bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental Factors Influencing Hairy‐Nosed Wombat Abundance in Semi‐Arid Rangelands
Authors: Taggart David A. , Finlayson Graeme R. , Sparrow Elisa E. , Dibben Ron M. , Dibben Jason A. , Campbell Elizabeth C. , Peacock David E. , Ostendorf Bertram , White Craig R. , Temple‐Smith Peter D.
Published: March 2020

Understanding environmental factors influencing the abundance of species is important for developing strategies to manage wildlife effectively. Long‐term studies provide the most reliable information upon which to base management decisions. This is particularly important when considering threatening processes, like drought and climate change, and a species' future security. We collected data on abundance of southern hairy‐nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons) on Kooloola Station in South Australia's Murraylands during nightly spot‐lighting excursions in winter and spring between 1993 and 2014. Wombat numbers declined significantly after the early‐mid 1990s, and were lowest in 2002–2003 in the middle of the millennium drought (late 1996–mid‐2010). Despite an observed decline in grazing competition from domestic sheep and rabbits (Oryctolagus cunniculus) after 2003 and above‐average rainfall in 5 of the next 11 years, the wombat population failed to recover to early–mid‐1990s levels, remaining at approximately 50% of estimated abundance pre‐drought. The study provides evidence that rainfall has a significant effect on southern hairy‐nosed wombat population size, most likely through improvements in the availability of palatable plant species. Historical information suggests that there was a change in the grass and herbaceous layer on Kooloola Station in the mid‐1970s from a pasture dominated by summer‐germinating native grass and forb species, the natural diet of the southern hairy‐nosed wombat, to one dominated by winter‐germinating introduced weeds. Several consecutive years of above‐average rainfall are needed before effective wombat population increase occurs and the size of yearly winter and spring rainfall events is strongly linked to population trends the following year. Historical information and first‐hand observations suggest that dietary components (either native grasses or introduced weed species) and level of grazing competition may also interact to affect wombat survival and population recovery from drought, although this requires further testing. Together with rainfall, these factors have important implications to develop appropriate conservation and management strategies for this species in a changing climate likely to be dominated by increased drought frequency and duration. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.
Attitudes of researchers towards plagiarism: A study on a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Marar Sumayyia D. , Hamza Muaawia A.
Published: March 2020

Plagiarism is one of the most common research misconducts and has many negative consequences. It can potentially destroy the reputation of an institution. Only a few studies have explored plagiarism in Saudi Arabia, and these have focused on academic institutions. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the attitudes of researchers towards plagiarism at a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, using the established Attitudes Towards Plagiarism questionnaire. The questionnaire contains demographic data along with 29 statements divided into three sections: positive attitude towards plagiarism, which reflects the approval and acceptance of plagiarism (12 items); negative attitude towards plagiarism, which reflects deprecation and condemnation of plagiarism (7 items); and subjective norms towards plagiarism, which reflects personal perception of the extent and acceptance of plagiarism in society (10 items). Responses were collected from 237 participants. The overall attitudes of researchers showed a disapproval for plagiarism in medical research but also revealed some ambiguity about self‐plagiarism and a belief that others were more likely to plagiarize than the respondent. Our findings suggest that awareness about different forms of plagiarism among researchers should be increased. We recommend that researchers' attitudes towards plagiarism should be investigated further in a rigorous association study.
Harsh voices, sound branding: How voiced consonants in a brand's name can alter its perceived attributes
Authors: Pathak Abhishek , Calvert Gemma Anne , Lim Lewis K. S.
Published: March 2020

This paper examines the sound‐symbolic link between voiced obstruents (speech sounds created by obstructing the airflow) present in a brand name and the perceived product/brand attributes. In three studies (two using self‐reported measures and one using an implicit reaction time paradigm), we tested the effect of voiced (b, d, g, z, v) versus voiceless obstruents (p, t, k, s, f) across 25 hypothetical brand names, on the perceived product attributes of harshness (vs. softness). Brand names with voiced (vs. voiceless) obstruents are perceived as harsh (vs. soft/mild). Results are described across two different product categories (e.g., toilet cleaner and skin conditioner), and also within the same product category (e.g., strong vs. light beer and strong vs. mild toilet cleaner). Since sound symbolism is culturally agnostic, brands expanding into international and linguistically different markets can use these insights to create brand names that will have international appeal, and can match the product and/or brand attributes that brands wish to convey to consumers.
Electrophoretic deposition of spherical carbon nanoobjects—A comparison of different biocompatible surfaces
Authors: Zięba Monika , Korczeniewski Emil , Zięba Wojciech , Bolibok Paulina , Czarnecka Joanna , Płońska‐Brzezińska Marta E. , Terzyk Artur P.
Published: March 2020

Spherical carbon nanomaterial coatings on the purified carbon fibres were obtained and characterized. The use of exactly the same conditions of electrophoretic deposition process made it possible to compare the impact of the initial carbon nanomaterial properties on the behaviour of various prepared surfaces. Obtained samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, flat surface ζ‐potential and water contact angle measurements. Additionally, cytotoxic tests were carried out to compare biocompatibility of coated carbon fibres. Presented results show the impact of the initial materials properties on the characteristics of the deposited coatings.
Do chick and rodent neuron biosensors function similarly?
Authors: Kuang Serena Y. , Yang Xiaoqi , Wei Lina , Huang Ting , Wang Zhonghai , Xi Tingfei , Gao Bruce Z.
Published: March 2020

A growing number of research papers report similarities in cell types, neuronal connections and information‐processing principles between chick and rodent cortical tissues, which have very different architectures. This paper extends these comparisons beyond the cortical tissues. Using microelectrode array technology, we report three remarkable functional similarities between our original chick data and rodent data from the literature: (a) the pattern of spontaneous spiking activity from chick spinal cord neuron biosensors is very similar to that of rodent spinal cord neuron biosensors (i.e. rodent counterparts). (b) The spontaneous spiking activity pattern of the chick forebrain neuron biosensors is very similar to that of the rodent cortical neuron biosensors, but chick forebrain neuron biosensors contain not only cortical neurons, but also diencephalic neurons. In other words, chick forebrain neuron biosensors cannot be considered the counterparts of rodent cortical neuron biosensors. (c) Chick forebrain neuron biosensors respond to several classical neuroactive agents in a way similar to rodent cortical neuron biosensors as reflected in their agent‐specific concentration–response curves and their values of EC50 (the effective concentration that causes 50% of the maximal effect of an agent). These preliminary findings provide both direct and indirect support for a positive answer to the big research question in the title: ‘Do chick and rodent neuron biosensors function similarly’ if the sources of the neurons are homologous between chick and rodent? Our findings are of particular value to comparative biology/physiology, pharmacology, neurotoxicology and bioengineering and to research on the more cost‐effective extended application of chick neuron biosensors.
Two novel mutations of PAX3 and SOX10 were characterized as genetic causes of Waardenburg Syndrome
Authors: Yu Yongbo , Liu Wei , Chen Min , Yang Yang , Yang Yeran , Hong Enyu , Lu Jie , Zheng Jun , Ni Xin , Guo Yongli , Zhang Jie
Published: March 2020

Background

The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic causes of two probands diagnosed as Waardenburg syndrome (WS type I and IV) from two unrelated Chinese families.

Methods

PAX3 and SOX10 were the main pathogenic genes for WS type I (WS I) and IV (WS IV), respectively; all coding exons of these genes were sequenced on the two probands and their family members. Luciferase reporter assay and co‐immunoprecipitation (CO‐IP) were conducted to verify potential functional outcomes of the novel mutations.

Results

The first proband is a 9 years old girl diagnosed with WS I. A novel PAX3 heterozygous mutation of c.372‐373delGA (p.N125fs) was identified, which results in a frameshift and truncation of PAX3 protein. In family II, a 2 years old girl was diagnosed with WS IV, and Sanger sequencing revealed a de novo SOX10 mutation of c.1114insTGGGGCCCCCACACTACACCGAC (p.Q372fs), a frameshift mutation that extends the amino acid chain of SOX10 protein. Functional studies indicated that the novel mutation of SOX10 had no effects on the interaction of SOX10 and PAX3, but reduced transactivate capacity of melanocyte inducing transcription factor (MITF) promoter. Both PAX3 and SOX10 mutation‐induced defects of MITF transcription might contribute to the WS pathogenesis.

Conclusion

We revealed a novel mutation in PAX3 and a de novo mutation in SOX10, which might account for the underlying pathogenesis of WS. This study expands the database of both PAX10 and PAX3 mutations and improves our understanding of the causes of WS.
Lie symmetry analysis, symmetry reductions with exact solutions, and conservation laws of (2+1)‐dimensional Bogoyavlenskii‐Schieff equation of higher order in plasma physics
Authors: Saha Ray Santanu , Vinita
Published: March 2020

In this article, similarity reductions of the (2
1)‐dimensional Bogoyavlenskii‐Schieff equation of higher order have been done by Lie group method. We have determine the geometric vector field, infinitesimal generators, symmetric groups, and commutator table of Lie algebra with the help of Lie symmetry analysis. The new close form solutions and similarity solutions of the (2
1)‐dimensional Bogoyavlenskii‐Schieff equation of higher order have been determined from the reduction equations. Also, the conservation laws have been derived by invoking the new conservation theorem proposed by Ibragimov.
Generation of viable PDX1 gene‐edited founder pigs as providers of nonmosaics
Authors: Tanihara Fuminori , Hirata Maki , Thi Nguyen Nhien , Anh Le Quynh , Hirano Takayuki , Otoi Takeshige
Published: March 2020

Pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1) is a crucial gene for pancreas development during the fetal period. PDX1‐modified pigs have the potential to be used as a model of diabetes mellitus. However, the severe health problems caused by the PDX1 mutation limit phenotypic studies of PDX1‐modified pigs as diabetes models. In this study, we generated PDX1‐modified pigs by the CRISPR/Cas9 system introduced into zygotes via electroporation and investigated the mosaicism, phenotypes, and inheritance of the resulting pigs. After the embryo transfer of PDX1‐modified zygotes, nine mutant piglets were delivered. Two piglets were apancreatic biallelic mutants. For the other seven piglets, the ratio of mutant alleles to total alleles was 17.5–79.7%. Two mutant piglets with high mutation rates (67.7% and 79.7%) exhibited hypoplasia of the pancreas, whereas the other five piglets were healthy. One of the male mutant piglets was further analyzed. The ejaculated semen from the pig contained PDX1‐mutant spermatozoa and the pig showed normal reproductive ability. In conclusion, the frequency of the PDX1 mutation is presumed to relate to pancreas formation, and PDX1 mutant founder pigs generated from zygotes introduced to the CRISPR/Cas9 system can serve as providers of nonmosaics to contribute to medical research on diabetes mellitus.
Starting from scratch: Building of meaningful endowments by public charities
Authors: Ely Todd L. , Katz Juniper , Calabrese Thad D.
Published: March 2020

Most nonprofits lack a true endowment and endowment wealth is concentrated in a relatively small number of organizations and subsectors. This study supports an operational definition of material endowment, equal to or greater than annual expenses, and investigates how common it is for a nonprofit to establish a meaningful endowment over time. Specifically, we address whether the sector's enthusiasm over the potential of endowment building is reflected in charitable organizations' experiences. Using financial data, we find that building a meaningful permanent endowment is a rare achievement among public charities over a period of two decades. Meaningful endowment creation, achieved by less than 2% of the sample, is more common for organizations with donor attachments, the need for subsidization of mission services, those with more fundraising costs, and those with more donative revenue portfolios.
Effects of working memory training on emotion regulation: Transdiagnostic review
Authors: Barkus Emma
Published: March 2020

Working memory training is widely used transdiagnostically to improve cognition. However, more recently, studies using working memory training packages have targeted emotion‐regulation outcomes to determine whether far transfer effects can be achieved. A narrative review is conducted of studies that have used standardized computerized working memory training packages across healthy volunteers, affect, anxiety, post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and eating disordered populations with emotion‐regulation outcomes. Working memory training has been used in children, adolescents, and adults to improve emotion regulation. Many studies have reported gains in mood as well as emotion‐regulation strategies following working memory training, regardless of clinical indication and whether near transfer gains were achieved in cognitive domains. Significant emotion‐regulation outcomes include: state and trait anxiety, rumination, brooding, positive appraisal, decreasing maladaptive emotion‐regulation strategies, and decreasing intrusive thoughts. It is speculated that these far transfer outcomes from working memory training are possible due to the cognitive and neural overlap between cognitive and affective working memory, and emotion regulation. Working memory training could improve cognitive efficiency, which, in turn, increases the availability of cognitive resources during times when emotion regulation is taxed. Future studies need to consider the role of participant expectancy in predicting outcome measure performance, and including subjective and objective outcomes is paramount to study design. Furthermore, sample sizes require additional attention, given that the current review highlights that individual differences in non‐clinical and clinical populations influence the outcomes from working memory training. Working memory training offers a possibility for improving emotion regulation transdiagnostically.
Rheological behavior of neat and carbon fiber‐reinforced poly(ether ketone ketone) for extrusion deposition additive manufacturing
Authors: Kishore Vidya , Ajinjeru Christine , Hassen Ahmed A. , Lindahl John , Kunc Vlastimil , Duty Chad
Published: March 2020

To develop new materials for extrusion additive manufacturing (AM) systems, a fundamental understanding of rheological properties is essential to correlate the effect of processing on material structure and its properties. In this work, the rheological properties of five different grades of neat and carbon fiber (CF)‐reinforced poly(ether ketone ketone) are reported. Rheological properties are essential to understand the effect of reinforcing fibers and AM process parameters such as time, temperature, environment, and shear rate on flow behavior during processing. Small‐amplitude oscillatory shear tests and steady shear tests indicated neat grades to exhibit less increase in viscosity over time when processed in air than the CF‐filled grades. The filled grades showed greater shear thinning and lower sensitivity to temperature. Overall, this rheological analysis provides a broad framework for determining appropriate processing conditions for extrusion deposition AM of such high‐temperature polymer systems.
Development of Nano‐Al Based Highly Metalized Fuel‐Rich Propellant for Water Ramjet Propulsion Applications
Authors: Ramakrishnan Murugesan , Chakravarthy Satyanarayanan R. , Kandasamy Jayaraman , Sarathi Ramanujam
Published: March 2020

Aluminium‐water reaction‐based ramjet propulsion system shows the higher theoretical performance when compared to the conventional solid propellant based propulsion system for high‐speed underwater applications. In the present study, investigations have been carried out on water ramjet propulsive performance using theoretical approach and also the primary combustion characteristics of the fuel‐rich propellant compositions studied experimentally. The aluminized fuel‐rich propellant compositions contain 40–50 % of aluminium with the average particle sizes of 18 μm, 250 nm, and 100 nm, and also comprise 34.5‐46 % of Ammonium Perchlorate (AP) in a total of 15 formulations, are tested over a pressure range of 0.2–3.1 MPa in CO2 atmosphere. Paraffin wax and Hydroxyl‐terminated Polybutadiene (HTPB) based binders are used for the preparation of the nano and micro aluminized propellants respectively. Primary combustion features are estimated using thermochemical calculation for the fuel‐rich propellants. The calculations show that the increase of metal fraction from 40–60 % in the composition leads to a marginal decrement in the combustion temperature whereas it favors the formation of a large fraction of condensed phase products and the presence of unreacted metals also increases considerably. Theoretical propulsive performance calculations show that higher Isp is ascertained with the higher metal content in the fuel‐rich propellants. By comparing with Magnesium (Mg) and Aluminium (Al) based propellants, a water ramjet‐powered using Boron (B)‐based propellant shows higher theoretical specific impulse for a ratio of water to fuel greater than 1. The primary combustion of propellants comprises 50 % aluminium by mass and causes more than 20 % of mass to leave as residue, which mainly contains unreacted aluminium, besides other condensed phase combustion products. Nano aluminized propellant compositions show a 2–5 times higher burning rate than the micro aluminized counterparts. These propellants exhibit a wide range of pressure indices (n) from 0.23 to 0.56. Morphology and elemental composition of condensed phase combustion products from primary combustion are also examined.
From sunscreens to medicines: Can a dissipation hypothesis explain the beneficial aspects of many plant compounds?
Authors: Nunn Alistair V.W. , Guy Geoffrey W. , Botchway Stanley W. , Bell Jimmy D.
Published: March 2020

Medicine has utilised plant‐based treatments for millennia, but precisely how they work is unclear. One approach is to use a thermodynamic viewpoint that life arose by dissipating geothermal and/or solar potential. Hence, the ability to dissipate energy to maintain homeostasis is a fundamental principle in all life, which can be viewed as an accretion system where layers of complexity have built upon core abiotic molecules. Many of these compounds are chromophoric and are now involved in multiple pathways. Plants have further evolved a plethora of chromophoric compounds that can not only act as sunscreens and redox modifiers, but also have now become integrated into a generalised stress adaptive system. This could be an extension of the dissipative process. In animals, many of these compounds are hormetic, modulating mitochondria and calcium signalling. They can also display anti‐pathogen effects. They could therefore modulate bioenergetics across all life due to the conserved electron transport chain and proton gradient. In this review paper, we focus on well‐described medicinal compounds, such as salicylic acid and cannabidiol and suggest, at least in animals, their activity reflects their evolved function in plants in relation to stress adaptation, which itself evolved to maintain dissipative homeostasis.
ARDEA—An MAV with skills for future planetary missions
Authors: Lutz Philipp , Müller Marcus G. , Maier Moritz , Stoneman Samantha , Tomić Teodor , von Bargen Ingo , Schuster Martin J. , Steidle Florian , Wedler Armin , Stürzl Wolfgang , Triebel Rudolph
Published: March 2020

We introduce a prototype flying platform for planetary exploration: autonomous robot design for extraterrestrial applications (ARDEA). Communication with unmanned missions beyond Earth orbit suffers from time delay, thus a key criterion for robotic exploration is a robot's ability to perform tasks without human intervention. For autonomous operation, all computations should be done on‐board and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) should not be relied on for navigation purposes. Given these objectives ARDEA is equipped with two pairs of wide‐angle stereo cameras and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) for robust visual‐inertial navigation and time‐efficient, omni‐directional 3D mapping. The four cameras cover a vertical field of view, enabling the system to operate in confined environments such as caves formed by lava tubes. The captured images are split into several pinhole cameras, which are used for simultaneously running visual odometries. The stereo output is used for simultaneous localization and mapping, 3D map generation and collision‐free motion planning. To operate the vehicle efficiently for a variety of missions, ARDEA's capabilities have been modularized into skills which can be assembled to fulfill a mission's objectives. These skills are defined generically so that they are independent of the robot configuration, making the approach suitable for different heterogeneous robotic teams. The diverse skill set also makes the micro aerial vehicle (MAV) useful for any task where autonomous exploration is needed. For example terrestrial search and rescue missions where visual navigation in GNSS‐denied indoor environments is crucial, such as partially collapsed man‐made structures like buildings or tunnels. We have demonstrated the robustness of our system in indoor and outdoor field tests.
Quantitative assessment of plant‐available silicon extraction methods in rice paddy soils under different management
Authors: Wu Weida , Limmer Matt A. , Seyfferth Angelia L.
Published: March 2020

Addition of Si into paddy soil is an effective way to increase plant Si and decrease the uptake of stress‐causing metal(loids) in rice (Oryza sativa L.). However, there are numerous methods to estimate plant‐available Si and some have limitations when Si has been applied. We evaluated four published extraction methods (1‐h CaCl2, 16‐h CaCl2, CH3COOH, and PO4) and a 4‐h CaCl2 extraction method. We related soil‐extractable Si to plant Si in Si‐rich rice straw and husk. Samples were collected from a 3‐yr field study in which rice was grown under a range of soil redox values (via water management) or continuously flooded and receiving different Si amendments. Straw Si concentration was a more stable measure of soil Si than husk Si concentration, regardless of the extraction method. Of the four published methods tested, the 16‐h CaCl2 extraction explained most of the variation in straw Si concentration (R2 = 0.67), followed by PO4 (R2 = 0.50), CH3COOH (R2 = 0.26), and 1‐h CaCl2 (R2 = 0.13). The Silicate‐treated soils deviated from linear relationships with straw Si for the CH3COOH and PO4 extractions. The 16‐h CaCl2 extraction method explained over 80% of the variation in the 4‐h extraction method (R2 = 0.82). Moreover, the 4‐h CaCl2 method explained nearly 60% of the variation in straw Si (R2 = 0.58), similar to the 16‐h CaCl2 method. We recommend using the 4‐ or 16‐h extraction methods to assess plant‐available Si in rice paddy soil, as these perform well regardless of soil management.
Computed tomographic analysis of the cranium of the early Permian recumbirostran ‘microsaur’ Euryodus dalyae reveals new details of the braincase and mandible
Authors: Gee Bryan M. , Bevitt Joseph J. , Reisz Robert R.
Published: March 2020

Recumbirostran ‘microsaurs’ are a clade of Palaeozoic tetrapods that possess numerous morphological adaptations for fossorial ecologies. Re‐study of many ‘microsaurs’ using tomographic methods has provided substantial new data on poorly known anatomy that informs their debated phylogenetic position. Recent studies have identified suites of features among recumbirostrans that place the group within crown Amniota, contrary to hypothesized positions on the amniote stem or the lissamphibian stem. Herein we describe the cranial anatomy of the early Permian gymnarthrid Euryodus dalyae through tomographic analysis of the holotype from South Grandfield, Oklahoma and new specimens from karst deposits near Richards Spur. The braincase of E. dalyae is composed of well‐ossified pleurosphenoids, orbitosphenoids that brace against the skull roof, and unpaired median ossifications. The otic capsules are well‐ossified, and the occiput is unconsolidated. Analysis of the mandibles, typically obscured in articulated specimens, reveals a second tooth row on the dentary, a feature previously unknown in ‘microsaurs’ that is reminiscent of the condition of the co‐occurring captorhinid Captorhinus aguti. The Richards Spur specimens share many of these features, including the second tooth row, but the neurocranium of the scanned specimen (OMNH 53519) differs from that of the holotype of E. dalyae (e.g. absence of unpaired median ossifications), and these specimens are referred to Euryodus sp. These data add to the growing neurocranial dataset of ‘microsaurs’, which is essential for iterative reevaluation of early tetrapod phylogeny. This discovery of multiple tooth rows in ‘microsaurs’ provides further support for the hypothesized close relationships between ‘microsaurs’ and reptiles.
Runet in Crisis Situations
Authors: Asmolov Gregory
Published: March 2020

This chapter suggests that the Russian Internet has two different, though interrelated, faces. The first face is that of Runet in everyday life. The second is that of Runet in crisis situations. To explore the “crisis face” of Runet this chapter addresses a variety of crisis situations including terror attacks, natural disasters, political protests and international conflicts. Despite the diversity of these situations, an examination of the role of Runet in crisis situations allows us to identify a number of common features of the Russian Internet space and the crisis-related practices of Russian Internet users. To this end, this chapter examines the role that Runet plays in mediating the transition from everyday life to a crisis and the constitution of the user’s position in relation to crisis situations. The common features of the Russian Internet in crisis situations include: an increasing transparency around such situations and the shaping of a situational awareness, holding accountable the authorities in relation to how to they manage emergency responses and support for various forms of user participation in crisis-related activities and the crisis-related mobilisation of user resources. In addition, this chapter demonstrates how crisis situations can be considered as both moments of accelerated innovation and as moments for the accelerated development of new forms of control. The role of Runet in crisis situations is explored in the context of the structure of power relations between state and citizens and the specific role of crisis situations in Russian history and Russian political culture.
Quarkyonic phase from quenched dynamical holographic QCD model
Authors: Chen Xun , Li Danning , Hou Defu , Huang Mei
Published: March 2020

Abstract

Chiral and deconfinement phase transitions at finite temperature T and quark number chemical potential μ are simultaneously studied in the quenched dynamical holographic QCD model within the Einstein-Dilaton-Maxwell framework. By calculating the corresponding order parameters, i.e., the chiral condensate and Polyakov loop, it is shown that the transition lines of these two phase transitions are separated in the T − μ plane. The deconfinement phase transition is shown to be always of crossover type and the transition line depends weakly on the baryon number density. Differently, the chiral transition is of crossover at small baryon number density and it turns to be of first order at sufficient large baryon number density. A critical endpoint (CEP), at which the transition becomes second order type, appears in the chiral transition line. This is the first time to realize the CEP of chiral phase transition in the (T, μ) plane using the holographic EMD (Einstein-Maxwell-Dilaton) model for two flavour case. It is observed that between these two phase transition lines, there is a region with chiral symmetry restored and color degrees still confined, which could be considered as the quarkyonic phase. Qualitatively, this behavior is in consistent with the result in the Polyakov-loop improved Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (PNJL) model.
Consistent truncations of supergravity and 1/2-BPS RG flows in 4d SCFTs
Authors: Faedo Antón F. , Nunez Carlos , Rosen Christopher
Published: March 2020

Abstract

With the purpose of holographically describing flows from a large family of four dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 and $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 conformal field theories, we discuss truncations of seven dimensional supergravity to five dimensions. We write explicitly the reduced gauged supergravity and find BPS equations for simple configurations. Lifting these flows to eleven dimensions or Massive IIA supergravity, we present string duals to RG flows from strongly coupled conformal theories when deformed by marginal and/or relevant operators. We further discuss observables common to infinite families of $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 and $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 QFTs in this context.
Poincaré constraints on celestial amplitudes
Authors: Law Y.T. Albert , Zlotnikov Michael
Published: March 2020

Abstract

The functional structure of celestial amplitudes as constrained by Poincare symmetry is investigated in 2, 3, and 4-point cases for massless external particles of various spin, as well as massive external scalars. Functional constraints and recurrence relations are found (akin to the findings in [24]) that must be obeyed by the respective permissible correlator structures and function coefficients. In specific three-point cases involving massive scalars the resulting recurrence relations can be solved, e.g., reproducing purely from symmetry a three-point function coefficient known in the literature. Additionally, as a byproduct of the analysis, the three-point function coefficient for gluons in Minkowski signature is obtained from an amplitude map to the celestial sphere.
Effects of boron compounds on human reproduction
Authors: Bolt Hermann M. , Başaran Nurşen , Duydu Yalçin
Published: March 2020

Because of the high pKa of boric acid, inorganic borates, when taken up by the human or animal organism, exist in the body almost exclusively in the form of non-dissociated boric acid. Therefore, the variety of inorganic boron compounds is commonly addressed in the toxicological literature as “boron” (B). There is a discussion concerning categorisation of inorganic boron compounds as reproductive toxins. Boron treatment of rats, mice and dogs was dose-dependently associated with testicular toxicity, characterised by inhibited spermiation at lower dose levels and by reduction of epididymal sperm counts at higher dose levels. The NOAEL for such fertility effects of boric acid in male rats (oral feeding, Sprague Dawley strain) was evaluated to be 17.5 mg B/kg bw per day. As far as developmental toxicity is concerned, oral dosing of 9.6 mg B/kg bw daily to female pregnant Sprague Dawley rats remained without effects, with foetal skeletal effects observed at higher doses. Therefore, 9.6 mg B/kg bw (oral dosing) was evaluated as NOAEL for developmental effects of boric acid. The blood level in rats, equivalent to this NOAEL, is 1270 ng B/g. As far as B-exposed humans are concerned, field studies on the effect of boron on human reproduction are possible only in a few boron-rich geographical areas. Published field studies were conducted in China’s Liaoning province, the Argentinian Andes and Western Anatolia/Turkey. Particularly relevant are studies on occupationally B-exposed groups, because the potential exposure to boron is much higher in occupational compared to environmental settings. Comparison of estimated daily B exposure levels in humans and actually measured B blood levels confirms the preference of biomonitoring for exposure assessment in environmental and occupational studies. A boron blood level scaling shows that the levels of high occupational B exposures reported in China and in Turkey are compatible. Compared to the experimental B blood levels at boron-related NOAELs for male fertility and for developmental toxicity in rats, the human blood level means of the highest occupational exposure groups in China and in Turkey are lower by factors of > 4 and > 2, respectively. Basically, concentrations of B within the body that exert reproductive toxicity in humans are not reached under the conditions of human normal handling and use, including conditions of extreme occupational exposures. In consequence, all relevant results of studies into human reproductive toxicity of B are basically negative. Considering the effective doses, there is no scientific contradiction between experimental and human results of B reproductive toxicity.
An improved demand curve for analysis of food or drug consumption in behavioral experiments
Authors: Newman Mark , Ferrario Carrie R.
Published: March 2020

The incorporation of microeconomics concepts into studies using self-administration procedures has provided critical insights into the factors that influence consumption of a wide range of food and drug reinforcers. In particular, the fitting of demand curves to consumption data provides a powerful analytic tool for computing objective metrics of behavior that can be compared across a wide range of reward types in both human and animal experiments. The results of these analyses depend crucially on the mathematical form used to fit the data. The most common choice is an exponential form proposed by Hursh and Silberberg, which is widely used and has provided fundamental insights into relationships between cost and consumption, but it also has some disadvantages. In this paper, we first briefly review the use of demand curves to quantify the motivating effects of food and drugs, then we describe the current methodology and highlight some potential issues that arise in its application. To address these issues, we propose a new mathematical framework for the analysis of consumption data, including a new functional form for the demand curve. We show that this proposed form gives good fits to data for a range of different reinforcers and experimental protocols, while allowing for straightforward calculation of key metrics of demand, including preferred consumption level, maximum response, price at maximum response, and price elasticity of demand. We provide software implementing our entire analysis pipeline, including data fits, data visualization, and the calculation of demand metrics.
Beech wood modification based on in situ esterification with sorbitol and citric acid
Authors: Mubarok Mahdi , Militz Holger , Dumarçay Stéphane , Gérardin Philippe
Published: March 2020

In this study, modification of European beech wood (Fagus sylvatica) through in situ esterification of sorbitol and citric acid (SorCA) was investigated at two curing temperatures, 140 and 160 °C. In order to determine the optimum condition for modification, an aqueous solution of SorCA at varying concentrations was evaluated (10, 20, 30, and 55% w/w). Physical, mechanical, chemical, and durability properties of the modified wood were examined. Results have disclosed that among different SorCA concentrations, treatment with SorCA at 30% w/w was considered as the optimum concentration independent of the curing temperature. Under these conditions, anti-swelling efficiency increased to approx. 55% and modulus of elasticity increased slightly with approx. 9% in comparison with untreated wood. Decay resistance against white-rot (Trametes versicolor), brown-rot (Coniphora puteana), and soft-rotting microfungi classified the SorCA-30%-modified wood as very durable. In addition, thermogravimetric study evidenced that SorCA 30%-modified wood has a lower thermal decomposition temperature in comparison with untreated wood/wood control by 20 °C difference, indicating that the SorCA-modified wood possibly has fire-retardant properties. However, due to the acidic properties of the SorCA solution, modulus of rupture (MOR) and mainly work to maximum load in bending decreased considerably.
What is the hemodynamic effect of the Woven EndoBridge? An in vivo quantification using time-density curve analysis
Authors: Gölitz Philipp , Luecking Hannes , Hoelter Philip , Knossalla Frauke , Doerfler Arnd
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Using the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) for aneurysm treatment has emerged as endovascular approach aiming for flow disruption in aneurysm sac. Since quantifiable data confirming the hemodynamic effect are lacking, we investigated in vivo aneurysmal flow alterations using time-density curve (TDC) analysis. Additionally, we evaluated whether flow parameters could be identified as independent factor to predict aneurysm occlusion.

Methods

Forty cerebral aneurysm patients treated with WEB were enrolled. Pre- and postinterventional digital subtraction angiography series were postprocessed and TDCs generated. TDCs were quantified calculating the parameters aneurysmal inflow velocity, outflow velocity, mean flow velocity, and relative time-to-peak (rTTP) of aneurysm filling. Pre- and postinterventional values were compared and related to occlusion rate.

Results

WEB implanting induced highly significant rTTP prolongation by 52% (p = 0.001) and highly significant decrease of aneurysmal inflow, outflow, and mean flow velocity (p < 0.001). While outflow velocity was reduced by 49%, inflow velocity was reduced by 33% only. No statistically significant difference between the occluded and the non-occluded group was observed. No flow parameter reached significance level concerning predicting aneurysm occlusion.

Conclusion

Flow quantification confirms a significant flow-disrupting effect of WEB reducing more the outflow than the inflow velocity. In our small cohort, no flow parameter reached statistical significance to show predictive value regarding complete aneurysm occlusion. The hemodynamic effect of WEB is on comparable level to flow-diverting stents meaning that aneurysm closure can be delayed. In case of only slight inflow changes and high aneurysmal hemodynamic stress, some aneurysms might not be adequately protected in the short term.
Clinical practice of language fMRI in epilepsy centers: a European survey and conclusions by the ESNR Epilepsy Working Group
Authors: Bargalló N. , Cano-López I. , Rosazza C. , Vernooij M. W. , Smits M. , Vitali P. , Alvarez-Linera J. , Urbach H. , Mancini L. , Ramos A. , Yousry T.
Published: March 2020

Purpose

To assess current clinical practices throughout Europe with respect to acquisition, implementation, evaluation, and interpretation of language functional MRI (fMRI) in epilepsy patients.

Methods

An online survey was emailed to all European Society of Neuroradiology members (n = 1662), known associates (n = 6400), and 64 members of European Epilepsy network. The questionnaire featured 40 individual items on demographic data, clinical practice and indications, fMRI paradigms, radiological workflow, data post-processing protocol, and reporting.

Results

A total of 49 non-duplicate entries from European centers were received from 20 countries. Of these, 73.5% were board-certified neuroradiologists and 69.4% had an in-house epilepsy surgery program. Seventy-one percent of centers performed fewer than five scans per month for epilepsy. The most frequently used paradigms were phonemic verbal fluency (47.7%) and auditory comprehension (55.6%), but variants of 13 paradigms were described. Most centers assessed the fMRI task performance (75.5%), ensured cognitive-task adjustment (77.6%), trained the patient before scanning (85.7%), and assessed handedness (77.6%), but only 28.6% had special paradigms for patients with cognitive impairments. fMRI was post-processed mainly by neuroradiologists (42.1%), using open-source software (55.0%). Reporting was done primarily by neuroradiologists (74.2%). Interpretation was done mainly by visual inspection (65.3%). Most specialists (81.6%) were able to determine the hemisphere dominance for language in more than 75% of exams, attributing failure to the patient not performing the task correctly.

Conclusion

This survey shows that language fMRI is firmly embedded in the preoperative management of epilepsy patients. The wide variety of paradigms and the use of non-CE-marked software underline the need for establishing reference standards.
Frey Procedure Combined with Biliary Diversion for the Treatment of Chronic Pancreatitis‐Related Biliary Obstruction: Impact of the Types of Diversion
Authors: Ray Sukanta , Das Kshaunish , Jana Koustav , Das Roby , Kumar Dilip , Khamrui Sujan
Published: March 2020

Background

Frey procedure (FP) has become the standard of treatment for patients with painful chronic pancreatitis and inflammatory head mass. Biliary diversion (BD) is necessary when there is persistent biliary obstruction after adequate head coring. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of types of biliary diversion on short‐term outcome and rates of stricture recurrence.

Methods

All the patients, who underwent FP combined with BD between August 2007 and July 2017 in the Department of Surgical gastroenterology, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India, were retrospectively reviewed. The types of BD performed were choledochojejunostomy (Group A) or opening of the CBD in the resection cavity (Group B).

Results

During the study period, 36 patients underwent FP with BD. Choledochojejunostomy was performed in 21 patients and opening of the CBD in the resection cavity in 15 patients. Preoperative characteristics and early surgical outcomes were comparable except the postoperative stay which was longer in those who underwent choledochojejunostomy (p = 0.044). Pain control was similar. Over a median follow‐up of 72 months, five patients in the Group B developed stricture recurrence which was significantly higher than those of Group A (p = 0.008).

Conclusion

Choledochojejunostomy combined with FP achieves efficient BD with a lower rate of restricture compared with opening of the CBD in the resection cavity.
Improved covering-based collaborative filtering for new users’ personalized recommendations
Authors: Zhang Zhipeng , Kudo Yasuo , Murai Tetsuya , Ren Yonggong
Published: March 2020

User-based collaborative filtering (UBCF) is widely used in recommender systems (RSs) as one of the most successful approaches, but traditional UBCF cannot provide recommendations with satisfactory accuracy and diversity simultaneously. Covering-based collaborative filtering (CBCF) is a useful approach that we have proposed in our previous work, which greatly improves the traditional UBCF and could provide satisfactory recommendations to an active user which often has sufficient rating information. However, different from an active user, a new user in RSs often has special characteristics (e.g., fewer ratings or ratings concentrating on popular items), and the previous CBCF approach cannot provide satisfactory recommendations for a new user. In this paper, aiming to provide personalized recommendations for a new user, through a detailed analysis of the characteristics of new users, we reconstruct a decision class to improve the previous CBCF and utilize the covering reduction algorithm in covering-based rough sets to remove redundant candidate neighbors for a new user. Furthermore, unlike the previous CBCF, our improved CBCF could provide personalized recommendations without needing special additional information. Experimental results suggest that for the sparse datasets that often occur in real RSs, the improved CBCF significantly outperforms those of existing work and can provide personalized recommendations for a new user with satisfactory accuracy and diversity simultaneously.
Diamide resistance: 10 years of lessons from lepidopteran pests
Authors: Richardson Ewan B. , Troczka Bartlomiej J. , Gutbrod Oliver , Davies T. G. Emyr , Nauen Ralf
Published: March 2020

Diamide insecticides selectively acting on insect ryanodine receptors (RyR) were launched to the market more than 10 years ago, particularly targeted for the control of lepidopteran pest species in diverse agronomic and horticultural cropping systems. They are now globally registered in many countries and provide reliable control levels in most settings. However, their frequent application, due to alternative mode of action chemistries often not providing sufficient levels of control, has resulted in the selection of diamide resistance in some of the world’s most destructive lepidopteran species, including populations of diamondback moth, tomato leafminer, rice stem borer and more recently beet armyworm. High levels of diamide resistance, compromising diamide efficacy at recommended field rates, has been shown to be conferred by RyR target-site mutations affecting diamide binding. The present work reviews the global status of diamide insecticide resistance in lepidopteran pests, with special reference to RyR target-site alterations. Furthermore, we discuss principles enabling the prediction of the impact and spread of diamide resistance, based on population genetics and associated fitness costs as influenced by the known target-site mutations recently described. In this context, we reiterate calls by the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee to implement effective diamide insecticide resistance management by following a three-step strategy of resistance identification, tracking and prediction according to the protocols discussed in this article.
Current role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Tanaka Hironori
Published: March 2020

Ultrasonography (US) is a major, sustainable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance method as it provides inexpensive, real-time, and noninvasive detection. Since US findings are based on pathological features, knowledge of pathological features is essential for delivering a correct US diagnosis. Recent advances in US equipment have made it possible to provide more information, such as malignancy potential and accurate localization diagnosis of HCC. Evaluation of malignancy potential is important to determine the treatment strategy, especially for small HCC. Diagnosis of blood flow dynamics using color Doppler and contrast-enhanced US is one of the most definitive approaches for evaluating HCC malignancy potential. Recently, a new Doppler microvascular imaging technique, superb microvascular imaging, which can detect Doppler signals generated by low-velocity blood flow, was developed. A fusion imaging system, another innovative US technology, has already become an indispensable technology over the last few years not only for US-guided radiofrequency ablation but also for the detection of small, invisible HCC. This article reviews the evidence on the use of ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound with Sonazoid for the practical management of HCC.