bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mutual Information and Feature Importance Gradient Boosting: Automatic byte n‐gram feature reranking for Android malware detection
Authors: Yousefi‐Azar Mahmood , Varadharajan Vijay , Hamey Len , Chen Shiping
Published: April 2021

The fast pace evolving of Android malware demands for highly efficient strategy. That is, for a range of malware types, a malware detection scheme needs to be resilient and with minimum computation performs efficient and precise. In this paper, we propose Mutual Information and Feature Importance Gradient Boosting (MIFIBoost) tool that uses byte n‐gram frequency. MIFIBoost consists of four steps in the model construction phase and two steps in the prediction phase. For training, first, n‐grams of both the classes.dex and AndroidManifest.xml binary files are obtained. Then, MIFIBoost uses Mutual Information (MI) to determine the top most informative items from the entire n‐gram vocabulary. In the third phase, MIFIBoost utilizes the Gradient Boosting algorithm to re‐rank these top n‐grams. For testing, MIFIBoost uses the learned vocabulary of byte n‐grams term‐frequency (tf) to feed into the classifier for prediction. Thus, MIFIBoost does not require reverse engineering. A key insight from this work is that filtering using XGBoost helps us to address the hard problem of detecting obfuscated malware better while having a negligible impact on nonobfuscated malware. We have conducted a wide range of experiments on four different datasets one of which is obfuscated, and MIFIBoost outperforms state‐of‐the‐art tools. MIFIBoost's f1‐score for Drebin, DexShare, and AMD datasets is 99.1%, 98.87%, and 99.62%, respectively, a False Positive Rate of 0.41% using AMD dataset. On average, the False Negative Rate of MIFIBoost is 2.1% for the PRAGuard dataset in which seven different obfuscation techniques are implemented. In addition to fast run‐time performance and resiliency against obfuscated malware, the experiments show that MIFIBoost performs quite efficiently for five zero‐day families with 99.78% AUC.
Modeling and Optimization of Integrated Energy System Based on Energy Circuit Theory
Authors: Li Ming , Wang Zhe
Published: April 2021

Significant benefits in economics and environment could be attained with the growing development of integrated energy system (IES). Energy hub (EH) has a large potential for realization the objective of implementing complementarity coordination and optimization of IES. EH is a device with multiple inputs and outputs, which plays a role of connecting hub in energy optimization, but it is difficult to model automatically. Aiming at this problem, we propose a standardized matrix modeling method based on energy circuit theory. In this study, EH is first simplified into energy circuit diagram. Then, signal flow graph describing the topology of the energy circuit diagram is developed. On this basis, the energy flow equations are established based on Kirchhoff's extensive properties law. Based on the proposed EH framework, a bi‐level programming model is constructed for maximizing the profits and minimizing costs. This model was converted into a mixed‐integer linear program (MILP) through jointly employing the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) optimality condition, the relaxation technology and the linearization method. Then the MILP is solved with the well‐developed CPLEX commercial solver. Finally, case studies demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model and method. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Need knowing and acting be SSS-Safe?
Authors: Hirvelä Jaakko , Paterson Niall ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: April 2021

Throughout the years, Sosa has taken different views on the safety condition on knowledge. In his early work, he endorsed the safety condition, but later retracted this view when first developing his much discussed virtue epistemology. Recently, Sosa has further developed his virtue theory with the notion of competence and has developed an accompanying, modified safety condition that he maintains is entailed by that theory: the SSS-safety condition. Sosa's view is that this condition holds on both knowledge and action, because both knowledge and action are the manifestations of competence. The SSS-safety condition, roughly, says that if S were to make an attempt at φ-ing under certain specified shape-situation pairs, holding fixed their seat, then S would φ. The argument of this paper is that this new SSS-safety condition does not hold on either knowledge or action. We argue for this conclusion by providing a principled way to generate counter-examples to the condition for both knowledge and action. The reasoning is that there can exist a non-empty symmetric difference between the sets of shape-situation pairs under which distinct agents can manifest their epistemic and pragmatic competences, and if there can exist such a symmetric difference then the SSS-safety condition fails to hold.
Deep Reactive Etching of Silica with SF6/H2 Plasma
Authors: Salehi Maryam , Rad Ghasem Amraee , Hafezi Fatemeh , Arman Ali , Bonjakhi Mohsen
Published: April 2021

Reaktives Ätzen von Siliziumdioxid mit SF6/H2‐Plasma – Variation der Prozessparameter und mikrostrukturelle Untersuchungen

Aufgrund des wachsenden industriellen Bedarfs, Materialien im Nano‐ und Mikromaßstab einzusetzen, besteht großes Interesse an der Entwicklung neuer umweltschonender Methoden zur Bereitstellung präziser Siliziumstrukturen von hoher Qualität. In der hier präsentierten Studie gelang es uns mit Hilfe eines eigens für diesen Zweck angefertigten Systems zum reaktiven Tiefenätzen (DRIE), einen p‐Typ‐Silizium‐Wafer bis zu einer Tiefe von ca. 30 Mikrometern zu strukturieren. Bei dieser Kombination aus physikalischen und chemischen Abtragungsmethoden wurde anhand von Variationen der H2‐ und SF6‐Gasflüsse festgestellt, dass die die Abtragerate durch die Steuerung des H2‐Gasflusses während des Ätzprozesses und die damit verbundene Schaffung einer Schutzschicht beeinflusst werden kann. Dementsprechend können mit dem vorgestellten Verfahren auch andere Siliziumstrukturen, einschließlich Schwarzem Silizium, hergestellt werden. Die Strukturen können für den Einsatz in vielfältigen Anwendungen erprobt werden
Strategies to meet sustainability in the ophthalmic industry
Authors: Pérez Xavier , Gertmann Dirk , Kuhr Niels
Published: April 2021

Eco Mode für Beschichtungen in der Ophthalmik

Kunststoffgläser sind heutzutage der Standard für alle Arten von Brillen. Während der Herstellung von Rezeptgläsern entstehen dabei bis zu 90% Abfall, und die verwendeten Duroplaste können stofflich nicht recycelt werden. Um die Gesamtenergiebilanz der Brillengläser zu verbessern, können beim vorletzten Herstellungsschritt, dem Vakuumbeschichten, unterschiedliche Maßnahmen ergriffen werden. Verkürzung der Prozesszeit, deutlich erhöhte Kratzfestigkeit, Optimierung der Beschichtungsanlagen, die sinnvolle Auswertung der Beschichtungsdaten und das Recyceln des Beschichtungsmaterials tragen dazu bei, Energie und die damit verbundenen Emissionen und Kosten zu sparen.
Hard Light for Material Inspection, Crystallography, and Much More
Authors: McCarthy Emma
Published: April 2021

Hartes Licht für Materialprüfung, Kristallographie und vieles mehr – Anwendungen von UV‐ und weicher Röntgen‐Strahlung

Der Artikel stellt vier Anwendungsgebiete für den Einsatz ultravioletten (UV‐) Lichts vor: Die Materialprüfung und ‐charakterisierung, die Plasmaanalyse, die Untersuchung von Sonnenereignissen und die Kristallographie. Es wird gezeigt, wie jede der UV‐Unterkategorien (nahes, mittleres, fernes and extremes UV‐Licht) genutzt werden kann, um verschiedene Daten innerhalb jeder Anwendung zu gewinnen. Die anwendungsspezifischen Technologien werden ebenso angeführt wie die verschiedenen Einsatzmöglichkeiten der Wellenlängen‐Unterkategorien innerhalb dieser Anwendungen.
Berberine regulates lipid metabolism via miR‐192 in porcine oocytes matured in vitro
Authors: Dai JiaGe , Huang XiaoMeng , Zhang Chao , Luo XiaoFei , Cao SuYing , Wang JunLi , Liu Bing , Gao JianMing
Published: April 2021

Background

The berberine (Ber) is an isoquinoline alkaloid compound extracted from Rhizoma coptidis and has the effect that reduces adipose. MicroRNA‐192 (miR‐192) is related to fat metabolism. However, the relevant mechanism of berberine on lipid metabolism during in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes remains unclear.

Objectives

In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism by which berberine promotes the IVM and lipid metabolism of porcine oocytes via miR‐192.

Methods

Ber was added to IVM medium of porcine oocytes. MiR‐192 agomir, miR‐192 antagomir and negative control fragment were microinjected into the cytoplasm of oocytes without Ber. Rates of oocyte IVM and embryonic development in each group were observed. The content of lipid droplets in IVM oocytes in each group was analyzed by Nile red staining. Expression levels of miR‐192 and FABP3, SREBF1 and PPARG, were detected by qPCR and western blotting. The target genes of miR‐192 were determined by luciferase reporter assays.

Results and Conclusions

We found that Ber significantly increased the rate of oocytes IVM and blastocyst development, and decreased the area and numbers of lipid droplets in IVM oocytes. Ber significantly increased the expression of miR‐192 in IVM oocytes, and significantly decreased the expression of SREBF1 and PPARG, which were target genes of miR‐192. This study indicates that Ber promotes lipid metabolism in porcine oocytes by activating the expression of miR‐192 and down‐regulating SREBF1 and PPARG, thus, improving IVM of porcine oocytes.
Colonic duplication with colovaginal fistula in a dog
Authors: Rei Ines L. , Parry Andrew T. , Dempsey Lara M.
Published: April 2021

A 9‐week‐old, female entire cross breed dog presented with a history of recurrent constipation since being weaned. Survey radiography, CT and subsequently a retrograde vagino‐urethrogram were performed, and the patient was diagnosed with colonic duplication. CT showed a grossly abnormal colon, with the ascending colon bifurcating into two transverse and two descending colons with a common wall between them. During hospitalisation, the patient was observed to pass faecal material from the vulva. A retrograde vagino‐urethrogram was performed and revealed a colovaginal fistula. Surgical intervention was discussed; however, due to the severity of abnormalities found, the owner elected to euthanise the dog. A necropsy confirmed the imaging findings.
Concurrent uterine squamous cell carcinoma and bronchoalveolar carcinoma in a mahogany glider (Petaurus gracilis)
Authors: Hill Andrew Gordon , Owen Helen
Published: April 2021

A 9‐year‐old captive female mahogany glider (Petaurus gracilis) died acutely without prior clinical signs due to peritonitis associated with a squamous cell carcinoma infiltrating the wall of the uterus. A concurrent bronchoalveolar carcinoma was identified within the pulmonary parenchyma, which was considered incidental. Neoplasia is rarely reported in mahogany gliders despite their aging captive population.
Applications of metal‐organic frameworks and zeolites to virus detection and control: biosensors, barriers, and biocomposites
Authors: Aguilar‐Palma Roy , Malankowska Magdalena , Coronas Joaquín
Published: April 2021

Viruses affect humanity causing deaths and economic problems all over the world. Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) and zeolites are nanoporous compounds that can be tailor‐synthetized to specific applications to detect and control virus infections. Three main applications are found for these materials towards viruses: biosensors, barriers and biocomposites. Biosensors based on MOFs and zeolites possess a high selectivity in fluorescence assays to detect virus genetic material. Barriers based on modified zeolites are tools to remove or concentrate viruses in water sources, besides zeolites powders can be added to other materials like fabrics and plastics to create or enhance physical barriers to viruses. Biocomposites are materials that are composed of at least one natural resource, constituting a new technology, which can be a strategy to deliver drugs in medicine and protect biological substances against denaturing process, under this concept it is possible to create vaccine‐based viral‐like particles.
Medium induced QCD cascades: broadening and rescattering during branching
Authors: Blanco E. , Kutak K. , Płaczek W. , Rohrmoser M. , Straka R.
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We study evolution equations describing jet propagation through quark-gluon plasma (QGP). In particular we investigate the contribution of momentum transfer during branching and find that such a contribution is sizeable. Furthermore, we study various approximations, such as the Gaussian approximation and the diffusive approximation to the jet-broadening term. We notice that in order to reproduce the BDIM equation (without the momentum transfer in the branching) the diffusive approximation requires a very large value of the jet-quenching parameter $$ \hat{q} $$

q
̂

.
Light quark Yukawas in triboson final states
Authors: Falkowski Adam , Ganguly Sanmay , Gras Phillippe , No Jose Miguel , Tobioka Kohsaku , Vignaroli Natascia , You Tevong
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Triple heavy vector boson production, pp → VVV (V = W, Z), has recently been observed for the first time. We propose that precision measurements of this process provide an excellent probe of the first generation light quark Yukawa couplings. Modified quark interactions with the off-shell Higgs in this process lead to a rapid growth of the partonic cross sections with energy, which manifests in an enhanced pT distribution of the final state leptons and quarks. We quantify this effect and estimate the present and future 2σ sensitivity to the up, down, and strange Yukawas. In particular, we find that HL-LHC can reach $$ \mathcal{O}(400) $$
O

400

sensitivity to the down Yukawa relative to the Standard Model value, improving the current sensitivity in this process by a factor of 10, and which can be further improved to $$ \mathcal{O}(30) $$
O

30

at FCC-hh. This is competitive with and complementary to constraints from global fits and other on-shell probes of the first generation Yukawas. The triboson sensitivity at HL-LHC corresponds to probing dimension-6 SMEFT operators suppressed by an $$ \mathcal{O}(1) $$
O

1

TeV scale, similarly to other LHC Higgs probes.
Revisiting the role of mitochondria in spinal muscular atrophy
Authors: James Rachel , Chaytow Helena , Ledahawsky Leire M. , Gillingwater Thomas H.
Published: April 2021

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive motor neuron disease of variable clinical severity that is caused by mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Despite its name, SMN is a ubiquitous protein that functions within and outside the nervous system and has multiple cellular roles in transcription, translation, and proteostatic mechanisms. Encouragingly, several SMN-directed therapies have recently reached the clinic, albeit this has highlighted the increasing need to develop combinatorial therapies for SMA to achieve full clinical efficacy. As a subcellular site of dysfunction in SMA, mitochondria represents a relevant target for a combinatorial therapy. Accordingly, we will discuss our current understanding of mitochondrial dysfunction in SMA, highlighting mitochondrial-based pathways that offer further mechanistic insights into the involvement of mitochondria in SMA. This may ultimately facilitate translational development of targeted mitochondrial therapies for SMA. Due to clinical and mechanistic overlaps, such strategies may also benefit other motor neuron diseases and related neurodegenerative disorders.
CMTM6 expression in M2 macrophages is a potential predictor of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor response in colorectal cancer
Authors: Wu Xuehui , Lan Xiaoliang , Hu Wanming , Zhang Wanning , Lai Xiangmeng , Xu Shaowan , Li Jiaoying , Qiu Weihao , Wang Wei , Xiao Jianbiao , Wang Feifei , Ding Yanqing , Liang Li
Published: April 2021

Background

CMTM6 is a novel key regulator of PD-L1. High expression of both CMTM6 and PD-L1 may predict the benefit of PD-1 axis blockade in lung cancer. We aimed to investigate the expression pattern of CMTM6 between mismatch repair-defective (dMMR) and mismatch repair-proficient (pMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues and assess its correlation with the response to PD-1/PD-L1 pathway blockade.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to analyze CMTM6 and PD-L1 expression and immune cell density in dMMR/pMMR CRC. Quantitative multiplex immunofluorescence (IF) was performed to detect CMTM6, PD-L1, CD4, CD8, CD68 and CD163 expression in CRC patients treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors.

Result

IHC analysis showed that CMTM6 and PD-L1 were both expressed in tumor cells (TCs) and invasion front immune cells (ICs). CMTM6 and PD-L1 expression and CD4+, CD8+, CD68+ or CD163+ cell density were significantly higher in dMMR CRC patients than in pMMR CRC patients. CMTM6 expression was positively correlated with PD-L1 expression and CD163+ M2 macrophage density in dMMR CRC. IF analysis showed that the coexpression rate of CMTM6/PD-L1 and the expression rate of CMTM6 in CD8+ T cells and CD163+ M2 macrophages were significantly increased in the group that exhibited clinical benefit. CMTM6 expression in M2 macrophages was identified as the best biomarker for predicting the responsiveness to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors.

Conclusions

CMTM6 expression in M2 macrophages may predict the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor response rate in CRC patients more accurately than dMMR/microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) status. It can also identify pMMR CRC patients who could benefit from PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors.
Corrigendum to “Best match graphs”
Authors: Schaller David , Geiß Manuela , Chávez Edgar , González Laffitte Marcos , López Sánchez Alitzel , Stadler Bärbel M. R. , Valdivia Dulce I. , Hellmuth Marc , Hernández Rosales Maribel , Stadler Peter F.
Published: April 2021

Two errors in the article Best Match Graphs (Geiß et al. in JMB 78: 2015–2057, 2019) are corrected. One concerns the tacit assumption that digraphs are sink-free, which has to be added as an additional precondition in Lemma 9, Lemma 11, Theorem 4. Correspondingly, Algorithm 2 requires that its input is sink-free. The second correction concerns an additional necessary condition in Theorem 9 required to characterize best match graphs. The amended results simplify the construction of least resolved trees for n-cBMGs, i.e., Algorithm 1. All other results remain unchanged and are correct as stated.
The Craterostigma plantagineum protein kinase CpWAK1 interacts with pectin and integrates different environmental signals in the cell wall
Authors: Chen Peilei , Giarola Valentino , Bartels Dorothea
Published: April 2021

Main conclusion

The cell wall protein CpWAK1 interacts with pectin, participates in decoding cell wall signals, and induces different downstream responses.

Cell wall-associated protein kinases (WAKs) are transmembrane receptor kinases. In the desiccation-tolerant resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum, CpWAK1 has been shown to be involved in stress responses and cell expansion by forming a complex with the C. plantagineum glycine-rich protein1 (CpGRP1). This prompted us to extend the studies of WAK genes in C. plantagineum. The phylogenetic analyses of WAKs from C. plantagineum and from other species suggest that these genes have been duplicated after species divergence. Expression profiles indicate that CpWAKs are involved in various biological processes, including dehydration-induced responses and SA- and JA-related reactions to pathogens and wounding. CpWAK1 shows a high affinity for “egg-box” pectin structures. ELISA assays revealed that the binding of CpWAKs to pectins is modulated by CpGRP1 and it depends on the apoplastic pH. The formation of CpWAK multimers is the prerequisite for the CpWAK–pectin binding. Different pectin extracts lead to opposite trends of CpWAK–pectin binding in the presence of Ca2+ at pH 8. These observations demonstrate that CpWAKs can potentially discriminate and integrate cell wall signals generated by diverse stimuli, in concert with other elements, such as CpGRP1, pHapo, Ca2+[apo], and via the formation of CpWAK multimers.
Chronically ill children’s participation and health outcomes in shared decision-making: a scoping review
Authors: Wijngaarde R. O. , Hein I. , Daams J. , Van Goudoever J. B. , Ubbink D. T.
Published: April 2021

Based on the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child (CRC), it is a child’s right to participate in all matters concerning its wellbeing. Little is known about chronically and/or critically ill children’s participation in pediatric shared decision-making (SDM). We explored medical literature to see if and how these children participate in pediatric SDM. We searched relevant medical databases published between January 2008 and January 2020 for studies targeting children aged 4–18 years old, suffering from a chronic and/or critical disease. We found 9 relevant studies. SDM interventions mostly used were decision aids (n=8), questionnaires for caretakers/parents and children (n=4), and a SDM toolkit (n=2). Perceived involvement in SDM and knowledge increased amongst children, adolescents, and caretakers following these interventions. Decisional conflict measured using the 0–100 point DCS scale (higher scores indicate more decisional conflict) was reduced by 15.9 points in one study (p<0.01) and 17.8 points in another (95%CI: 13.3–22.9). Lower scores were associated with higher satisfaction with the decision aid by children, caretakers, and clinicians.

Conclusion: Stakeholders should advocate initiatives to facilitate a child’s participation preferences regarding pediatric SDM since decision support tools help chronically ill children to be more involved in SDM as they increase the children’s knowledge and satisfaction and reduce decisional conflicts.

What is Known:• Decision aids can help improve participation, knowledge, satisfaction, and health outcomes.• Quality and consistency of the information exchange impact quality and outcome of SDM.

What is New:• Depending on a child’s age, evolving capacities, and communication and participation preferences, more evidence is needed on which tools are suitable for chronically ill children to ensure their preferred participation in pediatric SDM.• Pediatricians adopt healthcare SDM tools and techniques that do not always take into account that a child’s right to participate in pediatric SDM including the tendency to use interventions that are not specifically designed for pediatrics.
Evaluation of the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the quality of life of patients monitored for cancer who practice an adapted physical activity: rugby for health
Authors: Motton Stéphanie , Vergriete Kelig , VanPhi Luc Nguyen , Lambaudie Eric , Berthoumieu Audrey , Pous Jean , Delannes Martine , Piscione Julien , Cornou Caroline , Bataille Benoit , Saxod Diane , Pillard Fabien
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The benefits of regular physical exercise on the tolerability of cancer treatments, quality of life and survival rates post-diagnosis have been demonstrated but all supervised physical activities have been interrupted due to the global health crisis and the need for lockdown to halt the spread of SARS-CoV-2. To reintroduce activities post-lockdown, we wanted to assess the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the quality of life and the psychological status of patients who practice an adapted physical activity such as rugby for health.

Methods

The evaluation was conducted in two phases: an initial self-questionnaire comprised of 42 questions sent to all participants to assess the impact of lockdown and a second assessment phase in the presence of the participants. We assessed anthropometric data, functional fitness parameters, quality of life and the psychosocial status of the subjects. The data were compared to pre-lockdown data as part of a standardised follow-up procedure for patients enrolled in the programme.

Results

105/120 (87.5%) individuals responded to the rapid post-lockdown survey analysis. In 20% of the cases, the patients reported anxiety, pain, a decline in fitness and a significant impact on the tolerability of cancer treatments. Twenty-seven patients agreed to participate in the individual analysis. Following lockdown, there was a significant decrease in the intensity of physical activity (p = 8.223e–05). No post-lockdown changes were noted in the assessments that focus on the quality of life and the level of psychological distress. Conversely, there was a significant correlation between the total of high energy expended during lockdown and the quality of life (p = 0.03; rho = 0.2248) and the level of psychological distress post-lockdown (p = 0.05; rho = − 0.3772).

Conclusion

Lockdown and reduced physical activity, particularly leisure activities, did not impact the overall health of the patients. However, there was a significant correlation with the level of physical activity since the higher the level of physical activity, the better the quality of life and the lower the level of psychological distress.
Planarity and non-separating cycles in uniform high genus quadrangulations
Authors: Louf Baptiste
Published: April 2021

We study large uniform random bipartite quadrangulations whose genus grows linearly with the number of faces. Their local convergence was recently established by Budzinski and the author [9, 10]. Here we study several properties of these objects which are not captured by the local topology. Namely we show that balls around the root are planar with high probability up to logarithmic radius, and we prove that there exist non-contractible cycles of constant length with positive probability.
Impact of Second Phase Content on Rock Salt Rheological Behavior Under Cyclic Mechanical Conditions
Authors: Martin-Clave Carla , Ougier-Simonin Audrey , Vandeginste Veerle
Published: April 2021

Safe Underground Gas Storage (UGS) can be achieved in artificial, salt caverns to meet fluctuations in energy demand by providing adequate knowledge on rock salt when subjected to similar cyclic conditions. In this study, we performed cyclic mechanical tests on five rock salt samples with different types and amounts of second-phase mineral content. A confining pressure of 25 MPa was applied, whilst the axial stress was cycled between 4.5 and 7.5 MPa, at 0.5 kN/s loading rate, during 48 h (7200 cycles). The results demonstrate that high second-phase content such as anhydrite layering operates as a strength weakening agent by accommodating larger brittle deformation in comparison to samples with a lower content in secondary minerals. This rheological behavior is further exacerbated by the cycling mechanical conditions and recorded by a marked step on Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio value evolution. The microstructure analysis reveals how halite grains accommodate most of the deformation induced by the cyclic mechanical loading conditions through brittle deformation with microfracturing network development. Other structures from different deformation mechanisms are also discussed. Two types of new porosity are observed: (i) pores around isolated crystals of second-phase minerals as a result of grain rotation under cyclic mechanical deformation, and (ii) microcracks in areas with high concentration of secondary minerals (such as anhydrite, polyhalite, carnallite, or kieserite). This porosity change has strong implications for both the mechanical behavior of the material and its potential permeability.
Semantic Instance Segmentation of Kidney Cysts in MR Images: A Fully Automated 3D Approach Developed Through Active Learning
Authors: Gregory Adriana V. , Anaam Deema A. , Vercnocke Andrew J. , Edwards Marie E. , Torres Vicente E. , Harris Peter C. , Erickson Bradley J. , Kline Timothy L.
Published: April 2021

Total kidney volume (TKV) is the main imaging biomarker used to monitor disease progression and to classify patients affected by autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) for clinical trials. However, patients with similar TKVs may have drastically different cystic presentations and phenotypes. In an effort to quantify these cystic differences, we developed the first 3D semantic instance cyst segmentation algorithm for kidneys in MR images. We have reformulated both the object detection/localization task and the instance-based segmentation task into a semantic segmentation task. This allowed us to solve this unique imaging problem efficiently, even for patients with thousands of cysts. To do this, a convolutional neural network (CNN) was trained to learn cyst edges and cyst cores. Images were converted from instance cyst segmentations to semantic edge-core segmentations by applying a 3D erosion morphology operator to up-sampled versions of the images. The reduced cysts were labeled as core; the eroded areas were dilated in 2D and labeled as edge. The network was trained on 30 MR images and validated on 10 MR images using a fourfold cross-validation procedure. The final ensemble model was tested on 20 MR images not seen during the initial training/validation. The results from the test set were compared to segmentations from two readers. The presented model achieved an averaged R2 value of 0.94 for cyst count, 1.00 for total cyst volume, 0.94 for cystic index, and an averaged Dice coefficient of 0.85. These results demonstrate the feasibility of performing cyst segmentations automatically in ADPKD patients.
Human language evolution: a view from theoretical linguistics on how syntax and the lexicon first came into being
Authors: Fujita Haruka , Fujita Koji
Published: April 2021

Human language is a multi-componential function comprising several sub-functions each of which may have evolved in other species independently of language. Among them, two sub-functions, or modules, have been claimed to be truly unique to the humans, namely hierarchical syntax (known as “Merge” in linguistics) and the “lexicon.” This kind of species-specificity stands as a hindrance to our natural understanding of human language evolution. Here we challenge this issue and advance our hypotheses on how human syntax and lexicon may have evolved from pre-existing cognitive capacities in our ancestors and other species including but not limited to nonhuman primates. Specifically, we argue that Merge evolved from motor action planning, and that the human lexicon with the distinction between lexical and functional categories evolved from its predecessors found in animal cognition through a process we call “disintegration.” We build our arguments on recent developments in generative grammar but crucially depart from some of its core ideas by borrowing insights from other relevant disciplines. Most importantly, we maintain that every sub-function of human language keeps evolutionary continuity with other species’ cognitive capacities and reject a saltational emergence of language in favor of its gradual evolution. By doing so, we aim to offer a firm theoretical background on which a promising scenario of language evolution can be constructed.
Taking Exception: Philosophy of Technology as a Multidimensional Problem Space
Authors: Smith Dominic
Published: April 2021

This essay develops three key claims made in my 2018 book, Exceptional Technologies. Part one argues for ‘trivialising the transcendental’, to remove stigmas attached to the word ‘transcendental’ in philosophy in general and philosophy of technology in particular. Part two outlines the concept of ‘exceptional technologies’. These are artefacts and practices that show up as limit cases for our received pictures of what constitutes a ‘technology’ (what I refer to as our ‘pictures of method’) and that force us to reassess the conditions for the possibility of these pictures. I focus on the case of autonomous vehicles here, arguing that Google Street View provides a relatively better picture for approaching philosophical issues at stake than the famous ‘Trolley Problem’. Part three then concludes with a focus on Heidegger’s ‘Question Concerning Technology’ essay. Heidegger asserts that philosophical questioning ‘builds a way’ (1977: 3). I argue that philosophical approaches to technologies might better be considered in terms of a multidimensional problem space.
Stimmung/Nastrój as Content of Modern Science: On Musical Metaphors in Ludwik Fleck’s Theory of Thought Styles and Thought Collectives
Authors: Jarnicki Paweł
Published: April 2021

Thought style and thought collective are two well-known concepts from Ludwik Fleck’s theory of science, which he originally formulated in Polish and German. This paper contends that these two concepts cannot be fully understood without a third—Stimmung/nastrój, which is one of the musical metaphors that play an important role in Fleck’s thinking. Because it is most often translated into English as “mood”, Fleck’s musical metaphors are mostly lost in translation, appearing as mere rhetoric. Only if and when we understand Stimmung/nastrój in the musical meaning of attunement, we can fully understand thought collectives, for which Stimmung/nastrój is sine qua non, and thought style, which appears if and when a collective turns out to be an enduring and not a momentary one.
A note on the Fröhlich dynamics in the strong coupling limit
Authors: Mitrouskas David
Published: April 2021

We revise a previous result about the Fröhlich dynamics in the strong coupling limit obtained in Griesemer (Rev Math Phys 29(10):1750030, 2017). In the latter it was shown that the Fröhlich time evolution applied to the initial state$$\varphi _0 \otimes \xi _\alpha $$φ0⊗ξα, where$$\varphi _0$$φ0is the electron ground state of the Pekar energy functional and$$\xi _\alpha $$ξαthe associated coherent state of the phonons, can be approximated by a global phase for times small compared to$$\alpha ^2$$α2. In the present note we prove that a similar approximation holds for$$t=O(\alpha ^2)$$t=O(α2)if one includes a nontrivial effective dynamics for the phonons that is generated by an operator proportional to$$\alpha ^{-2}$$α-2and quadratic in creation and annihilation operators. Our result implies that the electron ground state remains close to its initial state for times of order$$\alpha ^2$$α2, while the phonon fluctuations around the coherent state$$\xi _\alpha $$ξαcan be described by a time-dependent Bogoliubov transformation.
Ganoderic Acid A Attenuates LPS-Induced Neuroinflammation in BV2 Microglia by Activating Farnesoid X Receptor
Authors: Jia Yue , Zhang Dandan , Yin Hua , Li Haoran , Du Jing , Bao Hongkun
Published: April 2021

Neuroinflammation plays an important role in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation have been proved to be the main reason for causing the neurodegenerative diseases. Ganoderic acid A (GAA), isolated from Ganoderma lucidum, showed anti-inflammatory effect in metabolism diseases. However, little research has been focused on the effect of GAA in neuroinflammation and the related mechanism. In the present study, lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory capacity of GAA. Our data showed that GAA significantly suppressed LPS-induced BV2 microglial cells proliferation and activation in vitro. More strikingly, GAA promoted the conversion of BV2 microglial cells from M1 status induced by LPS to M2 status. Furthermore, GAA inhibited the pro-inflammatory cytokines release and promoted neurotrophic factor BDNF expression in LPS-induced BV2 microglial cells. Finally, we found that the expression of farnesoid-X-receptor (FXR) was prominently downregulated in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells, antagonism of FXR with z-gugglesterone and FXR siRNA can reverse the effect of GAA in LPS-induced BV2 microglial cells. Taking together, our findings demonstrate that GAA can significantly inhibit LPS-induced neuroinflammation in BV2 microglial cells via activating FXR receptor.
A $$2~{\times }~2$$ random switching model and its dual risk model
Authors: Behme Anita , Strietzel Philipp Lukas
Published: April 2021

In this article, a special case of two coupled M/G/1-queues is considered, where two servers are exposed to two types of jobs that are distributed among the servers via a random switch. In this model, the asymptotic behavior of the workload buffer exceedance probabilities for the two single servers/both servers together/one (unspecified) server is determined. Hereby, one has to distinguish between jobs that are either heavy-tailed or light-tailed. The results are derived via the dual risk model of the studied coupled M/G/1-queues for which the asymptotic behavior of different ruin probabilities is determined.
Modeling the Effect of HIV/AIDS Stigma on HIV Infection Dynamics in Kenya
Authors: Levy Ben , Correia Hannah E. , Chirove Faraimunashe , Ronoh Marilyn , Abebe Ash , Kgosimore Moatlhodi , Chimbola Obias , Machingauta M. Hellen , Lenhart Suzanne , White K. A. Jane
Published: April 2021

Stigma toward people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) has impeded the response to the disease across the world. Widespread stigma leads to poor adherence of preventative measures while also causing PLWHA to avoid testing and care, delaying important treatment. Stigma is clearly a hugely complex construct. However, it can be broken down into components which include internalized stigma (how people with the trait feel about themselves) and enacted stigma (how a community reacts to an individual with the trait). Levels of HIV/AIDS-related stigma are particularly high in sub-Saharan Africa, which contributed to a surge in cases in Kenya during the late twentieth century. Since the early twenty-first century, the United Nations and governments around the world have worked to eliminate stigma from society and resulting public health education campaigns have improved the perception of PLWHA over time, but HIV/AIDS remains a significant problem, particularly in Kenya. We take a data-driven approach to create a time-dependent stigma function that captures both the level of internalized and enacted stigma in the population. We embed this within a compartmental model for HIV dynamics. Since 2000, the population in Kenya has been growing almost exponentially and so we rescale our model system to create a coupled system for HIV prevalence and fraction of individuals that are infected that seek treatment. This allows us to estimate model parameters from published data. We use the model to explore a range of scenarios in which either internalized or enacted stigma levels vary from those predicted by the data. This analysis allows us to understand the potential impact of different public health interventions on key HIV metrics such as prevalence and disease-related death and to see how close Kenya will get to achieving UN goals for these HIV and stigma metrics by 2030.
Effect of high-fidelity simulation on alpha-amylase activity and concentrations of secretory immunoglobulin class A, cortisol, and testosterone among medical students
Authors: Bialka Szymon , Copik Maja , Ubych Adam , Marciniak Radosław , Smereka Jacek , Szarpak Lukasz , Misiolek Hanna
Published: April 2021

Purpose

High-fidelity simulation calls heavily upon cognitive capacities and generates stress and anxiety. The objective of this prospective, observational study was to evaluate the degree of stress in medical students by measuring hormone levels during critical care classes.

Methods

Overall, 55 students (senior years of medical faculty) of both sexes were divided into 5-person teams. Demographic data and information on diagnosed diseases, stimulants used, and previous experience in the field of medical simulation were collected with a personal questionnaire. Before starting the scenario (T0), after the end of the scenario (T1), and 120 min thereafter (T2), stress level was measured. For this purpose, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean blood pressure, heart rate and blood oxygen saturation were evaluated. In addition, saliva was collected to determine alpha-amylase activity and the concentrations of secretory immunoglobulin class A, cortisol, and testosterone.

Results

Among hemodynamic parameters, systolic and mean blood pressure and heart rate were significantly higher in T1 than in T0 and T2 time points (p < 0.05). Cortisol concentration was higher at T2 compared with T0 and T1. Alpha-amylase activity was highest at T1. Secretory immunoglobulin class A concentration was highest at T0, followed by T1 and then T2. These differences were not statistically significant. Testosterone concentration showed significantly higher values at T2 compared with T0 and T1 (p < 0.05). The analysis of team leaders vs. other members revealed significantly lower cortisol and alpha-amylase values in leaders (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

High-fidelity simulation is a useful education method in medical subjects, especially in cases where a mistake could produce serious or irreversible consequences. It can increase stress hormone concentrations and thus can be assumed effective as a learning aid even in senior-year students of medical faculty.
Video image of genital melanosis provides strong evidence to support identification of a sexual offender
Authors: Yamada Atsushi , Demitsu Toshio , Umemoto Naoka , Kitamura Osamu
Published: April 2021

A man in his thirties was suspected of committing a sexual offense against a young girl. A video on his mobile telephone provided the only evidence. Photographs obtained from the video showed male genitalia in two views, with the penis in both views exhibiting unique pigmentation. We appraised this case with the cooperation of dermatologists, who diagnosed the pigmentation as male genital melanosis, a relatively rare disease, which matched that on the suspected perpetrator’s penis. Photographs obtained from the video were thus decisive evidence of sexual offense and identified the perpetrator.
The Engulfing Property for Sections of Convex Functions on the Heisenberg Group and the Associated Quasi-distance
Authors: Calogero A. , Pini R.
Published: April 2021

In this paper we investigate the property of engulfing for H-convex functions defined on the Heisenberg group $${\mathbb {H}^n}$$

H

n

. Starting from the horizontal sections introduced by Capogna and Maldonado (Proc Am Math Soc 134:3191–3199, 2006) , we consider a new notion of section, called $${\mathbb {H}^n}$$

H

n

-section, as well as a new condition of engulfing associated to the $${\mathbb {H}^n}$$

H

n

-sections, for an H-convex function defined in $$\mathbb {H}^n.$$

H

n

.

These sections, that arise as suitable unions of horizontal sections, are dimensionally larger; as a matter of fact, the $${\mathbb {H}^n}$$

H

n

-sections, with their engulfing property, will lead to the definition of a quasi-distance in $${\mathbb {H}^n}$$

H

n

in a way similar to Aimar et al. in the Euclidean case (J Fourier Anal Appl 4:377–381, 1998). A key role is played by the property of round H-sections for an H-convex function, and by its connection with the engulfing properties.
Two-Photon Direct Laser Writing Beyond the Diffraction Limit Using the Nanopositioning and Nanomeasuring Machine
Authors: Mohr-Weidenfeller Laura , Häcker Annika-Verena , Reinhardt Carsten , Manske Eberhard
Published: April 2021

Since the first realization of two-photon direct laser writing (DLW) in Maruo et al. (Opt Lett 22:132–134, 1997), the manufacturing using direct laser writing techniques spread out in many laboratories all over the world. Photosensitive materials with different material properties open a new field for micro- and nanofabrication. The achievable structuring resolution using this technique is reported to be sub-100 nm (Paz et al. in J. Laser Appl. 24:042004, 2012), while a smallest linewidth of 25 nm could be shown in Tan et al. (Appl Phys Lett 90:071106, 2007). In our approach, the combination of DLW with the nanopositioning and nanomeasuring machine NMM-1 offers an improvement of the technique from the engineering side regarding the ultra-precise positioning (Weidenfeller et al. in Adv Fabr Technol Micro/Nano Opt Photon XI 10544:105440E, 2018). One big benefit besides the high positioning resolution of 0.1 nm is offered by the positioning range of $$25\,\hbox {mm} \times 25\,\hbox {mm} \times 5\,\hbox {mm}$$

25

mm
×
25

mm
×
5

mm

(Jäger et al. in Technisches Messen 67:319–323, 2000; Manske et al. in Meas Sci Technol 18:520–527, 2007). Thus, a trans-scale fabrication without any stitching or combination of different positioning systems is necessary. The immense synergy between the highly precise positioning and the DLW is demonstrated by the realization of resist lines and trenches whose center-to-center distance undergoes the modified diffraction limit for two-photon processes. The precise positioning accuracy enables a defined distance between illuminated lines. Hence, with a comparable huge width of the trenches of $$1.655\,\upmu \hbox {m}$$

1.655

μ
m

due to a low effective numerical aperture of 0.16, a resist line of 30 nm between two written trenches could be achieved. Although the interrelationships for achieving such narrow trenches have not yet been clarified, much smaller resist lines and trench widths are possible with this approach in the near future.
Striving for the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): what will it take?
Authors: Saxena Anurag , Ramaswamy Meghna , Beale Jon , Marciniuk Darcy , Smith Preston
Published: April 2021

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) aim to develop healthy societies aligned with collective well-being. Although commendable efforts have been made, there has been a paucity of coordination and integration across sectors. While progress towards these goals has made a marked difference in peoples’ lives, it has been slow, episodic, and geographically isolated. This article dissects the challenges and opportunities and addresses the interplay between conceptualization, implementation, and evaluation. We suggest that philosophic, strategic, and operational alignment between and strategic attention to transformative learning for education and organizational learning, leadership (that involves moral courage, judicious use of power and narratives, creating a sense of belonging, and adopting an integrated and dialectic approach) and robust partnerships across public, private and plural (civil society) sectors would increase the likelihood of success and sustainability beyond 2030. A dialectic approach integrating outcomes with SDGs’ inspirational nature to guide the discourse would allow for emergence.
Money Laundering and Deprivation of Illegally Obtained Assets in Brazil: An Overview of the Current National Legislation
Authors: Giuliani Emília Merlini
Published: April 2021

The present paper aims to provide a comprehensive yet critical overview of current Brazilian legislation on money-laundering prevention and control. Given that stripping criminals of their illegal profits has for a long time been considered one of the most important measures in the fight against international and organized crime, a part of this paper explores the legal mechanisms that allow for this to take place as a consequence of crime and, especially, in connection with money laundering in the context of the Brazilian criminal justice system.