bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
To detach or not to detach? The role of psychological detachment on the relationship between heavy work investment and well-being: A latent profile analysis
Authors: Gaudiino Maria , Di Stefano Giovanni
Published: June 2021

This study focuses on two types of heavy work investment, namely workaholism and work engagement, and on psychological detachment from work. Both workaholism and work engagement refer to an intense work effort, yet with a different impact on work and personal life. Building on Stressor–Detachment Model (SDM), we examine how different levels of workaholism, work engagement, and psychological detachment influence different outcomes related to employees’ well-being (i.e., perceived health, negative affectivity, positive affectivity). Data were collected from 342 employees via online survey and analyzed by mean of latent profile analysis. Five employee profiles were identified: High-Detachment and Engaged, Heavy Work Investors, Mild-Detachment and Disengaged, Mild-Detachment and Engaged, and Pure Workaholics. The profiles showed different patterns of the outcomes under investigation. Our findings also indicate that psychological detachment is an important factor that alleviates the detrimental effects of heavy work investment on employees’ well-being and that work engagement can play an immediate protecting role for employees’ well-being even in absence of significant levels of psychological detachment.
Swarm intelligence versus direct cover algorithms in synthesis of Multi-Valued Logic functions
Authors: Abd-El-Barr Mostafa , Qureshi Kalim , Sarif Bambang
Published: June 2021

Ant Colony Optimization and Particle Swarm Optimization represent two widely used Swarm Intelligence (SI) optimization techniques. Information processing using Multiple-Valued Logic (MVL) is carried out using more than two discrete logic levels. In this paper, we compare two the SI-based algorithms in synthesizing MVL functions. A benchmark consisting of 50,000 randomly generated 2-variable 4-valued functions is used for assessing the performance of the algorithms using the benchmark. Simulation results show that the PSO outperforms the ACO technique in terms of the average number of product terms (PTs) needed. We also compare the results obtained using both ACO-MVL and PSO-MVL with those obtained using Espresso-MV logic minimizer. It is shown that on average, both of the SI-based techniques produced better results compared to those produced by Espresso-MV. We show that the SI-based techniques outperform the conventional direct-cover (DC) techniques in terms of the average number of product terms required.
ODCR: Energy Efficient and Reliable Density Clustered-based routing protocol for emergency sensor applications
Authors: Al-kahtani Mohammed S. , Karim Lutful , Khan Nargis
Published: June 2021

Designing an efficient routing protocol that opportunistically forwards data to the destination node through nearby sensor nodes or devices is significantly important for an effective incidence response and disaster recovery framework. Existing sensor routing protocols are mostly not effective in such disaster recovery applications as the networks are affected (destroyed or overused) in disasters such as earthquake, flood, Tsunami and wildfire. These protocols require a large number of message transmissions to reestablish the clusters and communications that is not energy efficient and result in packet loss. This paper introduces ODCR - an energy efficient and reliable opportunistic density clustered-based routing protocol for such emergency sensor applications. We perform simulation to measure the performance of ODCR protocol in terms of network energy consumptions, throughput and packet loss ratio. Simulation results demonstrate that the ODCR protocol is much better than the existing TEEN, LEACH and LORA protocols in term of these performance metrics.
Sound in the archive: Media materials as archives of narrative
Authors: Ellis Seth
Published: June 2021

This paper describes and evaluates research undertaken by the author at the State Library of Queensland, in the collection, cataloguing, and presentation of audiovisual materials—specifically, sound materials beyond oral history and performance. It suggests that strategies drawn from transcription can make the sounds of the past more evident in digitised catalogues, and thus can make those sounds themselves more accessible to the public. In doing so it offers a different affordance of the archive to public experience: not just information about the past, but the affective impact of the past.
The behaviour of populist parties in parliament. The policy agendas of populist and other political parties in the Italian question time
Authors: Cavalieri Alice , Froio Caterina
Published: June 2021

This article addresses the question of whether populist parties behave differently from other political parties in parliament. Building on the attention-based perspective of the study of policy agendas, we map issue emphasis in parliamentary questions in Italy over more than two decades (1996–2019). The paper is innovative as it compares populist and non-populist parties in government and in opposition. Using data from theItalian Policy Agendas ProjectandThe PopuList, we find mixed evidence. Specifically, we show that populist parties behave differently from other parties only when they are in opposition (signalling that they are different from ‘elite’ ones) but not when in government (signalling that they are ‘competent’ policymakers). While the results are exploratory and drawn from the Italian context, this study contributes to deflate the myth of populists' exceptionalism, at least in terms of their behaviour in parliament. As such, it holds broader implications for the scholarly understanding of party government and the so-called ‘normalization’ of populism in contemporary democracies.
Response Options and the Measurement of Political Knowledge
Authors: Bullock John G. , Rader Kelly
Published: June 2021

By many measures, the public knows little about politics. But just how little people seem to know depends on the questions that are put to them. In particular, knowledge levels seem higher when people are asked closed- rather than open-ended questions. In turn, differences between estimated knowledge levels are sometimes attributed to fundamental differences between these types of questions. Building on this previous research, the present study uses a pre-registered experiment conducted with a representative national sample to shed new light on the relationship between question form and knowledge measurement. The authors find that inferences about political knowledge depend less on fundamental differences between open- and closed-ended questions than on two little-appreciated aspects of survey design: the number and difficulty of the response options that accompany closed-ended questions. These aspects of survey design have large effects. Scholars who use the same questions with different response options may reach substantively different conclusions about the public's levels of knowledge.
Codex Nicholsonianus
Authors: Woudhuysen George
Published: June 2021

Frankness is not a quality one naturally associates with Themistius, that most sinuous of the fourth century's official spokesmen, but the opening of his first speech (‘On the Love of Mankind’) is disarmingly frank. Invited to address Constantius II at Ancyra in the spring of 342, the young orator had an unusually difficult brief: violent riots in Constantinople had recently seen Hermogenes (a senior general) killed by a mob, relations with Constans (emperor in the west) were tense and war with Persia was rumbling away on the eastern frontier. The situation surely called for cliché — the familiar refuge of the panegyrist in a tight spot — but Themistius responded with a rather daring candour. Not for him some faltering introduction of the various themes set out in the rhetorical handbooks. Instead, he opened by offering his listeners an expert's guide to the tropes of conventional panegyric: those familiar descriptions of magnificent armies, glittering imperial adornment and the emperor's physical vigour (Or. 1.2a–b) to which his courtly audience must have been almost numb. With these curtly dismissed as so much hackwork, he delivered a boldly original oration: a philosophical treatment of the emperor's inner virtue. It is quite a performance. One can see why so many and such different emperors found themselves in need of Themistius’ eloquence.
Nowhere to escape – Diversity and community composition of ferns and lycophytes on the highest mountain in Honduras
Authors: Reyes-Chávez Johan , Quail Megan , Tarvin Stephanie , Kessler Michael , Batke Sven P.
Published: June 2021

IPCC predictions for Honduras indicate that temperature will increase by up to 3–6°C and precipitation will decrease by up to 7–13% by the year 2050. To better understand how fern and lycophyte communities might be affected by climate change, we comprehensively surveyed the community compositions of ferns and lycophytes at Celaque National Park, the highest mountain in Honduras. We surveyed a total of 80 20 × 20 m2plots along an altitudinal gradient of 1249–2844 m a.s.l., identifying all species and estimating their abundances. We recorded a total of 11,098 individuals from 160 species and 61 genera. Community composition was strongly influenced by changes in altitude, precipitation and the abundance of bryophytes (a proxy for air humidity). Of the 160 species, 63 are expected, under a RCP2.6 scenario for the year 2050, to shift their range fully or partially above the maximum altitude of the mountain. Of these, 65.1% are epiphytes. We found that species with narrow altitudinal ranges at high altitudes were more at risk. Our study indicated that conservation efforts should prioritise higher altitudinal sites, focusing particularly on preserving the vulnerable epiphytic fern species, which are likely to be at greater risk.
REPRESENTATION AND PROCESSING OF OVERTLY IDENTICAL COMPLEX FORMS IN L1 AND L2
Authors: Bordag Denisa , Opitz Andreas
Published: June 2021

In two visual priming experiments, we investigated the relation of form-identical word forms with different grammatical functions in L1 and L2 German. Four different grammatical types (inflected verbs, infinitives, deverbal conversion forms, and countable nouns) were used as primes and their influence on the processing of form-identical inflected verbs as targets was compared. Results revealed full priming of inflected verbs, but only partial priming for conversion forms and infinitives. No priming was observed for semantically related countable nouns suggesting that they have a separate lexical entry. The findings bring first psycholinguistic evidence for typological claims that deverbal conversion nouns and infinitives fall into the category of nonfinites. They also support accounts assuming representations with a basic lexical entry and word-category specific subentries. The same priming pattern was observed in L1 and L2 suggesting that representation and processing of the studied complex forms is not fundamentally different in the two populations.
Producer preferences for drought management strategies in the arid west
Authors: Drugova Tatiana , Curtis Kynda R. , Ward Ruby A.
Published: June 2021

This study uses choice experiments to assess fresh produce and hay/forage grower preferred drought management strategies, the level of drought at which growers adopt specific management strategies and the level of drought at which they choose to exit farming in the arid west. Results show preferred strategies differ by drought level and across grower groups. Using logit models, we find that fresh produce growers prefer adopting a water-saving technology (cover crops, manure/mulch application, etc.) and hay/forage growers prefer switching to a more efficient irrigation system. Growers would only exit farming in extreme circumstances such as loss of all water resources. Policies aimed at assisting growers with drought adaptation should focus on preferred strategies to ensure effectiveness. Incentives to offset adoption costs are also recommended. Additionally, growers may benefit from information related to productivity changes under various drought management strategies and drought scenarios.
Proportionality as procedure: Strengthening the legitimate authority of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Authors: Zysset Alain , Scherz Antoinette
Published: June 2021

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) has a new mechanism to receive individual complaints and issue views, which makes the question of how the Committee should interpret the broad articles of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights more pressing than ever. Most commentators on the legitimacy of the CESCR’s interpretation have argued that interpreters should make better use of Articles 31–33 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT) in order to improve the legitimacy of their findings. In this article, we argue conversely that the individual communication mechanism should be evaluated and reformed in terms of legitimate authority. In the context of the Committee’s process of interpretation, we contend that proportionality is better suited than the various interpretive options of the VCLT to offer a consistent procedure that is able to generate legitimacy by attenuating the tension between personal and collective autonomy.
A Cultural Value Congruence Approach to Organizational Embeddedness
Authors: Jing Emma Lei , Lupton Nathaniel C. , Ansari Mahfooz A.
Published: June 2021

Abstract. Drawing on the person–organization fit theory, we investigate how the value congruence between employees’ collectivist values and their perception of organizational collectivism influences organizational embeddedness. Based on a survey of 515 working adults, the polynomial regression and response surface analysis results support that embeddedness is highest in the presence of both high individual and organizational collectivism. Additionally, the smaller the discrepancy between the two perceptions, the more embedded the employees. Our study contributes to the cultural perspectives in the organizational embeddedness research by theorizing and measuring the impact of collectivism at the individual level. The findings also contribute to the person–organization fit theory by identifying a value congruence approach to organizational embeddedness.
Subduction Initiation May Depend on a Tectonic Plate’s History
Authors: Shultz David
Published: June 2021

New seismic imaging study of the Puysegur Trench aims to solve one of the last major questions in plate tectonics.
Glutathione peroxidase-1 regulates ASK1-dependent apoptosis via interaction with TRAF2 in RIPK3-negative cancer cells
Authors: Lee Sunmi , Lee Eun-Kyung , Kang Dong Hoon , Lee Jiyoung , Hong Soo Hyun , Jeong Woojin , Kang Sang Won
Published: June 2021

Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) is a selenocysteine-containing peroxidase enzyme that defends mammalian cells against oxidative stress, but the role of GPx signaling is poorly characterized. Here, we show that GPx type 1 (GPx1) plays a key regulatory role in the apoptosis signaling pathway. The absence of GPx1 augmented TNF-α-induced apoptosis in various RIPK3-negative cancer cells by markedly elevating the level of cytosolic H2O2, which is derived from mitochondria. At the molecular level, the absence of GPx1 led to the strengthened sequential activation of sustained JNK and caspase-8 expression. Two signaling mechanisms are involved in the GPx1-dependent regulation of the apoptosis pathway: (1) GPx1 regulates the level of cytosolic H2O2 that oxidizes the redox protein thioredoxin 1, blocking ASK1 activation, and (2) GPx1 interacts with TRAF2 and interferes with the formation of the active ASK1 complex. Inducible knockdown of GPx1 expression impaired the tumorigenic growth of MDA-MB-231 cells (>70% reduction, P = 0.0034) implanted in mice by promoting apoptosis in vivo. Overall, this study reveals the apoptosis-related signaling function of a GPx family enzyme highly conserved in aerobic organisms.
Inhibition of host Ogr1 enhances effector CD8+ T-cell function by modulating acidic microenvironment
Authors: Cao Lin , Li Weisha , Yang Xingjiu , Zhang Wenlong , Li Mengyuan , Zhang Haizeng , Qin Chuan , Chen Xiaohong , Gao Ran
Published: June 2021

Immunotherapies for cancer, such as immune checkpoint blockade or adoptive T-cell transfer, can lead to a long-lasting clinical response. But the therapeutic response rate remains low on account of many tumors that have evolved sophisticated strategies to evade immune surveillance. Solid tumors are characterized by the highly acidic microenvironment, which may weaken the effectiveness of antitumor immunity. Here, we explored a promising therapeutic development deployed by pH manipulation for avoiding immunoevasion. The highly acidified microenvironment of melanoma induces the expression of G-protein-coupled receptor (Ogr1) in T cells, which weakened their effective function and promote tumor growth. Ogr1 inhibition reactivate CD8+ T cells and have a cytotoxic role by reducing the activity of high glycolysis, resulting in comparatively low acidification of the tumor microenvironment, and leads to tumor suppression. In addition, the adoptive transfer of Ogr1−/−-CD8+ T cells enhanced the antitumor responses, with the potential for immediate clinical transformation.
Preference uncertainty accounts for developmental effects on susceptibility to peer influence in adolescence
Authors: Reiter Andrea M. F. , Moutoussis Michael , Vanes Lucy , Kievit Rogier , Bullmore Edward T. , Goodyer Ian M. , Fonagy Peter , Jones Peter B. ,   NSPN Consortium,   NSPN consortium representative, Bullmore Edward ,   NSPN Principle Investigators, Bullmore Edward , Dolan Raymond , Goodyer Ian , Jones Peter ,   NSPN staff, Hauser Tobias , Neufeld Sharon , Romero-Garcia Rafael , Clair Michelle St , Vértes Petra , Whitaker Kirstie , Inkster Becky , Prabhu Gita , Ooi Cinly , Toseeb Umar , Widmer Barry , Bhatti Junaid , Villis Laura , Alrumaithi Ayesha , Birt Sarah , Bowler Aislinn , Cleridou Kalia , Dadabhoy Hina , Davies Emma , Firkins Ashlyn , Granville Sian , Harding Elizabeth , Hopkins Alexandra , Isaacs Daniel , King Janchai , Kokorikou Danae , Maurice Christina , McIntosh Cleo , Memarzia Jessica , Mills Harriet , O’Donnell Ciara , Pantaleone Sara , Scott Jenny , Vaghi Matilde , van Harmelen Anne-Laura , Reiter Andrea , Dolan Raymond J.
Published: June 2021

Adolescents are prone to social influence from peers, with implications for development, both adaptive and maladaptive. Here, using a computer-based paradigm, we replicate a cross-sectional effect of more susceptibility to peer influence in a large dataset of adolescents 14 to 24 years old. Crucially, we extend this finding by adopting a longitudinal perspective, showing that a within-person susceptibility to social influence decreases over a 1.5 year follow-up time period. Exploiting this longitudinal design, we show that susceptibility to social influences at baseline predicts an improvement in peer relations over the follow-up period. Using a Bayesian computational model, we demonstrate that in younger adolescents a greater tendency to adopt others’ preferences arises out of a higher uncertainty about their own preferences in the paradigmatic case of delay discounting (a phenomenon called ‘preference uncertainty’). This preference uncertainty decreases over time and, in turn, leads to a reduced susceptibility of one’s own behaviour to an influence from others. Neuro-developmentally, we show that a measure of myelination within medial prefrontal cortex, estimated at baseline, predicts a developmental decrease in preference uncertainty at follow-up. Thus, using computational and neural evidence, we reveal adaptive mechanisms underpinning susceptibility to social influence during adolescence.
RPA shields inherited DNA lesions for post-mitotic DNA synthesis
Authors: Lezaja Aleksandra , Panagopoulos Andreas , Wen Yanlin , Carvalho Edison , Imhof Ralph , Altmeyer Matthias
Published: June 2021

The paradigm that checkpoints halt cell cycle progression for genome repair has been challenged by the recent discovery of heritable DNA lesions escaping checkpoint control. How such inherited lesions affect genome function and integrity is not well understood. Here, we identify a new class of heritable DNA lesions, which is marked by replication protein A (RPA), a protein primarily known for shielding single-stranded DNA in S/G2. We demonstrate that post-mitotic RPA foci occur at low frequency during unperturbed cell cycle progression, originate from the previous cell cycle, and are exacerbated upon replication stress. RPA-marked inherited ssDNA lesions are found at telomeres, particularly of ALT-positive cancer cells. We reveal that RPA protects these replication remnants in G1 to allow for post-mitotic DNA synthesis (post-MiDAS). Given that ALT-positive cancer cells exhibit high levels of replication stress and telomere fragility, targeting post-MiDAS might be a new therapeutic opportunity.
Inhibition of MRN activity by a telomere protein motif
Authors: Khayat Freddy , Cannavo Elda , Alshmery Majedh , Foster William R. , Chahwan Charly , Maddalena Martino , Smith Christopher , Oliver Antony W. , Watson Adam T. , Carr Antony M. , Cejka Petr , Bianchi Alessandro
Published: June 2021

The MRN complex (MRX in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, made of Mre11, Rad50 and Nbs1/Xrs2) initiates double-stranded DNA break repair and activates the Tel1/ATM kinase in the DNA damage response. Telomeres counter both outcomes at chromosome ends, partly by keeping MRN-ATM in check. We show that MRX is disabled by telomeric protein Rif2 through an N-terminal motif (MIN, MRN/X-inhibitory motif). MIN executes suppression of Tel1, DNA end-resection and non-homologous end joining by binding the Rad50 N-terminal region. Our data suggest that MIN promotes a transition within MRX that is not conductive for endonuclease activity, DNA-end tethering or Tel1 kinase activation, highlighting an Achilles’ heel in MRN, which we propose is also exploited by the RIF2 paralog ORC4 (Origin Recognition Complex 4) in Kluyveromyces lactis and the Schizosaccharomyces pombe telomeric factor Taz1, which is evolutionarily unrelated to Orc4/Rif2. This raises the possibility that analogous mechanisms might be deployed in other eukaryotes as well.
Repurposing tRNAs for nonsense suppression
Authors: Albers Suki , Beckert Bertrand , Matthies Marco C. , Mandava Chandra Sekhar , Schuster Raphael , Seuring Carolin , Riedner Maria , Sanyal Suparna , Torda Andrew E. , Wilson Daniel N. , Ignatova Zoya
Published: June 2021

Three stop codons (UAA, UAG and UGA) terminate protein synthesis and are almost exclusively recognized by release factors. Here, we design de novo transfer RNAs (tRNAs) that efficiently decode UGA stop codons in Escherichia coli. The tRNA designs harness various functionally conserved aspects of sense-codon decoding tRNAs. Optimization within the TΨC-stem to stabilize binding to the elongation factor, displays the most potent effect in enhancing suppression activity. We determine the structure of the ribosome in a complex with the designed tRNA bound to a UGA stop codon in the A site at 2.9 Å resolution. In the context of the suppressor tRNA, the conformation of the UGA codon resembles that of a sense-codon rather than when canonical translation termination release factors are bound, suggesting conformational flexibility of the stop codons dependent on the nature of the A-site ligand. The systematic analysis, combined with structural insights, provides a rationale for targeted repurposing of tRNAs to correct devastating nonsense mutations that introduce a premature stop codon.
Anomalous formation of trihydrogen cations from water on nanoparticles
Authors: Alghabra M. Said , Ali Rami , Kim Vyacheslav , Iqbal Mazhar , Rosenberger Philipp , Mitra Sambit , Dagar Ritika , Rupp Philipp , Bergues Boris , Mathur Deepak , Kling Matthias F. , Alnaser Ali S.
Published: June 2021

Regarded as the most important ion in interstellar chemistry, the trihydrogen cation, $${{\rm{H}}}_{{{3}}}^{+}$$

H

3

+

, plays a vital role in the formation of water and many complex organic molecules believed to be responsible for life in our universe. Apart from traditional plasma discharges, recent laboratory studies have focused on forming the trihydrogen cation from large organic molecules during their interactions with intense radiation and charged particles. In contrast, we present results on forming $${{\rm{H}}}_{{{3}}}^{+}$$

H

3

+

from bimolecular reactions that involve only an inorganic molecule, namely water, without the presence of any organic molecules to facilitate its formation. This generation of $${{\rm{H}}}_{{{3}}}^{+}$$

H

3

+

is enabled by “engineering” a suitable reaction environment comprising water-covered silica nanoparticles exposed to intense, femtosecond laser pulses. Similar, naturally-occurring, environments might exist in astrophysical settings where hydrated nanometer-sized dust particles are impacted by cosmic rays of charged particles or solar wind ions. Our results are a clear manifestation of how aerosolized nanoparticles in intense femtosecond laser fields can serve as a catalysts that enable exotic molecular entities to be produced via non-traditional routes.
The relationship of soluble TREM2 to other biomarkers of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Park So-Hee , Lee Eun-Hye , Kim Hyung-Ji , Jo Sungyang , Lee Sunju , Seo Sang Won , Park Hyun-Hee , Koh Seong-Ho , Lee Jae-Hong
Published: June 2021

Microglial activation is a central player in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The soluble fragment of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2) can serve as a marker for microglial activation and has been shown to be overexpressed in AD. However, the relationship of sTREM2 with other AD biomarkers has not been extensively studied. We investigated the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sTREM2 and other AD biomarkers and examined the correlation of plasma sTREM2 with CSF sTREM2 in a cohort of individuals with AD and without AD. Participants were consecutively recruited from Asan Medical Center from 2018 to 2020. Subjects were stratified by their amyloid positivity and clinical status. Along with other AD biomarkers, sTREM2 level was measured in the plasma as well as CSF. In 101 patients with either amyloid-positive or negative status, CSF sTREM2 was closely associated with CSF T-tau and P-tau and not with Abeta42. CSF sTREM2 levels were found to be strongly correlated with CSF neurofilament light chain. The comparison of CSF and plasma sTREM2 levels tended to have an inverse correlation. Plasma sTREM2 and P-tau levels were oppositely influenced by age. Our results suggest that neuroinflammation may be closely associated with tau-induced neurodegeneration.
First complete genome sequence and molecular characterization of Canine morbillivirus isolated in Central Brazil
Authors: da Costa Vivaldo Gomes , Saivish Marielena Vogel , de Oliveira Priscila Gomes , Silva-Júnior Abelardo , Moreli Marcos Lázaro , Krüger Ricardo Henrique
Published: June 2021

The Brazilian regions are still highly endemic areas for Canine morbillivirus [canine distemper virus (CDV)]. However, little is known regarding the genetic variability of the strain circulating in several Brazilian regions. Here, we report the first full-length genome and molecular characterization of CDV isolated from domestic dogs in the Brazilian Center-West region. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analyses based on deduced amino acid and nucleotide sequences showed that the isolated strain is characterized as the South America-I/Europe genotype. However, it segregates into a CDV subgenotype branch. Interestingly, both H and F proteins have a gain of a potential N-glycosylation sites compared to the Onderstepoort vaccine strain. Therefore, this study provides a reference to further understand the epidemic and molecular characteristics of the CDV in Brazil.
Chemical insights into the atmospheric oxidation of thiophene by hydroperoxyl radical
Authors: Sharifi Maryam Seyed , Douroudgari Hamed , Vahedpour Morteza
Published: June 2021

The reaction mechanisms and kinetics of thiophene oxidation reactions initiated by hydroperoxyl radical, and decomposition of the related intermediates and complexes, have been considered herein by using high-level DFT and ab initio calculations. The main energetic parameters of all stationary points of the suggested potential energy surfaces have been computed at the BD(T) and CCSD(T) methods, based on the geometries optimized at the B3LYP/6-311 + g(d,p) level of theory. Rate constants of bimolecular reactions (high-pressure limit rate constants) at temperatures from 300 to 3000 K for the first steps of the title reaction have been obtained through the conventional transition state theory (TST), while the pressure dependent rate constants and the rate constants of the second and other steps have been calculated employing the Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus/Master equation (RRKM/ME). The results show that the rate constants of addition to α and β carbons have positive temperature dependence and negative pressure dependence. It is found that the additions of HO2 to the α and β carbons of thiophene in the initial steps of the title reaction are the most favored pathways. Also, the addition to the sulfur atom has a minor contribution. But, all efforts for simulating hydrogen abstraction reactions have been unsuccessful. In this complex oxidation reaction, about 12 different products are obtained, including important isomers such as thiophene-epoxide, thiophene-ol, thiophene-oxide, oxathiane, and thiophenone. The calculated total rate constants for generation of all minimum stationary points show that the addition reactions to the α and β carbons are the fastest among all at temperatures below 1000 K, while the proposed multi-step parallel reactions are more competitive at temperatures above 1200 K. Furthermore, important inter-and intra-molecular interactions for some species have been investigated by two well-known quantum chemistry method, the NBO and AIM analyses. Thermochemical properties such as free energy, enthalpy, internal energy, and entropy for thiophene and hydroperoxyl radical and related species in the simulated reactions have been predicted using a combination of the B3LYP and BD(T) methods.
lncRNA FER1L4 is dysregulated in osteoarthritis and regulates IL-6 expression in human chondrocyte cells
Authors: He Jinhai , Wang Li , Ding Yajun , Liu Hongbing , Zou Guoyou
Published: June 2021

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent joint disease and is one of the major causes of disability in the world. There has been an increase in the incidence of OA, which is associated with an aging population, sedentary lifestyle, and reduced physical activity. Due to the complex OA pathogenesis, there are limited diagnostic tools. OA is a degenerative joint disorder with a recognized inflammatory component, usually described as abnormal expression of inflammatory factors. For instance, interleukin 6 (IL‐6) has been shown to be upregulated in serum and synovial fluid among patients with OA. Most of the inflammatory factors have been associated with the expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). However, the role of the novel lncRNA Fer-1-like protein 4 (FER1L4) in OA is yet to be determined. Here, we interrogated the expression profile of FER1L4 in patients with OA to define its potential application as a diagnostic marker. We collected synovial fluid and blood samples from both OA cases and normal controls. Using qRT-PCR, we evaluated the expression of FER1L4 in plasma and synovial fluid. On the other hand, the expression of IL-6 in plasma and synovial fluid was assessed using ELISA. Besides, the effect of age, gender or disease stage in the expression of the FER1L4 in plasma was also estimated. Moreover, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the impact of FER1L4 in OA cases compared with the normal controls. In addition, we analyzed the correlation between FER1L4 and IL-6 through Pearson correlation analysis. Also, IL-6 expression in overexpressed FER1L4 samples was detected in chondrocytes through western blot analysis, while FER1L4 expression following endogenous IL-6 exposure was detected by qRT-PCR. Our data showed that whereas lncRNA FER1L4 is downregulated in OA patients, IL‐6 is upregulated. The plasma FER1L4 levels among the OA cases were suppressed with disease progression and old age, and the down-regulation could efficiently discriminate OA patients from normal subjects. In addition, upregulation of FER1L4 inhibited IL‐6 expression in human chondrocyte cells, and treatment with different concentrations of exogenous IL‐6 did not affect the expression of FER1L4. Taken together, our data demonstrates that FER1L4 could efficiently identify OA cases from normal subjects, and can also modulate the expression of IL‐6 in human chondrocytes.
Unraveling the dynamic importance of county-level features in trajectory of COVID-19
Authors: Li Qingchun , Yang Yang , Wang Wanqiu , Lee Sanghyeon , Xiao Xin , Gao Xinyu , Oztekin Bora , Fan Chao , Mostafavi Ali
Published: June 2021

The objective of this study was to investigate the importance of multiple county-level features in the trajectory of COVID-19. We examined feature importance across 2787 counties in the United States using data-driven machine learning models. Existing mathematical models of disease spread usually focused on the case prediction with different infection rates without incorporating multiple heterogeneous features that could impact the spatial and temporal trajectory of COVID-19. Recognizing this, we trained a data-driven model using 23 features representing six key influencing factors affecting the pandemic spread: social demographics of counties, population activities, mobility within the counties, movement across counties, disease attributes, and social network structure. Also, we categorized counties into multiple groups according to their population densities, and we divided the trajectory of COVID-19 into three stages: the outbreak stage, the social distancing stage, and the reopening stage. The study aimed to answer two research questions: (1) The extent to which the importance of heterogeneous features evolved at different stages; (2) The extent to which the importance of heterogeneous features varied across counties with different characteristics. We fitted a set of random forest models to determine weekly feature importance. The results showed that: (1) Social demographic features, such as gross domestic product, population density, and minority status maintained high-importance features throughout stages of COVID-19 across 2787 studied counties; (2) Within-county mobility features had the highest importance in counties with higher population densities; (3) The feature reflecting the social network structure (Facebook, social connectedness index), had higher importance for counties with higher population densities. The results showed that the data-driven machine learning models could provide important insights to inform policymakers regarding feature importance for counties with various population densities and at different stages of a pandemic life cycle.
Ion association in hydrothermal aqueous NaCl solutions: implications for the microscopic structure of supercritical water
Authors: Elbers Mirko , Schmidt Christian , Sternemann Christian , Sahle Christoph J. , Jahn Sandro , Albers Christian , Sakrowski Robin , Gretarsson Hlynur , Sundermann Martin , Tolan Metin , Wilke Max
Published: June 2021

Investigation of the microscopic structure of water in hydrothermal aqueous sodium chloride solution using a combined experimental and theoretical approach.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains used industrially for bioethanol production
Authors: Jacobus Ana Paula , Gross Jeferson , Evans John H. , Ceccato-Antonini Sandra Regina , Gombert Andreas Karoly
Published: June 2021

Fuel ethanol is produced by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae mainly from corn starch in the United States and from sugarcane sucrose in Brazil, which together manufacture ∼85% of a global yearly production of 109.8 million m3 (in 2019). While in North America genetically engineered (GE) strains account for ∼80% of the ethanol produced, including strains that express amylases and are engineered to produce higher ethanol yields; in South America, mostly (>90%) non-GE strains are used in ethanol production, primarily as starters in non-aseptic fermentation systems with cell recycling. In spite of intensive research exploring lignocellulosic ethanol (or second generation ethanol), this option still accounts for <1% of global ethanol production. In this mini-review, we describe the main aspects of fuel ethanol production, emphasizing bioprocesses operating in North America and Brazil. We list and describe the main properties of several commercial yeast products (i.e., yeast strains) that are available worldwide to bioethanol producers, including GE strains with their respective genetic modifications. We also discuss recent studies that have started to shed light on the genes and traits that are important for the persistence and dominance of yeast strains in the non-aseptic process in Brazil. While Brazilian bioethanol yeast strains originated from a historical process of domestication for sugarcane fermentation, leading to a unique group with significant economic applications, in U.S.A., guided selection, breeding and genetic engineering approaches have driven the generation of new yeast products for the market.
The Effect of Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus on Language Function in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: Vos Sandra H. , Kessels Roy P. C. , Vinke R. Saman , Esselink Rianne A. J. , Piai Vitória
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This systematic review focuses on the effect of bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) on language function in Parkinson's disease (PD). It fills an important gap in recent reviews by considering other language tasks in addition to verbal fluency.

Method

We critically and systematically reviewed the literature on studies that investigated the effect of bilateral STN-DBS on language function in PD. All studies included a matched PD control group who were on best medical treatment, with language testing at similar baseline and follow-up intervals as the DBS PD group.

Results

Thirteen identified studies included a form of a verbal fluency task, seven studies included picture naming, and only two studies included more language-oriented tasks. We found that verbal fluency was negatively affected after DBS, whereas picture naming was unaffected. Studies investigating individual change patterns using reliable change indices showed that individual variability is larger for picture naming than for verbal fluency.

Conclusions

Verbal fluency is the most frequently investigated aspect of language function. Our analysis showed a pattern of decline in verbal fluency across multiple studies after STN-DBS, whereas picture naming was unaffected. Data on more language-oriented tests in a large DBS sample and best medical treatment control group are sparse. The investigation of language function in PD after DBS requires sensitive language tests (with and without time pressure) and experimental designs as used in the studies reviewed here. Reliable change index statistics are a promising tool for investigating individual differences in performance after DBS.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14794458
An improved natural frequency based transmission line fault location method with full utilization of frequency spectrum information
Authors: Nie Yuan , Liu Yu , Lu Dayou , Wang Binglin
Published: June 2021

An improved natural frequency based method is proposed to accurately locate faults in transmission lines. The method only requires three phase instantaneous current measurements at the local terminal of the line and is compatible with protective relays using high‐speed tripping techniques. First, the theoretical peak frequencies along the entire frequency spectrum of the measured currents are derived, for different fault types, locations and resistances. Next, the fault location is determined by finding the minimum average distance between the theoretical and the measured peak frequencies. Compared to the existing natural frequency based fault location methods, the proposed method solves the mode mixing problem during single phase to ground faults and systematically considers the effect of fault resistances. In addition, the proposed method fully utilizes the frequency spectrum information instead of only the dominant frequency, and therefore overcomes the difficulty to extract the dominant frequency. Numerical experiments have shown that, compared to the existing method, the proposed method presents much higher fault location accuracy during single phase to ground faults, and slightly higher (comparable) fault location accuracy for other types of faults, regardless of fault locations and fault resistances.
Passive‐compensation clamp‐on two‐stage current transformer for online calibration
Authors: Hu Haoliang , Xu Yan , Wu Xiong , Lin Fuchang , Xiao Xia , Lei Min
Published: June 2021

Digital measurement equipment such as electronic transformers enable real‐time functional control and monitoring systems to be built in power grids to accommodate the large‐scale access of distributed renewable energy to the grid. However, the current offline calibration of electronic transformers is difficult to implement; therefore, an online calibration method for electronic transformers must be developed to ensure their accuracy. The design of a clamp‐on two‐stage current transformer (CTS‐CT) with a passive compensation loop is presented herein. The compensation loop is utilised to reduce both the amplitude and phase errors, thereby achieving high accuracy. The formulas for calculating the resistance and capacitance of the passive compensation loop are presented. The expanded uncertainties (95% confidence level) of the proposed CTS‐CT are estimated to be lower 0.03% for the amplitude error and 1′ for the phase error. Experimental results indicate that the proposed CTS‐CT prototype is not affected by the external magnetic field nor the opening and closing times, thereby enabling good‐quality online calibration for field applications. Moreover, the proposed CTS‐CT adopts neither an active compensatory circuit nor software compensation; therefore, the manufacturing of the CTS‐CT is steady and simple, and the calibration procedures are simplified.
New ex-OH maser detections in the northern celestial hemisphere
Authors: Patoka O. , Antyufeyev O. , Shmeld I. , Bezrukovs V. , Bleiders M. , Orbidans A. , Aberfelds A. , Shulga V.
Published: June 2021

Aims.Molecular masers, including methanol and hydroxyl masers, and in particular the ones in excited rotational states (ex-OH masers), are one of the most informative tools for studying star-forming regions. So, the discovery, of new maser sources in these regions is of great importance. Many studies and surveys of ex-OH maser sources have been carried out in the southern celestial hemisphere, but only a few have been done in the northern hemisphere. The specific aim of this work is to close this gap.

Methods.The star-forming regions in the northern hemisphere with known active methanol masers were observed to search for new ex-OH maser sources with the 32 m and 16 m radio telescopes of the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC).

Results.Three OH maser lines in the excited state at the 6035 MHz in three northern hemisphere star-forming regions are detected. The maser 189.030+0.783 was previously known, but we suggest this maser is a possible variable. We confirm recent detections of the ex-OH masers 85.41+0.00 and 90.92+1.49 by other authors. The magnetic field strength in the masering regions is estimated by using right circular polarization and left circular polarization pair splitting. The high-velocity resolution provides us with an estimation of a comparatively small magnetic field strength for the 189.030+0.783 and 90.92+1.49 star-forming regions.
Hunt for extremely eccentric eclipsing binaries
Authors: Zasche P. , Henzl Z. , Mašek M.
Published: June 2021

We report the very first analysis of 27 eclipsing binary systems with high eccentricities that sometimes reach up to 0.8. The orbital periods for these systems range from 1.4 to 37 days, and the median of the sample is 10.3 days. Star CzeV3392 (= UCAC4 623 022784), for example, currently is the eclipsing system with the highest eccentricity (e = 0.22) of stars with a period shorter than 1.5 days. We analysed the light curves of all 27 systems and obtained the physical parameters of both components, such as relative radii, inclinations, or relative luminosities. The most important parameters appear to be the derived periods and eccentricities. They allow constructing the period–eccentricity diagram. This eccentricity distribution is used to study the tidal circularisation theories. Many systems have detected third-light contributions, which means that the Kozai-Lidov cycles might also be responsible for the high eccentricities in some of the binaries.
The inner hot dust in the torus of NGC 1068
Authors: Vermot P. , Clénet Y. , Gratadour D. , Rouan D. , Grosset L. , Perrin G. , Kervella P. , Paumard T.
Published: June 2021

Context. The central region of NGC 1068 is one of the closest and most studied active galactic nuclei. It is known to be type 2, meaning that its accretion disk is obscured by a large amount of dust and gas. The main properties of the obscuring structure are still to be determined.

Aims. We aim to model the inner edge of this structure, where the hot dust responsible for the near-infrared emission reaches its sublimation temperature.

Methods. We used several methods to interpret the K-band interferometric observables from a GRAVITY/VLTI observation of the object. At first, we used simple geometrical models in image reconstructions to determine the main 2D geometrical properties of the source. In a second step, we tried to reproduce the observables with K-band images produced by 3D radiative transfer simulations of a heated dusty disk. We explore various parameters to find an optimal solution and a model consistent with all the observables.

Results. The three methods are consistent in their description of the image of the source, an elongated structure with ∼4 × 6 mas dimensions and its major axis along the northwest–southeast direction. The results from all three methods suggest that the object resembles an elongated ring rather than an elongated thin disk, with the northeast edge appearing less luminous than the southwest one. The best 3D model is a thick disk with an inner radius r = 0.21−0.03+0.02 pc and a half-opening angle α1/2 = 21 ± 8° observed with an inclination i = 44−610° and PA = 150−138°. A high density of dust n = 5−2.5+5 M⊙ pc−3 is required to explain the contrast between the two edges by self-absorption from the closer one. The overall structure is itself obscured by a large foreground obscuration AV ∼ 75.

Conclusions. The hot dust is not responsible for the obscuration of the central engine. The geometry and the orientation of the structure are different from those of the previously observed maser and molecular disks. We conclude that a single disk is unable to account for these differences, and favor a description of the source where multiple rings originating from different clouds are entangled around the central mass.
The Effectiveness of Biological Products and Micronutrient Fertilizers use in Row Crops Cultivation
Authors: Belik Maria , Sviridova Svetlana , Yurina Tatyana
Published: June 2021

The results of field studies of the use of biological products and microfertilizers in the cultivation of corn for grain and sunflower in the production conditions of the Krasnodar Region are presented. Indicators of a comparative assessment of economic and new schemes for the application of fertilizers and plant protection products from the point of view of agrotechnical and economic efficiency are given.