bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Financial Agglomeration on the Export Trade in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area: An Analysis Based on Mediation Effect of Technological Innovation
Authors: Zeng Zhisen , Zeng Huixian , Wu Jingyu
Published: June 2021

So far, the relation between financial agglomeration and export trade is complex and there are few related studies. However, research on this topic will be of great value to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (the Greater Bay Area). This paper aims to use the mediation model to analyze the role of technological innovation as an mediator variable between financial agglomeration and export trade. Based on the relevant data of the Greater Bay Area from 2009 to 2018, regression analysis was performed using the three equations of the mediation model. The mediator variable was then replaced to conduct a robustness test, and it was found that there is indeed an mediation effect; technological innovation acts as an mediator variable between financial agglomeration and export trade. Therefore, it can be concluded that the financial agglomeration in the Greater Bay Area can effectively promote technological innovation, while technological innovation will inhibit exports to a certain extent.
Dewatering, Stabilization, and Final Disposal of Waste Activated Sludge in Constructed Wetlands
Authors: Mariñelarena Alejandro Jorge , Di Giorgi Hugo , Donadelli Jorge
Published: June 2021

Objective: This research aimed to assay the dehydration and stabilization of surplus biosolids from a wastewater activated sludge treatment plant, with sludge-treatment wetlands, at the Iguazú National Park (Misiones, Argentina). Materials and Methods: A 12-cell sludge-treatment reed beds (STRB) system was built and operated for four years. Afterwards, the accumulated sediments were analyzed for total solids (TS) concentration, volatile solids (VS) reduction, specific oxygen-uptake rate (SOUR), and heavy metals and pathogens concentrations. Results and Discussion: TS concentration increased from 0.55 % to 14.3 %, VS were reduced by 33.3 %, and SOUR lowered to 1.09 mg O2gTS-1 h-1. These figures and the final concentrations of heavy metals and pathogenic microorganisms (102 MPN E.coli.gTS-1) indicated a degree of stabilization and sanitation that allowed classifying these biosolids as Class A, according to the Argentine guidelines, National Resolution 410/18, and enabled their reuse for soil amendment in landscapes and other agronomic purposes. Conclusion: The technology tested showed good results applied under a tropical climate, with annual temperatures between 17 and 27 °C, rainfall of 1870 mm y-1, and planted with autochthonous vegetation. Furthermore, it allowed the reuse of 221 t (144 m3) of a harmless product in an environmentally sustainable way.
Denitrifying bacteria in the limnetic zone of Lake Tota, Colombia
Authors: Másmela-Mendoza Julian Esteban , Lizarazo Forero Luz Marina
Published: June 2021

The objective of study was to isolate and determine the identity of denitrifying bacteria from limnetic areas of Lake Tota (Colombian Andes) with and without rainbow trout production activities. We examined the relationships between the lake’s physicochemical factors (oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus content) and two bacterial communities (denitrifying bacteria and coliforms). Water samples were taken 20m below the surface from July to September at five limnetic zones; two of which were close to rainbow trout farming areas. In each zone, the concentrations of oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus were measured. To identify and quantify the abundance of bacteria, the most probable number (MPN) technique was used, employing minimal medium for denitrifying bacteria and medium for nitrate reducing bacteria (NRB). A greater number of denitrifying bacteria were found in the fish farming zones, identifying bacteria of the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Nocardia, and Streptomyces. The number of nitrate-reducing bacteria revealed statistically significant differences throughout the sampling period, increasing from July to September and was related to a decrease in precipitation. The density of NRB and total phosphorus were directly correlated. High bacterial densities of denitrifyingbacteria and coliforms are indicative of changes from oligotrophic to eutrophic states in the studied limnetic areas.
Vida cristiana y experiencia mariana: algunos desafíos desde la Christus vivit
Authors: Reyes Fonseca José Orlando
Published: June 2021

Este artículo propone un acercamiento al acontecimiento María en términos de la mujer de la plenitud de los tiempos, para enfatizar su arraigo en los pueblos pluriculturales contextualizados y diferenciados. Ello implica asumir algunos desafíos históricos de índole teológico-pastoral pendientes en la Iglesia, que han sido retomados por el papa Francisco en la exhortación apostólica postsinodal Chistus vivit. Por lo anterior, una vida cristiana y una experiencia mariana centrada en Jesús, “el eternamente joven”, es consciente de que sin él no se podrá tener “un corazón siempre joven” en función de la construcción de hombres y mujeres al servicio de los más vulnerables, en el marco de una “Iglesia en salida”.

La experiencia mariana es en particular el encuentro liberador y transformador en la cotidianidad del existir con el acontecimiento María, quien convoca a la humanidad a ser una nueva creación enraizada en el acontecimiento Cristo, nacido de mujer, lo cual enfatiza de modo contundente que una mujer se ha convertido en la madre humana del propio Hijo de Dios. De ahí que María pertenezca a la fe del pueblo de Israel, a la fe pospascual, y lo es aún más al ser portadora de la promesa de la Buena Nueva de salvación que ha venido en Cristo a toda la humanidad.

En consecuencia, pensar una experiencia mariana para los actuales contextos socioeclesiales conlleva la promoción de una antropología humano-céntrica, unitaria, realista y pluridimensional; de igual modo, el rescate de la experiencia mariana de otros, supone el trabajo por la justicia e igualdad entre varones y mujeres, el compromiso de escuchar el grito de las víctimas y de asumir sus implicaciones, y la reivindicación de la liberación integral del pobre, entre otros aspectos, conducentes a una pastoral mariana al servicio de la nueva evangelización.
Toward the capacity limit of 2D planar Jones matrix with a single-layer metasurface
Authors: Bao Yanjun , Wen Long , Chen Qin , Qiu Cheng-Wei , Li Baojun
Published: June 2021

A Jones matrix with an upper limit of six degrees of freedom of planar structure can be constructed by metasurfaces.
A 740,000-yr-long Mohawk Lake record, Mohawk Valley, northeastern California, USA
Authors: Redwine Joanna R. , Adams Kenneth D.
Published: June 2021

Mohawk Valley lies in northeastern California on the margin of the northernmost Sierra Nevada and was occupied by Mohawk Lake during much of the middle and late Pleistocene. Throughout that time, the Sierra Nevada ice cap repeatedly extended northward into Mohawk Lake, and ice-contact deltaic sediments were deposited along the valley margins and in the valley bottom. Nearly 200 m of lacustrine and deltaic sediments are now well exposed along streams draining the Sierra Nevada. Tephra beds deposited within the deltaic sediments allow correlation of stratigraphic sections around the valley margin and, together with geomorphic evidence of former lake levels, permit interpretation of a Mohawk Lake history as far back as 740 ka.

Mohawk Valley changed from a through-flowing fluvial setting to an intermittent closed basin sometime before 740 ka. After this change occurred, relatively small lakes intermittently formed in Mohawk Valley until ca. 600 ka, when the lake dramatically deepened. Mohawk Lake fluctuated in size over the next ~400,000 yr and increased in size to its highest levels after ca. 200 ka, possibly due to drainage integration with the upstream Lake Beckwourth. After this time, Mohawk Lake spilled over its westward sill, incrementally eroding and lowering lake levels until Mohawk Lake was emptied by ca. 7 ka.
Supplemental Material: A 740,000-yr-long Mohawk Lake record, Mohawk Valley, northeastern California, USA
Authors: Redwine Joanna
Published: June 2021

Table S1. Stratigraphic descriptions from sites in Mohawk Valley. Table S2. Soil descriptions in Mohawk Valley. Figure S1. Stratigraphic columns for three sites along Jamison Creek (MV-47, MV-48, and MV-70). Figure S2. Stratigraphic column and photograph of site MV-45.
A species-specific, site-sensitive maximum stand density index model for Pacific Northwest conifer forests
Authors: Heiderman Ryan R. , Kimsey Mark J.
Published: June 2021

Maximum stand density index (SDIMAX) models were developed for important Pacific Northwest conifers of western Oregon and Washington, USA, based on site and species influences and interactions. Inventory and monitoring data from numerous federal, state, and private forest management groups were obtained throughout the region to ensure a wide coverage of site characteristics. These observations include information on tree size, number, and species composition. The effects and influence on the self-thinning frontier of plot-specific factors such as climate, topography, soils, and geology, as well as species composition, were evaluated based on geographic location using a multistep approach to analysis involving linear quantile mixed models, random forest, and stochastic frontier functions. The self-thinning slope of forest stands dominated by Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) was found to be –1.517 and that of stands dominated by western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) was found to be –1.461, leading to regionwide modelled SDIMAX values at the 95th percentile of 1728 and 1952 trees per hectare, respectively. The regional model of site-specific SDIMAX will support forest managers in decision-making regarding density management and species selection to more efficiently utilize site resources toward healthy, productive forests.
Pedological trends and implications for forest productivity in a Holocene soil chronosequence, Calvert Island, British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Nelson Lee-Ann , Sanborn Paul , Cade-Menun Barbara J. , Walker Ian J. , Lian Olav B.
Published: June 2021

Chronosequence studies of soil formation and ecosystem development provide important insights into the pathways and rates of change occurring on centennial and millennial time scales. In cool or temperate humid environments, Podzols are the predominant soil type formed under coniferous forests in coarse-textured parent material and have been a major focus of chronosequence studies. This study examined the rate and mechanisms of Podzol development and related forest productivity in a sand dune chronosequence in a hypermaritime climate in coastal British Columbia (BC). The sequence spans 10 760 ± 864 yr over eight sites and is the first documented chronosequence in coastal BC to span most of the Holocene Epoch. Soil samples from each genetic horizon were analyzed for bulk density, pH and concentrations of total carbon (C), pyrophosphate- and oxalate-extractable aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe), and total elements. Within ∼3500 yr, a mature Podzol had formed, with cemented horizons (ortstein and placic) present. Organo-metallic complexation appeared to be the dominant mechanism involved in podzolization. Despite a mild, moist climate conducive to chemical weathering, all soils had similarly low values for the chemical index of alteration, suggesting that congruent dissolution of primary minerals may be occurring. Ecosystem retrogression is apparent in the latter stages of the chronosequence — a phenomenon not previously documented in coastal BC. Further research is needed to examine the interactions of nutrient limitation, soil physical barriers, and other possible drivers of ecosystem retrogression.
Landscape position, sampling time, and tillage, but not legume species, affect labile carbon and nitrogen fractions in a 4-yr-old rejuvenated grazed pasture
Authors: Issah G. , Schoenau J. , Knight J.D.
Published: June 2021

Termination by tillage is one strategy used for regenerating pasture stands. Yet, research gaps exist on how tillage affects carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) forms and amounts in western Canadian soils. We measured total soil organic C (SOC), dissolved organic C (DOC), total dissolved N (TDN), light fraction organic C (LFOC) and light fraction organic N (LFON), microbial biomass C (MBC) and microbial biomass N (MBN), and inorganic N as indicators of soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics. After tillage termination in fall 2018, we sampled soils (0–10 cm; 0–15 cm) under three legume species (alfalfa, cicer milkvetch, and sainfoin) three times (spring, summer, and fall of 2019) across three landscape positions. Legume species did not affect the measured parameters. Over time, tillage affected DOC, TDN, and inorganic N. Averaged across three pasture legumes and three landscape positions, tillage increased DOC 29% by summer. Fall-applied tillage led to 59% and 33% higher TDN in the succeeding summer and fall. Inorganic N increased by 14% and 40% across landscape positions and sampling after tillage. Averaged across landscape positions, MBC decreased by 31% from spring to summer and increased by 51% from summer to fall. However, MBN increased by 53% and decreased by 5% within the same period. The seasonal fluctuations in MBC and MBN reflected variations in moisture, temperature, and substrate quality. Total SOC, LFOC, and LFON increased on the upper slopes and fall sampling time. Although single intensive tillage did not affect total SOC, several tillage operations could accelerate SOM loss and reduced total C storage over time.
A comparison of two novel approaches for conducting detect and avoid flight test
Authors: Ellis Kristopher , Borshchova Iryna , Jennings Sion , Paleske Caidence
Published: June 2021

This paper compares two approaches developed by the National Research Council of Canada to conduct “near-miss” intercepts in flight test, and describes a new method for assessing the efficacy of these trajectories. Each approach used a different combination of flight test techniques and displays to provide guidance to the pilots to set-up the aircraft on a collision trajectory and to maintain the desired path. Approach 1 only provided visual guidance of the relative azimuth and position of the aircraft, whereas Approach 2 established the conflict point (latitude/longitude) from the desired geometry, and provided cross track error from the desired intercept as well as speed cueing for the arrival time. The performance of the approaches was analyzed by comparing the proportion of time where the predicted closest approach distance was below a desired threshold value. The analysis showed that Approach 2 resulted in more than double the amount of time spent at or below desired closest approach distance across all azimuths flown. Moreover, since less time was required to establish the required initial conditions, and to stabilize the flight paths, the authors were able to conduct 50% more intercepts.
A Zagging and Weaving Model for Dislocation Interactions in Heterostructures Containing Strain Reversals
Authors: Kujofsa Tedi , Ayers J. E.
Published: June 2021

Strained-layer superlattices (SLSs) have been used to modify the threading dislocation behavior in metamorphic semiconductor device structures; in some cases they have even been used to block the propagation of threading dislocations and are referred to in these applications as “dislocation filters.” However, such applications of SLSs have been impeded by the lack of detailed physical models. Here we present a “zagging and weaving” model for dislocation interactions in multilayers and strained-layer superlattices, and we demonstrate the use of this model to the threading dislocation dynamics in InGaAs/GaAs (001) structures containing SLSs.
Recent Advances in the Modeling of Strain Relaxation and Dislocation Dynamics in InGaAs/GaAs (001) Heterostructures
Authors: Ayers J. E. , Kujofsa Tedi , Raphael Johanna , Islam Md Tanvirul
Published: June 2021

In this paper we describe state-of-the-art approaches to the modeling of strain relaxation and dislocation dynamics in InGaAs/GaAs (001) heterostructures. Current approaches are all based on the extension of the original Dodson and Tsao plastic flow model to include compositional grading and multilayers, dislocation interactions, and differential thermal expansion. Important recent break-throughs have greatly enhanced the utility of these modeling approaches in four respects: i) pinning interactions are included in graded and multilayered structures, providing a better description of the limiting strain relaxation as well as the dislocation sidewall gettering; ii) a refined model for dislocation-dislocation interactions including zagging enables a more accurate physical description of compositionally-graded layers and step-graded layers; iii) inclusion of back-and-forth weaving of dislocations provides a better description of dislocation dynamics in structures containing strain reversals, such as strained-layer superlattices or overshoot graded layers; and iv) the compositional dependence of the model kinetic parameters has been elucidated for the InGaAs material system, allowing more accurate modeling of heterostructures with wide variations in composition. We will describe these four key advances and illustrate their applications to heterostructures of practical interest.
Quantum-Dot Transistor Based Multi-Bit Multiplier Unit for In-Memory Computing
Authors: Zhao Yang , Qian Fengyu , Jain Faquir , Wang Lei
Published: June 2021

In-memory computing is an emerging technique to fulfill the fast growing demand for high-performance data processing. This technique provides fast processing and high throughput by accessing data stored in the memory array rather than dealing with complicated operation and data movement on hard drive. For data processing, the most important computation is dot product, which is also the core computation for applications such as deep learning neuron networks, machine learning, etc. As multiplication is the key function in dot product, it is critical to improve its performance and achieve faster memory processing. In this paper, we present a design with the ability to perform in-memory multi-bit multiplications. The proposed design is implemented by using quantum-dot transistors, which enable multi-bit computations in the memory cell. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed design provides reliable in-memory multi-bit multiplications with high density and high energy efficiency. Statistical analysis is performed using Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the process variations and error effects.
A Novel Peripheral Circuit for SWSFET Based Multivalued Static Random-Access Memory
Authors: Gudlavalleti R. H. , Saman B. , Mays R. , Heller Evan , Chandy J. , Jain F.
Published: June 2021

This paper presents the peripheral circuitry for a multivalued static random-access memory (SRAM) based on 2-bit CMOS cross-coupled inverters using spatial wavefunction switched (SWS) field effect transistors (SWSFETs). The novel feature is a two quantum well/quantum dot channel n-SWSFET access transistor. The reduction in area with four-bit storage-per-cell increases the memory density and efficiency of the SRAM array. The SWSFET has vertically stacked two-quantum well/quantum dot channels between the source and drain regions. The upper or lower quantum charge locations in the channel region is based on the input gate voltage. The analog behavioral modeling (ABM) of the SWSFET device is done using conventional BSIM 3V3 device parameters in 90 nm technology. The Cadence circuit simulations for the proposed memory cell and addressing/peripheral circuitry are presented.
Amaranthine: Humanoid Robot Kinematics
Authors: Asthana Shefalika , Karna Srikanth R. , Shelby Irine Ann
Published: June 2021

Humanoid robots are employed in a wide range of fields to replicate human actions. This paper presents the mechanism, configuration, mathematical modeling, and workspace of a 3D printed humanoid robot – Amaranthine. It also discusses the potential scope of humanoid robots in the present day and future. Robots can be programmed for automation as per the demand of the task or operations to be performed. Humanoid robots, while being one of the small groups of service robots in the current market, have the greatest potential to become the industrial tool of the future. Introducing a Humanoid Robot-like Amaranthine holds huge scope majorly in the fields of medical assistance, teaching aid, large industries where heavy-duty operations require application-specific software, etc. Amaranthine was 3D printed and assembled at the RISC Lab of University of Bridgeport.
Existence of Impact Period-1 Orbit After Grazing Bifurcation for a Soft Impacting System
Authors: Fu Shihui
Published: June 2021

In the paper, the theoretical study on some experimental and numerical results of grazing bifurcation for a soft impacting system are analyzed. After the conditions under which nonimpact period-1 orbit and grazing bifurcation exist are given, we prove that an impact period-1 orbit exists by the implicit function theorem. The details of these periodic orbits are also investigated, which also helps us numerically find them. The method in this paper is still efficient for the multiperiodic orbits with single impact.
Strange Nonchaotic Attractors From a Family of Quasiperiodically Forced Piecewise Linear Maps
Authors: Li Denghui , Cao Zhenbang , Zhang Xiaoming , Grebogi Celso , Xie Jianhua
Published: June 2021

In this paper, a family of quasiperiodically forced piecewise linear maps is considered. It is proved that there exists a unique strange nonchaotic attractor for some set of parameter values. It is the graph of an upper semi-continuous function, which is invariant, discontinuous almost everywhere and attracts almost all orbits. Moreover, both Lyapunov exponents on the attractor is nonpositive. Finally, to demonstrate and validate our theoretical results, numerical simulations are presented to exhibit the corresponding phase portrait and Lyapunov exponents portrait.
Newtonian repulsion and radial confinement: Convergence toward steady state
Authors: Shu Ruiwen , Tadmor Eitan
Published: June 2021

We investigate the large time behavior of multi-dimensional aggregation equations driven by Newtonian repulsion, and balanced by radial attraction and confinement. In case of Newton repulsion with radial confinement we quantify the algebraic convergence decay rate toward the unique steady state. To this end, we identify a one-parameter family of radial steady states, and prove dimension-dependent decay rate in energy and 2-Wassertein distance, using a comparison with properly selected radial steady states. We also study Newtonian repulsion and radial attraction. When the attraction potential is quadratic it is known to coincide with quadratic confinement. Here, we study the case of perturbed radial quadratic attraction, proving that it still leads to one-parameter family of unique steady states. It is expected that this family to serve for a corresponding comparison argument which yields algebraic convergence toward steady repulsive-attractive solutions.
Total Proper Connection and Graph Operations
Authors: Zhang Yingying , Zhu Xiaoyu
Published: June 2021

A graph is said to be total-colored if all the edges and vertices of the graph are colored. A path in a total-colored graph is a total proper path if (i) any two adjacent edges on the path differ in color, (ii) any two internal adjacent vertices on the path differ in color, and (iii) any internal vertex of the path differs in color from its incident edges on the path. A total-colored graph is called total-proper connected if any two vertices of the graph are connected by a total proper path of the graph. For a connected graph [Formula: see text], the total proper connection number of [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text], is defined as the smallest number of colors required to make [Formula: see text] total-proper connected. In this paper, we study the total proper connection number for the graph operations. We find that [Formula: see text] is the total proper connection number for the join, the lexicographic product and the strong product of nearly all graphs. Besides, we study three kinds of graphs with one factor to be traceable for the Cartesian product as well as the permutation graphs of the star and traceable graphs. The values of the total proper connection number for these graphs are all [Formula: see text].
Relativistic charged sphere in f(G,T) gravity
Authors: Ilyas M. , Athar A. R. , Masud Bilal
Published: June 2021

This study explores the interior geometry of static relativistic charged spheres in the background of a recently proposed modified [Formula: see text] gravity, where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are the Gauss–Bonnet (GB) invariant and trace of energy–momentum tensor, respectively. The GB gravity is the low-energy limit of superstring theories. The structures of specific relativistic charged spheres Vela [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] are studied in this theory of gravity. We analyzed several physical behaviors of these relativistic charged spheres with the help of observational data and investigated the various aspects like density profile, stresses, the distribution of charges, stability, etc.
Assessment of cerebral oxygenation response to hemodialysis using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS): Challenges and solutions
Authors: Wong Ardy , Robinson Lucy , Soroush Seena , Suresh Aditi , Yang Dia , Madu Kelechi , Harhay Meera N. , Pourrezaei Kambiz
Published: June 2021

To date, the clinical use of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to detect cerebral ischemia has been largely limited to surgical settings, where motion artifacts are minimal. In this study, we present novel techniques to address the challenges of using NIRS to monitor ambulatory patients with kidney disease during approximately eight hours of hemodialysis (HD) treatment. People with end-stage kidney disease who require HD are at higher risk for cognitive impairment and dementia than age-matched controls. Recent studies have suggested that HD-related declines in cerebral blood flow might explain some of the adverse outcomes of HD treatment. However, there are currently no established paradigms for monitoring cerebral perfusion in real-time during HD treatment. In this study, we used NIRS to assess cerebral hemodynamic responses among 95 prevalent HD patients during two consecutive HD treatments. We observed substantial signal attenuation in our predominantly Black patient cohort that required probe modifications. We also observed consistent motion artifacts that we addressed by developing a novel NIRS methodology, called the HD cerebral oxygen demand algorithm (HD-CODA), to identify episodes when cerebral oxygen demand might be outpacing supply during HD treatment. We then examined the association between a summary measure of time spent in cerebral deoxygenation, derived using the HD-CODA, and hemodynamic and treatment-related variables. We found that this summary measure was associated with intradialytic mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and volume removal. Future studies should use the HD-CODA to implement studies of real-time NIRS monitoring for incident dialysis patients, over longer time frames, and in other dialysis modalities.
Modeling of heterogeneous materials at high strain rates with machine learning algorithms trained by finite element simulations
Authors: Long Xu , Mao Minghui , Lu Changheng , Li Ruiwen , Jia Fengrui
Published: June 2021

Great progress has been made in the dynamic mechanical properties of concrete which is usually assumed to be homogenous. In fact, concrete is a typical heterogeneous material, and the meso-scale structure with aggregates has a significant effect on its macroscopic mechanical properties of concrete. In this paper, concrete is regarded as a two-phase composite material, that is, a combination of aggregate inclusion and mortar matrix. To create the finite element (FE) models, the Monte Carlo method is used to place the aggregates as random inclusions into the mortar matrix of the cylindrical specimens. To validate the numerical simulations of such an inclusion-matrix model at high strain rates, the comparisons with experimental results using the split Hopkinson pressure bar are made and good agreement is achieved in terms of dynamic increasing factor. By performing more extensive FE predictions, the influences of aggregate size and content on the macroscopic dynamic properties (i.e., peak dynamic strength) of concrete materials subjected to high strain rates are further investigated based on the back-propagation (BP) artificial neural network method. It is found that the particle size of aggregate has little effect on the dynamic mechanical properties of concrete but the peak dynamic strength of concrete increases obviously with the content increase of aggregate. After detailed comparisons with FE simulations, machine learning predictions based on the BP algorithm show good applicability for predicting dynamic mechanical strength of concrete with different aggregate sizes and contents. Instead of FE analysis with complicated meso-scale aggregate pre-processing, time-consuming simulation and laborious post-processing, machine learning predictions reproduce the stress–strain curves of concrete materials under high strain rates and thus the constitutive behavior can be efficiently predicted.
M-CUBE
Authors: Zhao Renjie , Woodford Timothy , Wei Teng , Qian Kun , Zhang Xinyu
Published: June 2021

Millimeter-wave (mmWave) technologies represent a cornerstone for emerging wireless network infrastructure, and for RF sensing systems in security, health, and automotive domains. However, the lack of an experimental platform has been impeding research in this field. In this article, we propose to fill the gap with M3 (M-Cube), the first mmWave massive MIMO software radio. M3 features a fully reconfigurable array of phased arrays, with up to 8 RF chains and 256 antenna elements. Despite the orders of magnitude larger antenna arrays, its cost is orders of magnitude lower, even when compared with state-of-the-art single RF chain mmWave software radios. Case studies have demonstrated the usefulness of M3 design for research in mmWave massive MIMO communication and sensing.
Technical Perspective
Authors: Zukowski Marcin
Published: June 2021

Hash tables are possibly the single most researched element of the database query processing layers. There are many good reasons for that. They are critical for some key operations like joins and aggregation, and as such are one of the largest contributors to the overall query performance. Their efficiency is heavily impacted by variations of workloads, hardware and implementation, leading to many research opportunities. At the same time, they are sufficiently small and local in scope, allowing a starting researcher, or even a student, to understand them and contribute novel ideas. And benchmark them. . . Oh, the benchmarks. . . :)
Histidine Kinases: Diverse Functions in Plant Development and Responses to Environmental Conditions
Authors: Hoang Xuan Lan Thi , Prerostova Sylva , Thu Nguyen Binh Anh , Thao Nguyen Phuong , Vankova Radomira , Tran Lam-Son Phan
Published: June 2021

The two-component system (TCS), which is one of the most evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway systems, has been known to regulate multiple biological activities and environmental responses in plants. Significant progress has been made in characterizing the biological functions of the TCS components, including signal receptor histidine kinase (HK) proteins, signal transducer histidine-containing phosphotransfer proteins, and effector response regulator proteins. In this review, our scope is focused on the diverse structure, subcellular localization, and interactions of the HK proteins, as well as their signaling functions during development and environmental responses across different plant species. Based on data collected from scientific studies, knowledge about acting mechanisms and regulatory roles of HK proteins is presented. This comprehensive summary ofthe HK-related network provides a panorama of sophisticated modulating activities of HK members and gaps in understanding these activities, as well as the basis for developing biotechnological strategies to enhance the quality of crop plants.
Message in a Bubble: Shuttling Small RNAs and Proteins Between Cells and Interacting Organisms Using Extracellular Vesicles
Authors: Cai Qiang , He Baoye , Wang Shumei , Fletcher Stephen , Niu Dongdong , Mitter Neena , Birch Paul R. J. , Jin Hailing
Published: June 2021

Communication between plant cells and interacting microorganisms requires the secretion and uptake of functional molecules to and from the extracellular environment and is essential for the survival of both plants and their pathogens. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer–enclosed spheres that deliver RNA, protein, and metabolite cargos from donor to recipient cells and participate in many cellular processes. Emerging evidencehas shown that both plant and microbial EVs play important roles in cross-kingdom molecular exchange between hosts and interacting microbes to modulate host immunity and pathogen virulence. Recent studies revealed that plant EVs function as a defense system by encasing and delivering small RNAs (sRNAs) into pathogens, thereby mediating cross-species and cross-kingdom RNA interference to silence virulence-related genes. This review focuses on the latest advances in our understanding of plant and microbial EVs and their roles in transporting regulatory molecules, especially sRNAs, between hosts and pathogens. EV biogenesis and secretion are also discussed, as EV function relies on these important processes.
New Insights into Classical Novae
Authors: Chomiuk Laura , Metzger Brian D. , Shen Ken J.
Published: June 2021

We survey our understanding of classical novae—nonterminal, thermonuclear eruptions on the surfaces of white dwarfs in binary systems. The recent and unexpected discovery of GeV gamma rays from Galactic novae has highlighted the complexity of novae and their value as laboratories for studying shocks and particle acceleration. We review half a century of nova literature through this new lens, and conclude the following: ▪  The basics of the thermonuclear runaway theory of novae are confirmed by observations. The white dwarf sustains surface nuclear burning for some time after runaway, and until recently, it was commonly believed that radiation from this nuclear burning solely determines the nova's bolometric luminosity. ▪  The processes by which novae eject material from the binary system remain poorly understood. Mass loss from novae is complex (sometimes fluctuating in rate, velocity, and morphology) and often prolonged in time over weeks, months, or years. ▪  The complexity of the mass ejection leads to gamma-ray-producing shocks internal to the nova ejecta. When gamma rays are detected (around optical maximum), the shocks are deeply embedded and the surrounding gas is very dense. ▪  Observations of correlated optical and gamma-ray light curves confirm that the shocks are radiative and contribute significantly to the bolometric luminosity of novae. Novae are therefore the closest and most common interaction-powered transients.
The Influence of Timing in Critical Care Nutrition
Authors: McKeever Liam , Peterson Sarah J. , Lateef Omar , Braunschweig Carol
Published: June 2021

Proper timing of critical care nutrition has long been a matter of controversy. Critical illness waxes and wanes in stages, creating a dynamic flux in energy needs that we have only begun to examine. Furthermore, response to nutrition support likely differs greatly at the level of the individual patient in regard to genetic status, disease stage, comorbidities, and more. We review the observational and randomized literature concerning timing in nutrition support, discuss mechanisms of harm in feeding critically ill patients, and highlight the role of precision nutrition for moving the literature beyond the realm of blunt population averages into one that accounts for the patient-specific complexities of critical illness and host genetics.
[Retracted] Forecast and Evaluation of Educational Economic Contribution Based on Fuzzy Neural Network
Authors: Liu RuiFeng , Wu Min
Published: June 2021

According to the theory that the degree of education of workers in educational economics has a certain positive relationship with social labor productivity, the fuzzy system and neural network modeling mechanism are used to establish the fuzziness of laborers’ education level to social productivity (per capita national income). This article combines fuzzy theory and neural network theory to construct an empirical model for the analysis of the contribution of education economy and conduct an empirical analysis of statistical data from 2010 to 2020. Analysis shows that there is a great correlation between per capita years of education and per capita GDP, especially the number of college students per million people has a greater correlation with per capita GDP. This fully confirms that economic growth is increasingly dependent on education, especially higher education. The main body of this article is the improvement of the measurement model and the calculation of the contribution of our country’s education to economic growth using the fuzzy neural network measurement model. The final empirical conclusion shows that education has a significant role in promoting the development of our country’s economy.
An Incentive Mechanism for Reporting Phishing E-Mails Based on the Tripartite Evolutionary Game Model
Authors: Wang Mengli , Song Lipeng
Published: June 2021

The human is considered as the important link in the phishing attack, and the e-mail security provider encourages users to report suspicious e-mails. However, evidence suggests that reporting is scarce. Therefore, we study how to motivate users to report phishing e-mails in this paper. To solve the problem, a tripartite evolutionary game model among e-mail security providers, e-mail users, and attackers is constructed. We obtain the desired evolutionary stable strategy through solving the replicator dynamics equations. Moreover, the evolution process to the desired evolutionary stable strategy is derived, which can guide the e-mail security provider to make a reasonable incentive mechanism. Lastly, we experiment with a large real-world e-mail network. The experiment results show that our model is effective and practical.
An Enlarged and Infected Prostatic Utricle as a Rare Cause of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Adolescent Males
Authors: Shakir Rashida , Packer Michael G. , Balsara Zarine R.
Published: June 2021

Dysuria with lower abdominal pain is a common presentation for a urinary tract infection (UTI), and diagnosis is based on symptoms together with a urinalysis and urine culture suggestive of infection. UTI is uncommon in circumcised males who are not sexually active. When urine culture is negative, alternate diagnoses including, but not limited to, gastroenteritis, severe constipation, appendicitis, or epididymitis need to be considered. In patients with a known urologic history of proximal hypospadias and/or disorders of sexual development, rarer diagnoses also need to be considered. This paper reports the case of a 13-year-old male with a remote history of proximal hypospadias repair, who presented with nonspecific lower urinary tract symptoms. Initially he was treated for UTI. However, urine cultures remained negative despite persistent urinary tract symptoms. On further workup, he was found to have an enlarged and infected prostatic utricle. This report illustrates the importance of considering an enlarged prostatic utricle in the differential diagnoses of patients with chronic lower urinary tract symptoms and a history of hypospadias. Additionally, this case highlights the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in clarifying lower urinary tract anatomy in cases where ultrasound is inconclusive.
Correlations between Iron Load and CD4 in Adult Transfusion-Dependent Beta Thalassemia
Authors: Atmakusuma Tubagus Djumhana , Girson Ralph , Koesnoe Sukamto
Published: June 2021

Background. Thalassemia is a hereditary disease, and severe anemia is the main phenotype of major thalassemia. Furthermore, the most important method in the management of this disease is red blood cell transfusion. Regular transfusions administered 1 or 2 times every month improve prognosis and survival. However, there is higher risk of infections and iron overload, especially in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT). Infections are the second leading cause of death in adult TDT, after heart failure. Higher risk of infection is also influenced by multiple blood transfusions which causes alteration in immune response due to alloimmunization, transfusion-related infections, and iron overload. Meanwhile, iron overload in TDT alters both innate and specific immune responses. Furthermore, previous studies have shown the correlation between ferritin with CD4, but this has not been carried out in Indonesia. Therefore, this study aims to determine the correlations between iron overload (serum ferritin and transferrin saturation) and specific immune cells (CD4). Methods. This is a cross-sectional study, and a total number of 64 subjects were examined consecutively. Chest X-ray and blood sera were obtained. The total number of subjects was 64. The seromarkers HBsAg, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV were tested using the ELISA method. Serum ferritin and transferrin saturation was tested using ECLIA, and lymphocyte subsets were analyzed using flowcytometry. Meanwhile, the correlation between variables was determined using Spearman’s test. Results. The results showed that 4.9% subjects were HBsAg positive, 10.7% were anti-HCV positive, and none were anti-HIV positive. There were 4 subjects with lung tuberculosis based on the 41 chest X-ray. Meanwhile, there was a weak negative and insignificant correlation between serum ferritin with CD4 (

p
=
0.75

; r = −0.04) and a weak positive and insignificant correlation between transferrin saturation with CD4 (

p
=
0.133

; r = 0.19). Conclusion. There were no correlations between iron overload (ferritin) and cellular immunity (CD4) in adult transfusion-dependent thalassemia.
A Retrospective Cohort Study of Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy in the Acute Phase of Kawasaki Disease: The Earlier, the Better?
Authors: Li Wei , He Xiufang , Zhang Li , Wang Zhouping , Wang Yanfei , Lin Huimei , Yuan Jia , Xie Xiaofei , Qin Youzhen , Huang Ping
Published: June 2021

Background. Although intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is expected to prevent coronary artery abnormalities of Kawasaki disease (KD) in the acute phase, the timing and effectiveness of IVIG remain to be determined. The association of timing of IVIG administration in KD patients with coronary artery abnormalities is evaluated in this cohort study. Methods. We systematically studied KD patients from two participating institutions between 2015 and 2017. To reveal the effectiveness of IVIG treatment, these patients were classified into four groups regarding the time of IVIG treatment. Primary outcome was coronary artery abnormalities by echo at diagnosis and 12 months follow-up; secondary outcomes included inflammatory markers. Results. A total of 1281 patients were included in this study. The best time of IVIG treatment cut-off values in 12 months follow-up for predicting coronary artery abnormalities was days 7.5 of illness onset. According to the best time of IVIG treatment cut-off values, all patients were classified into 4 groups. Group 1 was defined as earlier IVIG treatment administration on days ≤4 of the illness (n=77). Group 2 was defined with days 5-7 (n=817), group 3 with days 8-10 (n=249), group 4 with days >10 (n=138). A greater proportion of IVIG-resistant KD patients were group 4 than the other three groups, and there were significant differences (p<0.05). The incidence of coronary artery lesions (CALs) and coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) in group 3 and group 4 was higher than that in group 1 (p<0.05) and group 2 (p<0.05) during a 12-month follow-up. Additionally, the incidence of CALs in group 1 was higher than that in group 2 but without statistical significance (p>0.05). The OR was significantly higher for those who started IVIG administration more than 7 days from the onset was positively associated with the occurrence of CALs (OR, 5.3; 95% CI, 2.0-13.9) and CAAs (OR, 13.5; 95% CI, 2.9-14.1) 12 months after initial onset. Multivariate regression revealed that the timing of IVIG treatment and IVIG-resistance was independent risk factors of CALs. Conclusions. IVIG treatment less than 7 days after illness onset are found to be sufficient for preventing developing coronary artery abnormalities in KD patients. Earlier IVIG treatment administration within 4 days may not increase the higher incidence of coronary artery abnormalities and IVIG resistance (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry:ChiCTR1800015800).
A Defense Framework for Privacy Risks in Remote Machine Learning Service
Authors: Bai Yang , Li Yu , Xie Mingchuang , Fan Mingyu
Published: June 2021

In recent years, machine learning approaches have been widely adopted for many applications, including classification. Machine learning models deal with collective sensitive data usually trained in a remote public cloud server, for instance, machine learning as a service (MLaaS) system. In this scene, users upload their local data and utilize the computation capability to train models, or users directly access models trained by MLaaS. Unfortunately, recent works reveal that the curious server (that trains the model with users’ sensitive local data and is curious to know the information about individuals) and the malicious MLaaS user (who abused to query from the MLaaS system) will cause privacy risks. The adversarial method as one of typical mitigation has been studied by several recent works. However, most of them focus on the privacy-preserving against the malicious user; in other words, they commonly consider the data owner and the model provider as one role. Under this assumption, the privacy leakage risks from the curious server are neglected. Differential privacy methods can defend against privacy threats from both the curious sever and the malicious MLaaS user by directly adding noise to the training data. Nonetheless, the differential privacy method will decrease the classification accuracy of the target model heavily. In this work, we propose a generic privacy-preserving framework based on the adversarial method to defend both the curious server and the malicious MLaaS user. The framework can adapt with several adversarial algorithms to generate adversarial examples directly with data owners’ original data. By doing so, sensitive information about the original data is hidden. Then, we explore the constraint conditions of this framework which help us to find the balance between privacy protection and the model utility. The experiments’ results show that our defense framework with the AdvGAN method is effective against MIA and our defense framework with the FGSM method can protect the sensitive data from direct content exposed attacks. In addition, our method can achieve better privacy and utility balance compared to the existing method.