bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Covariance‐based low‐dimensional registration for function‐on‐function regression
Authors: Boschi Tobia , Chiaromonte Francesca , Secchi Piercesare , Li Bing
Published: July 2021

We propose a new low‐dimensional registration procedure that exploits the relationship between the response and the predictor in a function‐on‐function regression. In this context, functional covariance components (FCCs) provide a flexible and powerful tool to represent the data in a low‐dimensional space, capturing the most meaningful modes of dependency between the two set of curves. Based on this reduced representation, our procedure aligns simultaneously the two sets of curves, in a way that optimizes the subsequent regression analysis. To implement our procedure, we use both the continuous registration (CR) algorithm and a novel parallel algorithm coded in R. We then compare it to other common registration approaches via simulations and an application to the AneuRisk data.
Coupled thermo‐hydro‐mechanical analysis of reinforced concrete beams under the effect of frost damage and sustained load
Authors: Gong Fuyuan , Wang Zhao , Xia Jin , Maekawa Koichi
Published: July 2021

Frost damage is an important deterioration parameter for reinforced concrete (RC) structures in cold and humid environment, which usually acts simultaneously with sustained load caused by self‐weight, immobile weight, and so forth. This article conducts a thermo‐hydro‐mechanical simulation on the structural behavior of RC beams under the coupled effect of frost damage and sustained load. This simulation approach starts from the microscale material‐based frost damage model of multicomponent substance to the macroscale structural‐based performance evaluation of RC beam. On the basis of this approach, the damage accumulation of RC beam model under both frost action and sustained load is simulated. Afterward, flexural bending load is applied to investigate the structural performance of the RC beam which has suffered coupled damage. Laboratory experiments also show a satisfactory agreement with numerical simulation. Parametric study is also conducted to further evaluate the influence by different parameters on the structural deterioration, for example, reinforcement arrangement, water to cement ratio, and so on. Finally, the equivalent frost‐damaged strength with respect to the damaged region is adopted to calculate the flexural capacity according to the design code, and a simple method is proposed to verify or predict the properties of RC beam under the coupled effect of frost damage and sustained load.
Long noncoding RNA LINC01287 promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells via the miR‐3529‐5p/RNASEH2A axis under the competitive endogenous RNA pattern
Authors: Zhang Jing , Ma Dan , Kang Honggang , Zhao Jun , Yang Mengxiang
Published: July 2021

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is regarded as the most common type of lung cancer. The molecular targeted therapies for LUAD have being extensively studied. Ribonuclease H2 subunit A (RNASEH2A) is a nucleotide degrading enzyme gene that exerts great influence on cell proliferation, DNA replication and genomic stability. According to bioinformatics analysis, RNASEH2A expression in LUAD tissues is predicted to be upregulated and high expression of RNASEH2A might be related to lower survival rate in LUAD patients. In the present study, we investigated functions of RNASEH2A in LUAD. The mRNA RNASEH2A showed high expression in LUAD cells, and its knockdown inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in LUAD cells. RNASEH2A was found to be a target gene of microRNA miR‐3529‐5p after their expression levels and interaction being examined. Long noncoding RNA LINC01287 upregulated RNASEH2A expression in LUAD cells by combining with miR‐3529‐5p in a competitive way. Rescue assays revealed that the overexpression of RNASEH2A reversed the suppression of cell proliferation and the promotion of cell apoptosis induced by miR‐3529‐5p overexpression or LINC01287 knockdown. Finally, forkhead box A1 (FOXA1) interacted with RNASEH2A promoter and LINC01287 promoter to upregulate the expression levels of RNASEH2A and LINC01287 in LUAD cells. Overall, FOXA1‐induced LINC01287 serves as a competing endogenous RNA to promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of LUAD cells via upregulation of RNASEH2A expression at the posttranscriptional level by competitively combining with miR‐3529‐5p.
Nanozymes as efficient tools for catalytic therapeutics
Authors: Liu Shengda , Xu Jiayun , Xing Yunpeng , Yan Tengfei , Yu Shuangjiang , Sun Hongcheng , Liu Junqiu
Published: July 2021

Nanozymes are emerging nanomaterials with ideal enzymatic catalytic performance. The development of nanozymes has been shown clear potential to overcome the limitations of natural enzymes such as troublesome preparation, ease of denaturation, high price, and difficulty of recycling. Since the discovery of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles with intrinsic peroxidase‐like activity in 2007, the researches on nanozymes have been booming in the next decade. According to the unique nanoscale effect, nanozymes show prominent catalytic performance, which enables them to be applied in various fields of biomedical engineering. In this review, we mainly focus on the catalytic therapeutics of nanozymes in combating bacteria, cancer therapy, alleviating inflammation and neuroprotection.
Regge theory in a holographic dual of QCD in the Veneziano limit
Authors: Amorim Artur , Costa Miguel S. , Järvinen Matti
Published: July 2021

Abstract

We initiate the study of Regge theory in a bottom-up holographic model for QCD in the Veneziano limit, where the backreaction of the quarks to the gluon dynamics is included. We determine the parameters of the model by carrying out a precise fit to the meson spectrum in QCD. The spectrum for spin-one and pseudoscalar mesons is well reproduced. We then generalise the model to incluce higher spin fields in the bulk trajectories dual to the Pomeron and meson Regge trajectories at the boundary. With this setting, we fit the masses of the mesons with spins J = 2, 3, and 4, as well as the experimental data of the total cross-sections σ(γγ → X), σ(γp → X) and σ(pp → X). For the cross sections we obtain a $$ {\chi}_{\mathrm{d}.\mathrm{o}.\mathrm{f}}^2 $$

χ

d
.
o
.
f

2

of 0.74 for a total of 199 experimental points.
Short tau inversion recovery (STIR) after intravenous contrast agent administration obscures bone marrow edema-like signal on forefoot MRI
Authors: Fischer Tim , Baz Yassir El , Waelti Stephan , Wildermuth Simon , Leschka Sebastian , Güsewell Sabine , Dietrich Tobias Johannes
Published: July 2021

Objective

Short tau or short TI inversion recovery (STIR) MRI sequences are considered a robust fat suppression technique. However, STIR also suppresses signals from other tissues with similar T1 relaxation times. This study investigates the in vivo effect of intravenous gadolinium-based T1-shortening contrast agent on STIR signal.

Materials and methods

Institutional board approval and informed consent was obtained. MRI examinations (1.5-T or 3-T) of 31 prospectively included patients were analyzed by two readers. Signal intensity of degenerative bone marrow edema-like signal at the Lisfranc joint on precontrast STIR images and on STIR images acquired after intravenous contrast agent administration (gadoteric acid, gadolinium: 0.5 mmol/ml, 15 ml) was measured. The medial cuneiform bone without observable bone marrow edema-like signal was considered a healthy tissue and served as a reference. Relative changes in signal intensity between precontrast and postcontrast images were calculated for the two tissues. Wilcoxon signed-rank test served for statistical analyses.

Results

In bone marrow edema-like signal, both readers observed a median signal change of -35% (interquartile range (IQR) 24) and -34% (IQR 21), respectively, on postcontrast STIR images compared to precontrast STIR. In healthy tissue, the signal remained constant on postcontrast STIR images (median change -2%, IQR 15, and 0%, IQR 17) respectively. For both readers, postcontrast signal change in bone marrow edema-like signal differed from that in healthy tissue (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Intravenous gadolinium-based contrast agent causes a significant reduction of signal intensity in bone marrow edema-like signal on routine STIR images. Thus, pathological MRI findings may be obscured.
Identification of KRAS G12V associated clonal neoantigens and immune microenvironment in long-term survival of pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Wang Chao , Shi Min , Zhang Lei , Ji Jun , Xie Ruyan , Wu Chao , Guo Xianchao , Yang Ying , Zhou Wei , Peng Chenhong , Zhang Henghui , Yuan Fei , Zhang Jun
Published: July 2021

Objective

To investigate the molecular characteristics in tumor immune microenvironment that affect long-term survival of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD).

Methods

The tumor related genetic features of a female PAAD patient (over 13-year survival) who suffered from multiple recurrences and metastases, and six operations over one decade were investigated deeply. Genomic features and immune microenvironment signatures of her primary lesion as well as six metastatic tumors at different time-points were characterized.

Results

High-frequency clonal neoantigenic mutations identified in these specimens revealed the significant associations between clonal neoantigens with her prognosis after each surgery. Meanwhile, the TCGA and ICGC databases were employed to analyse the function of KRAS G12V in pancreatic cancer.

Conclusions

The genomic analysis of clonal neoantigens combined with tumor immune microenvironment could promote the understandings of personalized prognostic evaluation and the stratification of resected PAAD individuals with better outcome.
Damage detection using in-domain and cross-domain transfer learning
Authors: Bukhsh Zaharah A. , Jansen Nils , Saeed Aaqib
Published: July 2021

We investigate the capabilities of transfer learning in the area of structural health monitoring. In particular, we are interested in damage detection for concrete structures. Typical image datasets for such problems are relatively small, calling for the transfer of learned representation from a related large-scale dataset. Past efforts of damage detection using images have mainly considered cross-domain transfer learning approaches using pre-trained ImageNet models that are subsequently fine-tuned for the target task. However, there are rising concerns about the generalizability of ImageNet representations for specific target domains, such as for visual inspection and medical imaging. We, therefore, evaluate a combination of in-domain and cross-domain transfer learning strategies for damage detection in bridges. We perform comprehensive comparisons to study the impact of cross-domain and in-domain transfer, with various initialization strategies, using six publicly available visual inspection datasets. The pre-trained models are also evaluated for their ability to cope with the extremely low-data regime. We show that the combination of cross-domain and in-domain transfer persistently shows superior performance specially with tiny datasets. Likewise, we also provide visual explanations of predictive models to enable algorithmic transparency and provide insights to experts about the intrinsic decision logic of typically black-box deep models.
Cognitive and non-cognitive variables influencing age-related effect of mind wandering across the adult life span
Authors: Borella Erika , Zavagnin Michela , Ronconi Lucia , De Beni Rossana
Published: July 2021

This study aimed to assess the effects of aging on mind wandering (MW) using a sustained attention to response task (SART) with a low cognitive demand. All task-unrelated thoughts (TUTs) and the subcategory of stimulus-independent thoughts (SITUTs) were examined across the adult life span. The relationship between MW, cognitive variables (attention, inhibition, working memory), and non-cognitive variables (mindfulness, psychological well-being, and anxiety) was investigated. The sample included 210 healthy participants from 20 to 89 years old. The overall results showed few or no age-related changes in both TUTs and SITUTs. Path analyses revealed that the effect of age on both TUTs and SITUTs was only indirect and mediated by attentional resources, as well as by some aspects of psychological well-being (i.e., emotional competence), which had a direct effect, however. These findings raise doubts about any age-related differences between young and older adults’ MW. Changes in MW across the adult life span are thus discussed along with the method and tasks used to assess it and different variables affecting it.
Solvent-Driven Selectivity on the One-Step Catalytic Synthesis of Manoyl Oxide Based on a Novel and Sustainable “Zeolite Catalyst–Solvent” System
Authors: Makarouni Dimitra , Kordulis Christos , Dourtoglou Vassilis
Published: July 2021

Application of a novel “zeolite catalyst–solvent” system for the sustainable one-step synthesis of the terpenoid manoyl oxide, the potential precursor of forskolin and ambrox. Manoyl oxide high-yield and large-scale production over a zeolite catalyst has been infeasible so far, while this system results in 90% yields at 135 °C and atmospheric pressure. Substrate-controlled methodology is used to achieve selectivity. Solvent-driven catalysis is shown, as the activation energy barrier decreases in the presence of appropriate solvents, being 62.7 and 93.46 kJmol−1 for a glyme-type solvent and dodecane, respectively. Finally, catalyst acidity is key parameter for the process.

Graphic Abstract
Socio-Economic Differences in the Prevalence of Single Motherhood in North America and Europe
Authors: Koops Judith C. , Liefbroer Aart C. , Gauthier Anne H.
Published: July 2021

The study focuses on understanding the association between parental socio-economic status (SES) and the likelihood of women experiencing a first birth while single, and identifying societal factors that influence this association in 18 North American and European societies. Previous research has shown that single motherhood occurs disproportionately among those from with lower a lower parental SES. The study assesses whether this is caused by parental SES differences in the risk of single women experiencing a first conception leading to a live birth or by parental SES differences in how likely women are to enter a union during pregnancy. Additionally, an assessment is made of whether cross-national differences in these associations can be explained by a country’s access to family planning, norms regarding family formation, and economic inequality. Across countries, a negative gradient of parental SES was found on the likelihood of single women to experience a first pregnancy. The negative gradient was stronger in countries with better access to family planning. In some countries, the negative gradient of parental SES was aggravated during pregnancy because women from lower parental SES were less likely to enter a union. This was mostly found in societies with less conservative norms regarding marriage. The results suggest that certain developments in Western societies may increase socio-economic differentials in family demography.
Inheritance of seed quality and seed germination in two doubled haploid populations of oilseed rape segregating for acid detergent lignin (ADL) content
Authors: Widiarsih Sasanti , Nagel Manuela , Börner Andreas , Feussner Kirstin , Feussner Ivo , Möllers Christian
Published: July 2021

The high lignin content of the seed hull of oilseed rape leads to its black seed color compared to yellow seeded soybean. Reducing lignin and increasing oil and protein content is an important breeding aim in oilseed rape. The objective of the present study was to analyze the inheritance of two rapeseed genetic resources with reduced lignin content in the seeds and to elucidate the effects on seed germination and composition. These resources were crossed to black seeded Express 617 and F1 plants were used to develop two doubled haploid (DH) populations. The two DH populations were tested in field experiments in three to five environments. Significant genetic variation for lignin content and bimodal frequency distributions were found in both populations. SNP marker segregation in contrasting bulks revealed for both populations overlapping narrow genomic regions on chromosome C03, responsible for reduced lignin content. The low lignin bulks had a significantly higher percentage of seeds showing bacterial and fungal growth, but germination and vigor was not affected. Non-targeted metabolome analysis of immature green seeds showed exclusively a depletion of metabolites of the proanthocyanidin pathway in DH lines with a reduced lignin content. In these DH lines, a cinnamate-4-hydroxylase gene copy was identified as candidate gene in the overlapping genomic region of both populations. The newly identified QTL for reduced lignin content on chromosome C03 is valuable for studying additive and epistatic effects in combination with other low lignin genotypes.
Serverless Workflows for Containerised Applications in the Cloud Continuum
Authors: Risco Sebastián , Moltó Germán , Naranjo Diana M. , Blanquer Ignacio
Published: July 2021

This paper introduces an open-source platform to support serverless computing for scientific data-processing workflow-based applications across the Cloud continuum (i.e. simultaneously involving both on-premises and public Cloud platforms to process data captured at the edge). This is achieved via dynamic resource provisioning for FaaS platforms compatible with scale-to-zero approaches that minimise resource usage and cost for dynamic workloads with different elasticity requirements. The platform combines the usage of dynamically deployed auto-scaled Kubernetes clusters on on-premises Clouds and automated Cloud bursting into AWS Lambda to achieve higher levels of elasticity. A use case in public health for smart cities is used to assess the platform, in charge of detecting people not wearing face masks from captured videos. Faces are blurred for enhanced anonymity in the on-premises Cloud and detection via Deep Learning models is performed in AWS Lambda for this data-driven containerised workflow. The results indicate that hybrid workflows across the Cloud continuum can efficiently perform local data processing for enhanced regulations compliance and perform Cloud bursting for increased levels of elasticity.
Emotional skills for entrepreneurial success: the promise of entrepreneurship education and policy
Authors: Aly Maha , Audretsch David B. , Grimm Heike
Published: July 2021

Entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurship policies have a common goal—to spur entrepreneurial activity and its impact on individuals, organizations, regions and countries. Despite the efforts of education and policy in equipping entrepreneurs with the skills, resources and competencies they need to thrive, rich and poignant research in the entrepreneurship literature highlights the daunting emotional challenges confronting entrepreneurs as they traverse the entrepreneurial journey. However, the insights, findings and conclusions from this literature have yet to find their way into providing entrepreneurs with the requisite emotional skills and tools needed to harness the opportunities afforded from entrepreneurship rather than succumb as a victim. This paper analyzes the potential for translational research to develop educational and policy approaches, along with clinical tools, methods and strategies to provide entrepreneurs with the skills and competencies for resilience in an entrepreneurial journey fraught with emotional landmines and challenges.
Gappy, glutty, glappy
Authors: Calosi Claudio
Published: July 2021

According to theDeterminable Based Account(DBA) of metaphysical indeterminacy (MI), there is MI when there is anindeterminatestate of affairs, roughly a state of affairs in which a constituent objectxhas a determinable property but fails to have auniquedeterminate of that determinable. There are different ways in whichxmight have a determinable but no unique determinate:xhasno determinate—gappyMI, orxhasmore than onedeterminate—gluttyMI. Talk of determinables and determinates is usually constructed asrelative to levels of determination. In this paper I first (1) provide a formal construction for determinables and determinates that pays crucial attention to intermediate levels of determination, and then (2) explore the consequences for the DBA of introducing such intermediate levels. In particular, I argue that intermediate levels of determination highlight crucial differences between gappy and glutty cases of MI, and allow one to introduce a third way of indeterminacy, glappy MI.
Corona und die gefesselte Globalisierung
Authors: Menzel Ulrich
Published: July 2021

Der Begriff der Globalisierung meint keine aktuelle Periode der Weltgeschichte, sondern einen Prozess, der wellenförmig verläuft und von tiefen Einbrüchen unterbrochen wird. Die Aufschwungphasen sind durch ein exponentielles Wachstum gekennzeichnet, bis Kipppunkte erreicht werden. Parallel dazu verläuft ein Prozess der Fragmentierung, der einzelne Länder, Großregionen oder Teile einer Gesellschaft betrifft, weil es immer Gewinner und Verlierer der Globalisierung gibt. Anhand historischer Beispiele werden beide Prozesse im Weltmaßstab skizziert. Sie sind nicht die bloße Folge des technischen Wandels bei Transport und Kommunikation, sondern bedürfen der flankierenden Institutionen aus Internationalen Öffentlichen Gütern wie Sicherheit, Stabilität und Konnektivität. Bereit gestellt werden sie von großen Mächten, weil nur diese über die Ressourcen verfügen und vor dem Freiwilligendilemma stehen. Ferner bedarf es einer großen Erzählung der Globalisierung, die konkurrierende Lehrmeinungen marginalisiert. Globalisierung gerät in die Krise, wenn die treibenden Transaktionen Kipppunkte erreichen oder die großen Mächte sich im Niedergang befinden und nicht mehr bereit bzw. in der Lage sind, für die Internationalen Öffentlichen Güter aufzukommen. Dann beginnt der globalisierungskritische Diskurs, der hegemonial wird, wenn immer neue Krisen den Globalisierungsdiskurs delegitimieren. Konsequenz ist die Spaltung der Gesellschaft in Kosmopoliten und Populisten. Derzeit stehen die wichtigsten Akteure vor dem hegemonialen Dilemma (USA) bzw. dem Freerider-Dilemma (China) und reagieren neoisolationistisch. Damit stehen die Internationalen Öffentlichen Güter zur Disposition, die Globalisierung gerät in die Krise. Die Corona-Pandemie hat diese Entwicklung katalysiert.
Yawning Is More Contagious in Pregnant Than Nulliparous Women
Authors: Norscia Ivan , Agostini Lucia , Moroni Alessia , Caselli Marta , Micheletti-Cremasco Margherita , Vardé Concetta , Palagi Elisabetta
Published: July 2021

Contrary to spontaneous yawning, which is widespread in vertebrates and probably evolutionary ancient, contagious yawning—yawning triggered by others’ yawns—is considered an evolutionarily recent phenomenon, found in species characterized by complex sociality. Whether the social asymmetry observed in the occurrence of contagious yawning is related to social and emotional attachment and may therefore reflect emotional contagion is a subject of debate. In this study we assessed whether yawn contagion was enhanced in pregnant women, a cohort of subjects who develop prenatal emotional attachment in preparation for parental care, via hormonal and neurobiological changes. We predicted that if yawn contagion underlies social and emotional attachment, pregnant women would be more likely to contagiously yawn than nonpregnant, nulliparous women of reproductive age. We gathered data in two different settings. In the experimental setting, 49 women were exposed to video stimuli of newborns either yawning or moving their mouth (control) and we video-recorded the women during repeated trials to measure their yawning response. In the naturalistic setting, 131 women were observed in a social environment and their yawning response was recorded. We tested the factors influencing the yawning response, including the reproductive status (pregnant vs. not pregnant). In both settings, yawn contagion occurred significantly more in pregnant than nonpregnant women. By showing that pregnant women were most likely to respond to others’ yawns, our results support the hypothesis that the social variation observed in yawn contagion may be influenced by emotional attachment and that yawning in highly social species might have been coopted for emotional contagion during evolution.
Why people were less compliant with public health regulations during the second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak: The role of trust in governmental organizations, future anxiety, fatigue, and Covid-19 risk perception
Authors: Scandurra Cristiano , Bochicchio Vincenzo , Dolce Pasquale , Valerio Paolo , Muzii Benedetta , Maldonato Nelson Mauro
Published: July 2021

Trust in governmental organizations is a crucial factor in terms of encouraging people to conform to public health regulations, such as those recommended to slow down the spread of SARS-CoV-2. However, trust in governmental organizations tends to decline over time, reducing the compliance with public health regulations. This study aimed at exploring, first, the role of future anxiety and fatigue as serial mediators of the relationship between trust in governmental organizations and protective behaviors, and, secondly, the role of Covid-19 risk perception as a moderator between fatigue and protective behaviors. A total of 948 Italian participants (302 males and 646 females), ranged from 18 to 80 years (M = 27.20, SD = 11.01), answered an online survey during the second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak. A moderated serial mediation model was performed using a structural equation modeling. The results indicate that: (1) a higher trust in Italian governmental organizations was associated with a greater compliance in terms of adopting protective behaviors; (2) a lower trust in Italian governmental organizations increased anxiety about the future which, in turn, raised levels of fatigue, leading, finally, to a reduction in the levels of protective behaviors; and (3) as the perceived risk related to Covid-19 increased, the effect of fatigue on protective behaviors decreased. The findings of the current study may provide indications for public health policy on how to increase compliance with the recommended behaviors to be adopted in order to decrease the spread of the SARS-CoV-2.
What should a Universal School-Based Psychoeducational Programme to Support Psychological Well-Being amongst Children and Young People in South Africa Focus on and how should it be Delivered? A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective
Authors: Coetzee Bronwynè J. , Gericke Hermine , Human Suzanne , Stallard Paul , Loades Maria
Published: July 2021

Children and young people are vulnerable to developing mental health problems. In South Africa, this vulnerability is compounded by contextual risk factors such as community violence and poverty. However, mental health services are scarce and costly, which precludes access for many. Universal school-based mental health programmes can prevent the onset of mental health problems in children and young people and have been implemented to good effect in high-income settings. We sought to understand stakeholder perspectives on what such a programme should focus on and how it could be implemented in practice within the South African context. We interviewed children and young people (n = 22), parents (n = 21), teachers (n = 17), and school mental health counsellors (n = 6) recruited from two schools in the Western Cape, South Africa. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. We generated three overarching themes: ‘the value of a mental health and well-being programme’, ‘content and delivery’, and ‘practicalities and logistics’. Participants were optimistic about the potential value of such a programme. Developing content that was appropriate for group delivery, flexible and timed to fit within the school schedule was important. Finding ways to make activities meaningful for large classes was important logistically, as was determining to what extent leaners would feel comfortable participating alongside their peers. Participants felt that outsiders, as opposed to school staff, should deliver the programme and that parents should be involved where possible. Developing a mental health programme for children and young people in the South African context requires careful understanding of who the key role players in such an intervention will be and how exactly they want to be involved and, how the challenges associated with practicalities and logistics can be overcome.
Effect of anionic group [SiO4]4−/[PO4]3− on the luminescence properties of Dy3+-doped tungstate structural compounds
Authors: Liu Ning , Mei Lefu , Bin Jianxiong , Zhang Ze , Peng Zhijian
Published: July 2021

Novel scheelite structures of Li2Ca(WO4)2, Li2Ca2(WO4)(SiO4), and LiCa2(WO4)(PO4) fluorescent materials were successfully prepared using a high-temperature solid-phase process. The compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The tests revealed that the substitution of [WO4]2− by [SiO4]4− or [PO4]3− tetrahedron in tungstate had no significant influence on the crystal structure of the Li2Ca(WO4)2. When Dy3+ ions were introduced as an activator at an optimum doping concentration of 0.08 mol%, all of the as-prepared phosphors generated yellow light emissions, and the emission peak was located close to 576 nm. Replacing [WO4]2− with [SiO4]4− or [PO4]3− tetrahedron significantly increased the luminescence of the Li2Ca(WO4)2 phosphors. Among them, the LiCa2(WO4)(PO4):0.08Dy3+ phosphor had the best luminescence properties, decay life (τ = 0.049 ms), and thermal stability (87.8%). In addition, the as-prepared yellow Li2Ca(WO4)2:0.08Dy3+, Li2Ca2(WO4)(SiO4):0.08Dy3+, and LiCa2(WO4)(PO4):0.08Dy3+ phosphor can be used to fabricate white light emitting diode (LED) devices.
S$$^{2}$$ES: a stationary and scalable knowledge transfer approach for multiagent reinforcement learning
Authors: Wang Tonghao , Peng Xingguang , Xu Demin
Published: July 2021

Knowledge transfer is widely adopted in accelerating multiagent reinforcement learning (MARL). To accelerate the learning speed of MARL for learning-from scratch agents, in this paper, we propose a Stationary and Scalable knowledge transfer approach based on Experience Sharing (S$$^{2}$$

2

ES). The mainframe of our approach is structured into three components: what kind of experience, how to learn, and when to transfer. Specifically, we first design an augmented form of experience. By sharing (i.e., transmitting) the experience from one agent to its peers, the learning speed can be effectively enhanced with guaranteed scalability. A synchronized learning pattern is then adopted, which reduces the nonstationarity brought by experience replay, and at the same time retains data efficiency. Moreover, to avoid redundant transfer when the agents’ policies have converged, we further design two trigger conditions, one is modified Q value-based and another is normalized Shannon entropy-based, to determine when to conduct experience sharing. Empirical studies indicate that the proposed approach outperforms the other knowledge transfer methods in efficacy, efficiency, and scalability. We also provide ablation experiments to demonstrate the necessity of the key ingredients.
Understanding the ramifications of quantitative ordinal scales on accuracy of estimates of disease severity and data analysis in plant pathology
Authors: Chiang Kuo-Szu , Bock Clive H.
Published: July 2021

The severity of plant diseases, traditionally defined as the proportion of the plant tissue exhibiting symptoms, is a key quantitative variable to know for many diseases but is prone to error. Plant pathologists face many situations in which the measurement by nearest percent estimates (NPEs) of disease severity is time-consuming or impractical. Moreover, rater NPEs of disease severity are notoriously variable. Therefore, NPEs of disease may be of questionable value if severity cannot be determined accurately and reliably. In such situations, researchers have often used a quantitative ordinal scale of measurement—often alleging the time saved, and the ease with which the scale can be learned. Because quantitative ordinal disease scales lack the resolution of the 0 to 100% scale, they are inherently less accurate. We contend that scale design and structure have ramifications for the resulting analysis of data from the ordinal scale data. To minimize inaccuracy and ensure that there is equivalent statistical power when using quantitative ordinal scale data, design of the scales can be optimized for use in the discipline of plant pathology. In this review, we focus on the nature of quantitative ordinal scales used in plant disease assessment. Subsequently, their application and effects will be discussed. Finally, we will review how to optimize quantitative ordinal scales design to allow sufficient accuracy of estimation while maximizing power for hypothesis testing.
Short-Term Effects of Video-Games on Cognitive Enhancement: the Role of Positive Emotions
Authors: Franceschini Sandro , Bertoni Sara , Lulli Matteo , Pievani Telmo , Facoetti Andrea
Published: July 2021

According to established background knowledge, playing is essential in human development and a power remediation tool in clinical populations. In clinical interventions, the beneficial roles of playing have often been sought and investigated in the specific features of the game, rather than in the positive emotions generated by playing. However, regardless of game specifications, cognitive enhancement could be driven by the emotions linked to play. Establishing the causal connections between play and cognitive enhancement should allow us to determine how to involve play in therapy, prevention and educational programmes. Today, video-gaming is one of the most diffused forms of play. In the first crossover randomized controlled trial, we compared the short-term effects induced by shooting and puzzle video-games in visual perception, sensorimotor and reading skills in children with developmental coordination disorder and dyslexia. The funnier and more activating game enhanced breadth of visual perception and reduced sensorimotor and reading disorders. Visual perception, sensorimotor and reading improvements correlated with fun. In the second crossover randomized controlled trial, comparing the effects of the same shooting with a fighting video-game in healthy young adults, we show that regardless of game characteristics, changes in positive emotions correlated with contextual reading enhancement, while play-driven biochemical activation boosted single word and pseudoword reading. The short-term effects induced by play could be a useful clinical tool for the prevention and treatment of multiple cognitive disorders.
Potential Nutrient Conversion Using Nature-Based Solutions in Cities and Utilization Concepts to Create Circular Urban Food Systems
Authors: Wirth Maria , Vobruba Tamara , Hartl Marco , Kisser Johannes
Published: July 2021

The present food system is characterized by a linear flow of resources from rural areas into cities, where most food is consumed and essential nutrients discharged as wastewater. Limited water and phosphorus resources and large carbon footprints of chemical fertilizers drive increased recovery of water and nutrients for reuse in agriculture. Alongside end-of-pipe technologies at conventional wastewater treatment plants, nature-based solutions provide a robust and low-energy alternative solution. This paper assesses the potential of treatment processes using NBS to close water and nutrient cycles in the urban food system. A Substance Flow Analysis approach is used to quantify the recoverable urban nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) budget contained in household wastewater and biodegradable kitchen waste, using the city of Vienna, Austria, as an example. The developed model reflects the metabolization of water and nutrients by treatment wetlands and biogas digesters into fertigation water and fertilizer. It differentiates between specific crop nutrient requirements and yields, and by greenhouse and outdoor farming conditions in a temperate climate. Results indicate that, using NBS, the wastewater and kitchen waste from 77,250 persons could fully cover the nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer demand of the entire vegetable production in Vienna, which currently supplies one-third of Vienna’s vegetable consumption. Additional people connected to the system can supply significant excess nutrients to produce other crops within and beyond the city. The model can inform selection and design of NBS for nutrient recovery and reuse, and support integrated planning regarding use of secondary nutrient sources and optimization of secondary nutrient utilization.
Philosophy and the Language of the People
Authors: Nauta Lodi
Published: July 2021

Which language should philosophers use: technical or common language? In a book as important for intellectual historians as it is for philosophers, Lodi Nauta addresses a vital question which still has resonance today: is the discipline of philosophy assisted or disadvantaged by employing a special vocabulary? By the Middle Ages philosophy had become a highly technical discipline, with its own lexicon and methods. The Renaissance humanist critique of this specialised language has been dismissed as philosophically superficial, but the author demonstrates that it makes a crucial point: it is through the misuse of language that philosophical problems arise. He charts the influence of this critique on early modern philosophers, including Hobbes and Locke, and shows how it led to the downfall of medieval Aristotelianism and the gradual democratization of language and knowledge. His book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the transition from medieval to modern philosophy.
An antidote to anarchy? Images of monarchy in Greece in the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries
Authors: Ploumidis Spyridon G.
Published: July 2021

Since Roman times the representation of monarchy as an antidote to anarchy was a strong form of legitimization for the monarchical institution. In modern Greece, this formula dates back to 1821. The Greek Revolution and its republican constitutions were identified by European statesmen with anarchy and demagogy. Thus, a foreign monarch, alien to Greece's internal factions, was deemed the ideal remedy for internecine strife, and the best guarantor of internal unity as well as stability in the Near East. This image of monarchy proved its usefulness again during the First World War, when a controversy between the premier Eleftherios Venizelos and King Constantine over foreign policy and constitutional issues led to the National Schism (1915–17).
Graphite from Palaeoproterozoic enhanced carbon burial, and its metallogenic legacy
Authors: Parnell John , Brolly Connor , Boyce Adrian J.
Published: July 2021

The episode of widespread organic carbon deposition marked by peak black shale sedimentation during the Palaeoproterozoic is also reflected in exceptionally abundant graphite deposits of this age. Worldwide anoxic/euxinic sediments were preserved as a deep crustal reservoir of both organic carbon, and sulphur in accompanying pyrite, both commonly >1 wt %. The carbon- and sulphur-rich Palaeoproterozoic crust interacted with mafic magma to cause Ni–Co–Cu–PGE mineralization over the next billion years, and much uranium currently produced is from Mesoproterozoic deposits nucleated upon older Palaeoproterozoic graphite. Palaeoproterozoic carbon deposition has thus left a unique legacy of both graphite deposits and long-term ore deposition.
Stigma Reduction Interventions of Dementia: A Scoping Review
Authors: Bacsu Juanita-Dawne , Johnson Shanthi , O’Connell Megan E. , Viger Marc , Muhajarine Nazeem , Hackett Paul , Jeffery Bonnie , Novik Nuelle , McIntosh Thomas
Published: July 2021

Despite its global importance and the recognition of dementia as an international public health priority, interventions to reduce stigma of dementia are a relatively new and emerging field. The purpose of this review was to synthesize the existing literature and identify key components of interventions to reduce stigma of dementia. We followed Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review process to examine peer-reviewed literature of interventions to reduce dementia-related stigma. A stigma-reduction framework was used for classifying the interventions: education (dispel myths with facts), contact (interact with people with dementia), mixed (education and contact), and protest (challenge negative attitudes). From the initial 732 references, 21 studies were identified for inclusion. We found a variety of education, contact, and mixed interventions ranging from culturally tailored films to intergenerational choirs. Findings from our review can inform the development of interventions to support policies, programs, and practices to reduce stigma and improve the quality of life for people with dementia.
Combining Spiritual Aging and Geropsychological Development
Authors: Andrew Achenbaum W.
Published: July 2021

Abstract. Combining some life stories with aspects of my professional career is a task more easily described than accomplished. By illuminating personal connections between spiritual aging and geropsychological development, I hope to inform and assist readers in apprehending and applying a dialectical process that spirals in fits and starts, in descent and ascent.
Tree Rings Show Record of Newly Identified Extreme Solar Activity Event
Authors: Rehnberg Morgan
Published: July 2021

Mass spectroscopy of tree ring material indicates a sharp, single-year rise in carbon-14 concentrations consistent with an extreme solar energetic particle event that occurred around 5410 BCE.
Health Impacts of Climate Change as Contained in Economic Models Estimating the Social Cost of Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Cromar Kevin , Howard Peter , Vásquez Váleri N. , Anthoff David
Published: July 2021

The health impacts of climate change are substantial and represent a primary motivating factor to mitigate climate change. However, the health impacts in economic models that estimate the social cost of carbon dioxide (SC‐CO2) have generally been made in isolation from health experts and have never been rigorously evaluated. Version 3.10 of the Framework for Uncertainty, Negotiation and Distribution (FUND) model was used to estimate the health‐based portion of current SC‐CO2estimates across low‐, middle‐, and high‐income regions. In addition to the base model, three additional experiments assessed the sensitivity of these estimates to changes in the socio‐economic assumptions in the model. Economic impacts from adverse health outcomes represent ∼8.7% of current SC‐CO2estimates. The majority of these health impacts (74%) were attributable to diarrhea mortality (from both low‐ and high‐income regions) followed by diarrhea morbidity (12%) and malaria mortality (11%); no other health impact makes a meaningful contribution to SC‐CO2estimates in current economic models. The results of the socio‐economic experiments show that the health‐based portion of SC‐CO2estimates are highly sensitive to assumptions regarding income elasticity of health effects, income growth, and use of equity weights. Improving the health‐based portion of SC‐CO2estimates could have substantial impacts on magnitude of the SC‐CO2. Incorporating additional health impacts not previously included in estimates of SC‐CO2will be a critical component of model updates. This effort will be most successful through coordination between economists and health researchers and should focus on updating the form and function of concentration‐response functions.
Mapping Irregularities in the Postsunset Equatorial Ionosphere With an Expanded Network of HF Beacons
Authors: Hysell D. L. , Rojas E. , Goldberg H. , Milla M. A. , Kuyeng K. , Valdez A. , Morton Y. T. , Bourne H.
Published: July 2021

Data from a network of high‐frequency (HF) beacons deployed in Peru are used to estimate the regional ionospheric electron density in a volume. Pseudorange, accumulated carrier phase, and signal power measurements for each of the 36 ray paths provided by the network at a 1 min cadence are incorporated in the estimates. Additional data from the Jicamarca incoherent scatter radar, the Jicamarca sounder, and GPS receivers can also be incorporated. The electron density model is estimated as the solution to a global optimization problem that uses ray tracing in the forward model. The electron density is parametrized in terms of B‐splines in the horizontal direction and generalized Chapman functions or related functions in the vertical. Variational sensitivity analysis has been added to the method to allow for the utilization of the signal power observable which gives additional information about the morphology of the bottomside F region as well as absorption including absorption in the D and E regions. The goal of the effort is to provide contextual information for improving numerical forecasts of plasma interchange instabilities in the postsunset F region ionosphere associated with equatorial spread F (ESF). Data from two ESF campaigns are presented. In one experiment, the HF data revealed the presence of a large‐scale bottomside deformation that seems to have led to instability under otherwise inauspicious conditions. In another experiment, gradual variations in HF signal power were found to be related to the varying shape of the bottomside F layer.
Sensing leg movement enhances wearable monitoring of energy expenditure
Authors: Slade Patrick , Kochenderfer Mykel J. , Delp Scott L. , Collins Steven H.
Published: July 2021

Physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of global mortality. Health organizations have requested a tool to objectively measure physical activity. Respirometry and doubly labeled water accurately estimate energy expenditure, but are infeasible for everyday use. Smartwatches are portable, but have significant errors. Existing wearable methods poorly estimate time-varying activity, which comprises 40% of daily steps. Here, we present a Wearable System that estimates metabolic energy expenditure in real-time during common steady-state and time-varying activities with substantially lower error than state-of-the-art methods. We perform experiments to select sensors, collect training data, and validate the Wearable System with new subjects and new conditions for walking, running, stair climbing, and biking. The Wearable System uses inertial measurement units worn on the shank and thigh as they distinguish lower-limb activity better than wrist or trunk kinematics and converge more quickly than physiological signals. When evaluated with a diverse group of new subjects, the Wearable System has a cumulative error of 13% across common activities, significantly less than 42% for a smartwatch and 44% for an activity-specific smartwatch. This approach enables accurate physical activity monitoring which could enable new energy balance systems for weight management or large-scale activity monitoring.