bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Free SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein S1 Particles May Play a Role in the Pathogenesis of COVID-19 Infection
Authors: Letarov Andrey V. , Babenko Vladislav V. , Kulikov Eugene E. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The imbalance of the renin-angiotensin system is currently considered as a potentially important factor of the pathogenesis of COVID-19 disease. It has been shown previously in the murine model, that the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the cell surface is downregulated in response to the infection by SARS-CoV virus or recombinant spike protein (S protein) alone. In the case of natural infection, circulation of the S protein in a soluble form is unlikely. However, in SARS-CoV-2, a large fraction of S protein trimers is pre-processed during virion morphogenesis due to the presence of furin protease cleavage site between the S1 and S2 subunits. Therefore, S protein transition into the fusion conformation may be accompanied by the separation of the S1 subunits carrying the receptor-binding domains from the membrane-bound S2 subunits. The fate of the S1 particles shed due to the spontaneous “firing” of some S protein trimers exposed on the virions and on the surface of infected cells has been never investigated. We hypothesize that the soluble S1 subunits of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein shed from the infected cells and from the virions in vivo may bind to the ACE2 and downregulate cell surface expression of this protein. The decrease in the ACE2 activity on the background of constant or increased ACE activity in the lungs may lead to the prevalence of angiotensin II effects over those of angiotensin (1-7), thus promoting thrombosis, inflammation, and pulmonary damage. This hypothesis also suggests the association between less pronounced shedding of the S1 particles reported for the S protein carrying the D614G mutation (vs. the wild type D614 protein), and lack of increased severity of the COVID-19 infection caused by the mutant (D614G) SARS-CoV-2 strain, despite its higher infectivity and higher in vivo viral load.
Effectiveness, safety and acceptability of medical abortion at home versus in the clinic: a systematic review and meta-analysis in response to COVID-19
Authors: Gambir Katherine , Garnsey Camille , Necastro Kelly Ann , Ngo Thoai D 
Published: December 2020

BackgroundIncreased access to home-based medical abortion may offer women a convenient, safe and effective abortion method, reduce burdens on healthcare systems and support social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Home-based medical abortion is defined as any abortion where mifepristone, misoprostol or both medications are taken at home.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised studies (NRSs) were conducted. We searched databases from inception to 10 July 2019 and 14 June 2020. Successful abortion was the main outcome of interest. Eligible studies were RCTs and NRSs studies with a concurrent comparison group comparing home versus clinic-based medical abortion. Risk ratios (RRs) and their 95% CIs were calculated. Estimates were calculated using a random-effects model. We used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach to assess risk of bias by outcome and to evaluate the overall quality of the evidence.ResultsWe identified 6277 potentially eligible published studies. Nineteen studies (3 RCTs and 16 NRSs) were included with 11 576 women seeking abortion up to 9 weeks gestation. Neither the RCTs nor the NRS found any difference between home-based and clinic-based administration of medical abortion in having a successful abortion (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.01, I2=0%; RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.01, I2=52%, respectively). The certainty of the evidence for the 16 NRSs was downgraded from low to very low due to high risk of bias and publication bias. The certainty of the evidence for the three RCTs was downgraded from high to moderate by one level for high risk of bias.ConclusionHome-based medical abortion is effective, safe and acceptable to women. This evidence should be used to expand women’s abortion options and ensure access to abortion for women during COVID-19 and beyond.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020183171.
Main results of the DAMPE space detector after 4 years in orbit
Authors: Fusco Piergiorgio 
Published: December 2020

The DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) is a high-performance space particle detector launched in orbit in 2015 by a collaboration of Chinese, Italian and Swiss scientific institutions, coordinated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It consists of a high-resolution segmented BGO electromagnetic calorimeter with a depth of 32 radiation lengths, a silicon-tungsten tracker-converter with an angular resolution below [Formula: see text], an anti-coincidence shield and ion detector, and a neutron detector. The detector characteristics and performance, and the latest observations of cosmic electrons up to 5 TeV, protons and nuclei up to 100 TeV and gamma-rays up to 10 TeV are presented.
Efficient Nearest-Neighbor Data Sharing in GPUs
Authors: Nematollahi Negin , Sadrosadati Mohammad , Falahati Hajar , Barkhordar Marzieh , Drumond Mario Paulo , Sarbazi-Azad Hamid , Falsafi Babak 
Published: December 2020

Stencil codes (a.k.a. nearest-neighbor computations) are widely used in image processing, machine learning, and scientific applications. Stencil codes incur nearest-neighbor data exchange because the value of each point in the structured grid is calculated as a function of its value and the values of a subset of its nearest-neighbor points. When running on Graphics Processing Unit (GPUs), stencil codes exhibit a high degree of data sharing between nearest-neighbor threads. Sharing is typically implemented through shared memories, shuffle instructions, and on-chip caches and often incurs performance overheads due to the redundancy in memory accesses.
In this article, we propose Neighbor Data (NeDa), a direct nearest-neighbor data sharing mechanism that uses two registers embedded in each streaming processor (SP) that can be accessed by nearest-neighbor SP cores. The registers are compiler-allocated and serve as a data exchange mechanism to eliminate nearest-neighbor shared accesses. NeDa is embedded carefully with local wires between SP cores so as to minimize the impact on density. We place and route NeDa in an open-source GPU and show a small area overhead of 1.3%. The cycle-accurate simulation indicates an average performance improvement of 21.8% and power reduction of up to 18.3% for stencil codes in General-Purpose Graphics Processing Unit (GPGPU) standard benchmark suites. We show that NeDa’s performance is within 13.2% of an ideal GPU with no overhead for nearest-neighbor data exchange.
The Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase USP18 Promotes Lipolysis, Fatty Acid Oxidation, and Lung Cancer Growth
Authors: Liu Xi , Lu Yun , Chen Zibo , Liu Xiuxia , Hu Weiguo , Zheng Lin , Chen Yulong , Kurie Jonathan M. , Shi Mi , Mustachio Lisa Maria , Adresson Thorkell , Fox Stephen , Roszik Jason , Kawakami Masanori , Freemantle Sarah J. , Dmitrovsky Ethan 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Ubiquitin specific peptidase 18 (USP18), previously known as UBP43, is the IFN-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) deconjugase. USP18 removes ISG15 from substrate proteins. This study reports that USP18-null mice (vs. wild-type mice) exhibited lower lipolysis rates, altered fat to body weight ratios, and cold sensitivity. USP18 is a regulator of lipid and fatty acid metabolism. Prior work established that USP18 promotes lung tumorigenesis. We sought to learn whether this occurs through altered lipid and fatty acid metabolism. Loss of USP18 repressed adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) expression; gain of USP18 expression upregulated ATGL in lung cancer cells. The E1-like ubiquitin activating enzyme promoted ISG15 conjugation of ATGL and destabilization. Immunoprecipitation assays confirmed that ISG15 covalently conjugates to ATGL. Protein expression of thermogenic regulators was examined in brown fat of USP18-null versus wild-type mice. Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) was repressed in USP18-null fat. Gain of USP18 expression augmented UCP1 protein via reduced ubiquitination. Gain of UCP1 expression in lung cancer cell lines enhanced cellular proliferation. UCP1 knockdown inhibited proliferation. Beta-hydroxybutyrate colorimetric assays performed after gain of UCP1 expression revealed increased cellular fatty acid beta-oxidation, augmenting fatty acid beta-oxidation in Seahorse assays. Combined USP18, ATGL, and UCP1 profiles were interrogated in The Cancer Genome Atlas. Intriguingly, lung cancers with increased USP18, ATGL, and UCP1 expression had an unfavorable survival. These findings reveal that USP18 is a pharmacologic target that controls fatty acid metabolism.

Implications:
USP18 is an antineoplastic target that affects lung cancer fatty acid metabolism.
Flagging Profitability and the Oil Frontier
Authors: McCormack Geoffrey , Gordon Todd 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Canadian capitalism has entered a period of intensified volatility. Rooted in persistent profitability problems, it is facing several challenges, including economic stagnation, a household-debt driven real-estate and construction boom, and an increasingly fragile financial system. Drawing on a classical Marxist framework of capitalist crisis, this article explores the dynamics of instability in Canada and the response of the capitalist state, which centres on increased efforts to export oil and gas to China, thereby deepening conflict with Indigenous land defenders, and a redoubling of the assault on workers to increase the rate of exploitation.
“Page after Page I Thought, That’s the Way It Is”
Authors: de Koning Martijn , Sunier Thijl 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
In this ‘Current Debate’ article, we discuss the entanglement of academic discourse and public debates on Islam and Muslims in the Netherlands. Academic output is a crucial but complex constituent of that debate. Many academics write policy reports, or take part in the debate through the media, and, whether they like it or not, their regular work is often co-opted by one of the discursive communities that take part in the debate. Research on Islam and Muslims is thus entangled with predominating knowledge regimes and policy priorities. We discuss several Dutch publications of the last three decades, and three recent books in particular, in order to show this entanglement.
Putting the Pearls of Wisdom in Order: The Unique Necklace by Ibn ʿAbdrabbih
Authors: Toral Isabel 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
This study discusses the form and function of the chapter list that we find in the preface of the adab compilation al-ʿIqd al-farīd by Ibn ʿAbdrabbih (246-328/860-940), and that sometimes appears in manuscripts with the layout of a table of contents. It suggests that this evidence shows that the list represents a transitional stage in the history of the table of contents in the Arabic book — the transition being that from a tool for exposition of the content towards a tool for navigation of that content — and that it reflects a change in reading practices.
Order in the House: Epilogue
Authors: van Berkel Maaike 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The contributions to this Special Issue of the Journal of Abbasid Studies show that the later third/ninth to the early fifth/eleventh century witnessed the output of a variety of voluminous books, not only in the Arabic-Islamic tradition, but in chronologically parallel cultures as well. For an overall understanding of the writerly culture of the era, further exploration of the organisation of information and the development of tools to locate data is called for. My epilogue offers a step in this direction against the backdrop of fourth/tenth-century caliphal administration and the organisation of archives on the one hand, and a comparison with the later and much more studied Mamluk writerly culture on the other.
Designing Frameworks for Authentic Equity in Science Teaching and Learning: Informal Learning Environments and Teacher Education for STEM
Authors: Adams Jennifer D. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
In order to advance authentic equity in science education, it is salient to have frameworks that allow educators and researchers to design learning environments, activities, and research agendas that centers students’ strengths in order for them to achieve full participation in science. As such it is important to consider the social identities of science education stakeholders—teachers and students—in teacher education. However, as identity is complex, it requires research approaches that elucidate not only the nuances of teacher identity but also the complexities of science teaching and learning environments. This article describes a collaborative research project that aimed to unpack the relationship between teacher identity and learning to teach. It outlines the collaborative process of theory building that includes teacher participants and the research team and how the framework for teacher education emerged that considers the various aspects of designing equitable and liberatory science learning.
Stretching and Bending the Field
Authors: Misiaszek Lauren Ila 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
In reflecting on the range of my own and others’ work (and how it is mis/understood), the state of the field, and this special issue, I argue that if one remains vigilant and does not assume or take for granted that the inherent risks of saturation and issues such as aesthetic failure, around, for example, ontologies, epistemologies, and geographic locations are resolved (they aren’t), CIE is a field that can be widely expansive. Yet, in the spirit of my previous work around the interconnected dynamic of moving “from discoursal vigilance to concrete possibilities for inclusion” (Misiaszek, 2019), the field’s expansiveness is only important if it results in new, concrete contributions to education as a project of social justice in this unprecedented historical moment.
Decolonising ‘Context’ in Comparative Education: The Potential of Oceanian Theories of Relationality
Authors: Spratt Rebecca , Coxon Eve 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
This article addresses long standing and inter-connected tensions within Comparative and International Education (cie) as a field of research: those of an inadequate theorising of ‘context’ and of a continued and deeply ‘entangled’ colonial legacy. While supporting many of the arguments outlined in recent theorisations of context as ‘assemblage’ we propose a more explicitly relational cie approach, drawing on both Southern Theory’s inter-epistemic project and our learnings from Indigenous scholars of Oceania.
Approximate Models for Lateral Growth on Ice Crystal Surfaces during Vapor Depositional Growth
Authors: Harrington Jerry Y. , Pokrifka Gwenore F. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMeasurements show that after facets form on frozen water droplets, those facets grow laterally across the crystal surface leading to an increase in volume and surface area with only a small increase in maximum dimension. This lateral growth of the facets is distinctly different from that predicted by the capacitance model and by the theory of faceted growth. In this paper we develop two approximate theories of lateral growth, one that is empirical and one that uses explicit growth mechanisms. We show that both theories can reproduce the overall features of lateral growth on a frozen, supercooled water droplet. Both theories predict that the area-average deposition coefficient should decrease in time as the particle grows, and this result may help explain the divergence of some prior measurements of the deposition coefficient. The theories may also explain the approximately constant mass growth rates that have recently been found in some measurements. We also show that the empirical theory can reproduce the lateral growth that occurs when a previously sublimated crystal is regrown, as may happen during the recycling of crystals in cold clouds.
Convection and Heat Transfer in Island (Warm) Wakes
Authors: Azevedo Cátia C. , Camargo Carolina M. L. , Alves José , Caldeira Rui M. A. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe interaction between the incoming winds and high mountainous islands produces a wind-sheltered area on the leeward side, known as the atmospheric wake. In addition to weaker winds, the wake is also characterized by a clearing of clouds, resulting in intense solar radiation reaching the sea surface. As a consequence, a warm oceanic wake forms on the leeward side. This phenomenon, detectable from space, can extend 100 km offshore of Madeira, where the sea surface temperature can be 4°C higher than the surrounding oceanic waters. This study considers in situ, remote sensing, and ocean circulation model data to investigate the effects of the warm wake in the vertical structure of the upper ocean. To characterize the convective layer (25–70 m) developing within the oceanic wake, 200 vertical profiles of temperature, salinity, and turbulence were considered, together with the computation of the density ratio and Turner angle. In comparison with the open-ocean water column, wake waters are strongly stratified with respect to temperature, although highly unstable. The vertical profiles of salinity show distinct water parcels that sink and/or rise as a response to the intense heat fluxes. During the night, the ocean surface cools, leading to the stretching of the mixed layer, which was replicated by the ocean circulation model. In exposed, nonwake regions, however, particularly on the southeast and north coasts of the island, the stretching of the mixed layer is not detectable.
A Cross-Sectional Study of Psychological Flexibility as a Mediator for the Relationship Between Acculturative Stress and Cardiovascular Health Behaviors Among Second-Generation Arab Americans
Authors: Merizian Randa , Mallinson R. Kevin , Kitsantas Panagiota , Gallo Sina 
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Second-generation Arab Americans may be at risk for poor cardiovascular health behaviors, but these behaviors are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of acculturative stress and psychological flexibility on cardiovascular health behaviors among second-generation Arab Americans. Method: In a cross-sectional study, survey data were collected in 2018 at local mosques, churches, and a university campus. Cardiovascular health behaviors were measured with a questionnaire based on the American Heart Association Life’s Simple 7. Acculturative stress and psychological flexibility were assessed using reliable and valid measures. Results: Participants ( n = 325) with higher acculturative stress were significantly more likely to report intermediate overall cardiovascular health behaviors ( p = .01) and poor to intermediate diet ( p = .00). Psychological flexibility partially mediated poor/intermediate smoking ( p = .02) and intermediate diet ( p = .00) scores. Discussion: Nurses may consider the role of acculturation when designing culturally sensitive interventions to promote cardiovascular health in second-generation populations.
GEF-independent Ran activation shifts a fraction of the protein to the cytoplasm and promotes cell proliferation
Authors: Zhou Jinhan , Tan Yuping , Zhang Yuqing , Tong Aiping , Shen Xiaofei , Sun Xiaodong , Jia Da , Sun Qingxiang 
Published: December 2020

AbstractRan (Ras-related nuclear protein) plays several important roles in nucleo-cytoplasmic transport, mitotic spindle formation, nuclear envelope/nuclear pore complex assembly, and other functions in the cytoplasm, as well as in cellular transformation when switched on. Unlike other members of the GTPase superfamily, Ran binds more tightly to GDP than to GTP due to the presence of an auto-inhibitory C-terminal tail. Multiple missense mutations in the C-terminus of Ran occur in cancers, but their biological significance remains unclear. Here, the quantitative GDP/GTP binding preference of four engineered mutations with unstable C-termini was analyzed using a devised mant-GDP dissociation assay. The results showed that the impact of different C-terminal mutations depends on multiple factors. Although these mutants were more GTP-loaded in human cells, they were shown to be more cytoplasmic, and to support nuclear transport with minimally or partially reduced efficiency. Further, several Ran cancer mutants were compromised in autoinhibition, slightly more GTP-bound, more cytoplasmic, and enhanced the proliferation of A549 and HeLa cells in vitro. Thus, our work reveals a new route of Ran activation independent of guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), which may account for the hyper-proliferation induced by Ran cancer mutations.
Depressive symptoms in adolescence and quality of life 17 years later – follow-up study
Authors: Modrzejewska Renata , Bomba Jacek , Cofór Paulina , Pac Agnieszka 
Published: December 2020

Cel pracyCelem badania jest próba znalezienia odpowiedzi na pytanie w jakim stopniu objawy depresyjne pojawiające się w okresie środkowej i późnej adolescencji wpływają na jakość życia w dorosłości.MetodaGrupę badaną stanowiło 308 dorosłych osób spośród 3445, które w 2000 roku uczestniczyły w badaniu rozpowszechnienia objawów depresyjnych wśród uczniów. Po 17 latach, do wszystkich osób przesłano listy z informacją o celu badania oraz ankietą autorską, do której dołączono skale jakości życia w oparciu o skalę COURAGE-SNI (The Collaborative Research on Ageing in Europe Social Network Index) oraz jakości sieci społecznej WHOQOL-AGE.WynikiObecność objawów depresyjnych w nieleczonej populacji adolescentów wiąże się, w przypadku kobiet, z uzyskaniem gorszego wykształcenia i mniejszą możliwością wykonywania pracy zawodowej w dorosłym życiu w porównaniu do ich niedepresyjnych rówieśniczek. Natomiast mężczyźni niedepresyjni w okresie dojrzewania podejmują prace, w których częściej uzyskują wysokie dochody.
Analiza jakości życia wykazała istotne statystycznie różnice między mężczyznami i kobietami. W grupie niedepresyjnych mężczyzn zaobserwowano większe zadowolenia z posiadanych środków finansowych. W przypadku dorosłych kobiet, osoby depresyjne w okresie dorastania, deklarowały poczucie niższej jakości życia ogółem oraz zadowolenia z spędzania wolnego czasu, realizacji celów życiowych i posiadanych środków finansowych. Niedepresyjne kobiety, po siedemnastu latach, prezentowały wyższą jakość sieci społecznychWnioskiWieloletnia obserwacja w przedstawionym badaniu prospektywnym wspiera hipotezę o rozwojowym charakterze depresji młodzieńczej