bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feeding the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus L.)—risks of commercial diets for wildlife
Authors: Gimmel Angela , Eulenberger Ulrike , Liesegang Annette
Published: July 2021

The supplemental feeding of wildlife is a worldwide phenomenon. The most widespread and socially accepted example is bird feeding. Commercial hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus L.) diets are readily available in Switzerland. To test the hypothesis that commercial hedgehog diets are nutritionally inadequate, the following parameters (as taken from the label) of five commercial diets (three dry and two wet) were compared to the natural diet of E. europaeus: List of feed materials, crude ash (CA), crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen‐free extracts (NfE). To test the second hypothesis, that feed labels of commercially available hedgehog diets in Switzerland are in accordance with Swiss and European law, the following parameters were assessed: Type of feed, net quantity, moisture content, instructions for proper use, list of the feed materials and claims. In all dry diets, the first ingredient was cereals (38.8%–50%), whereas in both wet diets, it was meat and meat by‐products (51% in one product). Only one product had a CP content comparable to that of the natural diet and four products had a higher NfE content. Overall, the wet products were more comparable to the natural diet, especially regarding CP and NfE content. Of the five examined diets, three were labelled as complete feeds and two as compound feeds. The label analysis revealed inaccuracies and possible misleading information on two products. In conclusion, the use of commercial dry hedgehog diets should be discouraged as they do not resemble the natural diet of E. europaeus and are likely nutritionally inadequate. The commercial wet hedgehog diets should only be used supplementary. The feed labels of commercially available hedgehog diets were not always in compliance with Swiss and European law. The public should be educated about feeding E. europaeus and the risks of commercial diets for wildlife.
Resource concealment and the evolution of parental care in burying beetles
Authors: Trumbo S. T. , Sikes D. S.
Published: July 2021

Comparative experimental study of species can provide insight into behavioral transitions in evolution. The insects offer many such examples for the analysis of parental care. We examined three distantly related species of Nicrophorus and two non‐Nicrophorus silphid beetles for their ability to conceal odors from a carcass that cue competitors that attempt to usurp the resource. We predicted that species with well‐developed parental care would exhibit a heightened ability to conceal a resource from competitors, even when differences in burying behavior and direct defense were experimentally eliminated. Carcasses were provided to male–female pairs in the laboratory for 3 days and then experimentally buried in the field, without parents, to assess discovery by Nicrophorus and vertebrate scavengers. The burying beetles Ni. orbicollis, Ni. sayi and Ni. pustulatus were far more successful in hiding a prepared resource (>76%) from free‐flying Nicrophorus than the less parental Ptomascopus morio or Necrophila americana (<25%). Carcasses provided to P. morio and Ne. americana were also more likely to be discovered by Nicrophorus than non‐prepared control carcasses, suggesting that microbially derived odor cues available to competitors were increased by non‐Nicrophorus interaction with carcasses. In the absence of burial, carcass preparation had no effect on vertebrate scavenging. We hypothesize that the evolution of burying and carcass modification to conceal a discovered resource from diverse competitors, more so than control of microbial decay, was a critical step in the evolutionary transition to monopolization of a small carcass, nesting and extended parental care in the Silphidae.
Text Readability and Processing Effort in Second Language Reading: A Computational and Eye‐Tracking Investigation
Authors: Nahatame Shingo
Published: July 2021

Although text readability has traditionally been measured based on simple linguistic features, recent studies have employed natural language processing techniques to develop new readability formulas that better represent theoretical accounts of reading processes. This study evaluated the construct validity of different readability formulas, including both traditional and newer formulas, by examining their ability to predict the processing effort involved during L2 reading as evidenced by eye movements. Two studies (an experimental study and a corpus‐based study) were conducted in which the readability of target texts was calculated using different formulas and then utilized to develop models that predict particular eye movement patterns during reading. These studies revealed that although traditional formulas showed reliable performance in predicting particular eye movement patterns, in many cases, the newer formulas outperformed them. These findings support the newer readability formulas as more theoretically valid and accurate measures of the processing effort involved in L2 reading.
Novel Word Learning Among Bilinguals Can Be Better Through the (Dominant) First Language Than Through the Second Language
Authors: Hirosh Zoya , Degani Tamar
Published: July 2021

When learning novel vocabulary in a third language (L3) through translations in the first language (L1), bilinguals may have more available cognitive resources and more accumulated experience in language regulation compared to when learning through translations in the second language (L2). In a study designed to test language of instruction (LOI) effects, 59 Hebrew–English bilinguals auditorily learned over two sessions 55 words in German, including three word types: cognates, overlapping in form and meaning between English and German; false cognates, overlapping in form but not meaning; and controls. Critically, half of the participants learned through their (dominant) L1 Hebrew, and half through their L2 English (which is also more similar to German). Results showed a significant LOI effect, with better learning through the (less similar) L1, especially for control items. Cognates were learned better in both LOIs, but false cognates were learned better relative to controls to a greater extent when the LOI was English. Together, results highlight the importance of LOI and item‐based language similarity during multilingual novel word‐learning.
Desirable Difficulties in Language Learning? How Talker Variability Impacts Artificial Grammar Learning
Authors: Bulgarelli Federica , Weiss Daniel J.
Published: July 2021

Contending with talker variability has been found to lead to processing costs but also benefits by focusing learners on invariant properties of the signal, indicating that talker variability acts as a desirable difficulty. That is, talker variability may lead to initial costs followed by long‐term benefits for retention and generalization. Adult participants learned an artificial grammar affording learning of multiple components in two experiments varying in difficulty. They learned from one, two, or eight talkers and were tested at three time points. The eight‐talker condition did not impact learning. The two‐talker condition negatively impacted some aspects of learning, but only under more difficult conditions. Generalization of the grammatical dependency was difficult. Thus, we discovered that high and limited talker variability can differentially impact artificial grammar learning. However, talker variability did not act as a desirable difficulty in the current paradigm as the few evidenced costs were not related to long‐term benefits.
Implicit Statistical Learning in Naturalistic and Instructed Morphosyntactic Attainment: An Aptitude‐Treatment Interaction Design
Authors: Bolibaugh Cylcia , Foster Pauline
Published: July 2021

We investigated the potential influence of implicit learning mechanisms on L2 morphosyntactic attainment by examining the relationship between age of onset (AoO), two cognitive abilities hypothesized to underlie implicit learning (phonological short‐term memory and implicit statistical learning), and performance on an auditory grammaticality judgment test (GJT). Participants were 71 Polish‐English long‐term bilinguals with a wide range of AoOs (1–35 years) who differed in their context of learning and use (immersed vs. instructed). In immersed learners, we observed a growing dissociation between performance on grammatical and ungrammatical sentences as AoO was delayed. This effect was attenuated in those with better phonological short‐term memory and statistical learning abilities and is consistent with a decline in the ability to learn from implicit negative evidence. In instructed learners, GJT performance was subject to additive effects of AoO and grammaticality and was not associated with either cognitive predictor, suggesting that implicit learning mechanisms were not involved.
Overexpressing the N‐terminus of CATALASE2 enhances plant jasmonic acid biosynthesis and resistance to necrotrophic pathogen Botrytis cinerea B05.10
Authors: Zhang Yu , Song Ru‐Feng , Yuan Hong‐Mei , Li Ting‐Ting , Wang Lin‐Feng , Lu Kai‐Kai , Guo Jia‐Xing , Liu Wen‐Cheng
Published: July 2021

Salicylic acid (SA) acts antagonistically to jasmonic acid (JA) in plant immunity. We previously reported that CATALASE2 (CAT2) promotes JA‐biosynthetic acyl‐CoA oxidase (ACX) activity to enhance plant resistance to necrotrophic Botrytis cinerea, and SA represses JA biosynthesis through inhibiting CAT2 activity, while the underlying mechanism remains to be further elucidated. Here, we report that the truncated CAT2 N‐terminus (CAT2‐N) interacts with and promotes ACX2/3, and CAT2‐N‐overexpressing plants have increased JA accumulation and enhanced resistance to B. cinerea B05.10, but compromised antagonism of SA on JA. Catalase inhibitor treatment or mutating CAT2 active amino acids abolished CAT2 H2O2‐decomposing activity but did not affect its promotion of ACX2/3 activity via interaction. CAT2‐N, a truncated protein with no catalase activity, interacted with and promoted ACX2/3. Overexpressing CAT2‐N in Arabidopsis plants resulted in increased ACX activity, higher JA accumulation, and stronger resistance to B. cinerea B05.10 infection. Additionally, SA dramatically repressed JA biosynthesis and resistance to B. cinerea in the wild type but not in the CAT2‐N‐overexpressing plants. Together, our study reveals that CAT2‐N can be utilized as an accelerator for JA biosynthesis during plant resistance to B. cinerea B05.10, and this truncated protein partly relieves SA repression of JA biosynthesis in plant defence responses.
Applying the Ottawa Charter to guide resilience‐building programs for health care organizations
Authors: Wu Chiung‐Jung (Jo) , Oprescu Florin I.
Published: July 2021

Resilience is situated at the core of the World Health Organization European policy framework for health and well‐being and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Resilience refers to how effectively a person, group, or system deals with and recovers from challenging situations. In this paper resilience refers to the capacity of a health care professional to manage complex issues and adapt to situations successfully. This brief paper provides explicit knowledge for strengthening personal resilience in health care using the Ottawa Charter framework as a guide. Developing a resilient health care workforce should address all five Ottawa Charter areas of action, should involve multiple stakeholders, and should incorporate resilience strategies into everyday health care activities. The paper presents recommendations for future programs designed to build a resilient workforce that can provide high quality care in a sustainable manner.
Maternal exposure to sulfur dioxide before and after conception and the risk of hypospadias in offspring
Authors: Zhang Shuang , Yue Dong‐Mei , Zhang Jia‐Yu , Huang Yan‐Hong , Li Jing , Liu Shu , Chen Yan‐Ling , Li Li‐Li , Jiang Cheng‐Zhi , Chen Zong‐Jiao , Zhao Yu‐Hong , Wu Qi‐Jun
Published: July 2021

As far as we know, there have been no studies exploring the association between maternal sulfur dioxide (SO2) exposure and the risk of hypospadias in offspring. We aimed to evaluate this association during the 3 months before conception and the first trimester. A population‐based case–control study was conducted in male infants, consisting of 348 cases of hypospadias and 4023 controls. Maternal exposure to SO2, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤10 μm (PM10), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was assessed by averaging the concentrations recorded at all stations in the mother's city of residence. Air pollutants were tested for multicollinearity using variance inflation factor analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by multivariable logistic regression models. SO2 exposure during the 3 months before conception was significantly associated with the risk of hypospadias (highest tertile: OR = 7.40, 95% CI: 3.54–15.62). When focusing on shorter exposure windows, similar associations were observed for SO2 exposure in the first and second month before and the first month after conception. In conclusion, maternal exposure to SO2 during the 3 months before and the first and second months after conception may increase the risk of hypospadias in offspring.
Dopamine modulations of reward‐driven music memory consolidation
Authors: Ferreri Laura , Mas‐Herrero Ernest , Cardona Gemma , Zatorre Robert J. , Antonijoan Rosa M. , Valle Marta , Riba Jordi , Ripollés Pablo , Rodriguez‐Fornells Antoni
Published: July 2021

Music listening provides one of the most significant abstract rewards for humans because hearing music activates the dopaminergic mesolimbic system. Given the strong link between reward, dopamine, and memory, we aimed here to investigate the hypothesis that dopamine‐dependent musical reward can drive memory improvements. Twenty‐nine healthy participants of both sexes provided reward ratings of unfamiliar musical excerpts that had to be remembered following a consolidation period under three separate conditions: after the ingestion of a dopaminergic antagonist, a dopaminergic precursor, or a placebo. Linear mixed modeling of the intervention data showed that the effect of reward on memory—i.e., the greater the reward experienced while listening to the musical excerpts, the better the memory recollection performance—was modulated by both dopaminergic signaling and individual differences in reward processing. Greater pleasure was consistently associated with better memory outcomes in participants with high sensitivity to musical reward, but this effect was lost when dopaminergic signaling was disrupted in participants with average or low musical hedonia. Our work highlights the flexibility of the human dopaminergic system, which can enhance memory formation not only through explicit and/or primary reinforcers but also via abstract and aesthetic rewards such as music.
To whom health care aides report: Effect on nursing home resident outcomes
Authors: Aloisio Laura D. , Varin Melissa Demery , Hoben Matthias , Baumbusch Jennifer , Estabrooks Carole A. , Cummings Greta G. , Squires Janet E.
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Health care aides (personal support workers and nursing assistants) provide ~80%–90% of direct care to residents in nursing homes; it is therefore important to understand whether supervision of health care aides affects quality of care. We sought to determine whether health care aide reporting practices are associated with resident outcomes in nursing homes.

Design and Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional secondary analysis of survey data of 3991 health care aides from 322 units in 89 nursing homes in Western Canada. We then linked resident data from the Resident Assessment Instrument‐Minimum Data Set (RAI‐MDS) 2.0 database to care aide surveys at the unit level. We used hierarchical mixed models to determine if the proportion of health care aides reporting to a respective nursing leader role was associated with 13 practice sensitive quality indicators of resident care.

Results

Most health care aides reported to a registered nurse (RN, 44.5%) or licenced practical nurse (LPN, 53.3%). Only 2.2% of health care aides reported to a care manager and were excluded from the analysis. Resident outcomes for only declining behavioural symptoms were more favourable when a higher proportion of health care aides (on a unit) reported to RNs, β = −0.004 (95% CI −0.006, −0.001, p = .004). The remaining indicators were not affected by care aide reporting practices.

Discussion and Implications

Resident outcomes as evaluated by the indicators appear largely unaffected by care aide reporting practices. LPNs’ increasing scope of practice and changing work roles and responsibilities in nursing homes across Western Canada may explain the findings.
Re‐transplantation in pediatric patients with failure of primary transplant due to recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis: A pediatric nephrology research consortium study
Authors: Maniar Aesha , Hooper David K. , Sethna Christine B. , Singer Pamela , Traum Avram , Benoit Elizabeth , Kotzen Elizabeth , Verghese Priya , Garro Rouba , Kamel Margaret , Ranch Daniel , Shih Weiwen , Jain Namrata G. , Al‐Akash Samhar
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Recurrent focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in kidney transplant recipients is associated with lower graft survival and increased morbidity. There are limited data to guide the decision to re‐transplant patients with transplant failure due to FSGS recurrence. We aimed to evaluate outcomes in patients re‐transplanted after having initial graft failure due to recurrent FSGS and to study physician attitudes and practice patterns.

Methods

Retrospective data from 10 centers were collected on 20 patients transplanted between January 1997 and September 2018. A survey was sent to nephrologist members of the Pediatric Nephrology Research Consortium.

Results

Mean patient age (years) was 9.8 ± 4.8 at first transplant and 15.9 ± 4.9 at re‐transplantation. Pre‐transplant plasmapheresis was used in 1 (5.3%) primary transplant vs. 7 (38.9%) re‐transplants (p = .03). Nephrotic syndrome recurred in 14 patients (70%) after re‐transplantation and was severe in 21.1% vs. 64.7% after first transplant (p = .04). Graft survival was significantly higher in the second transplant (p .009) with 70% having functioning grafts at a median of 25.2 months. Thirty‐one physicians from 21 centers completed the survey, 94% indicated they would re‐transplant such patients, 44.4% preferred a minimum waiting period before re‐transplantation, 36.4% preferred living donors, and 22.2% indicated having protocols for re‐transplantation at their centers.

Conclusions

Consideration for re‐transplantation is high among pediatric nephrologists. Pre‐transplant plasmapheresis was more frequent in re‐transplanted patients. Nephrotic syndrome recurrence was less severe, with better graft survival. More data and a larger population are necessary to further evaluate outcome determinants and best practices in this special population.
Trade liberalization, export quality, and three dimensions of wage inequality*
Authors: Ganguly Shrimoyee , Acharyya Rajat
Published: July 2021

In the context of quality content of export baskets becoming the most important determinant of export growth for developing countries, we show that reduction in tariff on final import goods asymmetrically affects the quality of skill‐based export goods that differ with respect to the relative skill intensity of their higher‐quality varieties. This offers a plausible explanation for asymmetric quality variations across product groups observed for Brazil and India since the 1980s. On the contrary, tariff‐reduction‐induced quality variations, regardless of their asymmetry, accentuate wage inequality in all dimensions by depressing the informal unskilled wage through displacement of unskilled workers from the formal sector and the consequent informalization of the economy. This suggests that tariff reductions accentuating wage inequality, as shown in the existing literature, may be underestimated if induced variations in the quality of export goods are unaccounted for. A quality‐content production subsidy or a subsidy targeting the use of skilled labor, given to producers of the export good whose quality is downgraded as a consequence of tariff reduction, can be used as a concurrent policy to mitigate such effect. The wage inequality will also decline to some extent following such subsidies. A proportional factor income tax may be a quality‐neutral way to finance the subsidies.
Identifying Citizens' Place Values for Integrated Planning of Road Infrastructure Projects
Authors: Hilbers Anne Marel , Sijtsma Frans J. , Busscher Tim , Arts Jos
Published: July 2021

Projects for road infrastructure and spatial development easily meet public resistance because of a lack of local knowledge of place values by (often non‐local) planners. The aim of this study is to explore how insights in place values might improve the local knowledge base for planners of integrated road infrastructure projects and spatial development. We developed, tested and analysed the results from a novel online value‐mapping tool called the ‘Place Value Identifier’. The developed method allows us to (i) relate to ‘soft’ valuable places identified by Public Participation GIS as a complement to ‘hard’ land use data, (ii) define Valued yet Unprotected places based on combining ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ values and (iii) illustrate how these insights can be used for integrated planning of road infrastructure projects. The findings of this study show the increased potential of value mapping techniques and illustrate possible resistance areas around road infrastructure planning projects. This knowledge may assist planners in creating and selecting acceptable project alternatives that may invoke high public acceptance.
Total‐evidence phylogeny of the coastalCafiuscomplex (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and its new generic concepts
Authors: Yoo In‐Seong , Song Jeong‐Hun , Ahn Kee‐Jeong
Published: July 2021

The marine littoral rove beetle genusCafiusStephens and related genera have been known to be an extraordinarily heterogeneous group and are taxonomically dispersed among several lineages of coastal Staphylininae. A phylogenetic analysis of thisCafiuscomplex is performed based on morphological and molecular characters in order to classify them into lower taxonomic categories and to establish a robust generic concept. The data set was comprised of 94 morphological characters for 50 species, and partialCOI,COII,12SrDNA,16SrDNA,AK,TPand nearly complete sequences of18SrDNA for 44 species. TheCafiuscomplex was strongly supported as a monophylum by all analyses. However, the genusCafiusand nearly all of its subgenera were not supported as being monophyletic. All analyses of combined data and concatenated molecular data showed the monophyly of four major clades nested insideCafius(A–D). Clade E was supported only by the Bayesian analysis of combined data. The genusPhucobiuswas recovered as a monophylum within theCafiuscomplex but nested in clade D in all analyses. The genusRemuswas not monophyletic but formed a clade including three otherCafiusspecies (clade E3) within theCafiuscomplex in all analyses. The genusThinocafiusformed a monophylum with three other New ZealandCafiusspecies (clade B) within theCafiuscomplex in all analyses except for morphological trees. Some criteria for generic concepts within theCafiuscomplex are discussed. A single monophyletic genus with three new generic synonyms, and 10 new combinations are proposed.
Seroprevalence of Flavivirus Neutralizing Antibodies in Thailand by High-Throughput Neutralization Assay: Endemic Circulation of Zika Virus before 2012
Authors: Yamanaka Atsushi , Matsuda Mami , Okabayashi Tamaki , Pitaksajjakul Pannamthip , Ramasoota Pongrama , Saito Kyoko , Fukasawa Masayoshi , Hanada Kentaro , Matsuura Tomokazu , Muramatsu Masamichi , Shioda Tatsuo , Suzuki Ryosuke
Published: July 2021

Neutralization tests are the most reliable assay for flavivirus antibody detection; however, these assays are not suitable for high-throughput processing due to their time-consuming and labor-intensive nature. In this study, we developed single-round infectious particles (SRIPs) with a luciferase gene for dengue virus types 1 to 4, Japanese encephalitis virus, and Zika virus for use in a safe, high-throughput neutralization assay.
Caerin 1.1 and 1.9 Peptides from Australian Tree Frog Inhibit Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Growth in a Murine Skin Infection Model
Authors: Chen Shu , Zhang Pingping , Xiao Liyin , Liu Ying , Wu Kuihai , Ni Guoying , Li Hejie , Wang Tianfang , Wu Xiaolian , Chen Guoqiang , Liu Xiaosong
Published: July 2021

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria cause severe problems in the clinic. We show in our paper that two short peptides isolated from an Australian frog and prepared in the form of a gel are able to inhibit the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in mice, and, unlike antibiotics, these peptides do not lead to the development of peptide-resistant bacteria strains.
Historical, contemporary, and future perspectives on a coupled social–ecological system in a changing world: Canada’s historic Rideau Canal
Authors: Bergman Jordanna N. , Beaudoin Christine , Mistry Isha , Turcotte Audrey , Vis Chantal , Minelga Valerie , Neigel Kate , Lin Hsien-Yung , Bennett Joseph R. , Young Nathan , Rennie Colin , Trottier Lindsay L. , Abrams Alice E.I. , Beaupre Patrick , Glassman Danny , Blouin-Demers Gabriel , Garant Dany , Donaldson Lisa , Vermaire Jesse C. , Smol John P. , Cooke Steven J.
Published: July 2021

Anthropogenic waterways and canal systems have been part of the cultural and natural landscape for thousands for years. As of the late 20th century, more than 63 000 km of canals exist worldwide as transport routes for navigation, many with barriers (e.g., locks, dams) that fragment the system and decrease connectivity. Fragmentation alone can have negative implications for freshwater biodiversity; by isolating populations and communities, other human-mediated disturbances associated with canals like poor water quality and invasive species can exacerbate these negative effects. As such, the capacity of these interconnected freshwater systems to support biodiversity is continuously degrading at a global level. One critical, highly complex issue that unites canals worldwide is the challenge of governing these systems in a holistic, unified way to both protect biodiversity and preserve historical elements. Managing historic canals involves multiple objectives across many agencies and stakeholders, often with different or conflicting objectives. Here, we use the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Historic Site of Canada, as a case study to demonstrate the importance of considering canals as social–ecological systems for effective and efficient governance. Historic canals are integrated systems of both humans (social) and the environment (ecological), linked by mutual feedbacks and coevolution, and must be managed as such to achieve conservation goals while maintaining commemorative integrity. We discuss the history of the Rideau Canal and its current governance, biodiversity in the waterway, different threats and issues (user conflicts, aquatic pollution, shoreline development, water management, species at risk, and invasive species), and conclude by outlining ways to address the challenges of managing it as a coupled social–ecological system. We present different research needs and opportunities that would enable better management, though above all, we propose a shift from the current governance structure — which at best can be considered “patchwork” — to a coordinated, multi-scalar and multi-stakeholder governance regime such that the Rideau Canal can be maintained for its historical integrity without compromising biodiversity conservation. Given that canals are now pervasive worldwide, this article is not only topical to the Rideau Canal, but also to other waterways in Canada and beyond.
Sublinear-Time Language Recognition and Decision by One-Dimensional Cellular Automata
Authors: Modanese Augusto
Published: July 2021

After an apparent hiatus of roughly 30 years, we revisit a seemingly neglected subject in the theory of (one-dimensional) cellular automata: sublinear-time computation. The model considered is that of ACAs, which are language acceptors whose acceptance condition depends on the states of all cells in the automaton. We prove a time hierarchy theorem for sublinear-time ACA classes, analyze their intersection with the regular languages, and, finally, establish strict inclusions in the parallel computation classes [Formula: see text] and (uniform) [Formula: see text]. As an addendum, we introduce and investigate the concept of a decider ACA (DACA) as a candidate for a decider counterpart to (acceptor) ACAs. We show the class of languages decidable in constant time by DACAs equals the locally testable languages, and we also determine [Formula: see text] as the (tight) time complexity threshold for DACAs up to which no advantage compared to constant time is possible.
A Comparison of Conventional and Tri-Polar EEG Electrodes for Decoding Real and Imaginary Finger Movements from One Hand
Authors: Alzahrani Saleh I. , Anderson Charles W.
Published: July 2021

The representations of different fingers in the sensorimotor cortex are largely overlapped, which necessitate a good signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and high spatial resolution to classify individual finger movements from one hand. Electroencephalography (EEG) recorded with disc electrodes has low SNR and poor spatial resolution. The surface Laplacian has been applied to EEG to improve the spatial resolution and selectivity of the surface electrical activity recording. Tri-polar concentric ring electrodes (TCREs) were shown to estimate the Laplacian automatically with better spatial resolution than disc electrodes. For this work, movement-related potentials (MRPs) were recorded from four TCREs and disc electrodes while 13 subjects performed real and imaginary finger movements. The MRP signals recorded with the TCREs have significantly less mutual information and coherence between neighboring locations compared to disc electrodes. The results also show that signals from TCREs generated higher accuracy compared to disc electrodes. It further shows that TCREs using temporal EEG data as features yield an average accuracy of [Formula: see text]% and [Formula: see text]% for real and imaginary finger movements, respectively, which is significantly higher than utilizing EEG spectral power changes in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] bands as features. Similarly, with the disc electrodes, it achieved highest accuracy of [Formula: see text]% and [Formula: see text]% for real and imaginary finger movements, respectively, with temporal EEG data feature.
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Traditional Chinese Medicine
Authors: Wang Yulin , Shi Xiuming , Li Li , Efferth Thomas , Shang Dong
Published: July 2021

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a well-established medical system with a long history. Currently, artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly expanding in many fields including TCM. AI will significantly improve the reliability and accuracy of diagnostics, thus increasing the use of effective therapeutic methods for patients. This systematic review provides an updated overview on the major breakthroughs in the field of AI-assisted TCM four diagnostic methods, syndrome differentiation, and treatment. AI-assisted TCM diagnosis is mainly based on digital data collected by modern electronic instruments, which makes TCM diagnosis more quantitative, objective, and standardized. As a result, the diagnosis decisions made by different TCM doctors exhibit more consistency, accuracy, and reliability. Meanwhile, the therapeutic efficacy of TCM can be evaluated objectively. Therefore, AI is promoting TCM from experience to evidence-based medicine, a genuine scientific revolution. Furthermore, huge and non-uniform knowledge on formula-syndrome relationships and the combination rules of herbal TCM formulae could be better standardized with the help of AI analysis, which is necessary for the clinical efficacy evaluation and further optimization on the standardized TCM formulae. AI bridges the gap between TCM and modern science and technology. AI may bring clinical TCM diagnostics closer to western medicine. With the help of AI, more scientific evidence about TCM will be discovered. It can be expected that more unified guidelines for specific TCM syndromes will be issued with the development of AI-assisted TCM therapies in the future.
Dragon’s Blood from Dracaena Worldwide: Species, Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhao Xiangsheng , Yao Ruyu , Li Chuangjun , Zhang Zhonglian , Xu Yanhong , Wei Jian-He
Published: July 2021

Dragon’s blood (DB) refers mainly to the crimson resin of many Dracaena spp. DB has been used by different traditional medicine systems worldwide, including Arabic medicine, African medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, Thai medicine, etc. DB are mainly used to heal wounds, kill pain, stop bleeding, and cure various diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery and ulcers for over 1000 years. 11 Dracaena spp. and 3 subspecies are reported to be able to produce red resin. However, the resources are extremely deficient. Several Dracaena spp. are in threatened status. Over 300 compounds have been isolated from Dracaena spp., mainly including flavonoids, steroids, and phenolics. DB exhibits anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antithrombotic, anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties, which explain its wound healing effects, preventive effects on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, dual-directional regulation of blood flow, neuroprotection and radioprotective effects. No apparent side effects or toxicity have been reported. DB are restricted from being exploited due to limited resources and unclear resin formation mechanism. It is necessary to expand the cultivation of Dracaena spp. and fully understand the mechanism underlying the resin formation process to develop an effective induction method for the sustainable utilization of DB.
GABA- and Glycine-Mimetic Responses of Linalool on the Substantia Gelatinosa of the Trigeminal Subnucleus Caudalis in Juvenile Mice: Pain Management through Linalool-Mediated Inhibitory Neurotransmission
Authors: Phuong Thao Nguyen Thi , Jang Seon Hui , Rijal Santosh , Jung Woo Kwon , Kim Junghyun , Park Soo Joung , Han Seong Kyu
Published: July 2021

Linalool, a major odorous constituent in essential oils extracted from lavender, is known to have a wide range of physiological effects on humans including pain management. The substantia gelatinosa (SG) of the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) is involved in transmission of orofacial nociceptive responses through thin myelinated A[Formula: see text] and unmyelinated C primary afferent fibers. Up to date, the orofacial antinociceptive mechanism of linalool concerning SG neurons of the Vc has not been completely clarified yet. To fill this knowledge gap, whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used in this study to examine how linalool acted on SG neurons of the Vc in mice. Under a high chloride pipette solution, non-desensitizing and repeatable linalool-induced inward currents were preserved in the presence of tetrodotoxin (a voltage-gated Na[Formula: see text]channel blocker), CNQX (a non-NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist), and DL-AP5 (an NMDA receptor antagonist). However, linalool-induced inward currents were partially suppressed by picrotoxin (a GABA[Formula: see text] receptor antagonist) or strychnine (a glycine receptor antagonist). These responses were almost blocked in the presence of picrotoxin and strychnine. It was also found that linalool exhibited potentiation with GABA- and glycine-induced responses. Taken together, these data show that linalool has GABA- and glycine-mimetic effects, suggesting that it can be a promising target molecule for orofacial pain management by activating inhibitory neurotransmission in the SG area of the Vc.
Matricaria chamomilla(Chamomile) Ameliorates Muscle Atrophy in Mice by Targeting Protein Catalytic Pathways, Myogenesis, and Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Authors: Park Sang Hee , Kim Dong Seon , Oh Jieun , Geum Jeong-Ho , Kim Jung-Eun , Choi Su-Young , Kim Ji Hye , Cho Jae Youl
Published: July 2021

Muscle atrophy, or loss of skeletal muscle, is caused by aging, malnutrition, immobility through injury, or diseases such as cancer. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) contains various active components, including flavonoids, sesquiterpenes, polyacetylenes, and coumarins, and is used in various herbal medicines in the European Pharmacopoeia. In this study, we investigated the effects of ethanol extract of chamomile [Formula: see text](MC) on muscle wasting and its mechanism of action. Mice with dexamethasone (DEX)-induced muscle atrophy were orally administered MC (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. Micro-computed tomography analysis showed that MC (200 and 300 mg/kg) significantly recovered DEX-induced loss of muscle volume, density, and weight and MC-treated DEX-induced mice also showed increased moving distance and grip strength. MC suppressed the mRNA level of muscle RING finger 1 (MuRF1) while increasing the expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), MyoD, and Myogenin-1. We found 25 peaks in MC samples through HPLC analysis and identified 6 peaks by comparison with a profile of standard compounds: chlorogenic acid (CGA), luteolin-7-O-glucoside (L7G), patulitrin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside (A7G), herniarin, and (E)-tonghaosu. Of these components, the gene expression of MyoD was significantly augmented by patulitrin, herniarin, CGA, and L7G in C2C12 cells, while Myogenin-1 gene expression was increased by A7G, patulitrin, herniarin, CGA, and L7G. Moreover, TFAM gene expression and phosphorylation of AKT were increased by all six ingredients. Based on our results, we suggest MC for use as a supplement or remedy for muscle wasting, including cachexia and sarcopenia.
Inhibitory Effect of Gallotannin on Lung Metastasis of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Cells by Inducing Apoptosis, Cell Cycle Arrest and Autophagy
Authors: Mun Jeong-Geon , Han Yo-Han , Jeon Hee-Dong , Yoon Dae Hwan , Lee Yeong Gyeong , Hong Seung-Heon , Kee Ji-Ye
Published: July 2021

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer death in the world, and metastatic CRC is a major cause of cancer death. Gallotannin (GT), a polyphenolic compound, has shown various biological effects such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antitumor effects. However, the effects of GT on metastatic CRC cells are not completely understood. This study aimed to investigate the anti-metastatic effect of GT and the underlying mechanisms on metastatic CRC cells. Oral administration of GT suppressed the lung metastasis of metastatic CRC cells in the experimental mouse model. GT decreased the viability of metastatic CRC cell lines, including CT26, HCT116, and SW620, by inducing apoptosis through the activation of extrinsic and intrinsic pathways, cell cycle arrest through inactivation of CDK2/cyclin A complex, and autophagic cell death through up-regulation of LC3B and p62 levels. GT regulated PI3K/AKT/mTOR and AMPK signaling pathways, which are critical for the development and maintenance of cancer. Additionally, non-cytotoxic concentrations of GT can suppress migration and invasion of CRC cells by inhibiting the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by downregulating the expression of mesenchymal markers including snail, twist, and vimentin. In conclusion, GT prevented colorectal lung metastasis by reducing survival and inhibiting the metastatic phenotypes of CRC cells.
Qubit masking in multipartite qubit system
Authors: Shang Wei-Min , Zhang Fu-Lin , Zhou Jie , Meng Hui-Xian , Chen Jing-Ling
Published: July 2021

The no-masking theories show that it is impossible to mask the set of all qubit states into the quantum correlation of bipartite qubit system or tripartite qubit system. In this paper, we give a new proof of the no-masking situation of the tripartite qubit system. Recent work has shown that there exists a universal masker which can mask an arbitrary set of qubit states in four-qubit systems perfectly by means of the maximum entangled states. Here we show that there exist more than one masking scheme even for the same multipartite qubit system. Basing on the maximum entangled states we give the deterministic masking scenario for N-qubit system. In practice, decoherence hinders us from obtaining the maximum entangled states. From this viewpoint, the masking scenario based on non-maximum entangled states becomes more universal. Furthermore, we provide an approximate quantum masking scenario and investigate the relation between approximate masking and quantum entanglement.
Inhibition Effect of Audio-Visual Semantic Interference in Chinese Interface: An ERP Study of Concrete Icons and Chinese Characters
Authors: Shao Junkai , Xue Chengqi
Published: July 2021

In this study, event-related potential (ERP) was used to examine whether the brain has an inhibition effect on the interference of audio-visual information in the Chinese interface. Concrete icons (flame and snowflake) or Chinese characters (暖 and 凉) with opposite semantics were used as target carriers, and colors (red and blue) and speeches (热 and 冷) were used as audio-visual intervention stimuli. In the experiment, target carrier and audio-visual intervention were presented in a random combination, and the subjects needed to determine whether the semantics of the two matched quickly. By comparing the overall cognitive performance of two carriers, it was found that the brain had a more significant inhibition effect on audio-visual intervention stimuli with different semantics (SBH/LBH and SRC/LRC) relative to the same semantics (SRH/LRH). The semantic mismatch caused significant N400, indicating that semantic interference in the interface information would trigger the brain’s inhibition effect. Therefore, the more complex the semantic matching of interface information was, the higher the amplitude of N400 became. The results confirmed that the semantic relationship between target carrier and audio-visual intervention was the key factor affecting the cognitive inhibition effect. Moreover, under different intervention stimuli, the ERP’s negative activity caused by Chinese characters in frontal and parietal-occipital regions was more evident than that by concrete icons, indicating that concrete icons had a lower inhibition effect than Chinese characters. Therefore, we considered that this inhibition effect was based on the semantic constraints of the target carrier itself, which might come from the knowledge learning and intuitive experience stored in the human brain.
Kinetic and macroscopic models for active particles exploring complex environments with an internal navigation control system
Authors: Gómez Nava Luis , Goudon Thierry , Peruani Fernando
Published: July 2021

A large number of biological systems — from bacteria to sheep — can be described as ensembles of self-propelled agents (active particles) with a complex internal dynamic that controls the agent’s behavior: resting, moving slow, moving fast, feeding, etc. In this study, we assume that such a complex internal dynamic can be described by a Markov chain, which controls the moving direction, speed, and internal state of the agent. We refer to this Markov chain as the Navigation Control System (NCS). Furthermore, we model that agents sense the environment by considering that the transition rates of the NCS depend on local (scalar) measurements of the environment such as e.g. chemical concentrations, light intensity, or temperature. Here, we investigate under which conditions the (asymptotic) behavior of the agents can be reduced to an effective convection–diffusion equation for the density of the agents, providing effective expressions for the drift and diffusion terms. We apply the developed generic framework to a series of specific examples to show that in order to obtain a drift term three necessary conditions should be fulfilled: (i) the NCS should possess two or more internal states, (ii) the NCS transition rates should depend on the agent’s position, and (iii) transition rates should be asymmetric. In addition, we indicate that the sign of the drift term — i.e. whether agents develop a positive or negative chemotactic response — can be changed by modifying the asymmetry of the NCS or by swapping the speed associated to the internal states. The developed theoretical framework paves the way to model a large variety of biological systems and provides a solid proof that chemotactic responses can be developed, counterintuitively, by agents that cannot measure gradients and lack memory as to store past measurements of the environment.
Multiflypes of rectangular diagrams of links
Authors: Dynnikov Ivan , Sokolova Vera
Published: July 2021

We introduce a new very large family of transformations of rectangular diagrams of links that preserve the isotopy class of the link. We provide an example when two diagrams of the same complexity are related by such a transformation and are not obtained from one another by any sequence of “simpler” moves not increasing the complexity of the diagram along the way.
A free-group valued invariant of free knots
Authors: Manturov Vassily Olegovich
Published: July 2021

The aim of the present paper is to construct series of invariants of free knots (flat virtual knots, virtual knots) valued in free groups (and also free products of cyclic groups).
The fineness properties of Morita contexts
Authors: Zhou Yiqiang
Published: July 2021

Let [Formula: see text] be a Morita context. For generalized fine (respectively, generalized unit-fine) rings [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], it is proved that [Formula: see text] is generalized fine (respectively, generalized unit-fine) if and only if, for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] implies [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] implies [Formula: see text]. Especially, for fine (respectively, unit-fine) rings [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] is fine (respectively, unit-fine) if and only if, for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] implies [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] implies [Formula: see text]. As consequences, (1) matrix rings over fine (respectively, unit-fine, generalized fine and generalized unit-fine) rings are fine (respectively, unit-fine, generalized fine and generalized unit-fine); (2) a sufficient condition for a simple ring to be fine (respectively, unit-fine) is obtained: a simple ring [Formula: see text] is fine (respectively, unit-fine) if both [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are fine (respectively, unit-fine) for some [Formula: see text]; and (3) a question of Cǎlugǎreanu [1] on unit-fine matrix rings is affirmatively answered.