bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Graphene Oxide on Thermally Induced Shape Memory Behavior of PLA/TPU Blends: Correlation with Morphology, Creep Behavior, Crystallinity, and Dynamic Mechanical Properties
Authors: Azadi Fatemeh , Jafari Seyed Hassan , Khonakdar Hossein Ali , Arjmand Mohammad , Wagenknecht Udo , Altstädt Volker
Published: December 2020

In this study, shape memory is thermally induced in a series of graphene oxide (GO) filled poly(lactic acid)/thermoplastic polyurethane (PLA/TPU) blends, prepared via melt mixing process, and their shape recovery and shape fixity are measured, and the results are correlated with morphology, dynamic mechanical properties, crystallinity and creep recovery behavior. Morphological analysis by scanning and transmission electron microscopy reveals that the blends are immiscible, and GO platelets are mainly localized in the TPU phase of the blends, which lead to smaller and more elongated TPU droplets with improved interfacial adhesion being responsible for the improved shape recovery performance compared to the unfilled blend. A systematic enhancement found in storage and Young's modulus, tensile strength, creep resistance and creep recovery, and cold crystallinity as a result of GO inclusion are in agreement with the improved shape recovery, shape fixity and overall shape memory performance of the filled systems. The developed PLA/TPU/GO nanocomposites with highly improved mechanical properties can be utilized as a new class of environmentally friendly shape memory materials for a broad range of applications.
A potential therapeutic strategy for prostatic disease by targeting the oral microbiome
Authors: Fang Cheng , Wu Lan , Zhu Cong , Xie Wen‐Zhong , Hu Hailiang , Zeng Xian‐Tao
Published: December 2020

Nowadays, human microbiome research is rapidly growing and emerging evidence has witnessed the critical role that oral microbiome plays in the process of human health and disease. Oral microbial dysbiosis has been confirmed as a contributory cause for diseases in multiple body systems, ranging from the oral cavity to the gastrointestinal, endocrine, immune, cardiovascular, and even nervous system. As research progressing, oral microbiome‐based diagnosis and therapy are proposed and applied, which may represent potential drug targets in systemic diseases. Recent studies have uncovered the possible association between periodontal disease and prostatic disease, suggesting new prevention and therapeutic treatment for the disease by targeting periodontal pathogens. Thus, we performed this review to first explore the association between the oral microbiome and prostatic disease, according to current knowledge based on published articles, and then mainly focus on the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms and the potential prevention and treatment derived from these mechanistic studies.
Pricing strategy and campaign design in flight crowdfunding: A creative way to sell flight tickets
Authors: Zhang Zihao , Ling Liuyi , Yang Feng
Published: December 2020

This paper analyzes a novel selling strategy for airlines, termed flight crowdfunding, whereby an airline, as a creator, launches flights to solicit funds from the crowd. Under this strategy, the project succeeds if the total amount pledged reaches a predetermined threshold by the end of the campaign; otherwise, the flight will be canceled. We provide an implementable model to describe the process of flight crowdfunding and explain the behavior of strategic consumers. First, we find that crowdfunding is strictly optimal for airlines in a competitive market, although perhaps not in a monopoly market. Crowdfunding benefits airlines by reducing their expected cost and introducing a new type of buyer uncertainty, that is, uncertainty in the projects' success probability. Second, we show that the optimal threshold is lower than the indifferent point. Third, a counterintuitive finding is that crowdfunding may increase the equilibrium price in a monopoly market. Our research underscores the importance of crowdfunding and shows that crowdfunding may be even more attractive than what was previously thought. Crowdfunding can also improve airlines' profits as a revenue management strategy and benefit social welfare by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Evaluate the effectiveness of breast cancer decision aids: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomize clinical trails
Authors: Gao Jin‐ping , Jin Ying‐hui , Yu Shao‐fu , Wu Wang‐feng , Han Shi‐fan
Published: December 2020

Aim

To assess the effectiveness of decision aids in the treatment, prevention and screening of breast cancer patients.

Design

A systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Methods

The review protocol was registered in the CRD Prospero database(CRD42020173028).

A literature search was carried out in five databases: PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of science data in January 2020. We used The Cochrane risk bias assessment tool to evaluate the literature quality of included trials and the Review Manager 5.2 software to analyse data.

Results

We included 22 studies. Compared with the conventional methods, decision aids reduced treatment decision conflicts and had no significant effect on screening decision conflicts (WMD=−2.25, 95% CI = ‐ 2.64,‐1.87, p < .0001; WMD=−1.37, 95% CI = ‐ 3.57,0.83, p = .22). Three were no statistical differences in participants' anxiety, decision regret, knowledge, informed choice and decision‐making satisfaction between the two groups.
Ostrowski type inequalities for multiplicatively P‐functions
Authors: Kadakal Huriye
Published: December 2020

In this paper, by using both the Hölder, power‐mean integral inequalities and Hölder‐İşcan, improved power‐mean integral inequalities that give approach better than Hölder and power‐mean inequalities respectively, some new Ostrowski type inequalities are derived for multiplicatively P‐function. The results obtained in both cases are compared and the results obtained using Hölder‐İşcan and improved power‐mean integral inequalities are proven to be better. Some applications to special means of real numbers are given.
Repurposing FDA‐Approved Compounds for the Discovery of Glutaminyl Cyclase Inhibitors as Drugs Against Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Xu Chenshu , Zou Haoman , Yu Xi , Xie Yazhou , Cai Jiaxin , Shang Qi , Ouyang Na , Wang Yinan , Xu Pan , He Zhendan , Wu Haiqiang
Published: December 2020

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative causes of dementia, the pathology of which is still not much clear. It′s challenging to discover the disease modifying agents for the prevention and treatment of AD over the years. Emerging evidence has been accumulated to reveal the crucial role of up‐regulated glutaminyl cyclase (QC) in the initiation of AD. In the current study, the QC inhibitory potency of a library consisting of 1621 FDA‐approved compounds was assessed. A total of 54 hits, 3.33 % of the pool, exhibited QC inhibitory activities. The Ki of the top 5 compounds with the highest QC inhibitory activities were measured. Among these selected hits, compounds affecting neuronal signaling pathways and other mechanisms were recognized. Moreover, several polyphenol derivatives with QC inhibitory activities were also identified. Frameworks and subsets contained in these hits were analyzed. Taken together, our results may contribute to the discovery and development of novel QC inhibitors as potential anti‐AD agents.
Tuning polylactic acid scaffolds for tissue engineering purposes by incorporating graphene oxide‐chitosan nano‐hybrids
Authors: Joz Majidi Hoomaan , Babaei Amir , Kazemi‐Pasarvi Sina , Arab‐Bafrani Zahra , Amiri Mehrasa
Published: December 2020

The main goal of this study was to take an effective approach to promote polylactic acid (PLA) bio‐applications. In this regard, graphene oxide (GO) and spherical structure of GO‐chitosan nano‐hybrids (GO‐CS) were successfully synthesized and characterized using transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared, UV–Vis, and elemental analyses. Thereafter, PLA scaffolds containing 1 wt% and 2 wt% of synthesized nanomaterials were fabricated through the solvent casting/particulate leaching procedure. Then, the biodegradability, cell adhesion, and bio‐safety properties of the prepared scaffolds were investigated. The results of bio‐degradation analyses demonstrated that the used nanomaterials prevented PLA from rapid and excessive degradation. The cell viability and contact angle results revealed that the surface hydrophilicity of PLA scaffolds was noticeably enhanced using both GO and GO‐CS nanoparticles. Although scaffolds containing GO represented a more hydrophilic surface, their cell viability reduced as a consequence of GO cytotoxicity. It was also revealed that incorporation of GO‐CS nano‐hybrids into PLA scaffold tuned the cell viability through facilitating cell adhesion, growth, and proliferation processes.
Venetoclax/decitabine for a pediatric patient with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
Authors: Molina John C. , Asare Julie M. , Tuschong Laura , West Robert R. , Calvo Katherine R. , Persky Rebecca , Boyce Alison M. , Hammoud Dima A. , Holland Steven M. , Hickstein Dennis , Shah Nirali N.
Published: December 2020

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)/myeloproliferative disorder most commonly seen in the elderly. We describe an adolescent with monosomy 7 CMML presenting as central diabetes insipidus (DI), who was treated with venetoclax and decitabine as a bridge to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Central DI is a rare manifestation of monosomy 7‐associated MDS including CMML, itself a rare manifestation of GATA2 deficiency, particularly in children. Venetoclax/decitabine was effective for treatment of CMML as a bridge to HSCT.
The reinforcement of styrene butadiene rubber composites with simple environmentally friendly aramid fiber modification
Authors: Ji Yongchun , Liu Chunli , Luo Zhu , Zhong Jincheng , Yin Lianpeng
Published: December 2020

The surface treatment of aramid fiber (AF) improved the properties of reinforced composites. However, many AF modification methods were difficult to apply to the mass production of reinforced composites due to drawbacks, such as processes that were complex and not environmentally friendly. This paper described three simple and environmentally friendly methods for AF surface treatment and their effects on the properties of reinforced aramid fiber/carbon black/butadiene benzene ethylene rubber (AF/CB/SBR) composites. The AF was treated by thermal oxidation and coated with butadiene‐styrene‐pyridine rubber latex (VPL) or maleated polybutadiene liquid rubber. Then, AF/CB/SBR composites were produced when the modified AF was introduced into the SBR matrix. The results showed that compared with that of the composite with untreated AF, the interfacial bonding between the modified AF and the rubber matrix was improved, especially for tensile modulus elongations of 100% and 300%, and the tear strength of the composites was enhanced. Compared with those for the rubber composites with the AF treated by thermal oxidation, the mechanical properties of the rubber composites with the coated AF showed a greater improvement, but the heat generation was higher. Moreover, the thermal oxidation method not only improved the constant elongation stress and tear strength but also reduced the heat generation of the materials.
Central Arctic weather forecasting: Confronting theECMWF IFSwith observations from the Arctic Ocean 2018 expedition
Authors: Tjernström Michael , Svensson Gunilla , Magnusson Linus , Brooks Ian M. , Prytherch John , Vüllers Jutta , Young Gillian
Published: December 2020

Forecasts with the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts' numerical weather prediction model are evaluated using an extensive set of observations from the Arctic Ocean 2018 expedition on the Swedish icebreakerOden. The atmospheric model (Cy45r1) is similar to that used for the ERA5 reanalysis (Cy41r2). The evaluation covers 1 month, with the icebreaker moored to drifting sea ice near the North Pole; a total of 125 forecasts issued four times per day were used. Standard surface observations and 6‐hourly soundings were assimilated to ensure that the initial model error is small. Model errors can be divided into two groups. First, variables related to dynamics feature errors that grow with forecast length; error spread also grows with time. Initial errors are small, facilitating a robust evaluation of the second group; thermodynamic variables. These feature fast error growth for 6–12 hr, after which errors saturates; error spread is roughly constant. Both surface and near‐surface air temperatures are too warm in the model. During the summer both are typically above zero in spite of the ongoing melt; however, the warm bias increases as the surface freezes. The warm bias is due to a too warm atmosphere; errors in surface sensible heat flux transfer additional heat from the atmosphere to the surface. The lower troposphere temperature error has a distinct vertical structure: a substantial warm bias in the lowest few 100 m and a large cold bias around 1 km; this structure features a significant diurnal cycle and is tightly coupled to errors in the modelled clouds. Clouds appear too often and in a too deep layer of the lower atmosphere; the lowest clouds essentially never break up. The largest error in cloud presence is aligned with the largest cold bias at around 1 km.
A class of generalized Birnbaum‐Saunders distributions for reliability modeling
Authors: Xu Ancha , He Huizi , Yu Bingpeng
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we generalize the Birnbaum‐Saunders (BS) distribution by two ways. One is based on the mixture representation of BS distribution, and a flexible weight is adopted to describe the kurtosis of the distribution. The other way is based on the transformation property of BS distribution, and we incorporate a power parameter in the transformation to describe the skewness of the distribution. Then a four‐parameter BS distribution including skewness and kurtosis parameters is induced by combining the two ways. The properties of these generalized BS distributions are investigated. Then, the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm is proposed to estimate the parameters. Real data analysis is performed to illustrate the superiority of the generalized BS distributions. Finally, some potential generalizations are discussed.
Structural, electronic, elastic, magnetic and thermodynamic properties of Mn2LuZ (Z = B, Al, Ga and In) Heusler compounds: A first‐principle study
Authors: Morsli Amaria , Bentouaf Ali , Mahdad Benzerdjab Amina , Ameri Ibrahim , Ameri Mohammed , Aïssa Brahim
Published: December 2020

The study of the structural, electronic, thermodynamic, elastic and magnetic properties of rare‐earth based full Heusler alloys Mn2LuZ (Z = B, Al, Ga and In) have been carried out using the full‐potential linearized muffin‐tin orbital method (FP‐LMTO), within density functional theory (DFT) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for exchange and correlation energy. The electronic properties studied have shown that the compounds have a metallic behavior. We have also computed the mechanical properties where we found these full Heusler compounds are mechanically stable. Using the quasi‐harmonic Debye model, the variations of bulk modulus, thermal expansion coefficient, heat capacities, Debye temperature and Gibbs free energy with pressures covering the 0–40 GPa interval and temperatures ranging from 0 to 1500 K were also investigated and in‐depth discussed. The calculated properties represent a solid prediction for the Mn2LuZ (Z = B, Al, Ga and In) Heusler compounds and are awaiting for experimental concretization.
Szász–Mirakyan‐based adaptive controller design for chaotic synchronization
Authors: Izadbakhsh Alireza , Zamani Iman , Khorashadizadeh Saeed
Published: December 2020

This article presents a robust adaptive controller for chaos synchronization using the Szász–Mirakyan operator as a universal approximator. In accordance with the universal approximation theorem, the Szász–Mirakyan operator, an extended version of the Bernstein polynomial, can approximate uncertainties, including unmodeled dynamics and external disturbances. This fact is completely discussed in this article. It is shown that using the Szász–Mirakyan operator as basis functions and tuning the polynomial coefficients by the adaptive laws calculated in the stability analysis, uniformly ultimately bounded stability can be assured. Performance evaluation has also been carried out to confirm the satisfactory performance of transient response of the controller. Numerical simulations on the Duffing–Holmes oscillator are provided in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach.
Bayesian meta‐analysis models for cross cancer genomic investigation of pleiotropic effects using group structure
Authors: Baghfalaki Taban , Sugier Pierre‐Emmanuel , Truong Therese , Pettitt Anthony N. , Mengersen Kerrie , Liquet Benoit
Published: December 2020

An increasing number of genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) summary statistics is made available to the scientific community. Exploiting these results from multiple phenotypes would permit identification of novel pleiotropic associations. In addition, incorporating prior biological information in GWAS such as group structure information (gene or pathway) has shown some success in classical GWAS approaches. However, this has not been widely explored in the context of pleiotropy. We propose a Bayesian meta‐analysis approach (termed GCPBayes) that uses summary‐level GWAS data across multiple phenotypes to detect pleiotropy at both group‐level (gene or pathway) and within group (eg, at the SNP level). We consider both continuous and Dirac spike and slab priors for group selection. We also use a Bayesian sparse group selection approach with hierarchical spike and slab priors that enables us to select important variables both at the group level and within group. GCPBayes uses a Bayesian statistical framework based on Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) Gibbs sampling. It can be applied to multiple types of phenotypes for studies with overlapping or nonoverlapping subjects, and takes into account heterogeneity in the effect size and allows for the opposite direction of the genetic effects across traits. Simulations show that the proposed methods outperform benchmark approaches such as ASSET and CPBayes in the ability to retrieve pleiotropic associations at both SNP and gene‐levels. To illustrate the GCPBayes method, we investigate the shared genetic effects between thyroid cancer and breast cancer in candidate pathways.
Proactive strategies for countering the detrimental outcomes of qualitative job insecurity in academia
Authors: Urbanaviciute Ieva , Christina Roll Lara , Tomas Jasmina , de Witte Hans
Published: December 2020

Against the backdrop of various and sometimes unexpected transformations of working conditions, qualitative job insecurity has become increasingly prevalent in academia and beyond. As a result, there is a great need for identifying factors that may mitigate its detrimental outcomes on employee well‐being. To do so, the current study aimed to investigate the role of two proactive participation strategies—participatory decision‐making and job crafting—as a means of counteracting the effects of qualitative job insecurity on burnout, work engagement and job satisfaction. The study was based on a sample of higher education employees in Belgium and Switzerland (N = 915). To test the hypotheses, moderation analyses were conducted in the overall sample and across different staff categories (i.e., senior and junior academic staff, administrative employees). Around 30% of the tested moderation effects were statistically significant, revealing that the negative outcomes of job insecurity were less salient at high values of the moderators. In particular, our findings suggest that encouraging participative decision‐making may serve as a means to maintain academic employees' job satisfaction and prevent burnout in turbulent times. Moreover, job crafting may be additionally targeted at preserving work engagement, even though its moderator effects were not universal.
Organizing for innovation: A contingency view on innovative team configuration
Authors: Vakili Keyvan , Kaplan Sarah
Published: December 2020

Research Summary

While innovation has increasingly become a collaborative effort, there is little consensus in research about what types of team configurations might be the most useful for creating breakthrough innovations. Do teams need to include inventors with knowledge breadth for recombination or do they need inventors with knowledge depth for identifying anomalies? Do teams need overlapping knowledge to integrate insights from diverse areas or does this redundancy hamper innovation by creating inefficiencies? In this article, we offer evidence that the answers to these questions may depend on the characteristics of the technologies. Focusing on the degree of modularity and the breadth of application in patent data, we identify empirical patterns suggesting that differing team configurations are associated with different technological domains.

Managerial Summary

While innovation has increasingly become a collaborative effort, there is little guidance for managers about how you can construct teams to create novel breakthroughs. Who should be on the team? Some have suggested that inventors should have broad knowledge in order to facilitate the recombination of ideas, which is at the heart of creativity. Others suggest that only deep knowledge in an area can lead to novel solutions. How much diversity in backgrounds is useful? Some find that inventors need to have common knowledge in order to integrate their insights. Others worry that this redundancy will lead to inefficiencies that slow down innovation. In this article, we resolve these conflicting recommendations by showing that the team you pick depends on the type of technology.
Highly Stable and Ultrahigh‐Rate Li Metal Anode Enabled by Fluorinated Carbon Fibers
Authors: Xia Shuixin , Zhang Xun , Luo Lingli , Pang Yuepeng , Yang Junhe , Huang Yizhong , Zheng Shiyou
Published: December 2020

The advanced energy storage of an Li metal substituted for graphite anode can provide a significant enhancement in a battery's energy density. Nevertheless, the practical implementation of metallic Li has seriously been fettered by the notorious Li dendrite growth and the huge volumetric variation of Li metal inducing poor cycling performance and safety concerns. In this regard, constructing a robust SEI layer combined with a 3D host to stabilize the Li metal is strongly in demand. Herein, a highly stable hosted Li with an LiF dominated SEI has successfully been achieved through metal‐free fluorinated carbon fibers (FCF) with strong lithiophilicity. The metal‐free design is cost‐effective and can retain the energy density of the Li metal, minimizing the unnecessary energy sacrifice from the extra high gravimetric density lithiophilic sites. The FCF hosted Li delivers a promoted high Coulombic efficiency, homogeneous Li deposition, and ultrahigh rate stable cycling over 1000 cycles at 20 mA cm−2 with a much lower voltage polarization (≈220 mV). Moreover, half cells coupled with LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2, sulfur or even thick LiCoO2 cathode demonstrate superior rate performances and enhanced cycling stability even under a lean electrolyte. This work proves the feasibility of FCF hosted Li for practical usage and provides a novel approach toward cost‐effective and high performance lithium metal batteries.
Kinetically Controlled Growth of Sub‐Millimeter 2D Cs2SnI6 Nanosheets at the Liquid–Liquid Interface
Authors: Zhu Weiguang , Shen Junhua , Li Mingxin , Yang Kun , Bu Wei , Sun Yi‐Yang , Shi Jian , Lian Jie
Published: December 2020

Cs2SnI6 perovskite displays excellent air stability and a high absorption coefficient, promising for photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications. However, Cs2SnI6‐based device performance is still low as a result of lacking optimized synthesis approaches to obtain high quality Cs2SnI6 crystals. Here, a new simple method to synthesize single crystalline Cs2SnI6 perovskite at a liquid–liquid interface is reported. By controlling solvent conditions and Cs2SnI6 supersaturation at the liquid–liquid interface, Cs2SnI6 crystals can be obtained from 3D to 2D growth with controlled geometries such as octahedron, pyramid, hexagon, and triangular nanosheets. The formation mechanisms and kinetics of complex shapes/geometries of high quality Cs2SnI6 crystals are investigated. Freestanding single crystalline 2D nanosheets can be fabricated as thin as 25 nm, and the lateral size can be controlled up to sub‐millimeter regime. Electronic property of the high quality Cs2SnI6 2D nanosheets is also characterized, featuring a n‐type conduction with a high carrier mobility of 35 cm2 V−1 s−1. The interfacial reaction‐controlled synthesis of high‐quality crystals and mechanistic understanding of the crystal growth allow to realize rational design of materials, and the manipulation of crystal growth can be beneficial to achieve desired properties for potential functional applications.
Targeting Early Healing Phase with Titania Nanotube Arrays on Tunable Diameters to Accelerate Bone Regeneration and Osseointegration
Authors: Bai Long , Zhao Ya , Chen Peiru , Zhang Xiangyu , Huang Xiaobo , Du Zhibin , Crawford Ross , Yao Xiaohong , Tang Bin , Hang Ruiqiang , Xiao Yin
Published: December 2020

Blood coagulation and inflammation are the earliest biological responses to implant surfaces. Implant nano‐surfaces can significantly impact the osseointegration through the influence on the early phase of bone regeneration. However, the interplay between blood clot property and inflammatory reaction on nanosurfaces is rarely understood. Herein, titania nanotube arrays (TNAs) with different diameters are fabricated on titanium. In vitro evaluation with the whole blood indicates that TNA with a diameter of 15 nm (TNA 15) enables noteworthy platelet activation resulting in distinct clot features compared with that of pure Ti and TNA with a diameter of 120 nm (TNA 120). Further co‐culture with macrophages on the clot or in the clot‐conditioned medium shows that the clot on TNA 15 downregulates the inflammation and manipulates a favorable osteoimmunomodulatory environment for osteogenesis. In vivo studies further demonstrate that TNA 15 could downregulate the inflammation‐related genes while upregulating growth metabolism‐related genes in an early healing hematoma. Additionally, TNA 15 promotes de novo bone formation with improved extending of osteocyte dendrites, demonstrating the desired osseointegration. These findings indicate that surface nano‐dimensions can significantly influence clot formation and appropriate clot features can manipulate a favorable osteoimmunomodulatory environment for bone regeneration and osseointegration.
Perspective on solid‐electrolyte interphase regulation for lithium metal batteries
Authors: Wu Mingguang , Li Yong , Liu Xinhua , Yang Shichun , Ma Jianmin , Dou Shixue
Published: December 2020

The solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI) generated between the electrode and the electrolyte strongly influences the performance of batteries. As the most attractive next‐generation energy storage system with ultrahigh energy density, the development of lithium metal batteries (LMBs) has been greatly plagued by the uncontrollable lithium (Li) dendrite and serious electrolyte decomposition resulting from the self‐derived unstable SEI with poor properties. In this perspective, the recent progress of regulating the nature and composition of the SEI to stabilize the Li metal in LMBs is summarized, followed by a discussion of the formation mechanism and the property of the SEI. The strategies for constructing a stable SEI are summarized, for example, design of a compatible electrolyte with the anode, adding self‐sacrificing additives or solvation control additives, and the regulation of nonfaradaic electric adsorption and desorption progress. Finally, the guideline for the rational design of the SEI is proposed.
Polymorphisms of KLF3 gene coding region and identification of their functionality for abdominal fat in chickens
Authors: Wang Weijia , Li Yudong , Li Ziwei , Wang Ning , Xiao Fan , Gao Haihe , Guo Huaishun , Li Hui , Wang Shouzhi
Published: December 2020

KLF3 is a member of the Kruppel‐like factor (KLF) family of transcription factors, and plays an important role in several biological processes, including adipogenesis, erythropoiesis and B‐cell development. The purposes of this study are to search for polymorphisms of KLF3 coding region and to provide functional evidence for abdominal fat in chickens. A total of 168 SNPs in KLF3 coding region were detected in a unique chicken population, the Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content (NEAUHLF). Of which three single nucleotide polymorphisms (g.3452T > C, g.8663A > G and g.10751G > A) were significantly correlated with abdominal fat weight (AFW) and abdominal fat percentage (AFP) of 329 birds from the 19th generation of NEAUHLF (FDR < 0.05). The reporter gene assay was performed to verify functionality of these three SNPs in both ICP‐1 and DF1 cells. Results showed that the luciferase activity of G allele was significantly higher than that of A allele in g.10751G > A (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between different alleles of others two SNPs in luciferase activity. Overall, KLF3 is an important candidate gene that affects chicken abdominal fat content, and the g.10751G > A is a functional variant that potential would be applied to marker‐assisted selection (MAS) for selective breeding programme.
Technology Scouting to Accelerate Innovation in Supply Chain
Authors: Stute Markus , Sardesai Saskia , Parlings Matthias , Senna Pedro Pinho , Fornasiero Rosanna , Balech Sébastien
Published: December 2020

Digital technologies have gained ground among companies, researchers and policy makers in recent years due to their growing relevance to current and future supply chains. Technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, autonomous transport systems, data science, and additive manufacturing are gradually becoming part of people’s and companies’ daily lives and are changing the manufacturing, process industry and logistics sectors. Although recent attempts have been made to understand the implications of these technologies on supply chain management, the relevance of the different technologies in future scenarios is still unknown. Using a technology scouting approach, the most important enabling technologies for supply chains until 2030 are identified and selected and their implications on future supply chains are evaluated using an assessment methodology with different evaluation criteria.
Crunching away the cosmological constant problem: dynamical selection of a small Λ
Authors: Bloch Itay M. , Csáki Csaba , Geller Michael , Volansky Tomer
Published: December 2020

Abstract

We propose a novel explanation for the smallness of the observed cosmological constant (CC). Regions of space with a large CC are short lived and are dynamically driven to crunch soon after the end of inflation. Conversely, regions with a small CC are metastable and long lived and are the only ones to survive until late times. While the mechanism assumes many domains with different CC values, it does not result in eternal inflation nor does it require a long period of inflation to populate them. We present a concrete dynamical model, based on a super-cooled first order phase transition in a hidden conformal sector, that may successfully implement such a crunching mechanism. We find that the mechanism can only solve the CC problem up to the weak scale, above which new physics, such as supersymmetry, is needed to solve the CC problem all the way to the UV cutoff scale. The absence of experimental evidence for such new physics already implies a mild little hierarchy problem for the CC. Curiously, in this approach the weak scale arises as the geometric mean of the temperature in our universe today and the Planck scale, hinting at a new “CC miracle”, motivating new physics at the weak scale independent of electroweak physics. We further predict the presence of new relativistic degrees of freedom in the CFT that should be visible in the next round of CMB experiments. Our mechanism is therefore predictive and experimentally falsifiable.
Hyperkähler isometries of K3 surfaces
Authors: Banerjee Anindya , Moore Gregory W.
Published: December 2020

Abstract

We consider symmetries of K3 manifolds. Holomorphic symplectic automorphisms of K3 surfaces have been classified, and observed to be subgroups of the Mathieu group M23. More recently, automorphisms of K3 sigma models commuting with SU(2) × SU(2) R-symmetry have been classified by Gaberdiel, Hohenegger, and Volpato. These groups are all subgroups of the Conway group. We fill in a small gap in the literature and classify the possible hyperkähler isometry groups of K3 manifolds. There is an explicit list of 40 possible groups, all of which are realized in the moduli space. The groups are all subgroups of M23.
A survey on composition operators on some function spaces
Authors: D’Aniello Emma , Maiuriello Martina
Published: December 2020

We investigate some types of composition operators, linear and not, and conditions for some spaces to be mapped into themselves and for the operators to satisfy some good properties.
Surface treatment on cobalt and titanium alloys using picosecond laser pulses in burst mode
Authors: Metzner Daniel , Lickschat Peter , Weißmantel Steffen
Published: December 2020

The authors report on the results of surface treatment experiments using a solid-state amplified laser source emitting laser pulses with a pulse duration of 10 ps. The laser source allows the generation of pulse trains (bursts) with an intra-burst pulse repetition rate of 80 MHz (pulse-to-pulse time interval about 12.5 ns) with up to eight pulses per burst. In this study a wavelength of 1064 nm was used to investigate both ablation of material and laser-induced surface modifications occuring in metallic implant alloys CoCrMo (cobalt-chromium-molybdenum) and TiAlV (titanium-aluminum-vanadium) in dependence of the number of pulses and fluences per pulse in the burst. By using the burst mode, a smoothing effect occurs in a certain parameter range, resulting in very low surface roughness of the generated microstructures. It is demonstrated that at fluences per pulse which are smaller than the material-specific ablation threshold, a self-organized pore formation takes place if a defined number of pulses per burst is used. Thus, the advantage of the MHz burst mode in terms of a possible surface modification is established.
Mammographic density as an image-based biomarker of therapy response in neoadjuvant-treated breast cancer patients
Authors: Skarping Ida , Förnvik Daniel , Heide-Jørgensen Uffe , Sartor Hanna , Hall Per , Zackrisson Sophia , Borgquist Signe
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Personalized cancer treatment requires predictive biomarkers, including image-based biomarkers. Breast cancer (BC) patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) are in a clinically vulnerable situation with the tumor present. This study investigated whether mammographic density (MD), assessed pre-NACT, is predictive of pathological complete response (pCR).

Methods

A total of 495 BC patients receiving NACT in Sweden 2005–2019 were included, merged from two different cohorts. Cohort 1 was retrospectively collected (n = 295) and cohort 2 was prospectively collected (n = 200). Mammograms were scored for MD pre-NACT according to the Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS), 5th Edition. The association between MD and accomplishing pCR post-NACT was analyzed using logistic regression models—for the whole cohort, stratified by menopausal status, and in different St. Gallen surrogate subtypes.

Results

In comparison to patients with low MD (BI-RADS a), the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of accomplishing pCR following NACT was on a descending scale: 0.62 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.24–1.57), 0.38 (95% CI 0.14–1.02), and 0.32 (95% CI 0.09–1.08) for BI-RADS b, c, and d, respectively. For premenopausal patients selectively, the corresponding point estimates were lower, although wider CIs: 0.31 (95% CI 0.06–1.62), 0.24 (95% CI 0.04–1.27), and 0.13 (95% CI 0.02–0.88). Subgroup analyses based on BC subtypes resulted in imprecise estimates, i.e., wide CIs.

Conclusions

It seemed as though patients with higher MD at baseline were less likely to reach pCR after NACT—a finding more pronounced in premenopausal women. Larger multicenter studies are needed to enable analyses and interpretation for different BC subtypes.
A randomized controlled trial comparing community lifestyle interventions to improve adherence to diet and physical activity recommendations: the VitalUM study
Authors: van Keulen Hilde Marijke , van Breukelen Gerard , de Vries Hein , Brug Johannes , Mesters Ilse
Published: December 2020

Worldwide, adherence to national guidelines for physical activity (PA), and fruit and vegetable consumption is recommended to promote health and reduce the risk for (chronic) disease. This study reports on the effectiveness of various social-cognitive interventions to improve adherence to guidelines and the revealed adherence predictors. Participants (n = 1,629), aged 45–70 years, randomly selected and recruited in 2005–2006 from 23 Dutch general practices, were randomized (centralized stratified allocation) to four groups to receive a 12-month lifestyle intervention targeting guideline adherence for PA and fruit and vegetable consumption. Study groups received either four computer-tailored print communication (TPC) letters (n = 405), four telephone motivational interviewing (TMI) sessions (n = 407), a combined intervention (two TPC letters and two TMI sessions, n = 408), or no intervention (control group, n = 409). After the baseline assessment, all parties were aware of the treatment groups. Outcomes were measured with self-report postal questionnaires at baseline, 25, 47 and 73 weeks. For PA, all three interventions were associated with better guideline adherence than no intervention. Odds ratios for TPC, TMI and the combined intervention were 1.82 (95% CI 1.31; 2.54), 1.57 (95% CI 1.13; 2.18), and 2.08 (95% CI 1.50; 2.88), respectively. No pedometer effects were found. For fruit and vegetable consumption, TPC seemed superior to those in the other groups. Odd ratio for fruit and vegetable consumption were 1.78 (95% CI 1.32; 2.41) and 1.73 (95% CI 1.28; 2.33), respectively. For each behaviour, adherence was predicted by self-efficacy expectations, habit strength and stages of change, whereas sex, awareness and the number of action plans predicted guideline adherence for fruit and vegetable intake. The season predicted the guideline adherence for PA and fruit consumption. The odds ratios revealed were equivalent to modest effects sizes, although they were larger than those reported in systematic reviews. This study indicated that less resource intensive interventions might have the potential for a large public health impact when widely implemented. The strengths of this study were the participation of lower educated adults and evaluation of maintenance effects. (Trial NL1035, 2007-09-06).
Should We Treat Teddy Bear 2.0 as a Kantian Dog? Four Arguments for the Indirect Moral Standing of Personal Social Robots, with Implications for Thinking About Animals and Humans
Authors: Coeckelbergh Mark
Published: December 2020

The use of autonomous and intelligent personal social robots raises questions concerning their moral standing. Moving away from the discussion about direct moral standing and exploring the normative implications of a relational approach to moral standing, this paper offers four arguments that justify giving indirect moral standing to robots under specific conditions based on some of the ways humans—as social, feeling, playing, and doubting beings—relate to them. The analogy of “the Kantian dog” is used to assist reasoning about this. The paper also discusses the implications of this approach for thinking about the moral standing of animals and humans, showing why, when, and how an indirect approach can also be helpful in these fields, and using Levinas and Dewey as sources of inspiration to discuss some challenges raised by this approach.
A sustainable urban regeneration project to protect biodiversity
Authors: Tarsitano Elvira , Rosa Alba Giannoccaro , Posca Cecilia , Petruzzi Giovanni , Mundo Michele , Colao Marcello
Published: December 2020

The sustainable urban redevelopment project to protect biodiversity was developed to regenerate the external spaces of an ancient rural farmhouse, Villa Framarino, in the regional Natural Park of Lama Balice, a shallow erosive furrow (lama) rich in biodiversity, between two suburbs of the city of Bari (Apulia, Italy) and close to the city airport. This work includes a complex system of activities aimed not only at a spatial revaluation, necessary to relaunch the urban image, but it is accompanied by interventions of a cultural, social, economic, environmental and landscape nature, aimed at increasing the quality of life, in compliance with the principles of sustainability and social participation. One of the means to revitalize a territory subject to redevelopment is the planning of events and activities of socio-cultural value that involve the population to revive the sense of belonging to the territory and the community and at the same time to protect the biodiversity of the urban park of the protected natural area.
Landscape and Dynamics of the Transcriptional Regulatory Network During Natural Killer Cell Differentiation
Authors: Li Kun , Wu Yang , Li Young , Yu Qiaoni , Tian Zhigang , Wei Haiming , Qu Kun
Published: December 2020

Natural killer (NK) cells are essential in controlling cancer and infection. However, little is known about the dynamics of the transcriptional regulatory machinery during NK cell differentiation. In this study, we applied the assay of transposase accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq) technique in a home-developed in vitro NK cell differentiation system. Analysis of ATAC-seq data illustrated two distinct transcription factor (TF) clusters that dynamically regulate NK cell differentiation. Moreover, two TFs from the second cluster, FOS-like 2 (FOSL2) and early growth response 2 (EGR2), were identified as novel essential TFs that control NK cell maturation and function. Knocking down either of these two TFs significantly impacted NK cell differentiation. Finally, we constructed a genome-wide transcriptional regulatory network that provides a better understanding of the regulatory dynamics during NK cell differentiation.
Quantifying the Tropical Upper Tropospheric Warming Amplification Using Radio Occultation Measurements
Authors: Vergados Panagiotis , Ao Chi O. , Mannucci Anthony J. , Kursinski E. Robert
Published: December 2020

In the upper troposphere (UT), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Radio Occultations (ROs) provide accurate air temperatures (<0.5 K) every ∼200 m vertically. We use RO observations from 01/2002 until 12/2018 at 300, 250, and 200 hPa to quantify the tropical upper tropospheric amplification (defined as the ratio of temperature trends in the UT relative to the surface). We compare the RO‐derived results against Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP) models, Modern‐Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA‐2), and European Center for Medium‐range Weather Forecasts Re‐Analysis Interim (ERA‐Interim) data. We find that CMIP6 AMIP models show excellent agreement with independent AIRS and RO observations on the magnitude of the UT warming and show warming that is significantly faster than both reanalyses above 250 hPa. Additionally, AIRS and CMIP6 AMIP present excellent agreement with the RO‐measured tropical tropospheric amplification.
Machine Learning Improves Debris Flow Warning
Authors: Chmiel Małgorzata , Walter Fabian , Wenner Michaela , Zhang Zhen , McArdell Brian W. , Hibert Clement
Published: December 2020

Automatic identification of debris flow signals in continuous seismic records remains a challenge. To tackle this problem, we use machine learning, which can be applied to continuous real‐time data. We show that a machine learning model based on the random forest algorithm recognizes different stages of debris flow formation and propagation at the Illgraben torrent, Switzerland, with an accuracy exceeding 90 %. In contrast to typical debris flow detection requiring instrumentation installed in the torrent, our approach provides a significant gain in warning times of tens of minutes to hours. For real‐time data from 2020, our detector raises alarms for all 13 independently confirmed Illgraben events, giving no false alarms. We suggest that our seismic machine‐learning detector is a critical step toward the next generation of debris‐flow warning, which increases warning times using simpler instrumentation compared to existing operational systems.
Cohesive Sediment Erosion in a Combined Wave‐Current Boundary Layer
Authors: Egan Galen , Chang Grace , McWilliams Samuel , Revelas Gene , Fringer Oliver , Monismith Stephen
Published: December 2020

We conducted field work on the shoals of South San Francisco Bay to elucidate the mechanisms driving cohesive sediment erosion in a shallow, wave‐ and current‐driven flow. Compiling data from three deployments, including measurements taken within the combined wave‐current boundary layer, we found that wave shear stress was strongly correlated to turbulent sediment fluxes across all seasons and a range of deployment depths. Tidal turbulence was only correlated to turbulent sediment fluxes for larger relative depths, or when a wave‐driven sediment flux in the bottom boundary layer allowed the tidal shear stress to transport sediment into the overlying flow. Despite the dominance of waves in eroding sediment, we found favorable agreement between in situ boundary layer erosion measurements and laboratory erosion measurements conducted in a steady flume. Results were analyzed in the context of two benthic surveys which provided insight into the sediment bed properties.
Southern Ocean Cloud Properties Derived From CAPRICORN and MARCUS Data
Authors: Mace Gerald G. , Protat Alain , Humphries Ruhi S. , Alexander Simon P. , McRobert Ian M. , Ward Jason , Selleck Paul , Keywood Melita , McFarquhar Greg M.
Published: December 2020

The properties of Southern Ocean (SO) liquid phase non precipitating clouds (hereafter clouds) are examined using shipborne data collected during the Measurements of Aerosols, Radiation and Clouds over the Southern Ocean and the Clouds Aerosols Precipitation Radiation and atmospheric Composition Over the SoutheRN ocean I and II campaigns that took place south of Australia during Autumn 2016 and Summer 2017–2018. Cloud properties are derived using data from W‐band radars, lidars, and microwave radiometers using an optimal estimation algorithm. The SO clouds tended to have larger liquid water paths (LWP, 115 ± 117 g m−2), smaller effective radii (re, 8.7 ± 3 μm), and higher number concentrations (Nd, 90 ± 107 cm−3) than typical values of eastern ocean basin stratocumulus. The clouds demonstrated a tendency for the LWP to increase with Nd presumably due to precipitation suppression up to Nd of approximately 100 cm−3 when mean LWP decreased with increasing Nd. Due to higher optical depth, cloud albedos were less susceptible to changes in Nd compared to subtropical stratocumulus. The highest latitude clouds of the datasets, observed along and near the Antarctic coast, presented a distinctly bimodal character. One mode had the properties of marine clouds further north. The other mode occurred in an aerosol environment characterized by high cloud condensation nuclei concentrations and elevated sulfate aerosol without obvious continental aerosol markers. These regions of higher cloud condensation nuclei tended to have higher Nd, smaller re and higher LWP suggesting sensitivity of cloud properties to seasonal biogenic aerosol production in the high latitude SO.