bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Some new post‐quantum integral inequalities involving multi‐parameter and their applications
Authors: Raees Muhammad , Kashuri Artion , Awan Muhammad Uzair , Anwar Matloob
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we establish a generic identity for (p, q)‐differentiable functions involving multi‐parameter. Using this identity as an auxiliary result, we derive some new post‐quantum fundamental integral inequalities, including Simpson‐type and Hermite–Hadamard‐type pertaining n‐polynomial convex functions. Also, by considering the boundedness and the Lipschitz condition of (p, q)‐differentiable functions further results are given. Finally, in order to show the significance of our results, we present two illustrative examples and some applications to special means for different positive real numbers.
Design and evaluation of a modular multimodality imaging phantom to simulate heterogeneous uptake and enhancement patterns for radiomic quantification in hybrid imaging: A feasibility study
Authors: Kalisvaart Gijsbert M. , van Velden Floris H.P. , Hernández‐Girón Irene , Meijer Karin M. , Ghesquiere‐Dierickx Laura M.H. , Brink Wyger M. , Webb Andrew , de Geus‐Oei Lioe‐Fee , Slump Cornelis H. , Kuznetsov Dimitri V. , Schaart Dennis R. , Grootjans Willem
Published: February 2022

Background

Accuracy and precision assessment in radiomic features is important for the determination of their potential to characterize cancer lesions. In this regard, simulation of different imaging conditions using specialized phantoms is increasingly being investigated. In this study, the design and evaluation of a modular multimodality imaging phantom to simulate heterogeneous uptake and enhancement patterns for radiomics quantification in hybrid imaging is presented.

Methods

A modular multimodality imaging phantom was constructed that could simulate different patterns of heterogeneous uptake and enhancement patterns in positron emission tomography (PET), single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The phantom was designed to be used as an insert in the standard NEMA‐NU2 IEC body phantom casing. The entire phantom insert is composed of three segments, each containing three separately fillable compartments. The fillable compartments between segments had different sizes in order to simulate heterogeneous patterns at different spatial scales. The compartments were separately filled with different ratios of 99mTc‐pertechnetate, 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG), iodine‐ and gadolinium‐based contrast agents for SPECT, PET, CT, and T1‐weighted MR imaging respectively. Image acquisition was performed using standard oncological protocols on all modalities and repeated five times for repeatability assessment. A total of 93 radiomic features were calculated. Variability was assessed by determining the coefficient of quartile variation (CQV) of the features. Comparison of feature repeatability at different modalities and spatial scales was performed using Kruskal‐Wallis‐, Mann‐Whitney U‐, one‐way ANOVA‐ and independent t‐tests.

Results

Heterogeneous uptake and enhancement could be simulated on all four imaging modalities. Radiomic features in SPECT were significantly less stable than in all other modalities. Features in PET were significantly less stable than in MR and CT. A total of 20 features, particularly in the gray‐level co‐occurrence matrix (GLCM) and gray‐level run‐length matrix (GLRLM) class, were found to be relatively stable in all four modalities for all three spatial scales of heterogeneous patterns (with CQV < 10%).

Conclusion

The phantom was suitable for simulating heterogeneous uptake and enhancement patterns in [18F]FDG‐PET, 99mTc‐SPECT, CT, and T1‐weighted MR images. The results of this work indicate that the phantom might be useful for the further development and optimization of imaging protocols for radiomic quantification in hybrid imaging modalities.
Robust flat‐facet triangular shell finite element
Authors: Krysl Petr
Published: February 2022

A flat facet finite element with three nodes and six degrees of freedom per node for linear static and dynamic analysis of thick and thin shells is presented. The membrane response is modeled with constant strain triangles. The bending response treats the transverse shear with an improved version of the discrete‐shear‐gap technique. The main novelty of the present approach is the robust treatment of the drilling rotations: the element internally responds to five degrees of freedom per node, but externally it naturally possesses six degrees of freedom per node. The drilling degree of freedom is decoupled from the bending and twisting, and the undesirable user‐selectable arbitrary stabilization is avoided. The element is shown to be robust for extremely thin shells, and passes tests such as the Raasch hook problem. Performance is illustrated with static and dynamic examples including branched and folded shells.
Domestic resource mobilisation strategies of national non‐governmental organisations in Ghana
Authors: Kumi Emmanuel
Published: February 2022

National non‐governmental organisations (NNGOs) in Ghana are confronted with declining external donor funding, arising in part from the country's graduation to a lower–middle‐income status, but also more complex changes in donor funding modalities. This presents incentives the for mobilisation of alternative domestic resources to ensure organisational sustainability. Drawing on 62 qualitative interviews with NNGOs' leaders, donor representatives and key informants, this article presents findings on how NNGOs in Ghana are responding to this challenge. Using Edwards' idea of funding ecosystem, this article finds that NNGOs mobilised five main domestic resources: (a) volunteer support; (b) individual donations; (c) commercial activities; (d) corporate philanthropy and (e) government funding. The findings shed useful insights on the applicability of democratic, commercial and institutional elements of the funding ecosystem in contexts experiencing aid reduction and donor exit. This article concludes that while external donor funding is an immediate threat to civil society space in Ghana, social innovations in domestic resources in response to it offer limited potentials for NNGOs' financial sustainability due to capacity challenges and the absence of an enabling environment that promote domestic philanthropy. Implications of the research findings for NNGOs' sustainability and domestic philanthropy are discussed.
Annealing induced high‐impact toughness of injection molded isotactic polypropylene filled with liquid‐phase exfoliated graphene
Authors: Liu Jingru , Yu Po
Published: February 2022

Favorable dispersibility of graphene (G) nanosheets in isotactic polypropylene (iPP) matrix is a keypoint that affects its toughening effect. In this work, a very low level of liquid‐phase exfoliated G was incorporated into iPP, and the iPP/G composite samples were further annealed at moderate temperature (120–140°C) for 3 h. It was found that liquid‐phase exfoliated G exhibits favorable dispersibility and efficient heterogeneous nucleation ability, significantly reducing the size of iPP spherulites. Characterization of the changes in microstructure of iPP and iPP/G composite upon annealing reveals that the presence of G promotes the perfection of crystalline structure and enhances dramatically the mobility of chain segments in the amorphous region of iPP during the annealing treatment. Moreover, the addition of this kind of well‐dispersed G may be favorable for the stabilization of β‐crystal during the injection molding process, and annealing at 120–140°C is also conducive to the formation of β‐crystal. A possible synergistic toughening mechanism of the incorporation of liquid‐phase exfoliated G and annealing treatment was put forward.
Cost‐effective, high‐throughput phenotyping system for 3D reconstruction of fruit form
Authors: Feldmann Mitchell J. , Tabb Amy
Published: February 2022

Reliable phenotyping methods that are simple to operate and inexpensive to deploy are critical for studying quantitative traits in plants. Traditional fruit shape phenotyping relies on human raters or 2D analyses to assess form, e.g., size and shape. Systems for 3D imaging using multi‐view stereo have been implemented, but frequently rely on commercial software and/or specialized hardware, which can lead to limitations in accessibility and scalability. We present a complete system constructed of consumer‐grade components for capturing, calibrating, and reconstructing the 3D form of small‐to‐moderate sized fruits and tubers. Data acquisition and image capture sessions are 9 seconds to capture 60 images. The initial prototype cost was $1600 USD. We measured accuracy by comparing reconstructed models of 3D printed ground truth objects to the original digital files of those same ground truth objects. The R2 between length of the primary, secondary, and tertiary axes, volume, and surface area of the ground‐truth object and the reconstructed models was >0.97 and root‐mean square error (RMSE) was < 3 mm for objects without locally concave regions. Measurements from 1 mm and 2 mm resolution reconstructions were consistent (R2 > 0.99). Qualitative assessments were performed on 48 fruit and tubers, including 18 strawberries, 12 potatoes, five grapes, seven peppers, and four Bosc and two red Anjou pears. Our proposed phenotyping system is fast, relatively low cost, and has demonstrated accuracy for certain shape classes, and could be used for the 3D analysis of fruit form.
Dynamic changes of ginsenosides in Panax quinquefolium fruit at different development stages measured using UHPLC‐Orbitrap MS
Authors: Jin Yinping , Hao Yan , Zhang Hao , Qu Zhengyi , Wang Yingping , Piao Xiangmin
Published: February 2022

Rationale

Some studies have shown that Panax quinquefolium fruit (PQF) could also be used as a potential medicinal resource. However, little is known about the composition of ginsenosides and their dynamic changes at different development stages of PQF. Therefore, this study is of great significance for the metabolomics and rational utilization of PQF.

Methods

The samples were analyzed using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography combined with an Orbitrap mass spectrometer (UHPLC‐Orbitrap MS), and the method of metabonomics was applied to profile the dynamic changes of ginsenosides in PQF at different development stages.

Results

A total of 109 ginsenosides were identified or tentatively characterized. Samples collected from different development stages were significantly discriminated according to ginsenoside contents. A total of 25 potential chemical markers enabling the differentiation were discovered.

Conclusions

For the first time, the study developed an UHPLC‐Orbitrap MS‐based approach to detect ginsenoside in PQF at different development stages using a non‐targeted mode. This comprehensive phytochemical profile study revealed the structural diversity and discrimination of ginsenosides in PQF at different development stages, which could provide the basis for the metabolomics and rational application of PQF.
An advanced automation platform coupled with mass spectrometry for investigating in vitro human skin permeation of UV filters and excipients in sunscreen products
Authors: Zhang Jinhui , Yang Yang , Ashraf Muhammad , Cruz Celia N. , Lee Sau , Faustino Patrick J.
Published: February 2022

Rationale

Systemic absorption of UV‐filtering chemicals following topical application of sunscreens may present a safety concern. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had recommended an in vitro skin permeation test (IVPT) to evaluate the potential of this safety risk for the evaluation of sunscreens prior to clinical studies. Therefore, a sensitive and robust bioanalytical method(s) were required for IVPT studies of different topical sunscreen products.

Methods

An analytical procedure to quantitate sunscreen UV‐filtering components and excipients in IVPT samples including avobenzone, octocrylene, oxybenzone, ecamsule, methylparaben and propylparaben was developed employing a RapidFire 360 robotic sample delivery system coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The analytical procedure was developed and validated according to the requirements of the FDA Bioanalytical Method Validation Guidance for Industry (2018).

Results

The analytical method provided a turnaround time of 12 seconds per sample and was determined to be accurate, precise, specific, and linear over the corresponding analytical ranges. The validated method was successfully applied for two IVPT studies for evaluating the skin permeation potential of UV‐filtering chemicals and assisting with the selection of the sunscreen products for the clinical study conducted by the FDA.

Conclusions

This work highlights the first analytical procedure that has applied a non‐chromatographic‐MS/MS automation platform to an in vitro biopharmaceutics study. The analytical platform simultaneously quantitated four UV filters and two excipients in complex media to evaluate their permeation in IVPT studies. The sample throughput and analytical performance of advanced automation platforms indicate their analytical procedure has the potential to significantly advance the efficiency of IVPT studies to evaluate permeation of a wide variety of UV chemical filters and excipients for topical OTC sunscreen products.
Assessing reproducibility of high‐throughput experiments in the case of missing data
Authors: Singh Roopali , Zhang Feipeng , Li Qunhua
Published: February 2022

High‐throughput experiments are an essential part of modern biological and biomedical research. The outcomes of high‐throughput biological experiments often have a lot of missing observations due to signals below detection levels. For example, most single‐cell RNA‐seq (scRNA‐seq) protocols experience high levels of dropout due to the small amount of starting material, leading to a majority of reported expression levels being zero. Though missing data contain information about reproducibility, they are often excluded in the reproducibility assessment, potentially generating misleading assessments. In this article, we develop a regression model to assess how the reproducibility of high‐throughput experiments is affected by the choices of operational factors (eg, platform or sequencing depth) when a large number of measurements are missing. Using a latent variable approach, we extend correspondence curve regression, a recently proposed method for assessing the effects of operational factors to reproducibility, to incorporate missing values. Using simulations, we show that our method is more accurate in detecting differences in reproducibility than existing measures of reproducibility. We illustrate the usefulness of our method using a single‐cell RNA‐seq dataset collected on HCT116 cells. We compare the reproducibility of different library preparation platforms and study the effect of sequencing depth on reproducibility, thereby determining the cost‐effective sequencing depth that is required to achieve sufficient reproducibility.
Integrative taxonomy of the model liverwort Riella helicophylla (Riellaceae, Sphaerocarpales) reveals its extreme rarity and an overlooked widespread new species, R. macrocarpa
Authors: Segarra‐Moragues José Gabriel , Puche Felisa , Sabovljević Marko S. , Infante Marta , Heras Patxi
Published: February 2022

Riella (Riellaceae) is a genus of rare, ephemeral, aquatic liverworts that includes some taxa specialized in growing submerged in brackish, seasonal water ponds and lagoons. One of these species, Riella helicophylla is the type of the genus. Apart from being of conservation concern, it has been used as a model organism for cytological and physiological processes. The species was described from Algeria in the mid‐nineteenth century and was not found elsewhere for almost a century, when it was discovered in central Spain. Nonetheless, those new populations were considered morphologically different and served to describe a new variety (var. macrocarpa), and a form (f. latealata) of the latter. The number of population records increased considerably in the following decades, especially in the late twentieth century; at the same time, it was discovered in several countries throughout the Mediterranean basin. Those reports, however, did not account for its infraspecific distinction. As part of a broader study of the genus, in this work, we have revisited the taxonomy of R. helicophylla based on an integrative approach considering morphological and molecular DNA sequence data. Our broadly sampled study revealed that R. helicophylla includes two morphotypes corresponding with the previously recognized varieties of this species. These varieties differ consistently in a number of morphological gametophytic and spore traits. Riella helicophylla was resolved as paraphyletic in phylogenies based on nuclear and plastid DNA sequences. The accessions clustered in two monophyletic clades in concert with morphology, supporting their recognition at the species level. Accordingly, a new combination is proposed, R. macrocarpa, which includes the neglected R. helicophylla var. macrocarpa and R. helicophylla var. macrocarpa f. latealata. Lectotypes are designated for the two latter taxa and for R. helicophylla. The two species are fully described and illustrated, and an updated identification key of the Mediterranean species is included. Updated information on the conservation status of both species is provided.
The momentum amplituhedron of SYM and ABJM from twistor-string maps
Authors: He Song , Kuo Chia-Kai , Zhang Yao-Qi
Published: February 2022

Abstract

We study remarkable connections between twistor-string formulas for tree amplitudes in $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 SYM and $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 6 ABJM, and the corresponding momentum amplituhedron in the kinematic space of D = 4 and D = 3, respectively. Based on the Veronese map to positive Grassmannians, we define a twistor-string map from G+(2, n) to a (2n−4)-dimensional subspace of the 4d kinematic space where the momentum amplituhedron of SYM lives. We provide strong evidence that the twistor-string map is a diffeomorphism from G+(2, n) to the interior of momentum amplituhedron; the canonical form of the latter, which is known to give tree amplitudes of SYM, can be obtained as pushforward of that of former. We then move to three dimensions: based on Veronese map to orthogonal positive Grassmannian, we propose a similar twistor-string map from the moduli space $$ {\mathrm{\mathcal{M}}}_{0,n}^{+} $$

ℳ

0
,
n

+

to a (n−3)-dimensional subspace of 3d kinematic space. The image gives a new positive geometry which conjecturally serves as the momentum amplituhedron for ABJM; its canonical form gives the tree amplitude with reduced supersymmetries in the theory. We also show how boundaries of compactified $$ {\mathrm{\mathcal{M}}}_{0,n}^{+} $$

ℳ

0
,
n

+

map to boundaries of momentum amplituhedra for SYM and ABJM corresponding to factorization channels of amplitudes, and in particular for ABJM case the map beautifully excludes all unwanted channels.
Endpoint Sobolev bounds for fractional Hardy–Littlewood maximal operators
Authors: Weigt Julian
Published: February 2022

Let $$0<\alpha <d$$

0
<
α
<
d

and $$1\le p<d/\alpha $$

1
≤
p
<
d
/
α

. We present a proof that for all $$f\in W^{1,p}({\mathbb {R}}^d)$$

f
∈

W

1
,
p

(

R

d

)

both the centered and the uncentered Hardy–Littlewood fractional maximal operator $${\mathrm {M}}_\alpha f$$

M
α

f

are weakly differentiable and $$ \Vert \nabla {\mathrm {M}}_\alpha f\Vert _{p^*} \le C_{d,\alpha ,p} \Vert \nabla f\Vert _p , $$

‖
∇

M
α

f
‖

p
∗

≤

C

d
,
α
,
p

‖
∇
f
‖

p

,

where $$ p^* = (p^{-1}-\alpha /d)^{-1} . $$

p
∗

=

(

p

-
1

-
α
/
d
)

-
1

.

In particular it covers the endpoint case $$p=1$$

p
=
1

for $$0<\alpha <1$$

0
<
α
<
1

where the bound was previously unknown. For $$p=1$$

p
=
1

we can replace $$W^{1,1}({\mathbb {R}}^d)$$

W

1
,
1

(

R

d

)

by $$\mathrm {BV}({\mathbb {R}}^d)$$

BV
(

R

d

)

. The ingredients used are a pointwise estimate for the gradient of the fractional maximal function, the layer cake formula, a Vitali type argument, a reduction from balls to dyadic cubes, the coarea formula, a relative isoperimetric inequality and an earlier established result for $$\alpha =0$$

α
=
0

in the dyadic setting. We use that for $$\alpha >0$$

α
>
0

the fractional maximal function does not use certain small balls. For $$\alpha =0$$

α
=
0

the proof collapses.
Physicochemical characterization of the recombinant lectin scytovirin and microbicidal activity of the SD1 domain produced in rice against HIV-1
Authors: Armario-Najera Victoria , Blanco-Perera Amaya , Shenoy Shilpa R. , Sun Yi , Marfil Silvia , Muñoz-Basagoiti Jordana , Perez-Zsolt Daniel , Blanco Julià , Izquierdo-Useros Nuria , Capell Teresa , O’Keefe Barry R. , Christou Paul
Published: February 2022

Key message

Rice-produced SD1 retains its physicochemical properties and provides efficient pre-exposure HIV-1 prophylaxis against infection in vitro.

Scytovirin (SVN) is an HIV-neutralizing lectin that features two structural domains (SD1 and SD2) that bind to HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins. We expressed SD1 in rice seeds as a potential large-scale production platform and confirmed that rice-derived SD1 binds the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 in vitro. We analyzed the thermodynamic properties of SD1 compared to full-size SVN (produced in E. coli) by isothermal titration and differential scanning calorimetry to characterize the specific interactions between SVN/SD1 and gp120 as well as to high-mannose oligosaccharides. SVN bound with moderate affinity (Kd = 1.5 µM) to recombinant gp120, with 2.5-fold weaker affinity to nonamannoside (Kd of 3.9 µM), and with tenfold weaker affinity to tetramannoside (13.8 µM). The melting temperature (Tm) of full-size SVN was 59.1 °C and the enthalpy of unfolding (ΔHunf) was 16.4 kcal/mol, but the Tm fell when SVN bound to nonamannoside (56.5 °C) and twice as much energy was required for unfolding (ΔHunf = 33.5 kcal/mol). Interestingly, binding to tetramannoside destabilized the structure of SD1 (ΔTm ~ 11.5 °C) and doubled the enthalpy of unfolding, suggesting a dimerization event. The similar melting phenomenon shared by SVN and SD1 in the presence of oligomannose confirmed their conserved oligosaccharide-binding mechanisms. SD1 expressed in transgenic rice was able to neutralize HIV-1 in vitro. SD1 expressed in rice, therefore, is suitable as a microbicide component.
DNA Methylation Alterations and Their Association with High Temperature Tolerance in Rice Anthesis
Authors: Li Bo , Cai Haiya , Liu Ke , An Bingzhuang , Wang Rong , Yang Fang , Zeng Changli , Jiao Chunhai , Xu Yanhao
Published: February 2022

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism involved in gene regulation under environmental stresses in plants. However, little information is available regarding its responses to high temperature (HT) and association with HT tolerance in rice. In this study, fourteen rice genotypes were classified into the susceptible, moderate, and tolerant groups by the high temperature susceptibility index (HTSI) after HT treatment. The changes of DNA methylation in rice anthesis under normal and HT30 conditions were investigated using methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism31 (MSAP). The MSAP results showed that the DNA methylation level significantly increased in the susceptible rice group and decreased in the tolerant rice group under HT treatment, while no significant difference was observed in the moderate rice group. More hypomethylation events were detected in the tolerant rice group, while more hypermethylation was detected in the susceptible rice group. Forty-four differentially methylated epiloci (DME) were generated under both control and HT conditions, which can clearly distinguish the susceptible, moderate, and tolerant genotypes via PCoA analysis. Approximately 43.18% of DMEs were determined to be tolerance-associated epiloci (TAEs). 63.15% TAEs were sequenced and annotated into 12 genes. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that 12 TAE genes were mainly upregulated in 14 rice genotypes, and their expression levels were related to the HT tolerance of rice. Here, DEGs, generated from a number of genotypes, indicate higher probabilities for association with stress tolerance. Overall, these results suggest that DNA methylation regulation might play a key role in adaptation to HT stress in rice.
Inverse deformation analysis: an experimental and numerical assessment using the FEniCS Project
Authors: Mazier Arnaud , Bilger Alexandre , Forte Antonio E. , Peterlik Igor , Hale Jack S. , Bordas Stéphane P. A.
Published: February 2022

In this paper we develop a framework for solving inverse deformation problems using the FEniCS Project finite-element software. We validate our approach with experimental imaging data acquired from a soft silicone beam under gravity. In contrast with inverse iterative algorithms that require multiple solutions of a standard elasticity problem, the proposed method can compute the undeformed configuration by solving only one modified elasticity problem. This modified problem has a complexity comparable to the standard one. The framework is implemented within an open-source pipeline enabling the direct and inverse deformation simulation directly from imaging data. We use the high-level unified form language (UFL) of the FEniCS Project to express the finite-element model in variational form and to automatically derive the consistent Jacobian. Consequently, the design of the pipeline is flexible: for example, it allows the modification of the constitutive models by changing a single line of code. We include a complete working example showing the inverse deformation of a beam deformed by gravity as supplementary material.
Digital templating cementless short stem total hip arthroplasty: is there a difference in planning adherence between the direct anterior approach and minimally invasive anterolateral approach?
Authors: Luger Matthias , Feldler Sandra , Schauer Bernhard , Hochgatterer Rainer , Gotterbarm Tobias , Klasan Antonio
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Minimally invasive approaches (MIS) in total hip arthroplasty (THA) show inconsistent findings regarding planning adherence in digital templating. The purpose of this study is to evaluate any difference in planning adherence between the direct anterior approach (DAA) and an anterolateral MIS approach (AL MIS) in cementless short stem THA.

Methods

A single surgeon series of 222 THAs in 208 patients with an uncemented short curved stem and a bi-hemispherical acetabular cup were screened for inclusion. A total of 118 THAs were implanted via the DAA and 72 THAs via the AL MIS were included. The planning adherence for the offset option, stem size and the acetabular cup were retrospectively evaluated.

Results

Planning adherence for cup size (perfect match: p = 0.763; ± 1 size: p = 0.124), offset option (0.125) and stem size (perfect match: p = 0.275; ± 1 size: p = 0.552) did not show any statistical significance. Preoperative diagnosis of avascular necrosis of the femoral head in AL MIS approach (OR 6.045; CI 1.153–31.696) or mild hip dysplasia in the general cohort poses (OR 11.789; CI 1.386–100.293) a significant risk for inadequate prediction of the offset option. Conclusion: digital templating for THA with an uncemented short curved stem and a bi-hemispherical acetabular cup show comparable results between a direct anterior approach and a minimally invasive anterolateral approach in supine position. Surgeons should be aware of a low planning adherence for this type of short stem in minimally invasive approaches.

Conclusion

Digital templating for THA with an uncemented short curved stem and a bi-hemispherical acetabular cup show comparable results between a direct anterior approach and a minimally invasive anterolateral approach in supine position. Surgeons should be aware of a low planning adherence for this type of short stem in minimally invasive approaches.
Length is not all that matters: testing the role of number identity and the ratio of fillers in comparisons of multi-digits with different digit length
Authors: García-Orza Javier , Gutiérrez-Cordero Ismael , Larios Carlos , Csilinkó Anikó , Álvarez-Montesinos Juan Antonio
Published: February 2022

Research in multi-digit number comparison usually considers stimuli with the same number of digits (e.g., 3452 vs. 7831). Surprisingly, there is almost no research on the comparison of numbers that differ in length (e.g., 995 vs. 1000), which demands a focus on the number of digits in each multi-digit, despite the fact that the role of number length has been explicitly acknowledged in componential models of multi-digit processing. Our study explores whether the comparison of pairs of natural numbers that differ in length is affected by the identity of the leftmost digit of each multi-digit, and asks what is the effect of having variable proportions of trials with pairs of numbers of the same-length in the task. Across three studies participants compared numbers in blocks with different proportions of same-length multi-digit pairs (Experiment 1 and 2: 25% vs. 50% vs. 75%; Experiment 3: 0% vs. 50%). Stimuli in the different-length condition were length-digit congruent (the number with more digits starting with a larger digit: 2384 vs. 107) or length-digit incongruent (the number with more digits starting with a smaller number: 2675 vs. 398). Response times were shorter in length-digit congruent pairs than in the incongruent pairs. Unexpectedly, this effect was only slightly modulated by the proportion of same-/different-length multi-digit pairs in the experimental set. Despite its perceptual saliency, length is not the only information considered when comparing different-length numbers. The leftmost-digit is also taken into account, with variable relevance here, depending on the characteristics of the stimuli set.
Finite free convolutions of polynomials
Authors: Marcus Adam W. , Spielman Daniel A. , Srivastava Nikhil
Published: February 2022

We study three convolutions of polynomials in the context of free probability theory. We prove that these convolutions can be written as the expected characteristic polynomials of sums and products of unitarily invariant random matrices. The symmetric additive and multiplicative convolutions were introduced by Walsh and Szegö in different contexts, and have been studied for a century. The asymmetric additive convolution, and the connection of all of them with random matrices, is new. By developing the analogy with free probability, we prove that these convolutions produce real rooted polynomials and provide strong bounds on the locations of the roots of these polynomials.
Hemorrhagic cystitis in allogeneic stem cell transplantation: a role for age and prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: Galli Eugenio , Sorà Federica , Di Gianfrancesco Luca , Giammarco Sabrina , Metafuni Elisabetta , Limongiello Maria Assunta , Innocenti Idanna , Autore Francesco , Laurenti Luca , Chiusolo Patrizia , Bacigalupo Andrea , Sica Simona
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is a frequent complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). HC worsens transplant outcomes and patient wellbeing in terms of pain, hospitalization, and need for supportive care. A deeper understanding of the risk factors of HC may lead to more intensive prevention in high-risk patients.

Methods

In this report, we analyzed 237 consecutive patients who received HSCT with the aim of identifying possible risk factors for HC and their consequences, with a particular focus on transplant- and gender-related risk factors.

Results

HC occurred in 17% of patients, with a higher incidence in males (21% vs 11%, p = 0.03). Risk factors identified for HC included age over 55 years, male recipient, HLA mismatch, reduced intensity conditioning, and cyclophosphamide-based graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Increased HC was seen in patients with grade II–IV acute GVHD and detectable BKV and JCV viruria. In a multivariate model, increased age remained significant (p = 0.013). Patients with HC had longer hospitalizations and increased non-relapse mortality (NRM). Among male recipients, independent risk factors for HC included age (p = 0.016) and prostate volume (p = 0.016). Prostatic hyperplasia (volume more than 40 cm3) occurred in 33% of male patients, of which 32% developed HC (compared with 16% of patients without prostatic hyperplasia; p = 0.032).

Conclusions

Age is the most important risk factor for HC. Additional potential risk factors include cyclophosphamide-based GVHD prophylaxis and HLA mismatch. Among male recipients, prostatic hyperplasia is an additional independent risk factor. As HC is common and associated with prolonged hospitalization, more intensive prophylactic strategies should be considered in high-risk patients.
Software test results exploration and visualization with continuous integration and nightly testing
Authors: Strandberg Per Erik , Afzal Wasif , Sundmark Daniel
Published: February 2022

Software testing is key for quality assurance of embedded systems. However, with increased development pace, the amount of test results data risks growing to a level where exploration and visualization of the results are unmanageable. This paper covers a tool, Tim, implemented at a company developing embedded systems, where software development occurs in parallel branches and nightly testing is partitioned over software branches, test systems and test cases. Tim aims to replace a previous solution with problems of scalability, requirements and technological flora. Tim was implemented with a reference group over several months. For validation, data were collected both from reference group meetings and logs from the usage of the tool. Data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The main contributions from the study include the implementation of eight views for test results exploration and visualization, the identification of four solutions patterns for these views (filtering, aggregation, previews and comparisons), as well as six challenges frequently discussed at reference group meetings (expectations, anomalies, navigation, integrations, hardware details and plots). Results are put in perspective with related work and future work is proposed, e.g., enhanced anomaly detection and integrations with more systems such as risk management, source code and requirements repositories.
Biosynthesis of butyrate from methanol and carbon monoxide by recombinant Acetobacterium woodii
Authors: Chowdhury Nilanjan Pal , Litty Dennis , Müller Volker
Published: February 2022

Methanol is one of the most widely produced organic substrates from syngas and can serve as a bio-feedstock to cultivate acetogenic bacteria which allows a major contribution to reducing greenhouse gas. Acetobacterium woodii is one of the very few acetogens that can utilize methanol to produce acetate as sole product. Since A. woodii is genetically tractable, it is an interesting candidate to introduce recombinant pathways for production of bio-commodities from methanol. In this study, we introduced the butyrate production operon from a related acetogen, Eubacterium callanderi KIST612, into A. woodii and show a stable production of butyrate from methanol. This study also reveals how butyrate production by recombinant A. woodii strains can be enhanced with addition of electrons in the form of carbon monoxide. Our results not only show a stable expression system of non-native enzymes in A. woodii but also increase in the product spectrum of A. woodii to compounds with higher economic value.
Barriers and facilitators of childhood flu vaccination: the views of parents in North East England
Authors: Price Timothy , McColl Elaine , Visram Shelina
Published: February 2022

Aim

The aim of this study was to complete a descriptive qualitative investigation of parents’ perceptions of the barriers and facilitators to flu vaccination for pre-school children.

Subject and method

Participants were recruited through various communication channels to maximize sample variation. Invitations to participate in the study were sent to members of the Newcastle University Parent Network and to parents who had participated in previous research conducted at Newcastle University. Twelve participants (six with vaccinated children, six whose children were not vaccinated) took part in a semi-structured interview via Zoom. Transcripts were coded using Nvivo 12 and data were thematically analyzed using the COM-B model of health behavior change.

Results

Participants whose children were not vaccinated against flu nonetheless generally held favourable views of vaccination and reported low concern about side-effects. Barriers involved a combination of internal and external factors, mainly a lack of convenient access to vaccination opportunities and flu vaccination being a low priority for busy parents.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that socioeconomic status, which is known to influence other vaccination behaviors, may influence uptake of the flu vaccine in this population. Inconvenient vaccination opportunities and a lack of awareness of the need to vaccinate are major barriers to uptake for some parents. The finding that belief that flu vaccination is a civic responsibility is a new contribution to the literature.
Impacts of Boundary-Layer Structure and Turbulence on the Variations of PM2.5 During Fog–Haze Episodes
Authors: Ju Tingting , Wu Bingui , Zhang Hongsheng , Wang Zhaoyu , Liu Jingle
Published: February 2022

The precise cause of PM2.5 (fine particular matter with a diameter smaller than 2.5 μm) explosive growth and the contribution of intermittent turbulence to the dispersion of PM2.5 are uncertain. Thus, the impact of boundary-layer structure and turbulence on the variations of surface PM2.5 during fog–haze episodes, especially during explosive growth and dispersion episodes, are investigated using turbulence data collected at a 255-m high meteorological tower in Tianjin from 2016 to 2018. Results suggest that the explosive growth of surface PM2.5 during fog–haze episodes is closely related to weak turbulent mixing, nocturnal inversions, or anomalous inversions, and the barrier effect of strong turbulent intermittency. Turbulent intermittency acts as a lid for hindering pollutant dispersion and is favourable for the fast accumulation of surface PM2.5. Apart from the potential causes mentioned above, the persistent moderate south-westerly flow is also a contributing factor for the explosive growth of surface PM2.5 during fog–haze episodes associated with regional transport. In addition, we demonstrate a possible mechanism of how intermittent turbulence affects the dispersion of PM2.5. Results verify that intermittent turbulence induced by the nocturnal low-level jet (LLJ) indeed plays an important role in the dispersion of PM2.5. However, the contribution of intermittent turbulence generated by the nocturnal LLJ to the dispersion of PM2.5 strongly relies on the intensity of the nocturnal LLJ.
Investigating sentence severity with judicial open data
Authors: Hartel Pieter , + Wegberg Rolf , van Staalduinen Mark
Published: February 2022

Open data promotes transparency and accountability as everyone can analyse it. Law enforcement and the judiciary are increasingly making data available, to increase trust and confidence in the criminal justice system. Due to privacy legislation, judicial open data — like court judgements — in Europe is usually anonymized. And even if the court judgement has been made public, the rest of the case file is usually not published. Therefore, the question arises to what extent criminological research into sentencing can make use of anonymized open data. We answer this question based on a case study in which we use the open data of the Dutch criminal justice system that is available on https://www.rechtspraak.nl/Uitspraken. Over the period 2015–2020, we analysed sentencing in 25,366 court judgements and investigated the relationship between sentence severity and the offender’s use of advanced Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The most important results are, firstly, that offenders who use advanced ICT are sentenced to longer custodial sentences compared to other offenders. Secondly, sentencing research with open data is found to be feasible.
Non-destructive Analysis of the Mechanical Properties of 3D-Printed Materials
Authors: Domingo-Roca R. , Asciak L. , Windmill J. F. C. , Mulvana H. , Jackson-Camargo J. C.
Published: February 2022

The determination of the mechanical properties of materials is predominantly undertaken using destructive approaches. Such approaches are based on well-established mathematical formulations where a physical property of the material is measured as a function of an input under controlled conditions provided by some machine, such as load–displacement curves in indentation tests and stress–strain plots in tensile testing. The main disadvantage of these methods is that they involve destruction of samples as they are usually tested to failure to determine the properties of interest. This means that large sample sizes are required to obtain statistical certainty, a condition that, depending on the material, may mean the process is both time consuming and expensive. In addition, for rapid prototyping and small-batch manufacturing of polymers, these techniques may be inappropriate either due to excessive cost or high polymer composition variability between batches. In this paper we discuss how the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory can be exploited for experimental, non-destructive assessment of the mechanical properties of three different 3D-printed materials: a plastic, an elastomer, and a hydrogel. We demonstrate applicability of the approach for materials, which vary by several orders of magnitude of Young’s moduli, by measuring the resonance frequencies of appended rectangular cantilevers using laser Doppler vibrometry. The results indicate that experimental determination of the resonance frequency can be used to accurately determine the exact elastic modulus of any given 3D-printed component. We compare the obtained results with those obtained by tensile testing for comparison and validation.
An enhancement method of waveform simulation in dual-color laser field imaging based on Internet of Things
Authors: Yin Jing , Xu Xiao-lin , Xiong Xiao-hua , Marszałek Zbigniew
Published: February 2022

In view of the fact that the existing methods are easy to be affected by nonlinear factors in the incident process of the light source, resulting in the received shock wave inconsistent with the reality and large calculation error, a two-color laser field imaging waveform simulation and enhancement method based on the Internet of things is proposed. According to the automatic transformation characteristics of augmented reality technology, the waveform simulation control process of two-color laser field imaging is constructed. The Gaussian distribution characteristics are used to analyze the target, the optical grid and double oscillation device are used to control the results, the spectrum Fourier transform is used to adjust the phase of the waveform, and finally the simulated modulated laser waveform is output. Through the comparison of laser waveform spectrum and peak value, the results show that this method is closest to the actual laser waveform, saves calculation time, and has good practical application effect.
Logical form and logical space in Wittgenstein’s Tractatus
Authors: Spinney Oliver Thomas
Published: February 2022

In this article I offer a novel explanation of Wittgenstein’s claim, in hisTractatus, that to represent the logical form of a proposition would require our being positioned outside of logic. The account here presented aims to exploit a connection, widely noticed, between the logical forms of objects and those of the propositions in which the names of those objects figure. I show that the logical forms of propositions may, on Wittgenstein’s view, be identified with places in logical space, and that places in logical space are reducible to the forms of both objects and their names. I argue, though, that according to Wittgenstein the representation of a proposition’s logical form would require the existence of a place in logical space not so reducible. I conclude that on Wittgenstein’s position, the attempt to represent logical forms cannot, therefore, succeed.
Estimating the Economic Effects of the Early Covid-19 Emergency Response in Cities Using Intracity Travel Intensity Data
Authors: Yang Lijiao , Wei Caiyun , Jiang Xinyu , Ye Qian , Tatano Hirokazu
Published: February 2022

In the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, China implemented the most stringent and serious emergency response. To understand the effect of such an emergency response strategy on the economic system, this study proposed a simultaneous overall estimation method using intracity travel intensity data. The overall effect is represented by the difference between intracity travel intensity with and without the emergency response. Using historical data and time series analysis, we compared intracity travel intensity post China’s implementation of the emergency response with predicted intracity travel intensity without such a response. The loss rates, defined by the proportion of intracity travel intensity loss, were calculated for 360 cities within 33 provincial-level regions in China based on data availability. We found that 30 days after the emergency response, 21% of the cities saw over 80% recovery and 10% of the cities showed more than 90% recovery; 45 days after the emergency response, more than 83% of the 360 cities witnessed 80% recovery. The correlation between gross domestic production loss rate and travel intensity loss rate was studied quantitatively to demonstrate the representativeness of the intracity travel intensity loss rate. This indicator was also used to analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of the effects on the economy. The results of this study can help us understand the economic effects caused by the early Covid-19 emergency response and the method can be a reference for fast and real-time economic loss estimation to support emergency response decision making under pandemic conditions.
Imaging of Endometriosis: The Role of Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance
Authors: Testini Valentina , Eusebi Laura , Grechi Gianluca , Bartelli Francesco , Guglielmi Giuseppe
Published: February 2022

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease characterized by the growth of functional ectopic endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus. It causes pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, or infertility. Diagnosis requires a combination of clinical history, non-invasive and invasive techniques. The aim of the present review was to evaluate the contribution of imaging techniques, mainly transvaginal sonography and magnetic resonance imaging to diagnose different locations and for the most appropriate treatment planning. Endometriosis requires a multidisciplinary teamwork to manage these patients clinically and surgically.