bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Central Bank Theory of Price Level Determination
Authors: Benigno Pierpaolo
Published: June 2020

This paper develops a theory in which the central bank can control the price level without fiscal backing. It is shown that the remittances policy and the balance sheet of the central bank are important elements to specify. A central bank that is appropriately capitalized can succeed in controlling prices by setting the interest rate on reserves, holding short-term assets, and rebating its income to the treasury from which it has to maintain financial independence. (JEL E31, E52, E58)
An overview of mammalian p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases, central regulators of cell stress and receptor signaling
Authors: Han Jiahuai , Wu Jianfeng , Silke John
Published: June 2020

The p38 family is a highly evolutionarily conserved group of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) that is involved in and helps co-ordinate cellular responses to nearly all stressful stimuli. This review provides a succinct summary of multiple aspects of the biology, role, and substrates of the mammalian family of p38 kinases. Since p38 activity is implicated in inflammatory and other diseases, we also discuss the clinical implications and pharmaceutical approaches to inhibit p38.
Pilot study for the evaluation and adaptation of a Four Item-Acne-Scar Risk Assessment Tool (4-ASRAT): a resource to estimate the risk of acne-induced scars
Authors: Estrella Porter Jorge , Camacho Mikaela , Viteri María Isabel , Aguilar Katherine , Belhadi Drifa , Bettoli Vincenzo , Buestán Anita del Rocío , Dréno Brigitte , Endara Pablo , Layton Alison , Machado Nelly , Mateus Rosa , Tan Jerry , Terán Enrique , Yépez Paola , Guillemot Jonathan
Published: June 2020

Background: Acne-induced scarring is associated with a similar burden as acne, i.e. diminished quality of life, and may be avoided if patients receive appropriate and timely acne treatment. In 2017, a four item-Acne-Scar Risk Assessment Tool (4-ASRAT) was designed by Tan et al. to categorise patients with acne into lower-risk or higher-risk for acne scarring. Its applicability outside the initial study population (France, Brazil and United States) remains to be determined. 

Methods: A study protocol was developed to create a systematic approach for validating and adapting 4-ASRAT to different populations, Ecuador in this case. The protocol was reviewed by 11 local and international dermatologists and pilot-tested in an Ecuadorian population using a sample of 10 participants who currently had or had had acne. Feedback from the pilot study was used to improve the study protocol. The results of the pilot study are included here, and the final study protocol is available as extended data. 

Results: The protocol proved to be applicable. Images taken of participants were a valuable resource for dermatological evaluation about the presence or absence of acne scars. Tangential light is necessary for this evaluation. Although dermatological assessments varied, we concluded that assessment by three local dermatologists for each participant was adequate for reaching a consensus on the presence or absence of acne scars.  

Conclusions: Considering the morbidity related to acne and acne scars, tools designed as prevention that alert patients about risk of developing scarring are necessary. The proposed protocol shows a feasible way of validating and adapting 4-ASRAT to different populations.
Becoming Strategic: Endogenous Consumer Time Preferences and Multiperiod Pricing
Authors: Aflaki Arian , Feldman Pnina , Swinney Robert
Published: June 2020

Should Consumers Be Strategic?
Rökræða, þátttaka og þekking
Authors: Hermannsson Birgir
Published: June 2020

Í þessari grein er gerð grein fyrir lýðræðishugmyndum þeirra Vilhjálms Árnasonar, Gunnars Helga Kristinssonar og Jóns Ólafssonar, þær bornar saman innbyrðis og við lýðræðishugmyndir sem leggja höfuðáherslu á kosningar. Rökræðulýðræði leggur áherslu á samkomulag byggt á skynsemi, stjórnsýsluumbætur leggja áherslu á góða stjórnarhætti og faglega stefnumótun, og þekkingarmiðað lýðræði á að nýta visku fjöldans til að móta rétta eða betri stefnu. Í greininni er sérstök áhersla lögð á að greina og gagnrýna þau lýðræðislíkön sem Vilhjálmur Árnason notar til að greina íslensk stjórnmál, og á að setja hugmyndir hans um rökræðulýðræði í samhengi við umræðu fræðimanna um rökræðulýðræði. Rökræðulýðræði Vilhjálms er gagnrýnt fyrir að vera þröngt eða stofnanabundið í nálgun sinni. Vilhjálmur og Jón þurfa að skýra betur tengsl rökræðulýðræðis og þekkingarmiðaðs lýðræðis við kosningar, en þeir Vilhjálmur, Gunnar Helgi og Jón eru allir gagnrýndir fyrir að ofmeta lýðræði sem vettvang fyrir skynsemi og þekkingu, en vanmeta lýðræði sem vettvang umdeildra skoðana.
Evidence-based publications on upper secondary education in Iceland, 2003–2012
Authors: Ragnarsdóttir Guðrún , Jóhannesson Ingólfur Ásgeir , Jónasson Jón Torfi , Halldórsdóttir Brynja E.
Published: June 2020

Globally, there is a demand for basing education policy decisions and practice on solid evidence. While the same applies in Iceland, some have claimed that there is a dearth of evidence-based publications targeted at education. This article considers this claim by examining the availability and nature of evidencebased publications with a focus on upper secondary education in Iceland. In total, the main characteristics of 316 publications were studied over the period 2003–2012. These publications included peer-reviewed articles, non-reviewed scholarly work (articles and reports), master’s and doctoral theses, external evaluation reports, and innovation reports. The findings reveal a hidden treasure of a number of publications targeted at upper secondary education in Iceland. Some educational fields are still weakly represented in the evidence spectrum, such as vocational studies, and the data collection methods are relatively few. Furthermore, the main stakeholders are isolated from one another to a degree. Such isolation is problematic, as evidence-based publications are intended to inform both policy and practice. Thus, the study suggests an increased need for cooperation among the main stakeholders in upper secondary education.
Performance optimization of a reservoir computing system based on a solitary semiconductor laser under electrical-message injection
Authors: Zeng Qingqing , Wu Zhengmao , Yue Dianzuo , Tan Xiangsheng , Tao Junyao , Xia Guangqiong
Published: June 2020

A simple reservoir computing (RC) system based on a solitary semiconductor laser under an electrical message injection is proposed, and the performances of the RC are numerically investigated. Considering the lack of memory capacity (MC) in such a system, some auxiliary methods are introduced to enhance the MC and optimize the performances for processing complex tasks. In the pre-existing method, the input information is the current input data combined with some past input data in a weighted sum in the input layer (named as

M

-input). Another auxiliary method (named as

M

-output) is proposed to introduce the output layer for optimizing the performances of the RC system. The simulated results demonstrate that the MC of the system can be improved after adopting the auxiliary methods, and the effectiveness under adopting the

M

-input integrated with the

M

-output (named as

M

-both) is the most significant. Furthermore, we analyze the system performances for processing the Santa Fe time series prediction task and the nonlinear channel equalization (NCE) task after adopting the above three auxiliary methods. Results show that the

M

-input is the most suitable for the prediction task while the

M

-both is the most appropriate for the NCE task.
Large field of view beaconless laser nutation tracking sensor based on
a micro-electro-mechanical system mirror
Authors: Lao Chenzhe , Sun Jianfeng , Hou Peipei , Zhou Yu , Lu Zhiyong , He Hongyu , Han Ronglei , Cai Xinyu , Li Yuexin
Published: June 2020

We propose a laser nutation tracking sensor for beaconless laser
communication, which uses a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS)
mirror to achieve high-efficiency and large-amplitude nutation at its
resonant frequency. We derive a new formula for the case of
incompletely detectable optical power in the nutation cycle. In the
experiment, we measure the performance of the sensor in calculating
boresight error under three different nutation radii. Combining with
the proposed algorithm for the new scene, we complete the accurate
boresight calculation in the range of

±

200

µ

r
a
d

, at the nutation radius of 4.9 µm. We
trust that the receiving field of view (FOV) of this tracking sensor
can be further expanded by increasing the nutation radius. The sensor,
as proposed in this paper, will be of constructive help to simplify
tracking systems in the future.
Goniochromatic assessment of gray scales for color change
Authors: Ferrero Alejandro , Bernad Berta , Campos Joaquín , Richard Noël , Fernández-Maloigne Christine , Melgosa Manuel
Published: June 2020

The dependence of color differences on the illumination and viewing directions for two widely used gray scales for color change (SDCE and AATCC) was evaluated through measuring the spectral bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) by a gonio-spectrophotometer of metrological quality. Large incidence and viewing angles must be specially avoided using these gray scales because, in these conditions, color differences vary considerably from those established in ISO 105-A02 and ASTM D2616-12. While the visual appearance of the SDCE and AATCC gray scales for color change is similar, our results indicate that their goniochromatic properties are different. Finally, some recommendations regarding observation distance and illumination angle are given to correctly use these gray scales for visual experiments.
Laser-induced autofluorescence assisted by multivariate techniques discriminates a cataractous lens from healthy lens tissues of Sprague–Dawley rats
Authors: Osei-Wusu Adueming Peter , Eghan Moses Jojo , Anderson Benjamin , Kyei Samuel , Opoku-Ansah Jerry , Amuah Charles Lloyd Yeboah , Takyi Charles Darko , Buah-Bassuah Paul Kingsley
Published: June 2020

Laser-induced autofluorescence (LIAF), combined with multivariate techniques, has been used to discriminate a cataractous lens from healthy lens tissues. In this study, 405 nm and 445 nm were used as excitation sources to induce the autofluorescence. Results show higher autofluorescence intensity in cataractous lens tissues than in healthy ones. Cataractous lens tissues show a red shift of 0.9 nm and 1.2 nm at 405 nm and 445 nm excitations, respectively. Using principal component analysis (PCA), three principal components (PCs) gave more than 99% variability for both 405 nm and 445 nm excitation sources. Based on the three PCs, Fisher’s linear discriminant model was developed. An accuracy of 100% was obtained in classifying the lens tissues using Fisher’s linear discriminant analysis (FLDA). The LIAF technique assisted by PCA and FLDA may be used for objective discrimination of cataractous lens from healthy lens tissues of Sprague–Dawley rats.
Thin-film lithium niobate electro-optic modulator on a D-shaped fiber
Authors: Wang Mengke , Li Junhui , Chen Kaixin , Hu Zhefeng
Published: June 2020

We propose a low-insertion-loss electro-optic modulator formed with LNOI bonded on a D-shaped SMF. The proposed modulator employs high-performance Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) formed with ridge LNOI waveguides and driven by travelling-wave electrodes. The light from the fiber core is coupled into a thin strip LNOI waveguide and then launched into the MZI via a ridge LNOI waveguide with tapered slab height and vice versa. Such all-fiber configuration exempts the need of the butt-coupling with an SMF. The calculated results show that our proposed modulator is capable of achieving a low insertion loss of less than 1.5 dB, an EO modulation efficiency (Vπ·L) of 2.05 V·cm, and a 3-dB modulation bandwidth of larger than 80 GHz. Our all-fiber LNOI modulator is feasible in practice and opens a new door to realize high-speed fiber devices by the integration of an optical fiber and thin film LN.
Topologically-tuned spin Hall shift around Fano resonance
Authors: Wang Y. Q. , Hu H. , Zhang Q. , Gao D. L. , Gao L.
Published: June 2020

The topological magnetoelectric effect is associated with the photonic spin-orbit interaction. However, due to the proportionate fine structure constant of the topological term, the topological magnetoelectric effect is usually weak. In this paper, we demonstrate that the axion term enables manipulation of the spin Hall shift of light around Fano resonance. And, the excited surface plasmon near the nanoparticle's interface could enhance the topological magnetoelectric effect for several orders. Numerical simulation of near field and far-field scattering confirms our theoretical results. Our work may pave the way to exploit the topological magnetoelectric effect in practical applications, such as optical sensing and nanoprobing.
Machine learning aided inverse design for few-mode fiber weak-coupling optimization
Authors: He Zhiqin , Du Jiangbing , Chen Xinyi , Shen Weihong , Huang Yuting , Wang Chang , Xu Ke , He Zuyuan
Published: June 2020

Few-mode fiber (FMF) supporting many modes with weak-coupling is highly desired in mode division multiplexing (MDM) systems. The multi-parameter design of FMF becomes comparably difficult, inaccurate and time-consuming when it comes for complex fiber structures and many high order modes. In this work, we demonstrate a machine learning method using neural network to inversely design the desired FMF based on multiple-ring structure. By using the minimum index difference between adjacent modes as the weak-coupling optimization aim, we realize the inverse design of 4-ring step-index FMFs for supporting 4, 6 and 10 -mode operation, and 6-ring step-index FMF for supporting 20-mode operation. This method provides high-accuracy, high-efficiency and low-complexity for fast and reusable design of optical fibers, including particularly weak-coupling FMF in this work. It can be widely extended to a lot of fibers and has great potential for instantaneous applications in the optical fiber industry.
Generation of tunable mid- and far-infrared pulses during gas ionization by a chirped two-color laser field
Authors: Silaev A. A. , Romanov A. A. , Vvedenskii N. V.
Published: June 2020

We propose and investigate a method for generating tunable and phase-controllable mid- and far-infrared pulses in gas ionized by an intense two-color laser field composed of the chirped fundamental and its second-harmonic pulses with group time delay. The generation frequency equals the difference between the second-harmonic and the doubled fundamental frequencies and is continuously tunable by varying chirp or time delay. The duration of the generated pulses is determined by the ionization duration, which is much shorter than the ionizing pulse and is controlled by laser-pulse stretching or changing its intensity. Our quantum-mechanical calculations and analytical description show that this method can provide a wide tuning range spanning from several to more than a hundred THz using femtosecond lasers.
Using fiber-bending-generated speckles for improved working distance and background rejection in lensless micro-endoscopy
Authors: Shekel Noam , Katz Ori
Published: June 2020

Lensless flexible fiber-bundle-based endoscopes allow imaging at depths beyond the reach of conventional microscopes with a minimal footprint. These multicore fibers provide a simple solution for wide-field fluorescent imaging when the target is adjacent to the fiber facet. However, they suffer from a very limited working distance and out-of-focus background. Here, we carefully study the dynamic speckle illumination patterns generated by bending a commercial fiber bundle and show that they can be exploited to allow extended working distance and background rejection, using a super-resolution fluctuations imaging analysis of multiple frames, without the addition of any optical elements.
Hybrid III-V-on-SOI optical spot size converter by self-aligned selective undercut dry etching of Si
Authors: Chen Yang-Jeng , Chen Rih-You , Fang Yi-Hsin , Liang Che-Hsin , Hsu Wen-Kuan , Chen Cong-Long , Lin Wei-Chen , Weng Chen-Yu , Chu Jyun-Ye , Chiu Yi-Jen
Published: June 2020

A technology called self-aligned selective undercut dry etching processing has been demonstrated for fabricating a highly efficient hybrid optical spot size converter (SSC) on a Si-on-insulator (SOI) template. The process was based on a bonded wafer between the upper InP-based multiple quantum well heterostructure and the lower SOI substrate. After defining the mask on the upper InP-based ridge waveguide,

C
F

4

/

O

2

dry reactive ion etching was then used for selective undercut etching of the Si material from the surrounding materials, forming a vertical waveguide coupler of the optical SSC. The lower waveguide, whose dimension is even smaller than the upper one, can thus be vertically self-aligned to the top ridge via an independent processing step. A laterally tapered waveguide ranging from 0.3 to 3 µm in width on the upper InP waveguide was fabricated. The phase-matching condition of the vertical coupler leads to a length of 45 µm and extracts 88% conversion efficiency. The selective undercut etching processing in III-V/SOI material provides a vertical self-alignment scheme for realizing compact and submicron scale heterogeneous integration in a Si photonics template.
Multiscale high-speed photoacoustic microscopy based on free-space light transmission and a MEMS scanning mirror
Authors: Zhang Chen , Zhao Huangxuan , Xu Song , Chen Ningbo , Li Ke , Jiang Xinkuan , Liu Liangjian , Liu Zhicheng , Wang Lidai , Wong Kenneth K. Y. , Zou Jun , Liu Chengbo , Song Liang
Published: June 2020

The conventional photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) system allows trade-offs between lateral resolution and imaging depth, limiting its applications in biological imaging in vivo. Here we present an integrated optical-resolution (OR) and acoustic-resolution (AR) multiscale PAM based on free-space light transmission and fast microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) scanning. The lateral resolution for OR is 4.9 µm, and the lateral resolution for AR is 114.5 µm. The maximum imaging depth for OR is 0.7 mm, and the maximum imaging depth for AR is 4.1 mm. The imaging speed can reach 50 k Alines per second. The high signal-to-noise ratios and wavelength throughput are achieved by delivering light via free-space, and the high speed is achieved by a MEMS scanning mirror. The blood vasculature from superficial skin to the deep tissue of a mouse leg was imaged in vivo using two different resolutions to demonstrate the multiscale imaging capability.
Redefining excellence and inclusion
Authors: Henley Jennie , Higgins Lee
Published: June 2020

In this article, we present an overview and summary of the work undertaken by the Music and Social Intervention Network. Exploring the themes of ‘excellence’ and ‘inclusion’, we begin with a consideration of the four articles presented within this special issue and then proceed onto a reflection surrounding wider discussions prevalent at the public events held as part of the project. Following this, we outline five key discourses that emerged through the research process: value, context, measurement, process/product and pedagogy. These fields were then used to identify three underlying issues that affect the way the concepts of excellence and inclusion manifest. After proposing a common understanding of the terms under scrutiny, we suggest that the research points towards a reformation that reads: excellence is the process within community music and inclusion is the product of that process. Reflective questions pertaining to this idea are left open for further discussion.
Resistance, resilience and recovery: Archives and libraries in post-liberation Nineveh
Authors: Farhan Sara
Published: June 2020

This piece presents an exploration of the conditions of the remaining archives and libraries in Nineveh in the aftermath of Islamic State (IS). Civilians preserved, recovered and restored important sources and libraries that were at risk of being looted or destroyed by IS or damaged or lost during the 2016 liberation campaign.
Subject of the drone
Authors: Purves Robin
Published: June 2020

The increasingly popular and influential genre known as drone metal is characterized by the interaction of amplified drones with permutational rhythms. Scholarship in the field has, so far, concentrated on distinguishing the work of various drone metal artists through ethnographic analysis of the symbols and social bonds that accumulate around the drone; the ways in which drones are conceptualized have been paid more attention than the function of the drone itself. This article follows the drone form from the inception of Minimalist musical practice in the work of La Monte Young, to contemporary developments in works incorporating the drone by major artists operating in the experimental wings of popular music. To clarify the relationship or non-relation between the drone and musical meaning, three drone-related works by Joan La Barbara, Eleh and Keiji Haino are discussed with respect to their relative proximity to, or distance from, language and/or speech. Although only Haino here could be said to have even a tangential relation to metal, each exemplar extols a primary form that drone metal can be said to elaborate upon: a voice pushed to its limits (La Barbara), amplified sound as a physical force (Eleh), monolithic homogeneity at a crawling pace (Haino). Each piece of music is also considered in terms of the subject who listens, leading to some speculative thoughts on the uses made of the drone, an assessment of its potential to resist appropriation by the culture industry and reasons for the drone’s remarkable persistence and diversity.
El impacto del entorno residencial en la adaptación psicosocial y calidad de vida de personas cuidadoras de familiares con demencia
Authors: Anaut Bravo Sagrario , Lopes Dos Santos Cristina
Published: June 2020

La evolución sociodemográfica y su incidencia en los cuidados de larga duración en patologías emergentes como la demencia demandan respuestas desde los diferentes sistemas de protección social. La presente investigación se ha centrado en determinar los impactos derivados del lugar de residencia en la adaptación psicosocial y calidad de vida de familiares cuidadores de personas con demencia. Los resultados confirman diferencias entre entornos urbanos y rurales-semirurales, aunque haya, como dato general, una buena calidad de vida y adaptación de las personas cuidadoras de familiares con demencia. Todo apunta a la necesidad de promover intervenciones sociosanitarias alineadas con los espacios contextuales.
Emenda Constitucional n. 95/2016 e o desmembramento dos Direitos Sociais
Authors: Neto Almir Megali
Published: June 2020

O presente trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre a Emenda Constitucional n. 95/2016 à luz da teoria do desmembramento constitucional criada por Richard Albert. Para tanto, realiza uma recuperação dos debates do Direito Constitucional Comparado sobre a teoria das emendas constitucionais inconstitucionais. O objetivo aqui é o de demonstrar que a Emenda Constitucional n. 95/2016 configura uma hipótese de desmembramento dos direitos sociais. A metodologia utilizada faz um uso crítico dos referenciais teóricos que trabalham a temática das emendas constitucionais inconstitucionais no campo do Direito Constitucional Comparado.
Sociedade Civil no Direito Internacional Humanitário
Authors: Oliveira Vieira Gustavo , Horta Pedro , Fischer Igor
Published: June 2020

O presente artigo discute o papel da atuação da sociedade civil no Direito Internacional Humanitário, especificamente no monitoramento e na influência sobre os Estados para que participem da formulação e se alinhem aos desafios humanitários das novas fontes de Direito Internacional Humanitário, em específico, da Convenção sobre Munições Cluster. O problema da pesquisa diz respeito ao papel da Sociedade Civil Global perante o Direito Internacional em favor da erradicação de armas que geram danos inaceitáveis contra civis. Para tanto, a partir da perspectiva dialética, utilizar-­se-­ão abordagens críticas do Direito Internacional que compreendem o caráter da sociedade civil de potencial agente emancipatório. Para isso, o presente trabalho é desenvolvido em duas partes, inicialmente sobre as abordagens sobre segurança e direito internacional, depois acerca da atuação da Sociedade Civil Global no desarmamento humanitário.
Maximum biclique search at billion scale
Authors: Lyu Bingqing , Qin Lu , Lin Xuemin , Zhang Ying , Qian Zhengping , Zhou Jingren
Published: June 2020

Maximum biclique search, which finds the biclique with the maximum number of edges in a bipartite graph, is a fundamental problem with a wide spectrum of applications in different domains, such as E-Commerce, social analysis, web services, and bioinformatics. Unfortunately, due to the difficulty of the problem in graph theory, no practical solution has been proposed to solve the issue in large-scale real-world datasets. Existing techniques for maximum clique search on a general graph cannot be applied because the search objective of maximum biclique search is two-dimensional, i.e., we have to consider the size of both parts of the biclique simultaneously. In this paper, we divide the problem into several subproblems each of which is specified using two parameters. These subproblems are derived in a progressive manner, and in each subproblem we can restrict the search in a very small part of the original bipartite graph. We prove that a logarithmic number of subproblems is enough to guarantee the algorithm correctness. To minimize the computational cost, we show how to reduce significantly the bipartite graph size for each subproblem while preserving the maximum biclique satisfying certain constraints by exploring the properties of one-hop and two-hop neighbors for each vertex. We use several real datasets from various application domains, one of which contains over 300 million vertices and 1.3 billion edges, to demonstrate the high efficiency and scalability of our proposed solution. It is reported that 50% improvement on recall can be achieved after applying our method in Alibaba Group to identify the fraudulent transactions in their e-commerce networks. This further demonstrates the usefulness of our techniques in practice.
Whose problem is it anyway? Narratives and counter-narratives and their impact on woodfuel policy formulation
Authors: Dewees P. A.
Published: June 2020

The perception that there were rapidly growing demands for woodfuel in developing countries was an early driver of policies and measures which had the objectives of increasing wood energy supplies or of attenuating demand. A series of compelling narratives developed around the "woodfuel
crisis," in support of technocratic responses. Their shortcomings became evident with experience gained in implementation, and new narratives and counternarratives emerged, building on a growing body of research about the dynamics of woodfuel supply and demand.
 This paper examines
the role of woodfuel narratives and counternarratives, and how they continue to inform policy. Evidence suggests that after nearly 40 years of focusing narrowly on woodfuel, policy makers remain poorly equipped to respond to the problem. Effective solutions to the problem of woodfuel must
be rooted in a broader reframing of the role of trees, woodlands and forests in the rural economy, and how rights of use and access to these important resources can be mediated by policy and legislation, and supported by development investment.
Improving Trust in Research: Supporting Claims with Evidence
Authors: Wright Daniel B.
Published: June 2020

Trust in science is important, and Open Education Studies aims to publish trusted research. Two issues are addressed here: access to the data on which the research is based and how these data are analyzed. Some guidelines from other entities are discussed. As a new journal our guidelines should be influenced by the opinions of readers and authors, and as such we welcome discussion of how to ensure trust in the research OES publishes.
Site-Specific Recombination with Inverted Target Sites: A Cautionary Tale of Dicentric and Acentric Chromosomes
Authors: Titen Simon W A , Johnson Makenna T B , Capecchi Mario , Golic Kent G
Published: June 2020

Site-specific recombinases are widely used tools for analysis of genetics, development, and cell biology, and many schemes have been devised to alter gene expression by recombinase-mediated DNA rearrangements. Because the FRT and lox target sites for the commonly used FLP and Cre recombinases are asymmetrical, and must pair in the same direction to recombine, construct design must take into account orientation of the target sites. Both direct and inverted configurations have been used. However, the outcome of recombination between target sites on sister chromatids is frequently overlooked. This is especially consequential with inverted target sites, where exchange between oppositely oriented target sites on sisters will produce dicentric and acentric chromosomes. By using constructs that have inverted target sites in Drosophila melanogaster and in mice, we show here that dicentric chromosomes are produced in the presence of recombinase, and that the frequency of this event is quite high. The negative effects on cell viability and behavior can be significant, and should be considered when using such constructs.
Access to Transplantation for Undocumented Pediatric Patients
Authors: Charnaya Olga , Verghese Priya , Goldberg Aviva , Ladin Keren , Porteny Thalia , Lantos John D.
Published: June 2020

Clinicians in the United States today regularly face dilemmas about health disparities. Many patients and families cannot afford the medical care that doctors recommend. These problems are most stark when the medical care that is needed is lifesaving and expensive and involves scarce resources. Transplants are the best example of this. The most ethically disturbing situations occur when an undocumented immigrant child needs a transplant. We present such a case and analyze the ethical, legal, and policy issues that arise.
E-cigarette Marketing Regulations and Youth Vaping: Cross-Sectional Surveys, 2017–2019
Authors: Hammond David , Reid Jessica L. , Burkhalter Robin , Rynard Vicki L.
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND:

Increased electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among young people is often attributed to industry marketing practices; however, the effectiveness of regulations that limit e-cigarette advertising and promotions has yet to be examined. New federal legislation that liberalized the Canadian e-cigarette market in May 2018, along with differences in provincial regulations, provides an opportunity to examine the impact of regulatory restrictions on e-cigarette marketing.

METHODS:

Repeat cross-sectional surveys of 12 004 16- to 19-year-olds in Canada, completed online in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Logistic regression models were used to examine differences over time in exposure to e-cigarette marketing and e-cigarette use, including between provinces with differing strengths of marketing restrictions.

RESULTS:

The percentage of youth surveyed who reported noticing e-cigarette promotions often or very often approximately doubled between 2017 and 2019 (13.6% vs 26.0%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.97–2.56). Overall exposure to marketing was generally more prevalent in provinces with fewer regulatory restrictions. Respondents who reported noticing marketing often or very often were more likely to report vaping in the past 30 days (AOR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.23–1.62), past week (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.22–1.70), and ≥20 days in the past month (AOR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.11–1.81, P = .005). Provinces with low restrictions on marketing had higher prevalence of vaping in the past 30 days (AOR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.25–1.80, P < .001), and in the past week (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.33–2.05, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Exposure to marketing and the prevalence of vaping increased among Canadian youth after the liberalization of the e-cigarette market in 2018. Comprehensive provincial restrictions on e-cigarette marketing were associated with lower levels of exposure to marketing and lower prevalence of e-cigarette use.
Nutritional status of coriander under fertigation depths and pulse and continuous drip irrigation
Authors: Menezes Sirleide M. de , Silva Gerônimo F. da , Zamora Valentin R. Ó. , Silva Manassés M. da , Silva Anna C. R. A. da , Silva Ênio F. de F. e
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of coriander cultivar Verdão under fertigation depths and pulse and continuous drip irrigation. The experiment was conducted in a protected environment at the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil (8° 1’ 6.50” S, 34° 56’ 46” W and altitude of 6.5 m), in the randomized block design in 2 x 5 factorial scheme, with three repetitions. Treatments consisted of five irrigation depths (40, 60, 80, 100 and 120% of crop evapotranspiration - ETc) and two types of fertigation application (pulse and continuous). At 27 days after sowing, the aerial part of 48 plants per plot was collected for subsequent quantification of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, copper and zinc concentrations. Pulse fertigation combined with ETc replacement depths below 100% promoted higher leaf concentrations of phosphorus, sulfur, iron and manganese. Continuous fertigation combined with 100% ETc depth induced sulfur deficiency in the crop and, combined with 40% ETc depth, promoted the highest calcium concentration. Regardless of the type of application, ETc replacement depths from 82.7 and 40% provide adequate leaf concentrations of nitrogen and magnesium, respectively. Regardless of the applied depth, pulse fertigation reduced the leaf concentrations of magnesium.
Soil quality in two coffee crop systems in the Amazon biome
Authors: Henrique Nirvani S. , Maltoni Katia L. , Faria Glaucia A.
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACT The form of occupation of the state of Rondônia, Brazil, favored the extensive agriculture, which resulted in a fast deforestation. The removal of forests and inadequate soil management and use, combined with a hot and wet climate, affected the soil chemical, physical, and biological attributes. In search for less impacting and alternatives that promote greater soil conservation for coffee production in the North region of Brazil, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of two coffee crop systems on the soil chemical and microbiological attributes. The treatments consisted of a shaded coffee crop (SCC) and a full-sun coffee crop (FCC). A completely randomized design was used, with four clusters per treatment and seven sampling points per cluster, which constituted a replication, totaling 28 replications per treatment. The data were collected in April 2018, in a rural property in the municipality of Cacoal, state of Rondônia, Brazil (11º21’50’’S, 61º20’10’’W, and altitude of 238 m). The soil organic matter, pH, P, K, Ca, Mg, Al, H+Al, base saturation, and basal respiration were determined. The soil under SCC had higher Ca content, pH, and base saturation, and lower potential acidity (H+Al) and Al content than that under FCC. The litterfall on the soil under FCC presented higher N and Mg contents. The soil basal respiration increased in the first 5 cm depth in the treatment with SCC.
Nitrogen management in the relationships between oat inflorescence components and productivity
Authors: Mantai Rubia D. , Silva José A. G. da , Binelo Manuel O. , Sausen Airam T. Z. R. , Rossi Dênis S. , Corso Janiele S.
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACT Among oat inflorescence components there are different magnitudes of contribution to expression of grain and industrial productivity by nitrogen stimulation. Thus, it was proposed to size and interpret the contribution and dynamics of the relationships of oat inflorescence components with grain and industrial yield by N-fertilizer stimulation, partitioning correlation values into direct and indirect effects by path diagnosis, strengthened by the joint analysis of different agricultural years. The study was carried out from 2011 to 2016, in the municipality of Augusto Pestana, RS, Brazil, in a randomized block design with four repetitions in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme for nitrogen doses (0, 30, 60 and 120 kg ha-1), using oat cultivars (Barbarasul and Brisasul) in soybean/oat and corn/oat systems. In the soybean/oat system, the mass and the number of panicle spikelets and the mass of panicle grains, contributed more to promoting changes by the increase of nitrogen. In the corn/oat system, the variables with the highest contribution are the mass and the number of panicle spikelets. The increase in panicle grain mass and in panicle harvest index increases grain yield, however, together with the number of panicle grains, they reduce industrial productivity, regardless of the cultivation system.
Serum metabolites and body condition score associated with metritis, endometritis, ketosis, and mastitis in Holstein cows
Authors: Torres Edir , Mellado Miguel , Leyva Carlos , García José Eduardo , Véliz Francisco Gerardo , Hernández-Bustamante Juan
Published: June 2020

Abstract: The objective of this work was to identify the serum metabolites and the body condition score (BCS) of Holstein cows associated with the occurrence of periparturient diseases, when under heat stress. Blood samples were collected from 181 cows one week after calving, and the BCS was recorded at calving. Cows with β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentration ≥ 0.8 mmol L-1 were 2.2 times more likely to develop metritis and 4.4 times more likely to develop clinical endometritis (CE). Cows with serum creatinine levels ≥ 2.0 mg dL-1 showed 2.2 and 4.5 greater risk (p ≤ 0.05) of suffering from metritis and CE, respectively, during the current lactation. The odds of metritis and CE occurrence were 2.7 and 4.6 times greater (p < 0.01) in cows with serum total protein (TP) ≥ 5.0 mg dL-1. Cows with serum glucose levels ≤ 70 mg dL-1 and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) ≥ 0.5 had 9.4 and 8.8 times greater odds of developing clinical ketosis, respectively, than cows with lower glucose and NEFA blood levels. The strategic use of metabolic tests to monitor transition Holstein cows, aiming to prevent some postpartum diseases due to heat stress, should focus on blood BHBA, NEFAs, glucose, creatinine, and TP. Additionally, the BCS ≤ 3.2 should be avoided to prevent endometritis.
Acid fish silage in the diet of pacu and tambacu reared at cold suboptimal temperature
Authors: Corrêa Camila Fernandes , Oliveira Thaís da Silva , Leonardo Antônio Fernando , Reis Neto Rafael Vilhena , Enke Dariane Beatriz Shoffen
Published: June 2020

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the supplementation of diet of pacu and tambacu with acid fish silage during winter. The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (two genetic groups and two diets), with three replicates. The genetic group factor was composed of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) and tambacu (♀ Colossoma macropomum × ♂ Piaractus mesopotamicus). The two diets were based on plant ingredients; one of them was supplemented with acid fish silage (silage diet), and the other was a base diet without supplementation. Twelve net tanks, six from which with pacu, and six with tambacu, were used as experimental units, with ten fish in each tank. There was an interaction of the factors for final length, final weight, and daily weight gain. Pacu fed the silage diet showed a higher growth than pacu fed with the base diet; however, this effect was not observed for tambacu. A higher feed efficiency was observed for pacu than for tambacu, without a diet effect. The diet supplementation with acid fish silage improves the productive performance of pacu reared at cold suboptimal temperature, but it does not have this effect on tambacu.
Educação musical de surdos: características, barreiras e práticas exitosas
Authors: Silva Nedinaldo Manoel da , Alves Jefferson Fernandes , Castro Ahiram Brunni Cartaxo de , Varela Jedídja Hadassa de Santana
Published: June 2020

Resumo Este trabalho teve por finalidade mapear a produção científica internacional acerca da educação musical de surdos ou aprendizagem musical de surdos em uma das principais bases de dados, a ISI Web of Knowledge/Web of Science, admitindo como recorte temporal o intervalo entre os anos 1956 e 2017. Buscou-se identificar os principais artigos a respeito da temática, atentando para a análise das características, das barreiras e das práticas exitosas desse tipo de educação. Utilizou-se um estudo bibliométrico em que foram identificados 217 artigos. Os dados foram tratados por meio do software HistCiteTM. Os resultados sinalizaram para a identificação dos principais periódicos, dos artigos mais citados e dos principais autores da área. Dentre as principais características da educação musical de surdos, observou-se que deve ter foco na imitação das melodias e a participação essencial da família nesse processo. A ausência da atitude de escuta e a dificuldade de comunicação são as principais barreiras. A realização de entrevistas para a definição de critérios nos marcos da educação musical de surdos, a realização de inventários de desenvolvimento e a avaliação cognitiva e auditiva são as principais práticas desenvolvidas na área. Inferiu-se, com isso, que ao longo do período estudado o foco das pesquisas migrou dos estudos acerca do problema da surdez em si para o papel da educação musical na aquisição de competências básicas pelos surdos, bem como para os estudos acerca da diversidade e do preconceito relacionados com a pessoa surda. De igual modo, constatou-se que, a despeito do papel da escola, do professor e da infraestrutura pedagógica na aprendizagem musical, os estudos desenvolvidos abordaram como principais atores os pais e as crianças e os adultos com surdez.
Augmenting the Power of (Partial) MaxSat Resolution with Extension
Authors: Larrosa Javier , Rollon Emma
Published: June 2020

The refutation power of SAT and MaxSAT resolution is challenged by problems like the soft and hard Pigeon Hole Problem PHP for which short refutations do not exist. In this paper we augment the MaxSAT resolution proof system with an extension rule. The new proof system MaxResE is sound and complete, and more powerful than plain MaxSAT resolution, since it can refute the soft and hard PHP in polynomial time. We show that MaxResE refutations actually subtract lower bounds from the objective function encoded by the formulas. The resulting formula is the residual after the lower bound extraction. We experimentally show that the residual of the soft PHP (once its necessary cost of 1 has been efficiently subtracted with MaxResE) is a concise, easy to solve, satisfiable problem.
A Character-Centric Neural Model for Automated Story Generation
Authors: Liu Danyang , Li Juntao , Yu Meng-Hsuan , Huang Ziming , Liu Gongshen , Zhao Dongyan , Yan Rui
Published: June 2020

Automated story generation is a challenging task which aims to automatically generate convincing stories composed of successive plots correlated with consistent characters. Most recent generation models are built upon advanced neural networks, e.g., variational autoencoder, generative adversarial network, convolutional sequence to sequence model. Although these models have achieved prompting results on learning linguistic patterns, very few methods consider the attributes and prior knowledge of the story genre, especially from the perspectives of explainability and consistency. To fill this gap, we propose a character-centric neural storytelling model, where a story is created encircling the given character, i.e., each part of a story is conditioned on a given character and corresponded context environment. In this way, we explicitly capture the character information and the relations between plots and characters to improve explainability and consistency. Experimental results on open dataset indicate that our model yields meaningful improvements over several strong baselines on both human and automatic evaluations.
Election Control in Social Networks via Edge Addition or Removal
Authors: Castiglioni Matteo , Ferraioli Diodato , Gatti Nicola
Published: June 2020

We focus on the scenario in which messages pro and/or against one or multiple candidates are spread through a social network in order to affect the votes of the receivers. Several results are known in the literature when the manipulator can make seeding by buying influencers. In this paper, instead, we assume the set of influencers and their messages to be given, and we ask whether a manipulator (e.g., the platform) can alter the outcome of the election by adding or removing edges in the social network. We study a wide range of cases distinguishing for the number of candidates or for the kind of messages spread over the network. We provide a positive result, showing that, except for trivial cases, manipulation is not affordable, the optimization problem being hard even if the manipulator has an unlimited budget (i.e., he can add or remove as many edges as desired). Furthermore, we prove that our hardness results still hold in a reoptimization variant, where the manipulator already knows an optimal solution to the problem and needs to compute a new solution once a local modification occurs (e.g., in bandit scenarios where estimations related to random variables change over time).
Strategyproof Mechanisms for Friends and Enemies Games
Authors: Flammini Michele , Kodric Bojana , Varricchio Giovanna
Published: June 2020

We investigate strategyproof mechanisms for Friends and Enemies Games, a subclass of Hedonic Games in which every agent classifies any other one as a friend or as an enemy. In this setting, we consider the two classical scenarios proposed in the literature, called Friends Appreciation (FA) and Enemies Aversion (EA). Roughly speaking, in the former each agent gives priority to the number of friends in her coalition, while in the latter to the number of enemies.We provide strategyproof mechanisms for both settings. More precisely, for FA we first present a deterministic n-approximation mechanism, and then show that a much better result can be accomplished by resorting to randomization. Namely, we provide a randomized mechanism whose expected approximation ratio is 4, and arbitrarily close to 4 with high probability. For EA, we give a simple (1+√2)n-approximation mechanism, and show that its performance is asymptotically tight by proving that it is NP-hard to approximate the optimal solution within O(n1−ɛ) for any fixed ɛ > 0.Finally, we show how to extend our results in the presence of neutrals, i.e., when agents can also be indifferent about other agents, and we discuss anonymity.
Model and Reinforcement Learning for Markov Games with Risk Preferences
Authors: Huang Wenjie , Pham Viet Hai , Haskell William Benjamin
Published: June 2020

We motivate and propose a new model for non-cooperative Markov game which considers the interactions of risk-aware players. This model characterizes the time-consistent dynamic “risk” from both stochastic state transitions (inherent to the game) and randomized mixed strategies (due to all other players). An appropriate risk-aware equilibrium concept is proposed and the existence of such equilibria is demonstrated in stationary strategies by an application of Kakutani's fixed point theorem. We further propose a simulation-based Q-learning type algorithm for risk-aware equilibrium computation. This algorithm works with a special form of minimax risk measures which can naturally be written as saddle-point stochastic optimization problems, and covers many widely investigated risk measures. Finally, the almost sure convergence of this simulation-based algorithm to an equilibrium is demonstrated under some mild conditions. Our numerical experiments on a two player queuing game validate the properties of our model and algorithm, and demonstrate their worth and applicability in real life competitive decision-making.