bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Edge computing network resource allocation based on virtual network embedding
Authors: Zhan Keqiang , Chen Ning , Santhosh Kumar Sripathi Venkata Naga , Kibalya Godfrey , Zhang Peiying , Zhang Hongxia
Published: September 2022

It is expected that the demand for quality of service (QoS) and quality of experience (QoE) in future 6G scenarios will continue to increase, and edge computing (EC) will continue to receive widespread attention. However, the highly dynamic and connectivity complexity of edge computing networks (ECNs) pose severe challenges to its resource allocation issues. In addition, network virtualization (NV) is widely applied to increase the flexibility of network architectures. Based on the above inspirations, we adopt virtual network embedding (VNE) to make decisions on the resource allocation of ECN. Specifically, we deploy a deep reinforcement learning (DRL)‐based multi‐layer policy network, which is applied to extract environmental information, calculate the available resources of edge nodes, and screen candidate edge nodes that satisfy resource allocation conditions. Second, the resources of edge links are allocated according to the shortest path algorithm. Finally, we build a simulation environment to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed policy network through rich experiments.
Drug‐impaired driving and traffic collisions: Study on a cross section of the Italian population
Authors: Odoardi Sara , Biosa Giulia , Mestria Serena , Valentini Valeria , De Giovanni Nadia , Cittadini Francesca , Strano Rossi Sabina
Published: September 2022

The present study focuses on the association between road accidents and the presence of drugs of abuse markers in the biological fluids of the drivers. Biological fluids collected from 1236 drivers involved in road accidents (54 fatal and 1182 non‐fatal crashes) in the Rome area were analyzed for alcohol and psychotropic drugs, as required by judicial authorities. The substance most frequently detected was alcohol (in 19% of non‐fatal and 32% of fatal crashes), followed by cannabinoids (12% of non‐fatal crashes) and cocaine (9% of non‐fatal and 20% of fatal crashes). The results obtained for cocaine and cannabinoids in blood and urine were compared. We observed the absence or low concentrations of the active drug in blood (cocaine was often below 5 ng/ml and THC below 1 ng/ml), whereas urinary concentrations of metabolites were generally high (benzoylecgonine 250–above 5000 ng/ml, THCCOOH 15–270 ng/ml). The risk of being involved in a road accident if cocaine or cannabis markers were present in the urine specimens was evaluated compared to a control population. The odds ratios calculated, being 8.13 for cannabis and 5.32 for cocaine, suggest a strong association between the presence of these drugs in the urine of drivers and traffic accidents, regardless of their presence in blood samples. The present data suggest that the chance of being involved in a road accident is higher than in the control population even if the subject is no longer “under the influence” of cannabis or cocaine at the time of the accident.
High sensitivity of tropical forest birds to deforestation at lower altitudes
Authors: Mills Simon C. , Socolar Jacob B. , Edwards Felicity A. , Parra Edicson , Martínez‐Revelo Diego E. , Ochoa Quintero Jose Manuel , Haugaasen Torbjørn , Freckleton Robert P. , Barlow Jos , Edwards David P.
Published: September 2022

Habitat conversion is a major driver of tropical biodiversity loss, but its effects are poorly understood in montane environments. While community‐level responses to habitat loss display strong elevational dependencies, it is unclear whether these arise via elevational turnover in community composition and interspecific differences in sensitivity or elevational variation in environmental conditions and proximity to thermal thresholds. Here we assess the relative importance of inter‐ and intraspecific variation across the elevational gradient by quantifying how 243 forest‐dependent bird species vary in sensitivity to landscape‐scale forest loss across a 3000‐m elevational gradient in the Colombian Andes. We find that species that live at lower elevations are strongly affected by loss of forest in the nearby landscape, while those at higher elevations appear relatively unperturbed, an effect that is independent of phylogeny. Conversely, we find limited evidence of intraspecific elevational gradients in sensitivity, with populations displaying similar sensitivities to forest loss, regardless of where they exist in a species' elevational range. Gradients in biodiversity response to habitat loss thus appear to arise via interspecific gradients in sensitivity rather than proximity to climatically limiting conditions.
The role of riparian vegetation flexibility in a bio‐hydro‐morphodynamic simulation
Authors: Zhu Runye , Tsubaki Ryota
Published: September 2022

Bio‐hydro‐morphodynamic simulation is an essential tool for analyzing fluvial processes under the influence of riparian vegetation, and has developed over the past decade. However, most bio‐hydro‐morphodynamic models have neglected the flexibility of vegetation. The flow‐induced deformation of flexible vegetation changes the resistance to water flow. Therefore, flexibility affects water flow surrounding vegetation patches, and alters bed shear stress below and surrounding patches. To investigate the effects of vegetation flexibility in a fluvial, bio‐hydro‐morphodynamic simulation, we incorporated a model for predicting flexible vegetation reconfiguration in a bio‐hydro‐morphodynamic model based on Delft3D. We studied effects by considering and neglecting vegetation flexibility within a gravel bed river with alternate bars. The vegetation used in the simulation was Phragmites japonica, a widely existing reedy grass in riparian environments. Our results indicate that vegetation flexibility can impact river hydrodynamics and morphology development processes. When accounting for vegetation flexibility, water depth decreases, averaged Shields stress within a vegetation patch increases, and channel width with sediment transport increases. Erosion and deposition within the channel are additionally reduced. The significance of vegetation flexibility depends on multiple factors (i.e., the stem density growth rate, rigidity, and the river bed material). Given a fast stem density growth rate or a large rigidity, differences between flexible and rigid vegetation cases could be neglected. The difference between flexible and rigid vegetation was maximized when the bed gravel size fell within a certain range. Our results suggest that the impact of vegetation flexibility on river morphology depends on the mobility of river bed material. A very active or inactive bed reduced the importance of vegetation flexibility on river morphology.
High reproducibility of spleen stiffness measurement by vibration‐controlled transient elastography with a spleen‐dedicated module
Authors: Rigamonti Cristina , Cittone Micol Giulia , Manfredi Giulia Francesca , Sorge Andrea , Moia Riccardo , Patriarca Andrea , Donato Maria Francesca , Gaidano Gianluca , Pirisi Mario , Fraquelli Mirella
Published: September 2022

Spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) by vibration‐controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is a noninvasive technique for estimating portal hypertension in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD), with its reproducibility yet to be established and its feasibility still unknown beyond CLD. We have studied 420 participants from two tertiary referral centers for liver diseases (Novara, Milan): 297 patients with CLD (32% with cirrhosis) of different etiology (Group A), 63 Philadelphia‐negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (Group B), and 60 heathy volunteers (Group C). All underwent SSM by VCTE with a spleen‐dedicated module (SSM@100 Hz) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM), blindly performed by 2 different operators. In total, 1680 VCTE examinations for SSM were performed (1000 in Novara, 680 in Milan), with an overall 3.2% failure rate. Median SSM was 26.5 kPa (interquartile range [IQR] 20.0–42.3) in Group A, 26.3 kPa (IQR 22.3–33.6) in Group B, and 16.1 kPa (IQR 14.6–18.7) in Group C. In Group A, the median LSM was 6.8 kPa (IQR 4.9–11.3) in Novara and 8.3 kPa (IQR 7.1–10.8) in Milan, the proportion of patients with cirrhosis being 34% in Novara and 31% in Milan. The Group A interobserver agreement ICC was 0.90 (0.88–0.92), significantly lower in the absence of splenomegaly (ICC 0.87 vs. 0.91) and in absence of cirrhosis (ICC 0.84 vs. 0.90); overweight slightly, but not significantly reduced the interobserveragreement. The intra‐observer agreement ICC ranged from 0.91 to 0.96 for the four operators. The Group B interobserver agreement ICC was 0.90 (0.83–0.94). In conclusion, SSM measured by the new spleen‐dedicated VCTE module is a feasible, reliable, and highly reproducible tool in patients with CLD and hematological disorders, and in healthy volunteers.
Global colorectal cancer research, 2007‐2021: Outputs and funding
Authors: Begum Mursheda , Lewison Grant , Wang Xiang , Dunne Philip D. , Maughan Tim , Sullivan Richard , Lawler Mark
Published: September 2022

The purpose of this study was to provide an evidence base for colorectal cancer research activity that might influence policy, mainly at the national level. Improvements in healthcare delivery have lengthened life expectancy, but within a situation of increased cancer incidence. The disease burden of CRC has risen significantly, particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Research is key to its control and reduction, but few studies have delineated the volume and funding of global research on CRC. We identified research papers in the Web of Science (WoS) from 2007 to 2021, and determined the contributions of the leading countries, the research domains studied, and their sources of funding. We identified 62 716 papers, representing 5.7% of all cancer papers. This percentage was somewhat disproportionate to the disease burden (7.7% in 2015), especially in Eastern Europe. International collaboration increased over the time period in almost all countries except in China. Genetics, surgery and prognosis were the leading research domains. However, research on palliative care and quality‐of‐life in CRC was lacking. In Western Europe, the main funding source was the charity sector, particularly in the UK, but in most other countries government played the leading role, especially in China and the USA. There was little support from industry. Several Asian countries provided minimal contestable funding, which may have reduced the impact of their CRC research. Certain countries must perform more CRC research overall, especially in domains such as screening, palliative care and quality‐of‐life. The private‐non‐profit sector should be an alternative source of support.
The effects of SFAS 123R on earnings management
Authors: Lee SeungWon
Published: September 2022

This study investigates whether SFAS 123R was effective at curtailing firms’ earnings management associated with stock option compensation. Using a difference‐in‐differences (DiD) analysis, I find that firms with high implied option compensation before SFAS 123R significantly reduced earnings management after SFAS 123R. The sub‐period analysis indicates that option compensation after SFAS 123R is negatively related to earnings management, while option compensation before SFAS 123R is positively related to earnings management. Overall, the findings indicate that SFAS 123R effectively diminished earnings management associated with stock option compensation.
Insights into the regulation of podocyte and glomerular function by lactate and its metabolic sensor G‐protein‐coupled receptor 81
Authors: Grochowalska Klaudia , Pikul Piotr , Piwkowska Agnieszka
Published: September 2022

Podocytes and their foot processes are an important cellular layer of the renal filtration barrier that is involved in regulating glomerular permeability. Disturbances of podocyte function play a central role in the development of proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy. The retraction and effacement of podocyte foot processes that form slit diaphragms are a common feature of proteinuria. Correlations between the retraction of foot processes and the development of proteinuria are not well understood. Unraveling peculiarities of podocyte energy metabolism notably under diabetic conditions will provide insights into the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Intracellular metabolism in the cortical area of podocytes is regulated by glycolysis, whereas energy balance in the central area is controlled by oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis. High glucose concentrations were recently reported to force podocytes to switch from mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis, resulting in lactic acidosis. In this review, we hypothesize that the lactate receptor G‐protein‐coupled receptor 81 (also known as hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 81) may contribute to the control of podocyte function in both health and disease.
Quantitative analysis of nutrients for nucleosides, nucleobases, and amino acids hidden behind five distinct regions‐derived Poria cocos using ultra‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple‐quadrupole linear ion‐trap tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhao Qiulong , Bian Xiaokun , Shan Chenxiao , Cheng Jiaxin , Wang Chunxue , Xu Yi , Xu Min , Yan Hui , Qian Dawei , Duan Jinao
Published: September 2022

Poria cocos is an edible fungus used as a health product and traditional Chinese medicinal preparation. Nevertheless, little is known about its nutrients. In this study, ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple‐quadrupole linear ion‐trap tandem mass spectrometry was conducted to quantify nucleosides, nucleobases, and amino acids in 32 batches of Poria cocos samples collected from Anhui, Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, and Guizhou. Subsequently, the linearity, precision, repeatability, stability, and recovery of our methods were validated. Samples from different regions were clearly separated by partial least squares discriminant analysis and cluster analysis. Our results suggested that Poria cocos samples from different geographical environments differed in nucleosides, nucleobases, and amino acids. The plot of variable importance for projection disclosed differential compositions of L‐Leucine, Uridine, L‐Asparagine, L‐Glutamine, L‐phenylalanine, L‐Ornithine monohydrochloride, L‐Hydroxyproline, Taurine, and Inosine in Poria cocos from five regions. We found the highest content of total analytes, total amino acids, and total non‐essential amino acids in Poria cocos from Anhui, total essential amino acids in the Sichuan samples, and total nucleosides in the Hunan samples. Overall, we determined the content of Poria cocos‐derived nucleosides, nucleobases, and amino acids, providing the foothold for further chemical mining and use of Poria cocos.
Innovative dual‐function protective scope mask and filtration system for aerosol generating ENT scope procedures
Authors: Chew Hui Sing , Tan Marcus , Sanchalika Acharyya , Tan Gabriel , Ho Eu Chin , Ang Brenda Sze Peng , Agrawal Rupesh , Yeo Seng Beng
Published: September 2022

Background

Aerosol‐generating procedures (AGPs), such as nasoendoscopy, are considered high‐risk during the COVID‐19 pandemic due to risk of virus aerosol transmission. We aim to evaluate the efficacy of an innovative system in reduction of aerosol contamination.

Methods

Pilot study involving 15 healthy volunteers performing aerosol‐generating activities with the prototype, compared with and without a standard surgical mask.

Results

We found an increased frequency of smaller‐sized particle emissions for all four expiratory activities. The particle emission rate with the prototype mask was significantly slower over time for the smallest sized particle (0.3 μm) during breathing, speaking and singing compared with similar activities without the mask (p < .05). We found similar trends for coughing for larger particles but that did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion

The innovation offers good protection against aerosol transmission through the physical barrier of the mask, the negative pressure environment within the mask, and the unit's dual filtration function.

Level of evidence

Level 2b.
Awards to early‐career researchers reflect interdisciplinary interest
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: September 2022

The latest trio of researchers receiving the One Mind – COMPASS Pathways Rising Star Awards reflects a growing trend of early‐career scientists from other disciplines pursuing research designed to broaden the understanding of psychiatric disorders.
Debunking the myth of the ‘mentally ill’ mass shooter
Authors: Pollock Michael
Published: September 2022

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) acknowledges the heaviness that many people around the country are feeling in the wake of the mass shootings at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which, sadly, follow on the heels of shooting incidents earlier this year in Buffalo, Dallas, and Los Angeles.
HRSA grants for nurses aim to strengthen diversity, training
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: September 2022

The federal Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) recently announced the grantees of its mobile training program with a goal to increase and strengthen the diversity, education and training of the nursing workforce.
Extensive Molecular Dynamics Simulations Disclosed the Stability of mPGES‐1 Enzyme and the Structural Role of Glutathione (GSH) Cofactor
Authors: Di Micco Simone , Lauro Gianluigi , Bifulco Giuseppe
Published: September 2022

A deep in silico investigation of various microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase‐1 (mPGES‐1) protein systems is here reported using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Firstly, eight different proteins models (Models A−H) were built, starting from the active enzyme trimer system (Model A), namely that bound to three glutathione (GSH) cofactor molecules, and then gradually removing the GSHs (Models B−H), simulating each of them for 100 ns in explicit solvent. The analysis of the obtained data disclosed the structural role of GSH in the chemical architecture of mPGES‐1 enzyme, thus suggesting the unlikely displacement of this cofactor, in accordance with experimentally determined protein structures co‐complexed with small molecule inhibitors. Afterwards, Model A was submitted to microsecond‐scale molecular dynamics simulation (total simulation time=10 μs), in order to shed light about the dynamical behaviour of this enzyme at atomic level and to obtain further structural features and protein function information. We confirmed the structural stability of the enzyme machinery, observing a conformational rigidity of the protein, with a backbone RMSD of ∼3 Å along the simulation time, and highlighting the strong active contribution of GSH molecules due to their active role in packing the protein chains through a tight binding at monomer interfaces. Furthermore, the focused analysis on R73 residue disclosed its role in solvent exchange events, probably excluding its function as route for GSH to enter towards the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, in line with the recently reported function of cap domain residues F44‐D66 as gatekeeper for GSH entrance into catalytic site.
Renormalization group approach for an enzyme‐substrate‐inhibitor kinetics
Authors: Fang Ming
Published: September 2022

The renormalization group (RG) method of Chen, Goldenfeld, Oono et al. offers a comprehensive approach to formally computing asymptotic expansions of the solutions to singular perturbation problems. A renormalization group formalism developed recently for the Michaelis–Menten (MM) model is extended to competitive systems. We will first revisit the singular perturbation analysis for the standard quasi‐steady‐state approximation (sQSSA) of enzyme‐substrate‐inhibitor kinetics. Our result shows that the RG method leads to a new prediction for the concentrations of substrate, inhibitor, and complexes, which can reproduce or surpass the results of matched asymptotics.
Determinants of burnout among nurses and midwives at a tertiary hospital in Ghana: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Opoku Douglas Aninng , Ayisi‐Boateng Nana Kwame , Mohammed Aliyu , Sulemana Alhassan , Gyamfi Abigail Owusuwaa , Owusu Dominic Kwabena , Yeboah Dorothy , Spangenberg Kathryn , Ofosu Hilda Maria , Edusei Anthony Kwaku
Published: September 2022

Aim

This study determined the prevalence and key determinants of burnout among nurses and midwives in Kumasi, Ghana.

Design

Hospital‐based cross‐sectional study.

Method

A questionnaire was used to obtain data from 391 nurses and midwives at a tertiary hospital in Kumasi, Ghana using simple random sampling.

Results

About 84.4% of the participants were females. The majority of the study participants experienced low burnout for all dimensions (58% in emotional exhaustion, 55.5% poor personal accomplishment and 38.3% depersonalization). Multiple regression analysis revealed that high emotional exhaustion was independently predicted by post‐graduate education (β = 6.42, p = .003), lack of support from management (β = 2.07, p = .024), dislike for leadership style, (β = 3.54, p < .001) and inadequate number of staff (β = 2.93, p = .005). Age (β = 0.35, p = .004), lack of support from management (β = 1.60, p = .012), and inadequate number of staff (β = 1.49, p = .034) independently predicted high depersonalisation. Female sex (β = 4.36, p < .001) and years of practice (β = −0.26, p < .001) independently predicted low personal accomplishment.
Spatial distribution of Annonaceae across biomes and anthromes: Knowledge gaps in spatial and ecological data
Authors: Erkens Roy H. J. , Blanpain Laetitia M. P. , Carrascosa Jara Inma , Runge Katharina , Verspagen Nadja , Cosiaux Ariane , Couvreur Thomas L. P.
Published: September 2022

Societal Impact Statement

The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration underlines the importance of understanding how different taxa are affected by human induced, global changes in ecosystems. Here, we investigate if this impact can be quantified for the globally distributed tropical plant group Annonaceae (Soursop family) using distributional data and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assessments. We find that even for a taxonomically well‐studied tropical plant family such as Annonaceae, little is known about the true distribution and ecological requirements of, and threats to, species in this group. We discuss several improvements in data collection that should enable more in‐depth analyses in the future.

The Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (UN), formulated with the overarching aims to end poverty and protect the planet, are also aimed at implementing sustainable management of all types of forests, to stop deforestation and to restore degraded forests. This led to the declaration of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. To meaningfully restore ecosystems, it is important to increase our understanding on the distribution of taxa and obtain insight in how different taxa are affected by human induced, global changes in ecosystems.

Here, we investigate if this impact can be quantified for the globally distributed tropical plant group Annonaceae (Soursop family) using spatial data and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assessments. Insight is gained in how Annonaceae are distributed over biomes and anthropogenic biomes (anthromes) and how threatened Annonaceae are based on their distribution.

We find that even for a taxonomically well‐studied group such as Annonaceae, very little is known about the true distribution and ecological requirements of, and threats, to species.

We urge to invest in (1) the exploration of ecological requirements of species in relation to their genetic patterns, in order to understand the impact of ecosystems changes, (2) research on distributional patterns in a temporal framework as the available data collected over decades might not reflect current distributions over biomes and anthromes well and (3) high‐quality spatial data collection that should adhere to the Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability and Reuse (FAIR) data principles, so that the quality of spatial analyses as well as IUCN Red List assessments will increase.
Highly Efficient Heterogeneous Photo‐Fenton‐Like Catalyst of e‐Fe2O3/SiO2/Attapulgite with Rich Oxygen Vacancies for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants
Authors: Zhang Lijing , Ding Rui , Mao Chen , Guo Tan , Xue Xiaoxiang , Bi Lingling , Yan Bin , Zhang Zhihao
Published: September 2022

Heterogeneous photo‐Fenton oxidation is a promising solution to solve the problem of environmental pollution. Due to the low efficiency of the Fe2O3 photo‐Fenton catalyst, we loaded Fe2O3 on the catalyst carrier of attapulgite (ATP) to obtain more active sites. Oxygen vacancies were introduced on the surface of the catalyst to improve the separation efficiency of photogenerated charges. The oxygen‐vacancy‐rich e‐Fe2O3/SiO2/ATP Fenton‐like photocatalyst was successfully synthesized by simple strategies. The oxygen vacancies were successfully introduced to the surface of the e‐Fe2O3/SiO2/ATP catalyst by a solvothermal method, and verified by XPS, Raman and EPR spectra. The e‐Fe2O3/SiO2/ATP Fenton‐like photocatalyst shows excellent photocatalytic degradation activity of MB and RhB. 96 % of RhB was degraded by e‐Fe2O3/SiO2/ATP with light in 60 min, and 95 % of MB was degraded by e‐Fe2O3/SiO2/ATP with light in 60 min. Therefore introducing surface oxygen vacancies is an effective strategy to future improve the catalytic activity of photo‐Fenton like catalysts.
Water‐dispersible Gadolinium Oxide Nanoplates as an Effective Positive Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agent
Authors: Thi Thuy Khue Nguyen , Thanh Tam Le Thi , Thanh Dung Ngo , The Tam Le , Xuan Chung Nguyen , Thi Ngoc Linh Nguyen , Dinh Vinh Nguyen , Minh Quy Bui , Trong Lu Le
Published: September 2022

Gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) nanoplates have been successfully synthesized by thermal decomposition method in the presence of oleic acid and oleylamine as surfactants. As a result, the nanoplates have average edge length and thickness around 10 nm and 1.1 nm, respectively. The hydrophobic OA/OM capped Gd2O3 nanoplates were encapsulated with amphiphilic poly (maleic anhydride‐alt‐1‐octadecene) polymer (PMAO) for phase transfer into aqueous media. The obtained Gd2O3@PMAO showed a hydrodynamic size of 32 nm with good dispersion in water solvent and stable in wide range of pH (pH=2÷11) and at electrolyte concentrations as high as NaCl 380 mM. In addition, the in vitro toxicity tests confirmed the biocompatibility of Gd2O3@PMAO nanoplates. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) result exhibited the r1 of Gd2O3@PMAO nanoplates (16.95 mM−1s−1) is four times higher than that of clinically used Gd‐DTPA. These results suggest that the PMAO coated ‐Gd2O3 nanoplates are potential T1 contrast agents for in vivo MRI application.
Release Characteristic and Antioxidant Activity of 4‐Hydroxybenzoic Acid (4HB) from Sodium Alginate and Polyvinyl Alcohol‐based Hydrogel
Authors: Muangsri Rapeepan , Chuysinuan Piyachat , Thanyacharoen Thanyaluck , Techasakul Supanna , Sukhavattanakul Pongpat , Ummartyotin Sarute
Published: September 2022

1, 3 and 5 %wt of 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid (4HB) was successfully loaded into sodium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol‐based hydrogel composite for enhancement of antioxidant activities. Hydrogel was prepared by freeze thaw technique. No crosslinking agents were employed. Fourier transform infrared and X‐ray diffraction technique revealed that no significant change of functional group and crystallinity was observed when 4HB was loaded. By using freeze thaw technique, microstructural properties were well packed as reported by scanning electron microscope. Due to small amount of 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid, thermal characteristic was presented in the similar feature compare to pristine hydrogel. Differential scanning calorimetry exhibited that the glass transition and melting temperatures were reported to be 90 °C and 225 °C, respectively. However, tensile strength was slightly reduced by loading 4HB. The swelling behavior was very rapidly increased at the initial stage and then it was stable. Antioxidant activities were observed by means of DPPH assay. It was important to note that 4HB loaded into sodium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol‐based hydrogel exhibited outstanding properties to be candidate as food additives to help prevent food deterioration.
An enhanced reversible image steganography using distributive Tian's method
Authors: Malarvizhi N , Priya R , Bhavani R
Published: September 2022

In recent years, the concept of image encryption and data concealing has become a major area of research that significantly improves the secure communication of images with hidden data in them. The usage of the cloud has been outstanding in several aspects so as its security to ensure privacy over the data stored in it. The concept of reversible image steganography is one such stream where the cloud users are highly relying upon the privacy of the data, they store in the cloud servers. The reversible image steganography has the potential to recover the original image from the stego‐image once the embedded data is extracted. In this research work, an effective distributive Tian's method is proposed to embed the data onto an encrypted image without degrading the performance of the encrypted image. The cross‐verification of lossless image steganography can be identified when the original image is getting extracted from the encrypted image. The result of the proposed method ensures that the distributive Tian's method outperforms the recent state‐of‐art methods. The proposed method is deployed onto six different images in different aspects to ensure its significance.
Lithium‐Metal Batteries via Suppressing Li Dendrite Growth and Improving Coulombic Efficiency
Authors: Su Laisuo , Manthiram Arumugam
Published: September 2022

Lithium‐metal batteries (LMB) are recognized as one of the most promising candidates for the next generation of batteries due to their high energy density. Extensive studies have been refocused on the field in the past decade to make the technology commercially viable. Despite exciting progress that has been made, the practical application of LMBs is still hampered by the uncontrollable Li plating morphology and inferior Coulombic efficiency (CE) during cycling. Herein, first, the relevant research that has been carried out in the past decade (2010–2021) is briefly summarized and then the Li plating behaviors, mechanistic understanding of these behaviors, and strategies to suppress Li dendrite growth are discussed. Finally, the methods and techniques to improve Coulombic efficiency (CE) is discussed, especially the design of liquid electrolytes, and possible research directions for the future development of LMBs.
Comparison of Properties of Films Prepared from Potato Starch Modified by Annealing and Heat–Moisture Treatment
Authors: Dutta Ditimoni , Sit Nandan
Published: September 2022

This study modified potato starches using hydrothermal treatment, i.e., annealing (ANN) and heatmoisture treatment (HMT). ANN in the ratio (1:2) of potato starch and water at 60 °C is performed for a day. For HMT, native starch is exposed to 110 °C maintained at 20% moisture content (M.C.) for 8 h. Potato bio‐films (native and modified) are prepared by solution casting method using glycerol as a plasticizer. The properties of native and modified starches along with developed films are evaluated. HMT‐modified starches showed lower solubility (10.5%), lower swelling power (21.2 g g−1), lower freeze‐thaw stability, and exhibited non‐Newtonian fluid behavior. Films produced from HMT starch have decreased solubility (13.57%), WVP (0.20 g mm m−2 h−1 kPa−1), and enhanced mechanical properties (7.62 MPa tensile strength, elongation of 11.36%, and seal strength 4.06 MPa) compared to annealed and native starch films. ANN starch increased the elongation (9.36%) with lower solubility (17.31%) and WVP (0.65 g mm m−2 h−1 kPa−1) of the starch films compared to the native starch. Also, the result shows that the potato starch‐based films biodegraded within 15 days. The developed biodegradable packaging films could meet various packaging requirements using physically modified potato starch which has better film forming properties and is also eco‐friendly.
Applicability of the diffusion of innovation theory to accelerate model‐based systems engineering adoption
Authors: Call Daniel R. , Herber Daniel R.
Published: September 2022

Systems engineering (SE) is an interdisciplinary domain that can benefit from incorporating contributions from fields not typically associated with technical disciplines, including integrating relevant research from social sciences. The study of innovation has produced the diffusion of innovation theory, which identifies variables that affect the adoption rate of innovations. Of these variables, the perceived attributes of the innovation have been shown to have the most significant impact on the adoption rate of innovations. Shaping the innovation attributes of relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability and how they are perceived can accelerate its adoption rate. This theory has the potential to accelerate the adoption rate of SE innovations. Model‐based systems engineering (MBSE) is an SE innovation that, despite its benefits, has not been adopted generally. An evaluation of the attributes of MBSE as defined by the diffusion of innovation theory can aid in understanding its slow diffusion and inform methods to accelerate its adoption. Since there is some evidence to suggest that this theory is applicable to SE and MBSE, additional research should be conducted to determine the best way to utilize its principles.
First detection and characterisation of sub‐genotype XIII.2.1 Newcastle disease virus isolated from backyard chickens in Iran
Authors: Hejazi Zahra , Tabatabaeizadeh Seyed‐Elias , Toroghi Reza , Farzin Hamidreza , Saffarian Parvaneh
Published: September 2022

Background

Newcastle disease (ND) is an economically significant poultry disease worldwide. During field surveillance for ND in 2010 in Iran, a backyard chicken flock showed clinical signs of ND with 100% mortality.

Objectives

We aimed to characterise genetically, biologically and epidemiologically an exotic virulent ND virus (NDV) detected in Iran.

Methods

After observing high mortality, dead birds were sampled and then disposed of by burial, and the chicken house was disinfected. Tissue samples were molecularly tested for NDV. The genetic homogeneity of the isolate RT30/2010 was tested by plaque assay, and then a large virus plaque was used for the second step of plaque purification. Fusion and matrix complete genes were sequenced and used for genotyping and epidemiological tracing. We tested biological pathotypes using mean death time (MDT) and intracerebral pathogenicity index (ICPI) assays.

Results

The isolate formed heterogeneous plaques in chicken embryo fibroblast cells. The second step of plaque purification produced homogeneous and large plaques. Phylogenetic analysis using both genes classified the virus into sub‐genotype XIII.2.1. Nucleic acid and amino acid identities of RT30/2010 fusion gene with the closest available isolate SPVC/Karachi/NDV/43 are 97.95% and 98.73%, respectively. Isolate has 112RRRKRF117 motif at the fusion cleavage site, and pathogenicity tests showed MDT of 56.4 h and ICPI of 1.85.

Conclusions

This study presents the first detection and characterisation of a velogenic NDV of sub‐genotype XIII.2.1 from Iran. Our follow‐up surveillance for ND shows that timely virus detection and carcass management have led to the cessation of virus transmission in Iran.
Phylogenetic analysis and genotyping of Iranian infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) based on the glycoprotein gene
Authors: Ziafati Kafi Zahra , Ghalyanchilangeroudi Arash , Nikaein Donya , Marandi Amin , Rahmati‐Holasoo Hooman , Sadri Naser , Erfanmanesh Ahmad , Enayati Ala
Published: September 2022

Background

Infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN) is known as one of the most contagious systemic viral diseases in salmonids which can lead to significant mortality rates and negative impacts on the salmonid farming industry. Infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) was first detected in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) farms in Iran in 2003.

Objectives

We conducted the present study to determine the detection of IHN genotypes in rainbow trout (O. mykiss) in farms in the central parts of Iran, using molecular and phylogenetic techniques.

Methods

Samples were collected from fries exhibiting clinical signs such as darkening of the skin, abdominal swelling, and loss of appetite. Phylogenetic analysis was performed by the neighbour‐joining method, using MEGA 5.1 software. For phylogenetic analysis and genotyping of IHNV from central parts of Iran, the sequences of the glycoprotein gene were determined for two Iranian isolates (Jahad‐UT1 and Jahad‐UT2).

Results

Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the detected strains (Jahad‐UT1 and Jahad‐UT2 isolates) are closely related (97.23%–100%) to European isolates within genogroup ‘E’.

Conclusions

This finding indicates that Jahad‐UT1 and Jahad‐UT2 isolates have been widely transferred to Iran from European countries. Moreover, the nucleotide diversity of these Iranian isolates showed a close relationship with the North American and Asian isolates, although the Iranian isolates were collected from a smaller geographical area and within a shorter time period between 2014 and 2015.
Nerve root signature in a cat: Presentation and treatment following acetabular fracture stabilisation and sacral fracture displacement
Authors: Pilot Mariette A. , Langley‐Hobbs Sorrel J.
Published: September 2022

Nerve root signature presents as discomfort and lameness in a single limb related to disease involving the spinal nerve roots or spinal nerve itself. It has been well described in dogs with disc protrusion or herniation. In this case, a 10‐month‐old, female, entire Bengal cat presented with nerve root signature and deterioration in ability to ambulate following acetabular fracture repair. The cat was reluctant to move and markedly uncomfortable on even gentle manipulation of the pelvic limb. A right sacral wing fracture was suspected to be compressing the right L7–S1 nerve root on computed tomography. Revision surgery was performed to remove the fragment, and the cat gradually made a full recovery. Compression of nerve roots L7–S1 by sacral fractures causing nerve root signature should be considered in cats presenting non‐ambulatory and exquisitely uncomfortable after surgery.
Sequential detergent fiber assay results used for nutritional ecology research: Evidence of bias since 2012
Authors: Cook Rachel C. , Shipley Lisa A. , Cook John G. , Camp Meghan J. , Monzingo Deborah S. , Robatcek Sierra L. , Berry Stephanie L. , Hull Iver T. , Myers Woodrow L. , Denryter Kristin , Long Ryan A.
Published: September 2022

Forage quality surveys can provide a variety of insights into the nutritional well‐being of herbivores. Even small differences in how much of the food eaten can be digested and used for life requisites (dry matter digestibility %; DMD) can affect performance of ruminants, and thus methods for determining forage digestibility must be accurate, repeatable, and robust among laboratories and over time. In 2013, we observed levels of DMD as determined from sequential detergent fiber assays with the filter bag method and the ANKOM fiber analyzer200/200® that were greater than expected given the plant species, season, and environmental setting. Using stockpiled and previously analyzed forage samples from Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, we evaluated whether fiber results had shifted since 2012, potential causes of the shifts, and whether results since 2012 aligned with data on ungulate performance. Beginning in 2012, our results indicated that sequential detergent fiber analysis began significantly overestimating DMD compared to the same samples analyzed using identical methodology prior to 2012. Magnitude of the difference increased as soluble fiber increased and overestimated DMD by up to 31 percentage points. We detected no changes in laboratory procedures (e.g., fiber bag design or origin of chemical solution) nor differences among laboratories using identical methodologies (e.g., Washington State University versus Dairy One) that might explain the shift, and thus were unable to pinpoint the cause. Results obtained prior to 2012 better explained ungulate performance (e.g., body fat, pregnancy, population trends) and thus we developed predictive equations (0.59 ≤ r2 ≤ 0.88) to align post‐2012 lab results with those obtained before 2012. Shifts in assay results and inconsistencies in laboratory methods have marked potential to affect inferences from studies of ruminant nutritional ecology. We provide recommendations for researchers using sequential detergent fiber analysis to measure DMD.
Multi-jet merging with TMD parton branching
Authors: Bermudez Martinez A. , Hautmann F. , Mangano M. L.
Published: September 2022

Abstract

One of the main theoretical systematic uncertainties in studies of final states with large jet multiplicities at high-energy hadron colliders is associated with the merging of QCD parton showers and hard-scattering matrix elements. We present a method to incorporate the physics of transverse momentum recoils due to initial-state shower evolution into multi-jet merging algorithms by using the concept of transverse momentum dependent (TMD) distributions and the associated parton branching. We investigate the dependence on the merging scale and illustrate the impact of the new method at the level of both exclusive and inclusive final-state observables by studying differential jet rates, transverse momentum spectra and multiplicity distributions, using vector boson + jets events at the LHC as a case study.
NNLO study of top-quark mass renormalization scheme uncertainties in Higgs boson production
Authors: Mazzitelli Javier
Published: September 2022

Abstract

The ambiguity in the choice of a renormalization scheme and scale for the top-quark mass leads to an additional source of theoretical uncertainty in the calculation of the Higgs boson production cross section via gluon fusion. These uncertainties were found to be dominant in the case of off-shell Higgs production at next-to-leading order in QCD for large values of the Higgs virtuality $$ {m}_H^{\ast } $$

m
H
∗

. In this work, we study the uncertainties related to the top-quark mass definition up to next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) in QCD. We include the full top-quark mass dependence up to three loops in the virtual corrections, and evaluate the real contributions in the soft limit, therefore obtaining the so-called soft-virtual (SV) approximation. We construct NNLOSV predictions for off-shell Higgs boson production renormalizing the top-quark mass within both the on-shell (OS) and the $$ \overline{\mathrm{MS}} $$

MS
¯

schemes, and study in detail the differences between them. While the differences between the two schemes are sizeable, we find that the predictions are always compatible within scale uncertainties. We also observe that the difference between renormalization schemes is largely reduced when increasing the order of the perturbative expansion. We analyze the quality of the convergence of the perturbative series in both schemes, and find that at large invariant masses the $$ \overline{\mathrm{MS}} $$

MS
¯

results present much larger corrections than their OS counterparts. We also comment on the more complicated case of Higgs boson pair production.
Elliptical and purely NS superstrata
Authors: Ganchev Bogdan , Houppe Anthony , Warner Nicholas P.
Published: September 2022

Abstract

We analyze the BPS equations in the “superstratum sector” of three-dimensional gauged supergravity. We obtain multi-parameter supersymmetric solutions that include elliptical deformations of the supertubes that underlie standard superstrata. We uplift the three-dimensional solutions to obtain the corresponding six-dimensional geometries. This yields new families of elliptically-deformed, ambi-bolar hyper-Kähler geometries in four dimensions with a non-tri-holomorphic U(1) isometry. We also find a new family of scaling superstrata whose S-dual lives entirely within the NS-sector of supergravity, and will thus be more amenable to exact analysis using string probes. In all these new superstrata, including the scaling ones, if the momentum charge is non-zero we find that the ellipse stays away from the degeneration locus in which the ellipse becomes flat.
FIMP dark matter in heterotic M-theory
Authors: Dumitru Sebastian , Ovrut Burt A.
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Within the context of N = 1 supersymmetric heterotic M-theory, we present a “freeze-in” mechanism for producing dark matter via a “moduli portal” between the observable and hidden sectors. It is assumed that the observable sector consists of the MSSM or some physically acceptable extension of it, while the hidden sector is chosen to satisfy all physical and mathematical constraints. Dark matter production processes are examined for two fundamental types of hidden sectors; those whose gauge bundle structure group contains an anomalous U(1) and those whose structure group is non-Abelian and anomaly free. The couplings of the dilaton and the “universal” modulus to all fields of the observable and hidden sectors are presented and analyzed. These interactions are then combined to produce a moduli portal from a thermal bath of observable sector particles to the hidden sector. These processes are then analyzed for both anomalous and non-anomalous cases. It is shown that only the uncharged hidden sector matter scalars can play the role of dark matter and that these are predominantly produced during the “reheating” epoch on the observable sector. Within the context of both an anomalous and non-anomalous hidden sector, we calculated the dark matter “relic density”. We show that in both cases, for a wide choice of moduli vacua, one can correctly predict the observed relic density. For the anomalous U(1) case, we choose a specific physically acceptable vacuum within the context of the B − L MSSM and show that one precisely obtains the measured dark matter relic abundance.
Weak-Type Lower Bounds for High-Dimensional Hardy–Littlewood Maximal Operators on Certain Measures via Averaging Operators
Authors: Pérez Lázaro F. J.
Published: September 2022

Consider $$\mathbb {R}^d$$

R

d

with the euclidean distance, and let $$0<\alpha <1$$

0
<
α
<
1

. We study the behavior of the averaging operators given by the radial density $$d\mu (x)=|x|^{-\alpha d}dx$$

d
μ

(
x
)

=

|
x
|

-
α
d

d
x

. When $$1\le p<\infty $$

1
≤
p
<
∞

is such that $$(1-2\alpha )p<1-\alpha $$

(
1
-
2
α
)
p
<
1
-
α

, we show that the weak (p, p) bounds grow exponentially with the dimension d. As a consequence, the corresponding results follow for the centered Hardy–Littlewood maximal operator. The lower bounds obtained here are new for averaging operators, and when $$0<\alpha \le 1/2$$

0
<
α
≤
1
/
2

and $$p>1$$

p
>
1

, they are also new for the maximal operator.