bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Katznelson-Tzafriri type theorem for difference equations and applications
Authors: Minh Nguyen , Matsunaga Hideaki , Huy Nguyen , Luong Vu Trong
Published: June 2021

We consider a Katznelson-Tzafriri type theorem for linear difference equations of the form

x
(
n
+
1
)
=
T
x
(
n
)
+
y
(
n
)
 
(
∗
)

x(n+1)=Tx(n)+y(n)\ (*)

, where

T
T

is a bounded operator in a Banach space

X

\mathbb {X}

and

{
y
(
n
)

}

n
=
1

∞

\{y(n)\}_{n=1}^\infty

is a bounded sequence that is asymptotically constant, that is,

lim

n
→
∞

[
y
(
n
+
1
)
−
y
(
n
)
]
=
0

\lim _{n\to \infty } [y(n+1)-y(n)]=0

. A sequence

{
u
(
n
)

}

n
=
1

∞

\{u(n)\}_{n=1}^\infty

is said to be an asymptotic solution to

(
∗
)

(*)

if

u
(
n
+
1
)
=
T
u
(
n
)
+
y
(
n
)
+
ϵ
(
n
)

u(n+1)=Tu(n)+y(n)+\epsilon (n)

, where

lim

n
→
∞

ϵ
(
n
)
=
0

\lim _{n\to \infty }\epsilon (n)=0

. We show that if

1
1

is either not in

σ
(
T
)
∩
{
z
∈

C

:
 

|

z

|

=
1
}

\sigma (T)\cap \{z\in \mathbb {C}:\ |z|=1\}

, or is its isolated element, then if

(
∗
)

(*)

has a bounded asymptotic solution, it has an asymptotic solution that is asymptotically constant. Furthermore, if

σ
(
T
)
∩
{
z
∈

C

:
 

|

z

|

=
1
}
⊂
{
1
}

\sigma (T)\cap \{z\in \mathbb {C}:\ |z|=1\}\subset \{ 1\}

, then every asymptotic solution of

(
∗
)

(*)

is asymptotic constant. An application to the evolution periodic equations is given.
ℓ₂-strictly singular operators on the predual of a hyperfinite von Neumann algebra
Authors: Huang Jinghao , Pliev Marat , Sukochev Fedor
Published: June 2021

We show that every

ℓ
2

\ell _2

-strictly singular operator on the predual of any atomless hyperfinite finite von Neumann algebra

M

\mathcal {M}

is Dunford–Pettis, which extends a Rosenthal’s theorem for the case of commutative algebra

M

=

L
∞

(
0
,
1
)

\mathcal {M}=L_\infty (0,1)

. We also apply our result to the study of noncommutative symmetric spaces

X
=
E
(

M

,
τ
)

X=E(\mathcal {M},\tau )

for which every

ℓ
2

\ell _2

-strictly singular operator from

L
p

(
0
,
1
)

L_p(0,1)

into

X
X

is narrow.
Geometric Langlands for hypergeometric sheaves
Authors: Kamgarpour Masoud , Yi Lingfei
Published: June 2021

Generalised hypergeometric sheaves are rigid local systems on the punctured projective line with remarkable properties. Their study originated in the seminal work of Riemann on the Euler–Gauss hypergeometric function and has blossomed into an active field with connections to many areas of mathematics. In this paper, we construct the Hecke eigensheaves whose eigenvalues are the irreducible hypergeometric local systems, thus confirming a central conjecture of the geometric Langlands program for hypergeometrics. The key new concept is the notion of hypergeometric automorphic data. We prove that this automorphic data is generically rigid (in the sense of Zhiwei Yun) and identify the resulting Hecke eigenvalue with hypergeometric sheaves. The definition of hypergeometric automorphic data in the tame case involves the mirabolic subgroup, while in the wild case, semistable (but not necessarily stable) vectors coming from principal gradings intervene.
The LINC complex is required for endothelial cell adhesion and adaptation to shear stress and cyclic stretch
Authors: Denis Kevin B. , Cabe Jolene I. , Danielsson Brooke E. , Tieu Katie V. , Mayer Carl R. , Conway Daniel E.
Published: June 2021

The LINC complex is a critical structure for anchoring the nucleus to the cytoskeleton. It is shown that disruption of the LINC complex results in endothelial cells with impaired cell-cell junctions, impaired focal adhesions, and an inability to adapt to externally applied force.
Cell adaptation to aneuploidy by the environmental stress response dampens induction of the cytosolic unfolded-protein response
Authors: Kane Andrew J. , Brennan Christopher M. , Xu Acer E. , Solís Eric J. , Terhorst Allegra , Denic Vladimir , Amon Angelika
Published: June 2021

Aneuploid yeast exhibits hallmarks of proteotoxicity but does not have induced Hsf1. Here we show that the environmental stress response (ESR) is active in aneuploid cells and dampens Hsf1’s ability to respond to stress. Furthermore, we show that the ESR suppresses Hsf1 in euploid cells, and that the ESR is protective against proteotoxicity.
Experiences With Everyday and Major Forms of Racial/Ethnic Discrimination and Type 2 Diabetes Risk Among White, Black, and Hispanic/Latina Women: Findings From the Sister Study
Authors: Gaston Symielle A , Atere-Roberts Joëlle , Ward Julia , Slopen Natalie B , Forde Allana T , Sandler Dale P , Williams David R , Jackson Chandra L
Published: June 2021

Racial/ethnic discrimination may contribute to the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but few studies have prospectively examined this relationship among racially/ethnically diverse populations. We analyzed prospective data from 33,833 eligible Sister Study participants enrolled from 2003 to 2009. In a follow-up questionnaire (2008–2012), participants reported their lifetime experiences of everyday and major forms of racial/ethnic discrimination. Self-reported physician diagnoses of T2DM were ascertained through September 2017. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models, overall and by race/ethnicity. Mean age at enrollment was 54.9 (standard deviation, 8.8) years; 90% of participants self-identified as non-Hispanic (NH) White, 7% as NH Black, and 3% as Hispanic/Latina. Over an average of 7 years of follow-up, there were 1,167 incident cases of T2DM. NH Black women most frequently reported everyday (75%) and major (51%) racial/ethnic discrimination (vs. 4% and 2% of NH White women, respectively, and 32% and 16% of Hispanic/Latina women, respectively). While everyday discrimination was not associated with T2DM risk, experiencing major discrimination was marginally associated with higher T2DM risk overall (hazard ratio = 1.26, 95% confidence interval: 0.99, 1.61) after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics and body mass index. Associations were similar across racial/ethnic groups; however, racial/ethnic discrimination was more frequently reported among racial/ethnic minority women. Antidiscrimination efforts may help mitigate racial/ethnic disparities in T2DM risk.
Clinical usefulness of a novel fluorescence technique for the intraoperative diagnosis of surgical margins in patients with breast cancer
Authors: Ueo H , Ueo H , Minoura I , Gamachi A , Doi T , Yamaguchi M , Yamashita T , Tsuda H , Moriya T , Yamaguchi R , Kozuka Y , Sasaki T , Masuda T , Kai Y , Kubota Y , Urano Y , Mori M , Mimori K
Published: June 2021

In both 5- and 15-min data, FI was significantly higher in malignant tissues than in benign tissues. The diagnostic accuracy was similar at 5 and 15 min. Therefore, the 5-min FI was enough applying in the further analyses.
Reversal of behavioural phenotype by the cannabinoid-like compound VSN16R in fragile X syndrome mice
Authors: Hurley Michael J , Deacon Robert M J , Chan A W Edith , Baker David , Selwood David L , Cogram Patricia
Published: June 2021

Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited intellectual disability and mono-genetic cause of autism spectrum disorder. It is a neurodevelopmental condition occurring due to a CGG trinucleotide expansion in the FMR1 gene. Polymorphisms and variants in large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels are increasingly linked to intellectual disability and loss of FMR protein causes reduced large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel activity leading to abnormalities in synapse function.

Using the cannabinoid-like large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel activator VSN16R we rescued behavioural deficits such as repetitive behaviour, hippocampal dependent tests of daily living, hyperactivity and memory in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome.

VSN16R has been shown to be safe in a phase 1 study in healthy volunteers and in a phase 2 study in patients with multiple sclerosis with high oral bioavailability and no serious adverse effects reported. VSN16R could therefore be directly utilized in a fragile X syndrome clinical study. Moreover, VSN16R showed no evidence of tolerance, which strongly suggests that chronic VSN16R may have great therapeutic value for fragile X syndrome and autism spectrum disorder.

This study provides new insight into the pathophysiology of fragile X syndrome and identifies a new pathway for drug intervention for this debilitating disorder.
Serum metabolites associated with brain amyloid beta deposition, cognition and dementia progression
Authors: Nho Kwangsik , Kueider-Paisley Alexandra , Arnold Matthias , MahmoudianDehkordi Siamak , Risacher Shannon L , Louie Gregory , Blach Colette , Baillie Rebecca , Han Xianlin , Kastenmüller Gabi , Doraiswamy P Murali , Kaddurah-Daouk Rima , Saykin Andrew J ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative and on behalf of the Alzheimer Disease Metabolomics Consortium
Published: June 2021

Metabolomics in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative cohort provides a powerful tool for mapping biochemical changes in Alzheimer’s disease, and a unique opportunity to learn about the association between circulating blood metabolites and brain amyloid-β deposition in Alzheimer’s disease. We examined 140 serum metabolites and their associations with brain amyloid-β deposition, cognition and conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Processed [18F] Florbetapir PET images were used to perform a voxel-wise statistical analysis of the effect of metabolite levels on amyloid-β accumulation across the whole brain. We performed a multivariable regression analysis using age, sex, body mass index, apolipoprotein E ε4 status and study phase as covariates. We identified nine metabolites as significantly associated with amyloid-β deposition after multiple comparison correction. Higher levels of one acylcarnitine (C3; propionylcarnitine) and one biogenic amine (kynurenine) were associated with decreased amyloid-β accumulation and higher memory scores. However, higher levels of seven phosphatidylcholines (lysoPC a C18:2, PC aa C42:0, PC ae C42:3, PC ae C44:3, PC ae C44:4, PC ae C44:5 and PC ae C44:6) were associated with increased brain amyloid-β deposition. In addition, higher levels of PC ae C44:4 were significantly associated with lower memory and executive function scores and conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease dementia. Our findings suggest that dysregulation of peripheral phosphatidylcholine metabolism is associated with earlier pathological changes noted in Alzheimer’s disease as measured by brain amyloid-β deposition as well as later clinical features including changes in memory and executive functioning. Perturbations in phosphatidylcholine metabolism may point to issues with membrane restructuring leading to the accumulation of amyloid-β in the brain. Additional studies are needed to explore whether these metabolites play a causal role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease or if they are biomarkers for systemic changes during preclinical phases of the disease.
Adaptive Cross-Lingual Question Generation with Minimal Resources
Authors: Yu Jianxing , Wang Shiqi , Yin Jian
Published: June 2021

The task of question generation (QG) aims to create valid questions and correlated answers from the given text. Despite the neural QG approaches have achieved promising results, they are typically developed for languages with rich annotated training data. Because of the high annotation cost, it is difficult to deploy to other low-resource languages. Besides, different samples have their own characteristics on the aspects of text contextual structure, question type and correlations. Without capturing these diversified characteristics, the traditional one-size-fits-all model is hard to generate the best results. To address this problem, we study the task of cross-lingual QG from an adaptive learning perspective. Concretely, we first build a basic QG model on a multilingual space using the labelled data. In this way, we can transfer the supervision from the high-resource language to the language lacking labelled data. We then design a task-specific meta-learner to optimize the basic QG model. Each sample and its similar instances are viewed as a pseudo-QG task. The asking patterns and logical forms contained in the similar samples can be used as a guide to fine-tune the model fitly and produce the optimal results accordingly. Considering that each sample contains the text, question and answer, with unknown semantic correlations among them, we propose a context-dependent retriever to measure the similarity of such structured inputs. Experimental results on three languages of three typical data sets show the effectiveness of our approach.
Successful percutaneous treatment of occlusive spontaneous coronary artery dissection with a ‘pull-back injection technique’: case report
Authors: Unzue Leire , Romero-Castro Maria Jose , García Eulogio , Moreno Leire
Published: June 2021

Background

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare condition that can cause acute coronary syndrome, typically in young patients without classical cardiovascular risk factors. Although in SCAD the conservative management is preferable, in cases with complete occlusion of the artery an invasive treatment may be required. In such cases, the goal of the percutaneous intervention should be to restore the connection between the true and false lumen recovering the distal flow of the vessel.

Case summary

A young man was admitted with acute chest pain and ST segment elevation in precordial v3–v6 leads. An emergent coronary angiogram showed an abrupt occlusion of middle left anterior descending artery compatible with SCAD. A microcatheter was advanced distally into the artery and pulled back with continuous contrast injection through the catheter, restoring the distal flow with a residual spiroid intimal flap and with relief of the chest discomfort. A computed tomography performed during admission showed complete resolution of the lesion.

Discussion

In SCAD with complete occlusion of the vessel, the ‘pull-back technique’ with continuous vigorous injection of contrast through a distal microcatheter may be effective to restore the distal flow enabling the healing of the artery at follow-up and avoiding the stent implant.
Work climate in pandemic times: which burdens do German physicians in primary care report?
Authors: Mause Laura , Hoffmann Jan , Ohnhäuser Tim , Gunkel Sophie , Stöcker Arno , Scholten Nadine
Published: June 2021

Background

In Germany, general practitioners (GPs) provide basic and primary care in the ambulatory sector and refer patients to other specialists when necessary. Often, GPs present the first point of contact for patients in the German healthcare system. During the COVID-19 pandemic, GPs and other medical specialists in the ambulatory setting suddenly were confronted with unprecedented challenges.

Objective

To answer the following research questions: How did COVID-19-related challenges affect the work climate? Do physicians with deteriorated work climate simultaneously report a worsened provision of patient care? Which challenges were the most burdening?

Methods

In the course of the project COVID-GAMS more than 18 000 physicians of various specialties had been invited to a quantitative cross-sectional online survey (in Summer 2020). Analyses were conducted separately for the groups of GPs and other medical specialists. Group differences were analysed statistically and burdening factors were identified.

Results

1703 participants were included in the analysis. 22.2% of GPs (other medical specialists: 19.9%) stated, their work climate had deteriorated. Physicians with a deteriorated work climate showed a tendency towards poorer personal provision of patient care (M = 3.75, SD = 0.98 versus M = 3.93, SD = 0.99) compared to unchanged or improved work climate. The lack of protective material in March/April 2020, changes in practice management and possible economic impacts on the practice were the most burdening factors reported by GPs.

Conclusion

GPs who reported a negative impact on the work climate in the course of the first pandemic lockdown also tend to see own deficits in the provision of patient care.
On the instantaneous frequency and quality factor
Authors: Carcione José M , Gei Davide , Picotti Stefano , Botelho Marco A B
Published: June 2021

We analyse the concepts of instantaneous frequency (IF) and quality factor (IQ). It is verified that the time-averaged IF is equal to the centroid of the signal energy of the spectrum and that the centroid of the signal spectrum is equal to the IF at the peak of the signal envelope. The latter property can be used to obtain the frequency shift required by tomographic methods. Then, we analyse the two-tone stationary Mandel signal in the lossless and lossy cases. The IQ is not infinite in the lossless case, although its reciprocal average vanishes, and the lossless and lossy IFs at the peak of the signal envelope are the same, whereas the IQ at this peak depends on the amplitudes and quality factors of the tones. The IQ of a propagating Ricker wavelet has a singularity at the peak of the envelope, which shows a shift in the lossy case, related to the velocity dispersion. We consider a lossy layer described by the Zener model. Varying its thickness implies a large variation in the IF, introducing unphysical spikes when the top and bottom reflections of the layer start to overlap. Finally, a practical application to real seismic data is presented.
Magma chamber-related transition from magmatic to solid-state fabrics within the Late Triassic granitic Dushan pluton (North China)
Authors: Qiu Huabiao , Lin Wei , Chen Yan , Faure Michel , Meng Lingtong , Ren Zhiheng , Zeng Jipei , Hou Quanlin
Published: June 2021

Penetrative petro-fabrics in plutons, particularly late-stage solid-state fabrics, are usually considered to record regional tectonism. However, these fabrics are fundamentally ambiguous to correlate with magma-chamber processes or regional tectonics. Understanding the processes of fabric formation requires a proper understanding of pluton formation and emplacement mechanism. In this paper, we provide a case study of a transition from magma chamber-related magmatic to solid-state fabrics within the Late Triassic granitic Dushan pluton (North China) based on a multidisciplinary investigation of its emplacement mechanism, including structural geology, isotope chronology, AMS data measurement, and gravity modeling. The Dushan pluton varies in a southwest direction from a megascopically isotropic monzogranite in the northeast to an arc-shaped gneissic monzogranite with locally mylonitic zones along the southwest margin. The compatible outward dipping mesoscopic and magnetic susceptibility foliations define a dome-like roof with a NE-SW long axis. Considering the absence of similar penetrative fabrics in the country rocks, a continuum of magma chamber-related fabric variations within the pluton, from magmatic to solid-state conditions, probably formed during pluton emplacement. Gravity modeling suggests that the Dushan pluton has a NE-SW trending tongue-like shape with a northeast positioned root. We propose a model in which the Dushan pluton was emplaced through a northeast feeder zone, beginning probably as a sill then evolving by inflation via several magma batches. Later magma batches inflated the country rocks to form the final pluton. Magma inflation deformed the former semi-solid magma, forming a curved gneissic to mylonitic foliation along the southwest margin of the pluton. Several multidisciplinary studies show that the North China Craton (NCC) experienced a Late Triassic regional crustal extension attending the Dushan pluton emplacement. Both mesoscopic and magnetic susceptibility fabrics of the pluton could be more related to magmatic process rather than regional tectonics, implying that such fabrics within plutons need to be used with caution for inferring regional tectonics.
Estimating Curie-point depths using both wavelet-based and Fourier spectral centroid methods in the western Pacific marginal seas
Authors: Yin Yihong , Li Chun-Feng , Lu Yu
Published: June 2021

The Curie-point depth is an important magnetic parameter for studying the geological structure and thermal evolution of the lithosphere. In this study, we first apply wavelet transform to the centroid method, and compare it with the conventional Fourier spectral centroid method based on a 3-D fractal magnetization model. We find that the Fourier transform method is suitable for estimating smaller Curie-point depths (less than 20 km), whereas the wavelet transform method has better accuracy in estimating large Curie-point depths (more than 30 km). The application of both methods to the western Pacific magnetic anomalies from the Earth Magnetic Anomaly Grid of 2-arcmin resolution (EMAG2) proves their reliability and comparability. Our results show small Curie-point depths in areas with active magmatism and high heat flow, like mid-ocean ridges and island arcs of subduction zones, but large Curie-point depths in sedimentary basins and forearcs of subduction zones with low surface heat flow. We wrote our Curie-point depth inversion software CPDINV using FORTRAN language, which includes completed modules of minimum-curvature gridding, projection, wavelet and Fourier transforms, least-squares fitting and depth estimation.
Spatio-temporal Dynamics in Animal Communication: A Special Issue Arising from a Unique Workshop-Symposium Model
Authors: Hoke Kim L , Hensley Nicholai , Kanwal Jessleen K , Wasserman Sara , Morehouse Nathan I
Published: June 2021

Synopsis

Investigating how animals navigate space and time is key to understanding communication. Small differences in spatial positioning or timing can mean the difference between a message received and a missed connection. However, these spatio-temporal dynamics are often overlooked or are subject to simplifying assumptions in investigations of animal signaling. This special issue addresses this significant knowledge gap by integrating work from researchers with disciplinary backgrounds in neuroscience, cognitive ecology, sensory ecology, computer science, evolutionary biology, animal behavior, and philosophy. This introduction to the special issue outlines the novel questions and approaches that will advance our understanding of spatio-temporal dynamics of animal communication. We highlight papers that consider the evolution of spatio-temporal dynamics of behavior across sensory modalities and social contexts. We summarize contributions that address the neural and physiological mechanisms in senders and receivers that shape communication. We then turn to papers that introduce cutting edge technologies that will revolutionize our ability to track spatio-temporal dynamics of individuals during social encounters. The interdisciplinary collaborations that gave rise to these papers emerged in part from a novel workshop-symposium model, which we briefly summarize for those interested in fostering syntheses across disciplines.
Engaging the Community in Pollinator Research: The Effect of Wing Pattern and Weather on Butterfly Behavior
Authors: Merrill Abbigail N , Hirzel Grace E , Murphy Matthew J , Imrie Roslyn G , Westerman Erica L
Published: June 2021

Community science, which engages students and the public in data collection and scientific inquiry, is often integrated into conservation and long-term monitoring efforts. However, it has the potential to also introduce the public to, and be useful for, sensory ecology and other fields of study. Here we describe a community science project that exposes participants to animal behavior and sensory ecology using the rich butterfly community of Northwest Arkansas, United States. Butterflies use visual signals to communicate and to attract mates. Brighter colors can produce stronger signals for mate attraction but can also unintentionally attract negative attention from predators. Environmental conditions such as weather can affect visual signaling as well, by influencing the wavelengths of light available and subsequent signal detection. However, we do not know whether the signals butterflies present correlate broadly with how they behave. In this study, we collaborated with hundreds of students and community members at the University of Arkansas (UARK) and the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks (BGO) for over 3.5 years to examine relationships among wing pattern, weather, time of day, behavior, and flower choice. We found that both weather and wing color influenced general butterfly behavior. Butterflies were seen feeding more on cloudy days than on sunny or partly cloudy days. Brown butterflies fed or sat more often, while white butterflies flew more often relative to other butterfly colors. We also found that there was an interaction between the effects of weather and wing color on butterfly behavior. Furthermore, butterfly color predicted the choice of flower colors that butterflies visited, though this effect was influenced by the observer group (UARK student or BGO participant). These results suggest that flower choice may be associated with butterfly wing pattern, and that different environmental conditions may influence butterfly behavior in wing-pattern–specific ways. They also illustrate one way that public involvement in behavioral studies can facilitate the identification of coarse-scale, community-wide behavioral patterns, and lay the groundwork for future studies of sensory niches.
The EU vs US corporate R&D intensity gap: investigating key sectors and firms
Authors: Moncada-Paternò-Castello Pietro , Grassano Nicola
Published: June 2021

This paper presents a firm-level examination of the European Union (EU) vs US research and development (R&D) intensity differences based on four pictures taken during the time span 2005–2017. It contributes to the literature on the topic by inspecting for the first time which sectors and firms account the most for the aggregate R&D intensity performance of these two economies. Analyzing the top 1250 R&D investors worldwide in four different years, it finds that (i) only few companies within key (for their relative impact on the overall R&D intensity) high-tech sectors determine (positively and negatively) the bulk of the sector’s intensity, (ii) the EU holds a much lower number of both larger and smaller R&D investors than the United States in the key high-tech sectors, and (iii) there is a high heterogeneity in firms’ R&D intensity within such key sectors. These findings are crucial to better understand the aggregate transatlantic corporate R&D intensity gap.
The European Union’s demoicratic legislature
Authors: van den Brink Martijn
Published: June 2021

In important areas of EU law, the principal law-making institution is the Court of Justice of the European Union and not the EU legislature. This article criticizes the current allocation of power between both institutions and the different conceptions of political legitimacy that have been developed to justify it. The Court’s authority has been justified on the basis of output-oriented conceptions of political legitimacy that ground legitimacy in the kind of outcomes political institutions produce. This article argues that the different standards of output-legitimacy used are important but insufficient to legitimize EU institutions. Only input-oriented legitimacy can serve as a sufficiently strong form of legitimacy for the EU. More concretely, the article argues that the EU must be assessed by demoicratic standards of legitimacy. Unlike output-oriented theories of political legitimacy, which justify the transfer of authority from the EU legislature to the Court, a demoicratic conception of political legitimacy weighs in favor of legislative decision-making. This article explores whether it is possible to improve the political status of the EU legislature without Treaty amendment.
Integrated modeling and feasibility analysis of a rooftop photovoltaic systems for an academic building in Bangladesh
Authors: Podder Amit Kumer , Das Anik Kumar , Hossain Eklas , Kumar Nallapaneni Manoj , Roy Naruttam Kumar , Alhelou Hassan Haes , Karthick Alagar , Al-Hinai Amer
Published: June 2021

This paper presents integrated modeling and feasibility analysis of a rooftop photovoltaic system (RPS) for an academic building in Bangladesh. The average daily load is 353.63 kWh/day, and the peak load demand for the studied region is 90.85 kW. Four different configurations of 46 kW, 64 kW, 91 kW and 238 kW photovoltaic (PV) systems are designed and compared based on the financial, sensitivity and environmental benefit analysis to find out the most optimized one. The total net present cost, cost of energy, internal rate of return and payback period for the 91 kW (most optimized) system are found to be $146 317, $0.0385, 120.3% and 8.3 years, respectively. Seven sensitivity variables are utilized to investigate the system’s performance due to the variation of input variables, ensuring that the optimized system is less vulnerable than others. Besides, the proposed RPS (91 kW) for the selected region reduces the CO2 emanation by 90 010 kg/year and has a negligible shading effect compared to the amount of electricity generation from it.
Development and Characterization of Novel Polymorphic Microsatellite Markers for Tapinoma indicum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: Lim Li Yang , Ab Majid Abdul Hafiz
Published: June 2021

Tapinoma indicum (Forel) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is a nuisance pest in Asia countries. However, studies on T. indicum are limited, especially in the field of molecular biology, to investigate the species characteristic at the molecular level. This paper aims to provide valuable genetic markers as tools with which to study the T. indicum population. In this study, a total of 143,998 microsatellite markers were developed based on the 2.61 × 106 microsatellites isolated from T. indicum genomic DNA sequences. Fifty selected microsatellite markers were amplified with varying numbers of alleles ranging from 0 to 19. Seven out of fifty microsatellite markers were characterized for polymorphism with the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) and linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis. All seven microsatellite markers demonstrated a high polymorphic information content (PIC) value ranging from 0.87 to 0.93, with a mean value of 0.90. There is no evidence of scoring errors caused by stutter peaks, no large allele dropout, and no linkage disequilibrium among the seven loci; although loci Ti-Tr04, Ti-Tr09, Ti-Te04, Ti-Te13, and Ti-Pe5 showed signs of null alleles and deviation from the HWE due to excessive homozygosity. In conclusion, a significant amount of microsatellite markers was developed from the data set of next-generation sequencing, and seven of microsatellite markers were validated as informative genetic markers that can be utilized to study the T. indicum population.
Paying Americans to take the vaccine—would it help or backfire?
Authors: Robertson Christopher , Scheitrum Daniel , Schaefer Aleks , Malone Trey , McFadden Brandon R , Messer Kent D , Ferraro Paul J
Published: June 2021

This research investigates the extent to which financial incentives (conditional cash transfers) would induce Americans to opt for vaccination against coronavirus disease of 2019. We performed a randomized survey experiment with a representative sample of 1000 American adults in December 2020. Respondents were asked whether they would opt for vaccination under one of three incentive conditions ($1000, $1500, or $2000 financial incentive) or a no-incentive condition. We find that—without coupled financial incentives—only 58 per cent of survey respondents would elect for vaccination. A coupled financial incentive yields an 8-percentage-point increase in vaccine uptake relative to this baseline. The size of the cash transfer does not dramatically affect uptake rates. However, incentive responses differ dramatically by demographic group. Republicans were less responsive to financial incentives than the general population. For Black and Latino Americans especially, very large financial incentives may be counter-productive.
Mechanical properties of food and masticatory behavior in llamas, Llama glama
Authors: Nett Emily M , Jaglowski Brielle , Ravosa Luca J , Ravosa Dominick D , Ravosa Matthew J
Published: June 2021

Mammals typically process food items more extensively in their oral cavities than do other vertebrates. Dental morphology, jaw-muscle activity patterns, mandibular movements, and tongue manipulation work to facilitate oral fragmentation of dietary items. While processing mechanically challenging foods, mammals modulate mandibular movements and bite forces via recruitment of greater jaw-adductor muscle forces and protracted biting or chewing. Because jaw-loading patterns are influenced by magnitude; frequency; and duration of muscular, bite, and reaction forces during routine feeding behaviors, relatively larger jaws are thought to be more characteristic of mammals that experience higher masticatory loads due to the processing of mechanically challenging foods. The ease of food fracture during post-canine biting and chewing is mainly determined by food stiffness and toughness. Such foods have been associated with increased loading magnitude and/or greater amounts of cyclical loading (i.e., chewing duration). Dietary properties are thought to modulate cyclical loading through changes in chewing frequency and chewing investment. On the other hand, chewing frequency has been found to be independent of dietary properties in rabbits and primates; however, little evidence exists regarding the influence of dietary properties on these parameters in a broader range of mammals. Here, we assessed chewing behavior in seven adult llamas (Llama glama) processing foods with a wide range of mechanical properties (grain, hay, carrots, and dried corn). Each subject was filmed at 60 frames/s, with video slowed for frame-by-frame computer analysis to obtain length of feeding bout and number of chewing cycles for each food type. These parameters were used to calculate chewing frequency (chews/s), chewing investment (chews/g), and chewing duration (s/g). Chewing frequency was not significantly related to mechanical properties of food, but chewing investment and chewing duration were significantly related to dietary stiffness and toughness. Therefore, cyclical loading is positively influenced by stiff and tough foods. This suggests that variation in jaw morphology in extinct and extant mammals is positively related to dietary stiffness and toughness, which requires greater chewing investment and increased chewing duration.
Corneal Laser Refractive Surgery Curriculum Development in the Military: Using the Nominal Group Technique
Authors: Evangelista Charisma B , Larsen Kelsey L , Cervero Ronald M , Samuel Anita
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Corneal laser refractive surgery (CRS) has emerged over the past three decades as a surgical method for correcting or improving vision. In the military, CRS helps warfighters achieve weapon grade vision, which offers a tactical advantage in the deployed environment. As refractive surgery has become more prevalent in both the military and civilian sector, more ophthalmologists need to learn about treatment options as well as management of complications in order to meet increasing patient demand. Currently, little is known about the most effective curriculum for teaching refractive surgery in training programs, and a standardized curriculum does not exist. Since unification of training programs is a Defense Health Agency priority, this study aimed to collect expert consensus on a standardized curriculum for CRS training in the military.

Materials and Methods

To achieve this goal, the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was used wherein a panel of experts, currently practicing refractive surgeons involved in military refractive surgery training programs, arrived at consensus on a standardized CRS curriculum. The framework for developing this curriculum is based on Kern’s Six-Step Approach to Curriculum Development. The International Council of Ophthalmology refractive surgery curriculum, National Curriculum for Ophthalmology Residency Training, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education competencies and surgical minimums, and American Academy of Ophthalmology Refractive Surgery Preferred Practice Guidelines were used as the starting materials from which panelists’ consensus was drawn. This consensus-building method allowed for equal representation of experts’ ideas and fostered collaboration to aid in the creation of a robust and standardized curriculum for refractive surgery training programs in the military.

Results

The panelist experts from this NGT were able to reach consensus on the components of a standardized military refractive surgery curriculum to include generalized and targeted needs assessment, goals and objectives, educational strategies, and curriculum implementation.

Conclusion

A standardized CRS curriculum is warranted in military training programs. This NGT achieved expert consensus on the goals, objectives, educational methods, and implementation strategies for a standardized CRS curriculum in military ophthalmology residency.
The GALANTE photometric survey of the northern Galactic plane: project description and pipeline
Authors: Maíz Apellániz J , Alfaro E J , Barbá R H , Holgado G , Vázquez-Ramió H , Varela J , Ederoclite A , Lorenzo-Gutiérrez A , García-Lario P , García Escudero H , García M , Coelho P R T
Published: June 2021

The GALANTE optical photometric survey is observing the northern Galactic plane and some adjacent regions using seven narrow- and intermediate-filters, covering a total of 1618 deg2. The survey has been designed with multiple exposure times and at least two different air masses per field to maximize its photometric dynamic range, comparable to that of Gaia, and ensure the accuracy of its photometric calibration. The goal is to reach at least 1 per cent accuracy and precision in the seven bands for all stars brighter than AB magnitude 17 while detecting fainter stars with lower values of the signal-to-noise ratio. The main purposes of GALANTE are the identification and study of extinguished O+B+WR stars, the derivation of their extinction characteristics, and the cataloguing of F and G stars in the solar neighbourhood. Its data will be also used for a variety of other stellar studies and to generate a high-resolution continuum-free map of the Hα emission in the Galactic plane. We describe the techniques and the pipeline that are being used to process the data, including the basis of an innovative calibration system based on Gaia DR2 and 2MASS photometry.
From downtown to the outskirts: a radio survey of the Orion Nebula Cluster
Authors: Vargas-González J , Forbrich J , Dzib S A , Bally J
Published: June 2021

We present a newly enlarged census of the compact radio population towards the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC) using high-sensitivity continuum maps (3–10 $\mu$Jy beam−1) from a total of ∼30-h centimetre-wavelength observations over an area of ∼20 × 20 arcmin2 obtained in the C-band (4–8 GHz) with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) in its high-resolution A-configuration. We thus complement our previous deep survey of the innermost areas of the ONC, now covering the field of view of the Chandra Orion Ultra-deep Project (COUP). Our catalogue contains 521 compact radio sources of which 198 are new detections. Overall, we find that 17 per cent of the (mostly stellar) COUP sources have radio counterparts, while 53 per cent of the radio sources have COUP counterparts. Most notably, the radio detection fraction of X-ray sources is higher in the inner cluster and almost constant for r > 3 arcmin (0.36 pc) from θ1 Ori C, suggesting a correlation between the radio emission mechanism of these sources and their distance from the most massive stars at the centre of the cluster, e.g. due to increased photoionisation of circumstellar discs. The combination with our previous observations 4 yr prior lead to the discovery of fast proper motions of up to ∼373 km s−1 from faint radio sources associated with ejecta of the OMC1 explosion. Finally, we search for strong radio variability. We found changes in flux density by a factor of ≲5 within our observations and a few sources with changes by a factor >10 on long time-scales of a few years.
Testing the tidal stripping scenario of ultracompact dwarf galaxy formation by using internal properties
Authors: Mayes Rebecca J , Drinkwater Michael J , Pfeffer Joel , Baumgardt Holger , Liu Chengze , Ferrarese Laura , Côté Patrick , Peng Eric W
Published: June 2021

We use the hydrodynamical EAGLE simulation to test if ultracompact dwarf galaxies (UCDs) can form by tidal stripping by predicting the ages and metallicities of tidally stripped galaxy nuclei in massive galaxy clusters, and compare these results to compiled observations of age and metallicities of observed UCDs. We further calculate the colours of our sample of simulated stripped nuclei using single stellar population models and compare these colours to observations of UCDs in the Virgo Cluster. We find that the ages of observed UCDs are consistent with simulated stripped nuclei, with both groups of objects having a mean age >9 Gyr. Both stripped nuclei and UCDs follow a similar mass–metallicity relationship, and the metallicities of observed UCDs are consistent with those of simulated stripped nuclei for objects with M > 107 M⊙. The colours of observed UCDs are also consistent with our simulated stripped nuclei, for objects with M > 107 M⊙, with more massive objects being redder. We find that the colours of stripped nuclei exhibit a bimodal red and blue distribution that can be explained by the dependency of colour on age and metallicity, and by the mass–colour relation. We additionally find that our low-mass stripped nuclei sample is consistent with the colour of blue globular clusters. We conclude that the internal properties of simulated nuclei support the tidal stripping model of UCD formation.
Outflows in the radio-intermediate quasar III Zw 2: a polarization study with the EVLA and uGMRT
Authors: Silpa S , Kharb P , Harrison C M , Ho L C , Jarvis M E , Ishwara-Chandra C H , Sebastian B
Published: June 2021

We present results from a polarization study of the radio-intermediate quasar, III Zw 2, at a redshift of 0.089, with the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) at 685 MHz and the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) at 5 and 34 GHz. We detect a kpc-scale outflow, exhibiting transverse magnetic (B-) fields. The curved jet terminates in a bow-shock-like radio structure with inferred B-fields aligned with the lobe edges. We suggest that the radio outflow in III Zw 2 is a combination of a collimated jet along with a wind-like component. This ‘wind’ component could be a magnetized accretion disc wind or the outer layers of a broadened jet or a combination of both. The current data cannot differentiate between these possibilities. We also detect kpc-scale lobe emission that is misaligned with the primary lobes in the uGMRT images. The spectral indices and the electron lifetimes in the misaligned lobe are similar to the primary lobe, suggesting that the misaligned lobe is not a relic. We propose that changing spectral states of the accretion disc, and the subsequent intermittent behaviour of the outflow, along with the close interplay between the jet and ‘wind’ could explain the radio-intermediate nature of III Zw 2. Our study shows that radio-intermediate quasars are promising sources for understanding the role of jets and winds in galaxy evolution and demonstrates the power of radio polarization studies towards achieving this.
Study Protocol on Defining Core Outcomes and Data Elements in Chronic Subdural Haematoma
Authors: Holl Dana C , Chari Aswin , Iorio-Morin Christian , Dammers Ruben , van der Gaag Niels A , Kolias Angelos G , Hutchinson Peter J , Edlmann Ellie ,   on behalf of the CODE-CSDH Advisory Group
Published: June 2021

BACKGROUND

Core Outcome Sets (COSs) are necessary to standardize reporting in research studies. This is urgently required in the field of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH), one of the most common disease entities managed in neurosurgery and the topic of several recent trials. To complement the development of a COS, a standardized definition and baseline Data Elements (DEs) to be collected in CSDH patients, would further improve study quality and comparability in this heterogeneous population.

OBJECTIVE

To, first, define a standardized COS for reporting in all future CSDH studies; and, second, to identify a unified CSDH Definition and set of DEs for reporting in future CSDH studies.

METHODS

The overall study design includes a Delphi survey process among 150 respondents from 2 main stakeholder groups: healthcare professionals or researchers (HCPRs) and Patients or carers. HCPR, patients and carers will all be invited to complete the survey on the COS, only the HCPR survey will include questions on definition and DE.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

It is expected that the COS, definition, and DE will be developed through this Delphi survey and that these can be applied in future CSDH studies. This is necessary to help align future research studies on CSDH and to understand the effects of different treatments on patient function and recovery.

DISCUSSION

This Delphi survey should result in consensus on a COS and a standardized CSDH Definition and DEs to be used in future CSDH studies.
Optical Brain Biopsy with a Fluorescence and Vessel Tracing Probe
Authors: Richter Johan , Haj-Hosseini Neda , Milos Peter , Hallbeck Martin , Wårdell Karin
Published: June 2021

BACKGROUND

Accurate stereotactic biopsies of brain tumors are imperative for diagnosis and tailoring of the therapy. Repetitive needle insertions enhance risks of brain lesioning, hemorrhage, and complications due to prolonged procedure.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate clinical benefits of a combined 5-aminolaevulinic acid (5-ALA) fluorescence and laser Doppler flowmetry system for the detection of malignant brain tumor and blood vessels in stereotactic biopsies.

METHODS

Planning of targets and trajectories was followed by optical measurements in 20 patients, using the Leksell Stereotactic System and a manual insertion device. Fluorescence spectra, microvascular blood flow, and tissue grayness were recorded each millimeter along the paths. Biopsies were taken at preplanned positions. The diagnoses were compared with the fluorescence signals. The recordings were plotted against measurement positions and compared. Sites indicating a risk of hemorrhage were counted as well as the time for the procedures.

RESULTS

Signals were recorded along 28 trajectories, and 78 biopsies were collected. The final diagnosis showed 17 glioblastomas, 2 lymphomas, and 1 astrocytoma grade III. Fluorescence was seen along 23 of the paths with 4 having the peak of 5-ALA fluorescence 3 mm or more from the precalculated target. There was increased microcirculation in 40 of 905 measured positions. The measurement time for each trajectory was 5 to 10 min.

CONCLUSION

The probe provided direct feedback of increased blood flow along the trajectory and of malignant tissue in the vicinity of the target. The method can increase the precision and the safety of the biopsy procedure and reduce time.