bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“No, Thanks”: How Do Requests for Feedback Affect the Consumption Behavior of Non-Compliers?
Authors: Perez Dikla , Oestreicher-Singer Gal , Zalmanson Lior , Rubin Matthew Matan
Published: April 2022

Consumers’ feedback helps firms, yet most requests for feedback are unanswered. Research on question–behavior effects suggests that providing feedback on prior experiences might influence subsequent consumption behavior, but provides little insight regarding users who decline requests (e.g., by clicking “No, Thanks”). Accordingly, we investigate whether the exposure to a request to rate a consumption experience influences users’ future conversion regardless of their compliance. We carried out two large-scale field studies in collaboration with a leading international website that offers basic service for free, and additional desirable features for a fee (“freemium”). We exposed users to a rating request and measured their subsequent likelihood of converting to the paid service. Users exposed to a rating request were more likely to convert compared with users who were not exposed; this effect persisted over 90 days. Notably, users who complied with the request were no more likely to convert compared with non-compliers.
A Novel Approach to Cross dataset studies in Facial Expression Recognition
Authors: Ramis Silvia , Buades Jose M. , Perales Francisco J. , Manresa-Yee Cristina
Published: April 2022

Recognizing facial expressions is a challenging task both for computers and humans. Although recent deep learning-based approaches are achieving high accuracy results in this task, research in this area is mainly focused on improving results using a single dataset for training and testing. This approach lacks generality when applied to new images or when using it in in-the-wild contexts due to diversity in humans (e.g., age, ethnicity) and differences in capture conditions (e.g., lighting or background). The cross-datasets approach can overcome these limitations. In this work we present a method to combine multiple datasets and we conduct an exhaustive evaluation of a proposed system based on a CNN analyzing and comparing performance using single and cross-dataset approaches with other architectures. Results using the proposed system ranged from 31.56% to 61.78% when used in a single-dataset approach with different well-known datasets and improved up to 73.05% when using a cross-dataset approach. Finally, to study the system and humans’ performance in facial expressions classification, we compare the results of 253 participants with the system. Results show an 83.53% accuracy for humans and a correlation exists between the results obtained by the participants and the CNN.
Polymorphic distributivity
Authors: Bumford Dylan
Published: April 2022

This article describes a novel pattern of interpretations associated with universal determiners like ‘each’ and ‘every’. It is demonstrated that these canonically distributive quantifiers can give rise to surprising collective readings when they quantify into sub-clausal constituents, especially other Determiner Phrases. For instance, ‘two cards from each player’ can be understood to pick out a single assorted deck of cards, one whose contents co-vary with the players. Yet this deck as a whole may be said to participate in a range of collective activities (being shuffled together, being traded en masse, not fitting into a standard pack, etc.). Such examples are shown to differ from more familiar cumulative readings of the same quantifiers. A compositional analysis is offered that generalizes Krifka’s (2001) method of quantification into speech acts in order to accommodate quantification into a larger class of non-truth-denoting semantic objects, including in these cases, entities.
An engineering perspective on the numerics of quasi-periodic oscillations
Authors: Bäuerle Simon , Fiedler Robert , Hetzler Hartmut
Published: April 2022

The phenomenon of quasi-periodicity in deterministic dynamical systems describes stationary solutions, which neither exhibit a finite period length nor are chaotic. Recently, an increasing demand for robust numerical methods is driven by applied dynamics and industrial applications. In this context, direct time integration proves to be impractical due to extensive integration intervals. Therefore, in a first step, this contribution aims on giving an application oriented survey of the basic theory as well as alternative concepts. In the following, the focus is set on the direct computation of invariant manifolds (surfaces) on which quasi-periodic solutions evolve. This approach offers a unique framework from which classical methods (e.g., the multi-harmonic-balance) can be systematically deduced and mutual similarities between different methods may be revealed. This contribution starts with a brief summary of related mathematical basics, which is followed by an overview of available methods. Subsequently, the computation of invariant manifolds by means of solving a partial differential equation is emphasized. These PDEs may be formulated using different parametrization strategies. Here, the concept of hyper-time parametrization is particularly interesting, since it is a promising starting point for the development of numerical schemes with general applicability in engineering problems. In order to solve the underlying PDE, various methods may be used. The implementation of a Fourier-Galerkin method as well as a finite difference method is presented and compared on the basis of computational results of the van-der-Pol equation (with and without forcing). Moreover, it is demonstrated that both methods apply to periodic as well as quasi-periodic solutions alike. In order to exemplify the practical use, these methods are applied to a generic rotordynamic model problem.
COVID-19 and Civil Society in Southeast Asia: Beyond Shrinking Civic Space
Authors: Lorch Jasmin , Sombatpoonsiri Janjira
Published: April 2022

In this article we challenge the conventional wisdom that COVID-19 and related legal restrictions invariably reinforce a global trend of shrinking civic space. We argue that the legal guarantee (or restriction) of civil society rights is not the sole factor configuring civic space. Instead, we reconceptualize civic space by broadening its determinants to also include needs-induced space and civil society activism. Investigating five countries with flawed democracic or competitive autocracic regimes in Southeast Asia, we propose a three-pronged mechanism of how these determinants interact in the context of COVID-19. First, legal restrictions on civil society rights intertwine with the space created by health and economic needs to create new opportunities for civil society activism. Second, these new opportunity structures lead to the cross-fertilization between service delivery and advocacy activism by civil society. Third, this new trajectory of civil society activism works to sustain civic space.
FDG PET/CT and Dosimetric Studies of 177Lu-Lilotomab Satetraxetan in a First-in-Human Trial for Relapsed Indolent non-Hodgkin Lymphoma—Are We Hitting the Target?
Authors: Løndalen Ayca , Blakkisrud Johan , Revheim Mona-Elisabeth , Dahle Jostein , Kolstad Arne , Stokke Caroline
Published: April 2022

Purpose

[177Lu]Lu-lilotomab satetraxetan, a novel CD37 directed radioimmunotherapy (RIT), has been investigated in a first-in-human phase 1/2a study for relapsed indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In this study, new methods were assessed to calculate the mean absorbed dose to the total tumor volume, with the aim of establishing potential dose–response relationships based on 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) parameters and clinical response. Our second aim was to study if higher total tumor burden induces reduction in the 177Lu-lilotomab satetraxetan accumulation in tumor.

Procedures

Fifteen patients with different pre-dosing (non-radioactive lilotomab) regimens were included and the cohort was divided into low and high non-radioactive lilotomab pre-dosing groups for some of the analyses. 177Lu-lilotomab satetraxetan was administered at dosage levels of 10, 15, or 20 MBq/kg. Mean absorbed doses to the total tumor volume (tTAD) were calculated from posttreatment single-photon emission tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) acquisitions. Total values of metabolic tumor volume (tMTV), total lesion glycolysis (tTLG) and the percent change in these parameters were calculated from FDG PET/CT performed at baseline, and at 3 and 6 months after RIT. Clinical responses were evaluated at 6 months as complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR), stable disease (SD), or progressive disease (PD).

Results

Significant decreases in tMTV and tTLG were observed at 3 months for patients receiving tTAD ≥ 200 cGy compared to patients receiving tTAD < 200 cGy (p = .03 for both). All non-responders had tTAD < 200 cGy. Large variations in tTAD were observed in responders. Reduction in 177Lu-lilotomab satetraxetan uptake in tumor volume was not observed in patients with higher baseline tumor burden (tTMV).

Conclusion

tTAD of ≥ 200 cGy may prove valuable to ensure clinical response, but further studies are needed to confirm this in a larger patient population. Furthermore, this work indicates that higher baseline tumor burden (up to 585 cm3) did not induce reduction in radioimmunoconjugate accumulation in tumor.
Effects of sacubitril-valsartan on central and obstructive apneas in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Wang Youmeng , Branco Roberto Fernandes , Salanitro Matthew , Penzel Thomas , Schöbel Christoph
Published: April 2022

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sacubitril-valsartan (SV) on central apneas (CA) and obstructive apneas (OA) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods

In patients with HFrEF, SV initiation was titrated to the highest tolerable dosage. Patients were evaluated with portable apnea monitoring, echocardiography, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing at baseline and 3 months later.

Results

Of a total of 18 patients, 9 (50%) had OA, 7 (39%) had CA, and 2 (11%) had normal breathing. SV therapy was related to a reduction in NT-pro BNP and an improvement in LV function after 3 months. Portable apnea monitoring revealed a significant decrease of the respiratory event index (REI) after treatment with SV (20 ± 23 events/h to 7 ± 7 events/h, p = 0.003). When subgrouping according to type of apneas, REI, and time spent below 90% saturation (T90) decreased in patients with CA and OA (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

In this prospective study, SV treatment for 3 months in patients with CA and OA is associated with a significant decrease in REI.
Observation of oxygen evolution over a {Ni12}-cluster-based metal-organic framework
Authors: Han Zongsu , Yan Zheng , Wang Kunyu , Kang Xinchen , Lv Kai , Zhang Xiaoping , Zhou Zhen , Yang Sihai , Shi Wei , Cheng Peng
Published: April 2022

The development of efficient electrocatalysts based on non-noble metals for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) remains an important and challenging task. Multinuclear transition-metal clusters with high structural stability are promising OER catalysts but their catalytic role is poorly understood. Here we report the crystallographic observation of OER activity over robust {Ni12}-clusters immobilised in a porous metal-organic framework, NKU-100, by single-crystal X-ray diffraction as a function of external applied potential. We observed the aggregation of confined oxygen species around the {Ni12}-cluster as a function of applied potential during the electrocatalytic process. The refined occupancy of these oxygen species shows a strong correlation with the variation of current density. This study demonstrates that the enrichment of oxygen species in the secondary co-ordination sphere of multinuclear transition-metal clusters can promote the OER activity.
Netzwerke, Plattformen und Ökosysteme: Organisationstheoretische Klärungen
Authors: Sydow Jörg , Auschra Carolin
Published: April 2022

Im Zuge der zunehmenden Digitalisierung gewinnen interorganisationale Netzwerke, Plattformen und Ökosysteme zunehmend an Bedeutung. Jedoch bleibt oft unklar, was mit diesen Konzepten gemeint ist und in welchem Verhältnis sie zueinander stehen. Dieser Beitrag hat daher das Ziel, diese Konzepte genauer zu fassen und die jeweiligen Verhältnisse zueinander zu klären. Dies geschieht mithilfe der in der Organisationsforschung prominenten Praxis- und Institutionentheorie. Anhand der Dimensionen theoretische Wurzeln, zentrale Analyseebenen, Ziele, Governance/Steuerung, Dynamiken und Grenzen, Kooperation und Wettbewerb sowie Offenheit/Selektion von Mitgliedern werden die einzelnen Phänomene voneinander abgrenzt. Zudem werden die dyadischen und das triadische Verhältnis zueinander diskutiert und weitere Forschungsperspektiven aufgezeigt.
Evidence of a role for interleukin-6 in anoikis resistance in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Karavyraki Marilena , Porter Richard K.
Published: April 2022

In an endeavour to understand metastasis from oral squamous cell carcinomas, we characterised the metastatic potential of a human tongue derived cell line (SCC-4 cells) and compared this phenotype to pre-cancerous dysplastic oral keratinocyte (DOK) cells derived from human tongue and primary gingival keratinocytes (PGK). We demonstrate that SCC-4 cells constitutively synthesize and release significant amounts of IL-6, a process that is enhanced by the addition of the TLR2/TLR6 agonist, Pam2CSK4. The expression of TLR2/6 and IL-6Ra/gp130 receptors was also confirmed in SCC-4 cells. Cancerous SCC-4 human tongue cells also have a classic EMT profile, unlike precancerous human tongue DOK cells. We also established that IL-6 is drivinganoikisresistance in an autocrine fashion and that anti-IL-6 neutralising antibodies, anti-IL-6 receptor antibodies and anti-TLR2 receptor antibodies inhibitanoikisresistance in cancerous SCC-4 human tongue cells.The data suggest a promising role for anti-IL-6 receptor antibody and anti-TLR2 receptor antibody treatment for oral cancer.
No, water (still) doesn’t have a microstructural essence (reply to Hoefer & Martí)
Authors: Häggqvist Sören
Published: April 2022

Häggqvist and Wikforss (2018) argued that in the case of so-called natural kind terms, semantic externalism relies on an untenable metaphysics of kinds: microessentialism. They further claimed that this metaphysics fails, for largely empirical reasons. Focussing on the case of water, Hoefer and Martí European Journal for the Philosophy of Science, 9, (2019) rejoin that suitably construed, microessentialism is correct. I argue that their defence of microessentialism fails.
SARS-CoV-2 infection in chronic kidney disease patients with pre-existing dialysis: description across different pandemic intervals and effect on disease course (mortality)
Authors: Pilgram Lisa , Eberwein Lukas , Jensen Bjoern-Erik O. , Jakob Carolin E. M. , Koehler Felix C. , Hower Martin , Kielstein Jan T. , Stecher Melanie , Hohenstein Bernd , Prasser Fabian , Westhoff Timm , de Miranda Susana M. Nunes , Vehreschild Maria J. G. T. , Lanznaster Julia , Dolff Sebastian ,   the LEOSS study group, Lanznaster Julia , Jensen Bjoern-Erik , Hower Martin , Hohenstein Bernd , Westhoff Timm , Vehreschild Maria , Spinner Christoph , Ruethrich Maria Madeleine , Tometten Lukas , Borgmann Stefan , Jung Norma , Hertenstein Bernd , Degenhardt Christian , Voigt Ingo , Hanses Frank , Wille Kai , Dahl Juergen vom , Rothfuss Katja , Hellwig Kerstin , Rupp Jan , Isberner Nora , Eberwein Lukas , Nattermann Jacob , Strauss Richard , Dolff Sebastian , Göpel Siri , Vehreschild Jörg Janne , de Miranda Susana M. Nunes , Jakob Carolin E. M. , Stecher Melanie , Pilgram Lisa , Schulze Nick , Fuhrmann Sandra , Schons Max , Claßen Annika , Franke Bernd , Prasser Fabian
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) are in general at high risk for severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) but dialysis-dependency (CKD5D) is poorly understood. We aimed to describe CKD5D patients in the different intervals of the pandemic and to evaluate pre-existing dialysis dependency as a potential risk factor for mortality.

Methods

In this multicentre cohort study, data from German study sites of the Lean European Open Survey on SARS-CoV-2-infected patients (LEOSS) were used. We multiply imputed missing data, performed subsequent analyses in each of the imputed data sets and pooled the results. Cases (CKD5D) and controls (CKD not requiring dialysis) were matched 1:1 by propensity-scoring. Effects on fatal outcome were calculated by multivariable logistic regression.

Results

The cohort consisted of 207 patients suffering from CKD5D and 964 potential controls. Multivariable regression of the whole cohort identified age (> 85 years adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 7.34, 95% CI 2.45–21.99), chronic heart failure (aOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.25–2.23), coronary artery disease (aOR 1.41, 95% CI 1.05–1.89) and active oncological disease (aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.07–2.80) as risk factors for fatal outcome. Dialysis-dependency was not associated with a fatal outcome—neither in this analysis (aOR 1.08, 95% CI 0.75–1.54) nor in the conditional multivariable regression after matching (aOR 1.34, 95% CI 0.70–2.59).

Conclusions

In the present multicentre German cohort, dialysis dependency is not linked to fatal outcome in SARS-CoV-2-infected CKD patients. However, the mortality rate of 26% demonstrates that CKD patients are an extreme vulnerable population, irrespective of pre-existing dialysis-dependency.
Laser welding of 16MnCr5 butt welds with gap: resulting weld quality and fatigue strength assessment
Authors: Hensel J. , Köhler M. , Uhlenberg L. , Castro J. Diniz e , Dilger K. , Faß M. , Baumgartner J.
Published: April 2022

For laser welding, gaps should normally be avoided to ensure stable weld processes and high weld quality. Nonetheless, sometimes, gaps are resulting from non-optimal weld preparation in industrial applications. Within this investigation, the effects of a defocussed beam and laser beam oscillation on gap bridging abilities at reduced ambient pressure were investigated. For reference purpose, conventional laser welding with zero gap at ambient pressure was performed, too. The resulting weld geometry was investigated and correlated to gap bridging strategies and weld quality groups according to ISO 13919–1. The welds were characterized regarding their hardness and weld microstructure. Residual stress was determined by means of X-ray diffraction, and tensile tests as well as fatigue tests were conducted. The fatigue tests were evaluated by the nominal stress approach, the critical distance approach, and the stress averaging approach and correlated to weld quality measures. Resulting from this, fatigue resistance of laser welded butt welds with gap can be estimated by the FAT160 design S–N curve. The stress evaluation parameters for the determination ofkeff-values (ρ* = 0.4 mm,a = 0.1 mm) were confirmed.
Visibility Study in a Chief-Deputy Formation for CMB Polarization Missions
Authors: Bermejo-Ballesteros Juan , Cubas Javier , Casas Francisco , Martínez-González Enrique
Published: April 2022

Scientific instruments on board satellites are becoming increasingly sensitive, making it imperative to submit these instruments to a thorough calibration. In-flight calibration could be largely improved by using an ancillary microsatellite flying in formation with the main satellite and emitting a well-defined and known reference signal. Due to the main satellite attitude motion, the calibration satellite and therefore, its calibration signal, will only enter the instrument FoV (Field of View) at certain instants. It is not intuitive how frequently and during how much time this will happen, or how this depends on the scan strategy. In the present work, the available time for calibration and its characteristics in terms of total, mean, and maximum duration are studied, deriving analytical expressions for these quantities. These expressions are validated numerically and allow us to assess the impact of different scan strategies and to evaluate the most suitable region to locate the calibration satellite. The focal plane of the instrument is also modelled to evaluate the calibration process at detector level, calculating the number of detectors viewed and the direction of the polarized signal that they received. For this last analysis, only numerical methods have been employed. The tools are finally used in a case study in order to show how they can be employed to test, evaluate, and optimize scanning strategies and relative positions. The tools presented in this work can be easily adapted to evaluate more generally the characteristics of the observation of each point in the sky for a given scan strategy and instrument FoV.
An improved artificial bee colony algorithm based on Bayesian estimation
Authors: Wang Chunfeng , Shang Pengpeng , Shen Peiping
Published: April 2022

Artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm was proposed by mimicking the cooperative foraging behaviors of bees. As a member of swarm intelligence algorithms, ABC has some advantages in handling optimization problems. However, it has the exploration capacity over the exploitation capacity, which may lead to slow convergence speed and lower solution accuracy. Hence, to enhance the performance of the algorithm, a novel ABC based on Bayesian estimation (BEABC) is presented in this paper. First, instead of using the fitness ratio, the selection probability in ABC is replaced with a new probability calculated by Bayesian estimation. Second, to help the bees adopt more useful information during updating new food sources, a directional guidance mechanism is designed for onlooker bees and scout bees. Finally, the comprehensive performance of BEABC is evaluated by 24 single-objective test functions. The numerical experiment results indicate that BEABC dominates its peers over most test functions, and the significant statistics show that the significant excellence rate of BEABC is $$76\%$$

76
%

in the overall comparison. In addition, to further test the performance of BEABC, seven multi-objective problems and two real-word optimization problems are solved. The comparison results show that BEABC can achieve better results than other EA competitors.
Automatic data volley: game data acquisition with temporal-spatial filters
Authors: Cheng Xina , Liang Linzi , Ikenaga Takeshi
Published: April 2022

Data Volley is one of the most widely used sports analysis software for professional volleyball statistics analysis. To develop the automatic data volley system, the vision-based game data acquisition is a key technology, which includes the 3D multiple objects tracking, event detection and quality evaluation. This paper combines temporal and spatial features of the game information to achieve the game data acquisition. First, the time-vary fission filter is proposed to generate the prior state distribution for tracker initialization. By using the temporal continuity of image features, the variance of team state distribution can be approximated so that the initial state of each player can be filtered out. Second, the team formation mapping with sequential motion feature is proposed to deal with the detection of event type, which represents the players’ distribution from the spatial concept and the temporal relationship. At last, to estimate the quality, the relative spatial filters are proposed by extracting and describing additional features of the subsequent condition in different situations. Experiments are conducted on game videos from the Semifinal and Final Game of 2014 Japan Inter High School Games of Mens Volleyball in Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. The results show 94.1% rounds are successfully initialized, the event type detection result achieves the average accuracy of 98.72%, and the success rate of the events’ quality evaluation achieves 97.27% on average.
Modification of milk resulting in low potassium and minimal electrolyte changes with minimal changes in taste
Authors: Hara Kazuhiro
Published: April 2022

The objective of this research communication was to produce low potassium milk in which other electrolyte changes and changes in taste were minimized. To reduce potassium concentrations, several studies have reported batch methods of directly mixing milk or formula with sodium polystyrene sulfonate, which can exchange cations such as potassium for sodium. However, they also reported increases in sodium content, decreases in calcium and magnesium content, and changes in taste, because sodium polystyrene sulfonate exchanged other substances such as calcium and magnesium for sodium. In the present study, a method of dialyzing whole cow's milk using both sodium polystyrene sulfonate and a small amount of water through cellophane membranes was developed. A batch method for comparison was also performed. Each milk sample was evaluated biochemically and analyzed for taste and aroma in a sensory analysis. We showed that the potassium concentration in the dialyzed milk was reduced to 38% of that in unreacted milk. It was also shown that changes in sodium (increased) as well as calcium and magnesium (decreased) in the dialyzed milk were less than half of those in the batch method milk. Sensory analysis showed that minimal changes occurred in the taste of the dialyzed milk.
Idiopathic subglottic stenosis – a familial association and review of practice
Authors: Hintze J M , Fitzgerald C W , O'Riordan I , Keane E , Kinsella J , Timon C
Published: April 2022

Objective

Idiopathic subglottic stenosis describes subglottic stenosis where no inflammatory, traumatic, iatrogenic or other causative aetiology can be identified. The present study aimed to outline our institution's experience of patients diagnosed with idiopathic subglottic stenosis and describe a very rarely reported familial association.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted of prospectively maintained medical records from 2011 to 2020. Patient clinical, radiological and intra-operative data were reviewed to assess for defined endpoints.

Results

Ten patients with idiopathic subglottic stenosis were identified in this series. One familial pairing was identified, with two sisters presenting with the condition. Successful treatment with carbon dioxide laser and dilatation was achieved in most cases.

Conclusion

Idiopathic subglottic stenosis represents a rare, clinically challenging pathology. Management with endoscopic laser and balloon dilatation is an effective treatment. This paper highlights a very rare familial association, and describes our experience in treating idiopathic subglottic stenosis.
Adherence of Helicobacter pylori to Opisthorchis viverrini gut epithelium and the tegument mediated via L-fucose binding adhesin
Authors: Thanaphongdecha Prissadee , Chamgramol Yaovalux , Pairojkul Chawalit , Deenonpoe Raksawan , Suttiprapa Sutas , Brindley Paul J. , Sripa Banchob
Published: April 2022

Recent reports implicate both the liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini as a reservoir of Helicobacter pylori within the human gastrointestinal tract and H. pylori in the pathogenesis of opisthorchiasis-associated cholangiocarcinoma. We postulated that adherence of bacterial ligands to host receptors initiates colonization of the live fluke by H. pylori and here we aimed to assess the molecular interaction between O. viverrini and H. pylori by investigating host receptors for H. pylori in the fluke. Several known receptors of H. pylori including Lewis B, sialyl-Lewis X, Toll-like receptor 4 and L-fucose were detected immunohistochemically and histochemically by focusing analysis on the gut epithelium and tegument of the adult stage of the fluke. The frequency of detection of Lewis B, sialyl-Lewis X, TLR4 and L-fucose in 100 individual worms was 3, 3, 19 and 70%, respectively. Detection of H. pylori by a diagnostic ureA gene-based PCR assay revealed the presence of H. pylori in individual O. viverrini worms in 41 of 49 (79%) worms examined. In addition, numbers of bacteria decreased in a dose- and time-dependent fashion following exposure to fucosidase. These findings suggested that L-fucose represents a tractable receptor for H. pylori that can mediate bacterial colonization of the gut of O. viverrini.
Distribution of tree parameters by martingale approach
Authors: Isaev Mikhail , Southwell Angus , Zhukovskii Maksim
Published: April 2022

For a uniform random labelled tree, we find the limiting distribution of tree parameters which are stable (in some sense) with respect to local perturbations of the tree structure. The proof is based on the martingale central limit theorem and the Aldous–Broder algorithm. In particular, our general result implies the asymptotic normality of the number of occurrences of any given small pattern and the asymptotic log-normality of the number of automorphisms.
Divided left atrium with totally anomalous drainage of normally connected pulmonary veins
Authors: Anderson Robert H. , Jacobs Jeffrey P. , Franklin Rodney C.G.
Published: April 2022

In the December 2021 issue of Cardiology in the Young, Hubrechts and colleagues, from Brussels and Leuven in Belgium, describe their experience in which the pulmonary veins were normally connected to the morphologically left atrium. By virtue of the presence of a shelf dividing the morphologically left atrium, however, the venous return was to the morphologically right atrium, with no evidence of formation of the superior interatrial fold, meaning that there was no obstruction of flow into the systemic venous circulation. The question posed by the Belgian authors is whether the shelf dividing the morphologically left atrium is a deviated primary atrial septum, as the arrangement has previously been interpreted. As they discuss, it is currently impossible to arbitrate this conundrum. In our commentary, we discuss the background to the dilemma. We point out that, as yet, it is not possible to code accurately this congenital cardiac malformation within The International Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Code (IPCCC), nor within the newly produced 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).
Do smallholder farmers prefer commitment or flexibility in pension savings accounts? A randomised experiment of cocoa farmers in Ghana
Authors: Kos Diana , Lensink Robert
Published: April 2022

This paper examines the intertemporal choice preference for long-term savings of cocoa farmers in Ghana. We test the uptake of two pension products: with one, famers are free to withdraw 50% of their savings with no penalties prior to retirement age; with the other, only 30%. Using a randomised controlled trial we test the difference in uptake of two pensions products where we vary the flexibility of cash withdrawals from the pension account. We find an overall higher uptake of the more flexible pensions account, especially for women, who cannot inherit land titles in Ghana.
Racial Attitudes and Political Preferences Among Black and White Evangelicals
Authors: Allen Levi G. , Olson Shayla F.
Published: April 2022

How do racial group attitudes shape the political preferences of Black and white evangelicals? Scholarship has documented the relationship between religion and race in shaping political behavior and attitudes. However, less is known about how in-group and out-group racial attitudes operate within religious populations. Using samples of Black and white evangelicals from the 2012 and 2016 American National Election Studies, we explore the role of racial identity centrality and racial resentment in determining evangelicals' political preferences. While the role of Black and white identity among evangelicals is minimal, we find strong and consistent conservatizing effects for racial resentment. Together these findings suggest that the evangelical racial divide is not driven by Black evangelicals' attachment to their racial identity, but that racial resentment may drive white evangelicals to more conservative political preferences.
The Influence of State Favoritism on Established Religions and Their Competitors
Authors: Koev Dan
Published: April 2022

What are the consequences of state support for, and official recognition of, one religion or religious institution over all others in the state? Previous studies have focused on the impact of a state's religion policies on overall religiosity in that state. In contrast, I argue that state support will have markedly different consequences for (1) the favored religious firm and (2) all other religious institutions. Similar to religious market theory, I expect that dependence on state support creates disincentives for the favored religious organization to attract adherents. However, I theorize that the weaknesses that state-backed favoritism engenders in the favored religion should create opportunities for other religious firms to compete and thrive. I conduct a multivariate quantitative analysis of changes in religious affiliation in 174 states between 1990 and 2010, controlling for factors like existential security, regime type, net migration, post-Communist background, and major religious traditions. My findings suggest that, consistent with my expectations, religious institutions that receive favorable treatment from the state lose ground relative to those that do not.
Pico-washing: simultaneous liquid addition and removal for continuous-flow washing of microdroplets
Authors: Siedlik Michael J. , Issadore David
Published: April 2022

Droplet microfluidics is based on a toolbox of several established unit operations, including droplet generation, incubation, mixing, pico-injection, and sorting. In the last two decades, the development of droplet microfluidic systems, which incorporate these multiple unit operations into a workflow, has demonstrated unique capabilities in fields ranging from single-cell transcriptomic analyses to materials optimization. One unit operation that is sorely underdeveloped in droplet microfluidics is washing, exchange of the fluid in a droplet with a different fluid. Here, we demonstrate what we name the “pico-washer,” a unit operation capable of simultaneously adding fluid to and removing fluid from droplets in flow while requiring only a small footprint on a microfluidic chip. We describe the fabrication strategy, device architecture, and process parameters required for stable operation of this technology, which is capable of operating with kHz droplet throughput. Furthermore, we provide an image processing workflow to characterize the washing process with microsecond and micrometer resolution. Finally, we demonstrate the potential for integrated droplet workflows by arranging two of these unit operations in series with a droplet generator, describe a design rule for stable operation of the pico-washer when integrated into a system, and validate this design rule experimentally. We anticipate that this technology will contribute to continued development of the droplet microfluidics toolbox and the realization of novel droplet-based, multistep biological and chemical assays.
Effects of pharmacological treatment on metabolomic alterations in animal models of depression
Authors: Pu Juncai , Liu Yiyun , Gui Siwen , Tian Lu , Yu Yue , Wang Dongfang , Zhong Xiaogang , Chen Weiyi , Chen Xiaopeng , Chen Yue , Chen Xiang , Gong Xue , Liu Lanxiang , Li Wenxia , Wang Haiyang , Xie Peng
Published: April 2022

Numerous studies have investigated metabolite alterations resulting from pharmacological treatment in depression models although few quantitative studies explored metabolites exhibiting constant alterations. This study aimed to identify consistently dysregulated metabolites across such studies using a knowledgebase-driven approach. This study was based on 157 studies that identified an assembly of 2757 differential metabolites in the brain, blood, urine, liver, and feces samples of depression models with pharmacological medication. The use of a vote-counting approach to identify consistently upregulated and downregulated metabolites showed that serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, anandamide, tryptophan, hypoxanthine, and 3-methoxytyramine were upregulated in the brain, while quinolinic acid, glutamic acid, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, myo-inositol, lactic acid, and the kynurenine/tryptophan ratio were downregulated. Circulating levels of trimethylamine N-oxide, isoleucine, leucine, tryptophan, creatine, serotonin, valine, betaine, and low-density lipoprotein were elevated. In contrast, levels of alpha-d-glucose, lactic acid, N-acetyl glycoprotein, glutamine, beta-d-glucose, corticosterone, alanine, phenylacetylglycine, glycine, high-density lipoprotein, arachidonic acid, myo-inositol, allantoin, and taurine were decreased. Moreover, 12 metabolites in urine and nine metabolites in the liver were dysregulated after treatment. Pharmacological treatment also increased fecal levels of butyric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, and isovaleric acid. Collectively, metabolite disturbances induced by depression were reversed by pharmacological treatment. Pharmacological medication reversed the reduction of brain neurotransmitters caused by depression, modulated disturbance of the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway and inflammatory activation, and alleviated abnormalities of amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, and gut microbiota-derived metabolites.
Trends and associated factors for Covid-19 hospitalisation and fatality risk in 2.3 million adults in England
Authors: Beaney T. , Neves A. L. , Alboksmaty A. , Ashrafian H. , Flott K. , Fowler A. , Benger J. R. , Aylin P. , Elkin S. , Darzi A. , Clarke J.
Published: April 2022

The Covid-19 mortality rate varies between countries and over time but the extent to which this is explained by the underlying risk in those infected is unclear. Using data on all adults in England with a positive Covid-19 test between 1st October 2020 and 30th April 2021 linked to clinical records, we examined trends and risk factors for hospital admission and mortality. Of 2,311,282 people included in the study, 164,046 (7.1%) were admitted and 53,156 (2.3%) died within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test. We found significant variation in the case hospitalisation and mortality risk over time, which remained after accounting for the underlying risk of those infected. Older age groups, males, those resident in areas of greater socioeconomic deprivation, and those with obesity had higher odds of admission and death. People with severe mental illness and learning disability had the highest odds of admission and death. Our findings highlight both the role of external factors in Covid-19 admission and mortality risk and the need for more proactive care in the most vulnerable groups.
Breaking adsorption-energy scaling limitations of electrocatalytic nitrate reduction on intermetallic CuPd nanocubes by machine-learned insights
Authors: Gao Qiang , Pillai Hemanth Somarajan , Huang Yang , Liu Shikai , Mu Qingmin , Han Xue , Yan Zihao , Zhou Hua , He Qian , Xin Hongliang , Zhu Huiyuan
Published: April 2022

The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) to ammonia is an essential step toward restoring the globally disrupted nitrogen cycle. In search of highly efficient electrocatalysts, tailoring catalytic sites with ligand and strain effects in random alloys is a common approach but remains limited due to the ubiquitous energy-scaling relations. With interpretable machine learning, we unravel a mechanism of breaking adsorption-energy scaling relations through the site-specific Pauli repulsion interactions of the metal d-states with adsorbate frontier orbitals. The non-scaling behavior can be realized on (100)-type sites of ordered B2 intermetallics, in which the orbital overlap between the hollow *N and subsurface metal atoms is significant while the bridge-bidentate *NO3 is not directly affected. Among those intermetallics predicted, we synthesize monodisperse ordered B2 CuPd nanocubes that demonstrate high performance for NO3RR to ammonia with a Faradaic efficiency of 92.5% at −0.5 VRHE and a yield rate of 6.25 mol h−1 g−1 at −0.6 VRHE. This study provides machine-learned design rules besides the d-band center metrics, paving the path toward data-driven discovery of catalytic materials beyond linear scaling limitations.
Observation of fractional spin textures in a Heusler material
Authors: Jena Jagannath , Göbel Börge , Hirosawa Tomoki , Díaz Sebastián A. , Wolf Daniel , Hinokihara Taichi , Kumar Vivek , Mertig Ingrid , Felser Claudia , Lubk Axel , Loss Daniel , Parkin Stuart S. P.
Published: April 2022

Recently a zoology of non-collinear chiral spin textures has been discovered, most of which, such as skyrmions and antiskyrmions, have integer topological charges. Here we report the experimental real-space observation of the formation and stability of fractional antiskyrmions and fractional elliptical skyrmions in a Heusler material. These fractional objects appear, over a wide range of temperature and magnetic field, at the edges of a sample, whose interior is occupied by an array of nano-objects with integer topological charges, in agreement with our simulations. We explore the evolution of these objects in the presence of magnetic fields and show their interconversion to objects with integer topological charges. This means the topological charge can be varied continuously. These fractional spin textures are not just another type of skyrmion, but are essentially a new state of matter that emerges and lives only at the boundary of a magnetic system. The coexistence of both integer and fractionally charged spin textures in the same material makes the Heusler family of compounds unique for the manipulation of the real-space topology of spin textures and thus an exciting platform for spintronic and magnonic applications.
Nonlinear wave evolution with data-driven breaking
Authors: Eeltink D. , Branger H. , Luneau C. , He Y. , Chabchoub A. , Kasparian J. , van den Bremer T. S. , Sapsis T. P.
Published: April 2022

Wave breaking is the main mechanism that dissipates energy input into ocean waves by wind and transferred across the spectrum by nonlinearity. It determines the properties of a sea state and plays a crucial role in ocean-atmosphere interaction, ocean pollution, and rogue waves. Owing to its turbulent nature, wave breaking remains too computationally demanding to solve using direct numerical simulations except in simple, short-duration circumstances. To overcome this challenge, we present a blended machine learning framework in which a physics-based nonlinear evolution model for deep-water, non-breaking waves and a recurrent neural network are combined to predict the evolution of breaking waves. We use wave tank measurements rather than simulations to provide training data and use a long short-term memory neural network to apply a finite-domain correction to the evolution model. Our blended machine learning framework gives excellent predictions of breaking and its effects on wave evolution, including for external data.
Type II porous ionic liquid based on metal-organic cages that enables l-tryptophan identification
Authors: Zhang Zhuxiu , Yang Baolin , Zhang Bingjie , Cui Mifen , Tang Jihai , Qiao Xu
Published: April 2022

Porous liquids with chemical separation properties are quite well-studied in general, but there is only a handful of reports in the context of identification and separation of non-gaseous molecules. Herein, we report a Type II porous ionic liquid composed of coordination cages that exhibits exceptional selectivity towards l-tryptophan (l-Trp) over other aromatic amino acids. A previously known class of anionic organic–inorganic hybrid doughnut-like cage (HD) is dissolved in trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride (THTP_Cl). The resulting liquid, HD/THTP_Cl, is thereby composed of common components, facile to prepare, and exhibit room temperature fluidity. The permanent porosity is manifested by the high-pressure isotherm for CH4 and modeling studies. With evidence from time-dependent amino acid uptake, competitive extraction studies and molecular dynamic simulations, HD/THTP_Cl exhibit better selectivity towards l-Trp than other solid state sorbents, and we attribute it to not only the intrinsic porosity of HD but also the host-guest interactions between HD and l-Trp. Specifically, each HD unit is filled with nearly 5 l-Trp molecules, which is higher than the l-Trp occupation in the structure unit of other benchmark metal-organic frameworks.
High-throughput inverse design and Bayesian optimization of functionalities: spin splitting in two-dimensional compounds
Authors: Nascimento Gabriel M. , Ogoshi Elton , Fazzio Adalberto , Acosta Carlos Mera , Dalpian Gustavo M.
Published: April 2022

The development of spintronic devices demands the existence of materials with some kind of spin splitting (SS). In this Data Descriptor, we build a database of ab initio calculated SS in 2D materials. More than that, we propose a workflow for materials design integrating an inverse design approach and a Bayesian inference optimization. We use the prediction of SS prototypes for spintronic applications as an illustrative example of the proposed workflow. The prediction process starts with the establishment of the design principles (the physical mechanism behind the target properties), that are used as filters for materials screening, and followed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Applying this process to the C2DB database, we identify and classify 358 2D materials according to SS type at the valence and/or conduction bands. The Bayesian optimization captures trends that are used for the rationalized design of 2D materials with the ideal conditions of band gap and SS for potential spintronics applications. Our workflow can be applied to any other material property.
Novel prognostic biomarkers, METTL14 and YTHDF2, associated with RNA methylation in Ewing’s sarcoma
Authors: Jiang Jie , Fan Qie , Qu Haishun , Liu Chong , Liang Tuo , Chen Liyi , Huang Shengsheng , Sun Xuhua , Chen Jiarui , Chen Tianyou , Li Hao , Yao Yuanlin , Zhan Xinli
Published: April 2022

Ewing’s sarcoma has a poor prognosis and high metastasis rate; thus, it is critical to explore prognostic biomarkers of m6A-related genes. Two datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, m6A-related genes were extracted, and prognostic models were constructed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and multivariate COX regression analyses. Immune cell composition and drug sensitivity analyses were performed, and our analysis was validated using laboratory methods of immunohistochemical specific staining and qRT-PCR. Ewing’s sarcoma prognostic model demonstrated that the survival rate of cases in the high-risk group was much lower than that of the low-risk group. Naïve B cells, macrophages M0, macrophages M1, and resting mast cells are closely associated with Ewing’s sarcoma. METTL14 and YTHDF2 are strongly associated with multiple drug sensitivity. Immunohistochemical specific staining revealed higher expression of both METTL14 and YTHDF2 in Ewing’s sarcoma than in the paraneoplastic tissues. The results of qRT-PCR showed that METTL14 expression was significantly higher in both ES cell lines than in the control cell line. The prognostic model constructed using m6A-related genes METTL14 and TYHDF2, can be a potential prognostic biomarker for Ewing’s sarcoma, with the survival rate of cases in the high-risk group being much lower than that of the low-risk group.