bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Horizontal acquisition of Symbiodiniaceae in the Anemonia viridis (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) species complex
Authors: Porro Barbara , Zamoum Thamilla , Mallien Cédric , Hume Benjamin C. C. , Voolstra Christian R. , Röttinger Eric , Furla Paola , Forcioli Didier
Published: November 2020

All metazoans are in fact holobionts, resulting from the association of several organisms, and organismal adaptation is then due to the composite response of this association to the environment. Deciphering the mechanisms of symbiont acquisition in a holobiont is therefore essential to understanding the extent of its adaptive capacities. In cnidarians, some species acquire their photosynthetic symbionts directly from their parents (vertical transmission) but may also acquire symbionts from the environment (horizontal acquisition) at the adult stage. The Mediterranean snakelocks sea anemone, Anemonia viridis (Forskål, 1775), passes down symbionts from one generation to the next by vertical transmission, but the capacity for such horizontal acquisition is still unexplored. To unravel the flexibility of the association between the different host lineages identified in A. viridis and its Symbiodiniaceae, we genotyped both the animal hosts and their symbiont communities in members of host clones in five different locations in the North Western Mediterranean Sea. The composition of within‐host–symbiont populations was more dependent on the geographical origin of the hosts than their membership to a given lineage or even to a given clone. Additionally, similarities in host–symbiont communities were greater among genets (i.e. among different clones) than among ramets (i.e. among members of the same given clonal genotype). Taken together, our results demonstrate that A. viridis may form associations with a range of symbiotic dinoflagellates and suggest a capacity for horizontal acquisition. A mixed‐mode transmission strategy in A. viridis, as we posit here, may help explain the large phenotypic plasticity that characterizes this anemone.
Medical student learner neglect in the clinical learning environment: Applying Glaser’s theoretical model
Authors: Rudland Joy , Tweed Mike , Jaye Chrystal , Wilkinson Tim J.
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Learner neglect is a relatively new concept in education, and no suitable framework for its exploration has been devised. The aim of this study was to determine whether an existing framework, Glaser's framework of child neglect, could be applied to learner neglect in clinical learning environments. This was a retrospective analysis of data obtained as part of a related study.

Method

Six focus groups were conducted with medical students in their early clinical years to explore their views of what experiences in medical education were challenging and why they presented a challenge. The transcript data were analysed using inductive content analysis, within an interpretivist approach in the development of categories. The identified categories were cross referenced with Glaser's framework categories replacing the carer with the teacher and the child with the learner.

Results

Glaser's classifications of teacher (parent) behaviours were all identified in the negative aspects of medical learner clinical education including emotional unavailability/unresponsiveness, acting in a hostile manner, inappropriate inconsistent developmental interaction, failure to recognise individuality and failure to promote social adaption. Physical unavailability was identified as an additional category and is included in our proposed framework of learner neglect.

Discussion

Adapting Glaser's framework was useful in considering learner neglect. Medical schools have a role in ensuring learning experiences are positive across contexts and to make explicit to teachers any behaviours that may appear as learner neglect. Applying this framework has the potential to make more explicit any subtle undermining teacher behaviours. Once explicit, there is a greater likelihood that behaviours may be reappraised both by the teacher and learner and modified to promote a more effective clinical learning experience.
A case of cervical dystonia with GNAL mutation and a subsequent shift in laterality of torticollis after temporary remission
Authors: Itaya Sakiko , Kawarai Toshitaka , Kamata Tomoyuki
Published: November 2020

We report an adult case of cervical dystonia associated with a GNAL mutation. Torticollis first set in when the patient was 19 years old. The disease went into remission but subsequently recurred, with a change in laterality of the torticollis. For two years, the symptoms are managed by a combination of L‐DOPA, trihexyphenidyl, and botulinum toxin.
Ustilago maydis effector Jsi1 interacts with Topless corepressor, hijacking plant jasmonate/ethylene signaling
Authors: Darino Martin , Chia Khong‐Sam , Marques Joana , Aleksza David , Soto‐Jiménez Luz Mayela , Saado Indira , Uhse Simon , Borg Michael , Betz Ruben , Bindics Janos , Zienkiewicz Krzysztof , Feussner Ivo , Petit‐Houdenot Yohann , Djamei Armin
Published: November 2020

Ustilago maydis is the causal agent of maize smut disease. During the colonization process, the fungus secretes effector proteins that suppress immune responses and redirect the host metabolism in favor of the pathogen. As effectors play a critical role during plant colonization, their identification and functional characterization are essential to understanding biotrophy and disease.

Using biochemical, molecular, and transcriptomic techniques, we performed a functional characterization of the U. maydis effector Jasmonate/Ethylene signaling inducer 1 (Jsi1).

Jsi1 interacts with several members of the plant corepressor family Topless/Topless related (TPL/TPR). Jsi1 expression in Zea mays and Arabidopsis thaliana leads to transcriptional induction of the ethylene response factor (ERF) branch of the jasmonate/ethylene (JA/ET) signaling pathway. In A. thaliana, activation of the ERF branch leads to biotrophic susceptibility. Jsi1 likely activates the ERF branch via an EAR (ET‐responsive element binding‐factor‐associated amphiphilic repression) motif, which resembles EAR motifs from plant ERF transcription factors, that interacts with TPL/TPR proteins.

EAR‐motif‐containing effector candidates were identified from different fungal species, including Magnaporthe oryzae, Sporisorium scitamineum, and Sporisorium reilianum. Interaction between plant TPL proteins and these effector candidates from biotrophic and hemibiotrophic fungi indicates the convergent evolution of effectors modulating the TPL/TPR corepressor hub.
Examining progression and degeneration of nursing science using Imre Lakatos’s methodology of scientific research programs
Authors: Younas Ahtisham
Published: November 2020

Over the years, nursing research and practice have been through remarkable transformations in response to evolving and emerging healthcare systems and practices. Regarding research, nurses moved beyond merely using the quantitative methodology to combining qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods. In practice, nurses have transitioned from the delivery of medical‐based care to nursing theory‐guided practice, evidence‐based practice, knowledge translation and transformative practice. Some domains of nursing research and practice became progressive, while others degenerated. This paper aims to examine how different domains of nursing research and practice progress and degenerate using Imre Lakatos's methodology of scientific research programs. Lakatos differentiated scientific and pseudoscientific knowledge and coined the idea of scientific research programs. He believed that science in any discipline develops so that some programs are more progressive and others’ degenerative. The degeneration and progression of programs occur steadily and rationally and are determined based on the extent of development and programs’ potential to predict new solutions to old problems. Adopting this idea could enable nurses to critically analyse research programs in everyday knowledge development to use valid and legitimate programs for informing nursing practice.
A shift in abscisic acid/gibberellin balance underlies retention of dormancy induced by seed development temperature
Authors: Tuan Pham A. , Nguyen Tran‐Nguyen , Jordan Mark C. , Ayele Belay T.
Published: November 2020

Through a combination of physiological, pharmacological, molecular and targeted metabolomics approaches, we showed that retention of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seed dormancy levels induced by low and high seed development temperatures during post‐desiccation phases is associated with modulation of gibberellin (GA) level and seed responsiveness to abscisic acid (ABA) and GA via expression of TaABI5 and TaGAMYB, respectively. Dormancy retention during imbibition, however, is associated with modulations of both ABA level and responsiveness via expression of specific ABA metabolism (TaNCED2 and TaCYP707A1) and signalling (TaPYL2, TaSnRK2, TaABI3, TaABI4 and TaABI5) genes, and alterations of GA levels and responsiveness through expression of specific GA biosynthesis (TaGA20ox1, TaGA20ox2 and TaGA3ox2) and signalling (TaGID1 and TaGID2) genes, respectively. Expression patterns of GA signalling genes, TaRHT1 and TaGAMYB, lacked positive correlation with that of GA regulated genes and dormancy level observed in seeds developed at the two temperatures, implying their regulation at post‐transcriptional level. Our results overall implicate that a shift in ABA/GA balance underlies retention of dormancy levels induced by seed development temperature during post‐desiccation and imbibition phases. Consistently, genes regulated by ABA and GA during imbibition overlapped with those differentially expressed between imbibed seeds developed at the two temperatures and mediate different biological functions.
Investigating DNA methylation as a potential mediator between pigmentation genes, pigmentary traits and skin cancer
Authors: Bonilla Carolina , Bertoni Bernardo , Min Josine L. , Hemani Gibran ,   Genetics of DNA Methylation Consortium, Elliott Hannah R.
Published: November 2020

Pigmentation characteristics are well‐known risk factors for skin cancer. Polymorphisms in pigmentation genes have been associated with these traits and with the risk of malignancy. However, the functional relationship between genetic variation and disease is still unclear. This study aims to assess whether pigmentation SNPs are associated with pigmentary traits and skin cancer via DNA methylation (DNAm). Using a meta‐GWAS of whole‐blood DNAm from 36 European cohorts (N = 27,750; the Genetics of DNA Methylation Consortium, GoDMC), we found that 19 out of 27 SNPs in 10 pigmentation genes were associated with 391 DNAm sites across 30 genomic regions. We examined the effect of 25 selected DNAm sites on pigmentation traits, sun exposure phenotypes and skin cancer and on gene expression in whole blood. We uncovered an association of DNAm site cg07402062 with red hair in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). We also found that the expression of ASIP and CDK10 was associated with hair colour, melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. Our results indicate that DNAm and expression of pigmentation genes may play a role as potential mediators of the relationship between genetic variants, pigmentation phenotypes and skin cancer and thus deserve further scrutiny.
High doses of FSH induce autophagy in bovine ovarian granulosa cells via the AKT/mTOR pathway
Authors: Tang Xiaorong , Ma Lizhu , Guo Shun , Liang Mingyue , Jiang Zhongliang
Published: November 2020

Follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) plays a critical role in follicular growth and granulosa cell function; however, the mechanism by which the aggressive stimulation of FSH leads to poorer oocyte quality and embryo development potential is unclear. In this study, bovine ovarian granulosa cells (BGCs) were challenged with FSH doses (vehicle, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 ng/ml) to investigate the effects of FSH on BGCs. The results indicated that the relative viability of BGCs was significantly increased in cells challenged with 1 ng/ml FSH, whereas the viability was significantly decreased with 100 ng/ml FSH treatment. The mRNA abundance of FSHR, CYP19, StAR and BAX was significantly upregulated with 1, 10 and 100 ng/ml of FSH, while the BCL‐2 mRNA level was downregulated with higher concentrations of FSH (10 and 100 ng/ml). Furthermore, BGC autophagy was detected in cells treated with 10 and 100 ng/ml FSH by MDC staining, and the mRNA abundance of LC3, BECN1, BNIP3, ATG3 and ATG7 was upregulated with increasing FSH concentration. Meanwhile, the protein expression of LC3 was increased in cells treated with 10 and 100 ng/ml FSH. 1 and 10 ng/ml FSH significantly increased E2 production, whereas 10 and 100 ng/ml FSH significantly increased P4 production. FSH significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT in cells treated with higher concentrations (1, 10 and 100 ng/ml), while activating mTOR phosphorylation at concentrations of 10 and 100 ng/ml of FSH. In summary, we can conclude that higher doses of FSH (10 and 100 ng/ml) induce BGC autophagy via the AKT/mTOR signalling pathway.
Upregulation of the expression of Toll‐like receptor 9 in basophils in patients with allergic rhinitis: An enhanced expression by allergens
Authors: Zhong Qing , Zhan Mengmeng , Wang Ling , Chen Dong , Zhao Nan , Wang Junling , Huang Yixia , Zhang Xiaowen , He Shaoheng , Zhang Huiyun
Published: November 2020

It was reported that the expression of Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 9 may be related to Th2‐type allergic inflammation including allergic rhinitis (AR). However, little is known about the expression of TLR9 in the basophils in AR. In the present study, the expression of TLR9 was examined by flow cytometry analysis, and the expression of TLR9 mRNA in KU812 was determined by quantitative real‐time PCR. The results showed that the percentage of TLR9+CCR3+ cells in blood granulocytes increased by 46% in patients with AR, but not in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Allergens namely Dermatophagoide allergen extract (DAE) and Platanus pollen allergen extract (PPAE) upregulated the expression of TLR9 in CCR3+ granulocytes by 76% and 84%, respectively. DAE and PPAE also enhanced the proportions of TLR9+CD123+HLA‐DR− cells and TLR9+CCR3+CD123+HLA‐DR− cells in granulocytes and PBMCs of patients with AR. In order to investigate the actions of allergens on basophils, KU812 cells were used. It was observed that all KU812 cells expressed TLR9, and the expression intensity of TLR9 in a single KU812 cell was elevated by CpG. IL‐37, IL‐31, IL‐33, Artemisia sieversiana wild allergen extract (ASWAE), DAE, OVA and Der p 1 induced an increase in the expression of TLR9 mRNA and IL‐6 production in KU812 cells. It was shown that the percentage of TLR9‐expressing basophils increased in the blood of ovalbumin (OVA)‐sensitized mice. In conclusion, an increased expression of TLR9 and the production of IL‐6 in basophils implicate that the contribution of basophils to AR is likely via TLR9.
Expression of TOB/BTG family members in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Fonseca‐Camarillo Gabriela , Furuzawa‐Carballeda Janette , Priego‐Ranero Ángel A. , Martínez‐Benítez Braulio , Barreto‐Zúñiga Rafael , Yamamoto‐Furusho Jesús K.
Published: November 2020

In recent years, the role of anti‐proliferative TOB proteins in the regulation of immune response by inhibiting T cell activation has been demonstrated. Nevertheless, no previous studies have explored their expression in patients with IBD. The aim of the study was to characterize the gene and protein expression of the TOB/BTG family in intestinal tissue of patients with IBD. This is an observational and cross‐sectional study that included 63 IBD patients. Gene expression of TOB/BTG family was measured by RT‐PCR. Protein expression of TOB/CD16 and BTG/Ki‐67 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. TOB/BTG family mRNAs were detected and quantitated by RT‐qPCR in rectal and ileum biopsies from UC patients and CD patients, respectively, and non‐inflammatory control tissues. Results showed that TOB1 and BTG1 gene expression was decreased in the colonic mucosa from patients with UC compared with the control group. The TOB2 and BTG2 genes were over‐expressed in the colonic mucosa of patients with UC in remission compared with the active UC and control group. The high TOB2 gene expression was associated with histological remission (P = .01). TOB1/CD16, TOB2/CD16, BTG1/Ki‐67, BTG2/Ki‐67 and BTG4/Ki‐67 single and double positive cells were mostly NK, macrophages, epithelial cells, connective tissue cells and perivascular inflammatory infiltrates in tissues from patients with UC and CD. This is the first depiction of the TOB/BTG family gene and protein expression in rectal and ileum tissues by a CD16+ subpopulation in IBD.
Political non‐participation in elections, civic life and social movements
Authors: Hensby Alexander
Published: November 2020

This article reviews existing theory and research on political non‐participation. Spanning the electoral, civic and social movement spheres, it critically compares the different conceptual tools that have been employed to explain why individuals might not participate in politics. This includes the study of rational choice, political socialisation, social networks and political emotions. In doing, this article identifies opportunities for a more holistic approach to studying non‐participation across multiple fields and contexts in the social sciences.
Trade destruction and deflection effects of US‐China trade frictions on China’s tariff‐targeted products
Authors: Shen Guobing , Wang Peijie , Xu Yuanhan
Published: November 2020

This paper probes into the impacts of US‐China trade rows on China's exports of products covered under the applicable tariff lines. We scrutinise the monthly trade data of China with the US and third‐party markets from January 2017 to June 2019, employing the DID model. It is found firstly that the US levy of tariffs on $50 billion and $200 billion worth of Chinese products have produced a significant and adverse trade destruction effect on China's exports to the US. Meanwhile, the tariffs levied on these products have played a significant and positive role in deflecting China's export to third‐party markets. Second the US additional tariffs on $50 billion of China's products have produced greater trade destruction and deflection effects on China's export of tariff‐targeted products to the US, whereas only the US additional tariffs on $200 billion of China's products have caused a net trade destruction effect. Third, it is confirmed that the trade destruction effects of US additional tariffs on Chinese products exported to the US are mainly concentrated on high tech‐intensive manufactures and primary goods, while the trade deflection effect of China's export to third‐party markets is concentrated on differentiated products. The findings render crucial policy implications.
Predicting patch occupancy reveals the complexity of host range expansion
Authors: Forister M. L. , Philbin C. S. , Marion Z. H. , Buerkle C. A. , Dodson C. D. , Fordyce J. A. , Forister G. W. , Lebeis S. L. , Lucas L. K. , Nice C. C. , Gompert Z.
Published: November 2020

Effects of plant variation and interacting species explain the colonization of a novel host plant by the Melissa blue butterfly.
A stable Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation in a changing North Atlantic Ocean since the 1990s
Authors: Fu Yao , Li Feili , Karstensen Johannes , Wang Chunzai
Published: November 2020

In contrast to profound North Atlantic property changes, the AMOC was stable on decadal time scales over the past three decades.
Patient-centered connectivity-based prediction of tau pathology spread in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Franzmeier Nicolai , Dewenter Anna , Frontzkowski Lukas , Dichgans Martin , Rubinski Anna , Neitzel Julia , Smith Ruben , Strandberg Olof , Ossenkoppele Rik , Buerger Katharina , Duering Marco , Hansson Oskar , Ewers Michael
Published: November 2020

In Alzheimer’s disease, PET-assessed tau pathology emerges locally and spreads throughout functionally connected regions.
Retracing the evolutionary emergence of thymopoiesis
Authors: Swann Jeremy B. , Nusser Anja , Morimoto Ryo , Nagakubo Daisuke , Boehm Thomas
Published: November 2020

Evolutionary changes in the lymphopoietic capacity of the thymus are recapitulated in mice.
Nationwide seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and identification of risk factors in the general population of the Netherlands during the first epidemic wave
Authors: Vos Eric R A , den Hartog Gerco , Schepp Rutger M , Kaaijk Patricia , van Vliet Jeffrey , Helm Kina , Smits Gaby , Wijmenga-Monsuur Alienke , Verberk Janneke D M , van Boven Michiel , van Binnendijk Rob S , de Melker Hester E , Mollema Liesbeth , van der Klis Fiona R M
Published: November 2020

Background

We aimed to detect SARS-CoV-2 serum antibodies in the general population of the Netherlands and identify risk factors for seropositivity amidst the first COVID-19 epidemic wave.

Methods

Participants (n=3207, aged 2–90 years), enrolled from a previously established nationwide serosurveillance study, provided a self-collected fingerstick blood sample and completed a questionnaire (median inclusion date 3 April 2020). IgG antibodies targeted against the spike S1-protein of SARS-CoV-2 were quantified using a validated multiplex-immunoassay. Seroprevalence was estimated controlling for survey design, individual pre-pandemic concentration, and test performance. Random-effects logistic regression identified risk factors for seropositivity.

Results

Overall seroprevalence in the Netherlands was 2.8% (95% CI 2.1 to 3.7), with no differences between sexes or ethnic background, and regionally ranging between 1.3 and 4.0%. Estimates were highest among 18–39 year-olds (4.9%), and lowest in children 2–17 years (1.7%). Multivariable analysis revealed that persons taking immunosuppressants and those from the Orthodox-Reformed Protestant community had over four times higher odds of being seropositive compared to others. Anosmia/ageusia was the most discriminative symptom between seropositive (53%) and seronegative persons (4%, p<0.0001). Antibody concentrations in seropositive persons were significantly higher in those with fever or dyspnoea in contrast to those without (p=0.01 and p=0.04, respectively).

Conclusions

In the midst of the first epidemic wave, 2.8% of the Dutch population was estimated to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, that is, 30 times higher than reported. This study identified independent groups with increased odds for seropositivity that may require specific surveillance measures to guide future protective interventions internationally, including vaccination once available.
Root growth phenology, anatomy, and morphology among root orders inVaccinium macrocarponAit.
Authors: Atucha Amaya , Workmaster Beth Ann , Bolivar-Medina Jenny L.
Published: November 2020

Understanding the mechanisms controlling plant growth is essential in order to maintain and increase productivity in managed ecosystems. However, the lack of information on below-ground growth compared with above-ground growth limits our ability to adjust crop management practices under changing climate conditions. This study examines seasonal fine-root growth and its spatial distribution through the soil profile across the growing season, and the anatomical and morphological traits of roots according to their branching order in Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait. Root production followed a unimodal curve, with one marked flush of root growth starting at bloom, with a peak at the end of fruit maturation. Root vertical distribution concentrated in the upper 5 cm of soil depth, accounting for over 50% of new roots produced during the study. Root anatomy and morphology were related to root function, as the first three root orders had intact cortex and epidermis and high mycorrhizal colonization, indicative of absorptive function, while orders ranking fifth and higher had secondary development and the presence of a cambium cork layer, indicative of translocation. Our study highlights the importance of examining the timing of root growth and root traits by root order, and its implications for the timing of fertilization and other practices in managed ecosystems.
Reheating constraints on an inflation model with nonminimal derivative coupling in the light of Planck 2018 data
Authors: Mirtalebian F. S. , Nozari Kourosh , Azizi Tahereh
Published: November 2020

Reheating is a process by which the inflaton’s energy density transfers to conventional matter after cosmic inflation. Currently, there is no cosmic observational evidence to directly detect the reheating era, but it may impose additional constraints on inflationary models. Depending upon the model, e-folding number during reheating [Formula: see text] and the final reheating temperature [Formula: see text], as well as its effective equation of state parameter [Formula: see text], may be directly linked to the inflation observables such as the scalar spectral index [Formula: see text] and the tensor-to-scalar ratio [Formula: see text]. By restricting the values of the effective equation of state parameter observationally, one can derive more stringent limits on inflationary models than those obtained from other routes. In this paper, we are interested to consider the reheating era in an inflation model with a nonminimal derivative coupling of the scalar field to impose some severe constraints on the parameter space of the model in the light of Planck 2018 data. We study the reheating final temperature and e-folds number in terms of the scalar spectral index and [Formula: see text] within a numerical analysis on the model’s parameter space. To realize a viable range of the reheating equation of state parameter in this nonminimal derivative inflation model, we obtain some observationally acceptable subspaces in the [Formula: see text] phase plane. To this end, we consider some sort of polynomial potentials to obtain some constraints on the model’s parameter space which corresponds to viable values of the scalar spectral index and tensor-to-scalar ratio released by Planck 2018 TT+TE+EE+LowE observational data. Finally, we compare the obtained constraints in this nonminimal set-up with those derived from a single, minimally coupled scalar field inflation model to reveal the physics of the reheating in the context of nonminimal derivative inflation model.
A Fuzzy-Based Customisation of Healthcare Knowledge to Support Clinical Domestic Decisions for Chronically Ill Patients
Authors: Zekri Firas , Ellouze Afef Samet , Bouaziz Rafik
Published: November 2020

The development of customised healthcare systems is becoming an important issue in the healthcare industry due to the rapid increase in the number of chronically ill patients. These systems aim to deliver effective care to patients having chronic diseases through customised services. However, knowledge bases need also to be customised since systems are confronted with huge amount of personalised and imprecise medical knowledge. Therefore, we propose in this paper a new system to customise medical knowledge according to progressive disease phases and pathological cases. A rule management process first customises rules according to the specificities of every disease phase, and then matches a private knowledge base with each enrolled patient. This base contains only the patient’s customised knowledge. After reasoning, another customisation process is carried out by the component, Result Manager, which ensures the validation of the system outcomes by the pathological case experts, before being recommended. This will better ensure the recommendation of the generated results to the non-professional users. In addition, Result Manager offers fuzzy semantic queries to the experts. In conclusion, our new decision support system makes medical aid decisions not only addressed to physicians, but also to chronically ill patients and persons regarded as caregivers.
Evaluation of the Consumer Interaction Capability of the Virtual Brand Community of Chinese Mobile Internet Enterprises Based on the Hybrid MCDM Method
Authors: Sun Chu
Published: November 2020

E-commerce has grown considerably with increasing access to the Internet. As a means of e-commerce, the virtual brand community (VBC) has become one of the important channels for brand enterprises to promote products, enhance brand awareness and compete with enterprises in the digital economy. The most important task of any website is the provision of tailored information and services to satisfy client needs. This research aimed to evaluate the status of websites and services provided by Chinese mobile internet enterprises. Based on the Fogg behaviour model, initial criteria and sub-criteria were constructed, and a new hybrid multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) model was used in this study that combines the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) technique and the analytic network process (ANP) method to determine the interaction between factors and to determine the weight of each factor. Finally, the PROMETHEE method was utilised to rank and develop the consumer interaction capability of the VBC of Chinese mobile internet enterprises. Once these perceptions were captured, among the three criteria determined for the evaluation of the VBC of different mobile internet enterprises, affective involvement was the most important criterion, followed by motivation and environment triggers. Moreover, the VBCs of three communication enterprises were evaluated and ranked to validate the proposed model.
Edge domination and 2-independence in trees
Authors: Meddah Nacéra , Chellali Mustapha
Published: November 2020

An edge dominating set in a graph [Formula: see text] is a subset [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] such that each edge in [Formula: see text] is either in [Formula: see text] or adjacent to at least an edge in [Formula: see text]. The edge domination number [Formula: see text] is the minimum cardinality of an edge dominating set in [Formula: see text]. A subset [Formula: see text] of vertices in [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text]-independent if every vertex of [Formula: see text] has at most one neighbor in [Formula: see text] The [Formula: see text]-independence number [Formula: see text] is the maximum cardinality of a [Formula: see text]-independent set of [Formula: see text] We show that if [Formula: see text] is a nontrivial tree, then [Formula: see text] and we point out that this inequality is not valid for all bipartite graphs. Moreover, we characterize all trees that achieve equality in this bound.
A numerical simulation for prediction of thermal ablation in composite rocket motor casing
Authors: Pamarthi Vijaya Kanth , Balakrishna Murthy V.
Published: November 2020

Thermal protection systems (TPS) are used in space applications to protect structures failing from burning and/or excessive temperatures. In this work, a finite element simulation is performed to analyze the behavior of a composite rocket motor casing during the expansion of combustion gases inside the motor. A two-dimensional axisymmetric model of a rocket motor casing provided with an insulating liner is modeled in a finite element software ANSYS. Variable equivalent heat flux at the inside faces of the liner, due to radiation and convection of gases, is estimated and applied as a boundary condition. The reduction of heat load with time due to latent heat of fusion and the resistance offered by char that exists above the pyrolysis front is also considered. At the same time, the material properties of the portion of the liner exposed to its melting point temperature are regulated to offer negligible resistance to move the boundary load on to the pyrolysis front at every instant. A transient analysis is carried out with appropriate mesh quality and time steps for 10 s. Ablation, charring, and unaffected regions are identified and the required insulation liner thickness is recommended. Extension of the procedure to model a similar motor with any other cylindrical length is discussed.
Tourism and Disasters: A Systematic Review from 2010–2019
Authors: Naeem Nida , Rana Irfan Ahmad
Published: November 2020

Disaster and climate change have impacted tourism around the world. Tourist areas are often hit by extreme events, and respective damages severely affect regions and their economies. Disasters, directly or indirectly, affect the number of tourists visited, the hotel industry, revenue generation, employment, and an overall economy of a region. The paper reviews the literature on disasters and the tourism industry. This review paper follows the PRISMA guidelines and statements on the systematic review using “tourism and disasters” keywords. The study aims to ascertain common research themes in the domain of tourism and disasters. Results have revealed that economy, environment, emergency management and response, community-based participation, post-disaster tourism recovery, psychological behavior of people, nature-based tourism, dark tourism, and transportation are the key thematic areas. The findings of the study can help consolidate the research to effectively help future research and relevant stakeholders to work out disaster mitigation measures and improve the preparedness of the tourism industry.
Tetrandrine Inhibits Titanium Particle-Induced Inflammatory Osteolysis through the Nuclear Factor-κB Pathway
Authors: Liu Zige , Li Yan , Guo Fengying , Zhang Chen , Song Guorui , Yang Jiahao , Chen Desheng
Published: November 2020

Peri-implant osteolysis (PIO) and the subsequent aseptic loosening are the main reasons for artificial joint implant failure. Existing methods for treating aseptic loosening are far from satisfactory, necessitating advanced drug exploration. This study is aimed at investigating the effect and underlying mechanism of tetrandrine (Tet) on inflammatory osteolysis. We established a Ti particle-induced inflammatory osteolysis mouse model and administered Tet or an equal volume of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Two weeks later, specimens were collected. Histological staining showed that Tet administration inhibited Ti-stimulated osteolysis. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphate (TRAP) staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated that osteoclast formation was remarkably inhibited in the groups treated with Tet in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, relevant inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6) were also significantly reduced in the calvaria of the Tet-treated groups. Exposure of receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB ligand- (RANKL-) induced bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) and RAW264.7 cells to Tet significantly reduced osteoclast formation, F-actin ring formation, bone resorption, and the expression of relevant genes (matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9), TRAP, and nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1)) during osteoclastogenesis in vitro. Mechanistic studies using Western blotting demonstrated that Tet inhibited the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway by decreasing the phosphorylation of inhibitor of NF-κB α (IκBα) and p65, which play important roles in osteoclast formation. Collectively, our data indicate that Tet suppressed Ti-induced inflammatory osteolysis and osteoclast formation in mice, suggesting that Tet has the potential to be developed to treat and prevent wear particle-induced inflammatory osteolysis.
Emergence of Meningitis Caused by Nonvaccine Serotypes of Pneumococcus in Rural United States
Authors: Marks Jessie , Bhoojhawon Guru V. , Patrick Katherine D. , Wood Kelly E.
Published: November 2020

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have decreased the rates of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children. Since vaccine introduction, however, rates of infection due to nonvaccine Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes have increased. We now describe 3 meningitis cases due to the nonvaccine serotypes 35B and 11A from rural United States.
Identifying 4 Novel lncRNAs as Potential Biomarkers for Acute Rejection and Graft Loss of Renal Allograft
Authors: Zhang Zedan , Tang Yanlin , Zhuang Hongkai , Lin Enyu , Xie Lu , Feng Xiaoqiang , Zeng Jiayi , Liu Yanjun , Liu Jiumin , Yu Yuming
Published: November 2020

Acute rejection (AR) after kidney transplant is one of the major obstacles to obtain ideal graft survival. Reliable molecular biomarkers for AR and renal allograft loss are lacking. This study was performed to identify novel long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) for diagnosing AR and predicting the risk of graft loss. The several microarray datasets with AR and nonrejection specimens of renal allograft downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database were analyzed to screen differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) and mRNAs (DEmRNAs). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify optimal prognosis-related DElncRNAs for constructing a risk score model. 39 common DElncRNAs and 185 common DEmRNAs were identified to construct a lncRNA-mRNA regulatory relationship network. DElncRNAs were revealed to regulate immune cell activation and proliferation. Then, 4 optimal DElncRNAs, ATP1A1-AS1, CTD-3080P12.3, EMX2OS, and LINC00645, were selected from 17 prognostic DElncRNAs to establish the 4-lncRNA risk score model. In the training set, the high-risk patients were more inclined to graft loss than the low-risk patients. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristics analysis revealed the model had good sensitivity and specificity in prediction of 1-, 2-, and 3-year graft survival after biopsy (

AUC
=
0.891
,
0.836
,
and
 
0.733

, respectively). The internal testing set verified the result well. Gene set enrichment analysis which expounded NOD-like receptor, the Toll-like receptor signaling pathways, and other else playing important role in immune response was enriched by the 4 lncRNAs. Allograft-infiltrating immune cells analysis elucidated the expression of 4 lncRNAs correlated with gamma delta T cells and eosinophils, etc. Our study identified 4 novel lncRNAs as potential biomarkers for AR of renal allograft and constructed a lncRNA-based model for predicting the risk of graft loss, which would provide new insights into mechanisms of AR.
Automatic Modulation Classification Based on Deep Learning for Software-Defined Radio
Authors: Wu Peng , Sun Bei , Su Shaojing , Wei Junyu , Zhao Jinhui , Wen Xudong
Published: November 2020

With the development of artificial intelligence technology, deep learning has been applied to automatic modulation classification (AMC) and achieved very good results. In this paper, we introduced an improved deep neural architecture for implementing radio signal identification tasks, which is an important facet of constructing the spectrum-sensing capability required by software-defined radio. The architecture of the proposed network is based on the Inception-ResNet network by changing the several kernel sizes and the repeated times of modules to adapt to modulation classification. The modules in the proposed architecture are repeated more times to increase the depth of neural network and the model’s ability to learn features. The modules in the proposed network combine the advantages of Inception network and ResNet, which have faster convergence rate and larger receptive field. The proposed network is proved to have excellent performance for modulation classification through the experiment in this paper. The experiment shows that the classification accuracy of the proposed method is highest with the varying SNR among the six methods and it peaks at 93.76% when the SNR is 14 dB, which is 6 percent higher than that of LSTM and 13 percent higher than that of MentorNet, Inception, and ResNet purely. Besides, the average accuracy from 0 to 18 dB of the proposed method is 3 percent higher than that of GAN network. It will provide a new idea for modulation classification aiming at distraction time signal.
Subnormality of Powers of Multivariable Weighted Shifts
Authors: Lee Sang Hoon , Lee Woo Young , Yoon Jasang
Published: November 2020

Given a pair

T
≡

T

1

,

T

2

of commuting subnormal Hilbert space operators, the Lifting Problem for Commuting Subnormals (LPCS) asks for necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a commuting pair

N
≡

N

1

,

N

2

of normal extensions of

T

1

and

T

2

; in other words,

T

is a subnormal pair. The LPCS is a longstanding open problem in the operator theory. In this paper, we consider the LPCS of a class of powers of

2

-variable weighted shifts. Our main theorem states that if a “corner” of a 2-variable weighted shift

T
=

W

α
,
β

≔

T

1

,

T

2

is subnormal, then

T

is subnormal if and only if a power

T

m
,
n

≔

T

1

m

,

T

2

n

is subnormal for some

m
,
n
≥
1

. As a corollary, we have that if

T

is a 2-variable weighted shift having a tensor core or a diagonal core, then

T

is subnormal if and only if a power of

T

is subnormal.
Bioinspired Synthesis of Acacia senegal Leaf Extract Functionalized Silver Nanoparticles and Its Antimicrobial Evaluation
Authors: Uzunuigbe Edwina Olohirere , Kappo Abidemi Paul , Mlowe Sixberth , Revaprasadu Neerish
Published: November 2020

Synthesizing nanoparticles with the less environmentally malignant approach using plant extract is of great interest; this is because most of the chemical approaches can be very costly, toxic, and time-consuming. Herein, we report the use of Acacia senegal leaf extracts to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using an environmentally greener approach. Silver ions were reduced using the bioactive components of the plant extracts with observable colour change from faint colourless to a brownish solution as indication of AgNP formation. The structural properties of the as-synthesized AgNPs were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV-Vis absorption spectrum. Antimicrobial assessment of the as-synthesized AgNPs was explored on some strains of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The obtained results indicate that the as-synthesized AgNPs are pure crystallite of cubic phase of AgNPs, fairly dispersed with a size range of 10–19 nm. The AgNPs were found to be small in size and exhibit significant antibacterial activities, suggesting that the as-synthesized AgNPs could be used in the pharmaceutical and food industries as bactericidal agents.
Resource Scheduling and Strategic Management of Smart Cities under the Background of Digital Economy
Authors: Yin Qing , Liu Gang
Published: November 2020

Smart city is a brand-new city form, in which information and communication technologies are utilized to sense, analyze, and integrate the key information of city operation core system, so that intelligent responses can be immediately and effectively taken to various demands including people’s livelihood, environmental protection, public safety, city services, and industrial and commercial activities. Digital economy is a mixed economy with the coexistence of multiple business models and diversified value creation models based on the information and communication technologies and in the digital economy, many things are undergoing huge changes, and their corresponding economic rules also need to be adjusted. On the basis of analyzing previous research works, this paper expounded the research status and significance of smart city’s resource scheduling and strategic management, elaborated the development background, current status, and future challenges of digital economy, introduced the methods and principles of city-level spatiotemporal data model and spatial full factor coding, formulated resource scheduling strategies for smart city based on digital economy, explored the dynamic fusion, storage, and update of smart city’s multisource heterogeneous data, conducted the information display and analysis of multilevel smart city, proposed strategic management approaches for smart city based on digital economy, analyzed the integrated implementation model of shared resource scheduling and people-oriented social management, and discussed the economic growth factors and standardization mechanism of smart city under the background of digital economy. The results of this study provide a reference for further research studies on the resource scheduling and strategic management of smart city under the background of digital economy.
Passenger Volume Prediction by a Combined Input-Output and Distributed Lag Model and Data Analytics of Industrial Investment
Authors: Yang Fan , Huang Zhao-guo , Yuan Hua-zhi , Wang Jian-jun , Li Wei-jia , Wang Sai
Published: November 2020

In order to sketch the transport infrastructure construction in an economy or a region, the government has to predict the passenger volume, under the local policy of industrial investment. In this paper, we propose a combined input-output and distributed lag prediction model of passenger volume in a province in P. R. China, under a certain policy of industrial investment called Silk Road Economic Belt. Specifically, the relationships between the passenger volume, GDP (gross domestic product), gross output, and transportation consumption are analyzed, and then the industrial development speed analysis and classification are used to calculate the average development speeds and the GDP contributions of 42 industries. Combining the input-output table, the provincial transportation consumption under the Silk Road Economic Belt policy is predicted, and the passenger volumes of the cities and the province in the future are predicted by the distributed lag models. Considering the uncertainty of the investment, the elastic ranges of the cities and the province’s passenger volumes are determined. The results show that the correlation between the passenger volume and transportation consumption is the highest, and it is equal to 0.975. In 2020, the passenger volume in Shaanxi is 1,641,305 thousands, and the error between the predicted value and the value obtained by summing the cities’ passenger volumes is smaller than 0.002%.