bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automating ALCHEMI at the nano-scale using software compatible with PC-controlled transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Ishizuka Akimitsu , Ohtsuka Masahiro , Muto Shunsuke
Published: May 2022

Atom location by channeling-enhanced microanalysis (ALCHEMI) is a technique to obtain atom-site-specific information on constituent elements in a crystalline sample by acquiring a set of core electron transition spectra while tilting the incident beam. This methodology has been extended to a more quantitative technique called high-angular-resolution electron-channeled X-ray/electron spectroscopy (HARECXS/HARECES). There is a growing demand for analyzing smaller areas, such as small particles and multilayers. However, the minimum size of a region of interest probed by the present hardware-assisted automated HARECXS/HARECES scheme is limited to no smaller than 1 µm, not only by the size of the electron probe and its convergence angle but also by the movement of the probe position associated with the beam tilt due to aberrations of the hardware system. Herein, QED (quantitative electron diffraction), a commercial plug-in working on an integrated software platform, Gatan Microscopy Suite, was modified to enable the calibration and control of the probe to resolve the aforementioned limitation. In addition, a more sophisticated scheme for QED was developed to realize the ALCHEMI method for energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, electron energy-loss spectroscopy or both concurrently. This allows access to ALCHEMI and its derivative methods, automatically executed with any type of current PC-controlled commercial microscope on an area as small as 30 nm, without modifying the hardware system.
Corporate governance impact on dividend policy of NIFTY-500 indexed Indian pharmaceutical companies (2014–2019)
Authors: Pinto Geetanjali , Rastogi Shailesh
Published: May 2022

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the influence of corporate governance index (CGI), ownership concentration (OC) and other features on the dividends of listed Indian pharmaceutical companies. The other features included are leverage, excess return over cost of equity and stock-market return. This study thus helps to provide more insights on the dividend distribution issues for a shareholder in the challenging and demanding pharma industry, especially when stakes are high.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for all 26 pharmaceutical companies which form part of the NSE NIFTY-500 index for six years (2014–2019) is procured using Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy’s (CMIEs) Prowess database. An eight-pointer scale (unweighted scale) is used to develop the CGI. For OC, this paper considers the proportion of promoters’ shareholding, domestic institutional investors’ shareholding and foreign owners’ shareholding. Both static and dynamic panel data models are used to evaluate the effect of CGI and OC on dividends.

Findings

The panel data analysis depicts that CGI significantly positively influences the dividends of pharmaceutical companies in India. Thus, the authors find support for La Porta et al.’s outcome agency model. The results also reveal that only promoters’ holdings are significantly inversely related to dividends out of the three OC variables used for this study. This discussion implies that family-run pharmaceutical companies in India tend to retain profits instead of distributing dividends.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides two direct insights for policymakers and stakeholders. First, because this study shows that CGI significantly positively influences dividends, corporate governance (CG) is an essential factor for determining dividends. Second, because the results also reveal that OC in the hands of promoters hurts dividends, it implies that the higher the promoter holding, lesser is the dividend distributed by the company. Both these results can be used as a quantitative tool by investors to assess Indian pharmaceutical companies better. However, a similar study could be directed to assess the impact of CGI and OC on dividends of other industries. Moreover, additional variables of CG and OC can also be evaluated in further detail. There is also a need to empirically validate the impact of CG and OC on a company’s performance.

Originality/value

The results are robust and reveal that variation in CGI does impact dividend policy. This aids in confirming that CG is a crucial aspect influencing dividends. The findings also add to the increasing studies across the globe evaluating the influence of CG and OC on dividends.
Entropy generation minimization of Ag-Fe_3O_4/water-ethylene glycol squeezed hybrid nanofluid flow between parallel disks
Authors: Agrawal Rashmi , Kaswan Pradeep
Published: May 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the squeezing flow of hybrid nanofluid within the two parallel disks. The 50:50% water–ethylene glycol mixture is used as a base fluid to prepare Ag–Fe_3O_4 hybrid nanofluid. Entropy generation analysis is examined by using the second law of thermodynamics, and Darcy’s modal involves estimating the behavior of a porous medium. The influences of Viscous dissipation, Joule heating and thermal radiation in modeling are further exerted into concern.

Design/methodology/approach

For converting partial differential systems to ordinary systems, a transformation technique is used. For the validation part, the numerical solution is computed by embracing a fourth-order exactness program (bvp4c) and compared with the analytical solution added by the homotopy analysis method (HAM). Graphical decisions expose the values of miscellaneous-arising parameters on the velocity, temperature and local-Nusselt numbers.

Findings

Hybrid nanofluid gives significant enhancement in the rate of heat transfer compared with nanofluid. The outcomes indicate that the average Nusselt number and entropy generation are increasing functions of the magnetic field, porosity and Brinkman number. When the thermal radiation rises, the average Nusselt number diminishes and the entropy generation advances. Furthermore, combining silver and magnetite nanoparticles into the water–ethylene glycol base fluid significantly enhances entropy generation performance.

Originality/value

Entropy generation analysis of the magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) fluid squeezed between two parallel disks by considering Joule heating, viscous dissipation and thermal radiation for different nanoparticles is addressed. Furthermore, an appropriate agreement is obtained in comparing the numerical results with previously published and analytical results.
“American rice is cleaner”: marketplace hybridity and the cultural transformation of food in the Dominican Republic
Authors: Rosing Howard
Published: May 2022

Purpose

The article offers a study of the central food marketplace in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The purpose of the study is to explore how changes in the marketplace reflect transformation of urban food systems resulting from neoliberal restructuring during the final decades of the twentieth century.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on long-term qualitative research conducted during the late 1990s and early 2000s, including ethnographic and survey methods, the article illustrates how central urban marketplaces offer a window into transitions in both international and domestic food economies.

Findings

Research findings illustrate that the marketplace in Santiago operated in a state of economic hybridity, intermixing long established regionally produced domestic crops such as yuca, plantains and pigeon peas deeply rooted in Dominican agrarian culture with products dervived from liberalization of the Dominican economy such as imported rice, beans and eventually numerous Dominican food staples.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited by the scope of analysis which is one urban marketplace. More sites for researching marketplaces could be added for more comparative analysis.

Practical implications

The research findings have implications for how governments define social and economic policy that impacts domestic food producers and intermediary brokers that aggregate and debulk food to feed cities.

Originality/value

The scholarship raises questions about how the social and economic organization of urban marketplaces in the Dominican Republic and elsewhere reflect historical transitions in local, national and global economies.
Effect of traffic data set on various machine-learning algorithms when forecasting air quality
Authors: Sulaimon Ismail Abiodun , Alaka Hafiz , Olu-Ajayi Razak , Ahmad Mubashir , Ajayi Saheed , Hye Abdul
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Road traffic emissions are generally believed to contribute immensely to air pollution, but the effect of road traffic data sets on air quality (AQ) predictions has not been fully investigated. This paper aims to investigate the effects traffic data set have on the performance of machine learning (ML) predictive models in AQ prediction.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this, the authors have set up an experiment with the control data set having only the AQ data set and meteorological (Met) data set, while the experimental data set is made up of the AQ data set, Met data set and traffic data set. Several ML models (such as extra trees regressor, eXtreme gradient boosting regressor, random forest regressor, K-neighbors regressor and two others) were trained, tested and compared on these individual combinations of data sets to predict the volume of PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and O3 in the atmosphere at various times of the day.

Findings

The result obtained showed that various ML algorithms react differently to the traffic data set despite generally contributing to the performance improvement of all the ML algorithms considered in this study by at least 20% and an error reduction of at least 18.97%.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited in terms of the study area, and the result cannot be generalized outside of the UK as some of the inherent conditions may not be similar elsewhere. Additionally, only the ML algorithms commonly used in literature are considered in this research, therefore, leaving out a few other ML algorithms.

Practical implications

This study reinforces the belief that the traffic data set has a significant effect on improving the performance of air pollution ML prediction models. Hence, there is an indication that ML algorithms behave differently when trained with a form of traffic data set in the development of an AQ prediction model. This implies that developers and researchers in AQ prediction need to identify the ML algorithms that behave in their best interest before implementation.

Originality/value

The result of this study will enable researchers to focus more on algorithms of benefit when using traffic data sets in AQ prediction.
The components of intellectual capital and organisational performance inwaqfinstitutions: evidence from Algeria based on structural equation modelling
Authors: Laallam Abdelkader , Uluyol Burhan , Kassim Salina , Engku Ali Engku Rabiah Adawiah
Published: May 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the sub-components of intellectual capital and organisational performance in waqf institutions in Algeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected through structured questionnaires from a sample of 193 waqf employees working in 23 different provinces in Algeria and analysed using partial least squares – structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) software to test the path modelling and the relationship between the instruments.

Findings

The results of this research show that human capital, structural capital and spiritual capital have a positive and significant relationship with organisational performance. However, relational capital, social capital and technological capital did not demonstrate any kind of role in the context of waqf institutions in Algeria.

Practical implications

The findings of this research are of great importance for waqf institutions in Algeria, as they provide a comprehensive screening with regard to organisational performance of these institutions through the lens of intellectual capital. The findings help waqf managers and policy makers consider effective solutions for the weaknesses and challenges impeding the performance of waqf institutions, in the hope of retrieving their role in serving and developing societies.

Originality/value

In the existing body of literature, there is a lack of research focusing on intellectual capital in the context of religious non-profit organisations particularly waqf institutions. Thus, this research adds to the body of knowledge on intellectual capital while highlighting its role and importance within the waqf industry, particularly in the context of Algeria. This research is considered among the primary attempts to investigate the impact of intellectual capital components on the organisational performance of waqf institutions in Algeria.
Mega versus local event sponsorships
Authors: Koo Jakeun , Fink Janet S. , Lee Younghan
Published: May 2022

Purpose

The present study aims to examine whether event size has a significant impact on consumers' perceptions of goodwill. In the relationship between event size and perceived goodwill, sponsorship duration and sponsor-event congruence are tested as moderating variables.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducts an experiment with a 2 × 2 × 2 between-subjects factorial design.

Findings

The results show the main effects of event size on perceived goodwill, and the moderating effects of sponsorship duration and sponsor-event congruence in the relationship between event size and perceived goodwill. Also, regression analyses test the relationships among the dependent variables including perceived goodwill, attitudes toward the sponsor, and purchase intentions.

Originality/value

Marketing practitioners may discover the merits of a corporation sponsoring local events at lower costs, and the importance of duration and congruency.
Decent work among rural-urban migrant workers in China: evidence and challenges
Authors: Han Mingyan , Zhang Maolong , Hu Enhua , Shan Hongmei
Published: May 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine how Chinese rural-urban migrant workers' socio-economic status was associated with their decent work.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded in the psychology of working theory (PWT), this study tested the path from rural-urban migrant workers' socio-economic status to decent work via work volition, with this path moderated by environmental uncertainty and trade union support. 470 rural-urban migrant workers from four manufacturing enterprises were investigated.

Findings

Results indicated that rural-urban migrant workers' socio-economic status was positively associated with rural-urban migrant workers' decent work through work volition. In addition, environmental uncertainty weakened the impact of socio-economic status on work volition while trade union support strengthened the relationship between socio-economic status and work volition.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the growing research on the PWT by testing its utility among rural-urban migrant workers in the Chinese context. The study also identifies the crucial effects of environmental uncertainty and trade union support, which are distinctive characters of contemporary China, in the formation process of rural-urban migrant workers' decent work. A detailed explanation of the results and implications is discussed in the end.
Investigation of corrosion inhibition of 4-(4-nitrophenyl) thiazol-2-amine on the copper in HCl: experimental and theoretical studies
Authors: Farahati Razieh , Ghaffarinejad Ali , Mousavi-Khoshdel S. Morteza
Published: May 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the corrosion inhibition ability of 4–(4-nitrophenyl) thiazol-2-amine (NPT) on the copper in 1 M HCl.

Design/methodology/approach

The corrosion inhibitory ability of NPT on the copper in 1 M HCl was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Theoretical calculations (molecular dynamics simulation, density functional theory and the nucleus independent chemical shift [NICS] as aromaticity indicator of the molecule) were also performed.

Findings

The corrosion inhibition efficacy of this compound was about 80%. Nyquist plots display a small arc contributed to the film or oxide layer resistance and a large loop associated with charge transfer resistance. The inhibitor adsorption was under Langmuir’s adsorption model. ΔG0ads values point to the presence of physical and chemical adsorption. Results of quantum chemical calculations showed that NPT has better interaction with copper than NPTH+. NICS of NPT in benzene or thiazole rings was less negative compared to NICS of NPTH+. Thus NPT shows less aromaticity compared with NPTH+, showing NPT can have better interaction with copper than NPTH+. NPT had more negative Eint value and more interactions with the Cu relative to NPTH+, this result was in agreement with the results of quantum chemical calculations.

Originality/value

NPT is an efficient corrosion inhibitor for copper in HCl. Theoretical calculations showed that NPT can have better interaction with copper than NPTH+. The results of the theoretical studies were in good agreement with the experimental studies.
Structural analysis of bending soft pneumatic network actuators for various designs using the finite element method
Authors: V. Venkatesan , S. Shanmugam , A.R. Veerappan
Published: May 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to present the numerical analysis of displacements, forces and bend angles of three different structural designs of a soft actuator using the finite element method. The results of this analysis help understand the physical behavior of the soft pneumatic actuator.

Design/methodology/approach

The soft actuator is designed using commercial modeling software, and the design of the actuator is analyzed using ABAQUS 19.0 with a standard implicit nonlinear analysis. There are three types of structural designs for actuators, namely, rectangular-base model, trapezoidal-base model and the trapezoidal model considered in the present study.

Findings

Maximum displacement, force and bend angle are observed in the rectangular-base model at various pressure levels.

Originality/value

The development of novel designs of the soft pneumatic actuator to undertake a comparative analysis of displacement, force and bend angle.
Age‐dependent effects of developmental experience on morphology, performance, dispersal and survival in a translocated, endangered species
Authors: Hammond Talisin T. , Swaisgood Ronald R. , Jacobs Leah E. , Curtis Michelle J. , McCormick Bailey A. , Hornfeldt Jacob A. , Trotman Eric M. , Shier Debra M.
Published: May 2022

While ex situ breeding programs are critical tools for species recovery, translocations using animals reared under human care can face low success rates, often related to increased dispersal and reduced survival. These issues may be related to a mismatch between ex situ environments and natural habitats. Natal habitat preference induction, wherein individuals seek out habitat similar to that they experienced during development, may provide one explanation for this phenomenon. While exposure to naturalistic environments and pre‐release training can mitigate these issues, there may be developmental windows within which these sorts of experiences are most transformative.

We characterized the impacts of environmental experience at different developmental stages on morphology, performance and post‐translocation dispersal and survival in the endangered mountain yellow‐legged frog Rana muscosa. We exposed frogs of different ages (N = 146 one‐year‐olds, hereafter juveniles; N = 110 two‐year‐olds, hereafter subadults) to different water flow regimes to mimic stream conditions of reintroduction sites. We measured morphology and swimming performance before and after treatment. Frogs were translocated into the wild and monitored to collect data on movement and survival.

Stream experience resulted in significantly longer proportional limb lengths and improved swimming performance for juvenile but not subadult frogs.

After translocation, stream experienced subadults exhibited significantly lower post‐release movement than control subadults. There was no effect of treatment on juvenile movement, which was significantly higher than in subadults.

Stream experience significantly boosted apparent survival for juveniles but not subadults, but subadults exhibited higher survival overall.

Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that early‐life experience with naturalistic conditions in ex situ facilities can significantly impact morphology, performance and post‐translocation movement and survival, and that the effects are age dependent. Pre‐release training is a vital component of conservation translocations, including for herpetofauna, which are increasingly involved in translocations and are sometimes considered more ‘hard‐wired’. We recommend that practitioners consider a broader array of survival skills and tailor pre‐release treatments to specific developmental windows. Providing critical experiences during development and releasing younger animals better prepared for life in the wild may be cost‐effective recovery strategies.
Economic Considerations in COVID‐19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Refusal: A Survey of the Literature*
Authors: Rawlings Louise , Looi Jeffrey C. L. , Robson Stephen J.
Published: May 2022

The COVID‐19 global pandemic has triggered one of the greatest economic shocks in a century. Effective COVID‐19 vaccines have been developed, but a proportion of people either are hesitant or refuse to be vaccinated, facilitated by a global misinformation campaign. If ‘herd immunity’ cannot be achieved, there is potential not only for ongoing surges in infection, but also for development of new strains of the virus that could evade vaccines and precipitate further health and economic crises. We review the economics of vaccination and of vaccine hesitancy and refusal, and their potential effects on the recovery from the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Puzzle
Authors: Fletcher Michael
Published: May 2022

Non-transitive dice
Editorial
Authors: Tarran Brian
Published: May 2022

A heartfelt thank you.
Don't Ask, Just Listen … Using Social Networks to Measure Subjective Well-Being
Authors: Iacus Stefano M. , Porro Giuseppe
Published: May 2022

How do people feel about their lives and the societies in which they live? Are they happy, hopeful or concerned about the future? Surveys can help answer these questions, but Stefano M. Iacus and Giuseppe Porro argue for using social networks and sentiment analysis to let citizens speak for themselves
Women of Significance?
Authors: Lamb Karen , Kasza Jessica , Calabretto Sophie , Wijesuriya Rushani , McIver Linda
Published: May 2022

Significance bills itself as “a magazine about statistics and data science, written by experts for everyone”. But too few of its featured experts are women, as an analysis by Karen Lamb, Jessica Kasza, Sophie Calabretto, Rushani Wijesuriya and Linda McIver shows
A Confusion of Curves
Authors: Raper Simon
Published: May 2022

Francis Galton was beguiled by the normal distribution, believing it could split the natural world into a spectrum of types – with each type represented by its own “bell curve”. But he was wrong in this belief, and his ideas for separating and shifting the bell curves of human types helped pave a dark path. By Simon Raper
Big Telescopes: The Story Behind a Story of Discrimination in Science
Authors: Golbeck Amanda L.
Published: May 2022

For many years, women astronomers were not permitted to use the world's biggest telescopes. Elizabeth L. Scott used this story to get people to pay attention to her statistics on the status of women in academia, as Amanda L. Golbeck explains
Editorial: estimating the costs of care in irritable bowel syndrome—a necessary step to enhance value‐based care for a high‐prevalence, low‐cost condition
Authors: Berinstein Jeffrey A. , Fendrick A. Mark
Published: May 2022

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Goodoory et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16939 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16966
Review article: the future of microbiome‐based therapeutics
Authors: Gulliver Emily L. , Young Remy B. , Chonwerawong Michelle , D'Adamo Gemma L. , Thomason Tamblyn , Widdop James T. , Rutten Emily L. , Rossetto Marcelino Vanessa , Bryant Robert V. , Costello Samuel P. , O'Brien Claire L. , Hold Georgina L. , Giles Edward M. , Forster Samuel C.
Published: May 2022

Background

From consumption of fermented foods and probiotics to emerging applications of faecal microbiota transplantation, the health benefit of manipulating the human microbiota has been exploited for millennia. Despite this history, recent technological advances are unlocking the capacity for targeted microbial manipulation as a novel therapeutic.

Aim

This review summarises the current developments in microbiome‐based medicines and provides insight into the next steps required for therapeutic development.

Methods

Here we review current and emerging approaches and assess the capabilities and weaknesses of these technologies to provide safe and effective clinical interventions. Key literature was identified through Pubmed searches with the following key words, ‘microbiome’, ‘microbiome biomarkers’, ‘probiotics’, ‘prebiotics’, ‘synbiotics’, ‘faecal microbiota transplant’, ‘live biotherapeutics’, ‘microbiome mimetics’ and ‘postbiotics’.

Results

Improved understanding of the human microbiome and recent technological advances provide an opportunity to develop a new generation of therapies. These therapies will range from dietary interventions, prebiotic supplementations, single probiotic bacterial strains, human donor‐derived faecal microbiota transplants, rationally selected combinations of bacterial strains as live biotherapeutics, and the beneficial products or effects produced by bacterial strains, termed microbiome mimetics.

Conclusions

Although methods to identify and refine these therapeutics are continually advancing, the rapid emergence of these new approaches necessitates accepted technological and ethical frameworks for measurement, testing, laboratory practices and clinical translation.
Semiparametric Distributed Lag Quantile Regression for Modeling Time-Dependent Exposure Mixtures
Authors: Wang Yuyan , Ghassabian Akhgar , Gu Bo , Afanasyeva Yelena , Li Yiwei , Trasande Leonardo , Liu Mengling
Published: May 2022

Studying time-dependent exposure mixtures has gained increasing attentions in environmental health research. When a scalar outcome is of interest, distributed lag (DL) models have been employed to characterize the exposures effects distributed over time on the mean of final outcome. However, there is a methodological gap on investigating time-dependent exposure mixtures with different quantiles of outcome. In this paper, we introduce semiparametric partial-linear single-index (PLSI) DL quantile regression, which can describe the DL effects of time-dependent exposure mixtures on different quantiles of outcome and identify susceptible periods of exposures. We consider two time-dependent exposure settings: discrete and functional, when exposures are measured in a small number of time points and at dense time grids, respectively. Spline techniques are used to approximate the nonparametric DL function and single-index link function, and a profile estimation algorithm is proposed. Through extensive simulations, we demonstrate the performance and value of our proposed models and inference procedures. We further apply the proposed methods to study the effects of maternal exposures to ambient air pollutants of fine particulate and nitrogen dioxide on birth weight in New York University Children's Health and Environment Study (NYU CHES).
Unanswered questions in cancer‐associated thrombosis
Authors: Sanfilippo Kristen M. , Moik Florian , Candeloro Matteo , Ay Cihan , Di Nisio Marcello , Lee Agnes Y. Y.
Published: May 2022

Cancer‐associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer. Treatment of cancer‐associated VTE comes with a heightened risk of anticoagulant‐related bleeding that differs by choice of anticoagulant as well as by patient‐ and disease‐specific risk factors. Available data from randomized controlled trials and observational studies in cancer‐associated VTE suggest that direct oral anticoagulants are effective, continuing anticoagulation beyond six months is indicated in those with active cancer and that patients who develop ‘breakthrough’ thrombotic events can be effectively treated. We review the evidence that addresses these key clinical questions and offer pragmatic approaches in individualizing care. While significant investigative efforts over the past decade have made impactful advances, future research is needed to better define the factors that contribute to anticoagulant‐related bleeding and VTE recurrence, in order to aid clinical decision‐making that improves the care of patients with cancer‐associated VTE.
An appraisal on synthetic and pharmaceutical perspectives of quinoxaline 1,4‐di‐N‐oxide scaffold
Authors: Agrawal Neetu , Bhardwaj Aditya
Published: May 2022

Quinoxaline 1,4‐di‐N‐oxides (QdNOs) exhibit multifaceted biological properties, wherein antimicrobial, anticancer, antitrypanosomal, and anti‐inflammatory properties are included. Because of their various activities in clinical practice and research, they have a wide spectrum of uses and possibilities. QdNOs have received a significant amount of attention, and research into their medicinal chemistry is still a part of experimental investigation and analytical studies. In this review, QdNOs are classified depending on their actions, which include antibacterial and anti‐mycobacterial, anticancer or antitumor, antimalarial, antifungal, and other activities. In a conclusion, it's important to base the development of novel synthetic techniques and the design of new QdNO derivatives on the most up‐to‐date knowledge gleaned from recent research. With the summarised structure–activity relationship of fascinating QdNOs, this review aims to provide insights into the developments in the chemistry and biological activity of QdNO derivatives.
Learning from Shader Program Traces
Authors: Yang Y. , Barnes C. , Finkelstein A.
Published: May 2022

Deep learning for image processing typically treats input imagery as pixels in some color space. This paper proposes instead to learn from program traces of procedural fragment shaders – programs that generate images. At each pixel, we collect the intermediate values computed at program execution, and these data form the input to the learned model. We investigate this learning task for a variety of applications: our model can learn to predict a low‐noise output image from shader programs that exhibit sampling noise; this model can also learn from a simplified shader program that approximates the reference solution with less computation, as well as learn the output of postprocessing filters like defocus blur and edge‐aware sharpening. Finally we show that the idea of learning from program traces can even be applied to non‐imagery simulations of flocks of boids. Our experiments on a variety of shaders show quantitatively and qualitatively that models learned from program traces outperform baseline models learned from RGB color augmented with hand‐picked shader‐specific featues like normals, depth, and diffuse and specular color. We also conduct a series of analyses that show certain features within the trace are more important, and even learning from a small subset of the trace outperforms the baselines.
MoCo‐Flow: Neural Motion Consensus Flow for Dynamic Humans in Stationary Monocular Cameras
Authors: Chen Xuelin , Li Weiyu , Cohen‐Or Daniel , Mitra Niloy J. , Chen Baoquan
Published: May 2022

Synthesizing novel views of dynamic humans from stationary monocular cameras is a specialized but desirable setup. This is particularly attractive as it does not require static scenes, controlled environments, or specialized capture hardware. In contrast to techniques that exploit multi‐view observations, the problem of modeling a dynamic scene from a single view is significantly more under‐constrained and ill‐posed. In this paper, we introduce Neural Motion Consensus Flow (MoCo‐Flow), a representation that models dynamic humans in stationary monocular cameras using a 4D continuous time‐variant function. We learn the proposed representation by optimizing for a dynamic scene that minimizes the total rendering error, over all the observed images. At the heart of our work lies a carefully designed optimization scheme, which includes a dedicated initialization step and is constrained by a motion consensus regularization on the estimated motion flow. We extensively evaluate MoCo‐Flow on several datasets that contain human motions of varying complexity, and compare, both qualitatively and quantitatively, to several baselines and ablated variations of our methods, showing the efficacy and merits of the proposed approach. Pretrained model, code, and data will be released for research purposes upon paper acceptance.
The 3D Motorcycle Complex for Structured Volume Decomposition
Authors: Brückler Hendrik , Gupta Ojaswi , Mandad Manish , Campen Marcel
Published: May 2022

The so‐called motorcycle graph has been employed in recent years for various purposes in the context of structured and aligned block decomposition of 2D shapes and 2‐manifold surfaces. Applications are in the fields of surface parametrization, spline space construction, semi‐structured quad mesh generation, or geometry data compression. We describe a generalization of this motorcycle graph concept to the three‐dimensional volumetric setting. Through careful extensions aware of topological intricacies of this higher‐dimensional setting, we are able to guarantee important block decomposition properties also in this case. We describe algorithms for the construction of this 3D motorcycle complex on the basis of either hexahedral meshes or seamless volumetric parametrizations. Its utility is illustrated on examples in hexahedral mesh generation and volumetric T‐spline construction.
Effects of pre‐surgical aerobic dance‐based exercise on lower extremity in people with morbid obesity awaiting bariatric surgery: Randomized controlled study
Authors: Tokgoz Gulfidan , Arman Nilay , Seyit Hakan , Karabulut Mehmet
Published: May 2022

To investigate what are the effects of pre‐surgical aerobic dance‐based exercise programme (PSADBE) and physical activity counselling (PAC) programme on lower extremity functions after surgery in people with morbid obesity awaiting bariatric surgery (PMOABS). This study was a single‐blind, randomized controlled study. Groups were divided into Group I (PSADBE and PAC) and Group II (PAC). Both groups received PAC, Group I completed the PSADBE programme accompanied by music for 60 min/2 days/8 weeks. Thirty‐four PMOABS were included in the study. The 6‐Minute Walking Test, as primary outcomes, and The Stair Climbing Up‐Down Test for evaluating functional capacity, Biodex Isokinetic Test and Exercise System® for evaluating muscle strength were used. Besides, muscle endurance, physical activity (PA) level, fatigue and quality of life (QoL) were also assessed. All measurements were repeated three times; pre‐treatment, post‐treatment and the fifth‐month post‐surgery. After 8 weeks, significant changes were found in functional capacity, muscle strength and endurance, PA level, fatigue and QoL in both groups (p < .05). Comparing the groups, the changes in functional capacity, muscle strength and endurance, PA and fatigue scores after treatment and the fifth‐month post‐surgery were statistically superior in Group I (p < .05). Adding an 8‐week PSADBE programme to PAC is an effective treatment option for improving postoperative functional capacity, muscle strength and endurance, PA level and fatigue in PMOABS.
Simultaneity as an Emergent Property of Efficient Communication in Language: A Comparison of Silent Gesture and Sign Language
Authors: Slonimska Anita , Özyürek Asli , Capirci Olga
Published: May 2022

Sign languages use multiple articulators and iconicity in the visual modality which allow linguistic units to be organized not only linearly but also simultaneously. Recent research has shown that users of an established sign language such as LIS (Italian Sign Language) use simultaneous and iconic constructions as a modality‐specific resource to achieve communicative efficiency when they are required to encode informationally rich events. However, it remains to be explored whether the use of such simultaneous and iconic constructions recruited for communicative efficiency can be employed even without a linguistic system (i.e., in silent gesture) or whether they are specific to linguistic patterning (i.e., in LIS). In the present study, we conducted the same experiment as in Slonimska et al. (2020) with 23 Italian speakers using silent gesture and compared the results of the two studies. The findings showed that while simultaneity was afforded by the visual modality to some extent, its use in silent gesture was nevertheless less frequent and qualitatively different than when used within a linguistic system. Thus, the use of simultaneous and iconic constructions for communicative efficiency constitutes an emergent property of sign languages. The present study highlights the importance of studying modality‐specific resources and their use for linguistic expression in order to promote a more thorough understanding of the language faculty and its modality‐specific adaptive capabilities.
Premiums between Cross‐listed Shares: Determinants and Assessment of Financial Reform Policy Effectiveness
Authors: Zhang Xuechun , Xu Ruihui , Liu Xue
Published: May 2022

This paper explores determinants of price premiums between A‐share and American depositary receipts (ADR) or H‐share and sheds light on policies using daily data from cross‐listed companies from 2002–2020. Market sentiment and financial openness are critical in explaining both types of price premiums. Expected exchange rate changes significantly impact the A‐share versus ADR premium but liquidity is essential for the A‐share versus H‐share premium. The introduction of Shanghai–Hong Kong Stock Connect in November 2014 has effectively increased the price discovery capacity of the A‐share market, and investors were more adaptive to the RMB foreign exchange rate volatility after Chinese exchange rate system reform in 2015. The paper provides insights into future capital market reform in China.
Temporal correlations among demographic parameters are ubiquitous but highly variable across species
Authors: Fay Rémi , Hamel Sandra , van de Pol Martijn , Gaillard Jean‐Michel , Yoccoz Nigel G. , Acker Paul , Authier Matthieu , Larue Benjamin , Le Coeur Christie , Macdonald Kaitlin R. , Nicol‐Harper Alex , Barbraud Christophe , Bonenfant Christophe , Van Vuren Dirk H. , Cam Emmanuelle , Delord Karine , Gamelon Marlène , Moiron Maria , Pelletier Fanie , Rotella Jay , Teplitsky Celine , Visser Marcel E. , Wells Caitlin P. , Wheelwright Nathaniel T. , Jenouvrier Stéphanie , Sæther Bernt‐Erik
Published: May 2022

Temporal correlations among demographic parameters can strongly influence population dynamics. Our empirical knowledge, however, is very limited regarding the direction and the magnitude of these correlations and how they vary among demographic parameters and species’ life histories. Here, we use long‐term demographic data from 15 bird and mammal species with contrasting pace of life to quantify correlation patterns among five key demographic parameters: juvenile and adult survival, reproductive probability, reproductive success and productivity. Correlations among demographic parameters were ubiquitous, more frequently positive than negative, but strongly differed across species. Correlations did not markedly change along the slow‐fast continuum of life histories, suggesting that they were more strongly driven by ecological than evolutionary factors. As positive temporal demographic correlations decrease the mean of the long‐run population growth rate, the common practice of ignoring temporal correlations in population models could lead to the underestimation of extinction risks in most species.
How network size strongly determines trophic specialisation: A technical comment on Luna et al. (2022)
Authors: Brimacombe Chris , Bodner Korryn , Fortin Marie‐Josée
Published: May 2022

Luna et al. (2022) concluded that the environment contributes to explaining specialisation in open plant–pollinator networks. When reproducing their study, we instead found that network size alone largely explained the variation in their specialisation metrics. Thus, we question whether empirical network specialisation is driven by the environment.
CEO duality and firm performance: A systematic review and research agenda
Authors: Yu Mei
Published: May 2022

This paper systematically reviews 314 empirical studies that examine the relationship between board leadership structure and firm performance. The results show that the mixed research findings are due to different firm performance measurements, research designs, sampling practices and approaches of dealing with endogeneity issues. Studies utilizing multiple‐country data, multinational companies, small firms or regions covering Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and South America are under‐represented. It critiques the methodological weaknesses of some empirical studies and proposes that future researchers should use multiple firm performance measurements, a longitudinal research design and an integrative framework to better control the direct and moderating factors. Future researchers may advance the robustness of research by using multiple theoretical lenses to consider how various governance factors moderate the relationship between board leadership structure and firm performance, particularly the different ownership structures, managerial discretion contexts and national institutional factors.
DNA damage response in neurodevelopment and neuromaintenance
Authors: Qing Xiaobing , Zhang Guangyu , Wang Zhao‐Qi
Published: May 2022

The central nervous system is particularly susceptible to DNA repair deficiency, which renders a variety of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders in humans. It is generally believed that DNA damage occurs upon repetitive replication and oxidative stress in highly proliferating neuroprogenitor cells (NPs), or due to high rates of metabolism and active neuronal activity in terminally differentiated neurons. DNA double‐stranded breaks (DSBs) and single‐stranded breaks (SSBs) constitute the most prevalent forms of DNA damage, which can result in neuronal apoptosis if unrepaired. Despite these notions, there are still gaps in our knowledge regarding the mechanism and specificity of DNA damage and repair in the neural development and the homeostasis of neural tissues. Recent studies have identified recurrent DSBs within neuronal long genes in NPs and ‘programmed’ SSBs in neuronal activity genes. However, the physiological function of these DNA breakages in the nervous system has not been so far explored. In this review, we summarise the recent advances in the field of DNA damage and DNA repair in neural development and neuropathies.
Alginate‐based coatings charged with hydroxyapatite and quercetin for fresh‐cut papaya shelf life
Authors: Montone Angela Michela Immacolata , Malvano Francesca , Pham Phuong Ly , Cinquanta Luciano , Capparelli Rosanna , Capuano Federico , Albanese Donatella
Published: May 2022

In this study, the effect of alginate‐based coatings charged with quercetin glycoside compounds and hydroxyapatite/quercetin glycoside compounds (HA/QUE) on the microbiological quality, and on bioactive compounds of fresh‐cut papaya, was evaluated for 14 days at 6 °C. Alginate coatings with hydroxyapatite/quercetin showed a high capability to slow down the growth of all microbiological parameters investigated. At the end of cold storage, the total bacteria count in papaya samples covered with HA/QUE alginate coating was 4.8 log CFU g−1 which is significantly lower (P < 0.05) than 8.3 log CFU g−1 for uncoated samples. Total carotenoids’ percentage decrease, at the end of storage, was about 20% in papaya with active coatings, with respect to the losses of 39 and 35%, registered in uncoated and alginate‐coated samples respectively. Vitamin C content and the antioxidant activity measured in papaya coated with HA/QUE alginate showed significantly higher values (P < 0.05) for each storage day than those detected for control‐ and alginate‐coated samples. Based on the sensory evaluation, active‐coated fresh‐cut papaya reached, at the end of the storage period, suitable values for commercial purposes.
Tannic acid modulated the wall compactness of cinnamaldehyde‐loaded microcapsules and enhanced inhibitory effect on Aspergillus brasiliensis
Authors: Liu Bingjie , Wang Xinshuo , Lu Lin , Wen Quan , Zhang Xiaoming , Swing Caleb John , Xia Shuqin
Published: May 2022

The evaluation of antifungal properties in cinnamaldehyde (CA)‐loaded microcapsules is significant to clarify potential food applications in various food matrices and systems. The impact of tannic acid (TA) crosslinking on the release and the antifungal properties of CA microcapsules was investigated based on gelatin/gum Acacia complex coacervates. The inhibition zone diameter of microencapsulated CA against Aspergillus brasiliensis was dependent on the TA addition and retained 26.1 ± 0.1 mm after 180‐day storage at 25 °C. Specifically, TA enhanced hydrogen bond interactions between the microcapsule wall materials and favoured a sustained release of CA during the incubation with Aspergillus brasiliensis. Meanwhile, confocal laser scanning microscopic observation revealed that the microstructure of multinuclear microcapsules was more compact and intact under the crosslinking of 0.4% TA. The comparation of microscopic morphology and membrane potential of Aspergillus brasiliensis exerted a synergistic antifungal effect between CA and TA crosslinked microcapsules.
A molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor based on a MoS2/peanut shell carbon complex coated with AuNPs and nitrogen‐doped carbon dots for selective and rapid detection of benzo(a)pyrene
Authors: Chi Hai , Li Yujie , Liu Guoqin
Published: May 2022

In this study, a new electrochemical strategy based on the fabrication of a molecularly imprinted sensor onto a MoS2‐loaded peanut shell carbon complex with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and nitrogen‐doped carbon dots (N‐CDs) was proposed for the detection of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) films were prepared by cyclic voltammetry (CV) using 2‐mercaptobenzimidazole (2‐MBI) as a functional monomer in the presence of BaP. The surface morphologies, structural characteristics and electrochemical properties of the obtained MIP/AuNPs/N‐CDs/PSBC/MoS2/GCE were investigated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy‐dispersive spectrometry (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis spectrometry, fluorescence spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Under the optimised conditions, the detection range of the electrode towards BaP varied from 5 nM to 20 μM with a detection limit of 1.5 nM. The prepared electrochemical sensor also exhibited good stability, relevant reproducibility and high selectivity. The application of the sensor in the actual analysis of edible oil samples showed promising results, thereby being relevant as a biomimetic sensing platform for the detection of chemical hazards in food and environment.