bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
El paisaje de la emergencia: las lluvias de septiembre de 2019 en la Comunidad Valenciana
Authors: Camarasa Belmonte Ana María , Caballero López María Paz
Published: October 2022

Este trabajo aborda los paisajes de la emergencia que generó el episodio torrencial de septiembrede 2019 (11-14) sobre la Comunidad Valenciana y, en especial, en la Vega Baja del Segura. Tomandocomo unidad espacial el municipio, se adopta una perspectiva integral que contempla los diferentesescenarios del evento: (1) el suceso (a partir de indicadores pluviométricos basados en datos de losSAIH del Júcar y del Segura); (2) la emergencia (a partir de llamadas al 112 cedidas por la AgenciaValenciana de Seguridad y Respuesta a las Emergencias); (3) el desastre (según pérdidas reportadaspor el Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros y noticias de prensa) y (4) la peligrosidad (basada en elMapa Integral de Peligro de Inundación en la Comunidad Valenciana, que homogeniza las cartografíasoficiales de PATRICOVA y SNCZI).
Los resultados ponen de manifiesto bajas correlaciones entre incidencias y lluvia, aunque altamentesignificativas. Los indicadores pluviométricos más influyentes son intensidad media, máxima horaria ylluvia acumulada. Entre las variables territoriales destacan: longitud de carreteras, número de habitantesy área del municipio. La emergencia pasa por cinco fases y va cambiando de tipo coyuntural (fases 1 y2) a estructural (fases 3 a 5). La comarca del Baix Segura se comporta de manera diferente al resto dela Comunidad Valenciana. Las incidencias no muestran correlación significativa con la lluvia (a pesarde registrar la mayor pluviometría) y tienen un fuerte carácter estructural.
El escenario de la emergencia y el del desastre son coherentes en el espacio. Sin embargo, emergencia y peligrosidad muestran disparidades alarmantes: el 45 % de las incidencias se producen en zonas supuestamente exentas de peligro. Especialmente preocupante resulta que el 31,7 % de la emergencia se concentre en el segundo nivel más alto de peligrosidad y con gran componente estructural, lo que demuestra una deficiente ordenación territorial.
Recalibrating vision-for-action requires years after sight restoration from congenital cataracts
Authors: Senna Irene , Piller Sophia , Ben-Zion Itay , Ernst Marc O
Published: October 2022

Being able to perform adept goal-directed actions requires predictive, feed-forward control, including a mapping between the visually estimated target locations and the motor commands reaching for them. When the mapping is perturbed, e.g., due to muscle fatigue or optical distortions, we are quickly able to recalibrate the sensorimotor system to update this mapping. Here, we investigated whether early visual and visuomotor experience is essential for developing sensorimotor recalibration. To this end, we assessed young individuals deprived of pattern vision due to dense congenital bilateral cataracts who were surgically treated for sight restoration only years after birth. We compared their recalibration performance to such distortion to that of age-matched sighted controls. Their sensorimotor recalibration performance was impaired right after surgery. This finding cannot be explained by their still lower visual acuity alone, since blurring vision in controls to a matching degree did not lead to comparable behavior. Nevertheless, the recalibration ability of cataract-treated participants gradually improved with time after surgery. Thus, the lack of early pattern vision affects visuomotor recalibration. However, this ability is not lost but slowly develops after sight restoration, highlighting the importance of sensorimotor experience gained late in life.
Diversity and distribution of Symbiodiniaceae detected on coral reefs of Lombok, Indonesia using environmental DNA metabarcoding
Authors: Pratomo Arief , Bengen Dietriech G. , Zamani Neviaty P. , Lane Christopher , Humphries Austin T. , Borbee Erin , Subhan Beginer , Madduppa Hawis
Published: October 2022

Background

Dinoflagellates of family Symbiodiniaceae are important to coral reef ecosystems because of their contribution to coral health and growth; however, only a few studies have investigated the function and distribution of Symbiodiniaceae in Indonesia. Understanding the distribution of different kinds of Symbiodiniaceae can improve forecasting of future responses of various coral reef systems to climate change. This study aimed to determine the diversity of Symbiodiniaceae around Lombok using environmental DNA (eDNA).

Methods

Seawater and sediment samples were collected from 18 locations and filtered to obtain fractions of 0.4–12 and >12 µm. After extraction, molecular barcoding polymerase chain reaction was conducted to amplify the primary V9-SSU 18S rRNA gene, followed by sequencing (Illumina MiSeq). BLAST, Naïve-fit-Bayes, and maximum likelihood routines were used for classification and phylogenetic reconstruction. We compared results across sampling sites, sample types (seawater/sediment), and filter pore sizes (fraction).

Results

Phylogenetic analyses resolved the amplicon sequence variants into 16 subclades comprising six Symbiodiniaceae genera (or genera-equivalent clades) as follows: Symbiodinium, Breviolum, Cladocopium, Durusdinium, Foraminifera Clade G, and Halluxium. Comparative analyses showed that the three distinct lineages within Cladocopium, Durusdinium, and Foraminifera Clade G were the most common. Most of the recovered sequences appeared to be distinctive of different sampling locations, supporting the possibility that eDNA may resolve regional and local differences among Symbiodiniaceae genera and species.

Conclusions

eDNA surveys offer a rapid proxy for evaluating Symbiodiniaceae species on coral reefs and are a potentially useful approach to revealing diversity and relative ecological dominance of certain Symbiodiniaceae organisms. Moreover, Symbiodiniaceae eDNA analysis shows potential in monitoring the local and regional stability of coral–algal mutualisms.
Genome-wide identification of the rubber tree superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene family and analysis of its expression under abiotic stress
Authors: Yu Wencai , Kong Guanghong , Chao Jinquan , Yin Tuo , Tian Hai , Ya Huajin , He Ligang , Zhang Hanyao
Published: October 2022

Background

The rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is the only species capable of producing high-quality natural rubber for commercial use, and is often subjected to various abiotic stresses in non-traditional rubber plantation areas. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a vital metalloenzyme translated by a SOD gene family member and acts as a first-line of protection in plant cells by catalysing the disproportionation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to produce H2O2 and O2. However, the SOD gene family is not reported in rubber trees.

Methods

Here, we used hidden markov model (HMM) and BLASTP methods to identify SOD genes in the H. brasiliensis genome. Phylogenetic tree, conserved motifs, gene structures, cis elements, and gene ontology annotation (GO) analyses were performed using MEGA 6.0, MEME, TBtools, PlantCARE, and eggNOG database, respectively. HbSOD gene expression profiles were analysed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Results

We identified nine HbSOD genes in the rubber tree genome, including five HbCSDs, two HbFSDs, and two HbMSDs. Phylogenetic relationship analysis classified the SOD proteins from the rubber tree and other related species into three subfamilies. The results of gene structure and conserved motif analysis illustrated that most HbSOD genes have similar exon-intron numbers and conserved motifs in the same evolutionary branch. Five hormone-related, four stress-related, and light-responsive elements were detected in the HbSODs’ promoters. HbSODs were expressed in different tissues, gradually increased with leaf development, and were abundantly expressed in mature leaves. HbCSD2 and HbCSD4 was significantly upregulated under low and high temperatures, and salt stress, except for HbCSD2, by heat. Furthermore, most HbSOD genes were significantly upregulated by drought, except HbMSD2. These findings imply that these genes may play vital roles in rubber tree stress resistance. Our results provide a basis for further studies on the functions of HbSOD genes in rubber trees and stress response mechanisms.
Scientists’ warning of the impacts of climate change on mountains
Authors: Knight Jasper
Published: October 2022

Mountains are highly diverse in areal extent, geological and climatic context, ecosystems and human activity. As such, mountain environments worldwide are particularly sensitive to the effects of anthropogenic climate change (global warming) as a result of their unique heat balance properties and the presence of climatically-sensitive snow, ice, permafrost and ecosystems. Consequently, mountain systems—in particular cryospheric ones—are currently undergoing unprecedented changes in the Anthropocene. This study identifies and discusses four of the major properties of mountains upon which anthropogenic climate change can impact, and indeed is already doing so. These properties are: the changing mountain cryosphere of glaciers and permafrost; mountain hazards and risk; mountain ecosystems and their services; and mountain communities and infrastructure. It is notable that changes in these different mountain properties do not follow a predictable trajectory of evolution in response to anthropogenic climate change. This demonstrates that different elements of mountain systems exhibit different sensitivities to forcing. The interconnections between these different properties highlight that mountains should be considered as integrated biophysical systems, of which human activity is part. Interrelationships between these mountain properties are discussed through a model of mountain socio-biophysical systems, which provides a framework for examining climate impacts and vulnerabilities. Managing the risks associated with ongoing climate change in mountains requires an integrated approach to climate change impacts monitoring and management.
Reforming the World Health Organization’s Essential Medicines List
Authors: Hwang Thomas J. , Kesselheim Aaron S. , Vokinger Kerstin N.
Published: October 2022

This Viewpoint proposes restructuring the WHO Essential Medicines List to remove consideration of cost and cost-effectiveness from the expert committee reviews of clinical effectiveness, safety, and public health value, and chartering a new framework for pooled global negotiation and procurement of costly medicines included in the list.
Association of Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening Rates With Subsequent Metastatic Prostate Cancer Incidence at US Veterans Health Administration Facilities
Authors: Bryant Alex K. , Lee Kyung Min , Alba Patrick R. , Murphy James D. , Martinez Maria Elena , Natarajan Loki , Green Michael D. , Dess Robert T. , Anglin-Foote Tori R. , Robison Brian , DuVall Scott L. , Lynch Julie A. , Rose Brent S.
Published: October 2022

Importance

There is controversy about the benefit of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening. Prostate-specific antigen screening rates have decreased since 2008 in the US, and the incidence of metastatic prostate cancer has increased. However, there is no direct epidemiologic evidence of a correlation between population PSA screening rates and subsequent metastatic prostate cancer rates.

Objective

To assess whether facility-level variation in PSA screening rates is associated with subsequent facility-level metastatic prostate cancer incidence.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective cohort used data for all men aged 40 years or older with an encounter at 128 facilities in the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2019.

Exposures

Yearly facility-level PSA screening rates, defined as the proportion of men aged 40 years or older with a PSA test in each year, and long-term nonscreening rates, defined as the proportion of men aged 40 years or older without a PSA test in the prior 3 years, from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2014.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcomes were facility-level yearly counts of incident metastatic prostate cancer diagnoses and age-adjusted yearly metastatic prostate cancer incidence rates (per 100 000 men) 5 years after each PSA screening exposure year.

Results

The cohort included 4 678 412 men in 2005 and 5 371 701 men in 2019. Prostate-specific antigen screening rates decreased from 47.2% in 2005 to 37.0% in 2019, and metastatic prostate cancer incidence increased from 5.2 per 100 000 men in 2005 to 7.9 per 100 000 men in 2019. Higher facility-level PSA screening rates were associated with lower metastatic prostate cancer incidence 5 years later (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.91 per 10% increase in PSA screening rate; 95% CI, 0.87-0.96; P < .001). Higher long-term nonscreening rates were associated with higher metastatic prostate cancer incidence 5 years later (IRR, 1.11 per 10% increase in long-term nonscreening rate; 95% CI, 1.03-1.19; P = .01).

Conclusions and Relevance

From 2005 to 2019, PSA screening rates decreased in the national VHA system. Facilities with higher PSA screening rates had lower subsequent rates of metastatic prostate cancer. These data may be used to inform shared decision-making about the potential benefits of PSA screening among men who wish to reduce their risk of metastatic prostate cancer.
Female Sex, Age, and Unfavorable Response to Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors in Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results of Statistical and Artificial Intelligence–Based Data Analyses of a National Multicenter Prospective Registry
Authors: Fernández‐Carballido Cristina , Sanchez‐Piedra Carlos , Valls Raquel , Garg Kristin , Sánchez‐Alonso Fernando , Artigas Laura , Mas José Manuel , Jovaní Vega , Manrique Sara , Campos Cristina , Freire Mercedes , Martínez‐González Olga , Castrejón Isabel , Perella Chiara , Coma Mireia , van der Horst‐Bruinsma Irene E.
Published: October 2022

Objective

Real‐world studies are needed to identify factors associated with response to biologic therapies in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (SpA). The objective was to assess sex differences in response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) and to explore possible risk factors associated with TNFi efficacy.

Methods

A total of 969 patients with axial SpA (315 females, 654 males) enrolled in the BIOBADASER registry (2000–2019) who initiated a TNFi (first, second, or further lines) were studied. Statistical and artificial intelligence (AI)–based data analyses were used to explore the association of sex differences and other factors to TNFi response, using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), to calculate the BASDAI50, with an improvement of at least 50% of the BASDAI score, and using the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score, calculated using the C‐reactive protein level (ASDAS‐CRP).

Results

Females had a lower probability of reaching a BASDAI50 response with a first line TNFi treatment at the second year of follow‐up (P = 0.018) and a lesser reduction of the ASDAS‐CRP at this time point. The logistic regression model showed lower BASDAI50 responses to TNFi in females (P = 0.05). Other factors, such as older age (P = 0.004), were associated with unfavorable responses. The AI data analyses reinforced the idea that age at the beginning of the treatment was the main factor associated with an unfavorable response. The combination of age with other clinical characteristics (female sex or cardiovascular risk factors and events) potentially contributed to an unfavorable response to TNFi.

Conclusion

In this national multicenter registry, female sex was associated with less response to a first‐line TNFi by the second year of follow‐up. A higher age at the start of the TNFi was the main factor associated with an unfavorable response to TNFi.
Multifunctional Materials from Aerobic Degradation of Epoxy Thermoset via Phosphotungstic Acid‐Involved Activation and Bonding
Authors: Zhou Xuelian , Zhang Shun , An Wenli , Zhao Xu , Long Yuwei , Liu Xuehui , Xu Shimei , Wang Yu‐Zhong
Published: October 2022

The growing scale of production of wind turbines represents a big challenge for chemical recycling of amine‐cured epoxy resin (EP) to achieve high‐efficiency degradation and high‐value utilization of degradation products. Here, H2O2/phosphotungstic acid (HPW) catalytic oxidation system is demonstrated to completely degrade EP thermoset with the solid recovery rate of 96% at a reaction temperature of 80 °C for 4 h. Owing to protonation and bonding effect of HPW to the amine groups, the degradation products had a weight‐average molecular weight of 4285 with narrow molecular weight distribution. They were used as dye adsorption blend films and supramolecular adhesives based on hydrogen bonding and coordination bonding respectively. The work demonstrates a feasible and promising method to recover the EP thermoset into high‐performance materials.
The expanded landscape of metalloproteins by genetic incorporation of noncanonical amino acids
Authors: Lee Jaehee , Yang Minwoo , Song Woon Ju
Published: October 2022

Proteins are versatile macromolecules whose sequence space and chemical scope can be expanded infinitely. A chemical toolbox other than the 20 canonical amino acids can further diversify protein structure and function. Indeed, genetic code expansion to incorporate noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) has extensively flourished metalloproteins in various aspects. This review focuses on artificial metalloproteins and metalloenzymes built using ncAAs, which operate directly as metal‐ligating ligands, modulate the chemical properties of metallocofactors within unique secondary coordinating microenvironments, or provide unique functions. As a result, self‐assembled protein architectures or novel catalytic activities have been created, showing the expanded landscape of metalloproteins. We also discuss potential prospects for ncAAs and their future applications in the design of protein‐based biomaterials and biocatalysts.
An intelligent color design method for visual communication design for public crisis
Authors: Qiao Yidan , Chen Dengkai , Sun Yiwei , Wang Hanyu
Published: October 2022

During a crisis, people's emotions are dynamically affected by changes in the environment, and by the attributes of object and subject in ways that depend on an emotion's essential characteristics. Negative emotions can cause psychological harm to people, but specific visual colors can instantaneously dispel or reduce those negative emotions. We developed a color design method based on a hybrid intelligent algorithm to predict accurately the significant negative emotions of people during a public crisis, and to explore the relationship between color structure and negative emotions developed. A Fuzzy Bayesian Network prediction model was constructed of people's significant negative emotions during a public crisis. Then, the concept of color cube was proposed that related color combinations to  particular emotions. Finally, based on the emotion arousal experiment and the BP neural network, the nonlinear mapping relationship between negative emotion and color cube was analyzed to predict the fading versus stimulating color structure of the significant negative emotions. This mapping provides a reference for the color design of visual communications during a public crisis. Our results show that the prediction model of emotions and color design method were effective.
Passivity criteria for controlled affine resistive components
Authors: Sommariva Antonino M.
Published: October 2022

Passivity criteria for controlled affine resistive (CAR) components are presented. First, the definitions of passive component and non‐dynamic component are recalled, as formulated in the frame of the behavioral approach (i.e., based on the concept of forwards concatenation set of an admissible process at a given time). Then, three lemmas, one theorem, and four corollaries on quadratic functions are stated and proven, which provide the mathematical tools needed. On this basis, passivity criteria for CAR components are derived, under both the standard (i.e., homogeneous, hybrid, and transmission) matrix representations and the general matrix representation. Finally, by resorting to a kind of canonic representation, two general results on the passivity of CAR components are obtained.
An integrated single‐phase boosting voltage inverter with two parallel DC/DC converters
Authors: Fei Chenjin , Mu Kunshu , Hu Xuefeng , Long Zikang
Published: October 2022

An integrated single‐phase DC/AC power converter with step up is an interesting alternative of two‐stage architecture. This paper presents a single stage step up inverter with two inputs to simplify the hardware structure and reduce the number of power components. This circuit arrangement can be derived by combining two parallel boost DC/DC converters and a split‐capacitor, reducing the cost and power conversion stage. And, the proposed inverter can output AC voltage higher than the input DC voltage only through single‐stage conversion, which can satisfy the applications such as photovoltaic power generation systems. Moreover, the two input DC sources can provide power to the load port together or separately, with great flexibility. Furthermore, the proposed converter has the inherent feature of shoot‐through immunity, which can further improve the reliability of the system. This article discusses the operating modes and stable performance of the inverter in detail. Finally, an experimental prototype is built to verify the validity of the proposed topology and theoretical analysis.
Plant power: SEEDing our future with plant‐based eating
Authors: Bublitz Melissa G. , Catlin Jesse R. , Jones Aziza C. , Lteif Lama , Peracchio Laura A.
Published: October 2022

The climate crisis, coupled with the COVID‐19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, are contributing to a shift in what people eat. For environmental sustainability, ethical, social justice, and health reasons, people are embracing plant‐based diets, which involve consuming mostly fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans and little or no meat and dairy products. Drawing on insights from consumer psychology, this review synthesizes academic research at the intersection of food and consumer values to propose a framework for understanding how and why these values—Sustainability, Ethics, Equity, and Dining for health—are transforming what people eat. We term our model the SEED framework. We build this framework around a report assembled by the Rockefeller Foundation (2021) that describes how to grow a value‐based societal food system. Finally, we highlight insights from consumer psychology that promote an understanding of how consumer values are shifting people's diets and raise research questions to encourage more consumer psychologists to investigate how and why values influence what consumers eat, which in turn impacts the well‐being of people, our environment, and society.
Minding behavior
Authors: Wasserman Edward A.
Published: October 2022

Perhaps the most popular definition of psychology is the science of mind and behavior. However, the interrelation between mind and behavior is one of continuing controversy. The present paper examines this enduring issue from the perspectives of George J. Romanes, an early comparative psychologist, Edwin G. Boring, an influential experimental psychologist, and Howard Rachlin, an estimable recent behaviorist. Their respective positions shed considerable light on both the theory and practice of behavioral psychology.
Designing Culturally Responsive Literacy Centers to Include and Go Beyond Skills
Authors: Wise Crystal N. , Ward Alessandra E.
Published: October 2022

This article describes an approach to designing culturally responsive literacy centers. Aligned with Gholdy Muhammad's (2020) Historically Responsive Literacy model, we reimagine literacy centers as responsive to children from historically marginalized backgrounds. We present a five‐question tool that teachers can use as they plan for literacy centers that offer not only opportunities to build skills, but also to build upon children's cultural experiences, strengths, and interests. We describe our approach, offer an example of a cycle of culturally responsive literacy centers and lessons learned from our experience developing and revising these centers to maximize their effectiveness in early elementary classrooms.
Multi-criteria decision analysis for prospective sustainability assessment of alternative technologies and fuels for individual motorized transport
Authors: Haase M. , Wulf C. , Baumann M. , Ersoy H. , Koj J. C. , Harzendorf F. , Mesa Estrada L. S.
Published: October 2022

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transport sector is one of the biggest challenges in the German energy transition. Furthermore, sustainable development does not stop with reducing GHG emissions. Other environmental, social and economic aspects should not be neglected. Thus, here a comprehensive sustainability assessment for passenger vehicles is conducted for 2020 and 2050. The discussed options are an internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) fuelled with synthetic biofuel and fossil gasoline, a battery electric vehicle (BEV) with electricity from wind power and electricity mix Germany and a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) with hydrogen from wind power. The life cycle-based assessment entails 13 environmental indicators, one economic and one social indicator. For integrated consideration of the different indicators, the MCDA method Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is chosen. For the assessment, a consistent assessment framework, i.e. background scenario and system boundaries, and a detailed modelling of vehicle production, fuel supply and vehicle use are the cornerstones. The BEV with wind power is the most sustainable option in 2020 as well as in 2050. While in 2020, the second rank is taken by the ICEV with synthetic biofuel from straw and the last rank by the FCEV, in 2050 the FCEV is the runner-up. With the help of MCDA, transparent and structured guidance for decision makers in terms of sustainability assessment of motorized transport options is provided.

Graphical abstract
When does morbidity start? An analysis of changes in morbidity between 2013 and 2019 in Italy
Authors: Pastore Andrea , Tonellato Stefano F. , Aliverti Emanuele , Campostrini Stefano
Published: October 2022

Morbidity is one of the key aspects for assessing populations’ well-being. In particular, chronic diseases negatively affect the quality of life in the old age and the risk that more years added to lives are years of disability and illness. Novel analysis, interventions and policies are required to understand and potentially mitigate this issue. In this article, we focus on investigating whether in Italy the compression of morbidity is in act in the recent years, parallely to an increase of life expectancy. Our analysis rely on large repeated cross-sectional data from the national surveillance system passi, providing deep insights on the evolution of morbidity together with other socio-demographical variables. In addition, we investigate differences in morbidity across subgroups, focusing on disparities by gender, level of education and economic difficulties, and assessing the evolution of these differences across the period 2013–2019.
Wheeled Mobile Robots: State of the Art Overview and Kinematic Comparison Among Three Omnidirectional Locomotion Strategies
Authors: Tagliavini Luigi , Colucci Giovanni , Botta Andrea , Cavallone Paride , Baglieri Lorenzo , Quaglia Giuseppe
Published: October 2022

In the last decades, mobile robotics has become a very interesting research topic in the field of robotics, mainly because of population ageing and the recent pandemic emergency caused by Covid-19. Against this context, the paper presents an overview on wheeled mobile robot (WMR), which have a central role in nowadays scenario. In particular, the paper describes the most commonly adopted locomotion strategies, perception systems, control architectures and navigation approaches. After having analyzed the state of the art, this paper focuses on the kinematics of three omnidirectional platforms: a four mecanum wheels robot (4WD), a three omni wheel platform (3WD) and a two swerve-drive system (2SWD). Through a dimensionless approach, these three platforms are compared to understand how their mobility is affected by the wheel speed limitations that are present in every practical application. This original comparison has not been already presented by the literature and it can be used to improve our understanding of the kinematics of these mobile robots and to guide the selection of the most appropriate locomotion system according to the specific application.
Assessing student engagement from facial behavior in on-line learning
Authors: Buono Paolo , De Carolis Berardina , D’Errico Francesca , Macchiarulo Nicola , Palestra Giuseppe
Published: October 2022

The automatic monitoring and assessment of the engagement level of learners in distance education may help in understanding problems and providing personalized support during the learning process. This article presents a research aiming to investigate how student engagement level can be assessed from facial behavior and proposes a model based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks to predict the level of engagement from facial action units, gaze, and head poses. The dataset used to learn the model is the one of the EmotiW 2019 challenge datasets. In order to test its performance in learning contexts, an experiment, involving students attending an online lecture, was performed. The aim of the study was to compare the self-evaluation of the engagement perceived by the students with the one assessed by the model. During the experiment we collected videos of students behavior and, at the end of each session, we asked students to answer a questionnaire for assessing their perceived engagement. Then, the collected videos were analyzed automatically with a software that implements the model and provides an interface for the visual analysis of the model outcome. Results show that, globally, engagement prediction from students’ facial behavior was weakly correlated to their subjective answers. However, when considering only the emotional dimension of engagement, this correlation is stronger and the analysis of facial action units and head pose (facial movements) are positively correlated with it, while there is an inverse correlation with the gaze, meaning that the more the student’s feels engaged the less are the gaze movements.
The Importance of Using Exosome-Loaded miRNA for the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Shen Yunpeng , Cai Junying
Published: October 2022

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a major traumatic disease of the central nervous system characterized by high rates of disability and mortality. Many studies have shown that SCI can be divided into the two stages of primary and secondary injury. Primary injury leads to pathophysiological changes, while consequential injury is even more fatal, including a series of harmful reactions that expand the scope and degree of SCI. Because the pathological process of SCI is highly complex, there is still no clear and effective clinical treatment strategy. Exosomes, membrane-bound extracellular vesicles (EVs) with a diameter of 30–200 nm, have emerged as an ideal vector to deliver therapeutic molecules. At the same time, increasing numbers of studies have shown that miRNAs play a momentous role in the process of SCI. In recent studies, researchers have adopted exosomes as carriers of miRNAs with potential therapeutic effects in SCI. In this review, we summarize relevant articles describing exosomes as miRNA carriers for SCI, after which we discuss further implications and perspectives of this novel treatment modality.
From morphology to molecular targets—the pathologist’s view in diagnosing gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms
Authors: Henzinger Hanna , Brcic Iva
Published: October 2022

In the last decade, a number of genetic alterations in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) have been identified. In addition, differences in tumor morphology as well as proliferation index (Ki-67) or number of mitoses have led to changes in the classification of these neoplasms. According to the new World Health Organization (WHO) classification, GEP-NENs are now divided into two genetically and prognostically different categories: (i) well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NET) subdivided into low (G1), intermediate (2) and high (G3) grade tumors, and (ii) poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC). In addition, a group of mixed neuroendocrine–non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNEN) has been defined. This review focuses on the clinical, morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular findings of the GEP-NENs and their key diagnostic features that can help the pathologist to differentiate between tumors in this heterogeneous group. In challenging cases, additional immunohistochemical and/or molecular analysis can be helpful to determine the correct diagnosis and proper treatment for the patient.
MiR92b-3p synthetic analogue impairs zebrafish embryonic development, leading to ocular defects, decreased movement and hatching rate, and increased mortality
Authors: Kranert Kilian , Woźny Maciej , Podlasz Piotr , Wąsowicz Krzysztof , Brzuzan Paweł
Published: October 2022

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of microRNA 92b-3p (MiR92b-3p) overexpression on the embryonic development of zebrafish. A synthetic MiR92b-3p analogue (mirVana™ mimic, in vivo-ready) was injected at doses up to 5 ng/embryo into the yolk sac of embryos (2–16 cell stage). At 24 h post fertilization (hpf), the locomotor activity of the embryos was measured, and after hatching (72 hpf), the rates of malformation occurrence, hatching, and mortality were determined. Next, the larvae were fixed for histological and molecular examinations. Exposure to the MiR92b-3p mimic impaired embryonic development, leading to increased occurrence of malformations (i.e., pericardial edema, spine curvature, smaller eyes), decreased locomotor activity and hatching rate, and increased mortality. Importantly, the mimic affected retinal differentiation and lens formation during zebrafish embryogenesis, which suggests that MiR92b-3p could be an important factor in the regulation of fish embryogenesis and ocular development. The expression level of MiR92b-3p was substantially higher in the exposed larvae than in the untreated larvae, indicating that the mimic was successfully delivered to the zebrafish. Although screening of potential MiR92b-3p target genes suggested some changes in their expression levels, these results were inconclusive. Together, this study indicates that MiR92b-3p mimic impairs zebrafish embryonic development, and further research is necessary to identify the MiR92b-3p–regulated cell pathways involved in the impairment of the fish’s development.
Species redescription and nest architecture of Plebeia flavocincta (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini)
Authors: Maia Ulysses Madureira , Borges Rafael Cabral , dos Santos-Júnior José Eustáquio , Dias Victor Hugo Pedraça , Carvalho Airton Torres , Imperatriz-Fonseca Vera Lucia , de Oliveira Guilherme Corrêa , Giannini Tereza Cristina
Published: October 2022

Bees are important insects both environmentally and economically. Despite this, most bee species are poorly characterized regarding their morphology and nesting habits, which are relevant characteristics for planning management and conservation. Plebeia flavocincta is a stingless bee species that occurs in the Northeast region of Brazil and there is little knowledge about its morphology and nesting biology. Here, we morphologically characterize Plebeia flavocincta workers from 54 colonies and use seven colonies to describe the structure of the species’ nest. All nests were found in seasonally dry forest areas in different substrates, namely, hollow of native trees, wall, post, and wooden boxes. The structure of the species’ nest was detailed in terms of the number, shape, and area of the combs; brood cell size; size of food pots; nest size; and honey volume. Plebeia flavocincta is found in both natural and urban environments. The structure of the nest of Plebeia flavocincta is similar to that found in other species of the same genus. This is the first nest diagnosis study of the species. In addition, by establishing morphological data to recognize Plebeia flavocincta, this study provides useful information for management and conservation plans for the species.
Effect of loading rate and time delay on the tangent modulus method (TMM) in coal and coal measured rocks
Authors: Ali Zulfiqar , Karakus Murat , Nguyen Giang D. , Amrouch Khalid
Published: October 2022

Non-destructive techniques of in-situ stress measurement from oriented cored rocks have great potential to be developed as a cost cost-effective and reliable alternative to the conventional overcoring and hydraulic fracturing methods. The tangent modulus method (TMM) is one such technique that can be applied to oriented cored rocks to measure in-situ stresses. Like the deformation rate analysis (DRA), the rock specimen is subjected to two cycles of uniaxial compression and the stress-tangent modulus curve for the two cycles is obtained from the stress–strain curve. A bending point in the tangent modulus curve of the first cycle is observed, separating it from the tangent modulus curve of the second cycle. The point of separation between the two curves is assumed to be the previously applied maximum stress. A number of experiments were conducted on coal and coal measured rocks (sandstone and limestone) to understand the effect of loading conditions and the time delay. The specimens were preloaded, and cyclic compressions were applied under three different modes of loading, four different strain rates, and time delays of up to one week. The bending point in the stress-tangent modulus curves occurred approximately at the applied pre-stress levels under all three loading modes, and no effect of loading rate was observed on the bending points in TMM. However, a clear effect of time delay was observed on the TMM, contradicting the DRA results. This could be due to the sensitivity of TMM and the range of its applicability, all of which need further investigation for the in-situ stress measurement.
Monarchical Constitutional Guardianship and Legal Métissage in Asia
Authors: De Visser Maartje , Harding Andrew
Published: October 2022

This article presents a roadmap for examining the phenomenon of monarchy in Asia, which we conceive as a pluralist institution in a twofold manner. First, many monarchies discharge a wide range of roles and responsibilities ranging from the symbolic to the religious to the legal-political. These varied functions can be usefully captured under the notion of constitutional guardianship, and call for intersectional analysis. Second, it is common for monarchies to have metamorphosed from being purely endogenous institutions to becoming ones embedded in a scheme of limited, constitutional government under the influence of ideas from elsewhere. Monarchies should accordingly be viewed as a form of legalmétissage, viz. a braiding of local and extraneous ideas, practices, and rules. In this sense, a law-and-society approach is more likely to reveal the nature of monarchies than a strictly legal-doctrinal approach, although some of the latter is needed to fully appreciate the former’s significance.
Eyes on the Prize: Toward a Reimagining of the Role of Awards in African Studies
Authors: Phillips Kristin D. , Cheney Kristen E.
Published: October 2022

Phillips and Cheney preface an analysis of the ASA’s Graduate Student Paper Prize in a discussion with past Prize winners with a review of the sociological literature on awards and scholarly critiques of the history of African Studies. They find that the Prize has played an important role in amplifying and recognizing the voices of young scholars who have pushed the thematic and theoretical boundaries of the field. But these contributions are attended by limitations that the ASA should remediate as they consider the GSP Prize in relation to efforts to realize anti-colonial and social justice-oriented approaches to knowledge production.
Opinion 1/19 on the Conclusion of the Istanbul Convention (C.J.E.U.)
Authors: Koutrakos Panos
Published: October 2022

On October 6, 2021, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) handed down Opinion 1/19 on the conclusion of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention). Based on a request by the European Parliament, the Opinion was rendered under Article 218(11) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which enables the Court to rule on the compatibility with EU law of international agreements envisaged, but not yet concluded, by the Union. The Opinion is about, on the one hand, the legal basis under the EU Treaties and, on the other hand, the procedure pursuant to which the EU and its member states may conclude the Convention.
State Mobilization in Authoritarian Regimes: Youth Politics and Regime Legitimation in Cambodia
Authors: Vong Mun
Published: October 2022

This article explains the political significance of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia, the quasi-youth wing of the ruling Cambodian People's Party in Cambodia. I argue that pro-regime events organized by the youth wing are a form of state mobilization designed to help the ruling party pre-empt the threat posed by the country's growing youth population. In doing so, the youth wing draws upon the monarchy, culture, and nationalism to regenerate the ruling party's legitimacy claims to make them more appealing to the target group. The article contributes to our knowledge of how authoritarian regimes mobilize citizens to maintain power.
A note related to the CS decomposition and the BK inequality for discrete determinantal processes
Authors: Goldman André
Published: October 2022

We prove that for a discrete determinantal process the BK inequality occurs for increasing events generated by simple points. We also give some elementary but nonetheless appealing relationships between a discrete determinantal process and the well-known CS decomposition.
Near field study of vortex attenuation using wing-tip blowing
Authors: Simpson R. G. , Ahmed N. A. , Archer R. D.
Published: October 2022

The trailing vortex wake shed by large transport aircraft not only has detrimental effects on their aerodynamic efficiency through the production of induced drag but can cause a considerable safety hazard to smaller following aircraft. This hazard is a major factor in determining the minimum allowable spacing between aircraft during airport operations with separations of up to five nautical miles being required between heavy aircraft and smaller aircraft following them on the approach for landing. It has been estimated that the minimum safe operating distance based on considerations other than vortex wake hazard is approximately two nautical miles’. The potential economic saving from the reduction in operating times at busy airports as well as the improvement in aerodynamic efficiency has led to the investigation of many schemes for the alleviation of these trailing vortices.
Simulation and collective training - creating a total experience
Authors: Smith E. , Mclntyre H.M.
Published: October 2022

There is a popular misconception that synthetic training is only concerned with time spent in the simulator. If this were so, a training exercise which had focused on the simulation experience alone, might fail to provide the rich learning environment needed to maximise training opportunities and so fall short of expectations in terms of delivery of a complete training experience.

This is particularly true when considering collective training for military aircrew; where all mission phases are equally important, and all roles and tasks must be carefully considered when assessing the training need. The training designers must create a scenario that meets the requirements of the total training audience (the collective) throughout all the mission phases; planning, briefing, flying (traditionally the key simulation event) and debriefing. This scenario must allow the trainees to become fully immersed and provide a ‘total experience’ in order for them to obtain maximum benefit from the synthetic training event.

Maintenance of such an environment during the training process places an extra burden on those who are providing the training experience. As the number and mix of trainees participating in a synthetic exercise grows so too do the demands placed upon the exercise management team, the trainers and the assessors to provide a rich and rewarding training experience. Not only must these key personnel be carefully selected, their needs must also be taken into account during the training design process. This will help to ensure that transformation of data to information and information flow is optimised for all participants.

Recent experience in mission training via distributed simulation has shown that greater training opportunities can be afforded if the training designers address the needs of all the above. Using these experiences as reference points, this paper will discuss synthetic training issues along with the expectations of the trainees and the training providers and suggest some guidelines for creating a total training experience.
Numerical simulation of the vortex-fin interaction over a tangent-ogive cylinder
Authors: Omar A.A. , Chongam K. , Oh-Hyun R.
Published: October 2022

The interaction between slender body vortices and a single vertical fin located down the axis of the body is investigated numerically for angle of attack of 30 deg and Reynolds number of 6000. The present research includes a parametric study on the effect of fin location and fin azimuthal position. A numerical method based on the pseudo-compressibility is used for solving the three-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations using the Lower-Upper Symmetric Gauss-Seidel implicit scheme. The numerical results show that the vortices remain very coherent and attached to the body until they reach the fin section, where they become less coherent and begin to separate from the body. Also, the results show that the fin location does not affect the upstream development of the vortices, but it does affect the location at which the vortices separate from the body. The effect of azimuthal fin positions was also investigated. As the azimuthal angle of the fin increased, the size of the vortex on the port side decreased, but the starboard side vortex grew in size and moved across the leeward ray to the port side. The computed results are found to agree well with the available experimental data. The effect of the grid size on the numerical solutions was also investigated.