bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical features, diagnosis, and survival analysis of dogs with glioma
Authors: José‐López Roberto , Gutierrez‐Quintana Rodrigo , de la Fuente Cristian , Manzanilla Edgar G. , Suñol Anna , Pi Castro Dolors , Añor Sonia , Sánchez‐Masian Daniel , Fernández‐Flores Francisco , Ricci Emanuele , Marioni‐Henry Katia , Mascort Joan , Matiasek Lara A. , Matiasek Kaspar , Brennan Paul M. , Pumarola Martí
Published: June 2021

Background

Gliomas in dogs remain poorly understood.

Objectives

To characterize the clinicopathologic findings, diagnostic imaging features and survival of a large sample of dogs with glioma using the Comparative Brain Tumor Consortium diagnostic classification.

Animals

Ninety‐one dogs with histopathological diagnosis of glioma.

Methods

Multicentric retrospective case series. Signalment, clinicopathologic findings, diagnostic imaging characteristics, treatment, and outcome were used. Tumors were reclassified according to the new canine glioma diagnostic scheme.

Results

No associations were found between clinicopathologic findings or survival and tumor type or grade. However, definitive treatments provided significantly (P = .03) improved median survival time (84 days; 95% confidence interval [CI], 45‐190) compared to palliative treatment (26 days; 95% CI, 11‐54). On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), oligodendrogliomas were associated with smooth margins and T1‐weighted hypointensity compared to astrocytomas (odds ratio [OR], 42.5; 95% CI, 2.42‐744.97;P = .04; OR, 45.5; 95% CI, 5.78‐333.33;P < .001, respectively) and undefined gliomas (OR, 84; 95% CI, 3.43‐999.99;P = .02; OR, 32.3; 95% CI, 2.51‐500.00;P = .008, respectively) and were more commonly in contact with the ventricles than astrocytomas (OR, 7.47; 95% CI, 1.03‐53.95;P = .049). Tumor spread to neighboring brain structures was associated with high‐grade glioma (OR, 6.02; 95% CI, 1.06‐34.48;P = .04).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Dogs with gliomas have poor outcomes, but risk factors identified in survival analysis inform prognosis and the newly identified MRI characteristics could refine diagnosis of tumor type and grade.
Photosynthetic performances of two deep‐water canopy‐forming fucoid algae across a depth gradient: Interspecific variability and short‐term adaptation to the light environment
Authors: Sant Natàlia , Ballesteros Enric
Published: June 2021

Deep‐water canopy‐forming algae Gongolaria montagnei var. compressa and Ericaria zosteroides (Fucales: Ochrophyta) co‐exist in mixed populations, the first taxa dominating at the upper limit of distribution (20 m) and the second at the lower limit (40 m). This depth distribution pattern is consistent with the photosynthetic performances of both taxa, with E. zosteroides showing higher photosynthetic efficiency (α) and lower light at saturation (Ik) and compensation (Ic) than G. montagnei var. compressa. Neither photosynthesis at saturation (Pmax) nor dark respiration showed any significant change at the species level. G. montagnei v. compressa showed higher Pmax and α at 20 and 40 m, but E. zosteroides did not follow the same trend, although both Ik and Ic decreased with depth in this species, pointing to an increased capacity of E. zosteroides to show photo‐adaptation. Each species maintained its Psat values when transplanted from the depth where it was dominant to the depth where it was secondary, but in the case of G. montagnei var. compressa it decreased its Psat when transplanted from 40 to 20 m and in the case of E. zosteroides it increased its Psat when transplanted from 20 to 40 m. These results point to a better photosynthetic performance of E. zosteroides than G. montagnei var. compressa at low‐light conditions, information that can be used to improve success in restoration action plans.
An efficient model for predicting the dynamic performance of fine aggregate matrix
Authors: Leng Zhen , Tan Zhifei , Cao Peng , Zhang Yuan
Published: June 2021

Fine aggregate matrix (FAM) refers to the mixture of asphalt binder and fine aggregate in asphalt mixture. The viscoelastic properties, such as the complex modulus of FAM, directly affect the performance of asphalt pavement. In this study, finite element (FE) simulation by coupling random aggregate distribution algorithm and steady‐state dynamic (SSD) analysis was applied to predict the complex modulus of FAM. Both the dynamic moduli and phase angles of FAM were predicted and compared with those obtained from laboratory tests. The modeling and testing results indicated that the complex interface layer between asphalt mastic and aggregate can significantly affect the viscoelastic performance of FAMs. Considering the interface layer into the FE model can improve the prediction accuracy. Besides, the simulation results showed that the SSD method is 576 times more efficient in predicting the dynamic moduli and phase angles of FAMs than the conventional transient dynamic method, indicating its high potential for multi‐scale modeling of asphalt mixture.
MoSep3 and MoExo70 are needed for MoCK2 ring assembly essential for appressorium function in the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae
Authors: Zhang Lianhu , Cai Yan , Li Yunxi , Zhang Tian , Wang Baohua , Lu Guodong , Zhang Dongmei , Olsson Stefan , Wang Zonghua
Published: June 2021

Polar growth during appressorium formation is vital for the penetration peg formation in the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae. Previous research has shown that the Sln1‐septin‐exocyst complex, localized at the base of the appressorium in contact with the leaf surface, forms a ring structure that influences growth polarity and affects penetration peg formation, and is necessary for pathogenicity. Our previous research showed CK2 proteins assemble another ring structure positioned perpendicular to the Sln1‐septin‐exocyst complex. Our research showed that the CK2 ring needs to become correctly assembled for penetration peg function and subsequent plant infection. In the present study, we found that the ring structures of CK2 are absent in the appressorium of ΔMoSep3 septin deletion mutants lacking the septin ring of the Sln1‐septin‐exocyst complex. Sln1 affects the septin proteins that recruit the exocyst complex that localizes as another ring at the appressorium's bottom. Destruction of the exocyst complex by mutation also causes incorrect localization of the CK2 ring structure. In conclusion, CK2 probably takes part in reestablishing the appressorium' spolarity growth necessary for penetration peg formation. We can also conclude that the correct localization and assembly of one or more CK2 ring structures in the appressorium depend on the initial assembly of the Sln1‐septin‐exocyst complex two rings at the base of the appressorium.
Are epistemic reasons normative?
Authors: Kiesewetter Benjamin
Published: June 2021

According to a widely held view, epistemic reasons are normative reasons for belief – much like prudential or moral reasons are normative reasons for action. In recent years, however, an increasing number of authors have questioned the normativity of epistemic reasons. In this article, I discuss an important challenge for anti‐normativism about epistemic reasons and present a series of arguments in support of normativism. The challenge for anti‐normativism is to say what kind of reasons epistemic reasons are if they are not normative reasons. I discuss various answers to this challenge and find them all wanting. The arguments for normativism each stress a certain analogy between epistemic reasons and normative reasons for action. Just like normative reasons for action, epistemic reasons provide partial justification; they provide premises for correct reasoning; they constitute good bases for the responses they are reasons for; and they are reasonsfor whichagents can show these responses without committing a mistake. In each case, I argue that the relevant condition is plausibly sufficient for the normativity of a reason, and that normativism is in any case in a much better position to explain the analogy than anti‐normativism.
Why trees grow at night
Authors: Zweifel Roman , Sterck Frank , Braun Sabine , Buchmann Nina , Eugster Werner , Gessler Arthur , Häni Matthias , Peters Richard L. , Walthert Lorenz , Wilhelm Micah , Ziemińska Kasia , Etzold Sophia
Published: June 2021

The timing of diel stem growth of mature forest trees is still largely unknown, as empirical data with high temporal resolution have not been available so far. Consequently, the effects of day–night conditions on tree growth remained uncertain.

Here we present the first comprehensive field study of hourly‐resolved radial stem growth of seven temperate tree species, based on 57 million underlying data points over a period of up to 8 yr.

We show that trees grow mainly at night, with a peak after midnight, when the vapour pressure deficit (VPD) is among the lowest. A high VPD strictly limits radial stem growth and allows little growth during daylight hours, except in the early morning. Surprisingly, trees also grow in moderately dry soil when the VPD is low. Species‐specific differences in diel growth dynamics show that species able to grow earlier during the night are associated with the highest number of hours with growth per year and the largest annual growth increment.

We conclude that species with the ability to overcome daily water deficits faster have greater growth potential. Furthermore, we conclude that growth is more sensitive than carbon uptake to dry air, as growth stops before stomata are known to close.
Foliar water uptake via cork warts in mangroves of the Sonneratia genus
Authors: Bryant Callum , Fuenzalida Tomas I. , Zavafer Alonso , Nguyen Hoa T. , Brothers Nigel , Harris Rosalie J. , Beckett Holly A. A. , Holmlund Helen I. , Binks Oliver , Ball Marilyn C.
Published: June 2021

Foliar water uptake (FWU) occurs in plants of diverse ecosystems; however, the diversity of pathways and their associated FWU kinetics remain poorly resolved. We characterized a novel FWU pathway in two mangrove species of the Sonneratia genus, S. alba and S. caseolaris. Further, we assessed the influence of leaf wetting duration, wet‐dry seasonality and leaf dehydration on leaf conductance to surface water (Ksurf). The symplastic tracer dye, disodium fluorescein, revealed living cells subtending and encircling leaf epidermal structures known as cork warts as a pathway of FWU entry into the leaf. Rehydration kinetics experiments revealed a novel mode of FWU, with slow and steady rates of water uptake persistent over a duration of 12 hr. Ksurf increased with longer durations of leaf wetting and was greater in leaves with more negative water potentials at the initiation of leaf wetting. Ksurf declined by 68% between wet and dry seasons. Our results suggest that FWU via cork warts in Sonneratia sp. may be rate limited and under active regulation. We conclude that FWU pathways in halophytes may require ion exclusion to avoid uptake of salt when inundated, paralleling the capacity of halophyte roots for ion selectivity during water acquisition.
Erythema and Acclimatization Following Repeated Sun Exposure: A Modeling Study
Authors: Diffey Brian
Published: June 2021

The development of a computational model is described that allows time‐varying erythema and acclimatization to be determined following repeated exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Good agreement was observed between experimental data and model predictions. Results are presented that illustrate how daily, adventitious sun exposure over the course of a year can result in occasional erythema generally in the late spring/early summer, while at the same time showing how the photoadaptive response of the skin changes throughout the year at different latitudes and for different sun‐reactive skin types. The model is predicated on three physiological responses; the erythemal response as a function of increasing UV dose, the time courses of erythema and adaptation in response to a single UV exposure. Mathematical models complement observational data and the outputs from the model may help in planning future experimental studies, as well as providing insights into mechanistic responses.
Who Takes Risks? A Framework on Organizational Risk‐Taking During Sudden‐Onset Disasters
Authors: Shaheen Iana , Azadegan Arash , Roscoe Samuel
Published: June 2021

Do humanitarian organizations exhibit similar risk‐taking behavior? This study analyzed 60 interviews from 24 case studies on four types of organizations involved in disaster response: established, expanding, extending, and emergent. By elaborating on organizational attention theory, this study investigated how organizational tasks, structures, attention, and context combine to influence organizational risk‐taking behavior by different organizational types during sudden‐onset disasters. Counterintuitively, the results indicate that two organizational types shift their risk‐taking behavior in reverse directions during disaster response stages. Expanding organizations (e.g., primary disaster response NGOs) are generally risk‐averse during the immediate response stage but become risk‐taking during the short‐term recovery stage. In contrast, extending organizations (e.g., homeless shelters) are risk‐taking during the immediate response but become risk‐averse during short‐term recovery. While established organizations are generally risk‐averse, the study differentiated between two sub‐types of established organizations with nuanced differences in risk‐taking behavior. Finally, while emergent organizations show a propensity toward risk‐taking, the results differentiate between two emergent sub‐types, where the socially emergent sub‐type (e.g., church volunteer groups) shows more pronounced risk‐taking behavior than the enterprise emergent subtype (e.g., corporate volunteer groups). The study contributes to organizational attention theory by showing how the varied risk‐taking behaviors are related to the three dimensions of performance (resource agility, resource adaptability, and resource alignment), commonly referred to as the Triple‐A model. The study implications provide researchers and managers with a framework to help understand and predict risk‐taking behavior by organizational types and sub‐types during disaster relief operations.
EEG‐neurofeedback and executive function enhancement in healthy adults: A systematic review
Authors: Viviani Giada , Vallesi Antonino
Published: June 2021

Electroencephalographic (EEG)‐neurofeedback training (NFT) is a promising technique that supports individuals in learning to modulate their brain activity to obtain cognitive and behavioral improvements. EEG‐NFT is gaining increasing attention for its potential “peak performance” applications on healthy individuals. However, evidence for clear cognitive performance enhancements with healthy adults is still lacking. In particular, whether EEG‐NFT represents an effective technique for enhancing healthy adults' executive functions is still controversial. Therefore, the main objective of this systematic review is to assess whether the existing EEG‐NFT studies targeting executive functions have provided reliable evidence for NFT effectiveness. To this end, we conducted a qualitative analysis of the literature since the limited number of retrieved studies did not allow us meta‐analytical comparisons. Moreover, a second aim was to identify optimal frequencies as NFT targets for specifically improving executive functions. Overall, our systematic review provides promising evidence for NFT effectiveness in boosting healthy adults' executive functions. However, more rigorous NFT studies are required in order to overcome the methodological weaknesses that we encountered in our qualitative analysis.
Assessing the Reproducibility of Microbiome Measurements Based on Concordance Correlation Coefficients
Authors: Cui Ying , Peng Limin , Hu Yijuan , Lai HuiChuan J.
Published: June 2021

Evaluating the reproducibility or agreement of microbiome measurements is often a crucial step to ensure rigorous downstream analyses in microbiome studies. In this paper, we address this need by developing adaptations of Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) tailored to microbiome studies. We introduce a general formulation of the new CCC measures upon the use of a distance function appropriately characterizing the discrepancy between microbiome compositional measurements. We thoroughly study the special cases that adopt the Euclidean distance and Aitchison distance. Our proposals appropriately account for the unique features of microbiome compositional data, including high-dimensionality, dependency among individual relative abundances and the presence of many zeros. We further investigate a practical compound approach to help better understand the sources of data inconsistency. Extensive simulation studies are conducted to evaluate the utility of the proposed methods in realistic scenarios. We also apply the proposed methods to a microbiome validation data set from the Feeding Infants Right.. from the STart (FIRST) study. Our analyses offer useful insight about the extent of data variations resulted from two different experiment procedures as well as their heterogeneous patterns across genera.
Brokering Rural Community Food Security: An Organizational Network Case Study in Central Appalachia*
Authors: Engle Elyzabeth W.
Published: June 2021

Community‐based organizations (CBOs) are a common entry point to examine the activities, processes, and outcomes of community food security initiatives. Collaborative, inter‐organizational networks are implemented in practice, policy, and research to address the many capacity and resource challenges faced by CBOs. This study examines the role of a broker organization, Grow Appalachia, in facilitating community food security work across the rural region of Central Appalachia. Integrating findings from staff interviews (N = 26), partner site coordinator and staff survey (N = 32), document analysis, and 4 months of participant observation, this study identifies the “rules” implemented by the Grow Appalachia organization across its six‐state service region. Four main rules are identified through the data analysis: “Being In and Of the Community,” “Providing a Hand Up, Not a Hand Out,” “Cultivating Science‐Assisted Craft/Mountain Agriculture,” and “Promoting Sustainability for Self‐Sufficiency.” While these rules—and associated program practices—are found to support increased organizational capacity, community buy‐in, relationship building, and self‐sufficiency, they were also associated with Grow Appalachia staff burnout and exclusion of marginalized populations from program and network participation. Overall, the benefits of the rules outweigh the costs, but still undermine the overall community food security mission of the broker organization and its network.
There is no way! Ternary qualitative spatial reasoning for error detection in map data
Authors: Majic Ivan , Naghizade Elham , Winter Stephan , Tomko Martin
Published: June 2021

Detection and correction of errors in map data based on spatial reasoning may be used to improve their quality. However, the majority of current spatial reasoning approaches are based on binary spatial relations and are not able to perform analyses involving more than two objects. This article proposes building accessibility analysis with the ternary ray intersection model to detect potential map errors. Where buildings are not accessible from the road network, this may indicate potential errors in map data such as roads that are not mapped. The plausibility of the proposed method was tested in a case study on OpenStreetMap data. The results have been published in an online mapping challenge where volunteering mappers have used them to correct errors in map data, and have provided feedback on the analysis. The results show that the proposed method can detect errors in map data that are caused by incorrect classification of buildings, incorrect mapping of multi‐part buildings, and missing road data.
COVID‐19 and mucormycosis syndemic: double health threat to a collapsing healthcare system in India
Authors: Rocha Ian Christopher N. , Hasan Mohammad Mehedi , Goyal Samarth , Patel Tapan , Jain Shubhika , Ghosh Asmita , Cedeño Trisha Denise D.
Published: June 2021

In addition to the overwhelming and uncontrollable second wave of COVID‐19 in India, the country is also dealing with an outbreak of mucormycosis, a deadly fungal infection, which is affecting thousands of COVID‐19 patients. With the increasing number of cases of mucormycosis and a fatality rate of 50%, many Indian states and union territories have declared an epidemic of black fungus due to its unprecedented emergence, which has adversely affected the already debilitated health system of the country. The advent of the new fungal epidemic in the country is due to the overdosage, panic and injudicious use of corticosteroids among COVID‐19 patients, as well as their pre‐existing medical history of diabetes, given that India is the diabetes capital of the world. Thus, there is an urgent need to address this public health concern by having nationwide surveillance, diagnostic and management system of the disease, along with public awareness and education to combat the syndemic of COVID‐19 and mucormycosis in the country.
Cognitive Network Science for Understanding Online Social Cognitions: A Brief Review
Authors: Stella Massimo
Published: June 2021

Social media are digitalizing massive amounts of users’ cognitions in terms of timelines and emotional content. Such Big Data opens unprecedented opportunities for investigating cognitive phenomena like perception, personality, and information diffusion but requires suitable interpretable frameworks. Since social media data come from users’ minds, worthy candidates for this challenge are cognitive networks, models of cognition giving structure to mental conceptual associations. This work outlines how cognitive network science can open new, quantitative ways for understanding cognition through online media like: (i) reconstructing how users semantically and emotionally frame events with contextual knowledge unavailable to machine learning, (ii) investigating conceptual salience/prominence through knowledge structure in social discourse; (iii) studying users’ personality traits like openness‐to‐experience, curiosity, and creativity through language in posts; (iv) bridging cognitive/emotional content and social dynamics via multilayer networks comparing the mindsets of influencers and followers. These advancements combine cognitive‐, network‐ and computer science to understand cognitive mechanisms in both digital and real‐world settings but come with limitations concerning representativeness, individual variability, and data integration. Such aspects are discussed along with the ethical implications of manipulating sociocognitive data. In the future, reading cognitions through networks and social media can expose cognitive biases amplified by online platforms and relevantly inform policy‐making, education, and markets about complex cognitive trends.
Molecular genetic analysis of Mia‐positive hybrid glycophorins revealed two novel alleles of GP.Vw and multiple variant transcripts of GYPB existing in both the homozygous GP.Mur and wild‐type GPB individuals
Authors: Wei Ling , Sun Ainong , Wen Jizhi , Wang Zhen , Li Qiao , Liao Yanting , Luo Guangping , Ji Yanli
Published: June 2021

Background

The hybrid glycophorins of MNS blood group system express a series of low incidence antigens including Mia, which are commonly found in Southeast Asian populations. In this study, the molecular basis of Mia‐positive hybrid glycophorins was firstly clarified in the Chinese Southern Han population. RNA transcripts of GYPB gene in the homozygous GP.Mur individuals were also analyzed.

Study design and methods

DNAs were extracted from the whole blood samples of 111 Mia‐positive donors. Then, high‐resolution melting (HRM) analysis for GYP(B‐A‐B) was used to analyze the genotypes. Sequencing of GYPB pseudoexon 3 was conducted in the samples with variant melting curves. TA‐cloning and subsequent sequencing of GYPA exons 2–4 were performed in the Mia‐positive samples with normal GYPB/GYPB genotype by HRM. The transcript analysis of GYPB was conducted in homozygous GP.Mur and wild‐type glycophorin B (GPB) individuals using RNA extracted from the cultured erythroblast.

Results

The heterozygous GYP*Mur/GYPB (n = 101), homozygous GYP*Mur/GYP*Mur (n = 7) including one novel GYP*Mur allele with an extra GYPA/GYPE specific nucleotide substitution (c.229+110A>T), heterozygous GYP*Bun/GYPB (n = 1) and GYP*Vw/GYPA (n = 2) with two novel GYP*Vw alleles were identified. RNA transcript analysis revealed multiple transcripts of GYPB existing in both homozygous GP.Mur and normal GPB individuals.

Conclusion

The results showed the genetic diversity of hybrid glycophorins in the Chinese population. Besides, the successful analysis of GYPB transcripts indicates that the cultured erythroblast is a good source for RNA transcript analysis for the protein only expressed on the red blood cells.
Engineered microenvironment for the study of myofibroblast mechanobiology
Authors: Xu Ying , Koya Richard , Ask Kjetil , Zhao Ruogang
Published: June 2021

Myofibroblasts are mechanosensitive cells and a variety of their behaviours including differentiation, migration, force production and biosynthesis are regulated by the surrounding microenvironment. Engineered cell culture models have been developed to examine the effect of microenvironmental factors such as the substrate stiffness, the topography and strain of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the shear stress on myofibroblast biology. These engineered models provide well‐mimicked, pathophysiologically relevant experimental conditions that are superior to those enabled by the conventional two‐dimensional (2D) culture models. In this perspective, we will review the recent advances in the development of engineered cell culture models for myofibroblasts and outline the findings on the myofibroblast mechanobiology under various microenvironmental conditions. These studies have demonstrated the power and utility of the engineered models for the study of microenvironment‐regulated cellular behaviours. The findings derived using these models contribute to a greater understanding of how myofibroblast behaviour is regulated in tissue repair and pathological scar formation.
Calculation Model of X-Ray Computed Tomography with Density Assessment Function
Authors: Osipov S. P. , Yadrenkin I. G. , Chakhlov S. V. , Osipov O. S. , Usachev E. Yu. , Manushkin A. A.
Published: June 2021

Abstract—

A calculation model of X-ray computed tomography with a density assessment function in the geometry of a parallel beam has been proposed. The model includes blocks for simulating and correcting sinograms and reconstructing section images. When generating sinograms, the parameters of the test object, source, and recorder of X-ray radiation have been taken into account. Modeling algorithms are implemented in the MathCad system and tested on virtual test objects.
Soil texture and other site-level factors differentially affect growth of Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedlings in the western Pacific Northwest
Authors: Carter David R. , Slesak Robert A. , Harrington Timothy B. , D’Amato Anthony W.
Published: June 2021

The invasive shrub Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link) is a pervasive threat to regenerating Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii) stands in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Field observations indicate that the susceptibility of areas to Scotch broom invasion and dominance can vary by site. We selected 10 sites throughout the western Pacific Northwest that spanned a gradient of soil textures and other factors to test the site-specific susceptibility of Douglas-fir to overtopping by Scotch broom. We expected to find that the ability of Scotch broom to dominate a site was mediated by site-level factors, particularly those influencing soil water — the most limiting factor to growth in the region. We found Scotch broom and Douglas-fir were inversely affected by site-level factors. In general, Douglas-fir absolute height growth rates were more competitive with those of Scotch broom on fine-textured soils than on more coarsely textured soils. We also found Douglas-fir to have a more dramatic response to increasing down woody material than Scotch broom. Scotch broom height growth approached an asymptote at 3 m. Sites with fast-growing Douglas-fir were able to surpass this height 6–7 years after planting and appear likely to avoid suppression by Scotch broom.
The design of the n2EDM experiment
Authors: Ayres N. J. , Ban G. , Bienstman L. , Bison G. , Bodek K. , Bondar V. , Bouillaud T. , Chanel E. , Chen J. , Chiu P.-J. , Clément B. , Crawford C. B. , Daum M. , Dechenaux B. , Doorenbos C. B. , Emmenegger S. , Ferraris-Bouchez L. , Fertl M. , Fratangelo A. , Flaux P. , Goupillière D. , Griffith W. C. , Grujic Z. D. , Harris P. G. , Kirch K. , Koss P. A. , Krempel J. , Lauss B. , Lefort T. , Lemière Y. , Leredde A. , Meier M. , Menu J. , Mullins D. A. , Naviliat-Cuncic O. , Pais D. , Piegsa F. M. , Pignol G. , Quéméner G. , Rawlik M. , Rebreyend D. , Rienäcker I. , Ries D. , Roccia S. , Ross K. U. , Rozpedzik D. , Saenz W. , Schmidt-Wellenburg P. , Schnabel A. , Severijns N. , Shen B. , Stapf T. , Svirina K. , Tavakoli Dinani R. , Touati S. , Thorne J. , Virot R. , Voigt J. , Wursten E. , Yazdandoost N. , Zejma J. , Zsigmond G.
Published: June 2021

We present the design of a next-generation experiment, n2EDM, currently under construction at the ultracold neutron source at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) with the aim of carrying out a high-precision search for an electric dipole moment of the neutron. The project builds on experience gained with the previous apparatus operated at PSI until 2017, and is expected to deliver an order of magnitude better sensitivity with provision for further substantial improvements. An overview is of the experimental method and setup is given, the sensitivity requirements for the apparatus are derived, and its technical design is described.
Threefold spin helicity as possible origin of SU(3) gauge symmetry
Authors: Marsch E. , Narita Y.
Published: June 2021

In this paper, the notion of spin helicity is generalized into threefold spin helicity. It appears to be a useful means to extend the standard Dirac equation to describe coloured fermions. The threefold generalization of helicity is derived from the mass shell condition, spin, and kinetic helicity in a natural way. It is found that the three different types of helicities are associated with the rotation degrees of freedom in 3-D coordinate space. Moreover, threefold helicity can by unitary transformation be connected with the empirical SU(3) colour symmetry of the quarks, and thus be brought into the mathematical form of the SU(3) Yang–Mills gauge theory of the standard model. This offers an alternative picture of the physical origin of quark symmetry in compliance with the Coleman–Mandula theorem.
Closeness-centrality-correlation for detecting interdependency between coupled systems
Authors: Yang Guangyu , Xu Daolin , Zhang Haicheng
Published: June 2021

Generalized synchronization is a common interdependency between coupled systems which exists in many branches of life, social and physical science. In this paper, a novel method, called closeness-centrality-correlation is proposed for the detection of this interdependency. The proposed method is based on a global network measure (i.e., closeness centrality) of recurrence networks resulting from time series. We illustrate the feasibility of the proposed method using a paradigmatic coupled model and compare its performance to other commonly used interdependency methods. The numerical results show that the proposed method is quite satisfactory for detecting interdependency and outperforms the existing joint probability of recurrence method especially for the case that the dynamics of the two coupled subsystems are significantly different. Moreover, through analyzing the time series contaminated by white noise, we demonstrate that our method is robust against white noise. Finally, an application to recorded electroencephalogram data shows that the proposed measure is more reliable to detect the transitions of the interdependencies among the noisy electroencephalogram time series and thus provides longer pre-warning time for the onset of epilepsy.
The self-similarity of complex networks: From the view of degree–degree distance
Authors: Wang Bing , Zhu Jia , Wei Daijun
Published: June 2021

Self-similarity of complex networks has been discovered and attracted much attention. However, the self-similarity of complex networks was measured by the classical distance of nodes. Recently, a new feature, which is named as degree–degree distance, is used to measure the distance of nodes. In the definition of degree–degree distance, the relationship between two nodes is dependent on degree of nodes. In this paper, we explore the self-similarity of complex networks from the perspective of degree–degree distance. A box-covering algorithm based on degree–degree distance is proposed to calculate the value of dimension of complex networks. Some complex networks are studied, and the results show that these networks have self-similarity from the perspective of degree–degree distance. The proposed method for measuring self-similarity of complex networks is reasonable.
FRAX-Based Intervention Thresholds for Osteoporosis Treatment in Ukraine
Authors: Povoroznyuk Vladyslav , Grygorieva Nataliia , Johansson Helena , Lorentzon Mattias , Harvey Nicholas C , McCloskey Eugene V , Musienko Anna , Liu Enwu , Kanis John A , Zaverukha Nataliia , Ivanyk Oksana
Published: June 2021

Objectives. Osteoporosis, in addition to its consequent fracture burden, is a common and costly condition. FRAX® is a well-established, validated, web-based tool which calculates the 10-year probability of fragility fractures. A FRAX model for Ukraine has been available since 2016 but its output has not yet been translated into intervention thresholds for the treatment of osteoporosis in Ukraine; we aimed to address this unmet need in this analysis. Methods. In a referral population sample of 3790 Ukrainian women, 10-year probabilities of major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) and hip fracture separately were calculated using the Ukrainian FRAX model, with and without femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD). We used a similar approach to that first proposed by the UK National Osteoporosis Guideline Group, whereby treatment is indicated if the probability equals or exceeds that of a woman of the same age with a prior fracture. Results. The MOF intervention threshold in females (the age-specific 10-year fracture probability) increased with age from 5.5% at the age of 40 years to 11% at the age of 75 years where it plateaued and then decreased slightly at age 90 (10%). Lower and upper thresholds were also defined to determine the need for BMD, if not already measured; the approach targets BMD measurements to those at or near the intervention threshold. The proportion of the referral populations eligible for treatment, based on prior fracture or similar or greater probability, ranged from 44% to 69% depending on age. The prevalence of the previous fracture rose with age, as did the proportion eligible for treatment. In contrast, the requirement for BMD testing decreased with age. Conclusions. The present study describes the development and application of FRAX-based assessment guidelines in Ukraine. The thresholds can be used in the presence or absence of access to BMD and optimize the use of BMD where access is restricted.
Identification of Key Influencing Factors of User Experience of Mobile Reading APP in China Based on the Fuzzy-DEMATEL Model
Authors: Zhang Yi , Rong Xing , Shu Mengfei , Chen Qiang
Published: June 2021

With the rapid development of the mobile Internet, mobile reading has transcended the limitation of time and space, becoming an indispensable part of people’s living and learning. As the direct service object of mobile reading APP, users’ subjective use experience is decisive in the success or failure. It is of great significance to identify the key influencing factors of user experience of mobile reading APP. It is conducive not only to improving users reading experience and increasing users stickiness but also to improving mobile reading service quality, which is essential to promote the healthy and sustainable development of mobile reading APP. From the perspective of user experience, content analysis and questionnaire survey are used to construct the index system of influencing factors of mobile reading APP user experience, which includes 6 dimensions of reliability, usefulness, thoughtfulness, interactivity, security, and compatibility, and 21 influencing factors. Based on the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method, introducing the triangular fuzzy number, the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (fuzzy-DEMATEL) model is established, extending the single value of the comparison matrix to a fuzzy interval and then giving the decision makers a proper judgment space. The key influencing factors of mobile reading APP user experience are identified by algorithm design. Ultimately, the 10 key influencing factors of mobile reading APP user experience are identified, which are information quality, content richness, value fit, copyright protection, timeliness, personalized service, reading function richness, interpersonal interaction, system performance, and privacy protection, and suggestions for improving the user experience of mobile reading APP are put forward to provide reference for mobile reading APP developers. The research results not only enrich and perfect the theoretical and practical research in the mobile reading field to a certain extent, providing a new research perspective for the field of mobile reading, but also effectively solve the defects of the traditional DEMATEL method that expert judgment is subjectively biased and difficult to express with an exact number directly. The research expands the application scope of DEMATEL.
Carbon Monoxide Releasing Molecule‐3 Enhances Heme Oxygenase‐1 Induction via ROS‐Dependent FoxO1 and Nrf2 in Brain Astrocytes
Authors: Lin Chih-Chung , Yang Chien-Chung , Hsiao Li-Der , Yang Chuen-Mao
Published: June 2021

Carbon monoxide releasing molecule‐3 (CORM‐3) has been shown to protect inflammatory diseases via the upregulation of heme oxygenases‐1 (HO‐1). However, in rat brain astrocytes (RBA‐1), the mechanisms underlying CORM‐3‐induced HO‐1 remain poorly defined. This study used western blot, real‐time PCR, and promoter activity assays to determine the levels of HO‐1 expression and 2 ′,7 ′‐dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) and dihydroethidium (DHE) to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS). We found that CORM‐3‐induced HO‐1 expression was mediated through ROS generation by Nox or mitochondria. The signaling components were differentiated by pharmacological inhibitors and small interfering RNA (siRNA). Subcellular fractions, immunofluorescent staining, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay were used to evaluate the nuclear translocation and promoter binding activity of Nrf2 induced by CORM‐3. The roles of mTOR and FoxO1 in CORM‐3‐stimulated responses are still unknown in RBA‐1 cells. Our results demonstrated that transfection with siRNAs or pretreatment with pharmacological inhibitors attenuated the levels of HO‐1 and phosphorylation of signaling components including Akt, mTOR, FoxO1, and Nrf2 stimulated by CORM‐3. Moreover, pretreatment with N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine, diphenyleneiodonium chloride, apocynin, or rotenone blocked nuclear translocation and promoter binding activity of Nrf2 induced by CORM‐3. The present study concluded that in RBA‐1 cells, CORM‐3‐induced HO‐1 expression is, at least partially, mediated through Nox and mitochondria/ROS‐dependent PI3K/Akt/mTOR cascade to activate FoxO1 or ROS leading to activation of Nrf2 activity.
Research and Implementation of SVDU Simulator Based on Emulation Technology
Authors: Wu Yanqun , Liu Mingxing , Chen Qi , Zhang Xu , Tian Xufeng , Zhang Yu , Chen Meiyuan
Published: June 2021

The safety video display unit (SVDU), as the display machine of the reactor protection system, performs the functions of displaying the reactor’s safety parameters and sending safety control commands. In order to meet the needs of nuclear power safety-level digital control system (DCS), like designing verification, operator training, and accidental drills, for the SVDU in the NASPIC platform developed independently by China National Nuclear Corporation, a virtual embedded system technology based on the micro x86 industrial host is proposed to make software simulation to the SVDU physical controller with exactly the same hardware appearance of the original one. The SVDU stimulator realized by this research can achieve 100% simulation of the logical functions of the SVDU physical equipment and the synchronized upgrading function between stimulator and the real equipment. With the development of multiple engineering application requirements, such as configuration verification and operator training, this stimulator has been applied in several virtual security level DCS projects.
The Relationship between Extent of Internationalization and Firm Performance (Taiwan 1992–2017)
Authors: Wei Shih-Yung , Lin Li-Wei
Published: June 2021

The purpose of this study was to discuss the impact of the extent of internationalization on firm performance measured for firms with a high Tobin’s Q (firms with good operating performance), a median Tobin’s Q (firms with average operating performance), and a low Tobin’s Q (firms with poor operating performance). In addition to discussion on the impact of internationalization on firm performance, this study also discussed the impact of corporate proprietary assets (using assets, R&D, marketing, and management-related variables as moderating variables) and control variables (scale of company, debt-asset ratio, firm age, board structure, and proportion of pledged shares by directors) on firm performance. The research results showed that there is an S-shaped relationship between extent of internationalization and firm performance. However, further discussion found that there is an S-shaped relationship between extent of internationalization and performance for firms with a high Tobin’s Q but a slight decline in the middle of the S-shaped curve, as well as a general linear negative correlation between extent of internationalization and performance for firms with a median Tobin’s Q and an inverted U-shaped correlation between extent of internationalization and performance for firms with a low Tobin’s Q.
Seismic Response Analysis of Deep Underground Roadways and Coal Pillars under the Influence of the Adjacent Goaf
Authors: Cao Xu , Cao Xiaoshan , Han Tielin
Published: June 2021

In this work, a numerical study is conducted on the seismic response of deep‐buried roadways in coal mines under the influence of goafs, and a 3D numerical model of the seismic response simulation of deep‐buried roadways is established using the coupling model of the finite difference method and the distinct element method. This model simulates the seismic response of different coal pillar widths and the seismic conditions of the deep‐buried roadways under the influence of the adjacent goafs. The deformation, stress distribution, and plastic area distribution of roadways and coal pillars are systematically studied, and the situations under the static load and the roadways, which are not affected by the goafs, are compared and analyzed. A reasonable width of the coal pillar is proposed on the basis of the stability of the roadway and the coal pillars. In the end, suggestions for the reasonable setting of coal pillars under seismic load are provided.
Control and Application of Terrain Curvature on Dynamic Disasters: A Case Study of Coal and Gas Outbursts in the Pingdingshan Mining Area, China
Authors: Sun Dequan , Chen Ying , Li Xiaoyan , Huang Chunhui , Su Huairui , Chen Rujiao
Published: June 2021

Based on coal and gas outburst mining area topography, a risk evaluation index for mine dynamic disasters in relation to terrain curvature is presented by analyzing the terrain curvature formation and determining its classification and computational methods. Clarifying the mechanism that the terrain curvature changes reflects the intensity of tectonic activity and the tectonic stress field variation, as well as coal and rock mass energy storing. By using the N‐shaped landform in the Pingdingshan coal mine as a case study, an area having strong tectonic activity and coal and gas outbursts was recorded to occur where terrain curvature changed, notably occurring where the positive curvature radius was 80.21% of the total. These findings indicate that terrain curvature has significant controlling effects on coal and gas outbursts. A preliminary assessment for the occurrence risk of coal and gas outbursts using the terrain curvature value is proposed which can be used as an effective method to predict future outbursts.
Qualitative Analysis of Class of Fractional-Order Chaotic System via Bifurcation and Lyapunov Exponents Notions
Authors: Sene Ndolane
Published: June 2021

This paper presents a modified chaotic system under the fractional operator with singularity. The aim of the present subject will be to focus on the influence of the new model’s parameters and its fractional order using the bifurcation diagrams and the Lyapunov exponents. The new fractional model will generate chaotic behaviors. The Lyapunov exponents’ theories in fractional context will be used for the characterization of the chaotic behaviors. In a fractional context, the phase portraits will be obtained with a predictor-corrector numerical scheme method. The details of the numerical scheme will be presented in this paper. The numerical scheme will be used to analyze all the properties addressed in this present paper. The Matignon criterion will also play a fundamental role in the local stability of the presented model’s equilibrium points. We will find a threshold under which the stability will be removed and the chaotic and hyperchaotic behaviors will be generated. An adaptative control will be proposed to correct the instability of the equilibrium points of the model. Sensitive to the initial conditions, we will analyze the influence of the initial conditions on our fractional chaotic system. The coexisting attractors will also be provided for illustrations of the influence of the initial conditions.
Design and Analysis of Cooperative Broadcast Scheme Based on Reliability in Mesh Network
Authors: Dou Zufang , Tian Jianwen , Yang Qiaoli , Yang Liben
Published: June 2021

In order to ensure reliable data transmission of sender, the tree-based network is extended to Mesh network by collaborative technology, and the SW-HBH-CARQ broadcast scheme is introduced for the first time. Then, in order to solve the problems of broadcast storm and energy saving, SW-HBH-oiCARQ, SW-HBH-ieCARQ, and SW-HBH-oieCARQ are further proposed. Then, the four broadcasting schemes are analyzed quantitatively, and the performance indicators such as system energy consumption and time delay are obtained. Finally, the relationships between the performance indexes and the parameters are discussed by numerical simulation. At the same time, the effectiveness of the proposed schemes in energy saving is verified by comparing with the corresponding noncollaborative broadcasting scheme. However, the latency of proposes scheme is greater than uncooperative scheme, which is the cost of saving energy and resolving broadcast storms.