bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the coupling of relativistic particle to gravity and Wheeler–DeWitt quantization
Authors: Pavšič Matej
Published: August 2021

A system consisting of a point particle coupled to gravity is investigated. The set of constraints is derived. It was found that a suitable superposition of those constraints is the generator of the infinitesimal transformations of the time coordinate [Formula: see text] and serves as the Hamiltonian which gives the correct equations of motion. Besides that, the system satisfies the mass shell constraint, [Formula: see text], which is the generator of the worldline reparametrizations, where the momenta [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], generate infinitesimal changes of the particle’s position [Formula: see text] in spacetime. Consequently, the Hamiltonian contains [Formula: see text], which upon quantization becomes the operator [Formula: see text], occurring on the right-hand side of the Wheeler–DeWitt equation. Here, the role of time has the particle coordinate [Formula: see text], which is a distinct concept than the spacetime coordinate [Formula: see text]. It is also shown how the ordering ambiguities can be avoided if a quadratic form of the momenta is cast into the form that instead of the metric contains the basis vectors.
Study on ignition performance of tantalum nitride film energy exchangers based on new bridge area
Authors: Ren Xiao-Ming , Yu Ke-Xin , Ren Wei , Liu Lan , Xie Rui-Zhen , Liu Wei , Chen Jian-Hua
Published: August 2021

In order to reduce the ignition energy of the tantalum nitride film transducer, a new type of energy exchangers bridge area was designed in this paper, and it was fabricated by MEMS technology. The parameters of ignition voltage, ignition energy, as well as action time were tested. The experimental results showed that in terms of ignition voltage, ignition energy, and action time, the value of the energy exchangers element of the new bridge area was lower than the value of the energy exchangers element of the conventional bridge area. In addition, ignition performance can be reduced by many energy exchangers in the new bridge area.
Infinite solitons in ferromagnetic materials with an internal magnetic field
Authors: Abdel-Gawad Hamdy I.
Published: August 2021

The ferromagnetism induced by an external magnetic field (EMF), in (3+1) dimensions, is governed by Kraenkel–Manna–Merle system (KMMS). A (1+1) dimension model equation was derived in the literature. The magnetic moments are parallel to the magnetic field in ferromagnetism as they are aligning in the same direction of the external field. Here, it is shown that the KMMS supports the presence of internal magnetic field. This may be argued to medium characteristics. The objective of this work is to mind multiple soliton solutions, which are obtained via the generalized together with extended unified methods. Graphical representation of the results are carried. They describe infinite soliton shapes, which arise from the multiple variation of the arbitrary functions in the solutions. It is, also, shown that internal magnetic field decays, asymptotically, to zero with time.
A mass-conserved tumor invasion system with quasi-variational degenerate diffusion
Authors: Ito Akio
Published: August 2021

This paper deals with a nonlinear system (S) composed of three PDEs and one ODE below: [Formula: see text] The system (S) was proposed as one of the mathematical models which describe tumor invasion phenomena with chemotaxis effects. The most important and interesting point is that the diffusion coefficient of tumor cells, denoted by [Formula: see text], is influenced by both nonlocal effect of a chemical attractive substance, denoted by [Formula: see text], and the local one of extracellular matrix, denoted by [Formula: see text]. From this point, the first PDE in (S) contains a nonlinear cross diffusion. Actually, this mathematical setting gives an inner product of a suitable real Hilbert space, which governs the dynamics of the density of tumor cells [Formula: see text], a quasi-variational structure. Hence, the first purpose in this paper is to make it clear what this real Hilbert space is. After this, we show the existence of strong time local solutions to the initial-boundary problems associated with (S) when the space dimension is [Formula: see text] by applying the general theory of evolution inclusions on real Hilbert spaces with quasi-variational structures. Moreover, for the case [Formula: see text] we succeed in constructing a strong time global solution.
A generalized class of α-convex functions with respect to n-symmetric points
Authors: Lashin A. Y. , El-Emam F. Z.
Published: August 2021

In this paper, we investigate certain subclass of  analytic functions on the open unit disc. This class generalizes the well-known class of [Formula: see text]-convex functions with respect to n-symmetric points. Some interesting properties such as subordination results, containment relations, integral preserving properties, and the integral representation for functions in this class are obtained.
Weathering on volcanic edifices under semiarid climates: insights from a regional assessment of the composition of Fogo Island regoliths (Cape Verde)
Authors: Cabral Pinto Marina , Dinis Pedro A. , Pitta Groz Denise , Marques Rosa , Prudêncio Maria Isabel , Moura Rui , Tavares Rocha Fernando , Ferreira da Silva Eduardo
Published: August 2021

In this study, the geochemistry and mineralogy of regoliths formed on Fogo Island (Cape Verde), a polygenic strato-volcano built during the Quaternary, are used to assess the geomorphological factors that control the early stages of basalt weathering. Fogo Island soils are mainly derived from relatively homogenous silica-undersaturated basaltic rocks. However, a discernible exotic component is recognized in areas most exposed to prevailing winds via ratios of non-mobile elements that are hosted in different amounts by basaltic rocks (e.g. Th, Sc and Ti). The weathering extent is evidenced by a relative depletion in mobile elements (e.g. Na, Ca, Mg) and an enrichment in non-mobile elements (e.g. Ti, Fe, Sc, Al), the decomposition of the most labile minerals (olivines) and the formation of secondary components (phyllosilicates and some Fe-oxides, such as hematite-goethite), along with the enrichment in quartz supplied from non-volcanic areas. Weathering depends on bedrock age and type (pyroclastic deposits v. lava-flows). In particular, soils covering older volcanic units tend to be more affected by chemical alteration than those overlying younger units. In addition, more intense weathering is observed in locations characterized by a combination of moderate elevation, slopes with low gradient and relatively high rainfall. The present investigation shows that even in low humidity environments recently formed basalts are affected by weathering, with the extent of chemical decomposition being mainly determined by the age of surface exposure and local orographic/climatic features.
A Helicopter Tour of Some Underlying Issues in Empirical Industrial Organization
Authors: Pakes Ariel
Published: August 2021

This review considers conceptual issues underlying empirical work on markets. It is divided in three parts. The first part reviews the analysis of demand and equilibrium in retail markets and then considers recent advances in the analysis of markets that require different assumptions: markets where adverse selection and moral hazard may be important, vertical markets with bargaining, and markets wherein a centralized allocation mechanism replaces prices. The second part considers the analysis of cost and production. It reviews the simultaneity and selection issues in production function estimation and then considers the distinction between revenue- and quantity-generating functions and its implications for the analysis of markups, as well as the empirical analysis of fixed costs and its implications for the analysis of product repositioning. The review concludes by considering issues that arise due to the complexity of the empirical analysis of market dynamics and appropriate ways of dealing with them.
Uncertainty Spillovers for Markets and Policy
Authors: Hansen Lars Peter
Published: August 2021

We live in a world filled with uncertainty. In this essay, I show that featuring this phenomenon more in economic analyses adds to our understanding of how financial markets work and how best to design prudent economic policy. This essay explores methods that allow for a broader conceptualization of uncertainty than is typical in economic investigations. These methods draw on insights from decision theory to engage in uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis. Uncertainty quantification in economics differs from uncertainty quantification in most sciences because there is uncertainty from the perspective both of an external observer and of people and enterprises within the model. I illustrate these methods in two example economies in which the understanding of long-term growth is limited. One example looks at uncertainty ramifications for fluctuations in financial markets, and the other considers the prudent design of policy when the quantitative magnitude of climate change and its impact on economic opportunities are unknown.
The Drama of Wallerian Degeneration: The Cast, Crew, and Script
Authors: Zhang Kai , Jiang Mingsheng , Fang Yanshan
Published: August 2021

Significant advances have been made in recent years in identifying the genetic components of Wallerian degeneration, the process that brings the progressive destruction and removal of injured axons. It has now been accepted that Wallerian degeneration is an active and dynamic cellular process that is well regulated at molecular and cellular levels. In this review, we describe our current understanding of Wallerian degeneration, focusing on the molecular players and mechanisms that mediate the injury response, activate the degenerative program, transduce the death signal, execute the destruction order, and finally, clear away the debris. By highlighting the starring roles and sketching out the molecular script of Wallerian degeneration, we hope to provide a useful framework to understand Wallerian and Wallerian-like degeneration and to lay a foundation for developing new therapeutic strategies to treat axon degeneration in neural injury as well as in neurodegenerative disease.
Life in the Dark: Phylogenetic and Physiological Diversity of Chemosynthetic Symbioses
Authors: Sogin E. Maggie , Kleiner Manuel , Borowski Christian , Gruber-Vodicka Harald R. , Dubilier Nicole
Published: August 2021

Possibly the last discovery of a previously unknown major ecosystem on Earth was made just over half a century ago, when researchers found teaming communities of animals flourishing two and a half kilometers below the ocean surface at hydrothermal vents. We now know that these highly productive ecosystems are based on nutritional symbioses between chemosynthetic bacteria and eukaryotes and that these chemosymbioses are ubiquitous in both deep-sea and shallow-water environments. The symbionts are primary producers that gain energy from the oxidation of reduced compounds, such as sulfide and methane, to fix carbon dioxide or methane into biomass to feed their hosts. This review outlines how the symbiotic partners have adapted to living together. We first focus on the phylogenetic and metabolic diversity of these symbioses and then highlight selected research directions that could advance our understanding of the processes that shaped the evolutionary and ecological success of these associations.
Evolution and Physiology of Amphibious Yeasts
Authors: El Baidouri Fouad , Zalar Polona , James Timothy Y. , Gladfelter Amy S. , Amend Anthony S.
Published: August 2021

Since the emergence of the first fungi some 700 million years ago, unicellular yeast-like forms have emerged multiple times in independent lineages via convergent evolution. While tens to hundreds of millions of years separate the independent evolution of these unicellular organisms, they share remarkable phenotypic and metabolic similarities, and all have streamlined genomes. Yeasts occur in every aquatic environment yet examined. Many species are aquatic; perhaps most are amphibious. How these species have evolved to thrive in aquatic habitats is fundamental to understanding functions and evolutionary mechanisms in this unique group of fungi. Here we review the state of knowledge of the physiological and ecological diversity of amphibious yeasts and their key evolutionary adaptations enabling survival in aquatic habitats. We emphasize some genera previously thought to be exclusively terrestrial. Finally, we discuss the ability of many yeasts to survive in extreme habitats and how this might lend insight into ecological plasticity, including amphibious lifestyles.
Rehabilitation Nursing Intervention Can Improve Dysphagia and Quality of Life of Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy for Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Zeng Xiange , Li Ling , Wang Wenjing , Zhu Lihui
Published: August 2021

Objective. To seek the improvement of rehabilitation nursing intervention on dysphagia and quality of life of patients with esophageal cancer undergoing radiotherapy. Methods. A total of 109 patients with esophageal cancer undergoing radiotherapy were selected as research objects. According to the random number table, they were separated into the control group (CG) and intervention group (IG), with 45 cases in CG and 64 cases in IG. In CG, patients were given routine nursing intervention, while those in IG were given rehabilitation nursing intervention. After intervention, the degree of acute radiation injury and the improvement of swallowing function were observed to compare the self-nursing ability, quality of life, and incidence of complications between the two groups. Results. The degree of injury in CG was heavier than that in IG. The improvement of swallowing function in IG was better than that in CG. The scores of self-nursing ability and life quality in IG were higher than those in CG, with statistically significant differences (

p
<
0.05

). The incidence of complications in IG was obviously lower than that in CG (

p
<
0.05

). Conclusion. Rehabilitation nursing intervention can ameliorate dysphagia, improve the quality of life, and reduce the incidence of complications for patients with esophageal cancer undergoing radiotherapy. It is worthy of clinical application.
COVID-19 and APOL-1 High-Risk Genotype-Associated Collapsing Glomerulonephritis
Authors: Roy Sasmit , Kunaparaju Srikanth , Koduri Narayana Murty , Sangani Vikram , Pokal Mytri , Konala Venu Madhav , Balla Mamtha , Adapa Sreedhar
Published: August 2021

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) primarily affects the lungs and can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The ongoing global pandemic has created healthcare and economic crisis for almost every nation of the world. Though primarily affecting the lungs, it has also affected the kidney in various ways including acute kidney injury (AKI), proteinuria, and hematuria. It has been increasingly shown that African American (AA) individuals affected with COVID-19 and presenting with AKI and nephrotic-range proteinuria are very susceptible to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The APOL-1 gene, associated with the African American population, has been increasingly recognized as a risk factor for FSGS affected with COVID-19. Our case highlights a similar case of COVID-19 in a 65-year-old AA descendant with biopsy-proven FSGS and genetically confirmed APOL-1 alleles.
Linear Diophantine Uncertain Linguistic Power Einstein Aggregation Operators and Their Applications to Multiattribute Decision Making
Authors: Mahmood Tahir , Izatmand  , Ali Zeeshan , Ullah Kifayat , Khan Qaisar , Alsanad Ahmed , Mosleh Mogeeb A. A.
Published: August 2021

Linear Diophantine uncertain linguistic set (LDULS) is a modified variety of the fuzzy set (FS) to manage problematic and inconsistent information in actual life troubles. LDULS covers the grade of truth, grade of falsity, and their reference parameters with the uncertain linguistic term (ULT) with a rule 0 ≤ αAMGuAMG(x) + βANGvAMG(x) ≤ 1, where 0 ≤ αAMG + βANG ≤ 1. In this study, the principle of LDULS and their useful laws are elaborated. Additionally, the power Einstein (PE) aggregation operator (AO) is a conventional sort of AO utilized in innovative decision‐making troubles, which is effective to aggregate the family of numerical elements. To determine the interrelationship between any numbers of arguments, we elaborate the linear Diophantine uncertain linguistic PE averaging (LDULPEA), linear Diophantine uncertain linguistic PE weighted averaging (LDULPEWA), linear Diophantine uncertain linguistic PE geometric (LDULPEG), and linear Diophantine uncertain linguistic PE weighted geometric (LDULPEWG) operators; then, we discuss their useful results. Conclusively, a decision‐making methodology is utilized for the multiattribute decision‐making (MADM) dilemma with elaborated information. A sensible illustration is specified to demonstrate the accessibility and rewards of the intended technique by comparison with certain prevailing techniques. The intended AOs are additional comprehensive than the prevailing ones to exploit the ambiguous and inaccurate knowledge. Numerous remaining operators are chosen as individual incidents of the suggested one. Ultimately, the supremacy and advantages of the elaborated operators are also discussed with the help of the geometrical form to show the validity and consistency of explored operators.
Finite-Time

H

∞

State Estimation for Markovian Jump Neural Networks with Time-Varying Delays via an Extended Wirtinger’s Integral Inequality
Authors: Shanmugam Saravanan , Syed Ali M. , Vadivel R. , M. Lee Gyu
Published: August 2021

This study investigates the finite-time boundedness for Markovian jump neural networks (MJNNs) with time-varying delays. An MJNN consists of a limited number of jumping modes wherein it can jump starting with one mode then onto the next by following a Markovian process with known transition probabilities. By constructing new Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional (LKF) candidates, extended Wirtinger’s, and Wirtinger’s double inequality with multiple integral terms and using activation function conditions, several sufficient conditions for Markovian jumping neural networks are derived. Furthermore, delay-dependent adequate conditions on guaranteeing the closed-loop system which are stochastically finite-time bounded (SFTB) with the prescribed

H

∞

performance level are proposed. Linear matrix inequalities are utilized to obtain analysis results. The purpose is to obtain less conservative conditions on finite-time

H

∞

performance for Markovian jump neural networks with time-varying delay. Eventually, simulation examples are provided to illustrate the validity of the addressed method.
Induction of Apoptosis in HeLa Cells by a Novel Peptide from Fruiting Bodies of Morchella importuna via the Mitochondrial Apoptotic Pathway
Authors: Xiong Chuan , Li Ping , Luo Qiang , Phan Chia Wei , Li Qiang , Jin Xin , Huang Wenli
Published: August 2021

Morels (Morchella spp.) are a genus of edible fungi with important economic and medicinal value. In this study, a novel peptide (MIPP) was extracted from the fruiting bodies of Morchella importuna using gel filtration chromatography. Structural analysis showed that the molecular mass of MIPP is 831 Da, and it has a simple amino acid sequence: Ser-Leu-Ser-Leu-Ser-Val-Ala-Arg. To explore the antitumor activity of MIPP, the effect of MIPP on HeLa cell apoptosis and the underlying preventative mechanisms were investigated. Results showed that MIPP reduced the viability of HeLa cells in a concentration-dependent manner. TUNEL analysis and flow cytometric examination showed that MIPP decreased cell proliferation via a mitochondrial-dependent pathway, as manifested by downregulation of Bcl-2/Bax, promotion of the movement of cytochrome C from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm, and triggering of caspase-9 and caspase-3. Therefore, MIPP may be a promising tumor-preventive agent, especially in human cervical cancer.
CGF Membrane Promotes Periodontal Tissue Regeneration Mediated by hUCMSCs through Upregulating TAZ and Osteogenic Differentiation Genes
Authors: Li Wenjing , Wang Feifei , Dong Fusheng , Zhang Zhiyong , Song Peng , Chen Huizhen , Wang Jie
Published: August 2021

Concentrated growth factor (CGF) membranes are widely used in basic and clinical research of soft and hard tissue regeneration, but its effect on periodontal tissue regeneration is less studied. This study explored the role of CGF membranes in periodontal tissue regeneration mediated by human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs). HUCMSCs and human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPLFs) were extracted and identified by microscope and flow cytometry. The effects of the extracted CGF membrane on cell viability, osteogenic differentiation ability, osteopontin (OPN) expression, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) content, and osteogenic differentiation-related genes (Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2); osteocalcin (OCN); ALP), Tafazzin (TAZ) expression, and nuclear transfer were examined by MTT assay, alizarin red staining, immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and Western blot. Rescue experiments were performed to examine the effects of TAZ transfection and cell coculture. In the identified hUCMSCs (positive expressions of CD29, CD44, CD146, and CD105), overexpressed TAZ (pc-TAZ) enhanced the promotive effect of CGF membrane on cell viability, cell cycle, mineralization, ALP content and expressions of OPN, TAZ and osteogenic differentiation-related genes, and nuclear transfer. However, silencing TAZ showed opposite effects. The coculture of hUCMSCs and HPLFs further promoted the basic biological functions of HPLFs by upregulating osteogenic differentiation-related genes and COL-1 but downregulated MMP1 expression. Pc-TAZ could enhance the effect of CGF membrane on promoting periodontal tissue regeneration. CGF membrane promoted periodontal tissue regeneration through upregulating TAZ and osteogenic differentiation-related genes.
Bile Leak following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy due to Perforated Duodenal Ulcer in Patient with Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Authors: Marsh Amanda M. , Almousa Ayman , Genuit Thomas , Forcione David , Blumofe Karin
Published: August 2021

Perforated ulcers of the excluded stomach or duodenum are exceedingly rare in patients who have undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. The diagnosis of perforated ulcer after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass remains challenging as there is often absence of free air or contrast extravasation from the biliopancreatic limb. We present a patient with signs and symptoms of acute cholecystitis. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was complicated by postoperative bile leak. EDGE procedure was performed to access the remnant stomach and endoscopic evaluation revealed a perforated ulcer in the posterior duodenal bulb. Although unusual, in patients with bariatric surgery and upper abdominal pain, differential diagnosis including perforated ulcer of the biliopancreatic limb must be considered and early surgical exploration is essential.
Oxypaeoniflorin Prevents Acute Lung Injury Induced by Lipopolysaccharide through the PTEN/AKT Pathway in a Sirt1‐Dependent Manner
Authors: Guohua Fan , Tieyuan Zhu , Rui Wang , Juan Xiong
Published: August 2021

Acute lung injury (ALI) is featured by pulmonary edema, alveolar barrier injury, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress. The activation of Sirt1 could relieve lipopolysaccharide‐ (LPS‐) induced murine ALI by maintaining pulmonary epithelial barrier function. Oxypaeoniflorin (Oxy) serves as a major component of Paeonia lactiflora Pall., exerting cardioprotection by activating Sirt1. However, the role of Oxy in ALI induced by LPS remains unclear. The aim of the present study is to illustrate the modulatory effects and molecular mechanisms by which Oxy operates in ALI induced by LPS. The intraperitoneal injection of LPS was performed to establish the murine ALI model while LPS‐treated alveolar epithelial cells were used to mimic the in vitro ALI model. Levels of lung injury, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response were detected to observe the potential effects of Oxy on ALI. Oxy treatment mitigated lung edema, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress in mouse response to LPS, apart from improving 7‐day survival. Meanwhile, Oxy also increased the expression and activity of Sirt1. Intriguingly, Sirt1 deficiency or inhibition counteracted the protective effects of Oxy treatment in LPS‐treated mice or LPS‐treated alveolar epithelial cells by regulating the PTEN/AKT signaling pathway. These results demonstrated that Oxy could combat ALI in vivo and in vitro through inhibiting inflammatory response and oxidative stress in a Sirt1‐dependent manner. Oxy owns the potential to be a promising candidate against ALI.
Blockchain Network Propagation Mechanism Based on P4P Architecture
Authors: Huang Junjie , Tan Liang , Mao Sun , Yu Keping
Published: August 2021

Blockchain is a mainstream technology in which many untrustworthy nodes work together to maintain a distributed ledger with advantages such as decentralization, traceability, and tamper-proof. The network layer communication mechanism in its architecture is the core of the networking method, message propagation, and data verification among blockchain nodes, which is the basis to ensure blockchain’s performance and key features. When blocks are propagated in peer-to-peer (P2P) networks with gossip protocol, the high propagation delay of the protocol itself reduces the propagation speed of the blocks, which is prone to the chain forking phenomenon and causes double payment attacks. To accelerate the propagation speed and reduce the fork probability, this paper proposes a blockchain network propagation mechanism based on proactive network provider participation for P2P (P4P) architecture. This mechanism first obtains the information of network topology and link status in a region based on the internet service provider (ISP), then it calculates the shortest path and link overhead of peer nodes using P4P technology, prioritizes the nodes with good local bandwidth conditions for transmission, realizes the optimization of node connections, improves the quality of service (QoS) and quality of experience (QoE) of blockchain networks, and enables blockchain nodes to exchange blocks and transactions through the secure propagation path. Simulation experiments show that the proposed propagation mechanism outperforms the original propagation mechanism of the blockchain network in terms of system overhead, rate of data success transmission, routing hops, and propagation delay.
Global Existence of a Chemotactic Movement with Singular Sensitivity by Two Stimuli
Authors: Ma Heping
Published: August 2021

In this study, we deal with the chemotaxis system with singular sensitivity by two stimuli under homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions in a bounded domain with smooth boundary. Under appropriate regularity assumptions on the initial data, we show that the system possesses global classical solution. Our results generalize and improve previously known ones.
Evaluation and Deformation Control Study on the Bias Pressure of Layered Rock Tunnels
Authors: Yanli Qi , Shaoquan Wen , Mingzhou Bai , Hai Shi , Pengxiang Li , Hao Zhou , Bohu He
Published: August 2021

In the process of tunnel construction, the bias of layered rock mass tunnels has always been a prominent problem that troubles the construction and safe operation of tunnels. In this paper, a comprehensive method that combines monitoring technology and discrete element (3DEC) numerical simulation is proposed to analyze the deformation characteristics of the surrounding rock in the layered rock tunnel and the deformation law of the bias tunnel. The results indicate that the tunnel surrounding rock deformation in the study area showed the characteristics of bias. Based on the bias mechanism, the surrounding rock deformation law, the construction deformation control, and the optimization measures of layered rock mass in the bias tunnel were studied by means of combining monitoring technology with discrete element (3DEC) numerical simulation. Based on the research results, appropriate methods for controlling the deformation of the surrounding rock of the tunnel with comprehensive consideration of the anchor rod length, anchor rod angle, and anchor rod layout spacing were proposed. The method proposed in this paper could visually reveal the deformation characteristics of the surrounding rock of layered rock tunnels and the deformation law of bias tunnels. It could also better solve the problem of deformation control in the tunnel construction process. This approach provides a novel idea for special layered rock mass tunnel bias evaluation and deformation control parameter optimization and serves as a valuable reference for analogous engineering cases through engineering case analysis.
Endophytic Fungi from Alstonia boonei De Wild and Greenwayodendron suaveolens (Engl. and Diels) Verdc. subsp. Suaveolens Possess Inhibitory Activity against Pneumonia Causing Bacteria
Authors: Demeni Paola Cynthia Emoh , Betote Patrick Hervé Diboue , Kom Christelle Wayoue , Tchamgoue Eric Ngalani , Ndedi Moni Esther Del Florence , Foumane Maniepi Jacqueline Saurelle , Agbor Gabriel A. , Nyegue Maximilienne Ascension
Published: August 2021

This study evaluated the antibacterial efficacy of methanolic extracts of isolated endophytic fungi from stem barks and leaves of Alstonia boonei De Wild and Greenwayodendron suaveolens (Engl. and Diels) Verdc. subsp. Suaveolens against Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 43816, Haemophilus influenzae ATCC 49247, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and Escherichia coli ATCC 35218, responsible for causing pneumonia. The endophytic fungi were isolated and characterized in the Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA), and Czapek Dox Agar (CDA) media. The fungi and their methanolic extracts were tested for in vitro antibacterial potential by antagonistic assay for endophytic fungi against bacterial pathogens and microdilution method. The phytochemical screening of extracts was carried out according to the colorimetric and precipitation methods to reveal the presence of secondary metabolites. The results showed that 24 macroscopically and microscopically distinct endophytic fungi were isolated, identified, and stored. These endophytic fungi possessed antibacterial activity against the selected bacterial strains with inhibition zones ranging from 7.00 to 25.00 mm. The endophytic fungi GS15 and AB24 have presented the inhibitions zones of 20.33 mm and 25.00 mm, respectively, and these were better than the ones obtained for Levofloxacin®. The endophytes with inhibition zones greater than 10 mm were used for extraction of their secondary metabolites. The endophytic fungi extracts showed antibacterial activity with the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 6.25 × 10−4 to 2 × 10−2 g/L and the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) ranging from 2.5 × 10−3 to 2 × 10−2 g/L. The endophytic fungi GS15 extract was the most effective extract; it showed bactericidal effects on the tested bacterial strains. The phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of secondary metabolites classes, responsible for causing the obtained antibacterial activity. Thus, the endophytic fungi methanolic extracts from A. boonei and G. suaveolens have the potential to inhibit the growth of bacteria responsible for nosocomial pneumonia.
Influence of Support Vector Regression (SVR) on Cryogenic Face Milling
Authors: Karthik Rao M. C. , Malghan Rashmi L. , Kara Fuat , Shettigar Arunkumar , Rao Shrikantha S. , Herbert Mervin A.
Published: August 2021

The paper aims to investigate the processing execution of SS316 in manageable machining cooling ways such as dry, wet, and cryogenic (LN2‐liquid nitrogen). Furthermore, “one parametric approach” was utilized to study the influence and carry out the comparative analysis of LN2over dry and LN2over wet machining conditions. Response surface methodology (RSM) is incorporated to build a relationship model among the considered independent variables (spindle speed: (S, rpm), feed rate (F, mm/min), and depth of cut (doc) (D, mm)) and the dependent variable (surface roughness (Ra)). Since there is the involvement of more than one independent variable, the generation of regression equation is “multiple linear regression.” Based on the attained coefficient value of the independent variable, the respective impact on surface roughness is identified. The results of comparative analysis of LN2over dry and LN2over wet machining states revealed that LN2 machining yielded better surface finish with up to 64.9%, 54.9% over dry and wet machining, respectively, indicating the benefits of LN2 for achieving better Ra. The benchmark function of the proposed mode hybrid‐bias (BNN‐SVR) algorithm showcases the propensity to emerge out of the local minimum and coincide with the optimal target value. The performance of the (BNN‐SVR) is a prevalent new ability to fetch the partially trained weights from the BNN model into the SVR model, thus leading to the conversion of static learning capability to dynamic capability. The performances of the adopted prediction approaches are compared through a range of attained error deviation, i.e., (RA: 3.95%–8.43%), (BNN: 2.36%–5.88%), (SVR: 1.04%–3.61%), respectively. Hybrid‐bias (BNN‐SVR) is the best suitable prediction model as it provides significant evidence by attaining less error in predicting Ra. However, SVR surpasses BNN and RSM approaches because of the convergence factor and narrow margin error.
O presente é um passado em potência? Considerações acerca da atitude estética do ser humano em relação aos acontecimentos históricos a partir de Simone de Beauvoir
Authors: Andrade Josiana Barbosa
Published: August 2021

No terceiro capítulo de Por uma moral da ambiguidade [1947], Simone de Beauvoir desenvolve diferentes temas, entre eles o da “atitude de estética” do ser humano para com os acontecimentos históricos. Essa atitude é definida por um olhar puro e contemplativo do ser humano em relação às diferentes situações humanas no mundo, que resultaria em uma tentativa de fuga da verdade do presente e em uma negação da condição humana. Então, considerando a crise atual, pretendemos mostrar, ao longo deste trabalho, não somente a relação entre essa noção de atitude estética e a teoria da temporalidade da filósofa, mas também suas implicações morais e políticas.
La libertad como poder semoviente en Émilie Du Châtelet: reflexiones tempranas
Authors: Zorrilla Natalia
Published: August 2021

El objetivo de este artículo es examinar algunas continuidades y discontinuidades entre un texto de Émilie Du Châtelet, titulado De la liberté, su epistolario y sus Institutions de physique en torno al tratamiento que la filósofa realiza de la temática de la libertad como poder semoviente. La hipótesis que propongo en este trabajo es que ciertos problemas filosóficos que Du Châtelet se plantea tempranamente se resuelven (o se disuelven) en las Institutions de physique. Nos referimos puntualmente a: 1. la presunta contradicción entre la idea del poder semoviente del cuerpo propio y la conservación de la cantidad de fuerza en el universo y 2. la presunta falta de garantías del funcionamiento veraz de nuestras facultades cognitivas (mediante las cuales constatamos que somos libres).
Poética da rememoração: o processo criativo de O peso do pássaro morto
Authors: Alfeld Elisabete
Published: August 2021

Um dos traços do romance no século XXI é a experimentação das possibilidades expressivas da escrita literária que, distante do realismo mimético, rompe com a escrita convencional. Em O peso do pássaro morto, Aline Bei (2017), a experimentação realiza-se pela opção estética, pela escrita híbrida – nem poema, nem prosa – que vai ao encontro de uma violação sofrida pela protagonista-narradora e experimentada no corpo da escrita. Uma narradora sem nome, mas qualificada por lembranças-cicatrizes, alguém que ‘carrega o peso de um pássaro morto’. O procedimento criativo que conta sobre essas lembranças-cicatrizes nos oferece apenas a etapa final, a obra publicada; não temos os documentos de processo. Caracterizamos essa forma de registro como uma memória poética da construção do romance, isto porque é a voz autoral, presente nas redes sociais digitais, a responsável pelo relato sobre a criação do romance. Refletir sobre essa poética da rememoração constituiu-se no objetivo norteador do estudo desenvolvido.
Representation of Women in Randomized Trials in Cardiac Surgery: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Gaudino Mario , Di Mauro Michele , Fremes Stephen E. , Di Franco Antonino
Published: August 2021

Background

Women have traditionally been underrepresented in randomized clinical trials (RCTs). We performed a systematic evaluation of the inclusion of women in cardiac surgery RCTs published in the past 2 decades.

Methods and Results

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched (2000 to July 2020) for RCTs written in English, comparing ≥2 adult cardiac surgical procedures. The percentage of women enrolled and its association with year of publication, sample size, mean age, funding source, geographic location, number of sites involved, and interventions tested were analyzed using a meta‐analytic approach. Fifty‐one trials were included. Of 25 425 total patients, 5029 were women (20.8%; 95% CI, 17.6–24.4; range, 0.5%–57.9%). The proportion of women dropped significantly during the study period (29.6% in 2000 versus 13.1% in 2019,
P
<0.001). Women were significantly more represented in European trials (26.2%; 95% CI, 21.2–31.9), and less represented in trials of coronary bypass surgery versus other interventions (16.8%; 95% CI, 12.3–22.7 versus 33.6%; 95% CI, 27.4–40.5;
P
=0.0002) and in trials enrolling younger patients (
P
=0.009); the percentage of women was higher in industry‐sponsored versus non‐industry sponsored trials (31.7%; 95% CI, 27.2–36.6 versus 15.5%; 95% CI, 10.0–23.2;
P
=0.0004) and was not associated with trial sample size (
P
=0.52) or study design (multicenter versus monocenter:
P
=0.22). After exclusion of trials conducted at Veteran Affairs centers, women representation was 24.4% (95% CI, 21.1–28.0; range, 10.4%–57.9%), with no significant changes during the study period.

Conclusions

The proportion of women in cardiac surgery trials is low and likely inadequate to provide meaningful estimates of the treatment effect.
Data Set and Evaluation of Automated Construction of Financial
Knowledge Graph
Authors: Wang Wenguang , Xu Yonglin , Du Chunhui , Chen Yunwen , Wang Yijie , Wen Hui
Published: August 2021

With the technological development of entity extraction, relationship extraction, knowledge reasoning, and entity linking, the research on knowledge graph has been carried out in full swing in recent years. To better promote the development of knowledge graph, especially in the Chinese language and in the financial industry, we built a high-quality data set, named financial research report knowledge graph (FR2KG), and organized the automated construction of financial knowledge graph evaluation at the 2020 China Knowledge Graph and Semantic Computing Conference (CCKS2020). FR2KG consists of 17,799 entities, 26,798 relationship triples, and 1,328 attribute triples covering 10 entity types, 19 relationship types, and 6 attributes. Participants are required to develop a constructor that will automatically construct a financial knowledge graph based on the FR2KG. In addition, we summarized the technologies for automatically constructing knowledge graphs, and introduced the methods used by the winners and the results of this evaluation.
Prioritizing School Finance Equity during an Economic Downturn: Recommendations for State Policy Makers
Authors: Knight David S. , Hassairi Nail , Candelaria Christopher A. , Sun Min , Plecki Margaret L.
Published: August 2021

State budgets temporarily crashed amid the COVID-19 pandemic and economic shutdown, placing education funding at risk. To demonstrate implications for school finance, we show that (1) school districts are racially segregated along class lines; (2) higher-poverty districts receive a greater share of funds from state, as opposed to local sources, making them especially vulnerable during economic downturns; and (3) many states made across-the-board K–12 budget reductions following the Great Recession, but those cuts disproportionately impacted high-poverty districts. A decade later, state legislators may face similar fiscal challenges. Instead of enacting across-the-board cuts, states can identify specific funding programs that already benefit lower-poverty districts or wealthier students. We demonstrate how this approach would work under different state finance models and offer recommendations for state policy makers.
Beyond Bad Beliefs
Authors: Howard Nathan Robert
Published: August 2021

Philosophers have recently come to focus on explaining the phenomenon of bad beliefs, beliefs that are apparently true and well-evidenced but nevertheless objectionable. Despite this recent focus, a consensus is already forming around a particular explanation of these beliefs’ badness called moral encroachment, according to which, roughly, the moral stakes engendered by bad beliefs make them particularly difficult to justify. This paper advances an alternative account not just of bad beliefs but of bad attitudes more generally according to which bad beliefs’ badness originates not in a failure of sufficient evidence but in a failure to respond adequately to reasons. I motivate this alternative account through an analogy to recent discussions of moral worth centered on the well-known grocer case from Kant’s Groundwork, and by showing that this analogy permits the proposed account to generalize to bad attitudes beyond belief. The paper concludes by contrasting the implications of moral encroachment and of the proposed account for bad attitudes’ blameworthiness.
Just Social Risk Imposition and the Demand for Fair Risk Sharing
Authors: Cai Yunmeng
Published: August 2021

Existing accounts of social insurance tend to treat social risks as given and ask whether it is justified for the state to deal with these risks for its citizens. They ignore that many common risks are in fact imposed on citizens as a byproduct of the institutional choices of the society, which call for justification in the first place. In this paper, I use the Scanlonian contractualist framework to develop an account of just social risk imposition which implies a demand for fair risk sharing by all members of a society. In particular, I defend a compensation principle which requires that compensation be paid to victims of risk materialisation. This duty of paying should be shared by all those who benefit from the imposition of the relevant risk. I suggest that this provides a case for social insurance as a way of fairly sharing the burden of social risks.
Taiwanese Higher Education in Times of Change: The Implications of the New Policy 2018
Authors: Lin Tzu-Bin , Huang Chia-Kai
Published: August 2021

This paper explores the potential consequences of the Higher Education Sprout Project (hesp) announced by the Ministry of Education (moe) in March 2018. In the fast-changing global arena of higher education, the Taiwanese government is striving for excellence in the performance of its higher education. Together with other East Asian countries like Japan, Korea, and Singapore, Taiwan officially entered the competition of global university ranking in 2006 when the government initiated the first round of the Aim for Top University Project (atup). After two five-year atup rounds, moe reviewed the results and started to revise the policy. Consequently, hesp was proposed and implemented. In this paper, we explicate the context of changing higher education landscape in Taiwan since 1994, the year the most recent education reform started. The discussion then moves to the issues emerging from the nationwide atup project. During the ten years of atup, most Taiwanese universities were influenced by the directions the project established. However, there has been criticism of atup and its outcome was severely in question. After reviewing the atup, the hesp came out in 2018. We analyse the policy as well as address its potential influences on universities in Taiwan.
A molecular and morphological study of Otocryptis Wagler, 1830 (Squamata: Agamidae) reveals a new genus from the far south of the Western Ghats, Peninsular India
Authors: SRIKANTHAN ACHYUTHAN N. , ADHIKARI OMKAR DILIP , GANESH SUMAITHANGI RAJAGOPALAN , DEUTI KAUSHIK , DAS KALPANA , KULKARNI VIDISHA M. , GOWANDE GAURANG G. , SHANKER KARTIK
Published: August 2021

In recent years, several studies have revealed significant unknown and cryptic diversity of agamids in peninsular India, particularly in the Western Ghats. Here, we examine the morphology, anatomy and genetics of the sole Indian representative of the otherwise Sri Lankan agamid genus Otocryptis from the Western Ghats. Our analyses reveal significant distinctions in O. beddomii Boulenger, 1885 with respect to the Sri Lankan members, the type species, O. wiegmanni Wagler, 1830, and O. nigristigma Bahir & de Silva, 2005, warranting a new generic placement. To accommodate the divergent and allopatric O. beddomii from the Western Ghats, we erect a new genus Agasthyagama gen. nov. We re-characterise Agasthyagama beddomii (Boulenger, 1885) comb. nov. based on a syntype (ZSI 15733) and recently collected material. In effect, we restrict the genus Otocryptis, represented by two species, O. wiegmanni and O. nigristigma, to Sri Lanka. We also provide a re-appraisal of the genus Otocryptis sensu stricto, based on data from its type species O. wiegmanni. Our finding adds another endemic agamid genus to the Western Ghats, following Salea Gray, 1845, and the recently described Monilesaurus Pal, Vijayakumar, Shanker, Jayarajan & Deepak, 2018, and Microauris Pal, Vijayakumar, Shanker, Jayarajan & Deepak, 2018. In turn, this complements Sri Lankan agamid endemism with Otocryptis, in addition to the accepted endemic radiations of Lyriocephalus Merrem, 1820, Ceratophora Gray, 1835 and Cophotis Peters, 1861. From a systematic perspective, our erection of Agasthyagama gen. nov. likely completes the description of known genus-level diversity in the clade containing Otocryptis Wagler 1830, Sitana Cuvier, 1829 and the recently described Sarada Deepak, Karanth & Giri, 2016.
An annotated type catalogue of freshwater sculpins (Cottoidei) described by Lev Berg
Authors: SIDELEVA VALENTINA G. , ZHIDKOV ZAKHAR V.
Published: August 2021

The catalog is represented by type specimens of species and subspecies of cottoid fishes described by Lev S. Berg which are kept in the ichthyological collection of the Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia. The collection contains type specimens representing 14 taxa (species and subspecies) of the two families Abyssocottidae and Cottidae. In total, Lev S. Berg described one family, Cottocomephoridae, five genera, Abyssocottus, Asprocottus, Baicalocottus, Batrachocottus and Cottinella, 10 species and four subspecies. Four genera and 10 species are currently considered valid.