bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RESEARCH ON BEHAVIORAL MOTIVATION INFERENCE METHOD FOR GEOGRAPHICAL SPATIOTEMPORAL LARGE DATA
Authors: Li J. W. , Chen W. D. , Ma Y. , Yu N. , Li X. , Jiang J. W.
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Along with the rapid development of Internet technology, GNSS technology and mobile terminals, a large amount of information including geographical location and time attributes has been generated. Faced with large and complex Internet geospatial data, how to quickly and accurately extract valuable reference information becomes an urgent problem to be solved. And the user's demand for personalized information of recommendation information is getting stronger and stronger, and researching efficient and accurate personalized recommendation system has good application value. In this paper, based on the application requirements of personalized recommendation information, the GIS platform and related recommendation algorithms are used to fully exploit the user and location based on geographic space-time big dataIt is divided into user explicit interest and user implicit interest, and then establishes a scientific and efficient user behavior motivation prediction model based on geographic situation. User interest information can be obtained from explicit interest information, implicit interest information and geographic situation interest information. Geographical environment, geographic location and other related context information. By introducing time factors, it is used to update and improve the user real-time interest model to achieve accurate prediction of user behavior motives under geographic spatio-temporal big data. Use Apriori algorithm to calculate the support and determine the current Frequent itemsets of user interest in geographic context, using frequent itemsets to generate strong association rules, and realizing the analysis of user behavior motives based on geography context. For geographic spatio-temporal big data, this paper proposes a personalized hybrid recommendation algorithm, which is based on users. Effective combination of collaborative filtering algorithms and association rules for geographic context-user behavioral interest adaptation.
GDP SPATIALIZATION AND DYNAMIC ANALYSIS BASED ON DMSP/OLS IMAGES: A CASE OF HENAN PROVINCE
Authors: Ma R. X. , Fu B. L. , He H. C. , Fan D. L.
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is an important statistical indicator for quantitatively studying of economic development and space distribution characteristics. However, GDP has been often calculated based on administrative units without fine describing the difference of space distribution in the administrative unit. This paper calculated night-light indexes of Henan province using DMSP/OLS remote sensing data in 2006 and 2013. Those correlation between different light indexes and GDP was analyzed, and the best regression model of GDP was constructed. The accuracy of statistical data in 2006 and 2013 was used to verify the accuracy. The spatial visualization and dynamic analysis of GDP in Henan province were realized. Finally, this paper realized the spatial visualization and dynamic analysis of GDP in Henan province and produced 1 km × 1 km distribution map of GDP density.The results showed that the Total Night-time Light (TNL) index had the highest correlation with GDP in 2010 with the coefficient of 0.928, R2 was 0.861. The TNL indicator and GDP in 2013 achieved the correlation coefficient of 0.930, R2 was 0.865. the average relative error between GDP simulation value and statistical value in 2006 and 2013 is 8.19%, 8.08%, respectively.The GDP density map of 18 prefecture-level cities in Henan province showed an obvious expansion trend from 2006 to 2013.This research demonstrated that the Night-time light data could be used as an important index of analyzing economic status of Henan province. The model between light indicators and GDP could better simulate the spatial distribution of regional economic development.
RESEARCH ON EVALUATION METHOD OF AIRBORNE LIDAR POSITIONING ACCURACY
Authors: Zhang Y. , Zhou G. Q. , Tang S. H. , Xing P. W. , Huang C. C.
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Due to the semi-random characteristics of ground points collected by airborne LIDAR system, it is difficult to control the laser pin points to fall on the control points with known coordinates in actual measurement, so the accuracy can not be evaluated by directly comparing coordinate data. In this paper, based on the target plate designed by air-to-ground, the fuzzy c-means clustering analysis algorithm is proposed to extract the point cloud data on the target according to the different echo intensity data of laser on different ground objects. The center point coordinates of the target were fitted by the point cloud data on the target using the method of circumscribed circle of edge points, so as to realize the plane precision and elevation accuracy of airborne LIDAR system of evaluation. The results show that the model fitting method can quickly and effectively evaluate the accuracy of airborne LIDAR, and the method is simple and feasible.
Politeness Strategies in Making Requests in Jordanian Call-Centre Interactions
Authors: Amer Faten , Buragohain Dipima , Suryani Ina
Published: February 2020

The aim of this study is to examine politeness strategies employed in the interactions between Jordanians and the employees of the call-centre-customer service (CCCS) of a major telecommunications company in Jordan. It focuses on their linguistic behaviours upon requesting taking into account the variables of gender, and reasons for calling that may affect the choice of selecting an appropriate strategy. The data were collected from 20 participants through recording of naturally-occurring interactions. The theoretical framework of this study is based on Brown and Levinson’s (1987) model of politeness. The results of the study have shown that negative-politeness strategies dominate the scene in making requests as they were the most frequent ones which may indicate the preference of Jordanians for these strategies to other strategies. Furthermore, the results have shown that in certain cases gender variation had an impact on the choice of particular strategies.
‘Professionalism’ in English as a Foreign Language Teachers’ Perspectives: A Qualitative Study in a Thai Context
Authors: Jansem Anchalee
Published: February 2020

This study presents the meanings, attributes, and roles of ‘professionalism’ synthesized from 20 Thai EFL teachers’ perspectives.  Qualitative research methods were utilized to collect four sources of data including classroom observation transcripts, semi-structured interview transcripts, on-line discussion entries, and field-note recordings.  The findings indicated that professionalism refers to the big picture of exemplar, effective teachers.  Proficient English skills with an emphasis on oral communication, lesson planning abilities, lesson delivery skills, and commitment to successful student learning were believed to form professionalism which, also, plays multi-roles in teaching.
Developing the English Language Teaching Skills of Saudi Teachers of Young Learners
Authors: Daif-Allah Ayman Sabry , Aljumah Fahad Hamad
Published: February 2020

This study aimed at investigating the impact of a program on developing the English language teaching skills of pre-service English for Young Learners (EYL) Teachers. The sample of the study consisted of 70 English language major students in Qassim University. The researchers made use of the quasi-experimental pre-test post-test control group design and data were collected quantitatively by means of questionnaires and observation checklists used for pre- post testing. Results revealed the effectiveness of the program on developing the necessary English language teaching skills for pre-service EYL teachers. The study recommended introducing appropriate teaching practices in the EFL context in general and in elementary school settings in particular.
Dâaga the Rebel on Land and at Sea
Authors: Sailant John ,   Caribbean Philosophical Association
Published: February 2020

This article challenges scholarly understanding of an 1837 mutiny in the First West India Regiment. In the Anglo-Trinidadian narrative, African-born soldiers acted out of blind rage, failing in their rebellion because they lacked skill with rifles and bayonets and did not understand either the terrain of Trinidad or its location in the Atlantic littoral. This article’s counterargument is that the rebels, led by a former slave-trader, Dâaga, who had been kidnaped by Portuguese traders at either Grand-Popo or Little Popo, was, with other African-born soldiers, well familiar with military weapons and, after time in the Caribbean, the ecosystem, society, and topography of Trinidad. Dâaga aimed at escape from eastern Trinidad for either Tobago or nearby South America, but was thwarted after English officers captured some mutineers, while the soldiers who remained on the run clashed with a mixed-race Spanish-speaking militia on the only road to an east-coast point of escape.
Adaptive Strategies of Desert Plants in Coping with the Harsh Conditions of Desert Environments: A Review
Authors: Ekwealor K. U. , Echereme C. B. , Ofobeze T. N. , Ukpaka G. C.
Published: February 2020

The low and erratic precipitation of desert habitats and the resultant drought have been a huge environmental challenge to the desert flora. Because these organisms must harmonize their structures and functions to thrive in their environments, they have evolved a range of strategies to survive the drought that characterizes the desert ecosystem. Desert plants have adopted some strategies like drought tolerance, drought escape, and succulence as the means to conserve and use water. Also, to minimize the rate of transpiration, they have evolved leaf sclerophylly. All these adaptations and more, play an important role in the organisms’ ability to conquer the harsh conditions of desert environments amidst the prevailing climate changes. It seems that some of these plants could potentially serve as models for understanding drought adaptation mechanisms and their potential uses. It is expected that understanding the response of plants to increasing drought would be important in the light of global and regional climate changes, not only to forecast population dynamics in natural ecosystems but also to adjust management processes in agronomy and vegetation management for improvement.
Heterogeneous Supersaturation in Mixed Perovskites
Authors: Tan Chih Shan , Hou Yi , Saidaminov Makhsud I. , Proppe Andrew , Huang Yu Sheng , Zhao Yicheng , Wei Mingyang , Walters Grant , Wang Ziyun , Zhao Yongbiao , Todorovic Petar , Kelley Shana O. , Chen Lih Juann , Sargent Edward H.
Published: February 2020

Thin‐film solar cells based on hybrid lead halide perovskites have achieved certified power conversion efficiencies exceeding 24%, approaching those of crystalline silicon. This motivates deeper studies of the mechanisms that determine their performance. Twin defect sites have been proposed as a source of traps in perovskites, yet their origin and influence on photovoltaic performance remain unclear. It is found that twin defects—observed herein via both transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction—are correlated with the amount of antisolvent added to the perovskite and that twin defects in the highest‐performing perovskite photovoltaics are suppressed. Heterogeneous supersaturation nucleation is discussed as a contributor to efficient perovskite‐based optoelectronic devices.
Linking discrete particle simulation to continuum properties of the gas fluidization of cohesive particles
Authors: Wu Yongli , Hou Qinfu , Yu Aibing
Published: February 2020

Discrete particle simulation can explicitly consider interparticle forces and obtain microscopic properties of the fluidized cohesive particles, but it is computationally expensive. It is thus pivotal to link the microscopic discrete properties to the macroscopic continuum description of the system for large scale applications. This work studies the fluidization of cohesive particles through the coupled computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method (CFD‐DEM). First, discrete CFD‐DEM results show the increased particle cohesion leads to the severe particle agglomeration which affects the fluidization quality significantly. Then, continuum properties are attained by a weighted time‐volume averaging method, showing that tensile pressure becomes significant as particle cohesion increases. By incorporating Rumpf correlation into the solid pressure equation, the tensile pressure could be predicted consistently with the averaged CFD‐DEM results for different particle cohesion. Finally, those overall steady averaged properties of the bed are obtained for understanding the general macroscopic properties of the system.
Coffee Consumption and Risk of Stroke: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Qian Yu , Ye Ding , Huang Huijun , Wu David J. H. , Zhuang Yaxuan , Jiang Xia , Mao Yingying
Published: February 2020

Objective

Observational epidemiological studies have reported a relationship between coffee intake and risk of stroke. However, evidence for this association is inconsistent, and it remains uncertain whether the association is causal or due to confounding or reverse causality. To clarify this relationship, we adopted a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to evaluate the effects of coffee consumption on the risk of stroke and its subtypes.

Methods

A meta‐analysis of genome‐wide association studies (GWASs) including 91,462 coffee consumers was used to identify instruments for coffee consumption. Summary‐level data for stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, ischemic stroke (IS), and IS subtypes were obtained from GWAS meta‐analyses conducted by the MEGASTROKE consortium. MR analyses were performed using the inverse‐variance‐weighted, weighted‐median, MR‐PRESSO (Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier) test and MR‐Egger regression. Sensitivity analyses were further performed using alternative instruments to test the robustness of our findings.

Results

Genetically predicted coffee consumption (high vs infrequent/no) was not associated with risk of stroke. Similarly, among coffee consumers, MR analysis did not indicate causal associations between coffee consumption (cups/day) and risk of stroke. However, in the subgroup analysis, we found weak suggestive evidence for a potential protective effect of coffee consumption on risk of small vessel (SV)‐IS, although the association did not reach statistical significance after correction for multiple comparisons.

Interpretation

This study suggests that coffee consumption is not causally associated with risk of stroke or its subtypes. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the possible association between coffee intake and risk of SV‐IS, as well as its potential underlying mechanisms. ANN NEUROL 2020;87:525–532
Cancer Liquid Biopsy Using Integrated Microfluidic Exosome Analysis Platforms
Authors: Li Guiying , Tang Weiwei , Yang Fang
Published: February 2020

Liquid biopsies serve as both powerful noninvasive diagnostic tools for early cancer screening and prognostic tools for monitoring cancer progression and treatment efficacy. Exosomes are promising biomarkers for liquid biopsies, since these nano‐sized extracellular vesicles (EVs) enrich proteins, lipids, mRNAs, and miRNAs from cells of origin, including cancer cells. Although exosomes are abundantly present in various bodily fluids, conventional exosome isolation and detection methods that rely on benchtop equipment are time‐consuming, expensive, and involve complicated non‐portable procedures. As an alternative, recently developed microfluidic platforms can perform effective exosome separation and detection for liquid biopsies using a single device. Such methods offer advantages of integrity, speed, cost‐efficiency, and portability over conventional benchtop and early microfluidic‐based single‐functional methods which can only separate or detect exosomes separately. These advances have made exosome‐based point‐of‐care (POC) applications possible. This review outlines recent integrated microfluidic‐based exosomal detection strategies to guide future development of such devices for use in liquid biopsies for early cancer screening, prognostic monitoring, and other potential POC applications.
Individual and joint effects of metformin and statins on mortality among patients with high‐risk prostate cancer
Authors: Tan Xiang‐Lin , E Jian‐Yu , Lin Yong , Rebbeck Timothy R. , Lu Shou‐En , Shang Mingyi , Kelly William K. , D'Amico Anthony , Stein Mark N. , Zhang Lanjing , Jang Thomas L. , Kim Isaac Yi , Demissie Kitaw , Ferrari Anna , Lu‐Yao Grace
Published: February 2020

Background

Pre‐clinical studies suggest that metformin and statins may delay prostate cancer (PCa) metastases; however, data in humans are limited. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first human study aimed to quantify the individual and joint effects of statin and metformin use among patients with high‐risk PCa.

Methods

This population‐based retrospective cohort study identified patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)‐Medicare linked database. Exposure to metformin and statins was ascertained from Medicare Prescription Drug Event files. The association with all‐cause and PCa mortality were evaluated using Cox proportional hazard model with competing causes of death, where propensity scores were used to adjusted imbalances in covariates across groups.

Results

Based on 12 700 patients with high‐risk PCa, statin alone or in combination with metformin was significantly associated with reduced all‐cause mortality (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 0.89; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.83, 0.96; and HR: 0.75; 95% CI, 0.67‐0.83, respectively) and PCa mortality (HR, 0.80; 95% CI: 0.69, 0.92) and 0.64; 95% CI, d 0.51‐0.81, respectively. The effects were more pronounced in post‐diagnostic users: combination use of metformin/statins was associated with a 32% reduction in all‐cause mortality (95% CI, 0.57‐0.80), and 54% reduction in PCa mortality (95% CI, 0.30‐0.69). No significant association of metformin alone was observed with either all‐cause mortality or PCa mortality.

Conclusions

Statin use alone or in combination with metformin was associated with lower all‐cause and PCa mortality among high‐risk patients, particularly in post‐diagnostic settings; further studies are warranted.
Lipid‐Embedded Molecular Dynamics Simulation Model for Exploring the Reverse Prostaglandin D2 Agonism of CT‐133 towards CRTH2 in the Treatment of Type‐2 Inflammation Dependent Diseases
Authors: Issahaku Abdul Rashid , Agoni Clement , Kumi Ransford O. , Olotu Fisayo A. , Soliman Mahmoud E. S.
Published: February 2020

Chemoattractant receptor‐homologous molecule expressed on Th2 cells (CRTH2) has been involved in several inflammation dependent diseases by mediating the chemotaxis of pro‐inflammatory cells in response to allergy and other responses through PGD2 ligation. This CRTH2‐PGD2 signaling pathway has become a target for treating allergic and type 2 inflammation dependent diseases, with many inhibitors developed to target the PGD2 binding pocket. One of such inhibitors is the ramatroban analog, CT‐133, which exhibited therapeutic potency cigarette smoke‐induced acute lung injury in patients. Nonetheless, the molecular mechanism and structural dynamics that accounts for its therapeutic prowess remain unclear. Employing computational tools, this study revealed that although the carboxylate moiety in CT‐133 and the native agonist PGD2 aided in their stability within the CRTH2 binding pocket, the tetrahydrocarbazole group of CT‐133 engaged in strong interactions with binding pocket residues which could have formed as the basis of the antagonistic advantage of CT‐133. Tetrahydrocarbazole group interactions also enhanced the relative stability CT‐133 within the binding pocket which consequently favored CT‐133 binding affinity. CT‐133 binding also induced an inactive or ‘desensitized’ state in the helix 8 of CRTH2 which could conversely favor the recruitment of arrestin. These revelations would aid in the speedy development of small molecule inhibitors of CRTH2 in the treatment of type 2 inflammation dependent diseases.
Implantable hemodynamic monitors: New hope or old hype?
Authors: Parekh Dhaval R. , Krajcer Zvonimir
Published: February 2020

Key Points

Ambulatory pulmonary artery monitoring with CardioMEMS device is technically feasible in a select cohort with complex congenital heart disease with heart failure.

Despite non pulsatile flow in the single ventricle Fontan physiology, the device was accurately calibrated for pulmonary artery pressure transmissions.

Despite the low overall complication rate, with only one device migration and no evidence of pulmonary thrombosis, larger and longer‐term studies are needed to establish long term feasibility and effectiveness in outpatient heart failure management in this cohort.

Technical advances with new generation hemodynamic monitors will likely allow for direct left atrial pressure monitoring with direct real time communication to our portable devices.
A rare cause of the abdominal pain in a 48‐year‐old woman with a history of prior colon surgery
Authors: Makker Jasbir , Abbas Hafsa , Kumar Kishore , Bhandari Peter , Patel Harish
Published: February 2020

Fecal retention in the blind loop of end to side colonic anastomosis can lead to fecaloma without significant colonic distension. Imaging study and colonoscopy examination can assist in making a definite diagnosis. Revision surgery is the last choice when colonoscopic extraction fails.
Urine in Bioelectrochemical Systems: An Overall Review
Authors: Santoro Carlo , Garcia Maria Jose Salar , Walter Xavier Alexis , You Jiseon , Theodosiou Pavlina , Gajda Iwona , Obata Oluwatosin , Winfield Jonathan , Greenman John , Ieropoulos Ioannis
Published: February 2020

In recent years, human urine has been successfully used as an electrolyte and organic substrate in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) mainly due of its unique properties. Urine contains organic compounds that can be utilised as a fuel for energy recovery in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and it has high nutrient concentrations including nitrogen and phosphorous that can be concentrated and recovered in microbial electrosynthesis cells and microbial concentration cells. Moreover, human urine has high solution conductivity, which reduces the ohmic losses of these systems, improving BES output. This review describes the most recent advances in BESs utilising urine. Properties of neat human urine used in state‐of‐the‐art MFCs are described from basic to pilot‐scale and real implementation. Utilisation of urine in other bioelectrochemical systems for nutrient recovery is also discussed including proofs of concept to scale up systems.
Quantitative Analysis of the Multiple Roles Played by Halide Ions in Controlling the Growth Patterns of Palladium Nanocrystals
Authors: Yang Tung‐Han , Zhou Shan , Zhao Ming , Xia Younan
Published: February 2020

Despite the pivotal roles played by halide ions (e. g., Cl− and Br−) in directing the evolution of seeds into metal nanocrystals with diverse shapes, it is still unclear how halides affect the reduction kinetics of a salt precursor and thus the outcome of a synthesis. Here we report a quantitative analysis of the multiple roles played by halides in controlling the growth behaviors of Pd seeds with cubic and octahedral shapes, respectively. Our quantitative measurements clearly indicate the existence of a transition point around 10−3 mM min−1 for the reduction rate, which separates the reduction into two distinctive pathways (solution versus surface) for the formation of completely different products. More significantly, we demonstrate that the speciation, reduction kinetics, and reduction pathway of a Pd(II) precursor can all be manipulated by varying the type and/or amount of halides introduced into a synthesis for the deterministic formation of a specific product. This work represents a critical step forward in achieving a quantitative understanding of the multiple roles of halides involved in the shape‐controlled synthesis of Pd nanocrystals, with the knowledge potentially extendible to other noble metals and their alloys.
Influence maximization based on activity degree in mobile social networks
Authors: Gao Min , Xu Li , Lin Limei , Huang Yanze , Zhang Xinxin
Published: February 2020

The problem of influence maximization (IM) has become an important research topic due to the rapid growth of mobile social networks. It attempts to identify a set of nodes, referred to as influencers, contributing to the spread of maximum information. In this article, we present the construction of social relation graph based on mobile communication data. And we propose a new centrality measure—activity degree to characterize the activity of nodes. By combining the local attributes of nodes and the behavioral characteristics of nodes to measure node activity degree, which can be used to evaluate the influence of users in mobile social networks, we introduce Susceptible‐Infected‐Susceptible model to simulate the dynamic spreading of information. We take advantage of the two indicators the degree centrality and the betweenness centrality to get a better ranking results. In comparison with spanning graph and initial graph, the results of comparison demonstrate that our algorithm has advantages in the scope of influence propagation.
Higher Systemic Exposure to Unbound Active Metabolites of Regorafenib Is Associated With Short Progression‐Free Survival in Colorectal Cancer Patients
Authors: Kubota Yutaro , Fujita Ken‐ichi , Takahashi Takehiro , Sunakawa Yu , Ishida Hiroo , Hamada Kazuyuki , Ichikawa Wataru , Tsunoda Takuya , Shimada Kazuhiro , Masuo Yusuke , Kato Yukio , Sasaki Yasutsuna
Published: February 2020

Regorafenib treatment improves survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, but it is also characterized by detrimental side effects that may require modified dosing or interval schedules. Regorafenib is metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4 in the liver to its active metabolites, M‐2 and M‐5. We examined area under the unbound plasma concentration‐time curve (AUCu) to these compounds to establish pharmacokinetic bases for individualized dosing strategies. The plasma protein binding of M‐2 and M‐5 was approximately 10‐fold lower than that of regorafenib, whereas AUCu values for active metabolites on both days 1 and 15 were significantly higher than that of regorafenib. Patients with higher AUCu values of M‐2 or M‐5 on day 1 showed significantly shorter progression‐free survival than others, likely due, at least in part, to treatment discontinuation as a result of adverse events, especially occurred during first cycle.
Heterosis and parent–progeny relationships for silk extrusion dynamics and kernel number determination in maize: Nitrogen effects
Authors: Rossini María A. , Hisse Ignacio R. , Otegui María E. , D´Andrea Karina E.
Published: February 2020

Maize (Zea mays L.) ear‐related traits conducive to final kernel number per plant (KNP) are currently considered key determinants of kernel set under abiotic stress. Understanding of the variation between parental inbred lines and their hybrids is limited. The objective of this work was to analyze the genotypic variation between a set of inbred lines and some of their derived hybrids for (a) total number of spikelets per ear, (b) silk extrusion dynamics, (c) KNP, and (d) sources of loss in KNP (i.e., silk and kernel abortions) under high and limited N supply. In inbreds, variations in KNP were strongly explained by variations in silk extrusion rate (SER) and silk abortion. In contrast, hybrid KNP was explained by the number of spikelet per ear, exposed silks on Day 5 (ESD5), and extruded silks (TES), as well as silk extrusion per unit area (ESMAX). Heterosis across N levels was high for KNP, ESMAX, SER, kernel abortion, and ESD5. Strong parent–progeny relationships (r ≥ .69, P < .01) were computed for reproductive morphology traits (TES, total spikelets) at both N levels, whereas (a) KNP, sources of loss, and ESMAX were highly heritable exclusively under high N supply, and (b) ESD5 was a good predictor of hybrids KNP only at low N supply. Based on its high heterosis across environments and good parent–progeny relationship for KNP under N deficiency, ESD5 quantification should be part of breeding programs aimed to low‐N environments, depending upon the development of image‐based plant and crop phenotyping.
Generalized frequency division multiplexing–based acoustic communication for underwater systems
Authors: Hebbar Rajath P. , Poddar Prerana Gupta
Published: February 2020

The underwater (UW) acoustic channel poses multiple challenges like coloured ambient noise, frequency‐dependent attenuation, and doubly selective fading. The availability of a robust underwater communication mechanism can largely enhance the success of human effort in a multitude of applications, ranging from pollution surveillance to defence and search/rescue operations. In this work, generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM), a non‐orthogonal multicarrier scheme, which has recently been studied for terrestrial wireless fading channels, is developed and tested for signalling in UW acoustic communication. UW noise, attenuation, and doubly selective fading channels are modelled with appropriate statistics. The BER performance of proposed system is systematically evaluated under different channel conditions, starting from simple additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and Rayleigh fading channels to a horizontally configured UW channel. The performance is also compared with contemporary orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing (OFDM)– and filter bank multicarrier (FBMC)–based systems.
An autonomic risk‐ and penalty‐aware resource allocation with probabilistic resource scaling mechanism for multilayer cloud resource provisioning
Authors: Mazidi Arash , Golsorkhtabaramiri Mehdi , Yadollahzadeh Tabari Meisam
Published: February 2020

Cloud computing environment allows presenting different services on the Internet in exchange for cost payment. Cloud providers can minimize their operational costs by auto‐scaling of the computational resources based on demand received from users. However, the time and cost required to increase and decrease the number of active computational resources are among the biggest limitations of scalability. Thus, auto‐scaling is considered as one of the most important challenges in the field of cloud computing. The present study aimed to present a new solution to automatic scalability of resources for multilayered cloud applications under the Monitor‐Analysis‐Plan‐Execute‐Knowledge loop. In addition, the Google penalty payment model was used to model the penalty costs in the problem and to accurately evaluate the earned profit. A hybrid resource load prediction algorithm was proposed to evaluate the future of resources in each cloud layer. Further, we used statistical solution to determine the statuses of VMs in addition to presenting a risk‐aware algorithm to allocate the user requests to active resources. The experimental results by Cloudsim indicated the improvement of the proposed approach in terms of operational costs, the number of used resources, and the amount of profit.
Artificial reef design affects benthic secondary productivity and provision of functional habitat
Authors: Rouse Sally , Porter Joanne S. , Wilding Thomas A.
Published: February 2020

Novel hard substratum, introduced through offshore developments, can provide habitat for marine species and thereby function as an artificial reef. To predict the ecological consequences of deploying offshore infrastructure, and sustainably manage the installation of new structures, interactions between artificial reefs and marine ecosystem functions and services must be understood. This requires quantitative data on the relationships between secondary productivity and artificial reef design, across all trophic levels. Benthic secondary productivity is, however, one of the least studied processes on artificial reefs.

In this study, we show that productivity rates of a common suspension feeder, Flustra foliacea (Linnaeus 1758), were 2.4 times higher on artificial reefs constructed from “complex” blocks than on reefs constructed from “simple” blocks, which had a smaller surface area.

Productivity rates were highest on external areas of reefs. Productivity rates decreased by 1.56%, per cm distance into the reef on complex reefs and 2.93% per cm into the reef on simple block reefs. The differences in productivity rates between reefs constructed from simple and complex blocks are assumed to reflect different current regimes and food supply between the external and internal reef areas, according to reef type.

Synthesis and applications. Our results show that artificial reef design can affect secondary productivity at low trophic levels. We demonstrate that the incorporation of voids into reef blocks can lead to a greater proportion of the structure serving as functional habitat for benthic species. By including such modifications into the design of artificial reefs, it may be possible to increase the overall productivity capacity of artificial structures.
Gut microbiota alterations affect glioma growth and innate immune cells involved in tumor immunosurveillance in mice
Authors: D'Alessandro Giuseppina , Antonangeli Fabrizio , Marrocco Francesco , Porzia Alessandra , Lauro Clotilde , Santoni Angela , Limatola Cristina
Published: February 2020

Glioma is a CNS tumor with few therapeutic options. Recently, host microbiota has been involved in the immune modulation of different tumors, but no data are available on the possible effects of the gut–immune axis on brain tumors. Here, we investigated the effect of gut microbiota alteration in a syngeneic (GL261) mouse model of glioma, treating mice with two antibiotics (ABX) and evaluating the effects on tumor growth, microbe composition, natural killer (NK) cells and microglia phenotype. We report that ABX treatment (i) altered the intestinal microbiota at family level, (ii) reduced cytotoxic NK cell subsets, and (iii) altered the expression of inflammatory and homeostatic proteins in microglia. All these findings could contribute to the increased growth of intracranial glioma that was observed after ABX treatment. These results demonstrate that chronic ABX administration alters microbiota composition and contributes to modulate brain immune state paving the way to glioma growth.
Bleaching of Olive Oil by Membrane Filtration
Authors: Dadfar Tahereh , Sahari Mohammad Ali , Barzegar Mohsen
Published: February 2020

In this study the application of membrane processes for olive oil bleaching is investigated. Olive oil is treated by adding 0.7 wt% of bleaching earth, 0.3 wt% of activated charcoal, and 5% wt% of sodium dodecyl sulfate solution (0.05 m) and then charged into the membrane cell. Operating conditions including pressure ((2−4) × 105 Pa), temperature (25–45 °C), and stirring rate (100–300 rpm) are optimized. Physico‐chemical properties of membrane bleached oil are evaluated and compared with crude and industrially bleached olive oil. Results show that the filtration conditions for the optimized point are as follows: pressure = 3.7 bar (3.7×105 Pa), temperature = 36.5 °C, and stirring rate = 300 rpm. Under optimum conditions, the amounts of carotenoid and chlorophyll contents are decreased (71.3% and 40.42%, respectively). Acidic and thiobarbituric acid values reduction in membrane‐processed oil (12.42% and 14.46%, respectively) are more than the industrial one. Also, some bioactive compounds such as sterols and phenolic compounds are increased in the membrane‐filtered sample (23.13% and 57.12%, respectively).

Practical Applications: Olive oil bleaching is an important step along the refining process. Pigments and minor impurities that reduce olive oil stability are removed in this step. Given the disadvantages of conventional bleaching, alternative methods are introduced. In this study, the effect of membrane filtration on olive oil color is studied. Because of the mild operating conditions, the reduction of clay percentage, as well as the increase of bioactive compounds in optimum conditions, this method has the potential to be a good alternative to conventional bleaching processes.
Study of the Oxidative Cleavage Proposed in the Biogenesis of Transtaganolides/Basiliolides: Pyran‐2‐one Aromaticity‐Mediated Regioselective Control and Biogenetic Implications
Authors: Álvarez José María , Jorge Zacarías D. , Massanet Guillermo M.
Published: February 2020

The synthetic feasibility of the oxidative cleavage: epoxidation of 7‐O‐geranylscopoletin followed by electrocyclic ring‐opening, proposed in the biogenesis of transtaganolides/basiliolides is studied. Unlike the proposed pericyclic reactions, this pathway has not yet been addressed. Three synthetic strategies have been tested consisting of: i) Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of p‐quinoids, ii) hydrolysis of quinone monoketals, or iii) direct fragmentation by using oxygen donors. Oxidation of the benzene ring of hydroxylated coumarins has been achieved using peroxyacids, but cleavage took place between undesired positions. The aromaticity conservation of the pyran‐2‐one cycle during oxidation is the controlling factor of these observed regioselectivities. The use of a 4,5‐dihydroxy‐2‐methoxycinnamate model, in which the pyran‐2‐one ring does not exert influence on oxidation, has allowed the design of a synthetic sequence toward an analogue of the natural pyran‐2‐one isolated from Thapsia transtagana, key in the biogenesis. Mechanistic proposals for the obtained results as well as their biogenetic implications are raised.
Linking frequency of rainstorms, runoff generation and sediment transport across hyperarid talus‐pediment slopes
Authors: Shmilovitz Yuval , Morin Efrat , Rinat Yair , Haviv Itai , Carmi Genadi , Mushkin Amit , Enzel Yehouda
Published: February 2020

Documenting hillslope response to hydroclimatic forcing is crucial to our understanding of landscape evolution. The evolution of talus‐pediment sequences (talus flatirons) in arid areas was often linked to climatic cycles, although the physical processes that may account for such a link remain obscure. Our approach is to integrate field measurements, remote sensing of rainfall and modeling to link between storm frequency, runoff, erosion and sediment transport. We present a quantitative hydrometeorological analysis of rainstorms, their geomorphic impact and their potential role in the evolution of hyperarid talus‐pediment slopes in the Negev desert, Israel. Rainstorm properties were defined based on intensity–duration–frequency curves and using a rainfall simulator, artificial rainstorms were executed in the field. Then, the obtained measured experimental results were up‐scaled to the entire slope length using a fully distributed hydrological model. In addition, natural storms and their hydro‐geomorphic impacts were monitored using X‐band radar and time‐lapse cameras. These integrated analyses constrain the rainfall threshold for local runoff generation at rain intensity of 14 to 22 mm h‐1 for a duration of five minutes and provide a high‐resolution characterization of small‐scale runoff‐generating rain cells. The current frequency of such runoff‐producing rainstorms is ~1–3 per year. However, extending this local value into the full extent of hillslope runoff indicates that it occurs only under rainstorms with ≥ 100‐years return interval, or 1% annual exceedance probability. Sheetwash efficiency rises with downslope distance; beyond a threshold distance of ~100 m, runoff during rainstorms with such annual exceedance probability are capable of transporting surface clasts. The erosion efficiency of these discrete rare events highlights their potential importance in shaping the landscape of arid regions. Our results support the hypothesis that a shift in the properties and frequency of extreme events can trigger significant geomorphic transitions in areas that remained hyperarid during the entire Quaternary. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of curcumin on the quality properties of millet fresh noodle and its inhibitory mechanism against the isolated spoilage bacteria
Authors: Wang Ziyuan , Jia Yating , Zhang Min
Published: February 2020

Fresh noodle product has attracted increasing attention due to its nutritive value and convenience. However, the relative short shelf life of fresh noodle is still a concern that needs to resolve. The objective of this study was to evaluate the preservative effect of curcumin (CUR) on millet fresh noodle during storage and its inhibitory mechanism against two isolated spoilage bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli). The effects of CUR were evaluated with regard to the quality and sensory evaluation of millet fresh noodle, the changes of bacterial growth curve, cell intracellular substances, cell viability, and bacterial morphology. The results showed that CUR could decrease the total colony number and prolong the shelf life of millet fresh noodle stored at 25°C from 20 to 30 hr. Quality and sensory evaluations showed that addition of CUR caused no negative effect on noodle quality and was determined to be sensory acceptable. The minimum inhibitory concentration of CUR against B. cereus and E. coli was 0.125 and 0.5 mg/ml, respectively. The growth curve revealed that CUR presented good antibacterial effect against both bacteria. The leakage of intracellular substances, cell viability, and bacterial morphology change after CUR treatment confirmed the destructive effects of CUR on plasma membrane integrity. These results indicated that CUR had the potential to be applied as a natural preservative for controlling the growth of spoilage microorganisms and extending the shelf life of millet fresh noodle.
A heuristic information cluster search approach for precise functional brain mapping
Authors: Asadi Nima , Wang Yin , Olson Ingrid , Obradovic Zoran
Published: February 2020

Detection of the relevant brain regions for characterizing the distinction between cognitive conditions is one of the most sought after objectives in neuroimaging research. A popular approach for achieving this goal is the multivariate pattern analysis which is currently conducted through a number of approaches such as the popular searchlight procedure. This is due to several advantages such as being automatic and flexible with regards to size of the search region. However, these approaches suffer from a number of limitations which can lead to misidentification of truly informative regions which in turn results in imprecise information maps. These limitations mainly stem from several factors such as the fact that the information value of the search spheres are assigned to the voxel at the center of them (in case of searchlight), the requirement for manual tuning of parameters such as searchlight radius and shape, and high complexity and low interpretability in commonly used machine learning‐based approaches. Other drawbacks include overlooking the structure and interactions within the regions, and the disadvantages of using certain regularization techniques in analysis of datasets with characteristics of common functional magnetic resonance imaging data. In this article, we propose a fully data‐driven maximum relevance minimum redundancy search algorithm for detecting precise information value of the clusters within brain regions while alleviating the above‐mentioned limitations. Moreover, in order to make the proposed method faster, we propose an efficient algorithmic implementation. We evaluate and compare the proposed algorithm with the searchlight procedure as well as least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regularization‐based mapping approach using both real and synthetic datasets. The analysis results of the proposed approach demonstrate higher information detection precision and map specificity compared to the benchmark approaches.
Do financial incentives matter? Effects of Medicare price shocks on skilled nursing facility care
Authors: He Daifeng , McHenry Peter , Mellor Jennifer M.
Published: February 2020

Skilled nursing facility (SNF) spending has been one of the fastest growing categories of Medicare spending over the past few decades, and reductions in SNF payments are often recommended as part of Medicare cost containment efforts. Using a quasi‐experiment resulting from a policy‐driven and facility‐specific Medicare payment change, we provide new evidence on how Medicare payment changes affect the amount of SNF care provided to Medicare patients. Specifically, we examine a one‐time, plausibly exogenous change in the hospital wage index, an area‐level adjustment to SNF payments that affected the majority of SNFs nationwide. Using a panel dataset of SNFs, we model the effects of these payment changes on more than 12,000 SNFs across the United States. We find that increases in Medicare payment rates to SNFs increased the total number of Medicare resident days at SNFs. Specifically, a 5% payment increase raised Medicare resident days by 2.33% at facilities with a 10% Medicare share relative to 0%. Further, the effects were asymmetric: Although Medicare payment increases affected Medicare days, payment decreases did not. Our results have important implications for policies that alter the Medicare base payment rates to SNFs and other health care providers.
The MOF/GO‐based derivatives with Co@CoO core‐shell structure supported on the N‐doped graphene as electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Wu Guangping , Nie Yao , Zhang Dongsheng , Zhang Chao , Guo Jing , Zhang Dongming , Qi Guisheng , Jiao Weizhou , Yuan Zhiguo
Published: February 2020

The development of nonprecious catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is important for the commercialization of the alkaline fuel cells (AFCs). Herein, we prepared a kind of Co‐based nanoparticles (NPs) with a core‐shell (Co@CoO) structure supported on the N‐doped graphene (Co@CoO/NG) as an efficient ORR catalyst via simply pyrolyzing the ZIF‐67 anchored on the synthesized graphene oxide (GO). The catalytic activity for ORR of the obtained Co@CoO/NG is comparable with the state‐of‐art Pt/C catalyst in terms of the onset and half‐wave potential in the alkaline solution. In addition, the Co@CoO/NG exhibited an excellent ORR durability and antimethanol activity compared to the commercial Pt/C. This research would provide a simple strategy to prepare the high‐performance nonprecious metal‐based catalysts for AFCs.