bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of the cultivated area and its structure under conditions of increasing average annual temperatures
Authors: Petrov Sergei , Mamaeva Natali , Renev Evgenii , Narushko Maksim
Published: March 2021

The climatic characteristics, the area and structure of arable land occupied by agricultural crops, including cereals and legumes, the area of agricultural land, including arable land in the Tyumen region without autonomous regions, as well as the content of mobile forms of heavy metals in the arable horizon. It was revealed that the climate is becoming more favorable for growing crops in the Northern Trans-Urals, thus, from the zone of risky farming, the region can move to a more favorable area for growing grain and leguminous crops. The content of mobile forms of Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd and Pb in the arable horizon does not exceed the MPC. Nevertheless, in recent years, the area and structure of arable land sown with agricultural crops, including cereals and legumes, the area of agricultural land, including arable land, has practically not changed.
Study of the microstructure of stained cheeses
Authors: Ermolaev V A , Kechkin I A , Slavyanskiy A A , Gurkovskaya E A , Bronnikova V V
Published: March 2021

A selection of methods for cheese mass coloring was performed. Cheeses stained with Sudan III according to Herxheimer’s method have fat of a bright orange color, and on micrographs this fat is clearly distinguished in the form of droplets with a diameter of 30 to 100 microns. Moreover, the fatty droplets in the micrographs, regardless of the cheese type, are predominantly light in color (white). The microstructure of cheeses stained with Sudan III and Methylene Blue has a cellular structure. Their fat droplets in micrographs have a dark color (gray or black). The size of the fat droplets is the same as that of cheeses stained with Sudan III according to Herxheimer’s method, from 30 to 100 microns.
Motorless pilot studies of crankshaft dampers of combustion engines
Authors: Khaliullin Farit , Matyashin Aleksandr , Zemdikhanov Minsur , Martyushev Aleksey , Davydov Nikolay
Published: March 2021

This article is about motorless studies of crankshaft dampers of combustion engines. An option to reduce the adverse effect of torsional motions of the crankshaft to the working life and effective performance of the engine is the dampers’ installation. However, dampers’ installation causes a change in the number of motor masses, what in turn results in a change in free frequency. As a consequence, there are changes in the resonant modes of operation, and ones in the type and shape of the constrained oscillations. To ensure the efficient operation of the recently designed construction of dampers, numerous final tests have to be performed, and the calculation itself is iterative, which considerably increases the complexity and a number of calculations. Stand design is suggested for carrying out these researches in a motorless way, while the modes and parameters of the torsional motions of the crankshaft match the operating modes of the combustion engine itself. Changeability of the distance between the motor masses and the type and magnitude of the torques acting on the motor masses makes the suggested stand universal for testing engines of any layout diagram. Torque modulation in amplitude, frequency, and phase is obtained by changing the appropriate electrical settings on the stator windings, creating torque for an equal torsional circuit. This circuit also enables testing only for resonant torque harmonics, which is an unquestionable advantage of the offered stand.
Prospects for application of blockchain technology in land administration
Authors: Beznosov A G , Skvortsov E A , Skvortsova E G
Published: March 2021

The application of blockchain is associated primarily with cryptocurrencies, however they are used in various spheres of the economy. The issues of the application of blockchain technologies in land administration are not sufficiently developed theoretically, which makes this study relevant. Since 2016, the application of blockchain technologies in land administration has been at various stages of implementation in different countries (USA, United Kingdom, Brazil, etc.). A model for entering data into the land information system using blockchain technologies is presented: data from users are received and added to the blockchain, they are replicated and the transaction is verified, a block with a transaction is formed, which is added to the blockchain of all system participants. A national land market system with blockchain infrastructure can increase the likelihood of exporting to international markets as compliance with international standards becomes a transparent and undeniable issue. The use of blockchain technologies can increase economic efficiency and security, reduce the risk of uncertainty in achieving sustainable development of land matters.
Construction of a mathematical model of cereal lodging
Authors: Arinicheva I V , Arinichev I V , Darmilova Z D
Published: March 2021

The increase in the yield of cereals - the main food product of the world’s population - is the result of a modern approach to the process of growing and harvesting, the introduction of new methods of breeding work based on methods of mathematical modeling. Lodging of crops leads to significant crop losses. The article describes the methods developed by us for determining the physicomechanical properties and architectonics of plants, which are used to construct a lodging model. The study was carried out using mathematical analysis and methods of technical mechanics to find the features of resistance to lodging of stems of winter and spring cereals, depending on the variety and species. The physicomechanical properties of their tissues and the parameters of the architectonics of cereal plants were determined, which are recommended to be used when breeding new varieties and hybrids that are resistant to lodging.
Evaluation effectiveness of forage harvesters in silage preparation
Authors: Valge Aleksandr , Sukhoparov Aleksey , Papushin Eduard , Dobrinov Aleksandr
Published: March 2021

The indicators of the feed output and, in general, the profitability of animal husbandry rely on the effectiveness of forage harvesters. Models depicting the performance and fuel use of forage harvesters were received resulting from the analysis of the fuctioning indicators. An effectiveness ratio was suggested for a comparative analysis of their effectiveness. It considers the relationship between performance and fuel use while harvesting grasses of different yields.

Three forage harvesters: Jaguar-840, Jaguar-690 and Maral-125 are analyzed in this article when selecting grass windrows dried to a moisture content of 65%. Comparative analysis of the concerned forage harvesters revealed that the fullest loading of the Jaguar-840 and Jaguar-690 harvesters is achieved with a yield of grass more than 17.5 t/ha, and the Maral-125 combine harvester-with a yield of grass more than 10 t / ha. If the grass yield is up to 7 t / ha, the fuel rate of the harvesters is almost the same. Its changes occurs along a decreasing exponential curve with an increase in the yield of grass. The highest effectiveness ratio, equal to 33.54 (ha / shift)×(t / l), during silage preparation, has a Jaguar-840 forage harvester with a grass yield of 10.0-20.0 t / ha. The lowest effectiveness ratio is 5.63 (ha / shift)×(t / l), has Maral-125 harvester in the grass cutting with a yield of 25.0-30.0 t / ha.
Electing drought-resistant pinus pinea L. (stone pine) using dendroclimatology
Authors: Yu Karpukhin M , Yussef A M
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this study is to determine the exceptional dry years of Pinus pinea L. (stone pine) by using dendroclimatology, and Selection drought-resistant trees depending on the differentiation in the width of the annual growth rings of exceptional dry years and adopting them as seed mothers. Method. Sixteen samples were taken from four different sites (A, B, C, and D) (four samples per site). Cores were extracted from 10 trees per sample and the transverse surfaces of all cores were smoothed to expose the tree rings. Cores were then scanned and annual ring widths were measured from 2019 to 2005 using ScopeImage Plus software. By using the Moving Average as a smoothing technique, the exceptional years of the time series for the width of the annual growth rings for each sample were determined. More specifically, results show that 2008 and 2014 are negatively exceptional years across all the sites. Furthermore, the correlation coefficients between the ring-widths, the annual precipitation, and temperature for each site show that the annual precipitation is the determinant of the occurrence of exceptional years and that 2008 and 2014 are the dry years in our chosen sites. When comparing the ring widths of the dry years, it was noticed that tress (Aa4, Ab6, Ac9, Ad2) in the site A, (Ba10, Bb1, Bc3, Bd1) in the site B, (Ca9, Cb5, Cc8, Cd1) in the site C and (Da1, Db3, Dc7, Dd3) in the site D are superior and have wide rings. Scientific novels. According to this study, these trees can be selected as drought-resistant and adopted as seeds mothers which can be used in the propagation of Pinus pinea.
Management according to international standards in farming
Authors: Yekimov Sergey , Mukhina Evgeniya , Kostina Zinaida , Borodina Tatiana , Ermakova Maria
Published: March 2021

Management accounting is important for managing and controlling the activities of an agricultural enterprise. The implementation of management accounting is usually poorly regulated by the state, in this regard, the company can develop a system and form of management accounting, as well as a scheme for monitoring and reporting financial and economic activities. In addition to the data contained in the financial statements, management accounting, in our opinion, should take into account the peculiarities of the production process of a particular enterprise, which are difficult or impossible to objectively reflect in the financial statements. The use of management accounting in an agricultural enterprise contributes to the coordination of its divisions, allows you to improve the accounting, planning and control of production processes occurring in the agro-industrial enterprise. The presence of a synergistic effect from the interaction of all components of management accounting makes it possible to improve the efficiency of management of an agricultural enterprise. The application of international management accounting standards in agricultural enterprises makes it possible to more quickly and effectively implement favorable market conditions and timely solve problems that arise before the enterprise.
Studies about aging and corrosion of galvanized steel and polyvinyl chloride shielded cable caused by fireproof mud
Authors: Chen Minjiang , Liu Yang , Jiang Lingao , Huang Zhidong , Yu Bin , Hua Guoxiang
Published: March 2021

Fireproof mud is a widely-used sealing and plugging material in power and construction industry, yet it may cause aging/corrosion problems to its directly contacted materials, leading to high safety risk. However, studies about the aging/corrosion behavious caused by fireproof mud are surprisingly rare. To fill in such a research gap, aging and corrosion of galvanized steel and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-shielded cable caused by fireproof mud under simulated hygrothermal environment have been systematiclly investigated, based on which the mechanisms of these processes have been proposed. The results show that the corrosion of galvanized steel is mainly influenced by chloride anions from the fireproof mud, which can be aggravated/ alleviated if the fireproof mud is acidic/alkaline. For the aging of PVC shielded cable, one main reason is acidic/alkaline chemical corrosion caused by acidic/alkaline fireproof mud, the other is radical chain reaction of the PVC polymer in hygrothermal environment. These discoveries can offer important guidance for correct and safe use of fireproof mud in industries, thus ensure safe industrial production.
Effect of annealing on the microstructure and mechanical properties of high purity erbium metal
Authors: Wang Shuang , Wu Dao-gao , Zhong Jia-min , Chen De-hong , Li Zong-an , Wang Zhi-qiang , Pang Si-ming
Published: March 2021

The high purity erbium (Er) with purity ≥ 99.9% was rolled with accumulated deformation of 80%, and the deformed high purity Er was annealed at different temperatures. The microstructure and properties of deformed high purity Er during annealing were studied by means of electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) and microhardness tester, respectively. Experimental results showed that after annealing, the deformed microstructure was replaced by fine equiaxed grains. The microstructure and grain orientation distributed were most homogeneously when annealing temperature was 570 °C. And the recrystallization grains component increased with the annealing temperatures increased until 570 °C. After annealing progress, there was a progressive reduction of Low-Angle Grain Boundaries (LAGBs) fraction and a subsequent increase in High-Angle Grain Boundaries (HAGBs). The microhardness of rolled samples was higher than annealed samples, and decreased with increase of the temperatures due to the recovery, recrystallization and grain growth of the Er metal when the annealing temperature less than 570 °C. The microhardness increased a little after annealing at 620 °C. The optimum annealing temperature was 570 °C for high purity Er metal with 80% rolling deformation.
Influence of ZnO nanoparticles on thermophysical and tribological properties of polyolester oil
Authors: Suresh Kumar V P , Subramanian K Manikanda , Stalin B , Vairamuthu J
Published: March 2021

An experimental assessment of thermo-physical, tribological, and eco-friendly properties of polyolester (POE) oil with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles for use as nanolubricant in refrigeration compressor. The ZnO nanolubricants were added in the mass fractions in the range from 0.1% to 0.5%, at the temperatures of 0 °C, 20 °C, 30 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C. The thermophysical properties include thermal conductivity, kinematic viscosity, flash point, fire point, pour point, and cloud point with respect to various proportions. The morphology and size of ZnO nanoparticles are studied using the scanning electron microscope test. The tests findings suggest that ZnO nanoparticles greatly improved the friction characteristics of pure POE oil. The addition of the concentration decreases the pour point by 13.6%; at the same time, the flashpoint is improved by 3.5% when the POE oil is blended with ZnO. Zinc oxide nanoparticles could improve the refrigerants’ performance by extending life and avoiding friction problems. The optimum ZnO content of nanolubricants is, therefore, 0.3% for the POE/ZnO nanoparticles addition. The COF values are reduced by 6.95% at the optimum concentration over that with POE oil. The nanoparticles’ addition up to 0.3% results in less wear as they provide a defensive film between the surfaces during their motion. The mass loss value increased due to the aggregation of ZnO nanoparticles. The higher thermal conductivity is obtained for the 0.3% volume fraction of nanoparticles, and other 0.1% and 0.5% volume fractions lesser.
Polariton blockade in the Jaynes–Cummings–Hubbard model with trapped ions
Authors: Ohira R , Kume S , Takahashi H , Toyoda K
Published: March 2021

We have experimentally observed the dynamics of a single polariton and two polaritons in a two-ion chain. By driving two trapped ions at a motional blue-sideband (BSB) transition, we realize the anti-Jaynes–Cummings–Hubbard (JCH) model. When a single polariton exists in a trapped-ion chain, the polariton hops between the ion sites. On the other hand, when there are single polaritons at each ion site, the hopping of the polaritons is suppressed because of the polariton–polariton interaction induced by the nonlinearity of the anti-Jaynes–Cummings (JC) interaction, thereby realizing the blockade of polariton hopping in the anti-JCH model with trapped ions. Our work is a step towards the development of a trapped-ion based quantum simulator for strongly interacting polaritonic systems.
Role of Noise in Spontaneous Activity of Networks of Neurons on Patterned Silicon Emulated by Noise–activated CMOS Neural Nanoelectronic Circuits
Authors: Hasani Ramin , Ferrari Giorgio , Yamamoto Hideaki , Tanii Takashi , Prati Enrico
Published: March 2021

Background noise in biological cortical microcircuits constitutes a powerful resource to assess their computational tasks, including, for instance, the synchronization of spiking activity, the enhancement of the speed of information transmission, and the minimization of the corruption of signals. We explore the correlation of spontaneous firing activity of ≈ 100 biological neurons adhering to engineered scaffolds by governing the number of functionalized patterned connection pathways among groups of neurons. We then emulate the biological system by a series of noise-activated silicon neural network simulations. We show that by suitably tuning both the amplitude of noise and the number of synapses between the silicon neurons, the same controlled correlation of the biological population is achieved. Our results extend to a realistic silicon nanoelectronics neuron design using noise injection to be exploited in artificial spiking neural networks such as liquid state machines and recurrent neural networks for stochastic computation.
Determinations of Applications for Planning Permission
Authors: Bowes Ashley
Published: March 2021

Under s 101 of the Local Government Act 1972, a local authority may arrange for the discharge of any of its functions by a committee, a subcommittee, an officer of the authority, or by any other local authority.
Appeals; Statutory Review; Judicial Review; The Ombudsman
Authors: Bowes Ashley
Published: March 2021

From most decisions of local planning authorities there is an appeal to the Secretary of State and from him to the courts on a point of law. In determining an appeal, the Secretary of State may allow the appeal, dismiss it, reverse, or vary any part of the decision of the local planning authority and generally deal with the appeal as if it were before him in the first instance, see s 79 of the 1990 Act.
The Control of Outdoor Advertisements
Authors: Bowes Ashley
Published: March 2021

The source of the power to control advertisements is found in ss 220 to 225 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (the 1990 Act). Section 220 gives the Secretary of State power to make regulations for restricting or regulating the display of advertisements, so far as it appears to him to be expedient in the interests of amenity or public safety. The present regulations are the Town and County Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/783 (the Regulations). The Regulations update and improve the arrangements for controlling outdoor advertisements and make the control more responsive to rapidly changing forms of advertising. Circular 03/2007 further explains the legislation and provides guidance for local planning authorities and advertisers to help ensure that the system operates effectively. The latest Regulations also coincide with the creation of a database to enable local planning authorities to input and extract details of prosecutions and formal cautions against advertisers who unlawfully display advertisements alongside motorways and trunk roads. The database will also include details of persons guilty of fly-posting. It is hoped that this information will help to track down persistent offenders and ensure that fines reflect the seriousness of the offence.
Trees, Hedgerows, and High Hedges
Authors: Bowes Ashley
Published: March 2021

Cutting down a tree does not appear to be development within s 55 of the 1990 Act; hence it is not subject to general development control. The Act contains provisions, however, to secure the preservation and planting of trees. Under s 197 of the 1990 Act, a duty is imposed on a local planning authority to ensure, whenever it is appropriate, that in granting planning permission for development adequate provision is made by the imposition of conditions, for the preservation or planting of trees. Indeed, in St Vincent Housing Association v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government [2011] EWHC 3339 (Admin); [2012] JPL 845 it was held that if permission was granted for dwellings which would be overlooked by trees, this could lead to consent to cut down or cut back the trees.
Interindividual Biological Variability of Reticulocytes and Their Maturation Fractions in the Pediatric Population
Authors: Bracho Fernando J
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Because published data about the variability of reticulocyte counts in children are scarce, the interindividual biological variability of the automated reticulocyte count and its maturation fractions according to age and sex were analyzed.

Methods

A retrospective, observational, analytical study was designed to establish and compare normal values of the automated reticulocyte count and its maturation fractions in different age and sex groups. The sample was drawn from results of CBC counts performed in children aged between 2 months and 18 years using an indirect sampling methodology.

Results

A total of 9,362 CBC counts were analyzed. Automated reticulocyte count decreased between 2 months and 3 years of age and slowly increased thereafter, showing higher values in girls up to the age of 9 years, and equalized by sex thereafter. Immature reticulocyte fraction increased until 7 months of age; decreased progressively until 4 years of age; and then showed a discreet but constant rise, with significantly higher values in boys older than 1 year. The low-fluorescence fraction was relatively steady, with significantly higher values in girls aged 8 months and older.

Conclusions

The automated reticulocyte count and its maturation fractions show significant variations related to age and sex in pediatric patients.
A prospective assessment of the Medicaid Web portal for admission medication reconciliation at a community hospital in Montana
Authors: Parks Lauren K , McGrane Ian R , Hartzell Jayme L
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Medication reconciliation (MR) is a complicated and tedious process but is crucial to prevent errors when ordering patients’ discharge medications during a hospital admission. Our institution currently uses a variety of methods to gather a patient’s medication history, including review of the medical records and electronic pharmaceutical claims data (EPCD) from a commercial health information exchange organization, as well as a patient or caregiver interview. Occasionally, more information is needed to obtain the most accurate history. To augment current methods, EPCD can also be accessed for patients with Medicaid insurance using a state Medicaid Web portal. We aimed to evaluate the utility of the Medicaid Web portal for reducing medication errors during the MR process at hospital admission.

A single-center, prospective, quality improvement initiative was conducted to evaluate 100 patient medication lists for all nonobstetric Medicaid patients admitted to our institution to identify discrepancies in medication lists when the state Medicaid Web portal was used in addition to standard MR methods. We found that, when EPCD from commercial organizations were available, they matched the patient’s current medication list 64% of the time. One in 4 patients had at least 1 discrepancy on their verified medication list that was identified using the Medicaid Web portal. The discrepancies identified were addressed and corrected in real time to improve patient care.

Conclusion

EPCD from the state Medicaid Web portal could supplement the use of current methods to obtain a more accurate medication history and reduce the number of erroneously ordered discharge medications during hospital admission.
FUNGI: FUsioN Gene Integration toolset
Authors: Cervera Alejandra , Rausio Heidi , Kähkönen Tiia , Andersson Noora , Partel Gabriele , Rantanen Ville , Paciello Giulia , Ficarra Elisa , Hynninen Johanna , Hietanen Sakari , Carpén Olli , Lehtonen Rainer , Hautaniemi Sampsa , Huhtinen Kaisa
Published: March 2021

Motivation

Fusion genes are both useful cancer biomarkers and important drug targets. Finding relevant fusion genes is challenging due to genomic instability resulting in a high number of passenger events. To reveal and prioritize relevant gene fusion events we have developed FUsionN Gene Identification toolset (FUNGI) that uses an ensemble of fusion detection algorithms with prioritization and visualization modules.

Results

We applied FUNGI to an ovarian cancer dataset of 107 tumor samples from 36 patients. Ten out of 11 detected and prioritized fusion genes were validated. Many of detected fusion genes affect the PI3K-AKT pathway with potential role in treatment resistance.

Availabilityand implementation

FUNGI and its documentation are available at https://bitbucket.org/alejandra_cervera/fungi as standalone or from Anduril at https://www.anduril.org.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
High-intensity Intermittent Training Enhances Spatial Memory and Hippocampal Neurogenesis Associated with BDNF Signaling in Rats
Authors: Okamoto Masahiro , Mizuuchi Daisuke , Omura Koki , Lee Minchul , Oharazawa Akihiko , Yook Jang Soo , Inoue Koshiro , Soya Hideaki
Published: March 2021

High-intensity intermittent (or interval) training (HIIT) has started to gain popularity as a time-effective approach to providing beneficial effects to the brain and to peripheral organs. However, it still remains uncertain whether HIIT enhances hippocampal functions in terms of neurogenesis and spatial memory due to unconsidered HIIT protocol for rodents. Here, we established the HIIT regimen for rats with reference to human study. Adult male Wistar rats were assigned randomly to Control, moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT; 20 m/min, 30 min/day, 5 times/week), and HIIT (60 m/min, 10 30-s bouts of exercise, interspaced with 2.5 min of recovery, 5 times/week) groups. The ratios of exercise time and volume between MICT and HIIT were set as 6:1 and 2:1–4:1, respectively. After 4 weeks of training, all-out time in the incremental exercise test was prolonged for exercise training. In skeletal muscle, the plantaris citrate synthase activity significantly increased only in the HIIT group. Simultaneously, both HIIT and MICT led to enhanced spatial memory and adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) as well as enhanced protein levels of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling. Collectively, we suggest that HIIT could be a time-efficient exercise protocol that enhances hippocampal memory and neurogenesis in rats and is associated with hippocampal BDNF signaling.
Association of leukocyte telomere length with chronic kidney disease in East Asians with type 2 diabetes: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Gurung Resham L , Dorajoo Rajkumar , M Yiamunaa , Wang Ling , Liu Sylvia , Liu Jian-Jun , Shao Yi Ming , Chen Yuqing , Sim Xueling , Ang Keven , Subramaniam Tavintharan , Tang Wern Ee , Sum Chee Fang , Liu Jian-Jun , Lim Su Chi
Published: March 2021

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common among people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), and increases the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular diseases. Shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with CKD in patients with T2D. We previously reported single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with LTL in an Asian population. In this study, we elucidated the association of these SNPs with CKD in patients with T2D using the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

Methods

The cross-sectional association of 16 LTL SNPs with CKD, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate of <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, was assessed among 4768 (1628 cases and 3140 controls) participants in the Singapore Study of Macro-angiopathy and Micro-vascular Reactivity in T2D and Diabetic Nephropathy cohorts. MR analysis was performed using the random-effect inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, the weighted median, MR-Egger and Radial MR adjusted for age and sex-stratified by cohorts and ethnicity (Chinese and Malays), then meta-analyzed.

Results

Genetically determined shorter LTL was associated with increased risk of CKD in patients with T2D (meta-IVW adjusted odds ratio = 1.51, 95% confidence interval 1.12–2.12, P = 0.007, Phet = 0.547). Similar results were obtained following sensitivity analysis. MR-Egger analysis (intercept) suggested no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy (β = 0.010, P = 0.751).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that genetically determined LTL is associated with CKD in patients with T2D. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the causal role of telomere length in CKD progression.
Anxa1 in smooth muscle cells protects against acute aortic dissection
Authors: Zhou Changping , Lin Zhiyong , Cao Huanhuan , Chen Yue , Li Jingxuan , Zhuang Xiaofeng , Ma Dong , Ji Liang , Li Wei , Xu Suowen , Pan Bing , Zheng Lemin
Published: March 2021

Aims

Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a life-threatening disease with high morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have showed that vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotype switching modulates vascular function and AAD progression. However, whether an endogenous signalling system that protects AAD progression exists remains unknown. Our aim is to investigate the role of Anxa1 in VSMC phenotype switching and the pathogenesis of AAD.

Methods and results

We first assessed Anxa1 expression levels by immunohistochemical staining in control aorta and AAD tissue from mice. A strong increase of Anxa1 expression was seen in the mouse AAD tissues. In line with these findings, micro-CT scan results indicated that Anxa1 plays a role in the development of AAD in our murine model, with systemic deficiency of Anxa1 markedly progressing AAD. Conversely, administration of Anxa1 mimetic peptide, Ac2-26, rescued the AAD phenotype in Anxa1-/- mice. Transcriptomic studies revealed a novel role for Anxa1 in VSMC phenotype switching, with Anxa1 deficiency triggering the synthetic phenotype of VSMCs via down-regulation of the JunB/MYL9 pathway. The resultant VSMC synthetic phenotype rendered elevated inflammation and enhanced matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) production, leading to augmented elastin degradation. VSMC-restricted deficiency of Anxa1 in mice phenocopied VSMC phenotype switching and the consequent exacerbation of AAD. Finally, our studies in human AAD aortic specimens recapitulated key findings in murine AAD, specifically that the decrease of Anxa1 is associated with VSMC phenotype switch, heightened inflammation, and enhanced MMP production in human aortas.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrated that Anxa1 is a novel endogenous defender that prevents AAD by inhibiting VSMC phenotype switching, suggesting that Anxa1 signalling may be a potential target for AAD pharmacological therapy.
Securitizing Energy Cooperation: Israel's Regional Shift in the East-Mediterranean
Authors: Rettig Elai
Published: March 2021

Does energy securitization promote or hinder regional cooperation over energy resources? This paper argues that policymakers frame energy issues as existential threats to facilitate both outcomes, depending on how they perceive the reliability of their country's energy supply. When countries are confident in their supply, they begin to seek regional cooperation opportunities that they had previously rejected. Rather than abandon existential rhetoric that served to prevent cooperation when supply was vulnerable, policymakers adopt opposing constructs of security and direct them toward different audiences to gain their support. When addressing the international community, policymakers employ neoliberal concepts of security as a mutually beneficial result of trade and cooperation. When addressing domestic audiences, policymakers employ realist paradigms of security as competition toward self-preservation and dominance. Israel serves as a case study to test this argument. This paper examines how major natural gas discoveries in 2009 shifted longstanding Israeli isolationism and encouraged it to seek deeper economic ties with its neighbors. To promote its new policy, the Israeli government argued before its domestic audience that gas exports are essential for creating leverage against the EU and preventing terrorism on its borders, while simultaneously arguing toward foreign audiences that the exports serve to promote regional unity.
Deficiency of intellectual disability-related gene Brpf1 reduced inhibitory neurotransmission in MGE-derived GABAergic interneurons
Authors: Cao Jingli , Xian Weiwei , Palihati Maierdan , Zhu Yu , Wang Guoxiang , Xie Yunli , Zhou Guomin , You Linya
Published: March 2021

Intellectual disability is closely related to impaired GABA neurotransmission. Brpf1 was specifically expressed in medial ganglionic eminence (MGE), a developmental niche of GABAergic interneurons, and patients with BRPF1 mutations showed intellectual disability. To test its role in the development and function of MGE-derived GABAergic interneurons, we performed immunofluorescence staining, whole-cell patch-clamp, MGE transplantation, and mRNA-Seq to understand its effect on neuronal differentiation, dendritic morphology, electrophysiology, migration, and gene regulation, using mouse MGE-derived GABAergic interneurons infected with AAV-shBrpf1. The results showed that Brpf1 knockdown had a decreasing trend, although not significant, on the differentiation of GABAergic interneurons into parvalbumin+ interneurons. Moreover, increased firing threshold, decreased number of evoked action potentials, and a reduced amplitude of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents were observed before any significant change of MAP2+ dendritic morphology and in vivo migration ability appeared. Finally, mRNA-Seq analysis revealed that genes related to neurodevelopment and synaptic transmission such as Map2k7 were dysregulated. Our results demonstrated a key role of Brpf1 in inhibitory neurotransmission and related gene expression of GABAergic interneurons.
Psychological Distress During the Retirement Transition and the Role of Psychosocial Working Conditions and Social Living Environment
Authors: Lahdenperä Mirkka , Virtanen Marianna , Myllyntausta Saana , Pentti Jaana , Vahtera Jussi , Stenholm Sari
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Mental health is determined by social, biological, and cultural factors and is sensitive to life transitions. We examine how psychosocial working conditions, social living environment, and cumulative risk factors are associated with mental health changes during the retirement transition.

Method

We use data from the Finnish Retirement and Aging study on public sector employees (n = 3,338) retiring between 2014 and 2019 in Finland. Psychological distress was measured with the General Health Questionnaire annually before and after retirement and psychosocial working conditions, social living environment, and accumulation of risk factors at the study wave prior to retirement.

Results

Psychological distress decreased during the retirement transition, but the magnitude of the change was dependent on the contexts individuals retire from. Psychological distress was higher among those from poorer psychosocial working conditions (high job demands, low decision authority, job strain), poorer social living environment (low neighborhood social cohesion, small social network), and more cumulative risk factors (work/social/both). During the retirement transition, greatest reductions in psychological distress were observed among those with poorer conditions (work: absolute and relative changes, p [Group × Time interactions] < .05; social living environment and cumulative risk factors: absolute changes, p [Group × Time interactions] < .05).

Discussion

Psychosocial work-related stressors lead to quick recovery during the retirement transition but the social and cumulative stressors have longer-term prevailing effects on psychological distress. More studies are urged incorporating exposures across multiple levels or contexts to clarify the determinants of mental health during the retirement transition and more generally at older ages.
Physical Multimorbidity and Social Participation in Adult Aged 65 Years and Older From Six Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Ma Ruimin , Romano Eugenia , Vancampfort Davy , Firth Joseph , Stubbs Brendon , Koyanagi Ai
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Multimorbidity is common among older adults from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Social participation has a role in protecting against negative health consequences, yet its association with multimorbidity is unclear, particularly in LMICs. Thus, this study investigated the relationship between physical multimorbidity and social participation among older adults across 6 LMICs.

Method

Cross-sectional, community-based data including adults aged 65 years and older from 6 LMICs were analyzed from the WHO Study on Global AGEing and adult health survey. The association between 11 individual chronic conditions or the number of chronic conditions (independent variable) and social participation (range 0–10 with higher scores indicating greater social participation; dependent variable) was assessed by multivariable linear regression analysis.

Results

14,585 individuals (mean age 72.6 [SD 11.5] years; 54.9% females) were included. Among individual conditions, hearing problems, visual impairment, and stroke were significantly associated with lower levels of social participation. Overall, an increasing number of chronic conditions was dose-dependently associated with lower levels of social participation (e.g., ≥4 vs 0 conditions: β = −0.26 [95% CI = −0.39, −0.13]). The association was more pronounced among males than females.

Discussion

Older people with multimorbidity had lower levels of social participation in LMICs. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to further investigate temporal associations, and whether addressing social participation can lead to better health outcomes among older people with multimorbidity in LMICs.
Culture Linked to Increasing Ageism During COVID-19: Evidence From a 10-Billion-Word Corpus Across 20 Countries
Authors: Ng Reuben , Chow Ting Yu Joanne , Yang Wenshu
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Older adults experience higher risks of getting severely ill from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), resulting in widespread narratives of frailty and vulnerability. We test: (a) whether global aging narratives have become more negative from before to during the pandemic (October 2019 to May 2020) across 20 countries; (b) model pandemic (incidence and mortality), and cultural factors associated with the trajectory of aging narratives.

Methods

We leveraged a 10-billion-word online-media corpus, consisting of 28 million newspaper and magazine articles across 20 countries, to identify nine common synonyms of “older adults” and compiled their most frequently used descriptors (collocates) from October 2019 to May 2020—culminating in 11,504 collocates that were rated to create a Cumulative Aging Narrative Score per month. Widely used cultural dimension scores were taken from Hofstede, and pandemic variables, from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker.

Results

Aging narratives became more negative as the pandemic worsened across 20 countries. Globally, scores were trending neutral from October 2019 to February 2020, and plummeted in March 2020, reflecting COVID-19’s severity. Prepandemic (October 2019), the United Kingdom evidenced the most negative aging narratives; peak pandemic (May 2020), South Africa took on the dubious honor. Across the 8-month period, the Philippines experienced the steepest trend toward negativity in aging narratives. Ageism, during the pandemic, was, ironically, not predicted by COVID-19’s incidence and mortality rates, but by cultural variables: Individualism, Masculinity, Uncertainty Avoidance, and Long-term Orientation.

Discussion

The strategy to reverse this trajectory lay in the same phenomenon that promoted it: a sustained global campaign—though, it should be culturally nuanced and customized to a country’s context.
The ambiguous fault geometry derived from InSAR measurements of buried thrust earthquakes: a synthetic data based study
Authors: Zhang Yingfeng , Shan Xinjian , Gong Wenyu , Zhang Guohong
Published: March 2021

The challenge of ruling out potential rupture nodal planes with opposite dip orientations during interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR)-based kinematic inversions has been widely reported. Typically, slip on two or more different fault planes can match the surface deformation measurements equally well. The ambiguous choice of the nodal plane for the InSAR-based models was thought to be caused by InSAR's 1-D measurement and polar orbiting direction, leading to its poor sensitivity to north–south crustal motion. Through synthetic experiments and simulations, this paper quantitatively demonstrates the main reason of the ambiguous InSAR-based models, which confuse researchers in the small-to-moderate thrust earthquake cases investigation. We propose the inherent 1-D measurement is not the principle cause of the fault plane ambiguity, since models derived from the same InSAR data predict similar, but not identical, 3-D deformation patterns. They key to differentiating between these different models is to be able to resolve the small asymmetry in the surface deformation pattern, which may be smaller in amplitude than the typical noise levels in InSAR measurements. We investigate the fault geometry resolvability when using InSAR data with different noise levels through ‘R’ value. We find that the resolvability does not only rely on the InSAR noise, but also on the fault geometry itself (i.e. depth, dips angle and strike). Our result shows that it is impossible to uniquely determine the dip orientation of thrust earthquakes with Mw < 6.0 and depth > 5.0 km with InSAR data at a noise level that is typical for mountain belts. This inference is independent from the specific data set (i.e. interferogram or time-series) and allows one to assess if one can expect to be able to resolve the correct fault plane at all.
The experiences of women with breast cancer who undergo fertility preservation
Authors: Dahhan T , van der Veen F , Bos A M E , Goddijn M , Dancet E A F
Published: March 2021

STUDY QUESTION

How do women, who have just been diagnosed with breast cancer, experience oocyte or embryo banking?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Fertility preservation was a challenging yet welcome way to take action when confronted with breast cancer.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Fertility preservation for women with breast cancer is a way to safeguard future chances of having children. Women who have just been diagnosed with breast cancer report stress, as do women who have to undergo IVF treatment. How women experience the collision of these two stressfull events, has not yet been studied.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

We performed a multicenter qualitative study with a phenomenological approach including 21 women between March and July 2014. Women were recruited from two university-based fertility clinics.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Women with breast cancer who banked oocytes or embryos 1–15 months before study participation were eligible. We conducted in-depth, face-to-face interviews with 21 women, which was sufficient to reach data saturation.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

The 21 women interviewed had a mean age of 32 years. Analysis of the 21 interviews revealed three main experiences: the burden of fertility preservation, the new identity of a fertility patient and coping with breast cancer through fertility preservation.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Interviewing women after, rather than during, fertility preservation might have induced recall bias. Translation of quotes was not carried out by a certified translator.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

The insights gained from this study of the experiences of women undergoing fertility preservation while being newly diagnosed with breast cancer could be used as a starting point for adapting the routine psychosocial care provided by fertility clinic staff. Future studies are necessary to investigate whether adapting routine psychosocial care improves women’s wellbeing.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

None of the authors in this study declare potential conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the Center of Reproductive Medicine of the Academic Medical Center.
Information-sharing mechanism of synergistic incentive among EPC subjects of energy efficiency retrofitting of existing buildings against COVID-19
Authors: Yang Yanping , Wang Bojun
Published: March 2021

The pandemic situation of COVID-19 blocks many traditional information exchange paths, intensifies the information asymmetry in the implementation of the energy efficiency retrofitting project of existing building and seriously affects the decision-making effect of the energy performance contracting (EPC) subject. Therefore, based on the information-sharing platform, this paper constructs the synergistic incentive framework; designs the computational experimental models from the aspects of system information structure, system organization structure, synergistic communication strategy and subject knowledge structure; and analyzes the influence mechanism and evolution law of information on synergistic incentive performance from the two dimensions of the influence of the synergy cycle on the incentive performance and the influence of the incentive cycle on the synergy degree. The results show that increasing the information redundancy length and the information redundancy width can improve the synergy degree and incentive validity. The concentration of subject number or information dimension in a certain information area can quickly improve the synergy degree and incentive utility in the early stage of the synergistic incentive cycle, but the above situation is opposite in the later stage. Increasing the information communication path is beneficial to the effective information dissemination among subjects and can improve the efficiency of the decision-making of the subjects. Lastly, considering the background of COVID-19 epidemic situation, this paper puts forward the remedial methods and coping strategies make up for the lack of synergistic incentive information between EPC subjects. Research results can provide strong support for the design of synergistic incentive mechanism of EPC subjects.
Mutual Interventions in Africa
Authors: Duursma Allard , Tamm Henning
Published: March 2021

Global datasets on interstate armed conflict suggest that African states clash with each other rarely and only for short periods. This research note shows that existing datasets paint a misleading picture. In fact, African states fight each other more often and for longer than is commonly thought, but they do so by mutually intervening in each other's intrastate conflicts. Instead of relying solely on their own armed forces, they support their rival's armed opposition groups. Such mutual interventions—most prevalent in Africa but also evident in other regions—thus span the boundaries of interstate and intrastate conflict. As a result, they have been largely overlooked by conflict scholars. Our note conceptualizes mutual intervention as a distinct form of interstate conflict, comparing and contrasting it with concepts like proxy war, competitive intervention, and international rivalry. The note then presents the first systematic survey of mutual interventions across the African continent. We identify twenty-three cases between 1960 and 2010 and demonstrate that they typically ended independently of their associated intrastate conflicts. We conclude with a research agenda that involves studying the onset, duration, termination, and consequences of mutual interventions, including collecting data on mutual interventions outside Africa to explore cross-regional differences.