bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cable tree wiring - benchmarking solvers on a real-world scheduling problem with a variety of precedence constraints
Authors: Koehler Jana , Bürgler Josef , Fontana Urs , Fux Etienne , Herzog Florian , Pouly Marc , Saller Sophia , Salyaeva Anastasia , Scheiblechner Peter , Waelti Kai
Published: June 2021

Cable trees are used in industrial products to transmit energy and information between different product parts. To this date, they are mostly assembled by humans and only few automated manufacturing solutions exist using complex robotic machines. For these machines, the wiring plan has to be translated into a wiring sequence of cable plugging operations to be followed by the machine. In this paper, we study and formalize the problem of deriving the optimal wiring sequence for a given layout of a cable tree. We summarize our investigations to model this cable tree wiring problem (CTW). as a traveling salesman problem with atomic, soft atomic, and disjunctive precedence constraints as well as tour-dependent edge costs such that it can be solved by state-of-the-art constraint programming (CP), Optimization Modulo Theories (OMT), and mixed-integer programming (MIP). solvers. It is further shown, how the CTW problem can be viewed as a soft version of the coupled tasks scheduling problem. We discuss various modeling variants for the problem, prove its NP-hardness, and empirically compare CP, OMT, and MIP solvers on a benchmark set of 278 instances. The complete benchmark set with all models and instance data is available on github and was included in the MiniZinc challenge 2020.
Establishing the Middle Sea: The Late Bronze Age of Mediterranean Europe (1700–900 BC)
Authors: Iacono Francesco , Borgna Elisabetta , Cattani Maurizio , Cavazzuti Claudio , Dawson Helen , Galanakis Yannis , Gori Maja , Iaia Cristiano , Ialongo Nicola , Lachenal Thibault , Lorrio Alberto , Micó Rafael , Molloy Barry , Nafplioti Argyro , Peche-Quilichini Kewin , Herrada Cristina Rihuete , Risch Roberto
Published: June 2021

The Late Bronze Age (1700–900 BC) represents an extremely dynamic period for Mediterranean Europe. Here, we provide a comparative survey of the archaeological record of over half a millennium within the entire northern littoral of the Mediterranean, from Greece to Iberia, incorporating archaeological, archaeometric, and bioarchaeological evidence. The picture that emerges, while certainly fragmented and not displaying a unique trajectory, reveals a number of broad trends in aspects as different as social organization, trade, transcultural phenomena, and human mobility. The contribution of such trends to the processes that caused the end of the Bronze Age is also examined. Taken together, they illustrate how networks of interaction, ranging from the short to the long range, became a defining aspect of the “Middle Sea” during this time, influencing the lives of the communities that inhabited its northern shore. They also highlight the importance of research that crosses modern boundaries for gaining a better understanding of broad comparable dynamics.
Learning hierarchical probabilistic logic programs
Authors: Nguembang Fadja Arnaud , Riguzzi Fabrizio , Lamma Evelina
Published: June 2021

Probabilistic logic programming (PLP) combines logic programs and probabilities. Due to its expressiveness and simplicity, it has been considered as a powerful tool for learning and reasoning in relational domains characterized by uncertainty. Still, learning the parameter and the structure of general PLP is computationally expensive due to the inference cost. We have recently proposed a restriction of the general PLP language called hierarchical PLP (HPLP) in which clauses and predicates are hierarchically organized. HPLPs can be converted into arithmetic circuits or deep neural networks and inference is much cheaper than for general PLP. In this paper we present algorithms for learning both the parameters and the structure of HPLPs from data. We first present an algorithm, called parameter learning for hierarchical probabilistic logic programs (PHIL) which performs parameter estimation of HPLPs using gradient descent and expectation maximization. We also propose structure learning of hierarchical probabilistic logic programming (SLEAHP), that learns both the structure and the parameters of HPLPs from data. Experiments were performed comparing PHIL and SLEAHP with PLP and Markov Logic Networks state-of-the art systems for parameter and structure learning respectively. PHIL was compared with EMBLEM, ProbLog2 and Tuffy and SLEAHP with SLIPCOVER, PROBFOIL+, MLB-BC, MLN-BT and RDN-B. The experiments on five well known datasets show that our algorithms achieve similar and often better accuracies but in a shorter time.
The concept of Ordnungspolitik: rule-based economic policymaking from the perspective of the Freiburg School
Authors: Schnellenbach Jan
Published: June 2021

Should economic policy be guided by rules? In this paper, we take the perspective of the Freiburg School and trace its argument for rule-based Ordnungspolitik back to the roots of the concept. In doing so, will not offer a comprehensive review of the literature, but argue closely along the works of Walter Eucken, whose contributions are central to understanding the founding generation of the Freiburg School. We argue that not having rules is costly and therefore that the main thrust of the Freiburg approach remains valid. Good empirical arguments can be found for pursuing a rule-based Ordnungspolitik in order to avoid the costs of discretionary policymaking. Furthermore, we argue that reliance on stable rules does not incapacitate democratic decision-making. Rules rely on democratic support, and rule-based Ordnungspolitik also leaves substantial material scope for discretionary democratic decision-making.
Preface to the special issue on improving software quality through program analysis
Authors: Güdemann Matthias , Mariani Leonardo
Published: June 2021

This special issue is dedicated to the presentation of novel results in the scope of program analysis, verification, and testing of software to improve its quality. The papers included in the special issue present approaches that successfully combine model-based test case generation, reasoning about functional equivalence, data mining, classification, and the combination of abstraction with model-checking, to address real software applications in realistic settings.
Evaluation of cadmium and arsenic effects on wild and cultivated cardoon genotypes selected for metal phytoremediation and bioenergy purposes
Authors: Leonardi Chiara , Toscano Valeria , Genovese Claudia , Mosselmans Julian Frederick Willem , Ngwenya Bryne Tendelo , Raccuia Salvatore Antonino
Published: June 2021

Cynara cardunculus L. is a multipurpose crop, characterized by high production of biomass suitable for energy purposes and green chemistry. Taking advantage of its already demonstrated ability to grow in polluted environments that characterize many world marginal lands, the aim of this work was to investigate the response of different cardoon genotypes to exposure to cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) pollution, in order to use this crop for rehabilitation of contaminated sites and its biomass for energy production. In this study, seeds of two wild cardoon accessions harvested in rural and industrial Sicilian areas and of a selected line of domestic cardoon were used, and the grown plants were spiked with As and Cd, alone or in combination, at two different concentrations (500 and 2000 μM) and monitored for 45 days. The growth parameters showed that all the plants survived until the end of experiment, with growth stimulation in the presence of low concentrations of As and Cd, relative to metal-free controls. Biomass production was mostly allocated in the roots in As treatment and in the shoots in Cd treatment. Cd EXAFS analysis showed that tolerance to high concentrations of both metals was likely linked to complexation of Cd with oxygen-containing ligands, possibly organic acids, in both root and leaf biomass with differences in behaviour among genotypes. Under As+Cd contamination, the ability of the plants to translocate As to aboveground system increased also showing that, for both metal(loid)s, there were significant differences between genotypes studied. Moreover, the results showed that Cynara cardunculus var. sylvestris collected in an industrial area is the genotype that, among those studied, had the best phytoextraction capability for each metal(loid).
Precise semi-analytical inverse kinematic solution for 7-DOF offset manipulator with arm angle optimization
Authors: Ma Boyu , Xie Zongwu , Jiang Zainan , Liu Hong
Published: June 2021

Seven-degree-of-freedom redundant manipulators with link offset have many advantages, including obvious geometric significance and suitability for configuration control. Their configuration is similar to that of the experimental module manipulator (EMM) in the Chinese Space Station Remote Manipulator System. However, finding the analytical solution of an EMM on the basis of arm angle parameterization is difficult. This study proposes a high-precision, semi-analytical inverse method for EMMs. Firstly, the analytical inverse kinematic solution is established based on joint angle parameterization. Secondly, the analytical inverse kinematic solution for a non-offset spherical-roll-spherical (SRS) redundant manipulator is derived based on arm angle parameterization. The approximate solution of the EMM is calculated in accordance with the relationship between the joint angles of the EMM and the SRS manipulator. Thirdly, the error is corrected using a numerical method through the analytical inverse solution based on joint angle parameterization. After selecting the stride and termination condition, the precise inverse solution is computed for the EMM based on arm angle parameterization. Lastly, case solutions confirm that this method has high precision, and the arm angle parameterization method is superior to the joint angle parameterization method in terms of parameter selection.
Psychedelic perceptions: mental health service user attitudes to psilocybin therapy
Authors: Corrigan Kate , Haran Maeve , McCandliss Conor , McManus Roisin , Cleary Shannon , Trant Rebecca , Kelly Yazeed , Ledden Kathryn , Rush Gavin , O’Keane Veronica , Kelly John R.
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Despite the rapid advance of psychedelic science and possible translation of psychedelic therapy into the psychiatric clinic, very little is known about mental health service user attitudes.

Objectives

To explore mental health service user attitudes to psychedelics and psilocybin therapy.

Methods

A questionnaire capturing demographics, diagnoses, previous psychedelic and other drug use, and attitudes to psychedelics and psilocybin therapy was distributed to mental health service users.

Results

Ninety-nine participants completed the survey (52% female, mean age 42 years). The majority (72%) supported further research, with 59% supporting psilocybin as a medical treatment. A total of 27% previously used recreational psilocybin, with a male preponderance (p = 0.01). Younger age groups, those with previous psychedelic experience, and those with non-religious beliefs were more likely to have favourable attitudes towards psilocybin. A total of 55% of the total sample would accept as a treatment if doctor recommended, whereas 20% would not. Fewer people with depression/anxiety had used recreational psychedelics (p = 0.03) but were more likely to support government funded studies (p = 0.02). A minority (5%) of people with conditions (psychosis and bipolar disorder) that could be exacerbated by psilocybin thought it would be useful for them. One fifth of the total sample viewed psychedelics as addictive and unsafe even under medical supervision. Concerns included fear of adverse effects, lack of knowledge, insufficient research, illegality, and relapse if medications were discontinued.

Conclusions

The majority supported further research into psilocybin therapy. Younger people, those with previous recreational psychedelic experience, and those with non-religious beliefs were more likely to have favourable attitudes towards psilocybin therapy.
Current Knowledge on the Biology of Lysophosphatidylserine as an Emerging Bioactive Lipid
Authors: Omi Jumpei , Kano Kuniyuki , Aoki Junken
Published: June 2021

Lysophosphatidylserine (LysoPS) is an emerging lysophospholipid (LPL) mediator, which acts through G protein-coupled receptors, like lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). LysoPS is detected in various tissues and cells and thought to be produced mainly by the deacylation of phosphatidylserine. LysoPS has been known to stimulate degranulation of mast cells. Recently, four LysoPS-specific G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) were identified. These GPCRs belong to the P2Y family which covers receptors for nucleotides and LPLs and are predominantly expressed in immune cells such as lymphocytes and macrophages. Studies on knockout mice of these GPCRs have revealed that LysoPS has immune-modulatory functions. Up-regulation of a LysoPS-producing enzyme, PS-specific phospholipase A1, was frequently observed in situations where the immune system is activated including autoimmune diseases and organ transplantations. Therefore, modulation of LysoPS signaling appears to be a promising method for providing therapies for the treatment of immune diseases. In this review, we summarize the biology of LysoPS-producing enzymes and receptors, recent developments in LysoPS signal modulators, and prospects for future therapeutic applications.
Keep me updated! Social support as a coping strategy to reduce the perceived threat caused by the cognitive availability of COVID-19 relevant information
Authors: Klümper Lisa , Sürth Svenja
Published: June 2021

The enormous amount of information about the COVID-19 pandemic in newspapers, TV channels, or social media reminds people every day of the potential threat the virus posed to their health and well-being in 2020. We examined if the cognitive availability of COVID-19 leads to the perception of heightened threat facilitating coping strategies and the moderating role of global self-efficacy and intolerance of uncertainty. A total of 235 participants randomly received either a newspaper article about the COVID-19 virus or Germany’s soil condition and were asked to indicate their current level of the perceived threat of the virus and the use of different coping strategies. Results indicate that the cognitive availability of COVID-19 information leads to a higher perceived threat, leading to more seeking for social support. Although neither self-efficacy nor intolerance of uncertainty moderates the effect of cognitive availability on the perceived threat, both personality characteristics moderated the relationship between perceived threat and different coping strategies. We discuss our results in line with current research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on coping strategies and well-being.
Why collaboration reduces suggestibility: The role of source-monitoring processes and retrieval strategies
Authors: Rossi-Arnaud Clelia , Spataro Pietro , Mastroberardino Serena , Lucaroni Enrica , Giannini Anna Maria , Cestari Vincenzo
Published: June 2021

Previous research found that collaboration reduces the tendency to yield to misleading questions. Here, the aim was to determine whether this occurs because collaboration induces a conservative change in response criterion or because it promotes more efficient error-checking strategies. To this purpose, we compared the performance of collaborative and nominal triads in the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale. Critically, we recorded conversations during retrieval, allowing us to compute inclusive scores and analyze retrieval strategies. Confirming previous evidence, results showed that collaborative groups yielded less to leading questions; however, the differences between collaborative and nominal groups in yield 1 were canceled when we took into account questions to which at least one participant in the collaborative group gave in but was corrected by collaborators during the discussion (the so-called inclusive scores). This was not the case for yield 2 and total suggestibility scores. Also, the analysis of retrieval strategies indicated that collaborative groups who used process-focused strategies (such as correction and cross-cueing) to a greater extent were less likely to change their responses after receiving the negative feedback and were less suggestible. We conclude that, while the use of error-checking and process-focused strategies played a role in reducing suggestibility in collaborative groups, the administration of negative feedback induced members of collaborative groups to adopt a more conservative response criterion. These results contribute to the understanding of the conditions that maximize the positive effects of collaborative retrieval. They have implications for policymakers and police practitioners, specifying when and how collaboration might be allowed.
Celebrate Diversity?
Authors: Huber Christian , Nicolay Philipp , Weber Simone
Published: June 2021

Schulleistungen und soziale Integration sind im deutschen Schulsystem eng miteinander verbunden. Unklar ist, welche Rolle die Leistungs- und Verhaltensheterogenität für diesen Zusammenhang spielt. Vertreter*innen eines klassischen sozialpsychologischen Zugangs sagen für eine hohe Leistungs- und Verhaltensheterogenität eine Erhöhung des Risikos auf soziale Ausgrenzung (Risikohypothese) voraus, Vertreter*innen eines inklusionspädagogischen Zugangs eine Schutzfunktion (Schutzhypothese). Die vorliegende Studie untersucht, inwieweit die Leistungs- und Verhaltensheterogenität den Zusammenhang zwischen einem Förderbedarf in den Bereichen Lernen/Verhalten und sozialer Integration moderiert und ob die Richtung dieses Modertoreffekt im Sinne der Schutz- oder der Risikohypothese gedeutet werden kann. Hierzu wurden N = 1352 Grundschüler*innen in drei unterschiedlich heterogenen Schulsystemen (jahrgangsgetrennt, 1/2/3/4; teilweise jahrgangsübergreifend, 1–2/3–4; jahrgangsübergreifend, 1–4) in einer Querschnittstudie untersucht. Erhoben wurden, neben der sozialen Integration, Informationen über einen besonderen Förderbedarf in den Bereichen Lernen und Verhalten und Schulleistung. Das Schulsystem ging als unabhängige Variable auf Level 2, der Förderbedarf als unabhängige Variable auf Level 1 und die soziale Integration als abhängige Variable in die mehrebenenanalytische Auswertung ein. Analog zu bisher vorliegenden Befunden wurde ein signifikanter Haupteffekt beider Förderbedarfe auf die soziale Integration gefunden. Ferner zeigten vier von sechs Cross-Level-Effekten für den Förderbedarf Lernen Hinweise auf eine Gültigkeit der Schutzhypothese, kein Cross-Level-Effekt war im Sinne der Risikohypothese interpretierbar. Dieser Befund war nicht auf den Förderbedarf Verhalten übertragbar. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass sich der Zusammenhang zwischen sozialer Integration und Förderbedarf Lernen mit zunehmender Leistungs- und Verhaltensheterogenität abschwächt. Gleichzeitig zeigte sich in den stark heterogenen Lerngruppen ein insgesamt erhöhtes Ausgrenzungsrisiko aller Schüler*innen unabhängig ihres Förderbedarfs. Die Ergebnisse lassen den Schluss zu, dass sich für Schüler*innen mit erhöhtem Förderbedarf Lernen im jahrgangsübergreifenden Lernen eine höhere Chance für eine gute soziale Integration einstellen könnte.
THE ARTEMIS ACCORDS: EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION IN INTERNATIONAL SPACE LAW?
Authors: Deplano Rossana
Published: June 2021

Adopted in October 2020, the Artemis Accords are a set of 13 provisions establishing a principled framework for the sustainable human exploration of the Moon and the other celestial bodies, including the exploitation of their natural resources. This article examines the extent to which the Artemis Accords comply with international law and international standards. It argues that, while rooted on the provisions of the Outer Space Treaty, the Artemis Accords introduce a significant innovation in international space law by replacing the anticipatory approach to the regulation of outer space activities with the staged principle of adaptive governance.
Kinetic-ballooning-mode turbulence in low-average-magnetic-shear equilibria
Authors: McKinney I.J. , Pueschel M.J. , Faber B.J. , Hegna C.C. , Ishizawa A. , Terry P.W.
Published: June 2021

Kinetic-ballooning-mode (KBM) turbulence is studied via gyrokinetic flux-tube simulations in three magnetic equilibria that exhibit small average magnetic shear: the Helically Symmetric eXperiment (HSX), the helical-axis Heliotron-J and a circular tokamak geometry. For HSX, the onset of KBM being the dominant instability at low wavenumber occurs at a critical value of normalized plasma pressure

$\beta ^{\rm KBM}_{\rm crit}$

that is an order of magnitude smaller than the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) ballooning limit

$\beta ^{\rm MHD}_{\rm crit}$

when a strong ion temperature gradient (ITG) is present. However,

$\beta ^{\rm KBM}_{\rm crit}$

increases and approaches the MHD ballooning limit as the ITG tends to zero. For these configurations,

$\beta ^{\rm KBM}_{\rm crit}$

also increases as the magnitude of the average magnetic shear increases, regardless of the sign of the normalized magnetic shear. Simulations of Heliotron-J and a circular axisymmetric geometry display behaviour similar to HSX with respect to

$\beta ^{\rm KBM}_{\rm crit}$

. Despite large KBM growth rates at long wavelengths in HSX, saturation of KBM turbulence with

$\beta > \beta _{\rm crit}^{\rm KBM}$

is achievable in HSX and results in lower heat transport relative to the electrostatic limit by a factor of roughly five. Nonlinear simulations also show that KBM transport dominates the dynamics when KBMs are destabilized linearly, even if KBM growth rates are subdominant to ITG growth rates.
Some remarks on the Zarankiewicz problem
Authors: CONLON DAVID
Published: June 2021

The Zarankiewicz problem asks for an estimate on z(m, n; s, t), the largest number of 1’s in an m × n matrix with all entries 0 or 1 containing no s × t submatrix consisting entirely of 1’s. We show that a classical upper bound for z(m, n; s, t) due to Kővári, Sós and Turán is tight up to the constant for a broad range of parameters. The proof relies on a new quantitative variant of the random algebraic method.
Monochorionic Dizygotic Twins Conceived Spontaneously Showed Chimerism in Karyotype and Blood Group Type
Authors: Yoshida Atsuko , Kaji Takashi , Sogawa Eishi , Yonetani Naoto , Suga Kenichi , Nakagawa Ryuji , Iwasa Takeshi
Published: June 2021

We report a very rare case of monochorionic dizygotic twins conceived spontaneously. The fetuses were sex-discordant in ultrasonography despite being monochorionic twins. After birth, the girl and boy showed normal phenotypes but they showed blood chimerism in karyotype and blood group type.
Exploring the Changes of Suicide Probability During COVID-19 Among Chinese Weibo Users
Authors: Li Sijia , Xue Jia , Liu Xiaoqian , Wu Peijing , Liu Tianli , Zhu Meng , Zhao Nan , Zhu Tingshao
Published: June 2021

Abstract. Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threatens people's physical and mental health, globally, and it may even trigger suicide ideation and suicidal behavior. Aims: We aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 on suicide risk by sampling Chinese Weibo users and analyzing their social media messages. Method: We predicted the probability of suicide (including hopelessness, suicidal ideation, negative self-evaluation, and hostility) of Weibo users in order to assess the changes in suicide probability at different times. Repeated-measures ANOVA was performed to examine the differences in suicide probability in different regions during different periods. Results: There was no significant difference in suicide probability between profoundly infected areas (PIAs) and less infected areas (LIAs) before the outbreak of COVID-19. LIAs had an increase in hopelessness during the COVID-19 growth period, while hopelessness and hostility in PIA increased during the COVID-19 decline period, indicating potential suicide probability. Limitations: Results should be interpreted with caution, and cross-cultural research may be considered in the future. Conclusion: COVID-19 has a dynamic impact on suicide probability. Using data from online social networks may help to understand the impact pattern of COVID-19 on people's suicide probability.
Wastewater Sample Site Selection to Estimate Geographically Resolved Community Prevalence of COVID‐19: A Sampling Protocol Perspective
Authors: Yeager R. , Holm R. H. , Saurabh K. , Fuqua J. L. , Talley D. , Bhatnagar A. , Smith T.
Published: June 2021

Wastewater monitoring for virus infections within communities can complement conventional clinical surveillance. Currently, most SARS‐CoV‐2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) clinical testing is voluntary and inconsistently available, except for a few occupational and educational settings, and therefore likely underrepresents actual population prevalence. Randomized testing on a regular basis to estimate accurate population‐level infection rates is prohibitively costly and is hampered by a range of limitations and barriers associated with participation in clinical research. In comparison, community‐level fecal monitoring can be performed through wastewater surveillance to effectively surveil communities. However, epidemiologically defined protocols for wastewater sample site selection are lacking. Herein, we describe methods for developing a geographically resolved population‐level wastewater sampling approach in Jefferson County, Kentucky, and present preliminary results. Utilizing this site selection protocol, samples (n = 237) were collected from 17 wastewater catchment areas, September 8 to October 30, 2020 from one to four times per week in each area and compared to concurrent clinical data aggregated to wastewater catchment areas and county level. SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA was consistently present in wastewater during the studied period, and varied by area. Data obtained using the site selection protocol showed variation in geographically resolved wastewater SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA concentration compared to clinical rates. These findings highlight the importance of neighborhood‐equivalent spatial scales and provide a promising approach for viral epidemic surveillance, thus better guiding spatially targeted public health mitigation strategies.
The Impact of Sudden Commencements on Ground Magnetic Field Variability: Immediate and Delayed Consequences
Authors: Smith Andrew W. , Forsyth Colin , Rae Jonathan , Rodger Craig J. , Freeman Mervyn P.
Published: June 2021

We examine how Sudden Commencements (SCs) and Storm Sudden Commencements (SSCs) influence the occurrence of high rates of change of the magnetic field (R) as a function of geomagnetic latitude. These rapid, high amplitude variations in the ground‐level geomagnetic field pose a significant risk to ground infrastructure, such as power networks, as the drivers of geomagnetically induced currents. We find that rates of change of ∼30 nT min−1 at near‐equatorial stations are up to 700 times more likely in an SC than in any random interval. This factor decreases with geomagnetic latitude such that rates of change around 30 nT min−1 are only up to 10 times more likely by 65°. At equatorial latitudes we find that 25% of all R in excess of 50 nT min−1 occurs during SCs. This percentage also decreases with geomagnetic latitude, reaching ≤1% by 55°. However, the time period from the SC to 3 days afterward accounts for ≥90% of geomagnetic field fluctuations over 50 nT min−1, up to ∼60° latitude. Above 60°, other phenomena such as isolated substorms account for the majority of large R. Furthermore, the elevated rates of change observed during and after SCs are solely due to those classified as SSCs. These results show that SSCs are the predominant risk events for large R at mid and low latitudes, but that the risk from the SC itself decreases with latitude.
The Growth of the Commercial Sector in Space Science
Authors: Gannon J. L. , Lugaz N.
Published: June 2021

As space science in the commercial sector grows, new opportunities emerge for data availability and collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Genetic polymorphisms associated with obesity in the Arab world: a systematic review
Authors: Younes Salma , Ibrahim Amal , Al-Jurf Rana , Zayed Hatem
Published: June 2021

Background

Obesity, one of the most common chronic health conditions worldwide, is a multifactorial disease caused by complex genetic and environmental interactions. Several association studies have revealed a considerable number of candidate loci for obesity; however, the genotype–phenotype correlations remain unclear. To date, no comprehensive systematic review has been conducted to investigate the genetic risk factors for obesity among Arabs.

Objectives

This study aimed to systematically review the genetic polymorphisms that are significantly associated with obesity in Arabs.

Methods

We searched four literature databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar) from inception until May 2020 to obtain all reported genetic data related to obesity in Arab populations. Quality assessment and data extraction were performed individually by three investigators.

Results

In total, 59 studies comprising a total of 15,488 cases and 9,760 controls were included in the systematic review. A total of 76 variants located within or near 49 genes were reported to be significantly associated with obesity. Among the 76 variants, two were described as unique to Arabs, as they have not been previously reported in other populations, and 19 were reported to be distinctively associated with obesity in Arabs but not in non-Arab populations.

Conclusions

There appears to be a unique genetic and clinical susceptibility profile of obesity in Arab patients.
Genome-wide discovery of hidden genes mediating known drug-disease association using KDDANet
Authors: Yu Hua , Lu Lu , Chen Ming , Li Chen , Zhang Jin
Published: June 2021

Many of genes mediating Known Drug-Disease Association (KDDA) are escaped from experimental detection. Identifying of these genes (hidden genes) is of great significance for understanding disease pathogenesis and guiding drug repurposing. Here, we presented a novel computational tool, called KDDANet, for systematic and accurate uncovering the hidden genes mediating KDDA from the perspective of genome-wide functional gene interaction network. KDDANet demonstrated the competitive performances in both sensitivity and specificity of identifying genes in mediating KDDA in comparison to the existing state-of-the-art methods. Case studies on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and obesity uncovered the mechanistic relevance of KDDANet predictions. Furthermore, when applied with multiple types of cancer-omics datasets, KDDANet not only recapitulated known genes mediating KDDAs related to cancer, but also revealed novel candidates that offer new biological insights. Importantly, KDDANet can be used to discover the shared genes mediating multiple KDDAs. KDDANet can be accessed at http://www.kddanet.cn and the code can be freely downloaded at https://github.com/huayu1111/KDDANet.
RetiNerveNet: using recursive deep learning to estimate pointwise 24-2 visual field data based on retinal structure
Authors: Datta Shounak , Mariottoni Eduardo B. , Dov David , Jammal Alessandro A. , Carin Lawrence , Medeiros Felipe A.
Published: June 2021

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world, affecting over 70 million people. The cumbersome Standard Automated Perimetry (SAP) test is most frequently used to detect visual loss due to glaucoma. Due to the SAP test’s innate difficulty and its high test-retest variability, we propose the RetiNerveNet, a deep convolutional recursive neural network for obtaining estimates of the SAP visual field. RetiNerveNet uses information from the more objective Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SDOCT). RetiNerveNet attempts to trace-back the arcuate convergence of the retinal nerve fibers, starting from the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) thickness around the optic disc, to estimate individual age-corrected 24-2 SAP values. Recursive passes through the proposed network sequentially yield estimates of the visual locations progressively farther from the optic disc. While all the methods used for our experiments exhibit lower performance for the advanced disease group (possibly due to the “floor effect” for the SDOCT test), the proposed network is observed to be more accurate than all the baselines for estimating the individual visual field values. We further augment the proposed network to additionally predict the SAP Mean Deviation values and also facilitate the assignment of higher weightage to the underrepresented groups in the data. We then study the resulting performance trade-offs of the RetiNerveNet on the early, moderate and severe disease groups.
Interpersonal physiological synchrony is associated with first person and third person subjective assessments of excitement during cooperative joint tasks
Authors: Murata Aiko , Nomura Keishi , Watanabe Junji , Kumano Shiro
Published: June 2021

Interpersonal physiological synchrony has been shown to play important roles in social activities. While most studies have shed light on the effects of physiological synchrony on recognition of the group state, such as cohesion or togetherness, the effect of physiological synchrony on the recognition of emotional experience has not been adequately researched. In this study, we examined how physiological synchrony is associated with first- and third-person emotion recognition during a joint task. Two participants played a cooperative block-stacking game (Jenga), alternating their roles as player and adviser, while their heart rates were recorded. The participants evaluated their own emotional experience for each turn. Bystanders watched the game to evaluate the players’ emotions. Results showed that the players’ subjective excitement increased not only with their own heart rate, but also with increased heart rate synchrony with their adviser. Heart rate synchrony between player and adviser also related to increased intensity in perceived excitement from the bystanders. Given that both first- and third-person emotion recognition can have cumulative impacts on a group, the relationship between physiological synchrony and emotion recognition observed in the present study will help deepen understanding of the psychophysiological mechanisms underlying larger group phenomena such as crowd excitement.
Nanoscale slip length prediction with machine learning tools
Authors: Sofos Filippos , Karakasidis Theodoros E.
Published: June 2021

This work incorporates machine learning (ML) techniques, such as multivariate regression, the multi-layer perceptron, and random forest to predict the slip length at the nanoscale. Data points are collected both from our simulation data and data from the literature, and comprise Molecular Dynamics simulations of simple monoatomic, polar, and molecular liquids. Training and test points cover a wide range of input parameters which have been found to affect the slip length value, concerning dynamical and geometrical characteristics of the model, along with simulation parameters that constitute the simulation conditions. The aim of this work is to suggest an accurate and efficient procedure capable of reproducing physical properties, such as the slip length, acting parallel to simulation methods. Non-linear models, based on neural networks and decision trees, have been found to achieve better performance compared to linear regression methods. After the model is trained on representative simulation data, it is capable of accurately predicting the slip length values in regions between or in close proximity to the input data range, at the nanoscale. Results also reveal that, as channel dimensions increase, the slip length turns into a size-independent material property, affected mainly by wall roughness and wettability.
Author Correction: Self‑organization and culture of Mesenchymal Stem Cell spheroids in acoustic levitation
Authors: Jeger‑Madiot Nathan , Arakelian Lousineh , Setterblad Niclas , Bruneval Patrick , Hoyos Mauricio , Larghero Jérôme , Aider Jean‑Luc
Published: June 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Publisher Correction: An LDV based method to quantify the error of PC-MRI derived Wall Shear Stress measurement
Authors: Castagna Marco , Levilly Sébastien , Paul-Gilloteaux Perrine , Moussaoui Saïd , Rousset Jean-Marc , Bonnefoy Félicien , Idier Jérôme , Serfaty Jean-Michel , Le Touzé David
Published: June 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Lipidomic profiling of the developing kernel clarifies the lipid metabolism of Paeonia ostii
Authors: Yu Shui-Yan , Zhang Ying , Lyu Yu-Ping , Yao Zu-Jie , Hu Yong-Hong
Published: June 2021

Lipid components in the developing kernel of Paeonia ostii were determined, and the fatty acid (FA) distributions in triacylglycerol and phospholipids were characterized. The lipids in the kernel were mainly phospholipids (43%), neutral glycerides (24%), fatty acyls (26%), and sphingolipids (4.5%). The dominant neutral glycerides were TAG and diacylglycerol. The PL components included phosphatidic acid, phosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl serine, phosphatidyl inositol, and phosphatidyl ethanolamine. As the kernel developed, the profiles of the molecular species comprising TAG and PL changed, especially during the earlier phases of oil accumulation. During rapid oil accumulation, the abundances of sphingosine-1-phosphate, pyruvic acid, stearic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid changed significantly; the sphingolipid metabolism and unsaturated FAs biosynthesis pathways were significantly enriched in these differentially abundant metabolites. Our results improve our understanding of lipid accumulation in tree peony seeds, and provide a framework for the analysis of lipid metabolisms in other oil crops.
Impact of COVID-19 on older adults and role of long-term care facilities during early stages of epidemic in Italy
Authors: Amore Stefano , Puppo Emanuela , Melara Josué , Terracciano Elisa , Gentili Susanna , Liotta Giuseppe
Published: June 2021

Older adults are the main victims of the novel COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak and elderly in Long Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) are severely hit in terms of mortality. This paper presents a quantitative study of the impact of COVID-19 outbreak in Italy during first stages of the epidemic, focusing on the effects on mortality increase among older adults over 80 and its correlation with LTCFs. The study of growth patterns shows a power-law scaling regime for the first stage of the pandemic with an uneven behaviour among different regions as well as for the overall mortality increase according to the different impact of COVID-19. However, COVID-19 incidence rate does not fully explain the differences of mortality impact in older adults among different regions. We define a quantitative correlation between mortality in older adults and the number of people in LTCFs confirming the tremendous impact of COVID-19 on LTCFs. In addition a correlation between LTCFs and undiagnosed cases as well as effects of health system dysfunction is also observed. Our results confirm that LTCFs did not play a protective role on older adults during the pandemic, but the higher the number of elderly people living in LTCFs the greater the increase of both general and COVID-19 related mortality. We also observed that the handling of the crises in LTCFs hampered an efficient tracing of COVID-19 spread and promoted the increase of deaths not directly attributed to SARS-CoV-2.
N2O dynamics in the western Arctic Ocean during the summer of 2017
Authors: Heo Jang-Mu , Kim Seong-Su , Kang Sung-Ho , Yang Eun Jin , Park Ki-Tae , Jung Jinyoung , Cho Kyoung-Ho , Kim Ju-Hyoung , Macdonald Alison M. , Yoon Joo-Eun , Kim Hyo-Ryeon , Eom Sang-Min , Lim Jae-Hyun , Kim Il-Nam
Published: June 2021

The western Arctic Ocean (WAO) has experienced increased heat transport into the region, sea-ice reduction, and changes to the WAO nitrous oxide (N2O) cycles from greenhouse gases. We investigated WAO N2O dynamics through an intensive and precise N2O survey during the open-water season of summer 2017. The effects of physical processes (i.e., solubility and advection) were dominant in both the surface (0–50 m) and deep layers (200–2200 m) of the northern Chukchi Sea with an under-saturation of N2O. By contrast, both the surface layer (0–50 m) of the southern Chukchi Sea and the intermediate (50–200 m) layer of the northern Chukchi Sea were significantly influenced by biogeochemically derived N2O production (i.e., through nitrification), with N2O over-saturation. During summer 2017, the southern region acted as a source of atmospheric N2O (mean: + 2.3 ± 2.7 μmol N2O m−2 day−1), whereas the northern region acted as a sink (mean − 1.3 ± 1.5 μmol N2O m−2 day−1). If Arctic environmental changes continue to accelerate and consequently drive the productivity of the Arctic Ocean, the WAO may become a N2O “hot spot”, and therefore, a key region requiring continued observations to both understand N2O dynamics and possibly predict their future changes.
Susceptibility of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1-deficient mice to rheumatoid arthritis arising from interleukin-1β-induced inflammation
Authors: Takashima Yoshinori , Hayashi Shinya , Fukuda Koji , Maeda Toshihisa , Tsubosaka Masanori , Kamenaga Tomoyuki , Kikuchi Kenichi , Fujita Masahiro , Kuroda Yuichi , Hashimoto Shingo , Nakano Naoki , Matsumoto Tomoyuki , Kuroda Ryosuke
Published: June 2021

We recently reported that cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 (p21) deficiency induces osteoarthritis susceptibility. Here, we determined the mechanism underlying the effect of p21 in synovial and cartilage tissues in RA. The knee joints of p21-knockout (p21−/−) (n = 16) and wild type C57BL/6 (p21+/+) mice (n = 16) served as in vivo models of collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA). Arthritis severity was evaluated by immunological and histological analyses. The response of p21 small-interfering RNA (siRNA)-treated human RA FLSs (n = 5 per group) to interleukin (IL)-1β stimulation was determined in vitro. Arthritis scores were higher in p21−/− mice than in p21+/+ mice. More severe synovitis, earlier loss of Safranin-O staining, and cartilage destruction were observed in p21−/− mice compared to p21+/+ mice. p21−/− mice expressed higher levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, F4/80, CD86, p-IKKα/β, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in cartilage and synovial tissues via IL-1β-induced NF-kB signaling. IL-1β stimulation significantly increased IL-6, IL-8, and MMP expression, and enhanced IKKα/β and IκBα phosphorylation in human FLSs. p21-deficient CAIA mice are susceptible to RA phenotype alterations, including joint cartilage destruction and severe synovitis. Therefore, p21 may have a regulatory role in inflammatory cytokine production including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α.
Author Correction: A highly sensitive and specific real-time quantitative PCR for BRAF V600E/K mutation screening
Authors: Lung Jrhau , Hung Ming‑Szu , Lin Yu‑Ching , Jiang Yuan Yuan , Fang Yu‑Hung , Lu Ming‑Shian , Hsieh Ching‑Chuan , Wang Chia‑Siu , Kuan Feng‑Che , Lu Chang‑Hsien , Chen Ping‑Tsung , Lin Chieh‑Mo , Chou Yen‑Li , Lin Chin‑Kuo , Yang Tsung‑Ming , Chen Fen Fen , Lin Paul Yann , Hsieh Meng‑Jer , Tsai Ying Huang
Published: June 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Activation and conversion of alkanes in the confined space of zeolite-type materials
Authors: del Campo Pablo , Martínez Cristina , Corma Avelino
Published: June 2021

Microporous zeolite-type materials are able to activate and efficiently convert stable C1+alkanes. This review analyzes, at the molecular level, the role of active sites and the contribution of diffusion, shape-selectivity and confinement effects.
Potassium mediated Co–Fe-based Prussian blue analogue architectures for aqueous potassium-ion storage
Authors: Wei Xijun , Wei Jiacheng , Song Yingze , Wu Donghai , Liu Xu Dong , Chen Houyang , Xiao Peng , Zhang Yunhuai
Published: June 2021

K2Co[Fe(CN)6] with rich potassium, two accessible one-electron redox property, ample active sites and good electrical conductivity is fabricated by a facile route, which exhibits good aqueous K+-ions storage performance.
Influence of the Pd : Bi ratio on Pd–Bi/Al2O3 catalysts: structure, surface and activity in glucose oxidation
Authors: Sandu Mariya P. , Kovtunov Mikhail A. , Baturin Vladimir S. , Oganov Artem R. , Kurzina Irina A.
Published: June 2021

Pd–Bi nanoparticles show high efficiency in catalyzing gluconic acid production by the glucose oxidation reaction.
Hydroxyl radical is a significant player in oxidative DNA damagein vivo
Authors: Halliwell Barry , Adhikary Amitava , Dingfelder Michael , Dizdaroglu Miral
Published: June 2021

Schematic representation of the important chemical reactions involved in reactive oxygen species-mediated DNA damage.
A green-synthesized phosphorescent carbon dot composite for multilevel anti-counterfeiting
Authors: Jiang Wenjie , Liu Lan , Wu Yueyue , Zhang Peng , Li Feiyang , Liu Juqing , Zhao Jianfeng , Huo Fengwei , Zhao Qiang , Huang Wei
Published: June 2021

A green-synthesized nanocarbon phosphorescent material was applied to multilevel anti-counterfeiting fields, with ultra-long phosphorescence lifetime and humidity sensitivity.
Boron-doped TiO2 (B-TiO2): visible-light photocatalytic difunctionalization of alkenes and alkynes
Authors: Hosseini-Sarvari Mona , Valikhani Atefe
Published: June 2021

Boron-doped TiO2 (B-TiO2) was prepared, characterized, and applied as a reusable, inexpensive, and available heterogeneous nanophotocatalyst under visible light for the synthesis of phenacyl thiocyanates.
Laser ignition of energetic complexes: impact of metal ion on laser initiation ability
Authors: Wang Yu , Xu Siyu , Li Heng , Ma Haixia , Zhang Yazhou , Guo Zhaoqi
Published: June 2021

Alkali metal-containing energetic complexes were easy to initiate, followed by the free ligand, whereas the alkaline-earth metal complexes exhibited longer initiation delay times.
Boosting the photoelectric conversion efficiency of DSSCs through graphene quantum dots: insights from theoretical study
Authors: Li Yuanchao , Zhang Wenyuan , Li Xin , Xu Yanling
Published: June 2021

The influence of different linkage types between sensitizer and GQD on the photoelectric performance of DSSCs were comprehensively investigated from theoretical perspective.
Socio-economic demands and challenges for non-invasive disease diagnosis through a portable breathalyzer by the incorporation of 2D nanosheets and SMO nanocomposites
Authors: Kalidoss Ramji , Kothalam Radhakrishnan , Manikandan A. , Jaganathan Saravana Kumar , Khan Anish , Asiri Abdullah M.
Published: June 2021

Breath analysis for non-invasive clinical diagnostics and treatment progression has penetrated the research community owing to the technological developments in novel sensing nanomaterials.
Structure modulation on fluorescent probes for biothiols and the reversible imaging of glutathione in living cells
Authors: Li Yu , Chen Li , Zhu Yan , Chen Liming , Yu Xianglin , Li Junbo , Chen Dugang
Published: June 2021

A reversible fluorescent probe for GSH was obtained through structure modulation, by which the intracellular GSH fluctuation was imaged.