bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An adaptive torus‐event‐based controller design for networked T‐S fuzzy systems under deception attacks
Authors: Zhu Shuangxin , Tian Engang , Xu Donghui , Liu Jinliang
Published: December 2021

This article addresses the adaptive torus‐event‐based control problem for a class of networked Takagi‐Sugeno (T‐S) fuzzy systems under deception attacks. Due to the inherent openness of the network, the inevitable deception attacks in the networked T‐S fuzzy systems always appear randomly. The occurrence of deception attacks is successfully described by using a binary stochastic variable with known statistical characteristics. Under the considered adaptive torus‐event‐based communication mechanism, fuzzy controllers are constructed to guarantee the asymptotically mean‐square stability (AMSS) and the index of the networked T‐S fuzzy systems under deception attacks. To design the desired fuzzy controllers, a unified framework of the networked T‐S fuzzy systems is first established via the adaptive torus‐event‐based communication mechanism, the mathematical model of deception attacks, and the asynchronous premise technology. By utilizing the extended Lyapunov function, the sufficient conditions are simultaneously derived to address the AMSS and the disturbance suppression issues of closed‐loop control systems. Subsequently, the adaptive torus‐event‐based fuzzy controller gains are calculated via linear matrix inequalities. Finally, a simulation example concerning the tunnel circuit system is established to verify the availability and reliability of the proposed control mechanism.
Optimal stealthy attack against stochastic event‐based scheduling for remote state estimation in cyber‐physical systems
Authors: Song Yunbo , Ye Dan
Published: December 2021

This article concentrates on security issues of stochastic event‐based (SEB) sensor scheduling in cyber‐physical systems (CPSs). An SEB attack mechanism is proposed to compromise remote state estimation, in which the attacker can jam the feedback channel and inject false acknowledgments. Based on the Gaussian assumption, the minimum mean square error estimator under the SEB attack is obtained utilizing Bayes' theorem. In this article, the SEB attack stealthiness is composed of communication ratio invariance and anomaly detection invisibility with the forward channel. Furthermore, a double stealthy attack condition is given to complete persistent attacks from the perspective of the attacker. Aiming at maximizing average error covariances on the remote estimator, we design a generation algorithm of optimal SEB stealthy attack sequence and prove its optimality by rearrangement inequality and mathematical induction. Finally, the scalar and networked dc motor vector system simulations illustrate the corresponding theoretical results.
Amorphous/Crystalline Heterophase Ruthenium Nanosheets for pH‐Universal Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Xu Jie , Kong Xiangkai
Published: December 2021

To design and synthesize heterophase noble‐metal materials is of crucial importance owing to their unique structure and apparent properties. Ruthenium (Ru) is one of the most active candidates for hydrogen evolution reaction because of its low price compared with other precious metals, which is favorable for industrial hydrogen cycle operation. In this study, free‐standing amorphous/crystalline Ru nanosheets are facilely synthesized through a controlled annealing method. Charge redistribution occurs at the phase interface because of the work function difference between amorphous and crystalline domains. The resulting structure and property are conductive to the adsorption and dissociation of water molecules, associated with optimized hydrogen interaction and enhanced binding between Ru atoms. Accordingly, electrochemical measurements demonstrate that the amorphous/crystalline heterophase Ru exhibits improved hydrogen evolution efficiency as compared with pure amorphous Ru and pure crystalline Ru, at pH‐universal conditions. Specifically, only 16.7 mV overpotential is required to reach 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 m KOH. Meanwhile, the heterophase structure displays a higher stability during operation than pure amorphous and crystalline structures. This study demonstrates the importance of phase engineering, broadens the Ru‐based material family, and provides more insights for developing efficient metal materials.
Hexanuclear Niobium Cluster Iodides with Pyridine Ligands – Temperature Induced Auto‐Oxidation
Authors: Schröder Florian , Köckerling Martin
Published: December 2021

The cluster compounds [Nb6I8Py6] and [Nb6I8Py6]I ⋅ 9Py, both with octahedral Nb6 metal atom cores, were obtained from the reaction of [Nb6I11] with pyridine (Py). Both compounds are rare examples of iodide supported hexanuclear cluster compounds, which are obtained through solvent‐based chemical reactions. The Nb6 cluster core is surrounded by μ3‐bridging iodido and apical‐bonded pyridine ligands. [Nb6I8Py6] contains 22 cluster‐based electrons (CBE's), whereas [Nb6I8Py6]I ⋅ 9Py is the oxidized version with 21 CBE's. The oxidation happens just by lowering the temperature from room temperature to −20 °C of the same starting materials as used for [Nb6I8Py6]. The structures of the two cluster compounds were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.
Modular invariant holographic correlators for $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 SYM with general gauge group
Authors: Alday Luis F. , Chester Shai M. , Hansen Tobias
Published: December 2021

Abstract

We study the stress tensor four-point function for $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 SYM with gauge group G = SU(N), SO(2N + 1), SO(2N) or USp(2N) at large N . When G = SU(N), the theory is dual to type IIB string theory on AdS5× S5 with complexified string coupling τs, while for the other cases it is dual to the orbifold theory on AdS5× S5/ℤ2. In all cases we use the analytic bootstrap and constraints from localization to compute 1-loop and higher derivative tree level corrections to the leading supergravity approximation of the correlator. We give perturbative evidence that the localization constraint in the large N and finite complexified coupling τ limit can be written for each G in terms of Eisenstein series that are modular invariant in terms of τs ∝ τ, which allows us to fix protected terms in the correlator in that limit. In all cases, we find that the flat space limit of the correlator precisely matches the type IIB S-matrix. We also find a closed form expression for the SU(N) 1-loop Mellin amplitude with supergravity vertices. Finally, we compare our analytic predictions at large N and finite τ to bounds from the numerical bootstrap in the large N regime, and find that they are not saturated for any G and any τ , which suggests that no physical theory saturates these bootstrap bounds.
Odd dimensional analogue of the Euler characteristic
Authors: Borsten L. , Duff M. J. , Nagy S.
Published: December 2021

Abstract

When compact manifolds X and Y are both even dimensional, their Euler characteristics obey the Künneth formula χ(X × Y) = χ(X)χ(Y). In terms of the Betti numbers bp(X), χ(X) = Σp(−1)pbp(X), implying that χ(X) = 0 when X is odd dimensional. We seek a linear combination of Betti numbers, called ρ, that obeys an analogous formula ρ(X × Y) = χ(X)ρ(Y) when Y is odd dimensional. The unique solution is ρ(Y) = − Σp(−1)ppbp(Y). Physical applications include: (1) ρ → (−1)mρ under a generalized mirror map in d = 2m + 1 dimensions, in analogy with χ → (−1)mχ in d = 2m; (2) ρ appears naturally in compactifications of M-theory. For example, the 4-dimensional Weyl anomaly for M-theory on X4× Y7 is given by χ(X4)ρ(Y7) = ρ(X4× Y7) and hence vanishes when Y7 is self-mirror. Since, in particular, ρ(Y × S1) = χ(Y), this is consistent with the corresponding anomaly for Type IIA on X4× Y6, given by χ(X4)χ(Y6) = χ(X4× Y6), which vanishes when Y6 is self-mirror; (3) In the partition function of p-form gauge fields, ρ appears in odd dimensions as χ does in even.
The perfect cone compactification of quotients of type IV domains
Authors: Giovenzana Luca
Published: December 2021

The perfect cone compactification is a toroidal compactification which can be defined for locally symmetric varieties. Let $$\overline{D_{L}/\widetilde{O}^{+}(L)}^{p}$$

D
L

/

O
~

+

(
L
)

¯

p

be the perfect cone compactification of the quotient of the type IV domain $$D_{L}$$

D
L

associated to an even lattice L. In our main theorem we show that the pair $${ (\overline{D_{L}/\widetilde{O}^{+}(L)}^{p}, \Delta /2) }$$

(

D
L

/

O
~

+

(
L
)

¯

p

,
Δ
/
2
)

has klt singularities, where $$\Delta $$
Δ
is the closure of the branch divisor of $${ D_{L}/\widetilde{O}^{+}(L) }$$

D
L

/

O
~

+

(
L
)

. In particular this applies to the perfect cone compactification of the moduli space of 2d-polarised K3 surfaces with ADE singularities when d is square-free.
Residential choice from a multiple criteria sustainable perspective
Authors: Liern V. , Pérez-Gladish B. , Rubiera-Morollón F. , M’Zali B.
Published: December 2021

Minimizing travel in the urban environment facilitates the development of sustainable cities. A key aspect is that there is a wide supply of amenities and facilities in the neighbourhoods: if most of the needs of families, goods and services can be covered from the sub-centers of the residential areas, it will be possible to reduce daily intra-urban mobility. The objective of this work is to propose a ranking multicriteria method that facilitates the choice of an ideal residential location in terms of neighbourhood characteristics, especially in the search of sustainable mobility for each family characteristics. One of the main problems in several Multiple Criteria Decision Making methods is the assignment of criteria weights in the aggregation process. The proposed methodology in this paper, Un-weighted TOPSIS (UW-TOPSIS) is able to overcome that problem. In this Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method the relative proximity of each decision alternative to an ideal solution is minimized for the un-known weights of the criteria which are the variables in the corresponding mathematical programming program. Thus, a ranking based on the relative proximity of each alternative to an ideal alternative is obtained without the a priori establishment of the criteria weights. The use of subjective weights in real decision making contexts, where for instance a ranking of alternatives is required, is subject to important criticisms. This could be the case of the ranking of neighbourhoods based on their sustainability.
Eidetic Variation: a Self-Correcting and Integrative Account
Authors: Belt Jaakko
Published: December 2021

Edmund Husserl’s eidetic phenomenology seeks a priori knowledge of essences and eidetic laws pertaining to conscious experience and its objects. Husserl believes that such eidetic knowledge has a higher epistemic status than the inherently fallible empirical knowledge, but a closer reading of his work shows that even eidetic claims are subject to error and open to modification. In this article, I develop a self-correcting account of Husserl’s method of eidetic variation, arguing that eidetic variation plays a critical role in both challenging and improving upon the eidetic results in phenomenology. More specifically, I argue that the self-correcting account of eidetic variation 1) is consistent with Husserl’s own formulations of his eidetic methodology and epistemic principles; 2) captures the dual epistemic function of eidetic variation as means for both testing and intuitively validating eidetic claims; and 3) offers methodological support for contemporary attempts to integrate eidetic variation with non-eidetic methods and resources. To substantiate these claims, I first contrast the self-correcting account with the falsificationist interpretations of eidetic variation. Then, I turn to three applications of eidetic variation in order to examine how eidetic phenomenology could draw from real-life deviations, artificial variations, and critical–historical reflection. The goal is to lay the methodological groundwork for a self-correcting and integrative account of eidetic variation and illustrate its usefulness in research practice.
The process of problem posing: development of a descriptive phase model of problem posing
Authors: Baumanns Lukas , Rott Benjamin
Published: December 2021

The aim of this study is to develop a descriptive phase model for problem-posing activities based on structured situations. For this purpose, 36 task-based interviews with pre-service primary and secondary mathematics teachers working in pairs who were given two structured problem-posing situations were conducted. Through an inductive-deductive category development, five types of activities (situation analysis, variation, generation, problem-solving, evaluation) were identified. These activities were coded in so-called episodes, allowing time-covering analyses of the observed processes. Recurring transitions between these episodes were observed, through which a descriptive phase model was derived. In addition, coding of the developed episode types was validated for its interrater agreement.
The mitochondrial DNA constitution shaping T-cell immunity in patients with rectal cancer at high risk of metastatic progression
Authors: Bousquet P. A. , Meltzer S. , Fuglestad A. J. , Lüders T. , Esbensen Y. , Juul H. V. , Johansen C. , Lyckander L. G. , Bjørnetrø T. , Inderberg E. M. , Kersten C. , Redalen K. R. , Ree A. H.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

A significant percentage of colorectal cancer patients proceeds to metastatic disease. We hypothesised that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphisms, generated by the high mtDNA mutation rate of energy-demanding clonal immune cell expansions and assessable in peripheral blood, reflect how efficiently systemic immunity impedes metastasis.

Patients and methods

We studied 44 rectal cancer patients from a population-based prospective biomarker study, given curative-intent neoadjuvant radiation and radical surgery for high-risk tumour stage and followed for metastatic failure. Blood specimens were sampled at the time of diagnosis and analysed for the full-length mtDNA sequence, composition of immune cell subpopulations and damaged serum mtDNA.

Results

Whole blood total mtDNA variant number above the median value for the study cohort, coexisting with an mtDNA non-H haplogroup, was representative for the mtDNA of circulating immune cells and associated with low risk of a metastatic event. Abundant mtDNA variants correlated with proliferating helper T cells and cytotoxic effector T cells in the circulation. Patients without metastatic progression had high relative levels of circulating tumour-targeting effector T cells and, of note, the naïve (LAG-3+) helper T-cell population, with the proportion of LAG-3+ cells inversely correlating with cell-free damaged mtDNA in serum known to cause antagonising inflammation.

Conclusion

Numerous mtDNA polymorphisms in peripheral blood reflected clonal expansion of circulating helper and cytotoxic T-cell populations in patients without metastatic failure. The statistical associations suggested that patient’s constitutional mtDNA manifests the helper T-cell capacity to mount immunity that controls metastatic susceptibility.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01816607; registration date: 22 March 2013.
Risk assessment and remediation of NAPL contaminated soil and groundwater
Authors: Leharne Stephen
Published: December 2021

The presence of water-immiscible organic liquids—commonly called non-aqueous phase liquids or NAPLs—in soils and groundwater, is a worldwide environmental problem. Typical examples of NAPLs include: petroleum products, organic solvents and organic liquid waste from laboratories and industry. The molecular components of NAPLs present in soils, rocks and groundwater are readily transferred to the vapour and aqueous phases. The extent to which they do this is determined by their solubility (which is quite limited) and vapour pressure (which can be quite high). These molecular components, once dispersed in the vapour phase or dissolved in the aqueous phase, can provide a long-term source of harm to biotic receptors. The object of this lecture text is to examine how we can assess the degree of harm using quantitative risk assessment and how NAPL contaminated environments can be restored through the use of chemical, biological and physical remediation technologies.

Graphical abstract
A Postdigital Perspective on Service Work: Salespeople’s Service Encounters in the Connected Store
Authors: Arkenback-Sundström Charlotte
Published: December 2021

Covid-19 has disrupted global markets, accelerated the digital transformation of frontline service, and changed how service organisations, frontline service employees, and consumers interact. This article explores how digitalisation is changing retail service work from a postdigital perspective. The article draws on an ethnography of salespeople’s service encounters in speciality chain stores between July 2015 and August 2021. Using a practice theory framework (the theory of practice architectures), the article explores what conditions form salespeople’s service encounters in connected stores and how retail organisations’ digitalisation of frontline service changes salespeople’s practice of service encounters. The contributions of this article to the ongoing debate over the digitalisation of service work are twofold. On the theoretical plane, the article provides an alternative framework to labour process theory for exploring and describing service work organised around digital technologies. Secondly, it uncovers the conditions that are changing salespeople’s practice of service encounters, along with attributes associated with service work and emotional labour skills. The research shows that the connected service encounter is characterised by postdigital dialogue that involves new roles and skills in frontline service work. Overall, the findings contribute to a better understanding of how digitalisation changes action and interaction in service encounters from an employee perspective.
A simple tool for linking photo-identification with multimedia data to track mammal behaviour
Authors: Machado Alexandre M. S. , Cantor Mauricio
Published: December 2021

Identifying individual animals is critical to describe demographic and behavioural patterns, and to investigate the ecological and evolutionary underpinnings of these patterns. The traditional non-invasive method of individual identification in mammals—comparison of photographed natural marks—has been improved by coupling other sampling methods, such as recording overhead video, audio and other multimedia data. However, aligning, linking and syncing these multimedia data streams are persistent challenges. Here, we provide computational tools to streamline the integration of multiple techniques to identify individual free-ranging mammals when tracking their behaviour in the wild. We developed an open-source R package for organizing multimedia data and for simplifying their processing a posteriori—“MAMMals: Managing Animal MultiMedia: Align, Link, Sync”. The package contains functions to (i) align and link the individual data from photographs to videos, audio recordings and other text data sources (e.g. GPS locations) from which metadata can be accessed; and (ii) synchronize and extract the useful multimedia (e.g. videos with audios) containing photo-identified individuals. To illustrate how these tools can facilitate linking photo-identification and video behavioural sampling in situ, we simultaneously collected photos and videos of bottlenose dolphins using off-the-shelf cameras and drones, then merged these data to track the foraging behaviour of individuals and groups. We hope our simple tools encourage future work that extend and generalize the links between multiple sampling platforms of free-ranging mammals, thereby improving the raw material needed for generating new insights in mammalian population and behavioural ecology.
Beyond Mendelian Inheritance: Genetic Buffering and Phenotype Variability
Authors: Rossi Andrea , Kontarakis Zacharias
Published: December 2021

Understanding the way genes work amongst individuals and across generations to shape form and function is a common theme for many genetic studies. The recent advances in genetics, genome engineering and DNA sequencing reinforced the notion that genes are not the only players that determine a phenotype. Due to physiological or pathological fluctuations in gene expression, even genetically identical cells can behave and manifest different phenotypes under the same conditions. Here, we discuss mechanisms that can influence or even disrupt the axis between genotype and phenotype; the role of modifier genes, the general concept of genetic redundancy, genetic compensation, the recently described transcriptional adaptation, environmental stressors, and phenotypic plasticity. We furthermore highlight the usage of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), the generation of isogenic lines through genome engineering, and sequencing technologies can help extract new genetic and epigenetic mechanisms from what is hitherto considered ‘noise’.
GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis: a critical mechanism of diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Zuo Yi , Chen Li , Gu Huiping , He Xiaoyun , Ye Zhen , Wang Zhao , Shao Qixiang , Xue Caiping
Published: December 2021

Pyroptosis is a recently identified mechanism of programmed cell death related to Caspase-1 that triggers a series of inflammatory reactions by releasing several proinflammatory factors such as IL-1β and IL-18. The process is characterised by the rupture of cell membranes and the release of cell contents through the mediation of gasdermin (GSDM) proteins. GSDMD is an important member of the GSDM family and plays a critical role in the two pathways of pyroptosis. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a microvascular complication of diabetes and a major cause of end-stage renal disease. Recently, it was revealed that GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis plays an important role in the occurrence and development of DN. In this review, we focus on two types of kidney cells, tubular epithelial cells and renal podocytes, to illustrate the mechanism of pyroptosis in DN and provide new ideas for the prevention, early diagnosis and molecular therapy of DN.
Treatment-induced mood switching in affective disorders
Authors: Tang Siu Wa , Tang Wayne H. , Leonard Brian E.
Published: December 2021

Many patients under treatment for mood disorders, in particular patients with bipolar mood disorders, experience episodes of mood switching from one state to another. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain the mechanism of mood switching, spontaneously or induced by drug treatment. Animal models have also been used to test the role of psychotropic drugs in the switching of mood states. We examine the possible relationship between the pharmacology of psychotropic drugs and their reported incidents of induced mood switching, with reference to the various hypotheses of mechanisms of mood switching.
The Post-World War II World Order and the Unresolved Cultural Legacies of the Korean War
Authors: LIM JEEHYUN
Published: December 2021

The Korean War has never had a notable place in American culture. A crop of recent scholarship by Korean American scholars queries the reasons for this absence of the Korean War's cultural presence, going against the critical commonplace that the war was insignificant and calling for a reckoning with the cultural legacies of the Korean War. Christine Hong's A Violent Peace, Daniel Y. Kim's The Intimacies of Conflict, and Crystal Mun-hye Baik's Reencounters illustrate new directions and new possibilities in the scholarship on the Korean War, which is dominated by historical studies often guided by traditional approaches to international relations or foreign policy. Informed by approaches in ethnic studies – and particularly the field's interest in racialization as transnational and cross-border phenomenon – these books show that it is not only productive to revisit the “forgotten war” but imperative to do so. Through a wide range of cultural texts and with an exclusive focus on the perspectives and experiences of people of color, these studies probe the underexamined role the conflict has played in shaping liberal ideas on freedom and justice, attend to the contradictions of the cultural forms that clothed these ideas in post-World War II US culture, and point to new cultural interventions that challenge and dislodge long-standing Cold War orthodoxies.
Evaluating the learning and performance characteristics of self-organizing systems with different task features
Authors: Ji Hao , Jin Yan
Published: December 2021

Self-organizing systems (SOS) are developed to perform complex tasks in unforeseen situations with adaptability. Predefining rules for self-organizing agents can be challenging, especially in tasks with high complexity and changing environments. Our previous work has introduced a multiagent reinforcement learning (RL) model as a design approach to solving the rule generation problem of SOS. A deep multiagent RL algorithm was devised to train agents to acquire the task and self-organizing knowledge. However, the simulation was based on one specific task environment. Sensitivity of SOS to reward functions and systematic evaluation of SOS designed with multiagent RL remain an issue. In this paper, we introduced a rotation reward function to regulate agent behaviors during training and tested different weights of such reward on SOS performance in two case studies: box-pushing and T-shape assembly. Additionally, we proposed three metrics to evaluate the SOS: learning stability, quality of learned knowledge, and scalability. Results show that depending on the type of tasks; designers may choose appropriate weights of rotation reward to obtain the full potential of agents’ learning capability. Good learning stability and quality of knowledge can be achieved with an optimal range of team sizes. Scaling up to larger team sizes has better performance than scaling downwards.
Like parent, like child: a cross-sectional study of intra-household consumption patterns of non-alcoholic beverages among British households with children
Authors: O’Leary Charlotte , Cummins Steven , Smith Richard D , Cornelsen Laura
Published: December 2021

Objective:

Most research investigating sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and health, conducted at the individual or household level, ignores potentially important intra-household dynamics. We analysed self-reported consumption relationships between children and adults, and between children of different ages, as well as the associations between intra-household consumption, BMI and sociodemographic characteristics.

Design:

A cross-sectional analysis of survey data from Kantar Fast Moving Consumer Goods panellists in September 2017.

Setting:

Great Britain.

Participants:

Random sample of 603 households with children under 18 years who regularly purchase non-alcoholic beverages.

Results:

Low- or no-sugar/diet beverages dominate consumption across all age categories, particularly children under 12 years. SSB consumption increased as children became older. Children’s reported consumption of SSB and low- or no-sugar/diet beverages was positively associated with consumption by adults; a child in adolescence had over nine times the odds of consuming SSB (adjusted OR 9·55, (95 % CI 5·38, 17·00), P < 0·001), and eight times the odds of consuming low- or no-sugar/diet drinks (adjusted OR 8·12, (95 % CI 4·71, 13·97), P < 0·001), if adults did so. In households with multiple children, consumption patterns of older siblings were associated with those of the younger; notably a perfect correlation between children aged 0 and 6 years consuming SSB if siblings 13–18 years did so, and children aged 7–12 years had 22 times the odds of consuming SSB if siblings aged 13–18 years did so (OR 22·33, (95 % CI 8·60, 58·01), P < 0·001).

Conclusions:

Multiple policies, targeting children as well as adults, such as fiscal levers and advertisement restrictions, are needed to reduce and prevent the consumption of SSB.
Global Water Scarcity Assessment Incorporating Green Water in Crop Production
Authors: Liu Wenfeng , Liu Xingcai , Yang Hong , Ciais Philippe , Wada Yoshihide
Published: December 2021

Over the past decades, water scarcity has become prevalent in many regions of the world. Previous water scarcity assessments largely considered “blue water” (surface and groundwater) and overlooked “green water” (soil moisture), despite its key role in supporting crop production. Moreover, the long‐term evolution of water scarcity remains unclear. Here, we propose an agricultural water scarcity index (WSIAW) that explicitly combines green and blue water. The WSIAW measures the degree to which both green and blue water availabilities can satisfy the agricultural water requirement. The WSIAW can directly indicate water scarcity in both rainfed and irrigated areas, which cannot be captured by the blue water scarcity index alone. Using the WSIAW, we assessed the evolution of water scarcity across regions of the world during 1971–2010 at a spatial resolution of 0.5 arc degree. We found that 22% of the 228 river basins with a WSIAW of >1 presented a much broader geographical coverage compared with estimates of water scarcity based on blue water only (8% of total basins). The WSIAW also exhibited a clear trend of increasing severity over the study period, particularly in major agricultural regions. Expanding cropland and increasing/competing water withdrawals by other sectors were the main reasons for the intensification of water scarcity, which was pronounced in some Asian and African river basins. The proposed WSIAW can be applied to different regions with various scales and is important for addressing global water scarcity issues.
Faulting and Magmatic Accretion Across the Overlapping Spreading Center Between Vance Segment and Axial South Rift, Juan de Fuca Ridge
Authors: Le Saout M. , Clague D. A. , Paduan J. B.
Published: December 2021

Plate divergence along mid‐ocean ridges is accommodated through faulting and magmatic accretion, and, at overlapping spreading centers (OSC), is distributed across two curvilinear overlapping ridge axes. One‐meter resolution bathymetry acquired by autonomous underwater vehicles, combined with distribution and ages of lava flows, is used to: (a) analyze the spatial and temporal distribution of flows, faults, and fissures in the OSC between the distal south rift zone of Axial Seamount and the Vance Segment, (b) locate spreading axes, (c) calculate extension, and (d) determine the proportion of extension accommodated at the surface by faults and fissures versus volcanic extrusion over a period of ∼1300–1450 years. Our study reveals that in the recent history of the ridges, extension over a distance of 14 km across the Axial/Vance OSC was asymmetric in proportion and style: faults and fissures across 1–2 km of the Vance axial valley accommodated ∼3/4 of the spreading, whereas dike‐fed eruptions contributed ∼1/4 of the extension and occurred across 4 km of the south rift of Axial Seamount.
Investigating the Basal Shear Zone of the Submarine Tuaheni Landslide Complex, New Zealand: A Core‐Log‐Seismic Integration Study
Authors: Crutchley G. J. , Elger J. , Kuhlmann J. , Mountjoy J. J. , Orpin A. , Georgiopoulou A. , Carey J. , Dugan B. , Cardona S. , Han S. , Cook A. , Screaton E. J. , Pecher I. A. , Barnes P. , Huhn K.
Published: December 2021

Although submarine landslides have been studied for decades, a persistent challenge is the integration of diverse geoscientific datasets to characterize failure processes. We present a core‐log‐seismic integration study of the Tuaheni Landslide Complex to investigate intact sediments beneath the undeformed seafloor as well as post‐failure landslide deposits. Beneath the undeformed seafloor are coherent reflections underlain by a weakly‐reflective and chaotic seismic unit. This chaotic unit is characterized by variable shear strength that correlates with density fluctuations. The basal shear zone of the Tuaheni landslide likely exploited one (or more) of the low shear strength intervals. Within the landslide deposits is a widespread “Intra‐debris Reflector”, previously interpreted as the landslide's basal shear zone. This reflector is a subtle impedance drop around the boundary between upper and lower landslide units. However, there is no pronounced shear strength change across this horizon. Rather, there is a pronounced reduction in shear strength ∼10–15 m above the Intra‐debris Reflector that presumably represents an induced weak layer that developed during failure. Free gas accumulates beneath some regions of the landslide and is widespread deeper in the sedimentary sequence, suggesting that free gas may have played a role in pre‐conditioning the slope to failure. Additional pre‐conditioning or failure triggers could have been seismic shaking and associated transient fluid pressure. Our study underscores the importance of detailed core‐log‐seismic integration approaches for investigating basal shear zone development in submarine landslides.
Uncovering Flooding Mechanisms Across the Contiguous United States Through Interpretive Deep Learning on Representative Catchments
Authors: Jiang Shijie , Zheng Yi , Wang Chao , Babovic Vladan
Published: December 2021

Long short‐term memory (LSTM) networks represent one of the most prevalent deep learning (DL) architectures in current hydrological modeling, but they remain black boxes from which process understanding can hardly be obtained. This study aims to demonstrate the potential of interpretive DL in gaining scientific insights using flood prediction across the contiguous United States (CONUS) as a case study. Two interpretation methods were adopted to decipher the machine‐captured patterns and inner workings of LSTM networks. The DL interpretation by the expected gradients method revealed three distinct input‐output relationships learned by LSTM‐based runoff models in 160 individual catchments. These relationships correspond to three flood‐inducing mechanisms—snowmelt, recent rainfall, and historical rainfall—that account for 10.1%, 60.9%, and 29.0% of the 20,908 flow peaks identified from the data set, respectively. Single flooding mechanisms dominate 70.7% of the investigated catchments (11.9% snowmelt‐dominated, 34.4% recent rainfall‐dominated, and 24.4% historical rainfall‐dominated mechanisms), and the remaining 29.3% have mixed mechanisms. The spatial variability in the dominant mechanisms reflects the catchments' geographic and climatic conditions. Moreover, the additive decomposition method unveils how the LSTM network behaves differently in retaining and discarding information when emulating different types of floods. Information from inputs within previous time steps can be partially stored in the memory of LSTM networks to predict snowmelt‐induced and historical rainfall‐induced floods, while for recent rainfall‐induced floods, only recent information is retained. Overall, this study provides a new perspective for understanding hydrological processes and extremes and demonstrates the prospect of artificial intelligence‐assisted scientific discovery in the future.
A Reduced Complexity Model With Graph Partitioning for Rapid Hydraulic Assessment of Sewer Networks
Authors: Dobson Barnaby , Watson‐Hill Hannah , Muhandes Samer , Borup Morten , Mijic Ana
Published: December 2021

Existing, high‐fidelity models for sewer network modeling are accurate but too slow and inflexible for modern applications such as optimization or scenario analysis. Reduced complexity surrogate modeling has been applied in response to this, however, current approaches are expensive to set up and still require high‐fidelity simulations to derive parameters. In this study, we compare and develop graph partitioning algorithms to automatically group sections of sewer networks into semi‐distributed compartments. These compartments can then be simulated using sewer network information only in the integrated modeling framework, CityWat‐SemiDistributed (CWSD), which has been developed for application to sewer network modeling in this study. We find that combining graph partitioning with CWSD can produce accurate simulations 100–1,000× faster than existing high‐fidelity modeling. Because we anticipate that many CWSD users will not have high‐fidelity models available, we demonstrate that the approach provides reasonable simulations even under significant parametric uncertainty through a sensitivity analysis. We compare multiple graph partitioning techniques enabling users to specify the spatial aggregation of the partitioned network, also enabling them to preserve key locations for simulation. We test the impact of temporal resolution, finding that accurate simulations can be produced with timesteps up to one hour. Our experiments show a log‐log relationship between temporal/spatial resolution and simulation time, enabling users to pre‐specify the efficiency and accuracy needed for their applications. We expect that the efficiency and flexibility of our approach may facilitate novel applications of sewer network models ranging from continuous simulations for long‐term planning to spatially optimizing the placement of network sensors.
Integration of genome-wide association studies and gene coexpression networks unveils promising soybean resistance genes against five common fungal pathogens
Authors: Almeida-Silva Fabricio , Venancio Thiago M.
Published: December 2021

Soybean is one of the most important legume crops worldwide. However, soybean yield is dramatically affected by fungal diseases, leading to economic losses of billions of dollars yearly. Here, we integrated publicly available genome-wide association studies and transcriptomic data to prioritize candidate genes associated with resistance to Cadophora gregata, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium virguliforme, Macrophomina phaseolina, and Phakopsora pachyrhizi. We identified 188, 56, 11, 8, and 3 high-confidence candidates for resistance to F. virguliforme, F. graminearum, C. gregata, M. phaseolina and P. pachyrhizi, respectively. The prioritized candidate genes are highly conserved in the pangenome of cultivated soybeans and are heavily biased towards fungal species-specific defense responses. The vast majority of the prioritized candidate resistance genes are related to plant immunity processes, such as recognition, signaling, oxidative stress, systemic acquired resistance, and physical defense. Based on the number of resistance alleles, we selected the five most resistant accessions against each fungal species in the soybean USDA germplasm. Interestingly, the most resistant accessions do not reach the maximum theoretical resistance potential. Hence, they can be further improved to increase resistance in breeding programs or through genetic engineering. Finally, the coexpression network generated here is available in a user-friendly web application (https://soyfungigcn.venanciogroup.uenf.br/) and an R/Shiny package (https://github.com/almeidasilvaf/SoyFungiGCN) that serve as a public resource to explore soybean-pathogenic fungi interactions at the transcriptional level.
Detection of persistent SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in oral mucosal fluid and upper respiratory tract specimens following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination
Authors: Mades Aubree , Chellamathu Prithivi , Kojima Noah , Lopez Lauren , MacMullan Melanie A. , Denny Nicholas , Angel Aaron N. , Santacruz Marilisa , Casian Joseph G. , Brobeck Matthew , Nirema Nina , Klausner Jeffrey D. , Turner Frederick , Slepnev Vladimir I. , Ibrayeva Albina
Published: December 2021

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are highly effective at preventing COVID-19. Prior studies have found detectable SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in oral mucosal specimens of participants with history of COVID-19. To assess the development of oral SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among people who received either the Moderna or Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination series, we developed a novel SARS-CoV-2 IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify the concentrations of oral and nasal mucosal SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels. We enrolled 52 participants who received the Moderna vaccine and 80 participants who received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Oral mucosal specimens were self-collected by participants prior to or on the day of vaccination, and on days 5, 10, 15, and 20 following each vaccination dose and 30, 60, and 90 days following the second vaccination dose. A subset of the cohort provided additional nasal mucosal specimens at every time point. All participants developed detectable oral mucosal SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies by 15 days after the first vaccination dose. There were no significant differences in oral mucosal antibody concentrations once participants were fully vaccinated in the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines. Oral or nasal mucosal antibody testing could be an inexpensive and less invasive alternative to serum antibody testing. Further research is needed to understand the duration of detectable oral or nasal mucosal antibodies and how antibody concentrations change with time.
Application progress of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers chemical sensors in the detection of biomarkers
Authors: Wang Ying , Yang Xiaomin , Pang Lin , Geng Pengfei , Mi Fang , Hu Cunming , Peng Fei , Guan Ming
Published: December 2021

Research progress of MMIPs-optical sensors and MMIPs-electrochemical sensors based on biomarker detection.
A triphenylamine-based aggregation-enhanced emission probe for viscosity and polarity analysis of lubricating oils
Authors: Jia Pengxiao , Wang Fu , Zeng Wei , Wang Zhaofeng
Published: December 2021

This work provides an effective molecule-based method for the viscosity and polarity analysis of lubricating oils.
Tuning the magnetic properties of a diamagnetic di-Blatter's zwitterion to antiferro- and ferromagnetically coupled diradicals
Authors: Khurana Rishu , Bajaj Ashima , Ali Md. Ehesan
Published: December 2021

The TPHA molecule (containing two Blatter's moieties) exists in the diamagnetic zwitterionic ground state. Increasing the length of the spacer tunes the electronic and magnetic properties to antiferro- and ferro-magnetic ground states.
Topological frustration leading to backtracking in a coupled folding–binding process
Authors: Gao Meng , Li Ping , Su Zhengding , Huang Yongqi
Published: December 2021

Molecular dynamics simulations and transition path analysis reveal that the coupled folding–binding process of disordered E3 with Im3 is topologically frustrated.
Small-to-large length scale transition of TMAO interaction with hydrophobic solutes
Authors: Folberth Angelina , Bharadwaj Swaminath , van der Vegt Nico F. A.
Published: December 2021

A combination of molecular dynamics simulations and free-energy calculations reveals a length scale dependence of TMAO-solute interactions. TMAO depletes from small nonpolar solutes, but preferentially binds to large nonpolar solutes.
Microscale impeller pump for recirculating flow in organs-on-chip and microreactors
Authors: Cook Sophie R. , Musgrove Hannah B. , Throckmorton Amy L. , Pompano Rebecca R.
Published: December 2021

A user-friendly magnetically-driven impeller pump platform was easily integrated with microfluidic channels for future use with organs-on-chip. The pump achieved controllable biomimetic flow rates and continuous recirculation of primary murine splenocytes and Jurkat T cells.
The crystal structure and characterization of a co-product in the synthesis of a Schiff base give evidence of its zwitterionic nature in the solid state
Authors: Rodríguez M. R. , Espino G. A. , Piro O. E. , Echeverría G. A. , Parajón-Costa B. S. , González-Baró A. C.
Published: December 2021

The zwitterionic form of a Schiff base in the solid state was found by the structural characterization of a coproduct and a mechanistic proposal of its formation.
Synthesis, characterization and cytotoxic activity studies on cancer cell lines of new paraben-decorated monospiro-cyclotriphosphazenes
Authors: Şenkuytu Elif , Akbaş Nadide , Yıldırım Tuba , Çiftçi Gönül Yenilmez
Published: December 2021

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In this study, monospiro-cyclotriphosphazene compounds decorated with different parabens that likely show biological activity were designed and successfully synthesized for the first time.
Dynamics of erythrocytes in oscillatory shear flows: effects of S/V ratio
Authors: Zhu Qiang , Bi Xiaobo
Published: December 2021

The surface area-to-volume ratio affects the deformation and internal stress of red blood cells in oscillatory share flows.
Oral and Laryngeal Diadochokinesis Across the Life Span: A Scoping Review of Methods, Reference Data, and Clinical Applications
Authors: Kent Ray D. , Kim Yunjung , Chen Li-mei
Published: December 2021

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to conduct a scoping review of research on oral and laryngeal diadochokinesis (DDK) in children and adults, either typically developing/developed or with a clinical diagnosis.

Method:

Searches were conducted with PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and legacy sources in retrieved articles. Search terms included the following: DDK, alternating motion rate, maximum repetition rate, sequential motion rate, and syllable repetition rate.

Results:

Three hundred sixty articles were retrieved and included in the review. Data source tables for children and adults list the number and ages of study participants, DDK task, and language(s) spoken. Cross-sectional data for typically developing children and typically developed adults are compiled for the monosyllables /pʌ/, /tʌ/, and /kʌ/; the trisyllable /pʌtʌkʌ/; and laryngeal DDK. In addition, DDK results are summarized for 26 disorders or conditions.

Discussion:

A growing number of multidisciplinary reports on DDK affirm its role in clinical practice and research across the world. Atypical DDK is not a well-defined singular entity but rather a label for a collection of disturbances associated with diverse etiologies, including motoric, structural, sensory, and cognitive. The clinical value of DDK can be optimized by consideration of task parameters, analysis method, and population of interest.
An Attempt to Estimate the Noises in Homeopathic Pathogenetic Trials by Employing the Jaccard Similarity Index and Noise Index
Authors: Poruthukaren Kurian
Published: December 2021

Background The critical task of researchers conducting double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled homeopathic pathogenetic trials is to segregate the signals from the noises. The noises are signs and symptoms due to factors other than the trial drug; signals are signs and symptoms due to the trial drug. Unfortunately, the existing tools (criteria for a causal association of symptoms only with the tested medicine, qualitative pathogenetic index, quantitative pathogenetic index, pathogenic index) have limitations in analyzing the symptoms of the placebo group as a comparator, resulting in inadequate segregation of the noises. Hence, the Jaccard similarity index and the Noise index are proposed for analyzing the symptoms of the placebo group as a comparator.

Methods The Jaccard similarity index is the ratio of the number of common elements among the placebo and intervention groups to the aggregated number of elements in these groups. The Noise index is the ratio of common elements among the placebo and intervention group to the total elements of the intervention group. Homeopathic pathogenetic trials of Plumbum metallicum, Piper methysticum and Hepatitis C nosode were selected for experimenting with the computation of the Jaccard similarity index and the Noise index.

Results Jaccard similarity index calculations show that 8% of Plumbum metallicum's elements, 10.7% of Piper methysticum's elements, and 19.3% of Hepatitis C nosode's elements were similar to the placebo group when elements of both the groups (intervention and placebo) were aggregated. Noise index calculations show that 10.7% of Plumbum metallicum's elements, 13.9% of Piper methysticum's elements and 25.7% of Hepatitis C nosode's elements were similar to those of the placebo group.

Conclusion The Jaccard similarity index and the Noise index might be considered an additional approach for analyzing the symptoms of the placebo group as a comparator, resulting in better noise segregation in homeopathic pathogenetic trials.