bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short-term study on the yak dung seed bank on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau: effects of grazing season, seed characteristics and forage preferences
Authors: Wang Shulin , Hou Fujiang
Published: June 2021

Aims

Viable seeds in herbivore dung constitute the dung seed bank, and the contribution of livestock dung to this seed bank in grazing pastures is often overlooked. Grazing season (warm and cold), seed characteristics (size and shape), and forage preference are the main factors that affect the size and composition of the dung seed bank and ultimately affect grassland ecology. However, how these three factors interact is unclear.

Methods

We collected yak dung as well as seeds of the common plant species from warm- and cold-season alpine meadows in northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and explored how grazing season (warm and cold), seed characteristics (size and shape) and foraging preferences (temporary cages method) affects yak dung seedling density, richness and diversity in an alpine pasture.

Results

Forty-three plant species (mainly perennials) germinated from yak dung. Dung seedling density, richness, and diversity did not differ significantly between the two grazing seasons. Small to medium-sized spherical seeds (seed size < 10 mg, shape index < 0.5) had the greatest germination potential.

Conclusions

Yaks vary their forage preference depending on the season (phenological period), and endozoochory occurs throughout both grazing seasons. Seed shape and size directly regulate the dung seedling density, richness, and diversity. Dung seedlings increase the heterogeneity of the aboveground vegetation near the microsites of the dung pieces and therefore promote grassland patching. Our study demonstrates that grazing season, seed characteristics, and yak forage preferences affect the dung seed bank in grazing ecosystems.
Advanced genebank management of genetic resources of European wild apple, Malus sylvestris, using genome-wide SNP array data
Authors: Buiteveld Joukje , Koehorst-van Putten Herma JJ , Kodde Linda , Laros Ivo , Tumino Giorgio , Howard Nicholas P. , van de Weg Eric , Smulders Marinus J.M.
Published: June 2021

The Netherlands’ field genebank collection of European wild apple (Malus sylvestris), consisting of 115 accessions, was studied in order to determine whether duplicates and mistakes had been introduced, and to develop a strategy to optimize the planting design of the collection as a seed orchard. We used the apple 20K Infinium single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, developed in M. domestica, for the first time for genotyping in M. sylvestris. We could readily detect the clonal copies and unexpected duplicates. Thirty-two M. sylvestris accessions (29%) showed a close genetic relationship (parent-child, full-sib, or half-sib) to another accession, which reflects the small effective population size of the in situ populations. Traces of introgression from M. domestica were only found in 7 individuals. This indicates that pollination preferentially took place among the M. sylvestris trees. We conclude that the collection can be considered as mainly pure M. sylvestris accessions. The results imply that it should be managed as one unit when used for seed production. A bias in allele frequencies in the seeds may be prevented by not harvesting all accessions with a close genetic relationship to the others in the seed orchard. We discuss the value of using the SNP array to elaborate the M. sylvestris genetic resources more in depth, including for phasing the markers in a subset of the accessions, as a first step towards genetic resources management at the level of haplotypes.
A field-scale remediation of residual light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL): chemical enhancers for pump and treat
Authors: Ciampi Paolo , Esposito Carlo , Cassiani Giorgio , Deidda Gian Piero , Rizzetto Paolo , Papini Marco Petrangeli
Published: June 2021

The remediation of petroleum-contaminated soil and groundwater is a challenging task. The petroleum hydrocarbons have a long persistence in both the vadose zone and in the aquifer and potentially represent secondary and residual sources of contamination. This is particularly evident in the presence of residual free-phase. Pump-and-treat is the most common hydrocarbon decontamination strategy. Besides, it acts primarily on the water dissolved phase and reduces concentrations of contaminants to an asymptotic trend. This study presents a case of enhanced light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) remediation monitored using noninvasive techniques. A pilot-scale field experiment was conducted through the injection of reagents into the subsoil to stimulate the desorption and the oxidation of residual hydrocarbons. Geophysical and groundwater monitoring during pilot testing controlled the effectiveness of the intervention, both in terms of product diffusion capacity and in terms of effective reduction of pollutant concentrations. In particular, non-invasive monitoring of the reagent migration and its capability to reach the target areas is a major add-on to the remediation technique. Most of the organic contaminants were decomposed, mobilized, and subsequently removed using physical recovery techniques. A considerable mass of contaminant was recovered resulting in the reduction of concentrations in the intervention areas.
Maritime Archaeology in Finland: History and Future Tasks
Authors: Marila Marko , Ilves Kristin
Published: June 2021

This article provides an account of the history, present state, and possible future directions of Finnish maritime archaeology in order to elucidate certain aspects characteristic of the field. In the Finnish context, academia and the heritage sector are historically interconnected, and professionals have successfully assumed responsibilities in both. Research opportunities, however, have been more numerous at the Finnish Heritage Agency (FHA) than in academia, whereas the focus has been on well-preserved wrecks mainly from seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. This can be explained by the great number of registered shipwrecks from the historical periods being managed by the FHA. Well-preserved shipwrecks are also central for hobby divers’ interest that has been historically paramount for the development of the field. At the same time, discontinuities in academic training of maritime archaeologists have created a situation where opportunities for long-term and in-depth research at universities have been few. Future prospects of Finnish maritime archaeology are discussed with respect to the current state, and the interconnectedness of the heritage management sector, academically trained maritime archaeologists, and avocational diving societies and volunteers is emphasised as a key element in continued development.
Meniscal ramp lesions: diagnostic performance of MRI with arthroscopy as reference standard
Authors: Zappia Marcello , Sconfienza Luca Maria , Guarino Salvatore , Tumminello Michele , Iannella Germano , Mariani Pier Paolo
Published: June 2021

Background

The posteromedial meniscal region is gaining interest among orthopedic surgeons, as lesions of this area has been reported to be significantly associated with anterior cruciate ligament tears. The current imaging literature is unclear.

Purpose

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of MR in the detection of meniscal ramp lesions having arthroscopy as reference standard.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively included 56 patients (mean age of 25 ± 7 years; 14 females) from January to November 2017 with a arthroscopically proved ACL tear and posterior meniscocapsular separation. On preoperative MRI, two radiologists with 13 and 2 years’ experience in musculoskeletal imaging assessed the presence/absence of ramp lesion, meniscotibial ligament lesion, peripheral meniscal lesion, or their combination, bone bruise. Having arthroscopy as reference standard, diagnostic performance of MRI in the evaluation of ramp area lesions was calculated. Cohen’s kappa (k) and Fisher's Exact Test statistics were used.

Results

Agreement between radiologists ranged from κ = 0.784 (meniscotibial ligament lesions) to κ = 0.918 red–red meniscal lesion. Sensitivities were 97.4% for ramp lesions, 95.8% for meniscotibial ligament lesion, 94.4% for peripheral meniscal lesions; specificities were 88.9%, 81.3%, and 97.4%, respectively; accuracies were 94.6%, 87.5%, and 96.4%, respectively. Agreement between MR and arthroscopy was almost perfect in identification of ramp lesions (κ = 0.871) and red–red zone meniscal lesions (κ = 0.908). The agreement between the two methods was substantial (κ = 0.751) for meniscotibial lesion. No significant association between tibial plateau bone bruise and the different type of lesions was found (κ ≥ 0.004 and p ≥ 0.08).

Conclusion

MR has high diagnostic performance in meniscal ramp area lesion assessment, with substantial to almost perfect inter-reader agreement.
Reactivity of substrates with multiple competitive reactive sites toward NBS under neat reaction conditions promoted by visible light
Authors: Grjol Blaž , Jereb Marjan
Published: June 2021

Regioselectivity of visible-light-induced transformations of a range of (hetero)aryl alkyl-substituted ketones bearing several competitive reactive sites (α-carbonyl, benzyl and aromatic ring) with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) was studied under solvent-free reaction conditions (SFRC) and in the absence of inert-gas atmosphere, radical initiators and catalysts. An 8-W energy-saving household lamp was used for irradiation. Heterogeneous reaction conditions were dealt with throughout the study. All substrates were mono- or dibrominated at the α-carbonyl position, and additionally, some benzylic or aromatic bromination was observed in substrates with benzylic carbon atoms or electron-donating methoxy groups, respectively. Surprisingly, ipso-substitution of the acyl group with a bromine atom took place with (4-methoxynaphthyl) alkyl ketones. While the addition of the radical scavenger TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yloxy) decreased the extent of α- and ring bromination, it completely suppressed the benzylic bromination and α,α-dibromination with NBS under SFRC.
Diabetes and Cardiovascular Complications: The Epidemics Continue
Authors: López-Díez Raquel , Egaña-Gorroño Lander , Senatus Laura , Shekhtman Alexander , Ramasamy Ravichandran , Schmidt Ann Marie
Published: June 2021

Purpose of Review

The cardiovascular complications of type 1 and 2 diabetes are major causes of morbidity and mortality. Extensive efforts have been made to maximize glycemic control; this strategy reduces certain manifestations of cardiovascular complications. There are drawbacks, however, as intensive glycemic control does not impart perennial protective benefits, and these efforts are not without potential adverse sequelae, such as hypoglycemic events.

Recent Findings

Here, the authors have focused on updates into key areas under study for mechanisms driving these cardiovascular disorders in diabetes, including roles for epigenetics and gene expression, interferon networks, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Updates on the cardioprotective roles of the new classes of hyperglycemia-targeting therapies, the sodium glucose transport protein 2 inhibitors and the agonists of the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor system, are reviewed.

In summary, insights from ongoing research and the cardioprotective benefits of the newer type 2 diabetes therapies are providing novel areas for therapeutic opportunities in diabetes and CVD.
The Interplay Between Autophagy and Senescence in Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity
Authors: Russo Michele , Bono Enrico , Ghigo Alessandra
Published: June 2021

Purpose of Review

Doxorubicin (DOXO) is a highly effective chemotherapeutic drug employed for the treatment of a wide spectrum of cancers, spanning from solid tumours to haematopoietic malignancies. However, its clinical use is hampered by severe and dose-dependent cardiac side effects that ultimately lead to heart failure (HF).

Recent Findings

Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are well-established mechanisms of DOXO-induced cardiotoxicity, although recent evidence suggests that deregulation of other biological processes, like autophagy, could be involved. It is increasingly recognized that autophagy deregulation is intimately interconnected with the initiation of detrimental cellular responses, including autosis and senescence, raising the possibility of using autophagy modulators as well as senolytics and senomorphics for preventing DOXO cardiotoxicity.

This review aims at providing an overview of the signalling pathways that are common to autophagy and senescence, with a special focus on how the relationship between these two processes is deregulated in response to cardiotoxic treatments. Finally, we will discuss the potential therapeutic utility of drugs modulating autophagy and/or senescence for counteracting DOXO cardiotoxicity.
Data Analysis and Forecasting of the COVID-19 Spread: A Comparison of Recurrent Neural Networks and Time Series Models
Authors: Gomez-Cravioto Daniela A. , Diaz-Ramos Ramon E. , Cantu-Ortiz Francisco J. , Ceballos Hector G.
Published: June 2021

To understand and approach the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, machine learning offers fundamental tools. This study presents the use of machine learning techniques for projecting COVID-19 infections and deaths in Mexico. The research has three main objectives: first, to identify which function adjusts the best to the infected population growth in Mexico; second, to determine the feature importance of climate and mobility; third, to compare the results of a traditional time series statistical model with a modern approach in machine learning. The motivation for this work is to support health care providers in their preparation and planning. The methods compared are linear, polynomial, and generalized logistic regression models to describe the growth of COVID-19 incidents in Mexico. Additionally, machine learning and time series techniques are used to identify feature importance and perform forecasting for daily cases and fatalities. The study uses the publicly available data sets from the John Hopkins University of Medicine in conjunction with the mobility rates obtained from Google’s Mobility Reports and climate variables acquired from the Weather Online API.
The results suggest that the logistic growth model fits best the pandemic’s behavior, that there is enough correlation of climate and mobility variables with the disease numbers, and that the Long short-term memory network can be exploited for predicting daily cases. Given this, we propose a model to predict daily cases and fatalities for SARS-CoV-2 using time series data, mobility, and weather variables.
Investigation of Copper removal mechanisms on Quercus robur acorn caps: Equilibrium, kinetics, thermodynamic and characterization studies
Authors: Zeybek Zafer , Dursun Sukru
Published: June 2021

Intended for human consumption water resources are rapidly decreased due to overuse, global warming and also polluting by pollutants. Metal concentrations are generally removed by precipitation, adsorption, biosorption and some chemical reactions in the receiving water media. Therefore, polluted waters by metals are caused to rarely toxic effects in living things in high concentrations. Metal polluted waters are generally caused to esthetic and cosmetic effects. Adsorption is one of the commonly used methods for metal removal. In recent years, researches about natural low cost adsorbents are increased. Factors such as modification and electricity costs increase the cost of adsorbent. In this study, dry acorn caps of Quercus robur were used as non-modify natural adsorbent. The batch experiments were carried out to removal of copper in water that has initial low concentration by prepared natural adsorbent. It was performed equilibrium, kinetics, thermodynamic studies and moreover adsorbent characterization studies with using SEM + EDX and XRD methods. It was found the removal efficiency was 84%, and adsorption capacity was 0.336 mg/g. This paper is aimed to expressing the affecting factors of adsorption mechanism at the removal of copper in water. This paper is expressing the affecting factors of a non-modify natural adsorbent's adsorption mechanism at the removal of copper in water which has initial low concentration. As a consequence, it has been seen that acorn caps of Quercus robur due to contained tannins highly effects adsorption mechanism, and it may be used of copper removal.
Effect of the chemical composition of six hydrotreated light cycle oils for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene production by a hydrocracking process
Authors: Laredo Georgina C. , Águeda-Rangel Ricardo , García-López Alfonso , García-Gutiérrez José Luis , Olmos-Cerda Eli Hazel
Published: June 2021

The effect of the chemical composition of the hydrotreated light cycle oil (HDT LCO) on the benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) production by a hydrocracking (HCK) procedure, is presented. Six different types of HDT LCOs were obtained by submitting two types of LCOs to hydrotreating (HDT) with different catalysts and experimental conditions. The products were analyzed as mono-, di- and tri-aromatic compounds using the supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) method (ASTM D5186). The HDT LCOs were subjected to HCK with a 50/50 in weight mixture of nickel-molybdenum on alumina (NiMo/Al2O3) and H-ZSM5 (NiMo/H-ZSM5, 50/50) at 375 °C, 7.5 MPa, 1.2 h−1, and 750 m3/m3 H2/Oil. The HCK products were analyzed by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and divided into five groups: gas, light hydrocarbons (LHCs), BTEX, middle hydrocarbons (MHCs), and heavy hydrocarbons (HHCs).

The results showed that the BTEX formation ranged from 27.0 to 29.8 wt.% and it did not show a significant dependence on the mono-aromatic (59.9 and 75.6 wt.%), total aromatic (61.1–84.2 wt.%) contents or MHCs conversion (58.3–64.3 wt.%) from the departing HDT LCO feedstock. This result implies that, contrary to previous expectations, the BTEX formation does not directly depend on the amounts of total or mono-aromatic compounds when departing from real feedstocks. A GC-PIONA (paraffin, isoparaffin, olefin, naphthene, aromatic) characterization method (ASTM D6623) for mechanism understanding purpose was also carried out.
Stability, reusability, and equivalent circuit of TiO2/treated metakaolinite-based dye-sensitized solar cell: effect of illumination intensity on Voc and Isc values
Authors: Rahmalia Winda , Silalahi Imelda H. , Usman Thamrin , Fabre Jean-François , Mouloungui Zéphirin , Zissis Georges
Published: June 2021

In this research, treated metakaolinite (TMK) was introduced into the TiO2 photoelectrode to fabricated dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The photovoltaic cells have four main natural components, i.e., a photosensitizer (carotenoid bixin), photoelectrode (TiO2/kaolinite), electrolyte (glycerine carbonate derivative), and counter-electrode (carbon). Their stability, reusability, and equivalent circuit were studied. The presence of 5% of TMK in anatase TiO2 paste decreased the TiO2 band gap from 3.21 to 3.16 eV. The result showed that the presence of 5% of TMK in TiO2 paste was more favorable to obtain higher energy conversion efficiency. Under a light intensity of 200 W/m2, it produced an energy conversion yield of 0.086%. The combination of the electrolyte and the TMK demonstrated a synergistic effect to improve the electrical properties of the DSSC. The energy storage function worked well until the third day of analysis. The DSSC based on TiO2/TMK photoelectrode exhibited 16 times better stability than pure TiO2-based photoelectrode. The Faraday charge transfer processes showed that the TiO2/TMK photoelectrode is not in direct contact with the carbon counter-electrode.
Correction to: Current Approach to Successful Liberation from Renal Replacement Therapy in Critically Ill Patients with Severe Acute Kidney Injury: The Quest for Biomarkers Continues
Authors: Schiffl Helmut , Lang Susanne M.
Published: June 2021

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40291-021-00536-4
Further support for the validity of the social appearance anxiety scale (SAAS) in a variety of German-speaking samples
Authors: Reichenberger Julia , Radix Anne Kathrin , Blechert Jens , Legenbauer Tanja
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Eating disorders (ED) and social anxiety disorder are highly comorbid with potentially shared symptoms like social appearance anxiety (SAA) referring to a fear of being negatively evaluated by others’ because of overall appearance. SAA constitutes a risk factor for eating psychopathology and bridges between EDs and social anxiety disorder.

Methods

The present studies examined internal consistency, factor structure, test–retest reliability, gender and age invariance, convergent validity and differences between individuals with and without an ED of a German version of the social appearance anxiety scale (SAAS) in four independent samples (n1 = 473; n2 = 712; n3 = 79; n4 = 33) including adolescents and patients with EDs.

Results

Consistently, the SAAS showed excellent internal consistency (ωs ≥ 0.947) and a one-factorial structure. Convergent validity was shown via high correlations of the SAAS with social anxiety (e.g., social interaction anxiety r = 0.642; fear of negative evaluation rs ≥ 0.694), body image disturbance measures (e.g., shape concerns rs ≥ 0.654; weight concerns rs ≥ 0.607; body avoidance rs ≥ 0.612; body checking rs ≥ 0.651) and self-esteem (r = −0.557) as well as moderate correlations with general eating psychopathology (e.g., restrained rs ≥ 0.372; emotional r = 0.439; external eating r = 0.149). Additionally, the SAAS showed gender and age invariance and test–retest reliability after 4 weeks with r = 0.905 in Study 2 and was able to discriminate between individuals with and without an ED in Study 4.

Conclusion

Hence, the German version of the SAAS can reliably and validly assess SAA in female and male adolescents or adults with or without an ED. Additionally, the SAAS might be used in a therapeutic context to especially target patient groups suffering from EDs with comorbid social anxiety.

Level of evidence

Level III: Evidence obtained from cohort or case-control analytic studies.
Preserved Blood Spots Aid Antenatal Diagnosis of Citrullinemia Type-1
Authors: Bajaj Shruti , Joglekar Uday , Jalan Anil , Häberle Johannes , Rüfenacht Veronique
Published: June 2021

Inborn errors of metabolism are an important cause of non-communicable under-five childhood mortality. Lack of confirmatory ‘genomic’ results in the deceased index case due to unavailability of post-mortem biological samples, can pose challenges in reproductive counseling of the parents in future pregnancies. Our case describes a couple seeking preconception genetic counseling after they lost their previous child to biochemically diagnosed Citrullinemia type-1. We confirmed the genomic diagnosis of Citrullinemia type-1 through the post-mortem genetic analysis of the DNA retrieved from the preserved blood spots, 12-months later. Prenatal testing in the next pregnancy revealed the fetus to be a carrier for Citrullinemia type-1. This case report intends to raise the obstetricians’ and neonatologists’ awareness regarding DNA banking in fatal genetic disorders and the mandatory confirmatory genetic diagnosis for effective prenatal genetic counseling.
The Use of Green Inhibitors in Evaluating the Safe Expiry Dates of Therapeutics
Authors: Fathima Huda , Pais Mikitha , Rao Padmalatha
Published: June 2021

The present work was done with dual intentions. The primary aim was to attenuate the acid corrosion of 6061 aluminum alloy by green approach. While doing so, an attempt was made to use the expiry date pharmaceutical product Streptomycin (SEPT) injection. This unique method could provide the best possible pathway for the utility of otherwise useless, non-eco-friendly expiry date drugs. Corrosion inhibition studies were performed using electrochemical techniques. Experimental settings were augmented to attain the highest possible efficacy of SEPT by changing its concentration and temperature. Experimental values were close-fitted into proper adsorption isotherm. Surface morphology studies like SEM and AFM were performed to confirm the adsorption of inhibitor. Streptomycin emerged as an exceptionally good inhibitor with an efficacy of 77% for the addition of just 1 ppm of the inhibitor at 303 K. Outcome of the work provided a unique pathway for utility expiry date drug, thereby minimizing the environmental pollution.
Enhancing the accuracy and precision of forecasting the productivity of a factory: a fuzzified feedforward neural network approach
Authors: Chen Toly , Lin Yu-Cheng
Published: June 2021

Most existing methods for forecasting the productivity of a factory cannot estimate the range of productivity reliably, especially when future conditions are distinct from those in the past. To address this issue, a fuzzified feedforward neural network (FFNN) approach is proposed in this study. The FFNN approach improves the forecasting precision after generating accurate fuzzy productivity forecasts. In addition, the acceptable range of a fuzzy productivity forecast is specified, based on which the sum of the memberships of actual values is maximized. In this way, the range of productivity can be precisely estimated. After applying the FFNN approach to a real case, the experimental results revealed the superiority of the FFNN approach by improving the forecasting precision, in terms of the hit rate, by 25%. Such an improvement also contributed to a better forecasting accuracy. The superiority of the FFNN approach is in the context that the accuracy of forecasting productivity is optimized only after the range of productivity has been precisely estimated. In contrast, most state-of-the-art methods focus on optimizing the forecasting accuracy, but may be ineffective without information about the range of productivity when future conditions are distinct from the past.
FLIM as a Promising Tool for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Monitoring
Authors: Ouyang Yuzhen , Liu Yanping , Wang Zhiming M. , Liu Zongwen , Wu Minghua
Published: June 2021

Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) has been rapidly developed over the past 30 years and widely applied in biomedical engineering. Recent progress in fluorophore-dyed probe design has widened the application prospects of fluorescence. Because fluorescence lifetime is sensitive to microenvironments and molecule alterations, FLIM is promising for the detection of pathological conditions. Current cancer-related FLIM applications can be divided into three main categories: (i) FLIM with autofluorescence molecules in or out of a cell, especially with reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, and flavin adenine dinucleotide for cellular metabolism research; (ii) FLIM with Förster resonance energy transfer for monitoring protein interactions; and (iii) FLIM with fluorophore-dyed probes for specific aberration detection. Advancements in nanomaterial production and efficient calculation systems, as well as novel cancer biomarker discoveries, have promoted FLIM optimization, offering more opportunities for medical research and applications to cancer diagnosis and treatment monitoring. This review summarizes cutting-edge researches from 2015 to 2020 on cancer-related FLIM applications and the potential of FLIM for future cancer diagnosis methods and anti-cancer therapy development. We also highlight current challenges and provide perspectives for further investigation.
Deep learning of total electron content
Authors: Sorkhabi Omid Memarian
Published: June 2021

One of the most notable errors in the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is the ionospheric delay due to the total electron content (TEC). TEC is the number of electrons in the ionosphere in the signal path from the satellite to the receiver, which fluctuates with time and location. This error is one of the major problems in single-frequency (SF) GPS receivers. One way to eliminate this error is to use dual-frequency. Users of SF receivers should either use estimation models or local models to reduce this error. In this study, deep learning of artificial neural networks (ANN) was used to estimate TEC for SF users. For this purpose, the ionosphere as a single-layer model (assuming that all free electrons in the ionosphere are in this thin layer) is locally modeled by the code observation method. Linear combination has been used by selecting 24 permanent GNSS stations in the northwest of Iran. TEC was modeled independently of the geometry between the satellite and the receiver, called L4. This modeling was used to train the error ANN with two 5-day periods of high and low solar and geomagnetic activity range with a hyperbolic tangential sigmoid activation function. The results show that the proposed method is capable of eliminating ionosphere error with an average accuracy of 90%. The international reference ionosphere 2016 (IRI2016) is used for the verification, which has a 96% significance correlation with estimated TEC.
Capturing the Development of Internal Representations in a High-Performing Deep Network for Sleep Stage Classification
Authors: Paisarnsrisomsuk Sarun , Ruiz Carolina , Alvarez Sergio A.
Published: June 2021

Deep neural networks can provide accurate automated classification of human sleep signals into sleep stages that enables more effective diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. We develop a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) that attains state-of-the-art sleep stage classification performance on input data consisting of human sleep EEG and EOG signals. Nested cross-validation is used for optimal model selection and reliable estimation of out-of-sample classification performance. The resulting network attains a classification accuracy of $$84.50 \pm 0.13\%$$

84.50
±
0.13
%

; its performance exceeds human expert inter-scorer agreement, even on single-channel EEG input data, therefore providing more objective and consistent labeling than human experts demonstrate as a group. We focus on analyzing the learned internal data representations of our network, with the aim of understanding the development of class differentiation ability across the layers of processing units, as a function of layer depth. We approach this problem visually, using t-Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE), and propose a pooling variant of Centered Kernel Alignment (CKA) that provides an objective quantitative measure of the development of sleep stage specialization and differentiation with layer depth. The results reveal a monotonic progression of both of these sleep stage modeling abilities as layer depth increases.
Implementing Industrial Symbiosis Incentives: an Applied Assessment Framework for Risk Mitigation
Authors: Henriques Juan Diego , Azevedo João , Dias Rui , Estrela Marco , Ascenço Cristina , Vladimirova Doroteya , Miller Karen
Published: June 2021

Industrial symbiosis (IS) is a business model that proposes symbiotic exchanges, allowing the flow of resources, wastes, and utilities between companies. In recent years, IS initiatives have been exponentially growing around the world. This can be attributed to the increasing awareness on the possibility of obtaining economic, environmental, and social benefits through the implementation of this model. Despite the exponential growth of IS initiatives, the companies are still facing problems in the achievement of reliable and permanent synergies. Over the years the literature has identified several factors in the IS emerging process. Incentives are among these factors, being defined as unlocking tools or mechanisms related to diverse dimensions such as economic, political, social, intermediaries, process, and technology. Authors believe that the large-scale implementation of IS incentives has not been properly addressed. In order to promote facilitated IS implementation and achieve a replicator effect, incentives should be fully addressed. In many case studies, it has been observed that the incentives for IS can be threatened by risks, compromising the implementation, and hindering the emerging process. This study developed a dedicated framework that is composed of incentive identification from best practices of IS and expert consultation; a risk assessment model based on risk factors identification and clustering; and finally, the mitigation actions based on the assessment outputs. The main result of this study is one set of mitigations actions that correlate the implementation levels (clusters) and the potential stakeholders involved.
Magnetic North
Authors: Venclova Tomas , Hinsey Ellen
Published: June 2021

Interweaves Eastern European postwar history, dissidence, and literature to expand our understanding of the significance of this important Lithuanian writer.
Music in Prison: The Campaign for the Release of Miguel Angel Estrella, 1977–1980
Authors: Buch Esteban , Fléchet Anaïs
Published: June 2021

The Argentinean pianist Miguel Angel Estrella was arrested in Montevideo during Operation Condor in December 1977. Accused of being a member of the Montoneros, a Peronist guerilla movement, he was tortured and held incommunicado before being transferred to Libertad, where political prisoners from Uruguay were assembled. Thanks to an intensive and international solidarity campaign, launched by his friends in Paris and led by classical music celebrities as well as diplomats, human rights activists, and a myriad of anonymous music-lovers, Estrella was released and expelled to France in February 1980. Drawing on archival materials from the Estrella support committee, diplomatic files, interviews, and recently declassified documents from the Uruguayan military court, this article retraces the construction of an exceptional “cause,” shedding new light on the relations between music and diplomacy during the Cold War. It examines the musician’s experience in prison, where he painfully managed to play Beethoven sonatas on a silent piano, as if mirroring the media’s portrayal of him as a Beethovian hero, a sort of modern Florestan. It also analyzes the connections between ethics and aesthetics, and the role of emotions in international political mobilizations.
Cash incentives for weight loss work only for males
Authors: Yeung Catherine , Ho Teck-Hua , Sato Ryoko , Lim Noah , Van Dam Rob M. , Tan Hong-Chang , Tham Kwang-Wei , Ali Rehan
Published: June 2021

When governments and healthcare providers offer people cash rewards for weight loss, an assumption is that cash rewards are versatile, working equally well for everyone – for example, for all genders. No research to date has tested for gender difference in response to financial incentives for weight loss. We show in an randomized controlled trial (RCT) (n = 472) that cash incentives for weight loss only worked for males. The RCT consisted of a 3-month, self-administered online weight loss program. Offering a US$150 incentive for a 5% weight loss more than tripled the proportion of males who were successful, compared with a no-incentive Control arm (20.9% vs. 5.9%). On average, males in the incentive arm lost 2.4% of weight over 3 months, compared with 0.9% in the Control arm. The same incentive had no such effect on females: The average weight loss in the incentive arm was not significantly different than in the Control (1.03% and 1.44%, respectively), nor was the proportion of participants meeting the 5% weight loss goal (8.6% and 8.7%, respectively). This study shows that males respond better than females to financial incentives for weight loss.
Changes in the number of intensive care unit beds in US hospitals during the early months of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic
Authors: Weiner-Lastinger Lindsey M. , Dudeck Margaret A. , Allen-Bridson Katherine , Dantes Raymund , Gross Cindy , Nkwata Allan , Tejedor Sheri Chernetsky , Pollock Daniel , Benin Andrea
Published: June 2021

Using data from the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), we assessed changes to intensive care unit (ICU) bed capacity during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in capacity varied by hospital type and size. ICU beds increased by 36%, highlighting the pressure placed on hospitals during the pandemic.
Nationalism and Religion in Comparative Perspective: A New Typology of National-Religious Configurations
Authors: Aktürk Şener
Published: June 2021

Does religion motivate and intensify nationalism, or does religion moderate and even suppress nationalism? Six kinds of relationships between nationalism and religion are critically reviewed: nationalism as a modern religion in competition with traditional religions; religious origins of the “Chosen People” as the mythomoteur of nationalism; religious exclusion as nation-building; religious influences on national policies; influence of religious observance on national identification; and religiously based “civilizations” transcending nationalisms. Western Christian experience with nationalism is not generalizable due to the institutional autonomy and supranational organization of the Catholic Church. Western European nationalisms were premised on religious sectarian homogeneity, and the homogenous “confessional state” served as the template of European nation-states. Furthermore, I argue that the late medieval eradication of Muslims and Jews across Western Europe prefigured sectarian and ethnonational purges of the following centuries. Finally, I argue that different configurations of religion and nationalism depend on two critical conditions: the degree to which the dominant religious tradition is doctrinally supraethnic and institutionally transnational, and the religious identity of the main adversary in the constitutive conflict that culminated in national statehood. The crises of Marxism and liberalism provide the context for the resurgence of religion and nationalism at present.
Iron-biofortified pearl millet consumption increases physical activity in Indian adolescent schoolchildren after a 6-month randomised feeding trial
Authors: Pompano Laura M. , Luna Sarah V. , Udipi Shobha A. , Ghugre Padmini S. , Przybyszewski Eric M. , Haas Jere
Published: June 2021

Fe deficiency has negative effects on voluntary physical activity (PA); however, the impact of consuming Fe-biofortified staple foods on voluntary PA remains unclear. This study compared the effects of consuming Fe-biofortified pearl millet or a conventional pearl millet on measures of voluntary PA in Indian schoolchildren (ages 12–16 years) during a 6-month randomised controlled feeding trial. PA data were collected from 130 children using Actigraph GT3X accelerometers for 6 d at baseline and endline. Minutes spent in light and in moderate-to-vigorous PA were calculated from accelerometer counts using Crouter’s refined two-regression model for children. Mixed regression models adjusting for covariates were used to assess relationships between intervention treatment or change in Fe status and PA. Children who consumed Fe-biofortified pearl millet performed 22·3 (95 % CI 1·8, 42·8,P= 0·034) more minutes of light PA each day compared with conventional pearl millet. There was no effect of treatment on moderate-to-vigorous PA. The amount of Fe consumed from pearl millet was related to minutes spent in light PA (estimate 3·4 min/mg Fe (95 % CI 0·3, 6·5,P= 0·031)) and inversely related to daily sedentary minutes (estimate −5·4 min/mg Fe (95 % CI –9·9, −0·9,P= 0·020)). Consuming Fe-biofortified pearl millet increased light PA and decreased sedentary time in Indian schoolchildren in a dose-dependent manner.
Association of blood lead level with vitamin D binding protein, total and free 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in middle-school children
Authors: Rahman Abdur , Al-Sabah Reem , Jallad Reem , Rao Muddanna S.
Published: June 2021

A negative association between blood Pb level (BPbL) and vitamin D metabolites in occupationally exposed populations has been reported, but data from the general population are scarce. Furthermore, the association between BPbL and vitamin D binding protein (DBP) and free 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) has not been reported. We investigated the association of BPbL with DBP, total and free 25(OH)D in healthy adolescents (n 1347; age range 11–16 years) cross-sectionally selected from all Governorates of Kuwait, utilising multi-stage cluster random sampling. Pb in whole blood was analysed by inductively coupled plasma MS, and DBP with ELISA. Plasma 25(OH)D was analysed by LC-MS/MS, and free 25(OH)D was calculated utilising the levels and binding affinities of DBP and albumin for 25(OH)D. DBP was positively associated with BPbL (β = 0·81; 95 % CI 0·14, 0·22; P < 0·001). A negative association between BPbL and total 25(OH)D was non-significant (P = 0·24) when BPbL was used as a continuous variable but was significant when used as quartiles (P = 0·02). The negative association between BPbL and free 25(OH)D was significant whether BPbL was used as continuous, as quartiles or as cut-off point of <5 µg/dl (0·24 µmol/l). In multinomial logistic regression, the odds of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were more than two-fold higher in the upper quartiles of BPbL compared with the lowest quartile. The negative correlation of BPbL with free 25(OH)D was more robust than its correlation with total 25(OH)D. Future studies must consider the levels of DBP when assessing the association between Pb and vitamin D metabolites.
Nutrition and indoor cycling: a cross-sectional analysis of carbohydrate intake for online racing and training
Authors: King Andy J. , Hall Rebecca C.
Published: June 2021

Cycling is a sport characterised by high training load, and adequate nutrition is essential for training and race performance. With the increased popularity of indoor trainers, cyclists have a unique opportunity to practice and implement key nutritional strategies. This study aimed to assess carbohydrate (CHO) intake of cyclists training or racing in this unique scenario for optimising exercise nutrition. A mixed-methods approach consisting of a multiple-pass self-report food recall and questionnaire was used to determine total CHO intake pre, during and post-training or racing using a stationary trainer and compared with current guidelines for endurance exercise. Sub-analyses were also made for higher ability cyclists (>4 W/kg functional threshold power), races v. non-races and ‘key’ training sessions. Mean CHO intake pre and post-ride was 0·7 (sd 0·6) and 1·0 (sd 0·8) g kg/BM and 39·3 (sd 27·5) g/h during training. CHO intake was not different for races (pre/during/post, P = 0·31, 0·23, 0·18, respectively), ‘key sessions’ (P = 0·26, 0·89, 0·98) or higher ability cyclists (P = 0·26, 0·76, 0·45). The total proportion of cyclists who failed to meet CHO recommendations was higher than those who met guidelines (pre = 79 %, during = 86 %, post = 89 %). Cyclists training or racing indoors do not meet current CHO recommendations for cycling performance. Due to the short and frequently high-intensity nature of some sessions, opportunity for during exercise feeding may be limited or unnecessary.
Between Populism and Juristocracy: The Republicanism of Rainer Knopff
Authors: Sigalet Geoffrey
Published: June 2021

Rainer Knopff's scholarship on Canadian constitutionalism has offered some of the most trenchant criticism of the exercise of judicial review under the Charter, yet his theory has largely been misunderstood (as has that of his frequent co-author F. L. Morton). This article exposes two prominent critiques of Knopff's constitutional writings as straw man arguments and provides a republican account of his constitutional theory. The first straw man argument is that Knopff supports a majoritarian or populist conception of direct democracy. This claim is belied by Knopff's embrace of representative democracy and institutions structured to encourage reflexive deliberation. The second straw man argument is that Knopff is a moral rights skeptic. Knopff's rights skepticism is a legal skepticism about the determinacy of many rights that is merely a function of his inclusive legal positivism. The article concludes by reflecting on the republican lessons that Knopff's constitutional scholarship continues to offer, including how holding legislatures responsible for settling reasonable disagreements about legally indeterminate Charter rights might help counteract the twin threats of populism and juristocracy.
The Sculpted and Architectural Stonework from Stanwick Roman Villa, Northamptonshire
Authors: Coombe Penny , Hayward Kevin , Henig Martin
Published: June 2021

Excavated between 1984 and 1992, the site of a large Roman villa complex at Stanwick, Northamptonshire, produced a significant quantity of sculpted and architectural worked stone. This paper assesses the various aspects of that material, including the petrological sources, and offers a new interpretation. Many items were discovered as post-packing or were otherwise reused within the fabric of the enlarged fourth-century villa, but originally derived from what were probably two earlier monumental structures dated on stylistic grounds to the early third century. The sculpture was initially examined in 1994–95 by Martin Henig and the late Thomas Blagg, whose work, especially on the large number of architectural pieces, has been subsumed into this paper and to whom we owe a debt of gratitude. Supplementary material is available online (https://doi.org/10.1017/S0068113X21000052) and comprises additional figures and tables.
Permutable quasiregular maps
Authors: TSANTARIS ATHANASIOS
Published: June 2021

Let f and g be two quasiregular maps in $\mathbb{R}^d$ that are of transcendental type and also satisfy
$f\circ g =g \circ f$
. We show that if the fast escaping sets of those functions are contained in their respective Julia sets then those two functions must have the same Julia set. We also obtain the same conclusion about commuting quasimeromorphic functions with infinite backward orbit of infinity. Furthermore we show that permutable quasiregular functions of the form f and
$g = \phi \circ f$
, where

$\phi$

is a quasiconformal map, have the same Julia sets and that polynomial type quasiregular maps cannot commute with transcendental type ones unless their degree is less than or equal to their dilatation.
Quality Indicators for Older Persons’ Transitions in Care: A Systematic Review and Delphi Process
Authors: Tate Kaitlyn , Lee Sarah , Rowe Brian H , Cummings Garnet E , Holroyd-Leduc Jayna , Reid R Colin , El-Bialy Rowan , Bakal Jeffrey , Estabrooks Carole A , Anderson Carol , Cummings Greta G
Published: June 2021

We identified quality indicators (QIs) for care during transitions of older persons (≥ 65 years of age). Through systematic literature review, we catalogued QIs related to older persons’ transitions in care among continuing care settings and between continuing care and acute care settings and back. Through two Delphi survey rounds, experts ranked relevance, feasibility, and scientific soundness of QIs. A steering committee reviewed QIs for their feasible capture in Canadian administrative databases. Our search yielded 326 QIs from 53 sources. A final set of 38 feasible indicators to measure in current practice was included. The highest proportions of indicators were for the emergency department (47%) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) quality domain of effectiveness (39.5%). Most feasible indicators were outcome indicators. Our work highlights a lack of standardized transition QI development in practice, and the limitations of current free-text documentation systems in capturing relevant and consistent data.
Left ventricular thrombus in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated with COVID-19
Authors: Schroder Jakob , Lund Morten Asp Vonsild , Vejlstrup Niels , Juul Klaus , Nygaard Ulrikka
Published: June 2021

A 17-year-old adolescent with severe multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with coronavirus disease-2019 developed reduced left ventricular function and left ventricular thrombus. With treatment, his condition improved and the thrombus was dissolved. This case illustrates the risk of severe intra-cardiac thrombotic complications in patients with MIS-C.