bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling Performance of Microservices Systems with Growth Theory
Authors: Camilli Matteo , Russo Barbara
Published: January 2022

Context

The microservices architectural style is gaining momentum in the IT industry. This style does not guarantee that a target system can continuously meet acceptable performance levels. The ability to study the violations of performance requirements and eventually predict them would help practitioners to tune techniques like dynamic load balancing or horizontal scaling to achieve the resilience property.

Objective

The goal of this work is to study the violations of performance requirements of microservices through time series analysis and provide practical instruments that can detect resilient and non-resilient microservices and possibly predict their performance behavior.

Method

We introduce a new method based ongrowth theoryto model the occurrences of violations of performance requirements as a stochastic process. We applied our method to an in-vitro e-commerce benchmark and an in-production real-world telecommunication system. We interpreted the resulting growth models to characterize the microservices in terms of their transient performance behavior.

Results

Our empirical evaluation shows that, in most of the cases, the non-linear S-shaped growth models capture the occurrences of performance violations of resilient microservices with high accuracy. The bounded nature associated with this models tell that the performance degradation is limited and thus the microservice is able to come back to an acceptable performance level even under changes in the nominal number of concurrent users. We also detect cases where linear models represent a better description. These microservices are not resilient and exhibit constant growth and unbounded performance violations over time. The application of our methodology to a real in-production system identified additional resilience profiles that were not observed in the in-vitro experiments. These profiles show the ability of services to react differently to the same solicitation. We found that when a service is resilient it can either decrease the rate of the violations occurrences in a continuous manner or with repeated attempts (periodical or not).

Conclusions

We showed that growth theory can be successfully applied to study the occurences of performance violations of in-vitro and in-production real-world systems. Furthermore, the cost of our model calibration heuristics, based on the mathematical expression of the selected non-linear growth models, is limited. We discussed how the resulting models can shed some light on the trend of performance violations and help engineers to spot problematic microservice operations that exhibit performance issues. Thus, meaningful insights from the application of growth theory have been derived to characterize the behavior of (non) resilient microservices operations.
“You Feel Like You Kind of Walk Between the Two Worlds”: A Participatory Study Exploring How Technology Can Support Emotion Regulation for Autistic People
Authors: Gillies-Walker Lauren , Ramzan Naeem , Rankin Jean , Nimbley Emy , Gillespie-Smith Karri
Published: January 2022

An increasing amount of technological solutions aiming to support emotion regulation are being developed for Autistic people. However, there remains a lack of understanding of user needs, and design factors which has led to poor usability and varied success. Furthermore, studies assessing the feasibility of emotion regulation technology via physiological signals for autistic people are increasingly showing promise, yet to date there has been no exploration of views from the autistic community on the benefits/challenges such technology may present in practice. Focus groups with autistic people and their allies were conducted to gain insight into experiences and expectations of technological supports aimed at supporting emotion regulation. Reflexive thematic analysis generated three themes: (1) communication challenges (2) views on emotion regulation technology (3) ‘how’ technology is implemented. Results provide meaningful insight into the socio-emotional communication challenges faced by autistic people, and explore the expectations of technology aimed at supporting emotion regulation.
The expression of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in human blastocoel fluid–conditioned media: a proof of concept study
Authors: Kavoussi Shahryar K. , Chen Shu-Hung , Wininger John David , Lal Arnav , Roudebush William E. , Lanford Hayes C. , Esqueda Amy S. , Barsky Maya , Lebovic Dan I. , Kavoussi Parviz K. , Gilkey Melissa S. , Chen Justin , Machen Graham L. , Chosed Renee J.
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine if pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), typically measured in maternal serum and a potential predictor of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes such as spontaneous miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, and stillbirth, is expressed in blastocoel fluid–conditioned media (BFCM) at the embryonic blastocyst stage.

Design

This is an in vitro study.

Methods

BFCM samples from trophectoderm-tested euploid blastocysts (n = 80) from in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) patients were analyzed for PAPP-A mRNA. BFCM was obtained from blastocyst stage embryos in 20 uL drops. Blastocysts underwent trophectoderm biopsy for preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy prior to blastocyst vitrification and BFCM collection for snap freezing. cfDNA was synthesized using BFCM collected from 80 individual euploid blastocysts. Next, real-time qPCR was performed to detect expression of PAPP-A with GAPDH for normalization of expression in each sample.

Results

PAPP-A mRNA was detected in 45 of 80 BFCM samples (56.3%), with varying levels of expression across samples.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates the expression of PAPP-A in BFCM. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report detection of PAPP-A mRNA in BFCM. Further studies are required and underway to investigate a greater number of BFCM samples as well as the possible correlation of PAPP-A expression with pregnancy outcomes of transferred euploid blastocysts. If found to predict IVF and obstetric outcomes, PAPP-A may provide additional information along with embryonic euploidy for the selection of the optimal blastocyst for embryo transfer.
Suppression of FPR2 expression inhibits inflammation in preeclampsia by improving the biological functions of trophoblast via NF-κB pathway
Authors: Li Shuxian , Li Anna , Zhai Liping , Sun Yaqiong , Yu Ling , Fang Zhenya , Zhang Lin , Peng Yanjie , Zhang Meihua , Wang Xietong
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The dysfunction of trophoblast during inflammation plays an important role in PE. Formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) plays crucial roles in the development of inflammation-associated disease. This present study aimed to explore the effect of FPR2 on a trophoblast cellular model of preeclampsia.

Methods

The expression of FPR2 in placenta was detected by immunohistochemical staining and western blotting. Transfection of siRNA was used to knockdown FPR2 in HTR-8/SVneo cells. Inflammatory cytokines were detected by ELISA. CCK8, Transwell, wound healing, FACS and tube formation assays were performed to observe the abilities of cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis and angiogenesis. Western blotting was implemented to clarify that NF-κB signaling pathway was downstream of FPR2.

Results

The expression levels of FPR2 were higher in placental tissues of patients with PE. Knockdown of FPR2 expression by siFPR2 or inhibition of its activity by WRW4 decreased the release of proinflammatory cytokines in HTR8/SVneo cells treated with LPS. Knockdown of FPR2 expression or inhibition of its activity further reversed the LPS-induced attenuation of the proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis and increase in apoptosis in HTR8/SVneo cells. Moreover, the NF-κB signaling pathway was activated in both placental tissues of patients with PE and LPS-treated HTR8/SVneo cells. However, the activation was attenuated when FPR2 was knocked down or inhibited.

Conclusion

Suppression of FPR2 expression alleviated the effects of inflammation induced by LPS on trophoblasts via the NF-κB signaling pathway, which provided a novel and potential strategy for the treatment of PE.
Nonlinear computational models of dynamical coding patterns in depression and normal rats: from electrophysiology to energy consumption
Authors: Li Yuanxi , Wang Rubin , Zhang Tao
Published: January 2022

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most serious neuropsychiatric disorders. Exploring the pathogenesis and dynamical coding patterns of MDD can provide new targets for clinical drug treatment and new ideas for the research of other neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. We selected the medium spiny neuron (MSN) of nucleus accumbens (NAc) as the research objective. NAc is located in the dopaminergic pathway, regulating rewards, emotions and other behaviors. Abnormalities in these behaviors are considered as the main clinical symptoms of MDD. We simulated the different spike patterns of MSNs in MDD group and control group by dynamical Hodgkin–Huxley model. The simulated results can match the electrophysiological experiments, which occurred due to following reasons: (1) The external stimulus current of MDD group was amplified by the local neural microcircuit; (2) the selective permeability to sodium was abnormally decreased; and (3) the dopamine D2 receptor signaling pathway was abnormal in the MDD group. Furthermore, we proposed a dynamical energy model, and the energy results demonstrated that the energy cost in MDD group was lower, which led to persistent depression in patients with MDD. Simultaneously, the negative-to-total energy ratio of MSN in MDD group was higher than that in control group, and the delay time of the power peak and the potential peak in MDD group was shorter than that in the control group. The results showed that the abnormal firing patterns were the direct cause of abnormal behaviors of MDD and indicated that subthreshold activities of MDD group were more intense.
Innovation and borrower discouragement in SMEs
Authors: Brown Ross , Liñares-Zegarra José M. , Wilson John O.S.
Published: January 2022

In this paper, we investigate whether innovative small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are more likely to be discouraged from applying for external finance than non-innovators. These so-called discouraged borrowers are credit worthy SMEs who choose not to apply for external finance despite the fact that this is needed. We find that SMEs undertaking pure product and joint product and process innovation have a significantly higher incidence of borrower discouragement than non-innovative counterparts. Moreover, radical and incremental product innovators are more likely to be discouraged relative to non-innovative counterparts. Innovative activity can increase borrower discouragement for a myriad of reasons including fear of rejection, reluctance to take on additional risk, negative perceptions of the funding application process and perceived negative economic conditions. Overall, our results suggest a need for targeted policy interventions in order to alleviate borrower discouragement within innovative SMEs, as well as a closer alignment between innovation and SME finance policy.
My mother-in-law does not like it: resources, social norms, and entrepreneurial intentions of women in an emerging economy
Authors: Karim Shamsul , Kwong Caleb , Shrivastava Mili , Tamvada Jagannadha Pawan
Published: January 2022

This paper provides new evidence at the intersectionality of gender, family status, and culture by focusing on a previously little researched group of middle-class women in an emerging economy. While the existing literature examines both structural and normative constraints for women entrepreneurship, little is known about the gains from relaxing structural constraints for women when compared to men. In addition to examining this new question, the paper sheds light on the binding nature of normative constraints for women entrepreneurship that persist in a patriarchal developing economy even when structural constraints are significantly eased. Using a mixed-methods approach, the empirical results suggest that higher resource availability differentially impacts the entrepreneurial intentions of women when compared to men indicating the strong presence of normative barriers that inhibit their entrepreneurship. These normative barriers emerge through the roles people play within women life spheres inhibiting their entrepreneurial intentions.
Entrepreneurial organizing activities and nascent venture performance
Authors: Long Anna , Wood Matthew S. , Bennett Daniel L.
Published: January 2022

This research provides an improved understanding of how ventures successfully organize via resource allocations. Conceptually, we apply elements of action theory to account for resource trade-offs that occur as entrepreneurs make decisions about adding staff members to boundary spanning, technical core, and management functions. We then model how these allocation decisions differentially impact nascent venture performance. Empirically, we test our model with a sample of 2484 entrepreneurs captured in the Kauffman Firm Survey, a longitudinal dataset that tracks a random sample of US startups over an 8-year period. Results from dynamic panel estimation reveal evidence of both performance penalties and performance boosts as the result of entrepreneurs adding staff to specific areas, revealing optimality in specific configurations of entrepreneurial organizing elements.
A study of 25 years of publication outputs in the German academic profession
Authors: Schneijderberg Christian , Götze Nicolai , Müller Lars
Published: January 2022

In the weak evaluation state of Germany, full professors are involved in the traditional social governance partnership between the state, and the self-governing higher education institutions (HEI) and disciplinary associations. Literature suggests that formal and informal governance could trigger changes in academics’ publication behavior by valorizing certain publication outputs. In the article, secondary data from three surveys (1992, 2007 and 2018) is used for a multi-level study of the evolution of academics’ publication behavior. We find a trend toward the “model” of natural science publication behavior across all disciplines. On the organizational level, we observe that a strong HEI research performance orientation is positively correlated with journal articles, peer-reviewed publications, and co-publications with international co-authors. HEI performance-based funding is only positively correlated with the share of peer-reviewed publications. At the level of individual disciplines, humanities and social sciences scholars adapt to the peer-reviewed journal publication paradigm of the natural sciences at the expense of book publications. Considering how the academic profession is organized around reputation and status, it seems plausible that the academic profession and its institutional oligarchy are key contexts for the slow but steady change of academics’ publication behavior. The trend of changing academics’ publication behavior is partly related to HEI valorization of performance and (to a lesser extent) to HEI performance based-funding schemes, which are set by the strong academic profession in the weak evaluation state of Germany.
Food Insecurity Measurement: Stakeholder Comparisons of the EU-SILC and HFSSM Indicators and Considerations Towards the Usefulness of a Headline Indicator
Authors: Beacom Emma , Furey Sinéad , Hollywood Lynsey , Humphreys Paul
Published: January 2022

Prior to the February 2019 announcement that the Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM) will be used to estimate household food insecurity, there has not been a standardised measurement approach used in the United Kingdom (UK). Measurement has instead been somewhat inconsistent, and various indicators have been included in national and regional surveys. There remains a gap relating to the comparative usefulness of current and past food insecurity measures used in Northern Ireland (NI) (HFSSM; European Union-Survey of Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) food deprivation questions), and the potential usefulness of a headline indicator similar to that used to measure fuel poverty. This study presents findings from Northern Ireland (NI) stakeholder interviews (n = 19), which examined their perspectives on food insecurity measures which have previously been or are currently, or could potentially, be used in the UK/NI (HFSSM; EU-SILC food deprivation questions; headline indicator). Interview transcripts were coded using QSR NVivo (v.12) and inductively analysed to identify relevant themes. Stakeholders preferred the HFSSM to the EU-SILC, reasoning that it is more relevant to the food insecurity experience. A headline indicator for food insecurity was considered useful by some; however, there was consensus that it would not fully encapsulate the food insecurity experience, particularly the social exclusion element, and that it would be a complex measure to construct, with a high degree of error. This research endorses the use of the HFSSM to measure food insecurity in the UK, and provides recommendations for consideration of any future modification of the HFSSM or EU-SILC measurement instruments.
Enactive Principles for the Ethics of User Interactions on Social Media: How to Overcome Systematic Misunderstandings Through Shared Meaning-Making
Authors: Marin Lavinia
Published: January 2022

This paper proposes three principles for the ethical design of online social environments aiming to minimise the unintended harms caused by users while interacting online, specifically by enhancing the users’ awareness of the moral load of their interactions. Such principles would need to account for the strong mediation of the digital environment and the particular nature of user interactions: disembodied, asynchronous, and ambiguous intent about the target audience. I argue that, by contrast to face to face interactions, additional factors make it more difficult for users to exercise moral sensitivity in an online environment. An ethics for social media user interactions is ultimately an ethics of human relations mediated by a particular environment; hence I look towards an enactive inspired ethics in formulating principles for human interactions online to enhance or at least do not hinder a user’s moral sensitivity. This enactive take on social media ethics supplements classical moral frameworks by asking us to focus on the relations established through the interactions and the environment created by those interactions.
The Effects of Group differentiation by students’ learning strategies
Authors: Haelermans Carla
Published: January 2022

This study analyses the effects of group differentiation by students’ learning strategies of around 1200 students in 46 classes from eight secondary schools in the Netherlands. In an experimental setup with randomization at the class level, division of students over three groups per class (an instruction-independent group, an average group, and an instruction-dependent group) is based on learning strategies, measures using the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ). Each group is offered instruction fitting their own learning strategy. The results show that student performance is higher in classes where the differentiation was applied, and that these students score higher at some scales of the posttest of the questionnaire on motivation, metacognition and self-regulation. However, there are differences between classrooms from different teachers. Additional teacher questionnaires confirm the discrepancy in teacher attitudes towards the intervention.
Evaluation of pesticide residues in commercial Swiss beeswax collected in 2019 using ultra-high performance liquid chromatographic analysis
Authors: Marti Joshua N. G. , Kilchenmann Verena , Kast Christina
Published: January 2022

The aim of this study was to determine residue levels of pesticides in Swiss commercial beeswax. Foundation samples were collected in 2019 from nine commercial manufacturers for analysis of 21 pesticides using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography. Individual samples showed the variability and residue ranges and pooled samples represented the average annual residue values of the Swiss production. In total, 17 pesticides were identified and 13 pesticides were quantified. They included 13 acaricides and/or insecticides, two fungicides as well as a synergist and a repellent. The means calculated from individual samples were similar to the average annual residue values for most tested pesticides. Mean values of 401, 236, 106 and 3 μg·kg−1 were obtained for the beekeeping-associated contaminants coumaphos, tau-fluvalinate, bromopropylate and N-(2,4-Dimethylphenyl)-formamide (DMF; breakdown product of amitraz), respectively. For the other pesticides, the mean values were 203 μg·kg−1 (synergist piperonyl butoxide), 120 μg·kg−1 (repellent N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide, DEET), 19 μg·kg−1 (chlorfenvinphos) and 4 μg·kg−1 ((E)-fenpyroximate), while the means for acrinathrin, azoxystrobin, bendiocarb, boscalid, chlorpyrifos, flumethrin, permethrin, propoxur and thiacloprid were below the limit of quantification (< LOQ). Individual samples contained from seven to 14 pesticides. The ranges of values for coumaphos and piperonyl butoxide (from 14 to 4270 μg·kg−1; from 6 to 1555 μg·kg−1, respectively) were larger as compared to the ranges of values for DEET and tau-fluvalinate (from < LOQ to 585 μg·kg−1; from 16 to 572 μg·kg−1, respectively). In conclusion, the most prominent contaminants were the pesticides coumaphos and tau-fluvalinate, which are both acaricides with previous authorization for beekeeping in Switzerland, followed by piperonyl butoxide, a synergist to enhance the effect of insecticides.

Graphical abstract
Prediction Models for Future High-Need High-Cost Healthcare Use: a Systematic Review
Authors: de Ruijter Ursula W. , Kaplan Z. L. Rana , Bramer Wichor M. , Eijkenaar Frank , Nieboer Daan , van der Heide Agnes , Lingsma Hester F. , Bax Willem A.
Published: January 2022

Background

In an effort to improve both quality of care and cost-effectiveness, various care-management programmes have been developed for high-need high-cost (HNHC) patients. Early identification of patients at risk of becoming HNHC (i.e. case finding) is crucial to a programme’s success. We aim to systematically identify prediction models predicting future HNHC healthcare use in adults, to describe their predictive performance and to assess their applicability.

Methods

Ovid MEDLINE® All, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science and Google Scholar were systematically searched from inception through January 31, 2021. Risk of bias and methodological quality assessment was performed through the Prediction model Risk Of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST).

Results

Of 5890 studies, 60 studies met inclusion criteria. Within these studies, 313 unique models were presented using a median development cohort size of 20,248 patients (IQR 5601–174,242). Predictors were derived from a combination of data sources, most often claims data (n = 37; 62%) and patient survey data (n = 29; 48%). Most studies (n = 36; 60%) estimated patients’ risk to become part of some top percentage of the cost distribution (top-1–20%) within a mean time horizon of 16 months (range 12–60). Five studies (8%) predicted HNHC persistence over multiple years. Model validation was performed in 45 studies (76%). Model performance in terms of both calibration and discrimination was reported in 14 studies (23%). Overall risk of bias was rated as ‘high’ in 40 studies (67%), mostly due to a ‘high’ risk of bias in the subdomain ‘Analysis’ (n = 37; 62%).

Discussion

This is the first systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42020164734) of non-proprietary prognostic models predicting HNHC healthcare use. Meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogeneity. Most identified models estimated a patient’s risk to incur high healthcare expenditure during the subsequent year. However, case-finding strategies for HNHC care-management programmes are best informed by a model predicting HNHC persistence. Therefore, future studies should not only focus on validating and extending existing models, but also concentrate on clinical usefulness.
How Is Collective Identity Possible in Democracies? Political Integration and the Leitkultur Debate in Germany
Authors: Bein Simon
Published: January 2022

The quest for a common collective identity has become a challenge for modern democracy: Liberal demands for greater inclusion and individual freedom, aspirations for a strong and solidaric political community, as well as nationalist or right-wing populist calls for exclusion and a preservation of hegemonic national identities are creating tensions that cannot be overlooked. This article therefore formulates the central question of how collective identity can be possible in a liberal democracy. Based on a case study on Germany, it will therefore be examined whetherLeitkulturas a model of political integration can serve in generating a functional democratic collective identity. The necessary benchmarks guiding the analysis will be defined beforehand from a systems-theoretical perspective, balancing inclusion and exclusion within three crucial dimensions: normative basics, historic continuity, and affirmative bindings. The results show that a static definition of a GermanLeitkulturwould in the long run neither achieve functional inclusion nor be able to generate the necessary cohesion of a political community, especially regarding the second and third identity dimensions.
One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass Versus Long Biliopancreatic Limb Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Authors: Ibrahim Mohamed Y. , Elshennawy Abdelmoneim S. , Wassef Arsany Talaat Saber , Salah Ayman , Hassan Ahmed M. , Mikhail Sameh
Published: January 2022

Background

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is one of the most effective bariatric procedures. The study aimed to explore the value of lengthening the biliopancreatic limb (BPL) in RYGB compared to the outcome of one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB).

Methods

This prospective study included morbidly obese patients divided into two groups. The RYGB group (n = 36) was subjected to long biliary limb Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LPRYGB), and the OAGB Group (n = 36) had one anastomosis gastric bypass. During follow-up, weight, BMI, percentage of excess body weight loss (%EBWL), resolution of obesity-related comorbidities, and quality of life (QoL) were evaluated.

Results

There was no significant difference in weight and BMI after 3 and 6 months. At 12-month follow-up, weight loss was significantly higher in the OAGB group. After 12 months, the two groups showed significant improvement of comorbid conditions without significant difference between the two groups. The Qol was significantly higher in the LPRYGB group 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery compared to the OAGB group.

Conclusions

Extending the BPL length in RYGB to 150 cm is as effective as OAGB in remission of comorbidities, including diabetes. It was also equally effective in weight reduction in the short term. OAGB was more efficient in weight reduction and a significantly faster operation. LPRYGB showed a better QoL of life 1 year after surgery.

Graphical abstract
Reappraisal of Grading in Intestinal-Type Sinonasal Adenocarcinoma: Tumor Budding as an Independent Prognostic Parameter
Authors: Meerwein Christian M. , Brada Muriel D. , Soyka Michael B. , Holzmann David , Rupp Niels J.
Published: January 2022

Since sinonasal intestinal-type adenocarcinomas (ITAC) show resemblance to colorectal adenocarcinomas, we aimed to investigate novel prognostic factors of outcome, with particular focus on the role of tumor budding (TB). Retrospective clinico-pathological single-institution study on consecutive ITAC patients between 1996 and 2020. Histopathological parameters including conventional subtypes and TB features (low, intermediate, high) were evaluated with the aid of pancytokeratin (AE1/AE3) immunohistochemical staining. Parameters were correlated to clinical data and outcome. A total of 31 ITAC patients were included. Overall, 19/31 patients (61.3%) presented with stage III/IV disease. Presence of lymph node or distant metastases was rare (1/31 patient, 3.2%). Treatment protocols consisted of tumor resection in 30/31 patients (96.8%) and primary radiochemotherapy in 1/31 patient (3.2%). Adjuvant radiation therapy was conducted in 20/30 surgically treated patients (66.7%). The 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) was 83.9% and 78.3% and the 3- and 5-years disease-specific survival (DSS) 83.7% % and 78.5%, respectively. The presence of intermediate/high TB (defined as ≥ 5 buds) was associated with both, worse DSS (log rank p = 0.03) and OS (log rank p = 0.006). No patient with low TB revealed progressive disease or died of the disease. No association between TB and tumor stage or conventional tumor subtype was found. Tumor budding seems to be an independent prognostic factor of worse outcome in ITAC.
Which Large- and Medium-Sized Mammals Use Commercial Short-Rotation Coppice as Habitat?
Authors: Zitzmann Felix , Reich Michael
Published: January 2022

We surveyed occurrence and activity of large- and medium-sized mammals on six commercial mini-rotation short-rotation coppice (SRC) plantations in northern Germany by camera trapping in different seasons (winter, late summer). In total, eleven species (6–9 per site) were detected. This corresponds to the majority of mammal species occurring in the study region. Roe deer, wild boar and red fox were found across all sites. All other species were detected on fewer sites and some in only one of the seasons. Roe deer was the most active species both in terms of visit frequency (days with detection) and use intensity (detection numbers). With few exceptions on individual sites, all other species showed significantly lower activity. Number of detected species and activity of most of the species did not differ between seasons. Furthermore, there were no differences between near-edge and central areas of the crops with regard to the activity of the occurring species. Activity of individual species on different sites, however, differed considerably in some cases. Our results show that a wide range of mammal species are basically able to include SRC into their habitat utilisation. However, the sporadic use by most species indicates a rather limited current habitat value of the surveyed plantations. Options to increase the habitat value of SRC for mammals are suggested, but their effectiveness needs to be tested in future studies. Since the spatial and temporal scope of our study was limited and only SRC of a uniform age-class were considered, our results are not immediately applicable to other landscapes, seasons or types and management phases of SRC. Therefore, further research is required that considers these aspects as well as species-specific patterns of habitat selection in comparison to other habitat types.
Remarkably enhanced dielectric stability and energy storage properties in BNT—BST relaxor ceramics by A-site defect engineering for pulsed power applications
Authors: Li Zhipeng , Li Dong-Xu , Shen Zong-Yang , Zeng Xiaojun , Song Fusheng , Luo Wenqin , Wang Xingcai , Wang Zhumei , Li Yueming
Published: January 2022

Lead-free bulk ceramics for advanced pulsed power capacitors show relatively low recoverable energy storage density (Wrec) especially at low electric field condition. To address this challenge, we propose an A-site defect engineering to optimize the electric polarization behavior by disrupting the orderly arrangement of A-site ions, in which $${\rm{B}}{{\rm{a}}_{0.105}}{\rm{N}}{{\rm{a}}_{0.325}}{\rm{S}}{{\rm{r}}_{0.245 - 1.5x}}{_{0.5x}}{\rm{B}}{{\rm{i}}_{0.325 + x}}{\rm{Ti}}{{\rm{O}}_3}$$

Ba

0.105

Na

0.325

Sr

0.245
−
1.5
x

□

0.5
x

Bi

0.325
+
x

TiO
3

($${\rm{BN}}{{\rm{S}}_{0.245 - 1.5x}}{_{0.5x}}{{\rm{B}}_{0.325 + x}}{\rm{T}}$$

BNS

0.245
−
1.5
x

□

0.5
x

B

0.325
+
x

T
, x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and 0.08) lead-free ceramics are selected as the representative. The $${\rm{BN}}{{\rm{S}}_{0.245 - 1.5x}}{_{0.5x}}{{\rm{B}}_{0.325 + x}}{\rm{T}}$$

BNS

0.245
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1.5
x

□

0.5
x

B

0.325
+
x

T
ceramics are prepared by using pressureless solid-state sintering and achieve large Wrec (1.8 J/cm3) at a low electric field (@110 kV/cm) when x = 0.06. The value of 1.8 J/cm3 is super high as compared to all other Wrec in lead-free bulk ceramics under a relatively low electric field (< 160 kV/cm). Furthermore, a high dielectric constant of 2930 within 15% fluctuation in a wide temperature range of 40–350 °C is also obtained in $${\rm{BN}}{{\rm{S}}_{0.245 - 1.5x}}{_{0.5x}}{{\rm{B}}_{0.325 + x}}{\rm{T}}$$

BNS

0.245
−
1.5
x

□

0.5
x

B

0.325
+
x

T
(x = 0.06) ceramics. The excellent performances can be attributed to the A-site defect engineering, which can reduce remnant polarization (Pr) and improve the thermal evolution of polar nanoregions (PNRs). This work confirms that the $${\rm{BN}}{{\rm{S}}_{0.245 - 1.5x}}{_{0.5x}}{{\rm{B}}_{0.325 + x}}{\rm{T}}$$

BNS

0.245
−
1.5
x

□

0.5
x

B

0.325
+
x

T
(x = 0.06) ceramics are desirable for advanced pulsed power capacitors, and will push the development of a series of Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 (BNT)-based ceramics with high Wrec and high-temperature stability.
Novel 3D grid porous Li4Ti5O12 thick electrodes fabricated by 3D printing for high performance lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Liu Changyong , Qiu Yin , Liu Yanliang , Xu Kun , Zhao Ning , Lao Changshi , Shen Jun , Chen Zhangwei
Published: January 2022

Three-dimensional (3D) grid porous electrodes introduce vertically aligned pores as a convenient path for the transport of lithium-ions (Li-ions), thereby reducing the total transport distance of Li-ions and improving the reaction kinetics. Although there have been other studies focusing on 3D electrodes fabricated by 3D printing, there still exists a gap between electrode design and their electrochemical performance. In this study, we try to bridge this gap through a comprehensive investigation on the effects of various electrode parameters including the electrode porosity, active material particle diameter, electrode electronic conductivity, electrode thickness, line width, and pore size on the electrochemical performance. Both numerical simulations and experimental investigations are conducted to systematically examine these effects. 3D grid porous Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) thick electrodes are fabricated by low temperature direct writing technology and the electrodes with the thickness of 1085 µm and areal mass loading of 39.44 mg·cm−2 are obtained. The electrodes display impressive electrochemical performance with the areal capacity of 5.88 mAh·cm−2@1.0 C, areal energy density of 28.95 J·cm−2@1.0 C, and areal power density of 8.04 mW·cm−2@1.0 C. This study can provide design guidelines for obtaining 3D grid porous electrodes with superior electrochemical performance.
Neurofilament light chain concentration in an aging population
Authors: Ladang Aurélie , Kovacs Stéphanie , Lengelé Laetitia , Locquet Médéa , Reginster Jean-Yves , Bruyère Olivier , Cavalier Etienne
Published: January 2022

Background

Neurofilament light chain (NF-L) concentration is recognized to be modified in neurological diseases and traumatic brain injuries, but studies in the normal aging population are lacking. It is, therefore, urgent to identify influencing factors of NF-L concentration in the aging population.

Method

We assessed NF-L concentration in sera of a large cohort of 409 community-dwelling adults aged over 65 years. We studied the association between NF-L and various physiological factors but also with self-reported comorbidities or life-style habits.

Results

We showed that NF-L concentration in serum was tightly associated with cystatin C concentration (r = 0.501, p < 0.0001) and consequently, to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r = − 0.492; p < 0.0001). Additionally, NF-L concentration was dependent on age and body mass index (BMI) but not sex. Among the self-reported comorbidities, subjects who reported neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases or history of fracture had higher NF-L concentration in univariate analysis, whereas it was only the case for subjects who reported neurological disorders in the multivariate analysis. NF-L concentration was also increased when Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was decreased (≤ 25 points) but not when geriatric depression score (GDS) was increased (> 5 points) in both univariate and multivariate analysis. Finally, we are providing reference ranges by age categories for subjects with or without altered renal function.

Conclusion

NF-L concentration in the aging population is not driven by the increasing number of comorbidities or depression. Yet, NF-L blood concentration is dependent on kidney function and NF-L interpretation in patients suffering from renal failure should be taken with caution.
Emergent Intraverbal and Reverse Intraverbal Behavior Following Listener Training in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Almås Inger Karin , Smith Dean P. , Eldevik Sigmund , Eikeseth Svein
Published: January 2022

We evaluated whether intraverbal and reverse intraverbal behavior emerged following listener training in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Six participants were each taught three sets of three “when?” questions in listener training. A multiple baseline design across behaviors (stimulus sets) was used to assess the effects of listener training. Results showed that intraverbal behavior emerged following listener training for five out of six participants. One participant received additional listener training and intraverbal training before intraverbal behavior emerged. Furthermore, reverse intraverbal responding occurred across all three sets of questions for three of the six participants. Establishing listener behavior may be a pathway for emergent intraverbal and reverse intraverbal responding in children with ASD. Future research could examine what skill repertoire may facilitate such transfer.
In-situ electrochemical modification of pre-intercalated vanadium bronze cathodes for aqueous zinc-ion batteries
Authors: Li Jianwei , Hong Ningyun , Luo Ningjing , Dong Haobo , Kang Liqun , Peng Zhengjun , Jia Guofeng , Chai Guoliang , Wang Min , He Guanjie
Published: January 2022

Vanadium bronzes have been well-demonstrated as promising cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries. However, conventional single-ion pre-intercalated V2O5 nearly reached its energy/power ceiling due to the nature of micro/electronic structures and unfavourable phase transition during Zn2+ storage processes. Here, a simple and universal in-situ anodic oxidation method of quasi-layered CaV4O9 in a tailored electrolyte was developed to introduce dual ions (Ca2+ and Zn2+) into bilayer δ-V2O5 frameworks forming crystallographic ultra-thin vanadium bronzes, Ca0.12Zn0.12V2O5·nH2O. The materials deliver transcendental maximum energy and power densities of 366 W h kg−1 (478 mA h g−1 @ 0.2 A g−1) and 6627 W kg−1 (245 mA h g−1 @ 10 A g−1), respectively, and the long cycling stability with a high specific capacity up to 205 mA h g−1 after 3000 cycles at 10 A g−1. The synergistic contributions of dual ions and Ca2+ electrolyte additives on battery performances were systematically investigated by multiple in-/ex-situ characterisations to reveal reversible structural/chemical evolutions and enhanced electrochemical kinetics, highlighting the significance of electrolyte-governed conversion reaction process. Through the computational approach, reinforced “pillar” effects, charge screening effects and regulated electronic structures derived from pre-intercalated dual ions were elucidated for contributing to boosted charge storage properties.
The Pleasures of Tranquillity
Authors: Voorhoeve Alex
Published: January 2022

Epicurus posited that the best life involves the greatest pleasures. He also held that it involves attaining tranquillity. Many commentators, including Ken Binmore, have expressed scepticism that these two claims are compatible. For, they argue, Epicurus’ tranquil life is so austere that it is hard to see how it could be maximally pleasurable. Here, I offer an Epicurean account of the pleasures of tranquillity. I also consider different ways of valuing lives from a hedonistic point of view. Benthamite hedonists value lives by the sum of pleasures minus the sum of pains, weighted by intensity and duration. Meanwhile, Binmore proposes that Epicurus valued lives by their worst episode. In contrast, I outline an Epicurean argument for why the best life is one in which a person attains tranquillity and tastes its pleasures until death.
Mapping of additive and epistatic QTLs linked to seed longevity in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Arif Mian Abdur Rehman , Agacka-Mołdoch Monika , Qualset Calvin O. , Börner Andreas
Published: January 2022

Plant genetic resources are stored and regenerated in > 1750 gene banks storing > 7,000,000 accessions. Since seeds are the primary storage units, research on seed longevity is of particular importance. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of 15 traits related to seed longevity and dormancy using 7584 high-quality SNPs recorded across 2 years and originated from five production years revealed a total of 46 additive QTLs. Exploration of the QTLs with epistatic effect resulted in the detection of 29 pairs of epistatic QTLs. To our information, this is only the second report of epistatic QTLs for seed longevity in bread wheat. We conclude that in addition to dense genetic maps, the epistatic interaction between loci should be considered to capture more variation which remained unnoticed in additive mapping.
Bacon causes cancer: Do consumers care?
Authors: He Xiaoyang , Lusk Jayson L.
Published: January 2022

In October 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) released a report classifying processed meat as a type 1 carcinogen. The report prompted headlines and attracted immediate public attention, but the economic impacts remain unknown. In this paper, we investigate the impacts of the IARC report on selected processed meat prices and purchases using retail scanner data from US grocery stores. We compare changes in prices and sales of selected processed meat products to a constructed synthetic control group (using a convex combination of nonmeat food products). We find a significant decrease in bacon prices in the wake of the IARC report release, but we find no evidence of a sales reduction. We find no significant changes in price and sales for ham and sausage. The pattern of price and quantity changes are consistent with downward shifts in demand and outward shifts in supply for bacon and sausage following the release of the IARC report.
Lubricated rolling over a pool
Authors: Rahmani Hatef , Stoeber Boris , Balmforth Neil J. , Green Sheldon I.
Published: January 2022

Experiments are conducted to explore the rolling of a cylinder over a pool of viscous fluid. The speed, width and loading of the cylinder are varied along with the initial depth and length of the viscous pool. Depending on the conditions, the cylinder will either ride on a lubrication film or remain in solid contact with the underlying substrate. For the former situation, a lubrication theory is presented that describes the pressure underneath the cylinder and the thickness of the film. The theory approximates the flow by the one-dimensional Reynolds equation with the addition of one term, with an adjustable parameter, to account for the flux of fluid to the cylinder sides. Once this parameter is calibrated against experiment, the theory predicts peak lubrication pressures, gap sizes and film thicknesses to within approximately ten per cent. For lubricated rolling, the film splits evenly between the cylinder and substrate downstream of the nip. The printer's instability arises during the splitting process, patterning the residual fluid films on the substrate and cylinder. If the pool length is less than the cylinder circumference, the fluid adhering to the cylinder is rotated back into contact with the substrate, and when there is sufficient adhered fluid a lubrication film forms that can again be modelled by the theory. Conversely, if there is insufficient adhered fluid, no contiguous lubrication film is formed; instead, the pattern from the printer's instability ‘prints’ from the cylinder to the substrate.
Chemical production on a deforming substrate
Authors: Guilbert E. , Metzger B. , Villermaux E.
Published: January 2022

The interplay between chemical reaction and substrate deformation is discussed by adapting Ranz's formulation for scalar mixing to the case of a reactive mixture between segregated reactants, initially separated by an interface whose thickness may not be vanishingly small. Experiments in a simple shear flow demonstrate the existence of three regimes depending on the Damköhler number $Da=t_s/t_c$ where $t_s$ is the mixing time of the interface width and $t_c$ is the chemical time. Instead of treating explicitly the chemical cross-term, we rationalize these different regimes by globalizing it as a production term involving a flux which depends on the rate at which the reaction zone is fed by the reactants, a formulation valid for $Da>1$. For $Da<1$, the reactants interpenetrate before they react, giving rise to a ‘diffusio-chemical’ regime where chemical production occurs within a substrate whose width is controlled by molecular diffusion.
An atomistic model for the thermal resistance of a liquid–solid interface
Authors: Hadjiconstantinou N.G. , Swisher M.M.
Published: January 2022

The thermal resistance associated with the interface between a solid and a liquid is analysed from an atomistic point of view. Partial evaluation of the associated Green–Kubo integral elucidates the various factors governing heat transport across the interface and leads to a quantitative model for the thermal resistance in terms of atomistic-level system parameters. The model is validated using molecular dynamics simulations.
Vertical and Horizontal Networks and Export Performance in the Spanish Wine Industry
Authors: Ferrer Juan-Ramón , Abella-Garcés Silvia , Serrano Raúl
Published: January 2022

Wineries in the “old world” export almost 40% of their production. This study analyzes the influence of vertical and horizontal networks on export performance. We draw on a sample of 183 Spanish wineries and examine the main independent variables using a two-step Heckman model. We find positive effects of horizontal networks and—at a somewhat lower level—downstream vertical networks on export performance. (JEL Classifications: L66, M16, Q13)
“Hold infinity in the palm of your hand.” A functional description of time expressions through fingers based on Chinese Sign Language naturalistic data
Authors: Lin Hao , Gu Yan
Published: January 2022

This paper investigates the relationship between fingers and time representations in naturalistic Chinese Sign Language (CSL). Based on a CSL Corpus (Shanghai Variant, 2016–), we offer a thorough description of finger configurations for time expressions from 63 deaf signers, including three main types: digital, numeral incorporation, and points-to-fingers. The former two were further divided into vertical and horizontal fingers according to the orientation of fingertips. The results showed that there were interconnections between finger representations, numbers, ordering, and time in CSL. Vertical fingers were mainly used to quantify time units, whereas horizontal fingers were mostly used for sequencing or ordering events, and their forms could be influenced by Chinese number characters and the vertical writing direction. Furthermore, the use of points-to-fingers (e.g., pointing to the thumb, index, or little finger) formed temporal connectives in CSL and could be patterned to put a conversation in order. Additionally, CSL adopted similar linguistic forms in sequential time and adverbs of reason (e.g., cause and effect: events that happened earlier and events that happen later). Such a cause-and-effect relationship was a special type of temporal sequence. In conclusion, fingers are essential for time representation in CSL and their forms are biologically and culturally shaped.