bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a training complex of elements of power systems and metering of electric power with application of VR technologies
Authors: Strizhichenko A V , Zenina E G , Kochergin D S , Efimov V V
Published: January 2021

The paper describes the results of simulation of virtual power equipment of a substation and an electric power metering system for the purpose of training and practicing the actions of personnel during scheduled switching and emergency situations. An experimental model is presented that demonstrates the basic functionality of the simulator, which allows for rapid switching on a virtual substation model. The virtual model will help the trained operational personnel gain operational experience, as well as eliminate the possibility of electric shock and equipment failure. Due to the flexible functionality of the program that builds the project, it is possible to implement additional blocks of the simulator, having previously tested the innovation separately from the main project. This feature guarantees compatibility of new versions of the project with the old installed versions. It also allows the client to update the product without reinstalling the program. The model was created in the Unreal Engine 4 program. This product allows you to create projects for Windows, Lunix, and Mac OS operating systems. Unreal Engine 4 is compatible with the virtual reality system. Due to compatibility, it is possible to create interactive projects, in particular, an interactive project in the field of energy.
Methodological problems of replacing low-voltage AC networks with DC networks
Authors: Titova L N , Sergeev V A
Published: January 2021

The paper discusses the prospects for replacing low-voltage AC power grids of industrial frequency with DC power grids in order to introduce energy-saving equipment and technologies. The modern achievements in the field of energy-saving electric drives are analyzed in detail, which make it possible to introduce constant voltage electric networks attractive for investments. The generalized analysis can be performed using the synergetic criterion of the technical and economic efficiency of innovation. To use such a criterion, all indicators to be analyzed must be presented in dimensionless form. We propose to consider separately the technical and operational groups of the generalized technical characteristics of AC and DC electric drives. The selected subset of groups of parameters of electric drives is justified from the point of view of regulatory and technical documents currently in force. This methodology seems to be more objective than the existing industry methodology for assessing product quality based on functional analogues of products being developed. With a synergetic approach, any characteristic is invariant relative to the others, which confirms the objectivity and reliability of the comparison method. The system of indicators is necessary and sufficient, both for technical assessment and for the creation of new designs and the development of directions for the design of electric drives. In conclusion of this work, we give examples of the implementation of such an approach by comparing the achieved indicators of quality and operational reliability of electromechanical energy converters produced by domestic enterprises.
Methods for dealing with icing of power line wires
Authors: Kul’kov V G , Kuryanov V N , Fokin R A
Published: January 2021

This article describes the types of ice and snow deposits on metal wires of overhead power lines. It has a harmful effect on the functional state of power lines. Under the influence of the force of resistance to air flows in the wind and the gravity of the wires with an increased mass, accidents are possible. These include breaks, wire interconnections, and short circuits in the line. Here we give a brief overview of existing methods for preventing the formation of ice on the line wires and fighting icing by removing the ice shell. This article describes a combined method for breaking the ice coating on the wires. For this purpose, we propose a combination of two methods. One of them is to load the wires with high-frequency current. Due to the skin effect, the inner surface of the ice heats up, and a thin layer melts. This significantly reduces the adhesion of the ice to the metal. Simultaneously, low-frequency current of the order of one Hertz flows through the wires. This current causes the wire to resonance oscillations, which destroy the ice covering. The article provides an estimate of the duration of the high-frequency current exposure time, its value, and the frequency of the second current.
Scalable fabrication of renal spheroids and nephron-like tubules by bioprinting and controlled self-assembly of epithelial cells
Authors: Tröndle Kevin , Rizzo Ludovica , Pichler Roman , Koch Fritz , Itani Ahmad , Zengerle Roland , Lienkamp Soeren S , Koltay Peter , Zimmermann Stefan
Published: January 2021

Scalable fabrication concepts of 3D kidney tissue models are required to enable their application in pharmaceutical high-throughput screenings. Yet the reconstruction of complex tissue structures remains technologically challenging. We present a novel concept reducing the fabrication demands, by using controlled cellular self-assembly to achieve higher tissue complexities from significantly simplified construct designs. We used drop-on-demand bioprinting to fabricate locally confined patterns of renal epithelial cells embedded in a hydrogel matrix. These patterns provide defined local cell densities (cell count variance <11%) with high viability (92 ± 2%). Based on these patterns, controlled self-assembly leads to the formation of renal spheroids and nephron-like tubules with a predefined size and spatial localization. With this, we fabricated scalable arrays of hollow epithelial spheroids. The spheroid sizes correlated with the initial cell count per unit and could be stepwise adjusted, ranging from Ø = 84, 104, 120–131 µm in diameter (size variance <9%). Furthermore, we fabricated scalable line-shaped patterns, which self-assembled to hollow cellular tubules (Ø = 105 ± 22 µm). These showed a continuous lumen with prescribed orientation, lined by an epithelial monolayer with tight junctions. Additionally, upregulated expression of kidney-specific functional genes compared to 2D cell monolayers indicated increased tissue functionality, as revealed by mRNA sequencing. Furthermore, our concept enabled the fabrication of hybrid tubules, which consisted of arranged subsections of different cell types, combining murine and human epithelial cells. Finally, we integrated the self-assembled fabrication into a microfluidic chip and achieved fluidic access to the lumen at the terminal sites of the tubules. With this, we realized flow conditions with a wall shear stress of 0.05 ± 0.02 dyne cm−2 driven by hydrostatic pressure for scalable dynamic culture towards a nephron-on-chip model.
Vascularized adipocyte organoid model using isolated human microvessel fragments
Authors: Strobel Hannah A , Gerton Thomas , Hoying James B
Published: January 2021

Tissue organoids are proving valuable for modeling tissue health and disease in a variety of applications. This is due, in part, to the dynamic cell–cell interactions fostered within the 3D tissue-like space. To this end, the more that organoids recapitulate the different cell–cell interactions found in native tissue, such as that between parenchyma and the microvasculature, the better the fidelity of the model. The microvasculature, which is comprised of a spectrum of cell types, provides not only perfusion in its support of tissue health, but also important cellular interactions and biochemical dynamics important in tissue phenotype and function. Here, we incorporate whole, intact human microvessel fragments isolated from adipose tissue into organoids to form both mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and adipocyte vascularized organoids. Isolated microvessels retain their native structure and cell composition, providing a more complete representation of the microvasculature within the organoids. Microvessels expanded via sprouting angiogenesis within organoids comprised of either MSCs or MSC-derived adipocytes grew out of the organoids when placed in a 3D collagen matrix. In MSC organoids, a ratio of 50 MSCs to 1 microvessel fragment created the optimal vascularization response. We developed a new differentiation protocol that enabled the differentiation of MSCs into adipocytes while simultaneously promoting microvessel angiogenesis. The adipocyte organoids contained vascular networks, were responsive in a lipolysis assay, and expressed the functional adipocyte markers adiponectin and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. The presence of microvessels promoted insulin receptor expression by adipocytes and modified interleukin-6 secretion following a tumor necrosis factor alpha challenge. Overall, we demonstrate a robust method for vascularizing high cell-density organoids with potential implications for other tissues as well.
The effects of ultrasonic vibration on microstructural changes and mechanical properties of Mg alloy joint
Authors: Yang Fangzhou , Liu Bing
Published: January 2021

The weld of AZ31 Mg alloy was performed via ultrasonic vibration assistance process. The metallographic structure observation, scanning electron microscope observation, hardness detection, tensile test and fracture morphology observation were performed to analyze the influences of ultrasonic vibration on the microstructure and mechanical properties of welded joints. In this paper, the ultrasonic vibration with power in the 0–1.5 kW was successfully introduced into the weld pool by filler wire, which had a series of effects on the weld. The results indicated that ultrasonic induced agitation in the molten pool can reduce or even eliminate the porosity in the weld zone. Besides, for joints treated by 1.0 kW ultrasonic process, the average grain size of weld zone decreased to 28 μm, owing to the acoustic flow and cavitation effects caused by ultrasonic process. Under optimized ultrasonic power of 1.0 kW, the sound Mg alloy joint with the maximum tensile strength of 256 MPa was obtained and the fracture surface presented plastic fracture characteristics.
Simulations of standing wave effect, stop band effect, and skin effect in large-area very high frequency symmetric capacitive discharges
Authors: LIU Jiankai , ZHANG Yuru , ZHAO Kai , WEN Deqi , WANG Younian
Published: January 2021

In this paper, Maxwell equations are coupled with a radially localized global model and an analytical sheath model to investigate the electromagnetic effects under various frequencies and electron powers in large-area very high frequency symmetric capacitive argon discharges. Simulation results indicate that both the vacuum wavelength and the sheath width decrease with frequency, leading to the reduced surface wavelength. As a result, the standing wave effect becomes pronounced, causing the fact that the radial profiles of the electron density, radio frequency voltage, and sheath width shift from uniform over center-high to multiple-node. When the frequency is close to or higher than the series resonance frequency, the surface waves cannot propagate to the radial center because of the significant radial damping. Due to the lack of power deposition near the radial center, the electron density is nearly zero there, i.e. the stop band effect. As power increases, the higher electron density leads to the decrease of the skin depth. Therefore, the importance of the skin effect gradually exceeds that of the standing wave effect, giving rise to the transition from the center-high to edge-high electron density profiles. The method proposed in this work could help to predict the plasma distribution under different discharge conditions in a few minutes, which is of significant importance in optimizing the plasma processing.
Assessment of Pathology Learning Modules With Virtual Microscopy in a Preclinical Medical School Curriculum
Authors: Cruz Myriam , Murphy Megan , Gentile Matthew M , Stewart Katherine , Barroeta Julieta E , Carrasco Gonzalo A , Kocher William D , Behling Kathryn C
Published: January 2021

Objectives

To evaluate the ability of pathology modules to promote learning of pathology-related course content in a preclinical medical education curriculum.

Methods

Pathology modules were created for the “Hematology/Oncology” and “Women’s Health” (WH) courses. Students were recruited over 2 consecutive academic years; cohorts 1 and 2 refer to 2 separate groups of students in years 1 and 2, respectively, of the study. Course performance data were collected.

Results

Use of pathology modules resulted in a statistically significant higher correlation between performance on the final examination and pathology-related questions in the Hematology/Oncology course and written examination and pathology-related questions in cohort 1 in the WH course. There was statistically significant improvement (P = .026) on pathology-related laboratory practical examination questions in the WH course for cohort 1, and no other statistically significant improvement for the other cohorts and examinations. The percentage of students completing all or part of the modules was highest in the WH course for cohort 1 (60%) compared with WH course cohort 2 (33%) and Hematology/Oncology cohort 1 (30%) and cohort 2 (39%).

Conclusions

Pathology modules may improve acquisition and retention of pathology-related course content when used appropriately.
Encouraging Digital Technology in Neuropsychology: The Theory of Visual Attention on Tablet Devices
Authors: Wang Tianlu , Thielen Hella , De Preter Erik , Vangkilde Signe , Gillebert Céline R
Published: January 2021

Objective

Visual attention helps us to selectively process relevant information and is crucial in our everyday interactions with the environment. Not surprisingly, it is one of the cognitive domains that is most frequently affected by acquired brain injury. Reliable assessment of attention deficits is pivotal to neuropsychological examination and helps to optimize individual rehabilitation plans. Compared with conventional pen-and-paper tests, computerized tasks borrowed from the field of experimental psychology bring many benefits, but lab-based experimental setups cannot be easily incorporated in clinical practice. Light-weight and portable mobile tablet devices may facilitate the translation of computerized tasks to clinical settings. One such task is based on the Theory of Visual Attention (TVA), a mathematical model of visual attention. TVA-based paradigms have been widely used to investigate several aspects of visual attention in both fundamental and clinical research, and include measures for general processing capacity as well as stimulus-specific attentional parameters.

Methods

This article discusses the benefits of TVA-based assessments compared with frequently used neuropsychological tests of visual attention, and examines the reliability of a tablet-based TVA-based assessment in 59 neurologically healthy participants.

Results

Pearson’s correlations indicate that the tablet-based TVA assessment and the conventional lab-based TVA assessment have a comparable parallel-form (range: .67–.93), test–retest (range: .61–.78), and internal reliability (range: .56–.97).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that tablet-based TVA assessment may be a promising tool to acquire clinical measures of visual attention at low cost at the bedside of the patient.
Potentiated antitumor effects of APS001F/5-FC combined with anti-PD-1 antibody in a CT26 syngeneic mouse model
Authors: Shioya Koichiro , Matsumura Tomio , Seki Yuji , Shimizu Hitomi , Nakamura Takaaki , Taniguchi Shun'ichiro
Published: January 2021

APS001F is a strain of Bifidobacterium longum genetically engineered to express cytosine deaminase that converts 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to 5-fluorouracil. In the present study, antitumor effects of APS001F plus 5-FC (APS001F/5-FC) in combination with anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody were investigated using a CT26 syngeneic mouse model. Both of dosing of APS001F/5-FC before and after anti-PD-1 mAb in the combination dosing exhibited antitumor effects as well as prolonged survival over the nontreated control. The survival rate in the combination therapy significantly increased over the monotherapy with APS001F/5-FC and that with anti-PD-1 mAb. Regulatory T cells among CD4+ T cells in tumor decreased in the combination therapy, while the ratio of CD8+ T cells was maintained in all groups. Taken these results together, APS001F/5-FC not only demonstrates a direct antitumor activity, but also immunomodulatory effects once localized in the hypoxic region of the tumor, which allows anti-PD-1 mAb to exert potentiated antitumor effects.
Roles of host small RNAs in the evolution and host tropism of coronaviruses
Authors: Meng Qingren , Chu Yanan , Shao Changjun , Chen Jing , Wang Jian , Gao Zhancheng , Yu Jun , Kang Yu
Published: January 2021

Human coronaviruses (CoVs) can cause respiratory infection epidemics that sometimes expand into globally relevant pandemics. All human CoVs have sister strains isolated from animal hosts and seem to have an animal origin, yet the process of host jumping is largely unknown. RNA interference (RNAi) is an ancient mechanism in many eukaryotes to defend against viral infections through the hybridization of host endogenous small RNAs (miRNAs) with target sites in invading RNAs. Here, we developed a method to identify potential RNAi-sensitive sites in the viral genome and discovered that human-adapted coronavirus strains had deleted some of their sites targeted by miRNAs in human lungs when compared to their close zoonic relatives. We further confirmed using a phylogenetic analysis that the loss of RNAi-sensitive target sites could be a major driver of the host-jumping process, and adaptive mutations that lead to the loss-of-target might be as simple as point mutation. Up-to-date genomic data of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and Middle-East respiratory syndromes-CoV strains demonstrate that the stress from host miRNA milieus sustained even after their epidemics in humans. Thus, this study illustrates a new mechanism about coronavirus to explain its host-jumping process and provides a novel avenue for pathogenesis research, epidemiological modeling, and development of drugs and vaccines against coronavirus, taking into consideration these findings.
iDHS-Deep: an integrated tool for predicting DNase I hypersensitive sites by deep neural network
Authors: Dao Fu-Ying , Lv Hao , Su Wei , Sun Zi-Jie , Huang Qin-Lai , Lin Hao
Published: January 2021

DNase I hypersensitive site (DHS) refers to the hypersensitive region of chromatin for the DNase I enzyme. It is an important part of the noncoding region and contains a variety of regulatory elements, such as promoter, enhancer, and transcription factor-binding site, etc. Moreover, the related locus of disease (or trait) are usually enriched in the DHS regions. Therefore, the detection of DHS region is of great significance. In this study, we develop a deep learning-based algorithm to identify whether an unknown sequence region would be potential DHS. The proposed method showed high prediction performance on both training datasets and independent datasets in different cell types and developmental stages, demonstrating that the method has excellent superiority in the identification of DHSs. Furthermore, for the convenience of related wet-experimental researchers, the user-friendly web-server iDHS-Deep was established at http://lin-group.cn/server/iDHS-Deep/, by which users can easily distinguish DHS and non-DHS and obtain the corresponding developmental stage ofDHS.
Complete sequencing of expandedSAMD12repeats by long-read sequencing and Cas9-mediated enrichment
Authors: Mizuguchi Takeshi , Toyota Tomoko , Miyatake Satoko , Mitsuhashi Satomi , Doi Hiroshi , Kudo Yosuke , Kishida Hitaru , Hayashi Noriko , Tsuburaya Rie S , Kinoshita Masako , Fukuyama Tetsuhiro , Fukuda Hiromi , Koshimizu Eriko , Tsuchida Naomi , Uchiyama Yuri , Fujita Atsushi , Takata Atsushi , Miyake Noriko , Kato Mitsuhiro , Tanaka Fumiaki , Adachi Hiroaki , Matsumoto Naomichi
Published: January 2021

A pentanucleotide TTTCA repeat insertion into a polymorphic TTTTA repeat element in SAMD12 causes benign adult familial myoclonic epilepsy. Although the precise determination of the entire SAMD12 repeat sequence is important for molecular diagnosis and research, obtaining this sequence remains challenging when using conventional genomic/genetic methods, and even short-read and long-read next-generation sequencing technologies have been insufficient. Incomplete information regarding expanded repeat sequences may hamper our understanding of the pathogenic roles played by varying numbers of repeat units, genotype–phenotype correlations, and mutational mechanisms. Here, we report a new approach for the precise determination of the entire expanded repeat sequence and present a workflow designed to improve the diagnostic rates in various repeat expansion diseases. We examined 34 clinically diagnosed benign adult familial myoclonic epilepsy patients, from 29 families using repeat-primed PCR, Southern blot, and long-read sequencing with Cas9-mediated enrichment. Two cases with questionable results from repeat-primed PCR and/or Southern blot were confirmed as pathogenic using long-read sequencing with Cas9-mediated enrichment, resulting in the identification of pathogenic SAMD12 repeat expansions in 76% of examined families (22/29). Importantly, long-read sequencing with Cas9-mediated enrichment was able to provide detailed information regarding the sizes, configurations, and compositions of the expanded repeats. The inserted TTTCA repeat size and the proportion of TTTCA sequences among the overall repeat sequences were highly variable, and a novel repeat configuration was identified. A genotype–phenotype correlation study suggested that the insertion of even short (TTTCA)14 repeats contributed to the development of benign adult familial myoclonic epilepsy. However, the sizes of the overall TTTTA and TTTCA repeat units are also likely to be involved in the pathology of benign adult familial myoclonic epilepsy. Seven unsolved SAMD12-negative cases were investigated using whole-genome long-read sequencing, and infrequent, disease-associated, repeat expansions were identified in two cases. The strategic workflow resolved two questionable SAMD12-positive cases and two previously SAMD12-negative cases, increasing the diagnostic yield from 69% (20/29 families) to 83% (24/29 families). This study indicates the significant utility of long-read sequencing technologies to explore the pathogenic contributions made by various repeat units in complex repeat expansions and to improve the overall diagnostic rate.
Acute Systemic Experimental Inflammation Does Not Reduce Human Odor Identification Performance
Authors: Tognetti Arnaud , Sarolidou Georgia , Lasselin Julie , Lekander Mats , Olsson Mats J , Lundström Johan N
Published: January 2021

Olfactory dysfunction is a common symptom of various diseases, but the underlying pathophysiology has not been fully understood. Evidence from both animal and human studies suggests that local inflammation of the olfactory epithelium is linked to olfactory dysfunction. However, whether systemic inflammation causes olfactory dysfunction is yet to be determined. In the present behavioral study, we set out to test whether acute systemic inflammation impairs olfactory identification performance by inducing a transient and controlled state of systemic inflammation using an experimental endotoxemia model. We treated young healthy participants (N = 20) with a relatively high dose (2.0 ng/kg) of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and a placebo treatment in a double-blind within-subject design, and assessed participants’ ability to identify odors using the MONEX-40, a reliable method for experimental assessment of odor identification ability in healthy and young individuals. Our results show that olfactory identification performance was not affected by the acute systemic inflammation triggered by the injection of LPS. Moreover, odor identification performance following the LPS injection was not associated with levels of circulating proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α). Because experimental LPS-induced systemic inflammation does not affect olfactory identification performance, our findings suggest that chronic, rather than transient, systemic inflammation is a more likely mechanism to explore in order to explain the olfactory deficits observed in inflammatory diseases.
Clinical Presentation of Incident Syphilis Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Taking HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Melbourne, Australia
Authors: Peel Joanne , Chow Eric P F , Denham Ian , Schmidt Tina , Buchanan Andrew , Fairley Christopher K , Williamson Deborah A , Bissessor Melanie , Chen Marcus Y
Published: January 2021

Background

Current international guidelines on human immunodeficieny virus (HIV) Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) recommend serological screening for syphilis at routine 3-monthly PrEP appointments. The aim of our study was to describe the pattern of clinical presentation of syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) taking PrEP. We were interested in whether syphilis is detected through screening at scheduled3-monthly PrEP clinic appointments or whether primary or secondary syphilis presented at unscheduled interval visits.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of MSM attending the PrEP clinic at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre between February 2016 and March 2019. Serological screening for syphilis was routinely undertaken at 3-monthly PrEP clinic appointments. Diagnoses of early syphilis were identified from PrEP clinic visits and from interim walk-in STI clinic attendances.

Results

There were 69 cases of early syphilis among 61 MSM taking PrEP during the study period. There were 24 (35%) primary, 16 (23%) secondary, and 29 (42%) early latent infections. The incidence of early syphilis was 8.6 per 100 person-years. A substantial proportion of primary (58%) and secondary (44%) syphilis diagnoses were made at interim STI clinic attendances, between PrEP appointments.

Conclusions

Syphilis screening at routine 3-monthly PrEP visits alone fails to detect a proportion of primary and secondary syphilis infections and may be insufficient in preventing onward transmission. Education of MSM taking PrEP regarding the risk of syphilis and symptom recognition is necessary together with access to syphilis testing between PrEP visits.
Some additions and corrections for Sraffa on Ricardo in Business
Authors: Parys Wilfried
Published: January 2021

Sraffa’s Ricardo edition gained a well-deserved authoritative status and numerous authors have studied its first nine volumes. I concentrate on ‘Ricardo in Business’ in Volume 10, and I present some additions and corrections, with respect to, for example, Ricardo’s activities at the Stock Exchange, the 1811 incident about Wetenhall’s price lists and the 1814 Berenger fraud, the huge British Loan contracts of the Barnes-Steers-Ricardo consortium and the identity of its unknown fourth member, the timing and the effects of the news from the Battle of Waterloo, the financial hierarchy in the two (not four) consortia that contracted for the Waterloo Loan and earlier Loans. Silberling (1924) accused Ricardo of dishonest strategies against Goldsmid’s consortium. Sraffa destroyed Silberling’s arguments in 1955, 24 years after informing Cannan about his ‘ammunition’. Using newly discovered letters from Barnes, I suggest that Silberling even confused victims and perpetrators. I also examine the quality of quotations by Sraffa, Dobb and a few others.
Sixty-day consequences of COVID-19 in patients discharged from hospital: an electronic health records study
Authors: Islam Nazrul , Lewington Sarah , Kharbanda Rajesh K , Davies Jim , Várnai Kinga A , Lacey Ben
Published: January 2021

Data on patients discharged following COVID-19 hospitalization is scarce. We conducted an electronic health records study of community-acquired COVID-19 patients discharged between 15 March and 14 July 2020 from hospitals in Oxfordshire, UK. Of 403 discharged patients, 114 (28%) were readmitted or died within 60 days (incidence rate 18/100 person-months). Rates of readmission or death were twice as high among those ≥ 65 years as those < 65 years [standardized rate ratio: 2.21 (95% CI: 1.45–3.56)] and among women than men [2.25 (1.05–4.18)]. These findings suggest important sex differences in 60-day outcomes following COVID-19 hospitalization that have not previously been well described.
Voters and Foreign Policy: Evidence from a Conjoint Experiment in Pakistan
Authors: Clary Christopher , Siddiqui Niloufer
Published: January 2021

How much weight do voters place on foreign policy when deciding between electoral candidates? In traditional surveys in Pakistan, the vast majority of respondents identify India as an enemy and threat to Pakistan. What these studies do not assess is whether these beliefs affect voter preferences. Using a conjoint survey experiment conducted among 1,990 respondents in Pakistan, we find that respondents punish hypothetical politicians who advocate a friendly policy toward India, but only modestly. Candidate attitudes toward India were the least meaningful characteristic for voter choice among five characteristics tested, suggesting that attitudinal measurements of salience poorly predict candidate preference. Subgroup results are also instructive: younger and more educated respondents and those from Pakistan's largest province of Punjab were less likely to punish dovish politicians. We discuss implications of these findings and outline avenues for future research.
Specific collagens maintain the cuticle permeability barrier inCaenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Sandhu Anjali , Badal Divakar , Sheokand Riya , Tyagi Shalini , Singh Varsha
Published: January 2021

Collagen-enriched cuticle forms the outermost layer of skin in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The nematode’s genome encodes 177 collagens, but little is known about their role in maintaining the structure or barrier function of the cuticle. In this study, we found six permeability determining (PD) collagens. Loss of any of these PD collagens—DPY-2, DPY-3, DPY-7, DPY-8, DPY-9, and DPY-10—led to enhanced susceptibility of nematodes to paraquat (PQ) and antihelminthic drugs- levamisole and ivermectin. Upon exposure to PQ, PD collagen mutants accumulated more PQ and incurred more damage and death despite the robust activation of antioxidant machinery. We find that BLMP-1, a zinc finger transcription factor, maintains the barrier function of the cuticle by regulating the expression of PD collagens. We show that the permeability barrier maintained by PD collagens acts in parallel to FOXO transcription factor DAF-16 to enhance survival of insulin-like receptor mutant, daf-2. In all, this study shows that PD collagens regulate cuticle permeability by maintaining the structure of C. elegans cuticle and thus provide protection against exogenous toxins.
Aerobic Exercise Improves Mitochondrial Function in Sarcopenia Mice Through Sestrin2 in an AMPKα2-Dependent Manner
Authors: Liu Sujuan , Yu Chunxia , Xie Lingjian , Niu Yanmei , Fu Li
Published: January 2021

Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, contributes to high morbidity and mortality in the older population. Regular exercise is necessary to avoid the initiation and progression of sarcopenia, in which the underlying molecular mechanism is still not clear. Our data revealed that the outcomes induced by sarcopenia, including muscle mass and strength loss, decreased cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius fiber, chronic inflammation, and increased dysfunctional mitochondria, were reversed by regulation exercise. Knockout or silencing of Sestrin2 (Sesn2) resulted in imbalanced mitochondrial fusion and fission, mitochondrial biogenesis, and mitophagy damage in vivo and in vitro, which was attenuated by aerobic exercise or overexpression of Sesn2. Moreover, we found that the effects of Sesn2 on mitochondrial function are dependent on AMP-activated protein kinase α2 (AMPKα2). This study indicates that aerobic exercise alleviates the negative effects resulting from sarcopenia via the Sesn2/AMPKα2 pathway and provides new insights into the molecular mechanism by which the Sesn2/AMPKα2 signaling axis mediates the beneficial impact of exercise on sarcopenia.
Measuring Caregiver Retention in Nursing Homes
Authors: Castle Nicholas G
Published: January 2021

Background and Objectives

Retention of nursing home caregivers is examined. This represents the concept of continuously employing the same caregivers in the same facility for a defined period of time. In this research, several measures of caregiver retention are examined and the utility of these measures for practitioners and policy makers is discussed.

Research Design and Methods

A survey of nursing home administrators conducted in 2016 was used to collect staffing data from 2,898 facilities. This was matched with Nursing Home Compare and the Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reporting data. The association of four measures of retention for each of three types of caregivers with six quality indicators was examined.

Results

The descriptive statistics show rates of retention at 5 years for nurse aides (NAs), registered nurses (RNs), and licensed practical nurses to be low. The regression estimates show some support for the relationship that high caregiver retention is associated with better overall quality. The relationship was strongest for NAs and RNs. Support was also found for the notion that different measures of retention were more/less associated with quality. The 3- and 5-year retention measures had the strongest associations with the quality indicators.

Discussion and Implications

The findings presented provide some evidence that caregiver retention may be an important metric that can be used as a means of improving quality of care in nursing homes. However, the findings also show practitioners and policy makers should be more nuanced in the use of caregiver retention metrics.
ChiRA: an integrated framework for chimeric read analysis from RNA-RNA interactome and RNA structurome data
Authors: Videm Pavankumar , Kumar Anup , Zharkov Oleg , Grüning Björn Andreas , Backofen Rolf
Published: January 2021

Background

With the advances in next-generation sequencing technologies, it is possible to determine RNA-RNA interaction and RNA structure predictions on a genome-wide level. The reads from these experiments usually are chimeric, with each arm generated from one of the interaction partners. Owing to short read lengths, often these sequenced arms ambiguously map to multiple locations. Thus, inferring the origin of these can be quite complicated. Here we present ChiRA, a generic framework for sensitive annotation of these chimeric reads, which in turn can be used to predict the sequenced hybrids.

Results

Grouping reference loci on the basis of aligned common reads and quantification improved the handling of the multi-mapped reads in contrast to common strategies such as the selection of the longest hit or a random choice among all hits. On benchmark data ChiRA improved the number of correct alignments to the reference up to 3-fold. It is shown that the genes that belong to the common read loci share the same protein families or similar pathways. In published data, ChiRA could detect 3 times more new interactions compared to existing approaches. In addition, ChiRAViz can be used to visualize and filter large chimeric datasets intuitively.

Conclusion

ChiRA tool suite provides a complete analysis and visualization framework along with ready-to-use Galaxy workflows and tutorials for RNA-RNA interactome and structurome datasets. Common read loci built by ChiRA can rescue multi-mapped reads on paralogous genes without requiring any information on gene relations. We showed that ChiRA is sensitive in detecting new RNA-RNA interactions from published RNA-RNA interactome datasets.
Histopathology of anastomotic stenosis after total anomalous pulmonary vein connection
Authors: Masaki Naoki , Mizumoto Masahiro , Adachi Osamu , Sai Sadahiro
Published: January 2021

We report a case of a 10-month-old girl who was diagnosed with pulmonary vein stenosis after total anomalous pulmonary vein connection repair and underwent release of an anastomotic stenosis. Histopathological examinations of the resected anastomotic tissue revealed intimal hyperplasia at the anastomotic site. Predominant lesion cells were identified as myofibroblasts and had the characteristics of fibroblasts and synthetic smooth muscle cells. These cells could be a useful target for preventing anastomotic stenosis after total anomalous pulmonary vein connection repair.
Early life exposure to tobacco smoke and ovarian cancer risk in adulthood
Authors: Wang Tianyi , Townsend Mary K , Vinci Christine , Jake-Schoffman Danielle E , Tworoger Shelley S
Published: January 2021

Background

Ovarian cancer risk in adulthood may be affected by early life exposure to tobacco smoke. We investigated this relationship in two large prospective cohorts, the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and NHSII.

Methods

In total, analyses included 110 305 NHS participants (1976–2016) and 112 859 NHSII participants (1989–2017). Self-reported early life smoking exposures were queried at baseline or follow-up questionnaires. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for risk of ovarian cancer overall and by tumour histotype.

Results

Overall, ovarian cancer risk was not different among participants whose mothers did versus did not smoke during pregnancy (HR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.87–1.27); however, an increased risk was observed among women who themselves were never smokers (HR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.05–1.81) but not among ever smokers (HR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.66–1.14; Pheterogeneity = 0.02). Compared with women who never smoked, ovarian cancer risk was similar for women who started to smoke at age <18 (HR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.86–1.11) or ≥18 (HR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.93–1.12). These associations did not differ by histotype (Pheterogeneity ≥0.35). Parental smoking in the home during childhood/adolescence was related to a 15% increased risk of ovarian cancer in adulthood (HR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.04–1.27) and this association was suggestively stronger among women with non-serous/low-grade serous tumours (HR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.02–1.61) versus high-grade serous/poorly differentiated tumours (HR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.93–1.28; Pheterogeneity = 0.25).

Conclusions

Exposure to parental tobacco smoke in the home, but not early initiation of smoking, was associated with a modest elevated risk of ovarian cancer. Further investigations are required to confirm these findings and elucidate underlying mechanisms.
Development of a Novel Assay to Assess the Avidity of Dengue Virus-Specific Antibodies Elicited in Response to a Tetravalent Dengue Vaccine
Authors: Tsuji Isamu , Dominguez David , Egan Michael A , Dean Hansi J
Published: January 2021

Antibody affinity maturation is a critical step in development of functional antiviral immunity; however, accurate measurement of affinity maturation of polyclonal serum antibody responses to particulate antigens such as virions is challenging. We describe a novel avidity assay employing biolayer interferometry and dengue virus-like particles. After validation using anti-dengue monoclonal antibodies, the assay was used to assess avidity of antibody responses to a tetravalent dengue vaccine candidate (TAK-003) in children, adolescents, and adults during two phase 2 clinical trials conducted in dengue-endemic regions. Vaccination increased avidity index and avidity remained high through 1 year postvaccination. Neutralizing antibody titers and avidity index did not correlate overall; however, a correlation was observed between neutralizing antibody titer and avidity index in those subjects with the highest degree of antibody affinity maturation. Therefore, vaccination with TAK-003 stimulates polyclonal affinity maturation and functional antibody responses, including neutralizing antibodies.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT01511250 and NCT02302066.
The Chinese government’s management of anti-Japan nationalism during Hu-Wen era
Authors: Burcu Oana
Published: January 2021

China and Japan continue to partly live in the shadow of World War II (WWII) with recurrent expressions of anti-Japanese nationalism in China periodically ebbing bilateral relations. How does the Chinese government manage anti-Japan public manifestations of nationalism and what factors explain it? The government has to walk a fine line by managing the nationalism it has bred without undermining its own rule and considering elite divisions, heightened public nationalism, and the developments in its external environment. Six case studies from the Hu-Wen era provide a comprehensive understanding of what pertains to Chinese nationalism, the means used to express it, and more importantly the way the government chose to tackle them. While nationalism can be a mean of garnering legitimacy and exercising pressure on Japan to bend to its wishes, the Chinese government is embarked on the sinuous task of preventing an escalation beyond its control at both the domestic and international levels.
Feeding oxidized chicken byproduct meal impacts digestibility more than performance and oxidative status in nursery pigs
Authors: Frame Carl A , Huff-Lonergan Elisabeth , Kerr Brian J , Serao Mariana Rossoni
Published: January 2021

Rendered products from the meat industry provide quality proteins in diets for companion animals. These proteins are exposed to extreme temperatures during processing leading to the potential for decreased diet digestibility and subsequent growth performance. While this would impact production efficiency in livestock species, oxidized ingredients in companion animal diets may impact health and longevity. The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which a feedstuff containing oxidized protein and lipid affect diet digestibility, growth performance, and oxidative stress in nursery pigs. A total of 56 male pigs (21 d of age, initial body weight 5.51 ± 0.65 kg) were randomly assigned to one of the four dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two levels of heat and two levels of antioxidant (AOX). Diets were fed for 35 d and growth performance was measured, while total tract digestibility and nitrogen (N) balance was determined during the trial on day 18–20. Blood plasma was collected on day 34 and jejunum, colon, and liver tissues were collected on day 35 to analyze for markers of oxidative stress. Average daily feed intake (ADFI) was reduced in pigs fed diets without AOXs (P = 0.02). Additionally, pigs consuming diets containing heated chicken byproduct (CBP) meal had decreased gain:feed (GF; P = 0.02). There was an interaction between heat and AOX (P = 0.02) where heating CBP reduced N digestibility in the presence of an AOX but did not have an impact when AOX was not present. The removal of AOX resulted in reduced GE digestibility (P < 0.01). Dry matter (P < 0.01), ash (P < 0.01), and protein (P < 0.01) digestibility were reduced (P < 0.01) as a result of heating. Furthermore, heating (P =0.01) as well as absence of AOX (P =0.01) resulted in reduced digestible energy. No difference was detected in N retention suggesting that oxidation reduces digestibility but has no impact on N utilization. This is supported by the fact that systemic oxidative stress was not consistently affected by heating or AOX inclusion. These results suggest that feeding pigs CBP containing oxidized proteins and lipids did not induce oxidative stress. However, feeding young pigs CBP containing oxidized proteins and lipids did result in reduced energy and nutrient digestibility as well as negatively affected feed efficiency. Because CBP is commonly used in companion animal diets, it is reasonable to revisit their impacts on those species.
How do People Choose Between Biased Information Sources? Evidence from a Laboratory Experiment
Authors: Charness Gary , Oprea Ryan , Yuksel Sevgi
Published: January 2021

People in our experiment choose between two information sources with opposing biases in order to inform their guesses about a binary state. By varying the nature of the bias, we vary whether it is optimal to consult information sources biased towards or against prior beliefs. Even in our deliberately-abstract setting, there is strong evidence of confirmation-seeking and to a lesser extent contradiction-seeking heuristics leading people to choose information sources biased towards or against their priors. Analysis of post-experiment survey questions suggests that subjects follow these rules due to fundamental errors in reasoning about the relative informativeness of biased information sources.
Dynamic spatial overlap in a solitary subterranean rodent: the Anillaco tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sp.)
Authors: Amaya Juan P , Cuello Pablo A , Valentinuzzi Veronica S , Lacey Eileen A
Published: January 2021

Despite striking diversity in mammalian social behavior, studies of social organization have often dichotomized species by identifying them as either solitary or social (i.e., group living). This tendency has been particularly pronounced for subterranean rodents, the majority of which have long been assumed to be solitary. As a result, variation in social organization has likely been underestimated for these animals, particularly for species in which patterns of space use suggest limited or temporally dynamic opportunities for interactions among conspecifics. Here, we characterize patterns of space use in a population of tuco-tucos (Ctenomys sp.) from Anillaco, La Rioja Province, Argentina. Although these animals have been the subject of extensive research regarding circadian patterns of activity, spatial and social relationships among free-living individuals have not been documented. Analyses of radiotelemetry data from 17 individuals monitored during the breeding season (December 2015) revealed that partial overlap of individual home ranges was common, occurring between male–female as well as female–female pairs of animals. Spatial relationships, however, were dynamic, with both home range sizes and overlap changing on a daily basis. Although members of the study population did not meet the criteria typically used to identify group living in subterranean species, they were not completely solitary. Instead, the animals displayed an intermediate form of social organization characterized by persistent partial overlap of the areas occupied by different adults. These data add to the growing comparative picture of social variation in Ctenomys and suggest that further studies of these animals should contribute to improved understanding of the factors underlying differences in mammalian social systems.