bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conditionality and contentment: Universal Credit and UK welfare benefit recipients’ life satisfaction
Authors: THORNTON ISAAC , IACOELLA FRANCESCO
Published: March 2022

Introduced in the United Kingdom in 2012, Universal Credit (UC) is a welfare benefit that replaces six working-age ‘legacy’ benefits for out-of-work and low-income people. Designed with the aim of simplifying benefits and incentivising paid work, UC represents a deepening of conditionality in the British welfare state. Considering these developments, this paper quantitatively investigates the effect of UC on recipients’ life satisfaction. Data from the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study is analysed, primarily using a fixed-effects regression approach. Results reveal a significantly negative effect of UC recipience on life satisfaction. Robustness checks and alternative model specifications, including difference-in-differences and inverse probability weighting, confirm this finding. Additionally, mediation models give credence to the idea that UC also negatively affects life satisfaction indirectly by increasing psychological distress. Heterogeneity tests indicate that UC has a less negative effect on single parents’ life satisfaction compared to non-parents. Meanwhile, UC has a significantly more negative effect on the life satisfaction of people not in paid work (for reasons other than unemployment) than those in paid work. Discussion focuses on the potential effect of welfare conditionality specifically, and implications for future research and policy are explored.
Activity limitations and participation restrictions among people with non-communicable diseases in Ghana
Authors: Banchani Emmanuel , Tenkorang Eric Y. , Midodzi William
Published: March 2022

Anecdotal evidence suggests that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) contribute substantially to mortality, morbidity and disability in Ghana. Nonetheless, no data are presently available on Ghanaians with disability from major NCDs, such as hypertension, diabetes and stroke. Using data from the 2007/2008 Ghana World Health Organization Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) and applying ordinary least squares techniques, the prevalence of and associations between activity limitations and participation restrictions in Ghanaians with NCDs are examined in the present study. The results show stroke is the major contributor to activity limitations and participation restrictions among the Ghanaian population with NCDs. The study results further revealed that respondents with higher education reported high levels of disability compared to those with no education. The results suggest that functioning can be restored by providing assistive technologies, such as wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, walking aids, etc., that can enhance participation of persons with disability in society.
An fMRI validation study of the word-monitoring task as a measure of implicit knowledge: Exploring the role of explicit and implicit aptitudes in behavioral and neural processing
Authors: Suzuki Yuichi , Jeong Hyeonjeong , Cui Haining , Okamoto Kiyo , Kawashima Ryuta , Sugiura Motoaki
Published: March 2022

In this study, neural representation of adult second language (L2) speakers’ implicit grammatical knowledge was investigated. Advanced L2 speakers of Japanese living in Japan, as well as L1 Japanese speakers, performed a word-monitoring task (proposed as an implicit knowledge test) in the MRI scanner. Behavioral measures were obtained from aptitude tests for explicit (language analytic ability) and implicit (statistical learning ability) learning. Findings indicate that, although both L1 and L2 speakers recruited neural circuits associated with procedural memory during the word-monitoring task, different brain regions were activated: premotor cortex (L1 speakers) and left caudate (L2 speakers). The premotor cortex activation was weaker in L2 than L1 speakers but was positively correlated with the left caudate activation, suggesting that their grammatical knowledge, while less automatized, was still developing. Behavioral sensitivity to errors was predicted only by explicit language aptitude, which may play a key role in the automatization of grammatical knowledge.
The Power of Religious Activism in Tocqueville’s America: The Second Great Awakening and the Rise of Temperance and Abolitionism in New York State
Authors: Masters Ryan K. , Young Michael P.
Published: March 2022

This study investigates the religious origins of the American temperance and antislavery movements in New York State. We introduce new county-level longitudinal data between 1828 and 1838 to document the onset and growth of New York temperance and antislavery societies during the movements’ early stages. Data are compiled from numerous historical sources and document counts of temperance societies in 55 New York counties in years 1828, 1829, 1831, 1833, and 1834; and county-level counts of antislavery societies in years 1835, 1836, 1837, and 1838. The early growth of temperance and antislavery societies across New York counties are examined as outcomes of state building, market changes, and religious activism associated with the Second Great Awakening. We hypothesize that religious activism was positively associated with the establishment of temperance and antislavery societies in New York counties between 1828 and 1834 and between 1835 and 1838, respectively, as well as positively associated with growth in temperance and antislavery societies during these times. Results support our hypotheses with findings suggesting that evangelist activities were substantially influencing both the onset and growth of temperance and antislavery societies during the early stages of these social movements. The evidence is consistent with a “life politics” perspective of social movements and with the argument that US temperance and abolitionism were confessional protests with deep ties to the Second Great Awakening.
Can We Use 1D Models to Predict 3D Model Response to Forcing in an Idealized Framework?
Authors: Hwong Y.‐L. , Sherwood S. C. , Fuchs D.
Published: March 2022

Single‐column models (SCMs) simulations are sometimes used to evaluate model physics and aid parameterization development. However, few studies have systematically compared SCM behavior—where column boundary conditions are specified—with that of corresponding 3D models, where columns interact dynamically. Here we address this by comparing forced responses of an SCM in radiative‐convective equilibrium (RCE) with those of a multi‐column model (MCM) where the model domain is in RCE but individual columns are not, examining what factors affect the models' comparability. We find that convective organization in the MCM depends at least as much on the convection scheme as on other mechanisms known to organize convection (e.g., radiative feedback). Moreover, convective organization emerges as a robust factor affecting SCM–MCM comparability, with more aggregated states in 3D associated with larger behavior deviations from the 1D counterpart. This is found across five convection schemes and applies to simulated mean states, linear responses to small tendency perturbations, and adjustments to doubled‐CO2 forcing. Nevertheless, we find that even when convection is organized, behavior differences between pairs of schemes in the SCM are largely preserved in the MCM. This indicates that when model physics produces accurate behavior in a 1D setup, it will be more likely to do so in a 3D setup. However, our idealized RCE framework implies that these conclusions may not apply to situations with strong large‐scale forcing or encountered over land. Lastly, we demonstrate the practical value of linear responses by showing that they can accurately predict an SCM's tropospheric adjustment to doubled‐CO2 forcing.
PGC-1α induced mitochondrial biogenesis in stromal cells underpins mitochondrial transfer to melanoma
Authors: Kumar Prakrit R. , Saad Mona , Hellmich Charlotte , Mistry Jayna J. , Moore Jamie A. , Conway Shannon , Morris Christopher J. , Bowles Kristian M. , Moncrieff Marc D. , Rushworth Stuart A.
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Progress in the knowledge of metabolic interactions between cancer and its microenvironment is ongoing and may lead to novel therapeutic approaches. Until recently, melanoma was considered a glycolytic tumour due to mutations in mitochondrial-DNA, however, these malignant cells can regain OXPHOS capacity via the transfer of mitochondrial-DNA, a process that supports their proliferation in-vitro and in-vivo. Here we study how melanoma cells acquire mitochondria and how this process is facilitated from the tumour microenvironment.

Methods

Primary melanoma cells, and MSCs derived from patients were obtained. Genes’ expression and DNA quantification was analysed using Real-time PCR. MSC migration, melanoma proliferation and tumour volume, in a xenograft subcutaneous mouse model, were monitored through bioluminescent live animal imaging.

Results

Human melanoma cells attract bone marrow-derived stromal cells (MSCs) to the primary tumour site where they stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis in the MSCs through upregulation of PGC1a. Mitochondria are transferred to the melanoma cells via direct contact with the MSCs. Moreover, inhibition of MSC-derived PGC1a was able to prevent mitochondrial transfer and improve NSG melanoma mouse tumour burden.

Conclusion

MSC mitochondrial biogenesis stimulated by melanoma cells is prerequisite for mitochondrial transfer and subsequent tumour growth, where targeting this pathway may provide an effective novel therapeutic approach in melanoma.
Grandmaternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with differential DNA methylation in peripheral blood of their grandchildren
Authors: Watkins Sarah Holmes , Iles-Caven Yasmin , Pembrey Marcus , Golding Jean , Suderman Matthew
Published: March 2022

The idea that information can be transmitted to subsequent generation(s) by epigenetic means has been studied for decades but remains controversial in humans. Epidemiological studies have established that grandparental exposures are associated with health outcomes in their grandchildren, often with sex-specific effects; however, the mechanism of transmission is still unclear. We conducted Epigenome Wide Association Studies (EWAS) to test whether grandmaternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with altered DNA methylation (DNAm) in peripheral blood from their adolescent grandchildren. We used data from a birth cohort, with discovery and replication datasets of up to 1225 and 708 individuals (respectively, for the maternal line), aged 15–17 years, and tested replication in the same individuals at birth and 7 years. We show for the first time that DNAm at a small number of loci in cord blood is associated with grandmaternal smoking in humans. In adolescents we see suggestive associations in regions of the genome which we hypothesised a priori could be involved in transgenerational transmission - we observe sex-specific associations at two sites on the X chromosome and one in an imprinting control region. All are within transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs), and we observe enrichment for TFBS among the CpG sites with the strongest associations; however, there is limited evidence that the associations we see replicate between timepoints. The implication of this work is that effects of smoking during pregnancy may induce DNAm changes in later generations and that these changes are often sex-specific, in line with epidemiological associations.
Comparison of the efficacy of the early LI-SWT plus daily tadalafil with daily tadalafil only as penile rehabilitation for postprostatectomy erectile dysfunction
Authors: Jang Se Won , Lee Eun Hye , Chun So Young , Ha Yun-Sok , Choi Seock Hwan , Lee Jun Nyung , Kim Bum Soo , Kim Hyun Tae , Kim See Hyung , Kim Tae-Hwan , Yoo Eun Sang , Chung Jae-Wook , Kwon Tae Gyun
Published: March 2022

This study compares the efficacy of the early low-intensity shock wave therapy (LI-SWT) plus daily tadalafil with daily tadalafil only therapy as penile rehabilitation for postprostatectomy erectile dysfunction in patients with prostate cancer who underwent bilateral interfascial nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (robotic or open). From April 2019 to March 2021, 165 patients were enrolled, and 80 of them successfully completed this prospective study. Daily tadalafil were administered to all the patients. LI-SWT consisted of a total of six sessions. Each session was performed on days 4, 5, 6, and 7, and on the second and fourth weeks after surgery. Each LI-SWT session consisted of 300 shocks at an energy density of 0.09 mJ/mm2 and a frequency of 120 shocks per minute that were delivered at each of the five treatment points for 15 min. Thirty-nine patients were treated with tadalafil-only (group A) while 41 were treated with tadalafil and LI-SWT simultaneously (group B). At postoperative 6 months, the proportion of patients with erection hardness scores (EHS) ≥ 3 (4/39 vs. 12/41) was significantly higher in group B (p = 0.034), and LI-SWT was the only independent factor for predicting EHS ≥ 3 (OR, 3.621; 95% CI, 1.054–12.437; p = 0.041). There were no serious side effects related to early LI-SWT. Early LI-SWT plus daily tadalafil therapy as penile rehabilitation for postprostatectomy erectile dysfunction is thought to be more efficacious than tadalafil only. Further large-scaled randomized controlled trials will be needed to validate these findings.
A﻿ TMPRSS2 inhibitor acts as a pan-SARS-CoV-2 prophylactic and therapeutic
Authors: Shapira Tirosh , Monreal I. Abrrey , Dion Sébastien P. , Buchholz David W. , Imbiakha Brian , Olmstead Andrea D. , Jager Mason , Désilets Antoine , Gao Guang , Martins Mathias , Vandal Thierry , Thompson Connor A. H. , Chin Aaleigha , Rees William D. , Steiner Theodore , Nabi Ivan Robert , Marsault Eric , Sahler Julie , Diel Diego G. , Van de Walle Gerlinde R. , August Avery , Whittaker Gary R. , Boudreault Pierre-Luc , Leduc Richard , Aguilar Hector C. , Jean François
Published: March 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus remains a global public health crisis. Although widespread vaccination campaigns are underway, their efficacy is reduced owing to emerging variants of concern1,2. Development of host-directed therapeutics and prophylactics could limit such resistance and offer urgently needed protection against variants of concern3,4. Attractive pharmacological targets to impede viral entry include type-II transmembrane serine proteases (TTSPs) such as TMPRSS2; these proteases cleave the viral spike protein to expose the fusion peptide for cell entry, and thus have an essential role in the virus lifecycle5,6. Here we identify and characterize a small-molecule compound, N-0385, which exhibits low nanomolar potency and a selectivity index of higher than 106 in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection in human lung cells and in donor-derived colonoids7. In Calu-3 cells it inhibits the entry of the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma) and B.1.617.2 (Delta). Notably, in the K18-human ACE2 transgenic mouse model of severe COVID-19, we found that N-0385 affords a high level of prophylactic and therapeutic benefit after multiple administrations or even after a single administration. Together, our findings show that TTSP-mediated proteolytic maturation of the spike protein is critical for SARS-CoV-2 infection in vivo, and suggest that N-0385 provides an effective early treatment option against COVID-19 and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.
Frequency independent, remotely reconfigurable passive coherent perfect absorber using conventional inkjet-printing technology
Authors: Assimonis Stylianos D. , Machado Gabriel G. , Fusco Vincent
Published: March 2022

This work presents a systematic theoretical analysis and experimental validation of a novel coherent absorber which is printed through conventional inkjet-printing technology. The new absorber consists of a single resistively loaded sheet printed on a conventional plastic sheet, resulting a low complexity and passive design. The low-cost and easily fabricated absorber is frequency independent, polarization insensitive, wide-angle and we demonstrate its absorbance reconfigurability using a remote illumination as a control signal. Theoretical, numerical and experimental results are in good agreement. Specifically, experimental results shown that near perfect absorption (i.e., $$100\%$$

100
%

) can be achieved using a printed sheet of thickness $$\lambda /215$$

λ
/
215

.
Analysis of intra-particle liquid capillary spread mechanisms in high-temperature stope leaching using MRI
Authors: Xue Zhenlin , Gan Deqing , Zhang Youzhi , Liu Zhiyi
Published: March 2022

Capillary penetration is widely existed in stope leaching, both the rate of liquid wetting ore and flow out of ore are affected by it. Stope leaching is carried out in a high-temperature environment when mining minerals with large burial depth. The mechanism of intra-particle liquid capillary penetration mechanisms at high-temperature have not been revealed. In this paper, samples with a size of Φ50 mm × 100 mm were selected for quantitative analysis. The capillary rise behaviour inside samples with different porosity were detected at 30 °C, 40 °C and 50 °C by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In most cases, capillary rise height is underestimated when the outside wetting line is used as an indicator, because the rise height inside the sample is greater. The liquid capillary rise height increased slightly with the temperature, whereas the wetting surface profile remained unchanged. The capillary rise rate increased significantly with porosity, mainly due to the increase of internal effective porosity. The results help to understand the liquid penetration behaviour under high-temperature stope leaching condition, and lay a theoretical foundation for improving the liquid permeability.
Crystal structure report of the ImmR transcriptional regulator DNA-binding domain of the Bacillus subtilis ICEBs1 transposon
Authors: Caliandro Rosanna , de Diego Iñaki , Gomis-Rüth F. Xavier
Published: March 2022

Bacillus subtilis is a commensal member of the human oral and gut microbiomes, which can become infectious to immunocompromised patients. It possesses a conjugative transposon, ICEBs1, which includes > 20 genes and can be passed by horizontal gene transfer to other bacteria, including pathogenic Bacillus anthracis and Listeria monocytogenes. ICEBs1 is regulated by the ImmR/ImmA tandem, which are a transcriptional repressor that constitutively blocks transcription and a metallopeptidase that acts as anti-repressor and inactivates ImmR by proteolytic cleavage. We here report the production and purification of 127-residue ImmR from ICEBs1 and the crystal structure of its DNA-binding domain. It features a five-helix bundle centred on a helix-turn-helix motif potentially binding the major grove of double-stranded target DNA. ImmR shows structural and mechanistic similarity with the B. subtilis SinR repressor, which is engaged in sporulation inhibition.
Resolving alternative structure determinations of indapamide using 13C solid-state NMR
Authors: Evans Caitlin L. , Evans Ivana Radosavlijević , Hodgkinson Paul
Published: March 2022

The conflict between alternative crystal structures in the Cambridge Structural Database for the diuretic drug indapamide hemihydrate has been resolved with the aid of 13C solid-state NMR.
Structure analysis of inclusion crystals of diimide-based macrocycles with halocarbons
Authors: Tominaga Masahide , Kondo Sana , Hyodo Tadashi , Kawahata Masatoshi , Yamaguchi Kentaro
Published: March 2022

Inclusion crystals containing several halocarbons were formed by three types of diimide-based macrocycles. Iodomethane was encapsulated within the cavity of the macrocycle through halogen-related interactions.
Pattern formation in thin polymeric films via electrohydrodynamic patterning
Authors: Lv Guowei , Tian Hongmiao , Shao Jinyou , Yu Demei
Published: March 2022

A review about electrohydrodynamic patterning (EHDP), including origin, theoretical and numerical studies, pattern formation process, fabrication of hierarchical structures, aligning and ordering of the anisotropic polymers and perspective.
Mo/Co doped 1T-VS2 nanostructures as a superior bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting in alkaline media
Authors: Singh Vijay K. , Nakate Umesh T. , Bhuyan Priyanuj , Chen Jinyu , Tran Duy Thanh , Park Sungjune
Published: March 2022

A bifunctional electrocatalyst based on heteroatoms doped VS2 was developed for electrocatalytic water splitting.
Immunothrombosis and the molecular control of tissue factor by pyroptosis: prospects for new anticoagulants
Authors: Ryan Tristram A. J. , Preston Roger J. S. , O'Neill Luke A. J.
Published: March 2022

The interplay between innate immunity and coagulation after infection or injury, termed immunothrombosis, is the primary cause of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), a condition that occurs in sepsis. Thrombosis associated with DIC is the leading cause of death worldwide. Interest in immunothrombosis has grown because of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, which has been termed a syndrome of dysregulated immunothrombosis. As the relatively new field of immunothrombosis expands at a rapid pace, the focus of academic and pharmacological research has shifted from generating treatments targeted at the traditional ‘waterfall’ model of coagulation to therapies better directed towards immune components that drive coagulopathies. Immunothrombosis can be initiated in macrophages by cleavage of the non-canonical inflammasome which contains caspase-11. This leads to release of tissue factor (TF), a membrane glycoprotein receptor that forms a high-affinity complex with coagulation factor VII/VIIa to proteolytically activate factors IX to IXa and X to Xa, generating thrombin and leading to fibrin formation and platelet activation. The mechanism involves the post-translational activation of TF, termed decryption, and release of decrypted TF via caspase-11-mediated pyroptosis. During aberrant immunothrombosis, decryption of TF leads to thromboinflammation, sepsis, and DIC. Therefore, developing therapies to target pyroptosis have emerged as an attractive concept to counteract dysregulated immunothrombosis. In this review, we detail the three mechanisms of TF control: concurrent induction of TF, caspase-11, and NLRP3 (signal 1); TF decryption, which increases its procoagulant activity (signal 2); and accelerated release of TF into the intravascular space via pyroptosis (signal 3). In this way, decryption of TF is analogous to the two signals of NLRP3 inflammasome activation, whereby induction of pro-IL-1β and NLRP3 (signal 1) is followed by activation of NLRP3 (signal 2). We describe in detail TF decryption, which involves pathogen-induced alterations in the composition of the plasma membrane and modification of key cysteines on TF, particularly at the location of the critical, allosterically regulated disulfide bond of TF in its 219-residue extracellular domain. In addition, we speculate towards the importance of identifying new therapeutics to block immunothrombotic triggering of TF, which can involve inhibition of pyroptosis to limit TF release, or the direct targeting of TF decryption using cysteine-modifying therapeutics.
L’approche Snoezelen chez l’enfant
Authors: Martin Pascal , Martin Élise
Published: March 2022

Cet article met en perspective des études récentes et originales qui se réalisent à travers le monde sur les effets positifs des environnements sensoriels à l’approche Snoezelen auprès d’enfants en milieu institutionnel et hospitalier. Les enfants qui ont bénéficié de ces enveloppes thérapeutiques présentent diverses pathologies comme : déficience intellectuelle avec troubles associés, TSA. Les résultats d’une étude à l’autre ainsi que les cas cliniques sont variés, mais, pour la plupart d’entre elles, il est noté qu’une régulation émotionnelle est constatée. Il semble qu’une relation entre les stimulations sensorielles et la réduction de troubles du comportement soit établie. Dans tous les cas, l’approche Snoezelen semble favoriser la relaxation, la détente, l’apaisement psychique, tout en procurant aux enfants (avec ou sans pathologies) et à leurs proches un état de bien-être.
Messqualität bei der Glukosemessung im Rahmen der Diabetesdiagnose und -therapie in Deutschland
Authors: Freckmann Guido , Heinemann Lutz , Pleus Stefan , Petersmann Astrid , Kaiser Patricia , Nauck Matthias
Published: March 2022

Die Messqualität eines Glukosemess-Systems muss ausreichend hoch sein, damit zuverlässige Messergebnisse im klinischen Sinne der Zweckbestimmung (z. B. Diabetes-Diagnose, -Verlaufskontrolle) erhalten werden. Für Glukosemessungen in der Heilkunde gilt die Richtlinie der Bundesärztekammer zur Qualitätssicherung laboratoriumsmedizinischer Untersuchungen, die Vorgaben zur internen und externen Qualitätssicherung macht. Nach Ansicht der Autoren besteht hier allerdings Verbesserungspotential, das anhand von Beispielen erläutert wird. Für Messysteme, die durch Patienten im Rahmen der Selbstmessung der Blutglukose eingesetzt werden, gibt es keine rechtlich bindenden Vorgaben zur Qualitätssicherung. Beim kontinuierlichen Glukose-Monitoring ist eine regelmäßige Überprüfung der Messqualität durch die Anwender derzeit technisch nicht möglich. Zudem fehlen in beiden Fällen regelmäßig wiederkehrende, herstellerunabhängige Untersuchungen der Messgenauigkeit, die zur Verbesserung der Messqualität beitragen könnten.
A Comparative Analysis of Serum Interleukin-6 Levels in Children with Febrile Seizures and Febrile Controls
Authors: Kumar K. Jagadish , Kurvari Gaurav , Kumar H. C. Krishna , Tejashree A. , Manjunath V. G.
Published: March 2022

Background Febrile seizures (FSs) are the common presentations of seizures in childhood. Activation of cytokine network plays a significant role in the genesis of FSs. Interleukin (IL)-6 is often considered as key cytokine in the generation of FSs.

Objectives To compare the serum IL-6 levels in children between simple febrile seizures (SFSs) and febrile controls (FCs).

Materials and Methods This hospital-based prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in JSS Hospital, Mysuru, during a period of 21 months. A total of 83 children were included in the study. Out of which, 38 were cases of SFSs and 45 were FCs without seizures. Serum IL-6 levels were estimated in both SFS and FC groups.

Results Serum IL-6 levels were increased among children with SFSs (mean = 608.15 pg/mL) when compared with FCs (mean = 342 pg/mL), but the results are not statistically significant (p = 0.165). In SFS and FC groups, percentage of subjects with IL-6 levels >50 pg/mL is 31.6 and 44.4%, respectively (p = 0.16).

Conclusion Serum IL-6 levels are higher in children with SFSs compared with FCs. However, this difference did not reach statistical significance.
Bdot probe and Rogowski coil cross-calibration and sensor fusion in pulsed direct current capacitor discharges
Authors: Moffett Mark B. , Chesny David L. , Cole Jake M. , Hatfield Kaleb W. , Rusovici Razvan
Published: March 2022

Bdot probes and Rogowski coils are used in the measurement of transient magnetic fields and currents, respectively. They both share the mechanism of creating an induced electromotive force response via Faraday’s law, which scales linearly with the pulsed magnetic field. High power capacitor direct current (DC) discharge systems release a single pulse of current that is both very high and very fast (≲1 ms). To capture these transient data and characterize these systems, high current tolerant and fast response time sensors are required. While these measuring devices have been well studied and utilized for almost 100 years, a comprehensive and detailed description of the custom design, calibration, and sensor fusion application of these tools for use in various pulsed DC capacitor value discharges is largely missing in the literature. Using robust analytical calculations, finite element analyses, and empirical methods, we have developed a sensor fusion protocol for current and magnetic field probes (with relative errors of ±13% and ±15%, respectively) for use in any geometry of high speed pulsed DC current calibrated capacitor discharge systems. This paper comprehensively outlines the design and sensor fusion methodologies that allow for the deployment of in-house built Bdot probes and Rogowski coils to a wide range of pulsed DC systems and demonstrates their use in a characteristic plasma environment.
Full configuration interaction quantum Monte Carlo treatment of fragments embedded in a periodic mean field
Authors: Christlmaier Evelin Martine Corvid , Kats Daniel , Alavi Ali , Usvyat Denis
Published: March 2022

We present an embedded fragment approach for high-level quantum chemical calculations on local features in periodic systems. The fragment is defined as a set of localized orbitals (occupied and virtual) corresponding to a converged periodic Hartree–Fock solution. These orbitals serve as the basis for the in-fragment post-Hartree–Fock treatment. The embedding field for the fragment, consisting of the Coulomb and exchange potential from the rest of the crystal, is included in the fragment’s one-electron Hamiltonian. As an application of the embedded fragment approach, we investigate the performance of full configuration interaction quantum Monte Carlo (FCIQMC) with the adaptive shift. As the orbital choice, we use the natural orbitals from the distinguishable cluster method with singles and doubles. FCIQMC is a stochastic approximation to the full CI method and can be routinely applied to much larger active spaces than the latter. This makes this method especially attractive in the context of open shell defects in crystals, where fragments of adequate size can be rather large. As a test case, we consider dissociation of a fluorine atom from a fluorographane surface. This process poses a challenge for high-level electronic structure models as both the static and dynamic correlations are essential here. Furthermore, the active space for an adequate fragment (32 electrons in 173 orbitals) is already quite large even for FCIQMC. Despite this, FCIQMC delivers accurate dissociation and total energies.
Formation of tungsten carbide by focused ion beam process: A route to high magnetic field resilient patterned superconducting nanostructures
Authors: Chakraborti Himadri , Joshi Bhanu P. , Barman Chanchal K. , Jain Aditya K. , Pal Buddhadeb , Barik Bikash C. , Maiti Tanmay , Schott Rüdiger , Wieck Andreas D. , Prasad M. J. N. V. , Dhar S. , Pal Hridis K. , Alam Aftab , Das Gupta K.
Published: March 2022

A scale for magnetic field resilience of a superconductor is set by the paramagnetic limit. Comparing the condensation energy of the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) singlet ground state with the paramagnetically polarized state suggests that for an applied field μ0H>1.8 Tc (in SI), singlet pairing is not energetically favorable. Materials exceeding or approaching this limit are interesting from fundamental and technological perspectives. This may be a potential indicator of triplet superconductivity, Fulde–Ferrell–Larkin–Ovchinnikov (FFLO) pairing, and other mechanisms involving topological aspects of surface states and may also allow Cooper pair injection at high magnetic fields. We have analyzed the microscopic composition of such a material arising from an unexpected source. A microjet of an organo-metallic gas, W[(CO)6], can be decomposed by a gallium ion-beam, leaving behind a track of complex residue of gallium, tungsten, and carbon with remarkable superconducting properties, like an upper critical field, Hc2>10 T, above its paramagnetic limit. We carried out atomic probe tomography to establish the formation of nano-crystalline tungsten carbide (WC) in the tracks and the absence of free tungsten. Supporting calculations show that for Ga distributed on the surface of WC, its s,p-orbitals enhance the density of states near the Fermi energy. The observed variation of Hc2(T) does not show features typical of enhancement of critical field due to granularity. Our observations may be significant in the context of some recent theoretical calculation of the band structure of WC and experimental observation of superconductivity in a WC-metal interface.
Composition-dependent ordering transformations in Pt–Fe nanoalloys
Authors: Chen Xiaobo , Zhang Siming , Li Can , Liu Zhijuan , Sun Xianhu , Cheng Shaobo , Zakharov Dmitri N. , Hwang Sooyeon , Zhu Yimei , Fang Jiye , Wang Guofeng , Zhou Guangwen
Published: March 2022

Significance

Dynamically understanding the microscopic processes governing ordering transformations has rarely been attained. The situation becomes even more challenging for nanoscale alloys, where the significantly increased surface-area-to-volume ratio not only opens up a variety of additional freedoms to initiate an ordering transformation but also allows for kinetic interplay between the surface and bulk due to their close proximity. We provide direct evidence of the microscopic processes controlling the ordering transformation through the surface–bulk interplay in Pt–Fe nanoalloys and new features rendered by variations in alloy composition and chemical stimuli. These results provide a mechanistic detail of ordering transformation phenomena which are widely relevant to nanoalloys as chemical ordering occurs in most multicomponent materials under suitable environmental bias.
Reforming the police through procedural justice training: A multicity randomized trial at crime hot spots
Authors: Weisburd David , Telep Cody W. , Vovak Heather , Zastrow Taryn , Braga Anthony A. , Turchan Brandon
Published: March 2022

Significance

Our study is a randomized trial in policing confirming that intensive training in procedural justice (PJ) can lead to more procedurally just behavior and less disrespectful treatment of people at high-crime places. The fact that the PJ intervention reduced arrests by police officers, positively influenced residents’ perceptions of police harassment and violence, and also reduced crime provides important guidance for police reform in a period of strong criticism of policing. This randomized trial points to the potential for PJ training not simply to encourage fair and respectful policing but also to improve evaluations of the police and crime prevention effectiveness.
Multikingdom interactions govern the microbiome in subterranean cultural heritage sites
Authors: Liu Wenjing , Zhou Xiaoai , Jin Tao , Li Yonghui , Wu Bin , Yu Daoyuan , Yu Zongren , Su Bomin , Chen Ruirui , Feng Youzhi , Delgado-Baquerizo Manuel
Published: March 2022

Significance

The conservation of historical relics against microbial biodeterioration is critical to preserving cultural heritages. One major challenge is our limited understanding of microorganisms’ dispersal, colonization, and persistence on relics after excavation and opening to external environments. Here, we investigate the ecological and physiological profiles of the microbiome within and outside the Dahuting Han Dynasty Tomb with a 1,800-y history. Actinobacteria dominate the microbiome in this tomb. Via interkingdom signaling mutualism, springtails carry Actinobacteria as one possible source into the tomb from surrounding environments. Subsequently, Actinobacteria produce cellulases combined with antimicrobial substances, which helps them to colonize and thrive in the tomb via intrakingdom competition. Our findings unravel the ecology of the microbiomes colonizing historical relics and provide help for conservation practices.
La subtitulación en Prime Video
Authors: Sierra Juan José Martínez
Published: March 2022

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is a film originally produced in English and an alleged Kazakh
language and is included in the catalog of the video-on-demand Prime Video. This article offers a quantitative analysis of its
European Spanish and Latin Spanish subtitles. Prime Video’s style guide will be used as the basis for analysis with additional
quantitative data on the subtitling action performed. The conclusion notes a remarkable degree of compliance with the Prime
Video’s guide. Besides, the numerical difference between the characters in the subtitling of the source version and the two
translated ones is less than initially suspected.
Polifuncionalidad y prosodia
Authors: Gras Pedro , Cabedo Adrián
Published: March 2022

Abstracta

Este trabajo analiza los rasgos prosódicos de construcciones independientes introducidas por a ver
si a partir de muestras orales procedentes de dos corpus de español coloquial peninsular: el corpus Val.Es.Co. (Briz Gómez 2002; Cabedo y Pons 2013) y el
corpus COLA de Madrid (Jorgensen 2007). Tras señalar las limitaciones del tratamiento
de a ver si como partícula discursiva, se propone un análisis basado en la Gramática de Construcciones, que
reconoce tres construcciones modales introducidas por a ver si: comprobativa, desiderativa y contraexpectativa.
El análisis prosódico muestra diferencias acústicas entre las construcciones, tanto en términos de su configuración melódica como
de la duración silábica. Estos resultados apoyan un acercamiento construccional que reconoce la prosodia como uno de los
componentes de las construcciones gramaticales.
PD-LI promotes rear retraction during persistent cell migration by altering integrin β4 dynamics
Authors: Wang Mengdie , Xiong Choua , Mercurio Arthur M.
Published: March 2022

Although the immune checkpoint function of PD-L1 has dominated its study, we report that PD-L1 has an unanticipated intrinsic function in promoting the dynamics of persistent cell migration. PD-L1 concentrates at the rear of migrating carcinoma cells where it facilitates retraction, resulting in the formation of PD-L1–containing retraction fibers and migrasomes. PD-L1 promotes retraction by interacting with and localizing the β4 integrin to the rear enabling this integrin to stimulate contractility. This mechanism involves the ability of PD-L1 to maintain cell polarity and lower membrane tension at the cell rear compared with the leading edge that promotes the localized interaction of PD-L1 and the β4 integrin. This interaction enables the β4 integrin to engage the actin cytoskeleton and promote RhoA-mediated contractility. The implications of these findings with respect to cell-autonomous functions of PD-L1 and cancer biology are significant.
Hepatitis B virus X protein promotes hepatocarcinogenesis via the activation of HMGA2/STC2 signaling to counteract oxidative stress-induced cell death
Authors: Huang Fung-Yu , Wong Danny Ka-Ho , Mak Lung-Yi , Cheung Tan-To , Seto Wai-Kay , Yuen Man-Fung
Published: March 2022

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can cause oxidative stress and induce cell death. The mechanisms by which cells overcome oxidative stress to survive remain largely unknown. Here, we used human sera, liver tissues and cell lines to study how HBV modulates cellular pathways to counteract oxidative stress-induced cell death. We found high-mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2), an architectural transcription factor is upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and cell lines. Elevated serum HMGA2 is significantly associated with viral load in HBV carriers, and HBV-related HCC. We showed that HBV X protein (HBx) encoded by HBV-induced cell growth via HMGA2 activation. The growth-promoting effect is abolished when HMGA2 is suppressed. Ectopic HBx expression induced DNA damage and oxidative stress. HMGA2 silencing reduced oxidative stress in HBx-expressing cells. Cytoprotective stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) protein is a downstream target of HMGA2. Consistent with the findings in HMGA2, STC2 mRNA and protein expression are upregulated in HCC tissues. Elevated serum STC2 is also associated with viral load in HBV carriers, and HCC. STC2 is transcriptionally upregulated by HBx and HMGA2 to elicit cytoprotection against apoptosis. STC2 knockdown disrupted Bax/Bcl-2 balance that increased cytochrome c release, caspase 3/7 activity and apoptosis, and thus abolished the growth-promoting effect of HMGA2. Clinical relevance of HBx/HMGA2/STC2 signaling is evidenced by the significant correlation of serum HMGA2/STC2 in active HBV infection and HCC. These findings reveal a novel HBx regulatory HMGA2/STC2 pathway in counteracting reactive oxygen species-induced cell death. HMGA2 and STC2 may be therapeutic targets for prevention of hepatocarcinogenesis in chronic HBV infection.
Targeted Metagenomic Sequencing-based Approach Applied to 2146 Tissue and Body Fluid Samples in Routine Clinical Practice
Authors: Flurin Laure , Wolf Matthew J , Mutchler Melissa M , Daniels Matthew L , Wengenack Nancy L , Patel Robin
Published: March 2022

Background

The yield of next-generation sequencing (NGS) added to a Sanger sequencing–based 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was evaluated in clinical practice for diagnosis of bacterial infection.

Methods

PCR targeting the V1 to V3 regions of the 16S rRNA gene was performed, with amplified DNA submitted to Sanger sequencing and/or NGS (Illumina MiSeq) or reported as negative, depending on the cycle threshold value. A total of 2146 normally sterile tissues or body fluids were tested between August 2020 and March 2021. Clinical sensitivity was assessed in 579 patients from whom clinical data were available.

Results

Compared with Sanger sequencing alone (400 positive tests), positivity increased by 87% by adding NGS (347 added positive tests). Clinical sensitivity of the assay that incorporated NGS was 53%, which was higher than culture (42%, P < .001), with an impact on clinical decision-making in 14% of infected cases. Clinical sensitivity in the subgroup that received antibiotics at sampling was 41% for culture and 63% for the sequencing assay (P < .001).

Conclusions

Adding NGS to Sanger sequencing of the PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene substantially improved test positivity. In the patient population studied, the assay was more sensitive than culture, especially in patients who had received antibiotic therapy.
Non-robotic minimally invasive mitral valve repair: a 20-year single-centre experience
Authors: Feirer Nina , Kornyeva Anastasiya , Lang Miriam , Sideris Konstantinos , Voss Bernhard , Krane Markus , Lange Rüdiger , Vitanova Keti
Published: March 2022

OBJECTIVES

Minimally invasive mitral valve repair (MVR) promises major advantages over median sternotomy regarding cosmetic results and faster recovery. However, the long-term functional outcome of minimally invasive MVR has been questioned by critics because the limited access may not exclusively promise high-quality repair. This study examines the long-term outcome regarding survival and reoperation rate.

METHODS

All patients undergoing minimally invasive MVR from February 2000 until March 2020 were included in this study. Baseline clinical and surgical characteristics were summarized from the internal database. Primary end points were survival and freedom from reoperation, analysed via Kaplan–Meier curves. Secondary end points were periprocedural complications after minimally invasive MVR and incidence for recurrent mitral regurgitation >II°.

RESULTS

A total of 1194 patients underwent minimally invasive MVR, in 17 cases mitral valve replacement was required. The mean age was 55.1 years [47.6; 62.7]. The successful minimally invasive repair rate was 97%. The 30-day mortality was 0.6%. Survival was 96.7% [standard deviation (SD): 5.8%], 91.6% (SD: 1.1%) and 80.0% (SD: 11.2%) at 5, 10 and 20 years. The incidence of reoperation was 4.4% (SD: 3.2%), 10.3% (SD: 7.4%) and 16.7% (SD : 7.4%) at 5, 10 and 20 years, respectively. Concomitant procedures such as tricuspid valve repair and modified Cryo-maze procedure were performed in 263 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Minimally invasive MVR for degenerative mitral regurgitation is safe, shows excellent functional long-term results and is associated with low perioperative and late mortality.
Towards a better understanding of the recoverability of physical property relationships from geophysical inversions of multiple potential-field data sets
Authors: Li Xinyan , Sun Jiajia
Published: March 2022

SUMMRY

Collecting multiple potential-field data sets to image the subsurface has been popular in resource explorations. How to effectively integrate multiphysics data and extract useful information about the subsurface geology is an active area of research. Among existing approaches, geophysical inversions followed by geological classification has shown promising results. This procedure contains two steps. First, multiple geophysical data sets are inverted, either separately or jointly, to obtain their corresponding physical property models. Secondly, the inverted values are visualized in a scatterplot and classified into different groups, a process known as geology differentiation. The implicit assumption for geology differentiation is that the recovered physical property relationships are reliable. However, whether this assumption is generally valid or not remains unknown. Moreover, it is well known that the standard smooth inversion would underestimate the physical property values. On the other hand, the sparse inversion is able to recover compact anomalies with elevated magnitudes. However, it remains unclear as to how smooth and sparse inversions affect the recoverability. To understand the recoverability of physical property relationships, we have designed six geological scenarios with three geological anomalies located at different depths and assigned with different physical property values. For each scenario, we performed four inversions: both separate and joint inversions using smooth L2-norm and sparse mixed L12-norm regularizations. Each inversion is followed by geology differentiation. We have found (1) that the recovered physical property relationships from geophysical inversions are not always reliable, (2) the depths of the source bodies and inversion strategies significantly affect the recoverability, and (3) joint sparsity inversion consistently gives rise to the best recoverability.
Revisit NGC 5466 tidal stream withGaia, SDSS/SEGUE, and LAMOST
Authors: Yang Yong , Zhao Jing-Kun , Ishigaki Miho N , Zhou Jian-Zhao , Yang Cheng-Qun , Xue Xiang-Xiang , Ye Xian-Hao , Zhao Gang
Published: March 2022

By mining the data from Gaia Early Data Release 3, Sloan Digital Sky Survey/Sloan Extension for Galactic Understanding and Exploration Data Release 16, and Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope Data Release 8, 11 member stars of the NGC 5466 tidal stream are detected and 7 of them are newly identified. To reject contaminators, a variety of cuts are applied in sky position, colour–magnitude diagram, metallicity, proper motion, and radial velocity. We compare our data to a mock stream generated by modelling the cluster’s disruption under a smooth Galactic potential plus the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The concordant trends in phase space between the model and observations imply that the stream might have been perturbed by the LMC. The two most distant stars among the 11 detected members trace the stream’s length to 60° of sky, supporting and extending the previous length of 45°. Given that NGC 5466 is so distant and potentially has a longer tail than previously thought, we expect that the NGC 5466 tidal stream could be a useful tool in constraining the Milky Way gravitational field.