bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Halogen Bonding in the Complexes of Brominated Electrophiles with Chloride Anions: From a Weak Supramolecular Interaction to a Covalent Br–Cl Bond
Authors: Loy Cody , Zeller Matthias , Rosokha Sergiy V.
Published: November 2020

The wide-range variation of the strength of halogen bonds (XB) not only facilitates a variety of applications of this interaction, but it also allows examining the relation (and interconversion) between supramolecular and covalent bonding. Herein, the Br…Cl halogen bonding in a series of complexes of bromosubstituted electrophiles (R-Br) with chloride anions were examined via X-ray crystallographic and computational methods. Six co-crystals showing such bonding were prepared by evaporation of solutions of R-Br and tetra-n-propylammonium chloride or using Cl− anions released in the nucleophilic reaction of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane with dichloromethane in the presence of R-Br. The co-crystal comprised networks formed by 3:3 or 2:2 halogen bonding between R-Br and Cl−, with the XB lengths varying from 3.0 Å to 3.25 Å. Analysis of the crystallographic database revealed examples of associations with substantially longer and shorter Br…Cl separations. DFT computations of an extended series of R–Br…Cl− complexes confirmed that the judicious choice of brominated electrophile allows varying halogen Br…Cl bond strength and length gradually from the values common for the weak intermolecular complexes to that approaching a fully developed covalent bond. This continuity of halogen bond strength in the experimental (solid-state) and calculated associations indicates a fundamental link between the covalent and supramolecular bonding.
Regularized Yield Surfaces for Crystal Plasticity of Metals
Authors: Holmedal Bjørn
Published: November 2020

The rate-independent Schmid assumption for a metal crystal results in a yield surface that is faceted with sharp corners. Regularized yield surfaces round off the corners and can be convenient in computational implementations. To assess the error by doing so, the coefficients of regularized yield surfaces are calibrated to exactly interpolate certain points on the facets of the perfect Schmid yield surface, while the different stress predictions in the corners are taken as the error estimate. Calibrations are discussed for slip systems commonly activated for bcc and fcc metals. It is found that the quality of calibrations of the ideal rate-independent behavior requires very large yield-surface exponents. However, the rounding of the corners of the yield surface can be regarded as an improved approximation accounting for the instant, thermal strain-rate sensitivity, which is directly related to the yield-surface exponent. Distortion of the crystal yield surface during latent hardening is also discussed, including Bauschinger behavior or pseudo slip systems for twinning, for which the forward and backward of the slip system are distinguished.
Dataset of User Reactions When Filling Out Web Questionnaires
Authors: Magomedov Shamil , Ilin Dmirty , Silaeva Anastasiya , Nikulchev Evgeny
Published: November 2020

This paper presents the dataset and the results of the analysis of user reactions when filling out questionnaires. Based on the analysis of 1980 results of users’ responses to simple questionnaire questions, patterns in user reactions were revealed. Data analysis shows that a user is characterized by reactions when answering a variety of questions, reflecting the individual skills of the interface, reading speed, speed of choosing an answer, which can be used to supplement personal verification in information systems. The built-in reaction time does not significantly load the data volumes for logging and transferring and does not contain confidential information. The data would be of interest for further research by specialists in the field of psychology, information security, and information systems design.
FDG PET/CT Findings of Castleman Disease Assessed by Histologic Subtypes and Compared with Laboratory Findings
Authors: Han Eun Ji , O Joo Hyun , Jung Seung-Eun , Park Gyeongsin , Choi Byung-Ock , Jeon Young-Woo , Min Gi-June , Cho Seok-Goo
Published: November 2020

Castleman disease (CD) is a relatively rare lymphoproliferative disorder and the pathophysiology of the subtypes are incompletely understood. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) demonstrates the metabolic activity of inflammatory and tumorous conditions. The FDG uptake intensity and sites of involved lesions on FDG PET/CT were assessed by histologic subtypes, and compared to the patient’s hemoglobin, platelet, albumin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels. In total, 60 PET/CT images of 44 consecutive CD patients were included: 4 (9%) unicentric and 40 (91%) multicentric; 21 (48%) hyaline vascular subtype, 16 (36%) plasma cell, and 7 (16%) mixed or unclassified. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and tumor-to-liver (T/L) ratio of involved lymph nodes (LNs) were 5.3 ± 2.4 (range, 1.6–11.5) and 2.8 ± 1.6 (range, 1.1–9.6), respectively, with no significant difference between the histologic subtypes. Higher number of involved LN stations and presence of extra-nodal involvement on FDG PET/CT were associated with thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, and elevated hs-CRP levels (p values < 0.05). FDG-avidity was not different by histologic subtypes and did not correlate with laboratory findings. However, the extent of nodal and extra-nodal involvement as noted on FDG PET/CT was significantly associated with abnormal laboratory findings in patients with CD.
Clinical Use of Quantitative Analysis of Bone Scintigraphy to Assess the Involvement of Arthritis Diseases in Patients with Joint Symptoms
Authors: Lee Jeong Won , Jung Ki Jin , Lee Sang Mi , Chang Sung Hae
Published: November 2020

We aimed to compare the diagnostic ability of quantitative analysis of bone scintigraphy with that of visual analysis for identifying arthritis disease involvement in patients with joint symptoms. We retrospectively included 93 patients with joint symptoms who underwent Tc-99m methylene diphosphonate bone scintigraphy for evaluating arthritis disease involvement. Bone scintigraphy images were visually and quantitatively analyzed using an in-house software by two reviewers. On quantitative analysis, joint uptake ratio was measured for 64 joints in 14 joints areas. The inter-rater agreement of visual and quantitative analyses was assessed, and diagnostic abilities were compared based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) values. Regarding visual analysis, there was a moderate degree of inter-rater agreement (kappa coefficient of 0.597), while there was a substantial inter-rater agreement (concordance correlation coefficient of 0.987) in the measurement of the joint uptake ratio. The comparisons of ROC curves for the total 5941 joints revealed that the joint uptake ratio had a significantly higher AUC value (0.789) to detect the affected joint than that of the visual analysis (p < 0.001). Quantitative analysis using joint uptake ratio showed substantial reproducibility and higher diagnostic ability to detect joints involving arthritis diseases than visual analysis on bone scintigraphy.
From Early Morphometrics to Machine Learning—What Future for Cardiovascular Imaging of the Pulmonary Circulation?
Authors: Gopalan Deepa , Gibbs J. Simon R.
Published: November 2020

Imaging plays a cardinal role in the diagnosis and management of diseases of the pulmonary circulation. Behind the picture itself, every digital image contains a wealth of quantitative data, which are hardly analysed in current routine clinical practice and this is now being transformed by radiomics. Mathematical analyses of these data using novel techniques, such as vascular morphometry (including vascular tortuosity and vascular volumes), blood flow imaging (including quantitative lung perfusion and computational flow dynamics), and artificial intelligence, are opening a window on the complex pathophysiology and structure–function relationships of pulmonary vascular diseases. They have the potential to make dramatic alterations to how clinicians investigate the pulmonary circulation, with the consequences of more rapid diagnosis and a reduction in the need for invasive procedures in the future. Applied to multimodality imaging, they can provide new information to improve disease characterization and increase diagnostic accuracy. These new technologies may be used as sophisticated biomarkers for risk prediction modelling of prognosis and for optimising the long-term management of pulmonary circulatory diseases. These innovative techniques will require evaluation in clinical trials and may in themselves serve as successful surrogate end points in trials in the years to come.
The Unbearable Lightness of Academic Fraud: Portuguese Higher Education Students’ Perceptions
Authors: Ramos Rosária , Gonçalves Joaquim , Gonçalves Sónia P.
Published: November 2020

The perception that academic fraud is widespread in higher education affects the credibility of higher education schools, giving rise to doubts concerning the quality of learning and the students’ preparation for their professional life. Academic misconduct is presently a common research area. However, higher education schools still seem unable to contain academic fraud, given its prevalence and scope. Therefore, understanding students’ perceptions and attitudes remains critical for schools to define effective policies in promoting and defending academic integrity. Towards that aim, the results from a set of focus groups of students from a higher education school are presented. Students do not link academic fraud with unethical professional behaviour, propose more sanctions for those who commit academic fraud, and consider that certain evaluation methods favour unethical behaviour.
Simulation and Characteristics Analysis of Multiple Wind Generators in Large-Scale Wind Farms Based on Simplified Model
Authors: Wang Jing , Zhao Guopeng
Published: November 2020

In the view of the high complexity and a large amount of data of the electromagnetic transient model for the single wind generator, it is difficult to realize the multi-unit simulation modeling of large-scale wind farms by power system simulation software. In this paper, the simplified models of single direct drive and doubly-fed wind generator system are proposed, respectively. In order to study the output characteristics of the wind generator system, the components with small inertia constant in the electromagnetic transient model are neglected, and the shafting model, the converter model, and the control loops are simplified and reduced, respectively. Based on the study of the single electromagnetic transient model of wind generators, the simplified simulation models are built by the PSCAD (Power Systems Computer Aided Design) simulation platform, which are carried out under the conditions of constant wind speed, step wind speed, and fault. The output characteristics of the simplified models under different working conditions are compared in detail models. The simulation results show that, within the allowable calculation accuracy range, the dynamic response curves of the single simplified model and the electromagnetic transient model are consistent. The simulation speed can be significantly improved, the time consumption can be reduced, and the simulation speed can be increased more obviously when the number of simulation models increases. Therefore, it can be applied to the simulation research of multi-wind generators in large-scale wind farms.
A Fast Steering Mirror Using a Compact Magnetic Suspension and Voice Coil Motors for Observation Satellites
Authors: Shinshi Tadahiko , Shimizu Daisuke , Kodeki Kazuhide , Fukushima Kazuhiko
Published: November 2020

Fast steering mirrors (FSMs) are used to correct images observed by satellites. FSMs need to have large apertures and realize high precision and the positioning of the mirror in the tip-tilt and axial directions needs to be highly precise and highly responsive in order to capture large-scale, high-resolution images. An FSM with a large-diameter mirror supported by a compact magnetic suspension and driven by long-stroke voice coil motors (VCMs) is proposed in this paper. The magnetic suspension and VCM actuators enable the mirror to be highly responsive and to have long-range movement in the tip-tilt and axial directions without friction and wear. The magnetic suspension is a hybrid that has active control in the lateral directions and passive support in the tip-tilt and axial directions. An experimental FSM with an 80 mm diameter dummy mirror was fabricated and tested. The mirror’s driving ranges in the tip-tilt and axial directions were ±20 mrad and ±500 μm, respectively. Furthermore, the servo bandwidths in the tip-tilt and axial directions were more than 1 kHz and 200 Hz, respectively.
A General Double Vector-Based Model Predictive Current Control for the Dual Three-Phase Motors
Authors: Yuan Qingqing , Ma Ting , Zhao Renji , Yang Yumei
Published: November 2020

Traditional model predictive current control (MPCC) for motors can only choose one optimal voltage vector during one control period, which creates problems of over-regulation or under-regulation for the current tracking. With zero vectors being injected in the chosen optimal voltage vector, the traditional MPCC can obtain better performance, which is called duty cycle MPCC. However, whether the traditional or the duty cycle MPCC is being applied to multiphase motors, it is more difficult for the phase to increase. In this paper, a general double vector-based MPCC mechanism has been studied for a dual three-phase permanent synchronous motor (PMSM) with dual Y shift 30° windings used in aerospace propulsion. Firstly, the choosing range of the second voltage vector in duty cycle MPCC was extended to an arbitrary vector; then, the cost function was rationally designed, and the delay compensation was added to improve the control performance as well. Compared with the traditional or duty cycle MPCC, this general double vector-based MPCC has better torque performance and fewer total harmonic distortions in the full speed range and under different load conditions.
High-Order Differential Feedback Control for Quadrotor UAV: Theory and Experimentation
Authors: Qi Guoyuan , Ma Shengli , Guo Xitong , Li Xia , Guo Jianchuan
Published: November 2020

A model-independent control strategy called high-order differential feedback control (HODFC) is applied to a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (QUAV) based on a semi-autopilot indoor optical positioning system. The affine system form of the quadrotor model is provided to facilitate the design of the HODFC. A fifth-order high order differentiator (HOD) is introduced to estimate with high precision the derivatives of the reference input and the QUAV system’s states. A filtering signal of the control output is incorporated in the control law to overcome the system model’s unknown part in the HODFC scheme. The stability of both the HODFC and the HOD are proved. The physical and straightforward parameters are provided to make the HODFC scheme for the QUAV easy to operate. The real-time trajectory tracking experiments with varied reference trajectories and disturbances are carried out to illustrate the superior performance of the HODFC versus the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) method, in terms of the mean of absolute error, the integral of absolute error and the integral of the time-weighted absolute error. The results also demonstrate that the HODFC has superiority in static and dynamic trajectory tracking, especially when the system is disturbed.
Recognition of Drivers’ Activity Based on 1D Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Doniec Rafał J. , Sieciński Szymon , Duraj Konrad M. , Piaseczna Natalia J. , Mocny-Pachońska Katarzyna , Tkacz Ewaryst J.
Published: November 2020

Background and objective: Driving a car is a complex activity which involves movements of the whole body. Many studies on drivers’ behavior are conducted to improve road traffic safety. Such studies involve the registration and processing of multiple signals, such as electroencephalography (EEG), electrooculography (EOG) and the images of the driver’s face. In our research, we attempt to develop a classifier of scenarios related to learning to drive based on the data obtained in real road traffic conditions via smart glasses. In our approach, we try to minimize the number of signals which can be used to recognize the activities performed while driving a car. Material and methods: We attempt to evaluate the drivers’ activities using both electrooculography (EOG) and a deep learning approach. To acquire data we used JINS MEME smart glasses furnished with 3-point EOG electrodes, 3-axial accelerometer and 3-axial gyroscope. Sensor data were acquired on 20 drivers (ten experienced and ten learner drivers) on the same 28.7 km route under real road conditions in southern Poland. The drivers performed several tasks while wearing the smart glasses and the tasks were linked to the signal during the drive. For the recognition of four activities (parking, driving through a roundabout, city traffic and driving through an intersection), we used one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D CNN). Results: The maximum accuracy was 95.6% on validation set and 99.8% on training set. The results prove that the model based on 1D CNN can classify the actions performed by drivers accurately. Conclusions: We have proved the feasibility of recognizing drivers’ activity based solely on EOG data, regardless of the driving experience and style. Our findings may be useful in the objective assessment of driving skills and thus, improving driving safety.
Hydrophobization and Photo-Stabilization of Radiata Pinewood: The Effect of the Esterification on Thermal and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Herrera Díaz René , Gordobil Oihana , de Hoyos-Martinez Pedro L. , Sandak Anna , Labidi Jalel
Published: November 2020

Wood protection through chemical modification has received increasing interest over the last decades due to the environmental issues related to conventional biocides or protecting products. Consequently, a wide range of new treatments are developed in laboratories, which are later scaled up in the industrial environment. The main goal of modifying wood for indoor–outdoor application is to change its hydrophilic character, which in turn improves the intrinsic properties of the material and its durability against external factors. Wood can be esterified through its hydroxyl groups to obtain a hydrophobic and photo-stable material. Chemical modifications of Pinus radiata D. Don wood using hexanoyl chloride (P6), dodecanoyl chloride (P12), and stearoyl chloride (P18) were carried out at different concentrations. Esterification was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) technique combined with a discriminatory analysis. Weight percent gain was associated with the number of carbons of the aliphatic chain of the fatty acid (P6 > P12 > P18). Moreover, an increase of wood density as a consequence of modification treatments was observed. A substantial improvement of the hydrophobicity of wood was observed by dynamic contact angle measurements. In addition, the effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on color changes was reduced with the treatments. Furthermore, the P6 treatment presented acceptable values of modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR), being suitable for similar mechanical uses as non-treated pinewood. However, only treatments P12 and P18 enhanced thermal resistance of the pinewood in an oxidative atmosphere.
Protection and Management of Species, Habitats, Ecosystems and Landscapes: Current Trends and Global Needs
Authors: Dimopoulos Panayotis , Kokkoris Ioannis P.
Published: November 2020

Human well-being and the prerequisite sustainable environmental management are currently at stake, reaching a bottleneck when trying to cope with (i) the ever-growing world population, (ii) the constantly increasing need for natural resources (and the subsequent overexploitation of species, habitats, ecosystems, and landscapes) and (iii) the documented and on-going impacts of climate change. In developed societies, the concern about environmental protection is set high in the public dialogue, as well as to management and policy agendas. The recently constituted Intergovernmental Science—Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) urges transformative changes for technological, economic, and social factors aiming to tackle both direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity loss. By this, the role of conservation and management practices for the environment is characterized as a crucial and top issue and should deal with (a) promoting best practices from the local to the global level, (b) identifying spatial and temporal knowledge gaps, (c) multidisciplinary aspects for sustainable management practices, (d) identifying and interpreting the role of stakeholders and socio-economic parameters in the decision-making process, and (e) methods and practices to integrate the concept of ecosystem services into natural capital assessment and accounting, conservation and management strategies. Modern literature highlights that land-use change and prioritization, restoration of natural areas, cultural landscape identification and maintenance, should be considered to the top of the scientific and policy agenda, as well as to the epicenter of novel awareness-raising strategies for the environment in the near future.
Does Shrub Encroachment Indicate Ecosystem Degradation? A Perspective Based on the Spatial Patterns of Woody Plants in a Temperate Savanna-Like Ecosystem of Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Wang Xiao , Jiang Lina , Yang Xiaohui , Shi Zhongjie , Yu Pengtao
Published: November 2020

Shrub encroachment, i.e., shrub emergence or an increase in woody plant cover, has been widely observed in arid and semiarid grasslands and savannas worldwide since the 2000s. However, until now, there has been a clear division of opinion regarding its ecological implications. One view is that shrub encroachment is an indicator of ecological degradation, and the other is that shrub encroachment is a sign of the restoration of degraded ecosystems. This division leads to completely different judgments about the states and transition phases of shrub-encroached ecosystems, which further affects decisions about their conservation and management. To determine whether ecosystems experiencing shrub encroachment are degrading or are in a postdegraded restoration stage, the spatial distributions and interactions of woody plants after shrub encroachment were investigated in this study. An Ulmus pumila-dominated temperate savanna-like ecosystem with significant shrub encroachment in the Otindag Sandy Land, Inner Mongolia, China, was selected as the research area, and woody plants were surveyed within a 25-hectare (500 × 500 m) plot. Spatial point pattern analysis was employed to analyze the distribution patterns of the woody plants. The results indicated different patterns for U. pumila trees, i.e., a random distribution pattern for old trees (with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of more than 20 cm) and aggregated distribution patterns for medium (5 cm ≤ DBH < 20 cm) and juvenile trees (DBH < 5 cm) at scales of 0–9 and 0–12 m, respectively. For most shrubs, there was significant aggregation at a scale of 0–6 m. However, there were significant negative relationships between old U. pumila trees (DBH ≥ 20 cm) and most shrub species, such as Caragana microphylla and Spiraea aquilegifolia. In contrast, there were positive relationships between juvenile trees (DBH < 5 cm) and most shrub species. These results suggest that, to some extent, shrub encroachment may have disrupted the normal succession pattern in the U. pumila community in this area, and without conservation, the original tree-dominated temperate savanna-like ecosystem may continue to deteriorate and eventually become a shrub-dominated temperate savanna-like ecosystem.
The Application of Oak Bark Powder as a Filler for Melamine-Urea-Formaldehyde Adhesive in Plywood Manufacturing
Authors: Mirski Radosław , Kawalerczyk Jakub , Dziurka Dorota , Siuda Joanna , Wieruszewski Marek
Published: November 2020

The woodworking industry generates a great amount of bark which has not yet found a wider industrial application. None of the previously conducted research has considered oak bark application (which is one of the most often processed wood species in Poland) as a filler for wood adhesives. Moreover, no studies have determined the properties of bark containing melamine-urea-formaldehyde resin (MUF), which increasingly replaces pure urea-formaldehyde adhesives. Thus, the aim of the study was to determine the possibility of grinded oak bark application as a filler for MUF adhesive in plywood manufacturing. The chemical composition of oak bark was evaluated. Properties of liquid resins, such as viscosity, gel time, pH, and solid content, were determined. Chemical interaction between the filler and resin was assessed with using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Plywood panels manufactured using MUF adhesive filled with different bark concentrations (10%, 15%, 20%, 25%) were tested in terms of such properties as formaldehyde release and bonding quality. Studies have shown an improvement in liquid resin properties. The course of FTIR spectra did not explain the chemical interaction between the polymer and the filler. The addition of oak bark at a concentration of 15% made it possible to produce plywood panels characterized by reduced formaldehyde release and improved bonding quality.
Breathing New Life to Ancient Crops: Promoting the Ancient Philippine Grain “Kabog Millet” as an Alternative to Rice
Authors: Narciso Joan Oñate , Nyström Laura
Published: November 2020

Consumption of underutilised ancient crops has huge benefits for our society. It improves food security by diversifying our staple foods and makes our agriculture more adaptable to climate change. The Philippines has a rich biodiversity and many plant species used as staple foods are native to the Philippines. An example of ancient Philippine crops is the kabog millet, an ecotype of Panicum miliaceum. There is a dearth of information about its uses and properties; hence, in this study, the nutritional quality of kabog millet was evaluated. The total starch, % amylose, ash, dietary fibre, proteins, essential amino acid profile, phenolic acids, carotenoids, tocopherols, and the antioxidant properties of its total phenolic acid extracts were compared to four types of rice (white, brown, red, and black) and a reference millet, purchased from local Swiss supermarkets. Our analyses showed that kabog millet has higher total dietary fibre, total protein, total phenolic acids, tocopherols, and carotenoids content than white rice. It also performed well in antioxidant assays. Our results indicate that kabog millet is a good alternative to rice. It is hoped that the results of this study will encourage consumers and farmers to diversify their food palette and address food insecurity.
Virucidal Effects of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma on Human Norovirus Infectivity in Fresh Oysters (Crassostrea gigas)
Authors: Choi Man-Seok , Jeon Eun Bi , Kim Ji Yoon , Choi Eun Ha , Lim Jun Sup , Choi Jinsung , Ha Kwang Soo , Kwon Ji Young , Jeong Sang Hyeon , Park Shin Young
Published: November 2020

This study investigates the effects of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatment (1.1 kV, 43 kHz, N2 1.5 L/min, 10~60 min) on human norovirus (HuNoV) GII.4 infectivity in fresh oysters. HuNoV viability in oysters was assessed by using propidium monoazide (PMA) as a nucleic acid intercalating dye before performing a real-time reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Additionally, the impact of the DBD plasma treatment on pH and Hunter colors was assessed. When DBD plasma was treated for 60 min, the HuNoV genomic titer reduction without PMA pretreatment was negligible (<1 log copy number/µL), whereas when PMA treatment was used, HuNoV titer was reduced to >1 log copy number/µL in just 30 min. D1 and D2-value of HuNoV infectivity were calculated as 36.5 and 73.0 min of the DBD plasma treatment, respectively, using the first-order kinetics model (R2 = 0.98). The pH and Hunter colors were not significantly different (p > 0.05) between the untreated and DBD-plasma-treated oysters. The results suggest that PMA/RT-qPCR could help distinguish HuNoV infectivity without negatively affecting oyster quality following >30 min treatment with DBD plasma. Moreover, the inactivation kinetics of nonthermal DBD plasma against HuNoV in fresh oysters might provide basic information for oyster processing and distribution.
Genome-Wide Association Study of Root System Development at Seedling Stage in Rice
Authors: Zhang Hongjia , San Mar Lar , Jang Seong-Gyu , Lee Ja-Hong , Kim Na-Eun , Lee Ah-Rim , Park So-Yeon , Cao Fang-Yuan , Chin Joong-Hyoun , Kwon Soon-Wook
Published: November 2020

Root network structure plays a crucial role in growth and development processes in rice. Longer, more branched root structures help plants to assimilate water and nutrition from soil, support robust plant growth, and improve resilience to stresses such as disease. Understanding the molecular basis of root development through screening of root-related traits in rice germplasms is critical to future rice breeding programs. This study used a small germplasm collection of 137 rice varieties chosen from the Korean rice core set (KRICE_CORE) to identify loci linked to root development. Two million high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used as the genotype, with maximum root length (MRL) and total root weight (TRW) in seedlings used as the phenotype. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) combined with Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Kinship matrix analysis identified four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on chromosomes 3, 6, and 8. Two QTLs were linked to MRL and two were related to TRW. Analysis of Linkage Disequilibrium (LD) decay identified a 230 kb exploratory range for detection of candidate root-related genes. Candidates were filtered using RNA-seq data, gene annotations, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and five previously characterized genes related to root development were identified, as well as four novel candidate genes. Promoter analysis of candidate genes showed that LOC_Os03g08880 and LOC_Os06g13060 contained SNPs with the potential to impact gene expression in root-related promoter motifs. Haplotype analysis of candidate genes revealed diverse haplotypes that were significantly associated with phenotypic variation. Taken together, these results indicate that LOC_Os03g08880 and LOC_Os06g13060 are strong candidate genes for root development functions. The significant haplotypes identified in this study will be beneficial in future breeding programs for root improvement.
The Genetic Complexity of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Compérat Eva , Wasinger Gabriel , Oszwald André , Kain Renate , Cancel-Tassin Geraldine , Cussenot Olivier
Published: November 2020

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major concern in public health, with many genetically distinct subsets. Genomic alterations in PCa are extraordinarily complex, and both germline and somatic mutations are of great importance in the development of this tumor. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of genetic changes that can occur in the development of PCa and their role in potential therapeutic approaches. Various pathways and mechanisms proposed to play major roles in PCa are described in detail to provide an overview of current knowledge.
Response to Hirt, Alfred. Dalmatians and Dacians—Forms of Belonging and Displacement in the Roman Empire. Humanities, 2019, 8, 1
Authors: Casavola Hilde Caroli
Published: November 2020

Taking a cue from Hirt’s paper, this contribution is mainly focused on contemporary juridical debate on the movement of people, and the legal status of foreigners in the Nation-State and the implications in terms of legal guarantees, of the conceptualization of the principle of dignity in historical perspective. The distinction between labor migration and forced migration gained importance through the centuries and played a significant role in the gradual emergence of the regulation of mobility and population flows in the Western countries. Geo-territorial circumstances (as remoteness, physical isolation due to mountains or deserts, and harsh weather conditions) have always been, and still are, strategic drivers of amalgamation of different social groups and solution of potential conflicts. In turn, the administrative procedures and practices and the concrete circumstances produced by public authorities affecting the settlement of migrants, foreigners and ethnic groups deserve particular consideration in the light of the principle of human dignity and its relationship with the concept of identity.
The Roles of Work-Life Conflict and Gender in the Relationship between Workplace Bullying and Personal Burnout. A Study on Italian School Principals
Authors: Buonomo Ilaria , Fiorilli Caterina , Romano Luciano , Benevene Paula
Published: November 2020

The present study sought to investigate the associations between workplace bullying and personal burnout both directly and indirectly via work-life conflict. Furthermore, the moderating role of gender in these relations was examined. Traditional research on stress at work focuses on the role of dimensions related to job tasks, demands, and organizational support in influencing the risks for stress-related problems in employees. At the same time, other experiences at work may reduce employees’ well-being, such as workplace bullying and family life. Specifically, considering the detrimental role of work-life conflict, it is possible to hypothesize that it would exacerbate workplace bullying’s harmful effects on employees’ health. Moreover, since previous studies have reported mixed or inconsistent results when considering gender differences with the above-mentioned dimensions, it seems worth investigating the role of employee gender in representing (and response to) the bullying experiences. Building on these considerations, this work verifies whether: (1) work-life conflict mediates the relationship between workplace bullying and burnout; (2) gender moderates all the possible relationships among the constructs. Such hypotheses are verified on a sample of school principals, in light of their peculiar job role. Overall, our findings showed that: (1) Workplace bullying and burnout are associated, both with and without the perception of a concurring work-life conflict; (2) Gender does not moderate all the possible relationships among workplace bullying, work-life conflict and burnout. Overall, being female heightens the risk to perceive work-life conflict in general, as well as to be burnt out, when bullied, with and without the presence of work-life conflict; being male heightens the risk to perceive work-life conflict when bullied. Furthermore, the current findings suggest that family demands may influence school principals’ feelings of exhaustion regardless of gender. These findings confirm and expand previous literature, especially concerning a less studied occupation, namely school principals, shedding a new light on their work experiences. Furthermore, the present study offers interesting implications for trainings on principal’s skills and professional identity.
SDToW: A Slowloris Detecting Tool for WMNs
Authors: Faria Vinicius da Silva , Gonçalves Jéssica Alcântara , Silva Camilla Alves Mariano da , Vieira Gabriele de Brito , Mascarenhas Dalbert Matos
Published: November 2020

Denial of service (DoS) attacks play a significant role in contemporary cyberspace scenarios. A variety of different DoS attacks pollute networks by exploring various vulnerabilities. A group of DoS called application DoS attacks explore application vulnerabilities. This work presents a tool that detects and blocks an application DoS called Slowloris on wireless mesh networks (WMNs). Our tool, called SDToW, is designed to effectively use the structure of the WMNs to block the Slowloris attack. SDToW uses three different modules to detect and block the attack. Each module has its specific tasks and thus optimizes the overall detection and block efficiency. Our solution blocks the attacker on its first WMN hop, reducing the malicious traffic on the network and avoiding further attacks from the blocked user. The comparison results show that SDToW performs with 66.7% less processing consumption and 89.1% less memory consumption than Snort. Our solution does not limit the number of parallel connections per user. Hence, by avoiding this limitation, SDToW has a lower incidence of false positive errors than Snort.
Can Narrative Advertisement and eWOM Influence Generation Z Purchase Intentions?
Authors: Tabassum Sidra , Khwaja Muddasar Ghani , Zaman Umer
Published: November 2020

Digital platforms have made Generation Z able to listen to the story from both sides, i.e., the brand’s promotional messages, and the consumers’ experiences. To capture an audience’s attention on endless entertainment and informational platforms, narrative advertisement is deployed to trigger emotions and feelings. As digital communities continue to grow, both brands and consumers are using narrative advertising to share their opinions. Hence, the purpose of this research was to investigate how the upcoming generation of consumers will be affected by the two information sources, i.e., the brands via narrative advertising, and peer consumers through electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM). Furthermore, the mediated role of persuasion knowledge was examined among the constructs. Theoretical foundations were empirically tested using quantitative research analysis. The data was collected from a sample of 304 Generation Z respondents from Pakistan. Structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS 22.0 was executed to determine cause and effect relationships. This study offers new evidence regarding the effective mobilization of eWOM and narrative advertising in the context of Generation Z. The results indicate narrative advertising to have strong effects on Generation Z purchase intentions as compared to eWOM.
Local and Landscape Effects on Carrion-Associated Rove Beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) Communities in German Forests
Authors: Weithmann Sandra , Kuppler Jonas , Degasperi Gregor , Steiger Sandra , Ayasse Manfred , von Hoermann Christian
Published: November 2020

Intensification of anthropogenic land use is a major threat to biodiversity and thus to essential ecosystem services provided by insects. Rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), which react sensitively to habitat changes, are species-rich colonizers of vertebrate cadavers and contribute to the important ecosystem service of carrion decomposition. The unveiling of anthropogenic and environmental drivers that modify carrion-associated rove beetle communities should improve our understanding of the plasticity of cadaver decay. We report the presence of 80 rove beetle species on 65 decomposing piglet cadavers at forest sites characterized by a gradient of management intensity across three geographic regions in Germany. Local and landscape drivers were revealed that shape beetle abundance, diversity, and community composition. Forest management and regions affect rove beetle abundance, whereas diversity is influenced by local habitat parameters (soil pH, litter cover) and regions. The community composition of rove beetles changes with management intensification by promoting generalist species. Regarding single species, Philonthus decorus and Anotylus mutator are linked to unmanaged forests and Ontholestes tessellatus to highly used forest stands. The spatial information provided about carrion-associated rove beetle communities in German forests is not only of carrion-ecological but also of forensic entomological interest.
N-(2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl)-2-(6-chloro-9H-carbazol-2-yl)propanamide
Authors: Manolov Stanimir , Ivanov Iliyan , Bojilov Dimitar
Published: November 2020

The titular compound was prepared by a reaction between tryptamine and carprofen, applying, as a “dehydrating” reagent, N,N’-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. The newly synthesized compound was fully analyzed and characterized via 1H, 13C-NMR, UV, IR, and mass spectral data.
On the Construction of Some Deterministic and Stochastic Non-Local SIR Models
Authors: Ascione Giacomo
Published: November 2020

Fractional-order epidemic models have become widely studied in the literature. Here, we consider the generalization of a simple SIR model in the context of generalized fractional calculus and we study the main features of such model. Moreover, we construct semi-Markov stochastic epidemic models by using time changed continuous time Markov chains, where the parent process is the stochastic analog of a simple SIR epidemic. In particular, we show that, differently from what happens in the classic case, the deterministic model does not coincide with the large population limit of the stochastic one. This loss of fluid limit is then stressed in terms of numerical examples.
Dimensional Analysis of Superplastic Processes with the Buckingham Π Theorem
Authors: García-Barrachina Luis , Gámez Antonio J.
Published: November 2020

This work applies the Buckingham Π theorem from dimensional analysis on superplastic processes in order to obtain laws of behaviour in a simple way. For this reason, a mathematical background is developed. The particular behaviour of superplastic materials makes it necessary to adapt the way in which these are treated, modelling them by a viscosity function of the strain-rate. Then, dimensional analysis is applied on a set of free-inflation tests in order to obtain a formula that defines the forming time as single function of geometric and material variables. Dimensional analysis allows us to reduce the number of variables to analyse from six to only three. Finally, two different forming time estimators are compared to measure the accuracy of our method, showing a significant improvement over previous methods.
ParRouting: An Efficient Area Partition-Based Congestion-Aware Routing Algorithm for NoCs
Authors: Fang Juan , Zhang Di , Li Xiaqing
Published: November 2020

Routing algorithms is a key factor that determines the performance of NoC (Networks-on-Chip) systems. Regional congestion awareness routing algorithms have shown great potential in improving the performance of NoC. However, it incurs a significant queuing latency when practitioners use existing regional congestion awareness routing algorithms to make routing decisions, thus degrading the performance of NoC. In this paper, we propose an efficient area partition-based congestion-aware routing algorithm, ParRouting, which aims at increasing the throughput and reducing the latency for NoC systems. First, ParRouting partitions the network into two areas (i.e., edge area and central area.) based on node priorities. Then, for the edge area, ParRouting selects the output node based on different priorities for higher throughput; for the central area, ParRouting selects the node in the low congestion direction as the output node for lower queuing latency. Our experimental results indicate that ParRouting achieves a 53.4% reduction in packet average latency over SPLASH -2 ocean application and improves the saturated throughput by up to 38.81% over a synthetic traffic pattern for an NoC system, compared to existing routing algorithms.
The Bifidogenic Effect Revisited—Ecology and Health Perspectives of Bifidobacterial Colonization in Early Life
Authors: Kumar Himanshu , Collado Maria Carmen , Wopereis Harm , Salminen Seppo , Knol Jan , Roeselers Guus
Published: November 2020

Extensive microbial colonization of the infant gastrointestinal tract starts after parturition. There are several parallel mechanisms by which early life microbiome acquisition may proceed, including early exposure to maternal vaginal and fecal microbiota, transmission of skin associated microbes, and ingestion of microorganisms present in breast milk. The crucial role of vertical transmission from the maternal microbial reservoir during vaginal delivery is supported by the shared microbial strains observed among mothers and their babies and the distinctly different gut microbiome composition of caesarean-section born infants. The healthy infant colon is often dominated by members of the keystone genus Bifidobacterium that have evolved complex genetic pathways to metabolize different glycans present in human milk. In exchange for these host-derived nutrients, bifidobacteria’s saccharolytic activity results in an anaerobic and acidic gut environment that is protective against enteropathogenic infection. Interference with early-life microbiota acquisition and development could result in adverse health outcomes. Compromised microbiota development, often characterized by decreased abundance of Bifidobacterium species has been reported in infants delivered prematurely, delivered by caesarean section, early life antibiotic exposure and in the case of early life allergies. Various microbiome modulation strategies such as probiotic, prebiotics, synbiotics and postbiotics have been developed that are able to generate a bifidogenic shift and help to restore the microbiota development. This review explores the evolutionary ecology of early-life type Bifidobacterium strains and their symbiotic relationship with humans and discusses examples of compromised microbiota development in which stimulating the abundance and activity of Bifidobacterium has demonstrated beneficial associations with health.
Dynamics of Borrelia burgdorferi-Specific Antibodies: Seroconversion and Seroreversion between Two Population-Based, Cross-Sectional Surveys among Adults in Germany
Authors: Woudenberg Tom , Böhm Stefanie , Böhmer Merle , Katz Katharina , Willrich Niklas , Stark Klaus , Kuhnert Ronny , Fingerle Volker , Wilking Hendrik
Published: November 2020

Lyme borreliosis (LB) caused by Borrelia burgdorferi spp. is the most common human tick-borne disease in Europe. Although seroprevalence studies are conducted in several countries, rates of seroconversion and seroreversion are lacking, and they are essential to determine the risk of infection. Seropositivity was determined using a two-step approach—first, a serological screening assay, and in the event of a positive or equivocal result, a confirmatory immunoblot assay. Seroconversion and seroreversion rates were assessed from blood samples taken from participants included in two nation-wide population-based surveys. Moreover, the impact of antigen reactivity on seroreversion rates was assessed. The seroprevalence of antibodies reacting against B. burgdorferi spp. in the German population was 8.5% (95% CI 7.5–9.6) in 1997–99 and 9.3% (95% CI 8.3–10.4) in 2008–2011. Seroprevalence increased with age, up to 20% among 70–79 year-olds. The age-standardized seroprevalence remained the same. The yearly seroconversion rate was 0.45% (95% CI: 0.37–0.54), and the yearly seroreversion rate was 1.47% (95% CI: 1.24–2.17). Lower levels of antibodies were associated with seroreversion. Participants with a strong response against antigen p83 had the lowest odds on seroreversion. Given the yearly seroreversion rate of 1.47% and a seroprevalence up to 20% in the oldest age groups, at least 20% of the German population becomes infected with B. burgdorferi in their lifetime. The slight increase in seroprevalence between the two serosurveys was caused by an aging population.