnum and average background H I emission may be non-ignorable for the excitation of HINSA. The abundances of cold H I in PGCCs are approximately 3 × 10−4, and vary within a factor of ~3. The non-thermal velocity dispersions traced by C18O J = 1–0 and HINSA are consistent with each other (0.1–0.4 km s−1), larger than the typical value of HC3N (~0.1 km s−1). Carbon chain molecule (CCM) abundant PGCCs provide a good sample to study HINSA.