bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Sr Modifier on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of ZL102 Casting Suspension Clamp
Authors: Fan Baozhen , Mo Juan , Zhang Jinghua , Shen Hongbing , Liu Rui
Published: July 2020

In this thesis, the microstructure and mechanical properties of the suspension clamp made of ZL102 material modified with different amounts of Sr added are studied, and the grip strength and damage load of the suspension clamp as well as the tensile testing properties at room temperature, hardness and impact toughness of the material are tested. The results show that with the increase of Sr addition, α solid solution gradually changes into dendrite, while coarse strip eutectic silicon and bulk primary crystal silicon gradually change into granular and short-rod shapes. With the addition of Sr modifier, the tensile strength, elongation, expansion and impact toughness of ZL102 material increased significantly, and the hardness value decreased slightly but with a smaller range. The grip strength test of suspension clamp modified with different added amounts of Sr meets the standard requirements, and the damage load test of suspension clamp modified without Sr does not meet the requirements. When the added amount of Sr is 0.0250%, the type test index of suspension clamp is stable and dispersive.
Discussion on deformation monitoring method of asphalt concrete core wall of high earth-rock dam
Authors: Hai-bo Cui , Bao-xin Liu , Chen-liang Zhang , Yong-hui Wang , Xiang Ji
Published: July 2020

The deformation of asphalt concrete core wall of earth rock dam is an important monitoring item of safety management in the construction and operation period of the project. This paper summarizes the conventional monitoring methods and principles of the deformation of asphalt concrete core wall, analyzes the application scope and existing problems of the conventional monitoring methods, and introduces a new method and principle of the deformation monitoring of asphalt concrete core wall of high earth rock dam, which effectively solves the problems The problems of conventional monitoring methods are solved, and the three-dimensional deformation monitoring of asphalt concrete core wall is realized.
Study on the Cleaning Device of Cement Silo Wall
Authors: Zhao Honghua , Hu Zhitong , Zhao Jian , Gong Xuyin , Han Qifei , Lin Yifei
Published: July 2020

The traditional way of cleaning the cement storehouse wall is manual storage, which is very dangerous. The collapse of the accumulated material causes casualties. In view of the current needs of cleaning, this paper designs a kind of machine which is suitable for the cleaning of domestic cement warehouse. The machine has the advantages of light weight, assembling and being suitable for any diameter warehouse. In this paper, the design scheme and mechanical structure of the machine are studied, and the working principle of the device is introduced. Finally, the static analysis of the finite element software is used to check the key parts and verify the correctness of the design scheme.
Experimental Study and Numerical Simulation Analysis of Geosynthetics Reinforced Bond Performance
Authors: Nan Yang
Published: July 2020

In the laboratory, the test of bond performance of civil composite reinforcement is usually carried out by consolidation drainage triaxial shear test, which involves three aspects: the stress, strength and volume change of cohesive soil. From the experimental results, it is not difficult to find that if researcher want to increase the volume stability of the high-pressure compaction soil, researcher need to increase the way of reinforcement, but through the way of reinforcement, the shear swelling body of the soil will be reduced, while the shear shrinkage body of the soil will not be reduced or increased. The test pieces used in the experiment are reinforced specimen and plain soil specimen. The biggest difference between them is the axial strain. When the axial strain is low, the reinforced specimen is lower than the strength of plain soil specimen, and the plain soil specimen is slowly higher than the reinforced specimen, which requires the axial strain to increase to a certain extent, which also has the phenomenon that the reinforcement delays the soil strength, which also depends on the number of reinforcement layers and tension of the reinforcement materials. With the increase of modulus of elongation, the phenomenon of delay will be more obvious. In the experiment, the peak strength of the soil is controlled by changing the number of layers of reinforcement and the tensile modulus of reinforcement. The experiment shows that with the increase of the number of layers of reinforcement, the peak strength of the soil is increased in a certain range, but once the peak value is exceeded, the peak strength of the soil will not be greatly changed by changing the number of layers of reinforcement, except by changing the number of reinforcement layers, the residual strength of soil can be controlled by changing the reinforcement material of tensile modulus, so that the stress-strain characteristics of soil will be greatly changed.
An ambipolar transistor based on a monolayer WS2 using lithium ions injection
Authors: Wang Heshen , Liu Qiye , Feng Xuemeng , Zhang Zhan , Wang Kai , Liu Zhaojun , Dai Jun-Feng
Published: July 2020

Ambipolar field-effect transistor (FET) devices based on two-dimensional (2D) materials have been attracted much attention due to potential applications in integrated circuits, flexible electronics and optical sensors. However, it is difficult to tune Fermi level between conduction and valence bands using a traditional SiO2 as dielectric layer. Here, we employed the lithium-ion conductive glass ceramic (LICGC) as the back-gate electrode in a monolayer WS2 FET. The effective accumulation and dissipation of Li+ ions in the interface induce a wide tune of Fermi level in the conducting channel by electron and hole doping, which show an ambipolar transport characteristics with threshold voltages at 0.9 V and −1.3 V, respectively. Our results provide an opportunity for fabricating ultra-thin ambipolar FET based on 2D materials.
Single-shot transverse coherence measurements with Young's double pinholes at FLASH2
Authors: Wodzinski T , Mehrjoo M , Ruiz-Lopez M , Keitel B , Kuhlmann M , Brachmanski M , Künzel S , Fajardo M , Plönjes E
Published: July 2020

We measured the transverse coherence at FLASH2, a variable gap undulator line at the FLASH free-electron laser user facility at DESY in Hamburg. We demonstrate, theoretically and experimentally, a revised version of Young’s double pinhole approach to perform single-shot, repeatable and non-invasive transverse coherence measurements. At beamline FL24 of FLASH2, the transverse coherence of pulses was systematically characterized at wavelengths of 8, 13.5 and 18 nm for different FEL source settings. We determine degrees of coherence of 57% to 87% in the vertical and horizontal direction, respectively. These measurements can facilitate the planning of novel, coherence-based experiments at the FLASH facility.
p53/E2F1/miR-25 axis regulates apoptosis induction in glioblastoma cells: a qualitative model
Authors: Silveira Daner A , Gupta Shantanu , Mombach José Carlos M
Published: July 2020

p53 is an anti-cancer protein for inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In glioblastoma multiform (GBM), p53 is able to induce apoptosis via inhibition of its negative regulator Mdm2. Experimental studies have shown that microRNA-25 (miR-25) can repress Mdm2 expression and, in turn, stabilizes p53 to induce the G1/S checkpoint in GBM cells. miR-25 expression is regulated by the cell cycle inducer molecule E2F1, which has been reported to induce apoptosis when overexpressed in GBM. However, the way p53, E2F1, and miR-25 coordinately regulate apoptosis induction in GBM is still obscure in the literature. In this study, we propose a logical model contemplating the regulatory influence of miR-25 and its regulator E2F1 on cell fate decision. Through in silico results for the wild-type case, we observed that miR-25 may stabilize p53 expression through Mdm2 inhibition inducing a G1/S checkpoint arrest or apoptosis in cells overexpressing E2F1. The predicted probabilities of our model are in good agreement with published experimental data. Moreover, we show that miR-25-induced p53 stabilization might contribute to apoptosis induction in GBM cells. These findings highlight some unrecognized mechanisms that may guide to alternative ideas for GBM therapeutic strategies.
In operando active learning of interatomic interaction during large-scale simulations
Authors: Hodapp M , Shapeev A
Published: July 2020

A well-known drawback of state-of-the-art machine-learning interatomic potentials is their poor ability to extrapolate beyond the training domain. For small-scale problems with tens to hundreds of atoms this can be solved by using active learning which is able to select atomic configurations on which a potential attempts extrapolation and add them to the ab initio-computed training set. In this sense an active learning algorithm can be viewed as an on-the-fly interpolation of an ab initio model. For large-scale problems, possibly involving tens of thousands of atoms, this is not feasible because one cannot afford even a single density functional theory (DFT) computation with such a large number of atoms.

This work marks a new milestone toward fully automatic ab initio-accurate large-scale atomistic simulations. We develop an active learning algorithm that identifies local subregions of the simulation region where the potential extrapolates. Then the algorithm constructs periodic configurations out of these local, non-periodic subregions, sufficiently small to be computable with plane-wave DFT codes, in order to obtain accurate ab initio energies. We benchmark our algorithm on the problem of screw dislocation motion in bcc tungsten and show that our algorithm reaches ab initio accuracy, down to typical magnitudes of numerical noise in DFT codes. We show that our algorithm reproduces material properties such as core structure, Peierls barrier, and Peierls stress. This unleashes new capabilities for computational materials science toward applications which have currently been out of scope if approached solely by ab initio methods.
Predicting radiation treatment planning evaluation parameter using artificial intelligence and machine learning
Authors: Ng Frederick , Jiang Runqing , Chow James C L
Published: July 2020

Purpose: This study suggested a new method predicting the dose-volume parameter for radiation treatment planning evaluation using machine learning, and to evaluate the performance of different learning algorithms in the parameter prediction. Methods: Dose distribution index (DDI) for fifty prostate volumetric modulated arc therapy plans were calculated, and compared to results predicted by machine learning using algorithms, namely, linear regression, tree regression, support vector machine (SVM) and Gaussian process regression (GPR). Root mean square error (RMSE), prediction speed and training time were determined to evaluate the performance of each algorithm. Results: From the results, it is found that the square exponential GPR algorithm had the smallest RMSE, relatively high prediction speed and short training time of 0.0038, 4,100 observation/s and 0.18 s, respectively. All linear regression, SVM and GPR algorithms performed well according to their RMSE in the range of 0.0038–0.0193. However, RMSE of the medium and coarse tree regression algorithms were found larger than 0.03, showing that they are not suitable for predicting DDI in this study. Conclusion: Machine learning can be used to predict dose-volume parameter such as DDI in radiation treatment planning QA. Selection of a suitable machine learning algorithm is important to determine the parameter effectively.
What’s in a Name? That Which We Call Capital Controls
Authors: Ghosh Atish R , Kim Jun Il , Qureshi Mahvash S
Published: July 2020

This paper investigates why controls on capital inflows have a bad name by tracing how capital controls have been used and perceived since the laissez-faire era of the classical gold standard. While advanced economies often employed capital controls to tame inflows during the last century, we conjecture that several factors undermined their subsequent use—most notably, a “guilt by association” with controls on capital outflows, which have typically been employed by autocratic regimes or those with failed macroeconomic policies. We formalize the idea of a possible guilt by association between inflow controls and outflow controls in a signaling model and provide some empirics consistent with it.
The Politics behind the Veil
Authors: Aksoy Ozan , Gambetta Diego
Published: July 2020

Using a natural experiment, we find that in provinces where Turkey’s Islamic Justice and Development Party (AKP) just won the election in 2004, women, including those who are weakly religious or non-religious, now veil far more than in provinces in which AKP just lost, the more so the poorer they are. This effect, as we predict, does not occur for praying regularly which is more costly and harder to observe practice. We argue that veiling is higher in AKP provinces not only because of a generic aim to conform to the stricter mores fostered by the victorious party. We find that those who veil, particularly those in AKP provinces who are not pious, are more politically active than those who do not veil. This may be an indication that veiling could partly be a strategic response to policies, which favour those who are or appear pious. Our study suggests that observable religious practices may have their independent dynamics driven by the pursuit of instrumental goals. Our results also suggest that parties with a religious ideology have an advantage over their secular counterparts in solving the clientelistic information problem, for they can rely on religious symbols for screening and signalling.
Safety, efficacy, and reproducibility of cavotricuspid isthmus ablation guided by the ablation index: acute results of the FLAI study
Authors: Viola Graziana , Stabile Giuseppe , Bandino Stefano , Rossi Luca , Marrazzo Natale , Pecora Domenico , Bottoni Nicola , Solimene Francesco , Schillaci Vincenzo , Scaglione Marco , Ocello Salvatore , Baiocchi Claudia , Santoro Amato , Donzelli Stefano , De Ruvo Ermenegildo , Lavalle Carlo , Sanchez-Gomez Juan Miguel , Pastor Juan Fernandez Armenta , Grandio Pilar Cabanas , Ferraris Federico , Castro Antonio , Rebellato Luca , Marchese Procolo , Adao Luis , Primo Joao , Barra Sergio , Casu Gavino
Published: July 2020

Aims

Ablation index (AI) is a marker of lesion quality during catheter ablation that incorporates contact force, time, and power in a weighted formula. This index was originally developed for pulmonary vein isolation as well as other left atrial procedures. The aim of our study is to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of the AI for the ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) in patients presenting with typical atrial flutter (AFL).

Methods and results

This prospective multicentre non-randomized study enrolled 412 consecutive patients with typical AFL undergoing AI-guided cavotricuspid isthmus ablation. The procedure was performed targeting an AI of 500 and an inter-lesion distance measurement of ≤6 mm. The primary endpoints were CTI ‘first-pass’ block and persistent block after a 20-min waiting time. Secondary endpoints included procedural and radiofrequency duration and fluoroscopic time. A total of 412 consecutive patients were enrolled in 31 centres (mean age 64.9 ± 9.8; 72.1% males and 27.7% with structural heart disease). The CTI bidirectional ‘first-pass’ block was reached in 355 patients (88.3%), whereas CTI block at the end of the waiting time was achieved in 405 patients (98.3%). Mean procedural, radiofrequency, and fluoroscopic time were 56.5 ± 28.1, 7.8 ± 4.8, and 1.9 ± 4.8 min, respectively. There were no major procedural complications. There was no significant inter-operator variability in the ability to achieve any of the primary endpoints.

Conclusion

AI-guided ablation with an inter-lesion distance ≤6 mm represents an effective, safe, and highly reproducible strategy to achieve bidirectional block in the treatment of typical AFL.
Effectiveness of clinical decision support systems and telemedicine on outcomes of depression: a cluster randomized trial in general practice
Authors: Balestrieri Matteo , Sisti Davide , Rocchi Marco , Rucci Paola , Simon Gregory , Araya Ricardo , de Girolamo Giovanni
Published: July 2020

Background

Computerized Clinical Decision Support Systems (CCDSS) are information technology tools, designed to improve clinical decision-making. Telemedicine is a health care service delivery using videoconferencing, telephone or messaging technologies.

Objectives

Our project aimed at testing the effectiveness of a composite CCDSS and telemedicine approach designed to treat depression in primary care.

Methods

This cluster randomized trial involved four GP clinics located in Northern Italy. Two clinics were assigned to the experimental protocol, and two served as controls. The study compared the telemedicine group (TG), in which GPs had access to a CCDSS platform, with the control group (CG) in which GPs provided treatment as usual (TAU). Patients scoring ≥11 on Patient Heath Questionnaire and ≥26 on the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report were eligible for participation. Patients were also administered the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF to assess quality of life and Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale 21 to assess satisfaction with the medical interview.

Results

Overall, 2810 patients were screened and 66 in the experimental group and 32 in the CG passed the screening stages and met inclusion criteria. The percentage of remitters at 6 months was significantly higher in the TG than in the CG group (24.1% versus 3.1%, χ 2 = 6.6, P = 0.01). This difference remained significant after adjusting for baseline confounders. Physical and psychological quality of life improved significantly from baseline in both groups. Patients reported, on average, good satisfaction with the medical interview.

Conclusions

Our study showed that a combined CCDSS and telemedicine approach may be more effective than the TAU offered by GPs to patients with depression.

Trial registration

The trial was registered on https://clinicaltrials.gov/ on 5 October 2012 with identifier: NCT01701791. The first participant was enrolled on 5 May 2014 and the study was completed on May 2016.
Mutual environmental drivers of the community composition, functional attributes and co-occurrence patterns of bacterioplankton in the composite aquatic ecosystem of Taihu watershed in China
Authors: Liu Mingkun , Han Xue , Tong Jun , Zhu Huifeng , Bai Xiaohui
Published: July 2020

This study aimed to determine the environmental and ecological factors influencing the planktonic prokaryotic community profiles in the composite ecosystem comprising Taihu Lake, Taipu River and Jinze Reservoir in the Taihu Watershed in China. A total of 42 water samples were intermittently collected from different sites in 6 months across four seasons. Physicochemical characteristics of the ecosystem, bacterioplankton diversity and composition, the presence of co-occurrence patterns, and environmental predictors of ecological modules in the bacterioplankton network were determined. The central species played a more important role in regulating the structure and function of the bacterioplankton community and in responding to environmental contamination than the entire community. The relative abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria and the class Betaproteobacteria varied significantly between months and locations, which were identified as core functional taxa. A non-random co-occurrence pattern and function-driven modular structure were observed in the bacterioplankton co-occurrence network. Dissolved oxygen and ammonium nitrogen were the major and mutual environmental predictors of the bacterioplankton community composition, functional attributes and relative abundance of ecological modules. The results improve our understanding of the impact of anthropogenic contamination on bacterioplankton diversity and biogeochemical cycles and the formulation of strategies for bioremediation of the Taihu Watershed.
Immune responses of meningococcal B outer membrane vesicles in middle-aged mice
Authors: Trzewikoswki de Lima Gabriela , Rodrigues Thais Sousa , Portilho Amanda Izeli , Correa Victor Araujo , Gaspar Emanuelle Baldo , De Gaspari Elizabeth
Published: July 2020

The elderly are more likely to die when infected with Neisseria meningitidis. Aging is associated with immune system dysfunctions that impair responses to vaccines and infections. Therefore, immunization of middle-aged individuals could be beneficial. This study aims to evaluate the immunogenicity of N. meningitidis B outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) complexed to two different adjuvants. Middle-aged BALB/c and A/Sn mice were immunized and subsequent immune response was assessed by ELISA, immunoblotting and ELISpot. IgG levels were similar between the animals immunized with OMVs complexed to adjuvants. A total of 235 days after the last immunization only A/Sn mice presented higher IgG levels than those observed in the baseline, especially the group immunized with OMVs and aluminum hydroxide. The predominant IgG subclasses were IgG2a and IgG2b. Immunization with the three-dose regimen generated IgG antibodies that recognized a variety of antigens present in the homologous and heterologous meningococcal OMVs evaluated. There was an increase in the frequency of antigen-specific IFN-γ secreting splenocytes, after in vitro stimulation, in mice immunized with OMVs and adjuvants compared to the control group, almost 1 year after the last immunization. Both adjuvants showed similar performance. Immunization of middle-aged mice has generated a robust immune response and it appears to be advantageous.
Two Lineages of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Filamentous Phages: Structural Uniformity over Integration Preferences
Authors: Fiedoruk Krzysztof , Zakrzewska Magdalena , Daniluk Tamara , Piktel Ewelina , Chmielewska Sylwia , Bucki Robert
Published: July 2020

Pseudomonas aeruginosa filamentous (Pf) bacteriophages are important factors contributing to the pathogenicity of this opportunistic bacterium, including biofilm formation and suppression of bacterial phagocytosis by macrophages. In addition, the capacity of Pf phages to form liquid crystal structures and their high negative charge density makes them potent sequesters of cationic antibacterial agents, such as aminoglycoside antibiotics or host antimicrobial peptides. Therefore, Pf phages have been proposed as a potential biomarker for risk of antibiotic resistance development. The majority of studies describing biological functions of Pf viruses have been performed with only three of them: Pf1, Pf4, and Pf5. However, our analysis revealed that Pf phages exist as two evolutionary lineages (I and II), characterized by substantially different structural/morphogenesis properties, despite sharing the same integration sites in the host chromosomes. All aforementioned model Pf phages are members of the lineage I. Hence, it is reasonable to speculate that their interactions with P. aeruginosa and impact on its pathogenicity may be not completely extrapolated to the lineage II members. Furthermore, in order to organize the present numerical nomenclature of Pf phages, we propose a more informative approach based on the insertion sites, that is, Pf-tRNA-Gly, -Met, -Sec, -tmRNA, and -DR (direct repeats), which are fully compatible with one of five types of tyrosine integrases/recombinases XerC/D carried by these viruses. Finally, we discuss possible evolutionary mechanisms behind this division and consequences from the perspective of virus–virus, virus–bacterium, and virus–human interactions.
Effectiveness of Multicomponent Exercise Interventions in Older Adults With Dementia: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Borges-Machado Flávia , Silva Nádia , Farinatti Paulo , Poton Roberto , Ribeiro Óscar , Carvalho Joana
Published: July 2020

Background and Objectives

Multicomponent training (MT) combines aerobic, strength, postural, and balance exercises and may be a promising intervention strategy for dementia. This meta-analysis study aims to systematize evidence concerning the effectiveness of MT in physical fitness, cognition, and functionality on activities of daily living (ADL) in older adults with dementia and to identify moderation patterns regarding training variables.

Research Design and Methods

4 databases were systematically searched to locate potential trials through March 2019. A total of 2,312 records were identified and a final set of 17 manuscripts reviewed; of these, 6 satisfied all eligibility criteria.

Results

Samples sizes ranged from 27 to 170 participants; MT programs lasted between 4 weeks and 12 months, took place from a daily basis to twice a week, and sessions ranged from 30 to 60 min. The TESTEX scale was used to analyze the methodological quality, and the funnel plots to assess the risk of bias. This meta-analysis revealed that MT interventions benefit older adults with dementia regarding ADL performance (effect size = 0.313 [0.16–0.46]; p < .01), but the evidence was not sufficiently robust to determine the effectiveness of MT on cognitive function and physical fitness, particularly, on agility.

Discussion and Implications

MT may be an important nonpharmacological strategy to enhance ADL functionality on older adults with dementia. Findings suggest that long-term interventions are more prevalent than high-frequency and longer duration exercise sessions. Further evidence is needed for acknowledging its benefits in specific cognitive abilities and physical fitness. This meta-analysis is registered in PROSPERO (no. CRD42020141545).
Structural and related studies on Mevo lectin from Methanococcus voltae A3: the first thorough characterization of an archeal lectin and its interactions
Authors: Sivaji Nukathoti , Suguna Kaza , Surolia Avadhesha , Vijayan Mamannamana
Published: July 2020

Crystallographic and solution studies of Mevo lectin and its complexes, the first effort of its kind on an archeal lectin, reveal a structure similar to β-prism I fold lectins from plant and animal sources, but with a quaternary association involving a ring structure with seven-fold symmetry. Each subunit in the heptamer carries one sugar binding site on the first Greek key motif. The oligomeric interface is primarily made up of a parallel β-sheet involving a strand of Greek key I of one subunit and Greek key ΙΙΙ from a neighboring subunit. The crystal structures of the complexes of the lectin with mannose, αMan(1,2)αMan, αMan(1,3)αMan, a mannotriose and a mannopentose revealed a primary binding site similar to that found in other mannose specific β-prism I fold lectins. The complex with αMan(1,3)αMan provides an interesting case in which a few subunits have the reducing end at the primary binding site, while the majority have the nonreducing end at the primary binding site. The structures of complexes involving the trisaccharide and the pentasaccharide exhibit cross-linking among heptameric molecules. The observed arrangements may be relevant to the multivalency of the lectin. Phylogenetic analysis of amino acid sequences indicates that Mevo lectin is closer to β-prism I fold animal lectins than with those of plant origin. The results presented here reinforce the conclusion regarding the existence of lectins in all three domains of life. It would also appear that lectins evolved to the present form before the three domains diverged.
Inequality of opportunities in health and death: an investigation from birth to middle age in Great Britain
Authors: Bricard Damien , Jusot Florence , Trannoy Alain , Tubeuf Sandy
Published: July 2020

Objective

We assess the existence of unfair inequalities in health and death using the normative framework of inequality of opportunities, from birth to middle age in Great Britain.

Methods

We use data from the 1958 National Child Development Study, which provides a unique opportunity to observe individual health from birth to the age of 54, including the occurrence of mortality. We measure health status combining self-assessed health and mortality. We compare and statistically test the differences between the cumulative distribution functions of health status at each age according to one childhood circumstance beyond people’s control: the father’s occupation.

Results

At all ages, individuals born to a ‘professional’, ‘senior manager or technician’ father report a better health status and have a lower mortality rate than individuals born to ‘skilled’, ‘partly skilled’ or ‘unskilled’ manual workers and individuals without a father at birth. The gap in the probability to report good health between individuals born into high social backgrounds compared with low, increases from 12 percentage points at age 23 to 26 at age 54. Health gaps are even more marked in health states at the bottom of the health distribution when mortality is combined with self-assessed health.

Conclusions

There is increasing inequality of opportunities in health over the lifespan in Great Britain. The tag of social background intensifies as individuals get older. Finally, there is added analytical value to combining mortality with self-assessed health when measuring health inequalities.
Productive Pacifists: The Rise of Production-Oriented States and Decline of Profit-Motivated Conquest
Authors: Markowitz Jonathan N , Mulesky Suzie , Graham Benjamin A T , Fariss Christopher J
Published: July 2020

Scholarship suggests the profits from conquest have decreased over time. Given this, why were some states faster to abandon profit-motivated conquest, and why are some still seeking wealth from territorial control? We argue that land-rent dependence influences a regime's economic preference for territory. The more a state depends on rents extracted from land (i.e., the more land-oriented the economy), the greater its willingness to invest in securing control of territory. We develop a novel measure of land orientation, with 200 years of data, to evaluate the linkages between land orientation and military competition over territory. Across 160 regression models, we find robust evidence that land orientation predicts territorial competition. These results hold in both democracies and autocracies. The global reduction in land-oriented states offers a plausible explanation for the decline in the number of large-scale territorial conquests. Our findings also explain why some states retain strong economic motivations for conquest.
Simultaneous Quantification of 38 Psychotropic Drugs and Relevant Metabolites in Blood using LC–MS-MS
Authors: Zhu Rongzhe , Dong Xiaoru , Zhang Dingang , Liu Xiaochen , Ye Yonghong , Jiang Yan
Published: July 2020

The trend for the concomitant prescription of antidepressants and antipsychotics is increasing. This calls for a veracious screening and quantifying method for forensic and clinical use. In this study, a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS-MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination and quantification of 38 antidepressants, antipsychotics and relevant metabolites in small volumes (200 μL) of human whole blood. Analytes and deuterated internal standards were extracted using liquid–liquid extraction. The separation, determination and quantification of the analytes were performed using an LC–MS-MS system equipped with an ACQUITY UPLC® BEH Phenyl Column under a positive electrospray ionization mode. After validation, the analytical procedure was proved to be highly sensitive, with a limit of detection ranging from 0.0005 to 1 ng/mL and a lower limit of quantification ranging from 0.002 to 2 ng/mL. Bias and within- and between-run precision were within 14.7% for all analytes. Recoveries were reproducible and those of 35 analytes were >50%. Dilution integrity was evaluated to ensure that the therapeutic and toxic blood concentration ranges of target compounds were fully covered. Finally, this method was applied to authentic whole blood samples collected from two forensic cases, which demonstrated its practical usefulness of providing accurate and comprehensive information concerning the previous medication of the deceased.
Modified Glasgow prognostic score is a pre-surgical prognostic marker of disease mortality in upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Tsuzuki Shunsuke , Kimura Shoji , Fukuokaya Wataru , Yanagisawa Takafumi , Hata Kenichi , Miki Jun , Kimura Takahiro , Abe Hirokazu , Egawa Shin
Published: July 2020

Background

To investigate the prognostic value of pre-surgical modified Glasgow prognostic score in upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 273 urinary tract urothelial carcinoma patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy. The modified Glasgow prognostic score was evaluated based on pre-surgical serum C-reactive protein and albumin. Association of modified Glasgow prognostic score with recurrence-free survival, cancer-specific survival and overall survival rates was estimated using Kaplan−Meier method and log-rank test was used to compare survival outcome. Cox regression analyses were performed for the assessment of the modified Glasgow prognostic score with recurrence-free survival, cancer-specific survival and overall survival.

Results

Of total 273 patients, the modified Glasgow prognostic score 0, 1 and 2 were assigned in 216 (79%), 45 (17%) and 12 (4%), respectively. The recurrence-free survival, cancer-specific survival and overall survival of urinary tract urothelial carcinoma patients with modified Glasgow prognostic score 2 were significantly worse than those with modified Glasgow prognostic score 0. On univariate analysis, modified Glasgow prognostic score 2 was associated with worse recurrence-free survival, cancer-specific survival and overall survival (all P value <0.01). On multivariate analyses, modified Glasgow prognostic score 2 was independently associated with worse cancer-specific survival and overall survival (hazard ratio: 4.73, 95% confidence interval: 1.31–17.2 and hazard ratio: 3.66, 95% confidence interval: 1.08–12.4, respectively). In the subgroup analyses of advanced urinary tract urothelial carcinoma patients, modified Glasgow prognostic score 2 was independently associated with worse recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio 4.31, 95% confidence interval: 1.69–11.1).

Conclusions

Pre-surgical modified Glasgow prognostic score independently predicts cancer-specific survival and overall survival of urinary tract urothelial carcinoma patients. Assessment of pre-surgical modified Glasgow prognostic score status could help identifying the worse survivor of urinary tract urothelial carcinoma patients.
Oxidative stress induced by piperine leads to apoptosis in Candida albicans
Authors: Thakre Archana , Jadhav Vyankatesh , Kazi Rubina , Shelar Amruta , Patil Rajendra , Kharat Kiran , Zore Gajanan , Karuppayil S Mohan
Published: July 2020

Candida albicans is a member of pathogens with potential drug resistance threat that needs novel chemotherapeutic strategies. Considering the multifarious biological activities including bioenhancer activity, anti-Candida potential of piperine was evaluated against planktonic/biofilm and hyphal growth of C. albicans alone or in combination as a synergistic agent with fluconazole. Piperine inhibits planktonic growth at or less than 15 μg/ml, hyphae induction at 5 μg/ml concentration, and exhibits stage-dependent activity against biofilm growth of a fluconazole-resistant strain of C. albicans (ATCC10231). Though piperine couldn't kill inoculum completely at minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), it is fungicidal at higher concentrations, as shown in apoptosis assay. FIC index values indicate that piperine exhibits excellent synergistic activity with fluconazole against planktonic (0.123) and biofilm (0.215) growth of an FLC resistant strain. Mode of anti-Candida activity was studied by identifying piperine responsive proteins wherein the abundance of 25 proteins involved in stress response, signal transduction and cell cycle were modulated (22 up and 3 down-regulated) significantly in response to piperine (MIC50). Modulation of the proteins involved suggests that piperine affects membrane integrity leading to oxidative stress followed by cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in C. albicans. Flow cytometry-based mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), cell cycle and apoptosis assay, as well as real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of selected genes, confirms piperine induced oxidative stress (TRR1), cell cycle arrest and apoptosis (CaMCA1). Based on our results, we conclude that piperine inhibits planktonic and difficult-to treat-biofilm growth of C. albicans by affecting membrane integrity thereby inducing oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Lay Abstract

Piperine inhibit Candida albicans growth (planktonic and biofilm) significantly in our study. Piperine exhibits excellent synergistic potential with fluconazole The proteome analysis suggests that piperine induced membrane damage leads to oxidative stress followed by cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.
Inhibition of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 mitigates the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus-associated nephropathy
Authors: Chen Anqun , Xu Jin , Lai Han , D’Agati Vivette D , Guan Tian-Jun , Badal Shawn , Liles John , He John C , Lee Kyung
Published: July 2020

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals. Among the HIV-related kidney diseases, HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is a rapidly progressive renal disease characterized by collapsing focal glomerulosclerosis (GS), microcystic tubular dilation, interstitial inflammation and fibrosis. Although the incidence of end-stage renal disease due to HIVAN has dramatically decreased with the widespread use of antiretroviral therapy, the prevalence of CKD continues to increase in HIV-positive individuals. Recent studies have highlighted the role of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) in driving kidney disease progression through the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase and selective ASK-1 inhibitor GS-444217 was recently shown to reduce kidney injury and disease progression in various experimental models. Therefore we examined the efficacy of ASK1 antagonism by GS-444217 in the attenuation of HIVAN in Tg26 mice.

Methods

GS-444217-supplemented rodent chow was administered in Tg26 mice at 4 weeks of age when mild GS and proteinuria were already established. After 6 weeks of treatment, the kidney function assessment and histological analyses were performed and compared between age- and gender-matched control Tg26 and GS-444217-treated Tg26 mice.

Results

GS-444217 attenuated the development of GS, podocyte loss, tubular injury, interstitial inflammation and renal fibrosis in Tg26 mice. These improvements were accompanied by a marked reduction in albuminuria and improved renal function. Taken together, GS-4442217 attenuated the full spectrum of HIVAN pathology in Tg26 mice.

Conclusions

ASK1 signaling cascade is central to the development of HIVAN in Tg26 mice. Our results suggest that the select inhibition of ASK1 could be a potential adjunctive therapy for the treatment of HIVAN.
A short review of undergraduate occupational medicine training
Authors: Eu E , Soo M P J , Gan W H
Published: July 2020

Background

Medical schools worldwide allocate little time and utilize varying formats in the teaching of occupational medicine (OM) to undergraduate medical students.

Aims

To identify undergraduate OM teaching formats and highlight key findings in these different methods.

Methods

A limited literature search conducted on PubMed and Scopus identified relevant articles published in English and between the years 2009 and 2018. Our inclusion criteria were papers containing the key words (‘occupational medicine’ AND (‘medical students’ OR ‘undergraduate medical’)) OR (‘occupational medicine’ AND (‘training’ OR ‘education’ OR ‘teaching’)) in the title or abstract and those that specifically discussed OM education.

Results

The literature search yielded 1479 papers. Seven of them fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were reviewed in full. Formats in OM education of undergraduate medical students include, either singly or in combination, the use of case studies, didactic sessions, workplace visits, text-based readings and pro forma.

Conclusions

OM education has a very small footprint in most undergraduate medical curricula. The studies show that different teaching formats are utilized, often in combination. Case-based discussions and workplace visits are frequently used with good qualitative results. Text-based readings will serve well to build good foundational knowledge, though there is no conclusive evidence that students will perform better.
Patient Isolation during Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Arguments for Physical Family Presence
Authors: Voo Teck Chuan , Lederman Zohar , Kaur Sharon
Published: July 2020

This article argues that outbreak preparedness and response should implement a ‘family presence’ policy for infected patients in isolation that includes the option of physical visits and care within the isolation facility under some conditions. While such a ‘physical family presence’ (PFP) policy could increase infections during an outbreak and may raise moral dilemmas, we argue that it is ethically justified based on the least infringement principle and the need to minimize the harms and burdens of isolation as a restrictive measure. Categorical prohibition of PFP during the course of an outbreak or epidemic is likely to result in unnecessary harms to patients and families, and violate values such as the moral commitments of families to care for each other. Supporting the option of PFP under particular circumstances, on the other hand, will least infringe these moral considerations. An additional reason for a family presence policy is that it may facilitate voluntary cooperation with isolation and other restrictive measures. We provide an analysis of these considerations for supporting modes of family presence during an outbreak emergency, before defending the riskier option of PFP in the isolation facility from plausible objections and concerns.
An independent search for annual modulation and its significance in ANAIS-112 data
Authors: Krishak Aditi , Desai Shantanu
Published: July 2020

We perform an independent search for sinusoidal-based modulation in the recently released ANAIS-112 data, which could be induced by dark matter scatterings. We then evaluate this hypothesis against the null hypothesis that the data contain only background, using four different model comparison techniques. These include frequentist, Bayesian, and two information theory-based criteria (Akaike and Bayesian information criteria). This analysis was done on both the residual data (by subtracting the exponential fit obtained from the ANAIS-112 Collaboration) as well as the total (non-background subtracted) data. We find that according to the Bayesian model comparison test, the null hypothesis of no modulation is decisively favored over a cosine-based annual modulation for the non-background subtracted dataset in the 2–6 keV energy range. None of the other model comparison tests decisively favor any one hypothesis over another. This is the first application of Bayesian and information theory techniques to test the annual modulation hypothesis in ANAIS-112 data, extending our previous work on the DAMA/LIBRA and COSINE-100 data. Our analysis codes have also been made publicly available.
Parametrized test of parity-violating gravity using GWTC-1 events
Authors: Yamada Kei , Tanaka Takahiro
Published: July 2020

Parity-violating (PV) gravity has recently attracted interest in several aspects. One of them is the axion–graviton coupling to test the axion–dark matter model. Moreover, by extending Chern–Simons (CS) gravity to include derivatives of a scalar field up to the second order, a more general class of PV gravity theory, which we call the CNCL model, has been proposed [M. Crisostomi et al., Phys. Rev. D, 97, 044034 (2018)]. The model can be further extended by including even higher derivatives of the scalar field and/or higher curvature terms.

In this paper, we discuss the effect of parity violation in the gravitational sector on the propagation of gravitational waves from binary coalescence by introducing a model-independent parametrization of modification. Our parametrization includes the CNCL model as well as CS gravity. The effect of parity violation on the gravitational waveform is maximum when the source binary orientation to our line of sight is edge-on, while the modified waveform reduces to the parity-symmetric one when the source is face-on. We perform a search for the signature of such modification by using the LIGO/Virgo O1/O2 catalog. We find that the catalog data is consistent with general relativity and obtain constraints on parity violation in gravity for various post-Newtonian order modifications for the first time. The obtained constraint on CS gravity is consistent with the results in previous works. On the other hand, the constraint on the CNCL model that we obtain is tighter than the previous results by roughly 7 orders of magnitude.
Lessons from mixed-method evaluations—An example from labor market research
Authors: Osiander Christopher
Published: July 2020

This article deals with the following questions: which approaches are suitable for program evaluations in the context of labor market research and why are mixed-method designs often most promising? The strengths and weaknesses of different approaches suggest that summative and formative as well as quantitative and qualitative elements should be combined with each other. We use the case of active labor market policies—an evaluation of qualification measures for the unemployed—as an example to illustrate mixed-method evaluations in research practice. The results of the evaluation show that the scientific gain of the formative part often depends heavily on the careful selection of the ‘right’ persons for expert interviews. The findings can even lead to further research projects that deal with some of the questions raised in the formative part in more detail. The summative part of the evaluation—a quantitative impact analysis—is based on extensive quantitative data sets. It is a methodological innovation to combine survey and administrative micro-data in this particular context. We use propensity score matching to analyze program effects on the participants that are positive and substantial.
Non-radiographic versus radiographic axSpA: what’s in a name?
Authors: Michelena Xabier , López-Medina Clementina , Marzo-Ortega Helena
Published: July 2020

Axial spondyloarthritis is a heterogeneous inflammatory condition with variable clinical presentations and outcomes. The complexity of its diagnosis and absence of biomarkers hamper the development of diagnostic criteria with the risk of misuse of the available classification criteria in clinical practice and its consequences. Axial spondyloarthritis should be regarded as a continuum in which some patients, but not all, will have a more severe phenotype characterized by progression into new bone formation and joint fusion. Growing understanding of the factors that might drive disease progression and treatment response will allow for better characterization of treatment options and outcome for each affected individual. The aim of this review is to update the current evidence of what is axial spondyloarthritis and to highlight the need to focus on the concept rather than its classification.