bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Adaptive Object Model to Basketball Tracking Algorithm and Simulation
Authors: Qian Tongjin , Yao Peng , Guo Mei , Wang Dong , Yao Yuan
Published: December 2020

The adaptive object model method is an effective way to develop dynamic and configurable adaptive software. It has the characteristics of metamodel, description drive, and runtime reflection. First, the core idea of the adaptive object model is explained; then, the five modes of establishing the metamodel in the adaptive object model architecture, the model engine, and supporting tools are analyzed; and the basketball tracking algorithm of the adaptive object model is discussed. Secondly, a two-dimensional joint information strategy is proposed to improve the tracking effect. When the basketball is in a very complex environment, there will always be some color information in the background that is the same as the target, which affects the effect of basketball tracking. Therefore, this paper proposes a Camshift tracking method based on the significance of histograms, through real time. The basketball movement is compared with the background histogram to continuously adjust the basketball movement tracking model. These two methods can better establish the tracking model of the basketball adaptive object, reduce the interference of background information, and achieve the effect of stable tracking of the target. The simulation experiment results show that the method proposed in this paper can effectively improve the accuracy of the basketball goal model and achieve stable tracking of the goal.
Fuzzy Adaptive Control for Fractional Nonlinear Systems with External Disturbances and Unknown Control Directions
Authors: Sun Yeguo , Liu Yihong , Li Ling
Published: December 2020

In this paper, the problem of fuzzy adaptive control of unknown nonlinear fractional-order systems with external disturbances and unknown control directions is studied. We exploit a decomposition of the control gain matrix into a symmetric positive-definite matrix, a diagonal matrix with diagonal entries

+
1

or

1

, and a unity upper triangular matrix. Fuzzy logic systems are used for estimating the unknown nonlinear functions. Based on the fractional Lyapunov direct method and some proposed lemmas, a novel fuzzy adaptive controller is designed. The proposed method can guarantee that all the signals in the closed-loop systems remain bounded and the tracking errors converge to an arbitrary small region of the origin. In addition, for updating the parameters of the fuzzy system, fractional-order adaptations laws are proposed. Lastly, an illustrative example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed results.
On Optimal M-Sets Related to Motzkin’s Problem
Authors: Yang Quan-Hui , Pan Ting , Wu Jian-Dong
Published: December 2020

Let

M

be a set of positive integers. A set

S

of nonnegative integers is called an

M
‐

set if

a
 and 
b
∈
S

, then

a
−
b
∉
M

. If

S
⊆

0,1
,
…
,
n

is an

M

−

set with the maximal cardinality, then

S

is called a maximal

M
−

set of

0,1
,
…
,
n

. If

S
∩

0,1
,
…
,
n

is a maximal

M
−

set of

0,1
,
…
,
n

for all integers

n
≥
0

, then we call

S

an optimal

M
−

set. In this paper, we study the existence of an optimal

M
−

set.
The Vibrational Spectroscopy of the Valence Bonds of Cu-Doped TiO2 Using Electronegativity Principle Quantitative Calculations
Authors: Yan Ji-Kang , Chen Jun-Yu , Gan Guo-You
Published: December 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of Cu on TiO2 phase transformation and regioselectivity. TiO2 samples doped with different amounts of Cu2+ ions were synthesized by the sol-gel method. The phase and vibrational mode were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The XRD phase analysis shows that the lattice parameters have not changed after Cu incorporation. In addition, the content of rutile increased obviously after Cu doping. This indicated that the addition of Cu obviously promoted the transformation from anatase phase to rutile phase. The vibration frequencies were calculated based on the principle of electronegativity. All types of bonds were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. The content of TiA-O, TiR-O, and H-O in the undoped TiO2 samples is 23.87%, 16.30%, and 7.41%, respectively. In the same way, the content of TiA-O, TiR-O, H-O,

Cu

A
i

-O, and

Cu

R
i

-O in the 2.5 mol%Cu-doped TiO2 samples is 21.23%, 18.56%, 7.34%, and 0.98%, respectively. For the 5 mol%Cu-doped TiO2 samples, the content of TiA-O, TiR-O, H-O,

Cu

A
i

-O,

Cu

R
i

-O,

Cu

A
s

-O, and

Cu

R
s

-O is 18.75%, 20.11%, 7.47%, 2.56%, 3.9%, 1.55%, and 2.35%, respectively. Cu was not present at substitutional sites in the 2.5 mol% doped sample, but Cu was present in the 2.5 mol% doped sample. It is indicated that Cu was more likely to exist in the form of interstitial position in the TiO2 lattice, with the number of Cu atoms in the interstitial position reaching saturation, and this forced Cu to replace Ti. The TEM shows that the stripes of different periods and orientations overlapped each other to form the Moiré patterns. In addition, the diffraction patterns of the Moiré image were slightly different from that of the matrix. The Cu replaced Ti position and the Cu atoms mixed into interstitial sites in the TiO2 lattice. The theoretical calculation was consistent with the experimental results.
Stability and Countermeasures for a Deposit Slope with Artificial Scarp: Numerical Analysis and Field Monitoring
Authors: Hong Yong , Shao Zhushan , Shi Guangbin , Liu Jiabao
Published: December 2020

This paper presents the results of the stability analysis of a deposit slope with an artificial scarp in a tunnel exit and an evaluation of the effectiveness of four proposed reinforcement schemes. A typical slope section was used to study the deposit slope stability and retaining mechanisms of the reinforcement systems. A series of two‐dimensional (2D) finite element models (FEM), combined with a strength reduction technique, was established using the Phase2 software. According to field monitoring results, the horizontal displacements of the front, middle, and rear of the slope decreased gradually, and the safety factor increased successively. The front of the deposit slope was in a state of limit equilibrium as a result of the artificial scarp formed by long‐term manual excavation. Anchors and concrete frame beams provided stress compensation and improve the stability of the deposit slope, and front prestressed anchor cables and stability piles strengthened the mechanical properties of the rock and soil masses and provided resistance at the front of the deposit. Rear stability piles prevented the front of the deposit from being pushed and the middle and rear of the deposit from being pulled and provided resistance at the front of the deposit. The field monitoring also showed that the deformation of the deposit slope was effectively controlled. The study results provide insights into the effectiveness of measures for reinforcing and maintaining the stability of deposit slope with artificial scarps.
Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis in Yield and Yield-Related Components of Black Cumin (Nigella Sativa L.) Accessions, at Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Gashaw Zigyalew , Gebreselassie Wosene , Hailemichael Girma
Published: December 2020

Many research works have been done on black cumin focusing on its nutritional and medicinal properties. But, there is inadequate information on the association of yield and yield-constituting traits of black cumin to improve its production. Therefore, correlation analysis was made on thirty-six black cumin accessions evaluated at Jimma in simple lattice design during 2016, to quantify the relationship between traits. The result of the analysis showed that seed yield ha−1 had positive and highly significant correlation with number of effective capsules (0.88), secondary branches (0.73), plant height (0.72), total branches (0.71), steam thickness (0.58), primary branches (0.52), tertiary branches (0.52), harvesting index (0.47), and biological yield (0.43). Path coefficient analysis revealed that harvesting index, biological yield, and number of effective capsules exerted high and favorable direct contribution to seed yield at phenotypic level, whereas harvesting index, biological yield, primary and tertiary branches, number of effective capsules, and stem thickness showed positive direct effect at genotypic level. The favorable direct effects of these traits on grain yield indicate that keeping other variables constant, improvement of these traits will increase black cumin yield. Therefore, these traits should be kept in mind in the future breeding program of black cumin.
Acquired Factor XI Deficiency with Lupus Anticoagulant in a Pregnant Woman Diagnosed by the Eruptions and Pain in Fingers
Authors: Nakajima Rie , Togo Atsuko , Kanno Yasuhira , Hayashi Masaru , Mitsuzuka Kanako , Ishimoto Hitoshi
Published: December 2020

We report a case of acquired factor XI deficiency with lupus anticoagulant (LA) in a 28-year-old primigravida who presented with finger pain and eruptions on her palms and fingers during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. The patient complained of pain and reddening of the fingers at 30 weeks of gestation. She was referred to our tertiary center with a diagnosis of preeclampsia and suspected collagen disease at 35 weeks of gestation. Erythema was seen on the fingers and palms, and she presented with pain and cryesthesia on the fingers. Laboratory investigations revealed an activated partial thromboplastin time of 51 s (normal, 23–40 s), although it was normal during the 30th and 34th gestational weeks, LA with an anticardiolipin-beta2-glycoprotein I complex antibody, and low level of clotting XI activity (25 U/mL). On week 37 day 0 of gestation, the patient presented with severe hypertension. An urgent Cesarean section was performed after transfusion of two units of fresh frozen plasma. There was no excessive bleeding during the surgery or the postpartum period. The symptoms on her fingers and palms gradually improved after surgery. Our case indicates that dermatoses of pregnancy may become a starting point for the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases and coagulation abnormalities. When a patient presents with an atypical symptom, as in our case, the possibility of various diseases should be considered.
Development of Automatic Equipment for Washing and Nondestructive Inspection of Stud Bolt
Authors: Kwak H. S.
Published: December 2020

Low-pressure steam turbines in a power plant are required to operate at high temperatures and under high pressures to achieve better energy utilization and better performance. Higher operating temperatures accelerate the rate of oxidation and sludge formation, so the steam turbine is periodically inspected including strict examination of the stud bolts, and it is necessary to clean the bolts by removing sludge from their screw threads. In the conventional cleaning process, the sludge has been removed by manual cleaning, which is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Therefore, this study developed automatic equipment for washing and nondestructive inspection of stud bolts using theoretical analysis and finite element analysis (FEA). An optimal clamp load to prevent sliding of the roller was calculated, and a structural analysis of the equipment under operating conditions was conducted. An optimal washing condition to maximize cleaning efficiency was proposed using design of the experiment and verified by performing washing test of prototype.
Antibacterial Properties of Aloe vera on Intracanal Medicaments against Enterococcus faecalis Biofilm at Different Stages of Development
Authors: Ghasemi Negin , Behnezhad Mahsa , Asgharzadeh Mohammad , Zeinalzadeh Elham , Kafil Hossein Samadi
Published: December 2020

Background. Use of herbal compounds as an intracanal medicament in the field of endodontics has become noteworthy, one of which is the Aloe vera compound whose antibacterial effect has already been proven in the planktonic form of Enterococcus faecalis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antibacterial effect of Aloe vera on E. faecalis biofilms at the 4th and 6th week of development. Materials and Methods. 130 single root canal teeth without anomalies and caries were used. They were divided into two groups of 65 teeth for four and six weeks of biofilm production. Five samples of each group were examined for confirmation of biofilm formation under an electron microscope. Study groups were investigated with an antimicrobial agent as an intracanal medicament including 20 samples treated with Aloe vera, calcium hydroxide, and phosphate-buffered saline, and biofilm and survival of pathogens were investigated. Dentin chip suspensions were used for colony-forming unit (CFU) counting to estimate remaining E. faecalis counts. Results. The CFU mean in the 4th week subgroup in Aloe vera, phosphate-buffered saline, and calcium hydroxide was 0, 69166.66 ± 31688.58, and 25000 ± 30822.07, and in the 6th week, it was 136.36 ± 323.33, 95000 ± 12247.44, and 27501.66 ± 36570.34, respectively, which showed a significant difference between the used materials (

p
<
0.05

). Conclusion. Aloe vera, in contrast to calcium hydroxide, eliminated 4th and 6th week biofilms and showed remarkable antibacterial properties against E. faecalis biofilm. These results support potency of Aloe vera to use as a natural antimicrobial material in the intracanal medicament.
Q
-Learning-Based High Credibility and Stability Routing Algorithm for Internet of Medical Things
Authors: Wei Kefeng , Zhang Lincong , Jiang Xin , Guo Yi
Published: December 2020

With the outbreak of COVID-19, people’s demand for using the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) for physical health monitoring has increased dramatically. The considerable amount of data requires stable, reliable, and real-time transmission, which has become an urgent problem to be solved. This paper constructs a health monitoring-enabled IoMT network which is composed of several users carrying wearable devices and a coordinator. One of the important problems for the proposed network is the unstable and inefficient transmission of data packets caused by node congestion and link breakage in the routing process. Based on these, we propose a

Q

-learning-based dynamic routing selection (QDRS) algorithm. First, a mathematical model of path optimization and a solution named Global Routing selection with high Credibility and Stability (GRCS) is proposed to select the optimal path globally. However, during the data transmission through the optimal path, the node and link status may change, causing packet loss or retransmission. This is a problem not considered by standard routing algorithms. Therefore, this paper proposes a local link dynamic adjustment scheme based on GRCS, using the

Q

-learning algorithm to select the optimal next-hop node for each intermediate forwarding node. If the selected node is not the same as the original path, the chosen node replaces the downstream node in the original path and so corrects the optimal path in time. This paper considers the congestion state, remaining energy, and mobility of the node when selecting the path and considers the network state changes during packet transmission, which is the most significant innovation of this paper. The simulation results show that compared with other similar algorithms, the proposed algorithm can significantly improve the packet forwarding rate without seriously affecting the network energy consumption and delay.
The Study of a Five-Dimensional Emotional Model for Facial Emotion Recognition
Authors: Zhang Hanzhong , Yin Jibin , Zhang Xiangliang
Published: December 2020

Based on basic emotion theory and the PAD emotion model that can describe continuous emotion changes, we first propose a more general concept of a five-dimensional emotion model to better meet the needs in the area of emotion recognition. We determined the relationship between its dimensions and basic emotions and used a Pearson correlation analysis, multilayer perceptron, and other methods to compare and verify it with volunteer human identifiers. The results demonstrated that the five-dimensional emotion model was better than human identification in the field of emotion recognition. We also compared it with the PAD emotion model. The results demonstrated that the five-dimensional emotion model performed better. Finally, using the proposed model, we designed a technology prototype of a mood adaptive interface to demonstrate its potential application.
A Rare Case of Plasma Cell Granuloma
Authors: Kanteti Archana P. , Kelsey W. Patrick , Duarte Ernesto Martinez
Published: December 2020

Plasma cell granulomas (PCGs) or inflammatory pseudotumors are nonneoplastic lesions that consist of predominantly antibody-secreting plasma cells and innate immune cells such as neutrophils, macrophages, and eosinophils. Unlike in multiple myeloma, the plasma cells are polyclonal and present in a spindly fibroblast-rich stromal background. These lesions mainly occur in the lungs; however, they can arise in other organs. PCGs from the gingiva are extremely rare, and a proper diagnosis is crucial to treat these patients further. These tumors have an increased number of plasma cells that are immunoreactive with CD138 and are polyclonal for kappa and lambda light chains, confirming these proliferations’ nonneoplastic nature. Surgical resection with clear margins, when possible, is the primary choice of treatment. Radiation and anti-inflammatory steroid therapy are other therapeutic approaches. Critical and careful examination by a pathologist is necessary to rule out plasma cell neoplasms. Here, we report a rare occurrence of gingival PCG in an elderly male.
Effect of Soil Properties on Growth of Quercus ilex L. in Humid and Cold Mountains of Morocco
Authors: Souad El-Mousaddak , Bendriss Amraoui Mohammed
Published: December 2020

The dependence of oak growth on environmental stressors is fairly well documented, but little is known about the impact of soil type on growth plasticity and as predisposing factors to root branching. Here, we aim to investigate how textural and physicochemical properties of soil affect the growth of Quercus Ilex L. We compare the above- and below-ground growth of saplings on three sandy soil(s) of the Middle Atlas. The textural and physicochemical characterization showed that the soils differed mainly in the gravel, average and fine sand, organic matter, and nitrogen proportions. All tested properties of the three sandy soils do not affect the above-ground growth. The statistical analysis showed that the growth synchronization between the main and lateral roots was affected by the soil type. The statistics showed that the microvariation of the soil texture (>5, 0.2–0.4, and 0.063–0.2 mm) and the level of nitrogen and not that of the limestone in the soil control the length and thickness of the main root and the production and distribution of biomass of lateral roots. They also showed that these soil properties affect the sink/source competitions between the roots and the leaves and the compensatory growth of roots.
Data-Driven Cybersecurity Knowledge Graph Construction for Industrial Control System Security
Authors: Shen Guowei , Wang Wanling , Mu Qilin , Pu Yanhong , Qin Ya , Yu Miao
Published: December 2020

Industrial control systems (ICS) involve many key industries, which once attacked will cause heavy losses. However, traditional passive defense methods of cybersecurity have difficulty effectively dealing with increasingly complex threats; a knowledge graph is a new idea to analyze and process data in cybersecurity analysis. We propose a novel overall framework of data-driven industrial control network security defense, which integrated fragmented multisource threat data with an industrial network layout by a cybersecurity knowledge graph. In order to better correlate data to construct a knowledge graph, we propose a distant supervised relation extraction model ResPCNN-ATT; it is based on a deep residual convolutional neural network and attention mechanism, reduces the influence of noisy data in distant supervision, and better extracts deep semantic features in sentences by using deep residuals. We empirically demonstrate the performance of the proposed method in the field of general cybersecurity by using dataset CSER; the model proposed in this paper achieves higher accuracy than other models. And then, the dataset ICSER was used to construct a cybersecurity knowledge graph (CSKG) on the basis of analyzing specific industrial control scenarios, visualizing the knowledge graph for further security analysis to the industrial control system.
Metastasis and Immune Evasion from Extracellular cGAMP Hydrolysis
Authors: Li Jun , Duran Mercedes A. , Dhanota Ninjit , Chatila Walid K. , Bettigole Sarah E. , Kwon John , Sriram Roshan K. , Humphries Matthew P. , Salto-Tellez Manuel , James Jacqueline A. , Hanna Matthew G. , Melms Johannes C. , Vallabhaneni Sreeram , Litchfield Kevin , Usaite Ieva , Biswas Dhruva , Bareja Rohan , Li Hao Wei , Martin Maria Laura , Dorsaint Princesca , Cavallo Julie-Ann , Li Peng , Pauli Chantal , Gottesdiener Lee , DiPardo Benjamin J. , Hollmann Travis J. , Merghoub Taha , Wen Hannah Y. , Reis-Filho Jorge S. , Riaz Nadeem , Su Shin-San Michael , Kalbasi Anusha , Vasan Neil , Powell Simon N. , Wolchok Jedd D. , Elemento Olivier , Swanton Charles , Shoushtari Alexander N. , Parkes Eileen E. , Izar Benjamin , Bakhoum Samuel F.
Published: December 2020

Cytosolic DNA is characteristic of chromosomally unstable metastatic cancer cells, resulting in constitutive activation of the cGAS–STING innate immune pathway. How tumors co-opt inflammatory signaling while evading immune surveillance remains unknown. Here, we show that the ectonucleotidase ENPP1 promotes metastasis by selectively degrading extracellular cGAMP, an immune-stimulatory metabolite whose breakdown products include the immune suppressor adenosine. ENPP1 loss suppresses metastasis, restores tumor immune infiltration, and potentiates response to immune checkpoint blockade in a manner dependent on tumor cGAS and host STING. Conversely, overexpression of wild-type ENPP1, but not an enzymatically weakened mutant, promotes migration and metastasis, in part through the generation of extracellular adenosine, and renders otherwise sensitive tumors completely resistant to immunotherapy. In human cancers, ENPP1 expression correlates with reduced immune cell infiltration, increased metastasis, and resistance to anti–PD-1/PD-L1 treatment. Thus, cGAMP hydrolysis by ENPP1 enables chromosomally unstable tumors to transmute cGAS activation into an immune-suppressive pathway.

Significance:

Chromosomal instability promotes metastasis by generating chronic tumor inflammation. ENPP1 facilitates metastasis and enables tumor cells to tolerate inflammation by hydrolyzing the immunotransmitter cGAMP, preventing its transfer from cancer cells to immune cells.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 995
Anemia Predicts Poor Clinical Outcome in Mechanical Thrombectomy Patients with Fair or Good Collateral Circulation
Authors: Pienimäki Juha-Pekka , Protto Sara , Hakomäki Eetu , Jolma Pasi , Sillanpää Niko
Published: December 2020

Background and Purpose: Anemia predicts poor clinical outcome of ischemic stroke in the general stroke population. We studied whether this applies to those treated with mechanical thrombectomy for proximal anterior circulation occlusion in the setting of differing collateral circulation. Methods: We collected the data of 347 consecutive anterior circulation stroke patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy after multimodal CT imaging in a single tertiary stroke care center. Patients with occlusion of the internal carotid artery and/or the first segment of the middle cerebral artery were included. We recorded baseline clinical, laboratory, procedural, and imaging variables, and the technical, imaging, and clinical outcomes. Differences between anemic and nonanemic patients were studied with appropriate statistical tests and binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Ninety-four out of the 285 patients eligible for analysis had anemia, and 243 had fair or good collateral circulation (collateral score, CS, >0). Fifty-four percent of the patients experienced good 3-month clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale ≤2). In pooled analyses of the CS 1–4 and 2–4 ranges, nonanemic patients had good clinical outcome significantly more often (p < 0.001 for both). This effect was not seen in patients with poor collateral circulation (CS = 0). Nonanemic patients had significantly better odds of good clinical outcome (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.377–5.030, p = 0.004) in a binary regression model. A 0.1 g/dL increase in hemoglobin improved the odds of good clinical outcome by 2% (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.002–1.044, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Low hemoglobin on admission predicts poor clinical outcome in mechanical thrombectomy patients with fair or good collateral circulation.
The Effectiveness of Nasal Airway Stent Therapy for the Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Authors: Ohtsuka Kengo , Baba Rie , Yamasawa Wakako , Shirahama Ryutaro , Hattori Yoichiro , Senoura Hiroshi , Betsuyaku Tomoko , Fukunaga Koichi
Published: December 2020

Background: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) experience excessive daytime sleepiness and insomnia and they are at risk of developing cardiovascular disease and stroke. Continuous positive airway pressure therapy could improve symptoms and decrease these risks; however, adherence is problematic. Although the oral appliance is another therapeutic option, patient satisfaction is limited and the effect of the nasal airway stent – a new device – remains unclear. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of NAS therapy in patients with mild-to-moderate OSAS in a prospective, single-arm, interventional pilot study. Method: Patients with mild/moderate sleep apnea (n = 71; Apnea-Hypopnea Index [AHI], 5–20 events/h on polysomnography) were recruited. Sleep-associated events were measured using a portable device (WatchPAT200) pre- and immediately post-treatment and at 1 month follow-up. AHI (including supine and non-supine AHI), Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI), Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI), percutaneous oxygen saturation, heart rate, and snore volume were evaluated. Symptoms were assessed using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: NAS use significantly improved AHI, supine AHI, RD, ODI, and snore volume compared to pre-intervention (r = 0.44, 0.48, 0.3, 0.42, and 0.34; p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.011, p < 0.001, and p = 0.048, respectively). Additionally, 25 and 10% of patients showed complete and partial response for AHI, respectively; these improvements remained significant 1 month later. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores improved from 6.0 to 5.3 (r = 0.46, p = 0.022). Conclusions: NAS therapy reduced severity and snoring in patients with mild-to-moderate OSAS. Approximately 30% of patients did not tolerate NAS due to side effects.
Crepuscular hunting of swiftlets (Family: Apodidae) by Besra (Family: Accipitridae) in the urban areas of the Andaman Islands, India
Authors: Dhamorikar Amruta , Kawalkar Dhanusha , Gurjarpadhye Prathamesh , Manchi Shirish
Published: December 2020

We report the crepuscular hunting behavior by the Besra Accipiter virgatus, on the Glossy Swiftlets Collocalia esculenta affinis and the Edible-nest Swiftlets Aerodramus fuciphagus inexpectatus in urban areas the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.  Unlike other raptors in the islands, the Besra hunts at twilight often in the absence of moonlight or/and artificial light.  Glossy and Edible-nest Swiftlets have been ranched in human habitations and their nests harvested for livelihood support of local communities under an ex situ conservation program.  Using the focal animal sampling method, we recorded the hunting behavior of the Besra (the predator) on the swiftlets (the prey) for 40h (120 min/day for 20 days) at the ex situ swiftlet colony established in a house in the Middle Andamans.  The Besra made 84 hunting attempts, with the highest success rate (15.4%) between 17.00–18.00 h.  The catch rate was a mean of 4±11 (SD) per day.  The maximum time that was used for attempt to kill the prey was two hours.  Depredation of the Edible-nest Swiftlet by the Besra could affect ex situ conservation efforts, which can also lead to economic losses and retaliation against the raptor.  Restricting perch sites for the raptor around ranching houses might reduce predation risks for the swiftlets.
Occurrence of Corica soborna Hamilton, 1822 (Clupeiformes: Clupeidae) in the Godavari basin, India
Authors: Prasad Kante Krishna , Younus Mohammad , Srinivasulu Chelmala
Published: December 2020

We record for the first time, Corica soborna Hamilton, 1822 from Godavari River, based on a single specimen collected from stream near Talai Village, Kumaram Bheem Asifabad District of Telengana State.  In addition to a detailed description of its morphological characters, we also provide details on distribution, habitat and threats to the species.
Blank Swift Caltoris kumara moorei (Evans, 1926) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) in Dehradun Valley, Uttarakhand, India: a new record for the western Himalaya
Authors: Singh Arun Pratap
Published: December 2020

The paper provides details of the record of a  butterfly, the Blank Swift Caltoris kumara moorei (Evans, 1926) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae), recorded for the first time from Uttarakhand state and the Western Himalaya.
Functional Evaluation of STOX1 (STORKHEAD-BOX PROTEIN 1) in Placentation, Preeclampsia, and Preterm Birth
Authors: Dunk Caroline E. , van Dijk Marie , Choudhury Ruhul , Wright Thomas J. , Cox Brian , Leavey Katherine , Harris Lynda K. , Jones Rebecca L. , Lye Stephen J.
Published: December 2020

Revaluation of the association of the STOX1 (STORKHEAD_BOX1 PROTEIN 1) transcription factor mutation (Y153H, C allele) with the early utero-vascular origins of placental pathology is warranted. To investigate if placental STOX1 Y153H genotype affects utero-vascular remodeling—compromised in both preterm birth and preeclampsia—we utilized extravillous trophoblast (EVT) explant and placental decidual coculture models, transfection of STOX1 wild-type and mutant plasmids into EVT-like trophoblast cell lines, and a cohort of 75 placentas from obstetric pathologies. Primary EVT and HTR8/SVneo cells carrying STOX1 Y153H secreted lower levels of IL (interleukin) 6, and IL-8, and higher CXCL16 (chemokine [C-X-C motif] ligand 16) and TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand) than wild-type EVT and Swan71 cells. Media from wild-type EVT or Swan71 cells transfected with wild-type STOX1 stimulated: endothelial chemokine expression, angiogenesis, and decidual natural killer cell and monocyte migration. In contrast, Y153H EVT conditioned medium, Swan71 transfected with the Y153H plasmid, or HTR8/SVneo media had no effect. Genotyping of placental decidual cocultures demonstrated association of the placental STOX1 CC allele with failed vascular remodeling. Decidual GG NODAL R165H increased in failed cocultures carrying the placental CC alleles of STOX1. Multivariate analysis of the placental cohort showed that the STOX1 C allele correlated with premature birth, with or without severe early-onset preeclampsia, and small for gestational age babies. In conclusion, placental STOX1 Y153H is a precipitating factor in preterm birth and placental preeclampsia due to defects in early utero-placental development.
Protectionism, usmca and its Possible Effects on Mexico’s Automotive Industry
Authors: Dávalos Elisa
Published: December 2020

Mexico’s integration into the North American regional automotive industry is an outcome of nafta. This brought about Mexico´s insertion into regional value chains in the global automotive industry. The country now ranks as the seventh largest producer in the world owing to its attractiveness for foreign direct investment, cheap labour and proximity to the U.S. market. The nafta renegotiation and the emergence of the usmca resulted in a series of modified and stricter rules of origin. Among them, is a clause aimed at Mexico requiring that a percentage of labour content be paid more than $16 an hour. This article sustains that this clause will not really be a constraint for transnational auto companies’ desire to continue their investments and production of cars in Mexico. Rather, what could exclude Mexico from the international automotive production circuits is the upcoming technological change. In view of that, it is crucial that the government take steps to support the automotive innovation developments and the industry´s higher value-added phases.
Die Rezeption der Werke Johann Georg Zimmermanns in Montpellier
Authors: Lohff Brigitte
Published: December 2020

At the end of the 18th century the French physicians discussed Johann Georg Zimmermann's medical concepts (i.e. medical experience, the influence of the soul on health and disease). In contrast to the German scientists, the French, especially those from the School of Montpellier, accepted Zimmermann's medical views as a confirmation of vitalism and neohippocratic medicine. In Germany, Zimmermann's medical works fell into oblivion after his death until the middle of 20th century. This may be a concequence of his intimate contacts to the European high nobility and of his polemic attacks against friends and enemies as well as his contempt for all forms of democracy and the French Revolution.
Étude de cas: les débuts de la stérilisation légale des malades mentaux dans le canton de Vaud
Authors: Gasser Jacques , Hellers Geneviève
Published: December 2020

The topic of genetic transmission of mental diseases appears early in the psychiatric literature. Among the consequences of these theories in the Swiss canton Vaud a law was enacted in 1928 concerning the sterilization of persons affected by «mental disease or mental disability». This short communication presents a selection of case histories which sheds light on the first years after the enactment of this law.
Zum rätselhaften Bild des Kosmos bei Camille Flammarion
Authors: Bäschlin Daniel Lukas
Published: December 2020

In 1888 the French astronomer, Camille Flammarion, published in one of his popular books a picture of a man breaking through the confinement of the old cosmos. This picture has been reproduced frequently and has served as an attractive illustration for many purposes ever since. There was a long debate on the origin of this picture: does there exist an original Renaissance source of it or is it a creation of Flammarion or of one of his illustrators?

This Paper introduces a new and so far unrecognized element into this discussion. The ancient greek philosopher, Archytas, is said to have asked the question: is it possible for a man to stretch his hand or his stick out of the edge of the cosmos? The picture of Flammarion seems to be a precise and almost literal illustration of this question.
Distribution of Sabellaria alveolata (Polychaeta Sabellariidae) in the Mediterranean Sea: update and new findings

Authors: SANFILIPPO ROSSANA , GUIDO A. , INSACCO G. , DEIAS C. , CATANIA G. , REITANO A. , LEONARDI R. , ROSSO A.
Published: December 2020

An update of the geographical distribution of the sabellariid polychaete Sabellaria alveolata (Linnaeus, 1767) within the Mediterranean Sea is provided after checking the known literature. This shallow-water, reef-forming species is first recorded from new sites in southeastern Sicily, both along the Sicily Straits and the Ionian Sea, from where S. alveolata was so far unknown.These new collections also provided material for a detailed description and SEM documentation of morphological features of the operculum and the body.
North Atlantic Winter Storm Activity in Modern Reanalyses and Pressure-Based Observations
Authors: Feser Frauke , Krueger Oliver , Woth Katja , van Garderen Linda
Published: December 2020

This study analyzes changes in extratropical windstorms over the North Atlantic during the last decades. We assessed and compared North Atlantic winter storm activity in a comprehensive approach from three different data sources: modern reanalysis datasets, a dynamically downscaled high-resolution global atmospheric climate simulation, and observations. The multidecadal observations comprise both a storm index derived from geostrophic wind speed triangles and an observational record of low pressure systems counted from weather analyses. Both observational datasets have been compared neither to the most recent reanalyses nor to the downscaled global climate simulation with respect to North Atlantic winter storms before. The similarity of the geostrophic wind speed storm index to reanalyzed high wind speed percentiles and storm numbers confirms its suitability to describe storm frequencies and intensities for multidecadal time scales. The results show that high wind speeds, storm numbers, and spatial storm track distributions are generally alike in high-resolution reanalyses and downscaled datasets and they reveal an increasing similarity to observations over time. Strong decadal and multidecadal variability emerged in high wind speed percentiles and storm frequency, but no long-term changes for the last decades were detected.
Academic Productivity in Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgeons: Identifying Benchmarks Associated With Rank in North America
Authors: Lafaro Kelly J. , Khithani Amit S. , Wong Paul , LaRocca Christopher J. , Warner Susanne G. , Fong Yuman , Melstrom Laleh G.
Published: December 2020

Background

Academic achievement is an integral part of the promotion process; however, there are no standardized metrics for faculty or leadership to reference in assessing this potential for promotion. The aim of this study was to identify metrics that correlate with academic rank in hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) surgeons.

Materials and Methods

Faculty was identified from 17 fellowship council accredited HPB surgery fellowships in the United States and Canada. The number of publications, citations, h-index values, and National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for each faculty member was captured.

Results

Of 111 surgeons identified, there were 31 (27%) assistant, 39 (35%) associate, and 41 (36%) full professors. On univariate analysis, years in practice, h-index, and a history of NIH funding were significantly associated with a surgeon’s academic rank ( P < .05). Years in practice and h-index remained significant on multivariate analysis ( P < .001).

Discussion

Academic productivity metrics including h-index and NIH funding are associated with promotion to the next academic rank.
Virtual connection, real support? A study of loneliness, time on social media and psychological distress among men
Authors: Seidler Zac E , Wilson Michael J , Rice Simon M , Kealy David , Oliffe John L , Ogrodniczuk John S
Published: December 2020

Background:

In an age of increasing loneliness and associated poor mental health, research uncovering the extent to which social connection can be achieved digitally is paramount. This is particularly important among men, who experience unique barriers to achieving meaningful social connections due to masculine norms including independence and self-reliance. Loneliness is a known determinant of both psychological distress and greater time on social media, however relationships among these constructs are yet to be studied specifically among men.

Aims:

This study aimed to examine a novel mediation model to uncover whether time on social media mediates the association between loneliness and psychological distress, alongside a moderating effect of age.

Method:

A community sample of 979 men of mean age 36.0 years (range = 18–78, SD = 13.11) took part via an online survey involving measures of study constructs.

Results:

Results highlighted a novel moderated mediation effect: for younger men only, loneliness predicts psychological distress via time spent on social media.

Conclusion:

Men experiencing loneliness appear to turn to social media in attempt at digital connection, however for younger men in particular, often this fails to ameliorate links between loneliness and psychological distress. Implications for public health messaging, clinical work with men and future interventional studies are discussed.
‘All that Followed a Death. . .’: An Alleged Celebrity Suicide, Media Discourse and Mental Health
Authors: Banerjee Debanjan
Published: December 2020

Mortality and morbidity due to suicides have been an ever-growing burden in India. The public response to the understanding of suicidal deaths and popular perceptions are heavily dependent on media discourse and reporting of such cases. Recently, the alleged death of a young Indian celebrity due to suicide in India led to a media debacle that quickly spurred into endless speculations and sensational reporting of the associated details. Incidents of high-profile suicide often cause varied perceptions, attitudes and beliefs related to the ‘act’ that can get further compounded by misinformation and media-portrayal of the same. Recent cross-sectional research by Raj et al. (2020) explores the adherence of Indian media reporting of suicides for a month after the celebrity-death. It reveals that more than 80% of the news articles deviate from the prevalent Press Council of India (PCI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for media-reporting of suicides. With this study in the background, the commentary contextualizes its findings in the Indian socio-cultural scenario, reviews the influence of media on public attitudes toward suicide, and highlights the need for active media-public health collaboration as a part of a national suicide prevention strategy. Suicides need to be viewed beyond just the ‘medical or psychological health’ model through a more holistic biopsychosocial framework.
Conceptualizing and Measuring Institutional Variation in National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs)
Authors: Welch Ryan M. , DeMeritt Jacqueline H. R. , Conrad Courtenay R.
Published: December 2020

A wealth of literature argues that domestic institutions can sometimes restrain government repression. In this article, we highlight an institution tasked specifically with protecting and promoting human rights: the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI). Although common international standards exist, NHRIs exhibit substantial variation in their organization, the rights that they protect, the activities they permit, and the manner in which they appoint their members. Scholarship to date has conceptualized and measured NHRIs dichotomously; an NHRI either exists or it does not. We present data that highlights NHRI heterogeneity collected via content analysis of NHRI annual reports, NHRI websites, national constitutions, government legislation, and other sources. Using these data, we show NHRIs that can publish their findings and NHRIs that can punish offenders are each associated with less state torture. These data will allow future researchers to better explore important questions regarding NHRI origins, design, processes, and effectiveness.
Generalized model for conic-V-shaped flexure hinges
Authors: Kong Jianyi , Huang Zhao , Xian Xiaodong , Wang Yingrui , Yu Puliang
Published: December 2020

This paper presents a new class of flexure hinges, namely, conic-V-shaped flexure hinges (CFHs), which can be used as a generalized model for flexure hinges with profiles such as parabolic-V-shape, elliptical-V-shape, and hyperbolic-V-shape. Compliance and precision equations for the CFHs were derived as a set of nonlinear equations using Castigliano’s second theorem. The parameters of the nonlinear equations inputted to the compliance and precision matrices were based on the generalized equations used for conic curves in polar coordinates. Furthermore, the compliance equations were verified by means of finite element analysis and experiments. The errors in the finite element and experimental results were within 10% and 8% compared to the analytical results, respectively. Finally, the effects of dimensional parameters on the analytical model could be effectively analyzed by numerical simulations and comparisons.
Female Combatants and Wartime Rape: Reconsidering the Role of Women in Armed Conflict
Authors: Mehrl Marius
Published: December 2020

Whereas existing research posits that the presence of female fighters in armed groups decreases their propensity for wartime rape, one recent study tests this claim quantitatively and is unable to detect a statistically significant effect. This leads the author to conclude that female combatants do not decrease rape. Using that study’s original data, this article reexamines the evidence for the relationship between female rebel combatants and wartime sexual violence. Replications of the original models suggest that they make strong functional form assumptions regarding numerous independent variables and time dependence and that relaxing them results in substantively different findings. Namely, women’s participation in armed groups decreases groups’ use of wartime rape. In support of Loken’s organizational theory of rape, results also suggest that this effect is moderated by group norms. These findings contribute to the literature on female participation in rebel groups and beyond.
Metacognitions in Symptomatic and Remitted Patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Preliminary Evidence for Metacognitive State and Trait Markers
Authors: Meraj Mariyam Bint , Singh Shweta , Kar Sujit K , Sharma Eesha , Sarraf Seema Rani
Published: December 2020

Background:

The phenomenon of metacognition is instrumental in the conceptualization and management of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Studies on the comparison between metacognitions in OCD patients and healthy controls or those with other clinical conditions have been conducted. We aimed to compare metacognitions among currently symptomatic OCD (S-OCD) patients, currently remitted OCD patients (R-OCD), and healthy controls (HC).

Method:

This cross-sectional research was conducted in the Department of Psychiatry of a tertiary care hospital in North India. Purposive sampling method was used to recruit 40 OCD patients, including an equal number of R-OCD and S-OCD patients, and 20 HC matched for age and education. Meta-Cognition Questionnaire and Thought Control Questionnaire were used to assess metacognitive functions.

Results:

The findings showed a gradient of highest maladaptive metacognitions in the S-OCD group and lowest in HC. In the OCD subgroups, specific metacognitive beliefs (negative beliefs F = 65.52; need to control thoughts F = 61.03) and strategies (worry F = 83.55; low distraction F = 105.61) remained significantly different (P ≤ 0.001) between S-OCD and R-OCD patients. Certain other metacognitions remained consistently more or less stable between S-OCD and R-OCD patients, that is, metacognitive beliefs (cognitive confidence F = 11.43; cognitive self-consciousness F = 37.12) and strategies (punishment F = 17.45; low social control F = 12.89). This finding is further corroborated by positive correlations of severity of OCD with need to control thoughts ( r = 0.66, P < 0.001), negative beliefs ( r = 0.63, P < 0.001), and worry ( r = 0.76, P < 0.001), and negative correlations with distraction ( r = – 0.79, P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

The study provides preliminary evidence for specific metacognitions distinguished as potential state and trait markers for OCD, which needs to be established on a larger sample using a longitudinal study design.