bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activation of autophagy contributes to the protective effects of lycopene against oxidative stress‐induced apoptosis in rat chondrocytes
Authors: Wu Zhengyuan , Zhang Xiaohan , Li Zhengtian , Wen Zhenpei , Lin Yicai
Published: April 2021

Oxidative stress is commonly associated with osteoarthritis (OA). Lycopene (LYC), a natural carotenoid compound, is an effective antioxidant with potential cartilage‐protecting actions. However, how it affects hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)‐induced damage to the cartilage is unclear. In this study, an in vitro oxidative stress model was developed via treating primary chondrocytes with H2O2. Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative RT‐PCR (qRT‐PCR) were used to assess the levels of related factors. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis levels were analyzed by the use of appropriate probes and flow cytometry. The expression and activity of stress‐specific enzymes (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and catalase) were also assessed. The role of autophagy was explored by using the inhibitor, 3‐methyladenine (3‐MA), as well as monodansylcadaverine staining, western blotting, and red fluorescent protein‐green fluorescent protein‐light chain 3 lentivirus infection. The result showed LYC exerted significant chondrocyte‐protective effects, including reduced inflammation and chondrocyte degradation, increased chondrocyte proliferation, apoptosis inhibition, and reduced ROS production. LYC could effectively induce autophagy in the H2O2 treatment group, and this effect could be attenuated by 3‐MA. In terms of mechanism, LYC played a role in inhibiting MAPK and PI3K/Akt/NF‐κB axis, which down‐regulates levels of mTOR and had a potential therapeutic significance for cartilage degeneration.
Two‐Terminal Perovskite‐Based Tandem Solar Cells for Energy Conversion and Storage
Authors: Li Tian‐Tian , Yang Yuan‐Bo , Li Guo‐Ran , Chen Peng , Gao Xue‐Ping
Published: April 2021

The organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells present a rapid improvement on power conversion efficiency from 3.8% to 25.5% in the past decades. Owing to the tuneable bandgaps, low‐cost, and ease of fabrication, perovskites become ideal candidate materials for fabricating tandem solar cells, especially for efficient and high‐voltage monolithic two‐terminal devices. In this review, an overview of recent advances in various monolithic perovskite‐based tandem solar cells with a focus on the key challenges is provided. Subsequently, the recombination layer materials, construction of wide‐bandgap perovskite layer, stability of narrow‐bandgap, and current matching principle in tandems are highlighted in order to optimize the output voltage and conversion efficiency of tandem solar cells. Finally, the recent progress is summarized with a focus on potential applications of tandem solar cells for energy conversion and storage, including hydrogen production by water splitting, CO2 reduction, supercapacitors, and rechargeable batteries, benefiting from the adjustable output voltage of tandem solar cells. It is hoped that this work can offer a feasible strategy to explore more possibilities for fabricating new two‐terminal tandem solar cells with high voltage and high conversion efficiency for energy conversion and storage.
Printable G‐Putty for Frequency‐ and Rate‐Independent, High‐Performance Strain Sensors
Authors: O'Driscoll Daniel P. , McMahon Sean , Garcia James , Biccai Sonia , Gabbett Cian , Kelly Adam G. , Barwich Sebastian , Moebius Matthias , Boland Conor S. , Coleman Jonathan N.
Published: April 2021

While nanocomposite electromechanical sensors are expected to display reasonable conductivity and high sensitivity, little consideration is given to eliminating hysteresis and strain rate/frequency dependence from their response. For example, while G‐putty, a composite of graphene and polysiloxane, has very high electromechanical sensitivity, its extreme viscoelasticity renders it completely unsuitable for real sensors due to hysteretic and rate‐/frequency‐dependent effects. Here it is shown that G‐putty can be converted to an ink and printed into patterned thin films on elastic substrates. A partial graphene‐polymer phase segregation during printing increases the thin‐film conductivity by ×106 compared to bulk, while the mechanical effects of the substrate largely suppress hysteresis and completely remove strain rate and frequency dependence. This allows the fabrication of practical, high‐gauge‐factor, wearable sensors for pulse measurements as well as patterned sensors for low‐signal vibration sensing.
Nanostructured Carbon Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversions
Authors: Asefa Tewodros , Tang Chaoyun , Ramírez‐Hernández Maricely
Published: April 2021

The growing energy demand worldwide has led to increased use of fossil fuels. This, in turn, is making fossil fuels dwindle faster and cause more negative environmental impacts. Thus, alternative, environmentally friendly energy sources such as fuel cells and electrolyzers are being developed. While significant progress has already been made in this area, such energy systems are still hard to scale up because of their noble metal catalysts. In this concept paper, first, various scalable nanocarbon‐based electrocatalysts that are being synthesized for energy conversions in these energy systems are introduced. Next, notable heteroatom‐doping and nanostructuring strategies that are applied to produce different nanostructured carbon materials with high electrocatalytic activities for energy conversions are discussed. The concepts used to develop such materials with different structures and large density of dopant‐based catalytic functional groups in a sustainable way, and the challenges therein, are emphasized in the discussions. The discussions also include the importance of various analytical, theoretical, and computational methods to probe the relationships between the compositions, structures, dopants, and active catalytic sites in such materials. These studies, coupled with experimental studies, can further guide innovative synthetic routes to efficient nanostructured carbon electrocatalysts for practical, large‐scale energy conversion applications.
Direct Utilization of Photoinduced Charge Carriers to Promote Electrochemical Energy Storage
Authors: Ren Yuanfu , Zhu Ting , Liu Yadong , Liu Quanbing , Yan Qingyu
Published: April 2021

Electrochemical energy storage has been regarded as one of the most promising strategies for next‐generation energy consumption. To meet the increasing demands of urban electric vehicles, development of green and efficient charging technologies by exploitation of solar energy should be considered for outdoor charging in the future. Herein, a light‐sensitive material (copper foam‐supported copper oxide/nickel copper oxides nanosheets arrays, namely CF@CuOx@NiCuOx NAs) with hierarchical nanostructures to promote electrochemical charge storage is specifically fabricated. The as‐fabricated NAs have demonstrated a high areal specific capacity of 1.452 C cm−2 under light irradiation with a light power of 1.76 W, which is 44.8% higher than the capacity obtained without light. Such areal specific capacity (1.452 C cm−2) is much higher than that of the conventional supercapacitor structure using a similar active redox component reported recently (NiO nanosheets array@Co3O4‐NiO FTNs: maximum areal capacity of 623.5 mF cm−2 at 2 mA cm−2). This photo‐enhancement for charge storage can be attributed to the combination of photo‐sensitive Cu2O and pseudo‐active NiO components. Hence, this work may provide new possibilities for direct utilization of sustainable solar energy to realize enhanced capability for energy storage devices.
Nanomedicines for combating multidrug resistance of cancer
Authors: Zhu Ya‐Xuan , Jia Hao‐Ran , Duan Qiu‐Yi , Wu Fu‐Gen
Published: April 2021

Chemotherapy typically involves the use of specific chemodrugs to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells, but the frequent emergence of a variety of multidrug‐resistant cancer cells poses a tremendous threat to our combat against cancer. The fundamental causes of multidrug resistance (MDR) have been studied for decades, and can be generally classified into two types: one is associated with the activation of diverse drug efflux pumps, which are responsible for translocating intracellular drug molecules out of the cells; the other is linked with some non‐efflux pump‐related mechanisms, such as antiapoptotic defense, enhanced DNA repair ability, and powerful antioxidant systems. To overcome MDR, intense efforts have been made to develop synergistic therapeutic strategies by introducing MDR inhibitors or combining chemotherapy with other therapeutic modalities, such as phototherapy, gene therapy, and gas therapy, in the hope that the drug‐resistant cells can be sensitized toward chemotherapeutics. In particular, nanotechnology‐based drug delivery platforms have shown the potential to integrate multiple therapeutic agents into one system. In this review, the focus was on the recent development of nanostrategies aiming to enhance the efficiency of chemotherapy and overcome the MDR of cancer in a synergistic manner. Different combinatorial strategies are introduced in detail and the advantages as well as underlying mechanisms of why these strategies can counteract MDR are discussed. This review is expected to shed new light on the design of advanced nanomedicines from the angle of materials and to deepen our understanding of MDR for the development of more effective anticancer strategies.

This article is categorized under:

Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease
Testing aligned CP-violating Higgs sector at future lepton colliders
Authors: Kanemura Shinya , Kubota Mitsunori , Yagyu Kei
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We discuss the testability of CP-violating phases at future lepton colliders for the scenario which satisfies electric dipole moment data by destructive interferences among several phases. We consider the general but aligned two Higgs doublet model which has the CP-violating phases in the Higgs potential and the Yukawa interaction. The Yukawa interaction terms are aligned to avoid flavor changing neutral currents at tree level. The Higgs potential is also aligned such that the coupling constants of the lightest Higgs boson with the mass of 125 GeV to the Standard Model (SM) particles are the same as those of the SM at tree level. We investigate the azimuthal angle distribution of the hadronic decay of tau leptons arising from production and decay of the extra Higgs bosons, which contains information of the CP-violating phases. From the signal and background simulation, we find that the scenario with finite CP-violating phases can be distinguished from CP conserving one at future lepton colliders like the International Linear Collider.
Holographic entanglement entropy for perturbative higher-curvature gravities
Authors: Bueno Pablo , Camps Joan , López Alejandro Vilar
Published: April 2021

Abstract

The holographic entanglement entropy functional for higher-curvature gravities involves a weighted sum whose evaluation, beyond quadratic order, requires a complicated theory-dependent splitting of the Riemann tensor components. Using the splittings of general relativity one can obtain unambiguous formulas perturbatively valid for general higher-curvature gravities. Within this setup, we perform a novel rewriting of the functional which gets rid of the weighted sum. The formula is particularly neat for general cubic and quartic theories, and we use it to explicitly evaluate the corresponding functionals. In the case of Lovelock theories, we find that the anomaly term can be written in terms of the exponential of a differential operator. We also show that order-n densities involving nR Riemann tensors (combined with n−nR Ricci’s) give rise to terms with up to 2nR− 2 extrinsic curvatures. In particular, densities built from arbitrary Ricci curvatures combined with zero or one Riemann tensors have no anomaly term in their functionals. Finally, we apply our results for cubic gravities to the evaluation of universal terms coming from various symmetric regions in general dimensions. In particular, we show that the universal function characteristic of corner regions in d = 3 gets modified in its functional dependence on the opening angle with respect to the Einstein gravity result.
Fermionic criticality is shaped by Fermi surface topology: a case study of the Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid
Authors: Mukherjee Anirban , Patra Siddhartha , Lal Siddhartha
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We perform a unitary renormalization group (URG) study of the 1D fermionic Hubbard model. The formalism generates a family of effective Hamiltonians and many-body eigenstates arranged holographically across the tensor network from UV to IR. The URG is realized as a quantum circuit, leading to the entanglement holographic mapping (EHM) tensor network description. A topological Θ-term of the projected Hilbert space of the degrees of freedom at the Fermi surface are shown to govern the nature of RG flow towards either the gapless Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid or gapped quantum liquid phases. This results in a nonperturbative version of the Berezenskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) RG phase diagram, revealing a line of intermediate coupling stable fixed points, while the nature of RG flow around the critical point is identical to that obtained from the weak-coupling RG analysis. This coincides with a phase transition in the many-particle entanglement, as the entanglement entropy RG flow shows distinct features for the critical and gapped phases depending on the value of the topological Θ-term. We demonstrate the Ryu-Takyanagi entropy bound for the many-body eigenstates comprising the EHM network, concretizing the relation to the holographic duality principle. The scaling of the entropy bound also distinguishes the gapped and gapless phases, implying the generation of very different holographic spacetimes across the critical point. Finally, we treat the Fermi surface as a quantum impurity coupled to the high energy electronic states. A thought-experiment is devised in order to study entanglement entropy generated by isolating the impurity, and propose ways by which to measure it by studying the quantum noise and higher order cumulants of the full counting statistics.
Towards a complete mass spectrum of type-IIB flux vacua at large complex structure
Authors: Blanco-Pillado Jose J. , Sousa Kepa , Urkiola Mikel A. , Wachter Jeremy M.
Published: April 2021

Abstract

The large number of moduli fields arising in a generic string theory compactification makes a complete computation of the low energy effective theory infeasible. A common strategy to solve this problem is to consider Calabi-Yau manifolds with discrete symmetries, which effectively reduce the number of moduli and make the computation of the truncated Effective Field Theory possible. In this approach, however, the couplings (e.g., the masses) of the truncated fields are left undetermined. In the present paper we discuss the tree-level mass spectrum of type-IIB flux compactifications at Large Complex Structure, focusing on models with a reduced one-dimensional complex structure sector. We compute the tree-level spectrum for the dilaton and complex structure moduli,including the truncated fields, which can be expressed entirely in terms of the known couplings of the reduced theory. We show that the masses of this set of fields are naturally heavy at vacua consistent with the KKLT construction, and we discuss other phenomenologically interesting scenarios where the spectrum involves fields much lighter than the gravitino. We also derive the probability distribution for the masses on the ensemble of flux vacua, and show that it exhibits universal features independent of the details of the compactification. We check our results on a large sample of flux vacua constructed in an orientifold of the Calabi-Yau$$ {\mathbbm{W}\mathrm{\mathbb{P}}}_{\left[1,1,1,1,4\right]}^4 $$Wℙ111144. Finally, we also discuss the conditions under which the spectrum derived here could arise in more general compactifications.
A new approach to probe non-standard interactions in atmospheric neutrino experiments
Authors: Kumar Anil , Khatun Amina , Agarwalla Sanjib Kumar , Dighe Amol
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We propose a new approach to explore the neutral-current non-standard neutrino interactions (NSI) in atmospheric neutrino experiments using oscillation dips and valleys in reconstructed muon observables, at a detector like ICAL that can identify the muon charge. We focus on the flavor-changing NSI parameterεμτ, which has the maximum impact on the muon survival probability in these experiments. We show that non-zeroεμτshifts the oscillation dip locations inL/Edistributions of the up/down event ratios of reconstructedμ−andμ+in opposite directions. We introduce a new variable ∆drepresenting the difference of dip locations inμ−andμ+, which is sensitive to the magnitude as well as the sign ofεμτ, and is independent of the value of$$ \Delta {m}_{32}^2 $$Δm322. We further note that the oscillation valley in the (E, cosθ) plane of the reconstructed muon observables bends in the presence of NSI, its curvature having opposite signs forμ−andμ+. We demonstrate the identification of NSI with this curvature, which is feasible for detectors like ICAL having excellent muon energy and direction resolutions. We illustrate how the measurement of contrast in the curvatures of valleys inμ−andμ+can be used to estimateεμτ. Using these proposed oscillation dip and valley measurements, the achievable precision on|εμτ|at 90% C.L. is about 2% with 500 kt·yr exposure. The effects of statistical fluctuations, systematic errors, and uncertainties in oscillation parameters have been incorporated using multiple sets of simulated data. Our method would provide a direct and robust measurement ofεμτin the multi-GeV energy range.
Superselection of the weak hypercharge and the algebra of the Standard Model
Authors: Todorov Ivan
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Restricting the ℤ2-graded tensor product of Clifford algebras $$ C{\mathrm{\ell}}_4\hat{\otimes}C{\mathrm{\ell}}_6 $$
C

ℓ
4

⊗
̂

C

ℓ
6

to the particle subspace allows a natural definition of the Higgs field Φ, the scalar part of Quillen’s superconnection, as an element of $$ C{\mathrm{\ell}}_4^1 $$
C

ℓ
4
1

. We emphasize the role of the exactly conserved weak hypercharge Y, promoted here to a superselection rule for both observables and gauge transformations. This yields a change of the definition of the particle subspace adopted in recent work with Michel Dubois-Violette [13]; here we exclude the zero eigensubspace of Y consisting of the sterile (anti)neutrinos which are allowed to mix. One thus modifies the Lie superalgebra generated by the Higgs field. Equating the normalizations of Φ in the lepton and the quark subalgebras we obtain a relation between the masses of the W boson and the Higgs that fits the experimental values within one percent accuracy.
Metastable strings and dumbbells in supersymmetric hybrid inflation
Authors: Buchmüller Wilfried
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We study symmetry breaking and topological defects in a supersymmetric model with gauge group U(2), which can be identified with the right-handed part SU(2)R× U(1)B−L of an extended electroweak symmetry of the Standard Model. The model has two phases of hybrid inflation terminated by tachyonic preheating where either monopoles and strings or, alternatively, dumbbells are formed. In the first case a stochastic gravitational wave background is predicted in the LIGO-Virgo band, possibly extending to the LISA frequency band and to nanohertz frequencies, which is generated by a metastable cosmic string network. In the second case no topological defects survive inflation and no stochastic gravitational wave background is produced.
Robotification & ethical cleansing
Authors: Nørskov Marco
Published: April 2021

Robotics is currently not only a cutting-edge research area, but is potentially disruptive to all domains of our lives—for better and worse. While legislation is struggling to keep pace with the development of these new artifacts, our intellectual limitations and physical laws seem to present the only hard demarcation lines, when it comes to state-of-the-art R&D. To better understand the possible implications, the paper at hand critically investigates underlying processes and structures of robotics in the context of Heidegger’s and Nishitani’s accounts of science and technology. Furthermore, the analysis draws on Bauman’s theory of modernity in an attempt to assess the potential risk of large-scale robot integration. The paper will highlight undergirding mechanisms and severe challenges imposed upon our socio-cultural lifeworlds by massive robotic integration. Admittedly, presenting a mainly melancholic account, it will, however, also explore the possibility of robotics forcing us to reassess our position and to solve problems, which we seem unable to tackle without facing existential crises.
A year in pharmacology: new drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2020
Authors: Kayki-Mutlu Gizem , Michel Martin C.
Published: April 2021

While the COVID-19 pandemic also affected the work of regulatory authorities, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a total of 53 new drugs in 2020, one of the highest numbers in the past decades. Most newly approved drugs related to oncology (34%) and neurology (15%). We discuss these new drugs by level of innovation they provide, i.e., first to treat a condition, first using a novel mechanisms of action, and “others.” Six drugs were first in indication, 15 first using a novel mechanism of action, and 32 other. This includes many drugs for the treatment of orphan indications and some for the treatment of tropical diseases previously neglected for commercial reasons. Small molecules continue to dominate new drug approvals, followed by antibodies. Of note, newly approved drugs also included small-interfering RNAs and antisense oligonucleotides. These data show that the trend for declines in drug discovery and development has clearly been broken.
Manifolds with Many Rarita–Schwinger Fields
Authors: Bär Christian , Mazzeo Rafe
Published: April 2021

The Rarita–Schwinger operator is the twisted Dirac operator restricted to $$\nicefrac 32$$

3
2

-spinors. Rarita–Schwinger fields are solutions of this operator which are in addition divergence-free. This is an overdetermined problem and solutions are rare; it is even more unexpected for there to be large dimensional spaces of solutions. In this paper we prove the existence of a sequence of compact manifolds in any given dimension greater than or equal to 4 for which the dimension of the space of Rarita–Schwinger fields tends to infinity. These manifolds are either simply connected Kähler–Einstein spin with negative Einstein constant, or products of such spaces with flat tori. Moreover, we construct Calabi–Yau manifolds of even complex dimension with more linearly independent Rarita–Schwinger fields than flat tori of the same dimension.
Impact of Regular Physical Activity on Aortic Diameter Progression in Paediatric Patients with Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Authors: Monda Emanuele , Fusco Adelaide , Della Corte Alessandro , Caiazza Martina , Cirillo Annapaola , Gragnano Felice , Giugliano Maria Pina , Citro Rodolfo , Rubino Marta , Esposito Augusto , Cesaro Arturo , Di Fraia Francesco , Palmiero Giuseppe , Di Maio Marco , Monda Marcellino , Calabrò Paolo , Frisso Giulia , Nistri Stefano ,   Bicuspid Aortic Valve Consortium (BAVCon), Bossone Eduardo , Body Simon C. , Russo Maria Giovanna , Limongelli Giuseppe
Published: April 2021

Patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) have an increased risk of aortic dilation and aortic dissection or rupture. The impact of physical training on the natural course of aortopathy in BAV patients remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of regular physical activity on aortic diameters in a consecutive cohort of paediatric patients with BAV. Consecutive paediatric BAV patients were evaluated and categorized into two groups: physically active and sedentary subjects. Only the subjects with a complete 2-year follow-up were included in the study. To evaluate the potential impact of physical activity on aortic size, aortic diameters were measured at the sinus of Valsalva and mid-ascending aorta using echocardiography. We defined aortic diameter progression the increase of aortic diameter ≥ 10% from baseline. Among 90 BAV patients (11.5 ± 3.4 years of age, 77% males), 53 (59%) were physically active subjects. Compared to sedentary, physically active subjects were not significantly more likely to have > 10% increase in sinus of Valsalva (13% vs. 8%, p-value = 0.45) or mid-ascending aorta diameter (9% vs. 13%, p-value = 0.55) at 2 years follow-up, both in subjects with sinus of Valsalva diameter progression (3.7 ± 1.0 mm vs. 3.5 ± 0.8 mm, p-value = 0.67) and in those with ascending aorta diameter progression (3.0 ± 0.8 mm vs. 3.2 ± 1.3 mm, p-value = 0.83). In our paediatric cohort of BAV patients, the prevalence and the degree of aortic diameter progression was not significantly different between physically active and sedentary subjects, suggesting that aortic dilation is unrelated to regular physical activity over a 2-year period.
Radiologists in the loop: the roles of radiologists in the development of AI applications
Authors: Scheek Damian , Rezazade Mehrizi Mohammad. H. , Ranschaert Erik
Published: April 2021

Objectives

To examine the various roles of radiologists in different steps of developing artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

Materials and methods

Through the case study of eight companies active in developing AI applications for radiology, in different regions (Europe, Asia, and North America), we conducted 17 semi-structured interviews and collected data from documents. Based on systematic thematic analysis, we identified various roles of radiologists. We describe how each role happens across the companies and what factors impact how and when these roles emerge.

Results

We identified 9 roles that radiologists play in different steps of developing AI applications: (1) problem finder (in 4 companies); (2) problem shaper (in 3 companies); (3) problem dominator (in 1 company); (4) data researcher (in 2 companies); (5) data labeler (in 3 companies); (6) data quality controller (in 2 companies); (7) algorithm shaper (in 3 companies); (8) algorithm tester (in 6 companies); and (9) AI researcher (in 1 company).

Conclusions

Radiologists can play a wide range of roles in the development of AI applications. How actively they are engaged and the way they are interacting with the development teams significantly vary across the cases. Radiologists need to become proactive in engaging in the development process and embrace new roles.

Key Points

• Radiologists can play a wide range of roles during the development of AI applications.

• Both radiologists and developers need to be open to new roles and ways of interacting during the development process.

• The availability of resources, time, expertise, and trust are key factors that impact how actively radiologists play roles in the development process.
Systematic review of research design and reporting of imaging studies applying convolutional neural networks for radiological cancer diagnosis
Authors: O’Shea Robert J. , Sharkey Amy Rose , Cook Gary J. R. , Goh Vicky
Published: April 2021

Objectives

To perform a systematic review of design and reporting of imaging studies applying convolutional neural network models for radiological cancer diagnosis.

Methods

A comprehensive search of PUBMED, EMBASE, MEDLINE and SCOPUS was performed for published studies applying convolutional neural network models to radiological cancer diagnosis from January 1, 2016, to August 1, 2020. Two independent reviewers measured compliance with the Checklist for Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging (CLAIM). Compliance was defined as the proportion of applicable CLAIM items satisfied.

Results

One hundred eighty-six of 655 screened studies were included. Many studies did not meet the criteria for current design and reporting guidelines. Twenty-seven percent of studies documented eligibility criteria for their data (50/186, 95% CI 21–34%), 31% reported demographics for their study population (58/186, 95% CI 25–39%) and 49% of studies assessed model performance on test data partitions (91/186, 95% CI 42–57%). Median CLAIM compliance was 0.40 (IQR 0.33–0.49). Compliance correlated positively with publication year (ρ = 0.15, p = .04) and journal H-index (ρ = 0.27, p < .001). Clinical journals demonstrated higher mean compliance than technical journals (0.44 vs. 0.37, p < .001).

Conclusions

Our findings highlight opportunities for improved design and reporting of convolutional neural network research for radiological cancer diagnosis.

Key Points

• Imaging studies applying convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for cancer diagnosis frequently omit key clinical information including eligibility criteria and population demographics.

• Fewer than half of imaging studies assessed model performance on explicitly unobserved test data partitions.

• Design and reporting standards have improved in CNN research for radiological cancer diagnosis, though many opportunities remain for further progress.
Quantity, quality, equality: introducing a new measure of social welfare
Authors: Enflo Karin
Published: April 2021

In this essay I propose a new measure of social welfare. It captures the intuitive idea thatquantity,quality, andequalityof individual welfare all matter for social welfare. More precisely, it satisfies six conditions:Equivalence,Dominance,Quality,Strict Monotonicity,EqualityandAsymmetry. These state that (i) populations equivalent in individual welfare are equal in social welfare; (ii) a population that dominates another in individual welfare is better; (iii) a population that has a higher average welfare than another population is better, other things being equal; (iv) the addition of a well-faring individual makes a population better, whereas the addition of an ill-faring individual makes a population worse; (v) a population that has a higher degree of equality than another population is better, other things being equal; and (vi) individual illfare matters more for social welfare than individual welfare. By satisfying the six conditions, the measure improves on previously proposed measures, such as the utilitarianTotalandAveragemeasures, as well as different kinds ofPrioritarianmeasures.
Promoting intercultural competence in study abroad students
Authors: Tarchi Christian , Surian Alessio
Published: April 2021

Universities have been promoting study abroad programmes for a long time to improve intercultural competence. However, the mere exposure to cultural differences while studying abroad does not ensure intercultural competence, unless study abroad students’ reflective processes are explicitly targeted. The article presents the results of a short intervention grounded in the problem-based approach aimed at improving intercultural competence in study abroad students. Students were assigned to three conditions: a video-log condition (in which they have to narrate a critical incident occurred to them), a reflection-induced video-logs (in which they were prompted to reflect on the video-logs produced), and an active control condition. The reflection-induced video-log intervention improved students’ perceived proficiency in Italian and perceived opportunities for cultural reflection, but it did not contribute to improve students’ applicable and conceptual knowledge of intercultural competence.
Functional diversity changes in native and alien urban flora over three centuries
Authors: Milanović Marija , Kühn Ingolf , Pyšek Petr , Knapp Sonja
Published: April 2021

Alien species in urban areas have a large effect on overall species diversity. A suitable metric of flora’s response to environmental change is functional diversity (FD) that refers to the multivariate space of species’ trait compositions, reflecting their ecological niches. We studied how FD changed over 320 years of urbanization in the city of Halle (Saale), Germany. Selected functional traits (related to stress-tolerance, reproduction, competitiveness and phenology) were examined for the difference in FD between native and alien plant species, the latter specifically for archaeophytes, neophytes and invasive species. Functional diversity for each trait was calculated using Rao’s Q index followed by a linear model to test for changes in Rao’s Q over time between the groups. Over the 320 years, overall FD remained constant despite species turnover, but FD significantly increased for neophytes and invasive species compared to native species. Plant height was the only trait showing increase in FD as main effect, while for the other traits examined FD decreased over time. Considering invasive species separately, the majority of traits exhibit a significant increase in FD except for seed mass where it decreased. Finally, FD of multiple functional traits combined decreased over time. This can be due to homogenization of functional trait between native and alien species, as a consequence of habitats becoming more similar and subsequent habitat filtering. Our results demonstrate that during the last three centuries, urbanization influenced plant FD in various ways and may contribute to future uniformity of urban floras and greater invasiveness.
Intergroup Competition Mitigates Effects of Reward Structure on Preference-Consistency Bias and Group Decision Failure
Authors: De Dreu Carsten K. W. , de Wilde Tim R. W. , Ten Velden Femke S.
Published: April 2021

Group discussion often becomes one-sided and confirmatory, with poor decisions as the unfortunate outcome. Here we examine whether intergroup competition amplifies or mitigates effects of individual versus team reward on information sharing biases and group decision quality. Individuals (N = 309) in 103 interacting groups were given private information on four decision alternatives and discussed a joint decision. Private information was distributed such that groups faced a “hidden profile” in which pushing for initial preferences and commonly held information prohibits the group from finding the best alternative. Group members were rewarded for team or individual performance, and groups faced intergroup competition or not. Whereas intergroup competition did not influence common-information bias, we find that when intergroup competition is absent, groups under individual (versus team) reward have stronger preference-consistency bias and make poorer decisions. When intergroup competition is present, however, groups under individual reward perform as good as groups under team reward. Results resonate with the possibility that intergroup competition overshadows within-group rivalry, and can promote even-handed discussions within small groups of decision-makers.
Compromised Function of the Pancreatic Transcription Factor PDX1 in a Lineage of Desert Rodents
Authors: Dai Yichen , Trigueros Sonia , Holland Peter W. H.
Published: April 2021

Gerbils are a subfamily of rodents living in arid regions of Asia and Africa. Recent studies have shown that several gerbil species have unusual amino acid changes in the PDX1 protein, a homeodomain transcription factor essential for pancreatic development and β-cell function. These changes were linked to strong GC-bias in the genome that may be caused by GC-biased gene conversion, and it has been hypothesized that this caused accumulation of deleterious changes. Here we use two approaches to examine if the unusual changes are adaptive or deleterious. First, we compare PDX1 protein sequences between 38 rodents to test for association with habitat. We show the PDX1 homeodomain is almost totally conserved in rodents, apart from gerbils, regardless of habitat. Second, we use ectopic gene overexpression and gene editing in cell culture to compare functional properties of PDX1 proteins. We show that the divergent gerbil PDX1 protein inefficiently binds an insulin gene promoter and ineffectively regulates insulin expression in response to high glucose in rat cells. The protein has, however, retained the ability to regulate some other β-cell genes. We suggest that during the evolution of gerbils, the selection-blind process of biased gene conversion pushed fixation of mutations adversely affecting function of a normally conserved homeodomain protein. We argue these changes were not entirely adaptive and may be associated with metabolic disorders in gerbil species on high carbohydrate diets. This unusual pattern of molecular evolution could have had a constraining effect on habitat and diet choice in the gerbil lineage.
The Aporia of EU Citizenship
Authors: Lashyn Serhii
Published: April 2021

EU citizenship finds itself in but a deadlock. Certainly no longer being just a symbol of European integration but still far away from a meaningful status of its holders, Union citizenship fails to find its place in the legal landscape of the EU. Having sketched out the current state of EU citizenship and some of its outstanding problems, this article suggests to analyse Union citizenship anew and free from the constraints of legal methodology. In order to do that, this piece employs the works of Jacques Derrida and, on the background of his views on Europe, deconstructs EU citizenship unravelling its aporia.
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits the growth of three-dimensional in vitro models of neuroblastoma cell SH-SY5Y
Authors: Wan Xiao , Wang Wenbo , Liang Zhu
Published: April 2021

The aim of the study is to investigate the potential of using three-dimensional (3D) in vitro neuroblastoma models to mimic the neuroblastoma microenvironment by testing a potential therapeutic compound—the natural extract epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), and to further elucidate the roles of DYRK1A in the growth and differentiation of neuroblastoma tissue. In vitro models based on a classic neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y were employed, including 3D models with extracellular matrix and co-cultured with vascular endothelial cells. Cell viability was tested using AlamarBlue and Resazurin assay. The growth and differentiation of in vitro models of SH-SY5Y were analysed based on microscopy images obtained from immunofluorescence or real-time imaging. Protein expression level was investigated using immunoblotting analysis. The two-dimensional (2D) in vitro model implies the cytotoxicity and DYRK1A inhibition effect of EGCG and shows the induction of neuronal differentiation marker TuJ1. 3D in vitro models suggest that EGCG treatment compromised the growth of SH-SY5Y multicellular 3D spheroids and the viability of SH-SY5Y cultured in 3D Matrigel matrix. In addition, co-culture of SH-SY5Y with human vascular umbilical vein endothelial cells implied the inhibitory effects by EGCG in a vascularised microenvironment. In this study, novel 3D in vitro models of neuroblastoma were established in the application of testing a potential anti-cancer candidate compound EGCG. In pursuit of the goals of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement), the usage of these 3D in vitro models has the potential to reduce and eventually replace current animal models used in neuroblastoma research. The DYRK1A inhibiting nature of EGCG, together with the facts that EGCG inhibits the growth and induces the differentiation of neuroblastoma in vitro models, suggests an oncogene role of DRYK1A.
A two-study validation of a single-item measure of relationship satisfaction: RAS-1
Authors: Fülöp Flóra , Bőthe Beáta , Gál Éva , Cachia Julie Youko Anne , Demetrovics Zsolt , Orosz Gábor
Published: April 2021

Research addressing relationship satisfaction is a constantly growing area in the social sciences. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the similarities and differences between the seven-item Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS) and the single-item measure of relationship satisfaction (RAS-1), using proximal and distal constructs as correlates. Two studies using two independent samples were conducted, assessing more proximal constructs, such as love and sex mindset in Study 1 (N = 380; female = 195) and more distant ones, such as loneliness and problematic pornography use in Study 2 (N = 703; female = 360). Structural equation modeling revealed that love (βRAS-1 = .55; p < .01; βRAS = .71; p < .01), sex mindset beliefs (βRAS-1 = .18; p < .01; βRAS = .13; p < .01) and loneliness (βRAS-1 = −.35; p < .01; βRAS = −.37; p < .01) had significant positive and negative associations with RAS and RAS-1, respectively; while problematic pornography use did not. These results suggest that RAS-1 may be an equally adequate instrument for measuring relationship satisfaction as the RAS with respect to proximal and distal correlates. Thus, RAS-1 is recommended to be used in large-scale studies when the number of items is limited.
Impact of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors in hospitalised COVID-19 patients
Authors: Jewbali L. S. D. , Hoogervorst-Schilp J. , Belfroid E. , Jansen C. W. , Asselbergs F. W. , Siebelink H. J.
Published: April 2021

Background

Hospitalised COVID-19 patients with underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cardiovascular risk factors appear to be at risk of poor outcome. It is unknown if these patients should be considered a vulnerable group in healthcare delivery and healthcare recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed to answer the following question: In which hospitalised patients with proven COVID-19 and with underlying CVD and cardiovascular risk factors should doctors be alert to a poor outcome? Relevant outcome measures were mortality and intensive care unit admission. Medline and Embase databases were searched using relevant search terms until 9 June 2020. After systematic analysis, 8 studies were included.

Results

Based on the literature search, there was insufficient evidence that CVD and cardiovascular risk factors are significant predictors of mortality and poor outcome in hospitalised patients with COVID-19. Due to differences in methodology, the level of evidence of all studies was graded ‘very low’ according to the Grading Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology. It is expected that in the near future, two multinational and multicentre European registries (CAPACITY-COVID and LEOSS) will offer more insight into outcome in COVID-19 patients.

Conclusion

This literature review demonstrated there was insufficient evidence to identify CVD and cardiovascular risk factors as important predictors of poor outcome in hospitalised COVID-19 patients. However, patients with CVD and cardiovascular risk factors remain vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks. As such, governmental and public health COVID-19 recommendations for vulnerable groups apply to these patients.
Mixed Chromate and Molybdate Additives for Cathodic Enhancement in the Chlorate Process
Authors: Smulders Vera , Gomes Adriano S. O. , Simic Nina , Mei Bastian , Mul Guido
Published: April 2021

The economic viability of the electrochemical chlorate process depends on toxic chromate to induce cathodic selectivity to hydrogen and mitigate reduction of hypochlorite or chlorate. In this study, it is shown that performance of a pilot plant for chlorate production can be sustained when a 1000-fold reduction in chromate concentration is compensated by addition of molybdate. Laboratory measurements employing a Quartz Crystal Microbalance suggest growth of a nanometre-thick hybrid Mo–Cr-oxide film to induce cathodic selectivity. An optimized energy efficiency for pilot plant operation was obtained using 0.8 mM molybdate and 27 μM chromate, balancing formation of an effective oxide layer and undesired Mo-induced decomposition of hypochlorite to oxygen in solution. Refinement at the pilot scale level is expected to further optimize the energy consumption, thereby increasing safety aspects and the economic viability of chlorate production.

Graphical Abstract
Robotic hepatectomy and biliary reconstruction for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: a pioneer western case series
Authors: Cillo Umberto , D’Amico Francesco Enrico , Furlanetto Alessandro , Perin Luca , Gringeri Enrico
Published: April 2021

Open surgery is the standard of care for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA). With the aim of oncologic radicality, it requires a complex major hepatectomy with biliary reconstruction. The postoperative course is consequently often complicated, with severe morbidity and mortality rates of up to 27.5–54% and 18%, respectively. Robotic liver surgery is emerging as a safe, minimally-invasive technique with huge potential for pCCA management. After the first case described by Giulianotti in 2010, here we present the first western series of robot-assisted liver resections with biliary reconstruction for pCCA with the aim to preliminarily assess the feasibility and repeatability of the procedure. At our high-volume teaching hospital center dedicated to HPB surgery, 128 pCCA patients have been surgically treated in the last 15 years whereas more than 800 laparoscopic liver resections have been performed. Since the Da Vinci Xi Robotic platform was introduced in late 2018, 6 major robotic liver resections with biliary reconstruction have been performed, 4 of which were for pCCA. All 4 cases involved a left hepatectomy with caudate lobectomy. The median operating time was 840 min, with a median blood loss of 700 ml. One case was converted to open surgery during the reconstruction due to a short mesentery preventing the hepatico-jejunostomy. None of the patients experienced major complications, while minor complications occurred in 3 out of 4 cases. One biliary leak was managed conservatively. The median postoperative stay was 9 days. Negative biliary margins were achieved in 3 of the 4 cases. An included video clip shows the most relevant technical details. This preliminary series demonstrates that robot-assisted liver resection for pCCA is feasible. We speculate that the da Vinci platform has a relevant potential in pCCA surgery with particular reference to the multi-duct biliary reconstruction. Further studies are needed to better clarify the role of this high-cost technology in the minimally-invasive treatment of pCCA.
Flexibility analysis and design of heat exchanger network for syngas-to-methanol process
Authors: Liu Jinchang , Zhang Pingping , Xie Qiang , Liang Dingcheng , Bai Lei
Published: April 2021

The heat exchanger network (HEN) in a syngas-to-methanol process was designed and optimized based on pinch technology under stable operating conditions to balance the energy consumption and economic gain. In actual industrial processes, fluctuations in production inevitably affect the stable operation of HENs. A flexibility analysis of the HEN was carried out to minimize such disturbances using the downstream paths method. The results show that two-third of the downstream paths cannot meet flexibility requirements, indicating that the HEN does not have enough flexibility to accommodate the disturbances in actual production. A flexible HEN was then designed with the method of dividing and subsequent merging of streams, which led to 13.89% and 20.82% reductions in energy consumption and total cost, respectively. Owing to the sufficient area margin and additional alternative heat exchangers, the flexible HEN was able to resist interference and maintain production stability and safety, with the total cost increasing by just 4.08%.