bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A framework for economic evaluation of therapeutic drug monitoring—guided dosing in oncology
Authors: Erku Daniel , Schneider Jennifer , Scuffham Paul
Published: September 2021

The standard approach for dose individualization of chemotherapy in the oncology setting has long been based on body surface area (BSA) as a measure of body size. However, for many anticancer drugs, administration of dosages based on BSA may result in some patients receiving supratherapeutic or subtherapeutic concentrations due to substantial interindividual pharmacokinetic variability. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)–guided dosing aims to ensure that the patient's serum drug concentration is in a target range which has been shown to produce optimal clinical outcomes. The management of several malignancies is now moving away from using traditional intravenous chemotherapy to longer‐term treatment with targeted molecular therapies. These targeted anticancer drugs are currently dosed based on a fixed dose for all patients. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of most of these drugs (e.g., tyrosine‐kinase inhibitors) support implementation of individualized dosing via TDM. However, prior to adopting TDM–guided dosing in oncology settings, the economic efficiency and value for money of introducing TDM interventions should be critically and systematically examined along with the impacts on patient care and outcomes. Yet, current evidence in this area is limited, and more generally, there is lack of methodological guidance on how to identify, estimate and value clinical and cost information necessary to conduct economic evaluations of TDM interventions. In this paper, we propose a coherent framework for conducting economic evaluation of TDM interventions in oncology settings and discuss some practical challenges of conducting economic evaluations of TDM.
Thermal runaway behavior and hazard evaluation of cumene hydroperoxide mixed separately with four products under adiabatic conditions coupled with risk matrix method
Authors: Yu Chang‐Fei , Liu Shang‐Hao , Wang Wen‐Tao , Xu Rui‐Jie
Published: September 2021

Runaway reactions of organic peroxides (OPs) are a significant issue in process safety, due to their fragile bonds and extensive heat release during abnormal conditions. As one of the typical OPs and an intermediate in the process of producing phenol, cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) is likely to mix with its products and lead to an uncontrollable self‐accelerating decomposition reaction. In this study, the thermal hazard of CHP mixed with four products separately was evaluated and identified using accelerating rate calorimeter technology. Experimental data illustrated that the maximum pressure rise rate had greatly increased from 1.1 to 15.5, 18.3, and 41.5 bar min−1, and the maximum self‐heating rate had dreadfully raised from 5.4 to 107.7, 116.9, and 231.0°C min−1, when CHP mixed with its products from methanol to phenol, acetophenone, or dimethylphenyl carbinol, respectively. These phenomena indicated a precarious and dangerous reaction decomposition mechanism of CHP after its products mixed under runaway conditions. This work is expected to help researchers and even industrial workers to better identify the potential thermal hazard of CHP in the presence of products; in particular, experimental and calculated parameters are necessary for the appropriate choice of safe conditions of application, waste disposal, storage, and transportation of CHP.
Reversibly Tuning the Optical Properties of Defective Transition‐Metal Dichalcogenide Monolayers
Authors: Bahmani Mohammad , Lorke Michael , Faghihnasiri Mahdi , Frauenheim Thomas
Published: September 2021

Potential applications of monolayer of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) in optoelectronic and flexible devices are under heavy investigation. Although TMD monolayers are highly robust to external mechanical fields, their electronic structure is sensitive to compressive and tensile strain. In addition, intrinsic point defects are present in synthesized samples of these 2D materials which leads to the modification of their electronic and optical properties. Presence of vacancy complexes leads to absorption with larger dipole matrix elements in comparison with the case of simple transition metal vacancies. Using first principles calculations, the effect of various strain situations on the absorption spectra of such defective monolayers is scrutinized and also shows that strain engineering allows for reversible tuning of the optical properties.
Fault tolerant consensus of multiple nonholonomic chained‐form systems with actuator and communication faults
Authors: Zhang Zejun , Yang Hao , Jiang Bin
Published: September 2021

This article investigates the fault tolerant consensus problem of multiple nonholonomic chained‐form systems with both actuator and communication faults. The systems are enabled to follow a reference trajectory and realize practical consensus, by applying distributed reference state observers and robust adaptive fault tolerant control (FTC) strategies. The proposed state observers are robust to communication faults and can estimate the actual reference trajectory for each system. Based on such an observer, a robust adaptive FTC scheme is further provided to address actuator faults. A sine function is injected into the FTC law to relax the persistent excitation condition to avoid uncontrollability of the two‐input chained‐form system when one of reference control input tends to zero. Simulation result of wheeled mobile robots shows the effectiveness of proposed FTC methods.
Robust model predictive control for hypersonic vehicle with state‐dependent input constraints and parameter uncertainty
Authors: Hu Chaofang , Yang Xiaohe , Wei Xiaofang , Hu Yongtai
Published: September 2021

In this article, a robust model predictive control strategy based on sum‐of‐squares (SOS‐RMPC) is proposed for hypersonic vehicle with state‐dependent input constraints and uncertain parameters. Based on feedback linearization model of hypersonic vehicle, the polytopic linear parameter varying error model with bounded disturbance is established for reference trajectory tracking. The real limits of the actual control inputs are transformed into the constraints of the virtual inputs equivalently with the state‐dependent nonlinear functions. Further, the multivariate linear fitting is used to approximate the state‐dependent input constraints into polynomials. A weighted composite virtual control is formulated as the combination of unconstrained control and auxiliary control. SOS technique is introduced to cast the polynomial constraints into the convex matrix SOS conditions via linear matrix inequality. The virtual control law can be obtained by solving a SOS‐RMPC convex optimization with infinite horizon. The invariant set is designed for the undisturbed error states and the norm‐bounding theory is applied to ensure that the predictive error states with disturbance can remain in the same invariant set. The real control law is obtained by inverse control. The simulation verifies the performance of the designed controller.
Choked out: Battling invasive giant cane along the Rio Grande/Bravo Borderlands
Authors: Briggs Mark K. , Poulos Helen M. , Renfrow Jeffrey , Ochoa‐Espinoza Javier , Larson David , Manning Patricia , Sirotnak Joseph , Crawford Kelon
Published: September 2021

Along the U.S.‐Mexico border, an aggressive non‐native grass, giant cane (Arundo donax), grows in dense, nearly impenetrable stands along hundreds of kilometers of the Rio Grande/Bravo (RGB). Between 2008 and 2018, a diverse, multisector binational‐team repeatedly treated giant cane with prescribed fire and herbicide along 90 km of this binational river to restore aquatic and riparian habitat and native plant community composition. The large geographic scale, binational management response, treatment methods used, and development of a long‐term monitoring program to quantify treatment impacts on the RGB's riparian plant community underscore the unique aspects of this effort. Results of this decade‐long management experiment indicate that (i) the combination of a primary treatment of giant cane (using prescribed fire followed 4–6 weeks later by herbicide treatment of regrowth) and a secondary treatment (spot treatment of regrowth one or more years following primary treatment) was effective in reducing the extent and distribution of giant cane at relatively low cost, (ii) giant cane re‐establishment following treatment is often not rapid, nor dramatic; and (iii) as revealed by analysis of riparian vegetation monitoring data, eradication of dense stands of giant cane have fostered significant and long‐term reduction in giant cane cover and recovery of native woody riparian plant taxa. Important caveats to the long‐term viability of managing giant cane hinge on better understanding the consequences of herbicide use, securing funding to cover the cost of re‐treatment, and continuing river flow management focused on promoting the recovery of native riparian obligate plants over non‐natives.
Combinatorial and stochastic properties of ranked tree‐child networks
Authors: Bienvenu François , Lambert Amaury , Steel Mike
Published: September 2021

Tree‐child networks are a class of directed acyclic graphs that have recently risen to prominence in phylogenetics. Although these networks have numerous, attractive mathematical properties, many combinatorial questions concerning them remain intractable. We show that endowing tree‐child networks with a biologically relevant ranking structure yields mathematically tractable objects, which we term ranked tree‐child networks (RTCNs). We derive explicit enumerative formulas and explain how to sample RTCNS uniformly at random. We study the properties of uniform RTCNs, including: lengths of random walks between root and leaves; distribution of number of cherries in the network; and sampling RTCNs conditional on displaying a given tree. We also formulate a conjecture regarding the scaling limit of the process counting the number of lineages in the ancestry of a leaf. The main idea in this paper, namely using ranking as a way to achieve combinatorial tractability, may also extend to other classes of networks.
A study of detection of abnormal network traffic: A comparison of multiple algorithms
Authors: Li Yanting
Published: September 2021

The detection of abnormal traffic in networks is of great value for maintaining network security. This article gives a brief introduction of abnormal traffic and compares the performance of three algorithms, the support vector domain description algorithm, the gradient boosting decision tree algorithm, and the extreme learning machine‐k‐nearest neighbor (ELM‐KNN) algorithm. Experiments were carried out on the NSL‐KDD dataset. It was found that the accuracies of the three algorithms were 0.8327, 0.8679, and 0.9468, the recall rates were 0.6764, 0.7236, and 0.8997, the F1‐scores were 0.7898, 0.8364, and 0.9578, and the false alarm rates were 0.3236, 0.2764, and 0.1003. The running time of the ELM‐KNN algorithm was far less than the other two algorithms. The experimental results verify the effectiveness of the ELM‐KNN algorithm in abnormal network traffic detection. The ELM‐KNN algorithm can be further promoted and applied in practice.
Analytic results for two-loop planar master integrals for Bhabha scattering
Authors: Duhr Claude , Smirnov Vladimir A. , Tancredi Lorenzo
Published: September 2021

Abstract

We analytically evaluate the master integrals for the second type of planar contributions to the massive two-loop Bhabha scattering in QED using differential equations with canonical bases. We obtain results in terms of multiple polylogarithms for all the master integrals but one, for which we derive a compact result in terms of elliptic multiple polylogarithms. As a byproduct, we also provide a compact analytic result in terms of elliptic multiple polylogarithms for an integral belonging to the first family of planar Bhabha integrals, whose computation in terms of polylogarithms was addressed previously in the literature.
Relationship between malnutrition and the presence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in hospitalized cancer patients
Authors: Sánchez-Torralvo Francisco José , Contreras-Bolívar Victoria , Ruiz-Vico María , Abuín-Fernández José , González-Almendros Inmaculada , Barrios Manuel , Olveira Gabriel
Published: September 2021

Background

Anxiety and depression are a common issue in patients with cancer, yet understudied among hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptomatology in cancer inpatients and its relationship with malnutrition.

Methods

Cross-sectional study in hospitalized cancer patients. A nutritional assessment was done using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria to diagnose malnutrition. Data regarding anxiety and depression symptomatology was obtained with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Results

A total of 282 inpatients were assessed. GLIM criteria found 20% (66) of well-nourished and 80% (216) with malnutrition. HADS presented an average score of 8.3 ± 4.4 with respect to anxiety and an average score of 7.7 ± 4.6 with respect to depression. Up to 54% of the patients showed a possible presence of anxiety, and 45.3% of them showed a possible presence of depression. In malnourished patients, HADS score was non-significantly higher with respect to anxiety (8.5 ± 4.3 in malnourished vs 7.1 ± 4.6 in well-nourished; p = 0.06) and was significantly higher with respect to depression (8.2 ± 4.6 in malnourished vs 5.3 ± 4.0 in well-nourished; p < 0.001). After controlling for potential confounders, malnourished patients were 1.98 times more likely to present anxious symptomatology (95% CI 1.01–3.98; p = 0.049) and 6.29 times more likely to present depressive symptomatology (95% CI 1.73–20.47; p = 0.005).

Conclusions

The presence of anxiety and depression symptomatology in oncological inpatients is high. There is an association between malnutrition and presenting anxious and depressive symptomatology in hospitalized cancer patients.
Associations between changes in behavioral difficulties and levels of problematic smartphone use in adolescents over a 1-year period
Authors: Poulain Tanja , Vogel Mandy , Kliesener Tobias , Kiess Wieland
Published: September 2021

Objectives

The present longitudinal study investigates associations between changes in externalizing and internalizing behavioral difficulties and changes in problematic smartphone usage within the same 1-year period in healthy adolescents.

Methods

The project is part of the LIFE Child cohort study conducted in Leipzig, Germany. Ten- to 16-year-old adolescents (n = 363) provided information on behavioral difficulties [Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)], the duration of daily smartphone use, and symptoms of smartphone addiction [Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale (SAPS)] at two consecutive study visits, t1 and t2 (1 year after t1). In the first of two analysis phases, we applied linear regression analyses to assess cross-sectional associations between externalizing and internalizing behavioral difficulties and the duration of smartphone use and symptoms of smartphone addiction (at t1 and t2). In the second, we assessed associations between the changes measured in these variables over the period of a year. All associations were adjusted for age, sex, and soci-economic status.

Results

Children who reported prolonged periods of smartphone use or more symptoms of smartphone addiction exhibited significantly higher levels of externalizing and internalizing behavioral difficulties at t1 and t2. Further, children who increased their usage or developed addiction symptoms between t1 and t2 also developed more externalizing behavioral difficulties. We found the same tendencies in regard to internalizing behavioral difficulties, although the associations did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions

The present findings suggest that externalizing behavioral difficulties and problematic smartphone use are mutually dependent in the long term.
EZB-Schuldverschreibungen — neue Verwendung für ein altes Instrument?
Authors: Hansen Arne , Meyer Dirk
Published: September 2021

Als Reaktion auf die Corona-Krise haben die Notenbanken des Eurosystems ihre Anleihekäufe im Rahmen des APP-Programms weiter aufgestockt und um das PEPP-Programm erweitert. Diese im Zusammenspiel mit weiteren Maßnahmen der „außergewöhnlichen Geldpolitik“ geschaffene zusätzliche Liquidität müsste bei anhaltend höherem Inflationsdruck zurückgeführt werden. Als eine Neutralisierung auf dem Entstehungsweg wäre ein umfänglicher Verkauf von Anleihebeständen naheliegend. Mit den resultierenden Kursverlusten gingen allerdings abschreibungsbedingte Instabilitäten im Finanzsektor und insbesondere für Krisenstaaten problematische Zinsanstiege bei Staatsanleihen einher. Der Beitrag analysiert als alternative Möglichkeit die Emission von Schuldverschreibungen durch die EZB zur Liquiditätsabschöpfung.
Competitive trait hierarchies of native communities and invasive propagule pressure consistently predict invasion success during grassland establishment
Authors: Rojas-Botero Sandra , Kollmann Johannes , Teixeira Leonardo H.
Published: September 2021

Invasive non-native plants challenge ecosystems restoration, and understanding the factors that determine the establishment of invasive plants is crucial to improve restoration outcomes. However, the drivers of invasibility of plant communities are not sufficiently clear, and combined effects are not understood. Therefore, we investigated the contribution of the main drivers of invasion success during early phases of restoration, i.e., biotic resistance, invasive propagule pressure, and environmental fluctuations. We compared the contribution of these drivers in a series of mesocosms experiments using designed grasslands as a model system, and Solidago gigantea as invasive model species. Two grassland communities were designed according to competitive trait hierarchies with different sowing patterns, reflecting variation in biotic resistance. We then manipulated invader propagule pressure and applied different scenarios of environmental fluctuation, i.e., flood, heat, and N fertilization. Invasive biomass was considered as proxy for invasion success, while native biomass represented restoration success. There were consistent effects of biotic resistance to S. gigantea invasion via competitive trait hierarchies in the three experiments. Communities dominated by species with high-competition traits were more resistant regardless of environmental fluctuation. Clumped seeding of the native community reduced invasibility, whereas high non-native propagule density increased invasion. The effects of environmental fluctuation were less consistent and context-dependent, thus playing a secondary role when compared to biotic drivers of invasion. Restoration initiatives on grasslands impacted by invasive plants should consider biotic resistance of the restored community as a key driver and the importance of controlling further arrivals of invasive species during community assembly.
Two categorial issues of degree constructions in Mandarin
Authors: Zhang Niina Ning
Published: September 2021

This squib argues against Yiwen Zhang’s (J East Asian Linguist 29:393–434, 2020) adjective analysis of the Mandarin word you ‘have’ to the left of a gradable noun, as in you yongqi ‘have courage’, showing that it is a verbal element. It also shows that for a gradable predicate of any category, if the question under discussion is about a comparison of individuals with respect to a gradable property, the degree word hen ‘very’ is banned; if the question under discussion is about the content of a gradable property of an individual, hen must occur; and finally, if the question under discussion is not about either of the two above, hen is optional.
Host Plant Constancy in Ovipositing Manduca sexta
Authors: Nataraj Nandita , Adam Elisabeth , Hansson Bill S. , Knaden Markus
Published: September 2021

Many pollinating insects exhibit flower constancy, i.e. they target flower species they have already experienced and fed from. While the insects might profit from reduced handling costs when revisiting similar flowers, flower constancy, in addition, is of benefit for the plants as it guarantees pollen transfer to conspecifics. Here we investigate whether the previous experience of an insect can also result in oviposition constancy, i.e. whether ovipositing on a given plant species will drive future oviposition preference in a female insect. We show that female hawkmoths (Manduca sexta), after having oviposited on a given plant species only once, indeed will prefer this plant in future oviposition choices. As oviposition preference is even affected 24 h after the moth has oviposited on a given plant, long term memory seems to be involved in this oviposition constancy. Our data furthermore suggest that, as shown for flower constancy, ovipositing moths increase their handling efficiency by targeting those host plants they have already experienced.
Meifuite, A New Ferrous Phyllosilicate Mineral With Modulated Tetrahedral Sheets Similar to Minnesotaite
Authors: Jin Shiyun , Li Xiaochun , Hobbs Franklin , Guggenheim Stephen , Xu And Huifang
Published: September 2021

A new ferrous phyllosilicate, meifuite, has been discovered in the Yinachang Fe-Cu-REE (rare-earth element) deposit in China. The structural formula, calculated using averaged electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) results, is K0.72Na0.20(Fe5.56Mg0.31Mn0.13)Σ6.00(Si6.95Al1.04)Σ7.99O18.84(OH)4.84 Cl1.33, with an ideal formula of KFe6(AlSi7)O19(OH)4Cl2. The structure of meifuite has a <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:c="http://cambridge.org/core/content" xmlns:core="http://cambridge.org/core" xmlns:m="http://cambridge.org/core/metadata" xmlns:cup="http://contentservices.cambridge.org" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:mnf="http://cambridge.org/core/manifest" display="inline">P1¯ space group symmetry, with unit-cell parameters of a = 22.7773(13) Å, b = 9.5553(5) Å, c =14.3282(8) Å, α = 99.258(4)°, β = 136.750(3)°, γ = 89.899(4)°, Z = 2, and V = 2077.9(2) Å3. Meifuite has a strip-modulated 2:1 layer (T–O–T) structure similar to that of minnesotaite. About 1/8 of the tetrahedra in the T sheet are occupied by Al instead of Si, and the interlayer cavities are partially occupied by K and Na. Some of the OH sites in the octahedral sheet in the layer structure are fully or partially substituted by Cl, which is apparently the primary reason for the meifuite structure being more stable than stilpnomelane, the most common ferrous layer silicate mineral found at similar temperature and pressure conditions. An updated, more accurate structure model of minnesotaite is also provided for comparison with the meifuite structure. The mineral is named after Meifu Zhou in honor of his outstanding contributions to the field of economic geology.
The False Promise of Presidential Regulation No. 125 of 2016?
Authors: Kneebone Susan , Missbach Antje , Jones Balawyn
Published: September 2021

In this Introduction, Indonesia’s approach towards refugee protection is contextualized historically and regionally in light of the enactment of Presidential Regulation No. 125 of 2016 concerning the Treatment of Refugees (PR). In particular, we describe the legal and policy framework for refugee protection in Indonesia and analyze its underlying norms and values, including the constitutional right to asylum. We explain how the legal framework competes with Law No. 6 of 2011 on Immigration, which facilitates a discretionary, securitized, and ‘humanitarian’ approach to refugee policy, which is inconsistent with Indonesia’s legal responsibilities. In conclusion, we assess both the challenges and opportunities provided by the PR.
Neuropsychiatric manifestations in a patient with prolonged COVID-19 encephalopathy: case report and literature review
Authors: O’Leary J. , McAndrew J. , Shukralla A. , Murphy K.C.
Published: September 2021

While the respiratory complications of COVID-19 infection are now well known, psychiatric manifestations are an emerging issue. We report a case of prolonged encephalopathy secondary to COVID-19 which was associated with prominent neuropsychiatric features. The patient went on to develop sub-clinical seizures, a rare but recognised complication of SARS-CoV-2.
Scaling properties of the Ffowcs-Williams and Hawkings equation for complex acoustic source close to a free surface
Authors: Cianferra M. , Armenio V.
Published: September 2021

We perform a scaling analysis of the terms composing the Ffowcs-Williams and Hawkings (FWH) equation, which rules the propagation of noise generated by a rigid body in motion. Our analysis extends the seminal work of Lighthill (Proc. R. Soc. Lond.A, vol. 211, 1952, pp. 564–587) and the dimensional analysis of classical sources (monopole, dipole and quadrupole) considering all the FWH integral terms. Scaling properties are analysed in light of perfect/imperfect similarity when laboratory-scale data are used for full-scale predictions. As a test case we consider a hydrodynamic example, namely a laboratory-scale ship propeller. The data, obtained numerically in a previous study, were post-processed according to the scaling analysis presented herein. We properly scale the speed of sound to obtain perfect similarity and quantify the error with respect to the imperfect scaling. Imperfect similarity introduces errors in the acoustic response related both to the linear terms and to the nonlinear terms, the latter of great importance when the wake is characterized by robust and organized vorticity. Successively, we analyse the effect of a free surface, often present in hydrodynamic applications. We apply the method of images to the FWH equation. The free surface may generate a frequency-dependent constructive/destructive interference. The analysis of an archetypal acoustic field (monopole) provides robust explanation of these interference effects. Finally, we find that imperfect similarity and the absence of a free surface may introduce errors when model-scale data are used to obtain the full-scale acoustic pressure. The error is small for microphones placed in the near field and becomes relevant in the far field because of the nonlinear terms.
Amsassia(calcareous alga) from the Lower Ordovician (Tremadocian) of western Newfoundland, and the biologic affinity and geologic history of the genus
Authors: Lee Dong-Jin , Elias Robert J. , Pratt Brian R.
Published: September 2021

Modular coral-like fossils from Lower Ordovician (Tremadocian) thrombolitic mounds in the St. George Group of western Newfoundland were initially identified asLichenariaand thought to include the earliest tabulate corals. They are here assigned toAmsassia terranovensisn. sp. andAmsassia? sp. A from the Watts Bight Formation, andA.diversan. sp. andAmsassia? sp. B from the overlying Boat Harbour Formation.Amsassia terranovensisn. sp. andA.argentinafrom the Argentine Precordillera are the earliest representatives of the genus.Amsassiais considered to be a calcareous alga, possibly representing an extinct group of green algae. The genus originated and began to disperse in the Tremadocian, during the onset of the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event, on the southern margin of Laurentia and the Cuyania Terrane. It inhabited small, shallow-marine reefal mounds constructed in association with microbes. The paleogeographic range ofAmsassiaexpanded in the Middle Ordovician (Darriwilian) to include the Sino-Korean Block, as well as Laurentia, and its environmental range expanded to include non-reefal, open- and restricted-marine settings.Amsassiaattained its greatest diversity and paleogeographic extent in the Late Ordovician (Sandbian–Katian), during the culmination of the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event. Its range included the South China Block, Tarim Block, Kazakhstan, and Siberia, as well as the Sino-Korean Block and Laurentia, and its affinity for small microbial mounds continued during that time. In the latest Ordovician (Hirnantian), the diversity ofAmsassiawas reduced, its distribution was restricted to non-reefal environments in South China, and it finally disappeared during the end-Ordovician mass extinction.

UUID:http://zoobank.org/ef0abb69-10a6-46de-8c78-d6ec7de185fe
Global regularity criterion for the dissipative systems modelling electrohydrodynamics involving the middle eigenvalue of the strain tensor
Authors: Wu Fan
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we study a dissipative systems modelling electrohydrodynamics in incompressible viscous fluids. The system consists of the Navier–Stokes equations coupled with a classical Poisson–Nernst–Planck equations. In the three-dimensional case, we establish a global regularity criteria in terms of the middle eigenvalue of the strain tensor in the framework of the anisotropic Lorentz spaces for local smooth solution. The proof relies on the identity for entropy growth introduced by Miller in the Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. [16].
On Disinformation, Elections and Ethiopian Law
Authors: Yilma Kinfe Micheal
Published: September 2021

Disinformation has become a formidable challenge to the integrity of electoral processes as well as the internal political stability of many countries. This state of affairs has spurred a wave of new regulatory measures in several countries. From stringent rules governing dissemination of political advertisements via social media platforms to media literacy programmes, the past few years saw the introduction of legislative and non-legislative measures in many jurisdictions. Ethiopia is no exception in introducing measures to address the problem. This article examines Ethiopia's policy responses towards addressing the impact of disinformation on the integrity and credibility of elections. It argues that measures taken thus far in Ethiopia appear to address the impact of disinformation on national security and social harmony. As such, Ethiopia has not taken tailored measures to address the impact of disinformation on its democratic aspirations, particularly in holding free, fair and democratic elections.
Heterotaxy – Res ipsos loquitur
Authors: Anderson Robert H. , Spicer Diane E. , Loomba Rohit , Krishna Mani Ram , Tretter Justin T.
Published: September 2021

The essence of so-called heterotaxy is the potential disharmony between the arrangement of the bronchuses, abdominal organs, and the atrial appendages. Accurate description of the heart, however, can only be provided by specific description of these features, all of which are readily discernible in the clinical setting. We argue that, when accurate description of the atrial and visceral arrangement is provided, along with appropriate description of the intracardiac findings, no further accuracy is gained by suggesting that an individual heart is “heterotaxic”.
Newborns physiological differences in low- and high-altitude settings of Ecuador
Authors: Asas-Jinde Mayra , González-Andrade Fabricio
Published: September 2021

Newborns show physiological differences in low- and high-altitude settings of Ecuador; those differences are especially relevant because most important cities in Ecuador are located at high altitude, above 2500 m. This study is an epidemiological, observational, and cross-sectional research performed at San Francisco Hospital in Quito (at 2850 m) and General Hospital in Manta (at 6 m) in the Manabí province. We studied 204 full-term newborns, healthy without any prenatal comorbidities, singleton pregnancy, mestizos, and born of healthy parents born. We found significant differences between the values of red blood cells (RBC), leucocytes, hematocrit, and hemoglobin. There was a difference of 27% more in RBC, 3% at hematocrit, and 0.4 g at hemoglobin in the high-altitude cohort. The leucocyte difference is 1270 cells/µl, which means a difference of 6%. At high-altitude settings, the mean pH was lower than normal values and pO2, pCO2,and HCO3. High-altitude newborns showed RBC of > 4,500,000 cells/µl; leukocytes > 19,000; pO2≤ 72 mm Hg; hemoglobin > 17.50 g/dl; and hematocrit > 54%. Both cohorts showed physiological changes of transition to extrauterine life. We observed higher polycythemia, respiratory acidosis, and hypoxemia among high-altitude newborns. High-altitude setting intensifies the physiological changes in hematological and arterial blood gases parameters.
Structuring cooperative learning methods in Ancient Greek classrooms
Authors: Markoglou Angeliki
Published: September 2021

Considering the concept of critical teaching, teachers should seek to ensure the active participation of students, emphasisng the adoption of student-centred and group-centred teaching methods, which will provide students with relevant motivation for learning. From this perspective the current article focuses on a teaching proposal for the course of Ancient Greek Language in Greece and Cyprus, presenting the method of jigsaw-based cooperative learning as a teaching practice which promotes both active student participation and group cooperation. According to this teaching practice, the teacher actively involves the students in the learning process, promoting higher-level cognitive, metacognitive and emotional functions. Not only is this method compatible with the broader contemporary pedagogical and didactic principles, which aim to provoke students' interest, cultivate their social skills and relationships, develop their personal self-perception, and create autonomous and fulfilled personalities, but also it is harmonised with the main aims of the Ancient Greek Language Curriculum in these countries, which are fully aligned with both their education policy and their societal needs.
An Alternative Approach for Improving Prediction of Integrated Hydrologic‐Hydraulic Models by Assessing the Impact of Intrinsic Spatial Scales
Authors: Saksena Siddharth , Merwade Venkatesh , Singhofen Peter J.
Published: September 2021

The effect of spatial scale and resolution has been quantified individually for different hydrologic and hydraulic processes. However, the model structure and intrinsic resolution are seldom modified to accurately capture scale‐dependent physical processes. Although automated calibration methods exist for computationally expensive integrated models, an alternate approach reliant on improving the model structure is proposed here. This study advocates for a better representation of the intrinsic spatial scales of physical processes and their submodels by quantifying the impact of different types of spatial scaling on the overall watershed response. First, the effect of spatial extent scaling is quantified by evaluating the change in the basin response (e.g., streamflow and inundation extent) across a small and large subwatershed for the same region. Second, the effect of modifying the relative intrinsic spatial scales of surface‐groundwater (SW‐GW) submodels is quantified. Finally, the results are used to implement a better model structure for improving prediction across two watersheds with distinct physical characteristics. The findings suggest that the relative intrinsic scales of SW‐GW submodels may be different for different hydrogeological systems depending on the ratio of the characteristic length scales of hydrologic‐hydraulic processes. Conducting a scaling analysis can help identify how different physical processes can be best represented in integrated models for a range of climatological and physiographic conditions which can potentially serve as an alternative to extensive calibration in distributed models. Therefore, it is recommended that this analysis should be included as a prerequisite to extensive parameter calibration for large‐scale‐integrated models.
Distribution and Mobility of Platinum‐Group Elements in the Late Cretaceous Ni‐Laterite in the Northern Oman Mountains
Authors: Al‐Khirbash Salah A. , Ahmed Ahmed H.
Published: September 2021

Low‐grade Ni‐laterite deposits are irregularly developed overlying mafic/ultramafic protoliths in the northern Oman Mountains. Concentrations, distribution patterns, and mobility of platinum‐group elements (PGEs) are investigated in some Ni‐laterite profiles from the Oman ophiolite as potential unconventional PGE resource. The ultramafic protoliths display the lowest PGE contents (average total = 35 ppb) that are similar to the PGE contents in the overlying saprolite zones. The PGE content increased upward in the laterite profile, where the highest total PGE contents (∼253 ppb) are recorded in the oxide and ferricrete/clay‐rich zones. The highest PGE content corresponds to Pt > Ru > Pd, while the lowest PGE content mostly corresponds to Os < Rh < Ir. The general positive correlation between PGE contents and both Cr2O3 and Fe2O3 contents and the positive trend of the chondrite‐normalized PGE patterns in the Ni‐laterite profiles reflect the formation of PGE‐Fe nanoparticle alloys that are hosted by Fe‐rich oxyhydroxides or due to the residual accumulation of chromite in the oxide/clay‐rich zone during the lateritization process. The PGE distribution patterns and positive correlation of total PGE content with the ultramafic index of alteration indicate that PGE can be mobilized in different proportions in the surficial environment upon progressive lateritization processes. The high content of total PGE in the Oman Ni‐laterite is in good agreement with PGE‐rich laterite deposits worldwide. Consequently, the Oman deposits can be considered as an unconventional PGE resource if adequate extraction and refining processes are applied for their recovery from the possible upcoming Ni production.
Universal activation function for machine learning
Authors: Yuen Brosnan , Hoang Minh Tu , Dong Xiaodai , Lu Tao
Published: September 2021

This article proposes a universal activation function (UAF) that achieves near optimal performance in quantification, classification, and reinforcement learning (RL) problems. For any given problem, the gradient descent algorithms are able to evolve the UAF to a suitable activation function by tuning the UAF’s parameters. For the CIFAR-10 classification using the VGG-8 neural network, the UAF converges to the Mish like activation function, which has near optimal performance$$F_{1}=0.902\pm 0.004$$F1=0.902±0.004when compared to other activation functions. In the graph convolutional neural network on the CORA dataset, the UAF evolves to the identity function and obtains$$F_1=0.835\pm 0.008$$F1=0.835±0.008. For the quantification of simulated 9-gas mixtures in 30 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) environments, the UAF converges to the identity function, which has near optimal root mean square error of$$0.489\pm 0.003~\mu {\mathrm{M}}$$0.489±0.003μM. In the ZINC molecular solubility quantification using graph neural networks, the UAF morphs to a LeakyReLU/Sigmoid hybrid and achieves RMSE=$$0.47\pm 0.04$$0.47±0.04. For the BipedalWalker-v2 RL dataset, the UAF achieves the 250 reward in$${961\pm 193}$$961±193epochs with a brand new activation function, which gives the fastest convergence rate among the activation functions.
The choice of a thermodynamic formulation dramatically affects modelled chemical zoning in minerals
Authors: Tajčmanová L. , Podladchikov Y. , Moulas E. , Khakimova L.
Published: September 2021

Quantifying natural processes that shape our planet is a key to understanding the geological observations. Many phenomena in the Earth are not in thermodynamic equilibrium. Cooling of the Earth, mantle convection, mountain building are examples of dynamic processes that evolve in time and space and are driven by gradients. During those irreversible processes, entropy is produced. In petrology, several thermodynamic approaches have been suggested to quantify systems under chemical and mechanical gradients. Yet, their thermodynamic admissibility has not been investigated in detail. Here, we focus on a fundamental, though not yet unequivocally answered, question: which thermodynamic formulation for petrological systems under gradients is appropriate—mass or molar? We provide a comparison of both thermodynamic formulations for chemical diffusion flux, applying the positive entropy production principle as a necessary admissibility condition. Furthermore, we show that the inappropriate solution has dramatic consequences for understanding the key processes in petrology, such as chemical diffusion in the presence of pressure gradients.
The dynamics of cooperation, power, and inequality in a group-structured society
Authors: Tverskoi Denis , Senthilnathan Athmanathan , Gavrilets Sergey
Published: September 2021

Most human societies are characterized by the presence of different identity groups which cooperate but also compete for resources and power. To deepen our understanding of the underlying social dynamics, we model a society subdivided into groups with constant sizes and dynamically changing powers. Both individuals within groups and groups themselves participate in collective actions. The groups are also engaged in political contests over power which determines how jointly produced resources are divided. Using analytical approximations and agent-based simulations, we show that the model exhibits rich behavior characterized by multiple stable equilibria and, under some conditions, non-equilibrium dynamics. We demonstrate that societies in which individuals act independently are more stable than those in which actions of individuals are completely synchronized. We show that mechanisms preventing politically powerful groups from bending the rules of competition in their favor play a key role in promoting between-group cooperation and reducing inequality between groups. We also show that small groups can be more successful in competition than large groups if the jointly-produced goods are rivalrous and the potential benefit of cooperation is relatively small. Otherwise large groups dominate. Overall our model contributes towards a better understanding of the causes of variation between societies in terms of the economic and political inequality within them.
Antioxidant system response, mineral element uptake and safe utilization of Polygonatum sibiricum in cadmium-contaminated soil
Authors: Kang Yuchen , Yang Li , Dai Haibo , Xie Mengdi , Wang Yuhao , Peng Jie , Sun Hui , Ao Tianqi , Chen Wenqing
Published: September 2021

Chinese herbal medicine is widely cultivated in Southwest China, where the soil cadmium (Cd) contamination of farmland is more serious than that in China as a whole. In this study, Polygonatum sibiricum was exposed to Cd at concentrations of e−1, e0, e2, and e4 mg/kg for 30, 60, and 90 days, and the physiological stress responses, Cd and mineral element uptake, antioxidant enzyme activities, and content changes of pharmaceutical ingredients (polysaccharides) were analyzed to decipher the feasibility of safe utilization in Cd-contaminated soil. The results show that the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) in the aboveground part was always higher than that in the underground part. The underground part of Polygonatum sibiricum mobilizes nonenzymatic systems to facilitate the synthesis of polysaccharides (PCP1, PCP2) with antioxidant properties to cope with Cd stress. Mineral elements (P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, and Zn) significantly (p < 0.05) changed after 90 d of cultivation. In particular, the changes in the iron and zinc content were significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with the activities of SOD and POD. Soil Cd at e0 mg/kg can guarantee the safe production and utilization of Polygonatum sibiricum, and the stimulation of Cd promotes polysaccharide synthesis and biomass growth.
Dispensable roles of Gsdmd and Ripk3 in sustaining IL-1β production and chronic inflammation in Th17-mediated autoimmune arthritis
Authors: Takeuchi Yusuke , Ohara Daiya , Watanabe Hitomi , Sakaguchi Noriko , Sakaguchi Shimon , Kondoh Gen , Morinobu Akio , Mimori Tsuneyo , Hirota Keiji
Published: September 2021

Programmed necrosis, such as necroptosis and pyroptosis, is a highly pro-inflammatory cellular event that is associated with chronic inflammation. Although there are various triggers of pyroptosis and necroptosis in autoimmune tissue inflammation and subsequent lytic forms of cell death release abundant inflammatory mediators, including damage-associated molecular patterns and IL-1β, capable of amplifying autoimmune Th17 effector functions, it remains largely unclear whether the programs play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune arthritis. We herein report that Gasdermin D (Gsdmd) and receptor interacting serine/threonine kinase 3 (Ripk3)—key molecules of pyroptosis and necroptosis, respectively—are upregulated in inflamed synovial tissues, but dispensable for IL-1β production and the development of IL-17-producing T helper (Th17) cell-mediated autoimmune arthritis in SKG mice. Gsdmd−/−, Ripk3−/−, or Gsdmd−/−Ripk3−/− SKG mice showed severe arthritis with expansion of arthritogenic Th17 cells in the draining LNs and inflamed joints, which was comparable to that in wild-type SKG mice. Despite the marked reduction of IL-1β secretion from Gsdmd−/− or Ripk3−/− bone marrow-derived DCs by canonical stimuli, IL-1β levels in the inflamed synovium were not affected in the absence of Gsdmd or Ripk3. Our results revealed that T cell-mediated autoimmune arthritis proceeds independently of the pyroptosis and necroptosis pathways.
Association between smoking cessation and obstructive spirometry pattern among Korean adults aged 40–79 years
Authors: Yoon Yeo Jun , Lee Myung Soo , Jang Kyu Won , Ahn Jae Bum , Hurh Kyungduk , Park Eun-Cheol
Published: September 2021

Smoking cessation aids in restoring lung function. However, whether long-term cessation can fully restore lung function has not been studied thoroughly, especially in Asian countries. This study aimed to evaluate the association between smoking cessation status and obstructive spirometry pattern among Koreans aged 40–79 years. In total, 6298 men and 8088 women aged 40–79 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2015–2019) were analyzed for smoking cessation status, including the duration after quitting. Current-smokers showed a higher likelihood of having an obstructive spirometry pattern than never-smokers among both men (odds ratio [OR]: 3.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.32–4.29) and women (OR: 2.60, 95% CI: 1.59–4.23). In men, the effect tended to decrease with longer duration after cessation, but male ex-smokers who had quit smoking ≥ 20 years ago still showed a higher likelihood of having an obstructive spirometry pattern than male never-smokers (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.05–1.89). In female ex-smokers, there was no significant association with the obstructive spirometry pattern, compared to that in female never-smokers. This study emphasizes the benefits of smoking cessation, possibility of long-lasting harm to lung function due to tobacco smoking, and importance of smoking prevention.
Projection of key meteorological hazard factors in Xiongan new area of Hebei Province, China
Authors: Huang Dapeng , Liao Yaoming , Han Zhenyu
Published: September 2021

It is of great importance to explore the future spatiotemporal dynamics of key meteorological hazard factors in Xiongan New Area, an area of great strategic significance under construction in China. Based on 6.25 km high-resolution downscaling projection data under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, Mann–Kendall trend and linear trend were analyzed, and then stationary generalized extreme value (GEV) and time-varying GEV methods were determined to calculate the extremes of four key meteorological hazard factors with return periods of 10, 20, 30, 50 and 100 years during the projection period 1991–2050. Results show that extremes of annual maximum daily precipitation and annual maximum amount of consecutive precipitation under two climate scenarios will not increase too much. Extremes of annual maximum temperature will increase by above 1.5 °C under RCP4.5 scenario in most grids and above 1.9 °C under RCP8.5 scenario. Extremes of annual longest consecutive high-temperature days will increase by above 0.9d under RCP4.5 scenario and above 1.6d under RCP8.5 scenario. On the whole, the hazard of flood disaster will hardly show any change up to 2050, but there will be relatively higher flood hazard in Xiongxian county and its adjacent region. All regions in Xiongan New Area will face high hazard of high-temperature disaster.