bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cervical transcutaneous vagal neuromodulation in chronic pancreatitis patients with chronic pain: A randomised sham controlled clinical trial
Authors: Muthulingam Janusiya Anajan , Olesen Søren Schou , Hansen Tine Maria , Brock Christina , Drewes Asbjørn Mohr , Frøkjær Jens Brøndum
Published: February 2021

Background & aims

Chronic abdominal pain is the primary symptom of chronic pancreatitis, but unfortunately it is difficult to treat. Vagal nerve stimulation studies have provided evidence of anti-nociceptive effect in several chronic pain conditions. We investigated the pain-relieving effects of transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation in comparison to sham treatment in chronic pancreatitis patients.

Methods

We conducted a randomised double-blinded, sham-controlled, crossover trial in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Patients were randomly assigned to receive a two-week period of cervical transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation using the gammaCore device followed by a two-week sham stimulation, or vice versa. We measured clinical and experimental endpoints before and after each treatment. The primary clinical endpoint was pain relief, documented in a pain diary using a visual analogue scale. Secondary clinical endpoints included Patients’ Global Impression of Change score, quality of life and Brief Pain Inventory questionnaire. Secondary experimental endpoints included cardiac vagal tone and heart rate.

Results

No differences in pain scores were seen in response to two weeks transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation as compared to sham treatment (difference in average pain score (visual analogue scale): 0.17, 95%CI (-0.86;1.20), P = 0.7). Similarly, no differences were seen for secondary clinical endpoints, except from an increase in the appetite loss score (13.9, 95%CI (0.5:27.3), P = 0.04). However, improvements in maximum pain scores were seen for transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation and sham treatments as compared to their respective baselines: vagal nerve stimulation (-1.3±1.7, 95%CI (-2.21:-0.42), P = 0.007), sham (-1.3±1.9, 95%CI (-2.28:-0.25), P = 0.018). Finally, heart rate was decreased after two weeks transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation in comparison to sham treatment (-3.7 beats/min, 95%CI (-6.7:-0.6), P = 0.02).

Conclusion

In this sham-controlled crossover study, we found no evidence that two weeks transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation induces pain relief in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Trial registration number

The study is registered atNCT03357029;www.clinicaltrials.gov.
Extraction-free protocol combining proteinase K and heat inactivation for detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR
Authors: Genoud Valeria , Stortz Martin , Waisman Ariel , Berardino Bruno G. , Verneri Paula , Dansey Virginia , Salvatori Melina , Remes Lenicov Federico , Levi Valeria
Published: February 2021

Real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) is the gold-standard technique for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection in nasopharyngeal swabs specimens. The analysis by RT-qPCR usually requires a previous extraction step to obtain the purified viral RNA. Unfortunately, RNA extraction constitutes a bottleneck for early detection in many countries since it is expensive, time-consuming and depends on the availability of commercial kits. Here, we describe an extraction-free protocol for SARS-CoV-2 detection by RT-qPCR from nasopharyngeal swab clinical samples in saline solution. The method includes a treatment with proteinase K followed by heat inactivation (PK+HID method). We demonstrate that PK+HID improves the RT-qPCR performance in comparison to the heat-inactivation procedure. Moreover, we show that this extraction-free protocol can be combined with a variety of multiplexing RT-qPCR kits. The method combined with a multiplexing detection kit targeting N and ORF1ab viral genes showed a sensitivity of 0.99 and a specificity of 0.99 from the analysis of 106 positive and 106 negative clinical samples. In conclusion, PK+HID is a robust, fast and inexpensive procedure for extraction-free RT-qPCR determinations of SARS-CoV-2. The National Administration of Drugs, Foods and Medical Devices of Argentina has recently authorized the use of this method.
Altered immunoglobulin G glycosylation in patients with isolated hyperprolactinaemia
Authors: Hirschberg Daniel , Ekman Bertil , Wahlberg Jeanette , Landberg Eva
Published: February 2021

Prolactin is a peptide hormone produced in the anterior pituitary, which increase in several physiological and pathological situations. It is unclear if hyperprolactinaemia may affect glycosylation of immunoglobulin G (IgG). Twenty-five patients with hyperprolactinemia and 22 healthy control subjects were included in the study. The groups had similar age and gender distribution. A panel of hormonal and haematological analyses, creatinine, glucose, liver enzymes and immunoglobulins were measured by routine clinical methods. IgG was purified from serum by Protein G Sepharose. Sialic acid was released from IgG by use of neuraminidase followed by quantification on high performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. Tryptic glycopeptides of IgG was analysed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. Hormone and immunoglobulin levels were similar in the two groups, except for IgA and prolactin. Significantly higher IgG1 and IgG2/3 galactosylation was found in the patient group with hyperprolactinaemia compared to controls. (A significant correlation between prolactin and IgG2/3 galactosylation (Rs 0.61, p<0.001) was found for samples with prolactin values below 2000 mIU/L. The relative amount of sialylated and bisecting glycans on IgG did not differ between patients and controls. The four macroprolactinaemic patients showed decreased relative amount of bisecting IgG2/3 glycans. Hyperprolactinaemia was found to be associated with increased galactosylation of IgG1and IgG2/3. This may have impact on IgG interactions with Fc-receptors, complement and lectins, and consequently lead to an altered immune response.
Risk factors and true prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in Bangladesh
Authors: Islam Md. Nazimul , Khan Mohammad Kamruzzaman , Khan Mohammad Ferdousur Rahman , Kostoulas Polychronis , Rahman A. K. M. Anisur , Alam Md. Mahbub
Published: February 2021

Bovine tuberculosis (bTb) is endemic in Bangladesh but the true prevalence has not yet been reported. Our objectives for this study were to determine the true prevalence and identify risk factors for bTb at the animal- and herd-level in Bangladesh. A total of 510 cows were randomly selected during January 2018 to December 2018. Caudal fold (CFT) and comparative cervical tuberculin tests (CCT) were serially interpreted. Animal- and herd-level risk factor data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. The hierarchical true prevalence of bTb was estimated within a Bayesian framework. The herd- and animal-level risk factors were identified using mixed effects logistic regression. The apparent prevalence of bTb was 20.6% [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 17.3; 24.3] based on CFT. The animal-level true prevalence of bTb was 21.9 (13.0; 32.4). The herd-level true prevalence in different regions varied from 41.9% to 88.8%. The region-level true prevalence was 49.9 (13.8; 91.2). There is a 100% certainty that herds from Bhaluka and Mymensingh Sadar upazilas are not free from bTb. The odds of bTb were 3.9 times (1.2; 12.6) higher in herds having more than four cows than those with ≤ 4 cows. On the other hand, the risk of bTb was 3.3 times higher (1.0; 10.5) in non-grazing cows than grazing cows. Crossbred cows were 2.9 times (1.5; 5.9) more likely to be infected with bTb than indigenous cows. The risk of bTb in animals with cough was 2.3 times (1.2; 4.3) higher than those without cough. Crossbred, non-grazing cows with cough should be targeted for bTb surveillance. Herds of the Mymensingh, Sadar and Bhaluka regions should be emphasized for bTb control programs. Estimation of Bayesian hierarchical true prevalence facilitates identification of areas with higher prevalence and can be used to indicate regions that where true prevalence exceeds a pre-specified critical threshold.
ZBTB2 represses HIV-1 transcription and is regulated by HIV-1 Vpr and cellular DNA damage responses
Authors: Bruce James W. , Bracken Megan , Evans Edward , Sherer Nathan , Ahlquist Paul
Published: February 2021

Previously, we reported that cellular transcription factor ZASC1 facilitates DNA-dependent/RNA-independent recruitment of HIV-1 TAT and the cellular elongation factor P-TEFb to the HIV-1 promoter and is a critical factor in regulating HIV-1 transcriptional elongation (PLoS Path e1003712). Here we report that cellular transcription factor ZBTB2 is a novel repressor of HIV-1 gene expression. ZBTB2 strongly co-immunoprecipitated with ZASC1 and was dramatically relocalized by ZASC1 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Mutations abolishing ZASC1/ZBTB2 interaction prevented ZBTB2 nuclear relocalization. We show that ZBTB2-induced repression depends on interaction of cellular histone deacetylases (HDACs) with the ZBTB2 POZ domain. Further, ZASC1 interaction specifically recruited ZBTB2 to the HIV-1 promoter, resulting in histone deacetylation and transcription repression. Depleting ZBTB2 by siRNA knockdown or CRISPR/CAS9 knockout in T cell lines enhanced transcription from HIV-1 vectors lacking Vpr, but not from these vectors expressing Vpr. Since HIV-1 Vpr activates the viral LTR by inducing the ATR kinase/DNA damage response pathway, we investigated ZBTB2 response to Vpr and DNA damaging agents. Expressing Vpr or stimulating the ATR pathway with DNA damaging agents impaired ZASC1’s ability to localize ZBTB2 to the nucleus. Moreover, the effects of DNA damaging agents and Vpr on ZBTB2 localization could be blocked by ATR kinase inhibitors. Critically, Vpr and DNA damaging agents decreased ZBTB2 binding to the HIV-1 promoter and increased promoter histone acetylation. Thus, ZBTB2 is recruited to the HIV-1 promoter by ZASC1 and represses transcription, but ATR pathway activation leads to ZBTB2 removal from the promoter, cytoplasmic sequestration and activation of viral transcription. Together, our data show that ZASC1/ZBTB2 integrate the functions of TAT and Vpr to maximize HIV-1 gene expression.
Reverse tomboy: (Re)definitions of gender fluidity through sensory engagement with material culture
Authors: Athill Charlie
Published: February 2021

This narrative case study explores how material culture, in the form of dress, grooming and accessories, is utilized to establish a gender-fluid presentation of the self. It focuses on Tim Mustoe, a 42-year-old heterosexual creative living and working in London, whose embodied practice contributes to the problematization of gender normativity through a disruption of culturally established links between appearance, gender and sex. The study considers how a particular form of non-spectacular cross dressing is used to integrate into a work environment and also operate within a non-queer social environment. The study explores the affective power of material culture in the reification of subject position and as a means of resilience and empowerment through everyday practice and also considers its significance on a social, intersubjective level. The methodology used for this case draws on sensory ethnography and includes a queer reflexive turn to consider parallels and contrasts between my own and Tim’s experience and practice. Conceptualizations of subjectivity, sex, gender are considered in relation to those on material culture, and the study draws on scholarship related to cross-dressing in the United Kingdom. Tim identifies as a man, as do I; however, his embodied practice and gender identification proffer a particular response to culturally embedded norms relating to the binaries of sex and gender. Therefore, in relation to male femininity, I propose the notion of feminizing as an amendment to the concept of femaling, which assumes the identification with or transition to a cisgender position. This study explores the phenomenology of dress as an expressive tool of gratification and as a means of integration for which the imperatives of professionalism, age and respectability are key factors.
The Fairy Gokmother: Representations of gender and sexuality in the Qdos pantomime Cinderella
Authors: King Sally
Published: February 2021

Although cross-dressing is a long-standing pantomime tradition, recent pantomimes have featured a male actor playing a traditionally female part while not cross-dressing. An illustration of this is the part of the Fairy in a version of Cinderella developed by production company Qdos Entertainment and performed at the Milton Keynes Theatre in 2017–18, while being toured elsewhere in previous and later years. Casting British celebrity fashion consultant Gok Wan as the Fairy had transgressive potential to promote empowering and positively disruptive attitudes towards gender. Wan the celebrity, in a similar way to the Fairy in Cinderella, uses psychological transformation, with a helping hand from clothes, to give women more confidence in their bodies. However, the overriding focus of the pantomime was on signalling Wan’s homosexuality while dispelling it as harmless. Clichés about gay men were reinforced in the production and paratexts, particularly through the approach to transformation, the use of costuming to frame Wan as Other, the language around being a fairy and the emphasis on male friendship as opposed to romance. When each of these aspects is compared to alternative representations in other popular and widely circulated versions of Cinderella, the reductive nature of this pantomimic portrayal becomes clear, irrespective of Wan’s degree of complicity.
Interview: Quarantined, queerantined: But make it fashion
Authors: Domoszlai-Lantner Doris , Zsófia Kormos Anna , New Frank
Published: February 2021

During the height of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Doris Domoszlai-Lantner, a New York-based fashion historian and archivist, and Anna Zsófia Kormos, a Budapest-based designer and fashion researcher, created QUARANTINE S/S20: an Instagram-based digital archive that documents garments and ensembles worn during the initial first wave lockdown and the subsequent months. Frank New, a visual merchandiser and stylist, participated in the QUARANTINE S/S20 project, documenting his experiences with fashion and the ways in which it intersects with queerness and the LGBTIQ community throughout the pandemic. Domoszlai-Lantner and Kormos interviewed New to gain a deeper understanding of the themes, questions and issues the New York multihyphenate addressed in his submissions to the project, as well as those he posted about on his social media accounts. In response, New interviewed Domoszlai-Lantner and Kormos to find out more about the project, its goals and milestones, and what they have learned about the fashion system during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health belief model concept on the prevention of coronavirus disease-19 using path analysis in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
Authors: Duarsa Artha Budi Susila , Mardiah Aena , Hanafi Fachrudi , Karmila Dany , Anulus Ayu
Published: February 2021

Background and Aim: Effective prevention of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) requires public health focus on challenges at the community level. This study aimed to identify the determinants of COVID-19 preventive behavior among people in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, using the health belief model.

Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. The study sample included 385 randomly selected individuals. The dependent variable was COVID-19 preventive behavior. The data were collected by a questionnaire and analyzed by path analysis using Stata Statistical Software version 13 for Windows 64 bit.

Results: COVID-19 preventive behavior was positively and directly associated with perceived benefits (b=0.20; confidence interval [CI] 95% 0.11-0.29; p<0.001), perceived barriers (b=–0.15; CI 95% –0.24-–0.06; p=0.002), and biological sex (b=–0.43; CI 05% –0.78-–0.08; p=0.016). Preventive behavior was also positively and directly associated with attitude (b=0.48; CI 95% –0.20-1.16; p=0.167) and perceived susceptibility (b=0.06; CI 95% –0.01-0.12; p=0.083), though these associations were not significant. Preventive behavior was indirectly associated with knowledge, perceived severity, age, health facility availability, and regulation exposure.

Conclusion: COVID-19 preventive behavior among people in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, is directly related to the perceived benefits, biological sex, perceived barriers, attitude, and perceived susceptibility. Preventive behavior of COVID-19 is indirectly associated with knowledge, perceived severity, age, health facility availability, and exposure to regulation.
Preventive antimicrobial action and tissue architecture ameliorations of Bacillus subtilis in challenged broilers
Authors: Soliman Essam S. , Hamad Rania T. , Abdallah Mona S.
Published: February 2021

Background and Aim: Probiotics improve intestinal balance through bacterial antagonism and competitive exclusion. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro antimicrobial activity, as well as the in vivo preventive, immunological, productive, and histopathological modifications produced by probiotic Bacillus subtilis. Materials and Methods: The in vitro antimicrobial activities of B. subtilis (5×106 CFU/g; 0.5, 1.0*, 1.5, and 2.0 g/L) were tested against Escherichia coli O157: H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, Candida albicans, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes after exposure times of 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 h using minimal inhibitory concentration procedures. A total of 320 1-day-old female Ross broiler chickens were divided into five groups. Four out of the five groups were supplemented with 0.5, 1.0*, 1.5, and 2.0 g/L probiotic B. subtilis from the age of 1 day old. Supplemented 14-day-old broiler chickens were challenged with only E. coli O157: H7 (4.5×1012 CFU/mL) and S. Typhimurium (1.2×107 CFU/mL). A total of 2461 samples (256 microbial-probiotic mixtures, 315 sera, 315 duodenal swabs, and 1575 organs) were collected. Results: The in vitro results revealed highly significant (p<0.001) killing rates at all-time points in 2.0 g/L B. subtilis: 99.9%, 90.0%, 95.6%, and 98.8% against E. coli, S. Typhimurium, C. albicans, and T. mentagrophytes, respectively. Broilers supplemented with 1.5 and 2.0 g/L B. subtilis revealed highly significant increases (p<0.01) in body weights, weight gains, carcass weights, edible organs' weights, immune organs' weights, biochemical profile, and immunoglobulin concentrations, as well as highly significant declines (p<0.01) in total bacterial, Enterobacteriaceae, and Salmonella counts. Histopathological photomicrographs revealed pronounced improvements and near-normal pictures of the livers and hearts of broilers with lymphoid hyperplasia in the bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen after supplementation with 2.0 g/L B. subtilis. Conclusion: The studies revealed that 1.5-2.0 g of probiotic B. subtilis at a concentration of 5×106 CFU/g/L water was able to improve performance, enhance immunity, and tissue architecture, and produce direct antimicrobial actions.
»… zu direkt neutestamentlich«!? Bonhoeffer, das Alte Testament und die Frage einer biblischen Christologie
Authors: Crüsemann Frank
Published: February 2021

In prison, Bonhoeffer reads the Old Testament over and over again. Implicitly, by doing that, he struggles for a new theological evaluation of Judaism of whose present fate he is well aware. In view of this, it is questionable whether Bonhoeffer's new theological insights can really be read from a dogmatically fixed Christology oriented solely on the New Testament. The examples of erotic love and blessing rather show that Bonhoeffer's idea of »all earthly life being utilized to testify« for God is entirely based on the diverse spectre of the Old Testament voices. When Bonhoeffer focuses on »who Christ actually is for us today«, or how central concepts of Christian soteriology such as »repentance, faith, justification, rebirth, sanctification« are to be interpreted »in a worldly sense« - and that means to him: »in the Old Testament sense« - then he does not read the Old Testament any longer with the lenses of a fixed Christology, as he has done for long in the shadow of Barth. Rather, he anticipates the basic insight of the later Jewish-Christian dialogue that the New Testament is essentially related to the Old Testament and Christianity thus stays dependent on Judaism and its truth.
Tidal Current Energy Resources Assessment in the Patinti Strait, Indonesia
Authors: Novico Franto , Sudjono Evi Hadrijantie , Egon Andi , Menier David , Methew Manoj , Pratama Munawir Bintang
Published: February 2021

Indonesia is currently intensively developing its renewable energy resource and targets at least 23% by 2025. As an archipelago country, Indonesia has the potential to benefit from its abundant renewable energy resources from its offshore regions. However, the short tidal range of mixed semi-diurnal and the suitable tidal turbine capacity may hinder marine renewable energy development in Indonesian waters. This paper presents higher-order hydrodynamic numerical models to provide spatial information for tidal current resource assessment of the Patinti Strait. The present study applied the hydrographic and oceanographic method to produce input of the numerical model. Based on the selected simulation analysis, the highest current speed could be identified around Sabatang and Saleh Kecil Island with up to 2.5 m/s in P1 and 1.7 m/s in P4. Besides, the operational hours for the two observation points are 69% and 74.5%, respectively. The results indicate that this location is of prime interest for tidal turbine implementation as an energy source, for medium capacity (300 kW) and high capacity (1 MW).
Differential Contribution of V0 Interneurons to Execution of Rhythmic and Nonrhythmic Motor Behaviors
Authors: Zelenin Pavel V. , Vemula Manideep G. , Lyalka Vladimir F. , Kiehn Ole , Talpalar Adolfo E. , Deliagina Tatiana G.
Published: February 2021

Locomotion, scratching, and stabilization of the body orientation in space are basic motor functions which are critically important for animal survival. Their execution requires coordinated activity of muscles located in the left and right halves of the body. Commissural interneurons (CINs) are critical elements of the neuronal networks underlying the left–right motor coordination. V0 interneurons (characterized by the early expression of the transcription factor Dbx1) contain a major class of CINs in the spinal cord (excitatory, V0
V
; inhibitory, V0
D
), and a small subpopulation of excitatory ipsilaterally projecting interneurons. The role of V0 CINs in left–right coordination during forward locomotion was demonstrated earlier. Here, to reveal the role of glutamatergic V0 and other V0 subpopulations in control of backward locomotion, scratching, righting behavior, and postural corrections, kinematics of these movements performed by wild-type mice and knock-out mice with glutamatergic V0 or all V0 interneurons ablated were compared. Our results suggest that the functional effect of excitatory V0 neurons during backward locomotion and scratching is inhibitory, and that the execution of scratching involves active inhibition of the contralateral scratching central pattern generator mediated by excitatory V0 neurons. By contrast, other V0 subpopulations are elements of spinal networks generating postural corrections. Finally, all V0 subpopulations contribute to the generation of righting behavior. We found that different V0 subpopulations determine left–right coordination in the anterior and posterior parts of the body during a particular behavior. Our study shows a differential contribution of V0 subpopulations to diverse motor acts that provides new insight to organization of motor circuits.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT
Commissural interneurons with their axons crossing the midline of the nervous system are critical elements of the neuronal networks underlying the left–right motor coordination. For the majority of motor behaviors, the neuronal mechanisms underlying left–right coordination are unknown. Here, we demonstrate the functional role of excitatory V0 neurons and other subpopulations of V0 interneurons in control of a number of basic motor behaviors—backward locomotion, scratching, righting behavior, and postural corrections—which are critically important for animal survival. We have shown that different subpopulations of V0 neurons determine left–right coordination in the context of different behaviors as well as in the anterior and posterior parts of the body during a particular behavior.
RETRACTED: Tracking Age Differences in Neural Distinctiveness across Representational Levels
Authors: Kobelt Malte , Sommer Verena R. , Keresztes Attila , Werkle-Bergner Markus , Sander Myriam C.
Published: February 2021

The distinctiveness of neural information representation is crucial for successful memory performance but declines with advancing age. Computational models implicate age-related neural dedifferentiation on the level of item representations, but previous studies mostly focused on age differences of categorical information representation in higher-order visual regions. In an age-comparative fMRI study, we combined univariate analyses and whole-brain searchlight pattern similarity analyses to elucidate age differences in neural distinctiveness at both category and item levels and their relation to memory. Thirty-five younger (18-27 years old) and 32 older (67-75 years old) women and men incidentally encoded images of faces and houses, followed by an old/new recognition memory task. During encoding, age-related neural dedifferentiation was shown as reduced category-selective processing in ventral visual cortex and impoverished item specificity in occipital regions. Importantly, successful subsequent memory performance built on high item stability, that is, high representational similarity between initial and repeated presentation of an item, which was greater in younger than older adults. Overall, we found that differences in representational distinctiveness coexist across representational levels and contribute to interindividual and intraindividual variability in memory success, with item specificity being the strongest contributor. Our results close an important gap in the literature, showing that older adults' neural representation of item-specific information in addition to categorical information is reduced compared with younger adults.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT
A long-standing hypothesis links age-related cognitive decline to a loss of neural specificity. While previous evidence supports the notion of age-related neural dedifferentiation of category-level information in ventral visual cortex, whether or not age differences exist at the item level was a matter of debate. Here, we observed age group differences at both levels as well as associations between both categorical distinctiveness and item specificity to memory performance, with item specificity being the strongest contributor. Importantly, age differences in occipital item specificity were largely due to reduced item stability across repetitions in older adults. Our results suggest that age differences in neural representations can be observed across the entire cortical hierarchy and are not limited to category-level information.
European Social Policy Embraces Solidarity in a Crisis
Authors: Morgan Kimberly J.
Published: February 2021

Governments in Europe responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding their welfare systems to protect health, jobs, and incomes. The varied initiatives embody the principle of solidarity and demonstrate how welfare programs serve as a form of collective insurance against risk. But the twin health and economic crises also exposed gaps in coverage for many, including migrants and gig economy workers. Fiscal austerity, enforced by the European Union, has long constrained efforts to close those gaps.
Did the EU’s Crisis Response Meet the Moment?
Authors: Jones Erik
Published: February 2021

In contrast with their halting response to the global financial crisis a decade ago, European policymakers acted quickly to mitigate the economic damage from the COVID-19 pandemic. They eased the way for governments to run deficits and increase their debt loads. In a breakthrough, the European Union agreed to a plan for common borrowing for a pandemic recovery fund. Although controversial in some countries, common debt would make it easier to address inequities among member states. But the plan was nearly derailed by objections from Poland and Hungary to a provision that would withhold funds from member states that violate the rule of law and other democratic norms, raising doubts about how transformative the borrowing precedent would prove to be.
Geoblocking Fall 2020
Authors: Rich B. Ruby
Published: February 2021

FQ editor-in-chief B. Ruby Rich presents her take on festival-going in the time of COVID. While noting the challenges posed by geoblocking and navigating festival schedules across multiple time zones, along with the absence of the excitement and comradeship that provide live festivals with their momentum, she observes that virtual festivals—liberated from geography—offer advantages in terms of access. Surveying the offerings at the Toronto Film Festival, New York Film Festival, and DOK Leipzig, Rich highlights feature films and documentaries that offered a welcome escape from her COVID-demarcated existence, from critical favorites such as Nomadland (dir. Chloe Zhao, 2020 ) and Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe” anthology series, to discoveries such as Hong Sang-soo’s Domangchin yeoja (The Woman Who Ran, 2020) and En route pour le milliard (Downstream to Kinshasa, 2020), by the young Congolese documentarian Dieudo Hamadi.
Three Questions Concerning Consonance Perception
Authors: Harrison Peter M. C.
Published: February 2021

I discuss three fundamental questions underpinning the study of consonance: 1) What features cause a particular chord to be perceived as consonant? 2) How did humans evolve the ability to perceive these features? 3) Why did humans evolve to attribute particular aesthetic valences to these features (if they did at all)? The first question has been addressed by several recent articles, including Friedman, Kowalewski, Vuvan, and Neill (2021), with the common conclusion that consonance in Western listeners is driven by multiple features such as harmonicity, interference between partials, and familiarity. On this basis, it seems relatively straightforward to answer the second question: each of these consonance features seems to be grounded in fundamental aspects of human auditory perception, such as auditory scene analysis and auditory long-term memory. However, the third question is harder to resolve. I describe several potential answers, and argue that the present evidence is insufficient to distinguish between them, despite what has been claimed in the literature. I conclude by discussing what kinds of future studies might be able to shed light on this problem.
Constructing Vietnam, Constructing China
Authors: Chang Yufen
Published: February 2021

Vietnamese studies in China is a contentious field that is dominated by three frameworks: the central-regional relationship, the tributary relationship, and the diffusion thesis. It emerged in the late nineteenth century in response to French scholars’ questioning of the extent and duration of Chinese influence on Vietnam. It then became highly politicized between the 1970s and 1980s due to the issues of both the ethnic origins of the bronze drum and the nature of Sino-Vietnamese relations. In the twenty-first century, even though China began to address the issue of Sinocentrism, its claim to the South China Sea has been a source of great tension among the scholars in the two communist countries.
Molecular analysis of cyclin D1 modulators PRKN and FBX4 as candidate tumor suppressors in sporadic parathyroid adenomas
Authors: Brewer Kelly , Nip Isabel , Bellizzi Justin , Costa-Guda Jessica , Arnold Andrew
Published: February 2021

Objective

Primary hyperparathyroidism is most often caused by a sporadic single-gland parathyroid adenoma (PTA), a tumor type for which cyclin D1 is the only known and experimentally validated oncoprotein. However, the molecular origins of its frequent overexpression have remained mostly elusive. In this study, we explored a potential tumorigenic mechanism that could increase cyclin D1 stability through a defect in molecules responsible for its degradation.

Methods

We examined two tumor suppressor genes known to modulate cyclin D1 ubiquitination, PRKN and FBXO4 (FBX4), for evidence of classic two-hit tumor suppressor inactivation within a cohort of 82 PTA cases. We examined the cohort for intragenic inactivating and splice site mutations by Sanger sequencing and for locus-associated loss of heterozygosity (LOH) by microsatellite analysis.

Results

We identified no evidence of bi-allelic tumor suppressor inactivation of PRKN or FBXO4 via inactivating mutation or splice site perturbation, neither in combination with nor independent of LOH. Among the 82 cases, we encountered previously documented benign single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 35 tumors at frequencies similar to those reported in the germlines of the general population. Eight cases exhibited intragenic LOH at the PRKN locus, in some cases extending to cover at least an additional 1.7 Mb of chromosome 6q25-26. FBXO4 was not affected by LOH.

Conclusion:

The absence of evidence for specific bi-allelic inactivation in PRKN and FBXO4 in this sizeable cohort suggests that these genes only rarely, if ever, serve as classic driver tumor suppressors responsible for the growth of PTAs.
Path planning for mobile robots navigation with obstacle avoidance based on octrees
Authors:   Dnipro University of Technology, V.V. Rud , H.N. Panaseiko ,   Dnipro University of Technology
Published: February 2021

The article considers the problem of navigating mobile robots and finding the best way to the goal in real-time in a space surrounded by unknown objects. The motor actions of the robot must be defined and adapted to changes in the environment. When using only laser scanners on mobile work, objects above or below the lasers' level will remain obstacles to the robot. Current algorithms and principles of navigation are considered. Extended the existing real-time interference detection system using lasers by adding a camera that calculates the length of objects. The new system has been successfully implemented and tested in a mobile robot, ensuring the passage of the road providing collision-free paths. The obtained simulation results are presented in the article. The existing problems of navigation of mobile robots, which are moving in the particular area from their position to the specified destination on the map, were investigated. The current problem is the inability to spot objects that are not on the same level as the mobile robot's lasers. Moreover, the task is complicated when you need to recognize such objects while the robot is moving in real time. The current algorithms and principles of navigation given by previous research and publications are analyzed. As a result of the work, the existing system of recognition and avoidance of obstacles was expanded. Prior to that, the system used only odometry and information obtained from laser scanners, without obtaining data from other sources of environmental information. The idea of development was to use a camera, which was already part of the components of the researched mobile robot. It has become possible to generate a pointcloud relative to the environment, using a depth sensing camera to calculate the distance to objects. Because the density of the received data in the form of a pointcloud is too high for further processing, a downsample VoxelGrid filter was used, which reduces the density of the point cloud. VoxelGrid belongs to the PCL library. Another problem was the removal of information about unnecessary objects in the camera's field of view. These include the floor, ceiling, parts of the robot (such as a manipulator). The PassThrough filter from the PCL library was used to solve this problem. The next step is to process the filtered data using OctoMap. As a result, an octree is generated. A top-down projection is created from the octree generated in the previous step. The resulting projection must be processed and converted into polygonal obstacles. Only then they will be marked by teb_local_planner as obstacles. The developed system was successfully implemented and tested both in the Gazebo simulation and in the researche mobile robot. The path with obstacles will be completed without collisions. The paper presents the obtained test results.
Intelligence system of artificial vision for unmanned aerial vehicle
Authors:   Sumy State University, O.A. Shkuropat , I.V. Shelehov ,   Sumy State University, M.A. Myronenko
Published: February 2021

The article considers the method of factor cluster analysis which allows automatically retrain the onboard recognition system of an unmanned aerial system. The task of informational synthesis of an on-board system for identifying frames is solved within the information-extreme intellectual technology of data analysis, based on maxi- mizing the informational ability of the system during machine learning. Based on the functional approach to modeling cognitive processes inherent to humans during forming and making classification decisions, it was proposed a categorical model in the form of a direct graph. According to this model, the algorithmic support of the information extreme factor cluster analysis is developed. It allows automatically retrain the system when expanding the alphabet of recognition classes. According to this algorithm, the on-board recognition system preliminarily carries out the information-extremal machine learning of recognition classes of relatively low power. When new classes appear, their unclassified structured recognition attribute vectors form additional learning matrixes. After reaching a representational volume, additional learning matrix joins the input learning matrix and the on-board recognition system is retrained. Forming additional learning matrixes of new recognition classes is carried out by the agglomerative algorithm of cluster analysis of unclassified vectors by k-means clustering. As a criterion of optimizing machine-learning parameters, we used the modified Kullback criterion which is a functional of the exact characteristics of classification solutions. To increase the functional efficiency of factor cluster analysis, it is proposed to increase the depth of machine learning by optimizing the parameters of image processing frames.
Intellectual computer mathematics system inparsolver
Authors:   V.M.Glushkov Institute of Cybernetics, NAS of Ukraine, A.N. Khimich , T.V. Chistyakova ,   V.M.Glushkov Institute of Cybernetics, NAS of Ukraine, V.A. Sydoruk ,   V.M.Glushkov Institute of Cybernetics, NAS of Ukraine, P.S. Yershov ,   V.M.Glushkov Institute of Cybernetics, NAS of Ukraine
Published: February 2021

The paper considers the intellectual computer mathematics system InparSolver, which is designed to automatically explore and solve basic classes of computational mathematics problems on multi-core computers with graphics accelerators. The problems of results reliability of solving problems with approximate input data are outlined. The features of the use of existing computer mathematics systems are analyzed, their weaknesses are found. The functionality of InparSolver, some innovative approaches to the implementation of effective solutions to problems in a hybrid architecture are described. Examples of applied usage of InparSolver for processes mathematical modeling in various subject areas are given. Nowadays, new more complex objects and phenomena in many subject areas (nuclear energy, mechanics, chemistry, molecular biology, medicine, etc.) are constantly emerging, which are subject to mathematical research on a computer. This encourages the development of new numerical methods and technologies of mathematical modeling, as well as the creation of more powerful computers for their implementation. With the advent and constant development of supercomputers of various architectures, the problems of their effective use, expansion of tasks range should be solved, ensuring the reliability of computer results and increasing the level of intellectual information support for users ‒ specialists in various fields. Today, the issues of solving these problems are given special attention by many specialists in the fields of information technology and parallel programming. The world's leadingscientists in the field of computer technology see the solution to the problems of efficient usage of modern supercomputers in algorithmic software creation that easily adapts to different computer architectures with different types of memory and coprocessors, supports efficient parallelism on millions of cores etc. In addition, improving the efficiency of high-performance computing on modern supercomputers is provided by their intellectualization, transferring to the computer to perform a significant part of the functions (symbolic languages for computer problem statement, research of mathematical models properties, visualization and analysis of tasks results, etc.). The industry of development and usage of intelligent computer technologies is one of the main directions of science and technology development in modern society
Inclusion in Ukraine: first implementation experience in expert’s assessments
Authors:   Zhytomyr Regional Institute of Postgraduate Pedagogical Education 15, Mykhailivska, Zhytomyr, 10014, Ukraine, Dikova-Favorska О. М.
Published: February 2021

The article considers the situation of inclusive education implementation in general secondary education institutions of Ukraine, which should provide quality education to all applicants. Providing quality and accessible education, including secondary education, realises every individual’s right full, economically independent life through obtaining an education, and the profession later on. This will allow one to become a complete actor in all social processes; it will help overcome social exclusion. The author specifies the definition of exclusion and outlines social groups of excluded, which are represented not only by people with health problems but also by those who find themselves in difficult life circumstances, such as migration, resettlement, and being in a new socio-cultural environment, etc. Special attention is paid to the social group of talented children who require particular professional sensitivity. Paper emphases the peculiarities of the organisation of education of children with disabilities according to the traditional system, which was inherited from the Soviet Union, and forms the idea of changing approaches to the special children’s educational process. The situation regarding the real state of implementing inclusive technology, which was massively initiated in educational institutions of general secondary education, is outlined. The results of expert interviews are analysed, which allows the author to determine the achievements in implementing the concept of inclusion in the educational process; the first challenges faced by direct participants in the inclusive educational process, the main risks and expectations of managers in education. Recommendations for optimising the educational process based on the inclusion are offered.
The phenomenon of Theodosius Dobrzhansky: to the 100th anniversary of the beginning of his scientific research in Kyiv (1921–1924)
Authors:   National Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, Zagorodniuk Igor V.
Published: February 2021

The results of the research on the history of formation and growth of Theodosius Dobrzhansky as a scientist in his first and most important Kyiv period are presented. This period lasted from 1909 to 1924 (15 years in total) and included studies at the First Kyiv Gymnasium (until 1917), 4 years of study at the University of St. Volodymyr (1917–1921) and work at the Department of Zoology of the Kyiv Polytechnical Institute (1920–1923) and the Zoological Museum of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences (1921–1922 [1923?]). The essay has been prepared considering numerous clarifications on misbeliefs accumulated in various sources, in particular on dates, places of residence and work, names of institutions, organisations, etc. Peculiarities of his work and activity in the Ukrainian Scientific Society, in the Department of Zoology of Kyiv Polytechnic, and in the Zoological Museum (Zoological Cabinet) of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences are analysed. Information on places of study and work, topics of scientific publications and reports, information on created collections and circles of communication is given. The motives for further change of place of work and departure of the scientist to St. Petersburg, where he spent the next 4 years, and to the United States are considered. The Kyiv period is considered being key for the formation of the scientist and his main scientific interests, as well as for the practice of communication with leading experts in their field and for the organisation of successful work despite social difficulties and upheaval.
The path to scientific heights (to the 90th anniversary of Academician of NAS of Ukraine S.V. Peletminskii)
Authors:   National Science Center Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology, Kharkiv, Ukraine, Bakai Oleksandr S. , Slyusarenko Yurii V. ,   National Science Center Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology, Kharkiv, Ukraine, Shul’ga Nikolay F. ,   National Science Center Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Published: February 2021

February 14 marks the 90th anniversary of the outstanding Ukrainian theoretical physicist in the field of statistical physics, quantum liquid and crystal physics, plasma physics, magnetic phenomena, quantum field theory, whose work is recognized by the world scientific community, twice winner of the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology (1986, 1996), Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine (1998), winner of the nominal prizes of the NAS of Ukraine named after K.D. Synelnykov (1978), M.M. Krylov (1986), M.M. Bogolyubov (2002), O.I. Akhiezer (2018), Chief Researcher at the Institute of Theoretical Physics of the National Science Center Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology, Doctor of Physics and Mathematics (1966), Professor (1969), Academician of the NAS of Ukraine (1990) Sergey V. Peletminskii.
Keeper of the world's largest radio telescope (in-terview to the 70th anniversary of Academician of the NAS of Ukraine O.O. Konovalenko)
Authors:   Institute of Radio Astronomy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkiv, Ukraine, Konovalenko Olexander O.
Published: February 2021

February 27 marks the 70th anniversary of the famous scientist in the field of radio astronomy and astrophysics, laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology (2018), laureate of the USSR State Prize (1988), Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine (2001), laureate of the NAS of Ukraine Prizes named after S.Ya. Braude (2008) and M.K. Yangel (2013), Head of the Department of Low-Frequency Radio Astronomy, Deputy Director of the Radio Astronomical Institute of the NAS of Ukraine (since 2007), Doctor of Physics and Mathematics (1984), Academician of the NAS of Ukraine (2003) Olexander O. Konovalenko. Taking the opportunity, the editorial board of the Visnyk of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine interviewed Academician O.O. Konovalenko and asked about his path in science, his greatest achievements and plans for the future.