bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Grenzregion Polen — Deutschland: gestärkt durch die COVID-19-Pandemie
Authors: Fleßa Steffen , Kuntosch Julia
Published: March 2022

Die COVID-19-Krise hatte erhebliche Auswirkungen auf die Grenzregion Polen — Deutschland. Der Beitrag untersucht, ob die Pandemie tatsächlich den Abstand zwischen der Grenzregion als strukturschwacher Region und dem Rest von Deutschland erhöhen wird, oder ob die Krise sogar eine Chance bietet. Hierzu wurden neben einer Online-Befragung ebenfalls Experteninterviews durchgeführt und ausgewertet. Die Zielregion ist vergleichsweise gut durch die Krise gekommen, jedoch sollte die Region die Chance nutzen und bereits begonnene Veränderungen wie Digitalisierung und Flexibilisierung weiter vorantreiben.
Effekte einer Tilgungsstreckung für coronabedingte Staatsschulden
Authors: Broer Michael
Published: March 2022

Der Koalitionsvertrag erschwert Steuererhöhungen. Die Bundesregierung benötigt aber Einnahmen für politisch erwünschte Projekte. Aus diesem Grund plant die Regierung, den Tilgungsplan für die Coronakredite zu strecken. Diese Politik mindert die Tilgungsbelastung in der Gegenwart und schafft somit finanzielle Spielräume für Ausgaben. Steigen zukünftig die Renditen der Staatsanleihen, so erhöht sich aufgrund der Verlängerung der Tilgungsdauer die Zinsbelastung. Werden die durch die Tilgungsstreckung gewonnenen finanziellen Spielräume für Investitionen verwendet, so erben zukünftige Generationen Schulden und Vermögenswerte. Tatsächlich liegen die investiven Ausgaben des Bundes in den vergangenen zwei Jahren bei 11,3%. Würde dies auch für diese Mittel gelten, käme es zu einer starken Belastung der zukünftigen Generation und einem Verstoß gegen die Generationengerechtigkeit.
Quantum game approach for capacity allocation decisions under strategic reasoning
Authors: Fadaki Masih , Abbasi Babak , Chhetri Prem
Published: March 2022

From a common point of view, quantum mechanics, psychology, and decision science disciplines try to predict how unruly systems (atomic particles, human behaviors, and decision makers’ choices) might behave in the future. Effective predicting outcome of a capacity allocation game under various allocation policies requires a profound understanding as how strategic reasoning of decision makers contributes to the financial gain of players. A quantum game framework is employed in the current study to investigate how performance of allocation policies is affected when buyers strategize over order quantities. The results show that the degree of being manipulative for allocation mechanisms is not identical and adopting adaptive quantum method is the most effective approach to secure the highest fill rate and profit when it is practiced under a reasonable range of entanglement levels.
A survey on local transport mode detection on the edge of the network
Authors: Kamalian Mahdieh , Ferreira Paulo , Jul Eric
Published: March 2022

We present a survey of smartphone-based Transport Mode Detection (TMD). We categorize TMD solutions into local and remote; the first ones are addressed in this article. A local approach performs the following steps in the smartphone (and not in some faraway cloud servers): 1) data collection or sensing, 2) preprocessing, 3) feature extraction, and 4) classification (with a previous training phase). A local TMD approach outperforms a remote approach due to less delay, improved privacy, no need for Internet connection, better or equal accuracy and smaller data size. Therefore, we present local TMD solutions taking into account the above mentioned four steps and analyze them according to the most relevant requirements: accuracy, delay, resources consumption and generalization. To achieve the highest accuracy (100%), studies used a different combination of sensors, features and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms. The results suggest that accelerometer and GPS (Global Position System) are the most useful sensors for data collection. Discriminative ML algorithms, such as random forest, outperform the other algorithms for classification. Some solutions improved the delay of the proposed system by using a small window size and a local approach. A few studies could improve battery usage of their system by utilizing low battery-consuming sensors (e.g., accelerometer) and low sampling rate (e.g., 10Hz). CPU usage is primarily dependent on data collection, while memory usage is related to the features and complexity of the ML algorithm. Finally, the generalization requirement is met in studies that consider user, location and position independency into account.
Dynamic Measurement of Specific Heat Above 1000 K
Authors: Urban David , Anhalt Klaus
Published: March 2022

With increasing demand of thermophysical property data at high temperatures in the field e.g. of space aeronautics and manufacturing new measurement methods need to be established to guarantee reliable and SI-traceable measurements up to 3000 K. In the framework of the European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR) within the joint research project Hi-Trace the dynamic emissivity measurement at PTB has been advanced to determine the specific heat up to around 2000 K. This paper outlines the necessary technical advancements such as an induction heating system, the measurement principle which utilize graphite coated samples and uncertainty evaluation using an adaptive Monte Carlo method. The specific heat of graphite and tungsten was measured in a temperature range from 1000 K to 2000 K with relative expanded uncertainties ($$k=2$$

k
=
2

) ranging from 8 % to 12 %.
ASD Diagnosis and Treatment Experiences Among Mexican Heritage Families
Authors: Cohen Shana R. , Miguel Jessica , Trejos Jessica
Published: March 2022

To understand the ASD diagnosis and treatment pathways for US families, N = 38 Mexican-heritage mothers were interviewed about how and when they obtained an ASD diagnosis for their children. Most children (84%) were diagnosed between two and three years old. One-third of mothers reported receiving four to seven referrals before diagnosis. Mothers identified multiple diagnosis circumstances including two diagnoses and services offered before diagnosis. A multiple case study design documented the diagnosis and treatment experiences of four representative participants. As compared to previous studies that utilized a deficit lens to rationalize barriers to diagnosis and treatment (e.g., parents not knowledgeable about ASD), these findings revealed a complex understanding of how structural barriers (e.g., immigration status), initial diagnosis rejection among caregivers, and abrupt service cancellation complicated the diagnosis and treatment process. Implications identified suggestions to optimize and streamline ASD diagnosis and treatment pathways for Mexican heritage families.
Subjective Poverty Moderates the Association Between Carer Status and Psychological Outcomes of Adult Siblings of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Hayden Nikita K. , Hastings Richard P. , Kassa Clare , Danylec Frances
Published: March 2022

Adult siblings are potentially important sources of care, support, advocacy, and friendship for their brothers and sisters with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Drawing on data about 851 adult siblings who completed an online national survey, we examined predictors and potential key moderators of siblings’ mental distress, wellbeing, quality of life, and health outcomes. Moderated regression analyses indicated that siblings experiencing higher levels of subjective poverty; siblings with brothers and sisters with lower levels of independence; and siblings who are carers and also experiencing low levels of subjective poverty, had worse outcomes and may be in need of specific supports. Compared to normative samples, adult siblings of people with IDD had worse outcomes across the measures.
Combining ZnO inverse opal and ZnO nanorods using ALD and hydrothermal growth
Authors: Karajz Dániel , Cseh Domonkos , Parditka Bence , Erdélyi Zoltán , Szilágyi Imre
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we combine the atomic layer deposition synthesis method of inverse opal with the hydrothermal growth of nanorods. From 460 nm polystyrene nanospheres opal crystals were produced using vertical deposition on Si wafers. The opal templates were covered with ZnO by atomic layer deposition. High temperature annealing was used to remove the polystyrene nanospheres to obtain the inverse opal structure. For the hydrothermal growth of ZnO nanorods, two production routes were analysed: hydrothermal reaction before and after the removal of the template. The two paths produced two distinct structures, one with plate like formations and one with nanorods, respectively. Also, the sample modified by the hydrothermal growth after the annealing showed slight differences in optical properties compared to the regular inverse opal. Morphology, composition and structure of the samples were explored using SEM, EDX and XRD. Optical properties were investigated with reflectance UV–Vis spectroscopy. Thermal stability of the polystyrene opal was determined using TG.
The correlation between positive reviews, playtime, design and game mechanics in souls-like role-playing video games
Authors: Guzsvinecz Tibor
Published: March 2022

The “Souls-like” role-playing video game genre was inadvertently created due to the influence of the “Souls franchise”. However, each game has different twists which can be new gameplay mechanics, graphical style, etc. while maintaining the core elements of the “Souls franchise”. The goal of this study is to understand which gameplay mechanics are more liked by comparing reviews of these games to each other. Thus, different game design elements and game mechanics are investigated in 21 “Souls-like” video games to see how the users reacted to them and whether they positively reviewed them. All (993,932) reviews were scraped from the Steam webpage regarding these games in the middle of April 2021 using the steam_reviews Python package. These reviews contain the playtime at review, whether a positive or negative rating is given, and a textual component among others. Overall, 11 various game design elements and game mechanics were set up for the investigation: the setting, graphical dimensions as well as style, level design, and whether there are difficulty settings, multiplayer features, upgradeable weapons/armor, equipment durability, in-game map, extra penalties upon death, and a classic level-up system. Based on data distributions, either the t-test or the Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test was used for the analysis. The syuzhet package, which uses Natural Language Processing methods, was used in the statistical program package R along with the NRC Emotion Lexicon to evaluate the textual parts. According to the results, a slight-to-moderate correlation exists between positive reviews and the users’ playtimes: more playtimes mean a larger chance of having positive reviews. Significant differences also exist in the percentages of positive reviews among these games: Hollow Knight is the most liked game. Out of the investigated 11 factors, significant differences exist among all of them: drawn graphics (96.48%) and 2D style (95.61%) are the two most liked factors, while pixel graphics (87.11%) and a futuristic setting (86.74%) are the two least liked ones. Almost every factor can significantly affect all eight basic emotions (anger, anticipation, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, surprise, trust). The exceptions are graphical dimensions, weapon/armor upgradability, in-game map, and extra penalties upon character death as no significant differences exist in case of trust (p = 0.85), anger (p = 0.24), sadness (p = 0.21) and disgust (p = 0.095), respectively when the average sentiments per review were examined. Future “Souls-like” game design and development can be influenced by the results as game developers can more easily choose from the factors they want to implement or whether they want them at all in their games.
Music information visualization and classical composers discovery: an application of network graphs, multidimensional scaling, and support vector machines
Authors: Georges Patrick , Seckin Aylin
Published: March 2022

This article illustrates different information visualization techniques applied to a database of classical composers and visualizes both the macrocosm of the Common Practice Period and the microcosms of twentieth century classical music. It uses data on personal (composer-to-composer) musical influences to generate and analyze network graphs. Data on style influences and composers ‘ecological’ data are then combined to composer-to-composer musical influences to build a similarity/distance matrix, and a multidimensional scaling analysis is used to locate the relative position of composers on a map while preserving the pairwise distances. Finally, a support-vector machines algorithm is used to generate classification maps. This article falls into the realm of an experiment in music education, not musicology. The ultimate objective is to explore parts of the classical music heritage and stimulate interest in discovering composers. In an age offering either inculcation through lists of prescribed composers and compositions to explore, or music recommendation algorithms that automatically propose works to listen to next, the analysis illustrates an alternative path that might promote the active rather than passive discovery of composers and their music in a less restrictive way than inculcation through prescription.
Managing academic performance by optimal resource allocation
Authors: Grigoriev Alexander , Mondrus Olga
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we develop and study a complex data-driven framework for human resource management enabling (i) academic talent recognition, (ii) researcher performance measurement, and (iii) renewable resource allocation maximizing the total output of a research unit. Suggested resource allocation guarantees the optimal output under strong economic assumptions: the agents are rational, collaborative and have no incentives to behave selfishly. In reality, however, agents often play strategically maximizing their own utilities, e.g., maximizing the resources assigned to them. This strategic behavior is typically mitigated by implementation of performance-driven or uniform resource allocation schemes. Next to the framework presentation, we address the cost of such mitigation.
Ultrasound-guided prostate percutaneous intervention robot system and calibration by informative particle swarm optimization
Authors: Yan Jiawen , Pan Bo , Fu Yili
Published: March 2022

Applying a robot system in ultrasound-guided percutaneous intervention is an effective approach for prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. The limited space for robot manipulation restricts structure volume and motion. In this paper, an 8-degree-of-freedom robot system is proposed for ultrasound probe manipulation, needle positioning, and needle insertion. A novel parallel structure is employed in the robot system for space saving, structural rigidity, and collision avoidance. The particle swarm optimization method based on informative value is proposed for kinematic parameter identification to calibrate the parallel structure accurately. The method identifies parameters in the modified kinematic model stepwise according to parameter discernibility. Verification experiments prove that the robot system can realize motions needed in targeting. By applying the calibration method, a reasonable, reliable forward kinematic model is built, and the average errors can be limited to 0.963 and 1.846 mm for insertion point and target point, respectively.
Kurtosis removal for data pre-processing
Authors: Loperfido Nicola
Published: March 2022

Mesokurtic projections are linear projections with null fourth cumulants. They might be useful data pre-processing tools when nonnormality, as measured by the fourth cumulants, is either an opportunity or a challenge. Nonnull fourth cumulants are opportunities when projections with extreme kurtosis are used to identify interesting nonnormal features, as for example clusters and outliers. Unfortunately, this approach suffers from the curse of dimensionality, which may be addressed by projecting the data onto the subspace orthogonal to mesokurtic projections. Nonnull fourth cumulants are challenges when using statistical methods whose sampling properties heavily depend on the fourth cumulant themselves. Mesokurtic projections ease the problem by allowing to use the inferential properties of the same methods under normality. The paper shows necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of mesokurtic projections and compares them with other gaussianization methods. Theoretical and empirical results suggest that mesokurtic transformations are particularly useful when sampling from finite normal mixtures. The practical use of mesokurtic projections is illustrated with the AIS and the RANDU datasets.
Numerical and experimental identification of fatigue crack initiation sites in clinched joints
Authors: Ewenz L. , Bielak Ch. R. , Otroshi M. , Bobbert M. , Meschut G. , Zimmermann M.
Published: March 2022

In this paper, a study based on experimental and numerical simulations is performed to analyze fatigue cracks in clinched joints. An experimental investigation is conducted to determine the failure modes of clinched joints under cyclic loading at different load amplitudes with single-lap shear tests. In addition, numerical FEM simulations of clinching process and subsequent shear loading are performed to support the experimental investigations by analyzing the state of stresses at the location of failure. An attempt is made to explain the location of crack initiation in the experiments using evaluation variables such as contact shear stress and maximum principal stress.
Modelling a basalt reactor for direct air CO2 capture
Authors: Schwartz Michael O.
Published: March 2022

Ground basalt has been used as mineral fertilizer since the early thirties. Ground basalt captures CO2 from the atmosphere and the soil pore space, raises the soil pH and reduces ocean acidification. One tonne of basalt captures 0.153–0.165 tonne CO2, depending on infiltration rate (400–1200 mm/a), reactive surface area (3.7–15 m2/g) and CO2 partial pressure (41.1–3000 Pa). When the infiltration rate is high (1200 mm/a), the CO2 capture capacity of basalt is exhausted after 9.5–11.4 years. When the infiltration rate is low (400 mm/a), the capture capacity is exhausted after 28.2–33.1 years. With the exhaustion of the capture capacity, the newly formed carbonates that sequestered CO2 start dissolving. The dissolution is complete after 34.9–101.7 years, depending on infiltration rate, reactive surface area and CO2 partial pressure. The reaction products are transported to the ocean via surface waters. The degree to which the fugacity of CO2 controlled by the Henry constant exceeds the fugacity of atmospheric CO2 along the travel path depends on many unknowns. Thus, it is impossible to reliably predict to which degree the captured CO2 is recycled to the atmosphere, if it is recycled at all.
Time-Varying Functional Principal Components for Non-Stationary EpCO$$_2$$ in Freshwater Systems
Authors: Elayouty Amira , Scott Marian , Miller Claire
Published: March 2022

Outgassing of carbon dioxide (CO$$_2$$

2

) from river surface waters, estimated using partial pressure of dissolved CO$$_2$$

2

, has recently been considered an important component of the global carbon budget. However, little is still known about the high-frequency dynamics of CO$$_2$$

2

emissions in small-order rivers and streams. To analyse such highly dynamic systems, we propose a time-varying functional principal components analysis (FPCA) for non-stationary functional time series (FTS). This time-varying FPCA is performed in the frequency domain to investigate how the variability and auto-covariance structures in a FTS change over time. This methodology, and the associated proposed inference, enables investigation of the changes over time in the variability structure of the diurnal profiles of the partial pressure of CO$$_2$$

2

and identification of the drivers of those changes. By means of a simulation study, the performance of the time-varying dynamic FPCs is investigated under different scenarios of complete and incomplete FTS. Although the time-varying dynamic FPCA has been applied here to study the daily processes of consuming and producing CO$$_2$$

2

in a small catchment of the river Dee in Scotland, this methodology can be applied more generally to any dynamic time series.Supplementary materials accompanying this paper appear online.
Non-variational weakly coupled elliptic systems
Authors: Clapp Mónica , Szulkin Andrzej
Published: March 2022

We establish the existence of a nonnegative fully nontrivial solution to a non-variational weakly coupled competitive elliptic system. We show that this kind of solutions belong to a topological manifold of Nehari-type, and apply a degree-theoretical argument on this manifold to derive existence.
Resilience in Agriculture: Communication and Energy Infrastructure Dependencies of German Farmers
Authors: Kuntke Franz , Linsner Sebastian , Steinbrink Enno , Franken Jonas , Reuter Christian
Published: March 2022

Agriculture is subject to high demands regarding resilience as it is an essential component of the food production chain. In the agricultural sector, there is an increasing usage of digital tools that rely on communication and energy infrastructures. Should disruption occur, such strengthened dependencies on other infrastructures increase the probability of ripple effects. Thus, there is a need to analyze the resilience of the agricultural sector with a specific focus on the effects of digitalization. This study works out resilience capacities of the interconnected technologies used in farm systems based on the experiences and opinions of farmers. Information was gathered through focus group interviews with farmers (N = 52) and a survey with participants from the agricultural sector (N = 118). In particular, the focus is put on the digital tools and other information and communication technologies they use. Based on a definition of resilience capacities, we evaluate resilience regarding energy and communication demands in various types of farm systems. Especially important are the resilience aspects of modern systems’ digital communication as well as the poorly developed and nonresilient network infrastructure in rural areas that contrast with the claim for a resilient agriculture. The result is a low robustness capacity, as our analysis concludes with the risk of food production losses.
Neural correlates associated with processing food stimuli in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa: an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of fMRI studies
Authors: Bronleigh Madeline , Baumann Oliver , Stapleton Peta
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Various neurobiological models have utilised symptom categories to explore the underlying neural correlates in both anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). The aim of this research was to investigate the brain activity patterns associated with viewing food stimuli in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Methods

Electronic databases including PsycInfo and PubMed were systematically searched from data base inception until 1st of December 2020, identifying 14 suitable functional magnetic resonance imaging studies (fMRI), involving 470 participants. ALE meta-analysis was used to statistically analyse the overlap of activation foci from different fMRI studies in response to visual food stimuli.

Results

Comparing patients with AN with healthy control (HC), we detected hypoactivation in brain areas related to reward processing (i.e., amygdala and lentiform nucleus), and interoceptive processing (i.e., insula). In addition, patients with AN showed hyperactivations in cognitive control areas (i.e., prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex). In contrast, patients with BN exhibited hyperactivations in brain areas related to reward processing (i.e., lentiform nucleus), and interoceptive processing (i.e., insula). Furthermore, patients with BN showed hypoactivations in brain regions associated with cognitive control (i.e., prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex).

Conclusions

Our study shows differing neural endotypes of the two types of eating disorders, that underpin their behavioural phenotypes. While exploratory in nature, these findings might be relevant for guiding new emerging therapies, including invasive and non-invasive neuromodulation techniques in treatment of eating disorders.

Level of evidence

Level I, meta-analysis.
Uniqueness of conservative solutions for the Hunter–Saxton equation
Authors: Grunert Katrin , Holden Helge
Published: March 2022

We show that the Hunter–Saxton equation $$u_t+uu_x=\frac{1}{4}\big (\int _{-\infty }^x \hbox {d}\mu (t,z)- \int ^{\infty }_x \hbox {d}\mu (t,z)\big )$$

u
t

+
u

u
x

=

1
4

(

∫

-
∞

x

d
μ

(
t
,
z
)

-

∫
x
∞

d
μ

(
t
,
z
)

)

and $$\mu _t+(u\mu )_x=0$$

μ
t

+

(
u
μ
)

x

=
0

has a unique, global, weak, and conservative solution $$(u,\mu )$$

(
u
,
μ
)

of the Cauchy problem on the line.
Classical Forecasting of International Tourist Arrivals to Thailand
Authors: Intarapak Sukanya , Supapakorn Thidaporn , Vuthipongse Witchanee
Published: March 2022

The objectives of this work are to find the suitable forecasting model and forecasting period of the number of foreign tourists traveling to Thailand. The monthly data is gathered during January 2008 to December 2019 and is divided into two sets. The first set is the data from January 2008 to December 2018 for the modelling by the method of decomposition, Holt–Winter’s exponential smoothing method and the Box–Jenkins. The second is the monthly data in 2019 for comparing the performance of the forecasting models via the criteria of the lowest mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and the root mean square error (RMSE). The results show that, in term of forecasting, the multiplicative decomposition is the most accurate technique for the short-term (3 months) forecasting period with the lowest MAPE and RMSE of 1.04% and 42,054.29 international tourists, respectively.
Thermolab: A Thermodynamics Laboratory for Nonlinear Transport Processes in Open Systems
Authors: Vrijmoed J. C. , Podladchikov Y. Y.
Published: March 2022

We developed a numerical thermodynamics laboratory called “Thermolab” to study the effects of the thermodynamic behavior of nonideal solution models on reactive transport processes in open systems. The equations of the state of internally consistent thermodynamic data sets are implemented in MATLAB functions and form the basis for calculating Gibbs energy. A linear algebraic approach is used in Thermolab to compute Gibbs energy of mixing for multicomponent phases to study the impact of the nonideality of solution models on transport processes. The Gibbs energies are benchmarked with experimental data, phase diagrams, and other thermodynamic software. Constrained Gibbs minimization is exemplified with MATLAB codes and iterative refinement of composition of mixtures may be used to increase precision and accuracy. All needed transport variables such as densities, phase compositions, and chemical potentials are obtained from Gibbs energy of the stable phases after the minimization in Thermolab. We demonstrate the use of precomputed local equilibrium data obtained with Thermolab in reactive transport models. In reactive fluid flow the shape and the velocity of the reaction front vary depending on the nonlinearity of the partitioning of a component in fluid and solid. We argue that nonideality of solution models has to be taken into account and further explored in reactive transport models. Thermolab Gibbs energies can be used in Cahn‐Hilliard models for nonlinear diffusion and phase growth. This presents a transient process toward equilibrium and avoids computational problems arising during precomputing of equilibrium data.
Impacts of Limited Model Resolution on the Representation of Mountain Wave and Secondary Gravity Wave Dynamics in Local and Global Models. 1: Mountain Waves in the Stratosphere and Mesosphere
Authors: Fritts David C. , Lund Adam C. , Lund Thomas S. , Yudin Valery
Published: March 2022

Long‐term efforts have sought to extend global model resolution to smaller scales enabling more accurate descriptions of gravity wave (GW) sources and responses, given their major roles in coupling and variability throughout the atmosphere. Such studies reveal significant improvements accompanying increasing resolution, but no guidance on what is sufficient to approximate reality. We take the opposite approach, using a finite‐volume model solving the Navier‐Stokes equations exactly. The reference simulation addresses mountain wave (MW) generation and responses over the Southern Andes described using isotropic 500 m, central resolution by Fritts et al. (2021), https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-20-0207.1 and Lund et al. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-19-0356.1. Reductions of horizontal resolution to 1 and 2 km result in (a) systematic increases in initial MW breaking altitudes, (b) weaker, larger‐scale generation of secondary GWs and acoustic waves accompanying these dynamics, and (c) significantly weaker and less extended responses in the mesosphere in latitude and longitude. Horizontal resolution of 4 km largely suppresses instabilities, but allows weak, sustained mean‐flow interactions. Responses for 8 km resolution are very weak and fail to capture any aspects of the high‐resolution responses. The chosen mean winds allow efficient MW penetration into the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, hence only exhibit strong pseudo‐momentum deposition and mean wind decelerations at higher altitudes. A companion paper by Fritts et al. (2022), https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JD036035 explores the impacts of decreasing resolution on responses in the thermosphere.
Numerical Simulations of Confined Braided River Morphodynamics: Display of Deterministic Chaos and Characterization Through Turbulence Theory
Authors: Stecca Guglielmo , Hicks D. Murray
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we utilize a numerical morphological simulation approach to study braiding channel dynamics under steady flow. We conduct 11 different runs in a laboratory configuration, with each initial condition featuring a unique small‐amplitude perturbation pattern of the bed topography. From these infinitesimal initial differences, braided channels evolve into patterns that are macroscopically different and unique to each run, thus showing sensitive dependence on the initial condition and hence a chaotic behavior. Leveraging the analogy of braiding and fluid turbulence put forward by Paola (1996), by introducing a Reynolds‐type decomposition of bed elevations into a reference and a fluctuating component we characterize braided channel dynamics through statistics of bed fluctuations. We observe that, over the simulation time frame, braiding is not statistically homogeneous, but is stationary in a spatially averaged sense. We prove that braiding is anisotropic and extract two distinct length scales associated with the correlations of bed fluctuations in the streamwise and cross‐channel direction. We observe that, under the time averaging window that yields stationary braiding, braiding shows hints of ergodic behavior, as the time statistics of one run converge to the ensemble statistics computed across all the other runs.
Coastal Aquaculture Can Reduce Nutrient Transport
Authors: Lee Jack
Published: March 2022

High-resolution simulations of China’s Sanggou Bay show that suspended aquaculture alters hydrodynamics and weakens transport of nutrients to the area from offshore bottom water.
CMTM6 inhibits tumor growth and reverses chemoresistance by preventing ubiquitination of p21 in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Huang Yue , Zhu Yingqin , Yang Jieying , Pan Qiuzhong , Zhao Jingjing , Song Mengjia , Yang Chaopin , Han Yulong , Tang Yan , Wang Qijing , He Jia , Li Yongqiang , He Junyi , Chen Hao , Weng Desheng , Xiang Tong , Xia Jian Chuan
Published: March 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies and has a poor prognosis. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is required for the degradation of most short-lived proteins. CMTM6 has been implicated in the progression of various tumors, but its biological function and the underlying molecular mechanisms in HCC are still unknown. In this study, we found that the expression of CMTM6 was significantly reduced in HCC and predicted better prognosis of HCC patients. Through in vitro and in vivo experiments, CMTM6 was shown to inhibit the proliferation of HCC cells by blocking the G1/S phase transition. Mechanistically, CMTM6 interacted with p21 and prevented its ubiquitination mediated by SCFSKP2, CRL4CDT2 and APC/CCDC20 in a cell-cycle–independent manner. As a result, CMTM6 stabilized p21 protein, leading to the inactivation of pRB/E2F pathway. Additionally, CMTM6 sensitized HCC cells to doxorubicin and cisplatin, positively correlated with better clinical outcomes of the transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment for postoperative recurrence. Taken together, our study reports a novel mechanism by which p21 can be stabilized by CMTM6 and pinpoints a crucial role of the CMTM6-p21 axis in suppressing the progression of HCC and sensitizing patients with postoperative recurrence to TACE treatment.
Investigating the microbial and metalloprotease sequestration properties of superabsorbent wound dressings
Authors: Singh Gurdeep , Byrne Charlotte , Thomason Helen , McBain Andrew J.
Published: March 2022

Exudate production is a natural part of the wound healing process, however levels of exudate need to be appropriately managed to maintain a moist wound environment which supports healing. An overly-exuding wound creates an environment favourable to bacterial growth. In recent years, a significant increase in commercially available superabsorbent dressings have become available which claim to absorb and retain excess exudate and its components. However, the effectiveness of these dressings in sequestering and retaining bacteria and host-derived proteins has not been compared. We have therefore investigated several superabsorbent dressings for their ability to absorb and retain bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), their impact on bacterial viability, and their ability to sequester matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and 9 over 7 days. Whilst all dressings could sequester bacteria, some dressings internalised bacteria more effectively. There was considerable variation in bacterial viability within the dressings’ core, as well as differences in bacterial retention. Some dressings effectively internalised and retained bacteria over time, whereas other dressings retained significantly less. These differences were reflected visually using scanning electron microscopy. Most dressings fully sequestered MMP-2 and 9. These data illustrate differences in the ability of superabsorbent dressings to absorb and retain exudate and its components.
A one-dimensional parameter-free model for carcinogenesis in gene expression space
Authors: Herrero Roberto , Leon Dario A. , Gonzalez Augusto
Published: March 2022

A small portion of a tissue defines a microstate in gene expression space. Mutations, epigenetic events or external factors cause microstate displacements which are modeled by combining small independent gene expression variations and large Levy jumps, resulting from the collective variations of a set of genes. The risk of cancer in a tissue is estimated as the microstate probability to transit from the normal to the tumor region in gene expression space. The formula coming from the contribution of large Levy jumps seems to provide a qualitatively correct description of the lifetime risk of cancer in 8 tissues, and reveals an interesting connection between the risk and the way the tissue is protected against infections.
Greater medial meniscus extrusion seen on ultrasonography indicates the risk of MRI-detected complete medial meniscus posterior root tear in a Japanese population with knee pain
Authors: Chiba Daisuke , Sasaki Tomoyuki , Ishibashi Yasuyuki
Published: March 2022

To elucidate the association between medial meniscus extrusion measured on ultrasonography (MMEUS) and the prevalence of medial meniscus posterior root tear detected on magnetic resonance imaging (MMPRTMRI). We recruited 127 patients (135 knees; 90 females; mean age: 64.4 ± 8.7 years old; mean BMI: 25.5 ± 3.4 kg/m2) in this cross-sectional study. All participants had medial knee pain without a knee trauma or surgery history. Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) severity was evaluated using Kellgren-Lawrence grade (KLG) scores. Patients with KLG scores 0–1 and ≥ 2 were classified in non-radiographic (non-ROA) and radiographic KOA (ROA) groups, respectively. MMEUS was measured with patients in the supine position. Based on fat-suppressed T2-weighted images, MMPRTMRI was defined as the presence of “Ghost meniscus sign” and “Cleft/truncation sign”, indicating an abnormal high signal intensity of a completely disrupted posterior root. MMEUS was compared between MMPRT+ and MMPRT– patients using a non-paired t-test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the optimal cut-off MMEUS to predict MMPRT+. The prevalence of MMPRT+ was 31.3% (25/80 knees) and 29.1% (16/55 knees) in the non-ROA and ROA groups. The MMEUS of MMPRT+ patients were significantly greater than that of MMPRT– patients in both the non-ROA (5.9 ± 1.4 mm vs. 4.4 ± 1.0 mm, P < 0.001) and ROA (7.8 ± 1.3 mm vs. 6.3 ± 1.3 mm, P < 0.001) groups. ROC curves demonstrated that 5-mm and 7-mm MMEUS were the optimal cut-off values in non-ROA (adjusted odds ratio: 6.280; area under the curve [AUC]: 0.809; P < 0.001) and ROA (adjusted odds ratio: 15.003; AUC: 0.797; P = 0.001) groups. In both early non-radiographic and established radiographic KOA stages, a greater MMEUS was associated with a higher MMPRTMRI prevalence.
Heterogeneity-induced lane and band formation in self-driven particle systems
Authors: Khelfa Basma , Korbmacher Raphael , Schadschneider Andreas , Tordeux Antoine
Published: March 2022

The collective motion of interacting self-driven particles describes many types of coordinated dynamics and self-organisation. Prominent examples are alignment or lane formation which can be observed alongside other ordered structures and nonuniform patterns. In this article, we investigate the effects of different types of heterogeneity in a two-species self-driven particle system. We show that heterogeneity can generically initiate segregation in the motion and identify two heterogeneity mechanisms. Longitudinal lanes parallel to the direction of motion emerge when the heterogeneity statically lies in the agent characteristics (quenched disorder). While transverse bands orthogonal to the motion direction arise from dynamic heterogeneity in the interactions (annealed disorder). In both cases, non-linear transitions occur as the heterogeneity increases, from disorder to ordered states with lane or band patterns. These generic features are observed for a first and a second order motion model and different characteristic parameters related to particle speed and size. Simulation results show that the collective dynamics occur in relatively short time intervals, persist stationary, and are partly robust against random perturbations.
A resonant cavity system for exposing cell cultures to intense pulsed RF fields
Authors: Ur-Rehman Masood , Alfadhl Yasir , Chen Xiaodong , Whiting Rachel , Wright Alex , Lindsay Christopher D. , Tattersall John , Scott Iain
Published: March 2022

The IEEE and ICNIRP had specified a maximum permissible exposure for instantaneous peak electric field of 100 kV/m. However, no rationale was given for this limit. A novel exposure system was designed through a detailed process of analytical analysis, numerical modelling and prototype testing. The system consists of a cylindrical re-entrant resonant cavity that can achieve an electric field strength of more than 100 kV/m with an input power of 200 W. The working of the system was evaluated in simulation and experiment in terms of scattering parameters, electric field distributions and specific absorption rate. The system was then used to carry out in-vitro exposures of a human lymphoid cell line (GG0257) to a 1195 MHz signal at 53 dBm peak power and a pulse width of 550 ns at a range of interpulse intervals to identify heating-induced changes in cell viability. The proposed system offers high Q value of 5920 in unloaded condition which was reduced to 57 when loaded with 12 ml of cell culture but still offering 67 kV/m of the field intensity. Using the system for the exposure of GG0257 cells lasting 18 min, interpulse intervals of 11 μs or less caused a reduction in the number of viable cells and a corresponding increase in necrotic cells. For a shorter exposure duration of 6 min, the reduction in cell viability was seen at interpulse intervals of 5.5 μs or less. The designed exposure system is well capable of handling high intensity electric fields. Temperature measurements with a fibre optic probe and temperature sensitive labels showed that changes in viability were associated with temperature increases above 46 °C. This novel exposure system is an efficient means to investigate the possible relationship between peak field intensity and biological effects to provide a rationale behind the maximum exposure limit of 100 kV/m.
Atomic scale insights on the growth of BiFeO3 nanoparticles
Authors: Parvathy N. S. , Govindaraj R.
Published: March 2022

This study provides new insights on the formation of the nanocrystallites of phase pure BiFeO3 prepared using sol–gel method with tartaric acid as the fuel as comprehended based on the local structure and magnetic hyperfine fields at Fe sites using Mossbauer spectroscopy. Important steps involved in the growth of the nanocrystallites of BiFeO3 in the sol–gel reaction are elucidated in a detailed manner in this study for the first time. Three important stages with the second stage marked by the formation of as high as 75% of nanocrystallites of BiFeO3 occurring over a narrow calcination temperature interval 700–723 K have been deduced in this study. Variation of hyperfine parameters with calcination temperature of the dried precursor gel leading to an increase in the mean size of crystallites of BiFeO3 has been deduced. The nanoparticles of BiFeO3 are deduced to exhibit weak ferromagnetic property in addition to being strongly ferroelectric based on the magnetization and P-E loop studies. Consequently an appreciable magneto electric coupling effect in terms of significant changes in P-E loop variation with the application of external magnetic field is elucidated in this study, which is comprehended based on the defects associated with BiFeO3 nanoparticles.
Effects of cadmium on oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in Drosophila melanogaster larvae
Authors: Yang Pingping , Yang Xingran , Sun Liran , Han Xiaobing , Xu Lu , Gu Wei , Zhang Min
Published: March 2022

With the increase of human activities, cadmium (Cd) pollution has become a global environmental problem affecting biological metabolism in ecosystem. Cd has a very long half-life in humans and is excreted slowly in organs, which poses a serious threat to human health. In order to better understand the toxicity effects of cadmium, third instar larvae of Drosophila melanogaster (Canton-S strain) were exposed to different concentrations (1.125 mg/kg, 2.25 mg/kg, 4.5 mg/kg, and 9 mg/kg) of cadmium. Trypan blue staining showed that intestinal cell damage of Drosophila larvae increased and the comet assay indicated significantly more DNA damage in larvae exposed to high Cd concentrations. The nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) experiments proved that content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased, which indicated Cd exposure could induce oxidative stress. In addition, the expression of mitochondrial adenine nucleotide transferase coding gene (sesB and Ant2) and apoptosis related genes (Debcl, hid, rpr, p53, Sce and Diap1) changed, which may lead to increased apoptosis. These findings confirmed the toxicity effects on oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in Drosophila larvae after early cadmium exposure, providing insights into understanding the effects of heavy metal stress in animal development.
Antibacterial effect of cell-free supernatant fraction from Lactobacillus paracasei CH88 against Gardnerella vaginalis
Authors: Moon Eun Chae , Park Myeong Soo , Lim Taehwan , Kim Ryun Hee , Ji Geun Eog , Kim Sun Young , Hwang Keum Taek
Published: March 2022

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection in reproductive women, which is characterized by depleted level of lactic acid bacteria and overgrowth of anaerobes such as Gardnerella vaginalis spp. Lactic acid bacteria have been known to be beneficial for amelioration of BV, since they produce antimicrobial substances against G. vaginalis spp. The objectives of this study were to characterize different fractions of cell-free supernatant of Lactobacillus paracasei CH88 (LCFS) and investigate antibacterial activity of the LCFS fractions against G. vaginalis in-vitro and in-vivo. Antibacterial activity of the LCFS was stable during thermal treatment up to 120 °C for 30 min and maintained at pH ranging from 3.0 to 13.0 except pH 5.0. Fraction below 3 kDa of the LCFS partially lost its antibacterial activity after treatment with proteolytic enzymes. Precipitated protein fraction below 3 kDa of the LCFS (< 3 kDa LCFSP) inhibited the growth and biofilm formation of G. vaginalis. Treatment of L. paracasei CH88 or the < 3 kDa LCFSP attenuated G. vaginalis-induced BV in mice by inhibiting the growth of G. vaginalis, reducing exfoliation of vaginal epithelial cells, and regulating immune response. These results suggest that L. paracasei CH88 may have potential in ameliorating G. vaginalis-induced BV.
High Charlson Comorbidity Index Score is associated with early fracture-related complication for internal fixation of neck of femur fractures
Authors: Wong Ronald Man Yeung , Zu Yao , Chau Wai Wang , Tso Chi Yin , Liu Wing Hong , Ng Raymond Wai Kit , Chow Simon Kwoon Ho , Cheung Wing Hoi , Tang Ning , Ho Kevin Ki Wai
Published: March 2022

The incidence of geriatric hip fractures continues to rise in our aging population and has become a major public health concern globally. The primary outcome of this study was to determine whether Age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (ACCI) is associated with increased fracture-related complications in neck of femur fractures treated by internal fixation. This was a cohort study between January 2014 to June 2018. All patients ≥ 50 years old with an acute neck of femur fracture after low-energy trauma fixed with cannulated hip screws were included and followed-up for 1 year at a tertiary centre. Primary outcome was to determine whether ACCI was associated with increased fracture-related complications. Secondary outcomes were revision rate, mortality, and function after surgery. Further analysis were performed within a “younger” group (age 50–65) and “elder” group (age > 65), as displaced fractures (Garden Type III/IV) were in “younger” group. 233 hip fractures (68 males; 165 females) with a mean age of 73.04 ± 12.89 were included in the study. Surgical outcomes showed that the complication rate of hip screw fixation for all patients was 21.5% (50 patients) at 1 year. ACCI was significantly higher in all patients with complications (p = 0.000). Analysis within “younger” (p = 0.000) and “elder” groups (p = 0.006) both showed significance. Stepwise logistic regression modelling showed ACCI had positive correlation with complications with ACCI = 6 (OR 4.27, p = 0.02). R2 values were comparatively better after controlled by Garden Type III/IV at ACCI = 4 (OR 6.42 (1.70, 24.25), p = 0.01). The authors recommend that for patients with a Garden Type I/II and ACCI ≥ 6 or a Garden Type III/IV and ACCI ≥ 4, a direct arthroplasty surgery should be considered.