bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental method for evaluation of soil‐pipe interaction subjected to lateral or vertical cyclic load
Authors: Park Jamin , Tryfonos Kyriakos , Kwon Oh‐Sung , Bousias Stathis
Published: November 2021

Design of embedded pipelines in seismic areas require consideration of the interaction between pipeline and surrounding soil. The soil‐pipe interaction is often numerically modeled using Winkler springs, where a simple bilinear or trilinear soil resistance‐displacement relationship is employed. As Winkler spring modeling approach requires experimental data for calibration of spring parameters, extensive experimental studies have been carried out. However, most tests in previous studies have been carried out for pipeline specimens subjected to monotonic load, in which pipe lateral‐vertical response coupling is hardly investigated. In the present research, a novel test method that enables testing of a pipe specimen under lateral or vertical cyclic loading is investigated. In the proposed method, a soil box is mounted on a 6‐degree of freedom (DOF) displacement‐controlled table, such that soil‐pipe interaction in the lateral/vertical direction can be investigated. A series of tests considering various parameters such as pipe diameter, burial depth, soil density, and loading condition were performed. Test results provided evidence of the effect type of loading has on soil‐pipe interaction and the strong coupling between pipe response along lateral and vertical directions.
Measurement data‐driven investigation of the actual power grid resilience with increasing renewable energy feed‐in
Authors: Schädler Yannik , Sorg Michael , Fischer Andreas
Published: November 2021

The transformation of the energy system towards a sustainable reduction of CO2 emissions and the consequently rising contribution of fluctuating energy sources to the German energy system leads to new challenges. In particular, the sufficiency of the present powerline system is of interest. To evaluate the German network sufficiency, a data‐based modelling is used to measure the number of intervals with insufficient transport capabilities as well as the yearly sum of infeasible power transports. In order to do so, the actual residual loads are calculated from the power data in the database “GEOWISOL” and the data on the German power grid are obtained from the project “SciGrid.” The temporal resolution of power data is 15 min, and the spatial resolution refers to the 2‐digit ZIP code regions. The present transmission network is shown to be insufficient in a linearly increasing number of intervals for scenarios with increasing renewable power production. The uncertainties of the results presented are also investigated by means of a Monte Carlo simulation with the known uncertainties of the power data. The simulation results in a relative uncertainty for the number of intervals with insufficient transport capabilities of the network of roughly 1%. Thus, it can be used in the future either to investigate network expansion plans or to validate network expansion studies with simulated data or synthetic networks.
A cross‐sectional study of potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia and cognitive function in India: A secondary analysis of 10/66, LASI, and SAGE data
Authors: Belessiotis‐Richards Clara , Livingston Gill , Marston Louise , Mukadam Naaheed
Published: November 2021

Objectives

Dementia is rising globally, particularly in low‐and‐middle‐income countries. India has almost four million people living with dementia, set to double by 2050. Targeting nine potentially modifiable risk factors (less education, hearing impairment, depression, physical inactivity, hypertension, obesity, smoking, diabetes, and social isolation) could possibly prevent or delay many dementias. We aimed for the first time to examine risk factors for dementia in India and their link with cognitive status and dementia, to inform prioritisation of public health interventions that could prevent or delay dementia.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis using three studies: 10/66 Dementia Study (n = 2004), Longitudinal Aging Study of India (n = 386), and Study of Global Ageing (n = 2441). Our exposures were the nine risk factors above. We calculated a cognitive z‐score within each study and used dementia diagnosis in 10/66. We adjusted for socioeconomic factors, age, and sex using multivariable linear for cognition and logistic regression for dementia.

Results

Less education, hearing impairment, depression, and physical inactivity were associated with lower z‐scores and increased odds of dementia. Obesity was associated with higher z‐score and lower odds of dementia. Social isolation was associated with lower z‐scores and decreased odds of dementia. Results for smoking, diabetes, and hypertension were inconsistent.

Conclusion

Our risk estimates were larger for less education, hearing impairment and physical inactivity compared to global estimates and should be intervention priorities. This study highlights the need for longitudinal studies to clarify the relationship between these potentially modifiable risk factors and dementia in India.
Survival after secondary liver resection in metastatic colorectal cancer: Comparing data of three prospective randomized European trials (LICC, CELIM, FIRE‐3)
Authors: Moehler Markus , Folprecht Gunnar , Heinemann Volker , Holch Julian Walter , Maderer Annett , Kasper Stefan , Hegewisch‐Becker Susanna , Schröder Jan , Overkamp Friedrich , Kullmann Frank , Bechstein Wolf Otto , Vöhringer Matthias , Öllinger Robert , Lordick Florian , Geißler Michael , Schulz‐Abelius Armin , Linz Bernhard , Bernhard Helga , Paul Andreas , Schmidtmann Irene , Potthoff Karin , Schimanski Carl Christoph
Published: November 2021

Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients with liver‐limited disease (LLD) have a chance of long‐term survival and potential cure after hepatic metastasectomy. However, the appropriate postoperative treatment strategy is still controversial. The CELIM and FIRE‐3 studies demonstrated that secondary hepatic resection significantly improved overall survival (OS). The objective of this analysis was to compare these favorable outcome data with recent results from the LICC trial investigating the antigen‐specific cancer vaccine tecemotide (L‐BLP25) as adjuvant therapy in mCRC patients with LLD after R0/R1 resection. Data from mCRC patients with LLD and secondary hepatic resection from each study were analyzed for efficacy outcomes based on patient characteristics, treatment and surveillance after surgery. In LICC, 40/121 (33%) patients, in CELIM 36/111 (32%) and in FIRE‐3‐LLD 29/133 (22%) patients were secondarily resected, respectively. Of those, 31 (77.5%) patients in LICC and all patients in CELIM were R0 resected. Median disease‐free survival after resection was 8.9 months in LICC, 9.9 months in CELIM. Median OS in secondarily resected patients was 66.1 months in LICC, 53.9 months in CELIM and 56.2 months in FIRE‐3‐LLD. Median age was about 5 years less in LICC compared to CELIM and FIRE‐3. Secondarily resected patients of LICC, CELIM and FIRE‐3 showed an impressive median survival with a tendency for improved survival for patients in the LICC trial. A younger patient cohort but also more selective surgery, improved resection techniques, deep responses and a close surveillance program after surgery in the LICC trial may have had a positive impact on survival.
“Remember me, will you?”: Overusing material gifts for interpersonal memory management
Authors: Yang Adelle X. , Koo Minjung , Hwang Jaewon
Published: November 2021

Six experiments (N = 2350) uncover a prevalent giver–recipient preference discrepancy: gift givers prefer giving material gifts (vs. experiential gifts) more than gift recipients prefer to receive them. The experiments reveal congruent evidence that a mnemonic gifting strategy underlies this preference discrepancy. Givers are more likely than recipients to consider the memory consequences of gift options, as givers intuitively use material gifts as interpersonal mnemonic devices to facilitate the recipient's retrieval of giver‐related memories. As such, this preference discrepancy occurs in various stages of developing relationships but is mitigated in very close relationships. In addition, two theoretical moderators are identified: The preference discrepancy disappears when the gift would be associated with an unpleasant occasion (instead of a pleasant one), and when the giver and recipient expect an incidental increase in future interactions. This research reveals an interpersonal memory management motive that underlies the miscalibrated gift choices, and bridges prior findings on material and experiential gifts. These findings also offer insights for consumers and marketers to mitigate miscalibrated choices and their perverse economic and relationship consequences.
Reporter gene assay for membrane fusion of extracellular vesicles
Authors: Somiya Masaharu , Kuroda Shun'ichi
Published: November 2021

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by living cells are expected to deliver biological cargo molecules, including RNA and proteins, to the cytoplasm of recipient cells. There is an increasing need to understand the mechanism of intercellular cargo delivery by EVs. However, the lack of a feasible bioassay has hampered our understanding of the biological processes of EV uptake, membrane fusion, and cargo delivery to recipient cells. Here, we describe a reporter gene assay that can measure the membrane fusion efficiency of EVs during cargo delivery to recipient cells. When EVs containing tetracycline transactivator (tTA)‐fused tetraspanins are internalized by recipient cells and fuse with cell membranes, the tTA domain is exposed to the cytoplasm and cleaved by tobacco etch virus protease to induce tetracycline responsive element (TRE)‐mediated reporter gene expression in recipient cells. This assay (designated as EV‐mediated tetraspanin‐tTA delivery assay, ETTD assay), enabled us to assess the cytoplasmic cargo delivery efficiency of EVs in recipient cells. With the help of a vesicular stomatitis virus‐derived membrane fusion protein, the ETTD assay could detect significant enhancement of cargo delivery efficiency of EVs. Furthermore, the ETTD assay could evaluate the effect of potential cargo delivery enhancers/inhibitors. Thus, the ETTD assay may contribute to a better understanding of the underlying mechanism of the cytoplasmic cargo delivery by EVs.
NOMAwith optimal transmit antenna selection scheme with self adaptive metaheuristic model
Authors: Saini Mehak , Grewal Surender K.
Published: November 2021

Nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) constitutes a promising technique in the fifth‐generation (5G) mobile networks. On the transmitter side, the concurrent usage of multiple antennas needs an appropriate count of parallel Radio Frequency (RF) chains at the front end. Owing to this consequence, it maximizes the power consumption, cost, and system complexity along with maximization in the antenna count. In order to tackle these aforesaid problems, some researchers prefer the Transmit Antenna Selection (TAS) for modeling the transmitter structure simple. The best antenna is selected opportunistically by an efficient TAS technique from multiple antennas and deploys a single RF chain for transmission. In this paper, a novel approach for optimized antenna selection in overlay CR networks using NOMA and SM is proposed via the usage of optimization tactics. To choose the desired respective antenna, this paper introduces a new Mean and Median Fitness Centered Moth flame Optimization (MM‐FCMO), which is the modified Moth Flame Optimization (MFO) Algorithm, which taken the core objectives such as power consumption and Mean Square Error (MSE). The MSE and power consumption of the chosen antennas have to be lower for the system to attain maximum antenna gain with lower noise. Finally, to exhibit that the presented work is much significant than the traditional works, a comparative analysis is made in terms of error minimization and statistical evaluation.
Emodin alleviates sepsis‐mediated lung injury via inhibition and reduction of NF‐kB and HMGB1 pathways mediated by SIRT1
Authors: Liu Fu‐Jing , Gu Ti‐Jun , Wei Dong‐Yue
Published: November 2021

Inflammation plays an important role during sepsis, and excessive inflammation can result in organ damage, chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and scarring. The study aimed to investigate the specific mechanism of emodin by constructing in vivo and in vitro septic lung injury models via inhibition and reduction of NF‐kB and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) pathways. A cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model was built for adult male Sprague–Dawley rats. Concentrations of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were determined using commercially available ELISA kits. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used for the right lung inferior lobes. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity of the lung tissue was detected by using the MPO kit. Murine alveolar epithelial cell line (MLE‐12) cells were used for flow cytometry and Western blot to analyze the apoptosis rate and protein expression. Emodin significantly decreased CLP‐induced cell apoptosis, upregulated expression of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and inhibited p‐p65/p65 and HMGB1. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treated cell model, emodin treatment markedly decreased LPS‐induced release of IL‐1, IL‐6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, inhibited LPS‐induced cell apoptosis and suppressed protein levels of P‐P65/P65 and HMGB1. However, science of SIRT1 reversed the above effects by treatment of emodin. In summarize, this study found that emodin can alleviate sepsis‐induced lung injury in vivo and in vitro through regulation of SIRT1.
Keratometry and ultrastructural changes after microwave thermokeratoplasty in rabbit eyes
Authors: Sun Ling , Zhao Yu , Zhang Xiaoyu , Shen Yang , Zhou Xingtao
Published: November 2021

Purpose

To conduct keratometry and investigate the ultrastructural changes after microwave thermokeratoplasty (MTK) in rabbit eyes.

Methods

Eighteen New Zealand rabbits (18 eyes) were recruited for this study. Ten eyes were chosen for slit‐lamp photography and corneal topography at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. Two rabbits were sacrificed on 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. All remaining rabbits were sacrificed at 6 months postoperatively. The cornea was observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy. Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. p value was determined using repeated‐measures analysis of variance.

Results

Corneal edema, disorganized corneal collagen fibers in the heated area, and necrotic fibroblasts were observed at 1 day and 1 week postoperatively. At 1 month postoperatively, corneal edema was not observed, and corneal cell morphology was normal. Moreover, corneal collagen fibers in the heated area shrunk and tended to be organized. The K1 and K2 values significantly decreased from 49.0 ± 1.2 D and 50.5 ± 0.9 D preoperatively to 40.3 ± 1.2 D and 43.2 ± 0.8 D 6 months postoperatively, respectively. The corneal thickness was 353.1 ± 9.3 µm preoperatively and 317.8 ± 27.7 µm at 6 months postoperatively; the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Corneal keratometry showed flattening after MTK. Moreover, corneal collagen fibers in the heated area shrunk and tended to be organized at 6 months postoperatively. Further studies are required to determine the safety and stability of MTK.
On the effective universality of mereological theories
Authors: Bazhenov Nikolay , Tsai Hsing‐Chien
Published: November 2021

Mereological theories are based on the binary relation “being a part of”. The systematic investigations of mereology were initiated by Leśniewski. More recent authors (including Simons, Casati and Varzi, Hovda) formulated a series of first‐order mereological axioms. These axioms give rise to a plenitude of theories, which are of great philosophical interest. The paper considers first‐order mereological theories from the point of view of computable (or effective) algebra. Following the approach of Hirschfeldt, Khoussainov, Shore, and Slinko, we isolate two important computability‐theoretic properties P (namely, degree spectra of structures, and effective dimensions), and consider the following problem: for a given mereological theoryT, is it true that its models can realize every possible variant of the property P? If the answer is positive, then we say that the theoryTis ‐universal. We obtain the following results about known mereological theories. Any theoryTwhich is weaker than Extensional Closure Mereology (CEM) is ‐universal. A similar fact is true for the theory GM2. On the other hand, any theory stronger that CEM + (C) + (G) is not ‐universal. In particular, General Extensional Mereology is not ‐universal.
Evaluating the Impact of Systematic Error on the Estimation Performance of a Length-Based Spawning Potential Ratio
Authors: Dai Libin , Wang Fei , Gao Chunxia , Hodgdon Cameron , Xu Luoliang , Wang Jiaqi , Tian Siquan , Kindong Richard
Published: November 2021

During recent years, there has been growing efforts in methodological development for length-based approaches to meet an increasing demand for science-based management of data-limited fisheries. Numerous simulation-estimation analyses have been conducted to evaluate and compare the performance of length-based data-limited methods under various conditions, but none of them have evaluated the impact of observation error on the estimation performance. In this study, a simulation-estimation analysis was conducted to evaluate the performance of a length-based data-limited method for length-based spawning potential ratio (LBSPR) across a variety of cases in relation to systematic observation errors, life history types, and selectivities. The results showed that the estimation performance of LBSPR was sensitive to all types of the cases above. In particular, a disproportionately high frequency of small fish in the length composition could cause larger deviations in estimates of stock status compared with cases in which large fish are overrepresented. Partial dependence plots from the general linear model show how factors such as systematic changes in bias in length composition data affect the estimation of LBSPR. Our study suggests that the effectiveness of length-based data-limited stock assessment should be carefully evaluated on a species-by-species basis when observation error, such as systematic error in length-frequency data, is present.
Three‐dimensional quantitative analysis on granular particle shape using convolutional neural network
Authors: Zhang Pin , Yin Zhen‐Yu , Jin Yin‐Fu
Published: November 2021

To identify all desired shape parameters of granular particles with less computational cost, this study proposes a three‐dimensional convolutional neural network (3D‐CNN) based model. Datasets are made of 100 ballast and 100 Fujian sand particles, and the shape parameters (i.e., aspect ratio, roundness, sphericity, and convexity) obtained by conventional methods are used to label all particles. For the model training, by feeding the slice images of particles into the model, the contour of particles is automatically extracted, thereby the shape parameters can be learned by the model. Thereafter, the model is applied to predict shape parameters of new particles as model testing. All results indicate the model trained based on slice images cut from three orthogonal planes presents the highest prediction accuracy with an error of less than 10%. Meanwhile, the accuracy for concave and angular particles can be guaranteed. The rotation‐equivariant of the model is confirmed, in which the predicted values of shape parameters are roughly independent of orientations of the particle when cutting slice images. Superior to conventional methods, all desirable shape parameters can be obtained by one unified 3D‐CNN model and its prediction is independent of particle complexity and the number of triangular facets, thus saving computation cost.
The Effect of the Side Chain on Gelation Properties of Bile Acid Alkyl Amides
Authors: Kuosmanen Riikka T. , Truong Khai‐Nghi , Rissanen Kari T. , Sievänen Elina I.
Published: November 2021

Six bile acid alkyl amide derivatives were studied with respect to their gelation properties. The derivatives were composed of three different bile acids with hexyl or cyclohexyl side chains. The gelation behaviour of all six compounds were studied for 36 solvents with varying polarities. Gelation was observed mainly in aromatic solvents, which is characteristic for bile‐acid‐based low molecular weight gelators. Out of 108 bile acid‐solvent combinations, a total of 44 gel systems were formed, 28 of which from lithocholic acid derivatives, only two from deoxycholic acid derivatives, and 14 from cholic acid derivatives. The majority of the gel systems were formed from bile acids with hexyl side chains, contrary to the cyclohexyl group, which seems to be a poor gelation moiety. These results indicate that the spatial demand of the side chain is the key feature for the gelation properties of the bile acid amides.
Ultra‐thin electron collectors based on nc‐Si:H for high‐efficiency silicon heterojunction solar cells
Authors: Zhao Yifeng , Mazzarella Luana , Procel Paul , Han Can , Tichelaar Frans D. , Yang Guangtao , Weeber Arthur , Zeman Miro , Isabella Olindo
Published: November 2021

Low parasitic absorption and high conductivity enable (n)‐type hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon [(n)nc‐Si:H], eventually alloyed with oxygen [(n)nc‐SiOx:H], to be deployed as window layer in high‐efficiency silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells. Besides the appropriate opto‐electrical properties of these nanocrystalline films, reduction of their thickness is sought for minimizing parasitic absorption losses. Many strategies proposed so far reveal practical limits of the minimum (n)‐layer thickness that we address and overcome in this manuscript. We demonstrated the successful application of an ultra‐thin layer of only 3‐nm‐thick based on (n)nc‐Si:H PECVD plasma growth conditions without the use of additional contact or buffer layers. For simplicity, we still name (n)nc‐Si:H this ultra‐thin layer and the solar cell endowed with it delivers a certified efficiency η of 22.20%. This cell shows a 0.61 mA/cm2 overall JSC gain over the (n)a‐Si:H counterpart mainly owing to the higher transparency of (n)nc‐Si:H, while maintaining comparable VOC > 714 mV and FF > 80%. Our optimized (n)nc‐Si:H layer yields low absorption losses that are commonly measured for (n)nc‐SiOx:H films. In this way, we are able to avoid the detrimental effect that oxygen incorporation has on the electrical parameters of these functional layers. Further, by applying a MgF2/ITO double‐layer anti‐reflection coating, a cell with 3‐nm‐thick (n)nc‐Si:H exhibits a JSC,EQE up to 40.0 mA/cm2. By means of EDX elemental mapping, we additionally identified the (n)nc‐Si:H/ITO interface as critical for electron transport due to unexpected oxidation. To avoid this interfacial oxidation, insertion of a 2‐nm‐thick (n)a‐Si:H on the 3‐nm‐thick (n)nc‐Si:H contributes to FF gains of 1.4%abs. (FF increased from 78.6% to 80.0%), and showing further room for improvements.
Tray forming operation of paperboard: A case study using implicit finite element analysis
Authors: Lindberg Gustav , Kulachenko Artem
Published: November 2021

The possibility to perform advanced forming operations of initially plane paperboard paves the way to making products like food trays, plates, cups and other containers as a part of shifting towards a circular bioeconomy. As a part of the ongoing efforts of expanding the product range using paperboard, we performed analyses of the forming operation using simulations. An implicit non‐linear finite element model is built to more accurately than previous studies simulate the tray forming process of paperboard. Two different commercial paperboards are investigated. The use of an implicit solver enabled the inclusion of the creasing pattern into the geometry of the paperboard blank resolving the formation of wrinkles during forming. The material data is extracted from tensile test curves of the investigated paperboards and was fitted accurately using Hill's plasticity with difference in tension and compression accounted for with subsequent failure evaluation. The results showed that the inclusion of the creases in the geometry is vital for getting a correct shape of the formed tray and important for decreasing the risk of failure. The results also showed that friction has a big impact on the formed shape and hence on the stress levels, and therefore supports the means of lowering friction between the blank holder and the blank during the tray forming operation. A stochastic approach is proposed to determine the probability of failure for the boards. The performed failure evaluation is consistent with the field observations. The developed approach enables more precise simulations of paperboard tray forming.
Systematic review measuring the efficacy of study abroad in undergraduate language learners on linguistic proficiency gains
Authors: Moore Ian , Torgerson Carole , Beckmann Nadin
Published: November 2021

Ascertaining the value of a study abroad experience on facilitating language development has long been a goal of Second Language Acquisition scholars. There is currently a plethora of studies regarding the topic, yet, despite this, the evidence remains inconclusive and contradictory. This systematic review evaluates the impact of study abroad among undergraduate language learners in both Europe and beyond on a range of linguistic outcomes compared to remaining in domestic instruction. Studies that used a randomised controlled trial design, or a quasi‐experimental design which achieved baseline equivalence, were included in an in‐depth review as they offer the best available evidence on impact. Nine electronic databases were searched using a series of keywords. Articles were screened using pre‐specified inclusion criteria. Forty studies were identified for a mapping synthesis, with seven publications being carried forward to full data extraction and quality appraisal. The synthesis of the evidence indicated that sojourning can facilitate the development of global proficiency and oral fluency, while oral and written accuracy demonstrated less change. The available evidence is discussed in relation to policy and practice, together with the limitations of this review.

Context and implications

Rationale for this study

The past two decades have led to a plethora of published material on study abroad linguistic research. However, the reliance on narrative literature reviews has led to mixed and inconclusive findings.

Why the new findings matter

The findings contribute to synthesising a broad evidence base offering insights to both practitioners and policy makers alike.

Implications for educational researchers and policy makers

This review is important for practitioners and learners alike as it indicates realistic expectations concerning linguistic proficiency pre‐departure to a year studying abroad. The evidence from the review shows that, where expectations have not been met, learners can become disillusioned with learning the second language. These findings could, for example, be used in pre‐departure workshops to facilitate the setting up of realistic expectations. From a policy perspective, the findings support the importance of study abroad in second language acquisition and the need for governments to ensure learners have this opportunity.
Bag of little bootstraps for massive and distributed longitudinal data
Authors: Zhou Xinkai , Zhou Jin J. , Zhou Hua
Published: November 2021

Linear mixed models are widely used for analyzing longitudinal datasets, and the inference for variance component parameters relies on the bootstrap method. However, health systems and technology companies routinely generate massive longitudinal datasets that make the traditional bootstrap method infeasible. To solve this problem, we extend the highly scalable bag of little bootstraps method for independent data to longitudinal data and develop a highly efficient Julia package MixedModelsBLB.jl. Simulation experiments and real data analysis demonstrate the favorable statistical performance and computational advantages of our method compared to the traditional bootstrap method. For the statistical inference of variance components, it achieves 200 times speedup on the scale of 1 million subjects (20 million total observations), and is the only currently available tool that can handle more than 10 million subjects (200 million total observations) using desktop computers.
Hyperspecialization and hyperscaling: A resource‐based theory of the digital firm
Authors: Giustiziero Gianluigi , Kretschmer Tobias , Somaya Deepak , Wu Brian
Published: November 2021

Research Summary

Digital firms tend to be both narrow in their vertical scope and large in their scale. We explain this phenomenon through a theory about how attributes of firms' resource bundles impact their scale and specialization. We posit that highly scalable resource bundles entail significant opportunity costs of integration (vs. outsourcing), which simultaneously drive “hyperspecialization” and “hyperscaling” in digital firms. Using descriptive theory and a formal model, we develop several propositions that align with observed features of digital businesses. We offer a parsimonious modeling framework for resource‐based theorizing about highly scalable digital firms, shed light on the phenomenon of digital scaling, and provide insights into the far‐reaching ways that technology‐enabled resources are reshaping firms in the digital economy.

Managerial Summary

Why are leading firms in the digital economy simultaneously larger and more specialized than those in the industrial age? Our research explains this phenomenon as being driven by the scalability of digital resources—that is, their capacity to create more value at larger scales when used intensively in a focal activity. We clarify what digital scalability means, and highlight trade‐offs created by the opportunity costs of not employing scalable digital resources intensively. Digital firms should outsource complementary activities to avoid diverting resources away from their scalable core, and to enhance their ability to grow exponentially. Although resource fungibility and outsourcing costs mitigate these imperatives, digital firms may nonetheless find it profitable to remain specialized despite the challenges of managing outsourcing and sharing value with complementors.
Spray‐Drying and Atomic Layer Deposition: Complementary Tools toward Fully Orthogonal Control of Bulk Composition and Surface Identity of Multifunctional Supraparticles
Authors: Müssig Stephan , Koch Vanessa M. , Collados Cuadrado Carlos , Bachmann Julien , Thommes Matthias , Barr Maïssa K. S. , Mandel Karl
Published: November 2021

Spray‐drying is a scalable process enabling one to assemble freely chosen nanoparticles into supraparticles. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) allows for controlled thin film deposition of a vast variety of materials including exotic ones that can hardly be synthesized by wet chemical methods. The properties of coated supraparticles are defined not only by the nanoparticle material chosen and the nanostructure adjusted during spray‐drying but also by surface functionalities modified by ALD, if ALD is capable of modifying not only the outer surfaces but also surfaces buried inside the porous supraparticle. Simultaneously, surface accessibility in the porous supraparticles must be ensured to make use of all functionalized surfaces. In this work, iron oxide supraparticles are utilized as a model substrate as their magnetic properties enable the use of advanced magnetic characterization methods. Detailed information about the structural evolution upon individual ALD cycles of aluminium oxide, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are thereby revealed and confirmed by gas sorption analyses. This demonstrates a powerful and versatile approach to freely designing the functionality of future materials by combination of spray‐drying and ALD.
A High‐Proportion Household Photovoltaic Optimal Configuration Method Based on Integrated–Distributed Energy Storage System
Authors: Zhang Xinyuan , Ma Gang , Pang Yuqi , Liu Xunyu , Xu Xiaotian , Ge Haoran
Published: November 2021

As energy shortages and environmental pollution continue to worsen, household photovoltaics has gradually become an important part of household energy management. However, with the penetration rate of household photovoltaics increasing, the access of the high‐proportion household photovoltaics (HPHP) will seriously endanger the operation of the distribution network. Therefore, it is urgent to stabilize the voltage fluctuations after the HPHP connected to the grid. This paper proposes a high‐proportion household photovoltaic optimal configuration method based on integrated–distributed energy storage system. After analyzing the adverse effects of HPHP connected to the grid, this paper uses modified K‐means clustering algorithm to classify energy storage in an integrated and distributed manner. Then based on the modified particle swarm optimization (MPSO), the integrated and distributed energy storage system is configured to realize the voltage stability of HPHP. The analysis of the example shows that the method proposed in this paper can effectively improve the power quality. At the same time, it can achieve the goal of economic optimization, which can effectively solve the adverse impact of HPHP grid connection. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
DECUSSATEnetwork with flowering genes explains the variable effects ofqDTY12.1to rice yield under drought across genetic backgrounds
Authors: Sanchez Jacobo , Kaur Pushpinder Pal , Pabuayon Isaiah C. M. , Karampudi Naga Bhushana Rao , Kitazumi Ai , Sandhu Nitika , Catolos Margaret , Kumar Arvind , de los Reyes Benildo G.
Published: November 2021

The impact ofqDTY12.1in maintaining yield under drought has not been consistent across genetic backgrounds. We hypothesized that synergism or antagonism with additive‐effect peripheral genes across the background genome either enhances or undermines its full potential. By modeling the transcriptional networks across siblingqDTY12.1‐introgression lines with contrasting yield under drought (LPB = low‐yield penalty; HPB = high‐yield penalty), theqDTY12.1‐encodedDECUSSATEgene (OsDEC) was revealed as the core of a synergy with other genes in the genetic background.OsDECis expressed in flag leaves and induced by progressive drought at booting stage in LPB but not in HPB. The uniqueOsDECsignature in LPB is coordinated with 35 upstream and downstream peripheral genes involved in floral development through the cytokinin signaling pathway. Results support the differential network rewiring effects through genetic coupling–uncoupling betweenqDTY12.1and other upstream and downstream peripheral genes across the distinct genetic backgrounds of LPB and HPB. The functionalDEC‐network in LPB defines a mechanism for early flowering as a means for avoiding the drought‐induced depletion of photosynthate needed for reproductive growth. Its impact is likely through the timely establishment of stronger source‐sink dynamics that sustains a robust reproductive transition under drought.
Genome‐wide association study for lignocellulosic compounds and fermentable sugar in rice straw
Authors: Panahabadi Rahele , Ahmadikhah Asadollah , McKee Lauren S. , Ingvarsson Pär K. , Farrokhi Naser
Published: November 2021

Cellulose and lignin are the two main components of secondary plant cell walls with substantial impact on stalk in the field and on straw during industrial processing. The amount of fermentable sugar that can be accessed is another important parameter affecting various industrial applications. In the present study, genetic variability of rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes for cellulose, lignin, and fermentable sugars contents was analyzed in rice straw. A genome‐wide association study of 33,484 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with a minor allele frequency (MAF) >0.05 was performed. The genome‐wide association study identified seven, three, and three genomic regions to be significantly associated with cellulose, lignin, and fermentable sugar contents, respectively. Candidate genes in the associated genomic regions were enzymes mainly involved in cell wall metabolism. Novel SNP markers associated with cellulose were tagged to GH16, peroxidase, GT6, GT8, and CSLD2. For lignin content, Villin protein, OsWAK1/50/52/53, and GH16 were identified. For fermentable sugar content, UTP‐glucose‐1‐phosphate uridylyltransferase, BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1, and receptor‐like protein kinase 5 were found. The results of this study should improve our understanding of the genetic basis of the factors that might be involved in biosynthesis, turnover, and modification of major cell wall components and saccharides in rice straw.
Definition of large niche after Cesarean section based on prediction of postmenstrual spotting: Chinese cohort study in non‐pregnant women
Authors: Wang J. , Pang Q. , Wei W. , Cheng L. , Huang F. , Cao Y. , Hu M. , Yan S. , He Y. , Wei Z.
Published: November 2021

Objective

A large niche after Cesarean section (CS) is associated with long‐term complications, of which postmenstrual spotting is associated positively with the size of the niche. However, the diagnosis of a large niche in the literature is inconsistent and the definition is largely subjective. The aim of this study was to generate a definition for a large niche in non‐pregnant women based on the presence of postmenstrual spotting.

Methods

Women who had undergone CS in our hospital between January 2012 and June 2017 were selected randomly from our database, contacted by telephone and subsequently examined between January 2016 and June 2020. Eligible for inclusion were non‐pregnant women who had their last CS more than 1 year earlier and agreed to undergo transvaginal sonography (TVS). All participants underwent examination of their CS scar by TVS (two‐dimensional color Doppler) during the midfollicular phase. Niche depth, length, width, residual myometrial thickness (RMT), adjacent myometrial thickness (AMT) and ratio of niche depth/AMT were recorded. Women diagnosed with a niche, defined as an indentation at the site of the CS with a depth of at least 2 mm, were classified into two groups (symptomatic or asymptomatic) according to whether they experienced postmenstrual spotting. Logistic regression analysis was used to establish the best cut‐off values for the niche parameters to predict postmenstrual spotting. A new definition was generated based on the niche parameters with the highest area under the receiver‐operating‐characteristics (ROC) curve (AUC) for the prediction of postmenstrual spotting.

Results

A total of 727 women who had a CS > 1 year earlier underwent TVS examination, of whom 263 were diagnosed with a niche (prevalence of 36.2%). Of these, 160 women experienced postmenstrual spotting and 103 were asymptomatic. The three variables with the highest AUC for prediction of postmenstrual spotting were niche depth/AMT ratio (AUC, 0.798; 95% CI, 0.745–0.852), niche depth (AUC, 0.731; 95% CI, 0.668–0.795) and RMT (AUC, 0.683; 95% CI, 0.618–0.748). Based on the best cut‐offs according to ROC‐curve analysis, a large niche was defined as: niche depth ≥ 0.50 cm, RMT ≤ 0.21 cm or niche depth/AMT ratio ≥ 0.56. The prevalence of a large niche according to this definition was 22.4% (163/727). The new definition had a specificity of 61.17% (95% CI, 52.34–70.41%) and sensitivity of 76.87% (95% CI, 70.28–84.16%) for a large niche.

Conclusion

This study has provided a new definition for a large niche after CS. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Towards high-precision parton distributions from lattice QCD via distillation
Authors: Egerer Colin , Edwards Robert G. , Kallidonis Christos , Orginos Kostas , Radyushkin Anatoly V. , Richards David G. , Romero Eloy , Zafeiropoulos Savvas ,   on behalf of the HadStruc collaboration
Published: November 2021

Abstract

We apply the Distillation spatial smearing program to the extraction of the unpolarized isovector valence PDF of the nucleon. The improved volume sampling and control of excited-states afforded by distillation leads to a dramatically improved determination of the requisite Ioffe-time Pseudo-distribution (pITD). The impact of higher-twist effects is subsequently explored by extending the Wilson line length present in our non-local operators to one half the spatial extent of the lattice ensemble considered. The valence PDF is extracted by analyzing both the matched Ioffe-time Distribution (ITD), as well as a direct matching of the pITD to the PDF. Through development of a novel prescription to obtain the PDF from the pITD, we establish a concerning deviation of the pITD from the expected DGLAP evolution of the pseudo-PDF. The presence of DGLAP evolution is observed once more following introduction of a discretization term into the PDF extractions. Observance and correction of this discrepancy further highlights the utility of distillation in such structure studies.
Relative leucocyte telomere length is associated with incident end-stage kidney disease and rapid decline of kidney function in type 2 diabetes: analysis from the Hong Kong Diabetes Register
Authors: Cheng Feifei , Luk Andrea O. , Wu Hongjiang , Tam Claudia H. T. , Lim Cadmon K. P. , Fan Baoqi , Jiang Guozhi , Carroll Luke , Yang Aimin , Lau Eric S. H. , Ng Alex C. W. , Lee Heung Man , Chow Elaine , Kong Alice P. S. , Keech Anthony C. , Joglekar Mugdha V. , So Wing Yee , Hardikar Anandwardhan A. , Chan Juliana C. N. , Jenkins Alicia J. , Ma Ronald C. W.
Published: November 2021

Aims/hypothesis

Few large-scale prospective studies have investigated associations between relative leucocyte telomere length (rLTL) and kidney dysfunction in individuals with type 2 diabetes. We examined relationships between rLTL and incident end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and the slope of eGFR decline in Chinese individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

We studied 4085 Chinese individuals with type 2 diabetes observed between 1995 and 2007 in the Hong Kong Diabetes Register with stored baseline DNA and available follow-up data. rLTL was measured using quantitative PCR. ESKD was diagnosed based on the ICD-9 code and eGFR.

Results

In this cohort (mean ± SD age 54.3 ± 12.6 years) followed up for 14.1 ± 5.3 years, 564 individuals developed incident ESKD and had shorter rLTL at baseline (4.2 ± 1.2 vs 4.7 ± 1.2, p < 0.001) than the non-progressors (n = 3521). On Cox regression analysis, each ∆∆Ct decrease in rLTL was associated with an increased risk of incident ESKD (HR 1.21 [95% CI 1.13, 1.30], p < 0.001); the association remained significant after adjusting for baseline age, sex, HbA1c, lipids, renal function and other risk factors (HR 1.11 [95% CI 1.03, 1.19], p = 0.007). Shorter rLTL at baseline was associated with rapid decline in eGFR (>4% per year) during follow-up (unadjusted OR 1.22 [95% CI 1.15, 1.30], p < 0.001; adjusted OR 1.09 [95% CI 1.01, 1.17], p = 0.024).

Conclusions/interpretation

rLTL is independently associated with incident ESKD and rapid eGFR loss in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Telomere length may be a useful biomarker for the progression of kidney function and ESKD in type 2 diabetes.

Graphical abstract
The Power of the Weighted Sum Scalarization for Approximating Multiobjective Optimization Problems
Authors: Bazgan Cristina , Ruzika Stefan , Thielen Clemens , Vanderpooten Daniel
Published: November 2021

We determine the power of the weighted sum scalarization with respect to the computation of approximations for general multiobjective minimization and maximization problems. Additionally, we introduce a new multi-factor notion of approximation that is specifically tailored to the multiobjective case and its inherent trade-offs between different objectives. For minimization problems, we provide an efficient algorithm that computes an approximation of a multiobjective problem by using an exact or approximate algorithm for its weighted sum scalarization. In case that an exact algorithm for the weighted sum scalarization is used, this algorithm comes arbitrarily close to the best approximation quality that is obtainable by supported solutions – both with respect to the common notion of approximation and with respect to the new multi-factor notion. Moreover, the algorithm yields the currently best approximation results for several well-known multiobjective minimization problems. For maximization problems, however, we show that a polynomial approximation guarantee can, in general, not be obtained in more than one of the objective functions simultaneously by supported solutions.
Epidemiologie und Therapie der behandlungsbedürftigen Frühgeborenenretinopathie. Die Hannoveraner Daten im Retina.net ROP-Register von 2001 bis 2017
Authors: Akman Stella H. , Pfeil Johanna M. , Stahl Andreas , Ehlers Stephanie , Böhne Carolin , Bohnhorst Bettina , Framme Carsten , Brockmann Dorothee , Bajor Anna , Jacobsen Christina , Hufendiek Karsten , Pielen Amelie ,   Retina.net ROP Register-Studiengruppe, Akman Stella H. , Bajor Anna , Behrens Julia , Brockmann Dorothee , Framme Carsten , Hufendiek Karsten , Jacobsen Christina , Luger Benjamin , Mies Sophia , Pielen Amelie , Wojtera Nora , Bohnhorst Bettina , Böhne Carolin , Ehlers Stephanie , Zirkler Carina
Published: November 2021

Hintergrund

Das Retina.net ROP-Register erhebt Daten von Kindern, die eine seltene behandlungsbedürftige Frühgeborenenretinopathie (Retinopathy of Prematurity, ROP) entwickeln. Ziel dieser Auswertung ist die Untersuchung der Daten zur behandlungsbedürftigen ROP, Epidemiologie, Therapie und deren Änderungen über einen Zeitraum von 15 Jahren an der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover.

Methoden

Analyse der Daten der therapiebedürftigen Fälle der ROP eines Zentrums für die Geburtsjahre 2001 bis 2016 (Therapie in 2002 bis 2017) als Gesamtzeitraum und in 5 Abschnitten.

Ergebnisse

Es wurden 65 Kinder behandelt (23 weiblich), davon wurden 11 (16,9 %) extern auf ROP gescreent und zur ROP-Behandlung zugewiesen. Für den Zeitraum 2006 bis 2016 lag die Inzidenz der behandlungsbedürftigen ROP unter den gescreenten Kindern bei 4,1 %. Das mittlere Gestationsalter betrug 25,7 Schwangerschaftswochen (SSW) (Standardabweichung [SA] = 1,8), das Geburtsgewicht 763 g (SA = 235), das postmenstruelle Alter bei Behandlung 38,2 Wochen (SA = 3,2), das postnatale Alter 12,4 Wochen (SA = 3,2). Über die Zeit zeigte sich kein signifikanter Unterschied der demografischen Parameter. Am häufigsten (57 Augen bei 31 Kindern) wurde eine Zone II, 3+-Erkrankung behandelt; 58 Kinder erhielten eine Laserkoagulation (N = 114 Augen), 7 Kinder bilateral eine Anti-VEGF-Therapie (Bevacizumab) (N = 14 Augen), welche ab 2014 eingesetzt wurde. Eine Wiederbehandlung bei Wiederaufflammen der behandlungsbedürftigen ROP war in einem Fall nach initialer Laserbehandlung notwendig. Kinder mit behandlungsbedürftiger ROP zeigten häufig neonatologische Komorbiditäten, in mehr als 90 % Beatmung, bronchopulmonale Dysplasie und erhielten Transfusionen.

Schlussfolgerung

Dies ist die erste monozentrische Auswertung über 15 Jahre im Rahmen des Retina.net ROP-Registers. Ab 2014 sehen wir einen Wechsel von der Laserkoagulation zur Anti-VEGF-Therapie (Bevacizumab), während im betrachteten Kollektiv die demografischen Daten und Behandlungsparameter weitgehend konstant waren.