bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biclustering high‐frequency financial time series based on information theory
Authors: Liu Haitao , Zou Jian , Ravishanker Nalini
Published: April 2022

Clustering a large number of time series into relatively homogeneous groups is a well‐studied unsupervised learning technique that has been widely used for grouping financial instruments (say, stocks) based on their stochastic properties across the entire time period under consideration. However, clustering algorithms ignore the notion of biclustering, that is, grouping of stocks only within a subset of times rather than over the entire time period. Biclustering algorithms enable grouping of stocks and times simultaneously, and thus facilitate improved pattern extraction for informed trading strategies. While biclustering methods may be employed for grouping low‐frequency (daily) financial data, their use with high‐frequency financial time series of intra‐day trading data is especially useful. This paper develops a biclustering algorithm based on pairwise or groupwise mutual information between one‐minute averaged stock returns within a trading day, using jackknife estimation of mutual information (JMI). We construct a multiple day time series biclustering (MI‐MDTSB) algorithm that can capture refined and local comovement patterns between groups of stocks over a subset of continuous time points. Extensive numerical studies based on high‐frequency returns data reveal interesting intra‐day patterns among different asset groups and sectors.
Climate opportunism and values of change on the Arctic agricultural frontier
Authors: Bradley Hannah , Stein Serena
Published: March 2022

An Arctic agricultural frontier is opening as climate change threatens growing conditions in established zones of crop commodity production. Projections of northward shifts of viable agricultural land unleash fantastical interest in the improbable reality of “farming the tundra.” Expansion of Arctic agriculture has long figured in Alaska's history, including drawing settlers to the “Last Frontier,” where farmers face challenges of extreme conditions, weak infrastructure, and fragile markets. This article, based on joint 2019 fieldwork and ongoing ethnography of landscape change and comparative commodity frontiers by the authors, tracks this imaginative frontier to examine how and why diverse Alaskan agriculturalists seize upon emerging conditions of climate change. We propose “climate opportunism” to frame an understanding of how agriculturalists may gain from changing growing conditions, drawing attention to the values in and beyond monetary gain generated in the social space of frontier imagination and grounded projects of livability in the Arctic. Across differently situated cultivators (a multigenerational immigrant family farm, an Inupiaq Arctic agriculture project, an urban hydroponics enterprise), we find that the changing landscape intensifies investment in embedded local values, while opportunism practiced at various scales both underscores and potentially obscures inequalities in resource distribution and alternatives to apocalyptic narratives of change.
QUEELS: Software to calculate the energy loss processes in TEELS, REELS, XPS and AES including effects of the core hole
Authors: Tougaard Sven , Pauly Nicolas , Yubero Francisco
Published: April 2022

We present the user‐friendly and freely available software package QUEELS (QUantitative analysis of Electron Energy Losses at Surfaces) that allows to calculate effective inelastic scattering cross sections within the dielectric response description, for swift electrons travelling nearby surfaces in several environments. We briefly describe the underlying theoretical models and illustrate its use to evaluate the distribution of energy losses taking place in electron spectroscopies like transmission electron energy loss spectroscopy (TEELS), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS), which are widely used for material analysis. This includes the intrinsic excitations due to the core hole in XPS and AES.
Design and Synthesis of Vanadium‐Titanium‐Incorporated Mesoporous Silica Catalysts for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane
Authors: Xie Zean , Zhang Xiao , Zhao Jin , Wang Lu , Fan Xiaoqiang , Kong Lian , Song Yangyang , Zhao Zhen
Published: March 2022

A series of vanadium and titanium‐incorporated mesostructured cellular foams (MCF) silica with different vanadium contents were synthesized by direct hydrothermal method, which applied as catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODP). Vanadium doping amount significantly affects the distribution and coordination environment of VOx and TiOx species on the MCF silica. With the increasing of V content, the TiOx species incorporated into silica framework were substituted by some framework V species to form more polymeric or small TiO2 nanoclusters. VOx species were incorporated on both silica surface and TiOx species surface. The interaction between highly dispersed VOx and polymerized TiO2 enhanced the C3H6 formation rate. The 3 V5Ti/MCF catalysts showed the highest propylene productivity (4.2 kgpropylene kgcat−1 h−1, at 500 °C) among the xV5Ti/MCF catalysts because of the highest concentration isolated/oligomeric VOx species incorporated on the appropriate polymerized TiO2 surface.
Kinetically Accelerated Lithium Storage in High‐Entropy (LiMgCoNiCuZn)O Enabled By Oxygen Vacancies
Authors: Liu Xuefeng , Xing Yingying , Xu Ke , Zhang Haijun , Gong Mingxing , Jia Quanli , Zhang Shaowei , Lei Wen
Published: April 2022

High‐entropy oxides (HEOs) are gradually becoming a new focus for lithium‐ion battery (LIB) anodes due to their vast element space/adjustable electrochemical properties and unique single‐phase retention ability. However, the sluggish kinetics upon long cycling limits their further generalization. Here, oxygen vacancies with targeted functionality are introduced into rock salt‐type (MgCoNiCuZn)O through a wet‐chemical molten salt strategy to accelerate the ion/electron transmission. Both experimental results and theoretical calculations reveal the potential improvement of lithium storage, charge transfer, and diffusion kinetics from HEO surface defects, which ultimately leads to enhanced electrochemical properties. The currently raised strategy offers a modular approach and enlightening insights for defect‐induced HEO‐based anodes.
Theranostic Trigger‐Responsive Carbon Monoxide‐Generating Microbubbles
Authors: Pathak Vertika , Roemhild Karolin , Schipper Sandra , Groß‐Weege Nicolas , Nolte Teresa , Ruetten Stephan , Buhl Eva Miriam , El Shafei Asmaa , Weiler Marek , Martin Lukas , Marx Gernot , Schulz Volkmar , Kiessling Fabian , Lammers Twan , Koczera Patrick
Published: April 2022

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gaseous signaling molecule that modulates inflammation, cell survival, and recovery after myocardial infarction. However, handling and dosing of CO as a compressed gas are difficult. Here, light‐triggerable and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐detectable CO release from dimanganese decacarbonyl (CORM‐1) are demonstrated, and the development of CORM‐1‐loaded polymeric microbubbles (COMB) is described as an ultrasound (US)‐ and MRI‐imageable drug delivery platform for triggerable and targeted CO therapy. COMB are synthesized via a straightforward one‐step loading protocol, present a narrow size distribution peaking at 2 µm, and show excellent performance as a CORM‐1 carrier and US contrast agent. Light irradiation of COMB induces local production and release of CO, as well as enhanced longitudinal and transversal relaxation rates, enabling MRI monitoring of CO delivery. Proof‐of‐concept studies for COMB‐enabled light‐triggered CO release show saturation of hemoglobin with CO in human blood, anti‐inflammatory differentiation of macrophages, reduction of hypoxia‐induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and inhibition of ischemia‐induced apoptosis in endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes. These findings indicate that CO‐generating MB are interesting theranostic tools for attenuating hypoxia‐associated and ROS‐mediated cell and tissue damage in cardiovascular disease.
‘We should be vaccinating domestic and wild animal species against Covid‐19’
Authors: Di Guardo Giovanni
Published: April 2022

Giovanni Di Guardo argues that there is evidence of zoonotic spread of SARS‐CoV‐2 from wild and domestic animal species to people, and that to limit the development of new variants, vaccines should be developed for, and vaccination programmes include, species capable of becoming infected with and transmitting the virus.
Preparation of melamine borate coated red phosphorus microcapsules and use of zinc borate as synergistic flame retardant in polyethylene
Authors: Liu Junbang , Zeng Lijuan , Ai Lianghui , Feng Tianci , Liu Ping , Xiong Yuqin
Published: April 2022

Microcapsules (Mic‐MBP) based on the melamine borate coated red phosphorus (RP) were prepared, and its synergistic flame retardant with zinc borate (ZB) on polyethylene (PE) was investigated. The flame retardant properties of the PE/20% Mic‐MBP/10%ZB were superior to that of PE/20%RP/10%ZB. Furthermore, the limiting oxygen index of PE/20%Mic‐MBP/10%ZB was 25.2%, and PE/20%Mic‐MBP/10%ZB reached the UL‐94V‐0 rating. Compared with PE, the peak heat release rate (pk‐HRR), total heat release (THR) and average effective heat of combustion (av‐EHC) of PE/20%Mic‐MBP/10%ZB had decreased. In addition, the flame retardant mechanism was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), pyrolysis‐gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (PY‐GC–MS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR). The results showed that the residual char of PE/20%Mic‐MBP/10%ZB had thermal stability, and the formation of phosphorus free radicals and nonflammable gases effectively reduced the burning intensity of the gas phase. It indicated that Mic‐MBP/ZB showed a condensed and gas phase flame retardant effect.
Effect of sulfamethoxazole on nitrate removal by simultaneous heterotrophic aerobic denitrification
Authors: Mupindu Progress , Zhao Yang‐Guo , Wang Xiao , Hu Yubo
Published: April 2022

The increase in mariculture activities worldwide has not only led to a rise of nitrogen compounds in the ecosystem but has also intensified the accumulation of antibiotics in both terrestrial and marine environments. This study focused on the effect of typical antibiotics, specifically sulfamethoxazole (SMX) on nitrate removal from mariculture wastewater by aerobic denitrification process; an aerobic denitrification system feeding with 148.2 mg/L COD, 8.59 mg/L nitrate, 0.72 mg/L nitrite, and 4.75 mg/L ammonium was set up. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) was 8 h. As the aerobic bioreactor started up successfully without SMX dosage, an excellent removal of ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate was achieved at 91.35%, 93.33%, and 88.51%, respectively; the corresponding effluent concentrations were 0.41 mg/L, 0.048 mg/L, and 0.96 mg/L. At the influent SMX doses of 0, 1, 5, and 10 mg/L, the COD removal reached 96.91%, 96.27%, 88.69%, and 85.89%, resulting in effluent concentrations of 4.53, 5.45, 17.38, and 20.6 mg/L, respectively. Nitrification was not inhibited by SMX dosage. However, aerobic denitrification was inhibited by 10 mg/L SMX. Proteobacteria was the most abundant phylum, and surprisingly its abundance increased with the increase in SMX concentration. An excellent SMX degradation was noted at initial SMX dosages of 1, 5, and 10 mg/L; the removal rate was 100%,100%, and 99.8%, respectively. The SMX degrading genera Comamonas sp., Acinetobacter sp., and Thauera sp. are of great validity to wastewater engineers because they have demonstrated efficiency in simultaneous heterotrophic aerobic denitrification and antibiotic degradation as well as COD removal.

Practitioner Points

Nitrification was not inhibited by increase in SMX dosage.

An increase in SMX dosage inhibited aerobic denitrification.

COD removal was not affected by increased SMX dosage.

Comamonas, Acinetobacter, and Thauera had high efficiency in COD removal and SMX degradation.
Design of High‐Temperature Syntheses on the Example of the Heavy‐Atom Cluster Compound Sn[PtBi6I12]
Authors: Herz Maria A. , Finzel Kati , Ruck Michael
Published: March 2022

Investigations into potential topological materials yielded the new subiodide Sn[PtBi6I12]. The combination of thermal analyses with phase analyses of the products of isothermal ex situ syntheses allowed the establishment of a complex high‐temperature synthesis protocol for the crystal growth of the target phase despite the lack of knowledge of the quaternary phase diagram. A special challenge was to prevent the formation of competing compounds of the solid solution series (Bi2xSn1–3x)[PtBi6I12] with x≠0. Sn[PtBi6I12] crystallizes, isostructural to Pb[PtBi6I12], in the rhombohedral space group R
with lattice parameters a=1583.2(2) pm and c=1089.70(10) pm. The compound consists of cuboctahedral [PtBi6I12]2− clusters and Sn2+ cations in an octahedral coordination between the trigonal faces of two cluster units, thereby concatenating them into infinite linear chains. The chains are connected via Bi
I inter‐cluster bridges, creating a high‐entropy variant of the NaCl structure type. Sn[PtBi6I12] is a semiconductor with an experimental bandgap of 0.8(1) eV. Fully relativistic density functional theory calculations including an implementation of the bifunctional formalism for the exchange energy indicate a topologically trivial bandgap of 0.81 eV between bands that are dominated by contributions of bismuth and iodine.
Measurement of Absolute Gravity and Deflections of the Vertical at Sea
Authors: Sokolov A. V. , Krasnov A. A. , Kuz’mina N. V. , Stus’ Yu. F.
Published: April 2022

Methods to measure absolute gravity and deflections of the vertical on a moving base are presented. The breadboard of integrated gravimetric system is described. The first results of experimental studies confirmed the possibility of high-precision measurement of the absolute values of gravity and deflection of the vertical at sea.
Studying Annelida Regeneration Using Platynereis dumerilii
Authors: Vervoort Michel , Gazave Eve
Published: March 2022

Regeneration, the ability to restore body parts after an injury or an amputation, is a widespread property in the animal kingdom. This chapter describes methods used to study this fascinating process in the annelid Platynereis dumerilii. During most of its life, this segmented worm is able to regenerate upon amputation the posterior part of its body, including its pygidium (terminal non-segmented body region bearing the anus) and a subterminal posterior growth zone which contains stem cells required for the formation of new segments. Detailed description of Platynereis worm culture and how to obtain large quantity of regenerating worms is provided. We also describe the staging system that we established and three important methods to study regeneration: whole mount in situ hybridization to study gene expression, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) labeling to characterize cell proliferation, and use of pharmacological treatments to establish putative roles of defined signaling pathways and processes.
Studying Tunicata WBR Using Botrylloides anceps
Authors: Karahan Arzu , Öztürk Esra , Temiz Berivan , Blanchoud Simon
Published: March 2022

Tunicates are marine filter-feeding invertebrates that can be found worldwide and which are the closest phylogenetic group to the vertebrates (Craniata). Of particular interest, colonial tunicates are the only known chordates that can undergo Whole-Body Regeneration (WBR) via vascular budding. In Botrylloides anceps, a fully functional adult regenerates from a fragment of the vascular system in around 2 weeks after amputation. In this chapter, we present protocols to collect B. anceps colonies, confirm their species, breed them in the lab, monitor WBR and perform histological staining on cryosections.
Isolation and Maintenance of In Vitro Cell Cultures from the Ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi
Authors: Dieter Abigail C. , Vandepas Lauren E. , Browne William E.
Published: March 2022

The ability to isolate, monitor, and examine specific cells of interest enables targeted experimental manipulations that would otherwise be difficult to perform and interpret in the context of the whole organism. In vitro primary cell cultures derived from ctenophores thus serve as an important tool for understanding complex cellular and molecular interactions that take place both within and between various ctenophore cell types. Here we describe methods for reliably generating and maintaining primary cell cultures derived from the lobate ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi that can be used for a wide variety of experimental applications.
Monitoring Telomere Maintenance During Regeneration of Annelids
Authors: Joseph Nithila A. , Chen Chi-Fan , Chen Jiun-Hong , Chen Liuh-Yow
Published: March 2022

Telomere shortening is a hallmark of aging and eventually constrains the proliferative capacity of cells. The protocols discussed here are used for monitoring telomeres comprehensively in Aeolosoma viride, a model system for regeneration studies. We present methods for analyzing the activity of telomerase enzyme in regenerating tissue by telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay, for comparing telomere length between existing tissue and newly regenerated tissue by telomere restriction fragment (TRF) assay, as well as for visualizing telomeres by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).
Monitoring Chromatin Regulation in Planarians Using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Followed by Sequencing (ChIP-seq)
Authors: Sridhar Divya , Aboobaker Aziz
Published: March 2022

Planarians are an accessible model system to study animal regeneration and stem cells. Over the last two decades, new molecular techniques have provided us with powerful tools to understand whole-body regeneration and pluripotent adult stem cells specifically. We describe a method for performing Chromatin Immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) on planarian cells that relies on FACS to isolate different cell populations followed by immunoprecipitation and library preparation for next-generation sequencing. Whole-genome profiling of histone modifications enables a greater understanding of epigenetic mechanisms in development, pluripotency, and differentiation. This protocol adds to the growing list of functional genomic approaches to study whole-body regeneration in animals.
Studying Annelida Regeneration in a Novel Model Organism: The Freshwater Aeolosoma viride
Authors: Chen Chiao-Ping , Fok Sheridan Ke-Wing , Chen Cheng-Yi , Hsu Fei-Man , Hsieh Yu-Wen , Chen Jiun-Hong
Published: March 2022

Aeolosoma viride, a globally distributed freshwater annelid, has a semitransparent appearance with 10 to 12 segments, about 2 to 3 mm in length. It is easy to raise and handle in laboratory conditions. Due to its robust regenerative capacity and applicability of various molecular tools including EdU labeling, whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH), and RNA interference (RNAi), it rises as a promising model for studying whole-body regeneration.
Structuring School Reform Policy with Evidence: The Inter-mediational Role of Knowledge Sources and Arguments
Authors: Hörmann Bernadette , Sivesind Kirsten
Published: April 2022

Critics have targeted the quality of professional knowledge in policymaking, suggesting that education policy should draw on the best research evidence. This chapter examines the institutional responsiveness to this critique. The authors analyze the use and translation of knowledge sources in Norwegian policy documents on a recent school reform for basic education in Norway. A bibliometric analysis and an in-depth inquiry of the documents reveal the most often co-cited references and their argumentative use as evidence. They conclude that the reports bring together systems of reasoning that in practice are highly differentiated but in policy are aligned with each other. Moreover, evidence serves an inter-mediational role by shaping policy options connecting both policy realms and systems.
The Complexity of Context in Legitimating National School Reforms: The Case of Sweden
Authors: Nordin Andreas , Wahlström Ninni
Published: April 2022

This chapter examines the use of evidence in legitimating national school reforms in a globalized context. Although international policy knowledge is becoming increasingly important in legitimating national school reforms, the national context still seems to affect whether and how it is used. This chapter draws attention to the selective use of international policy knowledge in domestic policy agendas and the increasingly important role of people and institutions acting as intermediaries in selecting, interpreting, and presenting useful policy knowledge to politicians. By taking the complexity of context seriously, this chapter provides valuable insights into the multidirectional policy process that filters the expert knowledge that is ultimately used by politicians as evidence in legitimating school reforms.
Volunteer Work as an Organizational Task
Authors: Güntert Stefan T. , Wehner Theo , Mieg Harald A.
Published: March 2022

The initial decision to volunteer should be distinguished from the willingness to continue to do so and to show effort. In the process of volunteering, new factors influencing motivation become apparent. The specific nature of the tasks that volunteers undertake, the behavior of the volunteer coordinator, contact with the people who are to benefit from the commitment, cooperation with other volunteers and professional staff of the organization, the reactions of the private environment, and the policies and strategies of the organization as a whole: these factors and many more influence whether volunteers develop a feeling of solidarity during the course of their engagement, and a commitment to the organization.
Einleitung
Authors: Egbert Simon
Published: March 2022

Drogentestungen, im Zuge derer Personen, zumeist per biochemischer Analyse, auf das Vorhandensein von Indikatoren des Konsums von Drogen untersucht werden, sei es per Schnelltest oder laborgebundenem Verfahren, bilden in Deutschland seit Anfang/Mitte der 1990er-Jahre zunehmend verbreitete Praktiken, das Drogenkonsumverhalten von Personen zu überprüfen. In dieser Arbeit werden dabei aufgrund ihrer Bedeutsamkeit in quantitativer – gemessen an der Zahl der Anwendungen – und qualitativer Hinsicht primär die Anwendungen von Drogenschnelltests analysiert. Die diskursive wie praktische Veralltäglichung des Drogentestens hat nämlich gerade deshalb stattfinden können, da technische Möglichkeiten – eben jene Drogenschnelltests – entwickelt wurden, die den Konsum psychoaktiver Substanzen und die damit verbundenen Sicherheitsgefährdungen rasch, ortsungebunden und kostengünstig erheben zu können versprechen.
Zwei Schlussfolgerungen: Materialitätssensible Diskursanalytik und Soziologie des Testens
Authors: Egbert Simon
Published: March 2022

Was Linde mit dem oben aufgeführten Zitat bereits vor einem halben Jahrhundert konstatierte, hat auch bis heute nicht an Gültigkeit verloren. Im Gegenteil: Aufgrund der zunehmenden Technisierung der Gesellschaft gilt es umso vehementer zu fordern, dass sich soziologische Analysen verstärkt mit den technischen und materialen Verhältnissen sozialer Interaktionen und Wissensbildungsprozessen auseinandersetzen. Dies gilt ebenfalls und gerade auch für die Diskurstheorie und -analyse, in deren Rahmen noch erheblicher Nachholbedarf mit Blick auf die technikgetriebene und materialbedingte Konstruktion diskursiven Wissens und dessen wirklichkeitskonstituierenden Effekte besteht.
SYM on quotients of spheres and complex projective spaces
Authors: Lundin Jim , Ruggeri Lorenzo
Published: March 2022

Abstract

We introduce a generic procedure to reduce a supersymmetric Yang-Mills (SYM) theory along the Hopf fiber of squashed S2r−1 with U(1)r isometry, down to the ℂℙr−1 base. This amounts to fixing a Killing vector v generating a U(1) ⊂ U(1)r rotation and dimensionally reducing either along v or along another direction contained in U(1)r. To perform such reduction we introduce a ℤp quotient freely acting along one of the two fibers. For fixed p the resulting manifolds S2r−1/ℤp ≡ L2r−1(p, ±1) are a higher dimensional generalization of lens spaces. In the large p limit the fiber shrinks and effectively we find theories living on the base manifold. Starting from $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 SYM on S3 and $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 SYM on S5 we compute the perturbative partition functions on L2r−1(p, ±1) and, in the large p limit, on ℂℙr−1, respectively for r = 2 and r = 3. We show how the reductions along the two inequivalent fibers give rise to two distinct theories on the base. Reducing along v gives an equivariant version of Donaldson-Witten theory while the other choice leads to a supersymmetric theory closely related to Pestun’s theory on S4. We use our technique to reproduce known results for r = 2 and we provide new results for r = 3. In particular we show how, at large p, the sum over fluxes on ℂℙ2 arises from a sum over flat connections on L5(p, ±1). Finally, for r = 3, we also comment on the factorization of perturbative partition functions on non simply connected manifolds.
“Interaction-Free” Channel Discrimination
Authors: Hasenöhrl Markus , Wolf Michael M.
Published: April 2022

In this work, we investigate the question of which objects can be discriminated by totally “interaction-free” measurements. To this end, we interpret the Elitzur–Vaidman bomb-tester experiment as a quantum channel discrimination problem and generalize the notion of “interaction-free” measurement to arbitrary quantum channels. Our main result is a necessary and sufficient criterion for when it is possible or impossible to discriminate quantum channels in an “interaction-free” manner (i.e., such that the discrimination error probability and the “interaction” probability can be made arbitrarily small). For the case where our condition holds, we devise an explicit protocol with the property that both probabilities approach zero with an increasing number of channel uses, N. More specifically, the “interaction” probability in our protocol decays as $$\frac{1}{N}$$

1
N

and we show that this rate is the optimal achievable one. Furthermore, our protocol only needs at most one ancillary qubit and might thus be implementable in near-term experiments. For the case where our condition does not hold, we prove an inequality that quantifies the trade-off between the error probability and the “interaction” probability.
Association of gut microbiota with glycaemic traits and incident type 2 diabetes, and modulation by habitual diet: a population-based longitudinal cohort study in Chinese adults
Authors: Wang Huijun , Gou Wanglong , Su Chang , Du Wenwen , Zhang Jiguo , Miao Zelei , Xiao Congmei , Jiang Zengliang , Wang Zhihong , Fu Yuanqing , Jia Xiaofang , Ouyang Yifei , Jiang Hongru , Huang Feifei , Li Li , Zhang Bing , Zheng Ju-Sheng
Published: March 2022

Aims/hypothesis

The gut microbiome is mainly shaped by diet, and varies across geographical regions. Little is known about the longitudinal association of gut microbiota with glycaemic control. We aimed to identify gut microbiota prospectively associated with glycaemic traits and type 2 diabetes in a geographically diverse population, and examined the cross-sectional association of dietary or lifestyle factors with the identified gut microbiota.

Methods

The China Health and Nutrition Survey is a population-based longitudinal cohort covering 15 provinces/megacities across China. Of the participants in that study, 2772 diabetes-free participants with a gut microbiota profile based on 16S rRNA analysis were included in the present study (age 50.8 ± 12.7 years, mean ± SD). Using a multivariable-adjusted linear mixed-effects model, we examined the prospective association of gut microbiota with glycaemic traits (fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c and HOMA-IR). We constructed a healthy microbiome index (HMI), and used Poisson regression to examine the relationship between the HMI and incident type 2 diabetes. We evaluated the association of dietary or lifestyle factors with the glycaemic trait-related gut microbiota using a multivariable-adjusted linear regression model.

Results

After follow-up for 3 years, 123 incident type 2 diabetes cases were identified. We identified 25 gut microbial genera positively or inversely associated with glycaemic traits. The newly created HMI (per SD unit) was inversely associated with incident type 2 diabetes (risk ratio 0.69, 95% CI 0.58, 0.84). Furthermore, we found that several microbial genera that were favourable for the glycaemic trait were consistently associated with healthy dietary habits (higher consumption of vegetable, fruit, fish and nuts).

Conclusions/interpretation

Our results revealed multiple gut microbiota prospectively associated with glycaemic traits and type 2 diabetes in a geographically diverse population, and highlighted the potential of gut microbiota-based diagnosis or therapy for type 2 diabetes.

Data availability

The code for data analysis associated with the current study is available at https://github.com/wenutrition/Microbiota-T2D-CHNS

Graphical abstract
Tensions in transparent urban AI: designing a smart electric vehicle charge point
Authors: Alfrink Kars , Keller Ianus , Doorn Neelke , Kortuem Gerd
Published: March 2022

The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) by public actors has led to a push for more transparency. Previous research has conceptualized AI transparency as knowledge that empowers citizens and experts to make informed choices about the use and governance of AI. Conversely, in this paper, we critically examine if transparency-as-knowledge is an appropriate concept for a public realm where private interests intersect with democratic concerns. We conduct a practice-based design research study in which we prototype and evaluate a transparent smart electric vehicle charge point, and investigate experts’ and citizens’ understanding of AI transparency. We find that citizens experience transparency as burdensome; experts hope transparency ensures acceptance, while citizens are mostly indifferent to AI; and with absent means of control, citizens question transparency’s relevance. The tensions we identify suggest transparency cannot be reduced to a product feature, but should be seen as a mediator of debate between experts and citizens.
Probability maps classify ischemic stroke regions more accurately than CT perfusion summary maps
Authors: Peerlings Daan , van Ommen Fasco , Bennink Edwin , Dankbaar Jan W. , Velthuis Birgitta K. , Emmer Bart J. , Hoving Jan W. , Majoie Charles B. L. M. , Marquering Henk A. , de Jong Hugo W. A. M.
Published: March 2022

Objectives

To compare single parameter thresholding with multivariable probabilistic classification of ischemic stroke regions in the analysis of computed tomography perfusion (CTP) parameter maps.

Methods

Patients were included from two multicenter trials and were divided into two groups based on their modified arterial occlusive lesion grade. CTP parameter maps were generated with three methods—a commercial method (ISP), block-circulant singular value decomposition (bSVD), and non-linear regression (NLR). Follow-up non-contrast CT defined the follow-up infarct region. Conventional thresholds for individual parameter maps were established with a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Probabilistic classification was carried out with a logistic regression model combining the available CTP parameters into a single probability.

Results

A total of 225 CTP data sets were included, divided into a group of 166 patients with successful recanalization and 59 with persistent occlusion. The precision and recall of the CTP parameters were lower individually than when combined into a probability. The median difference [interquartile range] in mL between the estimated and follow-up infarct volume was 29/23/23 [52/50/52] (ISP/bSVD/NLR) for conventional thresholding and was 4/6/11 [31/25/30] (ISP/bSVD/NLR) for the probabilistic classification.

Conclusions

Multivariable probability maps outperform thresholded CTP parameter maps in estimating the infarct lesion as observed on follow-up non-contrast CT. A multivariable probabilistic approach may harmonize the classification of ischemic stroke regions.

Key Points

• Combining CTP parameters with a logistic regression model increases the precision and recall in estimating ischemic stroke regions.

• Volumes following from a probabilistic analysis predict follow-up infarct volumes better than volumes following from a threshold-based analysis.

• A multivariable probabilistic approach may harmonize the classification of ischemic stroke regions.
A Family of Non-Monotonic Toral Mixing Maps
Authors: Myers Hill J. , Sturman R. , Wilson M. C. T.
Published: April 2022

We establish the mixing property for a family of Lebesgue measure preserving toral maps composed of two piecewise linear shears, the first of which is non-monotonic. The maps serve as a basic model for the ‘stretching and folding’ action in laminar fluid mixing, in particular flows where boundary conditions give rise to non-monotonic flow profiles. The family can be viewed as the parameter space between two well-known systems, Arnold’s Cat Map and a map due to Cerbelli and Giona, both of which possess finite Markov partitions and straightforward to prove mixing properties. However, no such finite Markov partitions appear to exist for the present family, so establishing mixing properties requires a different approach. In particular, we follow a scheme of Katok and Strelcyn, proving strong mixing properties with respect to the Lebesgue measure on two open parameter spaces. Finally, we comment on the challenges in extending these mixing windows and the potential for using the same approach to prove mixing properties in similar systems.
Can we predict favourable quality of life after surgically treated vertebral osteomyelitis? Analysis of a prospective study
Authors: Yagdiran A. , Otto-Lambertz C. , Sondermann B. , Ernst A. , Jochimsen D. , Sobottke R. , Siewe J. , Eysel P. , Jung N.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) is a severe clinical entity associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Several studies have showed that successful treatment of VO patients leads to significantly improved quality of life (QoL). Nevertheless, QoL levels of these patients remained below those of the general population. There are rarely studies focusing on predicting factors for favourable QoL after surgically treated VO. The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing positively the QoL of patients undergoing surgery for VO.

Methods

We conducted a prospective monocentric study including surgically treated VO patients from 2008 to 2016. Data were collected before (T0) and 1 year (T1) after surgery. Primary outcome was favourable QoL defined as back pain with disability restricting normal life activity with a cutoff value ≥ 12 on Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).

Ethics

Ethical approval was given by the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Cologne (09-182).

Results

A total of 119 patients surviving 1 year after surgically treated VO were analysed. Favourable QoL was achieved in 35/119 patients. On multivariate analysis, younger age (hazard ratio = HR: 0.95; 95% CI 0.91–0.99; p = 0.022), lower albumin (HR: 0.9; 0.83–0.98; p = 0.019) an ASA score ≤ 2 (HR:4.24; 95%CI 1.42–12.68; p = 0.010), and a lower preoperative leg pain on the VAS (HR: 0.86; 95% CI 0.76–0.97; p = 0.018) were identified as independent risk factors for favourable QoL. Interestingly, the absence of neurological deficits was not predictive for a favourable outcome by means of QoL.

Conclusion

One-third of surgically treated VO patients (29%) in our cohort achieved favourable QoL by means of ODI. Our findings can facilitate an estimation of the prognosis when informing the patient before surgery, and underscore that spine disability questionnaires, such as ODI, measuring QoL, are mandatory to evaluate comprehensively the outcome of this entity.
Corticospinal and peripheral responses to heat-induced hypo-hydration: potential physiological mechanisms and implications for neuromuscular function
Authors: Uddin Nasir , Tallent Jamie , Patterson Stephen D. , Goodall Stuart , Waldron Mark
Published: April 2022

Heat-induced hypo-hydration (hyperosmotic hypovolemia) can reduce prolonged skeletal muscle performance; however, the mechanisms are less well understood and the reported effects on all aspects of neuromuscular function and brief maximal contractions are inconsistent. Historically, a 4–6% reduction of body mass has not been considered to impair muscle function in humans, as determined by muscle torque, membrane excitability and peak power production. With the development of magnetic resonance imaging and neurophysiological techniques, such as electromyography, peripheral nerve, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the integrity of the brain-to-muscle pathway can be further investigated. The findings of this review demonstrate that heat-induced hypo-hydration impairs neuromuscular function, particularly during repeated and sustained contractions. Additionally, the mechanisms are separate to those of hyperthermia-induced fatigue and are likely a result of modulations to corticospinal inhibition, increased fibre conduction velocity, pain perception and impaired contractile function. This review also sheds light on the view that hypo-hydration has ‘no effect’ on neuromuscular function during brief maximal voluntary contractions. It is hypothesised that irrespective of unchanged force, compensatory reductions in cortical inhibition are likely to occur, in the attempt of achieving adequate force production. Studies using single-pulse TMS have shown that hypo-hydration can reduce maximal isometric and eccentric force, despite a reduction in cortical inhibition, but the cause of this is currently unclear. Future work should investigate the intracortical inhibitory and excitatory pathways within the brain, to elucidate the role of the central nervous system in force output, following heat-induced hypo-hydration.
Dolichoperoides macalpini (Nicoll, 1914) (Digenea: Dolichoperoididae) infecting venomous snakes (Elapidae) across Australia: molecular characterisation and infection parameters
Authors: Barton Diane P. , Lettoof Damian C. , Fearn Simon , Zhu Xiaocheng , Francis Nidhish , Shamsi Shokoofeh
Published: April 2022

Specimens ofDolichoperoides macalpini(Nicoll, 1914) (Digenea: Dolichoperoididae) were collected from Australian venomous snakes (Elapidae):Notechis scutatusPeters, 1861 andAustrelaps superbus(Günther, 1858) from Tasmania and surrounding islands andN. s. occidentalisGlauert, 1948 from wetlands near Perth, Western Australia. Despite variation in morphological measurements, genetic analysis showed that the one species of digeneans infected the snakes from all locations. This study presents the first DNA sequences forD. macalpini(internal transcribed spacer, 18S, 28S), confirming its placement in a family separate from the Reniferidae and Telorchiidae. Analysis of the infection dynamics of infection in Western Australian snakes showed significant differences in levels of infection between wetland locations, season and year of collection. Infection ofD. macalpiniwas reported in the gastrointestinal tract, including the mouth, in freshly euthanised snakes in Western Australia, and in the lung in Tasmanian snakes, consistent with earlier reports. Differences in morphology and site of infection are suggested to be due to a combination of season and maturity of the digenean, with infection potentially occurring early in the season, as the snakes emerge from torpor. The need for research on the seasonal dynamics of infection with this parasite is discussed.
Recurrent neural network variants based model for Cassini-Huygens spacecraft trajectory modifications recognition
Authors: ALDabbas Ashraf , Gal Zoltan
Published: March 2022

Over the last 13.7 years period of the Cassini mission, amendments to the spacecraft’s flight path were needed. This research is being carried out as there is a limited number of studies that use a temporal discrimination analysis to handle raw data. More complex inspection and analysis of the collected broad trajectory dataset is necessary to classify orbital events in the signal travel period (approximately 88 minutes on the Earth-Cassini travel channel length). This paper provides an innovative, in-depth learning method to identify offline modifications in the Cassini spacecraft trajectory. The models are based on variants of Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs: Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU)/ Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM)/ Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM)) to derive valuable data and learn the inner data structure of the time sequence, along with the penetration of long-term and short-term phase-dependencies of the RNNs layers. To validate our models, we used a variety of statistical approaches in our analysis. A considerable number of tests have been carried out, and the findings obtained have shown that the GRU and LSTM give a substantial boost to increasing the efficiency of the detection mechanism. The proposed model would consolidate potential exploration in outer space exploration to accommodate massive databases, search for correlations, and recognize complex events and outliers with an accuracy that exceeds 99 %. This method can be utilized for similar detection processes within the future outer space expedition. The results show that binary classifications of Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) are more accurate than $$F_1$$

F
1

score.
Declining vulnerability but rising impacts: the trends of climatic disasters in Nepal
Authors: Chapagain Dipesh , Bharati Luna , Borgemeister Christian
Published: April 2022

The impacts of climatic disasters have been rising globally. Several studies argue that this upward trend is due to rapid growth in the population and wealth exposed to disasters. Others argue that rising extreme weather events due to anthropogenic climate change are responsible for the increase. Hence, the causes of the increase in disaster impacts remain elusive. Disaster impacts relative to income are higher in low-income countries, but existing studies are mostly from developed countries or at the cross-country level. Here we assess the spatiotemporal trends of climatic disaster impacts and vulnerability and their attribution to climatic and socioeconomic factors at the subnational scale in a low-income country, using Nepal as a case study. Loss of life is the most extreme consequence of disasters. Therefore, we employed human mortality as a measure of disaster impacts, and mortality normalized by exposed population as a measure of human vulnerability. We found that climatic disaster frequency and mortality increased in Nepal from 1992 to 2021. However, vulnerability decreased, most likely due to economic growth and progress in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. Disaster mortality is positively correlated with disaster frequency and negatively correlated with per capita income but is not correlated with the exposed population. Hence, population growth may not have caused the rise in disaster mortality in Nepal. The strong rise in disaster incidence, potentially due to climate change, has overcome the effect of decreasing vulnerability and caused the rise in disaster mortality.
Spare time use: profiles of Italian Millennials (beyond the media hype)
Authors: Del Sarto Simone , Gnaldi Michela
Published: March 2022

This paper focuses on a particular population segment, that of Millennials, which has attracted much attention over recent years. Beyond the media hype, little is known about the habits of this generation towards spare time use. The present study builds on a previous work devoted to detect the different ways Italian Millennials interact with spare time, and aims at identifying profiles of Millennials branded with profile-specific time use habits and styles. In so doing, we (i) account for the multidimensional nature of time use attitude and express it into a reduced number of distinct dimensions and (ii) identify and qualify profiles of Millennials as regards the ascertained time use dimensions. By relying on an extended Item Response Theory model applied to the Italian “Multipurpose survey on households”, our main findings reveal that the way Millennials use spare time and interact with technology is much more complex, varied and multifaceted than what claimed by the media.
A procedure for testing the hypothesis of weak efficiency in financial markets: a Monte Carlo simulation
Authors: Roldán-Casas José A. , García-Moreno García Mª B.
Published: March 2022

The weak form of the efficient market hypothesis is identified with the conditions established by different types of random walks (1–3) on the returns associated with the prices of a financial asset. The methods traditionally applied for testing weak efficiency in a financial market as stated by the random walk model test only some necessary, but not sufficient, condition of this model. Thus, a procedure is proposed to detect if a return series associated with a given price index follows a random walk and, if so, what type it is. The procedure combines methods that test only a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for the fulfilment of the random walk hypothesis and methods that directly test a particular type of random walk. The proposed procedure is evaluated by means of a Monte Carlo experiment, and the results show that this procedure performs better (more powerful) against linear correlation-only alternatives when starting from the Ljung–Box test. On the other hand, against the random walk type 3 alternative, the procedure is more powerful when it is initiated from the BDS test.
Determination of the Monoclonal Antibody Tocilizumab by a Validated Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography Method
Authors: Zayed Sahar , Belal Fathalla
Published: April 2022

Tocilizumab is a monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases as well as cancers. Tocilizumab improves clinical outcomes and reduce mortality rates in patients with COVID-19 disease. A novel, simple and reliable method was developed to determine tocilizumab using micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). Separation of tocilizumab and the internal standard, methotrexate, was achieved with a background electrolyte consisting of phosphoric acid buffer and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with UV detection at 195 nm. The method was linear in the concentration range from 10 to 250 µg/mL with correlation coefficient greater than 0.995. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of human and rat plasma samples with good recoveries. Sample preparation involved protein precipitation followed by dilution of the supernatant. The intra‐ and inter-day precisions were less than 5%, the accuracy varied from − 2.71 to 3.84%. The proposed method has acceptable analytical performance and could be applied in future clinical and pharmacokinetic studies including anticancer therapy.
International Environmental Agreements and Black Technology
Authors: Kollenbach Gilbert
Published: March 2022

This paper analyzes the stability of international environmental agreements in a dynamic game when the generation of both renewables and fossil fuel based energy requires specialized capital stocks or technologies, respectively. Two contract types are considered. At an incomplete (a complete) contract, the coalition coordinates only (both) CO$$_2$$2emissions (and renewable energy investments) of its members. In contrast to the results of Battaglini and Harstad (J Polit Econ 124:160–204, 2016) who endorse incomplete contracts to increase the coalition size, only small coalitions are stable regardless of whether the contract is complete or incomplete. This result also holds if black technology is temporary not completely used or transfers are considered.