bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aesthetics of Expediency, Identity and Chaos in Design
Authors:   Ufa State Institute of Arts named after Zagir Ismagilov, Kondrashova Anastasia S.
Published: May 2021

The article touches on various areas through which the concept of design, its theoretical and practical components can be examined, what is the designer’s thinking from the point of view of philosophy and aesthetics by the example of the real creative life of famous artistic and aesthetic fi gures. Identity, chaos, expediency — those are the defi ning terms, whose subtleties are based on the scholarly works of Vladimir F. Sidorenko (Professor of the Moscow Textile Academy, member of the Artists’ Union, member of the Designers’ Union, Doctor of Art History, Laureate of the State Prize in Literature and Art). The article discloses the features of the aesthetics of expediency, the application of the abbreviation of this term. The time period from the 1920 to the 1880 of the last century suffi ces for explaining the foundations of the aesthetics of expediency, since it is during this time period that we can observe a surge of the most striking movements in art which infl uenced the design style. The world of design and the people of the design culture in it, imitation of nature and retreating from it — all of this is, undoubtedly, relevant for our time. In the decade of the 2020s, when many trends in art are arriving at a dead end, and sometimes even to their logical conclusion, it is important to go one century back, to the sources, to learn from the experience of our predecessors in the artistic fi eld. It is useful for contemporary artists to study what the contemporaries of the past years arrived at earlier in order to achieve their artistic success and remain in the history of design for all times.
On Entropy-type Measures and Divergences with Applications in Engineering, Management and Applied Sciences
Authors: Koukoumis C. , Karagrigoriou A.
Published: May 2021

In this work we review Entropy-type measures and Divergences, discuss their properties and unfold their diverse applicability. In addition, we compare distances between populations and distributions via weighted Entropy-type measures relying mainly on Relative Entropy and Jeffrey’s Distance with weights. Finally, we introduce the Absolute Weighted Relative Entropy and the Absolute Weighted Jeffrey’s Distance. Two applications are presented for illustration, one from Geosciences and one from Financial Mathematics.
Multi-Item Production Lot Sizing with Postponement, External Source for Common Parts, and Adjustable Rate for End Products
Authors: Chiu Singa Wang , Wu Hua Yao , Chiu Tiffany , Chiu Yuan-Shyi Peter
Published: May 2021

This study considers a multi-item production lot-size problem incorporating postponement, an external source for common parts, and an adjustable-rate for end products. Dealing with product variety, timely requirements, and limited in-house capacity has led production managers to seek manufacturing schemes and utilization-reduction strategies that can help them meet customer needs, smoothen fabrication schedules, and lower overall manufacturing expenses. We propose a two-stage manufacturing scheme. The first stage produces common parts for multiproduct incorporating a partial supply from an outside contractor to reduce utilization/uptime. Stage two fabricates all end products using an adjustable-rate to reduce the uptime further. We build a model to characterize the problem’s features and use optimization methods to derive the optimal rotation cycle time in order to help managers make cost-effective lot-size decisions and allow manufacturers to gain competitive advantages. A numerical illustration validates the model’s capability and applicability. This study makes two important contributions: (1) It offers a decision-support model for studying such a particular batch-size problem and deciding the optimal rotation cycle time, and (2) it identifies the individual/collective influence of dual uptime-reduction strategies on the operating policy and various performance indexes to help facilitate managerial decision-making.
Seismic Lithofacies Distribution Modeling Using the Single Normal Equation Simulation (SNESIM) Algorithm of Multiple-Point Geostatistics in Upper Assam Basin, India
Authors: Mahadasu Nagendra Babu , Ambati Venkatesh , Nair Rajesh R.
Published: May 2021

Recently, multiple-point geostatistical simulation gained much attention for its role in spatial reservoir characterization/modeling in geosciences. Accurate lithofacies modeling is a critical step in the characterization of complex geological reservoirs. In this study, multiple-point facies geostatistics based on the SNESIM algorithm integrated with the seismic modeling technique is used as an efficient reservoir modeling approach for lithofacies modeling of the fluvial Tipam formation in the Upper Assam Basin, India. The Tipam formation acts as a potential reservoir rock in the Upper Assam Basin, India. Due to the basin geological complexity and limitation in seismic resolution, many discontinuities in depositional channels in this fluvial depositional environment have been identified using conventional lithofacies mapping. This study combines three techniques to reproduce continuity of the lithofacies for better reservoir modeling. The first is simultaneous prestack inversion for inverting prestack gathers with angle-dependent wavelets into seismic attributes. A cross-plot of P-impedance and VP/VS ratio from well-log data was used to classify the different reservoir lithofacies such as hydrocarbon sand, brine sand, and shale. The second is the Bayesian approach that incorporates probability density functions (PDFs) of non -parametric statistical classification with seismic attributes for converting the seismic attributes into lithofacies volume and the probability volumes of each type lithofacies. The third technique is multiple-point geostatistical simulation (MPS) using the Single Normal equation Simulation (SNESIM) algorithm applied to training images and probability volumes as constraints for a better lithofacies model. These integrated study results proved that MPS could improve reservoir lithofacies characterization.
Evaluation of Transition Barriers to Circular Economy: A Case from the Tourism Industry
Authors: Vatansever Kemal , Akarsu Haris , Kazançoğlu Yiğit
Published: May 2021

Current economic system exhibits a linear path by using resources to produce goods and disposing of waste after their consumption. Circular economy (CE) turns this linear pattern into a circular one by using waste as a resource for another process. It focuses on environmental responsibility, efficiency, renewable resources, preventing wastage, and, minimizing consumption. CE helps the sustainability of the economy by restructuring the production processes to use fewer resources and extending the lifetime of the products. Although there are powerful drivers for transition to CE firms often face significant barriers while implementing their plans. This study aims to evaluate the barriers that the tourism industry would face during the transition process and put them in order according to their importance. We used the Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) method which is based on a pairwise comparison of relevant criteria to calculate the weights of importance of these barriers. We conducted semi-structured interviews with four experts from the tourism industry. According to our results, the most important barrier is organizational structure/infrastructure that creates inconvenience with the supply chain. The results are expected to be a guide for the firms in the tourism industry for their transition to CE applications.
Slip Flow of Kerosene Oil Based SWCNT Nanofluid over Stretching Sheet with Radiation and Suction/Injection Effects
Authors: Chaudhary Susheela , Chouhan Kiran Kunwar , Chaudhary Santosh
Published: May 2021

Present study numerically investigates a two dimensional steady laminar boundary layer nanofluid flow of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) immersed into kerosene oil, due to a linearly stretched sheet. Flow is subjected to the slip boundary condition and suction/injection effects. Employing suitable similarity transformations, governing PDEs of the arising problem are converted into coupled nonlinear non-dimensional ordinary differential equations. A set of obtained ODEs with assisting boundary conditions is solved numerically by applying finite element method (FEM). Effect of pertinent factors, velocity slip parameter, suction/injection parameter and solid volume fraction parameter on non-dimensional velocity and temperature profiles are characterized graphically. In addition, physical emerging parameters, local Nusselt’s number and local skin friction coefficient are computed and presented via table. Furthermore, derived numerical values of shear stress and heat flux at the surface are compared with previously published results.
More Anterior in vivo Contact Position in Patients With Fixed-Bearing Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty During Daily Activities Than in vitro Wear Simulator
Authors: Dai Huiyong , Zheng Nan , Zou Diyang , Zhu Zhemin , Liow Ming Han Lincoln , Tsai Tsung-Yuan , Wang Qi
Published: May 2021

Background

Whilein vitrowear simulation of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) showed outstanding long-term wear performance, studies reported that polyethylene (PE) wear was responsible for 12% fixed-bearing (FB) UKA failure. This paper aimed to quantify thein vivo6-degrees-of-freedom (6-DOF) knee kinematics and contact positions of FB UKA during daily activities and compare with the previous results ofin vitrowear simulator.

Methods

Fourteen patients following unilateral medial FB UKA received a CT scan and dual fluoroscopic imaging during level walking, single-leg deep lunge, and sit-to-stand motion for evaluatingin vivo6-DOF FB UKA kinematics. The closest point between surface models of the femoral condyle and PE insert was determined to locate the medial compartmental articular contact positions, which were normalized relative to the PE insert length. Thein vivocontact area was compared with thein vitrowear region in previous simulator studies.

Results

Thein vivocontact positions during daily activities were more anterior than those in the previousin vitrowear simulator studies (p< 0.001). Significant differences in the femoral anteroposterior translation and tibial internal rotation during the stance phase were observed and compared with those in lunge and sit-to-stand motions (p< 0.05). Thein vivocontact position located anteriorly and medially by 5.2 ± 2.7 and 1.8 ± 1.6 mm on average for the stance phase, 1.0 ± 2.4 and 0.9 ± 1.5 mm for the lunge, and 2.1 ± 3.3 and 1.4 ± 1.4 mm for sit-to-stand motion. Thein vivocontact position was in the more anterior part during the stance phase (p< 0.05).

Conclusion

The current study revealed that the contact position of FB UKA was located anteriorly and medially on the PE insert duringin vivoweight-bearing activities and different from previous findings of thein vitrowear simulator. We should takein vivo6-DOF knee kinematics and contact patterns of FB UKA into account to reproduce realistic wear performance forin vitrowear simulator and to improve implant design.
The Calcium-Sensing Receptor Is Involved in Follicle-Stimulating Hormone-Induced Cumulus Expansion in in vitro Cultured Porcine Cumulus-Oocyte Complexes
Authors: Liu Huage , Zhou Dan , Liu Cong , Zhuan Qingrui , Luo Yan , Mo Xianhong , Fu Xiangwei , Hou Yunpeng
Published: May 2021

The Calcium-Sensing Receptor (CASR) is a G protein-coupled receptor of the C family that reportedly promotes maturation of porcine oocytes. However, its role in cumulus expansion of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) is not well known. This study was conducted to determine the role of CASR and potential mechanisms involved during in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine COCs. After culture of COCs in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-supplement maturation medium for 24 h, the time of breakdown of the germinal vesicle (GVBD), indicative of initiation of meiotic maturation, resulted in an increased (p < 0.05) CASR mRNA expression level in cumulus cells. Moreover, IVM of COCs in 10 μM of the CASR agonist NPS R-568 promoted (p < 0.05) cumulus expansion but only in FSH-containing medium. Conversely, 20 μM of the CASR inhibitor NPS2390 precluded cumulus expansion. We next tested the effect of the CASR agonist/inhibitor on the expression of cumulus expansion-related genes. The CASR agonist significantly upregulated the expression of hyaluronan acid synthase 2 (HAS2), whereas the CASR inhibitor downregulated the expression of all HAS2, prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), and tumor necrosis factor a-induced protein 6 (TNFAIP6). Altogether, these results suggest that CASR activity is involved in FSH-stimulated porcine cumulus expansion.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Differentially Expressed Genes and Long Non-coding RNAs Associated With Fecundity in Sheep Hypothalamus With Different FecB Genotypes
Authors: Chen Si , Guo Xiaofei , He Xiaoyun , Di Ran , Zhang Xiaosheng , Zhang Jinlong , Wang Xiangyu , Chu Mingxing
Published: May 2021

Small-tailed Han sheep, with different FecB genotypes, manifest distinct ovulation rates and fecundities, which are due to differences in reproductive hormones secreted by the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis. Nevertheless, the function of the hypothalamus against a FecB mutant background on increasing ovulation rate is rarely reported. Therefore, we determined the expression profiles of hypothalamus tissue collected from six wild-type (WW) and six FecB mutant homozygous (BB) ewes at the follicular and luteal phases by whole-transcriptome sequencing. We identified 53 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEGs) and 40 differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (DELs) between the two estrus states. Functional annotation analysis revealed that one of the DEGs, PRL, was particularly enriched in the hypothalamic function, hormone-related, and reproductive pathways. The lncRNA–target gene interaction networks and KEGG analysis in combination suggest that the lncRNAs LINC-676 and WNT3-AS cis-acting on DRD2 and WNT9B in different phases may induce gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion. Furthermore, there were differences of regulatory elements and WNT gene family members involved in the follicular–luteal transition in the reproductive process between wild-type (WNT7A) and FecB mutant sheep (WNT9B). We combined the DEG and DEL data sets screened from different estrus states and genotypes. The overlap of these two sets was identified to select the mRNAs and lncRNAs that have major effects on ovulation. Among the overlapping molecules, seven DEGs and four DELs were involved in the follicular–luteal transition regulated by FecB mutation. Functional annotation analysis showed that two DEGs (FKBP5 and KITLG) were enriched in melanogenesis, oxytocin, and GnRH secretion. LINC-219386 and IGF2-AS were highly expressed in the BB ewes compared with WW ewes, modulating their target genes (DMXL2 and IGF2) to produce more GnRH during follicular development, which explains why mutated ewes produced more mature follicles. These results from expression profiling of the hypothalamus with the FecB mutation at different estrus states provide new insights into how the hypothalamus regulates ovulation under the effect of the FecB mutation.
A Novel Lysolecithin Model for Visualizing Damage in vivo in the Larval Zebrafish Spinal Cord
Authors: Morris Angela D. , Kucenas Sarah
Published: May 2021

Background: Lysolecithin is commonly used to induce demyelinating lesions in the spinal cord and corpus callosum of mammalian models. Although these models and clinical patient samples are used to study neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), they do not allow for direct visualization of disease-related damage in vivo. To overcome this limitation, we created and characterized a focal lysolecithin injection model in zebrafish that allows us to investigate the temporal dynamics underlying lysolecithin-induced damage in vivo.

Results: We injected lysolecithin into 4–6 days post-fertilization (dpf) zebrafish larval spinal cords and, coupled with in vivo, time-lapse imaging, observed hallmarks consistent with mammalian models of lysolecithin-induced demyelination, including myelinating glial cell loss, myelin perturbations, axonal sparing, and debris clearance.

Conclusion: We have developed and characterized a lysolecithin injection model in zebrafish that allows us to investigate myelin damage in a living, vertebrate organism. This model may be a useful pre-clinical screening tool for investigating the safety and efficacy of novel therapeutic compounds that reduce damage and/or promote repair in neurodegenerative disorders, such as MS.
IGF1-Stimulated Posttraumatic Hippocampal Remodeling Is Not Dependent on mTOR
Authors: Littlejohn Erica L. , DeSana Anthony J. , Williams Hannah C. , Chapman Rudy T. , Joseph Binoy , Juras Jelena A. , Saatman Kathryn E.
Published: May 2021

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is stimulated acutely following traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, many hippocampal neurons born after injury develop abnormally and the number that survive long-term is debated. In experimental TBI, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) promotes hippocampal neuronal differentiation, improves immature neuron dendritic arbor morphology, increases long-term survival of neurons born after TBI, and improves cognitive function. One potential downstream mediator of the neurogenic effects of IGF1 is mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which regulates proliferation as well as axonal and dendritic growth in the CNS. Excessive mTOR activation is posited to contribute to aberrant plasticity related to posttraumatic epilepsy, spurring preclinical studies of mTOR inhibitors as therapeutics for TBI. The degree to which pro-neurogenic effects of IGF1 depend upon upregulation of mTOR activity is currently unknown. Using immunostaining for phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6, a commonly used surrogate for mTOR activation, we show that controlled cortical impact TBI triggers mTOR activation in the dentate gyrus in a time-, region-, and injury severity-dependent manner. Posttraumatic mTOR activation in the granule cell layer (GCL) and dentate hilus was amplified in mice with conditional overexpression of IGF1. In contrast, delayed astrocytic activation of mTOR signaling within the dentate gyrus molecular layer, closely associated with proliferation, was not affected by IGF1 overexpression. To determine whether mTOR activation is necessary for IGF1-mediated stimulation of posttraumatic hippocampal neurogenesis, wildtype and IGF1 transgenic mice received the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin daily beginning at 3 days after TBI, following pulse labeling with bromodeoxyuridine. Compared to wildtype mice, IGF1 overexpressing mice exhibited increased posttraumatic neurogenesis, with a higher density of posttrauma-born GCL neurons at 10 days after injury. Inhibition of mTOR did not abrogate IGF1-stimulated enhancement of posttraumatic neurogenesis. Rather, rapamycin treatment in IGF1 transgenic mice, but not in WT mice, increased numbers of cells labeled with BrdU at 3 days after injury that survived to 10 days, and enhanced the proportion of posttrauma-born cells that differentiated into neurons. Because beneficial effects of IGF1 on hippocampal neurogenesis were maintained or even enhanced with delayed inhibition of mTOR, combination therapy approaches may hold promise for TBI.
Sorting Nexin 10 as a Key Regulator of Membrane Trafficking in Bone-Resorbing Osteoclasts: Lessons Learned From Osteopetrosis
Authors: Elson Ari , Stein Merle , Rabie Grace , Barnea-Zohar Maayan , Winograd-Katz Sabina , Reuven Nina , Shalev Moran , Sekeres Juraj , Kanaan Moien , Tuckermann Jan , Geiger Benjamin
Published: May 2021

Bone homeostasis is a complex, multi-step process, which is based primarily on a tightly orchestrated interplay between bone formation and bone resorption that is executed by osteoblasts and osteoclasts (OCLs), respectively. The essential physiological balance between these cells is maintained and controlled at multiple levels, ranging from regulated gene expression to endocrine signals, yet the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. One approach for deciphering the mechanisms that regulate bone homeostasis is the characterization of relevant pathological states in which this balance is disturbed. In this article we describe one such “error of nature,” namely the development of acute recessive osteopetrosis (ARO) in humans that is caused by mutations in sorting nexin 10 (SNX10) that affect OCL functioning. We hypothesize here that, by virtue of its specific roles in vesicular trafficking, SNX10 serves as a key selective regulator of the composition of diverse membrane compartments in OCLs, thereby affecting critical processes in the sequence of events that link the plasma membrane with formation of the ruffled border and with extracellular acidification. As a result, SNX10 determines multiple features of these cells either directly or, as in regulation of cell-cell fusion, indirectly. This hypothesis is further supported by the similarities between the cellular defects observed in OCLs form various models of ARO, induced by mutations in SNX10 and in other genes, which suggest that mutations in the known ARO-associated genes act by disrupting the same plasma membrane-to-ruffled border axis, albeit to different degrees. In this article, we describe the population genetics and spread of the original arginine-to-glutamine mutation at position 51 (R51Q) in SNX10 in the Palestinian community. We further review recent studies, conducted in animal and cellular model systems, that highlight the essential roles of SNX10 in critical membrane functions in OCLs, and discuss possible future research directions that are needed for challenging or substantiating our hypothesis.
Macrophage LAMTOR1 Deficiency Prevents Dietary Obesity and Insulin Resistance Through Inflammation-Induced Energy Expenditure
Authors: Ying Lingwen , Zhang Mingliang , Ma Xiaojing , Si Yiming , Li Xiaoya , Su Jiaorong , Yin Jun , Bao Yuqian
Published: May 2021

Here, we studied the metabolic function of LAMTOR1 from macrophages using LAMTOR1 macrophage-specific knockout (MKO) mice. LAMTOR1 MKO mice showed resistance to high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity, lipid steatosis, and glucose metabolic disorders, with elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The energy expenditure, oxygen consumption, and CO2 production increased significantly in HFD-fed MKO vs. wild-type (WT) mice. HE and immunohistochemistry staining showed a remarkable CD68+ Kupffer cell accumulation in the liver. Additionally, flow cytometry revealed that the proportion of macrophages and monocytes increased significantly in the liver of MKO mice. Of note, these macrophages were probably derived from the bone marrow since the proportion of CD11b+ cells as well as the proliferative activity was also increased in the context of femoral bone marrow cells. In addition, the Kupffer cells of both WT and KO mice were double-positive for the M1 (CD86) and M2 (CD206) markers. However, the expression of both M1 and M2 macrophage-related genes was increased in the liver of HFD-fed KO mice. Murine primary hepatocytes and Kupffer cells were further isolated and incubated with oleic acid for 24 h. The glucose output of primary hepatocytes from MKO mice was not affected. However, decreased lipid tolerance was observed in LAMTOR1-deficient Kupffer cells. Overall, our results suggest that LAMTOR1 deficiency in macrophages prevents obesity and metabolic disorders via the accumulation of Kupffer cells in the liver and the consequent hyper-inflammation and increased energy expenditure. Therefore, our results provide a new perspective for macrophage-derived LAMTOR1 in the context of systemic metabolism.
Protein Lipidation by Palmitoylation and Myristoylation in Cancer
Authors: Fhu Chee Wai , Ali Azhar
Published: May 2021

Posttranslational modification of proteins with lipid moieties is known as protein lipidation. The attachment of a lipid molecule to proteins endows distinct properties, which affect their hydrophobicity, structural stability, localization, trafficking between membrane compartments, and influences its interaction with effectors. Lipids or lipid metabolites can serve as substrates for lipidation, and the availability of these lipid substrates are tightly regulated by cellular metabolism. Palmitoylation and myristoylation represent the two most common protein lipid modifications, and dysregulation of protein lipidation is strongly linked to various diseases such as metabolic syndromes and cancers. In this review, we present recent developments in our understanding on the roles of palmitoylation and myristoylation, and their significance in modulating cancer metabolism toward cancer initiation and progression.
Reconciling Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Cenozoic Shortening, Exhumation, and Subsidence in the Southern Bolivian Andes
Authors: Perez Nicholas D. , Anderson Ryan B. , Horton Brian K. , Ohlson Bailey A. , Calle Amanda Z.
Published: May 2021

The Bolivian Andes are an archetypal convergent margin orogen with a paired fold-thrust belt and foreland basin. Existing chronostratigraphic constraints highlight a discrepancy between unroofing of the Eastern Cordillera and Interandean Zone fold-thrust systems since 40 Ma and the onset of rapid sediment accumulation in the Subandean Chaco foreland after 11 Ma, previously attributed to Miocene climate shifts. New results from magnetostratigraphic, backstripping, erosional volumetric calculations, and flexural modeling efforts are integrated with existing structural and thermochronologic datasets to investigate the linkages between shortening, exhumation, and subsidence. Magnetostratigraphic and backstripping results determine tectonic subsidence in the Chaco foreland basin, which informs flexural models that evaluate topographic load and lithospheric parameters. These models show that Chaco foreland subsidence is consistent with a range of loading scenarios. Eroded volumes from the fold-thrust belt were sufficient to fill the Chaco foreland basin, further supporting the linkage between sediment source and sink. Erosional beveling of the Eastern Cordillera, local intermontane sediment accumulation after 30–25 Ma, and regional development of the high-elevation San Juan del Oro geomorphic surface from 25 to 10 Ma suggest that the western Eastern Cordillera did not store the large sediment volume expected from erosion of the fold-thrust belt, which arrived in the Subandean Zone after 11 Ma. Eocene to middle Miocene foreland basin accumulation was likely focused between the Eastern Cordillera and Interandean Zone, and has been almost completely recycled into the modern Subandean foreland basin. The delay between initial fold-thrust belt exhumation (early Cenozoic) and rapid Subandean subsidence (late Cenozoic) highlights the interplay between protracted shortening, underthrusting, and foreland basin recycling. Only with sufficient crustal shortening, accommodated by eastward advance of the fold-thrust belt and attendant underthrusting of Brazilian Shield lithosphere beneath the Subandes, did the Subandean zone enter proximal foreland basin deposystems after ca. 11 Ma. Prior to the late Miocene, the precursor flexural basin was situated westward and not wide enough to incorporate the distal Subandean Zone. These results highlight the interplay between a range of crustal and surface processes linked to tectonics and Miocene climate shifts on the evolution of the southern Bolivian Andes.
Agriculture, the Environment, and Social Complexity From the Early to Late Yangshao Periods (5000–3000 BC): Insights From Macro-Botanical Remains in North-Central China
Authors: Li Yaping , Zhang Junna , Zhang Xiaohu , Zhao Haitao
Published: May 2021

In northern China, the Yangshao cultural period (5000–3000 BC) was a critical timespan in the establishment of agricultural economies and the emergence of social complexity. We present the results of archeobotanical analysis from 58 soil samples collected from 12 recently investigated sites located in the Luoyang Basin, and recovered 5290 carbonized plant remains from 9 sites dating to the Late Yangshao period. We compared our novel dataset with previous archeobotanical date, compiling a total of 196 samples from 58 sites in central and western Henan Province. During the Early Yangshao period (5000–4200 BC), a nascent, extensive agricultural economy based primarily on broomcorn millet, with lesser foxtail millet and rice, was developing in small settlements (<0.2 km2) in the loess tablelands and valleys of western Henan province. However, the population pressure—rather than environmental degradation—drove the “foxtail millet-broomcorn millet substitution” during the Middle Yangshao period (4200–3500BC). The intensive agriculture based mainly on foxtail millet facilitated the development of social complexity in the region, as demonstrated by the emergence of size-graded agricultural settlements of medium (0.2–0.6 km2) and large (> 0.6 km2) scale. Notably, millets tend to be less ubiquitous in these larger settlements compared to smaller ones, with differences in millet ubiquity between sites increasing over time. The local surface hydrology influenced by paleoclimatic changes prompted the spread of agriculture from higher loess tablelands and valleys during the early Yangshao period into more marginal loess tablelands and plains by the Middle and Late Yangshao periods. Rice cultivation is concentrated in valley areas and appears to have been closely tied to environments with better hydrothermal conditions. Our research shows that climatic conditions during the Holocene fostered the development of agriculture during the Yangshao Culture period and that the distribution of settlements throughout this time was influenced by highly localized geomorphologic environments delimiting the distribution of crops. The rise of agriculture promoted the formation of complex and stratified economies in the Yangshao Culture period and it was the intensification and elaboration of these new economic and social systems that led to later transformation in agricultural structures and settlement sizes.
Changes in the Thickness of Ice Cover on Water Bodies Subject to Human Pressure (Silesian Upland, Southern Poland)
Authors: Solarski Maksymilian , Rzetala Mariusz
Published: May 2021

The paper discusses the reasons behind the variation in the thickness of ice on 39 anthropogenic water bodies located in the Silesian Upland (southern Poland). The studies were conducted over the course of three consecutive winter seasons. The measurements and observations were scheduled every 2 days during the freezing and ablation of the ice, and every 4 days when ice cover was present. Each time the thickness of the ice cover and the snow layer covering it were measured. The results show that the 35 water bodies studied are characterized by a similar—quasi-natural—ice regime, in which ice thickness variation depends mostly on the air temperature and the thickness of the snow layer covering the ice. The ice thickness on those water bodies does not significantly differ from that observed on lakes located in northern Poland, measuring on average from circa 4 to 21 cm, and with maximum thicknesses ranging from circa 14 to 40 cm, depending on the season. Four water bodies are characterized by different ice conditions; in their case the average and maximum ice thickness was significantly lower. In the Niezdara N water body this was caused by the inflow of warmer potamic water (quasi-natural regime), whereas in Pod Borem, Sośnicka, and Somerek it was caused by discharges of warm mine water (anthropogenic regime).
The Effects of a Digital Articulatory Game on the Ability to Perceive Speech-Sound Contrasts in Another Language
Authors: Ylinen Sari , Smolander Anna-Riikka , Karhila Reima , Kakouros Sofoklis , Lipsanen Jari , Huotilainen Minna , Kurimo Mikko
Published: May 2021

Digital and mobile devices enable easy access to applications for the learning of foreign languages. However, experimental studies on the effectiveness of these applications are scarce. Moreover, it is not understood whether the effects of speech and language training generalize to features that are not trained. To this end, we conducted a four-week intervention that focused on articulatory training and learning of English words in 6–7-year-old Finnish-speaking children who used a digital language-learning game app Pop2talk. An essential part of the app is automatic speech recognition that enables assessing children’s utterances and giving instant feedback to the players. The generalization of the effects of such training in English were explored by using discrimination tasks before and after training (or the same period of time in a control group). The stimuli of the discrimination tasks represented phonetic contrasts from two non-trained languages, including Russian sibilant consonants and Mandarin tones. We found some improvement with the Russian sibilant contrast in the gamers but it was not statistically significant. No improvement was observed for the tone contrast for the gaming group. A control group with no training showed no improvement in either contrast. The pattern of results suggests that the game may have improved the perception of non-trained speech sounds in some but not all individuals, yet the effects of motivation and attention span on their performance could not be excluded with the current methods. Children’s perceptual skills were linked to their word learning in the control group but not in the gaming group where recurrent exposure enabled learning also for children with poorer perceptual skills. Together, the results demonstrate beneficial effects of learning via a digital application, yet raise a need for further research of individual differences in learning.
“I just want to stay out there all day”: A Case Study of Two Special Educators and Five Autistic Children Learning Outside at School
Authors: Friedman Samantha , Morrison Scott A.
Published: May 2021

School is often stressful for autistic students. Similarly, special educators are susceptible to burnout because of the unique demands of their jobs. There is ample evidence that spending time outside, particularly in nature, has many positive effects on mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. In this case study of two special educators and five autistic students in a social skills group at an elementary school in the southeastern United States, we sought to identify the effects of moving the class outside several times per week. Findings indicated that while there were challenges, the autistic children experienced numerous affordances that supported development toward achieving Individualized Education Plan goals. Moreover, there were also notable positive effects for the special educators. We found that even with little prior experience, learning outside is possible and beneficial to everyone involved.
Improved Short-Circuit Current Calculation of Doubly Fed Wind Turbines With Uninterrupted Excitation
Authors: Yin Jun
Published: May 2021

With the enlarging scale of a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) connected to a power system, the influence of short-circuit current on the system relay protection could not be ignored. Setting and configuring relay protection would be affected by an imprecise short-circuit current calculation. However, some existing studies only consider the condition that the input is the Crowbar and the rotor excitation is blocked. China's new network standard requires the output reactive support current of a DFIG and will change the characteristics of short-circuit current. To solve this problem, on the basis of analyzing the characters of the transient equivalent potential of a DFIG, the transient model of a DFIG with uninterrupted excitation is provided. Based on the characteristics of a non-abrupt change of flux linkage and the requirement of a new grid standard reactive support current, the short-circuit current calculation method of a DFIG with uninterrupted excitation is put forward. Based on the real-time digital simulator (RTDS), a digital-analog experimental platform containing the actual control unit of the DFIG converter is founded, the proposed short-circuit current root mean square (RMS) value calculating method is validated.
Soil Enzyme Activities and Their Relationships With Soil C, N, and P in Peatlands From Different Types of Permafrost Regions, Northeast China
Authors: Liu Chao , Song Yanyu , Dong Xingfeng , Wang Xianwei , Ma Xiuyan , Zhao Guangying , Zang Shuying
Published: May 2021

Peatland is a key component of terrestrial ecosystems in permafrost regions and have important effects on climate warming. Soil enzymes are involved in biogeochemical cycle of soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), which can be used as early sensitive indicators of soil nutrient changes caused by climate change. To predict the possible effects of permafrost degradation on soil enzymes in peatlands, ten peatlands from three types of permafrost regions along the permafrost degradation sequence (predominantly continuous permafrost region-predominantly continuous and island permafrost region-sparsely island permafrost region) in northeast China were selected to examine the activities of soil invertase, β-glucosidase, urease and acid phosphatase and their relationships with soil physicochemical properties. The results demonstrated that permafrost type had significant effect on soil enzyme activities. Soil enzyme activities in predominantly continuous and island permafrost region were significantly higher than those in sparsely island permafrost region and predominantly continuous permafrost region. The activities of four soil enzymes were higher in 0–15 cm than 15–30 cm soil layer. Soil enzymes activities were positively correlated with soil ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), soil moisture content (SMC), total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN), but negatively correlated with soil nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N). Soil inorganic nitrogen and moisture contents were the main factors affecting soil enzyme activities, with NH4+-N accounted for 41.6% of the variance, SMC 29.6%, and NO3−-N 11.0%. These results suggested that permafrost degradation may change soil enzyme activities by changing soil physicochemical properties. In this study, only 0–30 cm peat soil in permafrost regions was collected during the complete thawing period of permafrost active layer, further studies should be placed on the change of soil enzyme activities in active layer and permafrost layer during freezing and thawing process in the southernmost location of northeast China in the Eurasia permafrost body and boreal forest belt.
Testing Multi-Task Cancer Evolution: How Do We Test Ecological Hypotheses in Cancer?
Authors: Plutynski Anya
Published: May 2021

Recently several authors described a family of models, according to which different cancer types and subtypes fall within a space of selective trade-offs between archetypes that maximize the performance of different tasks: cell division, biomass and energy production, lipogenesis, immune interaction, and invasion and tissue remodeling. On this picture, inter- and intratumor heterogeneity can be explained in part as a product of these selective trade-offs in different cancers, at different stages of cancer progression. The aim of this Perspective is to critically assess this approach. I use this case study to consider more generally both the advantages of using ecological models in the context of cancer, and the challenges facing testing of such models.
Effects of Monochromatic Lighting During Incubation and Vaccination on the Splenic Transcriptome Profiles of Chicken
Authors: Ibrahim Mohamed M. A. , Nelson Jill R. , Archer Gregory S. , Athrey Giridhar
Published: May 2021

Lighting is a crucial environmental variable in poultry operations, but illumination during incubation is relatively understudied. The ability to stimulate development or immune performance using in ovo lighting is a promising approach for improving poultry health and welfare. This study investigated how monochromatic green light during incubation and vaccination method and timing affected chicken splenic gene expression patterns. We performed this study with 1,728 Hy-Line white layer eggs incubated under two light treatments during incubation: continuous dark and continuous green monochromatic light, over the entire incubation period. Half the eggs in each light treatment received in ovo vaccination, applied on embryonic day 18 (ED18). The remaining half were vaccinated by spraying on hatch day. After hatching, the light treatments followed the industry-standard lighting regimens. The study had six treatment groups with light–dark pairs for non-vaccinated, in ovo vaccinated, and post-hatch vaccinated. We assessed splenic gene expression at ED18 and at 7 days post-hatch (PH) in all the treatments. We isolated and sequenced 24 mRNA libraries on the Illumina platform, followed by bioinformatics and differential gene expression analyses. RNAseq analysis showed between 62 and 6,755 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between comparisons, with the most prominent differences observed between ED and PH samples, followed by comparisons between vaccination methods. In contrast, light vs. dark treatments at ED showed limited effects on transcriptomic profiles. However, we observed a synergistic effect of lighting during incubation on post-hatch vaccination responses, with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) unique to the light treatment showing stimulation of cell proliferation with significance for immune activity (inferred from gene ontology terms). Gene ontology and pathway analysis indicated biological processes like cellular component organization or biogenesis, rhythmic process, developmental process, response to stimulus, and immune system processes were explained by the DEGs. While lighting is an important source of circadian stimulation, other controlled studies are required to clarify whether in ovo circadian entrainment plays a role in modulating immune responses.
The Emotional Dimensions of Animal Disease Management: A Political Ecology Perspective for a Time of Heightened Biosecurity
Authors: Epstein Kathleen , von Essen Erica , Wilmer Hailey
Published: May 2021

The ongoing devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic has brought new urgency to questions surrounding the origins, management, and complex dynamics of infectious diseases. In this mini review, we use growing international concern over the pandemic potential of emerging infectious diseases as motivation for outlining a research approach to study the emotional dimensions of animal disease management. We sketch out this important analytical terrain by first locating opportunities for literature on the biosecurization of nature to intersect with the emerging field of emotional political ecology. Second, we describe three biosecurity contexts and environmental conflicts at the wildlife-livestock interface: African swine fever in wild boar, brucellosis in elk, and pneumonia in bighorn and domestic sheep. We argue that in these “contact zones,” a focus on emotions can add a new layer of explanation for analyzing the manifestations, implications, and varied experiences of biosecurity.
Macrophage Heterogeneity in Kidney Injury and Fibrosis
Authors: Wen Yi , Yan Hong-Ru , Wang Bin , Liu Bi-Cheng
Published: May 2021

Kidney macrophages are central in kidney disease pathogenesis and have therapeutic potential in preventing tissue injury and fibrosis. Recent studies highlighted that kidney macrophages are notably heterogeneous immune cells that fulfill opposing functions such as clearing deposited pathogens, maintaining immune tolerance, initiating and regulating inflammatory responses, promoting kidney fibrosis, and degrading the extracellular matrix. Macrophage origins can partially explain macrophage heterogeneity in the kidneys. Circulating Ly6C+ monocytes are recruited to inflammatory sites by chemokines, while self-renewed kidney resident macrophages contribute to kidney repair and fibrosis. The proliferation of resident macrophages or infiltrating monocytes provides an alternative explanation of macrophage accumulation after kidney injury. In addition, dynamic Ly6C expression on infiltrating monocytes accompanies functional changes in handling kidney inflammation and fibrosis. Mechanisms underlying kidney macrophage heterogeneity, either by recruiting monocyte subpopulations, regulating macrophage polarization, or impacting distinctive macrophage functions, may help develop macrophage-targeted therapies for kidney diseases.
Dose-Dependent Effects of Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) in Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis
Authors: Xu Hai’e , Cao Wanshuang , Sun Hongliang , Zhang Shougang , Li Pan , Jiang Surong , Zhong Caiyun
Published: May 2021

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are environmental organic pollutants that are ubiquitous in the ocean, and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is the most widely used PAE. The environmental concentration of DEHP was reported to be up to 42.52 μg/L in seawater in the estuaries located in Jiaozhou Bay along the Yellow Sea. DEHP has been investigated with respect to its toxicity in marine organisms. However, evidence on the dose-dependent effects of DEHP remains contradictory and limited. We used marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis as the experimental animal to study the dose-dependent effects of various levels of exposure to DEHP (concentrations of 4, 12, 36, 108, and 324 μg/L). These effects and the underlying mechanisms were elucidated by the levels of antioxidant enzyme activity, gene expression, and metabolite. The results indicated that, at environmentally relevant concentrations (12 and 36 μg/L), DEHP induced significant hormetic effects. This was indicated by the U-shaped or inverted U-shaped responses of the gene expression levels related to stress response (CAT, GST, and MgGLYZ) and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD and CAT). The metabolic profiles revealed that DEHP generally caused monophasic response in osmotic regulation (homarine) and biphasic response (hormesis) in energy metabolism (glucose, glycogen, and amino acids), respectively. These findings can aid in ecological risk assessment with respect to DEHP and the determination of hormetic dose responses.
Oral Health and Its Aetiological Role in Behçet's Disease
Authors: Mumcu Gonca , Fortune Farida
Published: May 2021

Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic multi-systemic inflammatory disorder characterised by oro-genital ulcers, cutaneous manifestations, ocular, vascular, neurologic and gastrointestinal involvement. Complex interactions operating on the genetic background e.g.(HLA51), of infectious and other environmental agents, together with immune dysregulation impacts on the pathogenesis of BD. This suggests that the environmental factors triggering immune responses may activate clinical manifestations in genetically susceptible individuals. Since oral health forms the basis of all general health both dental and systemic, it is an important component of both Dentistry and Medicine. Oral ulcers are the most common clinical manifestation of oral mucosal health. Changes in the oral environment consequently acts as an infective and immune trigger. In this review, complex interactions between the oral ulcers, the oral microbiome and immune responses together with the course of oral and systemic disease manifestations in BD are discussed in the context of the aetiologic role of oral health.