bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First-principles investigation of the valley and electrical properties of carbon-doped α-graphyne-like BN sheet*
Authors: Chen Bo , Li Xiang-Qian , Xue Lin , Han Yan , Yang Zhi , Zhang Long-Long
Published: January 2021

Based on ab initio density functional theory calculations, we demonstrate that two carbon-doped boron nitride analog of α-graphyne structures, B3C2N3 and BC6N monolayers, are two-dimensional direct wide band gap semiconductors, and there are two inequivalent valleys in the vicinities of the vertices of their hexagonal Brillouin zones. Besides, B3C2N3 and BC6N monolayers exhibit relatively high carrier mobilities, and their direct band gap feature is robust against the biaxial strain. More importantly, the energetically most favorable B3C2N3 and BC6N bilayers also have direct wide band gaps, and valley polarization could be achieved by optical helicity. Finally, we show that BC6N monolayer might have high efficiency in photo-splitting reactions of water, and a vertical van der Waals heterostructure with a type-II energy band alignment could be designed using B3C2N3 and BC6N monolayers. All the above-mentioned characteristics make B3C2N3 and BC6N monolayers, bilayers, and their heterostructures recommendable candidates for applications in valleytronic devices, metal-free photocatalysts, and photovoltaic cells.
Cortical responses to prosthetic retinal stimulation are significantly affected by the light-adaptive state of the surrounding normal retina
Authors: Arens-Arad Tamar , Lender Rivkah , Farah Nairouz , Mandel Yossi
Published: January 2021

Objective. Restoration of central vision loss in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by implanting a retinal prosthesis is associated with an intriguing situation wherein the central prosthetic vision co-exists with natural normal vision. Of major interest are the interactions between the prosthetic and natural vision. Here we studied the effect of the light-adaptive state of the normal retina on the electrical visual evoked potentials (VEPs) arising from the retinal prosthesis. Approach. We recorded electrical VEP elicited by prosthetic retinal stimulation in wild-type rats implanted with a 1 mm photovoltaic subretinal array. Cortical responses were recorded following overnight dark adaption and compared to those recorded following bleaching of the retina by light (520 nm) at various intensities and durations. Main results. Compared to dark-adapted responses, bleaching induced a 2-fold decrease in the prosthetic cortical response, which returned to the dark-adapted baseline within 30 min to several hours, depending on the degree of bleaching. This reduction was neither observed in Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats with a degenerated photoreceptor layer nor following intravitreal injection of a GABAa receptor blocker (bicuculine), suggesting the involvement of photoreceptors and a GABAa-mediated mechanism. Significance. These findings show a robust effect of the retinal light-adaptive state on the obtained prosthetic responses. If a similar effect is found in humans, this will have immediate implications on the design of prosthetic devices, where both natural and prosthetic vision co-exist, such as in AMD patients receiving a photovoltaic retinal implant. Similarly, standardization of the retinal light-adaptive state in prosthetic clinical trials should be considered.
Coordinate method for determining position in geodetic monitoring of cracks
Authors: Kuzin A A , Palkin P O
Published: January 2021

The article presents the coordinate method of monitoring the cracks of buildings and engineering constructions. All the methods that are used according to regulatory documents were analyzed, and their advantages and drawbacks were described. The conditions of real measurement were simulated using a total station. The method of achieving accuracy increase was elaborated and mathematical analysis was made. The accuracy of this method was determined. Based on this analysis, it was concluded that surveying methods, among others, could be used to monitor cracks of buildings and engineering constructions.
Improving energy efficiency in well construction through the use of hydrocarbon-based muds and muds with improved lubricating properties
Authors: Nutskova M V , Dvoynikov M V , Budovskaya M E , Sidorov D A , Pantyukhin A A
Published: January 2021

During the construction of directional wells in spatially curved sections of the barrel, large contact loads and huge resistance to the movement of the drill string during lifting can occur, which leads to increased wear of the drill pipes and high energy costs. One of the directions for increasing the energy efficiency of drilling such wells was the reduction of friction at the metal-metal, metal-rock, and metal-filter cake boundaries. This result can be achieved by introducing special lubricating additives or by switching to a hydrocarbon solution during drilling. The article presents the study of drilling fluids with the introduction of lubricating additives on a lubricity tester Fann EP / Lubricity Tester Model 212, a device for determining the coefficient of clay cake KTK-2, a rotary viscometer Fann 35SA, pH meter Crison GLP 21 to reduce the coefficient of friction of a pair “metal – metal” in a clay solution, which amounted to 70-75%, in an aqueous solution - up to 65%. The optimal concentration of the additive according to the study in different drilling fluids was about 1.5-2%. The results of a study of the effect of the speed and time of mixing a hydrocarbon-based solution during its preparation on the electrostability of the emulsion obtained are carried out on a BVD device, which showed a significant increase in the stability of the washing liquid to 24%, which leads to a decrease in the number of complications associated with pipe wear and a decrease torque when rotating the column.
Experimental and Implementation of Robust Control Via Floating Air Levitation and Balancing Rotary Inverted Pendulum
Authors: Howimanporn S , Chookaew S , Chaiyaporn S
Published: January 2021

This paper presents the implementation of robust control by using Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) for studying the behaviour of floating and balancing system. Floating Air Levitation system (FAL) and rotary inverted pendulum system (RIPs) module were designed and developed as the actual plant to investigate the performance of designed controller with the nonlinear systems. The objective of controller for FALs is to keep the height of a ball in the tube as the set point precisely, by adjusting the velocity of air flowing passing through the ball. For RIP, the objective is to stabilize the pendulum in upright position. Both plants can provide either the displacement or angular position by various type of sensors: ultrasonic and encoder. In this work, Proportional, Integral and Derivative (PID) and sliding mode controller (SMC) were implemented in OMRON NX1P PLC by using SYSMAC studio software for monitoring and control. The experimental results showed the comparison of PID and SMC performance. SMC presented a robustness response and low oscillating error depend on controller.
Effect of negative surface energy on nanocrystal morphology
Authors: Lai Fuming
Published: January 2021

One-dimensional materials, such as nanowires, nanotubes, and nanobelts, exhibit special optical and electrical properties owing to their high specific surface area and quantum confinement effect, and thus have wide application prospects. However, the surface energy of one-dimensional materials has caused some confusion in the past. In this work, we develop a model based on the thermodynamics, which can be used to explicitly predict the evolution of morphologies in different environments given its orientation-dependent surface free energy is negative. It is found that the negative surface energy would cause the increase of the interface and induce the bulk phase to nanowires. Our computations agree well with previous studies where applicable.
Numerical simulation analysis on settlement of backfill materials under traffic load
Authors: Zhang Jie , Hu Xinmin
Published: January 2021

In order to solve the problem of settlement cracks around the manhole, the finite element software MARC is used to simulate the settlement of the manhole and the pavement around the manhole, and the influence of different backfill materials (sand, clay, self-made backfill material) on the settlement difference between the manhole and the pavement is analysed. The results show that the performance of self-made backfill material is better than that of traditional backfill material. It is of great significance to ensure the quality of backfill, reduce the settlement of pavement and protect the urban environment.
Certification of Radome Lightning Direct Effects Protection
Authors: Fei Qin , Ying Wu
Published: January 2021

Composite material is used more and more in airplanes year after year. The electrical conductivity of composite material structure is poorer than metal structure, so appropriate lightning protection measures should be adopted to shunt lightning current when composite structure suffering lightning strike, and the harmful consequence will be minimized. The paper takes radome as an example, which is located at nose area liable to suffer lightning strike, introduces radome lightning protection measures, and according to lightning direct effect verification process, discusses on means of compliance, plans high voltage strike attachment test and high current physical damage test of radome. It provides reference for airworthiness verification for radome.
Contact polarizations and associated metrics in geometric thermodynamics
Authors: Lopez-Monsalvo C S , Nettel F , Pineda-Reyes V , Escamilla-Herrera L F
Published: January 2021

In this work we show that a Legendre transformation is nothing but a mere change of contact polarization from the point of view of contact geometry. Then, we construct a set of Riemannian and pseudo-Riemannian metrics on a contact manifold by introducing almost contact and para-contact structures and we analyze their isometries. We show that it is not possible to find a class of metric tensors which fulfills two properties: on the one hand, to be polarization independent i.e. the Legendre transformations are the corresponding isometries and, on the other, that it induces a Hessian metric into the corresponding Legendre submanifolds. This second property is motivated by the well known Riemannian structures of the geometric description of thermodynamics which are based on Hessian metrics on the space of equilibrium states and whose properties are related to the fluctuations of the system. We find that to define a Riemannian structure with such properties it is necessary to abandon the idea of an associated metric to an almost contact or para-contact structure. We find that even extending the contact metric structure of the thermodynamic phase space the thermodynamic desiderata cannot be fulfilled.
On pro-2 identities of 2×2 linear groups
Authors: Ben-Ezra David El-Chai , Zelmanov Efim
Published: January 2021

Let

F
^

\hat {F}

be a free pro-

p
p

non-abelian group, and let

Δ
\Delta

be a commutative Noetherian complete local ring with a maximal ideal

I
I

such that

c
h
a
r

(
Δ

/

I
)
=
p
>
0

\mathrm {char}(\Delta /I)=p>0

. Zubkov [Sibirsk. Mat. Zh. 28 (1987), pp. 64–69] showed that when

p
≠
2

p\neq 2

, the pro-

p
p

congruence subgroup
\[
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="upper G upper L 2 Superscript 1 Baseline left-parenthesis normal upper Delta right-parenthesis equals kernel left-parenthesis upper G upper L 2 left-parenthesis normal upper Delta right-parenthesis long right-arrow Overscript normal upper Delta right-arrow normal upper Delta slash upper I Endscripts upper G upper L 2 left-parenthesis normal upper Delta slash upper I right-parenthesis right-parenthesis">

G

L

2

1

(
Δ
)
=
ker
⁡
(
G

L

2

(
Δ
)

⟶

Δ
→
Δ

/

I

G

L

2

(
Δ

/

I
)
)

GL_{2}^{1}(\Delta )=\ker (GL_{2}(\Delta )\overset {\Delta \to \Delta /I}{\longrightarrow }GL_{2}(\Delta /I))

\]
admits a pro-

p
p

identity, i.e., there exists an element

1
≠
w
∈

F
^

1\neq w\in \hat {F}

that vanishes under any continuous homomorphism

F
^

→
G

L

2

1

(
Δ
)

\hat {F}\to GL_{2}^{1}(\Delta )

.

In this paper we investigate the case

p
=
2

p=2

. The main result is that when

c
h
a
r

(
Δ
)
=
2

\mathrm {char}(\Delta )=2

, the pro-

2
2

group

G

L

2

1

(
Δ
)

GL_{2}^{1}(\Delta )

admits a pro-

2
2

identity. This result was obtained by the use of trace identities that originate in PI-theory.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum: A Rare Disease With Dire Consequences in Facial Aesthetic Surgery Patients
Authors: Thornburg Danielle A , Aime Victoria , James Sheridan , Gupta Nikita , Bernard Robert , Johnson Martin L
Published: January 2021

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, inflammatory dermatologic condition characterized by painful cutaneous ulcerations. Herein, we describe the third documented case of PG arising in an elective plastic surgery patient who had undergone an otherwise uncomplicated facelift. We describe the course of her diagnosis and management of PG, which involved her face and neck and then progressed to her lower extremities. Although the etiology remains unknown, PG often arises in a host with another autoimmune disease. In the case described, the patient was diagnosed with an immunoglobulin A gammopathy shortly after she developed PG. Following the case report, the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment strategy of PG is briefly reviewed.

Level of Evidence: 5
Genome-wide association study reveals the genes associated with the leaf inclusion contents in Chinese medical treeEucommia ulmoides
Authors: Liu Yong-Cheng , Peng Xiao-Xi , Lu Yan-Bing , Wu Xue-Xian , Chen Lin-Wu , Feng Hong
Published: January 2021

Eucommia ulmoides is an economic tree that can biosynthesize secondary metabolites with pharmacological functions. Genetic basis of biosynthesis of these compounds is almost unknown. Therefore, genomic-wide association study was performed to exploit the genetic loci maybe involved in biosynthetic pathways of 5 leaf inclusions (aucubin, chlorogenic acid, gutta-percha, polyphenols, total flavonoids). It was shown that contents of the 5 leaf metabolites have a wide variation following normal distribution. A total of 2 013 102 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were identified in a population containing 62 individual clones. Through genome-wide association study analysis, many SNP loci were identified perhaps associated with phenotypes of the leaf inclusions. Higher transcriptional levels of the candidate genes denoted by significant SNPs in leaves suggested they may be involved in biosynthesis of the leaf inclusions. These genetic loci provide with invaluable information for further studies on the gene functions in biosynthesis of the leaf inclusions and selective breeding of the plus trees.
The vacuolar amino acid transport system is a novel, direct target of GATA transcription factors
Authors: Sato Akane , Kimura Takumi , Hondo Kana , Kawano-Kawada Miyuki , Sekito Takayuki
Published: January 2021

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Avt4 exports neutral and basic amino acids from vacuoles. Previous studies have suggested that the GATA transcription factors, Gln3 and Gat1, which are key regulators that adapt cells in response to changes in amino acid status, are involved in the AVT4 transcription. Here, we show that mutations in the putative GATA-binding sites of the AVT4 promoter reduced AVT4 expression. Consistently, a chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay revealed that Gat1-Myc13 binds to the AVT4 promoter. Previous microarray results were confirmed that gln3∆gat1∆ cells showed a decrease in expression of AVT1 and AVT7, which also encode vacuolar amino acid transporters. Additionally, ChIP analysis revealed that the AVT6 encoding vacuolar acidic amino acid exporter represents a new direct target of the GATA transcription factor. The broad effect of the GATA transcription factors on the expression of AVT transporters suggests that vacuolar amino acid transport is integrated into cellular amino acid homeostasis.
Hyaluronidase and degranulation inhibitors from the edible roots of Oenanthe javanica including seric acids F and G that were obtained by heating
Authors: Murata Toshihiro , Katagiri Tatsuo , Osaka Masaaki , Yamauchi Shohei , Yoshimura Kenshi , Kawada Manami , Fujii Yu , Suzuki Yuka , Sasaki Kenroh
Published: January 2021

Oenanthe javanica is a vegetable grown in East Asia and Australia in which the roots and aerial parts are boiled together to make certain traditional dishes. Nineteen compounds (1-19) were isolated from O. javanica roots and the chemical structures of 2 new norlignans were determined. The inhibitory effects of the compounds on hyaluronidase and degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells were evaluated to determine antiallergic and antiinflammation activities. Saponins (2-4) and the new norlignan seric acid G (12) were among the active compounds identified. Seric acid G (12), a methoxy derivative of seric acid F (11), was obtained as an interconverting mixture of 3:1 trans-cis isomers. Seric acids F and G (11, 12) were derived from seric acids C (10) and E, respectively, by decarboxylation and dehydration reactions that occurred during heating. It was confirmed by HPLC analysis that all eleven of the O. javanica cultivars contained seric acid C (10).
MetW regulates the enzymatic activity of MetX in Pseudomonas
Authors: Hasebe Fumihito
Published: January 2021

Methionine is a canonical amino acid. The protein MetX is a homoserine O-acyltransferase utilized in the methionine biosynthetic pathway. The metW gene is found adjacent to the metX gene in some bacteria, but its functions are unclear. In this study, I focused on the function of MetW and MetX from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PaMetW and PaMetX). I demonstrated that PaMetW interacted with and activated the homoserine O-succinyltransferase (HST) activity of PaMetX. Furthermore, I elucidated that the HST activity of PaMetX in complex with PaMetW was inhibited by the addition of S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine (SAH), although PaMetX alone showed no feedback inhibition. Since PaMetW possesses a glycine-rich sequence annotated as a SAM/SAH binding site, I also investigated the relationship between this glycine-rich sequence and the inhibition caused by SAH. I revealed that alanine mutation of PaMetW Gly24 reduced the inhibitory effect of SAH. These results suggest that MetW is a regulatory protein of MetX.
Long noncoding RNA ZFAS1 suppresses chondrocytes apoptosis via miR-302d-3p/SMAD2 in osteoarthritis
Authors: Li Jian , Liu Mingting , Li Xianrang , Shi Hui , Sun Shui
Published: January 2021

Osteoarthritis (OA) seriously affects people's quality of life due to joint pain, stiffness, disability, and dyskinesia worldwide. Long noncoding RNA zinc finger antisense 1 (ZFAS1) is downregulated and tightly associated with proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and matrix synthesis of chondrocyte in OA. However, the molecular mechanisms of ZFAS1 in OA remain unknown. The expression correlation between ZFAS1, miR-302d-3p, and SMAD2 in OA tissues was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. ZFAS1 was a lower expression, and expedited proliferation and repressed apoptosis of chondrocytes. MiR-302d-3p was a direct target of ZFAS1. MiR-302d-3p hindered proliferation and facilitated apoptosis of chondrocytes. MiR-302d-3p partially reversed the effect of ZFAS1 on proliferation and apoptosis of chondrocytes. SMAD2 was positively regulated by the ZFAS1/miR-302d-3p. MiR-302d-3p-mediated proliferation and apoptosis were partly abrogated by targeting SMAD2. ZFAS1 promoted chondrocytes proliferation and repressed apoptosis possibly by regulating miR-302d-3p/SMAD2 axis, providing a potential target for OA treatment.
Consistency in supplemental food availability affects the space use of wintering birds
Authors: Mady Rachael P , Hochachka Wesley M , Bonter David N
Published: January 2021

Across the globe, millions of people feed wild birds and this practice has profound implications for many bird species. To better understand the effects of this supplemental feeding, many researchers have compared birds with access to inexhaustible supplemental food to those without access. However, the consistency of supplemental food availability varies with peoples’ provisioning habits because some people fill their feeders daily, while others do so sporadically. As the consistency of food availability changes, a bird’s foraging strategy, including its use of space, should change. To determine how space use varies with the consistency of supplemental food availability, we surveyed three species with access to experimental feeders that provided constant, pulsed, or no access to food. We conducted these surveys at two locations—near and far from the feeder—within nine sites to determine differences in space use among and within sites. Access to supplemental food, regardless of feeding regime, anchored the movements of each species near the feeders. However, the different feeding regimes had different effects on space use. Birds with constant access to supplemental food were continually anchored near the feeders, while the birds with pulsed access were temporarily anchored near the feeders. In one of three species (black-capped chickadee), birds concentrated in larger numbers near feeders with pulsed access when food was available compared to near feeders with constant access. Supplemental feeders act as spatial anchors but do so in different ways across species and feeding regimes with potentially varying implications for survival and population dynamics.
Determinants of extortion compliance: Empirical evidence from a victimization survey
Authors: Estévez-Soto Patricio R
Published: January 2021

This article focuses on the situational-, victim- and area-level determinants of extortion compliance. Extortion, a quintessential organized crime, is one of the most common crimes in Mexico. However, compliance with extortion demands is relatively rare. Previous research suggests that compliance with extortion depends on the perceived risk of punishment for non-compliance. However, most research has been theoretical or experimental. The article offers empirical evidence of patterns of extortion compliance based on data from a large commercial victimization survey conducted in Mexico. Findings suggest that situational factors (extortion type, the presence of weapons and number of offenders) are the main determinants of extortion compliance. Victim- and area-level variables have comparatively smaller effects. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
A Thorough HPLC Assay of Quaternary Veterinary Formulation coupled with Environmental Assessment Tool
Authors: Michael Adel M , Fayez Yasmin M , Monir Hany H , Nessim Christine K
Published: January 2021

A new and accurate reversed phase HPLC method with UV detection has been established for any veterinarian analyst for simultaneous determination of a veterinary quaternary mixture of sulphadimidine sodium (SDS), sulphaquinoxaline sodium (SQS), diaveridine (DVD) and vitamin K3 (VTK3) in their formulation. The stationary phase was SEA C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm particle size) at 25°C with an isocratic mode, using a mobile phase containing a mixture of methanol:acetonitrile:distilled water in the ratio of (20:20:60, by volume). The flow rate was 0.8 mL min−1, and UV detection was performed at 230 nm. The HPLC assay was coupled with Environmental Assessment Tool (EAT), which represents a simple and proficient approach for profiling the greenness of the method. This takes into consideration the environmental, health and safety issues for all solvents that involved in the chromatographic method and calculates a total score that can be used for comparison of the greenness of different methods. The method was found to be linear over (0.5–30) μg/mL for all cited drugs with mean percentage recoveries (99.56 ± 1.141) for VTK3, (99.56 ± 1.056) for DVD, (99.62 ± 1.482) for SDS and (99.52 ± 1.205) for SQS. The results were statistically compared with those of the official and reported methods; using Student’s t-test and F-test, showing no significant difference with respect to accuracy. Specificity of the applied method was assessed by analyzing the laboratory-prepared mixtures. The developed method was validated according to ICH guidelines. The proposed methodology can be applied for rapid routine assay of this combination.
Chemical Profiling and Antioxidant Evaluation ofPaeonia lactifloraPall. “Zhongjiang” by HPLC–ESI–MS Combined with DPPH Assay
Authors: Wu Yichao , Jiang Yuanyuan , Zhang Li , Zhou Jing , Yu Yan , Zhou Yonghong , Kang Tairan
Published: January 2021

Paeonia lactiflora Pall. “Zhongjiang” is one of the four major medicinal P. lactiflora plants in China. In this research, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)–diode array detector (DAD)–electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry method was established to identify various components in the extracts of P. lactiflora “Zhongjiang” (root extract or RE, stem and leaf extract or SLE and flower extract or FE). A total of 40 compounds, including 19 monoterpenoid glycosides, five tannins, 10 phenolic acids and their esters, and six other compounds, were determined or temporarily inferred from RE (35 species), SLE (20 species) and FE (15 species). Antioxidant evaluation indicates among the monomer compounds, catechin, gallic acid and ethyl gallate showed strong antioxidant activity close to vitamin C, ascorbic acid (Vc). Paeoniflorin, albiflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin and 6′-O-benzoylalbiflorin had certain antioxidant activities, which were much lower than Vc. Furthermore, 19, 15 and 15 antioxidant-reactive components were screened from RE, SLE and FE by using the 1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)–HPLC test results. Results indicated that the ethanol extracts of P. lactiflora “Zhongjiang” had strong antioxidant activity, and the antioxidant active material basis was mainly composed of phenolic acids and gallic acid tannins. The main components of P. lactiflora “Zhongjiang”, monoterpenoid glycosides, had weak antioxidant capacity. Paeonia lactiflora stems, leaves and flowers were good sources of antioxidants.
Enhancing the appeal of cardiac rehabilitation for women: development and pilot testing of a women-only yoga cardiac rehabilitation programme
Authors: Murphy Barbara M , Zaman Sarah , Tucker Kim , Alvarenga Marlies , Morrison-Jack Jenni , Higgins Rosemary , Le Grande Michael , Nasis Arthur , Jackson Alun C
Published: January 2021

Aims

Despite its demonstrated benefits, cardiac rehabilitation (CR) attendance, and completion is suboptimal, particularly in women. The aims of this study were (i) to develop and pilot test a women-only yoga-based CR programme (the Women’s Yoga CR Programme; WYCRP); (ii) to investigate programme acceptability; and (iii) to investigate attendance and completion of the WYCRP and continuation to Phase III community-based CR.

Methods and results

Women eligible for CR at a tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Australia were recruited. Over a 6-month period in 2019, they were offered the WYCRP or usual CR. The WYCRP involved attendance at a 1-h yoga session following the usual 1-h mixed-sex education session, over a 7-week period. Participants completed pre- and post-programme questionnaires and attended focus groups to assess programme acceptability. Rates of attendance, completion, and continuation for the WYCRP were recorded and compared to those for the standard CR programme offered in 2018. In total, 27 women were eligible for the study and attended the initial CR assessment. Of those, 22 (81%) attended the WYCRP, 1 (4%) attended usual CR, and 4 (15%) did not attend CR. Ratings of programme acceptability were consistently positive; qualitative comments highlighted both physical and emotional benefits. While attendance at the WYCRP was not significantly higher than for usual CR the previous year (81% vs. 76%; P = 0.40), CR completion, and continuation were (95% vs. 56%; P = 0.02, and 72% vs. 12%; P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

This pilot study has demonstrated that women-only yoga-based CR is appealing to women and can improve women’s CR completion and continuation. These preliminary findings support further development of women-only and yoga-based CR options.
Feature Selection Algorithms Enhance the Accuracy of Frailty Indexes as Measures of Biological Age
Authors: Kim Sangkyu , Fuselier Jessica , Welsh David A , Cherry Katie E , Myers Leann , Jazwinski S Michal
Published: January 2021

Biological age captures some of the variance in life expectancy for which chronological age is not accountable, and it quantifies the heterogeneity in the presentation of the aging phenotype in various individuals. Among the many quantitative measures of biological age, the mathematically uncomplicated frailty/deficit index is simply the proportion of the total health deficits in various health items surveyed in different individuals. We used 3 different statistical methods that are popular in machine learning to select 17–28 health items that together are highly predictive of survival/mortality, from independent study cohorts. From the selected sets, we calculated frailty indexes and Klemera–Doubal’s biological age estimates, and then compared their mortality prediction performance using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Our results indicate that the frailty index outperforms age and Klemera–Doubal’s biological age estimates, especially among the oldest old who are most prone to biological aging-caused mortality. We also showed that a DNA methylation index, which was generated by applying the frailty/deficit index calculation method to 38 CpG sites that were selected using the same machine learning algorithms, can predict mortality even better than the best performing frailty index constructed from health, function, and blood chemistry.
Protecting private collections of paintings in France in the nineteenth century
Authors: Jouves Barbara
Published: January 2021

Between 1789 and 1870, the ways in which works of art and collections as a whole were to be preserved were debated at length in France by collectors and by a wide array of those with a professional interest. They had a common aim: to prevent works from alteration and degradation owing to their treatment and method of display in private collections. The promotion of such protective measures at a time when private apartments were becoming increasingly accessible to visitors confirms that an awareness of the idea of common heritage was beginning to emerge. The environment in which paintings were kept was a source of major concern for the amateur, especially when it came to protecting works of art within his private apartments or in the course of travel. In attempting to address these problems, several patents were filed in France that sought to promote treatments aimed at preserving important works in private ownership, and a number of strategies were put forward for the restoration and protection of works of art, the treatment of varnishes and the hanging of paintings in domestic spaces. Patents registered for a number of inventions enable some of these preservation processes to be identified in detail.
Communication About Medication by Providers-Adolescent and Young Adult Version: Confirmatory Factor Analyses
Authors: Feldman Estée C H , Durkin Lindsay K , Bugno Lindsey , Balistreri Kathryn A , Davies W. Hobart , Miller Steven A , Greenley Rachel Neff
Published: January 2021

Objective

To replicate the factor structure of a patient-report measure of provider communication about key medication prescription information, the Communication about Medication by Providers-Adolescent and Young Adult (CAMP-AYA) Version. We evaluated whether the 15-item, two-factor structure identified previously could be replicated via confirmatory factor analysis, and we also examined fit of unidimensional and bifactor models. Associations of CAMP-AYA Total and Factor Scores with provider satisfaction and select patient and medication characteristics were also examined.

Methods

Participants were 739 AYA (ages 18–25) who completed the CAMP-AYA, a provider satisfaction rating, and provided demographic and medication information.

Results

 The bifactor model was best fitting (χ2 [75] = 689.60, p < .0001; root mean squared error of approximation = 0.11, 90% CI [0.10, 0.11]; Comparative Fit Index = 0.98; Tucker–Lewis Index = 0.98; Standardized Root Mean Square Residual Index = 0.02). Internal consistency reliabilities for Total and Factor Scores were high (αs > .89) and Total and Factor Scores were associated with provider satisfaction (ps < .001). CAMP-AYA scores varied as a function of type of prescription (short vs. long term; new vs. refill), with higher scores reported in the context of long term (>30-day course) or refilled prescriptions (ps < .007) in most cases.

Conclusions

 This study provides additional support for the reliability of the CAMP-AYA as a tool to assess AYA perceptions of provider key information coverage about medication prescriptions.
A natural antisense transcript acts as a negative regulator for the maize drought stress response gene ZmNAC48
Authors: Mao Yan , Xu Jie , Wang Qi , Li Guobang , Tang Xin , Liu Tianhong , Feng Xuanjun , Wu Fengkai , Li Menglu , Xie Wubing , Lu Yanli
Published: January 2021

Although plant-specific NAC transcription factors play crucial roles in response to abiotic stress, few reports describe the regulation of NAC genes in maize (Zea mays) by the cis-natural antisense transcripts (cis-NATs). In this study, 521 NAC genes from Gramineae were classified, of which 51 NAC genes contained cis-NATs. ZmNAC48 and cis-NATZmNAC48 co-localized to the same cell nucleus, and both transcripts responded to drought stress. Arabidopsis plants overexpressing ZmNAC48 had improved drought tolerance, lower rate of water loss, enhanced stomatal closure, and higher rates of survival. Transient expression in both maize protoplasts and tobacco leaves indicated that cis-NATZmNAC48 reduced ZmNAC48 expression. Western blotting and ribosome profiling analyses confirmed that cis-NATZmNAC48 lacked protein coding potential. Furthermore, the cis-NAT-derived small-interfering RNAs (nat-siRNAs) generated from the overlapping regions of ZmNAC48 and cis-NATZmNAC48 were detected in maize and transgenic Arabidopsis. Cis-NATZmNAC48 overexpressing maize showed higher water loss rate, increased stomatal opening, and had more dead leaves. Expression of ZmNAC48 and nat-siRNA was decreased in these plants. Taken together, our study indicates that both ZmNAC48 and cis-NATZmNAC48 are involved in plant drought stress responses, and that the double-stranded RNA-dependent mechanism is involved in the interaction between cis-NATZmNAC48 and ZmNAC48. Additionally, cis-NATZmNAC48 may negatively regulate ZmNAC48 to affect stomatal closure of maize.
Completeness theorems for first-order logic analysed in constructive type theory
Authors: Forster Yannick , Kirst Dominik , Wehr Dominik
Published: January 2021

We study various formulations of the completeness of first-order logic phrased in constructive type theory and mechanised in the Coq proof assistant. Specifically, we examine the completeness of variants of classical and intuitionistic natural deduction and sequent calculi with respect to model-theoretic, algebraic, and game-theoretic semantics. As completeness with respect to the standard model-theoretic semantics à la Tarski and Kripke is not readily constructive, we analyse connections of completeness theorems to Markov’s Principle and Weak Kőnig’s Lemma and discuss non-standard semantics admitting assumption-free completeness. We contribute a reusable Coq library for first-order logic containing all results covered in this paper.
Experience and prediction: a metric of hardness for a novel litmus test
Authors: Isaak Nicos , Michael Loizos
Published: January 2021

In the past decade, the Winograd schema challenge (WSC) has become a central aspect of the research community as a novel litmus test. Consequently, the WSC has spurred research interest because it can be seen as the means to understand human behavior. In this regard, the development of new techniques has made possible the usage of Winograd schemas in various fields, such as the design of novel forms of CAPTCHAs.

Work from the literature that established a baseline for human adult performance on the WSC has shown that not all schemas are the same, meaning that they could potentially be categorized according to their perceived hardness for humans. In this regard, this hardness metric could be used in future challenges or in the WSC CAPTCHA service to differentiate between Winograd schemas.

Recent work of ours has shown that this could be achieved via the design of an automated system that is able to output the hardness indexes of Winograd schemas, albeit with limitations regarding the number of schemas it could be applied on. This paper adds to previous research by presenting a new system that is based on machine learning, able to output the hardness of any Winograd schema faster and more accurately than any other previously used method. Our developed system, which works within two different approaches, namely the random forest and deep learning (LSTM-based), is ready to be used as an extension of any other system that aims to differentiate between Winograd schemas, according to their perceived hardness for humans. At the same time, along with our developed system we extend previous work by presenting the results of a large-scale experiment that shows how human performance varies across Winograd schemas.
Characteristics of source location and solar cycle distribution of the strong solar proton events (≥ 1000 pfu) from 1976 to 2018
Authors: Le Gui-Ming , Zhao Ming-Xian , Li Qi , Liu Gui-Ang , Mao Tian , Xu Ping-Guo
Published: January 2021

We studied the source locations and solar cycle distribution of strong solar proton events (≥ 1000 pfu) measured at the Earth from 1976 to 2018. There were 43 strong solar proton events (SPEs) during this period. 27.9 per cent of the strong SPEs were ground level enhancement (GLE) events. We detect more strong SPEs coming from the western hemisphere. The strong SPEs were distributed in the region of [E90-W90], extreme SPEs (≥10000 pfu) appeared within the longitudinal area from E30 to W75, while the SPEs with peak fluxes ≥ 20000 pfu concentrated in the range from E30 to W30 and were always accompanied by super geomagnetic storms (Dst ≤−250 nT). The northern and southern hemispheres of the Sun have 23 and 20 strong SPEs, respectively. The ranges S0–S19 and N0–N19 have 13 and 11 strong SPEs, respectively. S20–S45 and N20–N45 have 7 and 12 strong SPEs, respectively, indicating that the N-S asymmetry of strong SPEs mainly occurred in the areas with a latitude greater than 20○ of the two hemispheres of the Sun. The statistical results showed that 48.8 per cent, 51.2 per cent, and 76.7 per cent of the strong SPEs appeared during the rising phase, declining phase, and in the period from two years before to the three years after the solar maximum, respectively. The number of strong SPEs during a solar cycle has a poor correlation with the solar cycle size.
Towards modelling ghostly damped Ly αs
Authors: Laloux Brivael , Petitjean Patrick
Published: January 2021

We use simple models of the spatial structure of the quasar broad-line region (BLR) to investigate the properties of so-called ghostly damped Ly α (DLA) systems detected in Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data. These absorbers are characterized by the presence of strong metal lines but no H i Ly α trough is seen in the quasar spectrum indicating that, although the region emitting the quasar continuum is covered by an absorbing cloud, the BLR is only partially covered. One of the models has a spherical geometry, another one is the combination of two wind flows, whereas the third model is a Keplerian disc. The models can reproduce the typical shape of the quasar Ly α emission and different ghostly configurations. We show that the DLA H i column density can be recovered precisely independently of the BLR model used. The size of the absorbing cloud and its distance to the centre of the AGN are correlated. However, it may be possible to disentangle the two using an independent estimate of the radius from the determination of the particle density. Comparison of the model outputs with SDSS data shows that the wind and disc models are more versatile than the spherical one and can be more easily adapted to the observations. For all the systems, we derive log N(H i)(cm−2) > 20.5. With higher quality data, it may be possible to distinguish between the models.
Sub-damped Lyman α systems in the XQ-100 survey – II. Chemical evolution at 2.4 ≤ z ≤ 4.3
Authors: Berg Trystyn A M , Fumagalli Michele , D’Odorico Valentina , Ellison Sara L , López Sebastián , Becker George D , Christensen Lise , Cupani Guido , Denney Kelly D , Sánchez-Ramírez Rubén , Worseck Gábor
Published: January 2021

We present the measured gas-phase metal column densities in 155 sub-damped Ly α systems (subDLAs) with the aim to investigate the contribution of subDLAs to the chemical evolution of the Universe. The sample was identified within the absorber-blind XQ-100 quasar spectroscopic survey over the redshift range 2.4 ≤ zabs ≤ 4.3. Using all available column densities of the ionic species investigated (mainly C iv, Si ii, Mg ii, Si iv, Al ii, Fe ii, C ii, and O i; in order of decreasing detection frequency), we estimate the ionization-corrected gas-phase metallicity of each system using Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques to explore a large grid of cloudy ionization models. Without accounting for ionization and dust depletion effects, we find that the H i-weighted gas-phase metallicity evolution of subDLAs is consistent with damped Ly α systems (DLAs). When ionization corrections are included, subDLAs are systematically more metal poor than DLAs (between ≈0.5σ and ≈3σ significance) by up to ≈1.0 dex over the redshift range 3 ≤ zabs ≤ 4.3. The correlation of gas phase [Si/Fe] with metallicity in subDLAs appears to be consistent with that of DLAs, suggesting that the two classes of absorbers have a similar relative dust depletion pattern. As previously seen for Lyman limit systems, the gas phase [C/O] in subDLAs remains constantly solar for all metallicities indicating that both subDLAs and Lyman limit systems could trace carbon-rich ejecta, potentially in circumgalactic environments.
Seeing Like the Sea: A Multispecies History of the Ceylon Pearl Fishery 1800–1925
Authors: Fernando Tamara
Published: January 2021

The pearl fishery of Ceylon was a lucrative source of pearls as well as a theatre of colonial power. But instead of narrating a story of abstracted governmentality, this paper dives below the waves, braiding Tamil poetry with scientific material relating to the oyster and state sources concerning fishery administration. Taken together, these unearth a multi-species history of the human relationship to the seas. In the same way that pearl divers’ labour was a mode of knowing nature, so too, natural processes and marine creatures shaped, in turn, the economic, social and cultural worlds at the fishery. This nacreous, layered approach combines natural history, maritime labour and historical ecology to explore the fragile and interlocking balance below the waves which extended beyond humans to the molluscs, sharks, boring sponges and parasitic tapeworms of the Gulf of Mannar. The archive around the pearl fishery advances the animal and ecological histories of the Indian Ocean and also points towards ways of suturing the gulf between Indian and Sri Lankan scholarship.
Two versions of short-term phytoplankton ecophysiology and taxonomic assemblages in the Arctic Ocean’s North Water (Canada, Greenland)
Authors: Joli Nathalie , Lacour Thomas , Freyria Nastasia J , Royer Sarah-Jeanne , Babin Marcel , Lovejoy Connie
Published: January 2021

Photosynthetic performance in open marine waters is determined by how well phytoplankton species are adapted to their immediate environment and available light. Although there is light for 24 h a day during the Arctic summer, little is known about short-term (h) temporal variability of phytoplankton photosynthetic performance in Arctic waters. To address this, we sampled the North Water (76.5°N) every 4 h over 24 h at two stations on the East and West sides that are influenced by different water masses and current conditions. We specifically investigated phytoplankton pigments, the xanthophyll cycle (XC), which is an indication of photoprotective capacity, and photosynthesis–irradiance (PE) response curves, at the surface and 20 m depth. The photophysiological parameters on the two sides differed along with the taxonomic signal derived from accessory pigments. On both sides, surface XC pigments showed high photoprotection capacity with the dinodinoxanthin–diatoxanthin (DD) and the violaxanthin, antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin cycles correlated with incoming radiation. The PE results showed that communities dominated by small flagellates on the western side performed better compared to diatom dominated communities on the eastern side. We conclude that phytoplankton and photosynthetic capacity differed consistent with known hydrography, with implications for a changing Arctic.
The Liberalization of American Attitudes to Homosexuality and the Impact of Age, Period, and Cohort Effects
Authors: Ekstam David
Published: January 2021

Prior analyses of age, period, and cohort effects in American attitudes to homosexuality have resulted in conflicting findings. I show that this is due to insufficient attention to the statistical identification problem facing such analyses. By means of more than four decades worth of survey data and two attitudinal measures taping social tolerance of homosexuality, I demonstrate that the conflicting results of prior research can be explained by differences in the implicit and unsubstantiated assumptions made to ensure model identification. To make up for the lack of attention to these assumptions in prior work, I discuss which age, period, and cohort effects we might expect to see based on prior knowledge about the case at hand, socialization theory, and research on how aging affects outgroup attitudes. On that basis, I also discuss which conclusions about age, period, and cohort effects we can actually draw in the case at hand. On a more general level, this article joins a growing literature that cautions against age-period-cohort analysis that does not give sufficient attention to theoretical expectations and side information when making the identifying assumptions on which the analysis must unavoidably rest.
Sink strength of citrus rootstocks under water deficit
Authors: Silva Simone F , Miranda Marcela T , Costa Vladimir E , Machado Eduardo C , Ribeiro Rafael V
Published: January 2021

Carbon allocation between source and sink organs determines plant growth and is influenced by environmental conditions. Under water deficit (WD), plant growth is inhibited before photosynthesis and shoot growth tends to be more sensitive than root growth. However, the modulation of the source–sink relationship by rootstocks remains unsolved in citrus trees under WD. Citrus plants grafted on Rangpur lime are drought tolerant, which may be related to a fine coordination of the source–sink relationship for maintaining root growth. Here, we followed 13C allocation and evaluated physiological responses and growth of Valencia orange trees grafted on three citrus rootstocks (Rangpur lime, Swingle citrumelo and Sunki mandarin) under WD. As compared with plants on Swingle and Sunki rootstocks, ones grafted on Rangpur lime showed higher stomatal sensitivity to the initial variation of water availability and less accumulation of non-structural carbohydrates in roots under WD. High 13C allocation found in Rangpur lime roots indicates this rootstock has high sink demand associated with high root growth under WD. Our data suggest that Rangpur lime rootstock used photoassimilates as sources of energy and carbon skeletons for growing under drought, which is likely related to increases in root respiration. Taken together, our data revealed that carbon supply by leaves and delivery to roots are critical for maintaining root growth and improving drought tolerance, with citrus rootstocks showing differential sink strength under WD.