bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making method based on the set pair analysis theory and Choquet integral
Authors: Li Feng , Xie Jialiang , Lin Mingwei
Published: June 2022

This paper proposes a novel fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making method based on an improved score function of connection numbers and Choquet integral under interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy environment. To do so, we first introduce a method to convert interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy numbers into connection numbers based on the set pair analysis theory. Then an improved score function of connection numbers is proposed to make the ranking order of connection numbers more in line with reality in multi-criteria decision-making process. In addition, some properties of the proposed score function of connection numbers and some examples have been given to illustrate the advantages of conversion method proposed in the paper. Then, considering interactions among different criteria, we propose a fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making approach based on set pair analysis and Choquet integral under interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy environment. Finally, a case of online learning satisfaction survey and a brief comparative analysis with other existing approaches are studied to show that the proposed method is simple,convenient and easy to implement. Comparing with previous studies, the method in this paper, from a new perspective, effectively deals with multi-criteria decision-making problems that the alternatives cannot be reasonably ranked in the decision-making process under interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy environment.
Implementable hybrid quantum ant colony optimization algorithm
Authors: de Andoin M. Garcia , Echanobe J.
Published: June 2022

We propose a new hybrid quantum algorithm based on the classical Ant Colony Optimization algorithm to produce approximate solutions for NP-hard problems, in particular optimization problems. First, we discuss some previously proposed Quantum Ant Colony Optimization algorithms, and based on them, we develop an improved algorithm that can be truly implemented on near-term quantum computers. Our iterative algorithm codifies only the information about the pheromones and the exploration parameter in the quantum state, while subrogating the calculation of the numerical result to a classical computer. A new guided exploration strategy is used in order to take advantage of the quantum computation power and generate new possible solutions as a superposition of states. This approach is specially useful to solve constrained optimization problems, where we can implement efficiently the exploration of new paths without having to check the correspondence of a path to a solution before the measurement of the state. As an example of a NP-hard problem, we choose to solve the Quadratic Assignment Problem. The benchmarks made by simulating the noiseless quantum circuit and the experiments made on IBM quantum computers show the validity of the algorithm.
Computational Methods for Single-Cell DNA Methylome Analysis
Authors: Iqbal Waleed , Zhou Wanding
Published: June 2022

Dissecting intercellular epigenetic differences is key to understanding tissue heterogeneity. Recent advances in single-cell DNA methylome profiling have presented opportunities to resolve this heterogeneity at the maximum resolution. While these advances enable us to explore frontiers of chromatin biology and better understand cell lineage relationships, they pose new challenges in data processing and interpretation. This review surveys the current state of computational tools developed for single-cell DNA methylome data analysis. We discuss critical components of single-cell DNA methylome data analysis, including data preprocessing, quality control, imputation, dimensionality reduction, cell clustering, supervised cell annotation, cell lineage reconstruction, gene activity scoring, and integration with transcriptome data. We also highlight unique aspects of single-cell DNA methylome data analysis and discuss how techniques common to other single-cell omics data analyses can be adapted to analyze DNA methylomes. Finally, we discuss existing challenges and opportunities for future development.
Tiger Shark Attack on a Scuba Diver in New Caledonia
Authors: Maillaud Claude , Fournier Joseph , Guittonneau Anne-Laure , Tirard Philippe , Bowling Tyler , Naylor Gavin
Published: June 2022

Herein we report an unprovoked shark attack on a scuba diver in New Caledonia. The species responsible for the attack was identified as a tiger shark ( Galeocerdo cuvier), based on both the victim’s testimony and forensic examination. The victim suffered significant loss of soft tissues from one thigh, which resulted in hemorrhagic shock. Even though the event occurred at a remote location, miles away from the nearest hospital, appropriate first aid, immediate deployment of an alert system, and prompt helicopter transfer by an emergency rescue team allowed the victim to be transferred to an intensive care unit in stable condition and to undergo surgery within 4 h of being bitten. Early coverage of exposed bone was performed, followed up with negative pressure dressing, antibiotic treatment, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and a split skin graft. In spite of the massive muscular loss incurred, the victim was able to regain her ability to walk within 6 wk of the incident. Shark attacks on scuba divers are rare and seldom reported, especially in New Caledonia.
Nietzsche on Conflict, Struggle and War
Authors: Pearson James S.
Published: June 2022

Nietzsche controversially valorizes struggle and war as necessary ingredients of human flourishing. In this book, James S. Pearson reconstructs Nietzsche's rationale for placing such high value on relations of conflict. In doing so, Pearson reveals how Nietzsche's celebration of social discord is interwoven with his understanding of nature as universal struggle. This study thus draws together Nietzsche's writings on politics, culture, metaphysics, biology and human psychology. It also overcomes an entrenched dispute in the critical literature. In the past, commentators have tended to interpret Nietzsche either as an advocate of radical aristocratic violence or, by contrast, a defender of moderate democratic contest. This book navigates a path between these two opposed readings and shows how Nietzsche is able to endorse both violent strife and restrained competition without contradicting himself.
Understanding Race
Authors: DeSalle Rob , Tattersall Ian
Published: June 2022

The human species is very young, but in a short time it has acquired some striking, if biologically superficial, variations across the planet. As this book shows, however, none of those biological variations can be understood in terms of discrete races, which do not actually exist as definable entities. Starting with a consideration of evolution and the mechanisms of diversification in nature, this book moves to an examination of attitudes to human variation throughout history, showing that it was only with the advent of slavery that considerations of human variation became politicized. It then embarks on a consideration of how racial classifications have been applied to genomic studies, demonstrating how individualized genomics is a much more effective approach to clinical treatments. It also shows how racial stratification does nothing to help us understand the phenomenon of human variation, at either the genomic or physical levels.
Contingent Collaboration
Authors: Scott Rodney J. , Merton Eleanor R. K.
Published: June 2022

The question of how agencies can work together has been central to the field of public administration for several decades. Despite significant research, the process of collaboration can still be a fraught endeavour for practitioners. Nevertheless, agencies keep trying to work together because it is the only way to make progress on the biggest challenges facing public administrators. This Element reveals the deeply contingent nature of collaboration, rejecting the idea that collaboration can be reduced to a universal best practice. The New Zealand government has implemented such a contingent approach that maps different collaborative methods against problem settings and the degree of trade-off required from the actors' core or individual work. This Element provides a detailed case study of the New Zealand approach, and 18 embedded elements or 'model' collaborative forms for joined-up government. It explains how New Zealand public servants approach the important question: 'when to use which models?'.
Rule-Making Rules
Authors: Bartolini Stefano
Published: June 2022

Stefano Bartolini argues that, despite the growth of a large theoretical literature about institutions and institutionalism over the last thirty years, the specific nature of political institutions has been relatively neglected. Political institutions have been subsumed into the broader problems of the emergence, persistence, change and functions of all types of institutions. The author defines political institutions strictly as norms and rules of 'conferral', to be distinguished from norms/rules of 'conduct' and of 'recognition'. They are those norms and rules that empower rulers, set limits to the capacity to ensure behavioural compliance, and define the proper means for achieving such compliance. This book draws logical and empirical consequences from this understanding, to distinguish different types of norms/rules, and to specify the peculiarities of those norms/rules that are 'political'. The book will appeal to researchers of political institutions in comparative politics, and in political science and political sociology more broadly.
Fundamentals of Ultra-Dense Wireless Networks
Authors: López-Pérez David , Ding Ming
Published: June 2022

Discover the fundamental characteristics of ultra-dense networks with this comprehensive text. Featuring a consistent mathematical description of ultra-dense small cell networks while also covering real-world issues such as network deployment, operation and optimization, this book investigates performance metrics of coverage probability and area spectral efficiency (ASE) and addresses the aspects of ultra-dense networks that make them different from current networks. Insightful intuitions, which will assist decision-makers as they migrate their services, are explained and mathematically proven. The book presents the latest review of research outcomes on ultra-dense networks, based on both theoretical analyses and network simulations, includes over 200 sources from 3GPP, the Small Cell Forum, journals and conference proceedings, and covers all other related and prominent topics. This is an ideal reference text for professionals who are dealing with the development, deployment, operation and maintenance of ultra-dense small cell networks, as well as researchers and graduate students in communications.
Hyperbolic Lyapunov–Perron regular points and smooth invariant measures
Authors: ALANSARI NAWAF
Published: June 2022

For a
$C^{1+\alpha }$
diffeomorphism f of a compact smooth manifold, we give a necessary and sufficient condition that guarantees that if the set of hyperbolic Lyapunov–Perron regular points has positive volume, then f preserves a smooth measure. We use recent results on symbolic coding of
$\chi $
-non-uniformly hyperbolic sets and results concerning the existence of SRB measures for them.
Do Chinese employees avoid seeking social support when coping with work stress?
Authors: Goh Yong Wah , Kim Sungmin , Wang Rong , Goh Pei Shan
Published: June 2022

Organisational psychology literature is abounded with empirical evidence of the mitigating effect that social support seeking (SSS) behaviour has on stress. However, it is unclear if this phenomenon is present in a collectivist context where workers might be hesitant to seek social support when under stress. A total of 123 employees from China completed a longitudinal survey over 4 weeks assessing their appraisals of an ongoing work stressor, coping strategies, and stress level. Path-analysis, hierarchical regression and means comparison determined the degree of fit of two theoretical perspectives (stress-buffer and main effects) to Chinese employee's SSS behaviour, and its frequency of use against other coping strategies. Results showed that SSS was not elicited by primary and secondary appraisals, but instead may be better explained by employees' collectivistic aspirations. Implications of the results were addressed in relation to stress management strategies and human resource support initiatives. Future research directions were also discussed.
Defining the p-factor: an empirical test of five leading theories
Authors: Southward Matthew W. , Cheavens Jennifer S. , Coccaro Emil F.
Published: June 2022

Background

Despite statistical evidence of a general factor of psychopathology (i.e., p-factor), there is little agreement about what the p-factor represents. Researchers have proposed five theories: dispositional negative emotionality (neuroticism), impulsive responsivity to emotions (impulsivity), thought dysfunction, low cognitive functioning, and impairment. These theories have primarily been inferred from patterns of loadings of diagnoses on p-factors with different sets of diagnoses included in different studies. Researchers who have directly examined these theories of p have examined a subset of the theories in any single sample, limiting the ability to compare the size of their associations with a p-factor.

Methods

In a sample of adults (N = 1833, Mage = 34.20, 54.4% female, 53.3% white) who completed diagnostic assessments, self-report measures, and cognitive tests, we evaluated statistical p-factor structures across modeling approaches and compared the strength of associations among the p-factor and indicators of each of these five theories.

Results

We found consistent evidence of the p-factor's unidimensionality across one-factor and bifactor models. The p-factor was most strongly and similarly associated with neuroticism (r = .88), impairment (r = .88), and impulsivity (r = .87), χ2(1)s < .15, ps > .70, and less strongly associated with thought dysfunction (r = .78), χ2(1)s > 3.92, ps < .05, and cognitive functioning (r = −.25), χ2(1)s > 189.56, ps < .01.

Conclusions

We discuss a tripartite definition of p that involves the transaction of impulsive responses to frequent negative emotions leading to impairment that extends and synthesizes previous theories of psychopathology.
Relative priority
Authors: Buchak Lara
Published: June 2022

The good of those who are worse off matters more to the overall good than the good of those who are better off does. But being worse off than one’s fellows is not itself bad; nor is inequality itself bad; nor do differences in well-being matter more when well-being is lower in an absolute sense. Instead, the good of therelativelyworse-offweighs more heavilyin the overall good than the good of the relatively better-off does, in virtue of the fact that the former are relatively worse off. This paper articulates and defends the view just described.
Getting Real about Taxes: Offshore Tax Sheltering and Realism's Ethic of Responsibility
Authors: Arlen Gordon , Burelli Carlo
Published: June 2022

This article tackles the issue of offshore tax sheltering from the perspective of normative political realism. Tax sheltering is a pressing contemporary policy challenge, with hundreds of billions in private assets protected in offshore trusts and shell companies. Indeed, tax sheltering produces a variety of empirical dilemmas that render it a distinctive challenge for global governance. Therefore, it is crucial for normative political theorists to confront this problem. A realist approach offers three distinct advantages, elaborated in the three subsequent sections of the article. First, it relaxes the theoretical burden by starting from the real practice of tax evasion rather than from an abstract theory of equality or justice. Second, this approach recognizes that sheltering is a political harm: a threat to the very maintenance of order, not just a problem of inequality or injustice. If politicians fail at such polity maintenance, realism's ethic of responsibility provides clear political reasons why they should be held accountable. Third, realism's focus on power and its acceptance of coercion open up new strategies for addressing the problem that would not be allowed by theories with a stronger emphasis on consensus.
Hands over the city: the Mafia, L'Ora and the sack of Palermo
Authors: Dovizio Ciro
Published: June 2022

The article is a critical investigation of the role played by the Palermo left-wing newspaper L'Ora in uncovering the Sicilian Mafia's urban affairs and property speculation during the sack of Palermo in the 1960s. It pays particular attention to L'Ora's complex narrative concerning the urban Mafia and the many obstacles that the newspaper encountered in its attempt to defend the city. The article aims to explain L'Ora's account of the Mafia as an intersection of violent crime, politics and business. This study uses investigative series and archival sources to explain the emergence of ‘antimafia’ as both concept and political practice in the urban history of Palermo.
Global archaeology and microhistorical analysis. Connecting scales in the 1st-milennium B.C. Mediterranean
Authors: Riva Corinna , Mira Ignasi Grau
Published: June 2022

Recently, voices have been raised regarding the challenges of Big Data-driven global approaches, including the realization that exclusively tackling the global scale masks social and historical realities. While multi-scalar analyses have confronted this problem, the effects of global approaches are being felt. We highlight one of these effects: as classical scholarship struggles to decolonize itself, the ancient Mediterranean in global archaeology pivots around the Graeco-Roman world only, marginalizing the non-classical Mediterranean, thus foiling attempts at promoting post-colonial perspectives. In highlighting this, our aim is twofold: first, to invigorate the debate on multi-scalar approaches, proposing to incorporate microhistory into archaeological analysis; second, to use the non-classical Mediterranean to demonstrate that historical depth at a micro level is essential to augment that power in our interpretations.
The well-trodden path of national international humanitarian law committees
Authors: Kitching Rachael , Quintin Anne
Published: June 2022

The road towards effective implementation of international humanitarian law (IHL) is a continuous process where important milestones will be reached at each step. As part of such a process, national committees and similar entities on IHL have played a key driving role. As with most long-haul road trips, one tends to start with an idea of the roads that will be taken and what the end destination will look like. In this case, the common destination is better respect for IHL. While the destination never changes, the different roads to be travelled can multiply, creating new opportunities through events that arise, and actors encountered along the way. Likewise, when the first national IHL committees were formed in the 1970s to advise and assist their States on the domestic implementation of IHL, they undoubtedly followed different roadmaps from those followed today. As IHL has evolved to keep pace with new realities of warfare, so too has the work of national IHL committees. New treaties have been adopted, new interpretations have been agreed upon, requiring new domestic laws and measures. This article will begin by pinpointing where exactly the journey started for national IHL committees, highlighting that the creation of these bodies coincided with important developments across the international landscape which would come to reinforce domestic implementation of IHL. In the second section, the authors will provide a detailed mapping of the roads generally travelled by these entities, with the intention to showcase the multi-faceted nature of their work and the innumerable milestones achieved along the way. The final section will explore the material, political and structural road bumps which are slowing down the work of some national IHL committees and will provide recommendations on how these entities may overcome these hurdles.
Trust Nobody: How Voters React to Conspiracy Theories
Authors: Invernizzi Giovanna M. , Mohamed Ahmed Ezzeldin
Published: June 2022

How does exposure to conspiracy theories affects voters’ political attitudes? Using an online experiment among US subjects, we show that exposure to conspiracy theories decreases voters’ trust in the domestic informational environment. Subjects were exposed to conspiracy theories that are entirely unrelated to American domestic politics, which further underscores such narratives’ danger. However, we fail to reject the null hypothesis that voters do not weigh unrelated conspiracies in their evaluation of politicians’ performance and domestic political institutions. Overall, our findings illustrate that an informational environment permeated by conspiracy theories could impede the functioning of democracy by eroding trust in information providers and undermining the credibility of political information.
Indirect Effects of Binary Typhoons on an Extreme Rainfall Event in Henan Province, China From 19 to 21 July 2021: 2. Numerical Study
Authors: Xu Hongxiong , Duan Yihong , Li Ying , Wang Hui
Published: June 2022

An extreme precipitation event over Henan province, China from 19 to 21 July 2021 led to flood disasters in this region and widespread concern about the subsequent loss of life and livelihoods. We conducted numerical simulations to examine the impacts of typhoons In‐fa (2021) and Cempaka (2021) on this extreme rainfall event. The control simulation reasonably reproduced the motion of typhoons In‐fa and Cempaka and the associated distribution and amount of extreme rainfall. Sensitivity experiments were conducted in which typhoon In‐fa was artificially moved in both northerly and westerly directions in the initial conditions. The results indicated that the southerly flow between typhoon Cempaka and Henan, which determined the structure and distribution of the extreme rainfall event, was sensitive to the motion of typhoon In‐fa. Numerical experiments that removed typhoon Cempaka confirmed that both the movement of In‐fa and its interaction with Cempaka were closely associated with southerly flows and had a significant effect on the extreme precipitation event. In the absence of typhoon Cempaka, although typhoon In‐fa still had a remote effect on precipitation, the effect was much smaller than in the presence of Cempaka. Our simulation of this extreme rainfall event in Henan and the associated sensitivity experiments are consistent with the results of previous studies of multiple tropical cyclones, which showed that interactions among multiple tropical cyclones can lead to changes in their outer circulation that affect extreme precipitation events.
Transformation in the Stability of Tide‐Induced Upper Saline Plume Driven by Transient External Forcing
Authors: Fang Yunhai , Zheng Tianyuan , Guo Bo , Zhan Hongbin , Wang Huan , Zheng Xilai , Walther Marc
Published: June 2022

The fluctuation in sea level induced by tides generates an upper saline plume (USP) in the intertidal region, which is closely related to groundwater flow and solute transport processes in coastal aquifers. Thus, a clearer understanding of the USP configuration is needed to accurately predict the extent of seawater intrusion and water chemical fluxes to the ocean. This study experimentally and numerically examined the effect of transient external forcing conditions on the stability of tide‐induced USP, represented as seasonal subsurface inflow. In contrast to earlier studies, the USP was not always stable or unstable, but experienced a dynamic transformation of stability‐instability as the seasonal subsurface inflow fluctuated. The same intensity of subsurface inflow caused a stable USP in the fixed cases but a dynamic USP state in the seasonal cases. The USP responded rapidly to the fluctuation of seasonal subsurface inflow and was drawn to expand into the intertidal zone. These features of the USP contributed to the increased potential for the onset of an unstable flow when the subsurface inflow varied seasonally. Therefore, ignoring the timescale changes on external forcing conditions may underestimate the generation of unstable USPs. The frequency contrast between seasonal subsurface inflow and tide also influenced the dynamic transformation process occurring in the intertidal region. There was an inverse relationship between the frequency contrast and the duration of the unstable flow. These findings provide a new understanding of the complex intertidal environment in coastal aquifers.
Augmenting the Grammar of Science—The Community Science Exchange
Authors: Noone Kevin J. , Schensul Jean J. , Buchanan Paula R.
Published: June 2022

The expanding field of community science offers the possibility to augment the way science is done, making closer, two‐way connections between researchers, communities, and community members. It enriches and improves science through broadening the scope of problem and hypothesis formulation to include practitioners who will use the results of scientific investigation. It enriches the communities involved through access to and participation in scientific investigations aimed at their own challenges. In this article, we describe a new facility—the Community Science Exchange—that offers venues for both researchers and community practitioners to publish and share their work to the benefit of both science and communities.
More Than Marsquakes: InSight Yielded Magnetism, Weather Discoveries
Authors: Loomis Ilima
Published: June 2022

A secondary suite of instruments on the Mars lander produced a first look at magnetic fields from the planet’s surface.
Severe Storms Expose Ill-Equipped Weather Stations in Southeast Africa
Authors: Makoni Munyaradzi
Published: June 2022

The lack of infrastructure is preventing scientists from robustly reporting meteorological information as well as communicating warnings about hazard-prone areas.
Seasonal to Decadal Western Boundary Current Variability From Sustained Ocean Observations
Authors: Chandler M. , Zilberman N. V. , Sprintall J.
Published: June 2022

Subtropical western boundary currents (WBCs) exert a substantial influence on regional climate. To improve WBC observations on seasonal‐to‐decadal timescales, and characterize their subsurface structure to 1975 m depth, we combine high‐resolution expendable bathythermograph, Argo, and satellite altimetry observations in the Agulhas Current, East Australian Current, and Kuroshio. The resulting 16 year time series (2004–2019) show a weakening trend in Kuroshio transport, but no trend in Agulhas transport or East Australian Current transport. All three WBCs have stronger transport in summer, driven mostly by changes in current speed rather than current width. This unique subsurface view of WBC variability reveals changes in the path of the Kuroshio Extension on interannual timescales, and eddy variability in the Agulhas. Our work highlights how this application of a consistent methodology to combine complementary ocean observations allows for an unprecedented direct comparison of variability between WBCs.
Burn Severity in Canada's Mountain National Parks: Patterns, Drivers, and Predictions
Authors: Wang Weiwei , Wang Xianli , Wu Wanli , Guo Futao , Park Jane , Wang Guangyu
Published: June 2022

Fine‐scale estimation of burn severity in the Canadian Rocky Mountain region with mixed‐severity fires is of substantial implications but still lacking. We investigated satellite‐derived burn severity from 1985 to 2015 at 30‐m resolution in three mountain national parks in Canada: Banff, Kootenay, and Yoho National Parks. Results show that fuel type had the most significant influence on burn severity, whereas the three groups of continuous variables (topography, vegetation, and climate) contributed equally to the model, indicating the complex mechanism of environmental controls on fire behavior in this heterogeneous mountain region. The predicted burn severity potentials of the whole parks in 2002 and 2012 showed overall consistent spatial patterns, and lightning‐caused fires produced more high‐severity burn areas than prescribed fires. Generally, local communities in the intensive fire management zone were predicted to have relatively low burn severity, reflecting the fire management effectiveness.
Laboratory Experiments Confirm the Polarization of Auroral Emissions
Authors: Bourgeois Slava , Bosse Léo , Lilensten Jean , Gillet Nicolas , Curaba Stéphane , Delboulbé Alain , Rochat Sylvain
Published: June 2022

A series of experiments have shown recently that several auroral lines are polarized, when observed from the ground. However, this polarization may be caused by indirect light sources (from the ground or the sky) scattered in the lower atmosphere by Rayleigh and Lorenz‐Mie scattering, or during the crossing of the ionospheric current sheets. Here, we present polarization measurements of the blue (427.8 nm) and purple (391.4 nm) emissions in a laboratory confined setting that excludes any light pollution or scattering. We show that both lines are polarized, at a level comparable to that of the natural auroral observations. Our results furthermore show that the Degree of Linear Polarization depends on the magnetic conditions. This set of experiments confirms in a controlled environment the polarization of auroral emissions and constitutes a strong evidence in favor of auroral emission already polarized in the upper atmosphere.
The OceanDNA MAG catalog contains over 50,000 prokaryotic genomes originated from various marine environments
Authors: Nishimura Yosuke , Yoshizawa Susumu
Published: June 2022

Marine microorganisms are immensely diverse and play fundamental roles in global geochemical cycling. Recent metagenome-assembled genome studies, with particular attention to large-scale projects such asTaraOceans, have expanded the genomic repertoire of marine microorganisms. However, published marine metagenome data is still underexplored. We collected 2,057 marine metagenomes covering various marine environments and developed a new genome reconstruction pipeline. We reconstructed 52,325 qualified genomes composed of 8,466 prokaryotic species-level clusters spanning 59 phyla, including genomes from the deep-sea characterized as deeper than 1,000 m (n = 3,337), low-oxygen zones of <90 μmol O2 per kg water (n = 7,884), and polar regions (n = 7,752). Novelty evaluation using a genome taxonomy database shows that 6,256 species (73.9%) are novel and include genomes of high taxonomic novelty, such as new class candidates. These genomes collectively expanded the known phylogenetic diversity of marine prokaryotes by 34.2%, and the species representatives cover 26.5–42.0% of prokaryote-enriched metagenomes. Thoroughly leveraging accumulated metagenomic data, this genome resource, named the OceanDNA MAG catalog, illuminates uncharacterized marine microbial ‘dark matter’ lineages.
Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature, Universal Thermal Climate Index, and Other Heat Metrics for US Counties, 2000–2020
Authors: Spangler Keith R. , Liang Shixin , Wellenius Gregory A.
Published: June 2022

Epidemiologic research on extreme heat consistently finds significant impacts on human morbidity and mortality. However, most of these analyses do not use spatially explicit measures of heat (typically assessing exposures at major cities using the nearest weather station), and they frequently consider only ambient temperature or heat index. The field is moving toward more expansive analyses that use spatially resolved gridded meteorological datasets and alternative assessments of heat, such as wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and universal thermal climate index (UTCI), both of which require technical geoscientific skills that may be inaccessible to many public health researchers. To facilitate research in this domain, we created a database of population-weighted, spatially explicit daily heat metrics – including WBGT, UTCI, heat index, dewpoint temperature, net effective temperature, and humidex – for counties in the conterminous United States derived from the ERA5-Land gridded data set and using previously validated equations and algorithms. We also provide an R package to calculate these metrics, including gold-standard algorithms for estimating WBGT and UTCI, to facilitate replication.
Clinical value of urinary cytokines/chemokines as prognostic markers in patients with crescentic glomerulonephritis
Authors: Jeon Junseok , Park Jeeeun , Boo Hyo Jin , Yang Kyeong Eun , Lee Cheol-Jung , Lee Jung Eun , Kim Kyunga , Kwon Ghee Young , Huh Wooseong , Kim Dae Joong , Kim Yoon-Goo , Jang Hye Ryoun
Published: June 2022

Crescentic glomerulonephritis (CrGN) usually requires urgent immunosuppressive treatment. However, aggressive immunosuppressive treatment is often difficult because of the patients’ medical conditions or comorbidities. Prognostic markers including urinary cytokines/chemokines as noninvasive biomarkers were explored in CrGN patients. This prospective cohort study included 82 patients with biopsy-confirmed CrGN from 2002 to 2015 who were followed up for 5 years. Urine and serum cytokines/chemokines on the day of kidney biopsy were analyzed in 36 patients. The median age was 65 years and 47.6% were male. Baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) scores were identified as significant prognostic factors. Among patients with cytokines/chemokines measurement, increased IL-10 level was identified as an independent predictor of good prognosis, and increased levels of urinary MCP-1 and fractalkine tended to be associated with good prognosis after adjusting for baseline eGFR and IFTA score. However, semiquantitative analysis of intrarenal leukocytes did not show prognostic value predicting renal outcome or correlation with urinary cytokines/chemokines. This study supports the clinical importance of baseline eGFR and IFTA scores and suggests potential usefulness of urinary IL-10, MCP-1, and fractalkine as prognostic markers for predicting renal outcomes in patients with CrGN.
Three-dimensional numerical analysis of flow and heat transfer of bi-directional stretched nanofluid film exposed to an exponential heat generation using modified Buongiorno model
Authors: Owhaib Wahib , Al-Kouz Wael
Published: June 2022

The heat transfer characteristics of copper/water nanofluid flow over a bi-directional stretched film are theoretically studied. The used mathematical model accounts for nanofluid effective dynamic viscosity and thermal conductivity. The model of the current study utilizes the modified Buongiorno model to scrutinize the effect of haphazard motion, nanoparticles' thermo-migration, and effective nanofluid properties. 3D flow is driven by having the nanofluid film elongation in two directions. The thermal analysis of the problem considers the nonlinear internal heat source and Newton heating conditions. In modeling the problem, the Prandtl boundary layer approximations are employed. Moreover, the nonlinear problem set of governing equations for investigating the transport of water conveying copper nanoparticles was non-dimensionalized before being treated numerically. The current parametric study investigates the impact of governing parameters on nanoparticles velocities, temperature, and concentration distributions. The presence of copper nanoparticles leads to a higher nanofluid temperature upon heating. The temperature enhances with the nanoparticles Brownian movement and thermo-migration aspects. Furthermore, involving a heat source phenomenon augments the magnitude of the heat transfer rate. Moreover, the velocity ratio factor exhibits decreasing behavior for x-component velocity and increasing behavior for y-component velocity. In conclusion, the study results proved that for larger values of Nb and Nt the temperature is higher. In addition, it is clear from the investigations that the Lewis number and Brownian motion factor decline the nanoparticle concentration field.
Moisture retention of glycerin solutions with various concentrations: a comparative study
Authors: Chen H. J. , Lee P. Y. , Chen C. Y. , Huang S. L. , Huang B. W. , Dai F. J. , Chau C. F. , Chen C. S. , Lin Y. S.
Published: June 2022

Various methods of evaluating a humectant’s moisture retention have unique mechanisms. Hence, for designing advanced or efficient ingredients of cosmetic products, a clear understanding of differences among methods is required. The aim of this study was to analyze the moisture-retention capacity of glycerin, a common ingredient in cosmetic products. Specifically, this study applied gravimetric analysis, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to examine the evaporation of glycerin solutions of different concentrations. The results revealed that the moisture-retention capacity of glycerin increased with the glycerin concentration from 0 to 60 wt%, and glycerin at concentration of 60–70 wt% did not exhibit weight change during the evaporation process. When the glycerin concentration exceeded 70 wt%, moisture sorption occurred in the glycerin solution. Furthermore, the results revealed a deviation between the evaporation rates measured using gravimetric analysis and those measured using TEWL analysis. However, normalizing the results of these analyses yielded the relative evaporation rates to water, which were consistent between these two analyses. DSC thermograms further confirmed the consistent results and identified two hydrated water microstructures (nonfreezable water and free water) in the glycerin solutions, which explained why the measured evaporation rate decreased with the glycerin concentration. These findings can be applied to prove the moisture-retention capacity of a humectant in cosmetic products by different measuring methods.
Distinct prognosis of biliary tract cancer according to tumor location, stage, and treatment: a population-based study
Authors: Kang Mee Joo , Lim Jiwon , Han Sung-Sik , Park Hyeong Min , Kim Sun-Whe , Lee Woo Jin , Woo Sang Myung , Kim Tae Hyun , Won Young-Joo , Park Sang-Jae
Published: June 2022

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) has been inconsistently identified according to its location in epidemiological and clinical studies. This study retrospectively reviewed the treatment pattern and prognosis of BTC according to tumor location using the Korea Central Cancer Registry data of 97,676 patients with BTC from 2006 to 2017. The proportion of localized and regional Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) stage was the highest in ampulla of Vater (AoV, 78.2%) cancer, followed by extrahepatic bile duct (BD, 68.3%), gallbladder (GB, 52.6%), and intrahepatic BD (49.5%) cancers. Overall, the “no active anti-cancer treatment” rate was the highest in intrahepatic BD (52.8%), followed by extrahepatic BD (49.5%), GB (39.6%), and AoV cancers (28.9%). The 5-year relative survival rate was the highest in AoV (48.5%), followed by GB (28.5%), extrahepatic BD (19.9%), and intrahepatic BD (10.8%) cancers, which significantly improved over time, except for intrahepatic BD cancer. In the localized and regional stage, older patients had a higher risk of receiving no active anti-cancer treatment in each tumor location after adjusting for period and sex. BTC statistics should be reported separately according to tumor location due to its distinct SEER stage distribution, treatment pattern, and prognosis. Care should be taken in elderly patients to reduce the rate of no active anti-cancer treatment.
CRISPR/Cas9 editing of the MYO7A gene in rhesus macaque embryos to generate a primate model of Usher syndrome type 1B
Authors: Ryu Junghyun , Statz John P. , Chan William , Burch Fernanda C. , Brigande John V. , Kempton Beth , Porsov Edward V. , Renner Lauren , McGill Trevor , Burwitz Benjamin J. , Hanna Carol B. , Neuringer Martha , Hennebold Jon D.
Published: June 2022

Mutations in the MYO7A gene lead to Usher syndrome type 1B (USH1B), a disease characterized by congenital deafness, vision loss, and balance impairment. To create a nonhuman primate (NHP) USH1B model, CRISPR/Cas9 was used to disrupt MYO7A in rhesus macaque zygotes. The targeting efficiency of Cas9 mRNA and hybridized crRNA-tracrRNA (hyb-gRNA) was compared to Cas9 nuclease (Nuc) protein and synthetic single guide (sg)RNAs. Nuc/sgRNA injection led to higher editing efficiencies relative to mRNA/hyb-gRNAs. Mutations were assessed by preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) and those with the desired mutations were transferred into surrogates. A pregnancy was established from an embryo where 92.1% of the PGT sequencing reads possessed a single G insertion that leads to a premature stop codon. Analysis of single peripheral blood leukocytes from the infant revealed that half the cells possessed the homozygous single base insertion and the remaining cells had the wild-type MYO7A sequence. The infant showed sensitive auditory thresholds beginning at 3 months. Although further optimization is needed, our studies demonstrate that it is feasible to use CRISPR technologies for creating NHP models of human diseases.
Enhancing the mechanical properties and providing bioactive potential for graphene oxide/montmorillonite hybrid dental resin composites
Authors: Velo Marilia Mattar de Amôedo Campos , Filho Francisco Gilmário Nunes , de Lima Nascimento Tatiana Rita , Obeid Alyssa Teixeira , Castellano Lúcio Cançado , Costa Reginaldo Mendonça , Brondino Nair Cristina Margarido , Fonseca Maria Gardennia , Silikas Nikolaos , Mondelli Rafael Francisco Lia
Published: June 2022

This in vitro study synthetized hybrid composite nanoparticles of graphene oxide (GO) and montmorillonite MMt (GO-MMt) by ultrasound treatments. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, FT-Raman, FTIR, TEM and SEM. The effect of their incorporation (0.3% and 0.5%) on the mechanical properties in a resin-based composite (RBC) and their bioactivity potential were evaluated. The specimens were characterized by evaluating their 3-point flexural strength (n = 6), modulus of elasticity (n = 6), degree of conversion (n = 6), microhardness (n = 6), contact angle (n = 3) and SEM analysis (n = 3). In vitro test in SBF were conducted in the RBCs modified by the hybrid. Overall, the synthetized hybrid composite demonstrated that GO was intercalated with MMt, showing a more stable compound. ANOVA and Tukey test showed that RBC + 0.3% GO-MMt demonstrated superior values of flexural strength, followed by RBC + 0.5% GO-MMt (p < 0.05) and both materials showed higher values of microhardness. All groups presented a contact angle below 90°, characterizing hydrophilic materials. RBCs modified by the hybrid showed Ca and P deposition after 14 days in SBF. In conclusion, RBCs composed by the hybrid showed promising results in terms of mechanical properties and bioactive potential, extending the application of GO in dental materials.
Integration of feature vectors from raw laboratory, medication and procedure names improves the precision and recall of models to predict postoperative mortality and acute kidney injury
Authors: Hofer Ira S. , Kupina Marina , Laddaran Lori , Halperin Eran
Published: June 2022

Manuscripts that have successfully used machine learning (ML) to predict a variety of perioperative outcomes often use only a limited number of features selected by a clinician. We hypothesized that techniques leveraging a broad set of features for patient laboratory results, medications, and the surgical procedure name would improve performance as compared to a more limited set of features chosen by clinicians. Feature vectors for laboratory results included 702 features total derived from 39 laboratory tests, medications consisted of a binary flag for 126 commonly used medications, procedure name used the Word2Vec package for create a vector of length 100. Nine models were trained: baseline features, one for each of the three types of data Baseline + Each data type, (all features, and then all features with feature reduction algorithm. Across both outcomes the models that contained all features (model 8) (Mortality ROC-AUC 94.32 ± 1.01, PR-AUC 36.80 ± 5.10 AKI ROC-AUC 92.45 ± 0.64, PR-AUC 76.22 ± 1.95) was superior to models with only subsets of features. Featurization techniques leveraging a broad away of clinical data can improve performance of perioperative prediction models.
All-proportional solid solution versus two-phase coexistence in the Ti–V alloy by first-principles phase field and SQS methods
Authors: Ohno Kaoru , Kuwahara Riichi , Pham Thi Nu , Bhattacharyya Swastibrata , Sahara Ryoji
Published: June 2022

The microstructures of the Ti–V alloy are studied by purely first-principles calculations without relying on any empirical or experimental parameter. The special quasirandom structure model is employed to treat the all-proportional solid solution $$\beta$$
β
phase, while the first-principles phase field method or its variant is employed to treat the coexistence phases. The linearity of the calculated local free energy against the integer Ti$$_n$$

n

V$$_m$$

m

composition in the cluster expansion method manifests a clear evidence of the solid solution behavior. From a detailed energy comparison, our results are consistent with the experimental fact that the Ti–V alloy is an all-proportional solid solution of the $$\beta$$
β
phase at high temperatures and exhibits an $$\alpha +\beta$$

α
+
β

coexistence at low temperatures. Moreover, it is found that mosaic-type microstructures may appear as a metastable phase, as observed by many experiments. The first-principles criterion for the all-proportional solid solution behavior presented in this paper is very general and can be applied to any other binary or multi-component alloys.
Southern hemisphere forced millennial scale Indian summer monsoon variability during the late Pleistocene
Authors: Band Shraddha T. , Yadava M. G. , Kaushal Nikita , Midhun M. , Thirumalai Kaustubh , Francis Timmy , Laskar Amzad , Ramesh R. , Henderson Gideon M. , Narayana A. C.
Published: June 2022

Peninsular India hosts the initial rain-down of the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) after which winds travel further east inwards into Asia. Stalagmite oxygen isotope composition from this region, such as those from Belum Cave, preserve the vital signals of the past ISM variability. These archives experience a single wet season with a single dominant moisture source annually. Here we present high-resolution δ18O, δ13C and trace element (Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca, Mn/Ca) time series from a Belum Cave stalagmite spanning glacial MIS-6 (from ~ 183 to ~ 175 kyr) and interglacial substages MIS-5c-5a (~ 104 kyr to ~ 82 kyr). With most paleomonsoon reconstructions reporting coherent evolution of northern hemisphere summer insolation and ISM variability on orbital timescale, we focus on understanding the mechanisms behind millennial scale variability. Finding that the two are decoupled over millennial timescales, we address the role of the Southern Hemisphere processes in modulating monsoon strength as a part of the Hadley circulation. We identify several strong and weak episodes of ISM intensity during 104–82 kyr. Some of the weak episodes correspond to warming in the southern hemisphere associated with weak cross-equatorial winds. We show that during the MIS-5 substages, ISM strength gradually declined with millennial scale variability linked to Southern Hemisphere temperature changes which in turn modulate the strength of the Mascarene High.