bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization of physicochemical, textural, and rheological properties of sour cherry jam containing stevioside by using response surface methodology
Authors: Nourmohammadi Ahmad , Ahmadi Ebrahim , Heshmati Ali
Published: March 2021

The response surface method (RSM) was used to produce sour cherry jam containing stevia sweetener with favorable physicochemical, textural, and rheological properties. The experiments were designed based on RSM using a central composite design (CCD) with three independent variables: sugar, pectin, and stevia. Sample processing was performed at five levels of sucrose (10%–50%), pectin (0.1%–0.5%), and stevia (0.2%–0.6%) at a constant fruit weight of 300 g. To evaluate the jam, the physicochemical, textural, and rheological properties of the jam were determined and optimized. The concentrations of sucrose, pectin, and stevia had a significant effect on the textural and rheological properties of the jam. The results showed that increasing the concentration of sucrose is the main factor in increasing the soluble solids and the total sugar content of the jam. Pectin had a positive effect on textural characteristics such as hardness and adhesiveness of the jam, while the cohesiveness of the jam decreased with increasing pectin. Herschel–Bulkley model was appropriate for describing the rheological behavior of the stable state of sour cherry jam containing stevia. Decreasing sucrose concentration is accompanied by a decrease in yield stress and consistency index of jam samples due to the TSS reduction. Pectin also had a positive effect on the amount of yield stress and consistency index. Dynamic rheological tests indicated that the sour cherry jam is a weak gel. The predominant viscose behavior and the formation of a dilute solution were evident in the samples with 10% and 20% sucrose concentrations. The most favorable condition for the production of the jam was obtained at a 36.5% sugar, 0.277% pectin, and stevia 0.30%.
The aspartate aminotransaminase/alanine aminotransaminase (De Ritis) ratio predicts sensitivity to radiotherapy in head and neck carcinoma patients
Authors: Sansa Aina , Venegas María del Prado , Valero Cristina , Pardo Laura , Avilés‐Jurado Francesc‐Xavier , Terra Ximena , Quer Miquel , León Xavier
Published: March 2021

Background

The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) ratio and local disease control in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) treated with radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy.

Methods

We calculated the pre‐treatment AST/ALT ratio in 670 patients with HNSCC treated with radiotherapy (n = 309, 46.1%) or chemoradiotherapy (n = 361, 53.9%).

Results

Five‐year local recurrence‐free survival for patients with a low AST/ALT ratio value (n = 529, 79.0%) was 75.0% (95% CI: 71.1–78.9), and for patients with a high value (n = 141, 21.0%) it was 53.4% (CI 95: 44.4–62.4) (p = 0.0001). In a multivariable analysis, patients with a high ratio had nearly twice the risk of having a local tumor recurrence (HR 1.97, 95% CI 1.42–2.75, p = 0.0001).

Conclusion

The AST/ALT ratio was independently associated with the risk of local recurrence in patients with HNSCC treated with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.
IUBMB focused meeting/FEBS workshop: Crosstalk between nucleus and mitochondria in human disease (CrossMitoNus)
Authors: Díaz‐Moreno Irene , De la Rosa Miguel A.
Published: March 2021

The IUBMB Focused Meeting/FEBS Workshop titled ‘Crosstalk between Nucleus and Mitochondria in Human Disease‘(CrossMitoNus) will take place on September 7–10, 2021 in Seville (Spain), with the support of both the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB) and the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS). Mitochondria are key organelles that act as a hub for vital metabolic processes, for example, energy transduction by oxidative phosphorylation, intermediary metabolism, redox signaling, calcium and iron homeostasis, heme and steroid biosynthesis, metal homeostasis, programmed cell death, and innate immunity. Consequently, a wide assortment of diseases—including neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, cancer, rare syndromes, and many others—relate to mitochondrial dysfunction. The high relevance of mitochondria in metabolism centers on the core of cell signaling pathways, including those involved in cell‐fate decisions. Critical metabolites synthesized in mitochondria are, for instance, key modulators of the sirtuin, AMPK, mTOR, and Hypoxia‐inducible Factor 1A pathways. Mitochondria are indeed the major source of reactive oxygen species, which in turn mediate several regulatory routes. Interestingly, multiple nuclear‐encoded factors control essential processes in mitochondrial dynamics, namely fusion (for instance, OPA1), fission (DNM1L), transport (RHOT1), and mitophagy (PINK1). The release of mitochondrial factors like cytochrome c to the cytoplasm is indeed key for the rapid onset of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. The CrossMitoNus meeting aims to join efforts from diverse disciplines to unveil the mitochondrial and nuclear factors that are emerging as essential elements in mitochondria‐nucleus communication. Needless to say, the mechanisms regulating mitochondrial protein trafficking into and out of the nucleus and the role of these proteins in the nucleus remain to be elucidated.
Multivariate analysis of Brillouin imaging data by supervised and unsupervised learning
Authors: Xiang YuChen , Seow Kai Ling C. , Paterson Carl , Török Peter
Published: March 2021

Brillouin imaging relies on the reliable extraction of subtle spectral information from hyperspectral datasets. To date, the mainstream practice has been to use line fitting of spectral features to retrieve the average peak shift and linewidth parameters. Good results, however, depend heavily on sufficient signal‐to‐noise ratio and may not be applicable in complex samples that consist of spectral mixtures. In this work, we thus propose the use of various multivariate algorithms that can be used to perform supervised or unsupervised analysis of the hyperspectral data, with which we explore advanced image analysis applications, namely unmixing, classification and segmentation in a phantom and live cells. The resulting images are shown to provide more contrast and detail, and obtained on a timescale ∼102 faster than fitting. The estimated spectral parameters are consistent with those calculated from pure fitting.
Mucoadhesive hyaluronic acid‐based films for vaginal delivery of metronidazole
Authors: Gerton Marina L. , Mann Brenda K.
Published: March 2021

Bacterial vaginosis is a prevalent women's health issue that affects millions of women worldwide every year; however, current treatments are often messy, inconvenient, and ineffective. Therefore, we developed a new hyaluronic acid‐based film to deliver metronidazole that would be more effective, more convenient, and at a pH similar to that of the normal vaginal environment. Films were made by crosslinking modified hyaluronic acid to create a hydrogel, in which metronidazole or metronidazole benzoate and methylcellulose were incorporated, and the hydrogel was dried to a thin film. Through release testing, coupled with assessments of handleability, tensile strength, and mucoadhesion, it was determined that the films have the potential to remain in the vaginal environment for an extended time period and gradually release the drug for at least 6 days, which is a typical treatment length. As such, the films present a viable alternative to current treatment methods, allowing for both easy handling and a single treatment while eliminating the issues of pH and overall inconvenience.
Controllable wide temperature range and high damping polyurethane elastomer based on disulfide bond and dangling chain
Authors: Xiaolin Jiang , Rui Qin , Minhui Wang , Min Xu , Yeming Sheng , Xun Lu
Published: March 2021

Aiming at the common problems of weak controllability of damping temperature range and poor mechanical properties in damping elastomer materials. Herein, we design a polyurethane‐containing dynamic disulfide bonds and dangling chains to address this dilemma. The as‐prepared polyurethane exhibits an unprecedented damping range of 182°C (−62 to 120°C), and the tensile strength reaches 6.8 MPa, which is at the forefront of the same type of research. We innovatively introduce aromatic disulfides to the system, in which disulfide bonds can be spontaneously exchanged dynamically at room temperature, making the damping performance of the elastomer above room temperature improved, and a small amount of hydroxyl‐terminated polydimethylsiloxane (OH‐PDMS) is used as a dangling chain to promote the damping property of the elastomer between the glass transition temperature and room temperature. The synergistic effect of disulfide bonds and dangling chains makes the controllability of polyurethane damping temperature range realized. Furthermore, polyurethane elastomer is equipped with good thermal stability duo to the introduction of OH‐PDMS. And, the high‐performance polyurethane elastomer has great potential in practical application.
Real‐world evidence to support regulatory decision making: New or expanded medical product indications
Authors: Franklin Jessica M. , Liaw Kai‐Li , Iyasu Solomon , Critchlow Cathy W. , Dreyer Nancy A.
Published: March 2021

There is increasing interest in utilizing real‐world data (RWD) to produce real‐world evidence (RWE) on the benefits and risks of medical products that could support regulatory approval decisions. The field of pharmacoepidemiology has a long history of focusing on data and evidence that would now be termed “real‐world,” including evidence from healthcare claims, registries, and electronic health records. However, several emerging trends over the past decade are converging to support the use of these and other RWD sources for approval decisions, and there are several recent examples and ongoing research that demonstrate how RWE may be used to support regulatory approval of new or expanded indications. The goal of this article is to review the current landscape and future directions of the use of RWE in this context. This manuscript is endorsed by the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE).
Reaching performance scale for stroke – Test‐retest reliability, measurement error, concurrent and discriminant validity
Authors: Subramanian Sandeep K. , Baniña Melanie C. , Turolla Andrea , Levin Mindy F.
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Post‐stroke upper limb motor improvement can be better quantified by describing movement patterns characterizing movement quality and use of compensations. Movement patterns can be described using both kinematic and clinical outcomes. One clinical outcome that assesses movement quality and compensations used for reaching a Close (18 points) and Far target (18 points) is the Reaching Performance Scale for Stroke (RPSS).

Objective

To estimate the pilot test‐retest reliability and validity (concurrent, discriminant) of the RPSS in individuals with chronic stroke.

Design

Retrospective data analysis.

Setting

Research laboratory.

Participants

Seventy‐two individuals with upper limb hemiparesis ≥6 months prior to participation.

Intervention

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measure

RPSS Close and Far Target scores. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) helped assess pilot test‐retest reliability on a subset of 14 participants. Concurrent validity was assessed for individual RPSS items with corresponding kinematic outcomes (trunk displacement, shoulder flexion, shoulder horizontal adduction, elbow extension, trajectory straightness) using Pearson correlations. We also ran multiple regression analyses with the RPSS total scores and used kinematic outcomes as the criterion standard. Logistic regression analyses estimated discriminant validity. We divided participants into two groups based on the Fugl‐Meyer Assessment (FMA) scores (mild: ≥50/66; moderate‐to‐severe: ≤49/66).

Results

Test‐retest reliability was excellent for Close (ICC = 0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.94–0.99) and Far targets (ICC = 0.98, 95% CI 0.95–0.99). Individual RPSS items for both targets were mildly to moderately correlated with corresponding kinematic values. A combination of trajectory straightness, elbow extension, and trunk displacement explained the majority of the variance in RPSS scores (47%) for both targets. The RPSS scores discriminated between individuals with mild and moderate‐to‐severe motor impairment for both Close (ExpB = 3.33, P < .001; 95% CI 1.70–6.52) and Far targets (ExpB = 2.59, P < .001, 95% CI 1.65–4.07). Cutoff points for transition between groups were 15.5 (Close target) and 14 (Far target).

Conclusion

The RPSS is a valid clinical measure with excellent pilot results of test‐retest reliability for assessing movement patterns and compensations used for reaching.
Introduction to Transmedia in Asia and the Pacific
Authors: Gilardi Filippo , Lam Celia
Published: March 2021

The introduction reviews extant research on transmedia, with a focus on outlining definitions of the storytelling practice, as well as highlighting the main theoretical and industrial concerns of transmedia practices. The introduction describes the structure of the book focusing on the interplay between top-down and bottom-up transmedia practices. Top-down practices include government- and industry-driven practices and bottom-up focus on grassroots convergence, transcultural dialogue facilitated by transmedia activism among countries and communities from the region, and transmedia as a framework facilitating inclusiveness, formal and informal learning.
Teaching Transmedia in China: Complexity, Critical Thinking, and Digital Natives
Authors: Gilardi Filippo , Lam Celia
Published: March 2021

This chapter provides a reflection on our experience teaching a module on Transmedia Narratives and Digital Literacy to BA and MA students in the School of International Communications at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. The chapter builds its reflection on the annotated syllabus on Transmedia Storytelling and Entertainment designed by Henry Jenkins (2010), published with the aim of generating “some new cultural exchange around the topic” (p. 9) of teaching transmedia storytelling. We will discuss our choice to try to be as inclusive as possible by giving students examples from different countries and underlining some of the challenges of this decision. This will allow us to share several examples that could be used by educators to make their curricula more inclusive.
Conclusions
Authors: Gilardi Filippo , Lam Celia
Published: March 2021

The conclusion highlights where Asia and Pacific transmedia reaffirm western practices and where they innovate and suggest directions for future studies on transmedia storytelling in the region and beyond. Future directions include studies from a comparative perspective; crossfield studies-politics, activism, sociology, gender; studies looking at transmedia audiences motivation, and studies focusing on transmedia education.
Investigations on quality characteristics in gas tungsten arc welding process using artificial neural network integrated with genetic algorithm
Authors: Tomaz Italo do Valle , Colaço Fernando Henrique Gruber , Sarfraz Shoaib , Pimenov Danil Yu. , Gupta Munish Kumar , Pintaude Giuseppe
Published: March 2021

Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) technology is widely used in industry and has advantages, including high precision, excellent welding quality, and low equipment cost. However, the inclusion of a large number of process parameters hinders its application on a wider scale. Therefore, there is a need to implement the prediction and optimization models that effectively enhance the process performance of the GTAW process in different applications. In this study, a five-factor five-level central composite design (CCD) matrix was used to conduct GTAW experiments. AISI 1020 steel blank was used as a substrate; UTP AF Ledurit 60 and UTP AF Ledurit 68 were used as the materials of two tubular wires. Further, an artificial neural network (ANN) was used to simulate the GTAW process and then combined with a genetic algorithm (GA) to determine welding parameters that can provide an optimal weld. In welding experiments, five different welding current levels, welding speed, distance to the nozzle, angle of movement, and frequency of the wire feed pulses were used. Using GA, optimal welding parameters were determined: welding current = 222 A, welding speed = 25 cm/min, nozzle deflection distance = 8 mm, travel angle = 25°, wire feed pulse frequency = 8 Hz. The determination coefficient (R2) and RMSE value of all response parameters are satisfactory, and the R2 of all the data remained higher than 0.65.
Testing the binomial fixed effects logit model, with an application to female labour supply
Authors: Winkelmann Rainer , Xu Lin
Published: March 2021

Regression models for proportions are frequently encountered in applied work. The conditional expectation function is bounded between 0 and 1 and therefore must be nonlinear, requiring nonstandard panel data extensions. One possible approach is the binomial panel logit model with fixed effects (Machado in J Econom 119:73–98, 2004). We propose a new and simple implementation of this conditional maximum likelihood estimator for standard software. We investigate the properties of the estimator under misspecification and derive a new test for overdispersion. Estimator and test are applied in a study of contracted working volumes, measured as proportion of full-time work, for women in Switzerland.
Perceptual-motor styles
Authors: Vidal Pierre-Paul , Lacquaniti Francesco
Published: March 2021

Even for a stereotyped task, sensorimotor behavior is generally variable due to noise, redundancy, adaptability, learning or plasticity. The sources and significance of different kinds of behavioral variability have attracted considerable attention in recent years. However, the idea that part of this variability depends on unique individual strategies has been explored to a lesser extent. In particular, the notion of style recurs infrequently in the literature on sensorimotor behavior. In general use, style refers to a distinctive manner or custom of behaving oneself or of doing something, especially one that is typical of a person, group of people, place, context, or period. The application of the term to the domain of perceptual and motor phenomenology opens new perspectives on the nature of behavioral variability, perspectives that are complementary to those typically considered in the studies of sensorimotor variability. In particular, the concept of style may help toward the development of personalised physiology and medicine by providing markers of individual behaviour and response to different stimuli or treatments. Here, we cover some potential applications of the concept of perceptual-motor style to different areas of neuroscience, both in the healthy and the diseased. We prefer to be as general as possible in the types of applications we consider, even at the expense of running the risk of encompassing loosely related studies, given the relative novelty of the introduction of the term perceptual-motor style in neurosciences.
Numerical simulations of the polydisperse droplet size distribution of disperse blends in complex flow
Authors: Wong Wing-Hin B. , Janssen Pieter J. A. , Hulsen Martien A. , Anderson Patrick D.
Published: March 2021

The blend morphology model developed by Wong et al. (Rheologica Acta, 2019), based on Peters et al. (J Rheol 45(3):659–689, 2001), is used to investigate the development of the polydispersity of the disperse polymer blend morphology in complex flow. First, the model is extended with additional morphological states. The extended model is tested for simple shear flow, where it is found that the droplet size distribution does not simply scale with the shear rate, because this scaling does not hold for coalescing droplets. Subsequently, the model is applied to Poiseuille flow, showing formation of distinct layers, which occurs in realistic pressure-driven flows. Finally, the model is applied on an eccentric cylinder flow, where histograms are made of the average droplet size throughout the domain. It is observed that outer cylinder rotation results in narrow distributions where the small droplets are relatively large, whereas inner cylinder rotation results in broad distributions where the small droplets are significantly smaller than in the case of outer cylinder rotation. Eccentricity seems to only have a minor effect if the maximum shear rate is held constant. The flow profile and history in combination with the maximum shear rate strongly determine how the polydisperse droplet size distribution develops.
Neural cell-surface and intracellular autoantibodies in patients with cognitive impairment from a memory clinic cohort
Authors: Hansen Niels , Malchow Berend , Zerr Inga , Stöcker Winfried , Wiltfang Jens , Timäus Charles
Published: March 2021

Autoantibody-associated cognitive impairment is an expanding field in geriatric psychiatry. We aim to assess the association between the presence of specific neural autoantibodies and cognitive performance in a memory clinic cohort. 154 patients with cognitive impairment were included between 2019 and 2020 presenting initially in a memory clinic. We evaluated their patient files retrospectively applying epidemiologic parameters, psychopathology, neuropsychology, intracellular and membrane-surface autoantibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and markers of neurodegeneration in CSF. In 26 of 154 patients, we searched for neural autoantibodies due to indicators for autoimmunity. In 15/26 (58%) of patients we detected serum and/or CSF autoantibodies. We identified autoantibodies against intracellular or cell-surface antigens in 7 of all 26 (27%) patients with cognitive dysfunction, although we cannot exclude patients with potential specific autoantibodies lacking autoimmune indicators. There were no significant differences between psychopathological and neuropsychological profiles in groups of patients with cognitive impairment comprising patients with autoantibodies (ABS + COG), no autoantibodies (ABS − COG), and Alzheimer’s disease (ADCOG). Concerning our CSF parameters, we detected intrathecal IgG synthesis in 14% of ABS + COG and in 13% of ABS − COG patients, whereas no intrathecal IgG synthesis was found in ADCOG patients. Furthermore, CSF Aß42 was significantly diminished in the ADCOG compared to the ABS + COG group (p < 0.05). In addition, the Aß42/40 ratio was lower in ADCOG patients than in the ABS + COG or ABS − COG group (p < 0.05). Our findings reveal the underestimated occurrence and autoantibodies’ potential role in patients presenting cognitive impairment. Furthermore, the patients with possible Alzheimer’s disease might be differentiated from autoantibody-positive patients via a reduced Aß42 and Aß42/40 ratio in the CSF. The antibody-type varies between patients to a relevant degree, thus demonstrating the need for more research to identify subgroup-specific phenotypes. These pilot study results open an avenue for improving diagnosis and treatment in a memory clinic.
Specific mindfulness traits protect against negative effects of trait anxiety on medical student wellbeing during high-pressure periods
Authors: Fino E. , Martoni M. , Russo P. M.
Published: March 2021

Medical education is highly demanding and evidence shows that medical students are three times more susceptible to deteriorating physical and mental health than the average college student. While trait anxiety may further increase such risk, little is known about the role of trait mindfulness in mitigating these effects. Here we examine the protective role of specific mindfulness facets as mediators in pathways from trait anxiety to perceived stress, psychosomatic burden and sleep-wake quality in medical students, across repeated measurements throughout the first trimester of the school year. Preclinical medical students enrolled in the second year of the Medical School of University of Bologna completed self-report questionnaires examining personality traits as well as physical and psychological wellbeing. Data were collected at the beginning (Time 1: N = 349) and the end of the first trimester (Time 2: N = 305). As students approached the end of the trimester and upcoming exams, reported levels of perceived stress, psychosomatic problems and difficulties in wakefulness increased significantly compared to the beginning of the trimester. Mediation results showed that trait anxiety predicted such outcomes whereas the protective role of mindfulness facets in mitigating these effects was significant only at Time 2. Specific facets of Nonjudging of inner experience and Acting with awareness proved to be the most effective mediators. Findings highlight that the beneficial role of mindfulness facets in mitigating negative consequences of trait anxiety on medical student wellbeing is revealed in high-pressure periods and when self-regulation is needed the most. Cultivating awareness and nonjudgmental acceptance of one’s inner experiences is a crucial self-regulation resource that can help medical students sustain their wellbeing as they learn and throughout their high-pressure education and professional careers.
A data-driven missing value imputation approach for longitudinal datasets
Authors: Ribeiro Caio , Freitas Alex A.
Published: March 2021

Longitudinal datasets of human ageing studies usually have a high volume of missing data, and one way to handle missing values in a dataset is to replace them with estimations. However, there are many methods to estimate missing values, and no single method is the best for all datasets. In this article, we propose a data-driven missing value imputation approach that performs a feature-wise selection of the best imputation method, using known information in the dataset to rank the five methods we selected, based on their estimation error rates. We evaluated the proposed approach in two sets of experiments: a classifier-independent scenario, where we compared the applicabilities and error rates of each imputation method; and a classifier-dependent scenario, where we compared the predictive accuracy of Random Forest classifiers generated with datasets prepared using each imputation method and a baseline approach of doing no imputation (letting the classification algorithm handle the missing values internally). Based on our results from both sets of experiments, we concluded that the proposed data-driven missing value imputation approach generally resulted in models with more accurate estimations for missing data and better performing classifiers, in longitudinal datasets of human ageing. We also observed that imputation methods devised specifically for longitudinal data had very accurate estimations. This reinforces the idea that using the temporal information intrinsic to longitudinal data is a worthwhile endeavour for machine learning applications, and that can be achieved through the proposed data-driven approach.
Investigating soil carbon diversity by combining the MAXimum ENTropy principle with the Q model
Authors: Ågren Göran I.
Published: March 2021

Soil carbon diversity can be an important property for the stability of soil carbon. A problem is the lack of techniques for measuring this diversity. I suggest here the use of a combination of a general statistical principle, MAXimum ENTropy (MaxEnt), and a mechanistic model of organic matter decomposition, the Q model. The Q model provides the temporal development of the average carbon quality of litter and amount of soil organic C, which can be applied in a MaxEnt calculation to obtain a distribution of soil C over qualities. This distribution may not be the actual distribution but it is the most probable one. This distribution can be used to calculate aggregate properties for the total of soil C. I will use this distribution to calculate the temporal development of the variance in C quality as an expression of C diversity. The general tendency is that the variance declines with time of decomposition. Six long-term bare fallow (LTBF) from different climatic and management conditions were used to investigate which system properties are most important for the temporal development of the variance. The initial quality of the litter forming soil C is the dominant property. Chemical shifts in NMR spectra were tested as a possible way of measuring the variance in C quality.
Spatiotemporal shifts of population and war under climate change in imperial China
Authors: Zhang Shengda , Zhang David Dian , Pei Qing
Published: March 2021

Studies on the spatiotemporal relationship between historical climate change and the patterns of population and war are rare. In this research, statistical methods (such as correlation test and Granger causality analysis) and visualization technique are applied to demonstrate how temperature, in terms of long-term trend and cyclic mode, fundamentally affects the temporal-spatial variations of population center and war center during imperial China (5–1911 CE). Results show that (1) the consistent southward migration of population center and war center overall accords with the macro-trend of temperature cooling over the last two millennia. (2) The extent of the outward expansion of the Chinese Empire is measured by the population center–war center distance that lengthens during warm periods but shortens in cold phases, which correspond to the north/west/northwestward advancement and south/east/eastward retreatment of war center, respectively, while population center moves within a small range. (3) The shift of population latitude precedes that of war latitude, indicating the change from ecological-demographic to social-political sphere in space. We suggest that similar to population center, the temperature-influenced ancient Hu Line, which symbolizes the disparity of population density in different regions of China, may shift by several hundred kilometers; latitudinal rather than longitudinal variations of population center and war center are more robust in history. We also find that precipitation controls war center and population center on the multicentennial scale, but not the scale focused upon in this study. These findings provide new insights and theoretical implications into the in-depth understanding of the nature–human nexus.
Detection range and efficiency of acoustic telemetry receivers in a connected wetland system
Authors: Winter Emily R. , Hindes Andrew M. , Lane Steve , Britton J. Robert
Published: March 2021

Acoustic telemetry is an important tool for assessing the behavioural ecology of aquatic animals, but the performance of receivers can vary spatially and temporally according to changes in environmental gradients. Studies testing detection efficiency and/ or detection range are, therefore, important for data interpretation, although the most thorough range-testing approaches are often costly or impractical, such as the use of fixed sentinel tags. Here, stationary tag data (from study animals that had either died or expelled their tags) provided a substitute for the long-term monitoring of receiver performance in a wetland environment and was complemented by periodic boat-based range testing, with testing of the effects of environmental variables (water temperature, conductivity, transparency, precipitation, wind speed, acoustic noise) on detection efficiency (DE) and detection range (DR). Stationary tag DE was highly variable temporally, the most influential factors being water temperature and precipitation. Transparency was a strong predictor of DR and was dependent on chlorophyll concentration (a surrogate measure of algal density). These results highlight the value of stationary tag data in assessments of acoustic receiver performance. The high seasonal variability in DE and DR emphasises the need for long-term receiver monitoring to enable robust conclusions to be drawn from telemetry data.
Pulmonary Follow-Up Imaging in Cartilage-Hair Hypoplasia: a Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Vakkilainen Svetlana , Klemetti Paula , Martelius Timi , Seppänen Mikko JR , Mäkitie Outi , Toiviainen-Salo Sanna
Published: March 2021

Cartilage-hair hypoplasia is a syndromic immunodeficiency with short stature, chondrodysplasia, and variable degree of immune dysfunction. Patients with cartilage-hair hypoplasia are prone to recurrent respiratory tract infections, and the prevalence of bronchiectasis ranges from 29 to 52%. Pulmonary complications contribute significantly to the mortality; therefore, regular lung imaging is essential. However, the optimal schedule for repeated lung imaging remains unestablished. We determined the rate and correlates of progression of structural lung changes in a prospectively followed cohort of 16 patients with cartilage-hair hypoplasia. We analyzed clinical, laboratory, and pulmonary functional testing data and performed lung magnetic resonance imaging at a median interval of 6.8 years since previous imaging. Imaging findings remained identical or improved due to disappearance of inflammatory changes in all evaluated patients. Patients with subtle signs of bronchiectasis on imaging tended to have low immunoglobulin M levels, as well as suffered from pneumonia during the follow-up. In conclusion, our results suggest slow if any development of bronchiectasis in selected subjects with cartilage-hair hypoplasia.
Travelling Waves for Adaptive Grid Discretizations of Reaction Diffusion Systems II: Linear Theory
Authors: Hupkes H. J. , Van Vleck E. S.
Published: March 2021

In this paper we consider an adaptive spatial discretization scheme for the Nagumo PDE. The scheme is a commonly used spatial mesh adaptation method based on equidistributing the arclength of the solution under consideration. We assume that this equidistribution is strictly enforced, which leads to the non-local problem with infinite range interactions that we derived in Hupkes and Van Vleck (J Dyn Differ Equ 28:955, 2016). For small spatial grid-sizes, we establish some useful Fredholm properties for the operator that arises after linearizing our system around the travelling wave solutions to the original Nagumo PDE. In particular, we perform a singular perturbation argument to lift these properties from the natural limiting operator. This limiting operator is a spatially stretched and twisted version of the standard second order differential operator that is associated to the PDE waves.
Efficient Numerical Evaluation of Thermodynamic Quantities on Infinite (Semi-)classical Chains
Authors: Mendl Christian B. , Bornemann Folkmar
Published: March 2021

This work presents an efficient numerical method to evaluate the free energy density and associated thermodynamic quantities of (quasi) one-dimensional classical systems, by combining the transfer operator approach with a numerical discretization of integral kernels using quadrature rules. For analytic kernels, the technique exhibits exponential convergence in the number of quadrature points. As demonstration, we apply the method to a classical particle chain, to the semiclassical nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation and to a classical system on a cylindrical lattice. A comparison with molecular dynamics simulations performed for the NLS model shows very good agreement.
The Bidirectional Relationship Between Subjective Well-Being and Academic Achievement in Adolescence
Authors: Bortes Cristian , Ragnarsson Susanne , Strandh Mattias , Petersen Solveig
Published: March 2021

The well-being of young people in relation to their school performance has received increased attention in recent years. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the longitudinal and reciprocal relationship between adolescents’ subjective well-being and their academic achievements. The current study examined the bidirectional relationship between subjective well-being and academic achievement across two timepoints (T1 and T2) during the course of mid to late adolescence, i.e., in school year 9 (age 15), and school years 11–12 (ages 17–18). The study also investigated variation in the association as a function of adolescent gender. Data on subjective well-being and teacher-assigned school grades of 723 adolescents (48.7% girls) residing in Sweden were analyzed by estimating a series of cross-lagged path models. The findings suggest gender differences in the relationship as no associations were found among boys. Support for a bidirectional relationship between the constructs was only found for girls. For girls, higher subjective well-being at T1 was associated with higher academic achievements at T2, while higher academic achievements at T1 was associated with lower subjective well-being at T2. These findings highlight that the subjective well-being of adolescent girls may be important for their ability to perform at school, but their academic achievements may also inflict negatively on their subjective well-being.
Trace and Density Results on Regular Trees
Authors: Koskela Pekka , Nguyen Khanh Ngoc , Wang Zhuang
Published: March 2021

The boundary of a regular tree can be viewed as a Cantor-type set. We equip our tree with a weighted distance and a weighted measure via the Euclidean arc-length and consider the associated first-order Sobolev spaces. We give characterizations for the existence of traces and for the density of compactly supported functions.
Accuracy of Households’ Dwelling Valuations, Housing Demand and Mortgage Decisions: Israeli Case
Authors: Koblyakova Alla , Fleishman Larisa , Furman Orly
Published: March 2021

Housing policy, as well as academic research, are increasingly concerned with the role of bias in subjective dwelling valuations as a proximate measure of households’ house price expectations and their relationship with housing demand. This paper contributes to this area of study by exploring the possibility of simultaneous relationships between households’ price expectations and incentive to maximise the size of housing services demanded also accounting for the supply side factors and regional perspective. The empirical estimation takes the form of a system of a two simultaneous equations model applying two stage least squares estimation technique. Cross sectional estimations utilise data extracted from the Israeli Longitudinal Panel Survey (LPS) data. Applying the best available proxy for households’ price expectations, calculated as the ratio between subjective dwelling valuations (LPS) and the estimated market value of the same properties, research has identified the interrelated factors that simultaneously influence householders’ price expectations and housing demand. Results offer conceptual and empirical advantages, highlighting the imperfect nature of the housing market, as reflected by the inseparability of bias in subjective valuations and housing decisions.
Seasonal feeding plasticity can facilitate coexistence of dominant omnivores in Neotropical streams
Authors: Neves Mayara P. , Kratina Pavel , Delariva Rosilene L. , Jones J. Iwan , Fialho Clarice B.
Published: March 2021

Coexistence of ecomorphologically similar species in diverse Neotropical ecosystems has been a focus of long-term debate among ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Such coexistence can be promoted by trophic plasticity and seasonal changes in omnivorous feeding. We combined stomach content and stable isotope analyses to determine how seasonal variation in resource availability influences the consumption and assimilation of resources by two syntopic fish species,Psalidodonaff.gymnodontusandP. bifasciatus, in the Lower Iguaçu basin. We also tested the impact of seasonality on trophic niche breadth and diet overlap of these two dominant omnivores. Seasonal changes in resource availability strongly influenced the consumption and assimilation of resources by the two fish species.Both species exhibited high levels of omnivory, characterized by high diversity of allochthonous resources in the wet season. Terrestrial invertebrates were the main component of diet during this season. However, in the dry season, both species reduced their isotopic niches, indicating diet specialization. High diet overlap was observed in both seasons, but the isotopic niche overlap was smaller in the dry season. Substantial reduction in the isotopic niche ofP. bifascistusand a shift toward aquatic invertebrates can facilitate coexistence during this season of resource shortage. Feeding plasticity allows omnivorous fish to adjust their trophic niches according to seasonality, promoting the exploitation of different resources during periods of greater resource diversity. This seasonal variation could be an important mechanism that contributes to the resource partitioning and coexistence of dominant omnivores in Neotropical streams.
Yet again, quantum indeterminacy is not worldly indecision
Authors: Corti Alberto
Published: March 2021

It has been argued that non-relativistic quantum mechanics is the best hunting ground for genuine examples of metaphysical indeterminacy. Approaches to metaphysical indeterminacy can be divided into two families: meta-level and object-level accounts. It has been shown (Darby in Australasian Journal of Philosophy 88(2):27–245, 2010.10.1080/00048400903097786; Skow in Philosophical Quarterly 60(241):851–858, 2010) that the most popular version of the meta-level accounts, namely the metaphysical supervaluationism proposed by Barnes and Williams (Oxford Studies in Metaphysics, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 103–148, 2011), fails to deal with quantum indeterminacy. Such a fact has been taken by many as a challenge to adapt supervaluationism to quantum cases. In this paper, I will focus on the very last of these attempts, i.e. the situation semantics account proposed by Darby and Pickup (Synthese 1–26, 2019). After having shown where quantum indeterminacy arises and having surveyed the assumptions endorsed by the participants of the debate, I turn to Darby and Pickup’s proposal. I argue that, despite the machinery introduced, their account still fails to account for quantum indeterminacy. After considering some possible counterarguments, I suggest in the conclusion that one can plausibly extend the argument to those meta-level approaches that treat quantum indeterminacy as worldly indecision.
Predictive value of preprocedural albuminuria for contrast-induced nephropathy non-recovery in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Chen Hanchuan , You Zhebin , Zhang Sicheng , He Chen , He Haoming , Luo Manjing , Lin Xueqin , Zhang Liwei , Lin Kaiyang , Guo Yansong
Published: March 2021

Objective

The present study investigated the predictive value of albuminuria for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) non-recovery in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled 550 consecutive patients inflicted with CIN after PCI and reassessing kidney function among 1 week–12 months between January 2012 and December 2018. Patients were stratified into three groups according to urine albumin: negative group (urine dipstick negative), trace group (urine dipstick trace) and positive group (urine dipstick ≥ 1 +). The primary outcomes were CIN non-recovery (a decrease of serum creatinine which remains ≥ 25% or 0.5 mg/dL over baseline at 1 week–12 months after PCI in patients inflicted with CIN). The odds ratio (OR) of CIN non-recovery was analyzed by logistic regression using the negative urine dipstick group as the reference group.

Results

Overall, 88 (16.0%) patients had trace urinary albumin, 74 (13.5%) patients had positive urinary albumin and 40 (7.3%) patients developed CIN non-recovery. Patients with positive urinary albumin had significantly higher incidence of CIN non-recovery [negative (3.4%), trace (11.4%) and positive (23.0%), respectively; P < 0.0001]. Multivariate analysis showed that trace and positive urinary albumin were associated with an increased risk of CIN non-recovery (trace vs negative: OR 2.88, P = 0.022; positive vs negative: OR 2.99, P = 0.021). These associations were consistent in subgroups of patients stratified by CIN non-recovery risk predictors. And CIN non-recovery was associated with an increased risk of long-term mortality during a mean follow-up period of 703 days (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Preprocedural albuminuria was associated with CIN non-recovery in patients undergoing PCI.
Delineating the influence of water conditions and landscape on plant communities in eutrophic ditch networks
Authors: Mauchamp André , Gore Olivier , Paillisson Jean-Marc , Bergerot Benjamin , Bonis Anne
Published: March 2021

Marshlands and floodplains are generally characterized by a long history of human occupation and management, with strong impacts on biodiversity. In these landscapes, ditch networks often represent the last or most significant aquatic habitat, and significantly contribute to regional biodiversity. To determine the drivers of biodiversity in ditch networks, especially the importance of the water regime, we monitored vegetation in ditches in 11 sites (independent blocks of ditch networks) of an Atlantic marshland (the Marais poitevin, France) over a 4-year period, and a panel of local environmental conditions and landscape characteristics. Large differences in the species richness and composition of ditch plant communities were observed among sites. The water regime had a predominant effect on all descriptors of ditch plant communities. High water levels combined with strong temporal variability, including drying-out periods, were found associated to the communities with the highest species richness. By contrast, water quality parameters did not influence plant communities across sites. Among landscape variables, woodland cover combined with high hedge cover along the ditches significantly influenced plant composition and species richness. These results are discussed in terms of management actions that may promote the diversity and composition of ditch plant communities and address conservation challenges.
Initial coin offerings and the cryptocurrency hype - the moderating role of exogenous and endogenous signals
Authors: Thies Ferdinand , Wallbach Sören , Wessel Michael , Besler Markus , Benlian Alexander
Published: March 2021

Initial coin offerings (ICOs) have recently emerged as a new financing instrument for entrepreneurial ventures, spurring economic and academic interest. Nevertheless, the impact of exogenous and endogenous signals on the performance of ICOs as well as the effects of the cryptocurrency hype and subsequent downfall of Bitcoin between 2016 and 2019 remain underexplored. We applied ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions based on a dataset containing 1597 ICOs that covers almost 2.5 years. The results show that exogenous and endogenous signals have a significant effect on the funds raised in ICOs. We also find that the Bitcoin price heavily drives the performance of ICOs. However, this hype effect is moderated, as high-quality ICOs are not pegged to these price developments. Revealing the interplay between hypes and signals in the ICO’s asset class should broaden the discussion of this emerging digital phenomenon.
Aerial Photographs Uncover Bogot�’s Indigenous Hydraulic System
Authors: Garz�n Camilo , Fl�rez Santiago
Published: March 2021

Complex hydraulic systems built by the Muisca people helped define the vibrant urban wetlands of Colombia’s capital city.
First-principles study of the structural and electrochemical properties of NaxTi2O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) with tunnel structure for anode applications in alkali-ion batteries
Authors: Choe Song-Hyok , Yu Chol-Jun , Pak Yong-Chol , Choe Ye-Gyong , Jon Kwang-Il , Kim Jin-Song , Ri Kum-Chol
Published: March 2021

The structural, electrochemical, and electronic properties of NaxTi2O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) were studied with DFT calculations.
Energy density of high-pressure nitrogen-rich MNx compounds
Authors: Jiao Fangbao , Zhang Chaoyang , Xie Weiyu
Published: March 2021

This work has compared the energy densities of high-pressure MNx compounds with polymeric nitrogen oligomers and thermodynamic/dynamical stability. The correlation between energy density and impurity properties is analyzed.