bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Triticale and barley microspore embryogenesis induction requires both reactive oxygen species generation and efficient system of antioxidative defence
Authors: Żur Iwona , Dubas Ewa , Krzewska Monika , Kopeć Przemysław , Nowicka Anna , Surówka Ewa , Gawrońska Katarzyna , Gołębiowska Gabriela , Juzoń Katarzyna , Malaga Sabina
Published: January 2021

The effectiveness of microspore embryogenesis (ME) is determined by a complex network of internal and environmental factors. In the present study on triticale and barley, strong positive correlation (r = 0.85) between the generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ME effectiveness confirmed the important role of reactive oxygen species in microspore reprogramming. However, for high effectiveness of ME induction, intensive H2O2 generation had to be associated with high activity of antioxidative enzymes, superoxide dismutase and catalase. The strong seasonal effect on the physiological status of microspores revealed in the study suggests a kind of ‘biological clock’ controlling plant reproduction, crucial for microspore viability and embryogenic potential. Although the effect of various modifications of ME-inducing stress tiller pre-treatment was determined mainly by the physiological condition of microspores, at higher stress intensity positive effects induced by antioxidant molecules—reduced glutathione and its precursor, l-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid—were observed. High level of variation in the response to ME-inducing stress tiller pre-treatment was also revealed between the two DH lines of triticale and two cultivars of barley and among microspores isolated from subsequently developed spikes.
Possible risk resulting from the recent decay of the dipolar component of the terrestrial magnetic field
Authors: Bury Agata , Lewandowski Marek , Mizerski Krzysztof
Published: January 2021

In this study, we investigated the geomagnetic ground observatory data from 1980 to 2011 collected from World Data Center from 134 stations. To analyze the data we have applied spherical harmonic decomposition to obtain components associated with the Earth’s main magnetic field and to calculate how the Earth’s dipole was varying in the aforementioned recent 31-year period. There is a visible ~ 2.3% decay of the dipole magnetic field of the Earth. We note that the present-day value of the magnetic dipole intensity is the lowest one in the history of modern civilization and that further drop of this value may pose a risk for different domains of our life.
Die Erfassung von Lehransätzen von Lehrenden in der Weiterbildung – Entwicklung der Lehransatz-Skala
Authors: Bonnes Caroline , Hochholdinger Sabine
Published: January 2021

Lehransätze sind ein bedeutsamer Faktor in der Gestaltung von Lehrsettings und für den Lernerfolg der Lernenden, wurden jedoch bisher noch nicht im Weiterbildungskontext untersucht. Bereits bestehende Instrumente aus der Hochschulforschung, wie das Approaches to Teaching Inventory, sind aufgrund der kontextspezifischen Items weniger geeignet für die Verwendung im Weiterbildungskontext. Für die zukünftige Erforschung von Lehransätzen in der Weiterbildung wurde daher ein Messinstrument mit 17 Items entwickelt, das transmissive (LA-T) und konstruktivistische (LA-K) Lehransätze erfassen soll. Die Items wurden auf Basis einer qualitativen Vorstudie (N = 45) und einem Pretest entwickelt und in einer quantitativen Hauptstudie (N = 411) auf Reliabilität und Validität untersucht. Das Instrument wurde anhand einer explorativen Faktorenanalyse entwickelt und die Struktur der Skalen LA‑T und LA‑K durch exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) geprüft. Die Lehransatz-Skala bietet damit eine Basis für die weitere Erforschung von Lehransätzen im Weiterbildungskontext.
Severe reflux, sleep disturbances, and health-related quality of life after esophageal cancer surgery
Authors: Lagergren Pernilla , Johar Asif , Rosenlund Helen , Arnberg Lars , Haglund Lena , Ness-Jensen Eivind , Schandl Anna
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Esophagectomy for cancer is an extensive procedure often followed by severe complications. This study investigated whether patients with severe symptoms of reflux are more likely to have sleep disturbances and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQL) after esophagectomy.

Methods

This Swedish nationwide prospective cohort study encompassed all patients who had undergone esophagectomy for cancer between 2013 and 2018. One year after surgery, the patients responded to three questionnaires on reflux (EORTC QLQOG25), sleep disturbances (KSQ), and HRQL (EORTC QLQ-C30). Multivariable logistic regression provided odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for sleep disturbance/reduced HRQL between patients with and without reflux, adjusted for potential confounders.

Results

Among 241 esophagectomy patients, 66 (27%) reported severe reflux. Patients with reflux had an increased risk of sleep disturbances (OR 2.3, 95% CI: 1.3–4.3) compared to patients without reflux. More specifically, these patients were more likely to suffer from poor sleep quality (OR 4.9, 95% CI: 1.9–12.4). Patients with reflux and sleep disturbances reported reductions in global quality of life, role function, emotional function, social function, and more symptoms in all scales, except for dyspnea.

Conclusions

This study suggests that patients with severe symptoms of reflux after esophagectomy have an increased risk of sleep disturbances and poor sleep quality, which in turn are associated with reduced HRQL.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Alleviating reflux after oesophageal cancer surgery is important, since this common symptom might reduce HRQL and well-being.
Deconstructing the ivory tower: identifying challenges of university-industry ecosystem partnerships
Authors: Bacon Emily C. , Williams Michael D.
Published: January 2021

Collaboration between industry and academia necessitates the management of entrepreneurial dynamics within ecosystem contexts. However, such partnerships perpetuate numerous challenges that, without effective management, can impact upon the ecosystem as a whole. Limited research to date has addressed the challenges affecting these university-industry partnerships and ascertained their impact upon ecosystem management. This study identifies the challenges pervading university-industry partnerships across entrepreneurial ecosystems, with a view that through an exposition of such challenges, more specific strategies could be implemented to address them. Questionnaires were distributed to key ecosystem stakeholders, requesting their perceptions of the key challenges affecting their collaborative relationships. Empirical data was analysed utilising fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to deduce the configurational nature of the conditions. Results reveal mutually exclusive solutions grounded upon distinct combinations of conditions, constituting distinct pathways to ineffective ecosystem management. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, as well as acknowledged limitations of this study and suggestions for future research.
A Standards Organization for Open and FAIR Neuroscience: the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility
Authors: Abrams Mathew Birdsall , Bjaalie Jan G. , Das Samir , Egan Gary F. , Ghosh Satrajit S. , Goscinski Wojtek J. , Grethe Jeffrey S. , Kotaleski Jeanette Hellgren , Ho Eric Tatt Wei , Kennedy David N. , Lanyon Linda J. , Leergaard Trygve B. , Mayberg Helen S. , Milanesi Luciano , Mouček Roman , Poline J. B. , Roy Prasun K. , Strother Stephen C. , Tang Tong Boon , Tiesinga Paul , Wachtler Thomas , Wójcik Daniel K. , Martone Maryann E.
Published: January 2021

There is great need for coordination around standards and best practices in neuroscience to support efforts to make neuroscience a data-centric discipline. Major brain initiatives launched around the world are poised to generate huge stores of neuroscience data. At the same time, neuroscience, like many domains in biomedicine, is confronting the issues of transparency, rigor, and reproducibility. Widely used, validated standards and best practices are key to addressing the challenges in both big and small data science, as they are essential for integrating diverse data and for developing a robust, effective, and sustainable infrastructure to support open and reproducible neuroscience. However, developing community standards and gaining their adoption is difficult. The current landscape is characterized both by a lack of robust, validated standards and a plethora of overlapping, underdeveloped, untested and underutilized standards and best practices. The International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF), an independent organization dedicated to promoting data sharing through the coordination of infrastructure and standards, has recently implemented a formal procedure for evaluating and endorsing community standards and best practices in support of the FAIR principles. By formally serving as a standards organization dedicated to open and FAIR neuroscience, INCF helps evaluate, promulgate, and coordinate standards and best practices across neuroscience. Here, we provide an overview of the process and discuss how neuroscience can benefit from having a dedicated standards body.
Women and #MeToo in Italy: Internalized sexualization is associated with tolerance of sexual harassment and negative views of the #MeToo movement
Authors: Moscatelli Silvia , Golfieri Francesca , Tomasetto Carlo , Bigler Rebecca S.
Published: January 2021

As a consequence of exposure to sexualized messages, girls and women may internalize the belief that sexual attractiveness to men is an important aspect of their identity. Whereas research on internalized sexualization has mainly focused on its consequences for girls’ well-being and academic outcomes, the present study (N = 222, women, aged 20 to 29) examined whether internalized sexualization is related to sexist attitudes and tolerance of sexual harassment among young women. It also analyzed internalized sexualization’ links to women’s views of notorious sexual abuse allegations in the so-called Weinstein scandal and attitudes towards the #MeToo movement, a campaign aimed at combatting sexual harassment and sexual assault. The study was conducted in Italy, a context characterized by pervasive sexualized messages and diffuse criticism against the #MeToo movement. The findings showed that internalized sexualization was associated with stronger endorsement of sexist attitudes and higher acceptance of sexual harassment myths, which worked as sequential mediators of skepticism towards sexual abuse allegations in the Weinstein scandals. Endorsement of sexist attitudes mediated the relation between internalized sexualization and negative attitudes towards the #MeToo movement. This study extends the knowledge on the correlates of sexualization, suggesting that women’s internalization of the belief that they should be sexually attractive to men might contribute to reinforce ideologies and attitudes that perpetrate women’s mistreatment while diminishing support for social activism on women’s behalf.
Single and Cross-Disorder Detection for Autism and Schizophrenia
Authors: Wawer Aleksander , Chojnicka Izabela , Okruszek Lukasz , Sarzynska-Wawer Justyna
Published: January 2021

Detection of mental disorders from textual input is an emerging field for applied machine and deep learning methods. Here, we explore the limits of automated detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCZ). We compared the performance of: (1) dedicated diagnostic tools that involve collecting textual data, (2) automated methods applied to the data gathered by these tools, and (3) psychiatrists. Our article tests the effectiveness of several baseline approaches, such as bag of words and dictionary-based vectors, followed by a machine learning model. We employed two more refined Sentic text representations using affective features and concept-level analysis on texts. Further, we applied selected state-of-the-art deep learning methods for text representation and inference, as well as experimented with transfer and zero-shot learning. Finally, we also explored few-shot methods dedicated to low data size scenarios, which is a typical problem for the clinical setting. The best breed of automated methods outperformed human raters (psychiatrists). Cross-dataset approaches turned out to be useful (only from SCZ to ASD) despite different data types. The few-shot learning methods revealed promising results on the SCZ dataset. However, more effort is needed to explore the approaches to efficiently training models, given the very limited amounts of labeled clinical data. Psychiatry is one of the few medical fields in which the diagnosis of most disorders is based on the subjective assessment of a psychiatrist. Therefore, the introduction of objective tools supporting diagnostics seems to be pivotal. This paper is a step in this direction.
Prediction Error-Driven Memory Consolidation for Continual Learning: On the Case of Adaptive Greenhouse Models
Authors: Schillaci Guido , Schmidt Uwe , Miranda Luis
Published: January 2021

This work presents an adaptive architecture that performs online learning and faces catastrophic forgetting issues by means of an episodic memory system and of prediction-error driven memory consolidation. In line with evidence from brain sciences, memories are retained depending on their congruence with the prior knowledge stored in the system. In this work, congruence is estimated in terms of prediction error resulting from a deep neural model. The proposed AI system is transferred onto an innovative application in the horticulture industry: the learning and transfer of greenhouse models. This work presents models trained on data recorded from research facilities and transferred to a production greenhouse.
Delay compensation based controller for rotary electrohydraulic servo system
Authors: Omar Zakarya , Wang Xingsong , Hussain Khalid , Yang Mingxing
Published: January 2021

The typical power-assisted hip exoskeleton utilizes rotary electrohydraulic actuator to carry out strength augmentation required by many tasks such as running, lifting loads and climbing up. Nevertheless, it is difficult to precisely control it due to the inherent nonlinearity and the large dead time occurring in the output. The presence of large dead time fires undesired fluctuation in the system output. Furthermore, the risk of damaging the mechanical parts of the actuator increases as these high-frequency underdamped oscillations surpass the natural frequency of the system. In addition, system closed-loop performance is degraded and the stability of the system is unenviably affected. In this work, a Sliding Mode Controller enhanced by a Smith predictor (SMC-SP) scheme that counts for the output delay and the inherent parameter nonlinearities is presented. SMC is utilized for its robustness against the uncertainty and nonlinearity of the servo system parameters whereas the Smith predictor alleviates the dead time of the system’s states. Experimental results show smoother response of the proposed scheme regardless of the amount of the existing dead time. The response trajectories of the proposed SMC-SP versus other control methods were compared for a different predefined dead time.
Method for evaluation of the cleanliness grade of coal resources in the Huainan Coalfield, Anhui, China: a case study
Authors: Hu Guangqing , Liu Guijian , Wu Dun , Zhang Wenyong , Fu Biao
Published: January 2021

Based on analysis of a large data set and supplementary sampling and analysis for hazardous trace elements in coal samples from the Huainan Coalfield, a generalized contrast-weighted scale index method was used to establish a model to evaluate the grade of coal cleanliness and its regional distribution in the main coal seam (No. 13-1) The results showed that: (1) The contents of Cr, Mn and Ni in the coal seam are relatively high and the average values are greater than 20 μg/g. The contents of Se and Hg are at a high level while most other trace elements are at normal levels. (2) The cleanliness grade of the coal seam is mainly grade III–IV, which corresponds to a relatively good-medium coal cleanliness grade. However, some parts of the seam are at grade V (relatively poor coal cleanliness). (3) Coal of relatively good cleanliness grade (grade III) is distributed mainly in the regions corresponding to the Zhuji-Dingji-Gubei coal mines and in the eastern periphery of the Panji coal mine. Coal of medium cleanliness (grade IV) is distributed mainly in the regions of the Panji-Xiejiaji and Kouzidong coalmines. Relatively poor grade coal (grade V) is distributed in the southwest regions of the coalfield and the contents of Cr, As and Hg in coal collected from the relatively poor coal cleanliness regions often exceed the regulatory standards for the maximum concentration limits.
Examining the Trainability and Transferability of Working-Memory Gating Policies
Authors: Sabah Katrina , Meiran Nachshon , Dreisbach Gesine
Published: January 2021

Internal working memory (WM) gating control policies have been suggested to constitute a critical component of task-sets that can be learned and transferred to very similar task contexts (Bhandari and Badre (Cognition, 172, 33–43, 2018). Here, we attempt to expand these findings, examining whether such control policies can be also trained and transferred to other untrained cognitive control tasks, namely to task switching and AX-CPT. To this end, a context-processing WM task was used for training, allowing to manipulate either input (i.e., top-down selective entry of information into WM) or output (i.e., bottom-up selective retrieval of WM) gating control policies by employing either a context-first (CF) or context-last (CL) task structure, respectively. In this task, two contextual cues were each associated with two different stimuli. In CF condition, each trial began with a contextual cue, determining which of the two subsequent stimuli is target relevant. In contrast, in the CL condition the contextual cue appeared last, preceded by a target and non-target stimulus successively. Participants completed a task switching baseline assessment, followed by one practice and six training blocks with the WM context-processing training task. After completing training, task-switching and AX-CPT transfer blocks were administrated, respectively. As hypothesized, compared to CL training condition, CF training led to improved task-switching performance. However, contrary to our predictions, training type did not influence AX-CPT performance. Taken together, the current results provide further evidence that internal control policies are (1) inherent element of task-sets, also in task switching and (2) independent of S-R mappings. However, these results need to be cautiously interpreted due to baseline differences in task-switching performance between the conditions (overall slower RTs in the CF condition). Importantly though, our results open a new venue for the realm of cognitive enhancement, pointing here for the first time to the potential of control policies training in promoting wider transfer effects.
Impending Blindness by Obstructive Hydrocephalus Intractable to Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy: Case Report
Authors: Shirasaka Nobuo , Yasuda Muneyoshi , Takeuchi Kazuhito , Ito Keisuke , Funai Mikiko , Maruga Yohei , Totsuka Takeaki , Hasegawa Yoshihito , Miyasaki Akihiro , Negoro Makoto
Published: January 2021

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has been accepted for obstructive hydrocephalus (OH). We herein present a case of OH and optic nerve sheath edema (ONSE). Although ETV was successful, ONSE worsened. Discussion is focused on the relationship among intracranial hypertension (IH), ETV, and ONSE. The patient was a 19-year-old woman with complaints of headache and emesis. Papilledema was prominent. Radiological examination showed OH as an aqueductal tumor. Endoscopic tumorectomy and ETV were accomplished. Although headache and emesis disappeared, papilledema persisted. On the 4th day, the patient lost light perception. On magnetic resonance imaging, the third ventricular stroma and aqueduct were patent. Nevertheless, ONSE was prominent. After lumbar drainage, her vision was restored. Finally, ventriculoperitoneal shunting was performed, following which ONSE disappeared. IH is not always accompanied by ONSE. However, once it occurs, it may act separately from IH, and ETV may even exacerbate ONSE due to alteration of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow into the chiasmatic cistern. In the optic nerve sheath, CSF pressure is not easily transmitted across different areas; this should explain the dissociation between ONSE and other symptoms of IH. Furthermore, we suggest that ONSE and acute optic dysfunction should be considered an independent crisis as “hydronervus opticus.”
Influence of slide burnishing process on the surface characteristics of precipitation hardenable steel
Authors: Sachin B. , Rao Charitha M. , Naik Gajanan M. , Puneet N. P.
Published: January 2021

The surface integrity of the material is the predominant necessity of a component to perform efficiently in varying working conditions. To improve the surface integrity of the workpiece secondary finishing processes are being performed. This work attempts to propose a realistic cryogenic slide burnishing condition for improvement of the surface integrity. The slide burnishing was performed by a novel slide burnishing tool on 17–4 precipitation hardenable stainless steel. The experiment was designed based on a central composite design. Initially, the effect of control parameters on the output response was examined by experimental analysis based on the design of experiment. Analysis of variance was used to analyze the influence of the variables on the performance indices. The regression technique was used to develop an empirical model. Optimization of process parameters for finding minimum surface roughness and maximum surface hardness was achieved by a multi-objective genetic algorithm. The optimized solutions were validated by performing confirmation experiments.
Historical Legacies of Communism
Authors: Libman Alexander , Obydenkova Anastassia V.
Published: January 2021

Libman and Obydenkova reveal how legacies of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) have survived in the politics, economic development, culture, and society of post-Communist regions in the 21st Century. The authors show how this impact is not driven by Communist ideology but by the clientelistic practices, opportunism and cynicism prevalent in the CPSU. Their study is built on a novel dataset of the CPSU membership rates in Russian regions in the 1950s-1980s, alongside case studies, interviews and an analysis of mass media previously only available in Russian and discussed here in English for the first time. It will appeal to students and scholars of Russian and Eastern European politics and history, and anyone who wants to better understand countries which live or have lived through Communism: from Eastern Europe to China and East Asian Communist states.
Ingmar Bergman
Authors: Steene Birgitta
Published: January 2021

The films of Swedish director Ingmar Bergman are renowned for their largely spare and stark aesthetic, an existential framework, and plots driven by a fascination with death and the moral torments of the human soul. Birgitta Steene offers here in Ingmar Bergman: A Reference Guide an essential and unparalleled resource on the life and work of Bergman. Plumbing the depths of these trademark Bergman themes, Steene traces as well the indelible mark he left on world cinema through his other cinematographic work and writings.

Over the decades, Bergman's stature and image have evolved in fascinating ways - an iconoclast of the 1950s, a bourgeois traditionalist of the 1960s, and an icon in the 1980s. This exhaustive compendium considers each phase of his career, exploring his deep and vast oeuvre in all its controversy and complexity, and analyzes his intriguing and unique motifs such as his efforts to expose dead conventions and his portrayals of Woman as the archetype of humanity. As well as providing a detailed account of Bergman's life and chronicling his career as a filmmaker and theater director, including his work for television, Steene offers transcripts of some of the numerous interviews and conversations she conducted with Bergman. Writings by and about Bergman and a detailed chronological survey of his film and theatrical work completes this eminently readable and thoroughly researched volume. A wide-ranging and groundbreaking work of film history, Ingmar Bergman is the definitive reference for scholars of the Scandinavian master.
Atlantis Lost
Authors: Reyn Sebastian
Published: January 2021

During the 1960s, Charles de Gaulle's greatest quarrel was with the Americans. The American attitude towards this forceful European leader was, however, an equally defining part of the dispute. In this riveting study of transatlantic international relations, Sebastian Reyn traces American responses to de Gaulle's foreign policy from 1958 to 1969, concluding that how Americans judged de Gaulle depended largely on whether their politics leaned to the left or the right.
The Impact on National Sovereignty of Mutual Recognition in the AFSJ. Case-Study of the European Arrest Warrant
Authors: Bloks Suzanne Andrea , van den Brink Ton
Published: January 2021

National sovereignty has been the key consideration for basing judicial cooperation in the European Union on mutual recognition. More than one decade after the creation of the Area of Freedom Security and Justice (AFSJ), this contribution assesses whether mutual recognition-based EU legislation in civil and criminal law indeed respects national sovereignty. To this end, it studies the Framework decision on the European Arrest Warrant (EAW), the EU’s flagship instrument in the AFSJ. We distinguish two elements of national sovereignty: (a) the protection of the State and its basic structures (its statehood); (b) the State’s values, principles and fundamental rights (its statehood principles), and assess the EAW from a dynamic perspective: from its initial inception, in which mutual trust primarily implied little interferences with the laws and practices of issuing states, to the current state of affairs which is marked by what could be called a ‘mutual trust supported by harmonization’- approach. Especially in the judge-driven harmonization of the EAW and the dialogue between judicial authorities we witness important (and oftentimes overlooked) elements that impact national sovereignty. At the end, the findings of the article are put in the context of the current rule of law crisis in the EU.
Language and Reality at the End of Life
Authors: Cohen-Almagor Raphael
Published: January 2021

To find adequate answers to a changing reality heavily influenced by advances in technology, medical professionals have developed and adopted an array of terms that have brought new concepts into the profession. “Dignity,” “vegetative state,” “futility,” “double effect,” and “brain death” have become indispensable words in the medical setting. In the following discussion, the attention is on terminology. If we believe in phenomenology, the assumption is that we should closely reflect on the words we use in all spheres of life, especially in those that concern life and death. This article calls for a sincere discussion about these terms and concepts. The thesis put forward is that the language in the medical setting serves primarily the physicians, at times at the expense of the patients’ best interests. This language and the concepts it describes have generated an unhealthy atmosphere for patients, which might lead to undesirable actions at the end of patients’ lives.
Applying meta-analysis to research on bilingualism: An introduction
Authors: Plonsky Luke , Sudina Ekaterina , Hu Yuhang
Published: January 2021

Meta-analysis overcomes a number of the limitations of traditional literature reviews (Norris & Ortega, 2006). Consequently, the use of meta-analysis as a synthetic technique has been applied across a range of scientific disciplines in recent decades. This paper seeks to formally introduce the potential of meta-analysis to the field of bilingualism. In doing so, we first describe a number of advantages to the meta-analytic approach such as greater systematicity, objectivity, and transparency relative to narrative reviews. We also outline the major stages in conducting a meta-analysis, highlighting critical considerations encountered at each stage. These include (a) domain definition, (b) coding scheme development and implementation, (c) analysis, and (d) interpretation. The focus, however, is on providing a conceptual introduction rather than a full-length tutorial. Meta-analyses in bilingualism and nearby fields are referred to throughout in order to illustrate the points being made.
Predictors of households at risk for food insecurity in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Lauren Brianna N , Silver Elisabeth R , Faye Adam S , Rogers Alexandra M , Woo-Baidal Jennifer A , Ozanne Elissa M , Hur Chin
Published: January 2021

Objective:

To examine associations between sociodemographic and mental health characteristics with household risk for food insecurity during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Design:

Cross-sectional online survey analysed using univariable tests and a multivariable logistic regression model.

Setting:

The United States during the week of 30 March 2020.

Participants:

A convenience sample of 1965 American adults using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk platform. Participants reporting household food insecurity prior to the pandemic were excluded from analyses.

Results:

One thousand two hundred and fifty participants reported household food security before the COVID-19 outbreak. Among this subset, 41 % were identified as at risk for food insecurity after COVID-19, 55 % were women and 73 % were white. On a multivariable analysis, race, income, relationship status, living situation, anxiety and depression were significantly associated with an incident risk for food insecurity. Black, Asian and Hispanic/Latino respondents, respondents with an annual income <$100 000 and those living with children or others were significantly more likely to be newly at risk for food insecurity. Individuals at risk for food insecurity were 2·60 (95 % CI 1·91, 3·55) times more likely to screen positively for anxiety and 1·71 (95 % CI 1·21, 2·42) times more likely to screen positively for depression.

Conclusions:

An increased risk for food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic is common, and certain populations are particularly vulnerable. There are strong associations between being at risk for food insecurity and anxiety/depression. Interventions to increase access to healthful foods, especially among minority and low-income individuals, and ease the socioemotional effects of the outbreak are crucial to relieving the economic stress of this pandemic.
Socio-economic and racial/ethnic disparities in the nutritional quality of packaged food purchases in the USA, 2008–2018
Authors: Lacko Allison M , Maselko Joanna , Popkin Barry , Ng Shu Wen
Published: January 2021

Objective:

To determine whether disparities exist in the nutritional quality of packaged foods and beverage purchases by household income, education and race/ethnicity and if they changed over time.

Design:

We used Nielsen Homescan, a nationally representative household panel, from 2008 to 2018 (n= 672 821 household-year observations). Multivariate, multilevel regressions were used to model the association between sociodemographic groups and a set of nutritional outcomes of public health interest, including nutrients of concern (sugar, saturated fat and Na) and calories from specific food groups (fruits, non-starchy vegetables, processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages and junk foods).

Setting:

Household panel survey.

Participants:

Approximately 60 000 households each year from the USA.

Results:

Disparities were found by income and education for most outcomes and widened for purchases of fruits, vegetables and the percentage of calories from sugar between 2008 and 2018. The magnitude of disparities was largest by education. Disparities between Black and White households include the consumption of processed meats and the percentage of calories from sugar, while no disparities were found between White and Hispanic households. Disparities have been largely persistent, as any significant changes over time have been substantively small.

Conclusions:

Policies to improve the healthfulness of packaged foods must be expanded beyond SSB taxes, and future research should focus on what mediates the relationship between education and diet so as not to exacerbate disparities.
Factors associated with the consumption of table salt with inadequate iodine concentrations: a population analysis at a Peruvian household level
Authors: Hernández-Vásquez Akram , Vargas-Fernández Rodrigo , Azañedo Diego
Published: January 2021

Objective:

Iodine deficiency is a public health problem, especially in Peru, where it affects women of childbearing age and school-age children. The objective of the study was to conduct a household-level analysis of the factors associated with the consumption of table salt with inadequate amounts of iodine in Peru.

Design:

Analytical cross-sectional study using Peruvian household-level data from the Demographic and Family Health Survey. Table salt iodine concentrations were considered as the dependent variable (‘inadequate’ with iodine levels <30 PPM and ‘adequate’ with levels ≥30 PPM). The association between iodine concentrations in salt and independent variables was evaluated using crude and adjusted log-binomial regression models.

Setting:

Peru.

Participants:

A total of 25 007 households were included.

Results:

In Peru, 21·8 % households had inadequate table salt iodine concentrations. Belonging to the poorer and poorest wealth index, living in the Highlands natural region, and living with women of childbearing age with native mother tongue were identified as factors associated with inadequate iodine concentrations in table salt.

Conclusions:

There is an urgent need to ensure that table salt with adequate iodine concentrations is available for poor populations, residents of the Highlands and households with ethnic presence. Likewise, it is necessary to promote good storage practices, greater regulation/law enforcement and better monitoring of the companies that manufacture or sell this product. Furthermore, the population needs to be informed of the disorders associated with iodine deficiency.
Trends in social inequalities in breastfeeding and infant formulas in Latin American countries between the 1990 and 2010 decades
Authors: Ferreira Camila S , Azeredo Catarina M , Rinaldi Ana Elisa M
Published: January 2021

Objective:

To analyse trends of social inequality in breastfeeding and infant formula (IF) use in Latin America between 1990 and 2010 decades.

Design:

Time-series cross-sectional study with data from Demographic and Health Surveys. We described the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), breastfeeding between 6 and 12 months (BF6-12) and IF for infants under 6 months (IF < 6) and between 6 and 12 months (IF6-12). Social inequalities were assessed using the slope index of inequality (SII) and concentration index (CIX). Trends in the prevalence of breastfeeding, IF and index of social inequality were analysed by a linear regression model with weighted least squares variance.

Setting:

Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti and Peru.

Participants:

51·358 alive infants younger than 12 months.

Results:

Five countries showed an increasing trend for EBF and BF6-12, four increased for IF < 6 and six for IF6-12. Simultaneous decrease in IF < 6 (Colombia: −0·3/year; Haiti: −0·02/year) and increase in EBF (Colombia: +2·0/year; Haiti: +1·9/year) were observed only in two countries. EBF prevalence was high in the lowest income quintiles in five countries, and IF prevalence was high in the highest income quintiles in all countries and over the decades. For BF6-12, a decrease in inequality (prevalence increased in the highest quintile) was observed in Guatemala (SII1995 = −0·42; SII2015 = −0·28) and the Dominican Republic (SII1996 = −0·54; SII2013 = −0·26). Guatemala was the only country showing a decrease in inequality for BF (SII = −0·005; CIX = −0·0035) and an increase for IF (SII = 0·022; CIX = 0·01).

Conclusions:

The inequality in BF and IF remained over time. However, inequality in IF < 6 has decreased because low-income infants have increased use and high-income infants have decreased.
The Impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on climate change and air quality: four country case studies
Authors: Samani Pouya , García-Velásquez Carlos , Fleury Perine , van der Meer Yvonne
Published: January 2021

Non-technical summary

To decrease the negative impacts of the coronavirus outbreak on human health, governments have implemented wide-ranging control measures. Moreover, they were urged to tackle a new challenge in energy policies to supply a new form of demand derived from new lifestyles of citizens and different energy consumption patterns. This article investigates the impacts of these changes on climate change and human health (due to air pollution) as a challenge for both citizens and governments in four countries: Colombia, France, the Netherlands, and Portugal.

Technical summary

The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with global challenges in both energy supply and demand. Numerous articles have discussed the potential benefits of COVID-19 for our planet to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air pollutants. By bringing the emissions from the energy production together with the air quality indicators, this article studies the impact on climate change and human health due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the consequent changes in energy policies of governments as well as lifestyles in different societies. This study shows that in spite of having a reduction, the GHG emissions might go back to previous or higher levels if governments do not see this pandemic as an opportunity to promote the use of renewable energies, which are becoming cheaper than non-renewables. Additionally, lower energy demand and less anthropogenic activities do not necessarily result in lower GHG emissions from energy production. Our results highlight the need for revising the policies and decisions of both governments and citizens, as temporary reductions in the levels of energy demand and air pollutants can easily be counterbalanced by adverse effects, known as the ‘rebound effect.’

Social media summary

How did the changes in energy consumption and production due to COVID-19 affect climate change and human health in different countries?
The Impact of Item Parceling Ratios and Strategies on the Internal Structure of Assessment Center Ratings
Authors: Buckett Anne , Becker Jürgen Reiner , Roodt Gert
Published: January 2021

Abstract. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether using item parcels instead of single indicators would increase support for the factorial validity of assessment center (AC) ratings in factor analytic applications. Factor analytic analyses of AC ratings are often plagued by poor model fit as well as admissibility and termination problems. In the present study, three purposive item parceling strategies, in conjunction with three parceling approaches (specifying different ratios of indicators to dimensions), were investigated in relation to five confirmatory factor analysis specifications of AC ratings across two AC samples (Sample 1: N = 244; Sample 2: N = 320). The findings were equivocal across the two samples. Nonetheless, a three-parcel approach using a factorial allocation strategy performed better that a one-parcel approach (akin to the postexercise dimension rating).
Circadian Rhythm of Dune‐Field Activity
Authors: Gunn A. , Wanker M. , Lancaster N. , Edmonds D. A. , Ewing R. C. , Jerolmack D. J.
Published: January 2021

Wind‐blown sand dunes are both a consequence and a driver of climate dynamics; they arise under persistently dry and windy conditions, and are sometimes a source for airborne dust. Dune fields experience extreme daily changes in temperature, yet the role of atmospheric stability in driving sand transport and dust emission has not been established. Here, we report on an unprecedented multiscale field experiment at the White Sands Dune Field (New Mexico, USA), where by measuring wind, humidity and temperature profiles in the atmosphere concurrently with sediment transport, we demonstrate that a daily rhythm of sand and dust transport arises from nonequilibrium atmospheric boundary layer convection. A global analysis of 45 dune fields confirms the connection found in situ between surface wind speed and diurnal temperature cycles, revealing an unrecognized climate feedback that may contribute to the growth of deserts on Earth and dune activity on Mars.
Negative Unjacketed Pore Modulus in Limestones? Critical Examination of a Peculiar Laboratory Observation
Authors: Tan Wenhui , Müller Tobias M. , Ba Jing
Published: January 2021

There is recent experimental evidence that the effective pressure coefficient for pore volume exceeds unity in limestones with dual porosity structure. Within the realm of linear poroelastcity, this means that the unjacketed pore modulus is negative. This would be a rather unusual rock behavior since it implies that the pore volume increases for a positive pressure increment during hydrostatic compression. Generally, any deviation of the unjacketed pore modulus from strictly positive mineral bulk modulus means that the deformation is inhomogeneous. We critically examine these observations by attempting to reconcile them with the poroelastic constitutive equations of micro‐inhomogeneous rocks that encompass inhomogeneous deformations. Consistency checks among measured poroelastic constants reveal that the measurement accuracy of pore volume changes concurring with the deformation experiments is not as high as desired. However, assigning moderate variations to the measured pore volume changes either due to random or systematic measurement errors, we show that the experimental observations are indeed reconcilable with the constitutive poroelastic equations. Hence, the negative unjacketed pore modulus observed is deemed plausible though overestimated. Within the poroelasticity framework for micro‐inhomogeneous rocks, a negative unjacketed pore modulus is the result of a partial localization of elastic strain energy in the fluid space. This in turn could be caused by dissolved calcite particles that block thin pore throats and thus generate temporary fluid pressure compartmentalization. A far‐reaching consequence of a negative unjacketed pore modulus is that description of the undrained bulk modulus in rocks with dual porosity structure is more complicated than previously thought.
A Metasurface Based Gain Enhanced Dual Band Patch Antenna Using SRRs With Defected Ground Structure
Authors: Samantaray Diptiranjan , Bhattacharyya Somak
Published: January 2021

This study proposes a metasurface (MS) based high performance antenna in which the radiating patch is embedded with split ring resonators in its square slots. The slotted corner cut rectangular patch antenna with defected ground plane and the MS are placed together in the same plane. The designed prototype operates over dual frequencies with impedance bandwidths (S11 < −10 dB) of 4.02% and 28.24% at 9.20 and 11.65 GHz respectively. The antenna possesses a maximum return loss of 42 dB at 11.65 GHz over 11.23–14.5 GHz band while the measured realized gain of 10.66 dBi has been obtained at 14.44 GHz. The antenna exhibits unidirectional far‐field radiation characteristics and the radiation efficiency of 67% has been achieved at 14.44 GHz. The antenna prototype has been fabricated on FR4 dielectric substrate, having an electrical size of 1.16λ0 × 1.82λ0 × 0.06λ0, where λ0 is the free‐space wavelength at 11.65 GHz. This makes the proposed antenna single‐layer, broad impedance bandwidth, high gain and ease of fabrication in nature. The measured results are in good agreement with the simulated ones. The designed antenna can be applicable in defense and military, satellite communication, medical analysis for determination of radio waves and numerous communication fields.
Musashi 2 influences chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell survival and growth making it a potential therapeutic target
Authors: Palacios Florencia , Yan Xiao-Jie , Ferrer Gerardo , Chen Shih-Shih , Vergani Stefano , Yang Xuejing , Gardner Jeffrey , Barrientos Jaqueline C. , Rock Philip , Burack Richard , Kolitz Jonathan E. , Allen Steven L. , Kharas Michael G. , Abdel-Wahab Omar , Rai Kanti R. , Chiorazzi Nicholas
Published: January 2021

Progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) results from the expansion of a small fraction of proliferating leukemic B cells. When comparing the global gene expression of recently divided CLL cells with that of previously divided cells, we found higher levels of genes involved in regulating gene expression. One of these was the oncogene Musashi 2 (MSI2), an RNA-binding protein that induces or represses translation. While there is an established role for MSI2 in normal and malignant stem cells, much less is known about its expression and role in CLL. Here we report for the first time ex vivo and in vitro experiments that MSI2 protein levels are higher in dividing and recently divided leukemic cells and that downregulating MSI2 expression or blocking its function eliminates primary human and murine CLL and mature myeloid cells. Notably, mature T cells and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells are not affected. We also confirm that higher MSI2 levels correlate with poor outcome markers, shorter time-to-first-treatment, and overall survival. Thus, our data highlight an important role for MSI2 in CLL-cell survival and proliferation and associate MSI2 with poor prognosis in CLL patients. Collectively, these findings pinpoint MSI2 as a potentially valuable therapeutic target in CLL.
Tumor-associated antigen Prame targets tumor suppressor p14/ARF for degradation as the receptor protein of CRL2Prame complex
Authors: Zhang Wenjuan , Li Lihui , Cai Lili , Liang Yupei , Xu Junfeng , Liu Yue , Zhou Lisha , Ding Chen , Zhang Yanmei , Zhao Hu , Qin Jun , Shao Zhimin , Wei Wenyi , Jia Lijun
Published: January 2021

Protein Preferentially Expressed Antigen in Melanoma (Prame), a tumor-associated antigen, has been found to frequently overexpress in various cancers, which indicates advanced cancer stages and poor clinical prognosis. Moreover, previous reports noted that Prame functions as a substrate recognizing receptor protein of Cullin RING E3 ligases (CRLs) to mediate potential substrates degradation through Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS). However, none of the Prame specific substrate has been identified so far. In this study, proteomic analysis of RBX1-interacting proteins revealed p14/ARF, a well-known tumor suppressor, as a novel ubiquitin target of RBX1. Subsequently, immunoprecipitation and in vivo ubiquitination assay determined Cullin2-RBX1-Transcription Elongation Factor B Subunit 2 (EloB) assembled CRL2 E3 ligase complex to regulate the ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of p14/ARF. Finally, through siRNA screening, Prame was identified as the specific receptor protein responsible for recognizing p14/ARF to be degraded. Additionally, via bioinformatics analysis of TCGA database and clinical samples, Prame was determined to overexpress in tumor tissues vs. paired adjacent tissues and associated with poor prognosis of cancer patients. As such, downregulation of Prame expression significantly restrained cancer cell growth by inducing G2/M phase cell cycle arrest, which could be rescued by simultaneously knocking down of p14/ARF. Altogether, targeting overexpressed Prame in cancer cells inactivated RBX1-Cullin2-EloB-Prame E3 ligase (CRL2Prame) and halted p14/ARF degradation to restrain tumor growth by inducing G2/M phase cell cycle arrest.