bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling Museum Visitors’ Perception and Experience of Authenticity: Examining Heterogeneity with a Finite Mixture Model
Authors: Bauer-Krösbacher Claudia , Mazanec Josef
Published: May 2021

Purpose. In this study, the authors explore the role of museum visitors’ perceptions and experiences of authenticity. They introduce several variants of authenticity experience and analyse how they are intertwined and feed visitor satisfaction. Method. The authors apply a multi-step model fitting and validation procedure including inferred causation methods and finite mixture modelling to verify whether the visitors’ perceptions of authenticity are subject to unobserved heterogeneity. They elaborate an Authenticity Model that demonstrates out-of-sample validity and generalisability by being exposed to new data for another cultural attraction in another city. Then, they address the heterogeneity hypothesis and evaluate it for the case study with the larger sample. Findings. In both application cases, the Sisi museum in Vienna and the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, the empirical results support the assumed cause-effect sequence, translating high quality information display—from traditional and multimedia sources—into Perceived Authenticity and its experiential consequences such as Depth and Satisfaction. Accounting for unobserved heterogeneity detects three latent classes with segment-specific strength of relationships within the structural model. Research and conclusions limitations. The combined latent-class, structural-equation model needs validation with another sample that would have to be larger than the available Guinness database. Future studies will have to complement the purely data-driven search for heterogeneity with theory-guided reasoning about potential causes of diversity in the strength of the structural relationships. Practical implications. Cultural heritage sites are among the attractions most typical of city tourism. History tends to materialise in the artefacts accumulated by the population among the urban agglomerations, and museums are the natural places for preserving exhibits of cultural value. Authenticity must be considered an important quality assessment criterion for many visitors, whereby, the distinction between object authenticity and existential authenticity is crucial. Originality. In addition to making substantive contributions to authenticity theory, the authors also extend previous research in terms of methodological effort. Authenticity research, so far, has neither exploited inferred causation methods nor combined latent variable modelling with detecting unobserved heterogeneity. Type of paper: Research article.
Pathology Informatics Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)
Authors: Kim David , Hanna Matthew G. , Vanderbilt Chad , Sirintrapun S. Joseph
Published: May 2021

This review details the development and structure of a four-week rotation in pathology informatics for a resident trainee at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City so that other programs interested in such a rotation can refer to. The role of pathology informatics is exponentially increasing in research and clinical practice. With an ever-expanding role, training in pathology informatics is paramount as pathology training programs and training accreditation bodies recognize the need for pathology informatics in training future pathologists. However, due to its novelty, many training programs are unfamiliar with implementing pathology informatics training. The rotation incorporates educational resources for pathology informatics, guidance in the development, and general topics relevant to pathology informatics training. Informatics topics include anatomic pathology related aspects such as whole slide imaging, laboratory information systems, image analysis, and molecular pathology associated issues such as the bioinformatics pipeline and data processing. Additionally, we highlight how the rotation pivoted to meet the department’s informatics needs while still providing an educational experience during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusion. As pathology informatics continues to grow and integrate itself into practice, infor- matics education must also grow to meet the future needs of pathology. As informatics programs develop across institutions, such as the one detailed in this paper, these programs will better equip future pathologists with informatics to approach disease and pathology.
A Review of Molecular and Genetic Diagnostics of Myeloid Malignancies with Emphasis on Diagnostics in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Kurtovic-Kozaric Amina , Islamagic Erna , Asic Adna , Mehinovic-Cavcic Lejla , Besic Larisa , Sahinbegovic Hana , Komic Hana , Kurtovic Sabira , Burazerovic Lejla
Published: May 2021

Here we describe the major genetic and genomic aberrations found in myeloid malignancies and how those markers are used in patients’ diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted treatment. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, cytogenetic and molecular diagnostics for myeloid malignancies have been established and continually improved since 2005. We report the current state of available diagnostic tools for myeloid malignancies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Myeloid malignancies are a heterogeneous group of clonal blood diseases characterized by defects in hematopoietic stem cells and myeloid progenitors that lead to abnormal proliferation, differentiation, localization, and self-renewal. Most common myeloid malignancies include myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Molecular diagnostics of myeloid malignancies have significantly expanded in the last decade with new genetic and genomic markers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

 Conclusion. In the last decade, several new genomic markers important for patient diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy have been discovered that need to be implemented in routine molecular diagnostics not only in developed nations but also in developing nations such as Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A Comprehensive Analysis of Graduated Residents’ and Faculty Members’ Attitudes on Iranian Radiation Oncology Board Examination: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Ahmady Soleiman , Heidarzadeh Abtin , Sourati Ainaz , Akbarilakeh Maryam , Ameri Ahmad
Published: May 2021

Background: The Iranian radiation oncology board examination (IROBE) includes a multiple-choice question (MCQ) examination and an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). The current mission of IROBE is to qualify the graduated residents (GRs) in terms of clinical competence. However, lack of active monitoring of its construction and administration can impair the evaluation of GR competencies. Objectives: To determine the strengths and limitations of IROBE. Methods: This cross-sectional online survey involved faculty members (FMs) and GRs as constructors and participants of the IROBE, respectively. The target time window for inclusion in the study was set between 2015 and 2019. To evaluate the strengths and limitations of IROBE, a 22-item questionnaire was distributed among FMs and a 29-item questionnaire among GRs. The Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson's chi-square test were applied to find the association between the ordinal and nominal variables, respectively. Results: The surveys were sent to 35 FMs and 107 GRs. A total of 16 (45%) FMs and 42 (39%) GRs completed the survey. Overall, the majority of FMs and GRs stated that IROBE has average to poor quality in evaluating all aspects of clinical abilities (62.5 vs. 76.1% in clinical competence, P = 0.07; 62.5 vs. 71.4% in clinical knowledge, P = 0.19; 100 vs. 92.9% in medical ethics, P = 0.21; and 93.7 vs. 95.3% in responsibility, P = 0.15). However, FMs assigned a higher score to OSCE in the assessment of clinical performance compared to GRs (P = 0.02). Most FMs and GRs declared that IROBE requires extreme to high improvement in both MCQ and OSCE components (75 vs. 59.52% and 87.5 vs. 90.47%, respectively). Conclusions: According to the participants, the present structure of IROBE has several drawbacks in both MCQ and OSCE components. Considering the highlighted strengths and limitations can help the IROBE constructors to improve its quality.
Investigation of the Factors Affecting the Attitudes of Academicians Towards Project Development to Enhance Innovation
Authors: FINDIK COŞKUNÇAY Duygu FINDIK COŞKUNÇAY , ERDILMEN OCAK Şule
Published: May 2021

Economic development can be achieved through knowledge-based growth. In this respect, universities have a significant role to produce knowledge and contribute innovation management through their research and development activities. However, too many obstacles bring difficulties on academicians to develop projects to increase innovation capabilities of the countries. The aim of this study is to identify the factors affecting attitudes of academicians towards research and development projects. In this study, an attitude scale and a structural model were developed to identify the key factors. According to the consequences obtained, perception of self-worth, perceived self-efficacy, reputation, anxiety, team interaction and justice factors directly and significantly affect academicians' attitudes towards project development. It is envisaged that identification of the factors affecting academicians' attitudes towards project development leads to rethink the obstacles of universities to become targeted innovative and entrepreneurial universities, contributing the enhancement of innovation, and produce projects that support the country's economy and solve social problems.
Trends in population change and the sustainable socio-economic development of cities in North-West Russia
Authors:   Saint Petersburg State University, Anokhin Anatoly A. , Shelest Ksenia D. ,   Saint Petersburg State University, Tikhonova Marina A. ,   Saint Petersburg State University
Published: May 2021

The Northwestern Federal District is a Russian macro-region that is a unique example of a model region. It accounts for 10 % of the country’s total area and 9.5 % of its population. This article aims to trace the patterns of city distribution across the region, to assess the conditions of differently populated cities and towns, and to identify sustainability trends in their socio-economic development. Population change is a reliable indicator of the competitiveness of a city. As a rule, a growing city performs well economically and has a favourable investment climate and high-paid jobs. The analysis revealed that population change occurred at different rates across the federal district in 2002—2017. A result of uneven socio-economic development, this irregularity became more serious as globalisation and open market advanced. The study links the causes and features of growth-related differences to the administrative status, location, and economic specialisation of northwestern cities. The migration behaviour of the population and the geoeconomic position are shown to be the main indicators of the sustainable development of a city.
Action-thoughts and the genesis of time in linguistic semiosis
Authors:   Independent Researcher, Simsky A. , Kravchenko A. V. ,   Baikal State University, Druzhinin A. S. ,   MGIMO University
Published: May 2021

The genesis of time is explained in the spirit of constructivism combined with the activity approach to cognition. The cardinal temporal categories of present, past, and future are dis­cussed in terms of action-thoughts understood as elementary units of activity whose structure is determined by linguistic semiosis. Husserl’s tripartite model of the phenomenology of time (prime perception, retention, protention) is applied to the analysis of the subject’s experience of his actions. It is demonstrated that, while our lived present is composed of the actually per­formed actions, our past and future are constructed by reflexive action-thoughts in the cogni­tive domain of language. It is emphasized that the construction of a temporal sequence that unites what is and what already or still is not, is possible only in linguistic semiosis. The analogy with Husserl’s tripartite structure of the time-consciousness flow helps elucidate the triad ‘present-past-future’ as an instance of the epistemological trap of language: ‘past’ and ‘future’ are mental constructs that belong to the present just as any other act of thinking.
Translation of new sociological terminology: challenges and solutions
Authors:   Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Runova N. V. , Furmenkova T. V. ,   Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Linevich N. Yu. ,   Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University
Published: May 2021

Rapid development of concepts in modern sociology leads to the emergence of a large number of neological terms. Currently, the academic language of Russian sociology sees an active expansion of foreign language terminology and translated terms reflecting changes in the English-language social picture of the world. However, the lack of consistency in intra-lingual and inter-lingual translation of new terms may complicate the understanding of this terminology by representatives of multilingual academic schools. This study aims to analyse modern English sociological terms and translated borrowings in Russian, to explore their form and conceptual content in two languages, the degree of their conventionality in the sci­entific thesaurus of multilingual sociological schools and the possibility of an adequate trans­fer of terminological meaning from English into Russian. The authors view the sociological term as a cognitive, linguistic and cultural phenomenon, and study its synchronic and dia­chronic variability. The article is an attempt to illuminate the problem from a purely linguis­tic and translation point of view and to point out the need for combining efforts to systematise and harmonise the English and Russian terminologies of sociology.
Best practices for the integration of collaborative robots into workcells within small and medium-sized manufacturing operations
Authors: Horst John A , Messina Elena R , Marvel Jeremy
Published: May 2021

Provides guidance for small and medium sized manufacturers to identify the workcell best served by cobot integration, starting with basic and quick cobot integration methods, and moving to more time-consuming but more accurate cobot integration methods.
Structure separation experiments phase 1 preliminary test plan
Authors: Maranghides Alexander , Nazare Shonali , Link Eric , Prasad Kuldeep , Hoehler Matthew , Bundy Matthew , Hawks Steven , Bigelow Frank , Mell William (Ruddy) , Bova Anthony , McNamara Derek , Milac Tom , Gorham Daniel , Hedayati Faraz , Raymer Bob , Frievalt Frank , Walton William
Published: May 2021

The primary objective of this project is to assess structure-to-structure fire spread for structures located in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). Full-scale fire experiments will be conducted in which various types of structures (sources of fire) will be used to generate typical radiative and convective heat exposures on target structures (residential dwellings). The spacing between the source and target structures will be varied to identify safe structure separation distance (SSD). Most experiments will be conducted with construction materials currently listed in State of California building codes and using code compliant structural assemblies. A limited number of experiments will be conducted with enhanced, ignition resistant, materials that may not currently be listed by the State of California. The project is divided into three phases. Phase 1 will test sheds as fire sources, Phase 2 will test in-law buildings (small accommodation structures built close to primary residential structure) and Phase 3 will test single-family homes. Source terms from 1.39 m to 24.8 m (15 ft2 to 267 ft2) will be tested in Phase 1. Phase 2 will examine exposures from 40.87 m (440 ft2) in-law buildings, and Phase 3 will characterize exposures from approximately 92.90 m (1000 ft2) residences. Dimensions of Phase 3 single residences (source term) will be finalized after numerical modeling of the results from Phase 1 and Phase 2. This test plan focuses on Phase 1 research. Phase 1 aims to quantify the effects of shed sizes, construction types, fuel loading, and separation distance on the ignition of primary structures (residential dwellings). Experiments will be conducted at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). The NIST experiments will be conducted at the National Fire Research Laboratory (NFRL), and the IBHS experiments will be conducted just outside of the wind loading test cell. The opening of the test cell (13.7 m (45 ft) wide) will dictate the largest source structure that can be evaluated at IBHS.
Disponibilidad léxica en niños de 6 años. Alcance del corpus léxico infantil
Authors: Gómez Devís Begoña
Published: May 2021

Nuestro propósito es presentar en el marco de la Disponibilidad Léxica los estudios dedicados a edades tempranas, niños de 6 años, revisando el alcance que este tipo de trabajos aporta al desarrollo de la programación y planificación de la enseñanza de lenguas. Para ello se ofrece una breve incursión en las bases de la disciplina, se comparan los resultados de índole cuantitativa obtenidos en España (Gran Canaria y Valencia) y Chile (Talca), y se aborda el análisis de las relaciones asociativas generadas en los inventarios de léxico disponible. Concluimos que los corpus de léxico disponible infantil aportan bases rigurosas para programar el léxico que deben aprender los escolares de los primeros cursos de Primaria tanto en aspectos de riqueza y precisión, así como en la configuración del lexicón mediante redes asociativas.
El cuento más allá de la tradición literaria: el Taketori Monogatari como paradigma de la globalización de referencias culturales
Authors: Ojeda García Francisco Miguel , Quintairos-Soliño Alba
Published: May 2021

El Taketori Monogatari («El cuento del cortador de bambú») es considerado uno de los cuentos favoritos de los japoneses. Escrito en Japón durante la era Heian (794–1185), el cuento de Kaguya, una cautivadora princesa procedente de la luna, inspira todo tipo de obras, de películas a videojuegos. Los elementos que conforman esta historia se han convertido en referencias culturales reconocibles tanto fuera como dentro del territorio nipón. Nuestro objetivo es cartografiar las formas en que este cuento tradicional ha trascendido el mundo literario y ha pasado a formar parte de todo un repertorio de obras contemporáneas japonesas, centrándonos, concretamente, en las producciones anime (animación, manga y videojuegos). Gracias al análisis de una selección de 18 casos en los que hemos explorado el nivel de adaptación del argumento, la presencia de tropos y las reconversiones de Kaguya, hemos concluido que: a) existen varios grados de fidelidad en las formas anime de narrar el Taketori Monogatari; b) estas encuentran su lógica en la necesidad de adaptar su historia a los imponderables de la sociedad japonesa actual; y c) el anime posee una gran función pedagógica, pues, mientras vehicula transnacionalmente este cuento tradicional, también permite su aprendizaje a escala global.
Estudiando el lenguaje y sus sentidos. Tradiciones y tendencias en las revistas Latinoamericanas de la comunicación
Authors: Barranquero Alejandro , Angel Adriana
Published: May 2021

El presente artículo examina la evolución y el estado actual de los estudios del lenguaje y sus sentidos en América Latina a partir de un análisis de contenido de 220 artículos publicados entre 2017 y 2019 en diez revistas latinoamericanas de referencia en el ámbito de la comunicación. Tras identificar cinco grandes tradiciones teóricas en el campo, los resultados evidencian el predominio de ciertos objetos, métodos y abordajes, además de demostrar que los estudios de discurso, semiótica, retóricas, narrativas y representación tienden a operar hoy de manera interconectada dada su orientación interdisciplinar y su vocación altamente teórica o ensayística, más que empírica. En el marco de la investigación comparada, América Latina se constituye como un locus autónomo de producción de conocimiento pese a la fuerte presencia de enfoques eurocéntricos que mantienen a dicha producción algo alejada de la autonomía epistemológica que reclaman el giro decolonial y las epistemologías del sur.
Focalización cero en La Ciudad y los Perros: simulación sincrónica de protagonismo autónomo
Authors: Delgado Del Aguila Jesús Miguel
Published: May 2021

En el siguiente artículo, se apreciará un tópico importante en relación con los modos de representación del personaje violento de la novela La ciudad y los perros (1963), escrita por el Premio Nobel de Literatura Mario Vargas Llosa. Este tratamiento abordará el tiempo y la narración. Para ello, me baso en la temática de la confusión protagónica momentánea, la cual se fundamenta en causar la duda en el lector, al querer vincular la autoría de las acciones de los protagonistas, que se presentan en escenas equidistantes a las vivencias en el Colegio Militar Leoncio Prado, como al dudar de la identidad del Poeta o el Jaguar, ya sea por las coincidencias temporales y situacionales de sus vivencias, al igual que frecuentar a las mismas personas y contar con los mismos gustos. Por ejemplo, ambos personajes están enamorados de Teresa.
Intimations of Precarity in Twenty-First-Century U.S. Drama: Faltering Voices of the Precariat in Annie Baker’s The Flick
Authors: Fernández-Caparrós Ana
Published: May 2021

While much critical attention as been devoted to the representation of precarity on the European stages, and in British theatre in particular, dramatic texts produced in the United States that concern, depict and represent the lives of members of the so-called precariat have barely been the object of critical scrutiny. This article traces the emergence of a growing concern with economic hardship in the second decade of the twenty-first century in American drama and presents a case study of Annie Baker’s The Flick (2013). Baker’s play is illustrative of an aesthetics of precarity that refrains from victimizing the members of the precariat and that plays out the paradoxes of scenarios of precarity as being at once troubling and enabling transformation and visions of possibility.
El paisaje lingüístico de la migración en el barrio de Ruzafa en Valencia: una mirada a través del tiempo
Authors: Gómez-Pavón Durán Ana , Quilis Merín Mercedes
Published: May 2021

Esta investigación estudia el paisaje lingüístico del barrio de Ruzafa en Valencia (España), conocido por su carácter multicultural y multilingüístico debido al establecimiento de población migrante en las últimas décadas del siglo XX y a su transformación en un espacio turístico como consecuencia del proceso de gentrificación en los primeros años del siglo XXI. El objetivo es explorar a través de los signos del paisaje lingüístico los cambios socio-demográficos desde un enfoque diacrónico y contrastivo. La  metodología está basada en la utilización combinada de la herramienta Google Street View y con la toma de signos en los mismos espacios del barrio, con lo que se ha configurado un corpus fotográfico de 212 signos, imágenes de rótulos de comercios privados del barrio, de los años 2008 y 2018. El análisis de las lenguas que aparecen en los signos y cómo se relacionan entre sí nos ha permitido conocer el grado y el tipo de multilingüismo que han aportado al barrio en estos dos puntos de su historia los diferentes grupos de población, especialmente los de origen migrante, y las consecuencias lingüísticas de la gentrificación sobre su paisaje lingüístico.
Improving classification based on physical surface tension-neural net for the prediction of psychosocial-risk level in public school teachers
Authors: Mosquera Navarro Rodolfo , Castrillón Omar Danilo , Parra Osorio Liliana , Oliveira Tiago , Novais Paulo , Valencia José Fernando
Published: May 2021

Background

Psychosocial risks, also present in educational processes, are stress factors particularly critical in state-schools, affecting the efficacy, stress, and job satisfaction of the teachers. This study proposes an intelligent algorithm to improve the prediction of psychosocial risk, as a tool for the generation of health and risk prevention assistance programs.

Methods

The proposed approach, Physical Surface Tension-Neural Net (PST-NN), applied the theory of superficial tension in liquids to an artificial neural network (ANN), in order to model four risk levels (low, medium, high and very high psychosocial risk). The model was trained and tested using the results of tests for measurement of the psychosocial risk levels of 5,443 teachers. Psychosocial, and also physiological and musculoskeletal symptoms, factors were included as inputs of the model. The classification efficiency of the PST-NN approach was evaluated by using the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and ROC curve metrics, and compared against other techniques as the Decision Tree model, Naïve Bayes, ANN, Support Vector Machines, Robust Linear Regression and the Logistic Regression Model.

Results

The modification of the ANN model, by the adaptation of a layer that includes concepts related to the theory of physical surface tension, improved the separation of the subjects according to the risk level group, as a function of the mass and perimeter outputs. Indeed, the PST-NN model showed better performance to classify psychosocial risk level on state-school teachers than the linear, probabilistic and logistic models included in this study, obtaining an average accuracy value of 97.31%.

Conclusions

The introduction of physical models, such as the physical surface tension, can improve the classification performance of ANN. Particularly, the PST-NN model can be used to predict and classify psychosocial risk levels among state-school teachers at work. This model could help to early identification of psychosocial risk and to the development of programs to prevent it.
ECOVNet: a highly effective ensemble based deep learning model for detecting COVID-19
Authors: Chowdhury Nihad Karim , Kabir Muhammad Ashad , Rahman Md. Muhtadir , Rezoana Noortaz
Published: May 2021

The goal of this research is to develop and implement a highly effective deep learning model for detecting COVID-19. To achieve this goal, in this paper, we propose an ensemble of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based on EfficientNet, named ECOVNet, to detect COVID-19 from chest X-rays. To make the proposed model more robust, we have used one of the largest open-access chest X-ray data sets named COVIDx containing three classes—COVID-19, normal, and pneumonia. For feature extraction, we have applied an effective CNN structure, namely EfficientNet, with ImageNet pre-training weights. The generated features are transferred into custom fine-tuned top layers followed by a set of model snapshots. The predictions of the model snapshots (which are created during a single training) are consolidated through two ensemble strategies, i.e., hard ensemble and soft ensemble, to enhance classification performance. In addition, a visualization technique is incorporated to highlight areas that distinguish classes, thereby enhancing the understanding of primal components related to COVID-19. The results of our empirical evaluations show that the proposed ECOVNet model outperforms the state-of-the-art approaches and significantly improves detection performance with 100% recall for COVID-19 and overall accuracy of 96.07%. We believe that ECOVNet can enhance the detection of COVID-19 disease, and thus, underpin a fully automated and efficacious COVID-19 detection system.
Overview of current state of research on the application of artificial intelligence techniques for COVID-19
Authors: Kumar Vijay , Singh Dilbag , Kaur Manjit , Damaševičius Robertas
Published: May 2021

Background

Until now, there are still a limited number of resources available to predict and diagnose COVID-19 disease. The design of novel drug-drug interaction for COVID-19 patients is an open area of research. Also, the development of the COVID-19 rapid testing kits is still a challenging task.

Methodology

This review focuses on two prime challenges caused by urgent needs to effectively address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, i.e., the development of COVID-19 classification tools and drug discovery models for COVID-19 infected patients with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) based techniques such as machine learning and deep learning models.

Results

In this paper, various AI-based techniques are studied and evaluated by the means of applying these techniques for the prediction and diagnosis of COVID-19 disease. This study provides recommendations for future research and facilitates knowledge collection and formation on the application of the AI techniques for dealing with the COVID-19 epidemic and its consequences.

Conclusions

The AI techniques can be an effective tool to tackle the epidemic caused by COVID-19. These may be utilized in four main fields such as prediction, diagnosis, drug design, and analyzing social implications for COVID-19 infected patients.
Identification and analysis of Chrysanthemum nankingense NAC transcription factors and an expression analysis of OsNAC7 subfamily members
Authors: Wang Hai , Li Tong , Li Wei , Wang Wang , Zhao Huien
Published: May 2021

NAC (NAM, ATAF1-2, and CUC2) transcription factors (TFs) play a vital role in plant growth and development, as well as in plant response to biotic and abiotic stressors (Duan et al., 2019; Guerin et al., 2019). Chrysanthemum is a plant with strong stress resistance and adaptability; therefore, a systematic study of NAC TFs in chrysanthemum is of great significance for plant breeding. In this study, 153 putative NAC TFs were identified based on the Chrysanthemum nankingense genome. According to the NAC family in Arabidopsis and rice, a rootless phylogenetic tree was constructed, in which the 153 CnNAC TFs were divided into two groups and 19 subfamilies. Moreover, the expression levels of 12 CnNAC TFs belonging to the OsNAC7 subfamily were analyzed in C. nankingense under osmotic and salt stresses, and different tissues were tested during different growth periods. The results showed that these 12 OsNAC7 subfamily members were involved in the regulation of root and stem growth, as well as in the regulation of drought and salt stresses. Finally, we investigated the function of the CHR00069684 gene, and the results showed that CHR00069684 could confer improved salt and low temperature resistance, enhance ABA sensitivity, and lead to early flowering in tobacco. It was proved that members of the OsNAC7 subfamily have dual functions including the regulation of resistance and the mediation of plant growth and development. This study provides comprehensive information on analyzing the function of CnNAC TFs, and also reveals the important role of OsNAC7 subfamily genes in response to abiotic stress and the regulation of plant growth. These results provide new ideas for plant breeding to control stress resistance and growth simultaneously.
Formation Mechanism of the Perfect Inverted V-Shape CO2 Emission Amount Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) at the Country Level: Taking Taiwan as an Example
Authors: Huang Wu-Jang
Published: May 2021

The reduction of carbon emissions (such as CO2) is important to slow down global warming. The direct emissions of CO2 in Taiwan are contributed from the power generation sector. This research thus analyzes the effect of fuel used in the past years and finds that the summarized percentage of coal and natural gas used is the key factor in the amount of CO2 emissions. Results show that the CO2 emission amount exhibits a perfect inverted V-shape environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) from 1998 to 2014 in Taiwan. We attribute this to there being a disproportion process of transferring residual load powering to base-load powering for coal and natural gas energies and the increase in electric generation amount every year. This disproportion process means the co-existence of all technical generation in power plants.
Estimation of Hourly Clearness Index and Diffuse Fraction Over Coastal and Sahel Regions of Nigeria Using NCEP/NCAR Satellite Data
Authors: Babatunde Adeyemi , Vincent Omole Opeyemi
Published: May 2021

In this paper, daily satellite data of global and diffuse irradiances obtained from the archives of National Centre for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) covering a period of ten years (2005-2014) have been employed to study clearness index (KT) and diffuse fraction (KD) distributions over six carefully selected meteorological stations in Nigeria. These stations are Port Harcourt, Akure and Enugu in the coastal region; Kano, Maiduguri and Bauchi in the sahelian region. Results have shown that while global irradiance show double peaks in its mean annual daily variation at both regions, diffuse radiation only show this in the sahelian region. In the coastal region, its values are almost uniform throughout the year .In observing the synoptic hourly distribution of clearness index and diffuse fraction, it was found that while clearness index exhibits minima values at hours close to sunrise and sunset, the reverse is the case for diffuse fraction. Also that in the coastal region, clear sky condition is prevalent in Akure and Enugu at both seasons whereas in Port Harcourt, it seldomly occurs. In the sahelian region, on the other hand, clear sky condition is prevalent at both seasons. Using ANOVA method, empirical models were developed for KT. All the models at the stations and regions gave good and significant coefficient of determination R2. During the dry season months, it ranges between 0.98 and 0.99 while during the rainy season, it is 0.89 and 0.95. To further test the efficiencies of the developed models, the Mean Bias Error (MBE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) were computed. Values obtained for both MBE and RMSE for most of the stations are low and positive. These are desirable results for good and significant models. It shows that these models can be used to predict clearness index KTwith high accuracy in the selected stations and proximateones.
Tumor Therapy with Amanita phalloides: Benefits and Limitation
Authors: Riede Isolde
Published: May 2021

Background: Classical tumor treatments can fail: surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy not always elongate the life span. Less destructive treatments are possible nowadays. To find and analyse the efficiency of alternate treatments, long term case reports are essential.

Aim: To determine long term analyses of Amanita treatment in patients with different tumor types.

Methods: Patients are treated with Amanita alone, as long as the tumor growth of cells can be retarded. Other anti tumor therapies are applied in addition, when the retardation of the tumor growth is not sufficiently manageable with Amanita alone. The treatments with Amanita are supported by application of Terebinthina laricina in intervals to eliminate Borrelia.

Results: The state of a patient with a thyroid-carcinoma and a rectum-carcinoma can be stabilized for ten years with Amanita alone, until her age of 90 years. The patient cannot further tolerate uptake of Amanita. Thyroid cells start to grow, rectum-carcinoma cells grow slower. The disease state of a patient with prostate-carcinoma can be stabilized with Amanita alone for six years. Other therapies are applied from then on in intervals in addition for further six years. No chemotherapy or radiation is applied. The patient died at the age of 84 with metastases. A patient with B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia is treated with Amanita as sole antitumor therapy for eleven years. After that period, no further antitumor treatment is necessary, the patient lives now with high but stable leukocyte count for two years after the end of the Amanita therapy.

Conclusions: Amanita can inhibit tumor growth of different tumor types for a long period of time, elongation of the life span is possible. A synergistic effect of anti-Borrelia treatment is observed. Occasionally the tumor growth of cells stops without further anti tumor therapy, and no correlation with the origin can be identified.
Citation Inaccuracies in Influential Surgical Journals
Authors: Choi Jeff , Gupta Anshal , Kaghazchi Aydin , Htwe Thinzar S. , Baiocchi Michael , Spain David A.
Published: May 2021

This study investigates the prevalence and potential etiologies of citation inaccuracies in surgical literature by systematically characterizing influential surgical articles and references they cited.
Evaluation of candidate template beam models for a matched TrueBeam treatment delivery system
Authors: Hansen Jon B. , Frigo Sean P.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

To explore candidate RayStation beam models to serve as a class‐specific template for a TrueBeam treatment delivery system.

Methods

Established validation techniques were used to evaluate three photon beam models: a clinically optimized model from the authors’ institution, the built‐in RayStation template, and a hybrid consisting of the RayStation template except substituting average MLC parameter values from a recent IROC survey. Comparisons were made for output factors, dose profiles from open fields, as well as representative VMAT test plans.

Results

For jaw‐defined output factors, each beam model was within 1.6% of expected published values. Similarly, the majority (57–66%) of jaw‐defined dose curves from each model had a gamma pass rate >95% (2% / 3 mm, 20% threshold) when compared to TrueBeam representative beam data. For dose curves from MPPG 5.a MLC‐defined fields, average gamma pass rates (1% / 1 mm, 20% threshold) were 92.9%, 85.1%, and 86.0% for the clinical, template, and hybrid models, respectively. For VMAT test plans measured with a diode array detector, median dose differences were 0.6%, 1.3%, and 1.1% for the clinical, template, and hybrid models, respectively. For in‐phantom ionization chamber measurements with the same VMAT test plans, the average percent difference was −0.3%, −1.4%, and −1.0% for the clinical, template, and hybrid models, respectively.

Conclusion

Beam model templates taken from the vendor and aggregate results within the community were both reasonable starting points, but neither approach was as optimal as a clinically tuned model, the latter producing better agreement with all validation measurements. Given these results, the clinically optimized model represents a better candidate as a consensus template. This can benefit the community by reducing commissioning time and improving dose calculation accuracy for matched TrueBeam treatment delivery systems.
Evaluation of the dosimetric effect of scattered protons in clinical practice in passive scattering proton therapy
Authors: Kim Chankyu , Kim Yeon‐Joo , Lee Nuri , Ahn Sang Hee , Kim Kwang Hyeon , Kim Haksoo , Shin Dongho , Lim Young Kyung , Jeong Jong Hwi , Kim Dae Yong , Shin Wook‐Geun , Min Chul Hee , Lee Se Byeong
Published: May 2021

The present study verified and evaluated the dosimetric effects of protons scattered from a snout and an aperture in clinical practice, when a range compensator was included. The dose distribution calculated by a treatment planning system (TPS) was compared with the measured dose distribution and the dose distribution calculated by Monte Carlo simulation at several depths. The difference between the measured and calculated results was analyzed using Monte Carlo simulation with filtration of scattering in the snout and aperture. The dependence of the effects of scattered protons on snout size, beam range, and minimum thickness of the range compensator was also investigated using the Monte Carlo simulation. The simulated and measured results showed that the additional dose compared with the results calculated by the TPS at shallow depths was mainly due to protons scattered by the snout and aperture. This additional dose was filtered by the structure of the range compensator so that it was observed under the thin region of the range compensator. The maximum difference was measured at a depth of 16 mm (8.25%), with the difference decreasing with depth. Analysis of protons contributing to the additional dose showed that the contribution of protons scattered from the snout was greater than that of protons scattered from the aperture when a narrow snout was used. In the Monte Carlo simulation, this effect of scattered protons was reduced when wider snouts and longer‐range proton beams were used. This effect was also reduced when thicker range compensator bases were used, even with a narrow snout. This study verified the effect of scattered protons even when a range compensator was included and emphasized the importance of snout‐scattered protons when a narrow snout is used for small fields. It indicated that this additional dose can be reduced by wider snouts, longer range proton beams, and thicker range compensator bases. These results provide a better understanding of the additional dose from scattered protons in clinical practice.
Electroplating of Aerosol Jet‐Printed Silver Inks
Authors: Ohiri Korine A. , Nowicki Nicholas M. , Montalbano Timothy J. , Presley Michael , Lazarus Nathan S.
Published: May 2021

Aerosol jet printing of silver inks is a promising approach for 3D printing of electronics, particularly for obtaining very complex circuits with high‐resolution conductive pads and traces. Common silver inks are however not competitive with traditional bulk metal conductors, requiring sintering at high temperatures as well as having significant porosity that can result in early failure. Herein, the possibility of using electroplating to deposit bulk metal copper on aerosol jetted inks is investigated, and more than an order of magnitude reduction in electrical resistivity is shown. The plating rate, resistivity, and adhesion are characterized, along with the morphology of the resulting deposits. This approach is then shown to allow high‐strength soldering to the electroplated metal traces, demonstrating the capability of this technology for integration of soldered surface mount components with aerosol jet‐printed electronics.
Microstructure, Magnetodielectric, and Multiferroic Properties of xCo0.8Cu0.2Fe2O4−y(0.8BaTiO3–0.2BiAlO3) Composite Ceramics
Authors: Wu Heng , Zeng Zhixin , Xing Shulin , Lan Mengshuang , Li Wenchuan , Zhang Qin , Ao Hong , Zhou Chuang , Xu Ruicheng , Gao Rongli , Deng Xiaoling
Published: May 2021

Herein, xCo0.8Cu0.2Fe2O4−y
(0.8BaTiO3–0.2BiAlO3) [xCCFO–y(BTO–BA)] (x = 0, y = 1; x = 1, y = 1; x = 1, y = 2; x = 1, y = 4; x = 1, y = 6) magnetoelectric composite ceramics are synthesized by solid‐state method. The effects of composition on the microstructure, dielectric, ferroelectric and magnetic properties are systematically investigated. Two‐phase structures were confirmed by X‐ray diffraction patterns, which correspond to (BTO–BA) and CCFO phases; a little impurity can be found, and this low‐concentration secondary phase is indexed as BaFe12O19. By scanning electron microscopy, it is found that all the samples show a uniform and relatively dense surface, while the grains show two different kinds of shapes and sizes, which are related with ferroelectric‐phase BTO–BA and magnetic‐phase CCFO. The average grain size of BTO–BA is ≈0.47 μm, and that of CCFO increases with increasing concentration of BTO–BA, and the size of BTO–BA is suppressed with the addition of CCFO. With decreasing the concentration of CCFO, the composites show more and more obvious magnetodielectric effect. The Curie temperature of BTO–BA ceramics is around 150 °C, but this value increases (higher than 150 °C) with the addition of CCFO, implying practical application in high‐temperature devices. The ferroelectric properties of composite ceramics can be optimized by adding BTO–BA.
Transcatheter Heart Valves: A Biomaterials Perspective
Authors: Bui Hieu T. , Khair Nipa , Yeats Breandan , Gooden Shelley , James Susan P. , Dasi Lakshmi Prasad
Published: May 2021

Heart valve disease is prevalent throughout the world, and the number of heart valve replacements is expected to increase rapidly in the coming years. Transcatheter heart valve replacement (THVR) provides a safe and minimally invasive means for heart valve replacement in high‐risk patients. The latest clinical data demonstrates that THVR is a practical solution for low‐risk patients. Despite these promising results, there is no long‐term (>20 years) durability data on transcatheter heart valves (THVs), raising concerns about material degeneration and long‐term performance. This review presents a detailed account of the materials development for THVRs. It provides a brief overview of THVR, the native valve properties, the criteria for an ideal THV, and how these devices are tested. A comprehensive review of materials and their applications in THVR, including how these materials are fabricated, prepared, and assembled into THVs is presented, followed by a discussion of current and future THVR biomaterial trends. The field of THVR is proliferating, and this review serves as a guide for understanding the development of THVs from a materials science and engineering perspective.
Nerve Guidance Conduits with Hierarchical Anisotropic Architecture for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration
Authors: Lu Qingqing , Zhang Feng , Cheng Weinan , Gao Xiang , Ding Zhaozhao , Zhang Xiaoyi , Lu Qiang , Kaplan David L.
Published: May 2021

Nerve guidance conduits with multifunctional features could offer microenvironments for improved nerve regeneration and functional recovery. However, the challenge remains to optimize multiple cues in nerve conduit systems due to the interplay of these factors during fabrication. Here, a modular assembly for the fabrication of nerve conduits is utilized to address the goal of incorporating multifunctional guidance cues for nerve regeneration. Silk‐based hollow conduits with suitable size and mechanical properties, along with silk nanofiber fillers with tunable hierarchical anisotropic architectures and microporous structures, are developed and assembled into conduits. These conduits supported improves nerve regeneration in terms of cell proliferation (Schwann and PC12 cells) and growth factor secretion (BDNF, brain‐derived neurotrophic factor) in vitro, and the in vivo repair and functional recovery of rat sciatic nerve defects. Nerve regeneration using these new conduit designs is comparable to autografts, providing a path towards future clinical impact.
All‐Fiber Optical Waveform Converter Based on Deformed Catenary Nanostructure
Authors: Zhang Wentao , Luo Zhongyue , Wang Rui , Jiang Xiaowen , Liu Houquan , Deng Shijie , Chen Ming , Yuan Libo , Deng Hongchang
Published: May 2021

Herein, an optical waveform converter is presented by using a deformed catenary nanostructure at a double‐cladding fiber end. A vortex beam and Gaussian beam can be generated by wavelength modulation of the helical optical fiber grating fabricated in the double‐cladding fiber. Through the circular polarization modulation of the deformed catenary nanostructure, the generated beams can realize further various waveform conversions, forming several special beams with unique optical focusing, divergence, and rotation capabilities. Taking advantage of the combination of optical fiber integration and metasurface technologies, the device has broad application prospects in biomedicine, optical communication, optical manipulation, and optical imaging.