bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting spatio‐temporal distributions of migratory populations using Gaussian process modelling
Authors: Piironen Antti , Piironen Juho , Laaksonen Toni
Published: January 2022

Knowledge concerning spatio‐temporal distributions of populations is a prerequisite for successful conservation and management of migratory animals. Achieving cost‐effective monitoring of large‐scale movements is often difficult due to lack of effective and inexpensive methods.

Taiga bean goose Anser fabalis fabalis and tundra bean goose A. f. rossicus offer an excellent example of a challenging management situation with harvested migratory populations. The subspecies have different conservation statuses and population trends. However, their distribution overlaps during migration to an unknown extent, which, together with their similar appearance, has created a conservation–management dilemma.

Gaussian process (GP) models are widely adopted in the field of statistics and machine learning, but have seldom been applied in ecology so far. We introduce the R package gplite for GP modelling and use it in our case study together with birdwatcher observation data to study spatio‐temporal differences between bean goose subspecies during migration in Finland in 2011–2019.

We demonstrate that GP modelling offers a flexible and effective tool for analysing heterogeneous data collected by citizens. The analysis reveals spatial and temporal distribution differences between the two bean goose subspecies in Finland. Taiga bean goose migrates through the entire country, whereas tundra bean goose occurs only in a small area in south‐eastern Finland and migrates later than taiga bean goose.

Synthesis and applications. Within the studied bean goose populations, harvest can be targeted at abundant tundra bean goose by restricting hunting to south‐eastern Finland and to the end of the migration period. In general, our approach combining citizen science data with GP modelling can be applied to study spatio‐temporal distributions of various populations and thus help in solving challenging management situations. The introduced R package gplite can be applied not only to ecological modelling, but to a wide range of analyses in other fields of science.
Global diversity and distribution of aerobic anoxygenic phototrophs in the tropical and subtropical oceans
Authors: Gazulla Carlota R. , Auladell Adrià , Ruiz‐González Clara , Junger Pedro C. , Royo‐Llonch Marta , Duarte Carlos M. , Gasol Josep M. , Sánchez Olga , Ferrera Isabel
Published: January 2022

The aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic (AAP) bacteria are common in most marine environments but their global diversity and biogeography remain poorly characterized. Here, we analyzed AAP communities across 113 globally‐distributed surface ocean stations sampled during the Malaspina Expedition in the tropical and subtropical ocean. By means of amplicon sequencing of the pufM gene, a genetic marker for this functional group, we show that AAP communities along the surface ocean were mainly composed of members of the Halieaceae (Gammaproteobacteria), which were adapted to a large range of environmental conditions, and of different clades of the Alphaproteobacteria, which seemed to dominate under particular circumstances, such as in the oligotrophic gyres. AAP taxa were spatially structured within each of the studied oceans, with communities from adjacent stations sharing more taxonomic similarities. AAP communities were composed of a large pool of rare members and several habitat specialists. When compared to the surface ocean prokaryotic and picoeukaryotic communities, it appears that AAP communities display an idiosyncratic global biogeographical pattern, dominated by selection processes and less influenced by dispersal limitation. Our study contributes to the understanding of how AAP communities are distributed in the horizontal dimension and the mechanisms underlying their distribution across the global surface ocean.
The first winter of social distancing improved most of the health indexes in a paediatric emergency department
Authors: Cozzi Giorgio , Blasutig Francesca , De Nardi Laura , Giangreco Manuela , Barbi Egidio , Amaddeo Alessandro
Published: January 2022

Aim

We compared visits to a tertiary level paediatric emergency department (PED) in Italy, during winter 2020–2021, when COVID‐19 social distancing measures were in place, with winter 2019–2020.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of an electronic database. We obtained the number of visits and the ages, main complaints, triage codes, discharge diagnoses and outcomes of patients who accessed the PED from the 1 October 2020 to 28 February 2021. These were compared to the same period in 2019–2021.

Results

Visits fell by 52%, from 10982 in 2019–2020 to 5317 in 2020–2021 (p < 0.0001). The reductions were 52% in neonates, 58% in infants, 53% in toddlers, 61% in preschool children, 48% in school children and 46% in adolescents. Non‐urgent and urgent triage codes declined. Respiratory and gastrointestinal infections fell by 72% and 71% respectively. Injuries declined by 42%, mainly among adolescents. Accidental intoxication, psychiatric symptoms and substance or alcohol abuse declined by 24%, 33% and 64%. Hospital admissions reduced by 8% and admissions to intensive care fell by 29%.

Conclusion

During the first winter of pandemic social distancing visits to an Italian PED fell by 52%, with higher reductions in younger children and infants, and hospital admissions fell by 8%.
Nutrient digestibility, fecal output of fractionated proteins, and ruminal fermentation parameters of goats fed a diet supplemented with spent green tea and black tea leaf silage
Authors: Kondo Makoto , Hidaka Miho , Hirano Yoshiaki , Kita Kazumi , Jayanegara Anuraga , Yokota Hiro‐omi
Published: January 2022

Spent green and black tea leaf silage (GTS and BTS, respectively) was offered as a protein supplement to goats to examine in vivo digestibility, nitrogen balance, urinary excretion of purine derivatives, and ruminal fermentation. Four castrated goats were fed a basal diet supplemented with alfalfa hay cube (AHC), GTS, or BTS in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Digestibilities of various nutrients except for nitrogen (N) fraction were unaffected by the type of supplement. Digestibility of acid detergent insoluble N (ADIN) in BTS treatment was a negative value and significantly lower than those in other treatments. Urinary N output and retained N were not significantly affected by the diets. The fecal output of neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen (NDIN) and ADIN in the BTS treatment was significantly higher than those in other treatments. Urinary excretion of purine derivatives was not affected by the treatments. Ruminal NH3‐N concentration in AHC and GTS treatments were not significantly different, but that in the BTS treatment was significantly lower than others. These results indicated that GTS is substitutable for AHC as a protein supplement, whereas BTS was able to bind proteins tightly in the digestive tract, which lowered ruminal N degradability and increase fecal N output.
What is special about conscientious objection?
Authors: Persson Ingmar
Published: January 2022

The deliverances of our conscience are heartfelt, but not necessarily reason‐based, moral convictions that concern our own behaviour. The fact that conscientious objections to a regulation, like a prohibition or obligation, express a heartfelt conviction that it is morally wrong to comply or morally permissible not to comply with the regulation provides a moral reason to respect the conviction because failing to do so is likely to cause objectors considerable suffering. But for conscientious objections to succeed in justifying exempting objectors from complying with the regulation, the suffering caused by forcing compliance must outweigh the suffering produced by exempting them from compliance. In the case of obligations, this necessitates that others with a similar competence are available to replace them. Conscientious objectors can never justifiably demand to be granted exemptions. This takes acts of generosity made feasible by favourable circumstances, such as the availability of replacements.
Differing kinetics of anti-spike protein IgGs and neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 after Comirnaty (BNT162b2) immunization
Authors: Bonura Floriana , De Grazia Simona , Bonura Celestino , Sanfilippo Giuseppa L. , Giammanco Giovanni M. , Amodio Emanuele , Ferraro Donatella
Published: January 2022

Aims

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has had a serious worldwide impact on human health. On December 2020, an immunization campaign with a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (Comirnaty-BNT162b2 Pfizer-BioNTech) was started in Italy, first targeting healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aims to investigate the antibodies that are response against SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

Methods and Results

The kinetics and the persistence of both anti-S1/S2 IgGs and neutralizing antibodies (Nt-Abs) were investigated in 76 HCWs through a 4-month follow-up with multiple testing points starting at the first dose. Temporal analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Abs titre kinetics showed three different stages, with an initial slow growth in the anti-S1/S2 IgGs and Nt-Abs titres, corresponding to the first 4 weeks after the first dose of vaccine, followed by a second stage with peaks in titres, around 35 days after the first dose, and by a third stage (38 to 90–120 days after the first dose) showing a steady decrease in anti-S1/S2 IgGs while Nt-Abs are maintained at stable levels. Moreover, the levels of specific Nt-Abs to SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein are correlated to the anti-S1/S2 IgG titre (R-squared = 0.47; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The levels of specific Nt-Abs to SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein are correlated to the anti-S1/S2 IgG titre, although Nt-Abs could maintain a more stable titre over the time despite declining IgG Abs titre.

Significance and Impact

This study highlights the kinetics and the persistence of Nt-Abs in HCWs vaccinated with Comirnaty (BNT162b2) Pfizer-BioNTech, and compared the Nt-Abs levels with anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgGs titres during a 4-month follow-up starting at the first dose of vaccine.
Ruptured brain aneurysm‐induced subarachnoid hemorrhage with concurrent myocardial infarction in a rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta)
Authors: Pan Zhixiang , Zhao Bangcheng , Tang Xun , Li Qinxi , Zhang Ting , Zhang Yingqian , Zhong Zhihui
Published: January 2022

Brain aneurysm ruptured subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH) are extremely rare except in humans. This study described a SAH caused by a ruptured anterior communication artery aneurysm and concurrent myocardial infarction, along with pneumonia and intestinal obstruction in a rhesus monkey, which is rather rare in animal experiments.
Accuracy of bedside bidimensional transcranial ultrasound versus tomodensitometric measurement of the third ventricle
Authors: Lasselin Philippe , Grousson Sebastien , Souza Netto Edmundo Pereira , Balanca Baptiste , Terrier Anne , Dailler Frederic , Haesbaert Julie , Boublay Nawele , Gory Benjamin , Berhouma Moncef , Lukaszewicz Anne‐Claire
Published: January 2022

Background and Purpose

To evaluate the accuracy of transcranial duplex sonography (TCS) for measuring the diameter of the third ventricle (DTV) and the brain midline shift (MLS), as compared to cerebral CT.

Methods

Single‐center retrospective study including 177 patients admitted to the neurological intensive care unit (NICU). We studied the correlation between TCS and CT measurements of DTV and MLS using a Bland‐Altman analysis. The best threshold of DTV to diagnose acute hydrocephalus was evaluated with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Results

We analyzed 177 pairs of CT‐TCS measurements for DTV and 165 for MLS. The mean time interval between CT and TCS was 87 ± 73 minutes. Median DTV measurement on CT was 4 ± 3 mm, and 5 ± 3 mm by TCS. Median MLS on CT was 2 ± 3 mm, and 2 ± 4 mm by TCS. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r2) was .96 between TCS and CT measurements (p < .001). The Bland‐Altman analysis found a proportional bias of 0.69 mm for the DTV with a limit of agreement ranging between –3.04 and 2.53 mm. For the MLS, the proportional bias was 0.23 mm with limits of agreements between –3.5 and 3.95. The area under the ROC curve was .97 for the detection of hydrocephalus by DTV on TCS, with a best threshold of 5.72 mm (Sensitivity [Se] = 92% Specificity [Sp] = 92.1%).

Conclusions

TCS seems to be a reliable and accurate bedside technique for measuring both DTV and MLS, which might allow detection of acute hydrocephalus among NICU patients.
‘Poorly relaxed women’: A situational analysis of pelvic examination learning materials for medical students
Authors: Towle Sarah
Published: January 2022

Background

Certain clinical pelvic examination (PE) teaching methods have been critiqued for prioritising student learning over patient autonomy and for not accurately representing diverse patient communities. As such, patient‐centred and culturally competent approaches to the PE may need further emphasis in the medical curriculum—in particular, in content delivered to students before patient interaction. Classroom materials serve as students' first exposure to the sensitive procedure. This research explores how patients are represented in these materials.

Methods

A situational analysis was conducted on 10 purposively sampled PE learning materials for the 2019/20 academic year from five undergraduate medical schools in Canada. Situational analysis focuses on analysing discourse but is epistemically aligned with post‐structuralism (most notably Foucault's theories involving discursive power) and allows for specific consideration of ‘silences’ in the data. Collected data were analysed using cartographic approaches according to this methodology, with particular attention paid to the tenets and frameworks of patient‐centred and culturally competent care.

Results

Overall, content in these materials misrepresented and under‐represented patients. Materials contained both outdated and unnecessarily sexualised language, in addition to a lack of patient diversity. Clinical authority was often centred over patient agency, and several updated PE techniques known to improve patient experience were absent. Patient‐centred and culturally competent approaches were therefore inadequately highlighted in most of the materials.

Conclusions

Depictions contained in these materials may be perpetuating stereotypes and biases in medicine and may be working to maintain teaching practices that cause harm to patients (standardised and regular) who students interact with in both clinical and educational settings. Efforts may be needed to improve classroom materials on the PE so that they more adequately centre patients and provide opportunities to discuss culturally competent approaches to the procedure that (i) may not be covered in other parts of the PE curriculum and (ii) can reduce known health disparities.
Populism and nationalism revisited: A comparative study of the Spanish and Portuguese New Left
Authors: da Silva Filipe Carreira , Manucci Luca , Veloso Larraz David
Published: January 2022

Current definitions of populism are insufficiently determinate. They fail to distinguish between populism and nationalism. We propose to remedy this problem by advancing a new definition of populism as the logic of democratic resentment. We apply this new definition to a comparison between Spain's Podemos and Portugal's Left Bloc (BE), which we classify as social carriers of populism. We make two contributions to the literature. First, our findings dispute existing characterisations of the Portuguese case, which fail to distinguish between populist and nationalist claim‐making. Second, our analysis undermines depictions of Podemos as the consummate populist party in Iberia: In 2015, the little studied BE was a stronger populist carrier than Podemos. The analytical framework underpinning this conclusion offers a more refined approach to populism than the alternatives and sets a higher standard for empirical replication.
Practical Considerations for Serving as an Expert Witness for Central American Asylum Cases
Authors: Metz Brent
Published: January 2022

The decision for academics, especially ethnographers whose contributions involve rapport and friendship, to serve as expert witnesses, particularly for the growing numbers of applicants from northern Central America, should involve ethical and professional considerations. While expert witnesses do not determine the veracity of individual cases, they should at least reflect when people from populations they know are disadvantaged and under various threats call for help. Professionally, academics should ask if they are really “experts” for the cases at hand, the cases are credible, and the number of requests they can handle before compromising other work obligations.
Rapid response to dupilumab treatment in children with moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis: A case series
Authors: Votto Martina , Delle Cave Francesco , De Filippo Maria , Marseglia Alessia , Marseglia Gian Luigi , Brazzelli Valeria , Licari Amelia
Published: January 2022

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin disease characterized by itch and clinical heterogeneity regarding the age of onset, morphology, distribution, and severity of lesions. Severe AD has a significant impact on the quality of life of affected children and their caregivers. Children with moderate‐severe AD inadequately controlled with topical therapy have limited treatment options, such as systemic corticosteroids or phototherapy, often prescribed as off‐label treatments, often with unfavorable benefit‐to‐risk ratio adverse events. Dupilumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody with proven effectiveness and a relatively safe adverse effect profile in patients with type 2 inflammatory diseases, including AD. We report three pediatric cases of severe AD successfully treated with dupilumab.
Idylla MSI test combined with immunohistochemistry is a valuable and cost effective strategy to search for microsatellite instable tumors of noncolorectal origin
Authors: Samaison Laura , Uguen Arnaud
Published: January 2022

Recent diagnostic and therapeutic progresses have increased the need of searching for microsatellite instability (MSI) in cancer samples beyond colorectal cancer (CRC) ones. The availability of the fully‐automated Idylla MSI test (Biocartis), implementable easily in pathology laboratories, offers the opportunity to reconsider MSI diagnostic strategies towards rapid and in‐house diagnosis. In this study, we evaluate the performances and cost‐effectiveness of an in‐house Idylla MSI testing in comparison with an externalized testing of about 54 non‐CRC tumor samples. The Idylla MSI test concluded in valid analyses in 53/54 (98.1%) tumor samples with MSI statuses concordant with external molecular and immunohistochemical testing in 50/53 (94.3%) samples. Wrong Idylla MSI test results were obtained in 3/53 (5.7%) samples. Manual checking of microsatellite analyses results and confrontation between the results of Idylla and immunohistochemical analyses have permitted detection and correction of the discrepancies. The implementation of an in‐house Idylla MSI testing for non‐CRC tumors, necessarily combined with immunohistochemistry searching for MSI tumors, appeared not only valuable in terms of performances, but also in terms of cost‐effectiveness without increasing the analyses‐related costs but decreasing dramatically their turnaround times to one single working day.
An empirical analysis of Colombia's trade liberalization process and its effect on the equilibrium of its structural trade deficit
Authors: Abreo Carlos , Bustillo Ricardo , Rodriguez Carlos
Published: January 2022

This article examines the extent to which Colombia's trade liberalization, as a government strategy to boost its exports, has helped to balance its structural trade deficit. Based on the trade gravity model theory, we derive two‐way specifications (Colombian exports and imports) in order to analyze bilateral trade flows (fuels and non‐fuels) between Colombia and 136 countries from 2005 to 2018. Additionally, we compare the real export performance of Colombia with its main partners through the trade potential index (TPI), to assess the effect of Colombia's openness on bilateral trade. The econometric approach indicates that the free trade agreement (FTA) factor has a negative net effect on Colombia's exports and a positive net impact on Colombia's imports. Finally, the TPI analysis allows us to infer that although there is an evolution towards the intensification of Colombian trade, this trend is greater in imports than in exports, which suggests a deepening of the Colombian trade deficit.
Use of a bone‐to‐tendon plate to stabilize a comminuted calcaneus fracture in a dog
Authors: Evers Johanna S. , Kim Stanley E.
Published: January 2022

Objective

To report the use of an ancillary plate spanning from the calcaneus to the common calcaneal tendon to stabilize a comminuted fracture in a dog.

Study design

Case report

Animals

Two year old male neutered mix‐breed dog.

Methods

The dog presented for a grade IIIa open highly comminuted fracture of the shaft and tuber of the left calcaneus from a suspected gunshot wound. Plantar and lateral locking plates were applied to the calcaneus, with the lateral plate extending proximally and sutured directly to the common calcaneal tendon. Autogenous cancellous and allogenic corticocancellous bone grafts were placed into the fracture site, and a human placental matrix was injected after closure. A lateral tarsal splint was applied for 17 weeks postoperatively. The lateral bone‐to‐tendon plate was replaced with a smaller lateral plate spanning only the calcaneus 9 weeks after the initial surgery.

Results

Radiographic union was documented at 17 weeks. At 25 weeks, both plates were removed due to suspected implant associated infection. At the final follow‐up assessment, 36 weeks after initial surgery, the dog had returned to normal function with no observable lameness.

Conclusion

Incorporation of the common calcaneal tendon as a proximal segment for plate fixation led to successful union of a highly comminuted calcaneal fracture.
Non-Verbal Communication Means in the Contemporary Art
Authors: Derkach Svitlana , Melnyk Myroslava , Fisher Volodymyr , Moiseienko Volodymyr , Sovhyra Tetiana
Published: January 2022

The relevance of this work is due to the significant spread of various concepts on the basic ways of generating diverse, modern shows of the entertainment genre with a wide range of non-verbal means of communication. Non-verbal communication means serve as mediators in art but due to the fact that in contemporary art, the communication between the audience and the author is not sufficiently arranged, there are gaps in the information message perceiving. The authors aimed to study the communication barriers related to non-verbal communication means, as well as to find the solutions for the problems that arise in this context. The following methods were used: analysis and synthesis, comparison, descriptive method, method of abstraction. Trends in cooperation developing between the authors and the subjects of receiving information were identified. The psychological and social researches’ data on the different signals impact on the information receiving efficiency were analyzed. Features and characteristics of the non-verbal communication means, their relationships, similarities and differences were identified. As a result of the research, the basic concepts of creating a show in the XXI century with the involvement of non-verbal communication, their effectiveness in the development of the industry at this stage, as well as possible directions for future development were described.
PDGFRα+ subepithelial interstitial cells act as a pacemaker to drive smooth muscle of the guinea pig seminal vesicle
Authors: Takeya Mitsue , Higashi Ryuhei , Hashitani Hikaru , Nakamura Kei‐ichiro , Hayashi Tokumasa , Nakashima Noriyuki , Takano Makoto
Published: January 2022

Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of the guinea pig seminal vesicle (SV) develop spontaneous phasic contractions, Ca2+ flashes and electrical slow waves in a mucosa‐dependent manner, and thus it was envisaged that pacemaker cells reside in the mucosa. Here, we aimed to identify the pacemaker cells in SV mucosa using intracellular microelectrode and fluorescence Ca2+ imaging techniques. Morphological characteristics of the mucosal pacemaker cells were also investigated using focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy tomography and fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Two populations of mucosal cells developed spontaneous Ca2+ transients and electrical activity, namely basal epithelial cells (BECs) and subepithelial interstitial cells (SICs). Pancytokeratin‐immunoreactive BECs were located on the apical side of the basement membrane (BM) and generated asynchronous, irregular spontaneous Ca2+ transients and spontaneous transient depolarisations (STDs). The spontaneous Ca2+ transients and STDs were not diminished by 10 μM nifedipine but abolished by 10 μM cyclopiazonic acid (CPA). Platelet‐derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα)‐immunoreactive SICs were distributed just beneath the basal side of the BM and developed synchronous Ca2+ oscillations and electrical slow waves, which were suppressed by 3 μM nifedipine and abolished by 10 μM CPA. In SV mucosal preparations in which some smooth muscle bundles remained attached, SICs and residual SMCs developed temporally correlated spontaneous Ca2+ transients. Neurobiotin injected into SICs spread not only to neighbouring SICs but also to neighbouring SMCs or vice versa. These results suggest that PDGFRα+ SICs electrotonically drive the spontaneous contractions of SV smooth muscle.

Key points

In many visceral smooth muscle organs, spontaneous contractions are electrically driven by non‐muscular pacemaker cells. In guinea pig seminal vesicles (SVs), as yet unidentified mucosal cells appear to drive neighbouring smooth muscle cells (SMCs).

Two populations of spontaneously active cells are distributed in the SV mucosa. Basal epithelial cells (BECs) generate asynchronous, irregular spontaneous Ca2+ transients and spontaneous transient depolarisations (STDs). In contrast, subepithelial interstitial cells (SICs) develop synchronous Ca2+ oscillations and electrical slow waves.

Pancytokeratin‐immunoreactive (IR) BECs are located on the apical side of the basement membrane (BM), while platelet‐derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα)‐IR SICs are located on the basal side of the BM.

Spontaneous Ca2+ transients in SICs are synchronised with those in SV SMCs. Dye‐coupling between SICs and SMCs suggests that SICs act as pacemaker cells to drive the spontaneous contractions of SV smooth muscle.
Stochastic Simultaneous Stabilization and Parking Control of the Brockett Integrator
Authors: Do K. D.
Published: January 2022

This paper proposes a design of stochastic control laws for simultaneous stabilization and parking (i.e., tracking a reference trajectory that converges to the desired configuration) of the Brockett integrator based on Lyapunov's direct method, recent developments in the stabilization of stochastic systems, and Itô's formula for nonsmooth (weakly differentiable) functions. The control laws use two independent Wiener processes with the same covariance and the reference trajectory update. The proposed control design guarantees global K∞-exponential stability of the closed-loop system in probability.
Multifunctional Magnetic Nanocomposite Encapsulant for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding in Power Electronics
Authors: Carlton Hayden , Iradukunda Ange , Imran Asif , Myane Sarah , Akey Noah , Luo Fang , Huitink David
Published: January 2022

As power densities and switching frequencies dramatically increase in wide bandgap power electronics, electromagnetic interference (EMI) increasingly impacts power conversion efficiency, and reliability, which requires mitigation for effective operation. Herein, we propose a nanocomposite encapsulant created by directly incorporating magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles into a silicone matrix for the purpose of EMI shielding. The addition of small amounts of particles to the silicone resulted in a 1.7 dBμV drop in EMI intensity; however, the addition of the iron oxide reduced the dielectric breakdown strength of the silicone matrix by 83% with respect to concentration. Further efforts to optimize the dielectric properties of the nanocomposites with respect to the nanoparticle loading are necessary to directly apply this technology; yet the results indicate that magnetic nanocomposites could be a potential avenue toward mitigating EMI in power devices.
Monitoring Shearing-Plowing Transitions in Micro-Milling Using Fluctuations in Cutting Forces
Authors: Varghese Alwin , Kulkarni Vinay , Joshi Suhas S.
Published: January 2022

In micromilling, understanding transitions between the desired shearing-dominant to the undesired plowing-dominant cutting mechanism could help obtain high quality microfeatures. This work investigates the transitions in cutting mechanisms in micromilling using fluctuations in cutting force signals, characterized by using a fluctuation parameter. A new analytical model correlating fluctuation in force signals to the transitions in cutting mechanism has been developed. Two types of slot milling experiments were performed to understand the transitions in cutting mechanisms, as a function of processing parameters, and over the entire life of micro-endmills. The proposed model was found to agree with experimental values of forces within 15% error. The limiting value of the fluctuation parameter has been estimated as 0.01, which corresponds to a limiting feed of 1 μm/tooth. Feed per tooth and cutting edge radius are the important parameters that affect transitions in cutting mechanisms. The cutting mechanism changes from shearing to plowing and vice-versa over the entire life of the tool. Shearing-dominant mechanism prevailed in the first region due to the sharper cutting edges with radius less than 9 μm. Though plowing-dominant cutting mechanism prevails in the remaining two regions, the mechanism comes closer to shearing-dominant near the end of tool life. This is primarily because of the generation of localized sharpness on tool cutting edges due to chipping. Furthermore, it was evident that cutting mechanism changes from shearing to plowing due to wear, when surface roughness increases above 400 nm Ra.
A local-realistic theory for fermions
Authors: Tibau Vidal Nicetu , Vedral Vlatko , Marletto Chiara
Published: January 2022

We propose a local model for general fermionic systems, which we express in the Heisenberg picture. To this end, we shall use a recently proposed formalism, the so-called “Raymond-Robichaud” construction, which allows one to construct an explicitly local model for any dynamical theory that satisfies no-signaling, in terms of equivalence classes of transformations that can be attached to each individual subsystem. By following the rigorous use of the parity superselection rule for fermions, we show how this construction removes the usual difficulties that fermionic systems display in regard to the definition of local states and local transformations.
A better index for analysis of co-occurrence and similarity
Authors: Mainali Kumar P. , Slud Eric , Singer Michael C. , Fagan William F.
Published: January 2022

Scientists often need to know whether pairs of entities tend to occur together or independently. Standard approaches to this issue use co-occurrence indices such as Jaccard, Sørensen-Dice, and Simpson. We show that these indices are sensitive to the prevalences of the entities they describe and that this invalidates their interpretability. We propose an index, α, that is insensitive to prevalences. Published datasets reanalyzed with both α and Jaccard’s index (
J
) yield profoundly different biological inferences. For example, a published analysis using
J
contradicted predictions of the island biogeography theory finding that community stability increased with increasing physical isolation. Reanalysis of the same dataset with the estimator

α
ˆ

reversed that result and supported theoretical predictions. We found similarly marked effects in reanalyses of antibiotic cross-resistance and human disease biomarkers. Our index α is not merely an improvement; its use changes data interpretation in fundamental ways.
Weeds Harbor an Impressive Diversity of Fungi, Which Offers Possibilities for Biocontrol
Authors: Triolet Marion , Edel-Hermann Véronique , Gautheron Nadine , Mondy Samuel , Reibel Carole , André Olivier , Guillemin Jean-Philippe , Steinberg Christian
Published: January 2022

This approach is original because the diversity of weed-colonizing fungi has rarely been studied before. Furthermore, targeting both the ITS1 and ITS2 regions to characterize the fungal communities (i) highlighted the complementarity of these two regions, (ii) revealed a great diversity of weed-colonizing fungi, and (iii) allowed for the identification of potential mycoherbicides, among which were unexpected genera.
Draft Genome Sequence of Francisella tularensis subsp.
holarctica
Strain H0001, Isolated from a Tularemia Patient in the Republic of Korea
Authors: No Jin Sun , Kim Il-Hwan , Choi Chi-Hwan , Jeon Jun Ho , Rhie Gi-eun
Published: January 2022

Francisella tularensis
is the etiological agent of the zoonosis tularemia. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
F. tularensis
subsp.
holarctica
H0001, which was isolated from a tularemia patient in the Republic of Korea.
Effectiveness of physical activity monitors in adults: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Larsen Rasmus Tolstrup , Wagner Vibeke , Korfitsen Christoffer Bruun , Keller Camilla , Juhl Carsten Bogh , Langberg Henning , Christensen Jan
Published: January 2022

Objective

To estimate the effectiveness of physical activity monitor (PAM) based interventions among adults and explore reasons for the heterogeneity.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Study selection

The electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched on 4 June 2021. Eligible randomised controlled trials compared interventions in which adults received feedback from PAMs with control interventions in which no feedback was provided. No restrictions on type of outcome measurement, publication date, or language were applied.

Data extraction and synthesis

Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Random effects meta-analyses were used to synthesise the results. The certainty of evidence was rated by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Main outcome measures

The three primary outcomes of interest were physical activity, moderate to vigorous physical activity, and sedentary time.

Results

121 randomised controlled trials with 141 study comparisons, including 16 743 participants, were included. The PAM based interventions showed a moderate effect (standardised mean difference 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.28 to 0.55) on physical activity, equivalent to 1235 daily steps; a small effect (0.23, 0.16 to 0.30) on moderate to vigorous physical activity, equivalent to 48.5 weekly minutes; and a small insignificant effect (−0.12, −0.25 to 0.01) on sedentary time, equal to 9.9 daily minutes. All outcomes favoured the PAM interventions.

Conclusions

The certainty of evidence was low for the effect of PAM based interventions on physical activity and moderate for moderate to vigorous physical activity and sedentary time. PAM based interventions are safe and effectively increase physical activity and moderate to vigorous physical activity. The effect on physical activity and moderate to vigorous physical activity is well established but might be overestimated owing to publication bias.

Study registration

PROSPERO CRD42018102719.
Partial least squares regression and principal component analysis: similarity and differences between two popular variable reduction approaches
Authors: Liu Chenyu , Zhang Xinlian , Nguyen Tanya T , Liu Jinyuan , Wu Tsungchin , Lee Ellen , Tu Xin M
Published: January 2022

In many statistical applications, composite variables are constructed to reduce the number of variables and improve the performances of statistical analyses of these variables, especially when some of the variables are highly correlated. Principal component analysis (PCA) and factor analysis (FA) are generally used for such purposes. If the variables are used as explanatory or independent variables in linear regression analysis, partial least squares (PLS) regression is a better alternative. Unlike PCA and FA, PLS creates composite variables by also taking into account the response, or dependent variable, so that they have higher correlations with the response than composites from their PCA and FA counterparts. In this report, we provide an introduction to this useful approach and illustrate it with data from a real study.
Oysters beget shell and vice versa: generating management goals for live oysters and the associated reef to promote maximum sustainable yield of Crassostrea virginica
Authors: Solinger Laura K. , Ashton-Alcox Kathy A. , Powell Eric N. , Hemeon Kathleen M. , Pace Sara M. , Soniat Thomas M. , Poussard Leanne M.
Published: January 2022

Populations of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) have experienced declines from overfishing and disease throughout much of its US range, though development of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) management criteria has been elusive. This is due in part to the discordance between oyster spawning stock and recruits, as the classic stock–recruitment model does not account for the requirement of shell substrate on which recruits settle. This issue was recently addressed with the development of a surface area–recruitment model, which is herein incorporated into a simulation analysis to estimate MSY-based reference points for C. virginica in the Delaware Bay. Simulations demonstrate that at low natural mortality, fishing mortality (F) may be sustainable at values between 10% and 15%; however, if disease or other mortality-enhancing processes occur, the margin of error in fishing is small and may quickly lead to population and reef collapse, emphasizing a precautionary F < 10%. The MSY-based reference points generated here provide rebuilding goals for the oyster fishery and reef management on fished and unfished reefs and the framework from which shell-planting can be incorporated and optimized in the future.
Primordial black holes in nonminimal derivative coupling inflation with quartic potential and reheating consideration
Authors: Heydari Soma , Karami Kayoomars
Published: January 2022

We investigate the generation of primordial black holes (PBHs) with the aid of gravitationally increased friction mechanism originated from the nonminimal field derivative coupling (NMDC) to gravity framework, with the quartic potential. Applying the coupling parameter as a two-parted function of inflaton field and fine-tuning of five parameter assortments we can acquire ultra slow-roll phase to slow down the inflaton field due to high friction. This enables us to achieve enough enhancement in the amplitude of curvature perturbations power spectra to generate PBHs with different masses. The reheating stage is considered to obtain criteria for PBHs generation during radiation dominated era. We demonstrate that three cases of asteroid mass PBHs ($$10^{-12}M_{\odot }$$

10

-
12

M
⊙

, $$10^{-13}M_{\odot }$$

10

-
13

M
⊙

, and $$10^{-15}M_{\odot })$$

10

-
15

M
⊙

)

can be very interesting candidates for comprising $$100\%$$

100
%

, $$98.3\%$$

98.3
%

and $$99.1\%$$

99.1
%

of the total dark matter (DM) content of the universe. Moreover, we analyse the production of induced Gravitational Waves (GWs), and illustrate that their spectra of current density parameter $$({\Omega _{{\mathrm{GW}}_\mathrm{0}}})$$

(

Ω

GW
0

)

for all parameter Cases foretold by our model have climaxes which cut the sensitivity curves of GWs detectors, ergo the veracity of our outcomes can be tested in light of these detectors. At last, our numerical results exhibit that the spectra of $${\Omega _{{\mathrm{GW}}_\mathrm{0}}}$$

Ω

GW
0

behave as a power-law function with respect to frequency, $${\Omega _{{\mathrm{GW}}_\mathrm{0}}} (f) \sim (f/f_c)^{n} $$

Ω

GW
0

(
f
)

∼

(
f
/

f
c

)

n

, in the vicinity of climaxes. Also, in the infrared regime $$f\ll f_{c}$$

f
≪

f
c

, the power index satisfies the relation $$n=3-2/\ln (f_c/f)$$

n
=
3
-
2
/
ln
(

f
c

/
f
)

.
An extended car-following model accounting for average optimal velocity difference and backward-looking effect based on the Internet of Vehicles environment
Authors: Ma Minghui , Xiao Jiacheng , Liang Shidong , Hou Jiajie
Published: January 2022

Communication technology has achieved unprecedented development in recent years, and its applications in transportation systems and automobiles are also increasing. During driving, the driver obtains not only traffic information through observation but also more traffic information beyond the visual range through the Internet of Vehicles (IoV). Therefore, to better describe the evolution law of traffic flow in the IoV environment and to provide some theoretical and strategic support for the coming of the autonomous driving era in the future, an extended car-following model accounting for average optimal velocity difference and backward-looking effect based on IoV environment is proposed. The linear analysis and nonlinear analysis of the model are calculated separately, and the neutral stability curve and the coexistence curve together prove the validity of the model. Subsequently, the numerical simulation verified the accuracy of the theoretical analysis and also proved that the extended model can enhance the stability of traffic flow.
Joint Damage Identification in Frame Structures by Integrating a New Damage Index with Equilibrium Optimizer Algorithm
Authors: Aval Seyed Bahram Beheshti , Mohebian Pooya
Published: January 2022

Beam-column joints are responsible for maintaining the integrity and stability of frame structures, and any damage to these critical components can endanger the overall safety and reliability of the structure. Hence, early detection of structural joint damage is of paramount importance. However, most of the available structural damage identification methods focus on identifying damage in structural members, and relatively fewer methods have been developed so far for assessing damage in structural joints. In view of this, the present study proposes a new two-stage method for joint damage identification of frame structures. In the first stage, an efficient damage indicator, called residual moment-based joint damage index (RMBJDI), is developed and applied to detect the location of potentially damaged joints. This damage indicator can help to reduce the number of involved damage variables by excluding healthy joints from the problem. In the second stage, the reduced dimension damage identification problem is formulated as an optimization problem and is further tackled by employing a robust meta-heuristic algorithm, namely equilibrium optimizer (EO), to determine the damage severity of suspected damaged joints. In order to assess the capability and effectiveness of the presented joint damage identification method, two numerical examples of frame structures are conducted under both noise-free and noisy conditions. The results demonstrate that the proposed two-stage method, which integrates RMBJDI with EO, is a highly accurate and powerful tool for localizing and quantifying the joint damage in frame structures.
Graphs Based on Equality Algebras
Authors: Kologani M. Aaly , Muhiuddin G. , Borzooei R. A. , Rezaei G. R.
Published: January 2022

In this paper, we introduce new kinds of graphs based on equality algebras. First of all, by using the meet operation we define the notion of zero divisors on equality algebra and study related properties. Then we introduce a meet graph on equality algebra by using zero divisors. In addition, we investigate some conditions for a meet graph to be a complete, connected and a star graph. Also, by using the notion of filters in equality algebras, we define an equivalence relation on equality algebras and then by using the equivalence classes we introduce two kinds of graphs on them. Finally, conditions for a graph based on these classes to be connected, or bipartite, or complete, or planar or an outer-planar graph are provided.
Hydrodynamic and Heat Transfer Characteristics of Miniature Stirling Cryocooler Regenerators — A Review
Authors: Kumar V. V. Kishor
Published: January 2022

Miniature Stirling coolers are preferred to provide cryogenic cooling for infra-red (IR) sensors used for communication, military, and space applications. They provide 0.25–1.5[Formula: see text]W of cooling effect at 60–80[Formula: see text]K. Miniature Stirling coolers used for space applications are time tested, reliable, and have the maximum COP compared to other types of coolers. Helium is used as the working fluid because of its low boiling point, high thermal conductivity, high ratio of specific heat, and inert gas properties. A regenerator is the primary heat exchanger in the system, which periodically exchanges heat with the cold and hot gases passing through the regenerator material. The effectiveness of the regenerator is the most important parameter influencing the cooling effect produced by the system. For the optimum performance of the cryocooler, the regenerator should have maximum heat transfer area, minimum void volume, minimum pressure drop, large heat capacity ratio between the matrix material and gas, and minimum longitudinal conduction. Since some of these requirements are conflicting in nature, the design of the regenerator becomes a challenge in the overall design of the cooler. A state-of-the-art review of regenerator materials, designs, and operation is presented in this study. The different sources of regenerator losses and the issues related to regenerator design and optimization are discussed in detail. Results of various experimental and numerical investigations conducted on a Stirling regenerator are discussed and the recent developments in material selection and design are highlighted.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: New Concepts and Therapies
Authors: Maron Barry J. , Rowin Ethan J. , Maron Martin S.
Published: January 2022

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a relatively common, globally distributed, and often inherited myocardial disorder, transformed over the last several years into a treatable condition with the emergence of effective management options that alter natural history at all ages. Now available are a matured risk stratification algorithm selecting patients for prophylactic implantable defibrillators that prevent arrhythmic sudden death; low-risk, high-benefit surgical myectomy to reverse progressive heart failure symptoms due to left ventricular outflow obstruction; anticoagulation prophylaxis to prevent atrial fibrillation–mediated embolic stroke; and heart transplant for refractory end-stage disease in the absence of obstruction. Those strategies have resulted in reduction of HCM-related morbidity and reduction of mortality to 0.5% per year.