bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of gastric function in control of food intake (and body weight) in relation to obesity, as well as pharmacological and surgical interventions
Authors: Camilleri Michael
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The objectives of this review are to summarize the role of gastric motor functions in the development of satiation (defined broadly as postprandial fullness) and satiety (reduced appetite or postponing desire to eat after a meal) and their impact on weight change. The specific topics are the methods of measurement of gastric emptying and accommodation and their impact on food intake, satiation, and satiety. A second focus contrasts bariatric surgery to endoscopic gastroplasty that alter gastric emptying and incretin responses in markedly divergent manners.

Background

The hormone, GLP‐1, retards gastric emptying and increases gastric accommodation through vagally‐mediated effects. Indeed, these effects provide the basis for the association of altered gastric emptying in the appetite and weight loss responses to pharmacological interventions particularly by those acting on receptors of incretin agonists such as liraglutide and the dual agonists, tirzepatide and cotadutide, all of which retard gastric emptying. In fact, retardation of gastric emptying and gastrointestinal adverse effects have been shown to contribute in part to the weight loss in response to this class of pharmacological agents.

The motor functions of the stomach are relevant to postprandial fullness and to interventions aimed at weight loss in people with obesity.
MITF E318K: A rare homozygous case with multiple primary melanoma
Authors: Wallingford Courtney K. , Maas Ellie J. , Howard Antonia , DeBortoli Emily , Bhanja Deboshmita , Lee Katie , Mothershaw Adam , Jagirdar Kasturee , Willett Rod , Betz‐Stablein Brigid , Sturm Richard A. , Soyer H. Peter , McInerney‐Leo Aideen M.
Published: August 2023

MITF E318K moderates melanoma risk. Only five MITF E318K homozygous cases have been reported to date, one in association with melanoma. This novel report uses 3D total‐body‐photography (TBP) to describe the dermatological phenotype of a homozygous MITF E318K individual. The case, a 32‐year‐old male, was diagnosed with his first of six primary melanomas at 26 years of age. Five melanomas were located on the back and one in the groin. Two were superficial spreading. Three arose from pre‐existing naevi and one was a rare naevoid melanoma. 3D‐TBP revealed a high naevus count (n = 162) with pigmentation varying from light to dark. Most naevi generally (n = 90), and large (>5 mm diameter) and clinically atypical naevi specifically were located on the back where sun damage was mild. In contrast, naevi count was low (n = 25 total) on the head/neck and lower limbs where sun damage was severe. Thus, melanoma location correlated with naevi density, rather than degree of sun damage. In addition to the MITF E318K homozygosity, there was heterozygosity for four other moderate‐risk variants, which may contribute to melanoma risk. Further research is warranted to explore whether melanomas in E318K heterozygous and other homozygotes coincide with regions of high naevi density as opposed to sun damage. This could inform future melanoma screening/surveillance.
Predictors of relationship satisfaction during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Ascigil Esra , Luerssen Anna , Gonzalez Richard , Gordon Amie M.
Published: August 2023

Prior work and theory suggest many vulnerabilities, stressors, and adaptive processes shape relationship satisfaction. In the current research, we used machine learning to understand which constructs have greater predictive importance for perceived changes in satisfaction since the pandemic began and satisfaction over the prior week. In a large sample collected at the beginning of the pandemic (N = 1873; Study 1), relationship processes were most predictive, explaining up to 70% of variance in satisfaction. Feeling appreciative of one's partner and being satisfied with quality time spent with one's partner were consistently top predictors of satisfaction. We also examined whether these important predictors were associated with changes in relationship satisfaction across the first year of the pandemic in a longitudinal subsample (N = 618; Study 2). Appreciation and satisfaction with quality time were associated with high and relatively stable relationship satisfaction over time.
Competing risks regression for clustered survival data via the marginal additive subdistribution hazards model
Authors: Chen Xinyuan , Esserman Denise , Li Fan
Published: August 2023

A population‐averaged additive subdistribution hazards model is proposed to assess the marginal effects of covariates on the cumulative incidence function and to analyze correlated failure time data subject to competing risks. This approach extends the population‐averaged additive hazards model by accommodating potentially dependent censoring due to competing events other than the event of interest. Assuming an independent working correlation structure, an estimating equations approach is outlined to estimate the regression coefficients and a new sandwich variance estimator is proposed. The proposed sandwich variance estimator accounts for both the correlations between failure times and between the censoring times, and is robust to misspecification of the unknown dependency structure within each cluster. We further develop goodness‐of‐fit tests to assess the adequacy of the additive structure of the subdistribution hazards for the overall model and each covariate. Simulation studies are conducted to investigate the performance of the proposed methods in finite samples. We illustrate our methods using data from the STrategies to Reduce Injuries and Develop confidence in Elders trial.
Genetic mapping and transcriptome profiling of a chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) mutant identifies a novel locus (CaEl) regulating organ size and early vigor
Authors: Misra Golu , Joshi‐Saha Archana
Published: August 2023

Chickpea is among the top three legumes produced and consumed worldwide. Early plant vigor, characterized by good germination and rapid seedling growth, is an important agronomic trait in many crops including chickpea, and shows a positive correlation with seed size. In this study, we report a gamma‐ray‐induced chickpea mutant with a larger organ and seed size. The mutant (elm) exhibits increased early vigor and contains higher proline that contributes to a better tolerance under salt stress at germination, seedling, and early vegetative phase. The trait is governed as monogenic recessive, with wild‐type allele being incompletely dominant over the mutant. Genetic mapping of this locus (CaEl) identified it as a previously uncharacterized gene (101503252) in chromosome 1 of the chickpea genome. There is a deletion of this gene in the mutant with a complete loss of expression. In silico analysis suggests that the gene is present as a single copy in chickpea and related legumes of the galegoid clade. In the mutant, cell division and expansion are affected. Transcriptome profiling identified differentially regulated transcripts related to cell division, expansion, cell wall organization, and metabolism in the mutant. The mutant can be exploited in chickpea breeding programs for increasing plant vigor and seed size.
“Found Objectionable”
Authors: Ban Sonay
Published: August 2023

I explore how film censorship has increasingly shaped film production and circulation at film festivals, public screenings, and theatrical releases in post‐2000 Turkey. I argue that film censorship in Turkey now works through two levels. First, through direct intervention, whereby state institutions continue to censor film production. Although the renaming of control commissions from previous decades via the 2004 “Cinema Law” creates the illusion that censorship boards have been abolished, fieldwork data proves otherwise. Secondly, state institutions designate various non‐state actors as proxies of the state and grant them well‐calculated power to employ on their behalf when necessary. I draw upon fieldwork data and case studies to analyze how the political climate in Turkey has suppressed cultural production, freedom of expression, and political resistance to the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government both through bans on artistic expression and processes of delegitimization, targeting, threats, and violence.
Effect of Bronchial Blood Flow on Respiratory Heat Exchange: A Mathematical Analysis for Infectious Diseases
Authors: Soni Bharat , Mal Tarak Nath , Nayak Ameeya Kumar
Published: August 2023

The present study aims to mathematically analyze the role of bronchial blood flow on heat transfer in respiratory infections. In general, the exchange of heat transfer in various infectious diseases like COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 has adversely affected respiration by reducing the physiological efficiency of the human respiratory tract. The mechanism of heat exchange through airway walls with the bronchial blood circulation still needs to be thoroughly studied for infectious diseases. In this article, a three-dimensional (3D) spatio-temporal theoretical model is developed to estimate the possible role of bronchial blood on heat exchange during breathing. The local description of the model is presented in a comprehensive and consistent dimensionless framework to explicitly state the actual physiological background. The global description is framed by a multicompartment-based approach, and the algorithm is solved using an advanced numerical scheme to ensure computational tractability. The numerical study elucidates the role of inhalation air temperature, breathing cycles, blood perfusion rate, and mucosal hydration. The outcomes of the algorithm estimate the parameters of the isothermal saturation boundary (ISB), which is defined as the position in the respiratory tract where the temperature of inhaled air comes in equilibrium with the body core saturation temperature. The derived results help to understand the pathophysiological threshold limits and recommend the values to evaluate respiratory distress. With the variations of inspiratory flow conditions, it is observed that the ISB position shifts to the distal branches with the increment in inhalation temperature, breathing rate and virus infection, and decrement in blood perfusion rate. The two antiparallel effects are observed: inhalation of cold air transmits the viral infection, and inhalation of warm air produces thermal injury. However, both can be well controlled by suitable ventilation rates. The observed threshold values may be helpful in clinical trials to correlate the anatomic configuration with pathophysiology.
Fluid–Structure Interactions of Net Cages—Full-Scale Pushing Tests in the Field
Authors: Gao Sihan , Oppedal Frode , Olav Fosse Jan , Atle Tuene Stig , Christian Gansel Lars
Published: August 2023

This paper presents field tests on a full-scale cage, with and without fish, being pushed by a boat in Masfjorden at various speeds. The purpose was to imitate the exposure of net cages to different currents. The tests involved measuring cage deformations, fish behaviors, and the corresponding flow upstream, downstream, and inside the cage. The study found that the experimental setup used can achieve predictable and stable upstream flow for a full-scale net cage. Based on pressure tag data, the volume reductions of the cage, both with and without fish, were estimated at different speeds. Both cases show a similar trend of cage volume reduction with respect to flow speeds as the previous studies. Moreover, the presence of fish had limited the influence on the net volume change. The reduction in speed inside and downstream from the cage was within the range reported in previous literature. Notably, when the cage becomes significantly deformed, it not only reduces flow speed but also alters flow directions, as evidenced by the high variability of flow direction inside the empty cage, particularly at high speeds. The measured flow speed inside the stocked cage also exhibited high variability, but the pattern of variation differed significantly from that of the empty cage, indicating the influence of fish. These findings suggest that traditional flow speed models might oversimplify the flow field in and around fish cages, especially in studies concerning the dispersion of particles, pathogens, and dissolved matter in and out of fish cages.
Influence of Chronic Ankle Instability on Physical Activity: A Critically Appraised Topic
Authors: Patel Priya , Donovan Luke , Hubbard-Turner Tricia , Thomas Abbey C.
Published: August 2023

Lateral ankle sprains are the most common injury sustained by physically active individuals. The overwhelming majority of people who sprain their ankle go on to develop chronic ankle instability (CAI). CAI may cause affected individuals to limit their physical activity, leading to health issues such as obesity and cardiovascular disease. The growing body of literature suggests that functional limitations reported by individuals with CAI may lead a the decrease in physical activity. This critically appraised topic sought to determine if adolescent and college-aged individuals with CAI have lower physical activity levels than their healthy peers. A literature search was conducted in between August 2021–February 2022 using the terms “chronic ankle instability” and “physical activity.” Studies were included if the participants were adolescent or college-aged and had CAI. Three studies meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. The first study reported that college students with CAI walk fewer steps per week than their healthy peers, while the second study observed higher physical activity levels among adolescents with CAI. The third study incorporated details on how there is a high prevalence of ankle injury in adolescents, so methods to prevent the injury should be followed to avoid injury earlier on. Despite the conflicting evidence on how CAI impacts physical activity levels, physical activity remains important for long-term health. Thus, it is necessary to emphasize that individuals with CAI should seek treatment to mitigate recurrent ankle sprains in order to safely continue with physical activity.
Middle Facet Tarsal Coalition in a National Collegiate Athletic Association Basketball Athlete: An Exploration Clinical Case Report
Authors: Watts Melinda , Sumrall Keilea
Published: August 2023

The patient is a 22-year-old female basketball player initially diagnosed with a calcaneal fracture. Five months after the pain began, the patient was referred to a foot and ankle surgeon and diagnosed with middle facet tarsal coalition. The patient received one X-ray-guided subtalar steroid injection and two platelet-rich plasma injections to aid in pain relief while completing her senior year of collegiate basketball. She elected to end her senior season early to have the recommended subtalar fusion surgery. The surgery ended her basketball career but provided pain-free activities of daily living. This case presents unique components compared with available literature on how injury presentation in adult populations can complicate a timely and accurate initial diagnosis. This case is also unique because despite conservative efforts, a surgical fusion was required to optimize pain and function during activities of daily living.
Supplemental Material: Revised chronology of the middle–upper Cenozoic succession in the Tuotuohe Basin, central-northern Tibetan Plateau, and its paleoelevation implications
Authors: Li  , Chang Hong , et al.
Published: August 2023

Petrographic analyses and reconstructed annual mean air temperature based on regional empirical formula; reconstructed temperatures based on different br-GDGTs calibrations and paleoclimate model uncertainties.
Supplemental Material: Concurrence of Late Triassic lithostratigraphic, radioisotopic, and biostratigraphic data support a Carnian age for the Popo Agie Formation (Chugwater Group), Wyoming, USA
Authors: Lovelace David M. , et al.
Published: August 2023

Ananlytical results and references.
Psychiatric disorders in paediatric-onset immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: a nationwide Danish study
Authors: Jansson Sabine , Malham Mikkel , Carlsen Katrine , Ingels Helene , Jørgensen Marianne Hørby , Virta Lauri Juhani , Kolho Kaija-Leena , Rask Charlotte Ulrikka , Wewer Vibeke
Published: August 2023

Objectives

To investigate the frequency of psychiatric disorders before and after onset of paediatric-onset immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (pIMID).

Study design

In a nationwide study from 1996 to 2018, we investigated psychiatric disorders in patients with paediatric-onset inflammatory bowel diseases, autoimmune liver diseases and rheumatic diseases, using Danish national healthcare and population registers. Each case was matched with up to 10 controls from the background population. The cumulative incidence for psychiatric disorders prior to pIMID onset in patients was compared with controls. Cox proportional regression was used to estimate adjusted HRs (aHR) with a 95% CI between cases and controls after the index date.

Results

We included 11 208 cases (57% female) and 98 387 controls. The median age at disease onset was 12.5 years (IQR 8–15) and follow-up time 9.8 years (IQR 5–15). We found an association between psychiatric disorders before index date and a diagnosis of subsequent pIMID (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.2 to 1.4). Notably, after index date, cases also had an increased risk (aHR 1.6, 95% CI 1.5 to 1.7) of psychiatric disorders compared with controls. This risk was increased for all groups of psychiatric disorders. Female patients had an increased risk of suicide attempt after index date (aHR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.8).

Conclusion

Patients with pIMID are at increased risk for a broad spectrum of psychiatric disorders both before and after onset of pIMID. The results support the need for awareness of psychiatric morbidity in this young patient group and the need for coordinated healthcare for those with comorbid states.
Subcutaneous entomophthoromycosis masquerading as soft tissue neoplasm in breastfeeding mother
Authors: Venkataramana Chaithra Gowthuvalli , Rama Krishna Reddy Murali Mohan , Kalbavi Harish Rao , Joseph Joel Abraham
Published: August 2023

Subcutaneous entomophthoromycosis is an infection caused by saprophytic, ubiquitous and highly opportunistic fungal pathogens. Individuals with immune disorders are frequently susceptible to these infections. Entomophthoromycosis is a rare fungal infection that primarily affects children andmen, and is known to cause infection in healthy individuals. Diagnosis of the disease is by demonstration of fungal elements using special stains, and the disease responds well to oral antifungal agents. Long-term antifungal agents reduce the need for surgical intervention when the disease presents as a mass. We report a case of an immunocompetent nursing mother in her 20s who presented with a soft tissue mass in her right arm. It was diagnosed as subcutaneous entomophthoromycosis and treated with long-term fluconazole. The lesion showed a significant reduction in size following treatment for 2 months. Subcutaneous fungal infection presenting as a mass-forming lesion in extremities may mimic a neoplasm. Fungal infection should be ruled out in inflammatory cell-rich lesions seen on histopathological examination.
RecurrentKlebsiellabacteremia due to chronic strongyloidiasis in the context of cirrhotic hepatopulmonary syndrome
Authors: Morris Christian J , Mosher Zachary , McKeon Annmarie , Jain Rohit
Published: August 2023

A woman in her 50s with a medical history of cirrhosis, alcohol use disorder, primary biliary cholangitis and extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL)Klebsiellapresented with weakness, cough and abdominal pain with positive blood cultures for ESBLKlebsiella, and was treated with intravenous meropenem and patient symptoms improved. Testing forStrongyloidesantibodies was positive, so she was treated with ivermectin. Strongyloidiasis-associated Gram-negative rod (GNR) bacteremia are rare conditions; however, it is important to consider an underlying strongyloidiasis in recurrent GNR bacteremia to prevent recurrent hospitalisation and morbidity.
Multiple liver abscesses secondary toListeria monocytogenescomplicated by hepatic artery mycotic aneurysm
Authors: Qi Xin , Tamizuddin Sara , Gisi Brandon , Lee Pamela
Published: August 2023

A woman in her 50s presented to the emergency department with 5 days of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. CT imaging of her liver demonstrated three enhancing, cystic lesions in her hepatic parenchyma and a large enhancing lesion in her porta hepatis concerning for a hepatic artery aneurysm. Radiographic-guided drainage was performed on two accessible liver abscesses, and cultures from this drainage grewListeria monocytogenes. Serial imaging of the aneurysm demonstrated that the aneurysm spontaneously thrombosed and did not require further intervention. She was subsequently discharged on intravenous ampicillin with a plan to continue until radiographic resolution of the abscesses.
Re-exacerbation within 30 days of discharge is associated with poor prognosis in the following year among patients hospitalised with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a clinical cohort study
Authors: Wang Ye , He Ruoxi , Dong Fen , Liu Dongyan , Ren Xiaoxia , Yang Ting , Wang Chen
Published: August 2023

Background

Exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ECOPD) is a complex phenomenon, with marked heterogeneity in the aetiology, pathophysiology and clinical manifestations. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients with 30-day exacerbation among those hospitalised with ECOPD in China.

Methods

Data from the Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Inpatient Registry were used in this study. The patients were divided into re-event and non-event groups based on the incidence of re-exacerbation within 30 days of discharge. Exacerbation, severe exacerbation and all-cause readmissions in the following 12 months were the outcomes of interest. The cumulative incidence rates and incidence densities were calculated. Multivariate hazard function models were used to determine the association between 30-day re-exacerbation and the long-term outcomes after accounting for the competing risk of death.

Results

Re-exacerbation within 30 days of discharge was observed in 4.9% (n=242) of the patients (n=4963). The cumulative incidence rates and incidence densities of exacerbation, severe exacerbation and all-cause readmissions in the event group were significantly higher than those in the non-event group. After adjustment, re-exacerbation within 30 days of discharge was associated with increased risks of exacerbation, severe exacerbation and all-cause readmissions in the following 12 months (adjusted HR: 3.85 (95% CI: 3.09 to 4.80), 3.46 (2.66 to 4.50) and 3.28 (2.52 to 4.25) accordingly).

Conclusion

Re-exacerbation of COPD within 30 days of discharge is a significant predictor of long-term prognosis. In clinical practice, short-term re-exacerbation is a significant clinical phenotype of ECOPD that requires careful management at the earliest.
Exemplarist medical ethics
Authors: Daly Daniel
Published: August 2023

The field of medical ethics, such as the discipline of ethics in general, has traditionally focused on moral dilemmas and quandaries at the expense of ‘everyday’ moral issues. The methodologies, norms and principles of the field reflect this. Although the principle of double effect works well in adjudicating the provision of life-shortening medications to relieve pain, it fails to guide the vast majority of mundane moral decisions that providers make daily.

This article contends that exemplarist medical ethics provides action guidance on everyday medical ethical issues. Further, it offers an ethical methodology that is not tethered to a comprehensive doctrine of the good.

The paper develops an account of, and draws on Zagzebski’s exemplarist moral theory. It then describes how medical providers can morally deliberate by appealing to exemplars. I contend there are three modes of exemplarist action guidance: dialogue, emulation and substituted judgement. It demonstrates how each of these modes guides moral deliberation regarding quotidian medical ethical issues. The article then turns to a moral exemplar of medical practice, Dr. Jim O’Connell, who Tracy Kidder profiles in his 2023 book, Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People. The advantages and challenges of this approach are delineated before a brief conclusion.
Cutaneous sensory block area of the ultrasound-guided subcostal transversus abdominis plane block: an observational study
Authors: Salmonsen Christopher Blom , Lange Kai Henrik Wiborg , Rothe Christian , Kleif Jakob , Bertelsen Claus Anders
Published: August 2023

Background and objectives

The transversus abdominis plane block (TAP) can be applied using different approaches, resulting in varying cutaneous analgesic distributions. This study aimed to assess the cutaneous sensory block area (CSBA) after ultrasound-guided TAP (US-TAP) using the subcostal approach.

Methods

Thirty patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy received a subcostal US-TAP with 20 mL 2.5 mg/mL ropivacaine bilaterally. Measurements were performed 150 min after block application. The CSBA was mapped using cold sensation and a sterile marker, photodocumented, and transferred to a transparency. The area of the CSBA was calculated from the transparencies.

Results

The median CSBA of the subcostal US-TAP was 174 cm2(IQR 119–219 cm2; range 52–398 cm2). In all patients, the CSBA had a periumbilical distribution. In 42 of the 60 (70%) unilateral blocks, the CSBA had both an epigastric and infraumbilical component; in 12 of the 60 (20%) unilateral blocks, it covered only the epigastrium; and in 4 of the 60 (7%) unilateral blocks, it had only an infraumbilical distribution. No CSBA was found in 2 of the 60 (3%) unilateral blocks. In none of the patients did the CSBA cover the abdominal wall lateral to a vertical line through the anterior superior iliac spine.

Conclusion

The subcostal US-TAP results in a heterogeneous non-dermatomal CSBA with varying size and distribution across the medial abdominal wall.
Mechanisms of action of therapeutic exercise for knee and hip OA remain a black box phenomenon: an individual patient data mediation study with the OA Trial Bank
Authors: Runhaar Jos , Holden Melanie A , Hattle Miriam , Quicke Jonathan , Healey Emma Louise , van der Windt Danielle , Dziedzic Krysia S , Middelkoop Marienke van , Bierma-Zeinstra Sita , Foster Nadine E ,   The STEER OA Patient Advisory Group
Published: August 2023

Objectives

To evaluate mediating factors for the effect of therapeutic exercise on pain and physical function in people with knee/hip osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

For Subgrouping and TargetEd Exercise pRogrammes for knee and hip OsteoArthritis (STEER OA), individual participant data (IPD) were sought from all published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing therapeutic exercise to non-exercise controls in people with knee/hip OA. Using the Counterfactual framework, the effect of the exercise intervention and the percentage mediated through each potential mediator (muscle strength, proprioception and range of motion (ROM)) for knee OA and muscle strength for hip OA were determined.

Results

Data from 12 of 31 RCTs of STEER OA (1407 participants) were available. Within the IPD data sets, there were generally statistically significant effects from therapeutic exercise for pain and physical function in comparison to non-exercise controls. Of all potential mediators, only the change in knee extension strength was statistically and significantly associated with the change in pain in knee OA (β −0.03 (95% CI −0.05 to −0.01), 2.3% mediated) and with physical function in knee OA (β −0.02 (95% CI −0.04 to −0.00), 2.0% mediated) and hip OA (β −0.03 (95% CI −0.07 to −0.00), no mediation).

Conclusions

This first IPD mediation analysis of this scale revealed that in people with knee OA, knee extension strength only mediated ±2% of the effect of therapeutic exercise on pain and physical function. ROM and proprioception did not mediate changes in outcomes, nor did knee extension strength in people with hip OA. As 98% of the effectiveness of therapeutic exercise compared with non-exercise controls remains unexplained, more needs to be done to understand the underlying mechanisms of actions.
Species-specific adaptations, individual condition, and life-history-induced dispersal strategies of fish larvae along a transverse gradient in a large river
Authors: Wang Zhen , Keckeis Hubert , Cheng Fei , Xie Songguang
Published: August 2023

Early life-history properties reveal a considerable variation among riverine fish species and may play a major role in the downstream drift of larval fish. This role, however, remains largely unexplored. Assemblages of drifting fish larvae and their condition during the peak seasons were analyzed along a cross-section from littoral to midstream zones in a free-flowing section in the middle Yangtze River. Assemblage structure and larval body injuries revealed pronounced transverse patterns. These patterns were mainly explained by hydraulic gradients. Highest species occurrence was recorded in the littoral zone. Larval abundance of most species and larval body injury rates were higher in littoral and sublittoral zones. Relative inshore and nearshore larval abundance revealed a significant negative relationship with species-specific initial body size, and varied among species. Larval abundance, body injury rate, and feeding intensity were all higher at night. Our findings revealed considerable habitat preferences of drifting larval fish and suggest important adaptations for reducing starvation- and predation risks. These factors should be considered in species conservation and river management.
Linear stability of shock waves in ultrarelativistic anisotropic hydrodynamics
Authors: Kovalenko Aleksandr
Published: August 2023

Linear stability of a plane shock waves in ultrarelativistic anisotropic hydrodynamics is investigated. The properties of the amplitudes of perturbations of physical quantities are studied depending on the components of the wave vector of a small harmonic perturbation. Analytical calculations for the longitudinal and transverse propagation of shock wave normal with respect to the anisotropy axis (beam-axis) and numerical calculations for an arbitrary polar angle are carried out.
Unsupervised Domain Adaptive Dose Prediction via Cross-Attention Transformer and Target-Specific Knowledge Preservation
Authors: Cui Jiaqi , Xiao Jianghong , Hou Yun , Wu Xi , Zhou Jiliu , Peng Xingchen , Wang Yan
Published: August 2023

Radiotherapy is one of the leading treatments for cancer. To accelerate the implementation of radiotherapy in clinic, various deep learning-based methods have been developed for automatic dose prediction. However, the effectiveness of these methods heavily relies on the availability of a substantial amount of data with labels, i.e. the dose distribution maps, which cost dosimetrists considerable time and effort to acquire. For cancers of low-incidence, such as cervical cancer, it is often a luxury to collect an adequate amount of labeled data to train a well-performing deep learning (DL) model. To mitigate this problem, in this paper, we resort to the unsupervised domain adaptation (UDA) strategy to achieve accurate dose prediction for cervical cancer (target domain) by leveraging the well-labeled high-incidence rectal cancer (source domain). Specifically, we introduce the cross-attention mechanism to learn the domain-invariant features and develop a cross-attention transformer-based encoder to align the two different cancer domains. Meanwhile, to preserve the target-specific knowledge, we employ multiple domain classifiers to enforce the network to extract more discriminative target features. In addition, we employ two independent convolutional neural network (CNN) decoders to compensate for the lack of spatial inductive bias in the pure transformer and generate accurate dose maps for both domains. Furthermore, to enhance the performance, two additional losses, i.e. a knowledge distillation loss (KDL) and a domain classification loss (DCL), are incorporated to transfer the domain-invariant features while preserving domain-specific information. Experimental results on a rectal cancer dataset and a cervical cancer dataset have demonstrated that our method achieves the best quantitative results with [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and HI of 1.446, 1.231, and 0.082, respectively, and outperforms other methods in terms of qualitative assessment.
IS THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN FDI AND INFLATION SYMMETRIC OR ASYMMETRIC? EVIDENCE FROM ARDL AND NARDL TECHNIQUES
Authors: HOSSAIN SADDAM , HOSEN MOSHARROF , MOHD THAS THAKER HASSANUDIN , SHARMA GAGAN DEEP , MASIH MANSUR , PEK CHUEN-KHEE
Published: August 2023

Based on the demand-pull and cost-push theory, this study examines the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and inflation nexus by using time series technique of Autoregressive Distributed Lags (ARDL). Asymmetry assumption was investigated by employing relatively advanced Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) method. Annual data from 1973 to 2017 has been collected from the World Bank database and DataStream. The results revealed that Bangladesh’s FDI inflow has a significant impact on the inflation rate, which augurs well for the economy. In addition, we also discover an asymmetric relationship in the long run and symmetric relationship in the short run. Several policy recommendations of these findings are provided.
Symmetry of Dirac two-oscillator system, gauge-invariance, and Landau problem
Authors: Tiwari S. C.
Published: August 2023

Role of gauge symmetry in the proton spin problem has intricate and unresolved aspects. One of the interesting approaches to gain physical insights is to explore the Landau problem in this context. A detailed study using the group theoretic method to understand the Landau problem establishes the significance of the gauge transformation intimately related with the space translation symmetry. An important implication of this result is that the E(2)-like Wigner’s little group for massless particles could throw more light on the question of gauge symmetry in QED and QCD. A generalized Landau-Zeeman Hamiltonian is proposed in which Dirac two-oscillator system and the symmetry of the group SO(3,2) become important. It is argued that nontrivial topology of pure gauge field holds promise to resolve the unsettled questions.
Concept of the basic standard model and a relation between the three gauge coupling constants
Authors: Wu Tai Tsun , Wu Sau Lan
Published: August 2023

Among the known elementary particles, 15 are not massless. In the Lagrangian of the standard model, the Higgs particle couples to all 15 of them to give them their respective masses. In this paper, a new model is proposed, where in the Lagrangian, the Higgs particle couples only to the four heaviest known elementary particles [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], all with masses in the vicinity of [Formula: see text], but not to the other 11. In this model, the masses of these 11 elementary particles that do not couple directly to the Higgs particle are generated by radiative corrections. Because of the reduction of the number of terms in the Lagrangian, this model is referred to as the basic standard model. By studying how the bottom quark can acquire a mass, it is found that there must be a relation between the three gauge coupling constants of the gauge group [Formula: see text]. This relation between these coupling constants is the first prediction, on purely theoretical grounds without using any experimental input, of the basic standard model, and is studied in some detail. In particular, this new prediction is found to be in good agreement with experimental measurements.
Effect of transition metal doping on the photoelectric effect of monolayer NbS2 under strain: First-principles calculations
Authors: Ni Junjie , Yang Lu , Chen Shu
Published: August 2023

In this paper, the effects of transition metal doping on the electronic structure of monolayer NbS2 were studied through the first principles. The electronic structure changes caused by doping transition metal (TM) atoms were recorded, including the energy band, the density of states, binding energy, and optical properties. Studies show that all doping systems are metal. Still, under strain regulation, some doping systems offer an indirect bandgap; NbS2 transforms into a narrow bandgap diluted semiconductor and can improve the activity. Doping atoms lead to [Formula: see text] type doping in NbS2.

Regarding optical properties, IVB group metals are selected as the typical dopant of three periods. Composite NbS2 has excellent reflector characteristics and can be applied to infrared and ultraviolet regions. The spectral response and electromagnetic wave absorption range of low-energy areas are also improved. This study effectively solves the problem of impurity states introduced by doping and provides a solution for the doping modification of monolayer NbS2, which will lay a foundation for nanoelectronics.
Integrating Curing Experience and Fluctuating Leaf Quality in an Intelligent End-Cloud Collaboration
Authors: Meng Ziyang , Li Hao , Cui Xiaoya , Hu Binbin , Jiang Yonglei , Wang Tao , Chen Yi
Published: August 2023

Automated tobacco curing systems have been widely deployed to meet the demand of large-scale production of high-quality tobacco. Existing tobacco curing systems control the process based on a fixed standard curing curve to increase the production of high-quality tobacco and reduce the cost. However, it is difficult to adapt the standard curing curve to the various qualities of tobacco leaves and different experience of operators. In this paper, we propose an end-cloud collaborative intelligent curing technique which can continuously extract and integrate curing experience by using clustering and regression analysis method. At the terminal, we use a microcontroller to receive sensor data collected and exchange the information with servers through a 4G communication module. On the server side, we use a clustering-based method to separate the data of high-quality tobacco, and use regression analysis and kalman filtering for data fusion. Compared with the existing automatic curing method, our proposed method can continuously extract curing experience and optimize curing curves.
NNTBFV: Simplifying and Verifying Neural Networks Using Testing-Based Formal Verification
Authors: Liu Haiyi , Liu Shaoying , Xu Guangquan , Liu Ai , Fang Dingbang
Published: August 2023

Neural networks are extensively employed in safety-critical systems. However, these critical systems incorporating neural networks continue to pose risks due to the presence of adversarial examples. Although the security of neural networks can be enhanced by verification, verifying neural networks is an NP-hard problem, making the application of verification algorithms to large-scale neural networks a challenging task. For this reason, we propose NNTBFV, a framework that utilizes the principles of Testing-Based Formal Verification (TBFV) to simplify neural networks and verify the simplified networks. Unlike conventional neural network pruning techniques, this approach is based on specifications, with the goal of deriving approximate execution paths under given preconditions. To mitigate the potential issue of unverifiable conditions due to overly broad preconditions, we also propose a precondition partition method. Empirical evidence shows that as the range of preconditions narrows, the size of the execution paths also reduces accordingly. The execution path generated by NNTBFV is still a neural network, so it can be verified by verification tools. In response to the results from the verification tool, we provide a theoretical method for analysis.

We evaluate the effectiveness of NNTBFV on the ACAS Xu model project, choosing Verification-based and Random-based neural network simplification algorithms as the baselines for NNTBFV. Experiment results show that NNTBFV can effectively approximate the baseline in terms of simplification capability, and it surpasses the efficiency of the random-based method.
Self-dual maps III: Projective links
Authors: Montejano Luis , Ramírez Alfonsín Jorge L. , Rasskin Iván
Published: August 2023

In this paper, we present necessary and sufficient combinatorial conditions for a link to be projective, that is, a link in [Formula: see text]. This characterization is closely related to the notions of antipodally self-dual and antipodally symmetric maps. We also discuss the notion of symmetric cycle, an interesting issue arising in projective links leading us to an easy necessary condition for alternating anti-inversely symmetric links.
A WEIGHTED POWER-FORM FORMULATION FOR THE FRACTAL WARNER–GENT VISCOHYPERLASTIC MODEL
Authors: ELÍAS-ZÚÑIGA ALEX , MARTÍNEZ-ROMERO OSCAR , TREJO DANIEL OLVERA , PALACIOS-PINEDA LUIS MANUEL
Published: August 2023

This paper elucidates how the two-scale fractal dimension transform, and a transformation method can be applied to replace the Warner–Gent equation that models the fractal dynamic response of porous viscohyperelastic materials with an equivalent power-form equation. Furthermore, this research work elucidates the advantages of modeling viscohyperlastic materials using the fractal Warner–Gent’s model since the values of the fractal dimension parameter unveil how the global molecular structure of viscohyperelastic materials varies as a function of the vibration frequency wavelength. Compared to the original one, the accuracy attained from the Warner–Gent power-form equivalent equation is examined by plotting the frequency–amplitude and time–amplitude curves obtained from the corresponding numerical integration solutions. It is found that both numerical integration solutions agree well since the root-mean-square-error (RMSE) values remain small.
Failure Probability Analysis of Lattice Wind Turbine Towers Under Combined Wind and Earthquake Action
Authors: Li Jia-Xiang , Wang Ling-Peng , Zhang Zhuo-Qun , Zhao Yi , Dong Zhi-Qian
Published: August 2023

With wind farms expanding into seismically active areas, wind turbines face the combined hazard of wind and earthquakes. Strong winds often accompany strong earthquakes, posing a significant threat to wind turbine safety. When subjected to multihazard loads, ignoring the correlation between loads could underestimate the risk to the structure. However, there is limited research on wind turbines under the combined effect of wind and earthquakes. In this paper, based on historical data considering the correlation between wind and earthquakes, a failure probability analysis method for wind turbine towers under the joint action of wind and earthquakes is presented. To accurately simulate the mechanical behavior of lattice-type wind turbine towers, the bolt slippage effect is taken into account. A finite element model of a lattice wind turbine tower is established, and the failure probability of the tower under the joint action of wind and earthquakes is calculated. The study also analyzes the influence of the bolt slippage effect and load correlation on the reliability of lattice-type wind turbine towers. The results indicate that ignoring load correlation can underestimate the failure probability of the structure, thus decreasing its safety. Similarly, ignoring the bolt slippage effect can also underestimate the failure probability of the structure and seriously threaten the safety of wind turbines.
Nonlinear Vibration of FG-GNPRC Dielectric Beam with Kelvin–Voigt Damping in Thermal Environment
Authors: Hang Ziyan , Ni Zhi , Yang Jinlong , Fan Yucheng , Feng Chuang , Wang Shuguang
Published: August 2023

The excellent properties of graphene reinforced composites (GRC) enable them to be promising material candidates for developing high-performance and multifunctional devices and structures. When subjected to thermal environment, temperature can significantly affect the structural behaviors of these components. It is necessary to consider the effects of temperature while conducting structural analysis. This work first attempts to investigate the nonlinear vibration of functionally graded (FG) graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) reinforced composite (FG-GNPRC) dielectric beams with comprehensively considering the effects of FG distribution of the reinforcements, temperature, electrical field and damping. The established governing equations for the FG-GNPRC dielectric beam are discretized and solved by differential quadrature (DQ) and direct iterative methods. The numerical results demonstrate that the application of pre-strain can attenuate the effect of electric fields and temperature on the frequency ratio, resulting in a more stable structure. Among the FG distribution patterns as involved, the FG-GNPRC beam with profile [Formula: see text] exhibits lower frequency ratio and higher stability. This work is envisaged to provide guidelines for the design of FG-GNPRC structures with optimized performances in thermal environment.
Exact sequences in categories of coalgebras
Authors: Mavoungou Jean-Paul
Published: August 2023

We prove that the category of [Formula: see text]-coalgebras admits exact sequences, under condition [Formula: see text] preserves pullbacks; the underlying category [Formula: see text] is assumed to be cocomplete with epi-(regular mono) factorizations, finite products and exact sequences.
DEVELOPMENT AND sEMG-BASED HIERARCHICAL CONTROL OF A HYBRID RIGID-SOFT KNEE EXOSUIT FOR CLIMBING STAIRS
Authors: CHEN ZHIXIAN , WU QINGCONG , CHEN YING
Published: August 2023

Climbing stairs is relatively challenging for seniors, post-stroke individuals or even healthy young men when carrying heavy objects. In this paper, we have developed a rigid-soft hybrid exosuit that helps the wearer to climb the stairs by offering a driving torque to the knee joint. By combining the advantage of rigid and soft exoskeletons, the exosuit is more comfortable when assisting wearers at a high level of assistance. To simplify the detection system, but keep it versatile, only the surface electromyography sensor is used to detect human movement. This paper uses a hierarchical control strategy based on gait detection and force tracking. To verify the capability of this exosuit system, we conducted experiments with four healthy users walking upstairs in different levels of assistance and climbing speeds. By comparing the muscle activity of participants with exosuit and without exosuit, the vastus lateralis activity was reduced by 3% to 15%, depending on the subject. This research shows the assisting capability of this exosuit under different assistance levels and climbing speeds.
On black holes as topological defects
Authors: Carneiro F. L. , Ulhoa S. C.
Published: August 2023

In this paper, the gravitational field is revisited as a manifestation of defects in continuum media. The Schwarzschild solution is then interpreted as a permanent plastic deformation of space-time and we conjecture that a discrete dislocation leads to a discrete mass spectrum. The dislocation of this black hole is considered as a quasi-local defect, once it vanishes at the spatial infinity. The C-metric is also considered under this viewpoint. The dislocations in such a space-time reveal how the quasi-local defect interacts with a global defect due to the semi-infinite cosmic string. The disclinations are obtained in agreement at certain limits with the literature.