bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The politics and praxis of academic English: Toward antiracist language pedagogy
Authors: Maamuujav Undarmaa , Hardacre Bahiyyih
Published: July 2022

Academic English has drawn criticism for its hegemonic status, and its dominance and legitimization as an “appropriate” language variety within academic and mainstream discourse communities have been problematized for stigmatizing home languages and dialects of multilingual and multidialectal students. However, students' proficiency in academic language is cited as one of the critical factors affecting their academic success (Francis, Rivera, Lesaux, Kieffer, & Rivera, 2006); therefore, instructional support for multilingual and multidialectal students' academic language development has been crucial to the educational agenda. The debate surrounding the politics of academic English and of the instructional practices geared toward developing multilingual and multidialectal students' academic English proficiency has important pedagogical implications. Seeing value in the propositions on both sides of the debate, the authors of this article reflect on the implications of these propositions in classroom practice and seek ways to support multilingual students in their effort to develop their academic English proficiency without stigmatizing and suppressing their home language and dialect. The authors propose an integrated framework for antiracist language pedagogy that builds on critical inquiry, inclusive teaching, and a multiliteracies approach to academic language and literacy development.
The Coaching for Cognition in Alzheimer's (COCOA) trial: Study design
Authors: Roach Jared C. , Hara Junko , Fridman Deborah , Lovejoy Jennifer C. , Jade Kathleen , Heim Laura , Romansik Rachel , Swietlikowski Adrienne , Phillips Sheree , Rapozo Molly K. , Shay Maria A. , Fischer Dan , Funk Cory , Dill Lauren , Brant‐Zawadzki Michael , Hood Leroy , Shankle William R.
Published: July 2022

Comprehensive treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) requires not only pharmacologic treatment but also management of existing medical conditions and lifestyle modifications including diet, cognitive training, and exercise. We present the design and methodology for the Coaching for Cognition in Alzheimer's (COCOA) trial. AD and other dementias result from the interplay of multiple interacting dysfunctional biological systems. Monotherapies have had limited success. More interventional studies are needed to test the effectiveness of multimodal multi‐domain therapies for dementia prevention and treatment. Multimodal therapies use multiple interventions to address multiple systemic causes and potentiators of cognitive decline and functional loss; they can be personalized, as different sets of etiologies and systems responsive to therapy may be present in different individuals. COCOA is designed to test the hypothesis that coached multimodal interventions beneficially alter the trajectory of cognitive decline for individuals on the spectrum of AD and related dementias (ADRD). COCOA is a two‐arm prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT). COCOA collects psychometric, clinical, lifestyle, genomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and microbiome data at multiple timepoints across 2 years for each participant. These data enable systems biology analyses. One arm receives standard of care and generic healthy aging recommendations. The other arm receives standard of care and personalized data‐driven remote coaching. The primary outcome measure is the Memory Performance Index (MPI), a measure of cognition. The MPI is a summary statistic of the MCI Screen (MCIS). Secondary outcome measures include the Functional Assessment Staging Test (FAST), a measure of function. COCOA began enrollment in January 2018. We hypothesize that multimodal interventions will ameliorate cognitive decline and that data‐driven health coaching will increase compliance, assist in personalizing multimodal interventions, and improve outcomes for patients, particularly for those in the early stages of the AD spectrum.

Highlights

The Coaching for Cognition in Alzheimer's (COCOA) trial tests personalized multimodal lifestyle interventions for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Dense longitudinal molecular data will be useful for future studies.

Increased use of Hill's criteria in analyses may advance knowledge generation.

Remote coaching may be an effective intervention.

Because lifestyle interventions are inexpensive, they may be particularly valuable in reducing global socioeconomic disparities in dementia care.
Comparison of fetal and neonatal sonographic measurements of ventricular size in second‐ and third‐trimester fetuses with or without ventriculomegaly: cross‐sectional three‐dimensional ultrasound study
Authors: Gerbino M. , Parodi S. , Ballarini M. , Paladini D.
Published: July 2022

Objectives

To assess, in a population comprising normal fetuses and fetuses with primary or post‐hemorrhagic ventriculomegaly, the reproducibility of measurement of neonatal ultrasound indices in the fetus and to compare the performance of various cut‐offs of these parameters to diagnose ventriculomegaly and classify its severity.

Methods

This was a retrospective cross‐sectional study including 182 singleton fetuses assessed by transvaginal neurosonography. The sample populations included 116 normal fetuses and 66 fetuses with primary (n = 56) or post‐hemorrhagic (n = 10) ventriculomegaly. In all cases, the atrial width (AW) was measured according to standard protocols and the findings were compared with four sonographic indices developed in the neonate: the anterior horn width (AHW), the ventricular index (VI), the thalamo‐occipital distance (TOD) and the fronto‐occipital horn ratio (FOHR). Reproducibility of measurements was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and diagnostic accuracy of the neonatal indices was assessed against AW using areas under the receiver‐operating‐characteristics curves (AUC).

Results

The intra‐ and interoperator reproducibility of measurement of AW and the neonatal measurements was excellent, with ICCs > 0.99 for all measures. The association in the fetus of all four variables developed in the neonate with the degree of ventriculomegaly as defined by the AW was strong for severe ventriculomegaly (AW > 15.0 mm; all AUC > 0.95), whereas the separation of cases with mild ventriculomegaly (AW, 10.0–15.0 mm) from those with normal AW (< 10.0 mm) was less effective.

Conclusions

When applied in the fetus, all four indices of ventriculomegaly developed in neonates (AHW, VI, TOD, FOHR) were associated strongly with fetal AW when the AW measurement indicated severe fetal ventriculomegaly. However, for mild ventriculomegaly, the association was weaker, probably due to the fact that, in the fetus, mild ventriculomegaly is not caused by obstruction of the ventricular system. Considering the similar performance of the four neonatal variables and the technical issues involved in determination of TOD and FOHR in the fetus, use of VI and AHW is preferred. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Fate and transport of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in repacked soil columns: Influence of soil properties and surfactant
Authors: Darnault Christophe , Peng Zhenyang , Yu Chan , Li Biting , Jacobson Astrid , Baveye Philippe Christian
Published: July 2022

A series of laboratory experiments was performed to investigate the transport and retention of viable C. parvum oocysts in soil columns homogeneously packed with loamy sand soils (Lewiston and Greenson series) and sandy loam soils (Sparta and Gilford series), and under hydrologic conditions involving the presence of an anionic surfactant—Aerosol 22 in artificial rainfall. To characterize the effect of surfactant on the mobility of C. parvum oocysts in the soils used in this study, these results were compared with previous laboratory‐scale column experiments of a previous study using soils contaminated with oocysts, under conditions identical to those described here except for the absence of the surfactant in the percolating water. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used for the detection and quantification of C. parvum oocysts in soil leachates to assess their breakthrough and in soil matrices to characterize their spatial distribution. Alterations in the rate and extent of transport of C. parvum oocysts were discerned per the physicochemical parameters analyzed—soil types, soil chemistry, and surfactant—and resulted in either the enhancement or hinderance of C. parvum oocysts adsorption to surfaces, and their movement in soils. In the case of loamy sand soils, the transport of C. parvum oocysts through the soil matrices increased with the application of surfactant for Sparta series and remained at a similar level for Gilford series. Regarding sandy loam soils, the movement of C. parvum oocysts through the soil matrices increased for Greenson series and decreased for Lewiston series with the application of surfactant.
Magnetically‐induced electromechanical fields in a flexoelectric semiconductor layer between two piezomagnetic dielectric layers
Authors: Qu Yilin , Jin Feng , Yang Jiashi
Published: July 2022

We study magnetically‐induced electromechanical fields in a sandwich plate of a flexoelectric semiconductor layer between two piezomagnetic dielectric layers under a transverse magnetic field. A set of two‐dimensional equations for the bending of the plate is derived from the three‐dimensional macroscopic theory of piezomagnetics and flexoelectric semiconductors. A few solutions from the plate equations are obtained for static and time‐harmonic magnetic loadings. Results show that various distributions of mobile charges and electric fields can be created by different magnetic fields, which is the foundation for flexotronics when magnetic fields are involved. In the case of pure bending under a uniform magnetic field, a combination of physical and geometric parameters is identified as a coefficient characterizing the strength of the interaction between the applied magnetic field and the mobile charges. The coefficient assumes a maximum for a particular thickness ratio between the two types of material layers. The frequency dependence of the coupling coefficient in time‐harmonic motions is also obtained.
Analysis of var Gene Transcription Pattern Using DBLα Tags
Authors: Andisi Kivisi C. , Abdi Abdirahman I.
Published: July 2022

The Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) antigens, which are encoded by a multigene family called var genes, are exported and inserted onto the surface of the infected erythrocytes. PfEMP1 plays a key role in the pathogenesis of severe malaria and are major targets of naturally acquired immunity. Studying the expression pattern of var genes in P. falciparum clinical isolates is crucial for understanding disease mechanism and immunity to malaria. However, var genes are highly variable, which makes it difficult to study their expression in clinical isolates obtained directly from malaria patients. In this chapter, we describe an approach for analysis of var gene expression that targets a region referred to as DBLα tag, which is relatively conserved in all var genes.
Towards Intelligent Security- and Process-Aware Information Systems
Authors: Holderer Julius
Published: July 2022

This chapter summarizes the work and explains its significance by considering the contributions and its applicability. Because of its practical setting, the approach is applicable to a range of practical applications. For example, it could recommend who shall perform which tasks in a so-called break-glass situation, or act as a delegation assistant to suggest potential best delegates (with fewest violations) to the delegator. A corresponding process-aware information system could automate these delegations and provide additional mitigating techniques to prioritize audits of affected cases. Moreover, the graphical view of obstruction analysis could help policy designers to deepen their understanding of security policies and to improve their own security policies. The chapter concludes with extensions that could be envisaged.
Rather doomed than uncertain: risk attitudes and transmissive behavior under asymptomatic infection
Authors: Matthies Konstantin , Toxvaerd Flavio
Published: July 2022

We analyze the relation between individuals’ risk aversion and their willingness to expose themselves to infection when faced with an asymptomatic infectious disease. We show that in a high prevalence environment, increasing individuals’ risk aversion increases their propensity to engage in transmissive behavior. The reason for this result is that as risk aversion increases, exposure which leads to infection with certainty becomes relatively more attractive than the uncertain payoffs from protected behavior. We provide evidence from a laboratory experiment which is consistent with our theoretical findings.
Tinzaparin—a review of its molecular profile, pharmacology, special properties, and clinical uses
Authors: Amerali Marina , Politou Marianna
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) are a group of heterogenous moieties, long used in the prevention and treatment of thrombosis. They derive from heparin and since they are prepared by different methods of depolymerization, they differ in pharmacokinetic properties and anticoagulant profiles, and thus are not clinically interchangeable.

Methods

In this review we provide an overview of tinzaparin's main characteristics and uses.

Results

Tinzaparin which is produced by the enzymatic depolymerization of unfractionated heparin (UFH) can be used for the treatment and prevention of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE); it has been also used in special populations such as elders, obese, pregnant women, and patients with renal impairment and/or cancer with favorable outcomes in both safety and efficacy, with a once daily dose regimen. Furthermore, LMWHs are extensively used in clinical practice for both thromboprophylaxis and thrombosis treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Conclusion

Tinzaparin features support the hypothesis for having a role in immunothrombosis treatment (i.e. in the context of cancer ,COVID-19), interfering not only with coagulation cascade but also exhibiting anti-inflammatory potency.
Comparison of three risk stratification scores in gastroschisis neonates: gastroschisis prognostic score, gastroschisis risk stratification index and complex gastroschisis
Authors: Tauriainen Asta , Raitio Arimatias , Tauriainen Tuomas , Vanamo Kari , Sankilampi Ulla , Helenius Ilkka , Hyvärinen Anna
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The aim of the study was to compare and evaluate the utility of three different risk stratification scores for gastroschisis neonates; simple/complex gastroschisis, gastroschisis prognostic score and risk stratification index.

Methods

Data of neonates born with gastroschisis between the years 1993 and 2015 were collected. The national registers and patient records of four Finnish University Hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. Logistic and linear regression analysis were performed to identify independent predictors for adverse outcomes. The efficacy of these prognostic methods was further assessed using ROC-curves and DeLong (1988) test.

Results

Gastroschisis risk stratification index was an acceptable predictor of in-hospital mortality, AUC 0.70, 95% CI 0.48–0.91, p = 0.049. Complex gastroschisis and gastroschisis prognostic score were able to predict short bowel syndrome, AUC 0.80, 95% CI 0.58–1.00, p = 0.012 and AUC 0.80, 95% CI 0.59–1.00, p = 0.012, respectively.

Conclusion

There are three easily obtainable risk stratification scores for outcome prediction in gastroschisis patients, however, their predictive ability did not have a statistical difference in the present study. The Gastroschisis risk stratification index seemed to perform moderately well in mortality prediction.
Immune complexes as culprits of immunopathology in severe COVID-19
Authors: Kolb Philipp , Giese Sebastian , Voll Reinhard Edmund , Hengel Hartmut , Falcone Valeria
Published: July 2022

Infection with the pandemic human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 elicits a respiratory tract disease, termed Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While a variable degree of disease-associated symptoms may emerge, severe COVID-19 is commonly associated with respiratory complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the necessity for mechanical ventilation or even extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Amongst others, disease outcome depends on age and pre-existing conditions like cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders but also age and biological sex. Intriguingly, increasing experimental and clinical evidence suggests that an exacerbated inflammatory response and in particular IgG immune complexes (ICs), significantly contribute to severe and prolonged COVID-19 disease progression. Vast amounts of deposited, unresolved ICs in tissue are capable to initiate an exaggerated Fc gamma receptor (FcγR) mediated signalling cascade which eventually results in common IC-associated organ diseases such as vasculitis, glomerulonephritis and arthritis, comorbidities that have been frequently reported for COVID-19. Moreover and independent of deposited ICs, very recent work identified soluble ICs (sIC) to be also present in the circulation of a majority of severely ill patients, where their systemic abundance correlated with disease severity. Thus, detection of circulating sICs in patients represents a potential marker for critical COVID-19 disease progression. Their detection early after clinical deterioration might become an indicator for the requirement of prompt anti-inflammatory treatment. Here, we review the role of ICs in COVID-19 progression, their possible origins and potential intervention strategies.

Graphical abstract
Phytotherapy known and applied by head-neck cancer patients and medical students to treat oral discomfort in Germany: an observational study
Authors: Ritschel Maria-Louisa , Hübner Jutta , Wurm-Kuczera Rebecca , Büntzel Judith
Published: July 2022

Background

Plant remedies are often used next to conventional standard of care by cancer patients. However, user rates are often underestimated and physicians usually feel not equipped to counsel patients. Hence, routinely recording the use of phytotherapy and sufficient knowledge on herbal medicine of the medical staff are required to improve the situation. Appraising the current state of knowledge of medical students may offer insight if education on herbals needs improvement. Here, we propose a simple anamnesis tool to assess knowledge and usage pattern of medical plants and demonstrate how to extrapolate symptom cluster participants associated with plants investigated in this study focussing on the common symptom of oral discomfort.

Methods

By screening German literature (popular science, specialist’s literature, books for the interested layman) on medical plants used for treating oral discomfort, we were able to deviate a list of plants most often recommended for treating oral discomfort and to develop an anamnesis tool to assess knowledge and usage of 16 different plants. A group of 120 head-neck cancer patients (under surveillance, after receiving treatment) and 168 medical students were questioned at a collaborating out-patient clinic and via an online survey, respectively, in 2020. Students were additionally asked to write down indications of the plants they used in daily life. Knowledge and usage pattern were compared between both groups. Primary component analysis and heat-map analysis were used to visualize common and distinguishing features. Network analysis and VENN diagrams were used to extrapolate data of the medical students’ cohort.

Results

Head-neck cancer patients and students show similar knowledge. However, students used significantly more plants in daily life than patients (p < 0.001). Overall, the user rate of patients and students were 82.50 and 93.94%, respectively. The top five most commonly known plants were similar in both groups (Marticaria recutita L., Zingiber offinicale ROSCOE, Taraxacum Wigg. Calendula officinalis L.) with the exception of Salvia officinalis L. (patients’ cohort) and Carum carvi/Cuminum cyminum L. (students’ cohort). Despite this slight difference, usage pattern of the top five most commonly used plants was the same between the groups. Students’ indications were compared to indications found in the literature, unmasking several differences between commonly practiced and written knowledge on German phytotherapy. Network analysis revealed, that students associated certain plants with corresponding symptom clusters (e.g., coughing, oral mucositis).

Conclusion

The majority of surveyed cancer patients as well as medical students use phytotherapy for treating oral discomfort. Both groups know and use similar plants. However, indications of written folk medicine differ from the lived and practiced tradition.
From linear temporal logic and limit-deterministic Büchi automata to deterministic parity automata
Authors: Esparza Javier , Křetínský Jan , Raskin Jean-François , Sickert Salomon
Published: July 2022

Controller synthesis for general linear temporal logic (LTL) objectives is a challenging task. The standard approach involves translating the LTL objective into a deterministic parity automaton (DPA) by means of the Safra-Piterman construction. One of the challenges is the size of the DPA, which often grows very fast in practice, and can reach double exponential size in the length of the LTL formula. In this paper, we describe a single exponential translation from limit-deterministic Büchi automata (LDBA) to DPA and show that it can be concatenated with a recent efficient translations from LTL to LDBA to yield a double exponential, ‘Safraless’ LTL-to-DPA construction. We also report on an implementation and a comparison with other LTL-to-DPA translations on several sets of formulas from the literature.
Verspätungen und Störungen an intermodalen Verkehrsknoten besser managen
Authors: Scheelhaase Janina D. , Scheier Benedikt , Grunewald Erik , Seidel Saskia , Christ Thomas , Noyer Ulf , Maertens Sven , Knitschky Gunnar , Rudolph Florian
Published: July 2022

Der Beitrag zeigt anhand einer typischen Verspätungssituation an einem intermodalen Verkehrsknoten die verkehrlichen und ökonomischen Effekte dieser Verspätung für verschiedene Stakeholder auf (Störfallszenario). Weiterhin wird ein Szenario zur Verbesserung der Verspätungssituation, in dem die einzelnen Stakeholder am Verkehrsknoten auch intermodal kooperieren (Kooperationsszenario), entworfen und in seinen Effekten mit dem Störfallszenario verglichen. Der Vergleich der verkehrlichen und ökonomischen Effekte beider Szenarien ermöglicht Aussagen über die relative Vorteilhaftigkeit eines kooperativen Verspätungs- und Störfallmanagements an intermodalen Verkehrsknoten.
Rückkehr zu stärkerem Beschäftigungswachstum in den Städten erwartet
Authors: Rossen Anja
Published: July 2022

This paper presents a new facet of the regional forecasts of the Institute for Employment Research (IAB). For the development in 2022, we report results at the level of administrative district types of the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR). Overall, the forecasts for 2022 suggest a return to the regional disparities that already existed before the pandemic with regard to the development of unemployment and employment. While there are no major differences between the administrative district types in the unemployment forecast, the expected growth in employment increases in cities and urban areas compared to the previous year, but stagnates in the case of the two rural structural types.
Warum die wissenschaftliche Politikberatung so unbeliebt ist
Authors: Färber Gisela
Published: July 2022

The manifold special features and challenges of economic policy-advising are ultimately based on the principles of trust and mutual learning. These principles, as the basis of cooperation between science on the one hand and politics and administration on the other, can go a long way towards resolving the problem of asymmetrical information between commissioners and commissionees or commission members and institutions seeking advice. It would be desirable to have more ministerial administration employees organising the advisory services who have already become acquainted during their studies with the approaches and problems of applying economic knowledge in political decisions and in administrative implementation.
A large frozen debris avalanche entraining warming permafrost ground—the June 2021 Assapaat landslide, West Greenland
Authors: Svennevig Kristian , Hermanns Reginald L. , Keiding Marie , Binder Daniel , Citterio Michele , Dahl-Jensen Trine , Mertl Stefan , Sørensen Erik Vest , Voss Peter H.
Published: July 2022

A large landslide (frozen debris avalanche) occurred at Assapaat on the south coast of the Nuussuaq Peninsula in Central West Greenland on June 13, 2021, at 04:04 local time. We present a compilation of available data from field observations, photos, remote sensing, and seismic monitoring to describe the event. Analysis of these data in combination with an analysis of pre- and post-failure digital elevation models results in the first description of this type of landslide. The frozen debris avalanche initiated as a 6.9 * 106 m3 failure of permafrozen talus slope and underlying colluvium and till at 600–880 m elevation. It entrained a large volume of permafrozen colluvium along its 2.4 km path in two subsequent entrainment phases accumulating a total volume between 18.3 * 106 and 25.9 * 106 m3. About 3.9 * 106 m3 is estimated to have entered the Vaigat strait; however, no tsunami was reported, or is evident in the field. This is probably because the second stage of entrainment along with a flattening of slope angle reduced the mobility of the frozen debris avalanche. We hypothesise that the initial talus slope failure is dynamically conditioned by warming of the ice matrix that binds the permafrozen talus slope. When the slope ice temperature rises to a critical level, its shear resistance is reduced, resulting in an unstable talus slope prone to failure. Likewise, we attribute the large-scale entrainment to increasing slope temperature and take the frozen debris avalanche as a strong sign that the permafrost in this region is increasingly at a critical state. Global warming is enhanced in the Arctic and frequent landslide events in the past decade in Western Greenland let us hypothesise that continued warming will lead to an increase in the frequency and magnitude of these types of landslides. Essential data for critical arctic slopes such as precipitation, snowmelt, and ground and surface temperature are still missing to further test this hypothesis. It is thus strongly required that research funds are made available to better predict the change of landslide threat in the Arctic.
Hostility measure for multi-level study of data complexity
Authors: Lancho Carmen , Martín De Diego Isaac , Cuesta Marina , Aceña Víctor , Moguerza Javier M.
Published: July 2022

Complexity measures aim to characterize the underlying complexity of supervised data. These measures tackle factors hindering the performance of Machine Learning (ML) classifiers like overlap, density, linearity, etc. The state-of-the-art has mainly focused on the dataset perspective of complexity, i.e., offering an estimation of the complexity of the whole dataset. Recently, the instance perspective has also been addressed. In this paper, the hostility measure, a complexity measure offering a multi-level (instance, class, and dataset) perspective of data complexity is proposed. The proposal is built by estimating the novel notion of hostility: the difficulty of correctly classifying a point, a class, or a whole dataset given their corresponding neighborhoods. The proposed measure is estimated at the instance level by applying the k-means algorithm in a recursive and hierarchical way, which allows to analyze how points from different classes are naturally grouped together across partitions. The instance information is aggregated to provide complexity knowledge at the class and the dataset levels. The validity of the proposal is evaluated through a variety of experiments dealing with the three perspectives and the corresponding comparative with the state-of-the-art measures. Throughout the experiments, the hostility measure has shown promising results and to be competitive, stable, and robust.
Optical Investigation of the Influence of In-cylinder Flow and Mixture Inhomogeneity on Cyclic Variability in a Direct-Injection Spark Ignition Engine
Authors: Laichter Judith , Kaiser Sebastian A.
Published: July 2022

In this study, a single-cylinder direct-injection spark-ignition research engine with full optical access was used to investigate the influence of the flow field and fuel/air mixing on cyclic variability, in particular in the early flame propagation. The engine was operated under lean-burn conditions at 1500 rpm. Two different injection strategies were compared, port-fuel injection (PFI) and direct injection (DI), the latter with early and late injection split about 2:1 in fuel mass. High-speed particle image velocimetry captured the flow in the tumble plane in the compression stroke. The velocity fields and the movement of the tumble vortex are analyzed. Simultaneously, a second camera detected the chemiluminescence of the flame, and the projected area of the line-of-sight-integrated flame luminosity was extracted through morphological image processing. By combining pressure-based combustion analysis and high-speed optical diagnostics, the early flame propagation and the flow field are correlated. In separate experiments the equivalence ratio was imaged for the DI at selected crank angles and correlated with CA10 to learn about the influence of mixture inhomogeneity on early flame propagation. With PFI, the flow near the spark plug just before ignition is closely related to the subsequent speed of combustion. The combustion-relevant flow features can be traced back in time to about –90 °CA. In contrast, the chosen DI scheme results in a decorrelation of flow and flame, and the equivalence ratio distribution at ignition becomes more important. For both flow and mixture fields, regions of high correlation with early-combustion metrics are typically associated with gradients in the multi-cycle average fields.
The role of obesity and bariatric surgery-induced weight loss in breast cancer
Authors: Bohm Margaret S. , Sipe Laura M. , Pye Madeline E. , Davis Matthew J. , Pierre Joseph F. , Makowski Liza
Published: July 2022

Obesity is a complex metabolic condition considered a worldwide public health crisis, and a deeper mechanistic understanding of obesity-associated diseases is urgently needed. Obesity comorbidities include many associated cancers and are estimated to account for 20% of female cancer deaths in the USA. Breast cancer, in particular, is associated with obesity and is the focus of this review. The exact causal links between obesity and breast cancer remain unclear. Still, interactions have emerged between body mass index, tumor molecular subtype, genetic background, and environmental factors that strongly suggest obesity influences the risk and progression of certain breast cancers. Supportive preclinical research uses various diet-induced obesity models to demonstrate that weight loss, via dietary interventions or changes in energy expenditure, reduces the onset or progression of breast cancers. Ongoing and future studies are now aimed at elucidating the underpinning mechanisms behind weight-loss-driven observations to improve therapy and outcomes in patients with breast cancer and reduce risk. This review aims to summarize the rapidly emerging literature on obesity and weight loss strategies with a focused discussion of bariatric surgery in both clinical and preclinical studies detailing the complex interactions between metabolism, immune response, and immunotherapy in the setting of obesity and breast cancer.
Non-Mendelian transmission of accessory chromosomes in fungi
Authors: Komluski Jovan , Stukenbrock Eva H. , Habig Michael
Published: July 2022

Non-Mendelian transmission has been reported for various genetic elements, ranging from small transposons to entire chromosomes. One prime example of such a transmission pattern are B chromosomes in plants and animals. Accessory chromosomes in fungi are similar to B chromosomes in showing presence/absence polymorphism and being non-essential. How these chromosomes are transmitted during meiosis is however poorly understood—despite their often high impact on the fitness of the host. For several fungal organisms, a non-Mendelian transmission or a mechanistically unique meiotic drive of accessory chromosomes have been reported. In this review, we provide an overview of the possible mechanisms that can cause the non-Mendelian transmission or meiotic drives of fungal accessory chromosomes. We compare processes responsible for the non-Mendelian transmission of accessory chromosomes for different fungal eukaryotes and discuss the structural traits of fungal accessory chromosomes affecting their meiotic transmission. We conclude that research on fungal accessory chromosomes, due to their small size, ease of sequencing, and epigenetic profiling, can complement the study of B chromosomes in deciphering factors that influence and regulate the non-Mendelian transmission of entire chromosomes.
Relaxed dissipativity assumptions and a simplified algorithm for multiobjective MPC
Authors: Eichfelder Gabriele , Grüne Lars , Krügel Lisa , Schießl Jonas
Published: July 2022

We consider nonlinear model predictive control (MPC) with multiple competing cost functions. In each step of the scheme, a multiobjective optimal control problem with a nonlinear system and terminal conditions is solved. We propose an algorithm and give performance guarantees for the resulting MPC closed loop system. Thereby, we significantly simplify the assumptions made in the literature so far by assuming strict dissipativity and the existence of a compatible terminal cost for one of the competing objective functions only. We give conditions which ensure asymptotic stability of the closed loop and, what is more, obtain performance estimates for all cost criteria. Numerical simulations on various instances illustrate our findings. The proposed algorithm requires the selection of an efficient solution in each iteration, thus we examine several selection rules and their impact on the results. and we also examine numerically how different selection rules impact the results
Intergenerational Transmission of Social Anxiety in Childhood Through Fear of Negative Child Evaluation and Parenting
Authors: de Vente Wieke , Majdandžić Mirjana , Bögels Susan M.
Published: July 2022

Background

Parents’ fear of negative evaluation (FNE) has been proposed to play a role in the intergenerational transmission of social anxiety. We investigated whether (1) parents’ own FNE, a core belief of social anxiety, extends to their child’s environment resulting in fear of negative child evaluation (FNCE); and (2) parents’ FNCE mediates the association between parents’ social anxiety, parenting behavior and children’s social anxiety.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, fathers (n = 84) and mothers (n = 92) from 99 Caucasian families completed questionnaires on social anxiety, FNE, FNCE, and parenting (intrusiveness, negative parenting and encouragement of social daring) when their child was 7.5 years old. Child social anxiety was measured by questionnaires (child and parent report).

Results

For both parents, FNE mediated the association between their social anxiety and FNCE. Furthermore, FNCE mediated the relation between both parents’ social anxiety and intrusiveness and the relation between mothers’ social anxiety and negative parenting. In addition, FNCE mediated the relation between fathers’ social anxiety and children’s social anxiety (parents’ report only) directly and through intrusive parenting.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that parents’ FNE extends to their children’s environment and provides support for the role of FNCE in various pathways of intergenerational transmission of social anxiety during middle childhood.
ASEAN countries’ environmental policies for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Authors: Elder Mark , Ellis Gemma
Published: July 2022

This study’s objective is to examine how ASEAN countries reported their environment-related policies for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), and a dataset of their environmental policies was developed. This is a necessary first step in analyzing the reasons for insufficient progress on the environmental dimension of the SDGs, since policies are key means of implementation. Previous studies of SDG progress and VNRs examined many aspects such as achievement levels, indicators, data, governance, and VNR preparation procedures, but surprisingly, there has been little discussion of countries’ actual policy efforts. Progress on the SDGs’ environmental dimensions is widely considered insufficient, including in Asia. This study showed that insufficient progress on the environmental dimension of the SDGs is not due to a lack of environmental policies or a lower prioritization of policies for environmental SDG targets. ASEAN countries included almost 600 concrete environment-related policies in their VNRs, widely distributed among most SDGs, accounting for about 40 percent of their total reported SDG-related policies. The number of environmental policies was not closely related to GDP, GDP per capita, or VNR date. Many policies appeared substantial, including national action plans, strategies, laws, and regulations, not just small projects or programs. However, some major existing environmental policies, for example on air pollution, were usually not included in the VNRs. Further research is needed to explore other possible factors such as insufficient policy implementation or effectiveness, which this study could not examine. This study’s environmental policy dataset provides the necessary baseline for future research on policy implementation and effectiveness, especially to help future studies identify ASEAN countries’ environmental policies in specific areas such as climate, energy, or water. This will also facilitate comparative analysis.
Correlation between an annotation-free embryo scoring system based on deep learning and live birth/neonatal outcomes after single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer: a single-centre, large-cohort retrospective study
Authors: Ueno Satoshi , Berntsen Jørgen , Ito Motoki , Okimura Tadashi , Kato Keiichi
Published: July 2022

Propose

Does an annotation-free embryo scoring system based on deep learning and time-lapse sequence images correlate with live birth (LB) and neonatal outcomes?

Methods

Patients who underwent SVBT cycles (3010 cycles, mean age: 39.3 ± 4.0). Scores were calculated using the iDAScore software module in the Vitrolife Technology Hub (Vitrolife, Gothenburg, Sweden). The correlation between iDAScore, LB rates, and total miscarriage (TM), including 1st- and 2nd-trimester miscarriage, was analysed using a trend test and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Furthermore, the correlation between the iDAScore and neonatal outcomes was analysed.

Results

LB rates decreased as iDAScore decreased (P < 0.05), and a similar inverse trend was observed for the TM rates. Additionally, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that iDAScore significantly correlated with increased LB (adjusted odds ratio: 1.811, 95% CI: 1.666–1.976, P < 0.05) and decreased TM (adjusted odds ratio: 0.799, 95% CI: 0.706–0.905, P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between iDAScore and neonatal outcomes, including congenital malformations, sex, gestational age, and birth weight. Multivariate logistic regression analysis, which included maternal and paternal age, maternal body mass index, parity, smoking, and presence or absence of caesarean section as confounding factors, revealed no significant difference in any neonatal characteristics.

Conclusion

Automatic embryo scoring using iDAScore correlates with decreased miscarriage and increased LB and has no correlation with neonatal outcomes.
Type-2 Fuzzy Sets and Newton’s Fuzzy Potential in an Algorithm of Classification Objects of a Conceptual Space
Authors: Jagiełło Adrianna , Lisowski Piotr , Urban Roman
Published: July 2022

This paper deals with Gärdenfors’ theory of conceptual spaces. Let $${\mathcal {S}}$$
S
be a conceptual space consisting of 2-type fuzzy sets equipped with several kinds of metrics. Let a finite set of prototypes $$\tilde{P}_1,\ldots ,\tilde{P}_n\in \mathcal {S}$$

P
~

1

,
…
,

P
~

n

∈
S

be given. Our main result is the construction of a classification algorithm. That is, given an element $${\tilde{A}}\in \mathcal {S},$$

A
~

∈
S
,

our algorithm classifies it into the conceptual field determined by one of the given prototypes $$\tilde{P}_i.$$

P
~

i

.

The construction of our algorithm uses some physical analogies and the Newton potential plays a significant role here. Importantly, the resulting conceptual fields are not convex in the Euclidean sense, which we believe is a reasonable departure from the assumptions of Gardenfors’ original definition of the conceptual space. A partitioning algorithm of the space $$\mathcal {S}$$
S
is also considered in the paper. In the application section, we test our classification algorithm on real data and obtain very satisfactory results. Moreover, the example we consider is another argument against requiring convexity of conceptual fields.
A Numerical Method for Singularly Perturbed Convection-diffusion Problems Posed on Smooth Domains
Authors: Hegarty A. F. , O’Riordan E.
Published: July 2022

A finite difference method is constructed to solve singularly perturbed convection-diffusion problems posed on smooth domains. Constraints are imposed on the data so that only regular exponential boundary layers appear in the solution. A domain decomposition method is used, which uses a rectangular grid outside the boundary layer and a Shishkin mesh, aligned to the curvature of the outflow boundary, near the boundary layer. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed numerical algorithm.
Performance analysis of near-earth, lunar and interplanetary optical communication links
Authors: Chen Shun-Ping
Published: July 2022

The performance of near-Earth, lunar and interplanetary laser optical communications is investigated by using simulation models which were successfully verified in previous projects. The simulation models consider typical mission design parameters like transmit power and operation wavelength for the optical laser transmitters, different apertures of the optical telescope, varying distances between the Earth ground station and the spacecraft terminals, Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (APD) or superconducting nanowire single photon detection (SNSPD) receivers, atmospheric disturbances like scintillation and absorption, background noises for the uplink and downlink and appropriate pulse position modulation (PPM) orders. Typical design parameters are those of published ESA (European Space Agency) and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) missions. The investigations of laser optical communications for various system parameters and different distances between the Earth ground station and the spacecraft could also help to achieve an overview of free space and deep space optical communications for different orbit constellations for future missions with laser optical communication links.
Deep neural network prediction of modified stepped double-slope solar still with a cotton wick and cobalt oxide nanofluid
Authors: Sharshir Swellam Wafa , Elhelow Ahmed , Kabeel Ahmed , Hassanien Aboul Ella , Kabeel Abd Elnaby , Elhosseini Mostafa
Published: July 2022

This research work intends to enhance the stepped double-slope solar still performance through an experimental assessment of combining linen wicks and cobalt oxide nanoparticles to the stepped double-slope solar still to improve the water evaporation and water production. The results illustrated that the cotton wicks and cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanofluid with 1wt% increased the hourly freshwater output (HP) and instantaneous thermal efficiency (ITE). On the other hand, this study compares four machine learning methods to create a prediction model of tubular solar still performance. The methods developed and compared are support vector regressor (SVR), decision tree regressor, neural network, and deep neural network based on experimental data. This problem is a multi-output prediction problem which is HP and ITE. The prediction performance for the SVR was the lowest, with 70 (ml/m2 h) mean absolute error (MAE) for HP and 4.5% for ITE. Decision tree regressor has a better prediction for HP with 33 (ml/m2 h) MAE and almost the same MAE for ITE. Neural network has a better prediction for HP with 28 (ml/m2 h) MAE and a bit worse prediction for ITE with 5.7%. The best model used the deep neural network with 1.94 (ml/m2 h) MAE for HP and 0.67% MAE for ITE.
Effects of stand condition and root density on fine-root dynamics across root functional groups in a subtropical montane forest
Authors: Huang Lin , Zhao Rudong , Zhao Xiaoxiang , Tian Qiuxiang , Yue Pengyun , Liu Feng
Published: July 2022

Fine roots play key roles in belowground C cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Based on their distinct functions, fine roots are either absorptive fine roots (AFRs) or transport fine roots (TFRs). However, the function-based fine root dynamics of trees and their responses to forest stand properties remain unclear. Here, we studied the dynamics of AFRs and TFRs and their responses to stand conditions and root density in a subtropical montane mixed forest based on a 2-a root window experiment. Mean (± SE) annual production, mortality, and turnover rate of AFRs were 7.87 ± 0.17 m m−2 a−1, 8.13 ± 0.20 m m−2 a−1and 2.96 ± 0.24 a−1, respectively, compared with 7.09 ± 0.17 m m−2 a−1, 4.59 ± 0.17 m m−2 a−1, and 2.01 ± 0.22 a−1, respectively, for TFRs. The production and mortality of fine roots were significantly higher in high root-density sites than in low-root density sites, whereas the turnover of fine roots was faster in the low root-density sites. Furthermore, root density had a larger positive effect than other environmental factors on TFR production but had no obvious impact on AFR production. Tree species diversity had an apparent positive effect on AFR production and was the crucial driver of AFR production, probably due to a complementary effect, but had no evident impact on TFR. Both tree density and tree species diversity were positively correlated with the mortality of AFRs and negatively related to the turnover of TFRs, suggesting that higher root density caused stronger competition for rooting space and that plants tend to reduce maintenance costs by decreasing TFR turnover. These findings illustrated the importance of root functional groups in understanding root dynamics and their responses to changes in environmental conditions.