bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
KATNB1 is a master regulator of multiple katanin enzymes in male meiosis and haploid germ cell development
Authors: Dunleavy Jessica E. M , O'Connor Anne E. , Okuda Hidenobu , Merriner D. Jo , O'Bryan Moira K.
Published: November 2021

Katanin microtubule-severing enzymes are crucial executers of microtubule regulation. Here, we have created an allelic loss-of-function series of the katanin regulatory B-subunit KATNB1 in mice. We reveal that KATNB1 is the master regulator of all katanin enzymatic A-subunits during mammalian spermatogenesis, wherein it is required to maintain katanin A-subunit abundance. Our data shows that complete loss of KATNB1 from germ cells is incompatible with sperm production, and we reveal multiple new spermatogenesis functions for KATNB1, including essential roles in male meiosis, acrosome formation, sperm tail assembly, regulation of both the Sertoli and germ cell cytoskeletons during sperm nuclear remodelling, and maintenance of seminiferous epithelium integrity. Collectively, our findings reveal that katanins are able to differentially regulate almost all key microtubule-based structures during mammalian male germ cell development, through the complexing of one master controller, KATNB1, with a ‘toolbox’ of neofunctionalised katanin A-subunits.
Snazarus and its human ortholog SNX25 modulate autophagic flux
Authors: Lauzier Annie , Bossanyi Marie-France , Larcher Raphaëlle , Nassari Sonya , Ugrankar Rupali , Henne W. Mike , Jean Steve
Published: November 2021

Macroautophagy, the degradation and recycling of cytosolic components in the lysosome, is an important cellular mechanism. It is a membrane-mediated process that is linked to vesicular trafficking events. The sorting nexin (SNX) protein family controls the sorting of a large array of cargoes, and various SNXs impact autophagy. To improve our understanding of their functions in vivo, we screened all Drosophila SNXs using inducible RNA interference in the fat body. Significantly, depletion of Snazarus (Snz) led to decreased autophagic flux. Interestingly, we observed altered distribution of Vamp7-positive vesicles with Snz depletion, and the roles of Snz were conserved in human cells. SNX25, the closest human ortholog to Snz, regulates both VAMP8 endocytosis and lipid metabolism. Through knockout-rescue experiments, we demonstrate that these activities are dependent on specific SNX25 domains and that the autophagic defects seen upon SNX25 loss can be rescued by ethanolamine addition. We also demonstrate the presence of differentially spliced forms of SNX14 and SNX25 in cancer cells. This work identifies a conserved role for Snz/SNX25 as a regulator of autophagic flux and reveals differential isoform expression between paralogs.
Tuned muscle and spring properties increase elastic energy storage
Authors: Mendoza Elizabeth , Azizi Emanuel
Published: November 2021

Elastic recoil drives some of the fastest and most powerful biological movements. For effective use of elastic recoil, the tuning of muscle and spring force capacity is essential. Although studies of invertebrate organisms that use elastic recoil show evidence of increased force capacity in their energy loading muscle, changes in the fundamental properties of such muscles have yet to be documented in vertebrates. Here, we used three species of frogs (Cuban tree frogs, bullfrogs and cane toads) that differ in jumping power to investigate functional shifts in muscle-spring tuning in systems using latch-mediated spring actuation (LaMSA). We hypothesized that variation in jumping performance would result from increased force capacity in muscles and relatively stiffer elastic structures, resulting in greater energy storage. To test this, we characterized the force–length property of the plantaris longus muscle–tendon unit (MTU), and quantified the maximal amount of energy stored in elastic structures for each species. We found that the plantaris longus MTU of Cuban tree frogs produced higher mass-specific energy and mass-specific forces than the other two species. Moreover, we found that the plantaris longus MTU of Cuban tree frogs had higher pennation angles than the other species, suggesting that muscle architecture was modified to increase force capacity through packing of more muscle fibers. Finally, we found that the elastic structures were relatively stiffer in Cuban tree frogs. These results provide a mechanistic link between the tuned properties of LaMSA components, energy storage capacity and whole-system performance.
Thermal performance curves for aerobic scope in a tropical fish (Lates calcarifer): flexible in amplitude but not breadth
Authors: Scheuffele Hanna , Rubio-Gracia Francesc , Clark Timothy D.
Published: November 2021

Aerobic metabolic scope is a popular metric to estimate the capacity for temperature-dependent performance in aquatic animals. Despite this popularity, little is known of the role of temperature acclimation and variability in shaping the breadth and amplitude of the thermal performance curve for aerobic scope. If daily thermal experience can modify the characteristics of the thermal performance curve, interpretations of aerobic scope data from the literature may be misguided. Here, tropical barramundi (Lates calcarifer) were acclimated for ∼4 months to cold (23°C), optimal (29°C) or warm (35°C) conditions, or to a daily temperature cycle between 23 and 35°C (with a mean of 29°C). Measurements of aerobic scope were conducted every 3–4 weeks at three temperatures (23, 29 and 35°C), and growth rates were monitored. Acclimation to constant temperatures caused some changes in aerobic scope at the three measurement temperatures via adjustments in standard and maximum metabolic rates, and growth rates were lower in the 23°C-acclimated group than in all other groups. The metabolic parameters and growth rates of the thermally variable group remained similar to those of the 29°C-acclimated group. Thus, acclimation to a variable temperature regime did not broaden the thermal performance curve for aerobic scope. We propose that thermal performance curves for aerobic scope are more plastic in amplitude than in breadth, and that the metabolic phenotype of at least some fish may be more dependent on the mean daily temperature than on the daily temperature range.
The genome sequence of the common malachite beetle, Malachius bipustulatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Crowley Liam M. ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: November 2021

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Malachius bipustulatus (the common malachite beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Melyridae). The genome sequence is 544 megabases in span. The majority (99.70%) of the assembly is scaffolded into 10 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the X sex chromosome assembled.
Design of a radial multi-offset detection pattern for in vivo phase contrast imaging of the inner retina in humans
Authors: Gofas-Salas Elena , Rui Yuhua , Mecê Pedro , Zhang Min , Snyder Valerie C. , Vienola Kari V. , Lee Daniel M. W. , Sahel José-Alain , Grieve Kate , Rossi Ethan A.
Published: November 2021

Previous work has shown that multi-offset detection in adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) can be used to image transparent cells such as retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in monkeys and humans. Though imaging in anesthetized monkeys with high light levels produced high contrast images of RGCs, images from humans failed to reach the same contrast due to several drawbacks in the previous dual-wavelength multi-offset approach. Our aim here was to design and build a multi-offset detection pattern for humans at safe light levels that could reveal transparent cells in the retinal ganglion cell layer with a contrast and acquisition time approaching results only previously obtained in monkeys. Here, we present a new single-wavelength solution that allows for increased light power and eliminates problematic chromatic aberrations. Then, we demonstrate that a radial multi-offset detection pattern with an offset distance of 8-10 Airy Disk Diameter (ADD) is optimal to detect photons multiply scattered in all directions from weakly reflective retinal cells thereby enhancing their contrast. This new setup and image processing pipeline led to improved imaging of inner retinal cells, including the first images of microglia with multi-offset imaging in AOSLO.
Single-cell all-optical coherence elastography with optical tweezers
Authors: Sirotin Maxim A. , Romodina Maria N. , Lyubin Evgeny V. , Soboleva Irina V. , Fedyanin Andrey A.
Published: November 2021

The elastic properties of cells are important for many of their functions, however the development of label free noninvasive cellular elastography method is a challenging topic. We present a novel single-cell all-optical coherence elastography method that combines optical tweezers producing mechanical excitation on the cell membrane or organelle and phase-sensitive optical coherence microscopy measuring sample response and determining its mechanical properties. The method allows living cells imaging with a lateral resolution of 0.5 μm and an axial resolution up to 10 nm, making it possible to detect nanometer displacements of the cell organelles and to record the propagation of mechanical wave along the cell membrane in response to optical tweezers excitation. We also demonstrate applicability of the method on single living red blood cells, yeast and cancer cells. The all-optical nature of the method developed makes it a promising and easily applicable tool for studying cellular and subcellular mechanics in vivo.
Preliminary study on the osseointegration effects of contactless automated implant cavity preparation via femtosecond laser ablation
Authors: Liang Shanshan , Zheng Jianqiao , Yuan Fusong
Published: November 2021

Microrobots were used to control the femtosecond laser ablation of bone tissues to prepare implant cavities for dental implant surgery. The method was optimized through depth-of-cut experiments of ex vivo rabbit femurs, and the optimized method was used to prepare implant cavities on the left femurs of eight live rabbits. A power of 10 W and a scanning rate of 4000 mm/s were found to be optimal. After seven days of osteoinduction, the expression of collagen type I was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (manually drilled implant cavities). The bone–implant contacts of the experimental group at 4 and 8 weeks were 9.65% and 23.08%, respectively.
Single-shot ranging and velocimetry with a CW lidar far beyond the coherence length of the CW laser
Authors: Bayer Mustafa Mert , Li Xun , Guentchev George Nikolaev , Torun Rasul , Velazco Jose E. , Boyraz Ozdal
Published: November 2021

The spectral linewidth of the continuous-wave (CW) lasers is one of the key limitations on the coherent lidar systems, which defines the maximum detection range. Furthermore, precise phase or frequency sweeping requirements are a deterrent in many applications. Here, we present the Phase-Based Multi-Tone Continuous Wave (PB-MTCW) lidar measurement technique that eliminates the necessity of using high coherence laser sources as well as any form of phase or frequency sweeping while employing coherent detection. In particular, we modulate a CW laser source with multiple radio-frequency (RF) tones to generate optical sidebands. Then, we utilize the relative phase variations between the sidebands that are free from laser phase noise to calculate the target distance via post-processing and triangulation algorithms. We prove that the PB-MTCW technique is capable of performing single-shot ranging and velocimetry measurements at more than 500× the coherence length of a CW laser in a benchtop experimental demonstration. Overall, precise phase or frequency sweeping requirements and the spectral linewidth of CW lasers, which defines the maximum detection range, are the key limitations of long-distance coherent lidar systems. The proposed approach overcomes these limitations and enables single-shot ranging and velocimetry measurements, especially for long-range applications such as spacecraft and airborne coherent lidars.
Micro-fabricated vapor cells with sealed Rb atoms by distillation at wafer level and two-step bonding for miniature atomic clocks
Authors: Nishino Hitoshi , Furuya Yasubumi , Ono Takahito
Published: November 2021

This paper proposes a new method to fabricate and evaluate Rb vapor cells sealed by two-step bonding for miniature atomic clocks. The proposed method achieves miniaturization and long-term frequency stability by the wafer-level process. First, the vapor cells are fabricated to seal only Rb atoms in vacuum to confirm the absence of residual gases. Second, the vapor cell is fabricated to seal with buffer gases to confirm the stability. The Allan deviation at an averaging time of 3000 s is 1.7 × 10−11. These results show that the proposed method has improved long-term stability compared to the vapor cell fabricated by the conventional method that uses an alkali-atom dispenser.
Breaking the interband detectivity limit with metasurface multi-quantum-well infrared photodetectors
Authors: Hainey Mel F. , Mano Takaaki , Kasaya Takeshi , Jimba Yoji , Miyazaki Hiroshi , Ochiai Tetsuyuki , Osato Hirotaka , Sugimoto Yoshimasa , Kawazu Takuya , Shigetou Akitsu , Miyazaki Hideki T.
Published: November 2021

Since their initial demonstration, metasurface quantum-well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs)—intersubband detectors integrated with plasmon cavities—using only a single quantum well (Nw = 1) have been considered the highest performance design. However, experimental confirmation via comparison of detectors with different Nw has not been performed. Here, we systematically compare Nw = 1 and Nw = 3 metasurface QWIPs with identical cavities and reveal the clear superiority of Nw = 3 detectors. While signal (responsivity) decreases with additional wells as predicted, the signal-to-noise-ratio (detectivity) increases due to drastically reduced noise. Thanks to the narrow spectral linewidth unique to metasurface QWIPs, our detectors can reach detectivity beyond the theoretical limits of interband detectors; our best detectors show maximum detectivities of 6.4×1010 cm Hz1/2/W at 7.0 μm, exceeding the interband limit of 5.3×1010 cm Hz1/2/W at the same wavelength.
Freeform and precise irradiance tailoring in arbitrarily oriented planes
Authors: Shen Fanqi , Yang Lin , Hu Guangyin , Ding Zhanghao , She Jun , Zhang Yu , Wu Rengmao
Published: November 2021

Freeform and precise irradiance tailoring in arbitrarily oriented planes is an ultimate goal of nonimaging optics and has not been well addressed. In this paper, we develop a general formulation for arbitrary and precise irradiance tailoring in three-dimensional (3D) space using freeform lenses. This method breaks any symmetric constraints imposed on the geometrical arrangement of conventional beam shaping systems, yielding high-performance beam shaping systems with new functions and flexible geometrical arrangements in 3D space. This method paves a way for the broad application of freeform optics. The robustness and effectiveness of the method is demonstrated by two interesting but challenging designs.
Generalized phase profile design method for tunable devices using bilayer metasurfaces
Authors: Che Xiaoyu , Gao Rui , Yu Yefeng , Liu Weijian , Sun Yifeng , Zhu Dan , Qiao Wenyou , Wang Lingjie , Zhang Jianping , Yuan Qun , Gao Zhishan
Published: November 2021

Tunable devices based on bilayer metasurfaces have attracted researchers’ attention in recent years for their accurate tuning abilities and high integration. In tunable devices such as tunable beam splitters and Alvarez metalenses, opposite quadratic or cubic target phase profiles are imparted on both layers, and a varying total phase profile arises through the relatively lateral displacement between the two layers. However, there is a lack of a generalized target phase profile design method to design these tunable devices. In this study, a generalized phase profile design method named Integral of Total Phase Profile Difference (ITPD) is proposed to calculate the target phase profiles of both layers. Multiple integral equations describe the relationship between the target phase profiles and the total phase profiles. Based on this method, a tunable beam splitter and an Alvarez metalens are redesigned respectively. Moreover, a new tunable device that can be converted from a beam splitter to a metalens is designed by the ITPD method. The ITPD design method is promising for designing tunable devices with arbitrary total phase profiles in dynamic or multifunctional optical systems.
Dispersive coupling between MoSe2 and an integrated zero-dimensional nanocavity
Authors: Rosser David , Gerace Dario , Chen Yueyang , Liu Yifan , Whitehead James , Ryou Albert , Andreani Lucio C. , Majumdar Arka
Published: November 2021

Establishing a coherent interaction between a material resonance and an optical cavity is a necessary first step to study semiconductor quantum optics. Here we report on the signature of a coherent interaction between a two-dimensional excitonic transition in monolayer MoSe2 and a zero-dimensional, ultra-low mode volume (V
m
 ∼ 2(λ/n)3) on-chip photonic crystal nanocavity. This coherent interaction manifests as a dispersive shift of the cavity transmission spectrum, when the exciton-cavity detuning is decreased via temperature tuning. The exciton-cavity coupling is estimated to be ≈6.5 meV, with a cooperativity of ≈4.0 at 80 K, showing our material system is on the verge of strong coupling. The small mode-volume of the resonator is instrumental in reaching the strongly nonlinear regime, while on-chip cavities will help create a scalable quantum photonic platform.
Dance, voice, speech, sound
Authors: Vevar Rok , Tomažin Irena Z.
Published: November 2021

This text is part of a research collection of examples that we selected for the workshop On Voice and Dance for the European Dancehouse Network at the international contemporary dance festival CoFestival 2020 together with Irena Z. Tomažin, a dancer, experimental musician and choreo-vocalist, who has given the contemporary dance community in Ljubljana some excellent performances in this field, in which the body and the voice posed a series of puzzling problems for us. The text is a selective outline of the topics at hand, it goes into the history of contemporary dance, cites some fundamental reference articles and books, to which many others could certainly be added. It focuses on selected aspects of choreo-vocalistics, the sound of the body and choreographies, and aims to use this material to inform further research with the help of considerably more ambitious thinkers. Last but not least, it is a product of last year’s CoFestival curatorial topic, The Amplifiers of Voices, with which we wanted to give some attention to the silenced voice of contemporary dance in a pandemic situation with empty stages. This article has no illusions that it could capture and address the topic in its immense complexity and comprehensiveness, and we apologize to the dancers we have unintentionally omitted in our treatment.
Evaluation of secondary metabolites of herbal plant extracts as an antiviral effect on infectious bursal disease virus isolates in embryonated chicken eggs
Authors: Jumaa Rawaa Saladdin , Abdulmajeed Dhuha Ismael , Karim Abdulkarim Jafar
Published: November 2021

Background and Aim: Infectious bursal disease attacks the poultry industry, mainly young chickens, causing immunosuppression, and death with high economic losses. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the monoextract, diextracts, and triextracts of Quercus infectoria (QI), Citrus aurantifolia (CiA), and Coffea arabica (CoA) on infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) in embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs).

Materials and Methods: The experimental design consisted of three sets of ECEs at 11 days of age, and each set included seven groups (G1-G7). The extracts of QI, CiA, and CoA were inoculated to ECEs by the chorioallantoic membrane method before, in concomitant (mixed) with, and after IBDV infection to the first, second, and third sets, respectively. The monoextract, diextracts, and triextracts of QI, CiA, and CoA were given at 1%, 2%, 5%, and 10% concentrations to G1-G3, G4-G6, and G7, respectively. Real-time polymerase chain reaction identified and confirmed the virus in accordance with the pathological changes.

Results: The monoextract (5-10% concentrations) inhibited IBDV and had no effect on viral infection preinoculation, whereas the monoextract (10% concentration) inhibited IBDV during mixed inoculation and post-inoculation. Diextracts (2-10% concentrations) inhibited IBDV and had no effect on viral infection preinoculation, whereas diextracts (5-10% concentrations) inhibited IBDV during mixed inoculation and post-inoculation. Triextracts (1%, 2%, 5%, and 10% concentrations) inhibited IBDV by ameliorating the pathological changes of the virus and preventing the death of ECEs.

Conclusion: The inoculation of herbal extracts, particularly triextracts, alleviates the pathological changes in ECEs infected with IBDV. This study recommends the oral route in evaluating plant extracts against IBDV in poultry.
Estimativa da recarga de água subterrânea utilizando o método WTF na porção continental da Bacia Sedimentar de Campos, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Authors: Correia Lyndemberg Campelo , Alves Maria da Glória , Silva Júnior Gerson Cardoso da
Published: November 2021

No presente estudo, estimamos a recarga de aquíferos livres e rasos na porção continental da Bacia Sedimentar de Campos, estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, aplicando o método WTF. Com exceção dos poços P1 e P2, onde foram encontrados os valores mais discrepantes, foi registrada uma recarga média de 106,1 mm, representando 16,5% da precipitação, para o período analisado. Dez poços selecionados na área de estudo tiveram sua variação de nível de água monitorada durante um ano hidrológico, de outubro de 2015 a setembro de 2016. Foram utilizados os registros de precipitação de três estações, Campos, Farol de São Tomé e São Francisco de Paula. A literatura descreve diversos métodos para quantificar a recarga do lençol freático, sendo o método da flutuação do lençol freático (WTF) um dos mais utilizados, provavelmente devido à abundância relativa de dados de variação do lençol freático disponíveis, bem como à sua simplicidade e fácil aplicação. Os resultados de recarga obtidos foram semelhantes em oito dos dez poços monitorados. O método WTF tem se mostrado aplicável em regiões com características climáticas semelhantes às da área de estudo. Recomenda-se a continuidade do monitoramento de forma contínua, de forma a atingir um período prolongado e com medições diárias do nível de água, se possível. Com isso, o método pode contribuir para a obtenção de resultados mais confiáveis, e que, consequentemente, auxiliarão aos tomadores de decisão na gestão do aquífero.
Das Römische Heerwesen: auch im 21. Jahrhundert Gegenstand intensiver Forschung
Authors: Wesch-Klein Gabriele
Published: November 2021

History of the Roman army – in a broad sense – was one of the pillars of Géza Alföldy’s scholarly studies and investigations. His inspiring interpretations of various inscriptions had a fundamental impact on the shape of contemporary science. He was particularly interested in such issues as religion of the Roman military, the origins of soldiers, the rules of promotion and the careers of officers with senatorial and equestrian lineage.  

The article offers an overview of major studies in history of the Roman army published in the recent years. There is no doubt that many had been inspired by the work and writings of Géza Alföldy. Although it is merely a subjective selection, the list of publications appended to the article attests to the intensity of such research, showing that it truly flourishes. 

Strictly speaking, Géza Alföldy did not come up with any novel research problems as far as the Roman military was concerned. He would address those which had been present in science, as it is documented by works of such scholars as  Alfred von Domaszewski, Konrad Kraft, Emil Ritterling, Eric Birley or Arthur and Ernst Stein. Nonetheless, Géza Alföldy understood the essence and appreciated the need to pursue those studies in greater depth while utilizing epigraphy to the broadest possible extent. Quite rightly, he considered inscriptions to be the foremost sources in that respect. Guided by hic saxa loquntur as his motto, Alföldy determined the shape of methodology employed in studies of the Roman army through his work. The ordinary soldiers and officers became genuine individuals, which in a sense enabled one to gain insight into their personal lives, professional careers, family ties, and religious beliefs. Thus far, research in the two first decades of the 21st century follows the same path. It may only be desired that, as a result, the current state of our knowledge will be substantially enriched.
Un supplementum al supplementum: Iscrizioni imperiali di Roma dagli anni ’90 a oggi
Authors: Orlandi Silvia
Published: November 2021

In this survey article are collected and discussed most of the imperial inscriptions found in Rome after the pubblication of the last Supplement to CIL, VI by Géza Alföldy in 1996, together with a large number of possible corrections of the already published texts. The contributions are organized according the following schema: Addenda et corrigenda: small corrections, accidental gaps, methodological in­consistencies, texts to be removed. New texts and new studies: new discoveries (including new fragments of old inscriptions), both in archaeological excavations and in archives and repositories, just published (as imperial inscriptions or not) or still unpublished.
W ŻALU ZA GRZECHY MŁODOŚCI – TESTAMENT ARMANDA DE BOURBON, KSIĘCIA DE CONTI
Authors: Skrzypietz Aleksandra
Published: November 2021

The paper analyzes the last will of Armand de Bourbon, Prince of Conti, who in his youth abandoned ecclesiastical career and later took active part in the Fronde. Still later, de Bourbon became associated with Jansenists and spent the final years of his life on practicing piety, giving proof of his rigorous morality. The paper thus discusses his last will and professed expiation for the sins of youth, as it attempts to establish whether the testament is a testimony to prince’s Jansenist convictions.
ŚLAD MISTYKI ŻYDOWSKIEJ W TRANSCENDENTALNEJ ANTROPOLOGII KARLA RAHNERA
Authors: Sareło Zbigniew
Published: November 2021

This principal aim of deliberations in this paper was to verify the hypothesis that Karl Rahner’s anthropology operates on premises which dovetail with fundamental ideas originating with medieval Jewish mystics. In order to argue the hypothesis, the author relies on comparative methodology to discuss essential anthropological concepts advanced by K. Rahner and M. Buber.
KATEGORYZACJA SWÓJ/OBCY W DEBACIE SPOŁECZNOŚCIOWEJ W KONTEKŚCIE KRYZYSU MIGRACYJNEGO W EUROPIE
Authors: Grzelak Eliza , Szymborska Marta
Published: November 2021

The aim of this article is to demonstrate the differences in the perception of immigrants and refugees in social debate taking place online. For that purpose, the authors analysed comments posted in social media (Facebook). When describing the techniques of categorization, attention was paid to the interlacing colloquial and scientific descriptions in the discourse concerned with contemporary migrations, also focusing on the process of neosemantization to which scientific terms are subjected.
Sobolev regularity solutions for a class of singular quasilinear ODEs
Authors: Zhao Xiaofeng , Li Hengyan , Yan Weiping
Published: November 2021

This paper considers an initial-boundary value problem for a class of singular quasilinear second-order ordinary differential equations with the constraint condition stemming from fluid mechanics. We prove that the existence of positive Sobolev regular solutions for this kind of singular quasilinear ODEs by means of a suitable Nash-Moser iteration scheme Meanwhile, asymptotic expansion of those positive solutions is shown.
Optimality of a Linear Decision Rule in Discrete Time AK Model
Authors: Shim Myungkyu
Published: November 2021

Surprisingly, formal proof on the optimality of a linear decision rule in the discrete time AK model with a CRRA utility function has not been established in the growth literature while that in the continuous time counterpart is well-established. This note fills such a gap: I provide a formal proof that consumption being linearly related to investment is a sufficient and necessary condition for Pareto optimality in the discrete time AK model.
Efficacy ofMajoon-e-Seer Alvi Khanin dyslipidemia: a single blind randomized standard controlled clinical trial
Authors: Quamri Mohd Aleemuddin , Wahab Adil , Alam Md Anzar , Ali Barkat Farooqui
Published: November 2021

Objectives

Majoon-e-Seer Alvi Khan,a compound Unani formulation, has been indicated in disease conditions simulating dyslipidemia. The present study was done to substantiate the efficacy ofMajoon-e-Seer Alvi Khan(MSAK) in dyslipidaemia on scientific parameters.

Methods

A randomized, single-blind, Standard controlled, clinical trial was carried out on 40 patients of dyslipidemia who were randomly allocated into test (n=30) and control (n=10) groups. The test drug, MSAK,and control drug, tablet Atorvastatin was given to the respective group for 60 days along with lifestyle modification.

Results

The test drug significantly alleviated the symptoms of subjective parameters (p<0.05). There was a statistically significant reduction in lipid profile of the patients in the test group (p<0.05) than control drug treatment.

Conclusions

The study evidenced thatMajoon-e-Seer Alvi Khanis potentially effective and safe in the treatment of dyslipidemia. However, a multicentre study with a robust study design is required to generalize the results.
Evaluation of the need for pharmacogenomics testing among physicians in the West Bank of Palestine
Authors: Jarrar Yazun , Musleh Rami , Hamdan Anas , Ghanim Mustafa
Published: November 2021

Objectives

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) testing optimizes pharmacotherapy and reduces interindividual variation in drug responses. However, it is still not implemented in clinical practice in the West Bank of Palestine (WBP). The aim of this study was to determine the need for PGx education and testing among physicians from different specialties in WBP.

Methods

This study used a cross-sectional survey that was administered to 381 physicians from different cities in WBP. The questionnaire consisted of 27 closed-ended questions that evaluate the exposure and attitude toward PGx education, the role of PGx testing in clinical practice, and the capabilities of physicians in PGx testing.

Results

It was found that exposure to PGx education is low, with most of the respondents (81.1%) answering that PGx was not an integral part of their medical education. The majority (>90%) of the participants agreed that PGx should be included in the medical school curriculum. It was also found that 58.5% of the participants agreed that PGx testing is relevant to their current clinical practice. In addition, most of the participant physicians (>60%) think that they are currently not capable of prescribing and making decisions for pharmacotherapy based on PGx testing.

Conclusions

It is concluded that there is a high need for PGx education and implementation in clinical practice in WBP. We recommend adding PGx courses to the curricula of medical schools and going forward with the implementation of PGx testing in clinical practice in WBP.
Existence and uniqueness of positive solutions for fractional relaxation equation in terms of ψ-Caputo fractional derivative
Authors: Derbazi Choukri , Baitiche Zidane , Zada Akbar
Published: November 2021

This manuscript is committed to deal with the existence and uniqueness of positive solutions for fractional relaxation equation involving ψ-Caputo fractional derivative. The existence of solution is carried out with the help of Schauder’s fixed point theorem, while the uniqueness of the solution is obtained by applying the Banach contraction principle, along with Bielecki type norm. Moreover, two explicit monotone iterative sequences are constructed for the approximation of the extreme positive solutions to the proposed problem. Lastly, two examples are presented to support the obtained results.
Optical SNR estimation using machine learning
Authors: Rai Palash , Kaushik Rahul
Published: November 2021

A technique for the estimation of an optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) using machine learning algorithms has been proposed. The algorithms are trained with parameters derived from eye-diagram via simulation in 10 Gb/s On-Off Keying (OOK) nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) data signal. The performance of different machine learning (ML) techniques namely, multiple linear regression, random forest, and K-nearest neighbor (K-NN) for OSNR estimation in terms of mean square error and R-squared value has been compared. The proposed methods may be useful for intelligent signal analysis in a test instrument and to monitor optical performance.
The neonatal microbiome in utero and beyond: perinatal influences and long-term impacts
Authors: Hill Lee , Sharma Ruchika , Hart Lara , Popov Jelena , Moshkovich Michal , Pai Nikhil
Published: November 2021

The neonatal microbiome offers a valuable model for studying the origins of human health and disease. As the field of metagenomics expands, we also increase our understanding of early life influences on its development. In this review we will describe common techniques used to define and measure the microbiome. We will review in utero influences, normal perinatal development, and known risk factors for abnormal neonatal microbiome development. Finally, we will summarize current evidence that links early life microbial impacts on the development of chronic inflammatory diseases, obesity, and atopy.
Exploring digital interactivity: a multimodal and social semiotic approach to intersemiotic construction in COVID China website
Authors: Shi Dan
Published: November 2021

This paper explores intersemiotic construction and digital interactivity through a multimodal social semiotic lens examining the semiotic instantiations of interactive signs on the homepage of “Fighting COVID-19 the Chinese Way” (covid-19.chinadaily.com.cn), a website created to disseminate information on news and development of COVID prevention and control practices in China to contribute to global efforts to fight the pandemic. The study focuses on how digital interactivity is afforded by the COVID China website, where the interactive signs are ideationally and compositionally constructed for meaning representation and interpersonally for text-viewer relation construal. From the multimodal social semiotic perspective, systemic functional model-based cluster and intersemiotic analyses are applied to explore the visual, spatial, and linguistic features that contribute to the design and construction of interactive semiotic signs on the COVID China website and afford digital interactivity for viewers’ action potentials. This study extends the analytical focus to the semiotic instantiations of interactive signs and their intersemiotic construction process that stimulate the enabling of interactivity, instead of the interactivity per se, and demonstrates how different semiotic instantiations of interactive signs are featured and interact to afford digital interactivity. It argues for an integrated lens in analysis to look at the interactive signs not only as signs of action with action-enabling forms but also as signs of meanings that afford user-page interactivity.
Crystal structure of (4′E)-6′-(diethylamino)-2-[(E)-[(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)methylidene]amino]-4′-{2-[(2E)-1,3,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-indol-2-ylidene]ethylidene}-1′,2,2′,3,3′,4′-hexahydrospiro[isoindole-1,9′-xanthene]-3-one, C44H45N5O2
Authors: Li Kaihao , Wu Jinping , Lan Hairong , Wang Junmin , Yuan Juan
Published: November 2021

C44H45N5O2, triclinic

P

1
‾

$P\overline{1}$

(no. 2), a = 11.2140(4) Å, b = 11.9932(5) Å, c = 14.2703(5) Å, α = 98.879(3)°, β = 102.025(3)°, γ = 91.122(3)°, Z = 2, V = 1851.98(12) Å3, R

gt
(F) = 0.0549, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1616, T = 293(2) K.
Quantum dots synthetization and future prospect applications
Authors: Mohamed Walied A. A. , Abd El-Gawad Hala , Mekkey Saleh , Galal Hoda , Handal Hala , Mousa Hanan , Labib Ammar
Published: November 2021

Quantum dots (QDs) are nanocrystals of a semiconductor material that exist in a size regime less than 10 nm. QDs have become promising nanoparticles for a wide variety of different applications. However, the major drawback of QDs is their potential toxicity. This review reports on some recent methods for the synthesis of QDs and explores their properties, structures, applications, and toxicity. QDs are extraordinary because their minute size produces a physically confined electron cloud, an effect known as the quantum confinement. Certainly, because of their special properties as they had a great unique optical, electronic, and chemical properties that were not observe in other materials. These unique properties of the QD are an attractive material for a variety of scientific and commercial applications, most of them recently been realized, such as biosensors, bioimaging, photodetectors, displays, solar cells, wastewater treatment, and quantum computers. Finally, but not the end, an interesting potential QD application in future perspectives will expect as light-emitting diode products, biomedical applications, and Li-Fi.
Behavioral Economics and Court Decision-Making
Authors: Teichman Doron , Zamir Eyal
Published: November 2021

The economic analysis of law assumes that court decisions are key to incentivizing people and maximizing social welfare. This article reviews the behavioral literature on court decision making, and highlights numerous heuristics and biases that impact judges and jurors and cause them to make decisions that diverge from the social optimum. In light of this review, the article analyzes some of the institutional features of the court system that may help minimize the costs of biased decisions in the courts.
Confidence limits for the averted infections ratio estimated via the counterfactual placebo incidence rate
Authors: Dunn David T. , Stirrup Oliver T. , Glidden David V.
Published: November 2021

Objectives

The averted infections ratio (AIR) is a novel measure for quantifying the preservation-of-effect in active-control non-inferiority clinical trials with a time-to-event outcome. In the main formulation, the AIR requires an estimate of the counterfactual placebo incidence rate. We describe two approaches for calculating confidence limits for the AIR given a point estimate of this parameter, a closed-form solution based on a Taylor series expansion (delta method) and an iterative method based on the profile-likelihood.

Methods

For each approach, exact coverage probabilities for the lower and upper confidence limits were computed over a grid of values of (1) the true value of the AIR (2) the expected number of counterfactual events (3) the effectiveness of the active-control treatment.

Results

Focussing on the lower confidence limit, which determines whether non-inferiority can be declared, the coverage achieved by the delta method is either less than or greater than the nominal coverage, depending on the true value of the AIR. In contrast, the coverage achieved by the profile-likelihood method is consistently accurate.

Conclusions

The profile-likelihood method is preferred because of better coverage properties, but the simpler delta method is valid when the experimental treatment is no less effective than the control treatment. A complementary Bayesian approach, which can be applied when the counterfactual incidence rate can be represented as a prior distribution, is also outlined.
An investigation of implicit bias about bending and lifting
Authors: Krug Roberto Costa , Silva Marcelo Faria , Lipp Ottmar V. , O’Sullivan Peter B. , Almeida Rosicler , Peroni Ian Sulzbacher , Caneiro J. P.
Published: November 2021

Objectives

Previous studies in a high-income country have demonstrated that people with and without low back pain (LBP) have an implicit bias that bending and lifting with a flexed lumbar spine is dangerous. These studies present two key limitations: use of a single group per study; people who recovered from back pain were not studied. Our aims were to evaluate: implicit biases between back posture and safety related to bending and lifting in people who are pain-free, have a history of LBP or have current LBP in a middle-income country, and to explore correlations between implicit and explicit measures within groups.

Methods

Exploratory cross-sectional study including 174 participants (63 pain-free, 57 with history of LBP and 54 with current LBP). Implicit biases between back posture and safety related to bending and lifting were assessed with the Implicit Association Test (IAT). Participants completed paper-based (Bending Safety Belief [BSB]) and online questionnaires (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia; Back Pain Attitudes Questionnaire).

Results

Participants displayed significant implicit bias between images of round-back bending and lifting and words representing “danger” (IATD-SCORE: Pain-free group: 0.56 (IQR=0.31–0.91; 95% CI [0.47, 0.68]); history of LBP group: 0.57 (IQR=0.34–0.84; 95% CI [0.47, 0.67]); current LBP group: 0.56 (IQR=0.24–0.80; 95% CI [0.39, 0.64])). Explicit measures revealed participants hold unhelpful beliefs about the back, perceiving round-back bending and lifting as dangerous (BSBthermometer: Pain-free group: 8 (IQR=7–10; 95% CI [7.5, 8.5]); history of LBP group: 8 (IQR=7–10; 95% CI [7.5, 9.0]); current LBP group: 8.5 (IQR=6.75–10; [7.5, 9.0])). There was no correlation between implicit and explicit measures within the groups.

Conclusions

In a middle-income country, people with and without LBP, and those who recovered from LBP have an implicit bias that round-back bending and lifting is dangerous.
Sustainable recovery of tourism in the post-COVID-19 world: Advocacy for a Resource Nexus perspective
Authors: Karthe Daniel , Reeh Tobias , Kempf Felix , Lee Halim , Guenther Edeltraud
Published: November 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic had unprecedented impacts on tourism worldwide, causing a major downturn in sectoral economic development and employment. Even though affected regions, businesses and customers are united in their hope of a rapid recovery, a return to business-as-usual is not desirable from an environmental perspective. The COVID-19 pandemic could, however, also be an opportunity for sustainability-oriented transformations in various segments of the tourist industry. A concept that has received growing attention in sustainability science and policy but that has not yet been applied to tourism may have a significant future potential here: the Resource Nexus. As a consistent and application-oriented framework for the integrated management of environmental resources, the Resource Nexus can be a model for advancing sustainability in tourism. Instead of looking at a single dimension only, the Resource Nexus considers environmental resources in a holistic way, including potential synergies and trade-offs between different development goals. This can ultimately support a transition not only to more sustainability, but also to greater resilience of the tourism sector against environmental changes.
Nachhaltigkeitseinstellungen entlang der Customer Journey: ein nachfrageseitiger Vergleich der DACH-Länder vor und während der Covid-19 Pandemie
Authors: Seeler Sabrina , Köchling Anne , Krüger Manon , Eisenstein Bernd
Published: November 2021

Wenngleich die Covid-19 Pandemie die globale Tourismusbranche vor enorme Herausforderungen stellt, wird sie auch als kritischer Wendepunkt hin zu mehr Nachhaltigkeit verstanden. Eine solche Transformation des Tourismus bedarf auch der Veränderungsbereitschaft der Reisenden sowie der Reduktion des Attitude-Behaviour-Gap. Dieser empirische Beitrag widmet sich der Fragestellung, wie sich Nachhaltigkeitseinstellungen der deutschen, österreichischen und schweizerischen Urlaubsreisenden im Vergleich darstellen und inwieweit diese sich von 2018 auf 2020 verändert haben. In den drei DACH-Ländern besteht eine gewisse Zurückhaltung bei Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten, die ein aktives persönliches Engagement erfordern. In der Schweiz ist die Bereitschaft, sich im Urlaub nachhaltig zu verhalten, am stärksten ausgeprägt. Im Zeitvergleich gibt es leicht positive Veränderungstendenzen über alle drei Quellmärkte. Somit liefert die Studie einen wichtigen Beitrag in der Nachhaltigkeitsdiskussion post-Covid-19.
Visfatin and 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Levels Affect Coronary Collateral Circulation Development in Patients with Chronic Coronary Total Occlusion
Authors: Ji Xiaoling , Jin Shuqi , Wang Yuxia , Chen Yumiao , Zhang Jing
Published: November 2021

Background: Coronary collateral circulation (CCC) plays a vital role in the myocardial blood supply, especially for ischemic myocardium. Evidence suggests that the visfatin and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] levels are related to the degree and incidence of vascular stenosis associated with coronary artery disease; however, few studies have evaluated the effect of visfatin and 25(OH)D3 on CCC development in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the serum visfatin and 25(OH)D3 levels and CCC in patients with CTO.

Methods: A total of 189 patients with CTO confirmed by coronary angiography were included. CCC was graded from 0 to 3 according to the Rentrop-Cohen classification. Patients with grade 0 or grade 1 collateral development were included in the poor CCC group (n=82), whereas patients with grade 2 or grade 3 collateral development were included in the good CCC group (n=107). The serum visfatin and 25(OH)D3 levels were measured by ELISA.

Results: The visfatin level was significantly higher in the poor CCC group than in the good CCC group, and the 25(OH)D3 level was significantly lower in the poor CCC group than in the good CCC group (P=0.000). Correlation analysis showed that the Rentrop grade was negatively correlated with the visfatin level (r=−0.692, P=0.000) but positively correlated with the 25(OH)D3 level (r=0.635, P=0.000). Logistic regression analysis showed that the visfatin and 25(OH)D3 levels were independent risk factors for CCC (odds ratio 1.597, 95% confidence interval 1.300–1.961, P=0.000 and odds ratio 0.566, 95% confidence interval 0.444–0.722, P=0.000, respectively). The visfatin and 25(OH)D3 levels can effectively predict the CCC status.

Conclusion: Serum visfatin and 25(OH)D3 levels are related to CCC development and are independent predictors of poor CCC.