bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of medicinal herbs as a potential therapeutic option against SARS‐CoV‐2 targeting its main protease
Authors: Upadhyay Saurabh , Tripathi Praveen K. , Singh Manju , Raghavendhar Siva , Bhardwaj Mohit , Patel Ashok K.
Published: August 2020

The COVID‐19 disease caused by the SARS‐CoV‐2 has emerged as a worldwide pandemic and caused huge damage to the lives and economy of more than hundred countries. As on May 10, 2020, more than 4,153,300 people stand infected from the virus due to an unprecedented rate of transmission and 282,700 have lost their lives because of the disease. In this context, medicinal plants may provide a way to treat the disease by targeting specific essential proteins of the virus. We screened about 51 medicinal plants and found that Tea (Camellia sinensis) and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) has potential against SARS‐COV‐2 3CLpro, with an IC50 for Green Tea as 8.9 ± 0.5 μg/ml and Haritaki 8.8 ± 0.5 μg/ml. The in‐silico studies suggested that Tea component Thearubigins binds to the cysteine 145 of protease active site and could be a pharmacoactive molecule. We predict that the inhibition in protease activity may be able to halt the SARS‐CoV‐2 replication cycle and therefore, we propose Green Tea, Black Tea, and Haritaki plant extracts as potential therapeutic candidates for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Further investigation on role of bioactive constituents of extracts is needed to establish the molecular basis of inhibition and towards expedited drug discovery.
Role of W‐Rich CuWO4 and Doped Zn‐CuWO4 Ceramics and Its Improved Photoelectrochemical Cell Performances Synthesized by Solid State Reaction Method
Authors: Balasubramanian Venkatachalapathy , Kannan Selvaraj , Thangaraj Nishanthi S. , Sivakumar Ganesan , Mohanraj Kannusamy
Published: August 2020

Triclinic CuWO4 and Zn doped CuWO4 nanocomposites have been synthesized by the solid state reaction method to evaluate the Photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of the photoelectrodes. The existence of WO3 along with CuWO4 is affirmed by the XRD, XPS spectra and HRTEM images. PEC measurements showed that the generated photocurrent is found to be maximum of about 8.94 mA/cm2 for Zn doped CuWO4whereas it is 2.63 mA/cm2 for bare CuWO4 electrode measured at 0.1 M of Na2SO4 acts as a suitable electrolyte under the illumination. The carrier density (Nd) of the nanocomposites is determined by Mott‐Schottky plot that has n‐type conductivity for both the samples. The negative flat band potential of −0.52 V for Zn doped CuWO4 might be attributed to decrease in depletion width. Zn doped CuWO4 shows higher power conversion efficiency of about 3.95%. The solution resistance and charge transfer resistance of both the photoelectrodes were calculated using Nyquist plot and it is lower for Zn‐CuWO4 which indicates better conductivity and electron transfer rate.
Pegylated Deoxycholic Acid Coated Gold Nanoparticles as a Highly Stable CT Contrast Agent
Authors: Mohajeri Mohammad , Iranpour Pooya , Vahidi Yasmin , Haghighi Rezvan Ravanfar , Faghih Zahra , Bararjanian Morteza , Salehi Peyman
Published: August 2020

The present study has been dedicated to the synthesis of a new and highly stable computed tomography contrast agent based on pegylated deoxycholic acid‐ coated gold nanoparticles (DCA‐PEG‐GNPs) measuring 17 nm in size. To stabilize the gold nanoparticles (GNPs) as well as increasing their vascular retention time, polyethylene glycol, PEG, with a molecular weight of 4 KD, was applied. Besides, for target delivery, deoxycholic acid (DCA) as a biologically active compound and a secondary bile acid, capable of interfering with some cancers, were selected. The bile acid was attached to the nanoparticle's surface with a polyethylene glycol (MW=1 KD) linker via an etherification reaction. Finally, the activity of the prepared compound was studied by means of a clinical CT instrument at various KVp values. The gained results depicted a very high activity of the compound to attenuate X‐rays along with making contrast enhancement, even better than those of Visipaque as a commercial contrast agent. In addition, the DCA‐PEG‐GNPs displayed remarkable stability in a wide range of pHs,i. e. 2.5‐11, and in different temperature conditions, ranging between −78 °C to 48 °C.
Rosehip‐Extract‐Assisted Green Synthesis and Characterization of Reduced Graphene Oxide
Authors: Mindivan Ferda , Göktaş Meryem
Published: August 2020

Reduced‐graphene oxide (RGO) is one of the main derivatives of graphene. Chemical‐based techniques are used to produce large amounts of graphene in short amount of time. Hydrazine is the strong reductant but its toxic effects limit the various applications. Therefore, the usage of plants extracts has become the research interest in recent years for produced eco‐friendly materials. GO was synthesized through modified Hummer's method in this study and rosehip extracts were synthesized with successful reduction reaction in different environments. The comparison of the all analysis results from RGO samples were suggested that the rosehip extract in methanol environment is very effective in obtaining RGO. EDS and BET surface results indicated that ML‐RGO and MD‐RGO samples which synthesis by methanol extraction, had the highest C/O ratios (4 : 1 and 7 : 1) and surface areas (230.64 and 142.85 m2/g‐1), respectively as compared to other RGO samples. The ML‐RGO exhibited about a 41.14 % residual weight at 600 °C and had the highest thermal stability. The interlayer spacing of the diffraction peaks of MD‐RGO and ML‐RGO samples expanded due to a decrease of the re‐stacking in graphene sheets. FESEM and HRTEM images of the MD‐RGO and ML‐RGO samples confirmed the flat surface with fewer layers and transparent‐ well exfoliated sheets. Therefore, we have validated the practicality of rosehip extract for versatile application and advocates new hopes for greener graphene.
Cobalt Oxide Grown on Biomass Carbon as a Three‐Dimensional Self‐Supporting Negative Electrode with High Area Specific Capacity
Authors: Shao Shuangxi , Wang Pengfei , Gong Zhe , Ye Ke , Zhu Kai , Yan Jun , Wang Guiling , Cao Dianxue
Published: August 2020

The development of electronic equipment and electric vehicles fields has brought enormous challenges to the energy storage sector. Electrode cost has become the biggest problem for large‐scale applications of lithium‐ion batteries. Herein, we use carbonized hemp rods as a current collector instead of expensive copper foil. Meanwhile, the three‐dimensional (3D) structure of carbonized hemp stalk (C‐hemp) has a large number of hollow channels, in which a large amount of Co3O4 nanowires are grown, providing an area specific capacity of 10 mAh/cm2. The battery exhibits a good cycle performance and keeps a stable capacity during 50 charge‐discharge cycles. At the same time, the carbon matrix provides an excellent 3D conductive network that combines with metal oxide nanorods to show an excellent rate performance.
Ratiometric Assays for Acetylcholinesterase Activity and Organo‐Phosphorous Pesticide Based on Superior Carbon Quantum Dots and BLGF‐Protected Gold Nanoclusters FRET Process
Authors: Suo Zhiguang , Liu Xiaowei , Hou Xialing , Liu Yu , Lu Jiayi , Xing Feifei , Chen Yingying , Feng Lingyan
Published: August 2020

A ratiometric fluorescence system is reported based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) for sensitive detection of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs). The CQDs and Au NCs were synthesized by one‐pot approach, emitting at 420 nm (λex=320 nm) and 680 nm (λex=500 nm) respectively. To verify the effect on CQDs−Au NCs of biothiols, the thiol sensing was performed by measuring the ratio of F680/F420 as the increasing of cysteine as model, which shows a low detection limit of 1.07 μmol L−1. Herein, this sensing system was employed to determine AChE activity depend on its hydrolysis for acetylcholine (ATCh) generated thiocholine. The AChE activity can be assayed as low as 1.08 mU mL−1 within a wide linear range from 3 to 50 mU mL−1 and evaluated in practical samples. In addition, a kind of organophosphorus pesticide, hypertoxic diazinon, was selected to efficiently inhibit the ATCh hydrolysis, and can be detected based on this proposed strategy. As far as we known, the proposed ratiometric assay system based on CQDs−Au NCs nanocomposites is the first time to demonstrate for AChE and OPPs assay. We believed that this promising strategy will opens up a novel pathway of using CQDs and Au NCs for the expanded biosensing applications.
Understanding the Degradation of Spiro‐OMeTAD‐Based Perovskite Solar Cells at High Temperature
Authors: Tumen-Ulzii Ganbaatar , Qin Chuanjiang , Matsushima Toshinori , Leyden Matthew R. , Balijipalli Umamahesh , Klotz Dino , Adachi Chihaya
Published: August 2020

Organic–inorganic halide perovskites are promising as the light absorber of solar cells because of their efficient solar power conversion. An issue frequently occurring in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with a hole transport layer of N,N‐di(4‐methoxyphenyl)amino]‐9,9′‐spirobifluorene (spiro‐OMeTAD) is a quick performance degradation at high temperature. Herein, it is discovered that postdoping of the spiro‐OMeTAD layer by iodine released from the perovskite layer is one possible mechanism for the high‐temperature PSC degradation. Iodine doping leads to the highest occupied molecular orbital level of the spiro‐OMeTAD layer becoming deeper and, therefore, induces the formation of an energy barrier for hole extraction from the perovskite layer. It is demonstrated that it is possible to suppress the high‐temperature degradation by using an iodine‐blocking layer or an iodine‐free perovskite in PSCs. These findings will guide the way for the realization of thermally stable perovskite optoelectronic devices in the future.
Chlorinated Carbon‐Bridged and Silicon‐Bridged Carbazole‐Based Nonfullerene Acceptors Manifest Synergistic Enhancement in Ternary Organic Solar Cell with Efficiency over 15%
Authors: Chen Tsung-Wei , Yu Jun-Yan , Lin You-Wei , Peng Shih-Hao , Wu Shang-Hsuan , Su Yi-Jia , Karapala Vamsi Krishna , Hong Ling , Yao Huifeng , Hou Jianhui , Hsu Chain-Shu
Published: August 2020

Herein, two novel nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs), DTCC‐4Cl and DTSiC‐4Cl, are synthesized by end‐capping dithienocyclopentacarbazole (DTCC) and dithieno‐silolocarbazole (DTSiC) cores with chlorinated IC (2Cl‐IC) units, respectively. With the better‐known advantage of having the extraordinary σ*–π* conjugation of silole unit embedded in the DTSiC core, DTSiC‐4Cl manifests upshifted lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), blue‐shifted absorption, and increased π–π interaction in comparison with DTCC‐4Cl. Furthermore, to elucidate the effect of bridging atoms on the photovoltaic performance, T1 is selected as the polymer donor to be blended with DTCC‐4Cl and DTSiC‐4Cl. T1:DTCC‐4Cl‐based devices exhibit a fine power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.43% and T1:DTSiC‐4Cl‐based devices exhibit a comparable PCE of 14.46%. Interestingly, the T1:DTSiC‐4Cl‐based devices demonstrate an additive‐free feature, which is worthy of further applications. From the perspective of constructing high‐performance ternary devices, DTCC‐4Cl is expected to possess excellent compatibility with DTSiC‐4Cl owing to its structural similarity. As anticipated, the ternary T1:DTSiC‐4Cl:DTCC‐4Cl‐based device outperforms the binary T1:DTCC‐4Cl and T1:DTSiC‐4Cl‐based devices, affording a decent PCE of 15.04% with a VOC of 0.97 V, a JSC of 20.80 mA cm−2, and an FF of 74.55% without any additive.
Electro‐Optical Detection of Single Molecules Based on Solid‐State Nanopores
Authors: Lu Wenlong , Hu Rui , Tong Xin , Yu Dapeng , Zhao Qing
Published: August 2020

Electrical detection of single molecule based on solid‐state nanopores is recently combined with optical methods. The synergistic effect of the electrical and optical measurements makes the combination powerful. It is promising for the next‐generation single‐molecule detection approach. Conventional solid‐state nanopore sensors monitor the electrical pulses caused by molecules translocating through the nanopore. However, the electrical signal is limited by insufficient resolutions, low throughput, lack of specificity, and molecule manipulation. Optical detection of single molecules has been extensively studied since the past decades. Optical signals, such as surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and fluorescence, have unique sensitivity and specificity of single molecules. Recently, optical methods are developed to complement the limitations of electrical detection of solid‐state nanopores. This review describes the main approaches used for electro‐optical detection of single molecules based on solid‐state nanopores, including total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF), confocal microscopy, and plasmonic nanostructures. Laser‐induced heating, optical trapping, and strategies to reduce background fluorescence are also discussed. Moreover, recent experiments on electro‐optical detection of DNA and other analytes are introduced.
Acupuncture and East Asian medicine in the USA, putting the profession into perspective
Authors: Majd Iman , Larson Mina M. , Amieux Paul S.
Published: August 2020

Acupuncture and East Asian medicine, as a young profession in the US, has faced many challenges. The profession has moved from being considered technician level to an independent professional status. The collaborative efforts of leading organizations such as the NCCAOM in self‐regulating through setting the standards of competence via a national board exam and delineation of practice standards, which are common practices in the US compared to other countries which have a top‐down decision‐making system, has positively impacted the professions' status in the health care system. Advocacy for the profession would increase the visibility of the profession with a stronger voice, with the goal of full incorporation into the mainstream medical system.
On the Virasoro six-point identity block and chaos
Authors: Anous Tarek , Haehl Felix M.
Published: August 2020

Abstract

We study six-point correlation functions in two dimensional conformal field theory, where the six operators are grouped in pairs with equal conformal dimension. Assuming large central charge c and a sparse spectrum, the leading contribution to this correlation function is the six-point Virasoro identity block — corresponding to each distinct pair of operators fusing into the identity and its descendants. We call this the star channel. One particular term in the star channel identity block is the stress tensor SL(2, ℝ) (global) block, for which we derive an explicit expression. In the holographic context, this object corresponds to a direct measure of nonlinear effects in pure gravity. We calculate additional terms in the star channel identity block that contribute at the same order at large c as the global block using the novel theory of reparametrizations, which extends the shadow operator formalism in a natural way. We investigate these blocks’ relevance to quantum chaos in the form of six-point scrambling in an out-of time ordered correlator. Interestingly, the global block does not contribute to the scrambling mode of this correlator, implying that, to leading order, six-point scrambling is insensitive to the three-point graviton coupling in the bulk dual. Finally, we compare our findings with a different OPE channel, called the comb channel, and find the same result for the chaos exponent in this decomposition.
Podcasts as a teaching tool in orthopaedic surgery
Authors: Schöbel Tobias , Zajonz Dirk , Melcher Peter , Lange Johannes , Fischer Benjamin , Heyde Christoph-E. , Roth Andreas , Ghanem Mohamed
Published: August 2020

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the introduction of online podcasts as part of the main lecture series in orthopaedics on the number of lecture attendees, the examination results and the assessment of teaching by the students. Additionally, we evaluated the use of other media for examination preparation.

Methodology

At the beginning and end of the lecture series questionnaires were handed out to the students to evaluate their attitudes towards attending lectures, the use of video podcasts and examination preparation. In addition, the number of lecture attendees and podcast usage during the semester were counted and the statements of the students in the evaluation assessments of orthopaedic teaching were evaluated. The examination results were correlated in a statistical analysis with the learning materials provided by the students for examination preparation.

Results

At the end of the lecture series, 284 students stated that they used the lecture podcast about twice as often as attending lectures; however, for the majority of the students the provision of a video podcast was no reason not to attend the lecture. For example, 37.2% stated that they never and 26.8% stated that they rarely had not attended the lecture by providing the podcasts. Of the students 91–95% considered the availability of lecture podcasts to be a rather meaningful or very meaningful supplement to the lecture visit. Students increasingly used digital media to prepare for examinations instead of using traditional analogue methods. None of the learning methods or materials examined showed a statistically significant advantage in examination results.

Conclusion

Students in the age of digitalization use a variety of learning materials and are no longer bound to classical analog teaching methods. The use of online podcasts had no negative impact on examination performance. Most students perceived lecture podcasts as a useful supplement to lecture attendance. The students praised the expansion of the teaching curriculum to include additional digital offers with positive comments in the evaluations, but without achieving an improvement in these student evaluations.
Short neuropeptide F signaling regulates functioning of male reproductive system in Tenebrio molitor beetle
Authors: Marciniak Paweł , Urbański Arkadiusz , Lubawy Jan , Szymczak Monika , Pacholska-Bogalska Joanna , Chowański Szymon , Kuczer Mariola , Rosiński Grzegorz
Published: August 2020

Neuropeptides of short neuropeptides F family (sNPF) have been identified in various arthropods. They are pleiotropic neuromolecules which so far have been mainly associated with regulation of feeding and metabolism, as well as growth and development, locomotion, circadian rhythm or learning and memory. Here, we describe the effects of Tenebrionid sNPF peptide (SGRSPSLRLRFa) on various aspects of the male reproductive physiology in the Tenebrio molitor beetle. We identified in silico the putative sNPF receptor Tenmo-sNPFR. Based on RT-PCR technique, it was shown that the receptor might be present in the male reproductive tissues of this beetle. The analysis of receptor amino acid sequence showed that it is similar to other beetle sNPFRs, as well as other insect species, and belongs rhodopsin-like G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Injections of Trica-sNPF and its shorter form Trica-sNPF(4–11) caused differentiated effects in T. molitor male reproductive tissues. After 24 h post injections, the peptides decreased the concentration of the soluble protein fraction in testes of 4- and 8-day-old beetles as well as the dry mass of these organs but only in 8-day-old individuals. The same effects were shown with regard to accessory glands. Both peptides decrease the concentration of the soluble protein fraction but do not affect the dry mass of this organ. Furthermore, injections of Trica-sNPF at the 10–7 M concentration decrease the total sperm number in the reproductive system. Surprisingly, the same concentration of the shorter form, Trica-sNPF(4–11) increased the sperm number. It was also shown that both peptides in different manner influence contractions of ejaculatory duct. The data presented in this article give new evidence that sNPFs are involved in the regulation of reproductive events in beetles, which might be the part of a larger neuropeptide network combining feeding, growth and development with the physiology of reproduction.
Dynamic Scaling of the Generalized Complementary Relationship Improves Long-term Tendency Estimates in Land Evaporation
Authors: Szilagyi Jozsef , Crago Richard , Ma Ning
Published: August 2020

Most large-scale evapotranspiration (ET) estimation methods require detailed information of land use, land cover, and/or soil type on top of various atmospheric measurements. The complementary relationship of evaporation (CR) takes advantage of the inherent dynamic feedback mechanisms found in the soil-vegetation-atmosphere interface for its estimation of ET rates without the need of such biogeophysical data. ET estimates over the conterminous United States by a new, globally calibrated, static scaling (GCR-stat) of the generalized complementary relationship (GCR) of evaporation were compared to similar estimates of an existing, calibration-free version (GCR-dyn) of the GCR that employs a temporally varying dynamic scaling. Simplified annual water balances of 327 medium and 18 large watersheds served as ground-truth ET values. With long-term monthly mean forcing, GCR-stat (also utilizing precipitation measurements) outperforms GCR-dyn as the latter cannot fully take advantage of its dynamic scaling with such data of reduced temporal variability. However, in a continuous monthly simulation, GCR-dyn is on a par with GCR-stat, and especially excels in reproducing long-term tendencies in annual catchment ET rates even though it does not require precipitation information. The same GCR-dyn estimates were also compared to similar estimates of eight other popular ET products and they generally outperform all of them. For this reason, a dynamic scaling of the GCR is recommended over a static one for modeling long-term behavior of terrestrial ET.
Nerve ultrasound in hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis: red flags and possible progression biomarkers
Authors: Salvalaggio Alessandro , Coraci Daniele , Cacciavillani Mario , Obici Laura , Mazzeo Anna , Luigetti Marco , Pastorelli Francesca , Grandis Marina , Cavallaro Tiziana , Bisogni Giulia , Lozza Alessandro , Gemelli Chiara , Gentile Luca , Ermani Mario , Fabrizi Gian Maria , Plasmati Rosaria , Campagnolo Marta , Castellani Francesca , Gasparotti Roberto , Martinoli Carlo , Padua Luca , Briani Chiara
Published: August 2020

Background

Diagnostic delay of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv, v for variant) prevents timely treatment and, therefore, concurs to the mortality of the disease. The aim of the present study was to explore with nerve ultrasound (US) possible red flags for early diagnosis in ATTRv patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and/or polyneuropathy and in pre-symptomatic carriers.

Methods

Patients and pre-symptomatic carriers with a TTR gene mutation were enrolled from seven Italian centers. Severity of CTS was assessed with neurophysiology and clinical evaluation. Median nerve cross-section area (CSA) was measured with US in ATTRv carriers with CTS (TTR-CTS). One thousand one hundred ninety-six idiopathic CTS were used as controls. Nerve US was also performed in several nerve trunks (median, ulnar, radial, brachial plexi, tibial, peroneal, sciatic, sural) in ATTRv patients with polyneuropathy and in pre-symptomatic carriers.

Results

Sixty-two subjects (34 men, 28 women, mean age 59.8 years ± 12) with TTR gene mutation were recruited. With regard to CTS, while in idiopathic CTS there was a direct correlation between CTS severity and median nerve CSA (r = 0.55, p < 0.01), in the subgroup of TTR-CTS subjects (16 subjects, 5 with bilateral CTS) CSA did not significantly correlate with CTS severity (r = − 0.473). ATTRv patients with polyneuropathy showed larger CSA than pre-symptomatic carriers in several nerve sites, more pronounced at brachial plexi (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The present study identifies nerve morphological US patterns that may help in the early diagnosis (morpho-functional dissociation of median nerve in CTS) and monitoring of pre-symptomatic TTR carriers (larger nerve CSA at proximal nerve sites, especially at brachial plexi).
Effect of Bridge Position Swallow on Esophageal Motility in Healthy Individuals Using High-Resolution Manometry
Authors: Aoyama Kei , Kunieda Kenjiro , Shigematsu Takashi , Ohno Tomohisa , Fujishima Ichiro
Published: August 2020

Recently, there has been clinical interest in the effect of different body positions on esophageal motility. This study aimed to identify the effect of three different body positions on esophageal motility using high-resolution manometry. Thirteen healthy adults swallowed 5 mL of water in the upright, supine, and bridge positions. For the bridge position, each subject raised their waist against gravity, placed a cushion under their back, and bent their knees. The proximal contractile integral (PCI) and distal contractile integral (DCI), integrated relaxation pressure (IRP), distal latency (DL), peristaltic breaks (PBs), intrabolus pressure (IBP), and expiratory and inspiratory esophagoesophageal junction (EGJ) pressure were measured. In the bridge position, PCI, DCI, IRP, and expiratory and inspiratory EGJ pressure were significantly higher than those in the upright position (bridge PCI vs. upright PCI [p = 0.001], bridge DCI vs. upright DCI [p < 0.001], bridge IRP vs. upright IRP [p = 0.018], bridge EGJ pressure vs. upright EGJ pressure [expiratory: p = 0.001] [inspiratory: p < 0.001]). PBs were significantly shorter and DL was significantly longer in the bridge position compared to upright (bridge PBs vs. upright PBs [p = 0.001], bridge DL vs. upright DL [p = 0.001]). IBP was significantly higher in the bridge position compared to supine (bridge IBP vs. supine IBP [p = 0.01]). These results demonstrated changes in esophageal motility according to changes in position while swallowing, where esophageal contractions became stronger against gravity. Further study is required to examine the effectiveness of swallowing in the bridge position.
Epigenetic Regulation of Endothelial Cell Function by Nucleic Acid Methylation in Cardiac Homeostasis and Disease
Authors: Russell-Hallinan Adam , Watson Chris J. , O’Dwyer Denis , Grieve David J. , O’Neill Karla M.
Published: August 2020

Pathological remodelling of the myocardium, including inflammation, fibrosis and hypertrophy, in response to acute or chronic injury is central in the development and progression of heart failure (HF). While both resident and infiltrating cardiac cells are implicated in these pathophysiological processes, recent evidence has suggested that endothelial cells (ECs) may be the principal cell type responsible for orchestrating pathological changes in the failing heart. Epigenetic modification of nucleic acids, including DNA, and more recently RNA, by methylation is essential for physiological development due to their critical regulation of cellular gene expression. As accumulating evidence has highlighted altered patterns of DNA and RNA methylation in HF at both the global and individual gene levels, much effort has been directed towards defining the precise role of such cell-specific epigenetic changes in the context of HF. Considering the increasingly apparent crucial role that ECs play in cardiac homeostasis and disease, this article will specifically focus on nucleic acid methylation (both DNA and RNA) in the failing heart, emphasising the key influence of these epigenetic mechanisms in governing EC function. This review summarises current understanding of DNA and RNA methylation alterations in HF, along with their specific role in regulating EC function in response to stress (e.g. hyperglycaemia, hypoxia). Improved appreciation of this important research area will aid in further implicating dysfunctional ECs in HF pathogenesis, whilst informing development of EC-targeted strategies and advancing potential translation of epigenetic-based therapies for specific targeting of pathological cardiac remodelling in HF.
Geographic hierarchical population genetic structuring in British European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) and its implications for conservation
Authors: Crotti M. , Adams C. E. , Etheridge E. C. , Bean C. W. , Gowans A. R. D. , Knudsen R. , Lyle A. A. , Maitland P. S. , Winfield I. J. , Elmer K. R. , Præbel K.
Published: August 2020

The European whitefish Coregonus lavaretus complex represents one of the most diverse radiations within salmonids, with extreme morphological and genetic differentiation across its range. Such variation has led to the assignment of many populations to separate species. In Great Britain, the seven native populations of C. lavaretus (two in Scotland, four in England, one in Wales) were previously classified into three species, and recent taxonomic revision resurrected the previous nomenclature. Here we used a dataset of 15 microsatellites to: (1) investigate the genetic diversity of British populations, (2) assess the level of population structure and the relationships between British populations. Genetic diversity was highest in Welsh (HO = 0.50, AR = 5.29), intermediate in English (HO = 0.41–0.50, AR = 2.83–3.88), and lowest in Scottish populations (HO = 0.28–0.35, AR = 2.56–3.04). Population structure analyses indicated high genetic differentiation (global FST = 0.388) between all populations but for the two Scottish populations (FST = 0.063) and two English populations (FST = 0.038). Principal component analysis and molecular ANOVA revealed separation between Scottish, English, and Welsh populations, with the Scottish populations being the most diverged. We argue that the data presented here are not sufficient to support a separation of the British European whitefish populations into three separate species, but support the delineation of different ESUs for these populations.
Cross-Country Comparisons of Covid-19: Policy, Politics and the Price of Life
Authors: Balmford Ben , Annan James D. , Hargreaves Julia C. , Altoè Marina , Bateman Ian J.
Published: August 2020

Coronavirus has claimed the lives of over half a million people world-wide and this death toll continues to rise rapidly each day. In the absence of a vaccine, non-clinical preventative measures have been implemented as the principal means of limiting deaths. However, these measures have caused unprecedented disruption to daily lives and economic activity. Given this developing crisis, the potential for a second wave of infections and the near certainty of future pandemics, lessons need to be rapidly gleaned from the available data. We address the challenges of cross-country comparisons by allowing for differences in reporting and variation in underlying socio-economic conditions between countries. Our analyses show that, to date, differences in policy interventions have out-weighed socio-economic variation in explaining the range of death rates observed in the data. Our epidemiological models show that across 8 countries a further week long delay in imposing lockdown would likely have cost more than half a million lives. Furthermore, those countries which acted more promptly saved substantially more lives than those that delayed. Linking decisions over the timing of lockdown and consequent deaths to economic data, we reveal the costs that national governments were implicitly prepared to pay to protect their citizens as reflected in the economic activity foregone to save lives. These ‘price of life’ estimates vary enormously between countries, ranging from as low as around $100,000 (e.g. the UK, US and Italy) to in excess of $1million (e.g. Denmark, Germany, New Zealand and Korea). The lowest estimates are further reduced once we correct for under-reporting of Covid-19 deaths.
The Corona-Pandemic: A Game-Theoretic Perspective on Regional and Global Governance
Authors: Caparrós Alejandro , Finus Michael
Published: August 2020

We argue that the incentive structure of all individual and coordinated measures across countries to contain the corona-pandemic is that of a weakest-link public good game. We discuss a selection of theoretical and experimental key results of weakest-link games and interpret them in the light of the corona-pandemic. First, we highlight that experimental evidence does not support the assumption that coordination can be trivially solved, even among symmetric players. Second, we argue that for asymmetric countries the weakest-link game does not only pose a problem of coordination, but also a problem of cooperation. Third, we show how and under which conditions self-enforcing treaties can foster coordination and cooperation. We account for the possibility that countries make mistakes when choosing their actions. Our discussion shows that North–South cooperation is relevant and likely to be self-enforcing and that regional cooperation, e.g., within the EU, will also be important.
The Effects of Air Pollution on COVID-19 Related Mortality in Northern Italy
Authors: Coker Eric S. , Cavalli Laura , Fabrizi Enrico , Guastella Gianni , Lippo Enrico , Parisi Maria Laura , Pontarollo Nicola , Rizzati Massimiliano , Varacca Alessandro , Vergalli Sergio
Published: August 2020

Long-term exposure to ambient air pollutant concentrations is known to cause chronic lung inflammation, a condition that may promote increased severity of COVID-19 syndrome caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). In this paper, we empirically investigate the ecologic association between long-term concentrations of area-level fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and excess deaths in the first quarter of 2020 in municipalities of Northern Italy. The study accounts for potentially spatial confounding factors related to urbanization that may have influenced the spreading of SARS-CoV-2 and related COVID-19 mortality. Our epidemiological analysis uses geographical information (e.g., municipalities) and negative binomial regression to assess whether both ambient PM2.5 concentration and excess mortality have a similar spatial distribution. Our analysis suggests a positive association of ambient PM2.5 concentration on excess mortality in Northern Italy related to the COVID-19 epidemic. Our estimates suggest that a one-unit increase in PM2.5 concentration (µg/m3) is associated with a 9% (95% confidence interval: 6–12%) increase in COVID-19 related mortality.
The Value of Greenspace Under Pandemic Lockdown
Authors: Day Brett H.
Published: August 2020

The COVID-19 outbreak resulted in unprecedented restrictions on citizen’s freedom of movement as governments moved to institute lockdowns designed to reduce the spread of the virus. While most out-of-home leisure activities were prohibited, in England the lockdown rules allowed for restricted use of outdoor greenspace for the purposes of exercise and recreation. In this paper, we use data recorded by Google from location-enabled mobile devices coupled with a detailed recreation demand model to explore the welfare impacts of those constraints on leisure activities. Our analyses reveals evidence of large-scale substitution of leisure time towards recreation in available greenspaces. Indeed, despite the restrictions the economic value of greenspace to the citizens of England fell by only £150 million over lockdown. Examining the outcomes of counterfactual policies we find that the imposition of stricter lockdown rules would have reduced welfare from greenspace by £1.14 billion. In contrast, more relaxed lockdown rules would have delivered an aggregate increase in the economic value of greenspace equal to £1.47 billion.
Expressivism and Explaining Irrationality: Reply to Baker
Authors: Hengst Sebastian
Published: August 2020

In a recent paper in this journal, Derek Baker (Erkenntnis 83(4):829–852, 2018) raises an objection to expressivism as it has been developed by Mark Schroeder (Being for, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2008). Baker argues that Schroeder’s expressivist (1) is committed to certain sentences expressing rationally incoherent states of mind, and he objects (2) that the expressivist cannot explain why these states would be rationally incoherent. The aim of this paper is to show that Baker’s argument for (1) is unsound, and that (1) is unlikely to be true. This obviates the need to explain the alleged rational incoherence, and so Baker’s objection to Schroeder’s expressivism is undermined.
On the Integration of Agents and Digital Twins in Healthcare
Authors: Croatti Angelo , Gabellini Matteo , Montagna Sara , Ricci Alessandro
Published: August 2020

A digital twin is a digital representation of a physical asset reproducing its data model, its behaviour and its communication with other physical assets. Digital twins act as a digital replica for the physical object or process they represent, providing nearly real-time monitoring and evaluation without being in close proximity. Although most of their concrete applications can be found mainly in the industrial context, healthcare represents another relevant area where digital twins can have a disruptive impact. The main research question tackled by this paper is about the integration of digital twins with agents and Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) technologies in healthcare. After providing an overview of the application of digital twins in healthcare, in this paper, we discuss our vision about agent-based digital twins, and we present a first case study, about the application of agent-based digital twins to the management of severe traumas.
Image Matching from Handcrafted to Deep Features: A Survey
Authors: Ma Jiayi , Jiang Xingyu , Fan Aoxiang , Jiang Junjun , Yan Junchi
Published: August 2020

As a fundamental and critical task in various visual applications, image matching can identify then correspond the same or similar structure/content from two or more images. Over the past decades, growing amount and diversity of methods have been proposed for image matching, particularly with the development of deep learning techniques over the recent years. However, it may leave several open questions about which method would be a suitable choice for specific applications with respect to different scenarios and task requirements and how to design better image matching methods with superior performance in accuracy, robustness and efficiency. This encourages us to conduct a comprehensive and systematic review and analysis for those classical and latest techniques. Following the feature-based image matching pipeline, we first introduce feature detection, description, and matching techniques from handcrafted methods to trainable ones and provide an analysis of the development of these methods in theory and practice. Secondly, we briefly introduce several typical image matching-based applications for a comprehensive understanding of the significance of image matching. In addition, we also provide a comprehensive and objective comparison of these classical and latest techniques through extensive experiments on representative datasets. Finally, we conclude with the current status of image matching technologies and deliver insightful discussions and prospects for future works. This survey can serve as a reference for (but not limited to) researchers and engineers in image matching and related fields.
Investigation of water retention functions of artificial soil-like substrates for a range of mixing ratios of two components
Authors: Willaredt Moreen , Nehls Thomas
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Urban greening is politically fostered as an adaptation strategy to climate change. Therefore, the demand for fertile planting substrates increases. Such substrates are usually mixed from mined geogenic resources but should rather be produced from recycled materials. Furthermore, their hydraulic properties should be designed according to their application, e.g., by optimizing the mixing ratio of their components. Therefore, this study introduces an approach to investigate the water retention curves (WRC) of soil-like substrates as a function of the mixing ratio of two recycled components: exemplarily for green waste compost (GWC) and ground bricks (GB) in the fraction of sand.

Materials and methods

Seven mixing ratios for GWC and GB, 0/100, 18/82, 28/72, 37/63, 47/53, 68/32, and 100/0 have been packed to mixture-specific densities using a newly constructed packing device. The packing density resulted from applying six strokes with a constant momentum of 5.62 × 10−3 N s m−2 that was chosen according to the German green roof guideline. Thus, a standardized compaction was assured. The WRCs were measured using the simplified evaporation method in five replicates for each of the seven mixtures. A set of water retention models was parameterized and analyzed in regard to their suitability to represent the full range of binary mixtures.

Results and discussion

The newly constructed packing device enables to pack cylinders reproducibly. The densities in the cylinders for the mixtures varied from 0.64 g cm−3 (GWC/GB = 100/0) to 1.35 g cm−3 (GWC/GB = 0/100) with a coefficient of variation less than 1.3%. The simplified evaporation method delivered homogeneous results for all five replicates of the investigated mixtures. The WRC of the seven mixtures is the result of a complex combination of the pore systems of GWC and GB. The multi-modal water retention models of Peters, Durner, and Iden are principally suitable to describe soil-like substrates that are rich in organic matter. The models PDI (van Genuchten) and PDI (Fredlund–Xing) best described the WRCs for the full range of mixing ratios according to the quality criterion RMSE.

Conclusions

The study delivers a template how to prepare and analyze soil-like substrates regarding their WRCs using the simplified evaporation method. Complemented by total porosity and measurements at pF > 4, it is a suitable method to gain high-resolution WRCs of soil-like substrates. Available water retention models are capable to describe the hydraulic behavior of binary mixtures over the full mixing ratio. Therefore, it would be possible to model the WRC of binary mixtures as a function of their mixing ratio.
Gravity sensing: cold atom trap onboard a 6U CubeSat
Authors: Devani Diviya , Maddox Stephen , Renshaw Ryan , Cox Nigel , Sweeney Helen , Cross Trevor , Holynski Michael , Nolli Raffaele , Winch Jonathan , Bongs Kai , Holland Karen , Colebrook David , Adams Neil , Quillien Kevin , Buckle James , Karde Anupe , Farries Mark , Legg Tom , Webb Richard , Gawith Corin , Berry Sam A. , Carpenter Lewis
Published: August 2020

“Cold atoms” can be used as ultra-sensitive sensors for measuring accelerations and are capable of mapping changes in the strength of gravity across the surface of the Earth. They could offer significant benefits to existing space based gravity sensing capabilities. Gravity sensors in space are already used for many Earth observation applications including monitoring polar ice mass, ocean currents and sea level. Cold atom sensors could enable higher resolution measurements which would allow monitoring of smaller water sources and discovery of new underground natural resources which are currently undetectable. The adoption of cold atom technology is constrained by low technology readiness level (TRL). Teledyne e2v and its partners are addressing this maturity gap through project Cold Atom Space PAyload (CASPA) which is an Innovate UK and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded project, involving the University of Birmingham as science lead, XCAM, Clyde Space, Covesion, Gooch & Housego, and the University of Southampton. Through the CASPA project the consortium have built and vibration tested a 6U (approximate dimensions: 100 × 200 × 300 mm) cube Satellite (CubeSat) that is capable of laser cooling atoms down to 100’s of micro kelvin, as a pre-cursor to gravity sensors for future Earth observation missions.
Damage detection and localisation of CMCs by means of electrical health monitoring
Authors: Staebler Tina , Boehrk Hannah , Voggenreiter Heinz
Published: August 2020

Carbon-based composites such as C/C-SiC are used in thermal protection systems for atmospheric re-entry. The electrical properties of this semiconductor material can be used for health monitoring, as electrical resistivity changes with damage, strain, and temperature. In this work, electrical resistance measurements are used to detect damage in a thermal protection system made of C/C-SiC. This can be done in-situ. Damage experiments with $$320\,\hbox {mm}\,\times \,120\,\hbox {mm}\,\times \,3\hbox { mm}$$

320

mm

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120

mm

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panel shaped samples were conducted with a multiplexer switching unit to determine up to 288 electrical resistance and voltage measurements per cycle time and spatially resolved. The change in resistance is an indicator for damage, and with the use of post-processing algorithms, the location of the damage can be determined. With these data, inhomogeneous temperatures can be accorded for and damage can be detected. This method reacts even to small damages where less than 0.02% of the monitored surface is damaged. A localisation with a deviation from the real defect of less than 8% in sample width and 17% in sample length is presented.
Cost of Nine Pediatric Infectious Illnesses in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review of Cost-of-Illness Studies
Authors: de Broucker Gatien , Sim So Yoon , Brenzel Logan , Gross Margaret , Patenaude Bryan , Constenla Dagna O.
Published: August 2020

Background

Cost-of-illness data from empirical studies provide insights into the use of healthcare resources including both expenditures and the opportunity cost related to receiving treatment.

Objective

The objective of this systematic review was to gather cost data and relevant parameters for hepatitis B, pneumonia, meningitis, encephalitis caused by Japanese encephalitis, rubella, yellow fever, measles, influenza, and acute gastroenteritis in children in low- and middle-income countries.

Data Sources

Peer-reviewed studies published in public health, medical, and economic journals indexed in PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, and EconLit.

Study Eligibility Criteria, Participants, and Interventions

Studies must (1) be peer reviewed, (2) be published in 2000–2016, (3) provide cost data for one of the nine diseases in children aged under 5 years in low- and middle-income countries, and (4) generated from primary data collection.

Limitations

We cannot exclude missing a few articles in our review. Measures were taken to reduce this risk. Several articles published since 2016 are omitted from the systematic review results, these articles are included in the discussion.

Conclusions and Implications of Key Findings

The review yielded 37 articles and 267 sets of cost estimates. We found no cost-of-illness studies with cost estimates for hepatitis B, measles, rubella, or yellow fever from primary data. Most estimates were from countries in Gavi preparatory (28%) and accelerated (28%) transition, followed by those who are initiating self-financing (22%) and those not eligible for Gavi support (19%). Thirteen articles compared household expenses to manage illnesses with income and two articles with other household expenses, such as food, clothing, and rent. An episode of illness represented 1–75% of the household’s monthly income or 10–83% of its monthly expenses. Articles that presented both household and government perspectives showed that most often governments incurred greater costs than households, including non-medical and indirect costs, across countries of all income statuses, with a few notable exceptions. Although limited for low- and middle-income country settings, cost estimates generated from primary data collection provided a ‘real-world’ estimate of the economic burden of vaccine-preventable diseases. Additional information on whether common situations preventing the application of official clinical guidelines (such as medication stock-outs) occurred would help reveal deficiencies in the health system. Improving the availability of cost-of-illness evidence can inform the public policy agenda about healthcare priorities and can help to operationalize the healthcare budget in local health systems to respond adequately to the burden of illness in the community.