bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distribution of biomass dynamics in relation to tree size in forests across the world
Authors: Piponiot Camille , Anderson‐Teixeira Kristina J. , Davies Stuart J. , Allen David , Bourg Norman A. , Burslem David F. R. P. , Cárdenas Dairon , Chang‐Yang Chia‐Hao , Chuyong George , Cordell Susan , Dattaraja Handanakere Shivaramaiah , Duque Álvaro , Ediriweera Sisira , Ewango Corneille , Ezedin Zacky , Filip Jonah , Giardina Christian P. , Howe Robert , Hsieh Chang‐Fu , Hubbell Stephen P. , Inman‐Narahari Faith M. , Itoh Akira , Janík David , Kenfack David , Král Kamil , Lutz James A. , Makana Jean‐Remy , McMahon Sean M. , McShea William , Mi Xiangcheng , Bt. Mohamad Mohizah , Novotný Vojtěch , O'Brien Michael J. , Ostertag Rebecca , Parker Geoffrey , Pérez Rolando , Ren Haibao , Reynolds Glen , Md Sabri Mohamad Danial , Sack Lawren , Shringi Ankur , Su Sheng‐Hsin , Sukumar Raman , Sun I‐Fang , Suresh Hebbalalu S. , Thomas Duncan W. , Thompson Jill , Uriarte Maria , Vandermeer John , Wang Yunquan , Ware Ian M. , Weiblen George D. , Whitfeld Timothy J. S. , Wolf Amy , Yao Tze Leong , Yu Mingjian , Yuan Zuoqiang , Zimmerman Jess K. , Zuleta Daniel , Muller‐Landau Helene C.
Published: February 2022

Tree size shapes forest carbon dynamics and determines how trees interact with their environment, including a changing climate. Here, we conduct the first global analysis of among‐site differences in how aboveground biomass stocks and fluxes are distributed with tree size.

We analyzed repeat tree censuses from 25 large‐scale (4–52 ha) forest plots spanning a broad climatic range over five continents to characterize how aboveground biomass, woody productivity, and woody mortality vary with tree diameter. We examined how the median, dispersion, and skewness of these size‐related distributions vary with mean annual temperature and precipitation.

In warmer forests, aboveground biomass, woody productivity, and woody mortality were more broadly distributed with respect to tree size. In warmer and wetter forests, aboveground biomass and woody productivity were more right skewed, with a long tail towards large trees. Small trees (1–10 cm diameter) contributed more to productivity and mortality than to biomass, highlighting the importance of including these trees in analyses of forest dynamics.

Our findings provide an improved characterization of climate‐driven forest differences in the size structure of aboveground biomass and dynamics of that biomass, as well as refined benchmarks for capturing climate influences in vegetation demographic models.
Identification of conserved and new miRNAs that affect nodulation and strain selectivity in the Phaseolus vulgaris–Rhizobium etli symbiosis through differential analysis of host small RNAs
Authors: Castaingts Melisse , Kirolinko Cristina , Rivero Claudio , Artunian Jennifer , Mancini Villagra Ulises , Blanco Flavio Antonio , Zanetti María Eugenia
Published: February 2022

Phaseolus vulgaris plants from the Mesoamerican centre of genetic diversification establish a preferential and more efficient root nodule symbiosis with sympatric Rhizobium etli strains. This is mediated by changes in host gene expression, which might occur either at the transcriptional or at the post‐transcriptional level. However, the implication of small RNA (sRNA)‐mediated control of gene expression in strain selectivity has remained elusive.

sRNA sequencing was used to identify host microRNAs (miRNAs) differentially regulated in roots at an early stage of the symbiotic interaction, which were further characterized by applying a reverse genetic approach.

In silico analysis identified known and new miRNAs that accumulated to a greater extent in the preferential and more efficient interaction. One of them, designated as Pvu‐miR5924, participates in the mechanisms that determine the selection of R. etli strains that will colonize the nodules. In addition, the functional analysis of Pvu‐miR390b verified that this miRNA is a negative modulator of nodule formation and bacterial infection.

This study not only extended the list of miRNAs identified in P. vulgaris but also enabled the identification of miRNAs that play relevant functions in nodule formation, rhizobial infection and the selection of the rhizobial strains that will occupy the nodule.
Prognostic outcomes of oral squamous cell carcinoma derived from proliferative verrucous leukoplakia: A systematic review
Authors: Faustino Isabel Schausltz Pereira , de Pauli Paglioni Mariana , de Almeida Mariz Bruno Augusto Linhares , Normando Ana Gabriela Costa , Pérez‐de‐Oliveira Maria Eduarda , Georgaki Maria , Nikitakis Nikolaos G. , Vargas Pablo Agustin , Santos‐Silva Alan Roger , Lopes Marcio Ajudarte
Published: February 2022

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate prognostic outcomes of PVL‐derived oral squamous cell carcinomas (P‐OSCC) based on recurrence, new primary tumour, metastasis and survival information.

Study design

Five databases and grey literature were searched electronically with the following main keywords (proliferative verrucous leukoplakia, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant transformation) to answer the following review question: ‘Are survival outcomes for P‐OSCC worse?’ based on the PECOS principle. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tool was used to identify possible biases and assess the quality of each of the primary studies.

Results

A total of 21 articles met the inclusion criteria, and the results of this systematic review suggest that P‐OSCC can recur and generate new primary tumours; however, metastases are rare. Thus, most patients remain alive for an average period of 5 years.

Conclusion

Apparently, P‐OSCC has better clinical prognostic characteristics than conventional OSCC. There is a lack of information on the main prognostic outcomes of P‐OSCC; therefore, specific studies must be performed to achieve a better comparison between P‐OSCC and conventional OSCC progression.
Acute effects of aerobic exercise on conflict suppression, response inhibition, and processing efficiency underlying inhibitory control processes: An ERP and SFT study
Authors: Kao Shih‐Chun , Baumgartner Nicholas , Nagy Christian , Fu Hao‐Lun , Yang Cheng‐Ta , Wang Chun‐Hao
Published: February 2022

Aerobic exercise has been identified as an effective strategy for transiently enhancing inhibitory control, an ability to suppress irrelevant distractors while focusing on relevant information in facilitating the implementation of goal‐directed behavior. The purpose of this study was to employ a go/no‐go version of the redundant‐target task and event‐related potential to further determine whether inhibitory control at the perceptual and response levels as well as their underlying processing capacity and neuroelectric alterations are differentially affected by a single bout of aerobic exercise. Twenty‐seven young adults completed the redundant‐target task while electroencephalogram was recorded before and after one 20‐min bout of moderate‐intensity aerobic exercise and a sitting control condition on separate days in counterbalanced order. Although behavioral outcomes of mean‐level performance did not differ between intervention conditions, time‐related decreases in processing capacity for the faster responses were only observed following rest. Aerobic exercise resulted in maintained P3b amplitude from pretest to posttest for all trial types while decreased P3b amplitude from pretest to posttest during single‐target and redundant‐target trials was observed following rest. Further, the time‐related changes in P3b amplitude were positively correlated with improvements in task performance following exercise. These findings suggest that a short bout of aerobic exercise selectively counteracts the time‐related decrements in processing capacity as well as neuroelectric processing of attention and conflict suppression that contribute to behavioral outcomes of inhibitory control.
CT in COPD: To be or not to be
Authors: Agusti Alvar , Faner Rosa
Published: February 2022

See related article
Mapping the spatiotemporal patterns of beach litter on UK beaches from 2000 to 2016: An emerging hot spot analytical approach
Authors: Gu Qiushi , Zhang Haiping , Chen Yong , Li Tao
Published: February 2022

Litter pollution on beaches is a growing problem worldwide that threatens marine species and tourism experiences. It is important to establish a virtual geographic environment by simulating the spatiotemporal pattern of litter to enhance our understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns of geographic environmental elements. This study visualized the spatiotemporal data of litter by type on a total of 1,762 UK beaches on the coastline and offshore islands from 2000 to 2016. Ten major sources of litter—including plastic/polystyrene, rubber, cloth, paper/cardboard, wood (machined), metal, glass, pottery/ceramics, and sanitary and medical items—were investigated in detail. The statistical analysis showed that the overall litter concentration was largely related to the intensity of human activity. Spatially, the hot spots were concentrated in the south, while the cold spots were mostly concentrated along the northern coast of the UK. The significance of the hot and cold spots tended to increase over time. Hot spot and cold spot distribution comparisons of 10 litter types were also conducted. Our results vividly depict the litter distribution in marine environments based on type. A deepened understanding provides clues concerning how to prevent the increasing accumulation of litter and clean litter in marine environments.
A revised view on the evolution of glutamine synthetase isoenzymes in plants
Authors: Valderrama‐Martín José Miguel , Ortigosa Francisco , Ávila Concepción , Cánovas Francisco M. , Hirel Bertrand , Cantón Francisco R. , Cañas Rafael A.
Published: February 2022

Glutamine synthetase (GS) is a key enzyme responsible for the incorporation of inorganic nitrogen in the form of ammonium into the amino acid glutamine. In plants, two groups of functional GS enzymes are found: eubacterial GSIIb (GLN2) and eukaryotic GSIIe (GLN1/GS). OnlyGLN1/GSgenes are found in vascular plants, which suggests that they are involved in the final adaptation of plants to terrestrial life. The present phylogenetic study reclassifies the differentGSgenes of seed plants into three clusters:GS1a,GS1bandGS2. The presence of genes encoding GS2 has been expanded to Cycadopsida gymnosperms, which suggests the origin of this gene in a common ancestor of Cycadopsida, Ginkgoopsida and angiosperms.GS1agenes have been identified in all gymnosperms, basal angiosperms and some Magnoliidae species. Previous studies in conifers and the gene expression profiles obtained in ginkgo and magnolia in the present work could explain the absence ofGS1ain more recent angiosperm species (e.g. monocots and eudicots) as a result of the redundant roles of GS1a and GS2 in photosynthetic cells. Altogether, the results provide a better understanding of the evolution of plant GS isoenzymes and their physiological roles, which is valuable for improving crop nitrogen use efficiency and productivity. This new view of GS evolution in plants, including a new cytosolic GS group (GS1a), has important functional implications in the context of plant metabolism adaptation to global changes.
What drives updates of inflation expectations? A Bayesian VAR analysis for the G‐7 countries
Authors: Beckmann Joscha , Belke Ansgar , Dubova Irina
Published: February 2022

Inflation expectations play a crucial role for monetary policy transmission, having become even more important since the emergence of unconventional monetary policy. Based on survey data provided by Consensus Economics, we assess determinants of professional inflation expectations for the G7 economies, emphasising the role of international spillovers arising from the United States in inflation expectations. We also consider several other determinants of inflation expectation updates such as changes in the path of monetary policy, oil price shocks and changes in uncertainty measures. Based on a Bayesian VAR, we find significant evidence of international spillovers stemming from expectations about US monetary policy based on impulse‐response functions and forecast error decompositions. We provide similar evidence on spillovers from the dispersion across inflation forecasts, too.
Vertebral vascular canal dysplasia in French and English Bulldogs: Clinical, CT, and MRI characteristics and prevalence
Authors: Santifort Koen M. , Gutierrez‐Quintana Rodrigo , Bernardini Marco , Kortz Gregg D. , Gomes Sergio A. , Lowrie Mark , De Decker Steven , Glass Eric N. , Bergknut Niklas
Published: February 2022

The authors have observed a vertebral anomaly in French and English Bulldogs and termed this anomaly “vertebral vascular canal dysplasia (VVCD).” No previously published descriptions of this anomaly were found. The aims of this retrospective, multi‐institutional, observational study were to (1) describe the clinical, CT, and MRI characteristics of VVCD, and (2) estimate the prevalence and describe the characteristics of VVCD in a group of French and English Bulldogs. For descriptions of the anomaly, medical records and imaging studies of nine clinical cases with VVCD from several countries were reviewed. For estimation of prevalence, imaging studies of French and English Bulldogs from the United Kingdom (UK) and Italy were reviewed. All clinical case dogs had ≥5 thoracic vertebrae with VVCD affecting >50% of vertebral body height (VBH). The prevalence of VVCD involving ≥1 thoracic vertebra in the UK population (CT identified) of English Bulldogs and French Bulldogs was, respectively, 83.3% (30/36) and 68.3% (28/41). English Bulldogs had significantly more thoracic vertebrae with VVCD than French Bulldogs (P = < 0.01). The prevalence of VVCD in ≥1 thoracic vertebra in the Italian population (MRI identified) of English Bulldogs and French Bulldogs was, respectively, 21.7% (5/23) and 6.6% (7/106). Vertebral vascular canal dysplasia was observed in normal as well as in malformed vertebrae (e.g., hemivertebrae). Findings from the current study introduced descriptions of VVCD that can be used as background for future studies.
An Analytical Corner Rounding Algorithm With G01 Shape Preserving for Five-Axis Computer Numerical Controlled Machining
Authors: Yin Xiaolong , Guan Junnan , Chen Mansen , Sun Yuwen
Published: February 2022

G01 blocks are the widespread format of toolpath in computer numerical controlled (CNC) machining. For achieving smooth motion and eliminating the geometrical discontinuity at the block transitions, various local corner smoothing methods have been developed. However, in these methods, the loss of featured information of parts is inevitable. Focused on this topic, this article proposes a new analytical G2 continuous corner smoothing method with G01 shape preserving for five-axis linear toolpath by locally inserting specially designed B-splines into the corners of consecutive segments. First, by analyzing the condition of G01 shape preserving, the configuration expression of control points for B-splines is yielded for passing through G01 point. On this basis, the tool tip position is smoothed by symmetrical B-splines with minimum curvature in the workpiece coordinate system (WCS). Then, another asymmetrical B-splines is used to smooth tool orientation in the machine coordinate system (MCS). After that, the satisfaction conditions of parametric synchronization between tool tip position and tool orientation are mathematically derived at junctions, while the corresponding maximum smoothing errors are also constrained in WCS. Compared with the existing methods, not only the tool tip points and orientation vectors specified in original G01 blocks are preserved but also the optimal control points considering the curvature of smooth splines can be obtained analytically. Finally, simulations and experiments are performed to validate the effectiveness of the developed method.
Scutigera: Design, Modeling, and Experiments for an Artistic Multibody Airship Concept
Authors: Salas Gordoniz Jorge Esteban , Reeves Nicolas , St-Onge David
Published: February 2022

The exploration of new lands has always been a source of motivation for mankind. Despite the common idea that our planet is fully known, a huge number of inaccessible places still remain unvisited today, especially below the surface. Recent advances in robotics allow some of these locations to be explored by unmanned vehicles. This paper presents the design of a three modules lighter-than-air vehicle specifically conceived to autonomously explore inaccessible caves and underground environments. The design is inspired from an arthropod, Scutigera coleoptrata, a long-legged centipede commonly found in our houses. Instead of crawling on walls like its biological counterpart, the robotic scutigera hovers and flies in cave tunnels. The aim is to develop a flexible semi-rigid, segmented airship that can withstand long, smooth explorations of caves while transmitting in real-time the images and sounds that it captures. This paper presents the equations of motion for a single module, and experimental results to identify the physical properties of the Scutigera modules. For simulation and control, we develop the model of the multibody system, based on the kinematics of the modules and the dynamics of the vehicle derived using Kane’s equations. Our approach can be extended for an n-bodies system. A three-segment motion is illustrated with simplified scenarios in the horizontal plane using head actuation only. Finally, a structural design of the modules is presented and supported with a proof-of-concept prototype.
Neural Network-Based Pose Estimation Approaches for Mobile Manipulation
Authors: Chowdhury Arindam B. , Li Juncheng , Cappelleri David J.
Published: February 2022

This paper illustrates two approaches for the mobile manipulation of factory robots using deep neural networks. The networks are trained using synthetic datasets unique to the factory environment. Approach I uses depth and red-green-blue (RGB) images of objects for its convolutional neural network (CNN) and Approach II uses computer-aided design models of the objects with RGB images for a deep object pose estimation (DOPE) network and perspective-n-point (PnP) algorithm. Both the approaches are compared based on their complexity, required resources for training, robustness, pose estimation accuracy, and run-time characteristics. Recommendations of which approach is suitable under what circumstances are provided. Finally, the most suitable approach is implemented on a real mobile factory robot in order to execute a series of manipulation tasks and validate the approach.
A unifying model of weakly nonlinear elastic waves; large on large theory
Authors: Kube Christopher M. , Roy Anubhav , Jensen Daniel S. , Branch Darren W.
Published: February 2022

This article reconsiders traditional topics in nonlinear elastic waves and nonlinear ultrasonics. Herein, higher-order coupling between finite initial deformation and finite amplitude waves are considered. To allow for coupling, a large-on-large deformation model is developed and used to generate the equations of motion relative to the deformed and undeformed material configurations. Thus, the equations of motion provide a single setting to describe topics in nonlinear elastic waves such as acoustoelasticity, second harmonic generation, and coupling relations between these topics. The model is evaluated to recover the traditional linearized acoustoelastic relations and predicted second harmonic amplitudes. Then, the so-called large acoustoelasticity theory is developed for anisotropic materials with specific results given for isotropic materials. Last, the stress influence on second harmonic generation is presented.
Dose– and Intensity–Response Associations Between Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Markers of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Older Adults
Authors: Ding Yijian , Xu Xi
Published: February 2022

This study aimed to investigate the dose– and intensity–response associations between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in older adults. Multivariable linear regression was performed to evaluate the associations among 3,559 older adults in 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. LTPA was negatively associated with inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein, segmented neutrophil count and alkaline phosphatase, and positively associated with one marker of antioxidants albumin in older adults. Compared with vigorous LTPA, moderate LTPA could provide more benefits through further decreasing white blood cell count and alkaline phosphatase, and increasing serum bilirubin and albumin. The effects of LTPA on C-reactive protein and albumin were more significant in participants with chronic diseases including diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the dose– and intensity–response effects of LTPA on inflammation and oxidative stress and provides exercise prescription recommendations for older adults.
Prevalence, Sociodemographic, and Health Correlates of Insufficient Physical Activity and High Sedentary Behavior Among Older Adults in Singapore
Authors: Aithal Seema , Visaria Abhijit , Malhotra Rahul
Published: February 2022

We determined the prevalence and correlates of insufficient physical activity and high sedentary behavior among a nationally representative sample of 2,240 older adults (≥60 years) in Singapore. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, administered through face-to-face interviews, assessed physical activity and sedentary behavior. Logistic regression identified the correlates of insufficient physical activity (<600 metabolic equivalent of task minutes/week) and high sedentary behavior (>7 hr/day). The prevalence of insufficient physical activity and high sedentary behavior was 33.7% and 17.3%, respectively. Those older, females, Malays, residing in smaller housing, living with child but no spouse, with functional limitations and sensory impairments (vision/hearing) were more likely to have insufficient physical activity whereas those with tertiary education had lower odds. High sedentary behavior was more likely among those older, with secondary education, preobesity/obesity, and with functional limitations. While policies should encourage all older adults to be physically active, at-risk subgroups identified in our study merit greater attention.
Highly stretchable van der Waals thin films for adaptable and breathable electronic membranes
Authors: Yan Zhuocheng , Xu Dong , Lin Zhaoyang , Wang Peiqi , Cao Bocheng , Ren Huaying , Song Frank , Wan Chengzhang , Wang Laiyuan , Zhou Jingxuan , Zhao Xun , Chen Jun , Huang Yu , Duan Xiangfeng
Published: February 2022

The conformal integration of electronic systems with irregular, soft objects is essential for many emerging technologies. We report the design of van der Waals thin films consisting of staggered two-dimensional nanosheets with bond-free van der Waals interfaces. The films feature sliding and rotation degrees of freedom among the staggered nanosheets to ensure mechanical stretchability and malleability, as well as a percolating network of nanochannels to endow permeability and breathability. With an excellent mechanical match to soft biological tissues, the freestanding films can naturally adapt to local surface topographies and seamlessly merge with living organisms with highly conformal interfaces, rendering living organisms with electronic functions, including leaf-gate and skin-gate transistors. On-skin transistors allow high-fidelity monitoring and local amplification of skin potentials and electrophysiological signals.
Final resting place
Authors: El-Showk Sedeer
Published: February 2022

Finland is set to open the world’s first permanent repository for high-level nuclear waste. How did it succeed when other countries stumbled?
United Nations to tackle global plastics pollution
Authors: Stokstad Erik
Published: February 2022

Research could gain from negotiations to reduce, reuse, and recycle the common material
Glowing tumor marker hampers mouse cancer studies
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: February 2022

Response to protein complicates immunotherapy research
Plasma-Derived HIV-1 Virions Contain Considerable Levels of Defective Genomes
Authors: Fisher Katie , Wang Xiao Qian , Lee Ashley , Morcilla Vincent , de Vries Anneke , Lee Eunok , Eden John-Sebastian , Deeks Steven G. , Kelleher Anthony D. , Palmer Sarah
Published: February 2022

We developed novel plasma-derived RNA using long-range sequencing assays (PRLS assay; 8.3 kb,
gag
-3′, and 5.0 kb,
int
-3′). Employing the
gag
-3′ PRLS assay, we found that 26% to 51% of plasma-derived genomes are genetically defective, largely as a result of frameshift mutations and deletions.
Supplemental Material: Late Holocene coseismic uplift of the Kaikōura coast, New Zealand
Authors: Howell A. , Clark K.J.
Published: February 2022

GIS files containing mapped terrace polygons. Oxcal codes, details of additional modeling and photographs of field sites.
Supplemental Material: Testing petrogenetic models for contemporaneous mafic and felsic to intermediate magmatism within the “Newer Granite” suite of the Scottish and Irish Caledonides
Authors: Archibald Donnelly B. , al. et
Published: February 2022

A: U-Pb geochronological data; B: Lithogeochemical data; C: Nd and Sr isotopic data; and D: Data sources used in the compilation of U-Pb, lithogeochemical, and Nd-Sr data
The effects of pain induced by blood flow occlusion in one leg on exercise tolerance and corticospinal excitability and inhibition of the contralateral leg in males
Authors: Azevedo Rafael A. , Jazayeri Delbar , Yeung Samuel T. , Khoshreza Rojan , Millet Guillaume Y. , Murias Juan M. , Aboodarda Saied J.
Published: February 2022

Experiencing pain in one leg can alter exercise tolerance and neuromuscular fatigue (NMF) responses in the contralateral leg; however, the corticospinal modulations to nonlocal experimental pain induced by blood flow occlusion remain unknown. In three randomized visits, 13 male participants performed 25% of isometric maximal voluntary contraction (25%IMVC) to task failure with one leg preceded by (i) 6-min rest (CON), (ii) cycling at 80% of peak power output until task failure with the contralateral leg (CYCL), or (iii) CYCL followed by blood flow occlusion (OCCL) during 25%IMVC. NMF assessments (IMVC, voluntary activation [VA], and potentiated twitch [Qtw]) were performed at baseline and task failure. During the 25%IMVC, transcranial magnetic stimulations were performed to obtain motor-evoked potential (MEP), silent period (SP), and short intracortical inhibition (SICI). 25%IMVC was the shortest in OCCL (105 ± 50s) and shorter in CYCL (154 ± 68 s) than CON (219 ± 105 s) ( p < 0.05). IMVC declined less after OCCL (–24 ± 19%) and CYCL (–27 ± 18%), then CON (–35 ± 11%) ( p < 0.05). Qtw declined less in OCCL (–40 ± 25%) compared to CYCL (–50 ± 22%) and CON (–50 ± 21%) ( p < 0.05). VA was similar amongst conditions. MEP and SP increased and SICI decreased throughout the task, while SP was longer for OCCL compared to CYC condition ( p < 0.05). The results suggest that pain in one leg diminishes contralateral limb exercise tolerance and NMF development and modulate corticospinal inhibition in males.

Novelty: Pain in one leg diminished MVC and twitch force decline in the contralateral limb. Experimental pain induced by blood flow occlusion may modulation corticospinal inhibition of the neural circuitries innervating the contralateral exercise limb.
Model for predicting evolution of microstructural void ratio in compacted clayey soils
Authors: Yin Penghai , Vanapalli Sai K.
Published: February 2022

The hydromechanical behavior of compacted clayey soils is significantly influenced by its microstructure. The microstructural void ratio is a key parameter that is strongly associated with the microstructural state. The objective of this study is to provide a practical and reliable estimation approach for predicting the evolution of the microstructural void ratio of compacted clay soils subjected to wetting and drying paths. In this paper, the microstructural evolution of 12 clayey soils was investigated quantitatively using the mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) results. Based on this study, a comprehensive criterion has been developed for identifying different pore populations of compacted clayey soils for interpreting the MIP results. The “as-compacted state line” was proposed to estimate the initial microstructural void ratio of clayey soils at the as-compacted state. An incremental linear constitutive model was proposed for correlating the microstructural void ratio to the “microstructural average skeleton stress” in compacted clayey soils following monotonic wetting and drying paths. The developed approach is validated by providing comparisons between the predicted and interpreted microstructural void ratios for all the examined soils. The proposed approach can be extended in constitutive modeling of the hydromechanical behavior of compacted clayey soils by incorporating explicitly the microstructural information.
Theoretical and experimental investigations of anchoring force loss behavior for prestressed ground anchors
Authors: Zhu Shimin , Chen Changfu , Zhang Genbao , Du Cheng
Published: February 2022

Anchoring force loss is critically concerned for the in-service performance of prestressed ground anchors. This time-dependent loss of pretension exerted at the anchor head is caused primarily by stress relaxation, which integrally manifests the rheological properties of the anchor and the geomaterial in which the anchor is embedded. A load-transfer modeling framework was established to derive the time-dependent anchoring force response. The modeling parameters were directly calibrated via element-scale pullout stress relaxation test using a specially developed setup. The applicability and effectiveness of this analytical modeling framework were verified via large-scale laboratory model tests and in situ tests of prestressed anchors. The predictions derived using the presented modeling framework were in good agreement with measurements in both laboratory model tests and in situ tests, particularly for evolutions of anchoring force over time. Sensitivity evaluation of the model parameters was performed to study their respective impact on the anchoring force loss response. This work can provide insights into the understanding of the anchoring force loss behavior of prestressed ground anchors and facilitate their design practice for in-service performance.
Conservation assessment of a range-edge population ofTrichophorum planifolium(Cyperaceae) reveals range-wide inbreeding and locally divergent environmental conditions
Authors: Nowell Victoria J. , Wang Song , Smith Tyler W.
Published: February 2022

Peripheral populations hold special conservation significance as repositories of genetic diversity, while they may also be at increased risk of extirpation. We collected genetic, ecological, and distributional data to evaluate an endangered range-edge population of Trichophorum planifolium (Sprengel) Palla. Our data show that, range-wide, T. planifolium has remarkably low within-population diversity, and most populations are dominated by a small number of unique genotypes. However, the extremely low observed and expected heterozygosity we document is comparable to results from other woodland sedges. The life history of this species results in high levels of inbreeding. The low diversity of the single remaining Canadian population is therefore not unusual for this species and does not support suggestions that this population suffers from elevated inbreeding depression. However, it is geographically isolated, and its soil environment is unusual for the species. These conditions may have facilitated local adaptation of conservation value for the long-term persistence of this species. In addition, we identified populations within the core range of this species that are comparably isolated to the peripheral population or that demonstrate greater genetic divergence. Consequently, while distinctions between core and peripheral populations are important for conservation management, understanding variation across the range of a species is key to effective protection.
Gravitational decoupling, hairy black holes and conformal anomalies
Authors: Meert Pedro , da Rocha Roldao
Published: February 2022

Hairy black holes in the gravitational decoupling setup are studied from the perspective of conformal anomalies. Fluctuations of decoupled sources can be computed by measuring the way the trace anomaly-to-holographic Weyl anomaly ratio differs from the unit. Therefore the gravitational decoupling parameter governing three hairy black hole metrics is then bounded to a range wherein one can reliably emulate AdS/CFT with gravitational decoupled solutions, in the tensor vacuum regime.
An Empirical Study on Higher-Order Mutation-Based Fault Localization
Authors: Wang Haifeng , Li Zheng , Liu Yong , Chen Xiang
Published: February 2022

Fault localization is one of the most expensive activities in software debugging. Mutation-based fault localization (MBFL) is a commonly studied technique that applied mutation analysis to find the location of faults in the programs. Previous studies showed that MBFL adopted First-Order-Mutants (FOMs) that could achieve promising results in single-fault localization, but it did not perform well in multiple-fault localization. Recently, Higher-Order-Mutants (HOMs) were proposed for modeling complex faults but whether HOMs can help in fault localization is still unknown. In this paper, we investigate the performance of MBFL with FOMs and HOMs on single- and multiple-fault localization. Moreover, to study the characteristics of HOMs, we divide HOMs into three groups (i.e. Accurate HOMs, Partially accurate HOMs, and Inaccurate HOMs) by considering different mutation locations. Based on the empirical results on 186 versions of six real-world programs, we find that (1) In single-fault localization, FOMs can achieve better performance than HOMs. (2) However, in multiple-fault localization, HOMs (2-HOMs) localize more faults than FOMs. (3) Furthermore, different types of HOMs have different fault localization effectiveness, where Accurate HOMs outperform the other two HOMs categories. Therefore, the researchers should propose methods to find HOMs more useful for fault localization.
Research on Application of Graph Neural Network in Water Quality Prediction
Authors: Li Lan , Lv Nanbin , Li Wenjing
Published: February 2022

By using of Gated Recurrent Unit and Graph Convolution network model, this work, based on remote sensing water quality measurement data, forecast the water quality which observed by the index of the chlorophyll A value and total nitrogen at the chosen observation points. The data is decomposed and reconstructed in time series in the light of the spatio-temporal correlation. The dependence of the processed sample is obviously decreased. The prediction results reflect the temporal and spatial changes of water quality data, and have faster processing speed and stronger computing power than other models.
TRADING MULTIPLE MEAN REVERSION
Authors: BOGUSLAVSKAYA ELENA , BOGUSLAVSKY MICHAEL , MURAVEY DMITRY
Published: February 2022

How should one construct a portfolio from multiple mean-reverting assets? Should one add an asset to a portfolio even if the asset has zero mean reversion? We consider a position management problem for an agent trading multiple mean-reverting assets. We solve an optimal control problem for an agent with power utility, and present an explicit solution for several important special cases and a semi-explicit solution for the general case. The near-explicit nature of the solution allows us to study the effects of parameter misspecification, and derive a number of properties of the optimal solution.
Are They Learning or Playing? Moderator Conditions of Gamification’s Success in Programming Classrooms
Authors: Rodrigues Luiz , Pereira Filipe , Toda Armando , Palomino Paula , Oliveira Wilk , Pessoa Marcela , Carvalho Leandro , Oliveira David , Oliveira Elaine , Cristea Alexandra , Isotani Seiji
Published: February 2022

Students face several difficulties in introductory programming courses (CS1), often leading to high dropout rates, student demotivation, and lack of interest. The literature has indicated that the adequate use of gamification might improve learning in several domains, including CS1. However, the understanding of which (and how) factors influence gamification’s success, especially for CS1 education, is lacking. Thus, there is a clear need to shed light on pre-determinants of gamification’s impact. To tackle this gap, we investigate how user and contextual factors influence gamification’s effect on CS1 students through a quasi-experimental retrospective study (\( N = 399 \)), based on a between-subject design (conditions: gamified or non-gamified) in terms of final grade (academic achievement) and the number of programming assignments completed in an educational system (i.e., how much they practiced). Then, we evaluate whether and how user and contextual characteristics (e.g., age, gender, major, programming experience, working situation, internet access, and computer access/sharing) moderate that effect. Our findings indicate that gamification amplified to some extent the impact of practicing. Overall, students practicing in the gamified version presented higher academic achievement than those practicing the same amount in the non-gamified version. Intriguingly, those in the gamified version that practiced much more extensively than the average showed lower academic achievements than those who practiced comparable amounts in the non-gamified version. Furthermore, our results reveal gender as the only statistically significant moderator of gamification’s effect: in our data, it was positive for females but non-significant for males. These findings suggest which (and how) personal and contextual factors moderate gamification’s effects, indicate the need to further understand and examine context’s role, and show that gamification must be cautiously designed to prevent students from playing instead of learning.
Leveraging State Sparsity for More Efficient Quantum Simulations
Authors: Jaques Samuel , Häner Thomas
Published: February 2022

High-performance techniques to simulate quantum programs on classical hardware rely on exponentially large vectors to represent quantum states. When simulating quantum algorithms, the quantum states that occur are often sparse due to special structure in the algorithm or even in the underlying problem. We thus introduce a new simulation method that exploits this sparsity to reduce memory usage and simulation runtime. Moreover, our prototype implementation includes optimizations such as gate (re)scheduling, which amortizes data structure accesses and reduces memory usage. To benchmark our implementation, we run quantum algorithms for factoring, for computing integer and elliptic curve discrete logarithms, and for chemistry. Our simulator successfully runs a factoring instance of a 20-bit number using 102 qubits, and elliptic curve discrete logarithm over a 10-bit curve with 110 qubits. While previous work needed a supercomputer to simulate such instances of factoring, our approach succeeds in less than four minutes using a single core and less than 100 MB of memory. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to fully simulate a quantum algorithm to compute elliptic curve discrete logarithms.
Examining the What, Why, and How of Multilingual Student Identity Development in Computer Science
Authors: Jacob Sharin Rawhiya , Montoya Jonathan , Nguyen Ha , Richardson Debra , Warschauer Mark
Published: February 2022

Developing student interest is critical to supporting student learning in computer science. Research indicates that student interest is a key predictor of persistence and achievement. While there is a growing body of work on developing computing identities for diverse students, little research focuses on early exposure to develop multilingual students’ interest in computing. These students represent one of the fastest growing populations in the US, yet they are dramatically underrepresented in computer science education. This study examines identity development of upper elementary multilingual students as they engage in a year-long computational thinking curriculum, and follows their engagement across multiple settings (i.e., school, club, home, community). Findings from pre- and post-surveys of identity showed significant differences favoring students’ experiences with computer science, their perceptions of computer science, their perceptions of themselves as computer scientists, and their family support for computer science. Findings from follow-up interviews and prior research suggest that tailored instruction provides opportunities for connections to out-of-school learning environments with friends and family that may shift students’ perceptions of their abilities to pursue computer science and persist when encountering challenges.
“It Was Really All About Books:” Speech-like Techno-Masculinity in the Rhetoric of Dot-Com Era Web Design Books
Authors: Goree Samuel , Crandall David , Su Norman Makoto
Published: February 2022

The future of Human-computer interaction (HCI) communication requires researchers to develop a strong understanding of the factors that influence design practitioners. As a step towards building that understanding, based on interviews conducted with veteran web designers, we analyze a corpus of popular web design books published during and shortly after the dot-com boom. Using a combination of ethnographic methods and discourse analysis, we identify the rhetorical strategies in these books and why they were successful in shaping our participants’ ideas about web design. We find that the books exhibit a particular style of technical writing defined by a
speech-like techno-masculinity
. Despite their short shelf-lives, the books and their writing style contributed to the disciplinary identity of web design which exists today. Studying the history of best practice books is an important opportunity to reflect on the genre of best practices in design, and how we should frame them in the future.
Adaptive Assessment and Content Recommendation in Online Programming Courses: On the Use of Elo-rating
Authors: Vesin Boban , Mangaroska Katerina , Akhuseyinoglu Kamil , Giannakos Michail
Published: February 2022

Online learning systems should support students preparedness for professional practice by equipping them with the necessary skills while keeping them engaged and active. In that regard, the development of online learning systems that support students’ development and engagement with programming is a challenging process. Early career computer science professionals are required not only to understand and master numerous programming concepts but also to efficiently learn how to apply them in different contexts. A prerequisite for an effective and engaging learning process is the existence of adaptive and flexible learning environments that are beneficial for both students and teachers. Students can benefit from personalized content adapted to their individual goals, knowledge, and needs; while teachers can be relieved from the pressure to uniformly and promptly evaluate hundreds of student assignments. This study proposes and puts into practice a method for evaluating learning content difficulty and students’ knowledge proficiency utilizing a modified Elo-rating method. The proposed method effectively pairs learning content difficulty with students’ proficiency, and creates personalized recommendations based on the generated ratings. The method was implemented in a programming tutoring system and tested with interactive learning content for object oriented-programming. By collecting quantitative and qualitative data from students who used the system for one semester, the findings reveal that the proposed method can generate recommendations that are relevant to students and has the potential to assist teachers in grading students by providing a more holistic understanding of their progress over time.
Evaluating Engagement in Technology-Supported Social Interaction by People Living with Dementia in Residential Care
Authors: Muñoz Diego , Pedell Sonja , Sterling Leon
Published: February 2022

Technologies can support the well-being of people living with dementia in residential care by fostering meaningful interactions through multimodal and playful features. This article presents the evaluation of A Better Visit, an app that aims at engaging residents and visitors in shared activities. We define engagement in terms of dyadic interactions with the interface of the device, and interactions within the social context of the care home. We generated two Motivational Models that describe different perspectives of how people engaged with the system: the first was built with the design team, and the second was built using the first Motivational Model as a sensitising concept for the analysis of data from four care homes that used the app for periods of three months. Our findings show that the facilitation of activities plays a relevant role for engaging in social interaction. We discuss how technologies can contribute to engaging people living with dementia in social interaction: firstly, facilitation can be understood as a concept that is supported by people and technology. Secondly, we discuss the influence of the social context of the setting and the understandings of the individual in how people assess the engagement of the residents in social interaction.
Customizable Tabular Access to Web Data Records for Convenient Low-vision Screen Magnifier Interaction
Authors: Lee Hae-Na , Ashok Vikas
Published: February 2022

To interact with webpages, people with low vision typically rely on screen magnifier assistive technology that enlarges screen content and also enables them to
pan
the content to view the different portions of a webpage. This back-and-forth panning between different webpage portions makes it especially inconvenient and arduous for screen magnifier users to interact with web data records (e.g., list of flights, products, job advertisements), as this interaction typically involves making frequent comparisons between the data records based on their attributes, e.g., comparing available flights in a travel website based on their prices, durations. To address this issue, we present TableView+, an enhanced version of our previous TableView prototype—a browser extension that leverages a state-of-the-art data extraction method to automatically identify and extract information in web data records, and subsequently presents the information to a screen magnifier user in a compactly arranged data table to facilitate easier comparisons between records. TableView+ introduces new features aimed mostly at addressing the critical shortcomings of TableView, most notably the absence of interface customization options. In this regard, TableView+ enables low-vision users to customize the appearance of the data table based on their individual needs and eye conditions. TableView+ also saves these customizations to automatically apply them to the best extent possible the next time the users interact with the data records on either the same or other similar websites. A user study with 25 low-vision participants showed that with TableView+, the panning time
further
decreased by 8.5% on unfamiliar websites and by 8.02% on a familiar website than with TableView when compared to a screen magnifier.