bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbon‐Based Quantum Dots with Solid‐State Photoluminescent: Mechanism, Implementation, and Application
Authors: Xu Anli , Wang Gang , Li Yongqiang , Dong Hui , Yang Siwei , He Peng , Ding Guqiao
Published: November 2020

Carbon‐based quantum dots (CQDs), including spherical carbon dots and graphene quantum dots, are an emerging class of photoluminescent (PL) materials with unique properties. Great progress has been made in the design and fabrication of high‐performance CQDs, however, the challenge of developing solid‐state PL CQDs have aroused great interest among researchers. A clear PL mechanism is the basis for the development of high‐performance solid‐state CQDs for light emission and is also a prerequisite for the realization of multiple practical applications. However, the extremely complex structure of a CQD greatly limits the understanding of the solid‐state PL mechanism of CQDs. So far, a variety of models have been proposed to explain the PL of solid‐state CQDs, but they have not been unified. This review summarizes the current understanding of the solid‐state PL of solid‐state CQDs from the perspective of energy band theory and electronic transitions. In addition, the common strategies for realizing solid‐state PL in CQDs are also summarized. Furthermore, the applications of CQDs in the fields of light‐emitting devices, anti‐counterfeiting, fingerprint detection, etc., are proposed. Finally, a brief outlook is given, highlighting current problems, and directions for development of solid‐state PL of CQDs.
Role of Dopants on the Local Electronic Structure of Polymeric Carbon Nitride Photocatalysts
Authors: Ren Jian , Lin Lihua , Lieutenant Klaus , Schulz Christian , Wong Deniz , Gimm Thorren , Bande Annika , Wang Xinchen , Petit Tristan
Published: November 2020

Polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) is a promising class of materials for solar‐to‐chemical energy conversion. The increase of the photocatalytic activity of PCN is often achieved by the incorporation of heteroatoms, whose impact on the electronic structure of PCN remains poorly explored. This work reveals that the local electronic structure of PCN is strongly altered by doping with sulfur and iron using X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and resonant inelastic X‐ray scattering (RIXS). From XAS at the carbon and nitrogen K‐edges, sulfur atoms are found to mostly affect carbon atoms, in contrast to iron doping mostly altering nitrogen sites. In RIXS at the nitrogen K‐edge, a vibrational progression, affected by iron doping, is evidenced, which is attributed to a vibronic coupling between excited electrons in nitrogen atoms and C–N stretching modes in PCN heterocycling rings. This work opens new perspectives for the characterization of vibronic coupling in polymeric photocatalysts.
Molecular‐Level Insight into Correlation between Surface Defects and Stability of Methylammonium Lead Halide Perovskite Under Controlled Humidity
Authors: Akhavan Kazemi Mohammad Ali , Raval Parth , Cherednichekno Kirill , Chotard Jean‐Noel , Krishna Anurag , Demortiere Arnaud , Reddy G. N. Manjunatha , Sauvage Frédéric
Published: November 2020

Perovskite‐based photovoltaics (PVs) have garnered tremendous interest, enabling power conversion efficiencies exceeding 25%. Although much of this success is credited to the exploration of new compositions, defects passivation and process optimization, environmental stability remains an important bottleneck to be solved. The underlying mechanisms of thermal and humidity‐induced degradation are still far from a clear understanding, which poses a severe limitation to overcome the stability issues. Herein, in situ X‐ray diffraction (XRD), in operando liquid‐cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and ex situ solid‐state (ss)NMR spectroscopy are combined with time‐resolved spectroscopies to reveal new insights about the degradation mechanisms of methylammonium lead halide (MAPbI3) under 85% relative humidity (RH) at different length scales. Liquid‐cell TEM enables the live visualizations from meso‐to‐nanoscale transformation between the perovskite particles and water molecules, which are corroborated by the changes in local structures at sub‐nanometer distances by ssNMR and longer range by XRD. This work clarifies the role of surface defects and the significance of their passivation to prevent hydration and decomposition reactions.
Syringin alleviates ovalbumin‐induced lung inflammation in BALB/c mice asthma model via NF‐κB signaling pathway
Authors: Dai Rui , Niu Manman , Wang Ningling , Wang Yan
Published: November 2020

Asthma is an allergic chronic inflammatory disease of the pulmonary airways, characterized by the infiltration of white blood cells and release of inflammatory cytokines of complex pathways linked to its pathogenesis. Syringin extracted from various medicinal plants has been used extensively for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Hence, this study was conducted to further explore the protective effects of the syringin in ovalbumin (OVA) induced‐asthma mice model. OVA‐sensitized BALB mice were treated intraperitonealy with three doses (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) of the syringin which was validated by the alteration in the immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, cytokines levels, histopathological evaluation inflammatory cell count, lung weight, nitrite (NO) levels, oxidative stress biomarkers and gene markers. The treatment of syringin intensely reduced the increased IgE, inflammatory cytokines, WBC count and restored the antioxidant stress markers OVA stimulated animals. In addition, a significant reduction in inflammation and mucus production was evidenced in histopathological analysis which was further validated by suppression NF‐κB pathway activation by syringin. These results suggest that syringin may improve asthma symptoms in OVA‐induced mice by modulating NF‐κB pathway activation.
Predicting land surface temperature with geographically weighed regression and deep learning
Authors: Jia Hongfei , Yang Dehe , Deng Weiping , Wei Qing , Jiang Wenliang
Published: November 2020

For prediction of urban remote sensing surface temperature, cloud, cloud shadow and snow contamination lead to the failure of surface temperature inversion and vegetation‐related index calculation. A time series prediction framework of urban surface temperature under cloud interference is proposed in this paper. This is helpful to solve the problem of the impact of data loss on surface temperature prediction. Spatial and temporal variation trends of surface temperature and vegetation index are analyzed using Landsat 7/8 remote sensing data of 2010 to 2019 from Beijing. The geographically weighed regression (GWR) method is used to realize the simulation of surface temperature based on the current date. The deep learning prediction network based on convolution and long short‐term memory (LSTM) networks was constructed to predict the spatial distribution of surface temperature on the next observation date. The time series analysis shows that the NDBI is less than −0.2, which indicates that there may be cloud contamination. The land surface temperature (LST) modeling results show that the precision of estimation using GWR method on impervious surface and water bodies is superior compared to the vegetation area. For LST prediction using deep learning methods, the result of the prediction on surface temperature space distribution was relatively good. The purpose of this study is to make up for the missing data affected by cloud, snow, and other interference factors, and to be applied to the prediction of the spatial and temporal distributions of LST.

This article is categorized under:

Technologies > Machine Learning
Impacts of Climate Change on the Hydro-Climatology and Performances of Bin El Ouidane Reservoir: Morocco, Africa
Authors: Ahbari Abdellatif , Stour Laila , Agoumi Ali
Published: November 2020

In arid and humid contexts, dams’ reservoirs play a crucial role in water regulation and flood control. Under the projected climate change (CC) effects, even a preoptimized management approach (MA) of a reservoir needs to be assessed in this projected climate. This chapter aims to assess the impacts of CC on the Hydroclimatic (HC) variables of the basin upstream the reservoir of Bin El Ouidane (Morocco), and the effects on the performances of its preoptimized MA. The applied Top-Down assessment procedure included CORDEX climate projections, hydrological, siltation, evaporation, and management models. Concerning the HC variables, the results obtained concord with those reported in the literature in terms of trend, but not always in terms of intensity of change. On the other hand, the projections expected a decrease in the performances of the reservoir, except for criterion allocations’ standard deviation, calibrated during the optimization. Also, interesting conclusions have been found like: the change in precipitation dominant form, the accentuation of the pluvial hydrological regime, the advanced snow melting due to the temperature increase. This chapter presents a typical case study on how to use climate projections for reservoir MA adaptation, without being highly and negatively influenced by the climate model uncertainties.
Farmers’ Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change in Africa: Small-Scale Farmers in Cameroon
Authors: Awazi Nyong Princely , Tchamba Martin Ngankam , Temgoua Lucie Felicite , Tientcheu-Avana Marie-Louise
Published: November 2020

Small-scale farmers’ limited adaptive capacity confronted with the adversities of climate change is a major call for concern considering that small-scale farms feed over half of the world’s population. In this light, small-scale farmers’ adaptive choices and adaptive capacity to climate change were assessed. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources using a mixed research approach. Findings revealed that extreme weather events have been recurrent and small-scale farmers perceived access to land, household income, and the planting of trees/shrubs on farms (agroforestry) as the main factors influencing their capacity to adapt to climate change. Agroforestry and monoculture practices were the main adaptive choices of small-scale farmers confronted with climate change. T-test and chi-square test statistics revealed a strong non-cause-effect relationship (p < 0.001) between small-scale farmers’ capacity to adapt to climate change and different socio-economic, institutional, and environmental variables. Parameter estimates of the binomial logistic regression model indicated the existence of a strong direct cause-effect relationship (p < 0.05) between small-scale farmers’ capacity to adapt to climate change and access to credit, household income, number of farms, access to information, and access to land, indicating that these variables enhance small-scale farmers’ capacity to adapt to climate change. It is recommended that policy makers examine the adaptive choices and determinants of farmers’ adaptive capacity unearthed in this chapter when formulating policies geared towards enhancing small-scale farmers’ capacity to adapt to climate change.
Singapore’s Teacher Education Model for the 21st Century (TE21)
Authors: Rajandiran Durgesh
Published: November 2020

Singapore introduced the Teacher Education Model for the 21st Century (TE21) in 2009 as a framework to propose a set of 21st century competencies that Singaporean teachers should be equipped with. The introduction of TE21 catalyzed the reform of existing programs and the implementation of new initiatives in initial teacher preparation programs and lifelong teacher professional development. This chapter first examines the local and international driving forces that led to the conceptualization of TE21 since Singapore’s independence. Then, the recommendations of TE21 are scrutinized along with the implementation of two new initiatives in the initial teacher preparation program. The findings are twofold. First, we find that Singapore has extensively performed a comparative review of global 21st century recommendations over four decades to customize an education system for their local context. Second, by synthesizing information sourced from interviews, government documents, and quantitative data, we find that the progress towards developing a cadre of 21st century teachers and producing holistic students in Singapore is largely successful. However, students are found to be at the receiving end of a generational cultural clash between them and their parents’ beliefs about the core of education.
Complexity measures from geometric actions onVirasoro and Kac-Moody orbits
Authors: Erdmenger Johanna , Gerbershagen Marius , Weigel Anna-Lena
Published: November 2020

Abstract

We further advance the study of the notion of computational complexity for 2d CFTs based on a gate set built out of conformal symmetry transformations. Previously, it was shown that by choosing a suitable cost function, the resulting complexity functional is equivalent to geometric (group) actions on coadjoint orbits of the Virasoro group, up to a term that originates from the central extension. We show that this term can be recovered by modifying the cost function, making the equivalence exact. Moreover, we generalize our approach to Kac-Moody symmetry groups, finding again an exact equivalence between complexity functionals and geometric actions. We then determine the optimal circuits for these complexity measures and calculate the corresponding costs for several examples of optimal transformations. In the Virasoro case, we find that for all choices of reference state except for the vacuum state, the complexity only measures the cost associated to phase changes, while assigning zero cost to the non-phase changing part of the transformation. For Kac-Moody groups in contrast, there do exist non-trivial optimal transformations beyond phase changes that contribute to the complexity, yielding a finite gauge invariant result. Moreover, we also show that our Virasoro complexity proposal is equivalent to the on-shell value of the Liouville action, which is a complexity functional proposed in the context of path integral optimization. This equivalence provides an interpretation for the path integral optimization proposal in terms of a gate set and reference state. Finally, we further develop a new proposal for a complexity definition for the Virasoro group that measures the cost associated to non-trivial transformations beyond phase changes. This proposal is based on a cost function given by a metric on the Lie group of conformal transformations. The minimization of the corresponding complexity functional is achieved using the Euler-Arnold method yielding the Korteweg-de Vries equation as equation of motion.
Higgs inflation as nonlinear sigma model and scalaron as its σ-meson
Authors: Ema Yohei , Mukaida Kyohei , van de Vis Jorinde
Published: November 2020

Abstract

We point out that a model with scalar fields with a large nonminimal coupling to the Ricci scalar, such as Higgs inflation, can be regarded as a nonlinear sigma model (NLSM). With the inclusion of not only the scalar fields but also the conformal mode of the metric, our definition of the target space of the NLSM is invariant under the frame transformation. We show that theσ-meson that linearizes this NLSM to be a linear sigma model (LSM) corresponds to the scalaron, the degree of freedom associated to theR2term in the Jordan frame. We demonstrate that quantum corrections inevitably induce thisσ-meson in the large-Nlimit, thus providing a frame independent picture for the emergence of the scalaron. The resultant LSM only involves renormalizable interactions and hence its perturbative unitarity holds up to the Planck scale unless it hits a Landau pole, which is in agreement with the renormalizability of quadratic gravity.
Insulin granule biogenesis and exocytosis
Authors: Omar-Hmeadi Muhmmad , Idevall-Hagren Olof
Published: November 2020

Insulin is produced by pancreatic β-cells, and once released to the blood, the hormone stimulates glucose uptake and suppresses glucose production. Defects in both the availability and action of insulin lead to elevated plasma glucose levels and are major hallmarks of type-2 diabetes. Insulin is stored in secretory granules that form at the trans-Golgi network. The granules undergo extensive modifications en route to their release sites at the plasma membrane, including changes in both protein and lipid composition of the granule membrane and lumen. In parallel, the insulin molecules also undergo extensive modifications that render the hormone biologically active. In this review, we summarize current understanding of insulin secretory granule biogenesis, maturation, transport, docking, priming and eventual fusion with the plasma membrane. We discuss how different pools of granules form and how these pools contribute to insulin secretion under different conditions. We also highlight the role of the β-cell in the development of type-2 diabetes and discuss how dysregulation of one or several steps in the insulin granule life cycle may contribute to disease development or progression.
Effects of aluminum sulfate soaking pretreatment on dimensional stability and thermostability of heat-treated wood
Authors: Qu Lijie , Wang Zhenyu , Qian Jing , He Zhengbin , Yi Songlin
Published: November 2020

Acidic aluminum sulfate hydrolysis solutions can be used to catalyze the thermal degradation of wood in a mild temperature environment, and thus reduce the temperature required for heat treatment process. To improve the dimensional and thermal stability of Chinese fir during heat treatment at 120 °C, 140 °C and 160 °C, this study investigated the effects of soaking pretreatment with 5%, 10% and 15% aluminum sulfate on the chemical and structural changes of the heat-treated Chinese fir. The results indicated that the samples treated at 15% aluminum sulfate concentration and 160 °C heat treatment achieved the best dimensional and thermal stability. Chemical analyses by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the catalysis of aluminum sulfate resulted in degradation of hemicelluloses during the heat treatment, and an increase in the soaking concentration and heat treatment temperature also affected the thermal degradation of celluloses. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and mass changes test results proved that the hydrolyzed aluminum flocs mainly adhered to the inner wall of the wood tracheid as spherical precipitates, and when the soaking concentration reached 10% and 15%, a uniform soaking effect could be achieved. The thermogravimetric (TG) analysis revealed the soaking pretreatment effectively improved the thermal stability of the heat-treated wood by physically wrapping and promoting the formation of a carbon layer on the wood surface during heat treatment. Thus, aluminum sulfate soaking pretreatment exerted a great effect on the dimensional and thermal stability of wood, allowing heat treatment to be performed at a lower temperature.
Strategies for simultaneous and successive delivery of RNA
Authors: Moradian Hanieh , Lendlein Andreas , Gossen Manfred
Published: November 2020

Advanced non-viral gene delivery experiments often require co-delivery of multiple nucleic acids. Therefore, the availability of reliable and robust co-transfection methods and defined selection criteria for their use in, e.g., expression of multimeric proteins or mixed RNA/DNA delivery is of utmost importance. Here, we investigated different co- and successive transfection approaches, with particular focus on in vitro transcribed messenger RNA (IVT-mRNA). Expression levels and patterns of two fluorescent protein reporters were determined, using different IVT-mRNA doses, carriers, and cell types. Quantitative parameters determining the efficiency of co-delivery were analyzed for IVT-mRNAs premixed before nanocarrier formation (integrated co-transfection) and when simultaneously transfecting cells with separately formed nanocarriers (parallel co-transfection), which resulted in a much higher level of expression heterogeneity for the two reporters. Successive delivery of mRNA revealed a lower transfection efficiency in the second transfection round. All these differences proved to be more pronounced for low mRNA doses. Concurrent delivery of siRNA with mRNA also indicated the highest co-transfection efficiency for integrated method. However, the maximum efficacy was shown for successive delivery, due to the kinetically different peak output for the two discretely operating entities. Our findings provide guidance for selection of the co-delivery method best suited to accommodate experimental requirements, highlighting in particular the nucleic acid dose-response dependence on co-delivery on the single-cell level.
Persistent and transient inefficiency in adult education
Authors: Badunenko Oleg , Mazrekaj Deni , Kumbhakar Subal C. , De Witte Kristof
Published: November 2020

This paper evaluates the inefficiency of adult education programs. Using an advanced four-component stochastic frontier model on Belgian adult education data, we distinguish between persistent and transient inefficiency of adult education programs. Whereas persistent inefficiency is structural and difficult to tackle because of its time-invariant nature, transient inefficiency can be eliminated somewhat easily without a major structural change. Thus, reduction in different inefficiency components may require different policy measures. Our results indicate that despite the presence of persistent inefficiency, the overall inefficiency is mainly driven by the transient component, and hence, at the control of the adult education management. The findings suggest that social interaction is relevant in adult education as both more sessions and more learners per program increase educational efficiency. Moreover, adult education programs seem to be particularly useful for young less-educated learners.
Nutrient enrichment stimulates herbivory and alters epibiont assemblages at the edge but not inside subtidal macroalgal forests
Authors: Bulleri Fabio , Pardi Giuseppina , Tamburello Laura , Ravaglioli Chiara
Published: November 2020

Nutrient enrichment is a major threat to subtidal macroalgal forests. Several studies have shown that nutrient inputs can enhance the ability of opportunistic algal species to acquire space freed by disturbance, at the expense of architecturally complex species that form forests. However, competition between canopy- and turf-forming macroalgae is not limited to the aftermath of disturbance. Canopy-forming macroalgae can provide suitable substratum for diverse epibiont assemblages, including both algae (epiphytes) and sessile invertebrates (epizoans). Despite evidence of enhanced epiphyte loading under eutrophic conditions, few experimental studies have assessed how nutrient enrichment influences the structure of epibiont assemblages on canopy-forming macroalgae at the edge versus inside forests. In oligotrophic waters of the NW Mediterranean, we experimentally tested the hypothesis that nutrient-driven proliferation of opportunistic epiphytic algae would affect the performance of the fucoid, Carpodesmia brachycarpa, and reduce the richness and abundance of the epizoan species they support. We predicted negative effects of nutrient enrichment to be greater at the edge than inside forests and on thalli that had recovered in cleared areas than on those within undisturbed canopy stands. Nutrient enrichment did not affect the photosynthetic efficiency and reproductive output of C. brachycarpa. By contrast, it enhanced herbivore consumption and decreased the cover and diversity of epizoans at forest edges, likely by stimulating the foraging activity of Arbacia lixula, the most abundant sea urchin in adjacent encrusting coralline barrens. Fertilization of areas inside forests had no effect on either C. brachycarpa or epibiont assemblages. Finally, nutrient enrichment effects did not vary between cleared and undisturbed areas. Our results show that moderate nutrient enrichment of oligotrophic waters does not necessarily cause the proliferation of epiphytes and, hence, a strengthening of their competitive effects on canopy-forming macroalgae. Nevertheless, enhanced herbivory damage to fertilized thalli at forest edges suggests that fragmentation could reduce the resilience of macroalgal forests and associated epibiont assemblages to nutrient enrichment.
Global Biodiversity Patterns of the Photobionts Associated with the Genus Cladonia (Lecanorales, Ascomycota)
Authors: Pino-Bodas Raquel , Stenroos Soili
Published: November 2020

The diversity of lichen photobionts is not fully known. We studied here the diversity of the photobionts associated withCladonia, a sub-cosmopolitan genus ecologically important, whose photobionts belong to the green algae genusAsterochloris. The genetic diversity ofAsterochloriswas screened by using the ITS rDNA and actin type I regions in 223 specimens and 135 species ofCladoniacollected all over the world. These data, added to those available in GenBank, were compiled in a dataset of altogether 545Asterochlorissequences occurring in 172 species ofCladonia. A high diversity ofAsterochlorisassociated withCladoniawas found. The commonest photobiont lineages associated with this genus areA. glomerata,A. italiana, andA. mediterranea. Analyses of partitioned variation were carried out in order to elucidate the relative influence on the photobiont genetic variation of the following factors: mycobiont identity, geographic distribution, climate, and mycobiont phylogeny. The mycobiont identity and climate were found to be the main drivers for the genetic variation ofAsterochloris. The geographical distribution of the differentAsterochlorislineages was described. Some lineages showed a clear dominance in one or several climatic regions. In addition, the specificity and the selectivity were studied for 18 species ofCladonia. Potentially specialist and generalist species ofCladoniawere identified. A correlation was found between the sexual reproduction frequency of the host and the frequency of certainAsterochlorisOTUs. SomeAsterochlorislineages co-occur with higher frequency than randomly expected in theCladoniaspecies.
Substrate specificity of 2-deoxy-D-ribose 5-phosphate aldolase (DERA) assessed by different protein engineering and machine learning methods
Authors: Voutilainen Sanni , Heinonen Markus , Andberg Martina , Jokinen Emmi , Maaheimo Hannu , Pääkkönen Johan , Hakulinen Nina , Rouvinen Juha , Lähdesmäki Harri , Kaski Samuel , Rousu Juho , Penttilä Merja , Koivula Anu
Published: November 2020

In this work, deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase (Ec DERA, EC 4.1.2.4) from Escherichia coli was chosen as the protein engineering target for improving the substrate preference towards smaller, non-phosphorylated aldehyde donor substrates, in particular towards acetaldehyde. The initial broad set of mutations was directed to 24 amino acid positions in the active site or in the close vicinity, based on the 3D complex structure of the E. coli DERA wild-type aldolase. The specific activity of the DERA variants containing one to three amino acid mutations was characterised using three different substrates. A novel machine learning (ML) model utilising Gaussian processes and feature learning was applied for the 3rd mutagenesis round to predict new beneficial mutant combinations. This led to the most clear-cut (two- to threefold) improvement in acetaldehyde (C2) addition capability with the concomitant abolishment of the activity towards the natural donor molecule glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (C3P) as well as the non-phosphorylated equivalent (C3). The Ec DERA variants were also tested on aldol reaction utilising formaldehyde (C1) as the donor. Ec DERA wild-type was shown to be able to carry out this reaction, and furthermore, some of the improved variants on acetaldehyde addition reaction turned out to have also improved activity on formaldehyde.

Key points

• DERA aldolases are promiscuous enzymes.

• Synthetic utility of DERA aldolase was improved by protein engineering approaches.

• Machine learning methods aid the protein engineering of DERA.
Dose exploration results from Phase 1 study of cemiplimab, a human monoclonal programmed death (PD)-1 antibody, in Japanese patients with advanced malignancies
Authors: Kitano Shigehisa , Shimizu Toshio , Koyama Takafumi , Ebata Takahiro , Iwasa Satoru , Kondo Shunsuke , Shimomura Akihiko , Fujiwara Yutaka , Yamamoto Noboru , Paccaly Anne , Li Siyu , Rietschel Petra , Sims Tasha
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Part 1 of this two-part, open-label, Phase 1 study (NCT03233139) assessed the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and clinical activity of cemiplimab in Japanese patients with advanced malignancies.

Methods

Patients received cemiplimab 250 mg (n = 6) or 350 mg (n = 7) every 3 weeks intravenously for up to 108 weeks in Part 1. Tumor responses were assessed by investigators every 9 weeks using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1.

Results

Of 13 patients enrolled, median age was 62 years (range 33–75) and eight patients were female. Median duration of cemiplimab exposure was 13.1 weeks (range 3.0‒113.6). At the time of data cut-off, 11 patients (84.6%) had discontinued treatment (majority due to disease progression: n = 8, 61.5%). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) of any grade were contact dermatitis, rash, and viral upper respiratory tract infection (each n = 3, 23.1%). Five grade ≥ 3 TEAEs were reported in four patients: autoimmune colitis, dehydration, hyponatremia, hypophosphatemia, and muscular weakness. No dose-limiting toxicities were reported and no TEAEs led to death. Cemiplimab concentrations in serum were consistent with previously reported pharmacokinetic characteristics of cemiplimab. No anti-drug antibodies were detected in serum. Objective response rate [ORR; complete response + partial response (PR)] was 30.8% (four PR) and disease control rate [ORR + stable disease (SD)] was 46.2% (6/13; two SD).

Conclusion

Cemiplimab exhibited antitumor activity in Japanese patients with advanced malignancies. The safety profile was comparable to those previously reported for cemiplimab and other PD-1 inhibitors.

Trial registration

NCT03233139 at ClinicalTrials.gov.

Graphic abstract
100% Fruit juice intake and cardiovascular risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective and randomised controlled studies
Authors: D’Elia Lanfranco , Dinu Monica , Sofi Francesco , Volpe Massimo , Strazzullo Pasquale ,   The SINU Working Group, Endorsed by SIPREC, Bordoni Alessandra , Strazzullo Pasquale , Cairella Giulia , Casiraghi Maria Cristina , D’Elia Lanfranco , del Balzo Valeria , Dinu Monica , Erba Daniela , Garbagnati Francesca , Ghiselli Andrea , Pellegrini Nicoletta , Pinto Alessandro , Rossi Laura , Russo Gian Luigi , Scazzina Francesca , Scognamiglio Umberto , Sofi Francesco , Vaccaro Salvatore , Verduci Elvira
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The relationship between 100% fruit juice (100%FJ) consumption and cardiovascular risk is object of debate: indeed, recently published investigations provided new but discrepant evidence on this important question and International dietary guidelines are not in agreement on recommendations about fruit juice consumption. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of the prospective studies and the randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that explored the relationship between 100%FJ intake, cardiovascular risk profile and risk of cardiovascular events.

Methods

We performed a systematic search of publications up to August 2019. Summary relative risks and exploration of linearity of the association were estimated for prospective studies and summary mean differences (MDs) calculated for RCTs.

Results

A total of 21 prospective studies and 35 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Dose–response analysis detected a significant inverse association between low-moderate 100%FJ consumption and risk of stroke (up to 200 ml/day) or total CV events (up to 170 ml/day) compared with no consumption, with a non-linear relationship (p for non-linearity < 0.05). No significant association was found for coronary heart disease and diabetes risk. In RCTs, a favorable and significant effect of 100%FJ intake was detected on blood pressure (systolic, MD: − 3.14 mmHg; diastolic, MD: − 1.68 mmHg), arterial compliance (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, − 0.38 m/s) and endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation, 2.10%). Neutral effects were found on body weight, blood lipids and glucose metabolism.

Conclusions

The results of these analyses indicate that 100%FJ consumption is not associated with higher CV risk. A non-linear inverse dose–response relationship occurs between 100%FJ consumption and CV disease, in particular for risk of stroke, probably mediated by the decrease in blood pressure.

Trial registration

PROSPERO registration number (CRD42019135577).
Training of vertical versus horizontal reading in patients with hemianopia – a randomized and controlled study
Authors: Kuester-Gruber S. , Kabisch P. , Cordey A. , Karnath H.-O. , Trauzettel-Klosinski S.
Published: November 2020

Hypothesis

Patients with hemianopic field defects (HFD) might benefit from reading text in vertical orientation if they place the text in the seeing hemifield along the vertical midline.

Methods

We assigned 21 patients with HFD randomly to either vertical or horizontal reading training. They trained reading single lines of texts from a computer screen at home for 2 × 30 min/day, 5 days/week, for 4 weeks. The main outcome variable was reading speed (RS) during reading standardized paragraphs of printed text (IReST) aloud. RS was assessed before training (T1), directly after training (T2) and 4 weeks later (T3). Quality of life (QoL) was assessed by Impact of Visual Impairment (IVI) questionnaire.

Results

Vertical training improved RS in the vertical direction significantly. Only patients with right HFD benefited. Horizontal training improved RS in horizontal diection significantly, but much more in patients with left than in those with right HFD. Both effects remained stable at T3. RS during training at the computer improved highly significantly and correlated strongly with RS of printed text (Pearson r= > 0.9). QoL: Vertical training showed a statistically significant improvement in the complete IVI-score, patients with right HFD in the emotional IVI-score.

Conclusions

The improvements of RS were specific for the training. The stable effect indicates that the patients can apply the newly learned strategies to everyday life. The side of the HFD plays an essential role: Left-HFD patients benefitted from horizontal training, right-HFD patients from vertical training. However, the vertical RS did not reach the level of horizontal RS.

The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials register (DRKS-ID: DRKS00018843).
Auditory selective attention under working memory load
Authors: Bayramova Rena , Toffalini Enrico , Bonato Mario , Grassi Massimo
Published: November 2020

Can cognitive load enhance concentration on task-relevant information and help filter out distractors? Most of the prior research in the area of selective attention has focused on visual attention or cross-modal distraction and has yielded controversial results. Here, we studied whether working memory load can facilitate selective attention when both target and distractor stimuli are auditory. We used a letter n-back task with four levels of working memory load and two levels of distraction: congruent and incongruent distractors. This combination of updating and inhibition tasks allowed us to manipulate working memory load within the selective attention task. Participants sat in front of three loudspeakers and were asked to attend to the letter presented from the central loudspeaker while ignoring that presented from the flanking ones (spoken by a different person), which could be the same letter as the central one (congruent) or a different (incongruent) letter. Their task was to respond whether or not the central letter matched the letter presented n (0, 1, 2, or 3) trials back. Distraction was measured in terms of the difference in reaction time and accuracy on trials with incongruent versus congruent flankers. We found reduced interference from incongruent flankers in 2- and 3-back conditions compared to 0- and 1-back conditions, whereby higher working memory load almost negated the effect of incongruent flankers. These results suggest that high load on verbal working memory can facilitate inhibition of distractors in the auditory domain rather than make it more difficult as sometimes claimed.
The Complex Parameter Landscape of the Compact Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Lengler Johannes , Sudholt Dirk , Witt Carsten
Published: November 2020

The compact Genetic Algorithm (cGA) evolves a probability distribution favoring optimal solutions in the underlying search space by repeatedly sampling from the distribution and updating it according to promising samples. We study the intricate dynamics of the cGA on the test functionOneMax, and how its performance depends on the hypothetical population sizeK, which determines how quickly decisions about promising bit values are fixated in the probabilistic model. It is known that the cGA and the Univariate Marginal Distribution Algorithm (UMDA), a related algorithm whose population size is called $$\lambda$$λ, run in expected time$$O(n \log n)$$O(nlogn)when the population size is just large enough ($$K = \varTheta (\sqrt{n}\log n)$$K=Θ(nlogn)and$$\lambda = \varTheta (\sqrt{n}\log n)$$λ=Θ(nlogn), respectively) to avoid wrong decisions being fixated. The UMDA also shows the same performance in a very different regime ($$\lambda =\varTheta (\log n)$$λ=Θ(logn), equivalent to$$K = \varTheta (\log n)$$K=Θ(logn)in the cGA) with much smaller population size, but for very different reasons: many wrong decisions are fixated initially, but then reverted efficiently. If the population size is even smaller ($$o(\log n)$$o(logn)), the time is exponential. We show that population sizes in between the two optimal regimes are worse as they yield larger runtimes: we prove a lower bound of$$\varOmega (K^{1/3}n + n \log n)$$Ω(K1/3n+nlogn)for the cGA onOneMaxfor$$K = O(\sqrt{n}/\log ^2 n)$$K=O(n/log2n). For$$K = \varOmega (\log ^3 n)$$K=Ω(log3n)the runtime increases with growing Kbefore dropping again to$$O(K\sqrt{n} + n \log n)$$O(Kn+nlogn)for$$K = \varOmega (\sqrt{n} \log n)$$K=Ω(nlogn). This suggests that the expected runtime for the cGA is a bimodal function in Kwith two very different optimal regions and worse performance in between.
Early surgery determines recovery of motor deficits in lumbar disc herniations—a prospective single-center study
Authors: Kögl Nikolaus , Brawanski Konstantin , Girod Pierre-Pascal , Petr Ondra , Thomé Claudius
Published: November 2020

Background

Patients with intervertebral disc herniation undergo surgical removal of herniated disc material in cases of persisting symptoms and/or neurologic deficits. While motor deficits often prompt surgery, little is known about the optimal timing of surgery in these cases. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the impact of timing of disc surgery on motor recovery. Does postponing surgical treatment worsen outcome?

Method

In total, 120 patients with sciatica and/or sensorimotor deficits due to a lumbar disc herniation were surgically treated at the authors’ center within a 3-month period. In 60 patients, motor deficits were present at the time of admission. Motor function was assessed using manual muscle testing and subdivided according to the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. Patient demographics, neurologic deficits, duration of motor deficits, treatment characteristics, and outcome were assessed. At a minimum follow-up of 1 year, functional recovery and complications were collated. Patients were subdivided into groups according to the severity of the paresis (MRC ≤ 3/5 vs. MRC 4/5). Intra-group differences were compared based on the duration of the neurologic deficits.

Results

Patients with moderate and severe paresis (MRC ≤ 3/5) benefit from treatment within 72 h as they were shown to have a significantly higher complete recovery rate at 1-year follow-up (75% vs. 0%; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Immediate surgery should be offered to patients with moderate and severe motor deficits to increase the likelihood of neurologic recovery. This prospective data may have an impact on emergency triage in these patients.
Does a Trawl Ban Benefit Commercially Important Decapoda and Stomatopoda in Hong Kong?
Authors: Tao Lily S. R. , Lui Gilbert C. S. , Wong Kingsley J. H. , Hui Tommy T. Y. , Mak Yanny K. Y. , Sham Ronia C.-t , Yau Jason K. C. , Cheung William W. L. , Leung Kenneth M. Y.
Published: November 2020

Crustaceans were among the most valuable fishery resources in Hong Kong. However, the unrestricted and intensive use of different fishing gears, especially bottom trawling, has led to the depletion of commercially important crustaceans in Hong Kong since the 1980s. This study investigated whether commercial crustaceans recovered after the implementation of a permanent Hong Kong-wide trawl ban that began on December 31, 2012. Standardized field surveys were conducted using a commercial shrimp trawler at two sites in eastern and western waters of Hong Kong before (2004) and after the trawl ban (2013–2014 and 2015–2016) and two sites in southern waters after the trawl ban. Diversity, mean size, abundance, biomass and level of disturbance of commercial crustaceans from the three periods were investigated. The eastern waters exhibited an increased diversity of crustacean assemblages in Inner Tolo, and a higher abundance and biomass of crabs were detected in Outer Tolo after the trawl ban. Reduced disturbance, higher diversity in crustacean assemblages and greater abundance and biomass of predatory crabs were observed after the trawl ban in the outer estuary of western waters, and increased abundance and biomass of shrimp were detected in the inner estuary of western waters. No temporal or negative changes were detected in the southeast and southern waters of Lamma Island. The various responses of crustacean assemblages in Hong Kong waters revealed the critical role of complex interactions among multiple stresses, such as ongoing reclamation works, illegal trawling activities and increased fishing efforts using other (legal) fishing methods.
Do older manual workers benefit in vitality after retirement? Findings from a 3-year follow-up panel study
Authors: Vanajan Anushiya , Bültmann Ute , Henkens Kène
Published: November 2020

Vitality is the feeling of physical and mental aliveness. Vitality benefits individual, organizational and societal well-being. However, we know much less about the dynamics in the levels of vitality and its’ precursors. This study investigates the effects of retirement on vitality and how this effect differs between manual and non-manual workers and by baseline levels of vitality. We used two waves of the NIDI Pension Panel Survey, collected in the Netherlands in 2015 and 2018. Data from 4156 older workers (N = 4156), of whom 1934 (46.5%) retired between waves, were analysed. Vitality is assessed in three ways, as: (1) a composite measure of vitality, and its subcomponents (2) energy and (3) fatigue. Conditional Change OLS Regression models demonstrated that retirement is associated with improved vitality and decreased fatigue. Older workers who retire from manual work at wave 1 experienced the largest gains in vitality and highest declines in fatigue at wave 2, compared to those who remained employed. Retirement was more advantageous for older workers who experienced poor vitality and high fatigue at wave 1. No such effects were found for energy. Older workers in manual work, those experiencing low vitality and high fatigue at wave 1, may benefit most from early retirement. Since opportunities for early retirement are highly restrictive, it is essential to provide these groups of workers with effective work accommodations and interventions that may not only improve their vitality and quality of working life, but also extend their participation in the labour market.
Learning from prices: information aggregation and accumulation in an asset market
Authors: Berardi Michele
Published: November 2020

Can prices convey information about the fundamental value of an asset? This paper considers this problem in relation to the dynamic properties of the fundamental (whether it is constant or time-varying) and the structure of information available to agents. Risk-averse traders receive two potential signals each period: one exogenous and private and the other, prices, endogenous and public. Prices aggregate private information but include aggregate noise. Information can accumulate over time both through endogenous and exogenous signals. With a constant fundamental, the precision of both private and public cumulative information increases over time but agents put progressively more weight on the endogenous signals, asymptotically disregarding private ones. If the fundamental is time-varying, the use of past private signals complicates the role of prices as a source of information, since it introduces endogenous serial correlation in the price signal and cross-correlation between it and innovations in the fundamental. A modified version of the Kalman filter can still be used to extract information from prices and results show that the precision of the endogenous signals converges to a constant, with both private and public information used at all times.
In absence of money: a field experiment on volunteer work motivation
Authors: Mertins Vanessa , Walter Christian
Published: November 2020

Although volunteers are a critical resource for non-profit organizations, little is known about how best to motivate them to work. A non-profit organization asked episodic volunteers to produce handmade greeting cards to sell at a fundraising event. By running a natural field experiment, we study the effect of motivating these volunteers through (a) the opportunity to vote on how the money that was raised would be spent and (b) the prospect of individual performance feedback. We find an economically and statistically significant positive effect of both tools on the quantity of work done, while the quality is mostly unaffected. Moreover, we observe significant gender differences in responsiveness to the treatments. While the prospect for feedback is more motivating to men, women respond more strongly to the opportunity to decide how the money would be spent. Empowerment seems to be a simple way to increase engagement for people with low enjoyment.
A Note on the Spectral Gap of the Fredrickson–Andersen One Spin Facilitated Model
Authors: Shapira Assaf
Published: November 2020

This note discusses the spectral gap of the Fredrickson–Andersen one spin facilitated model in two different settings. The model describes an interacting particle system on a graph, where each site is either occupied or empty; and a site may change its occupation when at least one of its neighbors is empty. We will first consider the model on the infinite lattice$${\mathbb {Z}}^{d}$$Zd, with density close to 1. The second result is on finite graphs, with density that grows with the size of the graph in a way that guaranteesO(1) empty sites. In both models lower and upper bounds on the spectral gap were known, but in general did not match. The purpose of this paper is to present new upper bounds that have the same asymptotics as the known lower bounds.