bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estimating copy number using next-generation sequencing to determine ERBB2 amplification status
Authors: Nakamura Kohei , Aimono Eriko , Oba Junna , Hayashi Hideyuki , Tanishima Shigeki , Hayashida Tetsu , Chiyoda Tatsuyuki , Kosaka Takeo , Hishida Tomoyuki , Kawakubo Hirohumi , Kitago Minoru , Okabayashi Koji , Funakoshi Takeru , Okita Hajime , Ikeda Sadakatsu , Takaishi Hiromasa , Nishihara Hiroshi 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAssessing Erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2) amplification status in breast and gastric cancer is necessary for deciding the best therapeutic strategy. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) are currently used for assessing protein levels and gene copy number (CN), respectively. The use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) to measure ERBB2 CN in breast cancer is approved by the United States Federal Drug Administration as a companion diagnostic. However, a CN of less than 8 is evaluated as “equivocal”, which means that some ERBB2 amplification cases diagnosed as “HER2 negative” might be false-negative cases. We reviewed the results of gene profiling targeting 160 cancer-related genes in breast (N = 90) and non-breast (N = 19) cancer tissue, and compared the ERBB2 CN results with the IHC/FISH scores. We obtained an estimated CN from the measured CN by factoring in the histological proportion of tumor cells and found that an ERBB2-estimated CN of 3.2 or higher was concordant with the combined IHC/FISH outcome in 98.4% (88/90) of breast cancer cases, while this was not always evident among non-breast cancer cases. Therefore, NGS-estimated ERBB2 CN could be considered a diagnostic test for anti-HER2 therapy after the completion of adequate prospective clinical trials.
Method for designing multi-input system identification signals using a compact time-frequency representation
Authors: Roeser Mathias Stefan , Fezans Nicolas 
Published: March 2021

AbstractA flight test campaign for system identification is a costly and time-consuming task. Models derived from wind tunnel experiments and CFD calculations must be validated and/or updated with flight data to match the real aircraft stability and control characteristics. Classical maneuvers for system identification are mostly one-surface-at-a-time inputs and need to be performed several times at each flight condition. Various methods for defining very rich multi-axis maneuvers, for instance based on multisine/sum of sines signals, already exist. A new design method based on the wavelet transform allowing the definition of multi-axis inputs in the time-frequency domain has been developed. The compact representation chosen allows the user to define fairly complex maneuvers with very few parameters. This method is demonstrated using simulated flight test data from a high-quality Airbus A320 dynamic model. System identification is then performed with this data, and the results show that aerodynamic parameters can still be accurately estimated from these fairly simple multi-axis maneuvers.
Immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer: chasing the light at the end of the tunnel
Authors: Brouwer Thomas P. , Vahrmeijer Alexander L. , de Miranda Noel F. C. C. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundCheckpoint blockade immunotherapy has had a significant impact on the survival of a subset of patients with advanced cancers. It has been particularly effective in immunogenic cancer types that present large numbers of somatic mutations in their genomes. To date, all conventional immunotherapies have failed to produce significant clinical benefits for patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, probably due to its poor immunogenic properties, including low numbers of neoantigens and highly immune-suppressive microenvironments.ConclusionsHerein, we discuss advances that have recently been made in cancer immunotherapy and the potential of this field to deliver effective treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients. Preclinical investigations, combining different types of therapies, highlight possibilities to enhance anti-tumor immunity and to generate meaningful clinical responses in pancreatic cancer patients. Results from completed and ongoing (pre)clinical trials are discussed.
Laser welding of austenitic ferrofluid container for the KRAKsat satellite
Authors: Janiczak Rafał , Pańcikiewicz Krzysztof 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe production of a ferrofluid container, intended for use in the KRAKsat (CubeSat type) satellite in space conditions, is presented. Mechanized laser beam welding for AISI 316L stainless steel test joint and container prototype was developed and tested. The welded test joints were examined by non-destructive visual, penetration and radiographic testing and destructive testing by macro- and microscopic examination, static tensile test, static bending test, and hardness measurements. The welded container prototype was examined by leak test, temperature-vacuum test and vibration test. Test joints’ evaluation showed a proper selection of welding parameters and expected quality of joints. Austenitic microstructure with small δ-ferrite content in base materials, heat-affected zones, and welds guarantees sufficient mechanical properties for this part geometry. The tensile strength range of test joints was 687–729 MPa, hardness range was 140–200 HV3, and the bending angle was 180°. Welding of the prototype container and testing of tightness, resistance to temperature changes, and vibration were successful. Compliance with flywheel design and manufacturing requirements will enable the launch of a research satellite into orbit with such a wheel.
Irrigation-based agricultural intensification and future groundwater potentiality: experience of Indian states
Authors: Paria Bidur , Pani Amartya , Mishra Pulak , Behera Bhagirath 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWhile access to assured irrigation is a prerequisite for sustainable agricultural intensification, increasing use of groundwater for the same and decreasing areas under surface irrigation are expected to cause considerable hydro-ecological imbalance and hence serious concerns for sustainability. Importantly, the extent, nature, efficiency and impact of irrigation vary across regions depending on the geophysical and agro-climatic conditions, farming practices and socioeconomic setup. Nevertheless, it is suggested that appropriate crop diversification coupled with necessary policy and institutional supports can potentially reduce pressure on groundwater and make intensification in agriculture sustainable. Given this backdrop, this paper examines impact of irrigation and crop diversification on agricultural intensification and its implications for future groundwater dynamics in major Indian states. Using secondary data and applying panel data regression techniques for the period 1990–1991 to 2014–2015, the paper finds that both greater irrigation facilities and diversified crop basket increase cropping intensity. Similarly, use of more chemical fertilizers and higher yield also influence cropping intensity positively. However, rainfall variations and share of GSDP in agriculture have no significant impact. Based on the literature review and the above findings as well as using the insights from the informal interactions and random discussion carried out with the farmers and others stakeholders (e.g., researchers, community workers, extension service providers, NGO, etc.), the fuzzy cognitive models show that future policies and institutions should focus on improvement in agricultural systems and promoting surface irrigation. Besides, conservation and harvesting of rainwater, efficient functioning of the user groups, judicious use of chemical fertilizers and emphasis on cultivation of less water-intensive crops would also be crucial in this regard.
Temporal stability of primate scent samples
Authors: Poirier Alice C. , Waterhouse John S. , Dunn Jacob C. , Smith Andrew C. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractA common recommendation in the field of animal chemosignaling is to store and transport scent samples frozen, since they are likely to change with time and degrade due to bacterial activity inside the sample containers and the loss of the most volatile compounds. However, we still ignore the exact pattern of change or degradation for these types of samples. Here we experimentally tested the stability of primate scent samples during analytical procedures. For this purpose, we used swabs of naturally deposited glandular secretions from captive tamarins (Neotropical primates) analyzed by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. We successively extracted the samples by solid-phase microextraction, while controlling for the delay between extractions, and compared the number of compounds detected in the samples under each condition. We found that compounds were lost and transformed over time inside the sample vials. Such natural decay of scent signals is likely to contribute to the long term information transmitted. We found no evidence that long delays at room temperature affected sample chemical composition more than short delays. Nonetheless, we showed that repeated extraction of a sample increased the loss of compounds. The changes in sample chemical composition observed over time in this experiment support standard recommendation to avoid storing samples for long periods at room temperature and to extract each sample only once, in order to ensure optimum results.
Grain yield and water-use efficiency of summer maize in response to mulching with different plastic films in the North China Plain
Authors: Zong Rui , Han Huifang , Li Quanqi 
Published: March 2021

SummaryPlastic film (PF) mulching is widely applied in agriculture to improve water-use efficiency (WUE) and crop production. However, without efficient recovery, the residual plastic fragments in arable land threaten soil health and food security. Degradable films are generally considered as alternatives to conventional PF to mitigate PF pollution. A 2-year field experiment was conducted in 2016 and 2017 to evaluate the effects of various film mulching treatments (conventional PF mulching, transparent degradable film (TDF) mulching, and black degradable film (BDF) mulching, and no mulching) on soil water availability and summer maize yield in the North China Plain (NCP). Soil moisture, soil water storage, water use, and grain yield were recorded. Below 20 cm depth, soil moisture and soil water storage were higher in film mulching than in no mulching. Conventional PF mulching yielded the best water conservation, especially from sowing to jointing. TDF and BDF were similar in their regulation of soil moisture. Comparing to no mulching, conventional PF and degradable transparent film significantly reduced maize grain yield by 15.4 and 8.0% (average over 2 years), and reduced WUE by 9.4 and 7.8% (average 2 years), respectively. The observed reduction of grain yield in transparent film mulching might be caused by excessive soil temperature, especially at vegetative stages, which potentially accelerates crop senescence. Black film mulching reduced the soil cumulative temperature and prevent crops from being overheated. As consequence, grain yield and WUE of summer maize under BDF covering were significantly increased by 11.1 and 15.6%, respectively, over the 2 years. Therefore, we suggest that BDF can be used to replace conventional plastics to improve crop yield and control environmental pollution in the NCP.
Democracy and Adjustment in Niger: A Conflict of Rationales
Authors: Bonnecase Vincent 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn the early 1990s, Niger saw growing anger towards the military regime in power, not only because of police violence, but also due to its economic and social policies, particularly its first structural adjustment programme. After several months of revolts, the regime fell, giving way to a democratic government in 1991. Under pressure from international financial institutions, the new government quickly embarked on the same economic and social path as the previous one and adopted an adjustment policy, resistance to which had played a fundamental role in its accession to power. The government faced increasing street protests, and was overthrown by the army in January 1996, with most of the population not mobilizing to protect the democratic institutions. This article examines the conflicts of rationales that marked these few years, and shows how, by whom, and to what extent these rationales were opposed in practical terms. It also offers a social history of the adjustments by looking at how they were received by the people. By so doing, it looks back at a moment that has profoundly marked Niger's recent history: in this country, as in others, the adjustments have reconfigured rivalries, produced violence, and left an indelible mark on the political imaginary up to the present day.
Crittendenia gen. nov., a new lichenicolous lineage in the Agaricostilbomycetes (Pucciniomycotina), and a review of the biology, phylogeny and classification of lichenicolous heterobasidiomycetes
Authors: Millanes Ana M. , Diederich Paul , Westberg Martin , Wedin Mats 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe lichenicolous ‘heterobasidiomycetes’ belong in the Tremellomycetes (Agaricomycotina) and in the Pucciniomycotina. In this paper, we provide an introduction and review of these lichenicolous taxa, focusing on recent studies and novelties of their classification, phylogeny and evolution. Lichen-inhabiting fungi in the Pucciniomycotina are represented by only a small number of species included in the genera Chionosphaera, Cyphobasidium and Lichenozyma. The phylogenetic position of the lichenicolous representatives of Chionosphaera has, however, never been investigated by molecular methods. Phylogenetic analyses using the nuclear SSU, ITS, and LSU ribosomal DNA markers reveal that the lichenicolous members of Chionosphaera form a monophyletic group in the Pucciniomycotina, distinct from Chionosphaera and outside the Chionosphaeraceae. The new genus Crittendenia is described to accommodate these lichen-inhabiting species. Crittendenia is characterized by minute synnemata-like basidiomata, the presence of clamp connections and aseptate tubular basidia from which 4–7 spores discharge passively, often in groups. Crittendenia, Cyphobasidium and Lichenozyma are the only lichenicolous lineages known so far in the Pucciniomycotina, whereas Chionosphaera does not include any lichenicolous taxa.
A taxonomic reassessment of the genusSticta(lichenized Ascomycota:Peltigeraceae) in the Hawaiian archipelago
Authors: Moncada Bibiana , Smith Clifford W. , Lücking Robert 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe taxonomy of the genusStictain Hawaii is reassessed, based on a separately published molecular phylogeny using the fungal barcoding marker ITS. Based on Magnusson and Zahlbruckner's treatment from 1943 and Magnusson's catalogue from 1955, seven species ofStictaand three infraspecific taxa had been reported from the archipelago, all widespread except the putative endemicS. plumbicolor. Here we provide a taxonomic treatment of 13 taxa, 12 species and one subspecies, distinguished in a previous phylogenetic analysis:S. acyphellata,S. andina,S. antoniana,S. emmanueliana,S. flynnii,S. fuliginosa,S. hawaiiensis,S. limbata,S. plumbicolor,S. scabrosasubsp.hawaiiensis,S. smithii,S. tomentosaandS. waikamoi. All taxa are described, discussed and illustrated and a dichotomous key is presented. The implications of revised species taxonomies for studies in other fields such as ecology, ecophysiology, biogeography, biochemistry, and applications such as environmental monitoring are discussed. We also propose a protocol to useStictalichens to monitor the environmental health of Hawaiian ecosystems.
Photoprotection in lichens: adaptations of photobionts to high light
Authors: Beckett Richard Peter , Minibayeva Farida , Solhaug Knut Asbjørn , Roach Thomas 
Published: March 2021

AbstractLichens often grow in microhabitats where they are exposed to severe abiotic stresses such as desiccation and temperature extremes. They are also often exposed to levels of light that are greater than lichen photobionts can use in carbon fixation. Unless regulated, excess energy absorbed by the photobionts can convert ground state oxygen to reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS can attack the photosynthetic apparatus, causing photoinhibition and photo-oxidative stress, reducing the ability of the photobionts to fix carbon. Here, we outline our current understanding of the effects of high light on lichens and the mechanisms they use to mitigate or tolerate this stress in hydrated and desiccated states. Tolerance to high light can be achieved first by lowering ROS formation, via synthesizing light screening pigments or by thermally dissipating the excess light energy absorbed; second, by scavenging ROS once formed; or third, by repairing ROS-induced damage. While the primary focus of this review is tolerance to high light in lichen photobionts, our knowledge is rather fragmentary, and therefore we also include recent findings in free-living relatives to stimulate new lines of research in the study of high light tolerance in lichens.
Weight gain as a risk factor for progressive neurochemical abnormalities in first episode mania patients: a longitudinal magnetic resonance spectroscopy study
Authors: Bond David J. , Silveira Leonardo E. , Torres Ivan J. , Lam Raymond W. , Yatham Lakshmi N. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundWe previously reported that bipolar disorder (BD) patients with clinically significant weight gain (CSWG; ⩾7% of baseline weight) in the 12 months after their first manic episode experienced greater limbic brain volume loss than patients without CSWG. It is unknown whether CSWG is also a risk factor for progressive neurochemical abnormalities.MethodsWe investigated whether 12-month CSWG predicted greater 12-month decreases in hippocampal N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and greater increases in glutamate + glutamine (Glx) following a first manic episode. In BD patients (n = 58) and healthy comparator subjects (HS; n = 34), we measured baseline and 12-month hippocampal NAA and Glx using bilateral 3-Tesla single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We used general linear models for repeated measures to investigate whether CSWG predicted neurochemical changes.ResultsThirty-three percent of patients and 18% of HS experienced CSWG. After correcting for multiple comparisons, CSWG in patients predicted a greater decrease in left hippocampal NAA (effect size = −0.52, p = 0.005). CSWG also predicted a greater decrease in left hippocampal NAA in HS with a similar effect size (−0.53). A model including patients and HS found an effect of CSWG on Δleft NAA (p = 0.007), but no diagnosis effect and no diagnosis × CSWG interaction, confirming that CSWG had similar effects in patients and HS.ConclusionCSWG is a risk factor for decreasing hippocampal NAA in BD patients and HS. These results suggest that the well-known finding of reduced NAA in BD may result from higher body mass index in patients rather than BD diagnosis.
The Status of Status in World Politics
Authors: MacDonald Paul K. , Parent Joseph M. 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACTWhat is status? How does it work? What effects does it tend to have? A new wave of scholarship on status in international relations has converged on a central definition of status, several causal pathways, and the claim that the pursuit of status tends to produce conflict. The authors take stock of the status literature and argue that this convergence is not only a sign of progress, but also an obstacle to it. They find that the consensus definition conceals critical contradictions between standing and membership, that its causal pathways are promising but often in tension with each other, and that the literature may be overlooking the ways in which status can help states avoid conflict and promote cooperation under certain conditions.
A mixed-method analysis of the #SugarTax debate on Twitter
Authors: Bridge Gemma , Flint Stuart W , Tench Ralph 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjective:To explore the #SugarTax debate on Twitter to assess actors involved, their connections and the topics being discussed during the implementation and first anniversary of the UK Soft Drink Industry Levy.Design:The structure of the #SugarTax debate on Twitter was assessed using social network analysis. The actors involved, their connections and the topics of discussion taking place were also explored using content, sentiment and thematic analyses.Setting:Twitter between 2017 and 2019.Participants:Twitter users engaging in discussions relating to the hashtag ‘SugarTax’.Results:Tweets (n5366) posted between 5 August 2017 and 7 May 2019 containing #SugarTax were downloaded from Twitter using Network Overview for Discovery and Exploration in Excel. The network included 1883 users, with 686 unique edges and 4679 edges with duplicates. The majority of tweets were negative in sentiment, when assessed by both automatic (64 %,n141) and manual sentiment analysis (52 %,n115) methods. Nine key themes were identified and grouped into two groups according to ‘support for a sugar or SSB tax’ or ‘opposition for a sugar or SSB tax’.Conclusions:Twitter was used as a platform for debating the benefits and limitations of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes. The findings indicate that numerous actors are involved in the debates on Twitter, with advocates and lobbyists using the platform to raise support for their campaigns and reshape public perceptions. The findings and the methods used may be of interest to policymakers as well as to academics and members of the public looking to explore and engage in policy debates.
Disabled people and the labor market in the 1950s: the Japanese experience
Authors: Yamashita Mai 
Published: March 2021

AbstractOutbreaks of war create large numbers of disabled people. After Japan's defeat in World War II, the Japanese government, under the policy of GHQ, began to create labor policies for disabled soldiers and the general disabled. However, historical research on the labor market participation of the disabled in Japan has not progressed. This study examines the job placement program for the physically disabled in the immediate postwar period. The end of the war encouraged the participation of people with disabilities in the labor market. In the early 1950s, the Ministry of Labor actively tried to find jobs for the disabled to improve the lives of disabled soldiers and bring new labor market participation to disabled people. This research revealed an active debate on whether the participation of disabled people in the labor market should be promoted by coercive state policies requiring companies to hire people with disabilities or by public support. Through analysis of the labor market for disabled people in 1950s, we will provide hints for deeper thinking about who the workers are and what it means to work in our society.
Investigation on the chipless RFID tag with a UWB pulse using a UWB IR-based reader
Authors: Mekki Kawther , Necibi Omrane , Dinis Hugo , Mendes Paulo , Gharsallah Ali 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn order to encrypt/encode data based on the magnitude level of the radar cross-section (RCS), we propose an approach with a precise estimation considering the resonant characteristics of a multipatch backscatter-based chipless radio frequency identification (RFID) dedicated for chipless tags depolarization. The working principle is based on the polarization mismatch between the tag and the reader antenna to control the magnitude of the backscatter, which allows a reliable detection in real environments. We introduce in this paper a new 4-bit chipless RFID tag with an enhanced RCS, based on a triangular patch antenna with multiple resonators. Additionally, we propose an ultra-wideband impulse radar (UWB-IR)-based reader that interrogates the chipless tag with a UWB pulse, and the received backscatter was studied in both time- and frequency-domains. The antenna was operating from 4.7 to 6.1 GHz, a band allocated for RFID systems. The obtained experimental measurement results in the environment of anechoic chamber were exceptionally relevant to validate the simulation results.