bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapidity distribution at soft-virtual and beyond for n-colorless particles to $$\hbox {N}^4$$LO in QCD
Authors: Ahmed Taushif , Ajjath A. H. , Mukherjee Pooja , Ravindran V. , Sankar Aparna
Published: October 2021

We present a systematic framework to study the threshold contributions of the differential rapidity distribution for the production of any number of colorless particles in the hadronic colliders. This has been achieved based on the universality structure of the soft enhancements associated with the real emissions, along with the factorization property of the differential cross section and the renormalization group invariance. In this formalism, we present a universal soft-collinear operator to compute the soft virtual differential cross section for a generic $$2\rightarrow n$$

2
→
n

scattering process up to next-to-next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order ($$\hbox {N}^4$$

N
4

LO) in perturbative QCD. We also provide a universal operator to perform the threshold resummation to next-to-next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic ($$\hbox {N}^3$$

N
3

LL) accuracy. We explicitly present the approximate analytical results of the rapidity distributions at $$\hbox {N}^4$$

N
4

LO and $$\hbox {N}^3$$

N
3

LL for the Higgs boson production through gluon fusion and bottom quark annihilation, and also for the Drell-Yan production at the hadronic collider. We extend our framework to include the next to threshold contributions for the diagonal partonic channels.
Playing with Casimir in the vacuum sandbox
Authors: Kauffman S. , Succi S. , Tiribocchi A. , Tello P. G.
Published: October 2021

The Casimir effect continues to be a subject of discussion regarding its relationship, or the lack of it, with the vacuum energy of fluctuating quantum fields. In this note, we propose a Gedankenexperiment considering an imaginary process similar to a vacuum fluctuation in a typical static Casimir set up. The thought experiment leads to intriguing conclusions regarding the minimum distance between the plates when approaching the Planck scale. More specifically, it is found that distance between the plates cannot reach a value below $$(L/L_P)^{2/3}$$

(
L
/

L
P

)

2
/
3

Planck lengths, being $$L_P$$

L
P

the Planck length and L the typical lateral extension of the plates. Additional findings allow the conclusion that the approach between the two plates towards this minimum separation distance is asymptotic.
Homotopy data as part of the lattice field: A first study
Authors: Dall’Olio Pietro , Zapata José A.
Published: October 2021

Fields exhibit a variety of topological properties, like different topological charges, when field space in the continuum is composed by more than one topological sector. Lattice treatments usually encounter difficulties describing those properties. In this work, we show that by augmenting the usual lattice fields to include extra variables describing local topological information (more precisely, regarding homotopy), the topology of the space of fields in the continuum is faithfully reproduced in the lattice. We apply this extended lattice formulation to some simple models with nontrivial topological charges, and we study their properties both analytically and via Monte Carlo simulations.
Rational Integrability of the Maxwell–Bloch System
Authors: Qu Jingjia , Yang Shuangling
Published: October 2021

The Maxwell–Bloch system arises naturally from laser models, which describes the dynamics of a two-state quantum system coupled to the basic electromagnetic resonator model. In this paper, we study its integrability and give a complete classification of the irreducible Darboux polynomials, which can help us find all polynomial and rational first integrals of the Maxwell–Bloch system. To this end, in the case that the loss rate of field is zero, we use the characteristic curve method and weight homogeneous polynomials to investigate the integrability of the Maxwell–Bloch system, and in the case that the loss rate of field is nonzero, we provide a linear scaling of variables to transform the Maxwell–Bloch system into the Lorenz system and obtain its integrability from some corresponding results of the Lorenz system. Our results show that although the Maxwell–Bloch system has chaotic behaviors for a large range of its parameters, it is nonchaotic when its parameters satisfy one of seven conditions, which may help us understand the complex and rich dynamics of nonlinear laser models.
Stability and Bifurcation Analysis of a Commensal Model with Additive Allee Effect and Nonlinear Growth Rate
Authors: Wei Zhen , Xia Yonghui , Zhang Tonghua
Published: October 2021

In this paper, a commensal model with additive Allee effect on the first species and nonlinear growth rate on the second species is proposed. The classification, type and stability of all possible equilibria of the system are investigated. We also prove the presence of saddle-node bifurcation and transcritical bifurcation by Sotomayor’s theorem. At the end of this study, an example and its simulations are given to illustrate our main results.
Differential Game with Slow Pursuers on the Edge Graph of a Simplex
Authors: Azamov Abdulla , Ibaydullaev Tolanbay , Ibragimov Gafurjan
Published: October 2021

In this paper, a differential game of kind of several pursuers and one evader is studied. All the players move only along the edges of a simplex of dimension [Formula: see text]. The maximal speed of each pursuer is less than that of the evader. If the state of a pursuer coincides with the state of the evader, then pursuit is completed. An exact mathematical formulation of the problem is given by introducing special classes of strategies adapted for games on graphs. Sufficient conditions for completion of pursuit and possibility of evasion are obtained. In the case where the simplex is regular we obtained a condition. If this condition is satisfied, then pursuit can be completed, else evasion is possible.
Extremal Solutions for Caputo Conformable Differential Equations with p‐Laplacian Operator and Integral Boundary Condition
Authors: Peng Zhongqi , Li Yuan , Zhang Qi , Xue Yimin
Published: October 2021

The Caputo conformable derivative is a new Caputo‐type fractional differential operator generated by conformable derivatives. In this paper, using Banach fixed point theorem, we obtain the uniqueness of the solution of nonlinear and linear Cauchy problem with the conformable derivatives in the Caputo setting, respectively. We also establish two comparison principles and prove the extremal solutions for nonlinear fractional p‐Laplacian differential system with Caputo conformable derivatives by utilizing the monotone iterative technique. An example is given to verify the validity of the results.
Football Players’ Shooting Posture Norm Based on Deep Learning in Sports Event Video
Authors: Huang Guangliang , Lan Zhuangxu , Huang Guo
Published: October 2021

Football is one of the favorite sports of people nowadays. Shooting is the ultimate goal of all offensive tactics in football matches. This is the most basic way to score a goal and the only way to score a goal. The choice and use of shooting technical indicators can have a great impact on the final result of the game. Therefore, how to improve the shooting technique of football players and how to adjust the shooting posture of football players are important issues faced by coaches and athletes. In recent years, deep learning has been widely used in various fields such as image classification and recognition and language processing. How to apply deep learning optimization to shooting gesture recognition is a very promising research direction. This article aims to study the football player’s shooting posture specification based on deep learning in sports event videos. Based on the analysis of target motion detection algorithm, target motion tracking algorithm, target motion recognition algorithm, and football shooting posture classification, KTH and Weizmann data sets are used. As the experimental verification data set of this article, the shooting posture of football players in the sports event video is recognized, and the accuracy of the action recognition is finally calculated to standardize the football shooting posture. The experimental results show that the Weizmann data set has a higher accuracy rate than the KTH data set and is more suitable for shooting attitude specifications.
Begleiterkrankungen oder Folgeerkrankungen – das Phänomen der Komorbidität bei autoimmun blasenbildenden Dermatosen
Authors: Sticherling Michael
Published: October 2021

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering skin disease that takes a profound physical and mental toll on those affected. The aim of the study was to investigate the bidirectional association between BP and all bullous disorders (ABD) with a broad array of psychiatric disorders, exploring the influence of prescribed medications. Methods: This nationwide, register-based cohort study encompassed 6,470,450 individuals born in Denmark and alive from 1994 to 2016. The hazard ratios (HRs) of a subsequent psychiatric disorder in patients with BP/ABD and the reverse exposure and outcome were evaluated. Results: Several psychiatric disorders were associated with increased risk of subsequent BP (4.18-fold for intellectual disorders, 2.32-fold for substance use disorders, 2.01-fold for schizophrenia and personality disorders, 1.92–1.85–1.49-fold increased risk for organic disorders, neurotic and mood disorders), independent of psychiatric medications. The association between BP and subsequent psychiatric disorders was not significant after adjusting for BP medications, except for organic disorders (HR 1.27, CI 1.04–1.54). Similar results emerged with ABD. Summary: Psychiatric disorders increase the risk of a subsequent diagnosis of BP/ABD independent of medications, whereas medications used for the treatment of BP/ABD appear to account for the subsequent onset of psychiatric disorders. Clinically, an integrated approach attending to both dermatological and psychiatric symptoms is recommended, and dermatologists should remain vigilant for early symptoms of psychiatric disorders to decrease mental health comorbidity.
Pustulosis palmoplantaris: Langfriste Kontrolle im Blick
Authors: Sondermann Wiebke
Published: October 2021

Im Rahmen der sog. 2PRECISE-Studie, einer multizentrischen, randomisierten, doppelblinden Phase 3b Parallel-Studie, wurden Patienten mit mittelschwerer bis schwerer PPP (palmoplantarer Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PPPASI) ≥12 und Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) ≥10) über 52 Wochen mit Secukinumab bzw. Placebo behandelt. Der primäre Endpunkt der Studie war die Bestimmung der Rate der Patienten mit einem ppPASI75 unter Therapie mit Secukinumab in Woche 16 gegenüber Placebo. Es wurde ein Signifikanzlevel von 2,5% zugrunde gelegt. 79 Patienten erhielten Secukinumab in einer Dosierung von 300mg und 80 Patienten wurden mittels Secukinumab 150mg behandelt. 78 Patienten wurden der Placebo-Gruppe zugeordnet. Ab Woche 16 erhielten 27 Patienten aus der Placebo-Gruppe 150mg Secukinumab und 28 Patienten 300mg Secukinumab. 10 Patienten hatten auf Placebo angesprochen. In Woche 16 erreichten 26,6% der mit 300mg Secukinumab behandelten Patienten und 17,5% der Patienten unter 150mg Secukinumab einen ppPASI75 im Vergleich zu 14,1% der mit Placebo behandelten Patienten (P = 0,0411). Der primäre Endpunkt wurde nicht erreicht, jedoch ergab sich eine Odds Ratio (OR) von 2,62 (95% Konfidenzintervall, 1,04–6,60) zugunsten von 300mg Secukinumab gegenüber Placebo. In Woche 52 wiesen 41,8% der mit 300mg Secukinumab behandelten Patienten und 35,0% der Patienten unter Secukinumab 150mg einen ppPASI75 auf. Das klinische Ansprechen der Patienten, die auch unter einer Plaque Psoriasis litten, war besser als das der Patienten mit einer reinen PPP. Die Lebensqualitätsverbesserung gemessen mit dem DLQI war unter 300mg Secukinumab deutlich besser als unter Placebo. In Woche 16 erreichten 13% der Patienten unter Secukinumab 300mg einen DLQI von 0 oder 1, während es unter Placebo nur 4,3% der Patienten waren. Es wurden in der Studie keine unerwarteten unerwünschten Ereignisse beobachtet.
Flammability and mechanical behavior of cotton fiber polymeric composite laminate with polyurethane and alumina trihydrate
Authors: da Silva Amanda AX , Domiciano Sandra M , De Medeiros Ricardo , da Costa Romeu RC
Published: October 2021

This work aims to evaluate the mechanical and flammability behavior of the green laminate polymeric composite of polyurethane (PU) derived from vegetable oils with reinforcement of cotton fiber (CF) unidirectional fabrics and added alumina trihydrate (ATH). Specimens of PU and PU doped with different ATH contents (10%, 20%, and 30%) were manufactured by casting process and the CF/PU composites and CFs/PU composites with ATH by the vacuum bag process, with three different stacking sequences (fibers oriented on 0°, ± 45°, and 90°). Vertical and horizontal tests of flammability were performed, and the CFs/PU composite showed a higher burning rate than the pure polymer, the difference was a 50% higher speed. However, the addition of ATH to the composite showed an enhancement of its flammability, the smallest burning rate was exhibited. The PU/CFs laminate (0°) exhibited a tensile stiffness and strength twice that presented by the pure PU. Through the SEM (scanning electron microscopy) investigation, when, ATH was added to the composite, there was a decrease in the fiber-matrix interface quality, presence of voids, and larger occurrences of pull out, which explains, besides a smaller volumetric fraction of reinforcement exhibited, decrease in tensile strength.
Experiential and Cognitive Predictors of Sight-Singing Performance in Music Higher Education
Authors: Pomerleau-Turcotte Justine , Moreno Sala Maria Teresa , Dubé Francis , Vachon François
Published: October 2021

Sight-singing is prevalent in aural skill classes, where learners differ in experience and cognitive abilities. In this research, we investigated whether musical experience, level of study, and working memory capacity (WMC) can predict sight-singing performance and if there is a correlation between WMC and performance among some subgroups of participants. We hypothesized that more experienced students and those with a higher WMC might sight-sing better than those with less experience and lesser WMC. We also hypothesized that the relationship between WMC and sight-singing performance would be more salient for less experienced and less proficient sight-singers. We surveyed 56 subjects about their experience with music, assessed their WMC, and evaluated their performance on a short sight-singing task. The results showed that the age when students began learning music could predict sight-singing performance independently from the number of years of experience and the educational level, suggesting a possible developmental component to sight-singing skill. We also found a negative relationship between WMC and pitch score in the low-performing group and between rhythm and pitch score, suggesting that pitch and rhythm are processed differently. Teachers should be aware of how students’ backgrounds might be related to performance and encourage them to develop strong automated skills, such as reading music or singing basic tonal patterns.
Using Behavioral Skills Training to Support Caregivers Through Educational Telehealth
Authors: Werner Juarez Sara
Published: October 2021

While the COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected families, it also accelerated the availability and use of video conferencing technology in their homes. Families will continue to experience challenges, even when children safely return to in-person instruction. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how practitioners can use behavioral skills training (BST) through educational telehealth to support caregivers’ implementation of evidence-based practices for children with disabilities. This article presents strategies on how to use synchronous and asynchronous technology to plan effective, efficient interventions that focus on families’ needs and preferences. BST procedures of instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback are discussed within a case study for Lucía, a young child with autism spectrum disorder, and her family as they learn effective antecedent-based and consequence interventions to improve Lucía’s compliance. Practical techniques with direct application, such as an Instructions handout and a Sample Schedule, support practitioners’ implementation of direct in-home support for caregivers through the use of technology.
Digitally Transforming Electronic Governments into Smart Governments: SMARTGOV, an Extended Maturity Model
Authors: Hujran Omar , Alarabiat Ayman , Al-Adwan Ahmad Samed , Al-Debei Mutaz
Published: October 2021

Smart government aims to provide intelligent and agile personalized public services to government stakeholders. Over the past few years, governments seek to employ innovative technologies, such as blockchain, analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, robotics process automation, and machine learning (ML), to improve citizens’ experiences and quality of life as well as government decision-making processes. They also aim to increase the efficiency of business processes and to transform the delivery of public services. However, the extant e-government literature lacks an inclusive digital government maturity model that can be used as a unified reference for guiding public organizations through the journey to smart government. Accordingly, the main aim of this paper is to develop a smart government maturity model by extending and revising the extant literature related to e-government. The developed model is then used to empirically evaluate the smart government initiative in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We applied the model on 41 UAE federal governments’ websites/portals and measured their maturity level using 73 indicators. The findings indicate that the UAE is quite advanced with regard to smart government, as the majority of governmental entities scored “High” and above on the use of innovative and disruptive technologies in various domains. The smart government maturity model proved its efficacy and value in evaluating the UAE's smart government initiative.
Aberrant inhibitory processing in the somatosensory cortices of cannabis-users
Authors: Arif Yasra , Wiesman Alex I , Christopher-Hayes Nicholas J , Wilson Tony W
Published: October 2021

Background:

Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a major exogenous psychoactive agent, which acts as a partial agonist on cannabinoid (CB1) receptors. THC is known to inhibit presynaptic neurotransmission and has been repeatedly linked to acute decrements in cognitive function across multiple domains. Previous electrophysiological studies of sensory gating have shown specific deficits in inhibitory processing in cannabis-users, but to date these findings have been limited to the auditory cortices, and the degree to which these aberrations extend to other brain regions remains largely unknown.

Methods:

We used magnetoencephalography (MEG) and a paired-pulse somatosensory stimulation paradigm to probe inhibitory processing in 29 cannabis-users (i.e. at least four times per month) and 41 demographically matched non-user controls. MEG responses to each stimulation were imaged in both the oscillatory and time domain, and voxel time-series data were extracted to quantify the dynamics of sensory gating, oscillatory gamma activity, evoked responses, and spontaneous neural activity.

Results:

We observed robust somatosensory responses following both stimulations, which were used to compute sensory gating ratios. Cannabis-users exhibited significantly impaired gating relative to non-users in somatosensory cortices, as well as decreased spontaneous neural activity. In contrast, oscillatory gamma activity did not appear to be affected by cannabis use.

Conclusions:

We observed impaired gating of redundant somatosensory information and altered spontaneous activity in the same cortical tissue in cannabis-users compared to non-users. These data suggest that cannabis use is associated with a decline in the brain’s ability to properly filter repetitive information and impairments in cortical inhibitory processing.
Endoscopic transconjunctival optic nerve sheath fenestration for progressive idiopathic visual field deficit: a case report
Authors: Lyson Tomasz , Sieskiewicz Andrzej , Chrzanowski Robert , Konopinska Joanna , Rogowski Marek , Mariak Zenon
Published: October 2021

Intra-orbital optic nerve sheath fenestration (ONSF) is an effective option in patients with progressive vision loss due to idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Most proposed techniques involve surgical trauma and require disinsertion of the medial rectus muscle; thus, less invasive surgical procedures are needed. Here, a feasible and effective technique of endoscopic intra-orbital ONSF through a conjunctival incision is presented, in a patient with a progressively compromised visual field, papilloedema, and distended subarachnoid space around the optic nerves. The retrobulbar segment of the optic nerve was exposed for incision, avoiding manipulation of the lateral orbital rim bones and irritation of the ciliary microvessels and nerves. The patient regained the entire visual field. ONSF was safely and effectively performed endoscopically through a narrow corridor gained by brushing away the orbital fat with minimal traction on the medial rectus muscle. The small postoperative wound was associated with faster and easier convalescence, and less tissue trauma versus conventional open approaches.
Of Sankardeva, Sanskrit and Saraswati: The Interplay of the Regional and the National Symbols in a School in Assam
Authors: Bhuyan Navarupa , Goswami Nirmali
Published: October 2021

In South Asian societies, nationalist projects have often relied on cultural symbols drawn from varied native traditions for their legitimacy claims. In a multi-ethnic society like India, with a multitude of narratives about collective pasts, it becomes difficult for such projects to achieve a multi-symbol congruence that is deemed necessary. The schools are key sites where such complex interplay of the production of locality (region) and national identity can be examined. Schools located in the state of Assam afford a vantage point to examine the vexed relation between the national and the regional imaginaries. The article draws on materials collected from a school affiliated to the Vidya Bharati Trust located in Assam. The Trust and the schools run by it have been extensively examined for their focus on promoting a certain ideology of nationalism which is based on the cultural supremacy of Hindu symbols. However, the branches of such schools in Assam carry a distinct regional character in their endorsement of regional icons and of Assamese language. This article examines the dynamics of nation, religion and region within educational spaces in the deployment of visual images and in the curricular materials used in a school named after Sankardeva.
Cycle-to-cycle variability in spark-assisted compression ignition engines near optimal mean combustion phasing
Authors: Triantopoulos Vassilis , Bohac Stanislav V , Sterniak Jeff , Lavoie George , Boehman André L , Assanis Dennis N , Martz Jason B
Published: October 2021

Stoichiometric spark-assisted compression ignition (SACI) combustion with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) dilution has demonstrated higher part-load thermal efficiencies compared to spark-ignited engines, while maintaining ultra-low tailpipe emissions. However, SACI is often characterized by high cyclic variability in heat release or torque output, which poses a challenge to its implementation in light-duty vehicles. This paper presents an experimental investigation of cyclic variability in stoichiometric SACI combustion under EGR-dilute conditions, while maintaining mean combustion phasing (θ50) near optimal timing for thermal efficiency. The present work focuses on SACI conditions where the flame-based heat release fraction is between approximately 10% and 40% of the overall heat release, and therefore contributes significantly to the combustion process. For the SACI conditions examined, the variability in θ50 was driven by variability in autoignition timing, which in turn correlated with the start of measurable heat release (θ02). High variability in θ50 caused unstable work output due to very late combustion with poor or no end-gas autoignition. The use of a high ignition energy dual-coil offset ignition system had negligible impact in reducing θ50 variability. Analysis of experimental data from close to 1000 operating conditions showed that the magnitude of θ50 variability correlates with the flame-based heat release fraction ([Formula: see text]), for a large range of intake pressures, spark timings and exhaust gas recirculation levels. For the SACI conditions examined, combustion phasing variability was largely determined by flame-based combustion and particularly the initial flame formation (θIGN-02), and minimally by the end-gas autoignition heat release. The analysis also demonstrated that θ50 variability is amplified as the contribution of the flame to the overall heat release increases.
“We Have to Survive, First”: Speculative Ethnographies of Chinese Student Experience During COVID-19
Authors: Dai Yan , Arnberg Benjamin
Published: October 2021

Our speculative ethnography of Chinese student experience in the United States during COVID-19 weds the tradition of speculative fiction (exemplified by the likes of Margaret Atwood and Octavia Butler) and digital autoethnography. The study is two-pronged: First, we articulate/map the methodological merits of speculative and digital autoethnography as particularly conducive to the crisis context of COVID-19 and its accompanying social isolation; second, we deploy said methodology within a population of nine Chinese students “trapped” in the United States during the COVID-19 period.
Optimal one-stage design and analysis for efficacy expansion in Phase I oncology trials
Authors: Wu Cai , Liu Fang , Zhou Heng , Wu Xiaoqiang , Chen Cong
Published: October 2021

Background

Contemporary Phase I oncology trials often include efficacy expansion in various tumor indications post dose finding. Preliminary anti-tumor activity from efficacy expansion can aid Go/No-Go decision for Phase 2 or Phase 3 initiation. Tumor cohorts in efficacy expansion are commonly analyzed independently in practice, which are often underpowered due to small sample size. Pooled analysis is also sometimes conducted, but it ignores the heterogeneity of the anti-tumor activity across cohorts.

Methods

We propose an optimal one-stage design and analysis strategy for the efficacy expansion to assess whether the treatment is effective. Allowing heterogeneous anti-tumor effects across tumor cohorts, inactive cohorts are pruned, and the potentially active cohorts are pooled together to gain study power. For a prospective design with a target power, the total sample size across all cohorts is minimized; or for an ad hoc analysis with pre-specified sample size for each cohort, the pruning criteria are optimized to achieve maximum power. The global type I error is controlled after proper multiplicity adjustment, and a penalty adjusted significance level is used for the pooled test.

Results

Simulation studies show that the proposed optimal design has desirable operating characteristics in increasing the overall power and detecting more true positive tumor cohorts.

Conclusion

The proposed optimal design and analysis strategy provides a practical approach to design and analyze heterogeneous efficacy expansion cohorts in a basket setting with global type I and type II error being controlled.
Integrated planning framework for preventive maintenance grouping: A case study for a conveyor system in the Chilean mining industry
Authors: Viveros Pablo , Mena Rodrigo , Zio Enrico , Miqueles Leonardo , Kristjanpoller Fredy
Published: October 2021

Increasingly complex production environments pose new challenges and require the development of new methodological approaches in the search for effective and cost-efficient maintenance planning, taking into account their applicability in real industrial environments. In this context, this article proposes an extension of the integrated framework for opportunistic preventive maintenance (PM) planning, proposed originally in Viveros et al. integrating non-negligible execution times of PM activities and time-window tolerances criterion for the generation of opportunistic grouping schemes. This work offers the implementation of the proposed framework in a practical case within the Chilean mining industry, expanding the analysis on scarce resource availability scenarios for PM tasks to be performed on conveyor belts in the grinding process. The proposed planning optimization model is formulated under the mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) paradigm, and searches minimizing the asset unavailability under several tolerance levels for the case study analyzed. The results show a 35% downtime reduction for a maximum tolerance factor of 10% considering an unconstrained maintenance resource scenario, which confirms the ability of the model to increase asset availability, minimizing system interruptions, improving its cost efficiency, and enhancing productivity levels in the mining industry.
Removal of methylene blue from wastewater using hydrogel nanocomposites: A review
Authors: Malatji Nompumelelo , Makhado Edwin , Modibane Kwena D , Ramohlola Kabelo E , Maponya Thabiso C , Monama Gobeng R , Hato Mpitloane J
Published: October 2021

Water pollution by organic dyes continues to pose a serious health and environmental threat to the ecosystem. Although adsorption using biopolymer-based hydrogels has proven to be an ideal technique for the treatment of these dye contaminants from aqueous solutions, these hydrogels suffer from lack of mechanical stability and recovery as compared to synthetic polymers. Herein, we review the low-cost synthesis of hydrogel incorporated with inorganic components mainly focusing on strategies to improve the mechanical stability and separation of the hydrogel in removing methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solution. The literature shows that hydrogel nanocomposites are a class of materials that have flourished significant consideration, especially concerning water treatment. In adsorption technology, hydrogel nanocomposites act as absorbents, prominent to enhance their removal efficiency towards contaminants. This review highlights the preparation and use of hydrogel nanocomposites as efficient adsorbents. In-depth discussions on adsorption and diverse synthetic routes of hydrogels have been devoted to applications of these nanocomposites and are compared in this contribution to the removal efficiency of MB dye from wastewater.
Developing an Evaluation Model for Monitoring Country-Based Tourism Competitiveness
Authors: Liu Yung-Lun , Ko Pen-Fa , Chiang Jui-Te
Published: October 2021

Using pillars and sub-index from the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (T & TCI) to measure a destination’s competitiveness is popular. Still, its methodology underlying the calculation has been criticized. So the T&TCI Index has not been regarded as a reliable measure of a destination’s competitiveness. In this regard, this paper sought to set out a country-based tourism competitiveness evaluation model with various statistical methods to indicate how important tourism policy development has to design. We used data from an expert survey to examine the attributes and sub-attributes and shape the decision-making. We addressed a theoretical six-step procedure to ensure the evaluation model’s rigor in the model development context. The first was to do data collection. The second was to examine construct underrepresentation. The third was to examine common method bias. The fourth was to examine construct-irrelevant variances. The fifth was to evaluate intergroup consistency. And the sixth was to develop attribute weight. Our study showed that a country-based tourism competitiveness evaluation model encompassed 8 attributes and 28 sub-attributes. We identified cultural uniqueness, ecology and the environment as the two most important attributes. In the end, we addressed the practical contributions of this study and methods to policy-makers and researchers.
Prevalence and patterns of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and their association with health-related quality of life within a multi-ethnic Asian population
Authors: Lau Jue Hua , Nair Asharani , Abdin Edimansyah , Kumarasan Roystonn , Wang Peizhi , Devi Fiona , Sum Chee Fang , Lee Eng Sing , Müller-Riemenschneider Falk , Subramaniam Mythily
Published: October 2021

Objective

The study aimed to examine the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the general population of the multi-ethnic nation of Singapore as part of the Knowledge, Practice and Attitudes towards Diabetes study, a cross-sectional and population-based survey. It also examined the relationship between physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods

Physical activity and sedentary behaviour were assessed via the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), while physical and mental HRQoL was assessed via the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12v2). Survey weights were employed to account for complex survey design. Multivariable logistic regression models were utilized to examine sociodemographic correlates of physical activity (insufficient vs. sufficient physical activity) and sedentary behaviour (< 7 h/day vs ≥7 h/day). Descriptive statistics were calculated to examine the percentage of time spent in different domains of physical activity. Multivariable linear regressions were conducted to examine the association between physical activity and sedentary behaviour with physical and mental HRQoL.

Results

Two thousand eight hundred sixty seven participants recruited from February 2019 to March 2020 (prior to COVID-19 lockdown and related restrictions in Singapore) were included in the analyses. 83.3% of respondents had sufficient physical activity. Age (65 years and above) and income (SGD 2000 to 3999) were associated with a higher likelihood of insufficient physical activity. In contrast, those of Malay ethnicity and having one chronic physical condition were associated with a lower likelihood of insufficient physical activity. 47.7% reported that they had sedentary behaviour of ≥7 h/day. Older age and a primary school education were related to a lower likelihood of sedentary behaviour, while being single, having higher income, obesity, and multimorbidity were associated with higher sedentary behaviour. Insufficient physical activity was significantly associated with lower physical HRQoL but was not significantly associated with mental HRQoL. Sedentary behaviour was not significantly associated with mental or physical HRQoL.

Conclusion

About 17% of the population did not meet the minimum requirements for physical activity, while around half of the population spent a considerable time being sedentary. As insufficient physical activity was associated with poorer physical HRQoL, policymakers should promote moderate physical activity and encouraging the breaking up of prolonged sedentary periods within the middle- and high-income groups, especially at the workplace. Increased leisure-time exercise should be encouraged for those in the lower- income group.
Adolescent’s movement behaviors and built environment: a latent class analysis
Authors: Caetano Isabella Toledo , Miranda Valter Paulo Neves , dos Santos Fernanda Karina , dos Santos Amorim Paulo Roberto
Published: October 2021

Background

Latent class analysis (LCA) is an alternative and innovative approach to verify the relation of the various combinations of the constructed environment and movement behavior (levels of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep) characteristics. This study aimed to identify latent classes based on the characteristics of the neighborhood environment perceived by adolescents and their association with gender, socioeconomic status (SS), body composition and movement behaviors.

Methods

This cross-sectional study includes 309 Brazilian adolescents (14 to 16 years old, 57% female). The characteristics of the neighborhood environment perceived were analyzed by the Neighborhood Walkability for Youth Scale. Accelerometers were used for a week to evaluate the movement behaviors. Questionnaires assessed the screen times, total sitting time (TST), and sociodemographic characteristics. LCA was used for modeling the “Perceived Enviroment” variable, having been conducted in the poLCA (Polychromous Variable Latent Class Analysis) package of the R statistical software.

Results

Three classes were recognized: class 1, “Best Perceived Environment” with 23.03% of adolescents; class 2, “Moderate Perceived Environment”, 63.33%; and class 3, “Worst Perceived Environment”, 13.67%. Light physical activity (LPA), TST, and SS were associated with class prevalence. The adolescents with medium and low SS were, respectively, 3.42 (95% CI 1.62–7.21) and 4.18 (95% CI 1.66–10.50) more likely to belong to class 2, and those with low SS were 5.21 (95% CI 1.35–20.13) more likely to belong to class 3. Class 1 adolescents were associated with a lower chance (OR: 0.09, 95% CI 0.02–0.55) of involvement in ‘adequate LPA time’ compared to class 3. Class 1 adolescents were associated with a lower chance (OR: 0.31, 95% CI 0.12–0.79) of involvement in ‘adequate TST’ compared to class 2. There was a difference between the LPA and TST classes; class 3 presented a longer time in LPA than class 1; class 1 had higher TST than the other classes.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the influence of neighborhood classes on adolescents’ LPA and TST.
Super-enhancer-associated TMEM44-AS1 aggravated glioma progression by forming a positive feedback loop with Myc
Authors: Bian Erbao , Chen Xueran , Cheng Li , Cheng Meng , Chen Zhigang , Yue Xiaoyu , Zhang Zhengwei , Chen Jie , Sun Libo , Huang Kebing , Huang Cheng , Fang Zhiyou , Zhao Bing , Li Jun
Published: October 2021

Background

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been considered as one type of gene expression regulator for cancer development, but it is not clear how these are regulated. This study aimed to identify a specific lncRNA that promotes glioma progression.

Methods

RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and quantitative real-time PCR were performed to screen differentially expressed genes. CCK-8, transwell migration, invasion assays, and a mouse xenograft model were performed to determine the functions of TMEM44-AS1. Co-IP, ChIP, Dual-luciferase reporter assays, RNA pulldown, and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were performed to study the molecular mechanism of TMEM44-AS1 and the downstream target.

Results

We identified a novel lncRNA TMEM44-AS1, which was aberrantly expressed in glioma tissues, and that increased TMEM44-AS1 expression was correlated with malignant progression and poor survival for patients with glioma. Expression of TMEM44-AS1 increased the proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion of glioma cells. Knockdown of TMEM44-AS1 in glioma cells reduced cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion, and tumor growth in a nude mouse xenograft model. Mechanistically, TMEM44-AS1 is directly bound to the SerpinB3, and sequentially activated Myc and EGR1/IL-6 signaling; Myc transcriptionally induced TMEM44-AS1 and directly bound to the promoter and super-enhancer of TMEM44-AS1, thus forming a positive feedback loop with TMEM44-AS. Further studies demonstrated that Myc interacts with MED1 regulates the super-enhancer of TMEM44-AS1. More importantly, a novel small-molecule Myc inhibitor, Myci975, alleviated TMEM44-AS1-promoted the growth of glioma cells.

Conclusions

Our study implicates a crucial role of the TMEM44-AS1-Myc axis in glioma progression and provides a possible anti-glioma therapeutic agent.
The share of corporate income tax as revenue of a provincial self-government and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Wantoch-Rekowski Jacek , Cilak Małgorzata
Published: October 2021

Motivation: The paper addresses the issue of shares in corporate income tax (CIT) as revenue for the budgets of provincial governments. A study of the formation of revenues from this source in relation to total revenues in 2019–2021 was carried out, resulting in the observation that amongst the provinces a wide disparity exists in terms of the importance of CIT shares as a source of revenue. In most provinces, the percentage ratios of the size of CIT shares planned for 2021 in the structure of total revenue decreased compared with 2019. The study made it possible to advance a thesis on the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the decline in provincial revenue from CIT shares, as well as to confirm views criticizing certain features of CIT shares, such as their lack of stability or the lack of influence of provincial governments on the shaping of this source of revenue. Shares in CIT formally constitute the provinces’ own revenue, but in practice they are funds transferred from the state budget. Income taxes in Poland are the revenue of the state, which has an exclusive influence on the normative shape of these taxes and the implementation of the regulations concerning them. The province, as a beneficiary of the CIT share, has no influence on this income. In view of the fact that in some provinces CIT revenue as a share of total revenue exceeds 40%, a problem arises in the event of a decrease in the revenue from this tax to the state budget, and consequently to the provincial budgets. The COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis caused by it result, inter alia, in a decrease in revenues from income taxes, which is reflected in provincial budgets.

Aim: The aim of the article is to determine whether and to what extent the COVID-19 pandemic affected the revenues of self-governing voivodships from CIT shares. The authors also indicated solutions aimed at mitigating the negative consequences for provinces of the drop in revenues from CIT shares.

Results: The research carried out on revenues to the budgets of provincial local governments from the CIT share indicates that in 2021, 11 out of 16 provinces will have a lower percentage share of this income in the structure of all their revenues when compared to 2019.
How Much Is Financial Advice Worth? The Transparency-Revenue Tension in Social Trading
Authors: Yang Mingwen , Zheng Zhiqiang (Eric) , Mookerjee Vijay
Published: October 2021

In social trading, less experienced investors (followers) are allowed to copy the trades of experts (traders) in real time after paying a fee. Such a copy-trading mechanism often runs into a transparency-revenue tension. On the one hand, social trading platforms need to release traders’ trades as transparently as possible to allow followers to evaluate traders accurately. On the other hand, complete transparency may undercut the platform’s revenue because followers can free ride. That is, followers can manually copy the trades of a trader to avoid paying the following fees. This study addresses this critical tension by optimizing the level of transparency through delaying the release of trading information pertaining to the trades executed by traders. We capture the economic impact of the delay using the notions of profit-gap and delayed-profit. We propose a mechanism that elucidates the economic effects of the profit-gap and delayed-profit on followers and, consequently, the amount of money following a trader: protection effect and evaluation effect. Empirical investigations find support for these two effects. We then develop a stochastic control formulation that optimizes platform revenue, where the control is the optimal delay customized at the trader level and calculated as a function of the current amount of money following a trader and the number of views on the trader’s profile page. The optimized revenue can be incorporated into an algorithm to provide a systematic way to infuse the platform’s goals into the ranking of the traders. A counterfactual study is conducted to demonstrate the performance of the optimal delay policy (versus a constant-delay policy) using data from a leading social trading platform operating in the foreign exchange market.

This paper was accepted by Chris Forman, information systems.
On Stochastic-User-Equilibrium-Based Day-to-Day Dynamics
Authors: Ye Hongbo
Published: October 2021

Researchers have proposed many different concepts and models to study day-to-day dynamics. Some models explicitly model travelers’ perceiving and learning on travel costs, and some other models do not explicitly consider the travel cost perception but instead formulate the dynamics of flows as the functions of flows and measured travel costs (which are determined by flows). This paper investigates the interconnection between these two types of day-to-day models, in particular, those models whose fixed points are a stochastic user equilibrium. Specifically, a widely used day-to-day model that combines exponential-smoothing learning and logit stochastic network loading (called the logit-ESL model in this paper) is proved to be equivalent to a model based purely on flows, which is the logit-based extension of the first-in-first-out dynamic of Jin [Jin W (2007) A dynamical system model of the traffic assignment problem. Transportation Res. Part B Methodological 41(1):32–48]. Via this equivalent form, the logit-ESL model is proved to be globally stable under nonseparable and monotone travel cost functions. Moreover, the model of Cantarella and Cascetta is shown to be equivalent to a second-order dynamic incorporating purely flows and is proved to be globally stable under separable link cost functions [Cantarella GE, Cascetta E (1995) Dynamic processes and equilibrium in transportation networks: Towards a unifying theory. Transportation Sci. 29(4):305–329]. Further, other discrete choice models, such as C-logit, path-size logit, and weibit, are introduced into the logit-ESL model, leading to several new day-to-day models, which are also proved to be globally stable under different conditions.
Socrates and Thrasymachus on Perfect and Imperfect Injustice
Authors: Weiss Roslyn
Published: October 2021

It is argued that the true definition of justice in Plato’s Republic appears not in Book IV but in Book I, where it is clear that justice is other-oriented or external rather than internal as per Book IV. Indeed, on Book IV’s definition, there is virtually no difference between justice and moderation. Considered here is a single argument between Socrates and Thrasymachus (351b-352d), in which Socrates contends that imperfect injustice is “stronger” than perfect. Rather than producing a just group, the justice between members of a group strengthens the injustice of a group whose external project is already unjust.
Hyperkähler metrics near Lagrangian submanifolds and symplectic groupoids
Authors: Mayrand Maxence
Published: October 2021

The first part of this paper is a generalization of the Feix–Kaledin theorem on the existence of a hyperkähler metric on a neighborhood of the zero section of the cotangent bundle of a Kähler manifold. We show that the problem of constructing a hyperkähler structure on a neighborhood of a complex Lagrangian submanifold in a holomorphic symplectic manifold reduces to the existence of certain deformations of holomorphic symplectic structures. The Feix–Kaledin structure is recovered from the twisted cotangent bundle. We then show that every holomorphic symplectic groupoid over a compact holomorphic Poisson surface of Kähler type has a hyperkähler structure on a neighborhood of its identity section. More generally, we reduce the existence of a hyperkähler structure on a symplectic realization of a holomorphic Poisson manifold of any dimension to the existence of certain deformations of holomorphic Poisson structures adapted from Hitchin’s unobstructedness theorem.