bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The regional differences and influencing factors of tourism development on Hainan Island, China
Authors: Zhang Shengrui , Ju Hongrun
Published: October 2021

Exploring the spatial pattern of tourism resources and tourism economy is vital to improve the utilization efficiency of tourism resources and promote sustainable tourism development. This research investigated the quantity and types of tourism resources and analyzed the spatial patterns of tourism resources on Hainan Island from the perspectives of spatial variation and spatial association. The spatial and temporal pattern of the number of tourists and tourism revenue during 2010–2019 were further analyzed. The influencing factors of tourism development were explored based on the geographic detector. The results showed that 10425 tourism resources exist on Hainan Island, and the type of buildings and facilities had the largest number of tourism resources. The geological landscape, astronomical phenomena and meteorological landscapes, buildings and facilities, ruins and remains, tourism commodities, and human activities showed significant spatial agglomeration. Domestic tourism was far more developed than inbound tourism in terms of the number of tourists and tourism revenue. However, the spatial difference of tourism resources and tourism economy was apparent on Hainan Island. Factor analysis showed that the quantity of hotels, the proportion of tertiary industry in the GDP, and the regional population were the most influential factors for the distribution of tourism resources, while the density of the road network, the quantity of hotels, the per capita GDP, the proportion of tertiary industry in GDP, the regional population, and the quantity of tourism resources showed obvious influences on the tourism economy of Hainan Island. Interactions of the factors mainly fell into three types: synergistic increases, single factor weakening, and nonlinear weakening. It is suggested that the local government should fully exploit diversity types of tourism resources on Hainan Island to attract more tourists and improve the tourism revenue; improving the inbound tourism, and to strengthen the construction of road network on Hainan Island.
Combined serum anti-SSA/Ro and salivary TRIM29 reveals promising high diagnostic accuracy in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome
Authors: Sembler-Møller Maria L. , Belstrøm Daniel , Locht Henning , Pedersen Anne Marie L.
Published: October 2021

Objectives

To determine the diagnostic potential of simultaneous presence of serum anti-SSA/Ro and upregulated salivary protein biomarkers in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS).

Methods

Previous proteomics data on the intensity of neutrophil elastase, calreticulin, tripartite motif containing protein 29 (TRIM29), clusterin and vitronectin provided basis for performing extended analysis. Protein data was obtained by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry technique in whole saliva from 24 patients with pSS and 16 patients having symptoms of pSS, but not fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology/European League against Rheumatism classification criteria (non-pSS). Serum anti-SSA/Ro antibody was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) value was calculated for combined biomarkers.

Results

Simultaneous presence of serum anti-SSA/Ro and upregulated salivary TRIM29 provided the most optimal combination with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.995 (95% CI 0.98–1.00, p = 2.0E-7 and standard error 0.007) and combinations of sensitivity and specificity within the interval of 91–100%. ROC analysis showed that salivary levels of TRIM29 alone enabled differentiation between pSS and non-pSS with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.88 (95%CI 0.77–1.00). All patients with pSS and 3 non-pSS patients were serum anti-SSA/Ro positive.

Conclusions

Simultaneous presence of serum anti-SSA/Ro and upregulated salivary TRIM29 provided a high diagnostic accuracy exceeding that of currently available tools used in pSS diagnostics. This biomarker combination represents a promising less invasive diagnostic tool for pSS. The clinical applicability of TRIM29 needs further testing in independent cohorts using relevant analytical techniques.
Disparities in telemedicine utilization among surgical patients during COVID-19
Authors: Lattimore Courtney M. , Kane William J. , Fleming Mark A. , Martin Allison N. , Mehaffey J. Hunter , Smolkin Mark E. , Ratcliffe Sarah J. , Zaydfudim Victor M. , Showalter Shayna L. , Hedrick Traci L.
Published: October 2021

Background

Telemedicine has been rapidly adopted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is limited work surrounding demographic and socioeconomic disparities that may exist in telemedicine utilization. This study aimed to examine demographic and socioeconomic differences in surgical patient telemedicine usage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Department of Surgery outpatients seen from July 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020 were stratified into three visit groups: pre-COVID-19 in-person, COVID-19 in-person, or COVID-19 telemedicine. Generalized linear models were used to examine associations of sex, race/ethnicity, Distressed Communities Index (DCI) scores, MyChart activation, and insurance status with telemedicine usage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

14,792 patients (median age 60, female [57.0%], non-Hispanic White [76.4%]) contributed to 21,980 visits. Compared to visits before the pandemic, telemedicine visits during COVID-19 were more likely to be with patients from the least socioeconomically distressed communities (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.08,1.58; P = 0.005), with an activated MyChart (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.17–1.64; P < .001), and with non-government or commercial insurance (OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.84–2.94; P < .001). Adjusted comparison of telemedicine visits to in person visits during COVID-19 revealed telemedicine users were more likely to be female (OR, 1.38, 95% CI, 1.10–1.73; P = 0.005) and pay with non-government or commercial insurance (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.85–4.16; P < .001).

Conclusions

During the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine was more likely utilized by female patients and those without government or commercial insurance compared to patients who used in-person visits. Interventions using telemedicine to improve health care access might consider such differences in utilization.
Genetic effect on free amino acid contents of egg yolk and albumen using five different chicken genotypes under floor rearing system
Authors: Nishimura Kenji , Ijiri Daichi , Shimamoto Saki , Takaya Masahiro , Ohtsuka Akira , Goto Tatsuhiko
Published: October 2021

Chicken eggs play an important role as food resources in the world. Although genetic effects on yolk and albumen contents have been reported, the number of chicken genotypes analyzed so far is still limited. To investigate the effect of genetic background on 10 egg traits, 19 yolk amino acid traits, and 19 albumen amino acid traits, we evaluated a total of 58 eggs from five genotypes: two Japanese indigenous breeds (Ukokkei and Nagoya) and three hybrids (Araucana cross, Kurohisui, and Boris Brown) under a floor rearing system. One-way ANOVA revealed significant effects of genotype on 10 egg traits, 8 yolk amino acids (Asp, Glu, Ser, Gly, Thr, Tyr, Cys, and Leu), and 11 albumen amino acids (Asp, Glu, Asn, Ser, Gln, His, Ala, Tyr, Trp, Phe, and Ile) contents. Moderate to strong positive phenotypic correlations among traits within each trait category (size and weight traits, yolk amino acid traits, and albumen amino acid traits), whereas there were basically no or weak correlations among the trait categories. However, a unique feature was found in the Araucana cross indicating moderate positive correlations of amino acids between yolk and albumen. These results suggest that genetic factors can modify not only the size and weight of the egg and eggshell color but also yolk and albumen free amino acids contents.
PASTA kinase-dependent control of peptidoglycan synthesis via ReoM is required for cell wall stress responses, cytosolic survival, and virulence in Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Kelliher Jessica L. , Grunenwald Caroline M. , Abrahams Rhiannon R. , Daanen McKenzie E. , Lew Cassandra I. , Rose Warren E. , Sauer John-Demian
Published: October 2021

Pathogenic bacteria rely on protein phosphorylation to adapt quickly to stress, including that imposed by the host during infection. Penicillin-binding protein and serine/threonine-associated (PASTA) kinases are signal transduction systems that sense cell wall integrity and modulate multiple facets of bacterial physiology in response to cell envelope stress. The PASTA kinase in the cytosolic pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, PrkA, is required for cell wall stress responses, cytosolic survival, and virulence, yet its substrates and downstream signaling pathways remain incompletely defined. We combined orthogonal phosphoproteomic and genetic analyses in the presence of a β-lactam antibiotic to define PrkA phosphotargets and pathways modulated by PrkA. These analyses synergistically highlighted ReoM, which was recently identified as a PrkA target that influences peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis, as an important phosphosubstrate during cell wall stress. We find that deletion of reoM restores cell wall stress sensitivities and cytosolic survival defects of a ΔprkA mutant to nearly wild-type levels. While a ΔprkA mutant is defective for PG synthesis during cell wall stress, a double ΔreoM ΔprkA mutant synthesizes PG at rates similar to wild type. In a mouse model of systemic listeriosis, deletion of reoM in a ΔprkA background almost fully restored virulence to wild-type levels. However, loss of reoM alone also resulted in attenuated virulence, suggesting ReoM is critical at some points during pathogenesis. Finally, we demonstrate that the PASTA kinase/ReoM cell wall stress response pathway is conserved in a related pathogen, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Taken together, our phosphoproteomic analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the PASTA kinase targets of an important model pathogen and suggests that a critical role of PrkA in vivo is modulating PG synthesis through regulation of ReoM to facilitate cytosolic survival and virulence.
Reimagining Future Island: The COVID-19 Impacts on Tourism Sector in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Strategies to Moving Forward
Authors: Reksa Abdul Fikri Angga , Lissandhi Ayu Nova , Syahid Choerunisa Noor
Published: October 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the global tourism industry, leaving millions of people unemployed without certainty when tourism bounces back. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are amongst the worst hit by the novel coronavirus. The unprecedented crisis has severely aggravated the SIDS economic growth due to relying on foreign tourists heavily. In the absence of international tourism, small island residents have been grappling with alternative income sources. Despite its notorious impacts, many scholars look at this global pandemic as a discernible opportunity to reverse mass tourism in the SIDS. Therefore, this paper aims to elaborate on the current condition of small islands communities amid COVID-19, their coping strategies, and their reflection of the future tourism industry in the SIDS. Furthermore, this paper also aims to discuss a prevailing policy to contain health emergency and economic collapse in the SIDS. Based on the critical literature review, many SIDS were already faced complex predicaments before the pandemic, such as high vulnerability to the climate crisis, lack of natural resources, extreme poverty, and reliance on external debts. International support is crucial to avoid the worst-case scenario for SIDS, including those which depend on the tourism industry. As a part of the recovery phase, this paper underscores the urgency of a more sustainable tourism practice for future development in the SIDS. That comprises strategic issues ranging from environmental-based tourism with a focus on socio-cultural aspects, and economic diversification to small island community resilience.
PEMBANGUNAN PERTANIAN PADI DI KAMBOJA
Authors: Presilla Mayasuri , Rucianawati Rucianawati , Srirahayu Dina
Published: October 2021

Cambodia is one of the ten largest rice exporting countries in the world market.  Although its reputation is not as great as those of Thailand and Vietnam, the growth of rice production and export is worth to be reckoned.  In one decade, an increase of rice production by nine percent per year was followed by an increase of rice export each year.  This proves that Cambodia has succeed to struggle from its adversity due to war and colonialism.  However, it cannot be denied that Cambodia still faces diverse obstacles in increasing rice production.  With all of its limitations, Cambodia has tried to use its resources and collaboration networks as the means to address those obstacles.  By looking at the historical and sociological aspects, this study provides a comprehensive picture of rice development in Cambodia, which places more emphasis on recent obstacles and efforts in rice farming.
Radiological Imaging Findings of Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis in COVID and Post-COVID Patients - A Descriptive Study of 200 Patients
Authors: Usmani Yasmeen , Shukla Bitthal , Kumar Shishir , Dubey Monika , Asif Mohd.
Published: October 2021

BACKGROUND Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) is a life-threatening infection caused by saprophytic fungi. The purpose of this study was to describe common radiographic patterns that may be useful in predicting the diagnosis and assessing the extent of involvement of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis in Covid and post Covid patients. METHODS The case records of patients with rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis were reviewed. This included 200 patients of which 122 were males and 78 females, with a minimum age of 22 to a maximum of 80 years old. Computed tomography (CT) and / or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images were retrieved from the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and analysed. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS All the patients showed sinusitis and ophthalmological symptoms. CT and MR imaging showed predominant involvement of the maxillary (196, 98 %) and ethmoid (194, 97 %) sinuses. Involvement of the orbit (186, 93 %) and face (114, 57 %) preceded involvement of the pterygopalatine fossa (90, 45 %) and brain (52, 26 %). CT showed minimally enhancing hypodense soft tissue thickening as the predominant finding in involved areas, while MRI showed T2 isointense to mildly hypointense soft tissue thickening and heterogeneous post-contrast enhancement as the main finding. In patients with extra sinus extension, bone erosion was seen in 80 patients (40 %) but few (20, 10 %) of the patients showed extension across grossly intact appearing bones. CONCLUSIONS In the context of Covid-19 with immunosuppression, a pattern of the nasal cavity, maxillary sinus, ethmoid cells, and orbit inflammatory lesions should prompt the diagnosis of mucormycosis. Progressive and rapid involvement of the cavernous sinus, vascular structures and intracranial contents can occur. Multiplanar magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography show anatomic involvement, helping in surgery planning. KEY WORDS Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral mucormycosis, Imaging Findings, MRI, Neuroradiology
Awareness on Covid-19 and Covid Associated Mucormycosis During Second Wave in India
Authors: Srinivasan Bhuvaneswari , A. Charles John Paul , Malaiyandi Jayanthi , Mani Thenmozhi , Packiam Kannan Kilavan , S Aruna Sharmili , Kannaian Udaya Prakash Nyayiru
Published: October 2021

BACKGROUND COVID-19 is a viral pandemic disease reported from 222 different countries in the world. Although government agencies of various countries are responding to the suggestions of medical experts, public understanding of the nature of the disease is necessary to control the disease. Moreover, Covid associated mucormycosis (CAM) is found to emanate as a secondary infection in countries such as India. Therefore, this study was done to evaluate the awareness of COVID-19 and Covid associated mucormycosis. METHODS A questionnaire designed using google form was used to assess the public’s awareness about the airborne nature of the virus, Covid associated mucormycosis, and the government’s efforts in combating the disease. RESULTS About 690 people responded to the questions and among them 78 % were females and 21 % males. The age of the respondents ranged from 17 to 70 yrs. Nearly 69.5 % of the respondents believed that the virus was airborne. Although 89 % of respondents correctly stated that India was experiencing the second wave of COVID-19, yet majority of them could not make the same statement about other countries like the UK and the USA. Naming the mucormycosis as the black fungus had reached 88 % of the respondents. Nearly 60 % of the general public were satisfied with the government's initiatives in providing medical facilities. CONCLUSIONS The study provides the public's understanding of Covid-19 after the second wave of Covid-19 and Covid associated mucormycosis in India. The research provides inputs to the Indian government and the governments of Indian states to further raise public awareness on controlling the disease. KEY WORDS COVID -19; Airborne virus; Covid Associated Mucormycosis; Black fungus, India.
Orientierung durch Katastrophen
Authors: Labahn Michael
Published: October 2021

Catastrophes that threaten life and health have characterized the history of humankind from the very beginning, as has the search for meaning. The descriptions of end-time catastrophes in apocalyptic literature are also concerned with their meaning for the present. In the New Testament, the book of Revelation belongs to this kind of literature. It does not provide a roadmap for the end of the world; the horror images of a subversive narrative aim at understanding the current reality. Using the example of the so-called »damage cycles« (Rev 6:1-17; 8:2-11:19; 15:1-16:21), it will be argued that these texts aim at a theological interpretation that consoles and admonishes its readers by creating narrative spaces for the transience of the seemingly unchangeable Roman rule.
Die Justinianische Pest
Authors: Keller Marcel , Paulus Christof , Xoplaki Elena
Published: October 2021

Of all known epidemics in Antiquity, the Justinianic Plague became the focus of attention in recent years - not least because it is the first for which the causative agent, the bacterium Yersinia pestis, could be unambiguously identified by palaeogeneticists. The reconstruction of ancient Y. pestis genomes is able to uncover the geographical and temporal extent of the pandemic beyond the limitations of written sources; and phylogenetic studies allow for inferences on the origin and spread of plague through time. But even the mere identification of plague victims in Late Antique and Early Medieval cemeteries offers insights in the crisis management and reactions of past societies to the irruption of the unfathomable, to which historical scholarship - generally based on written sources - has only limited access. However, attempts on the integration of natural scientific research on epidemics and climatic shifts in history are notoriously accused of determinism or an oversimplification of complex coherencies. Therefore, mutual understanding of methodologies and epistemologies of different disciplines is a fundamental prerequisite to avoid simplistic causal inferences from correlations and circular arguments, and lead to a better understanding of the Justinianic Plague and accompanying processes through an integrative approach.
Abordagem preliminar das condições climáticas de Uberlândia (MG)
Authors: Rosa Roberto , Lima Samuel do Carmo , Assunção Washington Luiz
Published: October 2021

Abordageo preliminar das condições climáticas de Uberlândia (MG)
Environmental Awareness and Plastic Recycling Behaviour of Nigerian Undergraduates
Authors: Aikowe Loveth
Published: October 2021

Several prior studies globally have linked education with environmental awareness and behaviour, however there is a need to address the research gap in developing countries on the impact environmental education can have on pro-environmental awareness and in promoting pro-environmental behaviours (PEB) especially among university students. This paper takes into account the influence of social norms on PEB such as plastic recycling and promotes the notion of sustainable education in Higher institutions of learning in Nigeria. Recommendations for policy makers and universities are also reflected upon as Nigerian universities are urged to take pro-active steps towards adapting their curriculums and environmental volunteering activities. Furthermore, the study suggest sustainability literacy tests are incorporated into Nigerian university educational policies in other to promote pro-environmental behaviours among students.
Transfer Pricing Audit Challenges and Dispute Resolution Effectiveness in Developing Countries with Specific Focus on Zimbabwe
Authors: Sebele-Mpofu Favourate Yelesedzani , Mashiri Eukeria , Korera Patrick
Published: October 2021

Base erosion and profit shifting activities of multinational enterprises (MNEs) have been a hot issue globally. Topical among the strategies employed by MNEs has been the issue of transfer pricing (TP). Developing countries are argued to be significantly affected by TP manipulation resulting in substantial tax revenues being lost. As a response to curb the unfavourable impacts of transfer mispricing, most developing countries have adopted the OECD TP guidelines and enacted TP legislation to regulate TP activities. The arm’s length principle is the core of TP legislation, yet it has brought challenges for tax administrators and their auditors in enforcing and assessing compliance respectively leading to disputes. In view of the ever-changing business world and continuous efforts by MNEs to minimise their tax obligations through income shifting, it was imperative to assess the factors affecting the effectiveness of TP audits and dispute resolutions as measures to enhance compliance and enforcement in developing countries, with specific reference to Zimbabwe. Findings include the lack of clarity in TP legislation, resource constraints and complexity of transactions, lack of expertise as well as the shortage of comparable data. Developing countries are encouraged to formulate clear TP regulations and invest in the capacitation of revenue authorities.
Costs of Sales Forces, Substitution between Competing Products, and Vertical Integration Decisions
Authors: Chou Chung-Hui
Published: October 2021

This paper analyzes duopolistic firms’ vertical integration decisions with considering costs of sales forces and sales delegation under vertical integration. The main contribution of our research is showing that full vertical integration (separation) is more common when competing products are highly (weakly) substitutable. Second, contrary to conventional wisdom, an asymmetric vertical structure may not only be an equilibrium outcome but may also be optimal for consumers’ surplus in spite of yielding higher retail prices than those arising under full vertical integration. We also examine the impacts of vertical structures on welfare which have vertical merger policy relevance. First, when products are weakly substitutable, keeping vertical merger costs low may induce full vertical integration to be an equilibrium outcome which optimizes consumers’ surplus and social welfare simultaneously. Second, imposing a vertical merger tax increasing with substitution between products on firms may induce firms’ vertical integration decisions to be optimal for social welfare.
Honey in wound healing: An updated review
Authors: Tashkandi Hanaa
Published: October 2021

Wound healing is a complex process with many interdependent pathophysiological and immunological mediators to restore the cellular integrity of damaged tissue. Cutaneous wound healing is the repair response to a multitude of pathologies induced by trauma, surgery, and burn leading to the restoration and functionality of the compromised cells. Many different methods have been employed to treat acute and chronic wounds, such as antimicrobial therapy, as most wounds are susceptible to infection from microbes and are difficult to treat. However, many antimicrobial agents have become ineffective in wound treatment due to the emergence of multiple drug-resistant bacteria, and failures in current wound treatment methods have been widely reported. For this reason, alternative therapies have been sought, one of which is the use of honey as a wound treatment agent. The use of honey has recently gained clinical popularity for possible use in wound treatment and regenerative medicine. With this high demand, a better delivery and application procedure is required, as well as research aiming at its bioactivity. Honey is a safe natural substance, effective in the inhibition of bacterial growth and the treatment of a broad range of wound types, including burns, scratches, diabetic boils (Skin abscesses associated with diabetic), malignancies, leprosy, fistulas, leg ulcers, traumatic boils, cervical and varicose ulcers, amputation, burst abdominal wounds, septic and surgical wounds, cracked nipples, and wounds in the abdominal wall. Honey comprises a wide variety of active compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acid, organic acids, enzymes, and vitamins, that may act to improve the wound healing process. Tissue-engineered scaffolds have recently attracted a great deal of attention, and various scaffold fabrication techniques are being researched. Some incorporate honey to improve their delivery during wound treatment. Hence, the aim of this review is to summarize recent studies on the wound healing properties of honey.
Modulation of neo-endothelialization of vascular graft materials by silk fibroin
Authors: Zhan Congcong , Xia Chuanjun , Wang Pengfei , Ming Pingdeng , Zhang Shanfeng , Chen Junying , Huang Xia
Published: October 2021

Controlled neo-endothelialization is critical to the patency of vascular grafts. Expanded polyethylene terephthalate (PET) vascular grafts were grafted with polyethylene glycol (PEG), irradiated with ultraviolet light, and subsequently coated with silk fibroin (SF) and EDC in a dip-coating process. Endothelial cells were cultivated on the coated samples for 1, 3, 5, and 7 days, and characterized by fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The quantitative analyse of CCK-8 method was used to assess ECs proliferation. The results reveal the correlation between grafting components and cell adhesion. We demonstrated that PET with SF grafting facilitated cell adhesion and spreading. Following 7 days of cell culture in vitro, PET-PEG6000-SF (PEG molecular weight 6,000) displayed spreading of cells over a significantly larger area. Rapid endothelialization on a modified PET surface resulted in large tissue pack that can be observed by SEM.
Optimizing seaweed futures under climate change
Authors: Klinger Terrie
Published: October 2021

Seaweeds play essential ecological and biogeochemical roles and support important industrial applications. Sustaining natural populations of seaweeds under climate change while simultaneously putting seaweeds to use in climate solutions requires that we weave together disparate lines of inquiry—the ecological and the industrial—to create a more holistic perspective and integrated research agenda. Innovation in the use of seaweeds must be more than aspirational—it requires evidence of effectiveness in the short term, and a promise to sustain nature and people in the long term.
Locative phrase and descriptive discourse in L2 Chinese
Authors: Arslangul Arnaud , Watorek Marzena
Published: October 2021

This study examines the way in which French-speaking learners of L2 Chinese construct a type of discourse calledstatic spatial description. It involves the analysis of an oral corpus collected from two groups of native speakers of Chinese and French, and two groups of learners of L2 Chinese at two proficiency levels (low and intermediate). The data collected consist of the description of a poster. The results show that linguistic devices used in Chinese and French to encode the locative phrase and its syntactic functions have an impact on the presence and placement of the locative in utterances encoding spatial localization. These properties in turn influence the way in which the informational content develops across the utterances in the discourse. There is a clear development of proficiency between the two L2 groups. However, intermediate learners are not yet able to organize information on the discourse level like native Chinese speakers do.
Mapping the scientific research on the ionizing radiation impacts on polymers (1975–2019)
Authors: Girard-Perier Nina , Dorey Samuel , Marque Sylvain R. A. , Dupuy Nathalie
Published: October 2021

A bibliometric approach allowed us to study the global research trend on the impact of ionizing irradiations on polymers from 1975 to 2019. The investigation revealed 1,015 publications with growing interest since 1990. The research is split into three main categories: polymer science, nuclear science technology, and chemistry physical. The three main ionizing irradiations studied in this research are gamma, electron beam, and X-ray irradiations. The impact of ionizing irradiations on polymers under gamma irradiation is the most commonly studied field with 578 publications among the 1,015 publications. Electron beam irradiation is the second most studied field followed by X-ray irradiation. Whatever the irradiation modalities, publications focus on material degradation and material improvement studies.
Seshadri constants on some Quot schemes
Authors: Gangopadhyay Chandranandan , Hanumanthu Krishna , Sebastian Ronnie
Published: October 2021

Let E be a vector bundle of rank n on

ℙ
1

{\mathbb{P}^{1}}

.
Fix a positive integer d. Let

𝒬
⁢

(
E
,
d
)

{\mathcal{Q}(E,d)}

denote the Quot scheme
of torsion quotients of E of degree d and let

Gr
⁢

(
E
,
d
)

{\mathrm{Gr}(E,d)}

denote
the Grassmann bundle that parametrizes the d-dimensional quotients of the
fibers of E.
We compute Seshadri constants of ample line bundles
on

𝒬
⁢

(
E
,
d
)

{\mathcal{Q}(E,d)}

and

Gr
⁢

(
E
,
d
)

{\mathrm{Gr}(E,d)}

.
Absolute convergence factors of Lipschitz class functions for general Fourier series
Authors: Tsagareishvili Vakhtang , Tutberidze Giorgi
Published: October 2021

The main aim of this paper is to investigate the sequences of positive numbers, for which multiplication with Fourier coefficients of functions

f
∈

Lip
⁡
1

{f\in\operatorname{Lip}1}

class provides absolute convergence of Fourier series.
In particular, we found special conditions for the functions of orthonormal system (ONS), for which the above sequences are absolute convergence factors of Fourier series of functions of

Lip
⁡
1

{\operatorname{Lip}1}

class. It is established that the resulting conditions are best possible in certain sense.
Para toluenesulfonic acid-catalyzed one-pot, three-component synthesis of benzo[5,6]chromeno[3,2-c]quinoline compounds in aqueous medium
Authors: Orang Naser Sadeghpour , Soltani Hadi , Ghiamirad Mehdi , Sabegh Mehdi Ahmadi
Published: October 2021

A new series of benzo[5,6]chromeno[3,2-c]quinoline derivatives were successfully synthesized using various arylglyoxal monohydrates, quinoline-2,4-dione, and β-naphthol in H2O:EtOH (2:1) as a green solvent in the presence of catalytic amounts p-toluenesulfonic acid as a mild catalyst under reflux conditions with high yields (83–92%). The reaction conditions were optimized in different solvents at variable thermal conditions, and the optimized reaction condition for this synthesis has been reported. The structures of all new products were defined by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, FT-IR, mass spectral data, and HRMS.
Brothers in arms: proBDNF/BDNF and sAPPα/Aβ-signaling and their common interplay with ADAM10, TrkB, p75NTR, sortilin, and sorLA in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Eggert Simone , Kins Stefan , Endres Kristina , Brigadski Tanja
Published: October 2021

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important modulator for a variety of functions in the central nervous system (CNS). A wealth of evidence, such as reduced mRNA and protein level in the brain, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and blood samples of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients implicates a crucial role of BDNF in the progression of this disease. Especially, processing and subcellular localization of BDNF and its receptors TrkB and p75 are critical determinants for survival and death in neuronal cells. Similarly, the amyloid precursor protein (APP), a key player in Alzheimer’s disease, and its cleavage fragments sAPPα and Aβ are known for their respective roles in neuroprotection and neuronal death. Common features of APP- and BDNF-signaling indicate a causal relationship in their mode of action. However, the interconnections of APP- and BDNF-signaling are not well understood. Therefore, we here discuss dimerization properties, localization, processing by α- and γ-secretase, relevance of the common interaction partners TrkB, p75, sorLA, and sortilin as well as shared signaling pathways of BDNF and sAPPα.
Study of catalytic hydrogenation performance for the Pd/CeO2 catalysts
Authors: Tang Congming , Zhao Yue , Li Tao , Liao Zhengjiang , Xu Benjing , Jiao Zhaojie , Zhou Guilin
Published: October 2021

Pd/CeO2 catalysts with different metallic Pd loading were synthesized by impregnation method. The physicochemical properties of prepared Pd/CeO2 catalysts and corresponding precursors were studied by XRD, XPS, H2-TPD and H2-TPR. Moreover, the catalytic performance of the Pd/CeO2 catalysts was investigated via gas phase benzene hydrogenation reaction at the temperature of 100–200 °C under atmosphere pressure. Results show that the catalytic performance of prepared Pd/CeO2 catalysts is directly related to the metallic Pd content. The amounts of active metallic Pd and adsorbed-desorbed hydrogen species on Pd/CeO2 catalysts increase with the increasing metallic Pd loading from 1.0 to 3.0%, while the numbers of them are slightly reduced on Pd/CeO2(3.5) catalyst. Furthermore, metallic Pd is highly dispersed on the nano-CeO2 supports, therefore, the prepared Pd/CeO2 catalysts present good gas phase benzene catalytic hydrogenation performance. At 200 °C, the benzene conversion over the Pd/CeO2 catalysts with different metallic Pd loading follows the rule: Pd/CeO2(3.0) > Pd/CeO2(3.5) > Pd/CeO2(2.5) > Pd/CeO2(2.0) > Pd/CeO2(1.5) > Pd/CeO2(1.0), corresponding values are 94.3, 96.4, 89.9, 82.8, 72.7, 42.6 and 94.3%. And the cyclohexane selectivity is 100% on all prepared Pd/CeO2 catalysts.
A mini-review of three-dimensional network topological structure nanocomposites: Preparation and mechanical properties
Authors: Liu Yusong , Huang Jichuan , Zhou Fan , Ni Lijuan , Shen Yingdong , Liu Weihua , Meng Fanbin
Published: October 2021

Three-dimensional (3D) network topological structure composite (3D-NTSC) is a new type of composite in which both the matrix phase and the reinforced phase have 3D continuous network structure and interweave with each other. Different from fiber reinforcement and particle reinforcement, the reinforcing phase in the composite material runs through the whole matrix phase in a continuous form without destroying the topological continuity of the matrix phase, so that each matrix phase in the composite material can not only maintain its own excellent performance, but also can cooperate with each other and complement each other, so that the composite material can play a greater performance advantage. In recent years, 3D-NTSC has attracted the attention of researchers and has been widely used in practical production. At present, there are no comprehensive articles summarizing the research progress of this kind of materials. In this review, we discussed the recent progress of the preparation methods, including natural flow method, vacuum infiltration process, pressure filling method,in situfilling method, and co-building method. Furthermore, research progress on mechanical properties and some regular results, shortcomings, challenges, and prospects of 3D-NTSC were also put forward, which would be helpful to people working in the related fields.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Early Neolithic Pyrotechnological Structures. The Case Study of Portonovo (Marche, Italy)
Authors: Barbaro Cecilia Conati , Forte Vanessa , Muntoni Italo Maria , Eramo Giacomo
Published: October 2021

The introduction of agricultural practices fostered the development of specific technologies for the new subsistence practices and the production of new artefacts. Pyrotechnological structures such as ovens are part of the Neolithic equipment and accompanied the spread of agriculture from the Near East across Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. Ovens located within settlements – mainly domed, above-ground structures – have been traditionally linked to cooking and baking. The function is usually deduced from techno-morphological traits, although experimental approaches or ethnoarchaeological observations have often been used. This article aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary approach to understand the function of fire structures. An integrated methodology that combines archaeological analysis, archaeometry, and experimental archaeology has been applied to study the underground ovens of the Early Neolithic site of Portonovo (Marche, Italy) dated to the sixth millennium BCE. Samples of hardened sediment of archaeological ovens’ inner surface and selected pottery fragments were analysed through X-ray powder diffraction to estimate the temperature reached. A life-size replica of an underground oven was then created to perform firing experiments, including pottery firing. Samples of the oven’s walls and experimental vessels were analysed with the same method, and the values were compared. Our results indicate that the Portonovo ovens are potentially multifunctional structures, built for about 700 years, always with the same technique exploiting the natural soil’s insulating properties.
Thermo-viscoelastic orthotropic constraint cylindrical cavity with variable thermal properties heated by laser pulse via the MGT thermoelasticity model
Authors: Abouelregal Ahmed Elsayed , Ahmad Hijaz , Yao Shao-Wen , Abu-Zinadah Hanaa
Published: October 2021

In the past few decades, many models have been proposed to address the shortcomings found in the classical theories of thermoelasticity and to allow limited speeds of heat waves. In this context, in the current paper a new generalized model of thermoelasticity based on the Moore–Gibson–Thompson (MGT) equation has been introduced. This new model can be derived by introducing the relaxation time factor into the third type of Green–Naghdi model (GN-III). In contrast to the previous works, it was taken into account that the physical properties of the material are dependent on temperature and on the viscous type. The viscoelastic medium has been assumed to obey the Kelvin–Voigt model. On the basis of the present model, thermo-viscoelastic interactions have been investigated in an unbounded orthotropic body with a cylindrical cavity. The surface of the cavity is restricted and exposed to a pulse-formed heat flow that dissolves exponentially. The characteristic thermal modulus of the material is assumed to be a linear function of temperature. The Laplace transform can be used to eliminate time dependency from control equations. Using a suitable approximate method, the transformed equations have been finally inverted by numerical inversion of the Laplace transform. Certain comparisons have been introduced to estimate the effects of the viscosity, pulsed heat, and thermal temperature-independent properties on all studied fields. A comparison with previous models of thermoelasticity is also performed in tables to verify the accuracy of the proposed model. We found from the results that the physical fields strongly depend on the viscoelastic parameter, the change of the thermal conductivity, and pulsed heat, so it is not possible to neglect their effect on the manufacturing process of machines and devices.
Solitary wave solutions of the ionic currents along microtubule dynamical equations via analytical mathematical method
Authors: Aljahdaly Noufe H. , Alyoubi Amjad F. , Seadawy Aly R.
Published: October 2021

In this article, a new generalized exponential rational function method (GERFM) is employed to extract new solitary wave solutions for the ionic currents along microtubules dynamical equations, which is very interested in nanobiosciences. In this article, the stability of the solutions is also studied. As a result, a variety of solitary waves are obtained with free parameters such as periodic wave solution and dark and bright solitary wave solutions. The solutions are plotted and used to describe physical phenomena of the problem. The work shows the power of GERFM. We found that the proposed method is reliable and effective and gives analytical and exact solutions.
Mehr Licht im Schatten? Neuere Ergebnisse über die Schattenwirtschaft
Authors: Schneider Friedrich
Published: October 2021

In diesem Überblicksartikel schätzt Friedrich Schneider mit Hilfe des MIMIC-Ansatzes („Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes“) Größe und Entwicklung der Schattenwirtschaft für 157 Länder in den Jahren 1991–2017 und stellt zugleich die einschlägige Literatur vor. Die OECD-Länder haben mit Werten unter 20 Prozent des offiziellen BIP die kleinste Schattenwirtschaft; die Länder in Lateinamerika und Subsahara-Afrika mit durchschnittlich fast 38 beziehungsweise 39 Prozent die größte. Der Durchschnitt über alle Länder liegt bei 30,9 Prozent. Die Schattenwirtschaft schrumpft dabei über die Zeit. Der durchschnittliche Rückgang beträgt 6,8 Prozentpunkte. Besonders groß ist die Schattenwirtschaft in Ländern wie Bolivien (Georgien) mit 62,9 (61,7) Prozent des BIP; besonders klein ist sie in Ländern wie der Schweiz (den Vereinigten Staaten) mit durchschnittlich 6,4 (7,6) Prozent. Zur Überprüfung der Robustheit werden die MIMIC-Ergebnisse mit denen des Diskrepanz-Ansatzes für 23 Länder verglichen. Für die meisten Länder zeigen sich stabile, ähnliche Ergebnisse. Abschließend wird die Interaktion der Schattenwirtschaft mit der offiziellen Wirtschaft untersucht. Erste Ergebnisse für Pakistan 1976–2015 zeigen kurzfristig einen negativen und langfristig einen positiven Effekt der Schattenwirtschaft auf das BIP.
Evaluating the power of the causal impact method in observational studies of HCV treatment as prevention
Authors: Samartsidis Pantelis , Martin Natasha N. , De Gruttola Victor , De Vocht Frank , Hutchinson Sharon , Lok Judith J. , Puenpatom Amy , Wang Rui , Hickman Matthew , De Angelis Daniela
Published: October 2021

Objectives

The causal impact method (CIM) was recently introduced for evaluation of binary interventions using observational time-series data. The CIM is appealing for practical use as it can adjust for temporal trends and account for the potential of unobserved confounding. However, the method was initially developed for applications involving large datasets and hence its potential in small epidemiological studies is still unclear. Further, the effects that measurement error can have on the performance of the CIM have not been studied yet. The objective of this work is to investigate both of these open problems.

Methods

Motivated by an existing dataset of HCV surveillance in the UK, we perform simulation experiments to investigate the effect of several characteristics of the data on the performance of the CIM. Further, we quantify the effects of measurement error on the performance of the CIM and extend the method to deal with this problem.

Results

We identify multiple characteristics of the data that affect the ability of the CIM to detect an intervention effect including the length of time-series, the variability of the outcome and the degree of correlation between the outcome of the treated unit and the outcomes of controls. We show that measurement error can introduce biases in the estimated intervention effects and heavily reduce the power of the CIM. Using an extended CIM, some of these adverse effects can be mitigated.

Conclusions

The CIM can provide satisfactory power in public health interventions. The method may provide misleading results in the presence of measurement error.
The functional kNN estimator of the conditional expectile: Uniform consistency in number of neighbors
Authors: Almanjahie Ibrahim M. , Bouzebda Salim , Chikr Elmezouar Zouaoui , Laksaci Ali
Published: October 2021

The main purpose of the present paper is to investigate the problem of the nonparametric estimation of the expectile regression
in which the response variable is scalar while the covariate is
a random function. More precisely, an estimator is constructed by using the k Nearest Neighbor procedures (kNN). The main contribution of this study is the establishment of the Uniform consistency in Number of Neighbors (UNN) of the constructed estimator. The usefulness of our result for the smoothing parameter automatic selection is discussed. Short simulation results show that the finite sample performance of the proposed estimator is satisfactory in moderate sample sizes.
We finally examine the implementation of this model in practice with a real data in financial risk analysis.
Engagement and constructiveness in online news comments in English and Russian
Authors: Trnavac Radoslava , Taboada Maite
Published: October 2021

We investigate the relationship between Engagement and constructiveness in online news comments by analyzing the frequency and type of Engagement expressions in a corpus of English and Russian comments, following the Appraisal framework. The comments in question, 10,000 words in each language, were posted in response to opinion articles in the Canadian newspaperThe Globe and Mailand the Russian online news channelRT. In the context of online news comments, users generally characterize constructive comments as posts that tend to create a civil dialogue through remarks that are relevant to the article and do not provoke an emotional response. Through quantitative and qualitative analyses, we conclude that the language of constructive comments is more explicitly subjective in both languages. The main difference in the use of Engagement expressions in constructive and non-constructive comments lies along the lines of certainty/uncertainty and reliability/unreliability. As for cross-linguistic differences, it seems that English constructive comments place emphasis on the reliability of a commenter’s knowledge, while Russian constructive comments employ more modals of necessity, which have a prescriptive function.