bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel coupled NS‐PFEM with stable nodal integration and polynomial pressure projection for geotechnical problems
Authors: Wang Ze‐Yu , Jin Yin‐Fu , Yin Zhen‐Yu , Wang Yu‐Ze
Published: July 2022

The node‐based smoothed particle finite element method (NS‐PFEM) offers high computational efficiency but is numerically unstable due to possible spurious low‐energy mode in direct nodal integration (NI). Moreover, the NS‐PFEM has not been applied to hydromechanical coupled analysis. This study proposes an implicit stabilised T3 element‐based NS‐PFEM (stabilised node‐based smoothed particle finite element method [SNS‐PFEM]) for solving fully hydromechanical coupled geotechnical problems that (1) adopts the stable NI based on multiple stress points over the smooth domain to resolve the NI instability of NS‐PFEM, (2) implements the polynomial pressure projection (PPP) technique in the NI framework to cure possible spurious pore pressure oscillation in the undrained or incompressible limit and (3) expresses the NI for assembling coefficient matrices and calculating internal force in SNS‐PFEM with PPP as closed analytical expressions, guaranteeing computational accuracy and efficiency. Four classical benchmark tests (1D Terzaghi's consolidation, Mandel's problem, 2D strip footing consolidation and foundation on a vertical cut) are simulated and compared with analytical solutions or results from other numerical methods to validate the correctness and efficiency of the proposed approach. Finally, penetration of strip footing into soft soil is investigated, showing the outstanding performance the proposed approach can offer for large deformation problems. All results demonstrate that the proposed SNS‐PFEM with PPP is capable of tracking hydromechanical coupled geotechnical problems under small and large deformation with different drainage capacities.
Improved Gauss Seidel based projection–contraction algorithm for the mixed complementarity problem in contact problem
Authors: Zeng Yan , Zheng Hong , Liu Yang , Yang Bing , Li Chunguang
Published: July 2022

The GSCP (Gauss–Seidel based projection‐contraction) algorithm has been well established in solving elastoplastic mixed complementarity problems (MiCPs) or other problems which have similar mathematical form. However, the stability problems in the GSPC algorithm may cause nonconvergence or program crashes. Thus, the method of constructing and analyzing counterexamples is adopted to study the reasons for the instability of the GSPC algorithm. The R‐GSPC algorithm was developed by modifying the part of the GSPC algorithm that caused the crash to make the algorithm stable. In addition, this paper analyzes the convergence, compatibility, and initial value impact of R‐GSPC, and finds that the R‐GSPC algorithm greatly improves the robustness and stability without losing accuracy. This paper allows the GSPC algorithm to be better extended to more fields and to be suitabled for being introduced into commercial programs.
Conservation in conversation: People's perspectives on a woodland with high conservation value—A qualitative study
Authors: Hague Alice , Fischer Anke , Byg Anja , Juarez‐Bourke Alba , Herrett Scott , Eastwood Antonia
Published: July 2022

Concepts such as ecosystem services and nature's contributions to people are frameworks for articulating the value of nature and biodiversity conservation. Yet it remains difficult to argue for the conservation of species and habitats where they are inconspicuous or ‘non‐charismatic’.

This paper investigates the perceptions of a woodland area in rural western Scotland, designated for its high conservation value and characterised by habitats, rare species and species assemblages with limited appreciation by non‐experts and no obvious ‘utility’ value. Based on interviews with residents and visitors as well as workshops with participants representing different types of local expertise, we show how people experience and perceive the benefits from such woodlands.

Overall, our study participants emphasised values and ecosystem services that benefitted humans, strongly drawing on stories of cultural or historical land use to argue for more material opportunities to be created. For those participants without ecological expertise, the designated conservation value, albeit respected and accepted, remained vague and bland.

Participants also articulated a strong underlying development logic, pushing in some way for ‘more’ to be made from the woodlands so that more people could receive benefits from the woodland either directly (e.g. mental restoration; increased use for recreation) or indirectly (e.g. through creating jobs in the local tourism industry).

Our findings suggest that managing for conservation alone might cause challenges in acceptability, especially where the species and habitats conserved are of little obvious value to the non‐specialist. At the same time, participants recognised that they valued the woodland being unique in some way, and that increasing the material use of the woods might harm the very essence of what made it special.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Consensus recommendations for use of maintenance immunosuppression in solid organ transplantation: Endorsed by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, American Society of Transplantation, and International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation: An executive summary
Authors: Nelson Joelle , Alvey Nicole , Bowman Lyndsey , Schulte Jamie , Segovia Maria Cristina , McDermott Jennifer , Te Helen S. , Kapila Nikhil , Levine Deborah Jo , Gottlieb Robert L. , Oberholzer Jose , Campara Maya
Published: July 2022

Advances in maintenance immunosuppression over the past three decades have improved solid organ transplantation outcomes dramatically. Uninterrupted access to immunosuppression is paramount to minimize rejection and maintain allograft and patient survival. Agents used vary based on transplanted organ, center‐specific protocol, provider expertise, insurance formularies, ability to cover co‐pays, recipient characteristics and tolerability. Published data reflects this heterogeneity. Despite these obstacles, the information about maintenance immunosuppression use cross pollinates between organ groups with standard of care agents often being used off‐label, making medication access a challenge for many transplant recipients. A multidisciplinary panel of American transplant clinicians was formed to review published literature on maintenance immunosuppression with the goal to formulate consensus recommendations for their use in specific organ groups. These consensus recommendations are intended to provide transplant clinicians with a summary of literature on maintenance immunosuppression in the modern era, and to support transplant team members working to secure medication access for patients.
The effect of DOPO concentration and epoxy amine stoichiometry on the rheological, thermal, mechanical and fire‐retardant properties of crosslinked networks
Authors: Seraji Seyed Mohsen , Gan Houlei , Le Nguyen‐Duc , Zhang Juan , Varley Russell J
Published: July 2022

Presented here is an investigation into the effect of a phosphorus‐based fire retardant on the thermal, rheological and mechanical properties and flammability of an epoxyamine network prepared using stoichiometric and off‐stoichiometric epoxyamine compositions. The flame retardant 9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐phosphaphenanthrene‐10‐oxide (DOPO) was reactively incorporated into a blend of a bisphenol‐F diglycidyl ether epoxy resin and a polyfunctional epoxidized phenol Novolac resin, then cured with diethyltoluenediamine and accelerated using imidazole. Increased DOPO concentration improved fire retardancy, but reduced reactivity and thermal and mechanical properties. An increasing amino excess stoichiometry, however, comparatively increased reactivity and improved thermal and mechanical properties. Despite evidence of an earlier onset of degradation and higher char yield, enhanced graphitisation and reduced volatile emissions for the off‐stoichiometric networks, no significant improvements in fire resistance as a function of stoichiometry were observed using UL‐94 and limiting oxygen index measurements. © 2022 The Authors. Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Toxicological and transcriptomic effects in Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) exposed to chlorantraniliprole and functional characterization of glutathione S‐transferases
Authors: Li Hao , Zhang Bang‐Xian , Liu Fang‐Fang , Liu Ze , Zhang Wen‐Ting , Wang Qian , Sun Yan‐Xia , Toufeeq Shahzad , Rao Xiang‐Jun
Published: July 2022

BACKGROUND

Chlorantraniliprole (CAP) is an efficient anthranilic diamide insecticide against economically important pests such as the oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Resistance to CAP may develop due to enhanced enzymatic detoxification. The glutathione S‐transferase (GST) superfamily in M. separata has not been systematically characterized. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the effects of lethal and sublethal doses of CAP on M. separata larvae, screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) responding to CAP exposure, identify and characterize the GST superfamily, and analyze the metabolism of CAP by recombinant GSTs.

RESULTS

The toxicity bioassay showed that CAP was active against M. separata third‐instar larvae. LC50 was 17.615, 3.127, and 1.336 mg/L after 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Poisoned larvae showed contracted somites and disrupted midgut. Total GST activity in larvae was significantly elevated 24 h after CAP exposure. RNA‐sequencing generated 43 055 unigenes with an average length of 1010 bp, and 567 up‐regulated and 692 down‐regulated DEGs responding to CAP treatment were screened. Thirty‐five GST genes were identified from unigenes, including 31 cytosolic, three microsomal, and one unclassified. The expression profile of GST genes was analyzed using samples from different developmental stages, adult tissues, and CAP treatments. Metabolic assays indicated that CAP was depleted by recombinant MseGSTe2 and MseGSTs6.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides insight into the toxicological and transcriptomic effects in M. separata larvae exposed to CAP. The identification and functional characterization of the GST superfamily will improve our understanding of CAP detoxification by GSTs. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
High Thermoelectric Performance of Janus Monolayer and Bilayer HfSSe
Authors: Wang Hao , Dai Bo , Ge Ni-Na , Zhang Xiao-Wei , Ji Guang-Fu
Published: July 2022

For 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), the layer thickness has a greater impact on its thermoelectric properties. Herein, the thermoelectric properties of Janus monolayer and bilayer HfSSe are studied based on first‐principles calculations combined with Boltzmann equations, and the thermoelectric properties of bilayer HfSSe are also investigated with different stacking types. Owing to the influence of the interlayer coupling, the degradation of the phonon dispersion curve and the change of the phonon scattering intensity of the bilayer HfSSe lead to the decrease of its lattice thermal conductivity. In addition, the increase in the degeneracy of the electronic band structure of the bilayer HfSSe and the change in the density of states also change the thermoelectric transport properties of electrons. Integrating the coupling of high power factor and low thermal conductivity, the maximum ZT values at room temperature for n‐type doping are predicted as 3.24 and 5.54 for monolayer and SeHfS/SHfSe, respectively. And the ZT values increase to 3.24 and 5.54 as the temperature increases to 600 K. The result manifests that both monolayer and bilayer HfSSe are promising thermoelectric materials, and the layer thickness and stacking types also significantly affect the thermoelectric properties of the 2D TMDs materials.
Unitary Design of Quantum Spin Networks for Robust Routing, Entanglement Generation, and Phase Sensing
Authors: Alsulami Abdulsalam H. , D'Amico Irene , Estarellas Marta P. , Spiller Timothy P.
Published: July 2022

Spin chains can be used to describe a wide range of platforms for quantum computation and quantum information. They enable the understanding, demonstration, and modeling of numerous useful phenomena, such as high fidelity transfer of quantum states, creation and distribution of entanglement, and creation of resources for measurement‐based quantum processing. In this paper, a more complex spin system, a 2D spin network (SN) engineered by applying suitable unitaries to two uncoupled spin chains, is studied. Considering only the single‐excitation subspace of the SN, it is demonstrated that the system can be operated as a router, directing information through the SN. It is also shown that it can serve to generate maximally entangled states between two sites. Furthermore, it is illustrated that this SN system can be used as a sensor device able to determine an unknown phase applied to a system spin. A detailed modeling investigation of the effects of static disorder in the system shows that this system is robust against different types of disorder.
Malignant Chondroid Syringoma: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zufall Alina G. , Mark Erica J. , Gru Alejandro A.
Published: July 2022

Malignant Chondroid Syringomas (MCS) are very rare malignant tumours arising from cutaneous sweat glands, with only 51 reported cases in the literature. These tumours can metastasize and cause death if not treated adequately. While there are histological criteria to diagnose MCS tumours, there are no established criterion to determine which tumours are more or less likely to metastasize. A systematic review was performed to establish if any features of the primary MCS tumour are associated with risk of metastasis or patient mortality, as well as the efficacy of common treatment options. The literature search was performed using the Ovid Medline and Web of Science databases from inception through March 2020. This yielded 47 case reports corresponding to 51 unique patients. Statistical analysis of the collected data revealed none of the commonly accepted malignant histopathologic findings (including nuclear atypia and/or pleomorphism, mitotic figures, an infiltrative growth pattern, presence of satellite nodules, necrosis, and vascular and/or perineural invasion) of the primary tumour to be significantly more associated with metastatic risk or death. However, gross characteristics of the tumour, including size (greater than 5 cm) and truncal location of the primary lesion, were found to be associated with a higher risk of metastasis. The most effective treatment modality was wide local excision. Overall, primary MCS tumours, especially those greater than 5 cm or located on the trunk, should be treated with a wide local excision and followed closely to confirm no lesion recurrence or distant metastasis.
CoN5 Sites Constructed by Anchoring Co Porphyrins on Vinylene‐Linked Covalent Organic Frameworks for Electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Zhai Lipeng , Yang Shuai , Lu Chenbao , Cui Cheng‐Xing , Xu Qing , Liu Jing , Yang Xiubei , Meng Xutong , Lu Siyu , Zhuang Xiaodong , Zeng Gaofeng , Jiang Zheng
Published: July 2022

Developing effective electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction (CO2RR) is of critical importance for producing carbon‐neutral fuels. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are an ideal platform for constructing catalysts toward CO2RR, because of their controllable skeletons and ordered pores. However, most of these COFs are synthesized from Co‐porphyrins or phthalocyanines‐based monomers, and the available building units and resulting catalytic centers in COFs are still limited. Herein, Co‐N5 sites are first developed through anchoring Co porphyrins on an olefin‐linked COF, where the Co active sites are uniformly distributed in the hexagonal networks. The strong electronic coupling between Co porphyrins and COF is disclosed by various characterizations such as X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and density functional theory calculation (DFT). Thanks to the CoN5 sites, the catalytic COF shows remarkable catalytic activity with Faraday efficiencies (FECO) of 84.2–94.3% at applied potentials between −0.50 and −0.80 V (vs RHE), and achieves a turnover frequency of 4578 h–1 at −1.0 V. Moreover, the theoretical calculation further reveals that the CoN5 sites enable a decrease in the overpotential for the formation COOH*. This work provides a design strategy to employ COFs as scaffold for fabricating efficient CO2 electrocatalysts.
Nanoplastic Toxicity: Insights and Challenges from Experimental Model Systems
Authors: Schröter Laura , Ventura Natascia
Published: July 2022

Nanoplastic particles (NPs) can be produced or derived from the degradation of several daily used products and can therefore be found in the air, water, and food. Every day, these microscopic particles are confronted by different routes of exposure. Recent investigations have shown the internalization of these particles, differing in size and modification, in vivo in aquatic organisms and terrestrial organisms, as well as in vitro in different human cell lines. During the last years, the number of studies investigating the effects of NPs using widely different model systems and experimental approaches is exponentially growing, thus providing information about NPs, especially about polystyrene particle toxicity on health. To facilitate the grasping of the most relevant information, an overview is provided on the toxic effects of NPs coming from studies in cellular systems and in vivo in model organisms and on aspects which can be of particular relevance for particle toxicity (e.g., particle internalization mechanisms and structural modifications). Major achievements and gaps in the field as well as the point of view on how more systematic studies and exploitation of in vivo model organisms may improve the knowledge on important aspects of NPs are also pointed out.
Nanomicelles Array for Ultrahigh‐Density Data Storage
Authors: Wang Guan , Li Hua , Zhang Qijian , Zhang Cheng , Yuan Junwei , Wang Yuxiang , Lu Jianmei
Published: July 2022

High‐density data storage devices based on organic and polymer materials are currently restricted by two key issues, size limitations and uniformity of memory cells. Herein, one triblock polymer is synthesized by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization, where the polymer contains an electron‐donor‐acceptor (A1D) segment, an electron‐acceptor (A2) segment, and a hydrophilic segment, that shows ternary memory behavior in a conventional sandwich‐type device. The polymers that have monodisperse molecular weight dispersity self‐assemble into nanomicelles with a uniform size of 80 nm. Each nanomicelle is composed of an A1DA2‐type hydrophobic core stabilized with a hydrophilic shell. Nanobowls based on conductive oxide are prepared via the template method, wherein the nanomicelles are present as independent nanoscale memory units to produce an array of micelle matrices. Investigations of the resulting nanomemory device using conductive atomic force microscopy show that the micelles exhibit a predominant semiconductor memory behavior. Compared to traditional ternary devices with a memory unit size of ≈1 mm, this innovative fabrication method based on arrayed uniform nanomicelles downscales the size of storage cells to 80 nm. Furthermore, the described system leads to a greatly enhanced storage density (>108 times over the same area), which opens up new paths for further development of ultrahigh‐density data storage devices.
Amorphous Tellurium‐Embedded Hierarchical Porous Carbon Nanofibers as High‐Rate and Long‐Life Electrodes for Potassium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Yu Dandan , Li Qinghua , Zhang Wei , Huang Shaoming
Published: July 2022

Tellurium (Te) is a promising electrode active material for potassium‐ion batteries due to its intrinsic electrical conductivity and ultra‐high theoretical volumetric capacity. Nevertheless, Te‐based electrodes usually exhibit low capacity at high rates and poor cycling stability caused by the large volume expansion and severe polytellurides dissolution. Herein, hierarchical porous carbon nanofibers (HPCNFs) film is utilized as a multifunctional Te substrate. The free‐standing Te@HPCNFs electrode renders an outstanding K‐ion storage performance with a high‐rate capacity of 1294.4 mAh cm−3 (207.1 mAh g−1Te) at 14C and ultra‐long lifespan for 4500 cycles at 7C, and K‐ion full batteries coupled with KSn alloy anode also exhibit good cyclability. Such a superior performance benefits from the space confinement of HPCNFs to load amorphous Te in the micropores for accommodating the volume change, where the interconnected conductive frameworks and residual hierarchical pores enable fast ion/electron diffusion kinetics. In situ UV–vis absorption spectra confirm that the detachment of polytellurides and K2Te from the electrode is effectively suppressed, and ex situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis reveals the conversion of Te into K5Te3 and K2Te. This work presents the significance of porous structure design of carbon matrix to construct high performance Te electrodes, which will be instructive for chalcogens‐based energy‐storage materials.
Intermetallic PtFe Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction: Ordering Degree‐Dependent Performance
Authors: Song Tian‐Wei , Chen Ming‐Xi , Yin Peng , Tong Lei , Zuo Ming , Chu Sheng‐Qi , Chen Ping , Liang Hai‐Wei
Published: July 2022

Platinum‐based atomically ordered alloys (i.e., intermetallic compounds) have distinct advantages over disordered solid solution counterparts in boosting the cathodic oxygen‐reduction reaction (ORR) in proton‐exchange‐membrane fuel cells. Nevertheless, the pivotal role of ordering degree of intermetallic catalysts in promoting ORR performance has been ignored heavily so far, probably owing to the lack of synthetic routes for controlling the ordering degree, especially for preparing highly ordered intermetallic catalysts. Herein, a family of intermetallic PtFe catalysts with similar particle size of 3–4 nm but varied ordering degree in a wide range of 10–70% are prepared. After constructing the PtFe/Pt core/shell structure with around 3 Pt‐layer skin, a positive correlation between the ordering degree of the intermetallic catalysts and their ORR activity and durability is identified. Notably, the highly ordered PtFe/Pt catalyst exhibits a high mass activity of 0.92 A mgPt−1 at 0.9 ViR‐corrected as cathode catalyst in H2–O2 fuel cell, with only 24% loss after accelerated durability tests. The ordering degree‐dependent performance can be ascribed to the compressive strain effect induced by the intermetallic PtFe core with smaller lattice parameters, and the more thermodynamically stable intermetallic structure compared to disordered alloys.
Cracks as Efficient Tools to Mitigate Flooding in Gas Diffusion Electrodes Used for the Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Kong Ying , Liu Menglong , Hu Huifang , Hou Yuhui , Vesztergom Soma , Gálvez‐Vázquez María de Jesus , Zelocualtecatl Montiel Iván , Kolivoška Viliam , Broekmann Peter
Published: July 2022

The advantage of employing gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) in carbon dioxide reduction electrolyzers is that they allow CO2 to reach the catalyst in gaseous state, enabling current densities that are orders of magnitude larger than what is achievable in standard H‐type cells. The gain in the reaction rate comes, however, at the cost of stability issues related to flooding that occurs when excess electrolyte permeates the micropores of the GDE, effectively blocking the access of CO2 to the catalyst. For electrolyzers operated with alkaline electrolytes, flooding leaves clear traces within the GDE in the form of precipitated potassium (hydrogen)carbonates. By analyzing the amount and distribution of precipitates, and by quantifying potassium salts transported through the GDE during operation (electrolyte perspiration), important information can be gained with regard to the extent and means of flooding. In this work, a novel combination of energy dispersive X‐ray and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry based methods is employed to study flooding‐related phenomena in GDEs differing in the abundance of cracks in the microporous layer. It is concluded that cracks play an important role in the electrolyte management of CO2 electrolyzers, and that electrolyte perspiration through cracks is paramount in avoiding flooding‐related performance drops.
Quantification‐Promoted Discovery of Glycosylated Exosomal PD‐L1 as a Potential Tumor Biomarker
Authors: Zhu Lin , Xu Yuanfeng , Kang Siyin , Lin Bingqian , Zhang Chi , You Zhenlong , Lin Haoting , Yang Chaoyong , Song Yanling
Published: July 2022

Exosomal programmed cell death ligand 1 (exoPD‐L1) has emerged as a promising biomarker for cancer diagnosis and immunotherapy outcome prediction. However, the existing quantitation methods are incapable of addressing the heterogeneity of exoPD‐L1 glycosylation, which has been demonstrated to be the institutional basis for PD‐L1/PD‐1 interaction and the crucial participant in inhibiting the activity of CD8+ T cells. Herein, an aptamer‐ and lectin‐induced proximity ligation assay combined with quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction for precise quantitation of glycosylated exoPD‐L1 is developed. Leveraging the metabolism‐free lectin labeling of glycosylation, the glycosylation‐independent aptamer tagging of PD‐L1, and excellent selectivity of dual‐recognition, this method enables glycosylated exoPD‐L1 quantitation with high sensitivity and selectivity in a wash‐free manner. As a result, this method is able to distinguish the levels of glycosylated exoPD‐L1 between healthy donors and cancer patients with sensitivity and specificity of 100%. Compared with the total circulating exoPD‐L1 level, glycosylated exoPD‐L1 is for the first time identified to be a more reliable biomarker for tumor diagnosis. Overall, this strategy holds a great potential for revealing the significance of exoPD‐L1 glycosylation and converting glycosylated exoPD‐L1 into a reliable clinical indicator.
Mortality rate of Boer, Central Highland goat and their crosses in Ethiopia: Nonparametric survival analysis and piecewise exponential model
Authors: Yitagesu Erdachew , Alemnew Enyiew
Published: July 2022

Background

Analysis of survival data by linear or logistic model ignores censoring and skewness inherent in the mortality data. The objective of this study is to estimate the morbidity and mortality rates of kids and adult goats, identify important risk factors for mortality using survival analysis and summarise important causes of goat death.

Methods

Nonparametric survival analysis and a piecewise exponential model (PEM) were used.

Results

The mortality rates of kids and adult goats were 0.629 and 0.302 per animal year, respectively. The 25th, 50th and 75th percentiles of survival time of kids were 5, 162 and 1300 days, respectively, and those of adults and goats were 280, 828 and 1,735 days, respectively. Gastrointestinal‐related diseases, pneumonia, weak kid, agalactia, mismothering and heartwater (cowdriosis) were the most important causes of mortality. Constant piecewise exponential regression analysis of risk factors indicated that breed, kid birth weight, doe post‐partum weight (PPWT), birth type, birth year and precipitation variables were associated with (p‐value < 0.05) kid mortality rate. Pure Boer kids compared with Central Highland goat cross with Boer goats were 2.505 times at a higher probability of mortality (p‐value < 0.001). A 1‐kg increase in kid birth weight and dam PPWT reduces mortality probability by 32.5% (p‐value = 0.000) and 6.4% (p‐value < 0.001), respectively. Twin birth kids had a 1.512 times higher rate of mortality (p‐value = 0.001) than single‐born kids. A 1‐ml increment of 15 days of average precipitation significantly reduced kid mortality by 7.8% (p‐value < 0.001).

Conclusion

Vaccination, extensive control of ticks and the use of proper comfortable housing to reduce the stress of goats are recommended. Scheduling a mating programme (May to early July) to match the kidding period to the less kid mortality seasons (end of the long rainy season) of flocks is also important to reduce kid mortality.
Pericardial effusion in a dog due to T‐cell lymphoma of granular lymphocyte type
Authors: Vasilatis Demitria M. , Vernau William
Published: July 2022

Pericardial effusions in dogs are most often diagnosed as haemorrhagic and idiopathic. Pericardial effusions secondary to an underlying neoplastic process are infrequently diagnosed, as neoplastic cells are rarely observed in a sample of the effusion. In the present report, we describe a 9‐year‐old dog with pericardial effusion due to T‐cell lymphoma of granular lymphocyte type. Immunophenotyping and molecular clonality PCR were performed to confirm the cytologic diagnosis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of pericardial effusion in a dog due to T‐cell lymphoma of granular lymphocyte type.
Catheter‐associated air embolism of the brain in a hospitalised horse
Authors: Hritz Rachel , Mullen Kathleen R. , Mason Gary , Schaffer Paula A.
Published: July 2022

An 8‐year‐old, approximately 590 kg Belgian draft cross gelding was anaesthetised for tenoscopy and repair of a tendon sheath laceration. The horse remained hospitalised for several days. During post‐operative hospitalisation, the jugular catheter accidentally became disconnected from the extension set. The next day, the horse was blind bilaterally and circling to the left. Elevated cardiac troponin with mild tachycardia was also noted. The horse was treated supportively, but neurologic signs persisted, and after 3 weeks of no improvement humane euthanasia was elected. The most significant finding on gross postmortem examination was generalised cerebral oedema and gross malacia and haemorrhage of the left occipital cortex. Histopathology revealed regionally extensive grey and white matter necrosis in the left and right occipital cortices, consistent with an infarctive pathogenesis. The history and postmortem examination findings are compatible with air emboli in the brain. This is a rare but serious complication of intravenous catheter use in horses.
Confirming the broadscale eradication success of nutria (Myocastor coypus) from the Delmarva Peninsula, USA
Authors: Anderson Dean P. , Pepper Margaret A. , Travers Shelby , Michaels Trevor A. , Sullivan Kevin , Ramsey David S. L.
Published: July 2022

Nutria (Myocastor coypus) were introduced to the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay, USA in the 1940s. They reached peak densities in the late 1990s, causing massive wetland loss. Beginning in 2002, a systematic plan to eradicate nutria from the 1.7M ha Delmarva Peninsula was implemented. Since that time the nutria population has been effectively reduced, and no nutria have been detected since May 2015. A lack of detection does not equate with complete absence. We address the following three questions. (1) What is the expected probability of nutria eradication from the Delmarva Peninsula as of the end of 2020? (2) If the probability of eradication is below the management target of 0.95, how much more surveillance is required? (3) How sensitive is the estimated probability of eradication to varying levels of public surveillance and modelled population growth rates? These questions were addressed by employing a stochastic spatially-explicit surveillance model that uses data in which no nutria were detected to quantify the probability of complete absence (PoA) over the entire Delmarva Peninsula. We applied an analytical framework that decomposes the spatial risk of survivors and data into management zones, and took advantage of low-cost public reporting of nutria sightings. Active surveillance by the eradication program included detector dog and tracker surveys, shoreline surveys, detection with ground and water platforms (with hair snares), and camera traps. Results showed that the PoA increased with time and surveillance from a beginning PoA in May 2015 of  0.01 to a mean of 0.75 at the end of 2020. This indicates that the PoA on the Delmarva was well below the target threshold of 0.95 for declaring eradication success. However, given continued surveillance without detection, a PoA of 0.95 would be achieved by June 2022. This analysis provides an objective mechanism to align the expectations of policy makers, managers and the public on when eradication of nutria from the entire Delmarva Peninsula should be declared successful.
Finite-time tracking control for nonholonomic wheeled mobile robot using adaptive fast nonsingular terminal sliding mode
Authors: Xie Hao , Zheng Jinchuan , Sun Zhe , Wang Hai , Chai Rifai
Published: July 2022

System uncertainties and external disturbances are the major causes of the trajectory tracking performance degradation in nonholonomic wheeled mobile robots (NWMRs). In this article, an adaptive fast nonsingular terminal sliding mode dynamic control (AFNTSMDC) method is proposed to provide enhanced robust and finite-time tracking performance for the NWMR. The proposed AFNTSMDC is a systematic design method based upon both the kinematic and dynamic model of the NWMR. The proposed controller has a simple form without singularity issue in the control input, which makes it practically implementable. The finite-time stability of the proposed tracking-error function is also proved using the Lyapunov function. Finally, circular trajectory tracking experiments are conducted to validate the robustness and convergence rate of the proposed AFNTSMDC scheme in comparison with the existing methods including classic kinematic control, robust sliding mode kinematic control, and conventional sliding mode dynamic control in the presence of uncertainties and external disturbances.
Perceived influence of COVID-19 pandemic on university students' learning and mental health in Ethiopia
Authors: Mekonnen Geberew Tulu , Beyera Getahun Kebede , Tulu Abraham , Roba Tigist Tolosa
Published: July 2022

This study reports perceived influence of COVID-19 on students' learning and mental well-being. The data of 367 students were analysed using R. The linear regression model was fitted. A regression coefficient with 95% confidence interval (CI) was computed to identify factors associated with the perceived influence of COVID-19 on students' education and mental health. The mean ± standard deviation scores of perceived influence of COVID-19 on students' learning and communication for learning were 31.7 ± 6.7 and 21.6 ± 3.6, respectively. A similar number of students, 109 (29.7%) reported having depression and anxiety. Being a female student had a negative association with the effects of COVID-19 on learning, while being a rural resident had a strong positive association with both the effects of COVID-19 on learning and communication for learning. Similarly, being a social science student and in 2nd year of study were positively associated with higher history of depression and anxiety. Residing in zonal towns, district towns, and rural settings were found to have a lower prevalence of depression and anxiety. The COVID-19 placed a serious effect on students' education and mental well-being. Thus, the Ethiopian health and higher education sectors need to provide students with basic educational resources and counselling services.
A new fast technique for pattern matching in biological sequences
Authors: Ibrahim Osman Ali Sadek , Hamed Belal A. , El-Hafeez Tarek Abd
Published: July 2022

At numerous phases of the computational process, pattern matching is essential. It enables users to search for specific DNA subsequences or DNA sequences in a database. In addition, some of these rapidly expanding biological databases are updated on a regular basis. Pattern searches can be improved by using high-speed pattern matching algorithms. Researchers are striving to improve solutions in numerous areas of computational bioinformatics as biological data grows exponentially. Faster algorithms with a low error rate are needed in real-world applications. As a result, this study offers two pattern matching algorithms that were created to help speed up DNA sequence pattern searches. The strategies recommended improve performance by utilizing word-level processing rather than character-level processing, which has been used in previous research studies. In terms of time cost, the proposed algorithms (EFLPM and EPAPM) increased performance by leveraging word-level processing with large pattern size. The experimental results show that the proposed methods are faster than other algorithms for short and long patterns. As a result, the EFLPM algorithm is 54% faster than the FLPM method, while the EPAPM algorithm is 39% faster than the PAPM method.
Application of set-pair analysis and extension coupling model in health evaluation of the huangchuan river, China
Authors: Zhou Ke
Published: July 2022

Firstly, based on the river health evaluation theory and starting from the integrity of the river system, the river health evaluation index system is selected. Secondly, the index systems of river health assessment including river morphology, hydrological and environmental characteristics, habitat elements and human activity characteristics are determined. Thirdly, set-pair (SPA) evaluation theory and extension were dealt with, a set-pair analysis-extension coupling model is constructed. Finally, taking Huangchuan Rive as an example, the ecological health evaluation on the river channel is carried out by using set-pair analysis-extension coupling model. The results of the comprehensive evaluation using the set-pair analysis-extension coupling method is obtained through calculation. It is proved by practice that the method of river health evaluation using the coupling model of set-pair analysis and extension theory could make full use of the data transformation and extension calculation, which shows the superiority in calculating correlation degree, and could reflect the determination and uncertainty of practical problems. It is possible to comprehensively consider all relevant factors. The paper provides a new idea for solving the relevant problems and obtains more accurate conclusion.
Multilingual hope speech detection in English and Dravidian languages
Authors: Chakravarthi Bharathi Raja
Published: July 2022

Recent work on language technology has aimed to identify negative language such as hate speech and cyberbullying as well as improve offensive language detection to mediate social media platforms. Most of these systems rely on using machine learning models along with the labelled dataset. Such models have succeeded in identifying negativity and removing it from the platform deleting it. However, recently, more research has been conducted on the improvement of freedom of speech on social media. Instead of deleting supposedly offensive speech, we developed a multilingual dataset to identify hope speech in the comments and promote positivity. This paper presents a multilingual hope speech dataset that promotes equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in English, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada. It was collected to promote positivity and ensure EDI in language technology. Our dataset is unique, as it contains data collected from the LGBTQIA+ community, persons with disabilities and women in science, engineering, technology and management (STEM). We also report our benchmark system results in various machine learning models. We experimented on the Hope Speech dataset for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (HopeEDI) using different state-of-the-art machine learning models and deep learning models to create benchmark systems.
Functional Connectivity in Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder - Systematic Review of Literature and Study on Heterosexual Males
Authors: Draps Małgorzata , Adamus Sylwia , Wierzba Małgorzata , Gola Mateusz
Published: July 2022

Background

Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) was recently included in ICD-11 as a new impulse control disorder. While this certainly improved the diagnosis of CSBD, the underlying brain mechanisms of the disorder are still poorly understood. Better description of brain functional deficits is required.

Aim

Here we investigate patterns of resting-state brain functional connectivity (fc) in a group of CSBD patients compared to a group of healthy controls (HC).

Methods

A MATLAB toolbox named CONN functional connectivity toolbox was employed to study patterns of brain connectivity. Also correlation between fc and severity of CSBD symptoms and other psychological characteristics, assessed with questionnaires, were examined.

Outcomes

We collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 81 heterosexual males: 52 CSBD patients and 29 HC.

Results

We found increased fc between left inferior frontal gyrus and right planum temporale and polare, right and left insula, right Supplementary Motor Cortex (SMA), right parietal operculum, and also between left supramarginal gyrus and right planum polare, and between left orbitofrontal cortex and left insula when compared CSBD and HC. The decreased fc was observed between left middle temporal gyrus and bilateral insula and right parietal operculum. No significant correlations between psychological questionnaires assessing CSBD symptoms and resting-state functional connectivity were observed.

Clinical Implications

Results from our study extend the knowledge of brain mechanisms differentiating CSBD from HC.

Strengths & Limitations

The study was the first large sample study showing 5 distinct functional brain networks differentiating CSBD patients and HC. However, the sample was limited only to heterosexual men, in the future a greater diversity in studied sample and longitudinal studies are needed. Also, the present study examined functional connectivity at the level of regions of interest (ROIs). Future studies could verify these results by examining functional connectivity at the voxel level.

Conclusion

The identified functional brain networks differentiate CSBD from HC and provide some support for incentive sensitization as mechanism underlying CSBD symptoms. The correlation between psychological assessment (ie, severity of CSBD, depression and anxiety symptoms, level of impulsivity and compulsivity) and resting-state functional connectivity need further examination.
Seasonal Water Mass Evolution and Non‐Redfield Dynamics Enhance CO2 Uptake in the Chukchi Sea
Authors: Ouyang Zhangxian , Collins Andrew , Li Yun , Qi Di , Arrigo Kevin R. , Zhuang Yanpei , Nishino Shigeto , Humphreys Matthew P. , Kosugi Naohiro , Murata Akihiko , Kirchman David L. , Chen Liqi , Chen Jianfang , Cai Wei‐Jun
Published: July 2022

The Chukchi Sea is an increasing CO2 sink driven by rapid climate changes. Understanding the seasonal variation of air‐sea CO2 exchange and the underlying mechanisms of biogeochemical dynamics is important for predicting impacts of climate change on and feedbacks by the ocean. Here, we present a unique data set of underway sea surface partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) and discrete samples of biogeochemical properties collected in five consecutive cruises in 2014 and examine the seasonal variations in air‐sea CO2 flux and net community production (NCP). We found that thermal and non‐thermal effects have different impacts on sea surface pCO2 and thus the air‐sea CO2 flux in different water masses. The Bering summer water combined with meltwater has a significantly greater atmospheric CO2 uptake potential than that of the Alaskan Coastal Water in the southern Chukchi Sea in summer, due to stronger biological CO2 removal and a weaker thermal effect. By analyzing the seasonal drawdown of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and nutrients, we found that DIC‐based NCP was higher than nitrate‐based NCP by 66%–84% and attributable to partially decoupled C and N uptake because of a variable phytoplankton stoichiometry. A box model with a non‐Redfield C:N uptake ratio can adequately reproduce observed pCO2 and DIC, which reveals that, during the intensive growing season (late spring to early summer), 30%–46% CO2 uptake in the Chukchi Sea was supported by a flexible stoichiometry of phytoplankton. These findings have important ramification for forecasting the responses of CO2 uptake of the Chukchi ecosystem to climate change.
A Future Without Ice Cover
Authors: Sadro Steven , Xenopoulos Marguerite
Published: July 2022

Winter is fading away, but the answers may be beneath the ice; a new collection on winter limnology tackles the unknowns.
Influence of Track Change on the Inconsistent Poleward Migration of Typhoon Activity
Authors: Guo Yi‐Peng , Tan Zhe‐Min
Published: July 2022

Tropical cyclone (TC) lifetime maximum intensity (LMI) positions have been reported to migrate poleward globally during the last several decades. However, during the TC peak season, the trend of TC LMI position over the western North Pacific (WNP) is not as robust as that of genesis position. In this study, we found that the TC track change plays important roles in decreasing the genesis‐to‐LMI latitude distance (G2LD), which therefore leads to the inconsistent long‐term trends of genesis and LMI positions. A statistical approach was applied to quantitatively estimate the contributions by TC track change to the G2LD trend. The results show that the increase of near‐land formed short‐track TCs and the decrease of northwestward moving and eastward posited recurving TCs combined to make the largest contribution to the decreasing trend of the G2LD and thus to the insignificant long‐term trend of LMI position during peak season. Such TC track changes are closely related to the La Niña‐like warming pattern over the Pacific. The northeastward retreatment of the western Pacific subtropical high also plays an important role in reducing the northwestward moving TCs and increasing the recurving TCs over the northwestern WNP. Applying the same statistical approach to TC genesis positions indicates that the decrease of low‐latitude formed TCs makes the largest contribution to the poleward migration of genesis position, and the increase of high‐latitude formed TCs takes the second place. These low‐latitude formed TCs are mainly featured by northwestward moving and recurving tracks.
Genome-wide signatures of synergistic epistasis during parallel adaptation in a Baltic Sea copepod
Authors: Stern David B. , Anderson Nathan W. , Diaz Juanita A. , Lee Carol Eunmi
Published: July 2022

The role of epistasis in driving adaptation has remained an unresolved problem dating back to the Evolutionary Synthesis. In particular, whether epistatic interactions among genes could promote parallel evolution remains unexplored. To address this problem, we employ an Evolve and Resequence (E&R) experiment, using the copepod Eurytemora affinis, to elucidate the evolutionary genomic response to rapid salinity decline. Rapid declines in coastal salinity at high latitudes are a predicted consequence of global climate change. Based on time-resolved pooled whole-genome sequencing, we uncover a remarkably parallel, polygenic response across ten replicate selection lines, with 79.4% of selected alleles shared between lines by the tenth generation of natural selection. Using extensive computer simulations of our experiment conditions, we find that this polygenic parallelism is consistent with positive synergistic epistasis among alleles, far more so than other mechanisms tested. Our study provides experimental and theoretical support for a novel mechanism promoting repeatable polygenic adaptation, a phenomenon that may be common for selection on complex physiological traits.