bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microsimulation projections of obesity interventions on cardiometabolic health disparities in the United States
Authors: Richardson Andrea S. , Zutshi Rushil , Nguyen PhuongGiang , Tysinger Bryan , Sturm Roland
Published: December 2021

Objective

The aim of this study was to estimate long‐term impacts of health education interventions on cardiometabolic health disparities.

Methods

The model simulates how health education implemented in the United States throughout 2019 to 2049 would lead to changes in adult BMI and consequent hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Health outcome changes by sex, racial/ethnic (non‐Hispanic White, non‐Hispanic Black, and Hispanic), and weight status (normal: 18.5 BMI < 25; overweight: 25 BMI < 30; and obesity: 30 BMI) subpopulations were compared under a scenario with and one without health education.

Results

By 2049, the intervention would reduce average BMI of women with obesity to 27.7 kg/m2 (CI: 27.4‐27.9), which would be 2.9 kg/m2 lower than the expected average BMI without an intervention. Education campaigns would reduce type 2 diabetes prevalence, but it would remain highest among women with obesity at 27.7% (CI: 26.2%‐29.2%). The intervention would reduce hypertension prevalence among White women by 4.7 percentage points to 38.0% (CI: 36.4%‐39.7%). For Black women in the intervention, the 2049 hypertension prevalence would be 52.6% (CI: 50.7%‐54.5%). Results for men and women were similar.

Conclusions

Long‐term health education campaigns can reduce obesity‐related disease. All population groups benefit, but they would not substantially narrow cardiometabolic health disparities.
SGLT inhibitors on weight and body mass: A meta‐analysis of 116 randomized‐controlled trials
Authors: Cheong Alex Jia Yang , Teo Yao Neng , Teo Yao Hao , Syn Nicholas L. , Ong How Ting , Ting Adriel Z. H. , Chia Alys Z. Q. , Chong Elliot Yeung , Chan Mark Y. , Lee Chi‐Hang , Lim Amanda Yuan Ling , Kong William K. F. , Wong Raymond C. C. , Chai Ping , Sia Ching‐Hui
Published: December 2021

Objective

Multiple trials have demonstrated the metabolic effects of sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in patients regardless of diabetes status, and recent trials have been conducted on the combined sodium/glucose cotransporter 1 and sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT1/SGLT2) inhibitors. Therefore, a meta‐analysis was conducted to investigate the weight reduction effects and dose‐response relationship of SGLT inhibitors and to assess the relative efficacy of SGLT1/SGLT2 inhibitors.

Methods

Four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus) were searched on November 21, 2020, for articles published from January 1, 2000, up to November 21, 2020.

Results

In total, 116 randomized‐controlled trials were included, with a combined cohort of 98,497 patients. Overall, patients had a mean weight reduction of −1.79 kg (95% CI: −1.93 to −1.66, p < 0.001) compared with placebo. This effect was observed across diabetes status, duration of follow‐up, various comorbidities, and all SGLT drug types. Mean BMI changes were −0.71 kg/m2 (95% CI: −0.94 to −0.47, p < 0.001) compared with placebo. Canagliflozin, empagliflozin, sotagliflozin, and licogliflozin showed a dose‐response relationship for mean weight change. Compared with SGLT2 inhibitors, SGLT1/SGLT2 inhibitors had a significantly larger reduction in weight.

Conclusions

SGLT inhibitors demonstrated weight reduction benefits in this meta‐analysis. Further studies are needed to clarify their role in weight management.
Combining data assimilation and machine learning to estimate parameters of a convective‐scale model
Authors: Legler S. , Janjić T.
Published: December 2021

Errors in the representation of clouds in convection‐permitting numerical weather prediction models can be introduced by different sources. These can be the forcing and boundary conditions, the representation of orography, the accuracy of the numerical schemes determining the evolution of humidity and temperature, but large contributions are due to the parametrization of microphysics and the parametrization of processes in the surface and boundary layers. These schemes typically contain several tunable parameters that are either not physical or only crudely known, leading to model errors. Traditionally, the numerical values of these model parameters are chosen by manual model tuning. More objectively, they can be estimated from observations by the augmented state approach during the data assimilation. Alternatively, in this work, we look at the problem of parameter estimation through an artificial intelligence lens by training two types of artificial neural network (ANN) to estimate several parameters of the one‐dimensional modified shallow‐water model as a function of the observations or analysis of the atmospheric state. Through perfect model experiments we show that Bayesian neural networks (BNNs) and Bayesian approximations of point estimate neural networks (NNs) are able to estimate model parameters and their relevant statistics. The estimation of parameters combined with data assimilation for the state decreases the initial state errors even when assimilating sparse and noisy observations. The sensitivity to the number of ensemble members, observation coverage and neural network size is shown. Additionally, we use the method of layer‐wise relevance propagation to gain insight into how the ANNs are learning and discover that they naturally select only a few grid points that are subject to strong winds and rain to make their predictions of chosen parameters.
Robust event‐triggered consensus tracking control of high‐order uncertain nonlinear systems
Authors: Yang Zi‐Jiang , Takei Daichi
Published: December 2021

This work considers the problem of distributed event‐triggered consensus tracking control of multiple high‐order uncertain nonlinear systems on a connected graph where the leader's reference information is sent to only a portion of the followers. The communication among the agents and the local control update are performed based on different event‐triggering mechanisms which possess different triggering conditions and work independently. To facilitate consensus tracking control design, in each follower agent of the network, a group of distributed and cascaded estimators is constructed for estimating the reference trajectory and its high‐order derivatives by event‐triggered information exchange among the local neighbors on the communication graph. Theoretical analysis shows that the estimation errors of the reference states decay within a very short time to the neighborhood of the origin and that the Zeno behavior is excluded. Then by utilizing the estimated reference states, in each agent, a local event‐triggered robust controller including a nonlinear robustifying term with a state signal dependent gain is proposed. The triggering condition is derived by taking the time‐varying control gain into account, and the tracking performance of the local controller is rigorously analyzed. Furthermore, it is shown that the Zeno behavior is also excluded. Finally, simulation examples are provided to demonstrate the performance of the reference estimators and that of the consensus tracking controllers.
On warped string vacuum profiles and cosmologies. Part I. Supersymmetric strings
Authors: Mourad J. , Sagnotti A.
Published: December 2021

Abstract

We investigate in detail solutions of supergravity that involve warped products of flat geometries of the typeMp+1× R × TD−p−2depending on a single coordinate. In the absence of fluxes, the solutions include flat space and Kasner-like vacua that break all supersymmetries. In the presence of a symmetric flux, there are three families of solutions that are characterized by a pair of boundaries and have a singularity at one of them, the origin. The first family comprises supersymmetric vacua, which capture a universal limiting behavior at the origin. The first and second families also contain non-supersymmetric solutions whose behavior at the other boundary, which can lie at a finite or infinite distance, is captured by the no-flux solutions. The solutions of the third family have a second boundary at a finite distance where they approach again the supersymmetric backgrounds. These vacua exhibit a variety of interesting scenarios, which include compactifications on finite intervals andp+ 1-dimensional effective theories where the string coupling has an upper bound. We also build corresponding cosmologies, and in some of them the string coupling can be finite throughout the evolution.
Changes in left atrial function in patients undergoing cardioversion for atrial fibrillation: relevance of left atrial strain in heart failure
Authors: von Roeder Maximilian , Blazek Stephan , Rommel Karl-Philipp , Kresoja Karl-Patrik , Gioia Guglielmo , Mentzel Luise , Lurz Julia Anna , Besler Christian , Fengler Karl , Hindricks Gerhard , Desch Steffen , Thiele Holger , Lurz Philipp
Published: December 2021

Background

Left atrial (LA) reservoir strain provides prognostic information in patients with and without heart failure (HF), but might be altered by atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of the current study was to investigate changes of LA deformation in patients undergoing cardioversion (CV) for first-time diagnosis of AF.

Methods and results

We performed 3D-echocardiography and strain analysis before CV (Baseline), after 25 ± 10 days (FU-1) and after 190 ± 20 days (FU-2). LA volumes, reservoir, conduit and active function were measured. In total, 51 patients were included of whom 35 were in SR at FU-1 (12 HF and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)), while 16 had ongoing recurrence of AF (9 HFpEF). LA maximum volume was unaffected by cardioversion (Baseline vs. FU-2: 41 ± 11 vs 40 ± 10 ml/m2; p = 0.85). Restored SR led to a significant increase in LA reservoir strain (Baseline vs FU-1: 12.9 ± 6.8 vs 24.6 ± 9.4, p < 0.0001), mediated by restored LA active strain (SR group Baseline vs. FU-1: 0 ± 0 vs. 12.3 ± 5.3%, p < 0.0001), while LA conduit strain remained unchanged (Baseline vs. FU-1: 12.9 ± 6.8 vs 13.1 ± 6.2, p = 0.78). Age-controlled LA active strain remained the only significant predictor of LA reservoir strain on multivariable analysis (β 1.2, CI 1.04–1.4, p < 0.0001). HFpEF patients exhibited a significant increase in LA active (8.2 ± 4.3 vs 12.2 ± 6.6%, p = 0.004) and reservoir strain (18.3 ± 5.7 vs. 22.8 ± 8.8, p = 0.04) between FU-1 and FU-2, associated with improved LV filling (r = 0.77, p = 0.005).

Conclusion

Reestablished SR improves LA reservoir strain by restoring LA active strain. Despite prolonged atrial stunning following CV, preserved SR might be of hemodynamic and prognostic benefit in HFpEF.

Graphical abstract
Dual-enhancement and dual-tag design for SERS-based sandwich immunoassays: evaluation of a metal–metal effect in 3D architecture
Authors: Wiercigroch Ewelina , Swit Pawel , Brzozka Agnieszka , Pięta Łukasz , Malek Kamilla
Published: December 2021

The design of a sandwich-type SERS immunoassay (surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy) is demonstrated operating in dual surface enhancement and dual-tag paradigm. The capture and detection antibodies are linked to two SERS-active substrates and form together the three-dimensional (3D) structure after specific binding to interleukin 6. A variety of metal combinations is tested (Au–Ag, Au–Au, and Ag–Ag), but an enhanced electromagnetic field is generated only due to coupling of Ag and Au nanoparticles with an Au hexagonal nanoarray. The amplified in that way Raman signals improve the limit of detection over 3 times in comparison to the assay with only one SERS-active substrate. It is also shown that the proper readout of the true-positive signal can be achieved in assays with two Raman tags, and this approach also improves LOD. For the optimal combination of the metal–metal junction and Raman tags, a linear relationship between the Raman signal and the concentration of IL-6 is obtained in the range 0–1000 pg⋅mL−1with LOD of 25.2 pg mL−1and RSD < 10%. The presented proof-of-concept of the SERS immunoassay with the dual-enhancement and dual-tag opens additional opportunities for engineering reliable SERS biosensing.

Graphical abstract
Seismic inversion with deep learning
Authors: Pintea Silvia L. , Sharma Siddharth , Vossepoel Femke C. , van Gemert Jan C. , Loog Marco , Verschuur Dirk J.
Published: December 2021

This article investigates bypassing the inversion steps involved in a standard litho-type classification pipeline and performing the litho-type classification directly from imaged seismic data. We consider a set of deep learning methods that map the seismic data directly into litho-type classes, trained on two variants of synthetic seismic data: (i) one in which we image the seismic data using a local Radon transform to obtain angle gathers, (ii) and another in which we start from the subsurface-offset gathers, based on correlations over the seismic data. Our results indicate that this single-step approach provides a faster alternative to the established pipeline while being convincingly accurate. We observe that adding the background model as input to the deep network optimization is essential in correctly categorizing litho-types. Also, starting from the angle gathers obtained by imaging in the Radon domain is more informative than using the subsurface offset gathers as input.
Myofascial Tissue and Depression
Authors: Michalak Johannes , Aranmolate Lanre , Bonn Antonia , Grandin Karen , Schleip Robert , Schmiedtke Jaqueline , Quassowsky Svenja , Teismann Tobias
Published: December 2021

Background

The myofascial system plays a fundamental role in the mechanics of the body, in body tension regulation and the etiology of pathological states like chronic pain. Moreover, it contains contractile elements and preliminary evidence suggests that its properties are linked to psychological factors. The aim of the present research was to investigate characteristics of the myofascial tissue in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and to examine whether the state of the myofascial tissue causally affects pathopsychological processes in MDD.

Methods

In Study 1, stiffness and elasticity of the myofascial tissue of 40 inpatients suffering from MDD measured with a tissue compliance meter were compared with those of 40 matched never-depressed participants. In Study 2, 69 MDD patients were randomly assigned to single-session self-myofascial release intervention (SMRI) or a placebo intervention. Effects on memory bias and affect were investigated.

Results

Results showed that MDD patients displayed heightened stiffness and reduced elasticity of the myofascial tissue and that patients in the SMRI group showed a reduced negative memory bias and more positive affect compared to patients in the placebo condition.

Conclusions

The preliminary results of our studies indicate that the myofascial tissue might be part of a dysfunctional body-mind dynamic that maintains MDD.
Organisational forms of science communication: the UK and Spanish European higher education systems as paradigms
Authors: Ojeda-Romano Gabriela , Fernández-Marcial Viviana , Wilkinson Clare , Stengler A. Erik
Published: December 2021

As key elements in research and development systems, higher education institutions have been taking a leading role when it comes to communicating science and technology, but their performance has been inconsistent so far. In this critical and comparative study of the UK public engagement model and the Spanish scientific culture model, eighteen practitioners from higher education institutions across both regions were interviewed. A mixed qualitative data analysis has been performed identifying similarities and differences that unravelled the science communication management model in the two different higher education systems. This article provides evidence on how the institutionalisation of science communication is strongly influenced by key driving forces in the higher education context as well as the policies of administrations and other agents.
Synergistic effect of sorption and photocatalysis on the degree of dye removal in single and multicomponent systems on ZnO-SnO2
Authors: Długosz Olga , Staroń Anita , Brzoza Paulina , Banach Marcin
Published: December 2021

The paper presents the photodegradation process of one-, two- and three-component dye mixtures by ZnO-SnO2 nanoparticles. After 60 min of running the processes, the dye removal efficiencies of 76.44, 72.69, 62.43, 77.00 and 92.46% for MB, RB, TB, MO and YQ degradation, respectively, were obtained. For binary and ternary systems, dye removal efficiencies for all cases exceeded 70%. When the binary and ternary dye mixtures were tested, the photodegradation efficiencies of ZnO-SnO2 were similar to those of the single mixtures, indicating that this material could be used in industrial applications in the future. The focus of the study was to investigate the effect of sorption on photodegradation efficiency and the presence of both cationic and anionic dyes on their degradation efficiency under UV light. The significance of the effect of sorption on the degradation efficiency allowing the interaction of the catalyst with the dyes removed was confirmed. The main factor influencing sorption and consequently photocatalysis was the nature of the dye. It was confirmed that the positively charged ZnO-SnO2 surface effectively sorbs the dyes and causes their degradation.
Ecological risk assessment of trace elements accumulated in stormwater ponds within industrial areas
Authors: Waara Sylvia , Johansson Frida
Published: December 2021

Stormwater ponds can provide flood protection and efficiently treat stormwater using sedimentation. As the ponds also host aquatic biota and attract wildlife, there is a growing concern that the sediment bound pollutants negatively affect aquatic organisms and the surrounding ecosystem. In this study, we used three methods to assess the accumulation and the potential ecological risk of 13 different heavy metals and metalloids (e.g. trace elements) including both elements that are frequently monitored and some which are rarely monitored in sediment from 5 stormwater ponds located within catchments with predominately industrial activities. Ecological risk for organisms in the older ponds was observed for both commonly (e.g. Cd, Cu, Zn) and seldom (e.g. Ag, Sb) monitored trace elements. The 3 methods ranked the degree of contamination similarly. We show that methods usually used for sediment quality assessment in aquatic ecosystems can also be used for screening the potential risk of other trace elements in stormwater ponds and may consequently be useful in stormwater monitoring and management. Our study also highlights the importance of establishing background conditions when conducting ecological risk assessment of sediment in stormwater ponds.
Precaution as a Risk in Data Gaps and Sustainable Nanotechnology Decision Support Systems: a Case Study of Nano-Enabled Textiles Production
Authors: Furxhi Irini , Murphy Finbarr , Poland Craig A. , Cunneen Martin , Mullins Martin
Published: December 2021

In light of the potential long-term societal and economic benefits of novel nano-enabled products, there is an evident need for research and development to focus on closing the gap in nano-materials (NMs) safety. Concurrent reflection on the impact of decision-making tools, which may lack the capability to assist sophisticated judgements around the risks and benefits of the introduction of novel products (or pilot production lines), is essential. This paper addresses the potential for extant decision support tools to default to a precautionary principle position in the face of uncertainty. A more utilitarian-based approach could be facilitated by adding simple methods to formulate realistic hypotheses, which would assist non-specialists to make more nuanced decisions in terms of managing the risks of introducing new NMs. A decision support analytical framework is applied to identify the potential risks and benefits of novel nano-enabled products such as textiles with in-built enhanced antimicrobial activity for the prevention of nosocomial infections produced by spray or sonochemical coating possesses. While the results demonstrate valuable societal and environmental benefits compared to conventional products, due to uncertainty regarding the possible hazard to humans, sizable risks were identified in some cases due to the precautionary principle.
Axiomatization of the degree of Fitzpatrick, Pejsachowicz and Rabier
Authors: López-Gómez Julián , Sampedro Juan Carlos
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we prove an analogue of the uniqueness theorems of Führer [15] and Amann and Weiss [1] to cover the degree of Fredholm operators of index zero constructed by Fitzpatrick, Pejsachowicz and Rabier [13], whose range of applicability is substantially wider than for the most classical degrees of Brouwer [5] and Leray–Schauder [22]. A crucial step towards the axiomatization of this degree is provided by the generalized algebraic multiplicity of Esquinas and López-Gómez [8, 9, 25], $$\chi $$
χ
, and the axiomatization theorem of Mora-Corral [28, 32]. The latest result facilitates the axiomatization of the parity of Fitzpatrick and Pejsachowicz [12], $$\sigma (\cdot ,[a,b])$$

σ
(
·
,
[
a
,
b
]
)

, which provides the key step for establishing the uniqueness of the degree for Fredholm maps.
Stable Support for Democracy in East and Southeast Asia? Examining Citizens’ Trust in Democratic Institutions
Authors: Mauk Marlene
Published: December 2021

Recent democratic regressions and crises suggest democracy is at risk across East and Southeast Asia. One of the factors that can determine democratic stability are citizens’ attitudes. While previous research has concentrated on support for democracy-in-principle, this contribution argues that it is political trust, i.e. support for democracy-in-practice, which is crucial for democratic stability. For democracies to be stable, political trust should be high as well as rooted in long-term factors like liberal democratic value orientations or social trust to protect it from short-term fluctuations following economic crises or political scandals. This contribution therefore examines not only the current levels and development of political trust but also whether it is influenced more by long-term factors (liberal democratic value orientations, social trust) or short-term factors (economic performance evaluations, incumbent support). The empirical analysis shows political trust in five East and Southeast Asian democracies (Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, South Korea, Taiwan) to be mostly mediocre and primarily dependent on economic performance evaluations and incumbent support. Among the five democracies, citizens in Japan appear most resilient to democratic regressions; on the other hand, Taiwanese democracy seems least equipped to master future crises.
Is there a decline of democracy in the EU between 2004 and 2016? The relevance of data selection: a replication study of Smolka (2021) and comparison of democracy measures
Authors: Lemm Lukas
Published: December 2021

Is there a Decline of Democracy? Democracy measurement provides the basis for answering this question. However, there are different measurement tools based on different meanings of democracy that have been shown to vary in their concept validity. Therefore, it is relevant to examine whether the results of the different measurement tools converge or diverge with respect to a potential decline of democracy. Smolka (2021) finds a decline of democracy for new and old EU states based on standardized data from the Democracy Barometer. A re-analysis using the original data of the Democracy Barometer and the Democracy Matrix can hardly replicate these results. A comparison of further measurements shows that the instruments diverge rather than converge. I therefore conclude with some thoughts on overcoming the selection problem that arises in light of these contrasts.
The state-regime-nexus: law and legal order
Authors: Stawski Theresa Paola
Published: December 2021

The aim of this paper is to illuminate the interdependent relation and connectivity between state and regime known as the state-regime-nexus. To conceptualize the reciprocal institutional relation between state and regime and to deepen the understanding of the state-regime-nexus, I focus on law and legal order as one mutual linkage between state and regime in both democratic and autocratic regimes. To do so, this conceptual paper addresses two points that are part of the same topic: the relation between state, regime and law and different variants of legal order in democratic and autocratic regimes. This creates a theoretical basis to gain more conceptual and analytical clarity in the complex realm of the state-regime-nexus.
Industrial park land capability assessment and post-evaluation in Markazi province
Authors: Aghmashhadi Amir Hedayati , Azizi Ali , Hoseinkhani Maryam , Zahedi Samaneh , Cirella Giuseppe T.
Published: December 2021

Markazi province in Central Iran is a highly attractive area for the development of industrial centers; however, over the last few decades, unregulated development has led to environmental and socioeconomic issues. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the existing industrial parks and identify potential areas for appropriate development. An industrial land capability assessment utilized 14 main criteria and 10 constraint parameters of socioeconomic, infrastructural, biological, and physical aspects using a geographic information system-based analytical network process model. Results show that Markazi province has 14.27% of highly suitable and 11.32% of extremely suitable area for industrial development; contrariwise, 60.14% of the province has no potential or is classified as an exclusion zone. Moreover, 44.4% (i.e., 8 parks) of the province’s industrial parks are located in unsuitable zones. According to the land capability of Markazi province, the need to organize existing industrial parks and integrate industrial units alongside existing centers and potential areas should be considered in the industrial development policies of the province. The results of the sensitivity analysis also support the research findings.
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) in a refugee context in East Africa: Kitchen gardening helps with mineral provision
Authors: Woldetsadik Desta , Llorent-Martínez Eulogio J. , Gebrezgabher Solomie , Njenga Mary , Mendum Ruth , Castillo-López Roxana , Fernández-de Córdova Maria L. , Hailu Hillette , Evans Colby T. , Madani Nelly , Mafika Tamlyn P. , Fleming David E. B.
Published: December 2021

Kitchen gardening is considered a way to reconnect with agriculture and complement the cereal-based relief food offered to refugees in East Africa. This work aimed at profiling mineral content of okra in four refugee camps and settlements located in Ethiopia and Uganda and its contribution to adequate intake (AIs) or recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) for young children and pregnant and lactating women (PLW). The study also evaluated the applicability of portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) as compared with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for mineral profiling of okra powder samples. The contents of minerals (mg kg−1) from the ICP-MS readings were in the following ranges: K (14,385–33,294), Ca (2610–14,090), P (3178–13,248), Mg (3896–7986), Cu (3.81–19.3), Fe (75.7–1243), Zn (33–141) and Mn (23.1–261). Regardless of geographic origin, at low-end consumption probability (17 g day−1 for young children and 68 g day−1 for PLW), okra could contribute ˂ 15% (2.7–12.9%) AI for macro-minerals (K and Ca). In addition, the contributions to RDA values for Fe and Zn, elements of known public health interest, ranged from 4.5 to 34.7% for young children. Interestingly, regression lines revealed strong agreement between ICP-MS and PXRF readings for Mn and Zn, with R2 values > 0.91. This information is useful in support of nutrition-sensitive kitchen gardening programs through scaling culturally important crops in refugee settings.
A Manufacturing SCOS Model (MSCOS) Based on the Similarity of Parameter Sequences Between Tasks and Service Composition
Authors: Gao Jie , Guo Hong , Yan Xianguo
Published: December 2021

Service composition and optimal selection (SCOS) is a core issue in cloud manufacturing (CMfg) when integrating distributed manufacturing services for complex manufacturing tasks. Generally, a set of recommended task parameter sequences (Tps) will be given when publishing manufacturing tasks. The similarity between the service composition parameter sequence (SCps) and Tps also reflects the rationality of the service composition. However, various evaluation models based on QoS have been proposed, ignoring the rationality between the Tps and SCps. Considering the similarity of the Tps and SCps in an evaluation model, we propose a manufacturing SCOS framework called MSCOS. The framework includes two parts: an evaluation model and an algorithm for both optimization and selection. In the evaluation model, based on the numerical proximity and geometric similarity between the Tps and SCps, improving the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) with the grey correlation degree (GC), we propose the GC&TOPSIS (GTOPSIS). In the optimization and selection algorithm, an improved flower pollination algorithm (IFPA) is proposed to achieve optimization and selection based on polyline characteristics between the fitness values in the population. Experiments show that the MSCOS evaluation effect and optimal selection offer better performance than commonly used algorithms.
The Meaning of Freedom and the Kingdom of God: A Struggle against the Fetishization of Our Present World
Authors: Drexler-Dreis Joseph
Published: December 2021

In their respective contexts of Roman empire and global neoliberal capitalism, the Jesus movement and the Zapatistas announce that another world is possible and that this world has irrupted in the struggle for that other possible world. This article argues that the practical and theoretical work of the Zapatistas offers to theologians a way to articulate the meaning of the kingdom of God as a world of hope and struggle that is actualized in and informed by struggles to resist fetishization.
Efficient thrust enhancement by modified pitching motion
Authors: Muhammad Zaka , Alam Md. Mahbub , Noack Bernd R.
Published: December 2021

Thrust and/or efficiency of a pitching foil (mimicking a tail of swimming fish) can be enhanced by tweaking the pitching waveform. The literature, however, show that non-sinusoidal pitching waveforms can enhance either thrust or efficiency but not both simultaneously. With the knowledge and inspiration from nature, we devised and implemented a novel asymmetrical sinusoidal pitching motion that is a combination of two sinusoidal motions having periods T1 and T2 for the forward and retract strokes, respectively. The motion is represented by period ratio

$\mathrm{\mathbb{T}} = {T_1}/T$

, where T = (T1 + T2)/2, with

$\mathrm{\mathbb{T}} > 1.00$

giving the forward strokes (from equilibrium to extreme position) slower than the retract strokes (from extreme to equilibrium position) and vice versa. The novel pitching motion enhances both thrust and efficiency for

$\mathrm{\mathbb{T}} > 1.00$

. The enhancement results from the resonance between the shear-layer roll up and the increased speed of the foil. Four swimming regimes, namely normal swimming, undesirable, floating and ideal are discussed, based on instantaneous thrust and power. The results from the novel pitching motion display similarities with those from fish locomotion (e.g. fast start, steady swimming and braking). The

$\mathrm{\mathbb{T}} > 1.00$

motion in the faster stroke has the same characteristics and results as the fast start of prey to escape from a predator while

$\mathrm{\mathbb{T}} < 1.00$

imitates braking locomotion. While

$\mathrm{\mathbb{T}} < 1.00$

enhances the wake deflection at high amplitude-based Strouhal numbers (StA = fA/U∞, where f and A are the frequency and peak-to-peak amplitude of the pitching, respectively, and U∞ is the freestream velocity),

$\mathrm{\mathbb{T}} > 1.00$

improves the wake symmetry, suppressing the wake deflection. The wake characteristics including wake width, jet velocity and vortex structures are presented and connected with

$S{t_d}( = fd/{U_\infty })$

,

${A^{\ast}}( = A/d)$

and

$\mathrm{\mathbb{T}}$

, where d is the maximum thickness of the foil.
The Drug Trade and State Violence in Internal Conflicts: Evidence from Peru
Authors: Durán-Martínez Angélica , Soifer Hillel David
Published: December 2021

Most literature on drugs and conflict focuses on how the drug trade affects insurgent behavior, paying little attention to its effect on state behavior in conflict settings. This article begins to address this gap by analyzing the impact of drugs on state violence during the internal conflict in Peru (1980–2000), which, in the 1980s, was the world’s major producer of coca for the international drug trade. Drawing on literature on criminal violence and on drug policy, this study theorizes militarization as the main channel by which drug production affects how state forces treat the civilian population during internal conflicts, though it also explores a second channel associated with corruption. The analysis finds that, all else equal, drug-producing localities saw increased state violence in ways consistent with the militarization channel.
Infestation of the gall midgeDasineura oleaeprovides first evidence of induced plant volatiles in olive leaves
Authors: Caselli Alice , Favaro Riccardo , Petacchi Ruggero , Angeli Sergio
Published: December 2021

In this study, we present the first characterization of herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) released from infested olive leaves. The gall midgeDasineura oleaeis a specific pest ofOlea europaeaand endemic of the Mediterranean Basin, an area in which severe outbreaks currently occurred. Little is known about the damage caused by the pest and the relationship with its host. Since gall formation and larval feeding activity may lead to the release of specific plant volatile compounds, we investigated the volatile profiles emitted from infested plants compared with healthy plants under both laboratory and field conditions. Additionally, the volatiles emitted from mechanically damaged plants were considered. A blend of 12 volatiles was emitted from olive trees infested byD. oleae. Of these, β-copaene, β-ocimene, cosmene, unknown 1 and unknown 3 were found to be exclusively emitted in infested plants. The emission of germacrene-D, (E,E)-α-farnesene, and (Z,E)-α-farnesene, α-copaene, (E)-4,8-dimethylnona-1,3,7-triene, (E)-β-guaiene and heptadecane significantly increased in infested trees. Linalool, β-copaen-4-α-ol, β-bourbonene, β-cubebene, β-elemene, β-copaene and δ-amorphene were found only in the field trial and showed differences depending on the level of infestation and the plant stage. (Z)-3-Hexenol, (E)-4-oxohen-2-enal, and 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)-ethanol, were exclusively emitted from the leaves after mechanical damage. In a field trial in Italy, we also demonstrated spring synchronization between adults ofD. oleaeandO. europaeatrees. Analyses of morphoanatomical malformations of gall leaves showed that tissue alterations occur at the spongy parenchyma causing an increase of the leaf blade thickness. We speculate that tissue alterations may lead to HIPV release, in turn potentially attractingD. oleaenatural enemies.
The Long Twilight of Gold: How a Pivotal Practice Persisted in the Assemblage of Money
Authors: Jabko Nicolas , Schmidt Sebastian
Published: December 2021

Why has gold persisted as a significant reserve asset despite momentous changes in international monetary relations since the collapse of the classical gold standard? IPE theories have little to say about this question. Conventional accounts of international monetary relations depict a succession of discrete monetary regimes characterized by specific power structures or dominant ideas. To explain the continuous importance of gold, we draw on insights from social psychology and new materialist theories. We argue that international monetary relations should be understood as a complex assemblage of material artifacts, institutions, ideas, and practices. For much of its history, this assemblage revolved around the pivotal practice of referencing money to gold. The centrality of gold as experienced by policymakers had important effects. Using archival and other evidence, we document these effects from the 1944 Bretton Woods conference through the transition to floating exchange rates in the mid-1970s; most IPE scholars underestimate the role of gold during this period. Power relations and economic ideas were obviously important, but they contributed little to a fundamental development: the long process of reluctantly coming to terms with the limitations of specie-backed currency, and the progressive and still ongoing decentering of gold in international monetary relations.
The variability of maize kernel drying: sowing date, harvest scenario and year
Authors: Huang Z. F. , Hou L. Y. , Xue J. , Wang K. R. , Xie R. Z. , Hou P. , Ming B. , Li S. K.
Published: December 2021

The extent of the reduction of maize (Zea mays L.) kernel moisture content through drying is closely related to field temperature (or accumulated temperature; AT) following maturation. In 2017 and 2018, we selected eight maize hybrids that are widely planted in Northeastern China to construct kernel drying prediction models for each hybrid based on kernel drying dynamics. In the traditional harvest scenario using the optimal sowing date (OSD), maize kernels underwent drying from 4th September to 5th October, with variation coefficients of 1.0–1.9. However, with a latest sowing date (LSD), drying occurred from 14th September to 31st October, with variation coefficients of 1.3–3.0. In the changed harvest scenario, the drying time of maize sown on the OSD condition was from 12th September to 9th November with variation coefficients of 1.3–3.0, while maize sown on the LSD had drying dates of 26th September to 28th October with variation coefficients of 1.5–3.6. In the future harvest scenario, the Fengken 139 (FK139) and Jingnongke 728 (JNK728) hybrids finished drying on 20th October and 8th November, respectively, when sown on the OSD and had variation coefficients of 2.7–2.8. Therefore, the maize kernel drying time was gradually delayed and was associated with an increased demand for AT ⩾ 0°C late in the growing season. Furthermore, we observed variation among different growing seasons likely due to differences in weather patterns, and that sowing dates impact variations in drying times to a greater extent than harvest scenarios.
Hybrid in Form, Socialist in Content: The Formal Politics ofChŏlgain the North Korean Revolutionary OperaSea of Blood
Authors: JOHNSON STEPHEN
Published: December 2021

Kim Jong Il considered the 1971 premiere of the operaSea of Blooda watershed moment in opera history. He lauded its innovative use ofchŏlga(‘stanzaic song’) rather than aria and recitative. By Western analytical standards, however,chŏlgais simple and predictable, so scholars have thus far glossed over its conventions and their signification. This article instead argues thatchŏlgaconventions exhibit cultural hybridity and that Kim leveraged such hybridity to advocate a modern, popular, and national sound for North Korea. I begin by outlining hybrid characteristics of colonial-era popular music thatchŏlgainherited. I then explore Kim's engagement with such trends in his speeches onchŏlgaand demonstrate that cultural hybridity was central to his understanding of sonic modernity. Finally, I analyse a scene fromSea of Bloodthat pitschŏlgaagainst other music genres, leading to a symbolic victory for the form and for the Korean nation.
In the Footsteps of My Countrymen: Atmospheric Chemistry in New England, Los Angeles, and the Southeast United States
Authors: de Gouw Joost
Published: December 2021

The formation of organic aerosol in the atmosphere degrades air quality and impacts climate change, but has been poorly understood for many years. This article gives a personal history of field studies that have advanced my scientific understanding. Measurements in New England in 2002, Los Angeles in 2010, and the Southeast U.S. in 2013 showed how organic aerosol is formed in these regions, which are distinctly different in their mixtures of natural and anthropogenic emissions. In taking this research path, I followed in the footsteps of two countrymen, Arie Haagen‐Smit and Frits Went, who did foundational work on air pollution in Los Angeles and haze formation from natural emissions.
The Illumination of Thunderclouds by Lightning: 3. Retrieving Optical Source Altitude
Authors: Peterson Michael , Light Tracy E. L. , Mach Douglas
Published: December 2021

Optical space‐based lightning sensors such as the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) detect and geolocate lightning by recording rapid changes in cloud top illumination. While lightning locations can be determined to within a pixel on the GLM imaging array, these instruments are not individually able to natively report lightning altitude. It has previously been shown that thunderclouds are illuminated differently based on the altitude of the optical source. In this study, we examine how altitude information can be extracted from the spatial distributions of GLM energy recorded from each optical pulse. We match GLM “groups” with Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) source data that accurately report the 3‐D positions of coincident Radio‐Frequency (RF) emitters. We then use machine learning methods to predict the mean LMA source altitudes matched to GLM groups using metrics from the optical data that describe the amplitude, breadth, and texture of the group spatial energy distribution. The resulting model can predict the LMA mean source altitude from GLM group data with a median absolute error of <1.5 km, which is sufficient to determine the location of the charge layer where the optical energy originated. This model is able to capture changes to the source altitude distribution in response to convective processes in the thunderstorm, and the GLM predictions can reveal the vertical structure of individual flashes ‐ enabling 3‐D flash geolocation with GLM for the first time. Future work will account for differences in thunderstorm charge/precipitation structures and viewing angle across the GLM Field of View.
Full Waveform Ambient Noise Tomography for the Northern Mississippi Embayment
Authors: Yang Y. , Langston C. A. , Powell C. A. , Thomas W. A.
Published: December 2021

We use seismic ambient noise data recorded by broadband stations around the northern Mississippi Embayment to develop a three‐dimensional shear wave velocity model with full waveform inversion. Empirical Green's functions at periods between 8 and 40s are extracted using a data processing flow based on the continuous wavelet transform. Synthetic waveforms are calculated with an isotropic model through a Graphics Processor Unit‐enabled, collocated finite‐difference code. Starting from the Central United States Velocity Model, the shear wave velocity is iteratively updated with sensitivity kernels constructed using the adjoint method. Several mid‐crustal velocity variations are related to major geological features including the Mississippi Valley graben (MVG), the Ouachita thrust belt, and the Missouri batholith. An intrusion is imaged in northwestern Alabama, coincident with a previously unexplained gravity high. A major change in mid‐crustal velocity occurs across the MVG; much higher velocity crust is present southeast of the graben than northwest. The high velocities are attributed to numerous igneous intrusions, possibly related to formation of the Granite‐Rhyolite province. A strength contrast produced by the change in mid‐crustal velocities may have facilitated formation of the younger, shallower MVG, as external stresses became tensional during Iapetus rifting. The rift pillow is interpreted as the deeper expression of the high velocity crust. Low velocity crust is present below southern Missouri starting at a depth of roughly 20 km. The boundary between the low velocity crust and higher velocity crust to the south and east is sharp and coincides with the Nd‐line.
What Contributes to the Inter‐Annual Variability in Tropical Lower Stratospheric Temperatures?
Authors: Ming Alison , Hitchcock Peter
Published: December 2021

The inter‐annual variability in mid and lower stratospheric temperatures for the period 1984–2019 is decomposed into dynamical and radiative contributions using a radiative calculation perturbed with changes in dynamical heating, trace gases and aerosol optical depth. The temperature timeseries obtained is highly correlated with the de‐seasonalized ERA5 temperature (r2 > 0.6 in the region 15 to 70 hPa, 1992 to 2019–after the Pinatubo volcanic eruption). Ozone and dynamical heating contributions are found to be equally important, with water vapor, stratospheric aerosols, and carbon dioxide playing smaller roles. Prominent aspects of the temperature timeseries are closely reproduced, including the 1991 Pinatubo volcanic eruption, the year‐2000 water vapor drop, and the 2016 Quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) disruption. Below 20 hPa, ozone is primarily controlled by transport and is positively correlated to the upwelling. This ozone‐transport feedback acts to increase the temperature response to a change in upwelling by providing an additional ozone‐induced radiative temperature change. This can be quantified as an enhancement of the dynamical heating of about 20% at 70 hPa. A Principal Oscillation Pattern (POP) analysis is used to estimate the contribution of the ozone QBO (±1 K at 70 hPa). The non‐QBO ozone variability is also shown to be significant. Using the QBO leading POP timeseries as representative of the regular QBO signal, the QBO 2016 disruption is shown to have an anomalously large radiative impact on temperature due to the ozone change ( at 70 hPa).
Estimates on the Frequency of Volcanic Eruptions on Venus
Authors: Byrne Paul K. , Krishnamoorthy Siddharth
Published: December 2021

Venus hosts many thousands of volcanic landforms, including individual edifices, volcanotectonic structures, and vast expanses of effusively emplaced plains lavas. Numerous lines of circumstantial evidence together suggest that the planet is volcanically active today. Although previous studies have calculated volcanic eruptive fluxes on the basis of the volumes of lava needed to bury craters of various diameters on Venus, no estimates of the frequency of volcanic eruptions on the planet yet exist. In this study, we analyzed records for eruptive events on Earth between 1 January 1980 and 21 January 2021 for which data on duration and eruption intensity were available, and classified those events by tectonic setting. We then extrapolated those results to Venus by a simple scaling factor. We estimate that as many as 120 discrete eruptions, from individual volcanic edifices and of any duration and intensity, may occur on Venus per Earth year. Further, within any given 60‐day window—a nominal timeframe over which an aerial platform capable of detecting volcanic activity might operate in the middle Venus atmosphere—we expect about four new eruptions to begin, with that number rising to almost eight when both new events and those ending within 100 days of the main eruption are included, or to as many as 20 when considering activity that lasts for 1,000 days. Several complementary techniques exist with which to search for volcanic eruptions at Venus, either from orbit, within the atmosphere, or on the surface, that can be used to test the estimates we make here.