bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unfolding kinetic fragility in relaxor ferroelectrics
Authors: Martínez-García Julio C. , Levit Rafael , Ochoa Diego A. , García José E.
Published: October 2021

The fragility parameter is one of the most important material constants that is extensively used in glass science, playing a central role in the enhancement of understanding the glass formation process of disordered systems. Although fragility has been widely used, this concept has never been precisely defined and evaluated in relaxor ferroelectrics. Here, we have filled up this scientific gap. Based on a generalized Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann equation, the fragility parameter is introduced for relaxor ferroelectrics. The new formulation has been quantitatively assessed by combining dielectric spectroscopy and pyroelectric measurements on canonical relaxors. A clear correlation between the fragility and a new local structural heterogeneity-related order parameter elucidates new information about the ferroelectric order of relaxor ferroelectrics. This may open a new pathway to disentangle relaxation phenomena in other relaxor ferroics.
Capacity of soil bacteria to reach the phyllosphere and convergence of floral communities despite soil microbiota variation
Authors: Massoni Julien , Bortfeld-Miller Miriam , Widmer Alex , Vorholt Julia A.
Published: October 2021

Significance

The role of flowers as environmental filters for bacterial communities and the provenance of bacteria in the phyllosphere are currently poorly understood. We experimentally tested the effect of induced variation in soil communities on the microbiota of plant organs. We identified soil-derived bacteria in the phyllosphere and show a strong convergence of floral communities with an enrichment of members of the Burkholderiaceae family. This finding highlights a potential role of the flower in shaping the interaction between plants and a bacterial family known to harbor both plant pathogens and growth-promoting strains. Because the flower involves host–symbiont feedback, the selection of specific bacteria by the reproductive organs of angiosperms could be relevant for the modulation of fruit and seed production.
Phytoplankton exudates and lysates support distinct microbial consortia with specialized metabolic and ecophysiological traits
Authors: Kieft Brandon , Li Zhou , Bryson Samuel , Hettich Robert L. , Pan Chongle , Mayali Xavier , Mueller Ryan S.
Published: October 2021

Significance

Marine dissolved organic matter, which originates from phytoplankton, holds as much carbon as Earth’s atmosphere; yet, the biological processes governing its fate are primarily studied under idealized laboratory conditions or through indirect measures such as genome sequencing. In this work, we used isotope labeling to directly quantify uptake of complex carbon pools from the two primary sources of marine organic carbon (diatoms and cyanobacteria) by a natural microbial community. Our data show that carbon pools are partitioned into distinct microbial lineages whose physiological properties and resource acquisition strategies match the chemical nature of their preferred substrates. Our results provide ecological and functional insights into the patterns of microbial community structure changes that occur during marine phytoplankton blooms.
Identification of fluoxetine as a direct NLRP3 inhibitor to treat atrophic macular degeneration
Authors: Ambati Meenakshi , Apicella Ivana , Wang Shao-bin , Narendran Siddharth , Leung Hannah , Pereira Felipe , Nagasaka Yosuke , Huang Peirong , Varshney Akhil , Baker Kirstie L. , Marion Kenneth M. , Shadmehr Mehrdad , Stains Cliff I. , Werner Brian C. , Sadda Srinivas R. , Taylor Ethan W. , Sutton S. Scott , Magagnoli Joseph , Gelfand Bradley D.
Published: October 2021

Significance

Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the vision of millions of people worldwide. There is currently no Food and Drug Administration–approved treatment for dry AMD. The inflammasome components NLRP3 and ASC have been implicated in the pathogenesis of dry AMD. We report that fluoxetine, which is approved for the treatment of clinical depression, directly binds the NLRP3 protein and prevents NLRP3-ASC inflammasome assembly and activation. Fluoxetine prevents the degeneration of retinal pigmented epithelium cells in an animal model of dry AMD. We also present evidence from a big data analysis of health insurance databases that fluoxetine use is associated with reduced risk of developing dry AMD. These studies identify a potential repurposing candidate for a prevalent cause of blindness.
Cryo-EM structure determination of small proteins by nanobody-binding scaffolds (Legobodies)
Authors: Wu Xudong , Rapoport Tom A.
Published: October 2021

Significance

Structure determination by cryo-EM is difficult or impossible to apply to proteins smaller than ∼100 kDa, excluding many membrane proteins and proteins of pharmaceutical importance from the analysis. Here, we report on a general method that allows structure determination of small proteins. The method is based on the availability of a nanobody to a target protein. The nanobody is then rigidly attached to two scaffolds: 1) a Fab fragment of an antibody directed against the nanobody and 2) a nanobody-binding protein A fragment fused to maltose binding protein and Fab-binding domains. We call the overall ensemble Legobody. The method is demonstrated for two small proteins that have sizes of ∼22 kDa.
Manufacturing and assembly of an all-glass OCT microendoscope
Authors: Taege Yanis , González-Cerdas Gerardo , Jund Felix , Zappe Hans , Ataman Çağlar
Published: October 2021

We present a forward-looking, fiber-scanning endomicroscope designed for optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT-Angiography (OCT-A) imaging through the working channel of commercial gastrointestinal endoscopes and cystoscopes. 3.4 mm in outer diameter and 11.9 mm in length, the probe is capable of high-resolution volumetric imaging with a field-of-view of up to 2.6 mm and an imaging depth of up to 1.5 mm at a lateral resolution of 19 µm. A high-precision lens mount fabricated in fused silica using selective laser-induced etching (SLE) allows the tailoring of the optical performance for different imaging requirements. A glass structure fabricated by the same method encapsulates the optical and mechanical components, providing ease of assembly and alignment accuracy. The concept can be adapted to high resolution OCT/-A imaging of various organs, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract and bladder.
Spin-orbital entangled state and realization of Kitaev physics in 3d cobalt compounds: a progress report
Authors: Kim Chaebin , Kim Heung-Sik , Park Je-Geun
Published: October 2021

The realization of Kitaev’s honeycomb magnetic model in real materials has become one of the most pursued topics in condensed matter physics and materials science. If found, it is expected to host exotic quantum phases of matter and offers potential realizations of fault-tolerant quantum computations. Over the past years, much effort has been made on 4d- or 5d-heavy transition metal compounds because of their intrinsic strong spin–orbit coupling. But more recently, there have been growing shreds of evidence that the Kitaev model could also be realized in 3d-transition metal systems with much weaker spin–orbit coupling. This review intends to serve as a guide to this fast-developing field focusing on systems with d
7 transition metal occupation. It overviews the current theoretical and experimental progress on realizing the Kitaev model in those systems. We examine the recent experimental observations of candidate materials with Co2+ ions: e.g., CoPS3, Na3Co2SbO6, and Na2Co2TeO6, followed by a brief review of theoretical backgrounds. We conclude this article by comparing experimental observations with density functional theory calculations. We stress the importance of inter-t
2g hopping channels and Hund’s coupling in the realization of Kitaev interactions in Co-based compounds, which has been overlooked in previous studies. This review suggests future directions in the search for Kitaev physics in 3d cobalt compounds and beyond.
Coupled electronic and magnetic relaxation in Fe1+y
Te: direct evidence for the interaction between itinerant carriers and local moments
Authors: Qian B , Liu J Y , Zhang F M , Kong F J , Zhou W , Gu Q C , Fang Y , Han Z D , Jiang X F , Zhu Y L , Wang Y , Hu J , Mao Z Q
Published: October 2021

Iron chalcogenides are of particular interests among iron-based superconductors due to their distinct properties such as high-T
c on FeSe monolayer and competing magnetic correlations in Fe1+y
Te. Here we report unusual transport properties observed near the critical composition of Fe1+y
Te (y ∼ 0.09) where competing magnetic correlations exist. The resistivity exhibits surprising temperature-dependent relaxation behavior below T
N, resulting in the increase of resistivity with time for 35 K < T < T
N, but the decrease of resistivity with time for 10 K < T < 35 K. Such resistivity relaxation is intimately coupled to the magnetization relaxation and can be attributed to the glassy magnetic states induced by the competing magnetic orders. These findings demonstrate strong coupling between itinerant carriers and local ordered moments in Fe1+y
Te.
Study on a new manner of the magnetization switching actuated by a unidirectional pulse current
Authors: Li K , Feng J , Yuan X , Gan L , Lu Z , Xiong R
Published: October 2021

A new writing scheme with a unidirectional pulse current is proposed for spin transfer torque (STT) based magnetic random-access memory (MRAM). To investigate the feasibility of the writing scheme, bilayered nano-pillars composed of a soft layer with small in-plane shape anisotropy and a hard layer with either large perpendicular anisotropy (PMA) or in-plane anisotropy (IMA) are designed and their switching behaviors are studied. It is found that in either type of bilayered nano-pillars, with the aid of the attached hard layer, the magnetization of the soft layer can be switched back and forth under a unidirectional pulse current. In an IMA/IMA nano-pillar, the magnetization of the free layer (FL) can achieve excellent alignment, which is in contrast to the IMA/PMA nano-pillar. By optimizing the dimensions and magnetic parameters of the IMA/IMA nano-pillar, a decently low switching current density (4.3 × 1011 A m−2) and ultrashort switching time (<1 ns) can be reached. Based on these results, the unidirectional writing scheme is practical if an IMA/IMA bilayer is used to replace the FL in a magnetic tunnel junction. Considering that a unidirectional writing scheme can enable the application of materials with high spin polarization such as half metals, and avoid the injection of writing current into junction using a special design, it may be very promising for STT-MRAM.
Fabrication of chitosan–alginate nanospheres for controlled release of cartap hydrochloride
Authors: Kaur Ishtpreet , Agnihotri Shekhar , Goyal Dinesh
Published: October 2021

Insecticide cartap hydrochloride (C) was fabricated as nanospheres by a two-step method of ionic gelification and polyelectrolyte complexation of alginate (ALG) and chitosan (CS) to undermine its adverse effects on environment. Nanospheres were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectra and x-ray diffraction. The size of cartap hydrochloride entrapped chitosan alginate nanospheres (C-CS-ALG nps) was in range of 107.58–173.07 nm. Cartap hydrochloride nanospheres showed encapsulation efficiency of 76.19% and were stable for 30 d at ambient temperature. Release of cartap from nanospheres fitted best with first order linear kinetics followed by Hixson and Higuchi model suggesting super case II transport release. With the application of such control release nanoformulations, it is possible to reduce the frequency of field application of insecticide due to its slow release to the target organism, which is economical as well as environmentally safe.
Graphene mitigated fracture and interfacial delamination of silicon film anodes through modulating the stress generation and development
Authors: Ye Cong , Liu Bowen , Shao Jiaojing , Song Zhiwei , Zhao Weimin , Yu Zhongliang , Wang Bin
Published: October 2021

Silicon film is an attractive anode candidate in lithium ion batteries due to its two-dimensional (2D) morphology that is beneficial to buffer the large volume expansion of traditional silicon anodes. Even so, the generation of stress during the lithiation/delithiation process can still lead to the cracking and delamination of the silicon film from the current collector, ultimately resulting in the fast failure of the electrode. Laying a graphene layer between the silicon film and the current collector has been demonstrated to alleviate the stress generated during the battery cycling, but its universal application in commercial silicon structures with other dimensionalities remains technically challenging. Putting graphene on top of a 2D silicon film is more feasible and has also been shown with enhanced cycling stability, but the underneath mechanical mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, using the combination of 2D graphene and 2D silicon films as a model material, we investigate the stress generation and diffusion mode during the battery cycling to disclose the mechanical and electrochemical optimization of a silicon anode experimentally and theoretically. As a result, the optimum thickness of the silicon film and the coated graphene layers are obtained, and it is found the in-plane cracking and out-of-plane delamination of the silicon film could be mitigated by coating graphene due to the slow transfer of the normal and shear stresses. This work provides some understanding of the electrochemically derived mechanical behaviors of the graphene-coated battery materials and guidelines for developing stable high-energy-density batteries.
Edge harmonic oscillations in plasmas with a separatrix and the effect of edge magnetic shear
Authors: Bustos Ramirez G , Graves J P , Brunetti D
Published: October 2021

This work presents an extension of exfernal mode theory, where the effects of edge magnetic shear and plasma separatrix are investigated and applied to edge harmonic oscillations (EHOs). Linear analytical modelling is performed on a large aspect ratio tokamak with circular cross section, from which a set of three coupled differential equations describing the dispersion relation are derived. To correctly assess the effect of edge shear on exfernal modes, higher order corrections need to be retained in the expansion of the safety factor around the rational surface. The equations are solved numerically for equilibrium pressure and safety factor profiles containing the key features for the excitation of exfernal modes, including a model of a plasma separatrix. The current-driven branch of the instability is significantly reduced by the inclusion of the separatrix, but the mode remains unstable through coupling with the pressure-driven infernal drive. The obtained parameter space for the instability without the effect of the separatrix is compared with the growth rates calculated using the KINX code, and with the nonlinear plasma displacement calculated using the VMEC free-boundary code. From the comparison it was found that the edge shear can be of order unity and still excite exfernal modes, implying that EHOs can be excited even with weak flattening of the local safety factor at the edge, which is in line with some current experimental observations, but contrary to previous simpler analytic theory.
Laser photo-detachment combined with Langmuir probe in magnetized electronegative plasma: how the probe size affects the plasma dynamic?
Authors: Oudini N , Bendib A , Agnello R , Furno I , Taccogna F
Published: October 2021

Laser photo-detachment combined with a Langmuir probe (LP) is used to diagnose negative ion properties in electronegative plasmas. The technique relies on the combined use of a laser pulse and an LP. The laser pulse converts negative ions into electron–atom pairs, while the LP tracks the temporal evolution of electron current (laser photo-detachment signal) that is analyzed to retrieve the negative ion density. Although an external magnetic field is frequently used to enhance the negative ion production and extraction, the data analysis often neglects the effects of the magnetic field on the probe current. This work investigates the response of an electronegative plasma to a laser pulse in the presence of an external magnetic field through a two-dimensional particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision model. The results show that a low electron density region surrounding the probe, called a flux-tube, can form for a probe size comparable with or larger than the electron Larmor radius. The formation of the flux-tube strongly affects the components of the laser photo-detachment signal, leading to an important oscillation of probe current during the plateau phase, i.e. the amplitude of the AC component of the probe current is in the same magnitude order of the DC component of this current, and an important overshoot in comparison to the current rise. Numerical results are qualitatively compared to measurements obtained from the RAID negative ion source.
Challenges toward improvement of deuterium-injection power in the Large Helical Device negative-ion-based NBIs
Authors: Tsumori K. , Ikeda K. , Kisaki M. , Nakano H. , Nagaoka K. , Fujiwara Y. , Kamio S. , Osakabe M.
Published: October 2021

Improvement of deuterium injection power in the negative-ion-based NBIs (n-NBIs) for the Large Helical Device (LHD) are reported. Co-extracted electron current at acceleration of deuterium negative ions (D− ions) limits the injection power. The electron current is reduced by decreasing the extraction gap, and the injected D− current evaluated from the injection power increased from 46 to 55 A. Greater electron reduction was achieved by installing a structure named an ‘electron fence’ (EF), with which D− beam power was successfully improved from 2.0 MW to 3.0 MW. The injection power in three configurations − without EF, with EF of 5 mm and 7 mm distance from the plasma grid (PG) surface − have been compared in both cases of hydrogen and deuterium operations, and it was found that the configuration with the EF of 5 mm distance was the best to satisfy the performance for both of hydrogen and deuterium injections. Although the co-extracted electron current is reduced in the negative ion sources applied for JT-60SA and ITER by utilizing the PG filter, it is possible to achieve more effective electron reduction by combining the PG filter and the EF.
A geometric approximation of δ-interactions by Neumann Laplacians
Authors: Khrabustovskyi Andrii , Post Olaf
Published: October 2021

We demonstrate how to approximate one-dimensional Schrödinger operators with δ-interaction by a Neumann Laplacian on a narrow waveguide-like domain. Namely, we consider a domain consisting of a straight strip and a small protuberance with ‘room-and-passage’ geometry. We show that in the limit when the perpendicular size of the strip tends to zero, and the room and the passage are appropriately scaled, the Neumann Laplacian on this domain converges in generalised norm resolvent sense to the above singular Schrödinger operator. Also we prove Hausdorff convergence of the spectra. In both cases estimates on the rate of convergence are derived.
Examples of multiplicities and mixed multiplicities of filtrations
Authors: Cutkosky Steven
Published: October 2021

In this paper we construct examples of irrational behavior of multiplicities and mixed multiplicities of divisorial filtrations. The construction makes essential use of anti-positive intersection products.
An upper bound for the first Hilbert coefficient of Gorenstein algebras and modules
Authors: El Khoury Sabine , Kummini Manoj , Srinivasan Hema
Published: October 2021

Let

R
R

be a polynomial ring over a field and

M
=

⨁
n

M
n

M= \bigoplus _n M_n

be a finitely generated graded

R
R

-module, minimally generated by homogeneous elements of degree zero with a graded

R
R

-minimal free resolution

F

\mathbf {F}

. A Cohen-Macaulay module

M
M

is Gorenstein when the graded resolution is symmetric. We give an upper bound for the first Hilbert coefficient,

e
1

e_1

in terms of the shifts in the graded resolution of

M
M

. When

M
=
R

/

I

M = R/I

, a Gorenstein algebra, this bound agrees with the bound obtained in [ES09] in Gorenstein algebras with quasi-pure resolution. We conjecture a similar bound for the higher coefficients.
Strict Liability and Negligence with Search for Precautionary Measures
Authors: Baumann Florian , Friehe Tim
Published: October 2021

This article explores the performance of strict liability and negligence when agents initially have imperfect information about what care options exist to influence expected accidental harm. A technology that establishes a basic level of care is commonly known in our framework, but whether a superior one exists is uncertain. Injurers and/or victims can engage in a costly search to find out. For this setup, we show that strict liability can induce lower social costs than negligence when the superior care technology’s existence is moderately likely and agents’ search costs are high, a combination likely to apply to new and complex activities. Instead, negligence is socially preferred when the superior care technology’s existence is either very likely or very unlikely, or when search costs are low, configurations likely to apply to well-established activities.
Toward Critical State Studies: Bringing the Democratic State Back into American Literary Criticism
Authors: Roudeau Cécile
Published: October 2021

This essay starts from the apparent disconnect between democracy and the State in American literary studies. Taking the case of antebellum US literature (James Fenimore Cooper and Lydia Maria Child), it contends that literature is one place of elaboration of a democratic statecraft. Nineteenth-century US literature has been read as both complicit with and resisting to reigning models of statecraft endorsing racial domination, bureaucratization, and the monopoly of violence. However, we remain indifferent at our own peril to the potential forces of State as a democratic public authority and of state regulation as a non-arbitrary public provision. Putting American literature to the test of statecraft and statecraft to the test of literature, critical State studies proposes to revisit literary practices as a mode of critique in nineteenth-century state building. Nineteenth-century literature, I argue, both facilitated and performed this critique. Reading nineteenth-century US literature from the perspective of critical State studies—here, reading The American Frugal Housewife as a manual of democratic regulatory practice, or The Pioneers as an attempt at democratic environmental governance—allows us to investigate how literature, as a mode of representation and a political practice, gives shape and voice to alternative modes of statecraft.

Turning the State into a methodological problem, a pressure point of generative possibilities, critical State Studies requires that we attend to an alternative genealogy of the State and recover a past that has not yet been present in our reading of American literature.
Assessment of the Light Exposures of Shift-working Nurses in London and Dortmund in Relation to Recommendations for Sleep and Circadian Health
Authors: Price Luke L A , Khazova Marina , Udovičić Ljiljana
Published: October 2021

Shift work causes disruption to circadian physiological processes in the human body, and desynchronization from the natural day-and-night rhythm. Circadian disruption is thought to explain the associations between shift work and various long-term diseases; light is an unrivalled synchronizer (or Zeitgeber) of circadian processes and inappropriate light exposure plausibly plays a critical role in the development of health impairments. As published measurement data on the actual light environments encountered by shift workers are sparse, nurses working in two hospitals in London (UK) and Dortmund (Germany) wore light-logging dosimetry devices to measure personal light exposures continuously over a week in three different seasons. The study identifies and quantifies several of the characteristics of light exposure related to different working patterns in winter, spring, and summer, and quantifies interindividual variations. These data enable informed design of light exposure interventions or changes to shifts to reduce unwanted effects of disruptive light exposure profiles.
The environmental adaptation strategy of seed germination, and roles of the seed pappus on dispersal and hypocotyl hairs on seedling anchorage inTamarix ramosissima
Authors: Li Caixia , Wei Xiaowei , Lan Haiyan
Published: October 2021

Seed dispersal, germination and seedling establishment are affected by various ecological factors in desert plant species. Tamarix ramosissima has evolved multiple strategies to facilitate its survival in harsh environments during the early stages of development. In this study, we investigated the effects of different ecological factors on seed germination and seedling growth, the function of the seed pappus in seed dispersal, as well as the function of the hypocotyl hairs in seedling establishment. We found that the seed germination of T. ramosissima was rapid and could occur under a wide range of temperatures (5–30 °C), after long periods of storage (at least 12 months on dispersal), under high concentrations of salts (700–900 mmol·L−1) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 (500 g·L−1) and under medium concentrations of alkalis (300–500 mmol·L−1). Lower concentrations of salts and PEG promoted seedling growth. The seed pappus had no effect on seed germination, but it might function as an accessory structure that provides a buoyancy force and promotes long-distance seed dispersal. The hypocotyl hairs located on the edge of the hypocotyl end might aid the upright positioning of the seedlings during early development, especially when seed germination occurs under floating or flooding conditions. In conclusion, the germination of T. ramosissima seeds and seedling development can occur under diverse types of abiotic stress, and the seed pappus and hypocotyl hairs played an important role in seed dispersal and seedling establishment.
A roadmap for multi-omics data integration using deep learning
Authors: Kang Mingon , Ko Euiseong , Mersha Tesfaye B
Published: October 2021

High-throughput next-generation sequencing now makes it possible to generate a vast amount of multi-omics data for various applications. These data have revolutionized biomedical research by providing a more comprehensive understanding of the biological systems and molecular mechanisms of disease development. Recently, deep learning (DL) algorithms have become one of the most promising methods in multi-omics data analysis, due to their predictive performance and capability of capturing nonlinear and hierarchical features. While integrating and translating multi-omics data into useful functional insights remain the biggest bottleneck, there is a clear trend towards incorporating multi-omics analysis in biomedical research to help explain the complex relationships between molecular layers. Multi-omics data have a role to improve prevention, early detection and prediction; monitor progression; interpret patterns and endotyping; and design personalized treatments. In this review, we outline a roadmap of multi-omics integration using DL and offer a practical perspective into the advantages, challenges and barriers to the implementation of DL in multi-omics data.
New strategies to improve minimap2 alignment accuracy
Authors: Li Heng
Published: October 2021

We present several recent improvements to minimap2, a versatile pairwise aligner for nucleotide sequences. Now minimap2 v2.22 can more accurately map long reads to highly repetitive regions and align through insertions or deletions up to 100 kb by default, addressing major weakness in minimap2 v2.18 or earlier.

Availability and implementation

https://github.com/lh3/minimap2.
Nobiletin-induced partial abrogation of deleterious effects of AKT inhibition on preimplantation bovine embryo development in vitro†
Authors: Cajas Yulia N , Cañón-Beltrán Karina , Núñez-Puente Carolina , Gutierrez-Adán Alfonso , González Encina M , Agirregoitia Ekaitz , Rizos Dimitrios
Published: October 2021

During preimplantational embryo development, PI3K/AKT regulates cell proliferation and differentiation and nobiletin modulates this pathway to promote cell survival. Therefore, we aimed to establish whether, when the AKT cascade is inhibited using inhibitors III and IV, nobiletin supplementation to in vitro culture media during the minor (2- to 8-cell stage, MNEGA) or major (8- to 16-cell stage, MJEGA) phases of EGA is able to modulate the development and quality of bovine embryos. In vitro zygotes were cultured during MNEGA or MJEGA phase in SOF + 5% FCS or supplemented with: 15 μM AKT-InhIII; 10 μM AKT-InhIV; 10 μM nobiletin; nobiletin + AKT-InhIII; nobiletin + AKT-InhIV; 0.03% DMSO. Embryo development was lower in treatments with AKT inhibitors, while combination of nobiletin with AKT inhibitors was able to recover their adverse developmental effect and also increase blastocyst cell number. The mRNA abundance of GPX1, NFE2L2, and POU5F1 was partially increased in 8- and 16-cell embryos from nobiletin with AKT inhibitors. Besides, nobiletin increased the p-rpS6 level whether or not AKT inhibitors were present. In conclusion, nobiletin promotes bovine embryo development and quality and partially recovers the adverse developmental effect of AKT inhibitors, which infers that nobiletin probably uses another signaling cascade that PI3K/AKT during early embryo development in bovine.
Linking immune-mediated damage to neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis: could network-based MRI help?
Authors: Groppa Sergiu , Gonzalez-Escamilla Gabriel , Eshaghi Arman , Meuth Sven G , Ciccarelli Olga
Published: October 2021

Inflammatory demyelination characterizes the initial stages of multiple sclerosis, while progressive axonal and neuronal loss are coexisting and significantly contribute to the long-term physical and cognitive impairment. There is an unmet need for a conceptual shift from a dualistic view of multiple sclerosis pathology, involving either inflammatory demyelination or neurodegeneration, to integrative dynamic models of brain reorganization, where, glia-neuron interactions, synaptic alterations and grey matter pathology are longitudinally envisaged at the whole-brain level. Functional and structural MRI can delineate network hallmarks for relapses, remissions or disease progression, which can be linked to the pathophysiology behind inflammatory attacks, repair and neurodegeneration. Here, we aim to unify recent findings of grey matter circuits dynamics in multiple sclerosis within the framework of molecular and pathophysiological hallmarks combined with disease-related network reorganization, while highlighting advances from animal models (in vivo and ex vivo) and human clinical data (imaging and histological). We propose that MRI-based brain networks characterization is essential for better delineating ongoing pathology and elaboration of particular mechanisms that may serve for accurate modelling and prediction of disease courses throughout disease stages.
Dose-dependent immunomodulatory effects of bortezomib in experimental autoimmune neuritis
Authors: Klimas Rafael , Sgodzai Melissa , Motte Jeremias , Mohamad Nuwin , Renk Pia , Blusch Alina , Grüter Thomas , Pedreiturria Xiomara , Gobrecht Philipp , Fischer Dietmar , Schneider-Gold Christiane , Reinacher-Schick Anke , Tannapfel Andrea , Yoon Min-Suk , Gold Ralf , Pitarokoili Kalliopi
Published: October 2021

Proteasome inhibition with bortezomib has been reported to exert an immunomodulatory action in chronic autoimmune neuropathies. However, bortezomib used for the treatment of multiple myeloma induces a painful toxic polyneuropathy at a higher concentration. Therefore, we addressed this controversial effect and evaluated the neurotoxic and immunomodulatory mode of action of bortezomib in experimental autoimmune neuritis. Bortezomib-induced neuropathy was investigated in Lewis rats using the von Frey hair test, electrophysiological, qPCR and histological analyses of the sciatic nerve as well as dorsal root ganglia outgrowth studies. The immunomodulatory potential of bortezomib was characterized in Lewis rats after experimental autoimmune neuritis induction with P253-78 peptide. Clinical, electrophysiological, histological evaluation, von Frey hair test, flow cytometric and mRNA analyses were used to unravel the underlying mechanisms. We defined the toxic concentration of 0.2 mg/kg bortezomib applied intraperitoneally at Days 0, 4, 8 and 12. This dosage induces a painful toxic neuropathy but preserves axonal regeneration in vitro. Bortezomib at a concentration of 0.05 mg/kg significantly ameliorated experimental autoimmune neuritis symptoms, improved experimental autoimmune neuritis-induced hyperalgesia and nerve conduction studies, and reduced immune cell infiltration. Furthermore, proteasome inhibition induced a transcriptional downregulation of Nfkb in the sciatic nerve, while its inhibitor Ikba (also known as Nfkbia) was upregulated. Histological analyses of bone marrow tissue revealed a compensatory increase of CD138+ plasma cells. Our data suggest that low dose bortezomib (0.05 mg/kg intraperitoneally) has an immunomodulatory effect in the context of experimental autoimmune neuritis through proteasome inhibition and downregulation of nuclear factor 'kappa-light-chain-enhancer' of activated B-cells (NFKB). Higher bortezomib concentrations (0.2 mg/kg intraperitoneally) induce sensory neuropathy; however, the regeneration potential remains unaffected. Our data empathizes that bortezomib may serve as an attractive treatment option for inflammatory neuropathies in lower concentrations.
Investment risk evaluation of inland floating photovoltaic power plants in China using the HFLTS–TFN method
Authors: Xiao Yanli , Ju Xin , Yu Bo , Wang Zheng , Xu Chuanbo
Published: October 2021

Inland floating photovoltaic power plants (IFPPPs) are the key to making full use of water advantages to develop solar resources in the future. Identifying the investment risk is an important prerequisite for promoting the projects on a large scale. This paper proposes a model to assess the investment risk of IFPPPs in China. First, this paper identifies the investment risk factors and establishes an evaluation indicator system from four aspects. Second, the indicator data are collected and described by adopting hesitant fuzzy linguistic term sets and triangular fuzzy numbers to ensure soundness and completeness. Third, a weighted method combining the best–worst method and the entropy method are utilized to determine the indicator weights under the consideration of the impact of subjective preferences and objective fairness. Fourth, the results show that the overall risk level of China’s IFPPPs is ‘medium low’. Fifth, sensitivity analysis and comparative analysis are implemented to examine the stability of the evaluation results. Finally, this paper also provides some risk-response strategies for the development of China’s IFPPPs from economy, society, technology and environment.
Resistance to the Sugarcane Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Louisiana Sugarcane Cultivars
Authors: Salgado Leonardo D , Wilson Blake E , Villegas James M , Richard Randy T , Penn Hannah J
Published: October 2021

Cultivar resistance is a key management strategy for the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), the primary pest in Louisiana sugarcane, but mechanisms of resistance are not well understood. This research evaluated the potential mechanisms of cultivar resistance to D. saccharalis among commercially produced sugarcane cultivars and experimental lines through three field screenings, two greenhouse experiments, and one diet incorporation assay. The resistant standards HoCP 85-845, HoCP 04-838, and L 01-299 were among the cultivars with the lowest D. saccharalis injury levels in both field and greenhouse trials. Cultivars HoCP 00-950 and L 12-201 were among the most heavily injured in both trials. Differences in oviposition among cultivars in the greenhouse choice study were not detected, suggesting adult preference is not a key factor in resistance. This was also supported by the no-choice greenhouse experiment in which up to 9-fold differences in neonate establishment among cultivars were detected. Larval injury among cultivars in greenhouse experiments was consistent with field studies suggesting traits that affect neonate establishment (e.g., rind hardness) help to confer resistance in the field. In the diet incorporation assay, lower larval weights and longer time to pupation were observed on resistant cultivar Ho 08-9003, but no differences were found among current commercial cultivars. Continuous evaluation of cultivar resistance to D. saccharalis is important in developing effective integrated pest management strategies for this pest. More research into plant characteristics (e.g., leaf sheath tightness and pubescence) associated with resistance is needed.
The impact of atrial fibrillation and stroke risk factors on left atrial blood flow characteristics
Authors: Spartera Marco , Stracquadanio Antonio , Pessoa-Amorim Guilherme , Von Ende Adam , Fletcher Alison , Manley Peter , Ferreira Vanessa M , Hess Aaron T , Hopewell Jemma C , Neubauer Stefan , Wijesurendra Rohan S , Casadei Barbara
Published: October 2021

Aims 

Altered left atrial (LA) blood flow characteristics account for an increase in cardioembolic stroke risk in atrial fibrillation (AF). Here, we aimed to assess whether exposure to stroke risk factors is sufficient to alter LA blood flow even in the presence of sinus rhythm (SR).

Methods and results 

We investigated 95 individuals: 37 patients with persistent AF, who were studied before and after cardioversion [Group 1; median CHA2DS2-VASc = 2.0 (1.5–3.5)]; 35 individuals with no history of AF but similar stroke risk to Group 1 [Group 2; median CHA2DS2-VASc = 3.0 (2.0–4.0)]; and 23 low-risk individuals in SR [Group 3; median CHA2DS2-VASc = 0.0 (0.0–0.0)]. Cardiac function and LA flow characteristics were evaluated using cardiac magnetic resonance. Before cardioversion, Group 1 displayed impaired left ventricular (LV) and LA function, reduced LA flow velocities and vorticity, and a higher normalized vortex volume (all P < 0.001 vs. Groups 2 and 3). After restoration of SR at ≥4-week post-cardioversion, LV systolic function and LA flow parameters improved significantly (all P < 0.001 vs. pre-cardioversion) and were no longer different from those in Group 2. However, in the presence of SR, LA flow peak and mean velocity, and vorticity were lower in Groups 1 and 2 vs. Group 3 (all P < 0.01), and were associated with impaired LA emptying fraction (LAEF) and LV diastolic dysfunction.

Conclusion 

Patients at moderate-to-high stroke risk display altered LA flow characteristics in SR in association with an LA myopathic phenotype and LV diastolic dysfunction, regardless of a history of AF.
Interleukin-1 blockade with anakinra and heart failure following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: results from a pooled analysis of the VCUART clinical trials
Authors: Abbate Antonio , Wohlford George F , Del Buono Marco Giuseppe , Chiabrando Juan Guido , Markley Roshanak , Turlington Jeremy , Kadariya Dinesh , Trankle Cory R , Biondi-Zoccai Giuseppe , Lipinski Michael J , Van Tassell Benjamin W
Published: October 2021

Aims

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with an intense acute inflammatory response and an increased risk of death and heart failure (HF). In this study, we sought to evaluate the effect of anakinra, a recombinant interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, on the incidence of HF.

Methods and results

We performed a pooled analysis of three early phase randomized clinical trials. The endpoints included the composite of all-cause death and new-onset HF, and the composite of all-cause death and hospitalization for HF at 1-year follow-up. Safety events, including injection site reaction and serious infections, were also recorded. We analysed 139 patients with STEMI from three separate trials: VCUART (N = 10), VCUART2 (N = 30), and VCUART3 (N = 99). Of these, 84 (60%) patients were randomized to anakinra and 55 (40%) to placebo. Treatment with anakinra significantly reduced the incidence of all-cause death or new-onset HF (7 [8.2%] vs. 16 [29.1%], log-rank P = 0.002) and of all-cause death or HF hospitalization (0 [0] vs. 5 [9.1%], log-rank P = 0.007). Patients treated with anakinra had significantly higher injection site reactions (19 [22.6%] vs. 3 [5.5%], P = 0.016) without a significant difference in the incidence of serious infections (11 [13.1%] vs. 7 [12.7%], P = 0.435). Treatment with anakinra significantly reduced the area under the curve for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein between baseline and 14 days (75.48 [41.7–147.47] vs. 222.82 [117.22–399.28] mg day/L, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

IL-1 blockade with anakinra for 14 days in patients with STEMI reduces the incidence of new-onset HF or hospitalization for HF at 1 year following STEMI.
Virtual-assisted lung mapping in sublobar resection of small pulmonary nodules, long-term results
Authors: Yamaguchi Hirokazu , Sato Masaaki , Yamamoto Kazumichi , Ueda Keiko , Date Hiroshi , Chen-Yoshikawa Toyofumi , Yamada Yoshito , Tokuno Junko , Yanagiya Masahiro , Kojima Fumitsugu , Yoshiyasu Nobuyuki , Kobayashi Masashi , Nakashima Yasuhiro , Koike Terumoto , Sakamoto Jin , Kosaka Shinji , Fukai Ryuta , Nishida Tomoki , Sakai Hiroaki , Shinohara Shinji , Takenaka Masaru , Tanaka Fumihiro , Misawa Kenji , Nakajima Jun
Published: October 2021

OBJECTIVES

The short-term efficacy of virtual-assisted lung mapping (VAL-MAP), a preoperative bronchoscopic multi-spot lung-marking technique, has been confirmed in 2 prospective multicentre studies. The objectives of this study were to analyse the local recurrence and survival of patients enrolled in these studies, long-term.

METHODS

Of the 663 patients enrolled in the 2 studies, 559 patients’ follow-up data were collected. After excluding those who did not undergo VAL-MAP, whose resection was not for curative intent, who underwent concurrent resection without VAL-MAP, or who eventually underwent lobectomy instead of sublobar resection (i.e. wedge resection or segmentectomy), 422 patients were further analysed.

RESULTS

Among 264 patients with primary lung cancer, the 5-year local recurrence-free rate was 98.4%, and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 94.5%. Limited to stage IA2 or less (≤2 cm in diameter; n = 238, 90.1%), the 5-year local recurrence-free and OS rates were 98.7% and 94.8%, respectively. Among 102 patients with metastatic lung tumours, the 5-year local recurrence-free rate was 93.8% and the 5-year OS rate was 81.8%. Limited to the most common (colorectal) cancer (n = 53), the 5-year local recurrence-free and OS rates were 94.9% and 82.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

VAL-MAP, which is beneficial in localizing small barely palpable pulmonary lesions and determining the appropriate resection lines, was associated with reasonable long-term outcomes.

Subj collection

152, 1542
Focusing on ESOL teachers’ well-being during COVID-19 and beyond
Authors: Wong Chiu-Yin , Pompeo-Fargnoli Alyson , Harriott Wendy
Published: October 2021

The study reports the challenges that primary school ESOL teachers in the United States face because of the unexpected instructional changes during the COVID-19 pandemic and how these challenges appear to have affected the well-being of these teachers. Findings indicate that the participants’ stress levels increased due to the lack of support and compassion from school administrators, the lack of communication and connection with other teachers, increased workloads, teaching students with different levels of proficiency virtually, and a lack of technological devices for students. The newly emerged challenges have resulted in ESOL teachers reporting emotional and physical effects that did not exist before the pandemic. Based on the findings, we provide recommendations for school leaders and practical suggestions for ESOL teachers which can be applied during the pandemic and afterwards. We propose that ESOL teachers’ well-being should be on the agenda of school administration since teachers are on the frontlines of education.
Teachers’ pedagogical intentions while using motivational strategies
Authors: Yang Zening , Sanchez Hugo Santiago
Published: October 2021

Teaching in a way that motivates students to learn and grow is a ubiquitous goal in language teaching and language teacher education. Although the existing literature has looked into various motivational strategies that can enhance or maintain L2 students’ motivation, there is currently little research on teachers’ mental lives behind their motivational teaching practices. This qualitative case study thus explored teachers’ pedagogical intentions while implementing motivational strategies. Drawing on data from semi-structured background interviews, classroom observations, and post-lesson stimulated recall interviews, this study shows that teachers’ enactment of motivational strategies was influenced by their awareness of the intentions to motivate as well as the intentions to facilitate student learning. Furthermore, the study provides evidence of the potential of stimulated recall for awareness-raising. Based on these findings, we provide practical recommendations for using stimulated recall for maximising the pedagogical potential of motivational strategies in the language classroom.
Knowledge gaps in the assessment of antimicrobial resistance in surface waters
Authors: Niegowska Magdalena , Sanseverino Isabella , Navarro Anna , Lettieri Teresa
Published: October 2021

The spread of antibiotic resistance in the water environment has been widely described. However, still many knowledge gaps exist regarding the selection pressure from antibiotics, heavy metals and other substances present in surface waters as a result of anthropogenic activities, as well as the extent and impact of this phenomenon on aquatic organisms and humans. In particular, the relationship between environmental concentrations of antibiotics and the acquisition of ARGs by antibiotic-sensitive bacteria as well as the impact of heavy metals and other selective agents on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) need to be defined. Currently, established safety values are based on the effects of antibiotic toxicity neglecting the question of AMR spread. In turn, risk assessment of antibiotics in waterbodies remains a complex question implicating multiple variables and unknowns reinforced by the lack of harmonized protocols and official guidelines. In the present review, we discussed current state-of-the-art and the knowledge gaps related to pressure exerted by antibiotics and heavy metals on aquatic environments and their relationship to the spread of AMR. Along with this latter, we reflected on (i) the risk assessment in surface waters, (ii) selective pressures contributing to its transfer and propagation and (iii) the advantages of metagenomics in investigating AMR. Furthermore, the role of microplastics in co-selection for metal and antibiotic resistance, together with the need for more studies in freshwater are highlighted.