bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technical System Construction for Total Factor Library of Management Manual for Shanghai Planning Implementation Platform
Authors: Zhou Ying , Zhang Li
Published: April 2024

At present, with the continuous advancement of urban development, an increasing number of regional overall development projects utilize the planning implementation platform to carry out design control and construction throughout the full life cycle of the project. However, the lack of relevant standards and research leads to some problems in practical projects, such as the unchanged thinking mode of planning management and control, and the lack of unified standards for the preparation of technical documents like the regional master plan and management manual of the planning implementation platform. To this end, this paper will focus on the content and composition of the management manual, clarify its construction logic and content, construct a factor library for this manual, provide references for the application of related projects, and promote the orderly development of project construction and development.
Comprehensive evaluation of multi-scale elderly care service facilities under the orientation of urban renewal: A case study of Qingdao downtown area
Authors: Feng Zhaoyu , Yang Yijia
Published: April 2024

As Qingdao entered into the stage of aging society, the issue of spatial configuration’s mismatch and imbalance between supply and demand of elderly care service facilities is becoming more outstanding at this stage. This study takes urban renewal as the guide, obtains Point of Interest (POI) data through the Gaode Map, and constructs a multi-scale (district and street scales) comprehensive evaluation model of institutional elderly care service facilities and home-based community elderly care service facilities in Qingdao’s downtown area based on the three dimensions of efficiency, equity, and accessibility. Based on the district scale, the spatial configuration shows good status in Shibei District and Shinan District, average status in Laoshan District and Licang District, and bad status in Chengyang District and Huangdao District. Based on the street scale, 54.69% of streets have achieved a high comprehensive evaluation of institutional elderly care service facilities, 21.87% have reached the average, and 23.44% have had a low. Some institutional elderly care service facilities are in strong need of being newly constructed or reconstructed. Similarly, the comprehensive evaluation of home-based community elderly care service facilities also varies among all counted streets. In some streets, there are even no home-based community elderly care service facilities. Finally, according to the comprehensive evaluation results, the streets are respectively classified as the areas of quality optimization, the areas of quality improvement, and the areas of inadequate supplement, aiming to provide some references on the balanced configuration and the planning of elderly care service facilities
Stability analysis and support scheme design of the landslide behind Yang Erping's house in Zuopo Village
Authors: Wang Xinyou , Lai Yanling , Fan Chengbo , Tai Jiaoyang , Li Shuhui , Gu Mingxu , Wang Qizhi
Published: April 2024

The stability of the landslide behind Yang'erpingfang, Zuopo Village, Luluo Town, Xingtai County is calculated and analyzed using the strength reduction method with MIDAS GTS finite element numerical simulation software, based on the treatment of Zhuwenping landslide in Bai'an Township, Xingtai County.
Study on the influence of structural spacing on the deformation caused by the excavation of shield underpass socket pipe gallery
Authors: Wu Fenqian , Huang Xiaoyu , Lin Shaoyuan , Chen Xiaoxiang , Wu Peigui
Published: April 2024

In a prefabricated composite pipe gallery with socket joints, the repeated loading and unloading effect of shield construction on the overlying soil and the existing pipe gallery may cause considerable deformations to the pipe gallery at the joint while ensuring its own bearing capacity. The shield tunnelling underneath the existing pipe gallery project of the Fuzhou Metro was used as a basis to model the socket pipe gallery on ABAQUS finite element software. The influence of changes in the pipe-tunnel spacing on the deformation and displacement of the pipe gallery and stratum were investigated. It was found that when the shield passes through the pipe gallery with 0.25 times the tunnel diameter, in addition to the settlement area of the disturbance centre, uplift areas are created on both sides of the pipe gallery and the surface. Meanwhile, because of the socket structure of the pipe gallery, the vertical displacement of the pipe gallery is not synchronized with the settlement of the lower soil. Furthermore, with the increase in the pipe-tunnel spacing, the settlement trough of the vertical displacement curve of the pipe gallery and the stratum are gradually broadened, and the peak settlement gradually increases.
Research on coordinated control optimization of adjacent intersections based on numerical solution
Authors: Chen Yuexin , An Haishuang , Chai Ran , Hu Ruoyu
Published: April 2024

In order to improve the efficiency of traffic flow and reduce the delay of arterial intersections, a coordinated signal control method based on numerical solution is proposed. Firstly, considering the factors such as the shortest green time and saturation of a single intersection, the intersection delay model is established. Secondly, the traffic capacity of the trunk line is improved by optimizing the public cycle and the green ratio of each intersection. Finally, an optimization model with minimum delay as the optimization objective is constructed, and the signal coordination of arterial intersections is realized by taking Yancheng City as an example. The results show that the coordinated control model of adjacent intersections based on the numerical method can reduce the average vehicle delay of two-way vehicles, achieve the purpose of green wave coordinated control of road sections, and improve the road traffic capacity.
Effect of Fibers on Extending the Service Life of Asphalt Concrete Pavements
Authors: Li Qingshan , Niu Xiaoben , Song Zhiqiang , Ning Liyan , Sun Lei , Sun Huiying , Ma Chi , Guo Yaolong
Published: April 2024

Fiber stabilizers can significantly extend the road’s service lifeIn the research below, six different types of fibers are selected to research extending the service life of asphalt pavements by improving raw materials in the early stage from the perspective of asphalt concrete material selection based on the renovation of the municipal service road (G321) in Neijiang City, Sichuan ProvinceThe effect and economical efficiency of different materials on extending the service life of asphalt concrete pavements were compared by analyzing the properties of different materials such as high-temperature stability, low-temperature crack resistance, water stability, freeze-thaw splitting, etc., and their respective economic benefitsThe results of the research can provide a reference for similar engineering projects.
Enhancing urban green spaces: A resilience-based approach to plant dust retention in older residential neighborhoods
Authors: Wang Xueyan
Published: April 2024

This research focuses on developing a comprehensive understanding of plant dust retention resilience in older residential neighborhoods, emphasizing protection, recovery, and sustainability. Plant dust retention resilience encompasses the ability of plant combinations to respond to emergencies, cooperate with emergency service systems, adapt effectively, recover swiftly from disasters, and enhance future sustainability. Key quantitative indicators include the scale of green space and the structure of plant arrangements, with a focus on types and factors affecting plant arrangement structure. Data processing involves the selection of relevant indicators, the Delphi Method for indicator screening, and the Analytic Hierarchy Process for indicator weight determination. Data sources include environmental reports, government websites, measurements, and satellite images. The research establishes a comprehensive evaluation indicator system for plant dust retention resilience and a resilience capacity model for plants in old residential areas. The results suggest that the best plant configuration model for dust retention resilience capacity includes a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees and shrubs with a significant grass component.
Study on the thermal and wet coupling performance of prefabricated wall materials in Inner Mongolia based on low-carbon design
Authors: Zou Dezhi , Liang Xin , Wen Yi
Published: April 2024

The development of prefabricated buildings is a major change in the way of building construction, which is of great significance to the supply-side reform and urbanization development. Assembly building wall panel is an important part, but due to the lack of heat and wet coupling transmission performance parameters, the performance research of wall board is blocked. Through theoretical analysis and physical test, the thermal-wet coupling transfer performance of low-carbon materials in Inner Mongolia.
A Review of Research on the Bond-Slip Behavior of Concrete-Filled Steel Tubes with Varying Confinement Interface Damage
Authors: Peng Cong , Syamsunur Deprizon , Huang Yi
Published: April 2024

The structural safety of concrete-filled steel tubes primarily depends on the interfacial bonding between the steel tube and concrete, two heterogeneous materials. Simultaneously, varying confinement interfaces have diverse impacts on the bond-slip behavior of concrete-filled steel tubes, leading to a variety of damage and failure modes. This article reviews research on the performance of concrete-filled steel tubes, explores damage at different confinement interfaces, and collates findings on bond-slip behavior under various confinement interface conditions, aiming to provide a reference for subsequent studies.
Case Study on Advanced Hoisting, Positioning, and Control Techniques for Non-Standard Pier Construction in the Quanli-Dongfeng Viaduct Project
Authors: Li Ming , Liu Wanping , Zhou Yijun , Huang Chengwei
Published: April 2024

This study, reliant on practical projects, conducts an in-depth analysis of key technologies amid the construction of prefabricated viaducts. The primary focus is on the integrated hoisting, positioning, and control techniques for the bridge abutments and pier columns, culminating in a proposal of an innovative integrated and prefabricated construction approach. This approach optimizes the construction process and methods by factoring in the structural characteristics of different types of pier columns and addressing construction challenges. Simultaneously, it underscores the significance of material selection, prefabricated component design, and innovative construction techniques. The study also explores on-site management and quality control strategies to ensure the efficiency and safety of the construction process. The research indicates that this approach significantly improves construction efficiency, reduces safety risks, and solidly guarantees structural quality. These findings offer crucial theoretical and practical guidance for advancing the industrialization, modularization, and innovative development of construction techniques in bridge construction. They contribute to the continual optimization of technical innovation and engineering practices in the field of bridge construction.
Research on Configuration Control Technology for Civil Aircraft Flight Test Based on Modular Design
Authors: Xue Jikun , Zhang Xinyuan , Yang Lin , Duan Gang
Published: April 2024

A configuration control method, based on modular design, is proposed to solve the problem that the aircraft configuration changes due to design changes, and the flight test is difficult to carry out. This method takes flight test requirements as input and flight test subjects as core to build flight test product structure, and realizes strong coupling between subjects and target software and hardware. On this basis, the flight test baseline is established to clarify the configuration state, and the configuration control strategy is adopted to ensure that the necessary changes will be implemented in time and reduce the impact of irrelevant changes on the subject. The engineering application shows that this technology can clearly demonstrate the effectiveness and traceability in more than 1000 subjects and effectively shorten the flight test cycle by 10%.
Optimization Strategy for Storage Location Allocation in Air Cargo Warehouse Area
Authors: Cheng Peixuan , Gu Cuixia , Zhang Youning , Chen Yue , Bi Jun
Published: April 2024

Facing rapid growth in air cargo demand within the global supply chain and limitations of traditional storage location allocation methods, this study proposes an intelligent optimization strategy for storage location allocation. The strategy considers key factors like flight schedules, cargo collection and delivery data, cargo terminal topology, and in-and-out paths. It intelligently allocates each cargo batch to the most suitable location, assigning more flights' cargo to locations near the exit, thereby reducing cargo handling distance and offloading time, and enhancing operational efficiency and cargo handling capacity in the air freight sector. The algorithm, based on the latest optimization theories and techniques, seeks optimal solutions under various constraints. The model and algorithm’s effectiveness is validated through simulation experiments using actual flight data. The results indicate that, compared to traditional strategies, the optimized strategy reduces response time by 62%.
Measurement and analysis of the air quality within a high-speed train carriage in a region of Southwest China
Authors: Hu Songtao , Zhao Weihao , Han Changpeng , Yi Ke , Chen Shiwen , Zheng Jinfu
Published: April 2024

To investigate the air quality status and identify factors influencing air pollution, data on CO2, formaldehyde, PM2.5, PM10, temperature, and humidity were measured in a high-speed train carriage of the Changsha-Zhuzhou intercity in southwest China. In the test section, CO2, formaldehyde, relative humidity, and temperature exceeded the standard levels, and their compliance rates were 84%, 96%, 84%, and 76%, respectively. Then the influencing factors of pollutants were analyzed from three aspects: driving environment, the number of passengers, and relative humidity. Results show that the percentage of PM2.5 to PM10 in tunnel environments was higher; the increase in the number of passengers led to the elevation of CO2 concentration in the carriage, while only in the ground environment, the number of passengers significantly correlated with particulate matter; the increase in relative humidity promotes the production and release of particulate matter and formaldehyde. Finally, fitting relationships between relative humidity and formaldehyde, as well as the number of passengers and CO2 were established to predict the air quality status. It indicated that when the relative humidity of the carriage is less than 73%, the formaldehyde solubility was easy to exceed standards, and when the number of passengers was greater than 70, the CO2 was easy to exceed standards.
Optimization Method for Grading Civil Aircraft Cabin Space Under Airworthiness Regulations
Authors: Zhao Wen , Shi Jianfeng
Published: April 2024

In the confined space of civil aircraft cabins with limited length and height, achieving a rational and efficient utilization of cabin space through the reasonable layout of cabin facilities, spatial allocation of seats, and equipment facilities is an important means to enhance the competitiveness of the civil aviation market, drawing significant attention from airlines. This paper proposes a graded optimization method for cabin layout that meets airworthiness regulations. By balancing and optimizing the requirements definition, influencing factors, and design conditions of cabin layout design, the method achieves an optimized arrangement of simulated cabins, ensuring both economic efficiency and improved passenger comfort. It provides valuable guidance for the cabin layout of civil aircraft and the redesign of in-service aircraft cabins.
Study on Factors Affecting Rapid Detection of Retroreflection in Road Markings Based on One-Way ANOVA Analysis
Authors: Wu Wenxiu , Zou Xiaoyong , Liu Jing , Hu Yonglin , Lv Zhong , Zheng Ruijian , Liu Zhen
Published: April 2024

In the dynamic and rapid detection of retroreflection coefficient in road traffic markings, different factors may affect the detection results. This study investigates the significance of different levels of environmental light intensity and vehicle speed on the detection results of retroreflection coefficient in road markings using one-way ANOVA analysis. The results show that within a 95% confidence interval, there is no statistically significant difference in the detection results of retroreflection coefficient under different levels of environmental light intensity and vehicle speed. The variance effect size calculation indicates that for the detection of retroreflection coefficient in road markings, vehicle speed control is more important than light intensity. To obtain more reliable detection results, it is recommended to maintain a stable and uniform speed of no more than 80 km/h during the detection process.
Research on the Anti-Fouling Properties of Double-Coated Road Markings
Authors: Wu Wenxiu , Zou Xiaoyong , Liu Jing , Hu Yonglin , Lv Zhong , Zheng Ruijian , Liu Zhen
Published: April 2024

The article analyses the influencing factors of the anti-fouling properties of road traffic markings and researches a double-coated, anti-fouling road marking with good heat stability and high coating density. The anti-fouling performance of the road marking during its use period was experimentally analysed using SPSS software. The results indicate that the anti-fouling performance of the double-coated road marking is significantly better than that of thermoplastic markings and two-component markings, and it has a promising prospect for widespread application.
Research on automobile driver’s safe evaluation technology
Authors: Chang Liu , Xingkai Meng , Chuna Wu , Xueran Wang , Mo Zhang , Yanhong Zhu
Published: April 2024

Traffic accidents are closely related to the level of drivers’ safe driving skills. Many countries will add the evaluation of drivers’ safe driving quality to the evaluation of driving suitability. Safe driving quality refers to the driver’s own ideological quality, psychological quality and innate physiological quality which have an important impact on the safety of driving work. Including: awareness of compliance with traffic laws and regulations, strong sense of safety responsibility, agility in responding to sudden dangerous situations, whether the ability to judge road conditions is keen, character, personality, emotion, emotion, ability, attention, willpower, self-control, road rage, road rage, etc. At present, many countries in the world will test the safe driving level of drivers. Therefore, this paper combs the safe driving detection technology and methods of typical countries to explore the effective means and methods of safe driving and ensure traffic safety from the source.
Opportunities and Pathways for the Development of International Maritime Logistics Supply Chains Under the Belt and Road Initiative
Authors: Hu Han , Hu Xingzhi
Published: April 2024

In the implementation process of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), there has been a consistent augmentation in the openness of international maritime routes, concomitant with the fortification of logistical infrastructure. This dynamic has bestowed noteworthy prospects for the evolution and progression of international maritime logistics supply chains. It is imperative for pertinent sectors to capitalize on these developmental opportunities and to investigate pioneering reform pathways. This paper elucidates the strategic significance of the BRI, scrutinizes the developmental opportunities it confers upon international maritime logistics supply chains, and concomitantly proffers precise developmental pathways.
Methods for Addressing Pavement Defects Based on Digital Twin Technology--A Case Study of Snow and Water Accumulation on Road Surface
Authors: Zhu Shaoxuan , Peng Boyao , Li Dian , Bai Yixuan , Liu Xinyu , Li Yihao
Published: April 2024

This paper explores the utilization of digital twin technology for the management of urban road infrastructure challenges, specifically addressing issues related to snow and water accumulation. The study emphasizes the constraints associated with traditional road maintenance methods and proposes the implementation of a digital twin city framework to augment real-time monitoring and enhance emergency response efficiency. Through the integration of real-time data from sensors, traffic, and weather sources, the digital twin model replicates road conditions and forecasts potential issues, thereby enabling early warning systems. Furthermore, the research delves into the application of conductive asphalt concrete and superhydrophobic materials to mitigate road-related challenges. The results indicate that digital twin technology significantly enhances economic and operational efficiency in urban road infrastructure management when compared to conventional approaches.
Challenge and Prospect of High-speed Rail Radar Communication Integration Technologies
Authors: Pan Shuai , Zhang De.Han , Tong Cong , Feng Kai
Published: April 2024

Radar plays an important role in urban public transit system, so it is of great significance to ensure the safe operation of High-speed rail. Radar communication integration technology has the characteristics of high efficiency and low energy consumption, it can improve communication quality, speed up transmission efficiency and improve detection accuracy. Firstly, this paper introduces the running scene of High-speed rail, and puts forward that radar communication integration technology has a broad application space in High-speed rail. Then it introduces radar communication integration technology, and the research status, advantages and development prospects of radar communication integration technology based on linear frequency modulation（LFM）. Finally, it is proposed that obstacle detection technology is one of the difficulties to ensure the safe operation of High-speed rail. Radar integration technology can be effectively applied to train obstacle detection, which is an important technical support for improving service quality and speeding up the intelligent construction of High-speed rail in the future.
On the First Kilometer Problem of Agricultural Products Cold Chain Logistics in Huaihua City Considering Green Development
Authors: Zeng Xiangpeng , Duan Fenghua , Zhang Zhuo , He Fuzhi
Published: April 2024

Huaihua has vast land and is the largest prefecture level city in Hunan Province. With abundant natural resources, it is a city with a high output of agricultural products in Hunan Province. The loss and quality of agricultural products during transportation have always been a key concern for farmers and consumers.This article analyzes the problems that exist in the first one kilometer of agricultural product cold chain logistics in Huaihua City, proposes a mobile pre cooling mode to ensure the quality of agricultural products in the first one kilometer, and conducts a simple calculation of its operational return, aiming to solve the problems of high loss and difficult quality assurance in the transportation process of agricultural products.
Stereocontrolled Synthesis of a Heptose- and Kdo-Containing Common Inner-Core Trisaccharide of Lipopolysaccharides from Multiple Pathogenic Bacteria
Authors: Li Jiawei , Gao Runing , Li Tiehai , Hao Tianhui
Published: April 2024

Lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) are major virulence determinants in Gram-negative bacteria and are responsible for many pathophysiological processes during bacterial infections. However, the accessibility of LPS-associated oligosaccharides for infectious mechanism study and vaccine development remains challenging. We report an efficient stereocontrolled approach for the synthesis of a common inner-core trisaccharide containing difficult-to-access, rare, higher-carbon sugars: a heptose (Hep) and 3-deoxy-α-d-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo). Key features include comprehensive elaboration of a practical synthesis of versatile Hep and Kdo building blocks, and stereoselective assembly of an inner-core trisaccharide from multiple pathogenic bacteria.
Advances in the Synthesis of Sulfur-Containing Cyclic Architectures via Insertion of SO2
Authors: Shu Chao , Lu Xi , Huang Yuyang , Yang Yuxing
Published: April 2024

Sulfur-containing heterocycles, where the S(R) moiety is located within the cyclic structure, have found tremendous applications in the fields of chemical, pharmaceutical, and materials sciences due to their unique chemical, biological and pharmaceutical activities. Recent years have witnessed increasing interest in sulfur-containing heterocycles, and new methods for their synthesis have been reported by adopting modern methodologies and technologies through insertion of sulfur dioxide. The main objective of this Account is to overview the latest major developments on the synthesis of sulfur-containing heterocyclic systems, mainly covering thermo-, photo- and electron-induced cyclization through the insertion of sulfur dioxide (SO2). We aim to provide the readership with a comprehensive understanding of this topic and offer a positive outlook on the promising future of this field.

1 Introduction

2 Thermal-Induced Cyclization

3 Photoinduced Radical Cyclization

4 Electron-Induced Radical Cyclization

5 Conclusion
Divisions within the British Parliamentary Labour Party under Keir Starmer: Results of a Cluster Analysis
Authors: Jeffery David , Roe-Crines Andrew S. , Heppell Timothy
Published: April 2024

This paper offers a methodologically innovative two-stage approach for studying divisions amongst parliamentary representatives. Using the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) as our case study, we construct a dataset of all Labour MPs elected in the 2019 general election, along with their nominations in the 2020 Labour Party leadership and deputy leadership elections and their membership of, or affiliation with, various party-aligned organisations. We then conduct a cluster analysis based on this dataset, which reveals the existence of a two-cluster model—comprised of the Mainstream (N = 162) and the Left (N = 33)—and a five-cluster model—in which the Left exists alongside the Tribune Soft Left, the Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East Soft Left, the Unaligned Centrists, and the Right. Finally, we test the robustness of our clusters via a canonical correspondence analysis of the language used by MPs on social media (Twitter/X) and their contributions to parliamentary debates (Hansard). We show that the MPs from different clusters do use different languages to one another in both fora. We also find that the main divide within the PLP is between the left of the party and the rest of the party, and that the deputy leader, Angela Rayner, has a broader base of support amongst the PLP than its current leader Keir Starmer.
How business environment of countries along the Belt and Road impacts China’s OFDI efficiency: a stochastic frontier gravity model approach
Authors: Gao Qi , Wang Qiang , Zhang Wei
Published: April 2024

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) provides a new opportunity for the continued deepening of economic and trade cooperation between China and countries along the BRI route. However, different business environments among countries have led to the problem of a low and uneven distribution of China’s overall trade and investment efficiency in the countries along the route. Using the stochastic frontier gravity model, this study evaluates the efficiency of China’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) based on the data of 47 countries along the Belt and Road route from 2013 to 2019. The empirical results indicate that the efficiency level of China’s OFDI in countries located along the Belt and Road route is 43.39%, which suggests a regional imbalance. In terms of business environment factors, regulatory governance, civic discourse, government accountability, and regulatory quality in host countries have a positive impact on China’s OFDI. The positive effects of the BRI have enabled Chinese enterprises to better face factors such as political instability, corruption and imperfections in the legal system when investing abroad. The findings and suggestions could help the governments and enterprises of the countries along the route improve the business environment in a more targeted manner, enhance the space for economic and trade cooperation, and promote the common development of the countries along the route.
People see more of their biases in algorithms
Authors: Celiktutan Begum , Cadario Romain , Morewedge Carey K.
Published: April 2024

Algorithmic bias occurs when algorithms incorporate biases in the human decisions on which they are trained. We find that people see more of their biases (e.g., age, gender, race) in the decisions of algorithms than in their own decisions. Research participants saw more bias in the decisions of algorithms trained on their decisions than in their own decisions, even when those decisions were the same and participants were incentivized to reveal their true beliefs. By contrast, participants saw as much bias in the decisions of algorithms trained on their decisions as in the decisions of other participants and algorithms trained on the decisions of other participants. Cognitive psychological processes and motivated reasoning help explain why people see more of their biases in algorithms. Research participants most susceptible to bias blind spot were most likely to see more bias in algorithms than self. Participants were also more likely to perceive algorithms than themselves to have been influenced by irrelevant biasing attributes (e.g., race) but not by relevant attributes (e.g., user reviews). Because participants saw more of their biases in algorithms than themselves, they were more likely to make debiasing corrections to decisions attributed to an algorithm than to themselves. Our findings show that bias is more readily perceived in algorithms than in self and suggest how to use algorithms to reveal and correct biased human decisions.
Identification and removal of unexpected proliferative off-target cells emerging after iPSC-derived pancreatic islet cell implantation
Authors: Hiyoshi Hideyuki , Sakuma Kensuke , Asano Shinya , Napier Stephanie C. , Konagaya Shuhei , Mochida Taisuke , Ueno Hikaru , Watanabe Takeshi , Kassai Yoshiaki , Matsumoto Hirokazu , Ito Ryo , Toyoda Taro
Published: April 2024

Differentiation of pancreatic endocrine cells from human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) has been thoroughly investigated for application in cell therapy against diabetes. In the context of induced pancreatic endocrine cell implantation, previous studies have reported graft enlargement resulting from off-target pancreatic lineage cells. However, there is currently no documented evidence of proliferative off-target cells beyond the pancreatic lineage in existing studies. Here, we show that the implantation of seven-stage induced PSC-derived pancreatic islet cells (s7-iPICs) leads to the emergence of unexpected off-target cells with proliferative capacity via in vivo maturation. These cells display characteristics of both mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), termed proliferative MSC- and SMC-like cells (PMSCs). The frequency of PMSC emergence was found to be high when 10
8
s7-iPICs were used. Given that clinical applications involve the use of a greater number of induced cells than 10
8
, it is challenging to ensure the safety of clinical applications unless PMSCs are adequately addressed. Accordingly, we developed a detection system and removal methods for PMSCs. To detect PMSCs without implantation, we implemented a 4-wk-extended culture system and demonstrated that putative PMSCs could be reduced by compound treatment, particularly with the taxane docetaxel. When docetaxel-treated s7-iPICs were implanted, the PMSCs were no longer observed. This study provides useful insights into the identification and resolution of safety issues, which are particularly important in the field of cell-based medicine using PSCs.
Random beta-transformations on fat Sierpinski gaskets
Authors: Dajani Karma , Li Wenxia , Zhang Tingyu
Published: April 2024

We consider the iterated function system (IFS)
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="f Subscript ModifyingAbove q With right-arrow Baseline left-parenthesis ModifyingAbove z With right-arrow right-parenthesis equals StartFraction ModifyingAbove z With right-arrow plus ModifyingAbove q With right-arrow Over beta EndFraction comma ModifyingAbove q With right-arrow element-of StartSet left-parenthesis 0 comma 0 right-parenthesis comma left-parenthesis 1 comma 0 right-parenthesis comma left-parenthesis 0 comma 1 right-parenthesis EndSet period">

f

q
→

(

z
→

)
=

z
→

+

q
→

β

,

q
→

∈
{
(
0
,
0
)
,
(
1
,
0
)
,
(
0
,
1
)
}
.

\begin{equation*} f_{\vec {q}}(\vec {z})=\frac {\vec {z}+\vec {q}}{\beta },\,\,\vec {q}\in \{(0,0),(1,0),(0,1)\}. \end{equation*}

As is well known, for

β
=
2

\beta = 2

the attractor,

S
β

S_\beta

, is a fractal called the Sierpiński gasket (or sieve) and for

β
>
2

\beta >2

it is also a fractal. Our goal is to study random

β
\beta

-transformations on the attractor for this IFS with

1
>
β
≤
3

/

2

1>\beta \leq 3/2

. In this case,

S
β

S_\beta

is a triangle. We show that all

β
\beta

-expansions of a point

z
→

\vec {z}

in

S
β

S_\beta

can be generated by a random map

K
β

K_\beta

defined on

{
0
,
1

}

N

×
{
0
,
1
,
2

}

N

×

S
β

\{0,1\}^\mathbb {N}\times \{0,1,2\}^\mathbb {N}\times S_\beta

and

K
β

K_\beta

has a unique invariant measure of maximal entropy. Furthermore, we show the existence of a

K
β

K_\beta

-invariant probability measure of the form

m
1

⊗

m
2

⊗

μ

β

m_1\otimes m_2 \otimes \mu _{\beta }

, where

m
1

,

m
2

m_1, m_2

are product measures on

{
0
,
1

}

N

,
{
0
,
1
,
2

}

N

\{0,1\}^\mathbb {N},\{0,1,2\}^\mathbb {N}

, respectively, and

μ

β

\mu _{\beta }

is absolutely continuous with respect to the two-dimensional Lebesgue measure

λ
2

\lambda _2

.
IFS measures on generalized Bratteli diagrams
Authors: Bezuglyi Sergey , Jorgensen Palle
Published: April 2024

The purpose of or paper is a general analysis of path space measures. Our focus is a certain path space analysis on generalized Bratteli diagrams. We use this in a systematic study of systems of self-similar measures (the term “IFS measures” is used in the paper) for both types of such diagrams, discrete and continuous. In special cases, such measures arise in the study of iterated function systems (IFS). In the literature, similarity may be defined by, e.g., systems of affine maps (Sierpinski), or systems of conformal maps (Julia). We study new classes of semi-branching function systems related to stationary Bratteli diagrams. The latter play a big role in our understanding of new forms of harmonic analysis on fractals. The measures considered here arise in classes of discrete-time, multi-level dynamical systems where a similarity is specified between levels. These structures are made precise by prescribed systems of functions which in turn serve to define self-similarity, i.e., similarity of large scales, and small scales. For path space systems, in our main result, we give a necessary and sufficient condition for existence of such generalized IFS measures. For the corresponding semi-branching function systems, we further identify the measures which are also shift-invariant.
DeepFGRN: inference of gene regulatory network with regulation type based on directed graph embedding
Authors: Gao Zhen , Su Yansen , Xia Junfeng , Cao Rui-Fen , Ding Yun , Zheng Chun-Hou , Wei Pi-Jing
Published: April 2024

The inference of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) from gene expression profiles has been a key issue in systems biology, prompting many researchers to develop diverse computational methods. However, most of these methods do not reconstruct directed GRNs with regulatory types because of the lack of benchmark datasets or defects in the computational methods. Here, we collect benchmark datasets and propose a deep learning-based model, DeepFGRN, for reconstructing fine gene regulatory networks (FGRNs) with both regulation types and directions. In addition, the GRNs of real species are always large graphs with direction and high sparsity, which impede the advancement of GRN inference. Therefore, DeepFGRN builds a node bidirectional representation module to capture the directed graph embedding representation of the GRN. Specifically, the source and target generators are designed to learn the low-dimensional dense embedding of the source and target neighbors of a gene, respectively. An adversarial learning strategy is applied to iteratively learn the real neighbors of each gene. In addition, because the expression profiles of genes with regulatory associations are correlative, a correlation analysis module is designed. Specifically, this module not only fully extracts gene expression features, but also captures the correlation between regulators and target genes. Experimental results show that DeepFGRN has a competitive capability for both GRN and FGRN inference. Potential biomarkers and therapeutic drugs for breast cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer and coronavirus disease 2019 are identified based on the candidate FGRNs, providing a possible opportunity to advance our knowledge of disease treatments.
Emerging Victims in Contemporary Drugs Policing
Authors: Marshall Hannah , Bacon Matthew , Spicer Jack
Published: April 2024

Recent shifts in UK policy have seen certain populations, who were predominantly viewed as offenders due to their involvement in drug offences, increasingly recognized as victims of exploitation. Drawing on qualitative data from three studies, this article interrogates how this trend is playing out within contemporary drugs policing, focussing on officers’ responses to people affected by: drug addiction, child criminal exploitation and ‘cuckooing’. It examines the tensions that arise as these three categories of emergent drug victims conflict with officers’ normative expectations of victimhood, perceptions of their role as police and existing operational strategies. It also reveals officers’ attempts to (re)gain ontological security by policing the boundaries of victimhood and re-focussing on new categories of offender.
The origin of return correlation networks
Authors: Banerjee Anirban , Chakrabarti Arnab , Chakrabarti Anindya S
Published: April 2024

Financial networks are constructed from asset price comovements. There is a large literature that takes these networks as given, for example, for portfolio optimization. But what exactly is the origin of these networks? We exploit a unique database with matched asset price and order imbalance data, allowing us to observe the trade orders placed and reveal excess demands along with the resulting prices. Empirically, we find that order imbalance comovement has a positive and statistically significant effect on return comovement. Filtering out the latent market factors from both order imbalance and return leads to a drastic drop in explanatory power. We infer that the market factor of order imbalance is the primary driver of return comovement—robust to model specifications as well as fixed effects. We present complementary results with market volatility and the decomposition of traders in terms of strategic heterogeneity. Our work brings forth the role of order imbalance networks in explaining asset return networks.
Predicting the Effects of Gypsy Moth on Near-View Aesthetic Preferences and Recreation Appeal
Authors: Hollenhorst Steven J. , Brock Samuel M. , Freimund Wayne A. , Twery Mark J.
Published: April 2024

Using the Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE) approach, near-view color photographs were taken of 25 forested Central Appalachian Plateau sites exhibiting gypsy moth induced tree mortality from 6% (uninfested control site) to 98%. The slides were randomly arranged and presented to 400 subjects who rated the slides on a 10-point preference scale. Attitudes concerning forest management did not influence visual quality, while knowledge of the presence of gypsy moth damage had a negative effect. No differences were found between ratings of visual quality and recreation appeal. The final regression model explained 68% of the variance in visual quality. Tree mortality was an outstanding predictor, with linear and quadratic functions of tree mortality best describing the variability in ratings. Flowering mountain laurel and stand age also contributed significantly to the model. Scenic preferences and appeal for visitation increased initially as mortality approached 30-40%. Up to this point, increased sunlight, visual penetration, and flowering understory growth may have mitigated the negative effects of mortality. As mortality exceeded this level, ratings dropped sharply. We conclude that from the standpoint of near-view aesthetics or recreation value, gypsy moth suppression may only be necessary in stands where tree mortality is expected to be unusually high. FOR. SCI. 39(1):28-40.
Cultural, Environmental, and Genetic Factors Interact to Affect Performance of Planted Shortleaf Pine
Authors: Hallgren S. W. , Tauer C. G. , Weeks D. L.
Published: April 2024

The effects of lift date and storage on plantation performance were evaluated for 12 families of shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) from Oklahoma and Arkansas in 2 consecutive years. Plantation performance was affected by lift date, storage treatment, and planting site weather. A high capacity for survival and growth was observed for lift dates from November through March for unstored seedlings and December through February for seedlings stored 28 days. Outside this lifting window stored seedlings showed lower survival and growth. Winter cold and spring drought caused significant losses for seedlings that had not had sufficient time to become established after transplanting. Seedlings planted after no storage in November and early December showed the highest capacity for rapid growth probably because they had the longest time to grow roots and become established before the next growing season. Root growth potential and the number of first-order lateral roots were good indicators of family field performance while root volume, height, diameter and presence of a terminal bud and secondary needles were not. The number of first-order lateral roots was highly heritable. For. Sci. 39(3):478-498.
Describing Leaf Area Distribution in Loblolly Pine Trees with Johnson's SB Function
Authors: Jerez Mauricio , Dean Thomas J. , Cao Quang V. , Roberts Scott D.
Published: April 2024

The objective of this study is to evaluate the fit of Johnson's SB distribution function to vertical foliage distributions of variously aged and treated loblolly pine trees when the function is fit with two percentiles of the observed distributions. Foliage distributions are linked to various stand properties, and straightforward means of quantifying foliage distribution may lead to a convenient method of characterizing forest stands using remote sensing technology such as LiDAR. Regression analyses indicate that the 15th and 50th percentiles of the distributions were best correlated with variables of crown structure and tree age. Skewness and kurtosis of the distributions calculated with the function's parameters also varied with crown structure and age. Cumulative fractions of leaf area calculated with fitted SB functions matched measured values well; cumulative values of absolute leaf area showed less correspondence with measured values, but residuals of both centered around zero. Incompatibilities between the continuous SB function and the irregular and discrete nature of foliage distribution of single trees occasionally produced large prediction errors. Based on these results, the SB function fitted with the two-percentile method suitably describes the vertical distribution of leaf area of a wide variety of loblolly pine trees. FOR. SCI. 51(2):93–101.
Spatial Continuity of Tree Attributes in Bottomland Hardwood Forests in the Southeastern United States
Authors: Dimov Luben D. , Chambers Jim L. , Lockhart Brian Roy
Published: April 2024

Sustainable forest management and conservation require understanding of underlying basic structural and competitive relationships. To gain insight into these relationships, we analyzed spatial continuity of tree basal area (BA) and crown projection area (CPA) on twelve 0.64-ha plots in four mixed bottomland hardwood stands in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Variogram range indicated that BA spatial continuity of trees with dbh >10.0 cm extended an average 4.5 m. This distance equaled the quadratic mean crown radius (QMCR) of the overstory trees. Overall, 95% of the variability in BA was accounted for by the spatially structured variance and could be modeled as spatial dependence. Removal of suppressed trees from the analyses reduced the variability in BA at small separation distances and increased the variogram range. The average spatial continuity of unsuppressed trees averaged 18.2 m and was 17.6, 18.5, and 18.5 m based on the BA variograms, CPA variograms, and cross-variograms, respectively. This distance corresponded to four times the QMCR of the overstory trees and extended far enough to encompass the first- and second-order neighbors. The results suggest an existence of complex competitive influences and confirm findings in nonwoody vegetation that competitive effects can propagate beyond the direct neighbors. FOR. SCI. 51(6):532–540.
An Econometric Analysis of the Effect of Forest Dependence on the Economic Well-Being of Canadian Communities
Authors: Leake Nancy , Adamowicz Wiktor L. , Boxall Peter C.
Published: April 2024

This study examines how changes in economic activity in forestry, expressed as forest dependence at a census subdivision level (CSD), affected measures of economic well-being. The empirical models used to address this question were developed and estimated using random effects panel and two-stage least-squares estimators using data from the 1986, 1991, and 1996 Canadian census. The results illustrate the contribution of economic diversity to income growth and poverty reduction. However, the results also suggest that forest dependence was positively and significantly related to unemployment rates and to the incidence of poverty for people in private households. Forest dependence was shown to have little or no effect on median household income and the distribution of income within CSDs. These relationships were assessed while holding constant other factors expected to affect community level economic well-being, including economic diversity, trade exposure, and aggregate demand.