bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The path of Cham cultural heritage
Authors: Minh Hung Ngo , Noseworthy William B. , Van Son Quang
Published: November 2020

This paper reviews and re-assesses the contemporary state of research on Cham cultural heritage sites, which are associated with the pre-modern Champa civilization in Vietnam. For this purpose, architectural heritage, sculptures, and museums related to the potential of common interests are taken into consideration across the intersection of the local Cham community, the Vietnamese government, and international scholars. There are some conflicts between these interested parties, which have resulted from unequal dynamics, which occasionally result in lasting tensions and errors in judgement. Our research findings result in an actionable plan with systematic solutions, which we outline in this paper. We argue the proposed plan will improve the management, conservation, and promote Cham cultural heritage sites more sustainably.
Safeguarding Portuguese traditional glazed tile cultural heritage with GIS
Authors: Santos Bertha , Gonçalves Jorge , Martins Ana M. T. , Almeida Pedro G.
Published: November 2020

The Portuguese word for traditional glazed tile is “azulejo” and derives from the Arabic “azuleicha”, meaning ‘small polished stone’. Deeply embedded in Portugal’s history and culture, there are countless valuable examples of traditional glazed tiles all around the country that are a significant part of the Portuguese cultural heritage and must be safeguarded and protected. In recent years there has been an increased demand for individual tiles and panels by tourist, leading to a serious national problem not only with the tiles’ theft, but also with the built environment dilapidation. This paper introduces the role that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can play in the preservation and safeguard of traditional Portuguese glazed tile heritage, specifically on the record of these architectural elements. This technology is worldwide used to locate, inventory, manage and support heritage preservation, providing local authorities with a tool to manage tile architectural heritage interventions, enhance tourism purposes and preventing theft and illegal sale. The presented work results from a partnership between the University of Beira Interior (UBI) and Covilhã Municipality (Portugal) for the inventory of the city tile heritage. Record information sheets were developed with relevant information about the location, cultural, historic and photographic tile data. The information collected from 70 tile works was used to develop a GIS tool for glazed tile coated building facades, decorative glazed tile wall panels and toponymical glazed tile plates. The results of the first stage of GIS implementation were validated by both the research team and the municipality, foreseeing its expansion and daily use in the management of traditional Portuguese glazed tile heritage.
“The Chiesa della Madonna dei Mali (Ferrandina, Italy) in VR”: Virtual Reality for inaccessible cultural heritage in peripheral areas
Authors: Pecci Antonio , Campanile Ida
Published: November 2020

Today the VR (Virtual Reality) enable us to enter into fantasy or real other worlds to experience a growing emotional and interaction involvement. Frequently, the Virtual Reality is correlated with activities and experiences that are tricky to realize, as, for example, the discovery of the sea depths or the flying on the sky, or the discover of village and landscapes thousands of km away from us. Over the last years, VR technologies have largely applicate for a digital fruition of cultural heritage. Some examples are the observation of monumental build or virtually rebuilt archaeological sites, experiences that provide impressive and innovative virtual activities. In many cases, it is a only alternative option for discovering archeological sites in private properties or dangerous to visit and to see inaccessible cultural heritage in peripheral areas. In this work, one example of application of virtual reality is discussed: The Chiesa della Madonna dei Mali (Ferrandina, near Matera). This is a famous rural chapel localized in a country area of Ferrandina, far from the classic tourist itineraries of the city, and it contains a cycle of frescoes by Pietro Antonio Ferro, one of the most important painters of the seventeenth century in Basilicata.
REMEMBER: an Adriatic network of Virtual Museums to highlight ports culture, traditions and history
Authors: Bosello Federica , Colli Cristiana , Clini Paolo , Dražić Ivana , Dražina Domagoj , Pugliese Andrea , Quattrini Ramona , Vettorel Guido
Published: November 2020

The paper presents an on-going Interreg Italy-Croatia project, funded in the period 2019-2021 under the specific objective “Make natural and cultural heritage a leverage for sustainable and more balanced territorial development (3.1)”. The project REMEMBER (REstoring the MEmory of Adriatic ports sites. Maritime culture to foster Balanced tERritorial growth) has the overall objective to promote the shift toward sustainable tourism and blue growth in the Programme area through the valorization of the important maritime cultural tangible and intangible heritage of 8 Adriatic Italian and Croatian ports sites. The joint valorization will be carried out by the 10 project partners, with cross-cutting competences and multidisciplinary experience. Mainly REMEMBER project aims at increasing the attractiveness of local economies through the use of ICT for the digitalization of cultural contents and to differentiate the touristic offer reducing the tourism seasonality. At the current stage, the project has set up the methodological and theoretical framework in order to instantiate the Virtual Museums for the 8 ports. This common concept envisaged the development of a cloud based tool as first gate of the Virtual Museum project and provided all Project Partners with a baseline for setting up cultural and technological virtual museums, for the enhancement and promotion of ports cultural elements during the project implementation. The technical work packages, presented in the paper, establish also a common set of information as basis to reach the same digital outputs, compliant with the project goals: these outputs are called Digital Experiences and are connected to state of art technologies, enabling the dissemination of the tangible and intangible heritage related to eight port cities.
Innovative solutions for prehistoric paintings - atmospheric pressure plasma and phosphate consolidant for the preservation of the Magura Cave (Bulgaria)
Authors: Stefanova M , Kamenarov Z , Sassoni E , Franzoni E , Ripà M , Patelli A , Sakaj M , Scopece P , Verga Falzacappa E
Published: November 2020

The present study tackles the problem of a sustainable and efficient conservation of cave art, by using innovative materials and techniques for the different steps of the restoration process - Biodeactivation, Biocolonization prevention and Consolidation. The Magura cave in northwest Bulgaria is the case study. It contains an impressive display of prehistoric paintings made of guano as far back as 5’500 years ago. In the last forty years the cave suffered progressive microbial colonization. The detrimental effects are biofilm formation, physical penetration into the stone and chemical reaction with the stone/paintings by pigments. Therefore, as a first step, we investigated biodeactivation by non-thermal plasma sterilization. The oxidative atmosphere obtained introducing Ar/O2 (0.2 and 0.1) in the plasma device, was carried out on lab samples inoculated with the targeted for Magura Cave microorganisms. The main advantage of the non-contact treatment with atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) is the lack of any mechanical and chemical modification of the underlying stone/guano layers. As for sterilization of wounds on human skin the plasma treatment on wet surfaces produces mainly hydrogen peroxide and nitrates which lead to a localized reduction of the pH. The obtained biodeactivation is assured without heat (< 40 °C), toxic and environmentally harmful liquid. In a second step, we tested two possible alternatives for consolidation of the cave. A commercial ethyl silicate (ES) product was compared with an innovative phosphate treatment, based on application of a hydro-alcoholic solution of a phosphate salt (diammonium hydrogen phosphate, DAP). The consolidation efficiency and compatibility of the ES and DAP consolidants were investigated on samples representative for the Magura Cave substrate, i.e. stone alone and stone covered with guano to resemble the prehistoric drawings. In addition, a combination of plasma activation of the stone surface and consolidation was tested, to investigate whether the two treatments may have a synergistic effect, thus making the combined treatment more efficient than consolidation alone.
Towards the development of a cloud-based BIM platform and VR apps for complex heritage sites subject to the risk of flood and water level changes
Authors: Banfi Fabrizio , Previtali Mattia , Brumana Raffaella
Published: November 2020

3D acquisition methods and systems for totally or partially submerged cultural heritage (CH) allow the developments of methods able to integrate complex BIM projects for rivers, lakes, maritime structures and infrastructures with the world of Virtual Reality (VR) and BIM monitoring. Thanks to an open approach this paper shows the results obtained in the field of programming language for the development of an open-source BIM platform able to get e fusion between the application fields of BIM sensor, monitoring, historic building information modelling (HBIM) and VR. Several preliminary test results are reported in order to show the potential of the proposed method for multiple research case studies, and also proposing future perspectives and developments oriented to get a holistic, inclusive and unified platform able to manage complex scenarios accurately such heritage sites subject to the risk of flood and water level changes.
STORM Policies and Recommendations – a new vision for authorities, first responders and civil protection towards an effective protection of cultural heritage.
Authors: Bizarro Alcides F , Alexandre Luís V
Published: November 2020

Every year, cultural heritage all over the world is lost or damaged under the devastating impact of climate change and natural hazards. Many times these damages are irreversible and often result from insufficient and disjointed preparedness systems, unable to cope with these threats. Awareness of this situation and the urgent need to find solutions for it has been a motivational call to taking actions towards the raising of consciousness of all involved, the incentive to training and the sharing of good practices. Project STORM -Safeguarding Cultural Heritage through Technical and Organisational Resources Management (funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme – H2020-DRS-11-2015: Disaster Resilience & Climate), introduced a new vision for authorities, first responders and civil protection services towards cultural heritage, by proposing new policies and recommendations. This new paradigm based on the STORM experience sets the way towards the implementation of an overtly risk-oriented approach to the preservation of heritage sites, following the objectives that guided the STORM project through the development of new operative proposal – STORM 5 Cs – for different levels of intervention and responsibilities, namely: Heritage Conservation and management guidelines and procedures at site and government levels; Communication between climate researchers and heritage managers, including government authorities, in particular concerning the scientific body of knowledge built on climate change, aiming to improve adaptation strategies; Coping and adaptive capacities of heritage sites and organisations to meet their specific risks, and namely the actions that may enhance their resilience facing disasters; Cooperation between the different actors involved in the disaster risk management (DRM) of cultural heritage, which is demonstrably a cross-sectorial endeavour; Capacity building of heritage professionals, as well as of other pertinent stakeholders, via training and education at diverse levels in site-specific DRM measures and climate change adaptation. Regarding the safeguarding policies for cultural heritage to face natural hazards, STORM recommends the adoption of disaster reduction policies that lead to the creation of effective natural disaster reduction, i.e., the adoption of a new pathway that takes us from safeguard to effective protection of cultural heritage.
Safeguarding Cultural Heritage using novel technologies: The perspective from a UK volunteer-led site
Authors: Humphrey-Taylor Bob , James Williamson Robert , Nevell Michael
Published: November 2020

Continuing anthropogenic induced climate change poses risks to Cultural Heritage (CH) across the world. In the UK, concerns about future flood risks, increased number of heatwaves and changes to freeze-thaw cycles are at the forefront for managers of CH assets. Importantly, in the UK, and unlike many European countries, cultural, natural and built heritage sites are often run by or with the help of groups of volunteers, whether that being at a national level working in partnership with organisations like Historic England or at a local level with small community trusts. Mellor Archaeological Trust is one such local charity which aims to preserve, maintain and protect the local CH assets for our community and future generations. Climate change and its impacts are, therefore, a big concern for the trust as it looks to plan for the future. After a successful pilot of the STORM service, Mellor was able to demonstrate how the use of inexpensive and novel technologies can help small and large volunteer-led organisations in protecting heritage whilst ensuring that correct procedures are followed. In this paper, we demonstrate the successful use of the STORM service from a UK perspective explaining the benefits and drawbacks and highlight how such services should be utilised by other organisations.
Choosing the optimal order within reconfigurable manufacturing systems based on the Earning Power value
Authors: Marinescu V , Teodor F , Maier C , Paunoiu V , Epureanu A
Published: November 2020

In this paper will be presented the method of choosing an optimal order within a Reconfigurable Manufacturing System (RMS). The reconfigurable manufacturing systems for which we perform the analysis of optimal management belong to make-to-order (MTO) production companies. These companies start the manufacturing process based on the needs of the customers. After the content of the customers orders has been known and accepted they will deliver personalized products, provided that the cost of the production is minimum. A Virtual Workshop will be created associated with each manufacturing order with well-specified requirements (DD - DeadDate, TTF - TimeToFinish, EP - Earning Power). The workshops and orders will be transposed into a Petri net based on the new created three-dimensional model RPD3D [2]. The 3D network will be used to simulate the products manufacturing included in the orders in the virtual workshops and then the optimal order that will actually be produced on RMS from several possible orders based on the evaluation of the indicator called specific profit rate “earning power”-EP will be choosen. In this paper, we aim also to calculate the EP value of the RMS, as the most important evaluation criterion, if a certain command or a combination of commands is accepted. A study case is presented.
Dehydration process in 1D ammonium lead halide and mixing of organic cations in hybrid perovskites through mechanosynthesis
Authors: Prisinzano Laura , Delmonte Davide , Ravaglia Kevin Carlo , Vit Valentina , Righi Lara
Published: November 2020

Organic-lead halide perovskites have attracted much attention as a promising material for optoelectronic and photovoltaic applications. However, the broad commercial use of such materials is hindered by their chemical instability. The detrimental processes of degradation often involve the occurrence of hydrated compounds. However, the knowledge of some aspects related to the thermal stability of hydrated lead halides compounds is still very limited. In this work, we report the structural study dealing with the formation of NH4PbI3 obtained by removing crystallization water from NH4PbI3 (H2O)2 with thermal treatment. The hydrated compound is prepared by solvent-free grinding applied on a mixture of NH4I and PbI2 powders. Upon heating, the structural evolution of the de-hydration process, monitored by powder x-ray diffraction, consists in the rearrangement of the 1D chains of octahedral PbI6 units throughout rotations around a specific crystallographic axis. Besides, the fabrication of the solid solution (CH3NH3)1-x(NH4)xPbI3 with x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20 is attempted with different conditions of mechanosynthesis. The experimental results confirmed the limited solubility of the NH4
+ group in the methylammonium lead iodate perovskite with a maximal substitution limit of 5%.
Interactions Among Native and Non-Native Predatory Coccinellidae Influence Biological Control and Biodiversity
Authors: Li Hongran , Li Baoping , Lövei Gábor L , Kring Timothy J , Obrycki John J
Published: November 2020

Over the past 30 yr, multiple species of predatory Coccinellidae, prominently Coccinella septempunctata L. and Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) have spread to new continents, influencing biodiversity and biological control. Here we review the mechanisms underlying these ecological interactions, focusing on multi-year field studies of native and non-native coccinellids and those using molecular and quantitative ecological methods. Field data from Asia show that H. axyridis, C. septempunctata, and Propylea japonica (Thunberg) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) are regularly among the most abundant predatory species but their rank varies by habitat. Studies of these species in their native Asian range, primarily related to their range in mainland China, document different patterns of seasonal abundance, species specific associations with prey, and habitat separation. Intraguild predation is well documented both in Asia and in newly invaded areas, and H. axyridis benefits most from this interaction. Harmonia axyridis also seems to rely more on cannibalism in times of prey scarcity than other species, and relatively sparse data indicate a lower predation pressure on it from natural enemies of coccinellids. Declines in the abundance of native coccinellids following the spread and increase of non-native species, documented in several multi-year studies on several continents, is a major concern for native biodiversity and the persistence of native coccinellid species. We suggest that future studies focus more attention on the community ecology of these invasive species in their native habitats.
Short-latency inhibition mitigates the relationship between conscious movement processing and overly cautious gait
Authors: Ellmers Toby J , Kal Elmar C , Richardson James K , Young William R
Published: November 2020

Background

Overly cautious gait is common in older adults. This is characterised by excessively slow gait, shortened steps, broadened base of support and increased double limb support. The current study sought to (1) evaluate if overly cautious gait is associated with attempts to consciously process walking movements, and (2) explore whether an individual’s ability to rapidly inhibit a dominant motor response serves to mitigate this relationship.

Methods

A total of 50 older adults walked at a self-selected pace on an instrumented walkway containing two raised wooden obstacles (height = 23 cm). Trait conscious movement processing was measured with the Movement-Specific Reinvestment Scale. Short-latency inhibitory function was assessed using a validated electronic go/no-go ruler catch protocol. We used linear regressions to explore the relationship between these variables and gait parameters indicative of overly cautious gait.

Results

When controlling for general cognitive function (MoCA), and functional balance (Berg Balance Scale), the interaction between trait conscious movement processing and short-latency inhibition capacity significantly predicted gait velocity, step length and double limb support. Specifically, older adults with higher trait conscious movement processing and poorer inhibition were more likely to exhibit gait characteristics indicative of cautious gait (i.e. reduced velocity, shorter step lengths and increased double limb support). Neither conscious movement processing nor inhibition independently predicted gait performance.

Conclusion

The combination of excessive movement processing tendencies and poor short-latency inhibitory capacity was associated with dysfunctional or ‘overly cautious’ gait. It is therefore plausible that improvement in either factor may lead to improved gait and reduced fall risk.
Basic Consideration for Facial Aging: Analyses of the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System Based on Anatomy
Authors: Okuda Itsuko , Akita Keiichi , Komemushi Takayoshi , Irimoto Masahiro , Nakajima Yasuo
Published: November 2020

Background

The superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) is an important structure to understand for face-lift surgeries. However, the detailed distribution and imaging findings of the SMAS have not been established yet.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to establish the accurate distribution and computed tomography (CT) imaging findings of the SMAS based on cadaveric studies.

Methods

This study was designed in a 3-step procedure. First, 7 cadaver faces were utilized to understand the distribution and histology of the SMAS. Second, the SMAS findings from the cadaveric studies were compared with the CT images. Third, CT images were enrolled for the SMAS interpretation.

Results

In 7 cadaveric studies, the SMAS was observed as a subcutaneous fibro-membranous structure extending from the galea aponeurotica to the platysma muscle and laterally connected to the parotid fascia. On the medial side, it also connects with major and minor zygomatic muscles. The SMAS consisted of muscular fibers, collagen fibers, and elastic fibers histologically. Eighteen CT images (all females; age range, 21-82 years) showed the thin linear structures corresponding to the fibro-membranous structures in the cadaveric studies. CT density of the SMAS was similar with that of the muscle, and the SMAS was recognizable in all 18 subjects.

Conclusions

The SMAS is a definite anatomical structure that can be demonstrated as a thin membranous structure on CT. This clinical application could be applicable to the development the cosmetic surgical procedures.
The financialization of community development: the role of social finance
Authors: Huckfield Leslie
Published: November 2020

Local community organisations, many of which began life as agents of community self defence and regeneration during a Post-Fordist era of massive job losses in the 1970s and 1980s, are now being transposed into low-cost deliverers of public services in competition with the private sector. More recently, this process increasingly involves injections of “social finance” from external private sources. This article offers a brief history of how the voluntary and community sector has been corralled into a marketized and financialized role where the primacy of business management replaces community need. As in other spheres, there has been a paradigm shift from Keynesian demand management to a neoliberal perspective of community and voluntary organizations’ role in society where they gradually replace the state—in many cases with their encouragement and willing participation. As third sector organizations deliver public services, private investors are rewarded on a payment per output basis. Three case studies show how financialization through external shareholder interests is becoming a force in public service delivery.
Variability in Cardiac Biomarkers during Hemodialysis: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Collister David , Mazzetti Andrea , Bhalerao Anuja , Tyrwhitt Jessica , Kavsak Peter , Brimble Kenneth S , Devereaux P J , Walsh Michael
Published: November 2020

Background

The effect of hemodialysis on cardiac biomarkers is unclear. We sought to evaluate the degree and causes of intradialytic variability of high sensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI), galectin-3 (gal-3), and heart-type fatty acid binding protein (hFABP).

Methods

hs-TnI, gal-3, and hFABP were prospectively measured pre-dialysis and post-dialysis for 1 week every month for 6 months in 178 prevalent adult hemodialysis patients at a single center in Hamilton, Canada. The degree of change from pre-dialysis to post-dialysis for each cardiac biomarker was estimated with multilevel linear regression models.

Results

The median change in the concentration of hs-TnI during hemodialysis was −1 ng/L (interquartile range [IQR] −1 to 2 ng/L) while gal-3 and hFABP changed by −36.3 ng/mL (IQR −27.7 to −46.8 ng/mL) and −19.41 ng/mL (IQR −13.61 to −26.87 ng/mL), respectively. The median (IQR) percentage intradialytic changes for hs-TnI, gal-3, and hFABP were 2.6% (−4.4% to 12.5%), −59.8% (−54.7% to −64.8%) and −35.3% (−28.4% to −42.1%), respectively. Ultrafiltration was associated with an increase in concentration of hs-TnI, gal-3, and hFABP (mean 0.99 ng/L, 1.05 ng/mL, and 1.9 ng/mL per L ultrafiltration, respectively, P < 0.001). Both gal-3 and hFABP concentrations decreased in association with the volume of blood processed (P < 0.001) and with hemodialysis treatment time (P  = 0.02 and P  = 0.04) while hs-TnI concentration decreased only in association with hemodialysis treatment time (P  < 0.001).

Conclusions

Ultrafiltration volume and hemodialysis treatment time influenced hs-TnI, gal-3, and hFABP concentrations during hemodialysis and should be considered when interpreting their measurement.
Let fever do its job
Authors: Wrotek Sylwia , LeGrand Edmund K , Dzialuk Artur , Alcock Joe
Published: November 2020

Although fever is one of the main presenting symptoms of COVID-19 infection, little public attention has been given to fever as an evolved defense. Fever, the regulated increase in the body temperature, is part of the evolved systemic reaction to infection known as the acute phase response. The heat of fever augments the performance of immune cells, induces stress on pathogens and infected cells directly, and combines with other stressors to provide a nonspecific immune defense. Observational trials in humans suggest a survival benefit from fever, and randomized trials published before COVID-19 do not support fever reduction in patients with infection. Like public health measures that seem burdensome and excessive, fevers involve costly trade-offs but they can prevent infection from getting out of control. For infections with novel SARS-CoV-2, the precautionary principle applies: unless evidence suggests otherwise, we advise that fever should be allowed to run its course.

Lay summary: For COVID-19, many public health organizations have advised treating fever with medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Even though this is a common practice, lowering body temperature has not improved survival in laboratory animals or in patients with infections. Blocking fever can be harmful because fever, along with other sickness symptoms, evolved as a defense against infection. Fever works by causing more damage to pathogens and infected cells than it does to healthy cells in the body. During pandemic COVID-19, the benefits of allowing fever to occur probably outweigh its harms, for individuals and for the public at large.
High-density transposon libraries utilising outward-oriented promoters identify mechanisms of action and resistance to antimicrobials
Authors: Coward Chris , Dharmalingham Gopujara , Abdulle Omar , Avis Tim , Beisken Stephan , Breidenstein Elena , Carli Natasha , Figueiredo Luis , Jones David , Khan Nawaz , Malara Sara , Martins Joana , Nagalingam Nabeetha , Turner Keith , Wain John , Williams David , Powell David , Mason Clive
Published: November 2020

The use of bacterial transposon mutant libraries in phenotypic screens is a well-established technique for determining which genes are essential or advantageous for growth in conditions of interest. Standard, inactivating, transposon libraries cannot give direct information about genes whose over-expression gives a selective advantage. We report the development of a system wherein outward-oriented promoters are included in mini-transposons, generation of transposon mutant libraries in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and their use to probe genes important for growth under selection with the antimicrobial fosfomycin, and a recently-developed leucyl-tRNA synthase inhibitor. In addition to the identification of known mechanisms of action and resistance, we identify the carbon–phosphorous lyase complex as a potential resistance liability for fosfomycin in E. coli and P. aeruginosa. The use of this technology can facilitate the development of novel mechanism-of-action antimicrobials that are urgently required to combat the increasing threat worldwide from antimicrobial-resistant pathogenic bacteria.
Synthetic Musk Compounds in Human Biological Matrices: Analytical Methods and Occurrence—A Review
Authors: Katuri Guru Prasad , Fan Xinghua , Kosarac Ivana , Siddique Shabana , Kubwabo Cariton
Published: November 2020

Extensive use of synthetic musk compounds (SMs) in numerous consumer and personal care products has resulted in direct human exposures via dermal absorption, inhalation of contaminated dust and volatilized fragrances, and oral ingestion of contaminated foods and liquids. SMs and their metabolites are lipophilic, hence commonly detected in various biological matrices such as blood, breast milk, and adipose tissue. Appropriate analytical techniques are needed to detect and quantify SMs in biological matrices to assess their potential effects on human health. Different methods to process and analyze SMs in biological matrices, including sample-pretreatment, solvent extraction, cleanup, and instrumental analysis, are presented in this review. The concentration levels of selected musk compounds in biological samples from different countries/regions are summarized. Finally, research gaps and questions pertaining to the analysis of SMs are identified and suggestions made for future research studies.
Novel CONCOMITANT mutations L932F and I936V in the Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel and Its Association With Pyrethroid Resistance inCulex quinquefasciatus(Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: Sugiura Masaaki , Kimoto Fumiko , Itokawa Kentaro , Kasai Shinji
Published: November 2020

Highly residual pyrethroids such as permethrin have been used for controlling mosquitoes that transmit infectious diseases. However, the selective pressure from such insecticides may result in cross-resistance against other pyrethroids used for household insecticides. In this study, we investigated the susceptibility of Culex quinquefasciatus Say collected from Brazil and Myanmar to permethrin in addition to four types of household pyrethroids. Both strains exhibited high resistance against all pyrethroids tested, indicating cross-resistance. Furthermore, we detected the knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations L932F+I936V in the voltage-gated sodium channel gene (VGSC) in the Brazilian strain. Notably, the L932F+I936V haplotype has previously been observed in in silico data, but it should be detected not directly from living insects. In comparison, a common kdr mutation, L1014F, was detected from the Myanmar strain. Although L1014F was also detected from the Brazilian strain, the allele frequency was too low to affect resistance. Both strains harbored the resistance-associated haplotypes of the cytochrome P450 gene, CYP9M10. The Brazilian strain demonstrated comparable resistance against pyrethroids as that of the Myanmar strain even when a cytochrome P450 inhibitor, piperonyl butoxide was added to the bioassay. Our results suggested that the L932F+I936V mutations confer the Brazilian strain of Cx. Quiquefasciatus with resistance at a comparable level to that conferred by the well-recognized kdr mutation L1014F in the Myanmar strain. The identification of unexplored mutations may improve the diagnosis and understanding of resistance of this medically important species.
Preliminary analysis of prostate positional displacement using hydrogel spacer during the course of proton therapy for prostate cancer
Authors: Sato Hiroki , Kato Takahiro , Motoyanagi Tomoaki , Takemasa Kimihiro , Narita Yuki , Kato Masato , Matsumoto Takuya , Oyama Sho , Yamaguchi Hisashi , Wada Hitoshi , Murakami Masao
Published: November 2020

In recent years, a novel technique has been employed to maintain a distance between the prostate and the rectum by transperineally injecting a hydrogel spacer (HS). However, the effect of HS on the prostate positional displacement is poorly understood, despite its stability with HS in place. In this study, we investigated the effect of HS insertion on the interfraction prostate motion during the course of proton therapy (PT) for Japanese prostate cancer patients. The study population consisted of 22 cases of intermediate-risk prostate cancer with 11 cases with HS insertion and 11 cases without HS insertion. The irradiation position and preparation were similar for both groups. To test for reproducibility, regular confirmation computed tomography (RCCT) was done four times during the treatment period, and five times overall [including treatment planning CT (TPCT)] in each patient. Considering the prostate position of the TPCT as the reference, the change in the center of gravity of the prostate relative to the bony anatomy in the RCCTs of each patient was determined in the left–right (LR), superior–inferior (SI) and anterior–posterior (AP) directions. As a result, no significant difference was observed across the groups in the LR and SI directions. Conversely, a significant difference was observed in the AP direction (P < 0.05). The proportion of the 3D vector length ≤5 mm was 95% in the inserted group, but 55% in the non-inserted group. Therefore, HS is not only effective in reducing rectal dose, but may also contribute to the positional reproducibility of the prostate.
Properties of Markov Chain Monte Carlo Performance across Many Empirical Alignments
Authors: Harrington Sean M , Wishingrad Van , Thomson Robert C
Published: November 2020

Nearly all current Bayesian phylogenetic applications rely on Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods to approximate the posterior distribution for trees and other parameters of the model. These approximations are only reliable if Markov chains adequately converge and sample from the joint posterior distribution. Although several studies of phylogenetic MCMC convergence exist, these have focused on simulated data sets or select empirical examples. Therefore, much that is considered common knowledge about MCMC in empirical systems derives from a relatively small family of analyses under ideal conditions. To address this, we present an overview of commonly applied phylogenetic MCMC diagnostics and an assessment of patterns of these diagnostics across more than 18,000 empirical analyses. Many analyses appeared to perform well and failures in convergence were most likely to be detected using the average standard deviation of split frequencies, a diagnostic that compares topologies among independent chains. Different diagnostics yielded different information about failed convergence, demonstrating that multiple diagnostics must be employed to reliably detect problems. The number of taxa and average branch lengths in analyses have clear impacts on MCMC performance, with more taxa and shorter branches leading to more difficult convergence. We show that the usage of models that include both Γ-distributed among-site rate variation and a proportion of invariable sites is not broadly problematic for MCMC convergence but is also unnecessary. Changes to heating and the usage of model-averaged substitution models can both offer improved convergence in some cases, but neither are a panacea.
Asthenosphere dynamics based on the H2O dependence of element diffusivity in olivine
Authors: Katsura Tomoo , Fei Hongzhan
Published: November 2020

The oceanic asthenosphere shows two enigmatic features: low viscosity and high electrical conductivity. Their origins gather wide attention, but remain unsolved. Recent self-diffusivity measurements as a function of H2O content in olivine demonstrated that the H2O-incorporation in olivine cannot soften the asthenosphere, but it enhances the ionic conductivity, and causes the high-conductivity anomaly.
Executive pensions and the pay–performance relation—Evidence from changes to pension legislation in the UK
Authors: Morris Damon , Gregory-Smith Ian , Main Brian G M , Montagnoli Alberto , Wright Peter W
Published: November 2020

This article evaluates the role of executive pensions in the relationship between executive compensation and corporate performance. As a natural experiment, we exploit a major change to the tax-free allowances governing executive pensions. This reform affected the cost of pensions for firms whose executives had accumulated pension benefits in excess of the prescribed limit. We find a strong reaction to the reform. After 6 April 2006, many executives saw their defined benefit pension schemes replaced with risk-free cash payments. This imposition of an exogenous constraint on the contracting over CEO pay significantly decreased the relationship between executive pay and firm performance.
Marijuana: From Reefer Madness to THC Gummy Bears
Authors: Winter Jerrold
Published: November 2020

No substance better exemplifies the ambivalence of Western societies toward psychoactive drugs than marijuana. In 2017, it was estimated that there were more than 22 million current users, about 6.7% of the adult population, in the United States. For those aged 18 to 25, the figure was nearly 20%. In the United Kingdom, the prevalence of recreational use of marijuana among males aged 16–34 was put at 15.5%. Despite its widespread acceptance, many regard marijuana as a serious drug of abuse which, if set free, will destroy the fabric of our society. Others see it as one of God’s gifts to humankind and regularly call for its legalization for medical use. By 2018, the United Kingdom and 40 other countries had heeded that call. In the United States, medical marijuana has been approved in 30 states and the District of Columbia with more sure to follow. Going further, recreational use is allowed in 10 of those states. Nonetheless, marijuana possession continues to be illegal under federal law in the United States, and some physicians have been threatened with loss of their licenses for advocating medical marijuana. In 2015, combined state and federal laws led to more arrests for possession of small amounts of marijuana than those for all violent crimes combined. The word marijuana (or the alternate spelling marihuana) does not appear in American medical texts of the 19th century. Instead, the term cannabis referred to flowering tops of the female plant of Cannabis sativa. At that time, while millions of persons in Asia and Africa habitually indulged in cannabis as an intoxicant, cannabis was little used for that purpose in this country. In this chapter, I will use the term “cannabis” to refer to any active material derived from Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica, the two species—some say subspecies—of the plant. Today’s controversies surrounding “medical marijuana” often ignore its long history in European and American medicine. Beginning in 1850, Cannabis indica and several extracts of the plant were listed in The United States Pharmacopeia, an official compilation of medically useful drugs.
Chemical Classifications, Textbooks, and the Periodic System in Nineteenth-Century Spain
Authors: Bertomeu-Sánchez José Ramón , Muñoz-Bello Rosa
Published: November 2020

The periodic system is closely linked to chemical pedagogy by many different ways. It is commonly accepted that Mendeleev discovered the periodic law while he was attempting to organize the chapters of a general chemistry textbook for his students at St. Petersburg University. The omnipresence of periodic tables in classrooms and textbooks throughout the twentieth century seems to confirm the decisive impact of Mendeleev’s work in chemistry teaching. Thus, one might assume that the advent of the periodic classification was followed by a revolution in late nineteenth-century chemistry classrooms. However, the papers included in this volume have found scarce evidence for a profound transformation of this kind in chemistry education. Our main aim here is to suggest some explanations for this apparent paradox by exploring the rather peripheral context of nineteenth-century Spain. Our approach is based on new historiographical trends in two interrelated areas: the history of science teaching and the circulation of knowledge. Teaching is no longer regarded by historians as a second-rate activity for scientists, but as a creative context in which new knowledge is produced thanks to the complex interaction of many historical forces and agents. Historians who subscribe to this trend also challenge the common view of textbook writing as repetitive, uninspiring work. Mendeleev was certainly not the first teacher to address the problem of finding an accurate classification for chemistry textbooks. In fact, when he prepared his Principles of Chemistry in 1868, there was already a long tradition of chemistry textbooks dating back to the seventeenth century, and many arrangements had been adopted and discussed by Mendeleev’s recent predecessors. Many mid-nineteenth-century textbooks devoted entire chapters to chemical classifications, in which the author presented the debates on artificial and natural classifications and added their own suggestions. One of these books was written in 1855 by Auguste Cahours (1813–1891), a professor of chemistry in Paris, and was translated into Russian with the aid of Mendeleev, just a few years before his work on the periodic system.
Functional Group Protection
Authors: Taber Douglass F.
Published: November 2020

Zhong-Jun Li of Peking University developed (J. Org. Chem. 2011, 76, 9531) a Co catalyst for selectively replacing one benzyl protecting group of 1 with silyl. Carlo Unverzagt of Universität Bayreuth devised (Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 10485) oxidative conditions for debenzylating the azide 3 to 4. Tadashi Katoh of Tohoku Pharmaceutical University found (Tetrahedron Lett. 2011, 52, 5395) that the dimethoxybenzyl protecting group of 5 could be selectively removed in the presence of benzyl and p-methoxybenzyl. Scott T. Phillips of Pennsylvania State University showed (J. Org. Chem. 2011, 76, 7352) that in the presence of phosphate buffer, catalytic fluoride was sufficient to desilylate 7. Philip L. Fuchs of Purdue University employed (J. Org. Chem. 2011, 76, 7834, not illustrated) the neutral Robins conditions (Tetrahedron Lett. 1992, 33, 1177) to effect a critical desilylation. Pengfei Wang of the University of Alabama at Birmingham found (J. Org. Chem. 2011, 76, 8955) that an excess of the diol 9 both oxidized the primary alcohol 10 and installed the photolabile protecting group on the product aldehyde. Hiromichi Fujioka of Osaka University showed (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 12232) that addition of Ph3P to 12 transiently protected the aldehyde, allowing selective reduction of the ketone to the alcohol. Willi Bannwarth of Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg deprotected (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 6175) the chelating amide of 14, leaving the usually sensitive Fmoc group in place. Bruce C. Gibb, now at Tulane University, hydrolyzed (Nature Chem. 2010, 2, 847) 16 more rapidly than the very similar 17, by selective equilibrating complexation of 16 and 17 with a cavitand. Aravamudan S. Gopalan of New Mexico State University converted (Tetrahedron Lett. 2010, 51, 6737) proline 19 to the amide ester 10 by exposure to triethyl orthoacetate. K. Rajender Reddy of the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology oxidized (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 11748) the formamide 22 to the carbamate 23 by exposure to H2O2 in the presence of 21. James M. Boncella of the Los Alamos National Laboratory deprotected (Org. Lett. 2011, 13, 6156) 24 by exposure to visible light in the presence of a Ru catalyst.
Flow Chemistry
Authors: Lambert Tristan H.
Published: November 2020

Timothy F. Jamison at MIT developed (Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 710) a metal-free continuous-flow hydrogenation of alkene 1 using the protected hydroxylamine reagent 2 in the presence of free hydroxylamine. The reduction of nitroindole 4 to the corresponding aniline 5 using in situ-generated iron oxide nanocrystals in continuous flow was reported (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 10190) by C. Oliver Kappe at the University of Graz. A flow method for the MPV reduction of ketone 6 to alcohol 7 was disclosed (Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 2278) by Steven V. Ley at the University of Cambridge. Corey R.J. Stephenson, now at the University of Michigan, developed (Chem. Commun. 2013, 49, 4352) a flow deoxygenation of alcohol 8 to yield 9 using visible light photoredox catalysis. Stephen L. Buchwald at MIT demonstrated (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 12466) that arylated acetaldehyde 11 could be generated from aminopyridine 10 by diazonium formation and subsequent Meerwein arylation of ethyl vinyl ether in flow. The team of Takahide Fukuyama and Ilhyong Ryu at Osaka Prefecture University showed (Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 2794) that p-iodoanisole (12) could be converted to amide 13 via low-pressure carbonylation using carbon monoxide generated from mixing formic and sulfuric acids. The continuous-flow Sonogashira coupling of alkyne 14 to produce 15 using a Pd-Cu dual reactor was developed (Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 65) by Chi-Lik Ken Lee at Singapore Polytechnic. A tandem Sonogashira/cycloisomerization procedure to convert bromopyridine 16 to aminoindolizine 18 in flow was realized (Adv. Synth. Cat. 2012, 354, 2373) by Keith James at Scripps, La Jolla. A procedure for the Pauson-Khand reaction of alkene 19 to produce the bicycle 20 in a photochemical microreactor was reported (Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 2398) by Jun-ichi Yoshida at Kyoto University. Kevin I. Booker-Milburn at the University of Bristol discovered (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 1499) that irradiation of N-butenylpyrrole 21 in flow produced the rearranged tricycle 22. Professor Jamison described (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 4251) a unique peptide coupling involving the photochemical rearrangement of nitrone 23 to the hindered dipeptide 24 in continuous flow.