bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms of reproductive isolation between annual and perennial plants of Incarvillea sinensis
Authors: Lan Wen‐Juan , Wang Fang‐Yuan , Barrett Spencer C. H. , Wang Wen‐Ting , Ma Yue , Yang Yang , Li Nan , Deng Jun‐Chen , Bai Wei‐Ning
Published: July 2023

Quantifying the relative strength of isolating barriers is a major focus of research on plant speciation. Contrasting life histories and mating systems have the potential to limit gene exchange between closely related populations growing in sympatry. However, few studies have quantified reproductive isolating barriers between conspecific annual and perennial populations and their contributions to total reproductive isolation (RI). Incarvillea sinensis Lam. (Bignoniaceae) is an insect‐pollinated herb with largely allopatric annual and perennial populations that differ in mating systems. The perennial populations are primarily outcrossing whereas annual populations are predominantly selfing. At a rare sympatric site in northern China we estimated prezygotic and postzygotic barriers to gene exchange between annual and perennial plants and found complete RI between the two life histories. Annuals exhibited significantly higher ecogeographic isolation than perennials whereas perennials experienced more isolation through pollen–pistil interactions than annuals. Crosses between annuals and perennials demonstrated that postzygotic barriers influencing fruit and seed formation, F1 germination and survival were negligible for annuals but played a small role for perennials. However, F1 hybrids of crosses between annuals and perennials produced no pollen and their ovules were largely sterile. Our study provides insight into the relative importance of prezygotic and postzygotic isolating barriers between closely related annual and perennial populations of I. sinensis and some of these barriers could have been involved with speciation. Annuals and perennials of I. sinensis represent two biological species and thus deserve to be recognized as distinct taxonomic species.
Examining the effect of sociodemographic factors on feral horses' social networks
Authors: Mendonça R. S. , Maeda T. , Pinto P. , Inoue S. , Ringhofer M. , Yamamoto S. , Hirata S.
Published: July 2023

The benefits of sociality are not equitably shared among members of a social group. The position individuals occupy in social networks is key to maximizing their fitness and contribution to group cohesion, as well as stability in the network structure. Individuals' position in a social network is highly influenced by intra‐group competition and affiliation; therefore, it should be assessed by examining various spatial‐social variables. In this study, we examined the relationship between proximity, grooming and agonistic networks, controlling for genetic relatedness, and the effects of sociodemographic factors on the strength centrality (SC) of these social networks. We combined drone technology and social network analysis to test several hypotheses on 16 feral horse (Equus ferus caballus) groups during three consecutive breeding seasons. Our results show a clear relationship between spatial and social behaviours, suggesting that proximity and grooming are intimately connected in promoting social bonding, and agonism may be a consequence of close proximity between conspecifics. Sociodemographic factors shaped the three network centralities differently. Females and higher‐ranking individuals are more central in spatial networks, whereas younger ones may benefit from higher centrality in affiliative networks. Newly integrated individuals tend to be peripheral on spatial networks and engage more in agonistic behaviours; corroborating that integration into a new group is a costly process for females, ultimately leading to a decreased foaling rate. Individuals in multi‐male groups showed higher SC in proximity, but not in agonistic networks, suggesting that a second male may play a role in decreasing overall intra‐group competition. Our results provide a step forward in understanding the costs and benefits of network centrality in non‐matrilineal societies and mechanisms leading to social cohesion, namely in populations under the constant threat of predation and human pressures.
Impact of symptom burden and self‐efficacy on functional status in advanced breast cancer patients: A path analysis
Authors: Erdemsoy Karahan Beyza , Izgu Nur
Published: July 2023

This correlational study aims at exploring the correlations between symptom burden, functional status, and self‐efficacy in advanced breast cancer patients and to analyze their paths of influence. The study was performed with 122 patients with advanced breast cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy between April 10, 2021 and April 29, 2022. Data were collected using a sociodemographic information form, the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Functional Living Index‐Cancer, and the Symptom Management Self‐Efficacy Scale for Breast Cancer Related to Chemotherapy. Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U, and Spearman correlation tests and path analysis were used for data evaluation. Less‐educated individuals had a higher symptom burden and poorer self‐efficacy. Low‐income level was related to poor self‐efficacy. Symptom severity did not directly influence functional status but affected it indirectly through self‐efficacy, while symptom interference and self‐efficacy had a direct impact on functional status. This study mainly concludes that symptom burden and self‐efficacy affect functional status in advanced breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Self‐efficacy‐enhancing interventions may be helpful strategies for symptom relief and improvement in functional status in this population.
CALCIUM‐DEPENDENT PROTEIN KINASE32 regulates cellulose biosynthesis through post‐translational modification of cellulose synthase
Authors: Xin Xiaoran , Wei Donghui , Lei Lei , Zheng Haiyan , Wallace Ian S. , Li Shundai , Gu Ying
Published: July 2023

Cellulose is an essential component of plant cell walls and an economically important source of food, paper, textiles, and biofuel. Despite its economic and biological significance, the regulation of cellulose biosynthesis is poorly understood. Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of cellulose synthases (CESAs) were shown to impact the direction and velocity of cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs). However, the protein kinases that phosphorylate CESAs are largely unknown. We conducted research in Arabidopsis thaliana to reveal protein kinases that phosphorylate CESAs.

In this study, we used yeast two‐hybrid, protein biochemistry, genetics, and live‐cell imaging to reveal the role of calcium‐dependent protein kinase32 (CPK32) in the regulation of cellulose biosynthesis in A. thaliana.

We identified CPK32 using CESA3 as a bait in a yeast two‐hybrid assay. We showed that CPK32 phosphorylates CESA3 while it interacts with both CESA1 and CESA3. Overexpressing functionally defective CPK32 variant and phospho‐dead mutation of CESA3 led to decreased motility of CSCs and reduced crystalline cellulose content in etiolated seedlings. Deregulation of CPKs impacted the stability of CSCs.

We uncovered a new function of CPKs that regulates cellulose biosynthesis and a novel mechanism by which phosphorylation regulates the stability of CSCs.
Summer litter decomposition is moderated by scale‐dependent microenvironmental variation in tundra ecosystems
Authors: Gallois Elise C. , Myers‐Smith Isla H. , Daskalova Gergana N. , Kerby Jeffrey T. , Thomas Haydn J. D. , Cunliffe Andrew M.
Published: July 2023

Tundra soils are one of the world's largest organic carbon stores, yet this carbon is vulnerable to accelerated decomposition as climate warming progresses. The landscape‐scale controls of litter decomposition are poorly understood in tundra ecosystems, which hinders our understanding of the global carbon cycle. We examined the extent to which the thermal sum of surface air temperature, soil moisture and permafrost thaw depth influenced litter mass loss and decomposition rates (k), and at which spatial thresholds an environmental variable becomes a reliable predictor of decomposition, using the Tea Bag Index protocol across a heterogeneous tundra landscape on Qikiqtaruk–Herschel Island, Yukon, Canada. We found greater green tea litter mass loss and faster decomposition rates (k) in wetter areas within the landscape, and to a lesser extent in areas with deeper permafrost active layer thickness and higher surface thermal sums. We also found higher decomposition rates (k) on north‐facing relative to south‐facing aspects at microsites that were wetter rather than warmer. Spatially heterogeneous belowground conditions (soil moisture and active layer depth) explained variation in decomposition metrics at local scales (< 50 m2) better than thermal sum. Surprisingly, there was no strong control of elevation or slope on litter decomposition. Our results reveal that there is considerable scale dependency in the environmental controls of tundra litter decomposition, with moisture playing a greater role than the thermal sum at < 50 m2scales. Our findings highlight the importance and complexity of microenvironmental controls on litter decomposition in estimates of carbon cycling in a rapidly warming tundra biome.
Do oil prices have an asymmetric impact on economic output in India? Empirical evidence using asymmetric cointegration approach
Authors: Sharma Vishal , Adil Masudul Hasan , Fatima Sana
Published: July 2023

This study examines the nexus between oil prices (Oil) and economic output (IIP) asymmetrically in the Indian context using quarterly data from 1996–1997:Q1 to 2019–2020:Q4. To this end, we have used a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model. The main findings of the study are as follows—firstly, the Wald test confirms the nonlinearities among the negative and positive shocks inOil,EXandIRin the long run. Secondly, the NARDL model reveals that negative shock in oil price stimulate theIIP, whereas positive shock inOilfails to influenceIIP. The positive shock inEXstrengthens the Indian economy by having a positive and significant impact onIIP, while the negative shock inEXis insignificant. The positive and negative shocks inIRnegatively impactIIPin the long run. The study demonstrates thatOil,EXandIRexert asymmetric pressure onIIPin the long run. Concisely, India's economic output is more responsive to oil prices decrease than oil prices increase. Therefore, the asymmetric oil prices‐economic output nexus has substantial policy implications, particularly for prudent energy policy in India.
The effects of intensity, spectral purity and duty cycle on red light‐induced hyperopia in tree shrews
Authors: Gawne Timothy J. , Samal Alena V. , She Zhihui
Published: July 2023

Introduction

There have recently been several clinical studies suggesting that brief periods of exposure to red light (repeated low‐level red light, ‘RLRL’) may produce a dramatic anti‐myopia effect, calling for further investigations into its therapeutic parameters. Unfortunately, many experimental species used in refractive studies develop myopia in response to this wavelength. Tree shrews are the only animal model other than rhesus monkeys that consistently exhibit hyperopic responses to ambient red light. Here, tree shrews were used to study the influence of the spectral purity, duty cycle and intensity of red light on its anti‐myopic effect.

Methods

Juvenile tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri) were raised from 24 to 35 days after eye opening under ambient lighting that was: standard white colony fluorescent light; pure narrow band red light of either 600, 50–100 or 5 lux; red light that was diluted with 10% white light (by lux) or 50% white and 2 s of pure red light that alternated with 2 s of pure white light (50% duty cycle). Refractive measures were taken with a NIDEK ARK‐700 autorefractor and axial dimensions with a LenStar LS‐900 Axial Biometer.

Results

The pro‐hyperopia effect of ambient red light was greatly reduced by even small amounts of concurrent white light ‘contamination’, but remained robust if 2‐s periods of pure white light alternated with 2 s of red. Finally, the hyperopic effect of red light was maintained at reduced luminance levels in the 50–100 lux range and only failed at 5 lux.

Conclusions

These results have implications for understanding the mechanisms by which ambient red light affects refractive development, and possibly also for clinical therapies using RLRL. Nevertheless, it remains to be determined if the mechanism of the current clinical RLRL therapy is the same as that operating on tree shrews in ambient red light.
Effect of red‐light therapy on retinal and choroidal blood perfusion in myopic children
Authors: Zhao Chang , Ni Yao , Zeng Junwen
Published: July 2023

Objective

To investigate the effect of repeated low‐level red‐light therapy (RLRLT) on retinal and choroidal blood perfusion in myopic children.

Methods

Forty‐seven myopic children (mean spherical equivalent refractive error [SE]: −2.31 ± 1.26 D; age range: 8.0–11.0 years) were enrolled and received RLRLT (power 2 mW, wavelength 650 nm) for 3 min twice a day, while 20 myopic children (SE: −2.75 ± 0.84 D; age range: 7.0–10.0 years) were included as a control group. All participants wore single‐vision distance glasses. Refractive error, axial length (AL) and other biometric parameters were measured at baseline and during follow‐up visits in the first, second and fourth weeks after initiation of treatment. Retinal thickness, subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), total choroidal area (TCA), luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) were obtained using optical coherence tomography (OCT). The percentage retinal vascular density (VD%) and choriocapillaris flow voids (FV%) were measured using en‐face OCT angiography.

Results

After 4 weeks of treatment, a significant increase in SFCT was observed in the RLRLT group, with an average increase of 14.5 μm (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.6–19.5 μm), compared with a decrease of −1.7 μm (95% CI: −9.1 to 5.7 μm) in the control group (p < 0.0001). However, no significant changes in retinal thickness or VD% were observed in either group (allp > 0.05). In the OCT images from the RLRLT group, no abnormal retinal morphology related to photodamage was observed. The horizontal scans revealed an increase in TCA, LA and CVI over time (allp < 0.05), while SA and FV% remained unchanged (bothp > 0.05).

Conclusions

These findings indicate that RLRLT can enhance choroidal blood perfusion in myopic children, demonstrating a cumulative effect over time.
Editorial synthesis for counseling psychology and relationship science: Making connections and expanding disciplinary diversity
Authors: Roberts Tangela , Brooks James E. , Rice TeKisha , Randall Ashley K.
Published: July 2023

The field of relationship science began with understanding the role of attraction and has expanded to examine factors associated with relationship initiation, development, and maintenance. Despite the growth of the field, recent reviews of topics present in relationship science have revealed a dearth of literature examining sociocultural contexts that may impact relational processing, especially for traditionally underrepresented groups in science. Notably, given the theories, frameworks, and methods applied in these disciplines, counseling psychology and relationship science are at the forefront of examining such contexts. To this end, the goal of the special issue was to bring together scholars whose work is either an application of or showcases how the contemporary foci of counseling psychology, including but not limited to intersectionality, social justice, cultural competence/humility, identity, strengths‐based approaches, and social power hierarchies are applicable to the study of relationships broadly defined. This editorial synthesis provides a brief summary of the four articles that are included in this special issue and ends with recommendations for future research that intersects counseling psychology and relationship science.
The effects of infrared radiation on the human skin
Authors: Horton Luke , Brady Joshua , Kincaid Colin M. , Torres Angeli Eloise , Lim Henry W.
Published: July 2023

Background

Infrared radiation (IR) is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between visible light (VL) and microwaves, with wavelengths between 700 nm and 1 mm. Humans are mainly exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation (UVR) and IR through the sun. Unlike UVR which is well known for its carcinogenic properties, the relationship between IR and skin health has not been as extensively studied; as such, we gather the available published evidence here to better elucidate this relationship.

Methods

Several databases including Pubmed, Google Scholar, and Embase were searched for articles relating to infrared radiation and the skin. Articles were selected for their relevance and novelty.

Results

Detrimental effects such as thermal burns, photocarcinogenesis, and photoaging have been reported, though evidence suggests that these may be due to the thermal effects produced secondary to IR exposure rather than the isolated effect of IR. There are currently no chemical or physical filters specifically available for protection against IR, and existing compounds are not known to have IR‐filtering capacity. Interestingly, IR may have some photoprotective properties against the carcinogenic effects of UVR. Furthermore, IR has been used with encouraging results in skin rejuvenation, wound healing, and hair restoration when given at an appropriate therapeutic dose.

Conclusion

A better understanding of the current landscape of research surrounding IR can help illuminate its effects on the skin and highlight areas for further research. Here, we review relevant data on IR to assess its deleterious and beneficial effects on human skin, along with possible means for IR photoprotection.
Coordination between leaf and root traits in Mediterranean coastal dune plants
Authors: Ciccarelli D. , Bona C. , Carta A.
Published: July 2023

Plant trait‐based functional spectra are crucial to assess ecosystem functions and services. Whilst most research has focused on aboveground vegetative traits (leaf economic spectrum, LES), contrasting evidence on any coordination between the LES and root economic spectrum (RES) has been reported. Studying spectra variation along environmental gradients and accounting for species' phylogenetic relatedness may help to elucidate the strength of coordination between above‐ and belowground trait variation.

We focused on leaf and root traits of 39 species sampled in three distinct habitats (front, back and slack) along a shoreline–inland gradient on coastal dunes. We tested, within a phylogenetic comparative framework, for the presence of the LES and RES, for any coordination between these spectra, and explored their relation to variation in ecological strategies along this gradient.

In each habitat, three‐quarters of trait variation is captured in two‐dimensional spectra, with species' phylogenetic relatedness moderately influencing coordination and trade‐off between traits. Along the shoreline–inland gradient, aboveground traits support the LES in all habitats. Belowground traits are consistent with the RES in the back‐habitat only, where the environmental constraints are weaker, and a coordination between leaf and root traits was also found, supporting the whole‐plant spectrum (PES).

This study confirms the complexity when seeking any correlation between the LES and RES in ecosystems characterized by multiple environmental pressures, such as those investigated here. Changes in traits adopted to resist environmental constraints are similar among species, independent of their evolutionary relatedness, thus explaining the low phylogenetic contribution in support of our results.
Assessment of magnesium deficiency in greenhouse tomato crops grown on calcareous soil
Authors: Fei Chao , Zhang Shirong , Sun Zhenlei , Ding Xiaodong
Published: July 2023

Magnesium (Mg) deficiency in greenhouse vegetable plants affects crop yields and quality. Assessing the degree of Mg deficiency and influencing factors is necessary for evidence‐based Mg supplementation. In this study, an investigation was conducted at 71 tomato cultivation greenhouses with calcareous soil, located in the main greenhouse vegetable production area of China. Plant and soil Mg contents were analysed, as well as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and other nutrients. The tomatoes showed Mg deficiency, with none of the farms supplementing this element. The critical leaf Mg concentration of the tomatoes was 3.40 mg kg−1. Using Ward's hierarchical cluster analysis, three clusters of Mg leaf content were obtained, which were 1.07–3.00 mg kg−1 (SD cluster), 2.56–5.64 mg kg−1 (MD cluster) and 5.12–6.88 mg kg−1 (ND cluster). Tomato yields in the SD and MD clusters were 31.4% and 16.5% lower than the ND cluster, respectively. Both soil exchangeable Mg content and soil pH in the SD cluster were the lowest, while total NPK, available NPK, K/Mg and the Ca/Mg ratio were the highest. A principal component analysis (PCA) showed that Mg leaf content was negatively correlated with the exchangeable K/Mg ratio, and positively correlated with soil exchangeable Mg content, soil pH and tomato yield. Mg deficiency in the tomatoes was attributed to the high accumulation of available K in the calcareous soil and the fact that the SD cluster with greatest Mg deficiency also had the lowest soil total Mg concentration. Considering the accumulation of NPK and the causes of Mg deficiency, foliar Mg spraying is suggested to mitigate Mg deficiency in calcareous greenhouse tomato soil.
Experimental Study on the Effect of Fines Content on the Frost Swelling Characteristics of Coarse-Grained Soil in Canal Base Under Open System
Authors: Wang Miao , Hai Mingwei , Su Anshuang , Meng Shangjiu , Mu Hailong , Guo Yanxiu
Published: July 2023

Engineering usually considers coarse-grained soils as non-frost swelling soils, but serious frost swelling still occurs in coarse-grained canal bases, which is directly related to the recharge conditions and the fine particle content in the soil. Little attention is currently paid to the effect of different fine particle contents on coarse-grained soil frost swelling, especially after the fine particle admixture content exceeds 16%. This paper considers the characteristics of coarse-grained soils in water conservancy projects with fines content between 0% and 50%. The coarse-grained soils with 5%, 15%, 25%, 35%, and 45% fines content were designed for freezing and swelling tests. The evolution of temperature and moisture fields and the amount of freezing and swelling of coarse-grained soils during the freezing process were studied by using servo-type freezing and swelling and thawing tester. The experimental results show that the cooling process of soil samples can be divided into a rapid cooling stage, a slow cooling stage, and a freezing stabilization stage. The cooling rate and the frost heave amount with increasing fines content showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing.
A Theoretical Contact Model for Rough Elastic Spheres
Authors: Chen Shi-Wen , Yuan Wei-Ke , Liang Xuan-Ming , Wang Gang-Feng
Published: July 2023

Investigating the contact of rough spheres is constructive to wide engineering applications and scientific research. However, the coexistence of global curvature and surface roughness brings difficulty in the analysis of this problem. In this work, we present a theoretical model for the contact between a rough elastic sphere and a rigid plane. As a fundament, the whole-range contact of nominally flat Gaussian rough surfaces is dealt with using a finite element method. With the load–area relation for the contact of nominally flat rough surfaces, the local real contact area of rough spherical contact is determined, in which the local pressure is given by the Hertzian model. Then, the total real contact area of rough spherical contact is obtained by integrating over the Hertzian contact area. It is found that the load–area relation for the contact of rough spheres is linear at light loads and converges to the result of smooth spherical contact as the load increases. This rough spherical contact model is validated through direct finite element simulations.
Effect of Direction and Frequency of Skull Motion on Mechanical Vulnerability of the Human Brain
Authors: Okamoto Ruth J. , Escarcega Jordan D. , Alshareef Ahmed , Carass Aaron , Prince Jerry L. , Johnson Curtis L. , Bayly Philip V.
Published: July 2023

Strain energy and kinetic energy in the human brain were estimated by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) during harmonic excitation of the head, and compared to characterize the effect of loading direction and frequency on brain deformation. In brain MRE, shear waves are induced by external vibration of the skull and imaged by a modified MR imaging sequence; the resulting harmonic displacement fields are typically “inverted” to estimate mechanical properties, like stiffness or damping. However, measurements of tissue motion from MRE also illuminate key features of the response of the brain to skull loading. In this study, harmonic excitation was applied in two different directions and at five different frequencies from 20 to 90 Hz. Lateral loading induced primarily left-right head motion and rotation in the axial plane; occipital loading induced anterior-posterior head motion and rotation in the sagittal plane. The ratio of strain energy to kinetic energy (SE/KE) depended strongly on both direction and frequency. The ratio of SE/KE was approximately four times larger for lateral excitation than for occipital excitation and was largest at the lowest excitation frequencies studied. These results are consistent with clinical observations that suggest lateral impacts are more likely to cause injury than occipital or frontal impacts, and also with observations that the brain has low-frequency (∼10 Hz) natural modes of oscillation. The SE/KE ratio from brain MRE is potentially a simple and powerful dimensionless metric of brain vulnerability to deformation and injury.
Similarity-Driven Topology Optimization for Statics and Crash via Energy Scaling Method
Authors: Yousaf Muhammad Salman , Detwiler Duane , Duddeck Fabian , Menzel Stefan , Ramnath Satchit , Zurbrugg Nathan , Bujny Mariusz
Published: July 2023

Topology optimization (TO) is used in the initial design phase to optimize certain objective functions under given boundary conditions by finding suitable material distributions in a specified design domain. Currently available methods in the industry work very efficiently to get topologically optimized design concepts under static and dynamic load cases. However, conventional methods do not address the designer’s preferences about the final material layout in the optimized design. In practice, the final design might be required to have a certain degree of local or global structural similarity with an already present good reference design because of economic, manufacturing, and assembly limitations or the desire to re-use parts in different systems. In this article, a heuristic energy scaling method (ESM) for similarity-driven TO under static as well as dynamic loading conditions is presented and thoroughly evaluated. A 2D cantilever beam under static point load is used to show that the proposed method can be coupled with gradient-based and also heuristic, nongradient methods to get designs of varying similarity with respect to a reference design. Further testing of the proposed method for similarity-driven TO on a 2D crash test case and a large-scale 3D hood model of a car body indicates the effectiveness of the method for a wide range of problems in the industry. Finally, the application of similarity-driven TO is further extended to show that ESM also has the potential for sensitivity analysis of performance with respect to the extension of design domain.
Enhancing Kinematic Calibration Accuracy for Parallel Manipulators Based on Truncated Total Least-Square Regularization
Authors: Jian Sheng , Xiong Hao , Yang Xiansheng , Lou Yunjiang
Published: July 2023

This article proposes a novel kinematic calibration approach to address the ill-conditioned identification matrix problem and enhance the accuracy of parallel manipulators (PMs). The kinematic calibration approach applies the truncated total least-square (T-TLS) regularization method to the inverse kinematic calibration of PMs and does not have the unit inconsistency issue and configuration selection issue. The performance of the T-TLS method in the inverse kinematic calibration of PMs that have the ill-conditioned identification matrix problem is compared to that of classical regularization methods, including the truncated singular value decomposition (TSVD) method and Tikhonov method, in simulations. Then, the kinematic calibration approach is applied to a 3-PSS/S spherical PM prototype in the real world. For the 3-PSS/S spherical PM prototype, the kinematic calibration approach can reduce the absolute angular errors of the end-effector from over 1.0 deg before calibration to less than 0.1 deg after calibration.
Digital Image Correlation Validation of Finite Element Strain Analysis of Dental Implant Insertion for Two Implant Designs
Authors: Yang Baixuan , Irastorza-Landa Ainara , Heuberger Peter , Ploeg Heidi-Lynn
Published: July 2023

Sufficient anchorage of dental implants, defined as mechanical engagement between implant and bone at the time of insertion, has been recommended for positive clinical outcomes, particularly in immediate loading protocols. Accurate measuring and analysis of stress and strain in the bone are imperative to understand anchorage from the biomechanics perspective. However, the stress and strain distributions at the bone-implant interface are impossible to measure in vivo. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and validate an explicit continuum finite element analysis (FEA) to investigate the stress and strain in a bone surrogate during the insertion of a dental implant: with cutting flute (CF) and without (NCF). Ten dental implants (five with CF and five with NCF) were inserted into ten rigid polyurethane (PU) foam blocks with a prepared pilot hole. During the insertion, a stereo digital image correlation (DIC) system was used to record in-plane deformation on the PU foam surface at a frequency of 1.0 Hz; and, surface von Mises strain, εv_DIC, was calculated (VIC-3D, Correlated Solutions Inc). In parallel, the insertion was simulated using FEA with explicit solver (Abaqus Explicit version 2017, Simulia). The PU foam was defined as an elastic-plastic material with a progressive crushable foam failure behaviour. The surface von Mises strain predicted from FEA, εv_FEA, was compared against εv_DIC. Uncertainty of DIC displacement measurement was 0.6 μm; and the static noise floor for the strain measurement was 500 microstrain (με). Coefficient of determination for εv_DIC and εv_FEA along a horizontal line for the CF and NCF implants were 0.80 and 0.78, respectively, which suggested the overall FEA performance was good. FEA results indicated that the cutting flute reduced the maximum shear stress in the PU foam and axial force which facilitated the insertion with less effort. This study demonstrated the successful combination of mechanical testing and FEA to better understand the mechanics of dental implant insertion.
Impact Limiter Computer Simulation and Verification by Drop Tests
Authors: Niyogi Kalyan K. , Zhai Xuejun
Published: July 2023

Impact limiters are often used to protect equipment by minimizing the load inflicted to the equipment due to an impact or fall. This paper presents a computer simulation of a simple and effective impact limiter used in a storage cask carrying a Multi-Purpose Canister (MPC) containing nuclear spent fuel assemblies and compares the analysis results with the actual drop test performed for the prototype of the impact limiter. The impact limiter consists of an array of stainless-steel tubes with small holes in each to define and accelerate the collapse of the tubes following an impact. The small holes drilled at the strategically picked location on the tube ensures a very uniform tube collapse pattern and thus a well-controlled overall impact limiter behavior. The numerical simulation is conducted with computer modeling in LS-DYNA with appropriate geometric parameters and material properties. The behavior of the impact limiter tubes is captured by the true stress true strain curve of the material. The numerical analysis reveals how the tubes collapse due to an impact from a drop accident and what the collapse pattern looks like. The prototype test is conducted to verify the accuracy of the computer model, and the collapse of the tubes is observed and recorded using a high-speed camera. Both the measured impact limiter deformation and impact acceleration match well with the predictions by the computer model. This simple impact limiter device is extremely effective in absorbing energy and the required design objective can be reliably confirmed by computer simulation.
Probabilistic Deep Learning for Validation of Emergent Structures in Simulated Images
Authors: Kaiser Bryan , Hickmann Kyle
Published: July 2023

Deterministic integrated metrics for quantitative comparison of simulated images and experimental images, e.g., RMS error, are agnostic to structures that can emerge in highly nonlinear complex systems. Similarly, simple probabilistic metrics, such as direct comparisons of image data distributions, also do not explicitly account for salient structures. Normalizing flow architectures are probabilistic generative deep learning algorithms that leverage the nonlinear pattern recognition capacity of neural networks with variational Bayesian methods to assign likelihood values to images with respect to a “target” probability density learned from training images. If a normalizing flow is trained on simulation image data, then it can be used to quantify the probability that an experiment image could have been sampled from the unknown high dimensional distribution that describes the simulated images and vice versa. We demonstrate this validation method using the real non-volume-preserving (RealNVP) normalizing flow architecture and MNIST, corrupted MNIST, Wingdings, and blurred Wingdings data sets. Normalizing flows, and consequently our validation method, are not limited to two-dimensional data and may be applied to higher dimensions with appropriate modifications. Applications include, but are not limited to, turbulent flow simulations, proton radiography simulations, multi-phase flow simulations, and medical radiology.
Measuring Toxicity Toward Women in Game-Based Communities
Authors: Belskie Matthew , Zhang Hanlin , Hemminger Bradley M.
Published: July 2023

Prior research into gaming toxicity in game-specific Reddit communities nearly always considers toxicity in aggregate, and so provides very few clues for a valid coding scheme for isolating toxic language and triggers that specifically target women gamers. Existing research offers a starting place for devising valid methods for measuring and detecting toxic language and toxic triggers within specified data sets, but that research is less useful is its applicability to game-related forms of toxicity targeting women gamers. Where this research had originally hoped to develop an automated method for scoring, limitations with automated detection of toxicity discussed within the paper prompted a shift to what the authors identify as a key intermediate step—better accuracy in toxicity detection by automated means—that will contribute to future achievements in reducing toxicity toward women and other targeted groups in gaming communities. This paper is intended to aid projects that aim to incrementally improve our understanding of toxicity toward women in games and game communities and how to effectively measure it. The conclusion of this research ultimately hopes to contribute to providing information to inform policies that create a safer and more respectful gaming environment for all gamers.
Influence of Pokémon Go Playing Style on Physical Activity and Its Effect on Kinanthropometry Variables and Body Composition in Adolescents
Authors: Mateo-Orcajada Adrián , Vaquero-Cristóbal Raquel , Abenza-Cano Lucía
Published: July 2023

Background: Pokémon Go is a mobile app that offers both continuous and intermittent (gamified) gameplay, but no previous research in adolescents is known to have addressed changes in physical activity and body composition according to playing style. For this reason, the aims of the present investigation were (1) to establish the differences in the level of physical activity, and its influence on the kinanthropometric and body composition, of the adolescent population, considering their Pokémon Go playing style; and (2) to analyze whether the practice of previous physical activity has an influence on the effects of the use of Pokémon Go on the level of physical activity and changes in kinanthropometric and body composition variables. Methods: A total of 94 adolescents (50 males and 44 females; mean age: 13.66 [1.17] years-old; mean body mass index: 20.82 [4.03] kg/m2) whose physical activity level and body composition were measured, participated in the investigation. Two groups of adolescents completed a 10-week intervention using Pokémon Go continuously (n = 30) or intermittently (n = 31), while the control group (n = 33) did not use any after-school app. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), a multivariate analysis of variance, and 2 repeated-measures ANOVA were performed to analyze the data. Results: Inactive adolescents in the continuous use group increased their physical activity between the pretest and posttest (P = .038), but this did not occur in the active group. Regarding body composition variables, the increase in body mass (P < .001) and body mass index (P = .006) in the control group was significantly higher than in the continuous use group of adolescents who were inactive, but not in the active group, while the decrease in fat mass (P < .001–.036) and sum of 3 skinfolds (P < .001–.003) was significantly higher in both Pokémon Go use groups as compared to the control group, regardless of the previous physical activity level. Conclusions: The continuous style of play seems to be more effective in increasing physical activity in adolescents, but the changes in body composition and kinanthropometric variables occur similarly with continuous and intermittent gameplay. Therefore, the playful use of Pokémon Go can be used in educational and health fields to produce changes in body composition in this population.
Balance Control in Individuals With Visual Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zarei Hamed , Norasteh Ali Asghar , Lieberman Lauren J. , Ertel Michael W. , Brian Ali
Published: July 2023

Background: Individuals with visual impairment have balance deficits; therefore, this systematic review aimed to provide comprehensive insights into the balance control of individuals with visual impairments when compared with individuals with full vision. Methods: Primary sources were obtained from eight databases including PubMed, LILACS, Science Direct, SCOPUS, CINAHL, PEDro, CENTRAL, and Web of Science. The search period covered years from inception to January 10, 2022. Results: A total of 20 studies with 29 trials with 1,280 participants were included in the systematic review. The results showed that individuals with sight had better static and dynamic balance than individuals with visual impairment (p = .001). However, individuals with visual impairment had significantly better static balance with visual perturbation and stronger static balance with visual and proprioception perturbation (p = .001). Furthermore, individuals with sight had better balance control than individuals with visual impairment who participated in sports (p = .001). Finally, individuals with visual impairment who participated in sports had better balance control than sedentary people with visual impairment (p = .001). Conclusion: Individuals with visual impairment have defects in both dynamic and static balance when compared to individuals with sight. In addition, balance improved with increasing age in individuals with visual impairment while balance control was dependent on the proprioception and vestibular systems. Also, individuals with sight had better balance than individuals with visual impairment who participated in sports and individuals with visual impairment who participated in sports compared with sedentary people with visual impairment.
TRPM7 kinase activity induces amyloid-β degradation to reverse synaptic and cognitive deficits in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Zhang Shimeng , Cao Feifei , Li Wei , Abumaria Nashat
Published: July 2023

Altered abundance or activity of the dual-function transient receptor potential melastatin-like 7 (TRPM7) protein is implicated in neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Toxic aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) in neurons is implicated in AD pathology. Here, we found that the kinase activity of TRPM7 is important to stimulate the degradation of Aβ. TRPM7 expression was decreased in hippocampal tissue samples from patients with AD and two mouse models of AD (
APP/PS1
and
5XFAD
). In cultures of hippocampal neurons from mice, overexpression of full-length TRPM7 or of its functional kinase domain M7CK prevented synapse loss induced by exogenous Aβ. In contrast, this neuroprotection was not afforded by overexpression of either the functional ion channel portion alone or a TRPM7 mutant lacking kinase activity. M7CK overexpression in the hippocampus of young and old
5XFAD
mice prevented and reversed, respectively, memory deficits, synapse loss, and Aβ plaque accumulation. In both neurons and mice, M7CK interacted with and activated the metalloprotease MMP14 to promote Aβ degradation. Thus, TRPM7 loss in patients with AD may contribute to the associated Aβ pathology.
Transcription Factor Spo0A Regulates the Biosynthesis of Difficidin in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
Authors: Liu Na , Sun Huiwan , Tang Zhengyu , Zheng Yuqing , Qi Gaofu , Zhao Xiuyun
Published: July 2023

Pathogen
R. solanacearum
causes bacterial wilt disease in many crops. There is no chemical bactericide that can control bacterial wilt disease.
Contribution of Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing and CH Typing Compared to Next-Generation Sequencing for the Diagnosis of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections Due to Genetically Identical Escherichia coli Isolates: a Prospective Cohort Study of Cystitis in Women
Authors: Vautrin Nicolas , Alexandre Kévin , Pestel-Caron Martine , Bernard Estelle , Fabre Roland , Leoz Marie , Dahyot Sandrine , Caron François
Published: July 2023

More than half of women will experience cystitis during their lifetime. Among these women, 25% will experience a second episode within the following 6 months.
Electrical image of magmatic system beneath the Xiangshan volcanogenic uranium deposit, southeast China: Linking magmatic evolution and uranium metallogenesis
Authors: Yu Hui , Deng Juzhi , Tang Bin , Egbert Gary , Chen Hui
Published: July 2023

The uranium deposit of the Early Cretaceous Xiangshan caldera (southeast China) represents the world’s third-largest volcanogenic uranium deposit. While the hydrothermal system defines uranium mineralization in shallow volcanic-intrusive complexes, we argue that the underlying magmatic system, identified in magnetotelluric data from the Xiangshan deposit, is equally crucial in controlling the origin and migration of ore-forming fluids and driving uranium element transport. As imaged by a three-dimensional resistivity model, a volcanic conduit containing ~4% saline fluid underlies the Xiangshan peak, interpreted to control the formation of alkali fluids that aid the early alkaline uranium mineralization. A deep-seated intrusion also imaged beneath the northwestern Xiangshan caldera likely facilitates the formation of later acidic uranium mineralization and provides the requisite heat flux. Its enhanced conductivity is attributed to graphite liberalization along grain boundaries caused by CO2-bearing volatiles upwelling or igneous carbon injection. The merged zone of the volcanic conduit and intrusion, which is located at a depth of ~10–15 km, functions as a high-level magma chamber. It is fed episodically by low partial melting of lower-crustal rocks and may contain significant uranium concentrations. Essentially, the transport and enrichment of uranium elements are enabled by such a vertical extensive trans-crustal magmatic system, resulting in the emplacement of the shallow volcanogenic uranium deposit. This work is a compelling example regarding the inherited structural control of the magmatic system on volcanic-related uranium metallogenesis.
Comparative analysis of antigen-presenting cells in gingival tissues in healthy and periodontitis patients
Authors: Pejcic Ana , Andjelkovic Zlatibor , Marjanovic Dragan , Minic Ivan , Matvijenko Vladimir , Arsic Zoran , Jovanovic Radovan , Subaric Ljiljana
Published: July 2023

Aims

Microbial flora of dental plaque trigger innate and adaptive immune responses. The function of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) is to bridge the innate and adaptive immune systems. The human immune system contains three main types of APCs: dendritic cells (DC) (Langerhans cells (LCs) and interstitial DCs, IDCs), macrophages and B lymphocytes. In this study, the distribution and density of all APCs in healthy and inflamed human gingival tissue were comparatively analysed.

Methods

Research was conducted on gingival biopsy specimens obtained from 55 patients and classified in three groups: healthy gingiva (control group, n=10), moderate periodontal disease (PD) (n=21) and severe PD (n=24). For APCs’ identification antibodies raised against CD1a(for LCs), S100protein (for iDCs), CD68(for macrophages) and CD20(for B lymphocytes) were used.

Results

Increased density of IDCs, macrophages and B lymphocytes in lamina propria and reduced density of LCs in the gingival epithelium were found in patients with periodontitis. Simultaneously, it was noticed an increased concentration of macrophages and B cells in the gingival epithelium in patients with PD. No statistically significant difference in the distribution and density of APC was found among patients with moderate and advanced periodontitis.

Conclusions

It was hypothesised that in the periodontitis the role of antigen presentation was largely taken from LCs by the DCs, macrophages and B cells. These APCs are thought to have less protective and tolerogenic potential than LCs and this is a significant reason for alveolar bone destruction in periodontitis.
Synthesis of 2-arylpyridines by the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of PyFluor with hetero(aryl) boronic acids and esters
Authors: Rueda-Espinosa Juan , Ramanayake Dewni , Ball Nicholas D. , Love Jennifer A.
Published: July 2023

The Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of pyridine-2-sulfonyl fluoride (PyFluor) with hetero(aryl) boronic acids and pinacol boronic esters is reported. The reactions can be performed using Pd(dppf)Cl2 as the catalyst, at temperatures between 65 and 100 °C and in the presence of water and oxygen. This transformation generates 2-arylpyridines in modest to good yields (5%–89%).
Texture zeros of quark mass matrices at fixed point $$\tau =\omega $$ in modular flavor symmetry
Authors: Kikuchi Shota , Kobayashi Tatsuo , Tanimoto Morimitsu , Uchida Hikaru
Published: July 2023

We study systematically derivation of the specific texture zeros, that is the nearest neighbor interaction (NNI) form of the quark mass matrices at the fixed point $$\tau =\omega $$

τ
=
ω

in modular flavor symmetric models. We present models that the NNI forms of the quark mass matrices are simply realized at the fixed point $$\tau =\omega $$

τ
=
ω

in the $$A_4$$

A
4

modular flavor symmetry by taking account multi-Higgs fields. Such texture zero structure originates from the ST charge of the residual symmetry $$Z_3$$

Z
3

of SL(2, Z). The NNI form can be realized at the fixed point $$\tau = \omega $$

τ
=
ω

in $$A_4$$

A
4

and $$S_4$$

S
4

modular flavor models with two pairs of Higgs fields when we assign properly modular weights to Yukawa couplings and $$A_4$$

A
4

and $$S_4$$

S
4

representations to three generations of quarks. We need four pairs of Higgs fields to realize the NNI form in $$A_5$$

A
5

modular flavor models.