bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intelligent Mediator-based Enhanced Smart Contract for Privacy Protection
Authors: Kim Junho , Kim Mucheol
Published: January 2021

With the development of ICT technology, users are actively participated in content creation and sharing. Service providers have provided more diverse and extensive information services. With the recent evolution to a customized service, the demand for the use of personal information is increasing. However, it affects the efficiency and convenience of service provision, as social problems and security threats such as personal information leakage, human trafficking, and misuse increase. In this article, we proposed an intelligent mediator-based enhanced smart contract for privacy protection. The proposed approach performs the tasks, which are mediation transactions, authorization, and transaction record management, with blockchain-based personal information management. Then it is possible to prevent misuse of personal information and to support rational decision-making on the transparency of information and the use of personal information by autonomously performing personal information management.
Privacy-preserving Federated Deep Learning for Wearable IoT-based Biomedical Monitoring
Authors: Can Yekta Said , Ersoy Cem
Published: January 2021

IoT devices generate massive amounts of biomedical data with increased digitalization and development of the state-of-the-art automated clinical data collection systems. When combined with advanced machine learning algorithms, the big data could be useful to improve the health systems for decision-making, diagnosis, and treatment. Mental healthcare is also attracting attention, since most medical problems can be associated with mental states. Affective computing is among the emerging biomedical informatics fields for automatically monitoring a person’s mental state in ambulatory environments by using physiological and physical signals. However, although affective computing applications are promising to improve our daily lives, before analyzing physiological signals, privacy issues and concerns need to be dealt with. Federated learning is a promising candidate for developing high-performance models while preserving the privacy of individuals. It is a privacy protection solution that stores model parameters instead of the data itself and abides by the data protection laws such as EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). We applied federated learning to heart activity data collected with smart bands for stress-level monitoring in different events. We achieved encouraging results for using federated learning in IoT-based wearable biomedical monitoring systems by preserving the privacy of the data.
Birds of a Caste - How Caste Hierarchies Manifest in Retweet Behavior of Indian Politicians
Authors: Vaghela Palashi , K Mothilal Ramaravind , Pal Joyojeet
Published: January 2021

The Hindu caste system plays an important role in the socio-political landscape of India. In recent years, Indian politicians have moved a lot of direct communication online. Social media is now an important space for the articulation and performance of their political positions. In this paper, we study ways in which the political performance of caste relations can be captured from the online connections and messaging of parliamentarians in India. We run tests of odds ratios among the members of LokSabha (lower house) of India to find the extent to which their engagement is insular to their own caste group versus other groups. We observe that in the LokSabha network, Members of Parliament (MPs) have higher odds of getting retweeted by others whose caste is the same or closer to their own in the caste hierarchy. The findings of this research shed light on an understudied, yet critical, social relation of caste in the study of political behavior on social media.
CommunityClick
Authors: Jasim Mahmood , Khaloo Pooya , Wadhwa Somin , Zhang Amy X. , Sarvghad Ali , Mahyar Narges
Published: January 2021

Local governments still depend on traditional town halls for community consultation, despite problems such as a lack of inclusive participation for attendees and difficulty for civic organizers to capture attendees' feedback in reports. Building on a formative study with 66 town hall attendees and 20 organizers, we designed and developed CommunityClick, a communitysourcing system that captures attendees' feedback in an inclusive manner and enables organizers to author more comprehensive reports. During the meeting, in addition to recording meeting audio to capture vocal attendees' feedback, we modify iClickers to give voice to reticent attendees by allowing them to provide real-time feedback beyond a binary signal. This information then automatically feeds into a meeting transcript augmented with attendees' feedback and organizers' tags. The augmented transcript along with a feedback-weighted summary of the transcript generated from text analysis methods is incorporated into an interactive authoring tool for organizers to write reports. From a field experiment at a town hall meeting, we demonstrate how CommunityClick can improve inclusivity by providing multiple avenues for attendees to share opinions. Additionally, interviews with eight expert organizers demonstrate CommunityClick's utility in creating more comprehensive and accurate reports to inform critical civic decision-making. We discuss the possibility of integrating CommunityClick with town hall meetings in the future as well as expanding to other domains.
Making it Work, or Not
Authors: Blaising Allie , Kotturi Yasmine , Kulkarni Chinmay , Dabbish Laura
Published: January 2021

Online freelancing is growing rapidly. However, despite this rapid growth, we have a limited understanding of online freelancers' long-term experiences and evolution, or how online freelancing influences freelancers' broader career goals. To address this gap, we interviewed a set of online freelancers at two time periods, two and a half years apart. We found that long-term engagement with online freelancing involves a unique set of financial, emotional, relational, and reputational burdens that represent the overhead of maintaining an online freelancing career. We found that this overhead influenced online freelancers' participation and perceptions of online freelancing over time, as well as the strategies some freelancers employed to manage their careers. Our findings further highlight how online freelance platforms can afford unique career development opportunities over a longer period of time, including career exploration and transition, entrepreneurial training and reputation, and skills transfer. Based on our findings, we present policy and design implications to increase the sustainability and accessibility of online freelancing.
Using Data to Approach the Unknown
Authors: Costa Figueiredo Mayara , Su H. Irene , Chen Yunan
Published: January 2021

Medical practices have always been data oriented: healthcare providers decisions are based on data, both clinically generated and patient reported. With the increased use of patient-generated health data (PGHD), other types of data are entering providers? practices and influencing patient-provider collaboration. We studied the use of PGHD and its related data practices in the context of fertility, a health concern that is uncertain, complex, and data intensive. We interviewed 14 patients who are facing or have faced challenges to conceive and 5 healthcare providers specialized in infertility. Our findings show that patients and providers use PGHD in different ways but with the common goal of exploring 'the unknown' generated by the uncertainties of fertility. Providers use patients? data in a rational protocol, aiming to identify possible causes of infertility and define a treatment course. Patients use data in a much more emotional way, learning about their bodies while struggling with data interpretation challenges. By analyzing these data practices, we discuss the principles behind their differences and describe how they have individual benefits for each specific group. We then suggest that fertility technologies need to consider such principles, highlight the existing boundary between patients' and providers' data practices, and focus on bridging instead of merging them in order to facilitate collaboration and maintain their independent benefits.
Better Feedback from Nicer People
Authors: Wu Y. Wayne , Bailey Brian P.
Published: January 2021

Online feedback exchange platforms enable content creators to collect a diverse set of design feedback quickly. However, creators can experience low quality and harsh feedback when using such platforms. In this paper, we leverage the empathy of the feedback provider to address both these issues. Specifically, we tested two narrative-based empathy arousal interventions: a negative experience and a design process narrative. We also examined whether ingroup framing further enhances the effects of empathy arousal. In a 3x2 online experiment, participants (n=205) wrote feedback on a poster design after experiencing one of the intervention conditions or a control condition. Our results show both the design process narrative and ingroup framing conditions significantly increased the feedback quality and effort invested in the task. The negative experience narrative condition had similar effects and participants reported significantly increased disapproval towards harsh feedback. We discuss the implications of our results for the design of feedback exchange platforms.
"I can't get round"
Authors: Boudouraki Andriana , Fischer Joel E. , Reeves Stuart , Rintel Sean
Published: January 2021

Via audiovisual communications and a controllable physical embodiment, Mobile Robotic telePresence (MRP) systems aim to support enhanced collaboration between remote and local members of a given setting. But MRP systems also put the remote user in positions where they frequently rely on the help of local partners. Getting or 'recruiting' such help can be done with various verbal and embodied actions ranging in explicitness. In this paper, we look at how such recruitment occurs in video data drawn from an experiment where pairs of participants (one local, one remote) performed a timed searching task. We find a prevalence of implicit recruitment methods and outline obstacles to effective recruitment that emerge due to communicative asymmetries that are built into MRP design. In a future where remote work becomes widespread, assistance through remote work technology like MRPs needs close examination at a fundamental interactional level, taking into account how communicative asymmetries are at play in everyday use of such technologies.
Watched, but Moving
Authors: Anjali Anwar Ira , Pal Joyojeet , Hui Julie
Published: January 2021

Women gig workers face unique challenges in on-demand platforms as gendered aspects of class, caste, and labor participation intersect with moments of control experienced on the job. Through in-depth interviews with 19 beauty workers on on-demand home service platforms, we explore how the platformization of informal beauty work in India has ruptured dominant socio-cultural structures of control that have traditionally shaped women's mobility and access to work. This paper maps the ways in which women beauty gig workers experience and are impacted by algorithmic and bureaucratic management practices prevalent in the gig economy, in the context of home service platforms in Bangalore. We find that platform control impacts lives in myriad ways, beyond the conditions of work. Women workers negotiate their identities and sense of agency through the visibility afforded by platform control mechanisms. Yet, despite these subversions, being on a platform does not fundamentally change the socio-cultural logic that restricts women's lives in India. These mechanisms work to entrench power asymmetries between customers and workers, as well as maintain them between the platform and the worker.
Data Privacy Based on IoT Device Behavior Control Using Blockchain
Authors: Loukil Faiza , Ghedira-Guegan Chirine , Boukadi Khouloud , Benharkat Aïcha-Nabila , Benkhelifa Elhadj
Published: January 2021

The Internet of Things (IoT) is expected to improve the individuals’ quality of life. However, ensuring security and privacy in the IoT context is a non-trivial task due to the low capability of these connected devices. Generally, the IoT device management is based on a centralized entity that validates communication and connection rights. Therefore, this centralized entity can be considered as a single point of failure. Yet, in the case of distributed approaches, it is difficult to delegate the right validation to IoT devices themselves in untrustworthy IoT environments. Fortunately, the blockchain may provide decentralization of overcoming the trust problem while designing a privacy-preserving system. To this end, we propose a novel privacy-preserving IoT device management framework based on the blockchain technology. In the proposed system, the IoT devices are controlled by several smart contracts that validate the connection rights according to the privacy permission settings predefined by the data owners and the stored record array of detected misbehavior of each IoT device. In fact, smart contracts can immediately detect the devices that have vulnerabilities and have been hacked or pose a threat to the IoT network. Therefore, the data owner’s privacy is preserved by enforcing the control over the own devices. For validation purposes, we deploy the proposed solution on a private Ethereum blockchain and give the performance evaluation.
Toward an Integrative Geological and Geophysical View of Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquakes
Authors: Walton Maureen A.L. , Staisch Lydia M. , Dura Tina , Pearl Jessie K. , Sherrod Brian , Gomberg Joan , Engelhart Simon , Tréhu Anne , Watt Janet , Perkins Jon , Witter Robert C. , Bartlow Noel , Goldfinger Chris , Kelsey Harvey , Morey Ann E. , Sahakian Valerie J. , Tobin Harold , Wang Kelin , Wells Ray , Wirth Erin
Published: January 2021

The Cascadia subduction zone (CSZ) is an exceptional geologic environment for recording evidence of land-level changes, tsunamis, and ground motion that reveals at least 19 great megathrust earthquakes over the past 10 kyr. Such earthquakes are among the most impactful natural hazards on Earth, transcend national boundaries, and can have global impact.Reducing the societal impacts of future events in the US Pacific Northwest and coastal British Columbia, Canada, requires improved scientific understanding of megathrust earthquake rupture, recurrence, and corresponding hazards. Despite substantial knowledge gained from decades of research, large uncertainties remain about the characteristics and frequencies of past CSZ earthquakes. In this review, we summarize geological, geophysical, and instrumental evidence relevant to understanding megathrust earthquakes along the CSZ and associated uncertainties. We discuss how the evidence constrains various models of great megathrust earthquake recurrence in Cascadia and identify potential paths forward for the earthquake science community. ▪  Despite outstanding geologic records of past megathrust events, large uncertainty of the magnitude and frequency of CSZ earthquakes remains. ▪  This review outlines current knowledge and promising future directions to address outstanding questions on CSZ rupture characteristics and recurrence. ▪  Integration of diverse data sets with attention to the geologic processes that create different records has potential to lead to major progress.
Cash Transfers and Health
Authors: Sun Sicong , Huang Jin , Hudson Darrell L. , Sherraden Michael
Published: January 2021

Financial resources are known to affect health outcomes. Many types of social policies and programs, including social assistance and social insurance, have been implemented around the world to increase financial resources. We refer to these as cash transfers. In this article, we discuss theory and evidence on whether, how, for whom, and to what extent purposeful cash transfers improve health. Evidence suggests that cash transfers produce positive health effects, but there are many complexities and variations in the outcomes. Continuing research and policy innovation—for example, universal basic income and universal Child Development Accounts—are likely to be productive.
Do Novice Runners Show Greater Changes in Biomechanical Parameters?
Authors: Quan Wenjing , Ren Feng , Sun Dong , Fekete Gusztáv , He Yuhuan
Published: January 2021

Purpose. Examining and understanding the biomechanics of novice runners and experienced runners can further improve our knowledge within the field of running mechanics and running injuries. The purpose of this study was to classify the differences in lower limb biomechanics during a 3.3 m/s running task among both experienced runners and novice runners. Method. Twenty-four participants (12 experienced runners and 12 novice runners) ran at 3.3 m/s across a force plate; kinematics and kinetics data were collected by the Vicon motion system and Kistler force plate. Group comparisons were made using an independent samples

t

-test to identify differences in the impact peak, loading rate, contact time, ankle, knee, and hip joint kinematics and kinetics during the stance phase. Results. No significant differences were observed between novice and experienced runners for both ankle and knee joint kinetics except that the ankle joint plantar flexion torque was significantly greater in the novice runners. However, the plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, range of motion (ROM), plantar flexion torque, and max angular velocity of ankle joint significantly increased in novice runners than inexperienced runners. Additionally, the flexion angle and range of motion of the hip joint were observed to be larger in the novice runners. Moreover, the maximum extension torque and the maximum extension power in the hip joint were significantly increased in the experienced runners. There were no significant differences in the first peak, contact time, and average vertical loading rate. Novice runners showed a larger vertical instantaneous loading rate than experienced runners. Conclusion. These preliminary findings indicate that novice runners are prone to running injuries in comparison to experienced runners. Novice runners showed larger kinematics and kinetic parameters in the joint of the ankle and hip. Novice runners should enhance muscle strength in the hip and choose scientific training methods.
Hypoxia-Induced Suppression of Alternative Splicing of MBD2 Promotes Breast Cancer Metastasis via Activation of FZD1
Authors: Liu Zhaoji , Sun Linchong , Cai Yongping , Shen Shengqi , Zhang Tong , Wang Nana , Wu Gongwei , Ma Wenhao , Li Shi-Ting , Suo Caixia , Hao Yijie , Jia Wei-Dong , Semenza Gregg L. , Gao Ping , Zhang Huafeng
Published: January 2021

Metastasis is responsible for the majority of breast cancer–related deaths, however, the mechanisms underlying metastasis in this disease remain largely elusive. Here we report that under hypoxic conditions, alternative splicing of MBD2 is suppressed, favoring the production of MBD2a, which facilitates breast cancer metastasis. Specifically, MBD2a promoted, whereas its lesser known short form MBD2c suppressed metastasis. Activation of HIF1 under hypoxia facilitated MBD2a production via repression of SRSF2-mediated alternative splicing. As a result, elevated MBD2a outcompeted MBD2c for binding to promoter CpG islands to activate expression of FZD1, thereby promoting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and metastasis. Strikingly, clinical data reveal significantly correlated expression of MBD2a and MBD2c with the invasiveness of malignancy, indicating opposing roles for MBD2 splicing variants in regulating human breast cancer metastasis. Collectively, our findings establish a novel link between MBD2 switching and tumor metastasis and provide a promising therapeutic strategy and predictive biomarkers for hypoxia-driven breast cancer metastasis.

Significance:

This study defines the opposing roles and clinical relevance of MBD2a and MBD2c, two MBD2 alternative splicing products, in hypoxia-driven breast cancer metastasis.
Targeting PIM Kinases to Overcome Therapeutic Resistance in Cancer
Authors: Toth Rachel K. , Warfel Noel A.
Published: January 2021

Cancer progression and the onset of therapeutic resistance are often the results of uncontrolled activation of survival kinases. The proviral integration for the Moloney murine leukemia virus (PIM) kinases are oncogenic serine/threonine kinases that regulate tumorigenesis by phosphorylating a wide range of substrates that control cellular metabolism, proliferation, and survival. Because of their broad impact on cellular processes that facilitate progression and metastasis in many cancer types, it has become clear that the activation of PIM kinases is a significant driver of resistance to various types of anticancer therapies. As a result, efforts to target PIM kinases for anticancer therapy have intensified in recent years. Clinical and preclinical studies indicate that pharmacologic inhibition of PIM has the potential to significantly improve the efficacy of standard and targeted therapies. This review focuses on the signaling pathways through which PIM kinases promote cancer progression and resistance to therapy, as well as highlights biological contexts and promising strategies to exploit PIM as a therapeutic target in cancer.
Role of Polo-Like Kinase 4 (PLK4) in Epithelial Cancers and Recent Progress in its Small Molecule Targeting for Cancer Management
Authors: Garvey Debra R. , Chhabra Gagan , Ndiaye Mary A. , Ahmad Nihal
Published: January 2021

The polo-like kinases (PLKs) are a family of serine/threonine kinases traditionally linked to cell-cycle regulation. A structurally unique member of this family, PLK4, has been shown to regulate centriole duplication during the cell cycle via interactions with a variety of centrosomal proteins. Recent findings suggest that PLK4 is overexpressed in various human cancers and associated with poor cancer prognosis. Although several studies have shown that PLK4 inhibition may lead to cancer cell death, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. In this review, we discuss the structure, localization, and function of PLK4, along with the functional significance of PLK4 in epithelial cancers and some preliminary work suggesting a role for PLK4 in the key cancer progression process epithelial–mesenchymal transition. We also discuss the potential of PLK4 as a druggable target for anticancer drug development based on critical analysis of the available data of PLK4 inhibitors in preclinical development and clinical trials. Overall, the emerging data suggest that PLK4 plays an essential role in epithelial cancers and should be further explored as a potential biomarker and/or therapeutic target. Continued detailed exploration of available and next-generation PLK4 inhibitors may provide a new dimension for novel cancer therapeutics following successful clinical trials.
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) as a Therapeutic Target
Authors: Jonckheere Sven , Adams Jamie , De Groote Dominic , Campbell Kyra , Berx Geert , Goossens Steven
Published: January 2021

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the primary tumour to distant sites and organs throughout the body. It is the primary cause of cancer morbidity and mortality, and is estimated to account for 90% of cancer-related deaths. During the initial steps of the metastatic cascade, epithelial cancer cells undergo an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and as a result become migratory and invasive mesenchymal-like cells while acquiring cancer stem cell properties and therapy resistance. As EMT is involved in such a broad range of processes associated with malignant transformation, it has become an increasingly interesting target for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Anti-EMT therapeutic strategies could potentially not only prevent the invasion and dissemination of cancer cells, and as such prevent the formation of metastatic lesions, but also attenuate cancer stemness and increase the effectiveness of more classical chemotherapeutics. In this review, we give an overview about the pros and cons of therapies targeting EMT and discuss some already existing candidate drug targets and high-throughput screening tools to identify novel anti-EMT compounds.
Effect of silver nanoparticles, synthesized from fleshy stem and leaves extract of Brassica campestrisL., on Alternari lini inhibition
Authors: Shah Syed Awais Hussain
Published: January 2021

Several fungal pathogens showed resistance against pesticides, plant mediated synthesized silver nanoparticles have been recognized as effective against them. The present research work was an attempt to synthesize silver nanoparticles by using fleshy stem and leaves ex-tract of Brassica compestris L. from silver nitrate, which reduces it to synthesized silver nanoparticles. Biosynthesized AgNP’s were char-acterized by different techniques like UV-visible spectrophotometry and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and fungal inhibi-tory activity by well diffusion method. The colour change of solution indicated the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. UV-visible spectro-photometer showed the peak between 415 to 455 nm for fleshy stem and leaves extract of B. compestris and Field Emission Scanning Elec-tron Microscope analysis revealed that spherical shaped nanoparti-cles with size 20-65 nm. These synthesized nanoparticles showed in-hibitory activity against fungi, Alternaria lini, a linseed blight patho-gen which causes linseed blight disease in Linum usitatissimum L. The 30 μl concentrations of silver nanoparticles had showed significant inhibition to growth of A. lini. These findings may suggest AgNP’s syn-thesized by B. compestris used against plant pathogenic fungi.
Mendelian Randomization in Cardiovascular Research
Authors: Bell Katy J.L. , Loy Clement , Cust Anne E. , Teixeira-Pinto Armando
Published: January 2021

Mendelian randomization is an epidemiological approach to making causal inferences using observational data. It makes use of the natural randomization that occurs in the generation of an individual’s genetic makeup in a way that is analogous to the study design of a randomized controlled trial and uses instrumental variable analysis where the genetic variant(s) are the instrument (analogous to random allocation to treatment group in an randomized controlled trial). As with any instrumental variable, there are 3 assumptions that must be made about the genetic instrument: (1) it is associated (not necessarily causally) with the exposure (relevance condition); (2) it is associated with the outcome only through the exposure (exclusion restriction condition); and (3) it does not share a common cause with the outcome (ie, no confounders of the genetic instrument and outcome, independence condition). Using the example of type II diabetes and coronary artery disease, we demonstrate how the method may be used to investigate causality and discuss potential benefits and pitfalls. We conclude that although Mendelian randomization studies can usually not establish causality on their own, they may usefully contribute to the evidence base and increase our certainty about the effectiveness (or otherwise) of interventions to reduce cardiovascular disease.
Temporal Trends, Predictors, and Outcomes of Acute Ischemic Stroke in Acute Myocardial Infarction in the United States
Authors: Aggarwal Gaurav , Patlolla Sri Harsha , Aggarwal Saurabh , Cheungpasitporn Wisit , Doshi Rajkumar , Sundaragiri Pranathi R. , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Jaffe Allan S. , Barsness Gregory W. , Cohen Marc , Vallabhajosyula Saraschandra
Published: January 2021

Background

There are limited contemporary data prevalence and outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods and Results

Adult (>18 years) AMI admissions using the National Inpatient Sample database (2000–2017) were evaluated for in‐hospital AIS. Outcomes of interest included in‐hospital mortality, hospitalization costs, length of stay, discharge disposition, and use of tracheostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. The discharge destination was used to classify survivors into good and poor outcomes. Of a total 11 622 528 AMI admissions, 183 896 (1.6%) had concomitant AIS. As compared with 2000, in 2017, AIS rates increased slightly among ST‐segment–elevation AMI (adjusted odds ratio, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.04–1.15]) and decreased in non–ST‐segment–elevation AMI (adjusted odds ratio, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.46–0.49]) admissions (
P
<0.001). Compared with those without, the AIS cohort was on average older, female, of non‐White race, with greater comorbidities, and higher rates of arrhythmias. The AMI‐AIS admissions received less frequent coronary angiography (46.9% versus 63.8%) and percutaneous coronary intervention (22.7% versus 41.8%) (
P
<0.001). The AIS cohort had higher in‐hospital mortality (16.4% versus 6.0%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.75 [95% CI, 1.72–1.78];
P
<0.001), longer hospital length of stay, higher hospitalization costs, greater use of tracheostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, and less frequent discharges to home (all
P
<0.001). Among AMI‐AIS survivors (N=153 318), 57.3% had a poor functional outcome at discharge with relatively stable temporal trends.

Conclusions

AIS is associated with significantly higher in‐hospital mortality and poor functional outcomes in AMI admissions.
Learning in Volatile Environments With the Bayes Factor Surprise
Authors: Liakoni Vasiliki , Modirshanechi Alireza , Gerstner Wulfram , Brea Johanni
Published: January 2021

Surprise-based learning allows agents to rapidly adapt to nonstationary stochastic environments characterized by sudden changes. We show that exact Bayesian inference in a hierarchical model gives rise to a surprise-modulated trade-off between forgetting old observations and integrating them with the new ones. The modulation depends on a probability ratio, which we call the Bayes Factor Surprise, that tests the prior belief against the current belief. We demonstrate that in several existing approximate algorithms, the Bayes Factor Surprise modulates the rate of adaptation to new observations. We derive three novel surprise-based algorithms, one in the family of particle filters, one in the family of variational learning, and one in the family of message passing, that have constant scaling in observation sequence length and particularly simple update dynamics for any distribution in the exponential family. Empirical results show that these surprise-based algorithms estimate parameters better than alternative approximate approaches and reach levels of performance comparable to computationally more expensive algorithms. The Bayes Factor Surprise is related to but different from the Shannon Surprise. In two hypothetical experiments, we make testable predictions for physiological indicators that dissociate the Bayes Factor Surprise from the Shannon Surprise. The theoretical insight of casting various approaches as surprise-based learning, as well as the proposed online algorithms, may be applied to the analysis of animal and human behavior and to reinforcement learning in nonstationary environments.
Wrapping It Up Like Paul
Authors: Jeong Donghyun
Published: January 2021

The peculiarity of 2 Corinthians 13:11–13 has been noticed by scholars since the eighteenth century, but suggestions about the passage have often briefly made without a thorough textual examination. Employing several types of evidence used for identifying interpolations, this article will demonstrate that the letter closing of 2 Corinthians (13:11–13) has three distinctive characteristics. Independently, these are not definite evidence, but their cumulative weight increases the possibility that this ending was created by a redactor.
Western Neo-Aramaic as an Islamic Language? A Look at Some Lexical and Sociolinguistic Issues
Authors: Contini Riccardo , Nicosia Mara
Published: January 2021

Western Neo-Aramaic (WNA) is spoken as a minority language by less than 10.000 people in 3 villages of the Qalamūn plateau, 60 km to the north-east of Damascus (Syria). The whole populace of Baxʕā and Ǧubbʕadīn and about one-third of the inhabitants of Maʕlūla are Muslim, while the rest of the inhabitants of the third village are Christian, as is still a minority of the people of the region, since the parallel processes of religious Islamization and linguistic Arabization have followed diverse paths and different chronology. Since WNA has no native written tradition, the usual criteria defining an Islamic language put forward by Bausani (1981), namely allography in the Arabic/Persian script and a significant quota of Islamic religious vocabulary, cannot apply in this case. This paper discusses the possibility of laying down other parameters of linguistic Islamicity for part of WNA along the lines of the relevant debate in the fields of communal variation and Jewish interlinguistics, and opts in the end for a lexical/phraseological approach. We stress, however, that the linguistic situation portrayed in this paper is the pre-2010 one.
Islamic Languages before Islam? The Arabic of the Jurhum and of Ishmael
Authors: Grande Francesco
Published: January 2021

This paper investigates two mythical languages, the speakers of which are traditionally said to have built the Kaʿba: the Arabic of the Jurhum and the Arabic of Ishmael’s descendants. Some sources describe these ethnic groups as speakers of pre-Islamic dialects that, albeit not mythical, do not qualify as certainly historical: the luġat Jurhum, the luġat Huḏayl and the luġat Qurayš. Although the treatise Kitāb al-Luġāt fī l-Qurʾān ascribes many Koranic words to these dialects, its authenticity is dubious. This paper explores the possible identification of the mythical Arabic of the Jurhum and of Ishmael with such traditionally Koranic dialects. It also assesses whether both mythical languages have a historical basis by considering two kinds of data: some narrative details recorded in mythological materials, and some linguistic and socio-historical traits of these Koranic words.
Une langue islamique postmoderne ? L’émergence d’un « français d’islam »
Authors: Zappa Francesco
Published: January 2021

En élaborant sa notion de « langues islamiques », Alessandro Bausani (1921-88) soulignait qu’à l’époque contemporaine, à cause de l’impact des nationalismes et de l’influence grandissante des langues des colonisateurs, les processus d’islamisation linguistique ont subi un revirement. Plus récemment, toutefois, on assiste à un phénomène d’appropriation des anciennes langues coloniales par des écrits et discours à caractère religieux islamique. Cet article se penche sur le côté francophone de cette tendance, en le situant dans son contexte sociologique et idéologique. La réflexion théorique qui l’accompagne de la part de ses acteurs est aussi prise en compte, en la comparant à celle qui l’a précédée du côté anglophone.

On propose ensuite un inventaire provisoire des particularités lexicales, syntaxiques et orthographiques de ces publications islamiques par rapport aux solutions adoptées, pour traiter des mêmes sujets, par d’autres scripteurs francophones, notamment par les arabisants et islamologues laïcs. À ce stade de la recherche, les écarts ne nous semblent pas considérables, d’autant plus qu’ils tendent à s’estomper chez les scripteurs qui maîtrisent mieux le registre savant de la langue, en dépit des préconisations des idéologues musulmans prônant une « islamisation du langage ». De même, la comparaison avec les dynamiques d’islamisation linguistique identifiées par Bausani permet de mesurer le manque de continuité – malgré les apparences – des usages islamiques du français par rapport aux changements qui ont investi d’autres langues à l’époque précoloniale.
The Role of Inertial Instability in Cross-Hemispheric Coupling
Authors: Lieberman R. S. , France J. , Ortland D. A. , Eckermann S. D.
Published: January 2021

Recent studies suggest linkages between anomalously warm temperatures in the winter stratosphere, and the high-latitude summer mesopause. The summer temperature anomaly is manifested in the decline of polar mesospheric clouds. The 2-day wave is a strong-amplitude and transient summer feature that interacts with the background state so as to warm the high-latitude summer mesopause. This wave has been linked to a low-latitude phenomenon called inertial instability, which is organized by breaking planetary waves in the winter stratosphere. Hence, inertial instability has been identified as a possible nexus between the disturbed winter stratosphere, and summer mesopause warming. We investigate a sustained occurrence of inertial instability during 19 July–8 August 2014. During this period, stratospheric winter temperatures warmed by about 10 K, while a steep decline in polar mesospheric clouds was reported between 26 July and 6 August. We present, for the first time, wave driving associated with observed inertial instability. The effect of inertial instability is to export eastward momentum from the winter hemisphere across the equator into the summer hemisphere. Using a primitive equation model, we demonstrate that the wave stresses destabilize the stratopause summer easterly jet. The reconfigured wind profile excites the wavenumber-4 component of the 2-day wave, leading to enhanced warming of the summer mesopause. This work supports previous numerical investigations that identified planetary wave–driven inertial instability as a source of the 2-day wave.
On the Influence of Sea Surface Temperature Distributions on the Development of Extratropical Cyclones
Authors: Bui Hai , Spengler Thomas
Published: January 2021

The sea surface temperature (SST) distribution can modulate the development of extratropical cyclones through sensible and latent heat fluxes. However, the direct and indirect effects of these surface fluxes, and thus the SST, are still not well understood. This study tackles this problem using idealized channel simulations of moist baroclinic development under the influence of surface fluxes. The model is initialized with a zonal wind field resembling the midlatitude jet and a different SST distribution for each experiment, where the absolute SST, the SST gradient, and the meridional position of the SST front are varied. The surface latent heat flux associated with the absolute SST plays a key role in enhancing the moist baroclinic development, while the sensible heat fluxes associated with the SST gradient play a minor role that can be detrimental for the development of the cyclone. The additional moisture provided by the latent heat fluxes originates from about 1000 km ahead of the cyclone a day prior to the time of the most rapid deepening. When the SST in this region is higher than 16°C, the additional latent heat is conducive for explosive cyclone development. For SSTs above 20°C, the cyclones feature characteristics of hybrid cyclones with latent heat release close to their core, maintaining their intensity for a longer period due to continuous and extensive moisture supply from the surface. A high absolute SST with a weak SST gradient, however, can lead to a delay of the deepening stage, because of unorganized convection at early stages reducing environmental baroclinicity.
The effects of transformational and instrumental leadership on followers’ levels of cortisol
Authors: Rowold Jens , Diebig Mathias , Heinitz Kathrin
Published: January 2021

Work-related stress has considerable consequences for organizations. Thus, the prevention of stress has the potential to positively affect employees’ health and performance. While previous research found the first evidence that transformational leadership is negatively related to followers’ levels of perceived stress, this research was limited by its reliance on common methods and subjective experience of stress. In addition, innovative leadership concepts such as instrumental leadership have not been explored as potential barriers to followers’ stress. The present article has therefore tested the relationships between transformational and instrumental leadership by utilizing an objective indicator of stress, namely followers’ levels of cortisol, as measured in two samples. In sample 1, followers provided two saliva samples per day; in sample 2, they provided samples of their hair. For both saliva and hair, reliable and valid assessments of cortisol are feasible and were utilized for the purpose of the present study. Results revealed that transformational leadership had no effect on cortisol levels. However, instrumental leadership was negatively associated with (a) evening levels of saliva cortisol and (b) hair cortisol. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Support and Positioning Mechanism of a Detection Robot inside a Spherical Tank
Authors: Tu Chunlei , Jin Shanshan , Zheng Kai , Wang Xingsong , Sun Sichong
Published: January 2021

Large pressure equipment needs to be tested regularly to ensure safe operation; wall-climbing robots can carry the necessary tools to inspect spherical tanks, such as cameras and non-destructive testing equipment. However, a wall-climbing robot inside a spherical tank cannot be accurately positioned owing to the particularity of the spherical tank structure. This paper proposes a passive support and positioning mechanism fixed in a spherical tank to improve the adsorption capacity and positioning accuracy of the inspection robot. The main body of the mechanism was designed as a truss composed of carbon fiber telescopic rods and can work in spherical tanks with diameters of 4.6‒15.7 m. The structural strength, stiffness, and stability of the mechanism are analyzed via force and deformation simulations. By constructing a mathematical model of the support and positioning mechanism, the influence of structural deformation on the supporting capacity is analyzed and calculated. The robot positioning method based on the support and positioning mechanism can effectively locate the robot inside a spherical tank. Experiments verified the support performance and robot positioning accuracy of the mechanism. This research proposes an auxiliary support and positioning mechanism for a detection robot inside a spherical tank, which can effectively improve the positioning accuracy of the robot and meet the robotic inspection requirements.
Aerodynamic Characteristics of Isolated Loaded Tires with Different Tread Patterns: Experiment and Simulation
Authors: Zhou Haichao , Jiang Zhen , Wang Guolin , Zhang Shupei
Published: January 2021

The current research of tire aerodynamics mainly focus on the isolated and simplified tread tire. Compared with the real complex pattern tire, the tread pattern structure and deformed profile of a loaded tire has a greatly influence on tire aerodynamic drag. However, the mechanisms of the isolated loaded tires with different tread patterns effects on the aerodynamic drag are subjects worthy of discussion. The purpose of this study is to experimentally and computationally investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of three tires 185/65 R14 with different patterns under loaded. A wind tunnel test model was first established using three-dimensional (3D) printing with a ratio of 1:1, and the pressure coefficientsCpof the three tires with different patterns are measured. The paper then conducted computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for analyzing the pressure and flow characteristics. The accuracy of CFD simulation is verified by comparing the simulation results with the test results of pressure coefficientsCp, and they are of good consistency. While, the general analysis of pressure coefficientsCpresults of the three tires indicates high-pressure area on the windward surface, and occurrence of low-pressure area on the leeward surface, the pressure coefficientsCpof all three tires decreased firstly and then increased along in the air flow direction. The authors finally analyzed the effect of tread patterns on the flow field around the tire and revealed the differences between flow characteristics and aerodynamic drag. The results show that, angle of tire lateral groove has great effect on the flow field characteristics such that; the more the angle of lateral groove agrees with the air flow direction, the less the flow separation and flow vortices, and a minimum observable aerodynamic drag. The research provides a guidance for the design of low aerodynamic drag tires, and helps to illustrate the impact of tire aerodynamics on the car body in the future.
Factors associated with survival of patients with solid Cancer alive after intensive care unit discharge between 2005 and 2013
Authors: Gheerbrant Hubert , Timsit Jean-François , Terzi Nicolas , Ruckly Stéphane , Laramas Mathieu , Levra Matteo Giaj , Jacquet Emmanuelle , Falque Loic , Moro-Sibilot Denis , Toffart Anne-Claire
Published: January 2021

Background

At intensive care unit (ICU) admission, the issue about prognosis of critically ill cancer patients is of clinical interest, especially after ICU discharge. Our objective was to assess the factors associated with 3- and 6-month survival of ICU cancer survivors.

Methods

Based on the French OutcomeRea™ database, we included solid cancer patients discharged alive, between December 2005 and November 2013, from the medical ICU of the university hospital in Grenoble, France. Patient characteristics and outcome at 3 and 6 months following ICU discharge were extracted from available database.

Results

Of the 361 cancer patients with unscheduled admissions, 253 (70%) were discharged alive from ICU. The main primary cancer sites were digestive (31%) and thoracic (26%). The 3- and 6-month mortality rates were 33 and 41%, respectively. Factors independently associated with 6-month mortality included ECOG performance status (ECOG-PS) of 3–4 (OR,3.74; 95%CI: 1.67–8.37), metastatic disease (OR,2.56; 95%CI: 1.34–4.90), admission for cancer progression (OR,2.31; 95%CI: 1.14–4.68), SAPS II of 45 to 58 (OR,4.19; 95%CI: 1.76–9.97), and treatment limitation decision at ICU admission (OR,4.00; 95%CI: 1.64–9.77). Interestingly, previous cancer chemotherapy prior to ICU admission was independently associated with lower 3-month mortality (OR, 0.38; 95%CI: 0.19–0.75). Among patients with an ECOG-PS 0–1 at admission, 70% (n = 66) and 61% (n = 57) displayed an ECOG-PS 0–2 at 3- and 6-months, respectively. At 3 months, 74 (55%) patients received anticancer treatment, 13 (8%) were given exclusive palliative care.

Conclusions

Factors associated with 6-month mortality are almost the same as those known to be associated with ICU mortality. We highlight that most patients recovered an ECOG-PS of 0–2 at 3 and 6 months, in particular those with a good ECOG-PS at ICU admission and could benefit from an anticancer treatment following ICU discharge.