bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk Assessment Driven Use of Advanced SIEM Technology for Cyber Protection of Critical e-Health Processes
Authors: Coppolino Luigi , Sgaglione Luigi , D’Antonio Salvatore , Magliulo Mario , Romano Luigi , Pacelli Roberto
Published: October 2021

The approach presented in this paper provides effective protection of critical business processes by applying advanced SIEM technology in a rigorous fashion, based on the results of accurate risk assessment. The proposed SIEM tool advances the State of The Art of the technology along two axes, specifically: privacy and integrity. The advancements are achieved via combined use of two of the most promising technologies for trusted computing, namely: Trusted Execution Environment (TTE) and Homomorphic Encryption (HE). The approach is validated with respect to a real use case of a Smart Hospital (i.e., one where IT is massively used), with challenging security requirements. The use case is contributed by one of the major public hospitals in Italy. Experiments demonstrate that, by relying on continuous monitoring of security relevant events and advanced correlation techniques, the SIEM solution proposed in this work effectively protects the critical workflows of the hospital business processes from cyber-attacks with high impact (specifically: serious harm to or even death of the patient).
Can Blockchain Solve the Hold-up Problem in Contracts?
Authors: Holden Richard , Malani Anup
Published: October 2021

A vexing problem in contract law is modification. Two parties sign a contract but before they fully perform, they modify the contract. Should courts enforce the modified agreement? A private remedy is for the parties to write a contract that is robust to hold-up or that makes the facts relevant to modification verifiable. Provisions accomplishing these ends are renegotiation-design and revelation mechanisms. But implementing them requires commitment power. Conventional contract technologies to ensure commitment – liquidated damages – are disfavored by courts and themselves subject to renegotiation. Smart contracts written on blockchain ledgers offer a solution. We explain the basic economics and legal relevance of these technologies, and we argue that they can implement liquidated damages without courts. We address the hurdles courts may impose to use of smart contracts on blockchain and show that sophisticated parties' ex ante commitment to them may lead courts to allow their use as pre-commitment devices.
Gouverner la langue arabe: Miguel Casiri et les arabisants du roi d’Espagne au siècle des Lumières
Authors: Glesener Thomas
Published: October 2021

Gouverner la langue arabe: Miguel Casiri et les arabisants du roi d’Espagne au siècle des Lumières

Originaire de Tripoli (mont Liban), Miguel Casiri (1708-1791) a exercé une influence importante sur les études arabes en Espagne durant la seconde moitié du xviiie siècle. Son empreinte a été traditionnellement appréciée à l’aune d’une histoire intellectuelle focalisée sur son œuvre, qui négligeait largement son activité en tant qu’agent de la Monarchie hispanique. Or, Casiri a collaboré à la consolidation d’un pôle d’expertise en langue arabe à Madrid à une époque où la couronne entendait réfuter rationnellement certains privilèges urbains appuyés sur des textes et des inscriptions en langue arabe. En exhumant la part prise par Casiri dans ces réformes, cet article analyse les modalités conflictuelles de formation d’un champ linguistique spécialisé adossé à la juridiction royale et met en évidence deux lignes de fracture majeures. L’une porte sur la sélection du personnel employé dans l’expertise linguistique, et en particulier sur la manière de réguler les réseaux de la diaspora maronite – qui ont été d’importants fournisseurs de main-d’œuvre. L’autre concerne la définition de l’expertise en langue arabe, opposant les défenseurs d’un savoir spécialisé contrôlé par une communauté de savants et les tenants d’un savoir pratique soumis aux besoins des commanditaires. À rebours d’une histoire intellectuelle de la langue, cet article propose une histoire politique des arabisants, qui replace la connaissance de l’arabe au cœur de la constitution des savoirs d’État.
Telephone consultation for two-week-wait ENT and head and neck cancer referrals: initial evaluation including patient satisfaction
Authors: Rovira A , Brar S , Munroe-Gray T , Ofo E , Rodriguez C , Kim D
Published: October 2021

Objective

To analyse the outcomes of telephone consultation, including patient satisfaction, for two-week-wait head and neck cancer referrals.

Methods

Analysis of the data of this prospective study was centred on outcomes of the consultation, patient satisfaction and preference for telephone consultation.

Results

Patient satisfaction and preference for telephone consultation were influenced by patient awareness of cancer referral. When comparing the three most common presenting symptoms, patients with sore throat were more satisfied than those with neck mass. Regarding telephone consultation outcomes, patients with neck mass were less likely to be discharged and more likely to require investigations than those with sore throat or hoarseness. Patients with hoarseness more often required a face-to-face appointment.

Conclusion

Telephone consultation might be a valid initial encounter for the majority of two-week-wait head and neck cancer referrals, especially when the referral symptoms are considered. This work shows the validity and safety of telephone consultation for two-week-wait head and neck cancer referrals.
Two portraits of Agrippa Postumus in the British Museum
Authors: Russell Miles , Manley Harry
Published: October 2021

Two damaged and partially restored Roman portraits in the collection of the British Museum, previously identified as either the emperor Caligula or an unknown “Julio-Claudian prince,” are here reassessed and identified as Agrippa Postumus, the youngest grandson and adopted heir of Augustus. The first portrait, from southern Britain, may have come from a temple dedicated to the worship of the Julio-Claudian house, while the second was probably part of an equestrian group standing outside the Aedes Castoris in Rome. This is a significant reinterpretation, providing potential evidence not only for links between Rome's first family and the rulers of a distant client kingdom, but also for the framing of imperial power and the uncertain nature of the Augustan succession in the early years of the 1st c. CE.
Sentinel‐Based Inventory of Thermokarst Lakes and Ponds Across Permafrost Landscapes on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau
Authors: Wei Zhiqiang , Du Zhiheng , Wang Lei , Lin Jiahui , Feng Yaru , Xu Qian , Xiao Cunde
Published: October 2021

Thermokarst lakes and ponds (hereafter referred to as thaw lakes) play an important role in the permafrost regions by regulating hydrology, ecology, and biogeochemistry. However, detailed quantitative information on thaw lake extent and distribution remains poorly resolved across the entire permafrost regions on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP). Here, we applied the random forest (RF) model and manual visual vectorization methods to extract thaw lake boundaries on the QTP based on Sentinel‐2 images. Accuracy assessment was comprehensively demonstrated regarding the inherent spatial resolution of imagery and RF model performance. The results showed that the accumulated uncertainty of the total thaw lake area was ±5.75 km2, and the mean accuracy (91.9%) from field‐measured boundaries of 132 thaw lakes supported the accuracy of this inventory. A total of ∼161,300 thaw lakes with sizes ranging from 500 m2 to 3 km2 were detected, with a total area of ∼2,825.45 ± 5.75 km2. Most thaw lakes were detected in the continuous permafrost type (94.1%) and within the elevations of 4,500–5,000 m (68.4%). The small thaw lakes (<10,000 m2) predominated the total lake number (78.9%) but contributed to a small portion of the total lake area (12.7%). Spatial distributions of thaw lakes in terms of different climatic and environmental conditions were also comprehensively explored, including temperature, precipitation, ground thermal stability, active layer thickness, vegetation, soil properties, and underground ice content. This inventory is expected to be incorporated into Earth system models for a more comprehensive projection of the large‐scale biogeochemical feedback of thermokarst landforms on the QTP under continued global warming.
A Surface pCO2 Increasing Hiatus in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean Since 2010
Authors: Qiu Shuang , Feng Yang , Zhang Yuhong , Qi Di , Wu Yingxu , Du Yan
Published: October 2021

We used multiple data sets to investigate the decadal and longer time scale variability of sea surface partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) over the equatorial Pacific Ocean from 1990 to 2019. Unlike the increasing trend in the global oceanic pCO2, both the Niño 3.4 and warm pool regions featured distinct decadal variabilities. A pCO2 increasing stagnation, a hiatus stage, was identified in the Niño 3.4 region from 2010 to 2019. Further analysis demonstrated that low‐frequency pCO2 was negatively correlated with the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) index. Both the 2009/10 and 2015/16 El Niño events and an increasing phase of IPO contributed to this long pCO2 stagnation. Correspondingly, a weaker upwelling was induced in the central and eastern tropical Pacific as the trade winds weakened and thus stagnated the increase in pCO2 in the Niño 3.4 region. Our results imply a significant impact of climate variabilities on sea surface pCO2 in the equatorial Pacific.
Infrasound From a Buried Chemical Explosion Recorded on a Balloon in the Lower Stratosphere
Authors: Bowman Daniel C. , Krishnamoorthy Siddharth
Published: October 2021

Infrasound waveforms generated by natural and anthropogenic phenomena contain important clues about the size and nature of the event. We show that sensors on balloons in the lower stratosphere can record faithful representations of the near‐source acoustic wave field at unprecedented range. The acoustic signature of a buried chemical explosion recorded at a range of 56 km and an altitude of 21.8 km was nearly identical to that recorded on the ground 0.5 km from the epicenter, but absent on a ground sensor located 46 km away. Our results demonstrate that balloon‐borne infrasound techniques greatly increase the range at which well‐preserved acoustic representations of near‐source physics can be acquired, and that their propagation is simple to model. Our work has implications for monitoring remote regions of the earth for explosions, volcanic eruptions, and other phenomena. It also supports the prospect of balloon‐based infrasound seismology on Venus.
Age‐Resolved Source and Region Contributions to Fine Particulate Matter During an Extreme Haze Episode in China
Authors: Xie Xiaodong , Shi Zhihao , Ying Qi , Zhang Hongliang , Hu Jianlin
Published: October 2021

A source‐ and age‐resolved algorithm (SARA) was developed in the CMAQ model and applied to study the sources and ages of primary fine particulate matter (PPM) and secondary inorganic aerosols (SNA) in China during January 2013. Residential and industry are the major contributors to PPM and sulfate, especially for fresh particles. The contributions of power increase with age, accounting for 25% and 51% of aged sulfate and nitrate (>48 hr), respectively. Local emissions and intra‐regional transport with younger age contribute to over 70% of PPM and SNA in Beijing, while long‐range transport from northern China with older age becomes more significant in Shanghai. On pollution days, the ages of PPM and SNA consistently increase, suggesting enhanced contributions from regional transport. This study highlights that the age‐specific particle source and region information produced by our SARA algorithm can help design cost‐effective emission control strategies to reduce extreme haze pollution.
The Strongest Negative Lightning Strokes in Winter Thunderstorms in Japan
Authors: Wu Ting , Wang Daohong , Huang Haitao , Takagi Nobuyuki
Published: October 2021

Winter thunderstorms in Japan are well known for the frequent production of energetic positive cloud‐to‐ground (CG) lightning flashes. By contrast, strong negative CG flashes or negative return strokes in winter thunderstorms are largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that negative return strokes with peak currents larger than 150 kA (absolute value) in winter thunderstorms in Japan mostly produce electric field change waveforms that are different from those of normal return strokes. Due to their unusual waveforms, these strongest negative strokes have not been recognized as return strokes by the lightning research community. We further demonstrate that these strong negative return strokes are preceded by a fast downward negative leader with a short duration and strong peak current. We suggest that the fast and powerful downward negative leader may be associated with downward terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes. We also present evidence that these strong negative strokes are likely “superbolts” observed from space.
Evidence for Multiple Ferrel‐Like Cells on Jupiter
Authors: Duer Keren , Gavriel Nimrod , Galanti Eli , Kaspi Yohai , Fletcher Leigh N. , Guillot Tristan , Bolton Scott J. , Levin Steven M. , Atreya Sushil K. , Grassi Davide , Ingersoll Andrew P. , Li Cheng , Li Liming , Lunine Jonathan I. , Orton Glenn S. , Oyafuso Fabiano A. , Waite J. Hunter
Published: October 2021

Jupiter's atmosphere is dominated by multiple jet streams which are strongly tied to its 3D atmospheric circulation. Lacking a rigid bottom boundary, several models exist for how the meridional circulation extends into the planetary interior. Here, we show, collecting evidence from multiple instruments of the Juno mission, the existence of midlatitudinal meridional circulation cells which are driven by turbulence, similar to the Ferrel cells on Earth. Different than Earth, which contains only one such cell in each hemisphere, the larger, faster rotating Jupiter can incorporate multiple cells. The cells form regions of upwelling and downwelling, which we show are clearly evident in Juno's microwave data between latitudes and . The existence of these cells is confirmed by reproducing the ammonia observations using a simplistic model. This study solves a long‐standing puzzle regarding the nature of Jupiter's subcloud dynamics and provides evidence for eight cells in each Jovian hemisphere.
Jupiter's Overturning Circulation: Breaking Waves Take the Place of Solid Boundaries
Authors: Ingersoll Andrew P. , Atreya Sushil , Bolton Scott J. , Brueshaber Shawn , Fletcher Leigh N. , Levin Steven M. , Li Cheng , Li Liming , Lunine Jonathan I. , Orton Glenn S. , Waite Hunter
Published: October 2021

Cloud‐tracked wind observations document the role of eddies in putting momentum into the zonal jets. Chemical tracers, lightning, clouds, and temperature anomalies document the rising and sinking in the belts and zones, but questions remain about what drives the flow between the belts and zones. We suggest an additional role for the eddies, which is to generate waves that propagate both up and down from the cloud layer. When the waves break they deposit momentum and thereby replace the friction forces at solid boundaries that enable overturning circulations on terrestrial planets. By depositing momentum of one sign within the cloud layer and momentum of the opposite sign above and below the clouds, the eddies maintain all components of the circulation, including the stacked, oppositely rotating cells between each belt‐zone pair, and the zonal jets themselves.
A simple six-step guide to National-Scale Hypertension Control Program implementation
Authors: Cazabon Danielle , Farrell Margaret , Gupta Reena , Joseph Lindsay , Pathni Anupam Khungar , Sahoo Swagata , Kunwar Abhishek , Elliott Kate , Cohn Jennifer , Frieden Thomas R. , Moran Andrew E.
Published: October 2021

Hypertension is the leading single preventable risk factor for death worldwide, and most of the disease burden attributed to hypertension weighs on low-and middle-income countries. Effective large-scale public health hypertension control programs are needed to control hypertension globally. National programs can follow six important steps to launch a successful national-scale hypertension control program: establish an administrative structure and survey current resources, select a standard hypertension treatment protocol, ensure supply of medication and blood pressure devices, train health care workers to measure blood pressure and control hypertension, implement an information system for monitoring patients and the program overall, and enroll and monitor patients with phased program expansion. Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of global public health organization Vital Strategies, and its partners organized these six key steps and materials into a structured, stepwise guide to establish best practices in hypertension program design, launch, maintenance, and scale-up.
Changes in chronotype and social jetlag during adolescence and their association with concurrent changes in BMI-SDS and body composition, in the DONALD Study
Authors: Jankovic Nicole , Schmitting Sarah , Krüger Bettina , Nöthlings Ute , Buyken Anette , Alexy Ute
Published: October 2021

Background/objectives

Adolescence is a critical period for both the development of overweight and the transition toward a later chronotype, often accompanied by an increase in social jetlag. This study assessed whether changes in chronotype and social jetlag, are linked to changes in body composition during adolescence.

Subjects/methods

We used data from the DONALD open cohort study, collected between 2014 and 2019, from 213 adolescents (9–17 years at baseline, 45% females) having at least two measures of chronotype and anthropometry (N = 572). Chronotype was assessed with the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire and defined as: midpoint of sleep corrected for sleep-debt (MSFsc) accumulated over the week (later MSFsc represents later chronotype). Social jetlag (SJL) defines the difference between midpoint of sleep during week and weekend. Calculations for Fat Free Mass Index (FFMI [kg/m2)]) and Fat Mass Index (FMI) [kg/m2)]) were based on body fat percentage, weight, and height. To analyze the associations, we used linear mixed-effect regression models. Finally, the total cohort was split into three biologically relevant age groups (cut-off set at <12 years, ≥12 to ≤15 years and >15 years).

Results

Median follow-up was 2.1 years. Overall, change toward a later chronotype was significantly related with an increase in FMI (ß: 0.05, 95% CI: 0.01–0.08). A 1 h increase in social jetlag predicted an increase in BMI-SDS of 0.08 SDS units (95% CI: 0.01–0.14) and in FMI of 0.04 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.003–0.08). Associations were stronger for the age group ≥12 to ≤15 years (p for interaction: <0.001). No relationship was found with FFMI.

Conclusions

Changes in MSFsc and SJL during adolescence were associated with concurrent changes in BMI-SDS and FMI. The age ≥12 to ≤15 years appears to be a sensitive period in which chronobiological changes were clearly associated with increasing body fatness.
A conserved mechanism for regulating replisome disassembly in eukaryotes
Authors: Jenkyn-Bedford Michael , Jones Morgan L. , Baris Yasemin , Labib Karim P. M. , Cannone Giuseppe , Yeeles Joseph T. P. , Deegan Tom D.
Published: October 2021

Replisome disassembly is the final step of eukaryotic DNA replication and is triggered by ubiquitylation of the CDC45–MCM–GINS (CMG) replicative helicase1–3. Despite being driven by evolutionarily diverse E3 ubiquitin ligases in different eukaryotes (SCFDia2 in budding yeast1, CUL2LRR1 in metazoa4–7), replisome disassembly is governed by a common regulatory principle, in which ubiquitylation of CMG is suppressed before replication termination, to prevent replication fork collapse. Recent evidence suggests that this suppression is mediated by replication fork DNA8–10. However, it is unknown how SCFDia2 and CUL2LRR1 discriminate terminated from elongating replisomes, to selectively ubiquitylate CMG only after termination. Here we used cryo-electron microscopy to solve high-resolution structures of budding yeast and human replisome–E3 ligase assemblies. Our structures show that the leucine-rich repeat domains of Dia2 and LRR1 are structurally distinct, but bind to a common site on CMG, including the MCM3 and MCM5 zinc-finger domains. The LRR–MCM interaction is essential for replisome disassembly and, crucially, is occluded by the excluded DNA strand at replication forks, establishing the structural basis for the suppression of CMG ubiquitylation before termination. Our results elucidate a conserved mechanism for the regulation of replisome disassembly in eukaryotes, and reveal a previously unanticipated role for DNA in preserving replisome integrity.
Maternal dyslipidemia and altered cholesterol metabolism in early pregnancy as a risk factor for small for gestational age neonates
Authors: Kim So Yeon , Lee Seung Mi , Kwon Go Eun , Kim Byoung Jae , Koo Ja Nam , Oh Ig Hwan , Kim Sun Min , Shin Sue , Kim Won , Joo Sae Kyung , Norwitz Errol R. , Jung Young Mi , Park Chan-Wook , Jun Jong Kwan , Choi Man Ho , Park Joong Shin
Published: October 2021

We evaluated the relationship between maternal cholesterol levels and its biologically active precursors and metabolites in the first trimester and subsequent risk for small-for-gestational-age birthweight (SGA). This is a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study which enrolled healthy singleton pregnancies (n = 1337). Maternal fasting blood was taken in the first trimester and followed up till delivery. The lipid parameters were compared between women who delivered SGA neonates (SGA-group, birthweight < 10th percentile, n = 107) and women who did not (non-SGA-group, n = 1230). In addition, metabolic signatures of cholesterol were evaluated in a subset consisting of propensity-score matched SGA (n = 56) and control group (n = 56). Among lipid parameters, maternal high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were significantly lower in SGA-group than in non-SGA-group (p = 0.022). The risk for SGA was negatively correlated with maternal serum HDL-C quartiles (p = 0.003), and this association remained significant after adjustment for confounding variables. In metabolic signatures of cholesterol, the cholesterol/lathosterol ratio in SGA-group was significantly higher than non-SGA-group [(2.7 (1.6–3.7) vs. 2.1 (1.5–2.9), respectively; p = 0.034)], suggesting increased endogenous cholesterol biosynthesis. We demonstrated that dyslipidemia and increased cholesterol biosynthesis led to delivery of SGA neonates even in early pregnancy.
Study on timing sequence control fracture blasting excavation of deep rock masses with filled joints
Authors: Huang Junhong , Zhang Guang , Luo Yi , Li Xinping , Song Kaiwen , Liu Tingting
Published: October 2021

During the blasting excavation of deep underground caverns, the effects of the structural surface on crack propagation are usually considered in addition to the clamping effects of high in situ stress. Based on the notched borehole and timing sequence control (TSC) fracture blasting method, this paper studies the effects of different borehole shapes on the degree of damage of the surrounding rock and profile flatness of the rock anchor beams and the effects of different filled joint characteristics on the blasting crack propagation rules. The results show that the damage depth of the surrounding rocks by round hole smooth blasting is approximately twice that by notched hole smooth blasting, by which the profile formed is flatter. The notched primary borehole (PBH) remains a strong guidance for crack propagation in a rock mass with filled joints, while the stress concentration effects of the round target borehole (TBH) cannot fully guide the cracks until they fall within a certain distance between the PBH and TBH. It is favourable for cracks to propagate along the lines between boreholes with larger filled joint strengths and larger angles between boreholes.
Conflict-free collective stochastic decision making by orbital angular momentum of photons through quantum interference
Authors: Amakasu Takashi , Chauvet Nicolas , Bachelier Guillaume , Huant Serge , Horisaki Ryoichi , Naruse Makoto
Published: October 2021

In recent cross-disciplinary studies involving both optics and computing, single-photon-based decision-making has been demonstrated by utilizing the wave-particle duality of light to solve multi-armed bandit problems. Furthermore, entangled-photon-based decision-making has managed to solve a competitive multi-armed bandit problem in such a way that conflicts of decisions among players are avoided while ensuring equality. However, as these studies are based on the polarization of light, the number of available choices is limited to two, corresponding to two orthogonal polarization states. Here we propose a scalable principle to solve competitive decision-making situations by using the orbital angular momentum of photons based on its high dimensionality, which theoretically allows an unlimited number of arms. Moreover, by extending the Hong-Ou-Mandel effect to more than two states, we theoretically establish an experimental configuration able to generate multi-photon states with orbital angular momentum and conditions that provide conflict-free selections at every turn. We numerically examine total rewards regarding three-armed bandit problems, for which the proposed strategy accomplishes almost the theoretical maximum, which is greater than a conventional mixed strategy intending to realize Nash equilibrium. This is thanks to the quantum interference effect that achieves no-conflict selections, even in the exploring phase to find the best arms.
Metabarcoding insights into the diet and trophic diversity of six declining farmland birds
Authors: Cabodevilla Xabier , Mougeot François , Bota Gerard , Mañosa Santi , Cuscó Francesc , Martínez-García Julen , Arroyo Beatriz , Madeira María J.
Published: October 2021

Knowledge of feeding ecology of declining species, such as farmland birds, is essential to address their conservation requirements, especially when their habitats are suffering important reductions of trophic resources. In this study, we apply a metabarcoding approach to describe the diet composition of six of the most significant farmland birds inhabiting European cereal pseudo-steppes: little bustard, great bustard, pin-tailed sandgrouse, black-bellied sandgrouse, red-legged partridge, and common quail. We further studied seasonal diet variations (autumn to spring) in all species but the common quail, whose diet was studied during spring and summer. We show that study species´ diets mostly consisted of plants, although in the case of little bustard and great bustard arthropods are also highly relevant. Among arthropods, we found high proportions of thrips, arachnids, and springtails, which were previously unreported in their diet, and some taxa that could be used as antiparasitic food. Moreover, we report that little bustard’s diet is the least rich of that of all studied species, and that diet of all these species is less diverse in winter than in autumn and spring. Diet composition of these declining species supports the importance of natural and semi-natural vegetation and landscape mosaics that can provide a wide variety of arthropods, plants, and seeds all year-round.
A novel technique to assess rotational deformities in lower extremities using CT-based motion analysis
Authors: Bakhshayesh Peyman , Ihediwa Ugwunna , Sandher Sukha , Vris Alexandros , Heidari Nima , Enocson Anders
Published: October 2021

Rotational deformities following intramedullary (IM) nailing of tibia has a reported incidence of as high as 20%. Common techniques to measure deformities following IM nailing of tibia are either based on clinical assessment, plain X-rays or Computed Tomography (CT) comparing the treated leg with the uninjured contralateral side. All these techniques are based on examiners manual calculation inherently subject to bias. Following our previous rigorous motion analysis and symmetry studies on hemi pelvises, femurs and orthopaedic implants, we aimed to introduce a novel fully digital technique to measure rotational deformities in the lower legs. Following formal institutional approval from the Imperial College, CT images of 10 pairs of human lower legs were retrieved. Images were anonymized and uploaded to a research server. Three dimensional CT images of the lower legs were bilaterally reconstructed. CT-based motion analysis (CTMA) was used and the mirrored images of the left side were merged with the right side proximally as stationary and distally as moving objects. Discrepancies in translation and rotation were automatically calculated. Our study population had a mean age of 54 ± 20 years. There were six males and four females. We observed a greater variation in translation (mm) of Centre of Mass (COM) in sagittal plane (95% CI − 2.959–.292) which was also presented as rotational difference alongside the antero-posterior direction or Y axis (95% CI .370–1.035). In other word the right lower legs in our study were more likely to be in varus compared to the left side. However, there were no statistically significant differences in coronal or axial planes. Using our proposed fully digital technique we found that lower legs of the human adults were symmetrical in axial and coronal plane. We found sagittal plane differences which need further addressing in future using bigger sample size. Our novel recommended technique is fully digital and commercially available. This new technique can be useful in clinical practice addressing rotational deformities following orthopaedic surgical intervention. This new technique can substitute the previously introduced techniques.
Energy band structure of multistream quantum electron system
Authors: Akbari-Moghanjoughi M.
Published: October 2021

In this paper, using the quantum multistream model, we develop a method to study the electronic band structure of plasmonic excitations in streaming electron gas with arbitrary degree of degeneracy. The multifluid quantum hydrodynamic model is used to obtain N-coupled pseudoforce differential equation system from which the energy band structure of plasmonic excitations is calculated. It is shown that inevitable appearance of energy bands separated by gaps can be due to discrete velocity filaments and their electrostatic mode coupling in the electron gas. Current model also provides an alternative description of collisionless damping and phase mixing, i.e., collective scattering phenomenon within the energy band gaps due to mode coupling between wave-like and particle-like oscillations. The quantum multistream model is further generalized to include virtual streams which is used to calculate the electronic band structure of one-dimensional plasmonic crystals. It is remarked that, unlike the empty lattice approximation in free electron model, energy band gaps exist in plasmon excitations due to the collective electrostatic interactions between electrons. It is also shown that the plasmonic band gap size at first Brillouin zone boundary maximizes at the reciprocal lattice vector, G, close to metallic densities. Furthermore, the electron-lattice binding and electron-phonon coupling strength effects on the electronic band structure are discussed. It is remarked that inevitable formation of energy band structure is a general characteristics of various electromagnetically and gravitationally coupled quantum multistream systems.
A combined treatment regimen of MGMT-modified γδ T cells and temozolomide chemotherapy is effective against primary high grade gliomas
Authors: Lamb Lawrence S. , Pereboeva Larisa , Youngblood Samantha , Gillespie G. Yancey , Nabors L. Burton , Markert James M. , Dasgupta Anindya , Langford Catherine , Spencer H. Trent
Published: October 2021

Chemotherapeutic drugs such as the alkylating agent Temozolomide (TMZ), in addition to reducing tumor mass, can also sensitize tumors to immune recognition by transient upregulation of multiple stress induced NKG2D ligands (NKG2DL). However, the potential for an effective response by innate lymphocyte effectors such as NK and γδ T cells that recognize NKG2DL is limited by the drug’s concomitant lymphodepleting effects. We have previously shown that modification of γδ T cells with a methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) transgene confers TMZ resistance via production of O6-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) thereby enabling γδ T cell function in therapeutic concentrations of TMZ. In this study, we tested this strategy which we have termed Drug Resistant Immunotherapy (DRI) to examine whether combination therapy of TMZ and MGMT-modified γδ T cells could improve survival outcomes in four human/mouse xenograft models of primary and refractory GBM. Our results confirm that DRI leverages the innate response of γδ T cells to chemotherapy-induced stress associated antigen expression and achieves synergies that are significantly greater than either individual approach.
Human retinal organoids release extracellular vesicles that regulate gene expression in target human retinal progenitor cells
Authors: Zhou Jing , Flores-Bellver Miguel , Pan Jianbo , Benito-Martin Alberto , Shi Cui , Onwumere Onyekwere , Mighty Jason , Qian Jiang , Zhong Xiufeng , Hogue Tasmim , Amponsah-Antwi Baffour , Einbond Linda , Gharbaran Rajendra , Wu Hao , Chen Bo-Juen , Zheng Zhiliang , Tchaikovskaya Tatyana , Zhang Xusheng , Peinado Hector , Canto-Soler Maria Valeria , Redenti Stephen
Published: October 2021

The mechanisms underlying retinal development have not been completely elucidated. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are novel essential mediators of cell-to-cell communication with emerging roles in developmental processes. Nevertheless, the identification of EVs in human retinal tissue, characterization of their cargo, and analysis of their potential role in retina development has not been accomplished. Three-dimensional retinal tissue derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) provide an ideal developmental system to achieve this goal. Here we report that hiPSC-derived retinal organoids release exosomes and microvesicles with small noncoding RNA cargo. EV miRNA cargo-predicted targetome correlates with Gene Ontology (GO) pathways involved in mechanisms of retinogenesis relevant to specific developmental stages corresponding to hallmarks of native human retina development. Furthermore, uptake of EVs by human retinal progenitor cells leads to changes in gene expression correlated with EV miRNA cargo predicted gene targets, and mechanisms involved in retinal development, ganglion cell and photoreceptor differentiation and function.
Mapping home internet activity during COVID-19 lockdown to identify occupation related inequalities
Authors: Zachreson Cameron , Martino Erika , Tomko Martin , Shearer Freya M. , Bentley Rebecca , Geard Nicholas
Published: October 2021

During the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence has accumulated that movement restrictions enacted to combat virus spread produce disparate consequences along socioeconomic lines. We investigate the hypothesis that people engaged in financially secure employment are better able to adhere to mobility restrictions, due to occupational factors that link the capacity for flexible work arrangements to income security. We use high-resolution spatial data on household internet traffic as a surrogate for adaptation to home-based work, together with the geographical clustering of occupation types, to investigate the relationship between occupational factors and increased internet traffic during work hours under lockdown in two Australian cities. By testing our hypothesis based on the observed trends, and exploring demographic factors associated with divergences from our hypothesis, we are left with a picture of unequal impact dominated by two major influences: the types of occupations in which people are engaged, and the composition of households and families. During lockdown, increased internet traffic was correlated with income security and, when school activity was conducted remotely, to the proportion of families with children. Our findings suggest that response planning and provision of social and economic support for residents within lockdown areas should explicitly account for income security and household structure. Overall, the results we present contribute to the emerging picture of the impacts of COVID-19 on human behaviour, and will help policy makers to understand the balance between public health and social impact in making decisions about mitigation policies.
Cesium tolerance is enhanced by a chemical which binds to BETA-GLUCOSIDASE 23 in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Moon Ju Yeon , Adams Eri , Miyazaki Takae , Kondoh Yasumitsu , Muroi Makoto , Watanabe Nobumoto , Osada Hiroyuki , Shin Ryoung
Published: October 2021

Cesium (Cs) is found at low levels in nature but does not confer any known benefit to plants. Cs and K compete in cells due to the chemical similarity of Cs to potassium (K), and can induce K deficiency in cells. In previous studies, we identified chemicals that increase Cs tolerance in plants. Among them, a small chemical compound (C17H19F3N2O2), named CsToAcE1, was confirmed to enhance Cs tolerance while increasing Cs accumulation in plants. Treatment of plants with CsToAcE1 resulted in greater Cs and K accumulation and also alleviated Cs-induced growth retardation in Arabidopsis. In the present study, potential target proteins of CsToAcE1 were isolated from Arabidopsis to determine the mechanism by which CsToAcE1 alleviates Cs stress, while enhancing Cs accumulation. Our analysis identified one of the interacting target proteins of CsToAcE1 to be BETA-GLUCOSIDASE 23 (AtβGLU23). Interestingly, Arabidopsis atβglu23 mutants exhibited enhanced tolerance to Cs stress but did not respond to the application of CsToAcE1. Notably, application of CsToAcE1 resulted in a reduction of Cs-induced AtβGLU23 expression in wild-type plants, while this was not observed in a high affinity transporter mutant, athak5. Our data indicate that AtβGLU23 regulates plant response to Cs stress and that CsToAcE1 enhances Cs tolerance by repressing AtβGLU23. In addition, AtHAK5 also appears to be involved in this response.
Higher-order topological insulator in cubic semiconductor quantum wells
Authors: Krishtopenko Sergey S.
Published: October 2021

The search for exotic new topological states of matter in widely accessible materials, for which the manufacturing process is mastered, is one of the major challenges of the current topological physics. Here we predict higher order topological insulator state in quantum wells based on the most common semiconducting materials. By successively deriving the bulk and boundary Hamiltonians, we theoretically prove the existence of topological corner states due to cubic symmetry in quantum wells with double band inversion. We show that the appearance of corner states does not depend solely on the crystallographic orientation of the meeting edges, but also on the growth orientation of the quantum well. Our theoretical results significantly extend the application potential of topological quantum wells based on IV, II–VI and III–V semiconductors with diamond or zinc-blende structures.
Microbiomes of an oyster are shaped by metabolism and environment
Authors: Scanes Elliot , Parker Laura M. , Seymour Justin R. , Siboni Nachshon , Dove Michael C. , O’Connor Wayne A. , Ross Pauline M.
Published: October 2021

Microbiomes can both influence and be influenced by metabolism, but this relationship remains unexplored for invertebrates. We examined the relationship between microbiome and metabolism in response to climate change using oysters as a model marine invertebrate. Oysters form economies and ecosystems across the globe, yet are vulnerable to climate change. Nine genetic lineages of the oyster Saccostrea glomerata were exposed to ambient and elevated temperature and PCO2 treatments. The metabolic rate (MR) and metabolic by-products of extracellular pH and CO2 were measured. The oyster-associated bacterial community in haemolymph was characterised using 16 s rRNA gene sequencing. We found a significant negative relationship between MR and bacterial richness. Bacterial community composition was also significantly influenced by MR, extracellular CO2 and extracellular pH. The effects of extracellular CO2 depended on genotype, and the effects of extracellular pH depended on CO2 and temperature treatments. Changes in MR aligned with a shift in the relative abundance of 152 Amplicon Sequencing Variants (ASVs), with 113 negatively correlated with MR. Some spirochaete ASVs showed positive relationships with MR. We have identified a clear relationship between host metabolism and the microbiome in oysters. Altering this relationship will likely have consequences for the 12 billion USD oyster economy.
Gut microbiota of bats: pro-mutagenic properties and possible frontiers in preventing emerging disease
Authors: Popov Igor V. , Mazanko Maria S. , Kulaeva Elizaveta D. , Golovin Sergey N. , Malinovkin Aleksey V. , Aleshukina Iraida S. , Aleshukina Anna V. , Prazdnova Evgeniya V. , Tverdokhlebova Tatiana I. , Chikindas Michael L. , Ermakov Alexey M.
Published: October 2021

Bats are potential natural reservoirs for emerging viruses, causing deadly human diseases, such as COVID-19, MERS, SARS, Nipah, Hendra, and Ebola infections. The fundamental mechanisms by which bats are considered “living bioreactors” for emerging viruses are not fully understood. Some studies suggest that tolerance to viruses is linked to suppressing antiviral immune and inflammatory responses due to DNA damage by energy generated to fly. Our study reveals that bats' gut bacteria could also be involved in the host and its microbiota's DNA damage. We performed screening of lactic acid bacteria and bacilli isolated from bats' feces for mutagenic and oxidative activity by lux-biosensors. The pro-mutagenic activity was determined when expression of recA increased with the appearance of double-strand breaks in the cell DNA, while an increase of katG expression in the presence of hydroxyl radicals indicated antioxidant activity. We identified that most of the isolated bacteria have pro-mutagenic and antioxidant properties at the same time. This study reveals new insights into bat gut microbiota's potential involvement in antiviral response and opens new frontiers in preventing emerging diseases originating from bats.
Generator based approach to analyze mutations in genomic datasets
Authors: Jain Siddharth , Xiao Xiongye , Bogdan Paul , Bruck Jehoshua
Published: October 2021

In contrast to the conventional approach of directly comparing genomic sequences using sequence alignment tools, we propose a computational approach that performs comparisons between sequence generators. These sequence generators are learned via a data-driven approach that empirically computes the state machine generating the genomic sequence of interest. As the state machine based generator of the sequence is independent of the sequence length, it provides us with an efficient method to compute the statistical distance between large sets of genomic sequences. Moreover, our technique provides a fast and efficient method to cluster large datasets of genomic sequences, characterize their temporal and spatial evolution in a continuous manner, get insights into the locality sensitive information about the sequences without any need for alignment. Furthermore, we show that the technique can be used to detect local regions with mutation activity, which can then be applied to aid alignment techniques for the fast discovery of mutations. To demonstrate the efficacy of our technique on real genomic data, we cluster different strains of SARS-CoV-2 viral sequences, characterize their evolution and identify regions of the viral sequence with mutations.
Effect of the over-dominant expression of proteins on nicotine heterosis via proteomic analysis
Authors: Mo Zejun , Pu Yuanyuan , Zhou Junhao , Tian Zonglin , Teng Jianhui , Chen Qian , Duan Lili , Liu Renxiang
Published: October 2021

Heterosis is a common biological phenomenon that can be used to optimize yield and quality of crops. Using heterosis breeding, hybrids with suitable nicotine content have been applied to tobacco leaf production. However, the molecular mechanism of the formation of nicotine heterosis has never been explained from the perspective of protein. The DIA proteomics technique was used to compare the differential proteomics of the hybrid Va116 × Basma, showing strong heterosis in nicotine content from its parent lines Va116 and Basma. Proteomics analysis indicated that 65.2% of DEPs showed over-dominant expression patterns, and these DEPs included QS, BBL, GS, ARAF and RFC1 which related to nicotine synthesis. In addition, some DEPs (including GST, ABCE2 and ABCF1 and SLY1) that may be associated with nicotinic transport exhibited significant heterosis over the parental lines. These findings demonstrated that the efficiency of the synthesis and transport of nicotine in hybrids was significantly higher than that in the parent lines, and the accumulation of over-dominant expression proteins may be the cause of heterosis of nicotinic content in hybrids.
Identification of SSRI-evoked antidepressant sensory signals by decoding vagus nerve activity
Authors: West Christine L. , McVey Neufeld Karen-Anne , Mao Yu-Kang , Stanisz Andrew M. , Forsythe Paul , Bienenstock John , Barbut Denise , Zasloff Michael , Kunze Wolfgang A.
Published: October 2021

The vagus nerve relays mood-altering signals originating in the gut lumen to the brain. In mice, an intact vagus is required to mediate the behavioural effects of both intraluminally applied selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and a strain of Lactobacillus with antidepressant-like activity. Similarly, the prodepressant effect of lipopolysaccharide is vagus nerve dependent. Single vagal fibres are broadly tuned to respond by excitation to both anti- and prodepressant agents, but it remains unclear how neural responses encode behaviour-specific information. Here we demonstrate using ex vivo experiments that for single vagal fibres within the mesenteric neurovascular bundle supplying the mouse small intestine, a unique neural firing pattern code is common to both chemical and bacterial vagus-dependent antidepressant luminal stimuli. This code is qualitatively and statistically discernible from that evoked by lipopolysaccharide, a non-vagus-dependent antidepressant or control non-antidepressant Lactobacillus strain and are not affected by sex status. We found that all vagus dependent antidepressants evoked a decrease in mean spike interval, increase in spike burst duration, decrease in gap duration between bursts and increase in intra-burst spike intervals. Our results offer a novel neuronal electrical perspective as one explanation for mechanisms of action of gut-derived vagal dependent antidepressants. We expect that our ex vivo individual vagal fibre recording model will improve the design and operation of new, extant electroceutical vagal stimulation devices currently used to treat major depression. Furthermore, use of this vagal antidepressant code should provide a valuable screening tool for novel potential oral antidepressant candidates in preclinical animal models.