bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comparative study on silicon nitride, titanium and polyether ether ketone on mouse pre‐osteoblast cells
Authors: Ahuja Neelam , Awad Kamal R. , Brotto Marco , Aswath Pranesh B , Varanasi Venu
Published: October 2020

The current study provides more insights about the surface bioactivity of the silicon nitride (Si3N4) as a potential candidate for bone regeneration in craniofacial and orthopaedic applications compared with conventional implantation materials. Current skeletal reconstructive materials such as titanium and polyether ether ketone (PEEK) are limited by poor long‐term stability, biocompatibility and prolonged healing. Si3N4 is an FDA‐approved material for an intervertebral spacer in spinal fusion applications. It is biocompatible and has antimicrobial properties. Here, we hypothesize that Si3N4 was found to be an osteoconductive material and conducts the growth, differentiation of MC3T3‐E1 cells for extracellular matrix deposition, mineralization and eventual bone regeneration for craniofacial and orthopaedic applications. MC3T3‐E1 cells were used to study the osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization on sterile samples of Si3N4, titanium alloy and PEEK. The samples were then analysed for extracellular matrix deposition and mineralization by FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, EDX, Alizarin Red, qRT‐PCR and ELISA. The in vitro study indicates the formation of collagen fibres and mineral deposition on all three sample surfaces. There was more profound and faster ECM deposition and mineralization on Si3N4 surface as compared to titanium and PEEK. The FTIR and Raman spectroscopy show formation of collagen and mineral deposition at 30 days for Si3N4 and titanium and not PEEK. The peaks shown by Raman for Si3N4 resemble closely to natural bone. Results also indicate the upregulation of osteogenic transcription factors such as RUNX2, SP7, collagen type I and osteocalcin. The authors concluded that Si3N4 rapidly conducts mineralized tissue formation via extracellular matrix deposition and biomarker expression in mouse calvarial pre‐osteoblast cells. Thus, this study confirms that the bioactive Si3N4 could be a potential material for craniofacial and orthopaedic applications leading to rapid bone regeneration that resemble the natural bone structure.
Extremely low‐profile wideband array antenna using TCDA with polarization convertor
Authors: Kim Seongjung , Nam Sangwook
Published: October 2020

Herein, an extremely low‐profile and wideband array antenna is proposed whose height is 0.03 λlow at the lowest operating frequency. The development of the proposed array antenna is described, and its performance is compared with those of conventional patch arrays, stacked patch arrays, planar ultrawideband modular antenna arrays, and tightly coupled dipole arrays (TCDAs). Furthermore, the impedance bandwidth is 98.2% at broadside radiation, and the overlapped bandwidth when scanning up to 30° is 95.9%. This high figure of merit is obtained by introducing a polarization convertor. Finally, the measured active VSWR and array gain of the fabricated 6 × 6 array antenna are discussed. The measured result is in good agreement with the simulated result.
Thyroid nodules risk stratification through deep learning based on ultrasound images
Authors: Bai Ziyu , Chang Luchen , Yu Ruiguo , Li Xuewei , Wei Xi , Yu Mei , Liu Zhiqiang , Gao Jie , Zhu Jialin , Zhang Yulin , Wang Shuaijie , Zhang Zhuo
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Clinically, the risk stratification of thyroid nodules is usually used to formulate the next treatment plan. The American College of Radiology (ACR) thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI‐RADS) is a type of medical standard widely used in classification diagnosis. It divides the nodule’s ACR TI‐RADS level into five levels by quantitative scoring, from benign to high suspicion of malignancy. However, such assessment often relies on the radiologists’ experience and is time consuming. So computer‐aided diagnosis is necessary. But many deep learning (DL) models are difficult for doctors to understand, limiting their applicability in clinical practice. In this work, we mainly focus on how to achieve automatic thyroid nodules risk stratification based on deep integration of deep learning and clinical experience.

Methods

An automatic hierarchical method of thyroid nodules risk based on deep learning is proposed, called risk stratification network (RS‐Net). It incorporates medical experience based on ACR TI‐RADS. The convolutional neural network (CNN) is used to classify the five categories in ACR TI‐RADS and assign their points respectively. According to the point totals, the level of risk can be obtained. In addition, a dataset involving 13 984 thyroid ultrasound images is established to develop and evaluate the proposed method.

Results

We have extensively compared the results of this paper with the evaluation results of sonographers. The accuracy of the risk stratification (TR1 to TR5) of the proposed method is 65%, and the mean absolute error (MAE) is 0.54. The MAE of the point totals (0 to 13 points) is 1.67. The Pearson's correlation between our method evaluation and doctor evaluation reached 0.84. For the benign and malignant classification, the performance indices accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 88.0%, 98.1%, 79.1%, 80.5%, and 97.9%, respectively. Our method's level of thyroid nodules risk stratification is comparable to that of a senior doctor.

Conclusions

This work provides a way to automate the risk stratification of thyroid nodules. Our method can effectively avoid missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis caused by the difference of observers so as to assist doctors to improve efficiency and diagnosis rate. Compared with the previous benign and malignant classification, the proposed method incorporates clinical experience. So it can greatly increase the clinicians’ trust in the DL model, thereby improving the applicability of the model in clinical practice.
Event‐triggered distributed algorithm for searching general Nash equilibrium with general step‐size
Authors: Li Ran , Mu Xiaowu
Published: October 2020

In this article, searching the general Nash equilibrium in the noncooperation game is discussed under the general constraints of containing bounded constraint, coupled equality constraint, and private inequality constraint. Meanwhile, the continuous‐time event‐triggered distributed subgradient projective algorithm (C‐ETDSP algorithm), to greatly cut down the number of communication flows, is designed. In the C‐ETDSP algorithm, the demand for step‐size is weakened to a general step‐size of square nonsummable. Then it is proved that the Zeno behavior did not exist in the continuous‐time event‐triggered mechanism. In addition, the convergence of different types of step‐sizes is further compared. Finally, the effectiveness of the design algorithm and the correctness of the theoretical results are verified by a simulation example.
Socioeconomic status and retinoblastoma survival: Experience of a tertiary cancer center in Brazil
Authors: Mattosinho Clarissa , Moura Anna Tereza , Grigorovski Nathalia , Araújo Luiz Henrique , Ferman Sima , Ribeiro Karina
Published: October 2020

Background

Little is known about socioeconomic status (SES) and its effects in childhood cancer survival. This study aims to discuss the association between SES and survival of patients with retinoblastoma (RB) from a tertiary treatment center.

Procedure

A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including all patients with RB referred to the Brazilian National Institute of Cancer in Rio de Janeiro (January 2000‐December 2016).

Results

Data from 160 patients were analyzed with mean age at diagnosis of 22.85 months (SD ± 14.29). Eighty‐three patients (51.9%) had an interval to diagnosis equal to or longer than six months, and 13 children (8.1%) abandoned treatment. Five‐year overall survival rate for all patients was 78.8% (95% CI, 72.4%‐85.9%). In a multivariate model, patients whose fathers had more than nine years of study had a lower death risk. Patients from families having more than one child under five years had a 213% higher risk of death compared with those living with no other small child. Treatment abandonment also had a profound effect on death risk.

Conclusion

Childhood cancer is notably important considering the potential years of life lost. RB has even more important elements, as the possibility of vision loss in cases with delayed diagnosis. Family characteristics seem to be highly related to RB survival, especially in low‐ and middle‐income countries, where inequalities are still a public health issue. Strategies to improve survival should focus not only on large‐scale settings such as improving national healthcare systems but also on more personalized actions that might help to mitigate disparities.
Accuracy of diagnoses of inflammatory arthritis in administrative hospitalization databases
Authors: Ward Michael M.
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Studies using administrative hospitalization data often classify patients as having inflammatory arthritis based on diagnoses recorded at the hospitalization. We examined the agreement of these diagnoses with patients' prior medical histories.

Methods

We identified Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized in 2011 to 2015 for total hip arthroplasty (THA), total knee arthroplasty (TKA), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or sepsis. We compared diagnoses of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or ankylosing spondylitis (AS) at the index hospitalization to diagnoses over prior inpatient and outpatient claims. To assess the impact of potential misclassification, we compared hospital outcomes using the alternative methods of detecting beneficiaries with arthritis. Analyses were repeated using Medicaid data.

Results

Among 506 781 Medicare beneficiaries with THA, 18282 had RA and 571 had AS at the arthroplasty hospitalization, while 13 212 had RA and 1519 had AS based on claims history. Diagnoses at the hospitalization were highly specific (0.98‐0.99), but sensitivities (0.65 for RA; 0.31 for AS) and positive predictive values (PPV) (0.47 for RA; 0.83 for AS) were lower. For TKA, AMI, and sepsis, specificities were 0.97 to 0.99, sensitivities 0.60 to 0.66 for RA and 0.18 to 0.22 for AS, and PPVs 0.43 to 0.47 for RA and 0.73 to 0.77 for AS. In Medicaid, sensitivities were 0.21 to 0.67 for RA and 0.07 to 0.49 for AS. Frequencies of some hospital outcomes differed when arthritis was classified by the index hospitalization or claims history.

Conclusion

Diagnoses of RA and AS in hospitalization databases are highly specific but fail to identify large proportions of patients with these diagnoses.
Recent Progress in Porous Fused Aromatic Networks and Their Applications
Authors: Ahmad Ishfaq , Mahmood Javeed , Baek Jong-Beom
Published: October 2020

Porous materials are ubiquitous in nature and play central roles in ecosystems and human life. Porous fused aromatic networks (P‐FANs) are emerging as a new class of porous organic materials, which can be precisely constructed from organic precursors via the formation of irreversible fused aromatic rings. Despite the luculent advantages offered by P‐FANs, the research community has conventionally focused on more synthetically accessible covalent organic frameworks (COFs), which mostly involve reversible condensation reactions. An overview of the trend in the field of P‐FANs and their possible applications in different fields, including proton conduction, catalysis, gas storage, supercapacitors, and optoelectronics, is presented herein.
Unlocking Climate Finance Potential for Climate Adaptation: Case of Climate Smart Agricultural Financing in Sub Saharan Africa
Authors: Mungai Edward M. , Ndiritu S. Wagura , Da Silva Izael
Published: October 2020

Climate change has emerged as one of the greatest challenges faced by the world today. Adverse impacts of climate change are visible across sectors like agriculture and other natural resources due to increasing average temperature and changing weather patterns. Africa constitutes around 13% of the global population but contributes the least (around 2%) to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. Concerning the global climate vulnerability index, Africa is most impacted (around 21%) by climate change and its’ population is most vulnerable to climate sensitivity and fragility of the continent’s natural environment and increasingly erratic weather patterns, low adoption of climate-resilient technologies, and high dependence on environment-based livelihoods. Hence, Africa needs to adopt low carbon and climate-resilient development to address climate-related issues and to have sustainable development. In line with the low carbon/climate-resilient development agenda, 53 countries (except Libya) have submitted Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and have set ambitious targets under NDC and Sustainable Development Goals. A quick analysis of the NDCs and various studies indicates the enormity of the financing needs. According to Climate Invetsment Funds (CFI), Sub-Saharan Africa will require an estimated USD222 billion for climate resilience investments to reach its NDCs. One of the critical stakeholders to play a key role in meeting the financing needs of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) related targets is the private sector. There is around 98% gap in financing for CSA. Even though substantial climate finance potential exists in selected countries for the private sector, there are certain challenges and barriers like financial, policy, lack of awareness, and low provision for climate funding in the national budget.
Number Theoretic Study in Quantum Interactions
Authors: Wakayama Masato
Published: October 2020

The quantum interaction models, with the quantum Rabi model as a distinguished representative, are recently appearing ubiquitously in various quantum systems including cavity and circuit quantum electrodynamics, quantum dots and artificial atoms, with potential applications in quantum information technologies including quantum cryptography and quantum computing (Haroche and Raimond 2008; Yoshihara et al. 2018). In this extended abstract, based on the contents of the talk at the conference, we describe shortly certain number theoretical aspects arising from thenon-commutative harmonic oscillators (NCHO: see Parmeggiani and Wakayama 2001; Parmeggiani 2010) and quantum Rabi model (QRM: see Braak 2011 for the integrability) through their respective spectral zeta functions.
A Survey of Solving SVP Algorithms and Recent Strategies for Solving the SVP Challenge
Authors: Yasuda Masaya
Published: October 2020

Recently, lattice-based cryptography has received attention as a candidate of post-quantum cryptography (PQC). The essential security of lattice-based cryptography is based on the hardness of classical lattice problems such as the shortest vector problem (SVP) and the closest vector problem (CVP). A number of algorithms have been proposed for solving SVP exactly or approximately, and most of them are useful also for solving CVP. In this paper, we give a survey of typical algorithms for solving SVP from a mathematical point of view. We also present recent strategies for solving the Darmstadt SVP challenge in dimensions higher than 150.
Modular invariance in finite temperature Casimir effect
Authors: Alessio Francesco , Barnich Glenn
Published: October 2020

Abstract

The temperature inversion symmetry of the partition function of the electromagnetic field in the set-up of the Casimir effect is extended to full modular transformations by turning on a purely imaginary chemical potential for adapted spin angular momentum. The extended partition function is expressed in terms of a real analytic Eisenstein series. These results become transparent after explicitly showing equivalence of the partition functions for Maxwell’s theory between perfectly conducting parallel plates and for a massless scalar with periodic boundary conditions.
Intrinsic charm in the nucleon and charm production at large rapidities in collinear, hybrid and kT-factorization approaches
Authors: Maciuła Rafał , Szczurek Antoni
Published: October 2020

Abstract

We discuss the role of intrinsic charm (IC) in the nucleon for forward production of c-quark (or $$ \overline{c} $$

c
¯

-antiquark) in proton-proton collisions for low and high energies. The calculations are performed in collinear-factorization approach with on-shell partons, kT-factorization approach with off-shell partons as well as in a hybrid approach using collinear charm distributions and unintegrated (transverse momentum dependent) gluon distributions. For the collinear-factorization approach we use matrix elements for both massless and massive charm quarks/antiquarks. The distributions in rapidity and transverse momentum of charm quark/antiquark are shown for a few different models of IC. Forward charm production is dominated by gc-fusion processes. The IC contribution dominates over the standard pQCD (extrinsic) gg-fusion mechanism of $$ c\overline{c} $$
c

c
¯

-pair production at large rapidities or Feynman-xF. We perform similar calculations within leading-order and next-to-leading order kT-factorization approach. The kT-factorization approach leads to much larger cross sections than the LO collinear approach. At high energies and large rapidities of c-quark or $$ \overline{c} $$

c
¯

-antiquark one tests gluon distributions at extremely small x. The IC contribution has important consequences for high-energy neutrino production in the Ice-Cube experiment and can be, to some extent, tested at the LHC by the SHIP and FASER experiments by studies of the ντ neutrino production.
Neutrino dark matter and the Higgs portal: improved freeze-in analysis
Authors: De Romeri Valentina , Karamitros Dimitrios , Lebedev Oleg , Toma Takashi
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Sterile neutrinos are one of the leading dark matter candidates. Their masses may originate from a vacuum expectation value of a scalar field. If the sterile neutrino couplings are very small and their direct coupling to the inflaton is forbidden by the lepton number symmetry, the leading dark matter production mechanism is the freeze-in scenario. We study this possibility in the neutrino mass range up to 1 GeV, taking into account relativistic production rates based on the Bose-Einstein statistics, thermal masses and phase transition effects. The specifics of the production mechanism and the dominant mode depend on the relation between the scalar and sterile neutrino masses as well as on whether or not the scalar is thermalized. We find that the observed dark matter abundance can be produced in all of the cases considered. We also revisit the freeze-in production of a Higgs portal scalar, pointing out the importance of a fusion mode, as well as the thermalization constraints.
Triangulation-free trivialization of 2-loop MHV amplituhedron
Authors: Kojima Ryota , Rao Junjie
Published: October 2020

Abstract

This article introduces a new approach to implement positivity for the 2-loop n-particle MHV amplituhedron, circumventing the conventional triangulation with respect to positive variables of each cell carved out by the sign flips. This approach is universal for all linear positive conditions and hence free of case-by-case triangulation, as an application of the trick of positive infinity first introduced in [6] for the multi-loop 4-particle amplituhedron. Moreover, the proof of 2-loop n-particle MHV amplituhedron in [4] is revised, and we explain the nontriviality and difficulty of using conventional triangulation while the results have a simple universal pattern. A further example is presented to tentatively explore its generalization towards handling multiple positive conditions at 3-loop and higher.
Cell-free systems for accelerating glycoprotein expression and biomanufacturing
Authors: Hershewe Jasmine , Kightlinger Weston , Jewett Michael C
Published: October 2020

Protein glycosylation, the enzymatic modification of amino acid sidechains with sugar moieties, plays critical roles in cellular function, human health, and biotechnology. However, studying and producing defined glycoproteins remains challenging. Cell-free glycoprotein synthesis systems, in which protein synthesis and glycosylation are performed in crude cell extracts, offer new approaches to address these challenges. Here, we review versatile, state-of-the-art systems for biomanufacturing glycoproteins in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell-free systems with natural and synthetic N-linked glycosylation pathways. We discuss existing challenges and future opportunities in the use of cell-free systems for the design, manufacture, and study of glycoprotein biomedicines.
Impact of swimming pool water treatment system factors on the content of selected disinfection by-products
Authors: Wyczarska-Kokot Joanna , Lempart-Rapacewicz Anna , Dudziak Mariusz , Łaskawiec Edyta
Published: October 2020

Recommendations regarding disinfection by-products (DBPs) in pool waters consider the content of trihalomethanes (THMs) and combined chlorine (CC) as indicators of DBPs based on which the health risk for swimmers and staff of pool facility can be determined. However, the content of DBPs in swimming pools depends on many factors. In this paper, the influence of selected factors (physicochemical parameters of water and technological parameters) on the content of THMs and CC in pool water was determined. During the 6-month period, 9 pools of various functions were analyzed. The water in pools was subjected to the same method of treatment. The content of THMs and CC was compared against the content of organic matter, free chlorine and nitrates, pH, temperature, redox potential and turbidity, technological, and operational parameters. The THM content did not exceed the limit value of 0.1 mg/L. The content of CC varied significantly, from 0.05 to 1.13 mg Cl2/L. It was found that a very large water volume per person, in comparison to a very small one, contributed to the low content of CC and THMs. The high load expressed as m3 of water per person or m2 of water per person and the specific function of hot tubs (HT1 and HT2) led to the average concentration of CC in these pools exceeding 0.3 mg Cl2/L. The THM concentrations in hot tubs (especially in HT1) were also among the largest (0.038–0.058 mg/L). In terms of the analyzed microbiological indicators, the quality of the tested pool water samples was not in doubt. It was found that the purpose of the pool, its volume, and number of swimmers should be the key parameters that determine the choice of methods of water treatment. The research on the pool water quality in the actual working conditions of swimming pool facilities is necessary due to the need to preserve the health safety of swimmers and staff.
Something’s Missing? A Procedure for Extending Item Content Data Sets in the Context of Recommender Systems
Authors: Heinrich Bernd , Hopf Marcus , Lohninger Daniel , Schiller Alexander , Szubartowicz Michael
Published: October 2020

The rapid development of e-commerce has led to a swiftly increasing number of competing providers in electronic markets, which maintain their own, individual data describing the offered items. Recommender systems are popular and powerful tools relying on this data to guide users to their individually best item choice. Literature suggests that data quality of item content data has substantial influence on recommendation quality. Thereby, the dimension completeness is expected to be particularly important. Herein resides a considerable chance to improve recommendation quality by increasing completeness via extending an item content data set with an additional data set of the same domain. This paper therefore proposes a procedure for such a systematic data extension and analyzes effects of the procedure regarding items, content and users based on real-world data sets from four leading web portals. The evaluation results suggest that the proposed procedure is indeed effective in enabling improved recommendation quality.
Success and Failure Retrospectives of FinTech Projects: A Case Study Approach
Authors: Jinasena Dakshitha N. , Spanaki Konstantina , Papadopoulos Thanos , Balta Maria E.
Published: October 2020

The popularity and potential of FinTech for generating business value has been highlighted in an evolving number of studies. Nevertheless, there is still ambiguity on the success of such disruptive technologies. To address this gap, this paper draws on a case study of an IT vendor in Japan. We interview key stakeholders involved in the case project to (i) explore the success factors of FinTech applications adopted by non-financial organisations, (ii) illustrate the applicability of the multi-dimensional project success framework in FinTech projects, and (iii) highlight the importance of the FinTech Project Management field that warrants further investigation. We contribute to the IT Project Management field, where we extend the theoretical background with aspects of FinTech adoption and success. We also inform practice in terms of lessons for managers to improve the existing processes and assist their organisations in business transformational initiatives using FinTech.
Resilience in Times of Economic Boom and Bust: A Narrative Study of a Rural Population Dependent upon the Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Mahdiani Hamideh , Höltge Jan , Theron Linda , Ungar Michael
Published: October 2020

How do residents of small towns that depend on oil and gas extraction or processing industries withstand economic boom and bust cycles? To answer this question, this article reports on a narrative analysis of residents’ life stories gathered from 37 adults of a small town on the Canadian prairies dependent on the oil and gas industry, employing the theories of narrative inquiry and narrative identity. Participants aged 30 to 76 were interviewed and their experiences of living in an unstable economy that is dependent mostly on a single resource extraction industry were explored. Specifically, we asked participants about the effect of economic change on factors related to resilience like family interactions, work choices, educational pathways, and the quality of their social lives. Our analysis of adult narratives looked for patterns in the relationship between risk exposure, promotive and protective factors at multiple systemic levels (individual, relational, cultural), and functional outcomes such as individual coping, community cohesion, and social and economic sustainability. Results show that a strong identity, in particular expressions of personal agency, communion, and engagement in meaning making are contributing factors to adult resilience in a context of economic change. Our results also highlight how positive attitudes towards a better future may inadvertently undermine the need for residents of oil and gas-dependent towns to commit to economic diversification and other potential resilience-promoting strategies.
Postoperative continuous non-invasive cardiac output monitoring on the ward: a feasibility study
Authors: King C. E. , Kermode A. , Saxena G. , Carvelli P. , Edwards M. , Creagh-Brown B. C.
Published: October 2020

Postoperative hypotension is common (occurring in one third of patients) and is associated with worse clinical outcomes. The LiDCO CNAP (continuous non-invasive arterial pressure) device measures haemodynamics but has not been widely adopted in ward environments. Improved early detection of hypotension by CNAP might guide interventions to improve clinical outcomes. We aimed to find the proportion of patients who tolerated LiDCO CNAP for 12 h postoperatively, to unmask episodes of hypotension detected by continuous monitoring and to characterise the haemodynamic profile at the time of hypotension. In this feasibility study, patients undergoing major elective surgery were continuously postoperatively monitored using CNAP. Haemodynamic data gathered from CNAP, including nSVRI (nominal systemic vascular resistance index), nSVI (nominal stroke volume index), SVV (stroke volume variation) and blood pressure, were analysed using Microsoft Excel and GraphPad Prism 8. 104 patients (age (mean ± sd): 68 ± 14, male (56%)) had CNAP sited postoperatively. 39% tolerated the CNAP device for at least 12 h. Within the 104 patients a mean of 81.2 min of hypotension detected by CNAP was not detected by usual care. The proportion of low/normal/high nSVI was 71%, 27% and 2%, nSVRI was 43%, 17% and 40%, respectively. CNAP monitoring was not tolerated for 12 h in the majority of patients. There were many episodes of hypotension unmasked through continuous monitoring. Based on the advanced haemodynamic data provided it is possible that the underlying cause of a third of postoperative hypotensive episodes is vasodilation rather than hypovolaemia.

Trial registry number: NCT04010058 (ClinicalTrials.gov) Date of registration: 08/07/2019.
On the Normal Form of the Kirchhoff Equation
Authors: Baldi Pietro , Haus Emanuele
Published: October 2020

Consider the Kirchhoff equation $$\begin{aligned} \partial _{tt} u - \Delta u \Big ( 1 + \int _{\mathbb {T}^d} |\nabla u|^2 \Big ) = 0 \end{aligned}$$

∂

tt

u
-
Δ
u

(

1
+

∫

T

d

|
∇
u
|

2

)

=
0

on the d-dimensional torus $$\mathbb {T}^d$$

T

d

. In a previous paper we proved that, after a first step of quasilinear normal form, the resonant cubic terms show an integrable behavior, namely they give no contribution to the energy estimates. This leads to the question whether the same structure also emerges at the next steps of normal form. In this paper, we perform the second step and give a negative answer to the previous question: the quintic resonant terms give a nonzero contribution to the energy estimates. This is not only a formal calculation, as we prove that the normal form transformation is bounded between Sobolev spaces.
Constitutive and Inducible Resistance to Thrips Do Not Correlate With Differences in Trichome Density or Enzymatic-Related Defenses in Chrysanthemum
Authors: Chen Gang , Klinkhamer Peter G. L. , Escobar-Bravo Rocío
Published: October 2020

Western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis, is a serious insect pest of Chrysanthemum [Chrysanthemum × morifolium Ramat. (Asteraceae)]. Here we have investigated whether genotypic variation in constitutive and inducible resistance to WFT correlates with phenotypic differences in leaf trichome density and the activity of the defense-related enzyme polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in chrysanthemum. Non-glandular and glandular leaf trichome densities significantly varied among ninety-five chrysanthemum cultivars. Additional analyses in a subset of these cultivars, differing in leaf trichome density, revealed significant variation in PPO activities and resistance to WFT as well. Constitutive levels of trichome densities and PPO activity, however, did not correlate with chrysanthemum resistance to WFT. Further tests showed that exogenous application of the phytohormone jasmonic acid (JA) increased non-glandular trichome densities, PPO activity and chrysanthemum resistance to WFT, and that these effects were cultivar dependent. In addition, no tradeoff between constitutive and inducible resistance to WFT was observed. JA-mediated induction of WFT resistance, however, did not correlate with changes in leaf trichome densities nor PPO activity levels. Taken together, our results suggest that chrysanthemum can display both high levels of constitutive and inducible resistance to WFT, and that leaf trichome density and PPO activity may not play a relevant role in chrysanthemum defenses against WFT.
High Concentrations of Very Long Chain Leaf Wax Alkanes of Thrips Susceptible Pepper Accessions (Capsicum spp)
Authors: Macel Mirka , Visschers Isabella G. S. , Peters Janny L. , van Dam Nicole M. , de Graaf Rob M.
Published: October 2020

The cuticular wax layer can be important for plant resistance to insects. Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) damage was assessed on 11 pepper accessions of Capsicum annuum and C. chinense in leaf disc and whole plant assays. Thrips damage differed among the accessions. We analyzed the composition of leaf cuticular waxes of these accessions by GC-MS. The leaf wax composition was different between the two Capsicum species. In C. annuum, 1-octacosanol (C28 alcohol) was the most abundant component, whereas in C. chinense 1-triacotanol (C30 alcohol) was the prominent. Thrips susceptible accessions had significantly higher concentrations of C25-C29n-alkanes and iso-alkanes compared to relatively resistant pepper accessions. The triterpenoids α- and ß-amyrin tended to be more abundant in resistant accessions. Our study suggests a role for very long chain wax alkanes in thrips susceptibility of pepper.
A Rapid Method to Measure Serum Retinol Concentrations in Japanese Black Cattle Using Multidimensional Fluorescence
Authors: Tamura Yoshio , Inoue Hiroki , Takemoto Satoshi , Hirano Kazuo , Miyaura Kazutoshi
Published: October 2020

Vitamin A levels in fattening Japanese Black cattle affect meat quality; therefore, it is important to monitor serum retinol concentrations. To simplify and accelerate the evaluation of serum retinol concentrations in cattle, we developed a new predictive method using excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectrophotometry. For analytical comparison, the concentration of serum retinol was also measured using the conventional HPLC method. We examined excitation (Ex) and emission (Em) wavelengths of cattle serum, which were 250–450 and 250–600 nm, respectively. Parallel factor analysis separated four components from EEM data, one of which was related to retinol. Next, a partial least square regression model was created using the obtained EEMs as explanatory variables and accrual measurement values as objective variables. The determination coefficient value (R2), root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP), and the ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) of the model were determined. A comparison with reference values found that R2, RMSEP, and RPD of the calibration model were 0.95, 6.4 IU/dl, and 4.2, respectively. This implies that EEM can estimate the serum retinol concentration with high accuracy. Additionally, the fluorescent peaks that contributed to the calibration, which were extracted from the regression coefficient and variable importance in projection plots, were Ex/Em = 320/390 and 330/520 nm. Thus, we assume that this method observes not only free retinol, but also retinol-binding protein. In conclusion, multidimensional fluorescence analysis can accurately and quickly determine serum retinol concentrations in fattening cattle.
Beyond the U-Shape: Mapping the Functional Form Between Age and Life Satisfaction for 81 Countries Utilizing a Cluster Procedure
Authors: Bittmann Felix
Published: October 2020

Classifying and explaining the causal and functional relationship between age and life satisfaction, especially in an international context, is still a major open question in demographics and happiness-research. Especially the debate whether to include sociodemographic control variables in these models has received much attention and deserves more discussion. The current contribution takes a cross-country perspective and attempts to sort countries into larger clusters, depending on their specific functional form. Using cross-sectional data from 81 countries with more than 170,000 respondents, the analyses demonstrate that there exist three larger clusters which display distinct functional relations (linear decline, U-shape, decline with a stable old-age period). Sociodemographic controls are not introduced since the total causal effect is to be estimated. Furthermore, the contribution explains cluster membership exploratively using macro indicators. While it becomes clear that countries with a linear decline are usually less developed countries, differences between the other two clusters are much less obvious.
Dealing with the Ups and Downs of Life: Positive Dispositions in Coping with Negative and Positive Events and Their Relationships with Well-Being Indicators
Authors: Fuochi Giulia , Voci Alberto
Published: October 2020

In a four-wave, longitudinal study (N = 323), we tested the relationships between five positive dispositions—mindfulness, self-compassion, gratitude, hedonism, and eudaimonism—and time-varying negative affect, positive affect, life satisfaction, and meaning in life. These relationships were tested while controlling for the ups and downs in life across three months, operationalized as the effects, for a respondent, of having experienced more frequent and intense positive and negative events compared to other individuals in the sample (inter-individual variation) and of having experienced more frequent and intense positive and negative events than usual for that person (intra-individual variation). We also tested the interactive effects between each disposition and intra-individual variation in the frequency and intensity of negative and positive events on well-being variables. Results, obtained through multilevel models with repeated observations nested in individuals, showed that each disposition had specific associations with well-being indicators, although stronger effects were detected for eudaimonism and, especially, self-compassion. Moderation analyses showed that: mindfulness and self-compassion buffered intra-individual variation in negative events; people scoring higher on hedonism, eudaimonism, and self-compassion showed less need to rely on positive events to experience positive emotions; experiencing a negative event that was more intense than usual was associated with higher meaning in life for people with high levels of eudaimonism. Overall, findings suggest that mindfulness, self-compassion, gratitude, hedonism, and eudaimonism build well-being through different channels. Positive interventions could benefit from mixing these healthy functioning strategies and considering their roles in reactions to events.
Working Together: Integrating Computational Modeling Approaches to Investigate Complex Phenomena
Authors: Bielik Tom , Fonio Ehud , Feinerman Ofer , Duncan Ravit Golan , Levy Sharona T.
Published: October 2020

Complex systems are made up of many entities, whose interactions emerge into distinct collective patterns. Computational modeling platforms can provide a powerful means to investigate emergent phenomena in complex systems. Some research has been carried out in recent years about promoting students’ modeling practices, specifically using technologically advanced tools and approaches that allow students to create, manipulate, and test computational models. However, not much research had been carried out on the integration of several modeling approaches when investigating complex phenomena. In this paper, we describe the design principles used to develop a middle school unit about ants’ collective behavior that integrates three modeling approaches: conceptual drawn models, agent-based models, and system dynamics models. We provide results from an initial implementation of an 8th grade curricular unit, indicating that students engaged with several aspects of the modeling practice. Students’ conceptual knowledge about ant pheromone communication increased following learning the unit. We also found gains in students’ metamodeling knowledge about models as tools for investigating phenomena. We discuss the affordances and challenges of engaging students with several modeling approaches in science classroom.
Functional rather than structural connectivity explains grassland plant diversity patterns following landscape scale habitat loss
Authors: Kimberley Adam , Hooftman Danny , Bullock James M. , Honnay Olivier , Krickl Patricia , Lindgren Jessica , Plue Jan , Poschlod Peter , Traveset Anna , Cousins Sara A. O.
Published: October 2020

Context

Functional connectivity is vital for plant species dispersal, but little is known about how habitat loss and the presence of green infrastructure interact to affect both functional and structural connectivity, and the impacts of each on species groups.

Objectives

We investigate how changes in the spatial configuration of species-rich grasslands and related green infrastructure such as road verges, hedgerows and forest borders in three European countries have influenced landscape connectivity, and the effects on grassland plant biodiversity.

Methods

We mapped past and present land use for 36 landscapes in Belgium, Germany and Sweden, to estimate connectivity based on simple habitat spatial configuration (structural connectivity) and accounting for effective dispersal and establishment (functional connectivity) around focal grasslands. We used the resulting measures of landscape change to interpret patterns in plant communities.

Results

Increased presence of landscape connecting elements could not compensate for large scale losses of grassland area resulting in substantial declines in structural and functional connectivity. Generalist species were negatively affected by connectivity, and responded most strongly to structural connectivity, while functional connectivity determined the occurrence of grassland specialists in focal grasslands. Restored patches had more generalist species, and a lower density of grassland specialist species than ancient patches.

Conclusions

Protecting both species rich grasslands and dispersal pathways within landscapes is essential for maintaining grassland biodiversity. Our results show that increases in green infrastructure have not been sufficient to offset loss of semi-natural habitat, and that landscape links must be functionally effective in order to contribute to grassland diversity.
What is the Meaning of Proofs?
Authors: Ayhan Sara
Published: October 2020

The origins of proof-theoretic semantics lie in the question of what constitutes the meaning of the logical connectives and its response: the rules of inference that govern the use of the connective. However, what if we go a step further and ask about the meaning of a proof as a whole? In this paper we address this question and lay out a framework to distinguish sense and denotation of proofs. Two questions are central here. First of all, if we have two (syntactically) different derivations, does this always lead to a difference, firstly, in sense, and secondly, in denotation? The other question is about the relation between different kinds of proof systems (here: natural deduction vs. sequent calculi) with respect to this distinction. Do the different forms of representing a proof necessarily correspond to a difference in how the inferential steps are given? In our framework it will be possible to identify denotation as well as sense of proofs not only within one proof system but also between different kinds of proof systems. Thus, we give an account to distinguish a mere syntactic divergence from a divergence in meaning and a divergence in meaning from a divergence of proof objects analogous to Frege’s distinction for singular terms and sentences.
Surgical treatment and neurological outcome of infiltrating intramedullary astrocytoma WHO II–IV: a multicenter retrospective case series
Authors: Butenschoen Vicki M. , Hubertus Vanessa , Janssen Insa K. , Onken Julia , Wipplinger Christoph , Mende Klaus C. , Eicker Sven O. , Kehl Victoria , Thomé Claudius , Vajkoczy Peter , Schaller Karl , Gempt Jens , Meyer Bernhard , Wostrack Maria
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Primary malignant spinal astrocytomas present rare oncological entities with limited median survival and rapid neurological deterioration. Evidence on surgical therapy, adjuvant treatment, and neurological outcome is sparse. We aim to describe the treatment algorithm and clinical features on patients with infiltrating intramedullary astrocytomas graded WHO II–IV.

Methods

The following is a multicentered retrospective study of patients treated for spinal malignant glioma WHO II–IV in five high-volume neurosurgical departments from 2008 to 2019. Pilocytic astrocytomas were excluded. We assessed data on surgical technique, perioperative neurological status, adjuvant oncological therapy, and clinical outcome.

Results

40 patients were included (diffuse astrocytoma WHO II n = 11, anaplastic astrocytoma WHO III n = 12, WHO IV n = 17). Only 40% were functionally independent before surgery, most patients presented with moderate disability (47.5%). Most patients underwent a biopsy (n = 18, 45%) or subtotal tumor resection (n = 15, 37.5%), and 49% of the patients deteriorated after surgery. Patients with WHO III and IV tumors were treated with combined radiochemotherapy. Median overall survival (OS) was 46.5 months in WHO II, 25.7 months in WHO III, and 7.4 months in WHO IV astrocytomas. Preoperative clinical status and WHO significantly influenced the OS, and the extent of resection did not.

Conclusion

Infiltrating intramedullary astrocytomas WHO II–IV present rare entities with dismal prognosis. Due to the high incidence of surgery-related neurological impairment, the aim of the surgical approach should be limited to obtaining the histological tissue via a biopsy or, tumor debulking in cases with rapidly progressive severe preoperative deficits.
Extended Pharmacokinetic Model of the Intravitreal Injections of Macromolecules in Rabbits. Part 2: Parameter Estimation Based on Concentration Dynamics in the Vitreous, Retina, and Aqueous Humor
Authors: Lamminsalo Marko , Karvinen Timo , Subrizi Astrid , Urtti Arto , Ranta Veli-Pekka
Published: October 2020

Purpose

To estimate the diffusion coefficients of an IgG antibody (150 kDa) and its antigen-binding fragment (Fab; 50 kDa) in the neural retina (Dret) and the combined retinal pigment epithelium-choroid (DRPE-cho) with a 3-dimensional (3D) ocular pharmacokinetic (PK) model of the rabbit eye.

Methods

Vitreous, retina, and aqueous humor concentrations of IgG and Fab after intravitreal injection in rabbits were taken from Gadkar et al. (2015). A least-squares method was used to estimate Dret and DRPE-cho with the 3D finite element model where mass transport was defined with diffusion and convection. Different intraocular pressures (IOP), initial distribution volumes (Vinit), and neural retina/vitreous partition coefficients (Kret/vit) were tested. Sensitivity analysis was performed for the final model.

Results

With the final IgG model (IOP 10.1 Torr, Vinit 400 μl, Kret/vit 0.5), the estimated Dret and DRPE-cho were 36.8 × 10−9 cm2s−1 and 4.11 × 10−9 cm2s−1, respectively, and 76% of the dose was eliminated via the anterior chamber. Modeling of Fab revealed that a physiological model parameter “aqueous humor formation rate” sets constraints that need to be considered in the parameter estimation.

Conclusions

This study extends the use of 3D ocular PK models for parameter estimation using simultaneously macromolecule concentrations in three ocular tissues.