bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fierz–Pauli theory reloaded: from a theory of a symmetric tensor field to linearized massive gravity
Authors: Gambuti Giulio , Maggiore Nicola
Published: February 2021

Modifying gravity at large distances by means of a massive graviton may explain the observed acceleration of the Universe without Dark Energy. The standard paradigm for Massive Gravity is the Fierz–Pauli theory, which, nonetheless, displays well known flaws in its massless limit. The most serious one is represented by the vDVZ discontinuity, which consists in a disagreement between the massless limit of the Fierz–Pauli theory and General Relativity. Our approach is based on a field-theoretical treatment of Massive Gravity: General Relativity, in the weak field approximation, is treated as a gauge theory of a symmetric rank-2 tensor field. This leads us to propose an alternative theory of linearized Massive Gravity, describing five degrees of freedom of the graviton, with a good massless limit, without vDVZ discontinuity, and depending on one mass parameter only, in agreement with the Fierz–Pauli theory.
Warm inflation with non-comoving scalar field and radiation fluid
Authors: Harko Tiberiu , Sheikhahmadi Haidar
Published: February 2021

We consider a warm inflationary scenario in which the two major fluid components of the early Universe, the scalar field and the radiation fluid, evolve with distinct four-velocities. This cosmological configuration is equivalent to a single anisotropic fluid, expanding with a four-velocity that is a combination of the two fluid four-velocities. Due to the presence of anisotropies the overall cosmological evolution is also anisotropic. We obtain the gravitational field equations of the non-comoving scalar field–radiation mixture for a Bianchi Type I geometry. By assuming the decay of the scalar field, accompanied by a corresponding radiation generation, we formulate the basic equations of the warm inflationary model in the presence of two non-comoving components. By adopting the slow-roll approximation the theoretical predictions of the warm inflationary scenario with non-comoving scalar field and radiation fluid are compared in detail with the observational data obtained by the Planck satellite in both weak dissipation and strong dissipation limits, and constraints on the free parameters of the model are obtained. The functional forms of the scalar field potentials compatible with the non-comoving nature of warm inflation are also obtained.
Beam loss monitoring with unfolding techniques
Authors: Caresana M. , Ferrarini M. , Frosini M. , Reginatto M.
Published: February 2021

Since the first particle accelerator’s construction in 1931, an exponential spread of these machines occurred worldwide, in different kinds of applications. Nowadays, these are mainly used for industrial (60%) and medical (35%) purposes and for scientific research (5%). High energy secondary mixed fields produced by the particle beams interaction with matter imply a complex environmental dosimetry and special radiation protection regulations able to guarantee workers and population safety. In the medical field, this aspect is particularly emphasized in hadrontherapy centres, where high energy charged particles such as protons and carbon ions modify environmental doses, with a significant increase in the neutron contribution. This work proposes a technique to identify points of losses of the primary particle beam around an acceleration ring and has been developed within the radiation protection section at the National Centre for Oncological Hadrontherapy situated in Pavia. In the first part, the radiation field produced by protons and carbon ions interactions with structural materials at different energies was investigated. The main instrument of analysis is the Monte Carlo code for particle transport FLUKA, supported by experimental measurements in the treatment room carried out with the rem counter LUPIN, designed for pulsed neutron fields dosimetry. This first step allowed an analysis of both the angular and energetic instrumental response and a comparison of experimental results with simulations. The second part proposes a description of the technique for beam loss positions reconstruction around the acceleration ring at CNAO based on the application of unfolding codes.
Recognizing Generating Subgraphs Revisited
Authors: Levit Vadim E. , Tankus David
Published: February 2021

A graph [Formula: see text] is well-covered if all its maximal independent sets are of the same cardinality. Assume that a weight function [Formula: see text] is defined on its vertices. Then [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text]well-covered if all maximal independent sets are of the same weight. For every graph [Formula: see text], the set of weight functions [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text]-well-covered is a vector space, denoted as WCW(G). Deciding whether an input graph [Formula: see text] is well-covered is co-NP-complete. Therefore, finding WCW(G) is co-NP-hard. A generating subgraph of a graph [Formula: see text] is an induced complete bipartite subgraph [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] on vertex sets of bipartition [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], such that each of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is a maximal independent set of [Formula: see text], for some independent set [Formula: see text]. If [Formula: see text] is generating, then [Formula: see text] for every weight function [Formula: see text]. Therefore, generating subgraphs play an important role in finding WCW(G). The decision problem whether a subgraph of an input graph is generating is known to be NP-complete. In this article we prove NP- completeness of the problem for graphs without cycles of length 3 and 5, and for bipartite graphs with girth at least 6. On the other hand, we supply polynomial algorithms for recognizing generating subgraphs and finding WCW(G), when the input graph is bipartite without cycles of length 6. We also present a polynomial algorithm which finds WCW(G) when [Formula: see text] does not contain cycles of lengths 3, 4, 5, and 7.
Unsteady rotating flow of nanofluid with prescribed thermal aspects
Authors: Ahmad Iftikhar , Faisal Muhammad , Javed Tariq
Published: February 2021

Motivated by the significant role of nanofluid in pollution cleaning and energy recovery, we decided to explore the unsteady three-dimensional rotating flow of nanofluid driven by the movement of a flat surface with the potencies of prescribed heat distributions. The modeling of the physical model is completed with the help of Buongiorno nanofluid model. Suitable arrangement of similarity variables is implemented to transform the model equations into strongly nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Numerical inspection of the model is made by employing Keller–Box algorithm. Influences of involved parameters on the distributions of heat and mass are discussed graphically, while the potencies of influential parameters on reduced Nusselt and reduced Sherwood numbers are physically discussed through tabular arrangements. It is deduced that increasing the values of Prandtl factor and heat controlling indices diminishes the temperature and concentration distributions, whereas intensification in the amount of rotation factor enhances the temperature as well as concentration distribution. Moreover, negative trends in the amounts of reduced Nusselt and Sherwood numbers are achieved with the escalations in the values of rotation and thermophoresis factors, whereas opposite trend is achieved with the intensification in the choice of Prandtl factor.
Transverse momentum-dependent parton distributions of pion in the light-front holographic model
Authors: Kaur Navdeep , Dahiya Harleen
Published: February 2021

Using the light-front holographic model, we study the transverse momentum-dependent parton distributions (TMDs) for the case of pion. At leading twist, the unpolarized parton distribution function [Formula: see text] and the Boer–Mulders function [Formula: see text] are obtained for pion. We calculate both the functions using the light-front holographic model with spin improved wave function and compare the predicted results with available results of other models. In order to provide inputs in predicting future experimental data, an LO evolution is performed from model scale to experimental scale for the case of unpolarized parton distribution function [Formula: see text].
A new look at Levi-Civita connection in noncommutative geometry
Authors: Bhowmick Jyotishman , Goswami Debashish , Joardar Soumalya
Published: February 2021

We prove the existence and uniqueness of Levi-Civita connections for strongly [Formula: see text]-compatible pseudo-Riemannian metrics on tame differential calculi. Such pseudo-Riemannian metrics properly contain the classes of bilinear metrics as well as their conformal deformations. This extends the previous results in [J. Bhowmick, D. Goswami and S. Mukhopadhyay, Levi-Civita connections for a class of spectral triples, Lett. Math. Phys. 110 (2020) 835–884] and [J. Bhowmick, D. Goswami and G. Landi, On the Koszul formula in noncommutative geometry, Rev. Math. Phys. 32(10) (2020) 2050032].
Construction of BiO2−x/Bi2O2.75 heterojunction for highly efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyue , Gao Caiyan , Wu Xiaoyong
Published: February 2021

Nowadays, using solar energy to convert CO2 into hydrocarbon fuels such as CO and methanol is considered as an attractive approach to alleviate environmental pollution and the energy crisis. However, the easy recombination of photo-generated carriers and holes of photocatalyst is still the main factor that inhibits photocatalytic performance for CO2 conversion. In this study, the BiO[Formula: see text]/Bi2O[Formula: see text] heterojunction complex was successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method. The BiO[Formula: see text]/Bi2O[Formula: see text] heterogeneous catalyst shows greatly improved photocatalytic performance for CO2 reduction, and the CO and CH4 yields obtained on BiO[Formula: see text]/Bi2O[Formula: see text] are 6.8 and 16 times compared with pure BiO[Formula: see text]. The improved photocatalytic performance can be ascribed to the rapid charge separation on BiO[Formula: see text]/Bi2O[Formula: see text] interface, thereby providing a favorable surface with suitable electronic structure for CO2 reduction. Subsequently, a possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed to explain the improved performance of photocatalytic CO2 reduction.
The Silurian inception of inland desert ecosystems: trace fossil evidence from the Mereenie Sandstone, Northern Territory, Australia
Authors: Shillito Anthony P. , Davies Neil S.
Published: February 2021

The Silurian was an interval of profound change in terrestrial ecosystems as the earliest non-marine animal communities began to become established on the continents. Whilst much is known about the transition of pioneering animals from shallow-marine to coastal and alluvial habitats, evidence for animal activity in contemporaneous aeolian strata is rare. Here, we present trace fossil evidence that closes this knowledge gap, indicating that Silurian desert environments, dominated by aeolian processes, were occupied by resident invertebrate communities. The evidence comes from the Mereenie Sandstone, Northern Territory, Australia, which is demonstrated to have been deposited in a wet inland aeolian system, typified by small crescentic sand dunes and extensive interdune flats. The invertebrate trace fossil associations from the Mereenie Sandstone (
Arenicolites
isp., ‘burrow entrance with radial feeding traces',
Didymaulichnus lyelli, Diplichnites gouldi, Helminthopsis
isp.,
Laevicyclus
isp.,
Palaeophycus
isp.,
Polarichnus garnierensis
,
Skolithos
isp.) are restricted to damp interdune deposits, whereas dune strata are barren. The ichnofauna are described and compared to those from other Palaeozoic aeolian systems, in order to re-evaluate the timing of the early stages of arthropod terrestrialization.
MiR‐599 Protects Cardiomyocytes against Oxidative Stress‐Induced Pyroptosis
Authors: Fan Xiaoying , Zhan Enbo , Yao Yuan , Zhang Ruoxi , Sun Yong , Tian Xuefeng
Published: February 2021

Oxidative stress is a crucial factor and key promoter of a variety of cardiovascular diseases associated with cardiomyocyte injury. Emerging literatures suggest that pyroptosis plays a key role in cardiac damages. However, whether pyroptosis contributes to cardiomyocyte injury under oxidative stress and the underlying molecular mechanisms are totally unclear. This study was designed to investigate the potential role of pyroptosis in H2O2‐induced cardiomyocyte injury and to elucidate the potential mechanisms. Primary cardiomyocytes from neonatal Wistar rats were utilized. These myocytes were treated with different concentrations of H2O2 (25, 50, and 100 μM) for 24 h to induce oxidative injury. Our results indicated that mRNA and protein levels of ASC were remarkably upregulated and caspase‐1 was activated. Moreover, the expressions of inflammatory factors IL‐1β and IL‐18 were also increased. Luciferase assay showed that miR‐599 inhibited ASC expression through complementary binding with its 3 ′UTR. MiR‐599 expression was substantially reduced in H2O2‐treated cardiomyocytes. Upregulation of miR‐599 inhibited cardiomyocyte pyroptosis under oxidative stress, and opposite results were found by decreasing the expression of miR‐599. Consistently, miR‐599 overexpression ameliorated cardiomyocyte injury caused by H2O2. Therefore, miR‐599 could be a promising therapeutic approach for the management of cardiac injury under oxidative condition.
Multifuzzy Cubic Sets and Their Correlation Coefficients for Multicriteria Group Decision-Making
Authors: Ye Jun , Du Shigui , Yong Rui
Published: February 2021

The notion of multifuzzy sets (MFSs) or multi-interval-valued fuzzy sets (MIVFSs) provides a new method to represent some problems with a sequence of the different and/or same fuzzy/interval-valued fuzzy membership values of an element to the set. Then, a fuzzy cubic set (FCS) consists of a certain part (a fuzzy value) and an uncertain part (an interval-valued fuzzy value) but cannot represent hybrid information of both MFS and MIVFS. To adequately depict the opinion of several experts/decision-makers by using a union/sequence of the different and/or same fuzzy cubic values for an object assessed in group decision-making (GDM) problems, this paper proposes a multifuzzy cubic set (MFCS) notion as the conceptual extension of FCS to express the hybrid information of both MFS and MIVFS in the fuzzy setting of both uncertainty and certainty. Then, we propose three correlation coefficients of MFCSs and then introduce correlation coefficients of MFSs and MIVFSs as special cases of the three correlation coefficients of MFCSs. Further, the multicriteria GDM methods using three weighted correlation coefficients of MFCSs are developed under the environment of MFCSs, which contains the MFS and MIVFS GDM methods. Lastly, these multicriteria GDM methods are applied in an illustrative example on the selection problem of equipment suppliers; then their decision results and comparative analysis indicate that the developed GDM methods are more practicable and effective and reflect that either different correlation coefficients or different information expressions can also impact on the ranking of alternatives. Therefore, this study indicates the main contribution of the multifuzzy cubic information expression, correlation coefficients, and GDM methods in the multifuzzy setting of both uncertainty and certainty.
Human Gait Analysis and Prediction Using the Levenberg-Marquardt Method
Authors: Alharbi Abdullah , Equbal Kamran , Ahmad Sultan , Rahman Haseeb Ur , Alyami Hashem
Published: February 2021

A high-accuracy gait data prediction model can be used to design prosthesis and orthosis for people having amputations or ailments of the lower limb. The objective of this study is to observe the gait data of different subjects and design a neural network to predict future gait angles for fixed speeds. The data were recorded via a Biometrics goniometer, while the subjects were walking on a treadmill for 20 seconds each at 2.4 kmph, 3.6 kmph, and 5.4 kmph. The data were then imported into Matlab, filtered to remove movement artifacts, and then used to design a neural network with 60% data for training, 20% for validation, and remaining 20% for testing using the LevenbergMarquardt method. The mean-squared error for all the cases was in the order of 10−3 or lower confirming that our method is correct. For further comparison, we randomly tested the neural network function with untrained data and compared the expected output with actual output of the neural network function using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and correlation plots. We conclude that our framework can be successfully used to design prosthesis and orthosis for lower limb. It can also be used to validate gait data and compare it to expected data in rehabilitation engineering.
Optimization for a Flexure Hinge Using an Effective Hybrid Approach of Fuzzy Logic and Moth-Flame Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Dang Minh Phung , Le Hieu Giang , Chau Ngoc Le , Dao Thanh-Phong
Published: February 2021

Flexure hinge is a critical element in a positioner of a nanoindentation tester. To effectively work, a suitable flexure hinge should simultaneously meet multiple objectives, including rotation axis shift, safety factor, and angular deflection. The main aim of this article was to illustrate a hybrid method of the Taguchi method, fuzzy logic, response surface method, and Moth-flame optimization algorithm to solve the design optimization of a flexure hinge in order to enhance the three quality characteristics of the flexure hinge. Firstly, four common flexure hinges are compared together to seek the best suitable one. Secondly, numerical experiments are gathered via the Taguchi-based detasFlex software. Thirdly, three objective functions are transferred into signal to noises in order to eliminate the unit differences. Later on, fuzzy modeling is proposed to interpolate these three objective functions into one integrated objective function. An integrated regression equation is built using the response surface method. Finally, the flexure hinge is optimized by the Moth-flame optimization algorithm. The results found that the rotation axis shift is 10.944∗10−5 mm, the high safety factor is 2.993, and the angular deflection is 52.0058∗10−3 rad. The verifications are in a suitable agreement with the forecasted results. An analysis of variance and sensitivity analysis are also performed to identify the effects and meaningful contributions of input variables on the integrated objective function. In addition, employing the Wilcoxon signed rank test and the Friedman test, the results find that the proficiency of the proposed method has more benefits than the ASO algorithm and the GA. The results of this research provide a beneficial approach for conducting complicated multiobjective optimal problems.
Coronary Anomalies in 11,267 Southwest Chinese Patients Determined by Angiography
Authors: Jiang Xin , Zhou Ping , Wen Chunlan , Yin Zhao , Liu Tao , Xu Meiling , Yang Chengming , Wang Hongyong , Song Wenxing , Fang Yuqiang , Zeng Chunyu
Published: February 2021

Background. The prevalence of coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) is rare and varies among different countries or areas. More importantly, the symptoms exhibited by some CAAs make the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) difficult and hamper the physician from making the right intervention for CAD patients. Objective. To investigate the prevalence of CAAs in 11,267 patients from three hospitals in Southwest China. Methods. 11,267 patients who have undergone coronary angiography from three Southwest China hospitals were investigated retrospectively. Dominance patterns, prevalence, and the location of each CAA were recorded and analyzed. Results. The presence of a dominant right coronary artery (RCA) was found in 60.58% of patients. CAAs were found in 11.12% (1258) patients, and 87.66% anomalies were located in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery and its branches. Most of CAAs were found to be myocardial bridges (MBs, 1060 cases, 9.41%). Other CAAs included anomalous coronary origin (43 cases, 0.38%), coronary artery fistulas (CAFs, 36 cases, 0.32%), and coronary artery aneurysm or ectasia (119 cases, 1.06%). It also noted that most anomalies were found with RCA originating from the left coronary sinus (79.07%), most CAFs were located in the LAD and its branches (58.33%), and most coronary artery ectasias were located in the RCA (43.25%). Conclusions. CAAs in patients from Southwest China were unique compared to other studies. Recognition of these CAAs is important for accurate diagnosis and treatment choice of patients with chest pain.
Malnutrition in the Outcome of Wound Healing at Public Hospitals in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Fentahun Netsanet , Anteneh Yeabsira , Menber Yonatan
Published: February 2021

Background. Poor nutritional status affects the normal process of the wound healing stage. There is limited evidence regarding the association between malnutrition and wound healing in Ethiopia. Objective. To assess the association between nutritional status and wound healing progress among adult individuals who had undergone abdominal surgery at Public Hospitals, Ethiopia. Methods. A prospective cohort study was conducted on 310 adult patients who had undergone abdominal surgery from August to December 2019. Data were collected using a standardized, structured, and pretested questionnaire. Anthropometric and serum albumin measurements were used to measure nutritional status. A multivariable Cox-regression analyses model was fitted to show the association between malnutrition and wound healing and p value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance value. Results. The cumulative incidence rate of good wound healing was 65.5% (95% CI: 60.0–71.0). Patients who had normal preoperative body mass index (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 2.22 (95% CI: 1.55–3.19)) and normal range of serum albumin level (≥3.5) (AHR = 1.56 (95% CI: 1.05–2.29)) were significantly associated with better wound healing outcomes. Conclusion. Nutritional status had a strong association with good wound healing outcomes. Therefore, nutritional status screening should be done for all adult patients before undergoing abdominal surgery to improve wound healing outcomes and reduce hospital stays.
A Review and Scientometric Analysis of Global Research on Prefabricated Buildings
Authors: Liu Wenhui , Zhang Hong , Wang Qian , Hua Tianran , Xue Hong
Published: February 2021

Prefabricated building has become one of the most significant research directions in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry and has attracted a large number of scholars and practitioners in recent years. However, few studies have conducted a systematic review on the development of prefabricated building research around the world. In this study, the scientometric method is used to analyze the literature on prefabricated buildings in the past ten years through analysis of co‐authors, co‐words, and co‐citation. From the Web of Science (WOS) core collection database, a total of 1224 articles were collected for statistics and analysis. The analysis results indicated that Bruno Dal Lago obtained the maximum number of co‐citations, and the most significant country/region and research institution in prefabricated building research were China and Tongji University, respectively. It was also found that engineering, civil engineering, and construction and building technology were the top three subject categories that prefabricated building research belonged to. Among all the keywords of the collected articles, citation bursts were received by “cladding panel,” “precast concrete,” and “project.” Moreover, there were 11 co‐citation clusters identified from the articles, and their themes included precast structures, waste management, progressive collapse, delay, precast facades, carbon reduction, laser scanning, and prefabricated residential building. This paper is expected to provide researchers and practitioners in this field a detailed and in‐depth understanding of the trend and status of global research on prefabricated buildings.
The Scourge of Aflatoxins in Kenya: A 60-Year Review (1960 to 2020)
Authors: Omara Timothy , Kiprop Ambrose K , Wangila Phanice , Wacoo Alex Paul , Kagoya Sarah , Nteziyaremye Papias , Peter Odero Mark , Kiwanuka Nakiguli Caroline , Baker Obakiro Samuel
Published: February 2021

Aflatoxins are endemic in Kenya. The 2004 outbreak of acute aflatoxicosis in the country was one of the unprecedented epidemics of human aflatoxin poisoning recorded in mycotoxin history. In this study, an elaborate review was performed to synthesize Kenya’s major findings in relation to aflatoxins, their prevalence, detection, quantification, exposure assessment, prevention, and management in various matrices. Data retrieved indicate that the toxins are primarily biosynthesized by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, with the eastern part of the country reportedly more aflatoxin-prone. Aflatoxins have been reported in maize and maize products (Busaa, chan’gaa, githeri, irio, muthokoi, uji, and ugali), peanuts and its products, rice, cassava, sorghum, millet, yams, beers, dried fish, animal feeds, dairy and herbal products, and sometimes in tandem with other mycotoxins. The highest total aflatoxin concentration of 58,000 μg/kg has been reported in maize. At least 500 acute human illnesses and 200 deaths due to aflatoxins have been reported. The causes and prevalence of aflatoxins have been grossly ascribed to poor agronomic practices, low education levels, and inadequate statutory regulation and sensitization. Low diet diversity has aggravated exposure to aflatoxins in Kenya because maize as a dietetic staple is aflatoxin-prone. Detection and surveillance are only barely adequate, though some exposure assessments have been conducted. There is a need to widen diet diversity as a measure of reducing exposure due to consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated foods.
Pronociceptive Roles of Schwann Cell–Derived Galectin-3 in Taxane-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
Authors: Koyanagi Madoka , Imai Satoshi , Matsumoto Mayuna , Iguma Yoko , Kawaguchi-Sakita Nobuko , Kotake Takeshi , Iwamitsu Yuki , Ntogwa Mpumelelo , Hiraiwa Ren , Nagayasu Kazuki , Saigo Mamiko , Ogihara Takashi , Yonezawa Atsushi , Omura Tomohiro , Nakagawa Shunsaku , Nakagawa Takayuki , Matsubara Kazuo
Published: February 2021

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a severe dose-limiting side effect of taxanes such as paclitaxel and docetaxel. Despite the high medical needs, insufficient understanding of the complex mechanism underlying CIPN pathogenesis precludes any endorsed causal therapy to prevent or relieve CIPN. In this study, we report that elevation of plasma galectin-3 level is a pathologic change common to both patients with taxane-treated breast cancer with CIPN and a mouse model of taxane-related CIPN. Following multiple intraperitoneal injections of paclitaxel in mice, galectin-3 levels were elevated in Schwann cells within the sciatic nerve but not in other peripheral organs or cells expressing galectin-3. Consistent with this, paclitaxel treatment of primary cultures of rat Schwann cells induced upregulation and secretion of galectin-3. In vitro migration assays revealed that recombinant galectin-3 induced a chemotactic response of the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. In addition, perineural administration of galectin-3 to the sciatic nerve of naive mice mimicked paclitaxel-induced macrophage infiltration and mechanical hypersensitivity. By contrast, chemical depletion of macrophages by clodronate liposomes suppressed paclitaxel-induced mechanical hypersensitivity despite the higher level of plasma galectin-3. Deficiency (Galectin-3−/− mice) or pharmacologic inhibition of galectin-3 inhibited paclitaxel-induced macrophage infiltration and mechanical hypersensitivity. In conclusion, we propose that Schwann cell–derived galectin-3 plays a pronociceptive role via macrophage infiltration in the pathogenesis of taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy. Therapies targeting this phenomenon, which is common to patients with CIPN and mouse models, represent a novel approach to suppress taxane-related CIPN.

Significance:

These findings demonstrate that the elevation of plasma galectin-3 is a CIPN-related pathologic change common to humans and mice, and that targeting galectin-3 is a therapeutic option to delay CIPN progression.
Molecular Determinants of Medulloblastoma Metastasis and Leptomeningeal Dissemination
Authors: Li Min , Deng Yuhao , Zhang Wangming
Published: February 2021

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain cancer in pediatrics consisting of four molecular subgroups, namely wingless (WNT), sonic hedgehog (SHH), Group 3, and Group 4. One of the biggest challenges in the clinical management of this disease is the leptomeningeal dissemination (LMD) of tumor cells with high morbidity and mortality. Many molecular regulators to date have been identified to participate in medulloblastoma metastasis. In the SHH subgroup, the co-upregulation of CXCR4 and PDGFR, as well as the activation of c-MET, show significant promigratory effects on medulloblastoma cells. Amplification or overexpression of genes on the long arm of chromosome 17, such as LASP1 and WIP1, facilitates tumor invasion in both Group 3 and Group 4 medulloblastomas. PRUNE1, NOTCH1, and MYC interactor JPO2 are more specific genetic drivers of metastatic Group 3 tumors. The RAS/MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways are two crucial signal transduction pathways that may work as the convergent downstream mechanism of various metastatic drivers. Extracellular signals and cellular components in the tumor microenvironment also play a vital role in promoting the spread and colonization of medulloblastoma cells. For instance, the stromal granule cells and astrocytes support tumor growth and dissemination by secreting PlGF and CCL2, respectively. Importantly, the genetic divergence has been determined between the matched primary and metastatic medulloblastoma samples. However, the difficulty of obtaining metastatic medulloblastoma tissue hinders more profound studies of LMD. Therefore, identifying and analyzing the subclone with the metastatic propensity in the primary tumor is essential for future investigation.
Eurasia and Ancient Egypt in the Fourth Millennium BCE
Authors: Hansen Svend
Published: February 2021

This article focuses on technical innovations, new interregional networks, and social upheavals in the fourth millennium BCE. Similar trends in the iconography of the lion, the heraldic animal of power, can be observed in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Caucasus. This indicates that a process of concentration of power in the hands of strong rulers or kings took place relatively synchronously in these regions. The exchange of coveted raw materials such as copper and silver was connected with the transfer of knowledge between these regions, which can be seen in metal objects such as daggers and knives.
Maat and Tianxia: Building World Orders in Ancient Egypt and China
Authors: Moreno García Juan Carlos , Pines Yuri
Published: February 2021

Ancient China and pharaonic Egypt were two of the most long-lived polities of the ancient world. Both of them succeeded in integrating a diversity of regions and peoples under a single monarch and in creating unique self-referential cultures, which survived periods of political fragmentation and of conquest by foreign peoples. Under these conditions, key concepts emerged that served to express order, justice, harmony, and good government. They provided an indispensable ideological tool to legitimize royal authority as well as a world view that helped define Egyptian and Chinese values when compared to neighboring areas and peoples, usually regarded as the “Other.” Two of these concepts, Egyptian maat and Chinese tianxia, may prove particularly useful for comparing the very particular ways in which Egyptian and Chinese leaders thought about their role in the world, both as builders of cosmic order and as efficient rulers that held together the peoples they governed.
The Aarhus Convention and Polish Regulations Concerning Parties to Proceedings for Issuing the eia Decisions
Authors: Michalak Magdalena , Kledzik Przemysław
Published: February 2021

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters was adopted on 25 June 1998 in the Danish city of Aarhus. According to its provisions each state Part shall, within the framework of the national legal order, ensure that members of the public concerned have access to a review procedure before a court of law or another independent and impartial body established by law. At the same time, it contains regulations specifying the criteria that constitute the basis for determining persons enjoying rights to access justice with respect to national legal orders. Poland, being one of the state Parties, introduced into national legal order special provisions enabling implementation of the Aarhus Convention, including regulations concerning parties to proceedings in environmental matters. The aim of the study is to analyse and assess these regulations in the light of the requirements adopted in the Aarhus Convention and to formulate general conclusions in the field of key issues of the international and European environmental law and policy.
Toward a Systematic Evaluation of Warm Conveyor Belts in Numerical Weather Prediction and Climate Models. Part I: Predictor Selection and Logistic Regression Model
Authors: Quinting Julian F. , Grams Christian M.
Published: February 2021

The physical and dynamical processes associated with warm conveyor belts (WCBs) importantly affect midlatitude dynamics and are sources of forecast uncertainty. Moreover, WCBs modulate the large-scale extratropical circulation and can communicate and amplify forecast errors. Therefore, it is desirable to assess the representation of WCBs in numerical weather prediction (NWP) models in particular on the medium to subseasonal forecast range. Most often, WCBs are identified as coherent bundles of Lagrangian trajectories that ascend in a time interval of 2 days from the lower to the upper troposphere. Although this Lagrangian approach has advanced the understanding of the involved processes significantly, the calculation of trajectories is computationally expensive and requires NWP data at a high spatial [], vertical [], and temporal resolution []. In this study, we present a statistical framework that derives footprints of WCBs from coarser NWP data that are routinely available. To this end, gridpoint-specific multivariate logistic regression models are developed for the Northern Hemisphere using meteorological parameters from ERA-Interim data as predictors and binary footprints of WCB inflow, ascent, and outflow based on a Lagrangian dataset as predictands. Stepwise forward selection identifies the most important predictors for these three WCB stages. The logistic models are reliable in replicating the climatological frequency of WCBs as well as the footprints of WCBs at instantaneous time steps. The novel framework is a first step toward a systematic evaluation of WCB representation in large datasets such as subseasonal ensemble reforecasts or climate projections.
Constraints from Invariant Subtropical Vertical Velocities on the Scalings of Hadley Cell Strength and Downdraft Width with Rotation Rate
Authors: Mitchell Jonathan L. , Hill Spencer A.
Published: February 2021

Weak-temperature-gradient influences from the tropics and quasigeostrophic influences from the extratropics plausibly constrain the subtropical-mean static stability in terrestrial atmospheres. Because mean descent acting on this static stability is a leading-order term in the thermodynamic balance, a state-invariant static stability would impose constraints on the Hadley cells, which this paper explores in simulations of varying planetary rotation rate. If downdraft-averaged effective heating (the sum of diabatic heating and eddy heat flux convergence) too is invariant, so must be vertical velocity—an “omega governor.” In that case, the Hadley circulation overturning strength and downdraft width must scale identically—the cell can strengthen only by widening or weaken only by narrowing. Semiempirical scalings demonstrate that subtropical eddy heat flux convergence weakens with rotation rate (scales positively) while diabatic heating strengthens (scales negatively), compensating one another if they are of similar magnitude. Simulations in two idealized, dry GCMs with a wide range of planetary rotation rates exhibit nearly unchanging downdraft-averaged static stability, effective heating, and vertical velocity, as well as nearly identical scalings of the Hadley cell downdraft width and strength. In one, eddy stresses set this scaling directly (the Rossby number remains small); in the other, eddy stress and bulk Rossby number changes compensate to yield the same, ~Ω−1/3 scaling. The consistency of this power law for cell width and strength variations may indicate a common driver, and we speculate that Ekman pumping could be the mechanism responsible for this behavior. Diabatic heating in an idealized aquaplanet GCM is an order of magnitude larger than in dry GCMs and reanalyses, and while the subtropical static stability is insensitive to rotation rate, the effective heating and vertical velocity are not.
Dynamics of Evapotranspiration and Variations in Different Land-Cover Regions over the Tibetan Plateau during 1961–2014
Authors: Lin Shan , Wang Genxu , Hu Zhaoyong , Huang Kewei , Sun Xiangyang , Sun Juying , Luo Meng , Xiao Xiao
Published: February 2021

In this study, the spatiotemporal changes and driving factors of evapotranspiration (ET) over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are assessed from 1961 to 2014, based on a revised generalized nonlinear complementary (nonlinear-CR) model. The average annual ET on the TP was 328 mm. The highest ET value (711 mm) was found in the forest region in the southeastern part of the TP, and the lowest value (151 mm) was found in the desert region in the northwestern part of the TP. In terms of the contribution of different subregions to the total amount of ET for the whole plateau, the meadow and steppe regions contributed the most to the total amount of ET of TP, accounting for 30% and 18.5%, respectively. The interannual ET presented a significant increasing trend with a value of 0.26 mm yr−1 from 1961 to 2014, and a significant positive ET trend was found over 35% of the region, mainly in the southeastern part of the plateau. The increasing trend of ET in swamp areas was the largest, while that in the desert areas was the smallest. In terms of the seasonality, the ET over the plateau and different land-cover regions increased the most in summer, followed by spring, while the change in ET in winter was not obvious. The energy factors dominated the long-term change in the annual ET over the plateau. In addition, the available energy is the controlling factor for ET changes in humid areas such as forests and shrublands. Energy and water factors together dominate the ET changes in arid areas.
Anisotropic Statistics of Lagrangian Structure Functions and Helmholtz Decomposition
Authors: Wang Han , Bühler Oliver
Published: February 2021

We present a new method to estimate second-order horizontal velocity structure functions, as well as their Helmholtz decomposition into rotational and divergent components, from sparse data collected along Lagrangian observations. The novelty compared to existing methods is that we allow for anisotropic statistics in the velocity field and also in the collection of the Lagrangian data. Specifically, we assume only stationarity and spatial homogeneity of the data and that the cross covariance between the rotational and divergent flow components is either zero or a function of the separation distance only. No further assumptions are made and the anisotropy of the underlying flow components can be arbitrarily strong. We demonstrate our new method by testing it against synthetic data and applying it to the Lagrangian Submesoscale Experiment (LASER) dataset. We also identify an improved statistical angle-weighting technique that generally increases the accuracy of structure function estimations in the presence of anisotropy.
Values Created from Far and Near: Influence of Spatial Distance on Brand Evaluation
Authors: Chu Xing-Yu (Marcos) , Chang Chun-Tuan , Lee Angela Y.
Published: February 2021

This research shows that spatial distance between visual representations of a product and consumers may enhance or devalue consumers’ perceptions of the brand depending on the brand image (prestigious vs. popular). The authors suggest that spatial distance signals prestige when status and luxury are relevant to the brand image, and decreased distance signals social closeness when popularity and broad appeal are relevant to the brand image. The authors show that for prestigious brands whose brand image is associated with status and luxury, consumers’ attitude toward the product becomes more favorable and their willingness to pay a premium for the product grows as the distance between the visual representations of the product and the consumer increases. In contrast, for popular brands whose brand image is associated with broad appeal and social connectedness, the closer the distance, the more favorable is consumers’ attitude and the higher their willingness to pay a premium. The findings provide useful guidelines to marketers on the use of visual cues in advertising and product displays.
Color Judgments of #The Dress and #The Jacket in a Sample of Different Cultures
Authors: Kawasaki Yayoi , Reid J. Nick , Ikeda Kazuhiro , Liu Meiling , Karlsson Bodil S. A.
Published: February 2021

Two viral photographs, #The Dress and #The Jacket, have received recent attention in research on perception as the colors in these photos are ambiguous. In the current study, we examined perception of these photographs across three different cultural samples: Sweden (Western culture), China (Eastern culture), and India (between Western and Eastern cultures). Participants also answered questions about gender, age, morningness, and previous experience of the photographs. Analyses revealed that only age was a significant predictor for the perception of The Dress, as older people were more likely to perceive the colors as blue and black than white and gold. In contrast, multiple factors predicted perception of The Jacket, including age, previous experience, and country. Consistent with some previous research, this suggests that the perception of The Jacket is a different phenomenon from perception of The Dress and is influenced by additional factors, most notably culture.
Sociodemographic Indicators of Social Position and Self-care Maintenance in Adults with Heart Failure
Authors: Baah Foster Osei , Chittams Jesse , Carlson Beverly , Sethares Kristen A. , Daus Marguerite , Moser Debra K. , Riegel Barbara
Published: February 2021

Social determinants of health (SDH) are known to influence health. Adequate self-care maintenance improves heart failure (HF) outcomes. However, the relationship between self-care maintenance and SDH remains unclear. Explore the relationship between sociodemographic indicators of social position and self-care maintenance in adults with HF. This was a secondary analysis of data from a cross-sectional descriptive study of 543 adults with HF. Participants completed the Self-Care of HF Index and a sociodemographic survey. We used multiple regression with backward elimination to determine which SDH variables were determinants of self-care maintenance. Marital status ( p = .02) and race ( p = .02) were significant determinants of self-care maintenance. Education ( p = .06) was highest in Whites (35.6%). These variables explained only 3.8% of the variance in self-care maintenance. Race, education, and marital status were associated with HF self-care maintenance. SDH is complex and cannot be explained with simple sociodemographic characteristics.
The Effects of Training and Performance Feedback on Preservice Teachers’ Use of Statements That Promote Preschool Children’s Social Interactions
Authors: Martinez Cueto Ana Paula , Barton Erin E. , Bancroft Jennifer C.
Published: February 2021

Children who are at risk of or diagnosed with disabilities engage in less frequent and complex peer interactions and social behaviors than their typically developing peers. Inclusive early childhood classrooms are an ideal setting for teachers to use practices that promote social interactions (PPSI) among children with and without disabilities. PPSI are important skills for early childhood teachers to learn. However, few studies have examined practical and meaningful strategies for supporting early childhood teachers in facilitating social interactions. A single-case multiple probe across participants design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief training with ongoing email performance-based feedback on preservice early childhood teachers’ use of PPSI during free play. We identified functional relations among training plus general and specific performance-based feedback, teachers’ use of PPSI, and levels of child social interactions.
Alignment of Vietnamese Law on the Treatment of Juvenile Prisoners With International Standards and Norms
Authors: Tan Duy Le Huynh , Dandurand Yvon
Published: February 2021

Criminal sanctions, in spite of their obvious limitations, play an important role in the prevention of juvenile crime. In spite of international admonitions against the use of detention, Vietnam like many other South-East Asian countries still relies heavily on the deprivation of liberty, in both specialized juvenile institutions and adult prisons, in handling juvenile offenders. Because imprisonment, according to international standards, is meant to be used only as a last resort and for the shortest period of time possible, juvenile justice research has tended to ignore what is going on in places of detention and focus instead on diversion and alternatives to detention. This article focuses on Vietnamese law concerning the prison regimes applicable to juvenile detainees and the extent to which it complies with internationally accepted standards and norms. It reviews existing measures for the protection of juveniles against all forms of violence during their incarceration, including abusive disciplinary measures and the absence of independent oversight of prisons. It also considers arguments for and against the building of juvenile prisons to separate juveniles from adults as required by article 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It concludes with recommendations for legal reforms.
The legal ambiguity of advanced assistive bionic prosthetics: Where to define the limits of ‘enhanced persons’ in medical treatment
Authors: Jaynes Tyler L
Published: February 2021

The rapid advancement of artificial (computer) intelligence systems (CIS) has generated a means whereby assistive bionic prosthetics can become both more effective and practical for the patients who rely upon the use of such machines in their daily lives. However, de lege lata remains relatively unspoken as to the legal status of patients whose devices contain self-learning CIS that can interface directly with the peripheral nervous system. As a means to reconcile for this lack of legal foresight, this article approaches the topic of CIS-nervous system interaction and the impacts it may have on the legal definition of “persons” under the law. While other literature of this nature centres upon notions of transhumanism or self-enhancement, the approach herein approached is designed to focus solely upon the legal nature of independent CIS actions when operating alongside human subjects. To this end, it is hoped that further discussion on the topic can be garnered outside of transhumanist discourse to expedite legal consideration for how these emerging relationships ought to be received by law-generating bodies internationally.