bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genomic prediction of the recombination rate variation in barley – A route to highly recombinogenic genotypes
Authors: Casale Federico , Van Inghelandt Delphine , Weisweiler Marius , Li Jinquan , Stich Benjamin
Published: November 2021

Meiotic recombination is not only fundamental to the adaptation of sexually reproducing eukaryotes in nature but increased recombination rates facilitate the combination of favourable alleles into a single haplotype in breeding programmes. The main objectives of this study were to (i) assess the extent and distribution of the recombination rate variation in cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), (ii) quantify the importance of the general and specific recombination effects, and (iii) evaluate a genomic selection approach’s ability to predict the recombination rate variation. Genetic maps were created for the 45 segregating populations that were derived from crosses among 23 spring barley inbreds with origins across the world. The genome‐wide recombination rate among populations ranged from 0.31 to 0.73 cM/Mbp. The crossing design used in this study allowed to separate the general recombination effects (GRE) of individual parental inbreds from the specific recombination effects (SRE) caused by the combinations of parental inbreds. The variance of the genome‐wide GRE was found to be about eight times the variance of the SRE. This finding indicated that parental inbreds differ in the efficiency of their recombination machinery. The ability to predict the chromosome or genome‐wide recombination rate of an inbred ranged from 0.80 to 0.85. These results suggest that a reliable screening of large genetic materials for their potential to cause a high extent of genetic recombination in their progeny is possible, allowing to systematically manipulate the recombination rate using natural variation.
QTL mapping of genes related to Nod factor signalling using recombinant inbred lines of soybean (Glycine max)
Authors: Ma Chao , Ma Shengnan , Kang Qinglin , Wang Yue , Sun Yutian , Qi Zhaoming , Zou Jianan , Liu Chunyan , Yang Mingliang , Xin Dawei , Chen Qingshan , Wang Jinhui
Published: November 2021

Soybean, which originated in China, is an important oil crop. The soybean–rhizobium symbiotic relationship provides soybean plants with abundant nitrogen. The Nod factor, which is an early signalling factor, affects the establishment of this symbiosis. In this study, the generated Sinorhizobium fredii HH103ΩNodB mutant exhibited defective Nod factor synthesis. The nodulation of 30 core collections, including ‘Dongnong594’ and ‘Charleston’, by the NodB mutant differed from the nodulation by the wild‐type strain. Soybean recombinant inbred lines derived from a ‘Dongnong594’ × ‘Charleston’ cross were used for mapping soybean genes related to the Nod factor signalling pathway. Eleven QTLs related to nodule number and eight QTLs related to nodule dry weight were revealed. On the basis of a qRT‐PCR analysis, Glyma.03G120700, Glyma.08G296000 and Glyma.15G21560 were identified as candidate genes influencing the NF interaction. These genes were differentially expressed following the inoculations with the wild‐type rhizobium and the NodB mutant. This study provides important insights into the mechanism mediating soybean responses to the NF after the soybean–rhizobium symbiosis is established.
Forty Years of Risk Analysis: A Scientometric Overview
Authors: Goerlandt Floris , Li Jie
Published: November 2021

Risk Analysis was first published in 1981, established with a vision to provide a platform for inquiry into fundamental risk‐related concepts and theories, and to disseminate new knowledge about methods and approaches for identifying, analyzing, evaluating, managing, and communicating risk. The journal has also contributed significantly to a scientific understanding of specific risks related to human health and safety, engineering, ecological, and social systems. Published on behalf of the Society for Risk Analysis, the journal has become a leading platform over its 40‐year history. Complementing recent celebratory overviews and perspectives on the evolution, achievements, and future challenges for Risk Analysis, this article presents a scientometric overview of the journal between 1981 and 2020. The study presents high‐level insights in the journal publication trends and structure and trends in the leading countries/regions, institutions, and authors, in relation to their respective collaboration networks. Furthermore, the structure and evolution of research focus issues is analyzed, and highly cited publications are identified. The findings are primarily intended to provide high‐level insights, which may be useful for early career academics and risk practitioners to understand the structure and development of the research domain, and its main contributors and topics, and for experienced researchers to reflect on the achievements and future developments.
Waste-Free Sequential Monte Carlo
Authors: Dau Hai-Dang , Chopin Nicolas
Published: November 2021

A standard way to move particles in a sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) sampler is to apply several steps of a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) kernel. Unfortunately, it is not clear how many steps need to be performed for optimal performance. In addition, the output of the intermediate steps are discarded and thus wasted somehow. We propose a new, waste-free SMC algorithm which uses the outputs of all these intermediate MCMC steps as particles. We establish that its output is consistent and asymptotically normal. We use the expression of the asymptotic variance to develop various insights on how to implement the algorithm in practice. We develop in particular a method to estimate, from a single run of the algorithm, the asymptotic variance of any particle estimate. We show empirically, through a range of numerical examples, that waste-free SMC tends to outperform standard SMC samplers, and especially so in situations where the mixing of the considered MCMC kernels decreases across iterations (as in tempering or rare event problems).
Inferential Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Chen Yao , Gao Qingyi , Wang Xiao
Published: November 2021

Generative adversarial networks (GANs) have been impactful on many problems and applications but suffer from unstable training. The Wasserstein GAN (WGAN) leverages the Wasserstein distance to avoid the caveats in the minmax two-player training of GANs but has other defects such as mode collapse and lack of metric to detect the convergence. We introduce a novel inferential Wasserstein GAN (iWGAN) model, which is a principled framework to fuse autoencoders and WGANs. The iWGAN model jointly learns an encoder network and a generator network motivated by the iterative primal-dual optimization process. The encoder network maps the observed samples to the latent space and the generator network maps the samples from the latent space to the data space. We establish the generalization error bound of the iWGAN to theoretically justify its performance. We further provide a rigorous probabilistic interpretation of our model under the framework of maximum likelihood estimation. The iWGAN, with a clear stopping criteria, has many advantages over other autoencoder GANs. The empirical experiments show that the iWGAN greatly mitigates the symptom of mode collapse, speeds up the convergence, and is able to provide a measurement of quality check for each individual sample. We illustrate the ability of the iWGAN by obtaining competitive and stable performances for benchmark datasets.
Transfer Learning for High-Dimensional Linear Regression: Prediction, Estimation and Minimax Optimality
Authors: Li Sai , Cai T. Tony , Li Hongzhe
Published: November 2021

This paper considers estimation and prediction of a high-dimensional linear regression in the setting of transfer learning where, in addition to observations from the target model, auxiliary samples from different but possibly related regression models are available. When the set of informative auxiliary studies is known, an estimator and a predictor are proposed and their optimality is established. The optimal rates of convergence for prediction and estimation are faster than the corresponding rates without using the auxiliary samples. This implies that knowledge from the informative auxiliary samples can be transferred to improve the learning performance of the target problem. When the set of informative auxiliary samples is unknown, we propose a data-driven procedure for transfer learning, called Trans-Lasso, and show its robustness to non-informative auxiliary samples and its efficiency in knowledge transfer. The proposed procedures are demonstrated in numerical studies and are applied to a dataset concerning the associations among gene expressions. It is shown that Trans-Lasso leads to improved performance in gene expression prediction in a target tissue by incorporating data from multiple different tissues as auxiliary samples.
“I haven't come a long way, and I'm not a baby”: Task assignment and diversity of the Supreme Court bar
Authors: Szmer John , Kaheny Erin B. , Sarver Tammy A.
Published: November 2021

Objective

Gender disparities in litigation task assignment are not limited to the trial court context; they are present in even the highest of courts in the United States. We explore and seek to explain the gendered patterns of participation by lawyers arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Methods

After quantitatively describing participation by female attorneys in Supreme Court litigation, we use logistic regression and fractional logit, respectively, to identify factors that influence the degree to which women deliver oral arguments and participate in writing litigant briefs.

Results

Descriptively, we find that male attorneys present more oral arguments than female attorneys, and most litigant briefs are written by male‐dominated teams. In fact, more than a third of the briefs are only signed by men. In multivariate analyses of Supreme Court oral arguments and briefs, we find that women are more likely to argue and sign briefs on issues in which they are stereotypically perceived as more competent (women's issues) and less likely to participate in issue areas where they are perceived to be less competent, like economic issues. Similarly, women are less likely to orally argue in complex cases.

Conclusion

While occupational segregation and other factors may play a role, the participation of female attorneys in this forum is likely driven, in part, by stereotyped assessments of their competency.
Characterizing the canine and feline optic pathways in vivo with diffusion MRI
Authors: Andrews Erica F. , Jacqmot Olivier , Espinheira Gomes Filipe N. C. M. , Sha Megan F. , Niogi Sumit N. , Johnson Philippa J.
Published: November 2021

The visual system is known to be vital for cognition and perception in the feline and canine and much behavioral research for these species has used visual stimuli and focused on visual perception. There has been extensive investigations into the visual pathway in cats and dogs via histological and neurobiological methods, however to date, only one study has mapped the canine optic pathway in vivo. Advanced imaging methods such as diffusion MRI (DTI) have been routinely used in human research to study the visual system in vivo. This study applied DTI imaging methods to assess and characterize the optic pathway of feline and canine subjects in vivo. The optic nerve (ON), optic tract (OT), and optic radiation (OR) were successfully delineated for each species and the average volume and FA for each tract is reported. The application of DTI to map the optic pathway for canine and feline subjects provides a healthy baseline for comparison in future studies.
Experimental and theoretical investigation of the formation of two-dimensional Fe silicate on Pd(111)
Authors: Doudin Nassar , Saritas Kayahan , Ismail-Beigi Sohrab , Altman Eric I.
Published: November 2021

A single layer of Fe silicate was grown on Pd(111) and analyzed experimentally and theoretically. Following sequential deposition of SiO and Fe and annealing above 900 K in O2, an incommensurate but well-ordered, low-defect density layer was observed with low-energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The STM images revealed a moiré pattern due to the lattice mismatch between the relaxed oxide layer and the substrate, while high-resolution images showed a honeycomb structure consistent with a silicate layer with six-membered rings of corner-sharing SiO4 tetrahedra at its surface. Reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy revealed a single peak at 1050 cm−1 due to Si–O–Fe linkages, while x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data indicated a Si/Fe ratio of one, that the Fe were all 3+, and that the Si atoms were closest to the surface. Consistent with these experimental observations, first principles theory identified a layer with an overall stoichiometry of Fe2Si2O9 with the six-membered rings of SiO4 tetrahedra at the surface. One of the oxygen atoms appears as a chemisorbed atom on the Pd surface, and, thus, the layer is better described as Fe2Si2O8 atop an oxygen-covered Pd surface. The Fe2Si2O8 is chemically bound to the Pd surface through its oxygen atoms; and the passivation of these bonds by hydrogen was investigated theoretically. Upon hydrogenation, the adsorbed O atom joins the Fe silicate layer and thermodynamic analysis indicates that, at room temperature and H2 pressures below 1 atm, Fe2Si2O9H4 becomes favored. The hydrogenation is accompanied by a substantial increase in the equilibrium distance between the oxide layer and the Pd surface and a drop in the adhesion energy to the surface. Together the results indicate that a highly ordered 2D Fe silicate can be grown on Pd(111) and that subsequent hydrogenation of this layer offers potential to release the 2D material from the growth substrate.
First row transition metals Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn analyzed by XPS using monochromatic Ag Lα x rays
Authors: Coultas Sarah J. , Counsell Jonathan D. P. , Gerrard Nikki
Published: November 2021

XPS spectra of five first row transition metals (Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) were obtained using monochromatic Ag Lα radiation. Survey and high resolution photoelectron region (2p, 2s, 3p, and 3s) and x-ray induced Auger spectra were recorded from Ar+ ion cleaned metal foils.
Beware of Mycoplasma Anti-immunoglobulin Strategies
Authors: Arfi Yonathan , Lartigue Carole , Sirand-Pugnet Pascal , Blanchard Alain
Published: November 2021

Mycoplasmas are small, genome-reduced bacteria. They are obligate parasites that can be found in a wide range of host species, including the majority of livestock animals and humans.
A Fungal Transcription Regulator of Vacuolar Function Modulates Candida albicans Interactions with Host Epithelial Cells
Authors: Reuter-Weissenberger Philipp , Meir Juliane , Pérez J. Christian
Published: November 2021

Candida albicans
is a fungus that resides on various human mucosal surfaces. Individuals with debilitated immune systems are prone to develop
C. albicans
infections, which can range in severity from mucosal disease (e.g., oral thrush in AIDS patients) to life-threatening conditions (e.g., deep-seated, disseminated infections in patients undergoing organ transplants).
Metabolic Remodeling during Nitrogen Fixation in Zymomonas mobilis
Authors: Martien Julia I. , Trujillo Edna A. , Jacobson Tyler B. , Tatli Mehmet , Hebert Alexander S. , Stevenson David M. , Coon Joshua J. , Amador-Noguez Daniel
Published: November 2021

Biofuels and bioproducts have the potential to serve as environmentally sustainable replacements for petroleum-derived fuels and commodity molecules. Advanced fuels such as higher alcohols and isoprenoids are more suitable gasoline replacements than bioethanol.
Plant Disease Sensing: Studying Plant-Pathogen Interactions at Scale
Authors: Gold Kaitlin M.
Published: November 2021

Plant disease threatens the environmental and financial sustainability of crop production, causing $220 billion in annual losses. The dire threat disease poses to modern agriculture demands tools for better detection and monitoring to prevent crop loss and input waste.
Endovascular thrombectomy for critical lower limb ischaemia in a patient with COVID-19
Authors: Kumar Subhash , Kumar Anup , Sinha Ruchi , Mahto Mala
Published: November 2021

Hypercoagulable and proinflammatory states induced by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) lead to thrombotic and embolic events. In this case report, the authors describe how they successfully managed acute critical limb ischaemia in a patient of COVID-19 illness with severe pulmonary disease and high thrombus burden in the infrapopliteal arteries.
A vaccine tax: ensuring a more equitable global vaccine distribution
Authors: Albertsen Andreas
Published: November 2021

While COVID-19 vaccines provide light at the end of the tunnel in a difficult time, they also bring forth the complex ethical issue of global vaccine distribution. The current unequal global distribution of vaccines is unjust towards the vulnerable living in low-income countries. A vaccine tax should be introduced to remedy this. Under such a scheme, a small fraction of the money spent by a country on vaccines for its own population would go into a fund, such as COVAX, dedicated to buying vaccines and distributing them to the world’s poorest. A vaccine tax would provide a much-needed injection of funds to remedy the unequal distribution of vaccines. The tax allows for a distribution that, to a lesser degree, reflects the ability to pay and is superior to a donation-based model because it minimises the opportunity for free-riding.
Supersymmetric $$AdS_4$$ black holes from matter-coupled $$N=3,4$$ gauged supergravities
Authors: Karndumri Parinya
Published: November 2021

We study supersymmetric $$AdS_4$$

A
d

S
4

black holes in matter-coupled $$N=3$$

N
=
3

and $$N=4$$

N
=
4

gauged supergravities in four dimensions. In $$N=3$$

N
=
3

theory, we consider $$N=3$$

N
=
3

gauged supergravity coupled to three vector multiplets and $$SO(3)\times SO(3)$$

S
O
(
3
)
×
S
O
(
3
)

gauge group. The resulting gauged supergravity admits two $$N=3$$

N
=
3

supersymmetric $$AdS_4$$

A
d

S
4

vacua with $$SO(3)\times SO(3)$$

S
O
(
3
)
×
S
O
(
3
)

and SO(3) symmetries. We find an $$AdS_2\times H^2$$

A
d

S
2

×

H
2

solution with $$SO(2)\times SO(2)$$

S
O
(
2
)
×
S
O
(
2
)

symmetry and an analytic solution interpolating between this geometry and the $$SO(3)\times SO(3)$$

S
O
(
3
)
×
S
O
(
3
)

symmetric $$AdS_4$$

A
d

S
4

vacuum. For $$N=4$$

N
=
4

gauged supergravity coupled to six vector multiplets with $$SO(4)\times SO(4)$$

S
O
(
4
)
×
S
O
(
4
)

gauge group, there exist four supersymmetric $$AdS_4$$

A
d

S
4

vacua with $$SO(4)\times SO(4)$$

S
O
(
4
)
×
S
O
(
4
)

, $$SO(4)\times SO(3)$$

S
O
(
4
)
×
S
O
(
3
)

, $$SO(3)\times SO(4)$$

S
O
(
3
)
×
S
O
(
4
)

and $$SO(3)\times SO(3)$$

S
O
(
3
)
×
S
O
(
3
)

symmetries. We find a number of $$AdS_2\times S^2$$

A
d

S
2

×

S
2

and $$AdS_2\times H^2$$

A
d

S
2

×

H
2

geometries together with the solutions interpolating between these geometries and all, but the $$SO(3)\times SO(3)$$

S
O
(
3
)
×
S
O
(
3
)

, $$AdS_4$$

A
d

S
4

vacua. These solutions provide a new class of $$AdS_4$$

A
d

S
4

black holes with spherical and hyperbolic horizons dual to holographic RG flows across dimensions from $$N=3,4$$

N
=
3
,
4

SCFTs in three dimensions to superconformal quantum mechanics within the framework of four-dimensional gauged supergravity.
Holographic entanglement entropy and modular Hamiltonian in warped CFT in the framework of GMMG model
Authors: Setare M. R. , Koohgard M.
Published: November 2021

We study some aspects of a class of non-AdS holography where the 3D bulk gravity is given by generalized minimal massive gravity (GMMG). We consider the spacelike warped $$AdS_3$$

A
d

S
3

($$WAdS_3$$

W
A
d

S
3

) black hole solution of this model where the 2d dual boundary theory is the warped conformal field theory (WFCT). The charge algebra of the isometries in the bulk and the charge algebra of the vacuum symmetries at the boundary are compatible and this is an evidence for the duality conjecture. Further evidence for this duality is the equality of entanglement entropy and modular Hamiltonian on both sides of the duality. So we consider the modular Hamiltonian for the single interval at the boundary in associated to the modular flow generators of the vacuum. We calculate the gravitational charge in associated to the asymptotic Killing vectors that preserve the metric boundary conditions. Assuming the first law of the entanglement entropy to be true, we introduce the matching conditions between the variables in two side of the duality and we find equality of the modular Hamiltonian variations and the gravitational charge variations in two sides of the duality. According to the results of the present paper we can say with more sure that the dual theory of the warped AdS3 black hole solution of GMMG is a Warped CFT.
Wetting between Cassie–Baxter and Wenzel regimes: a cellular model approach
Authors: Mądry Katarzyna , Nowicki Waldemar
Published: November 2021

The cellular model with periodic boundary conditions was proposed for the study of liquid–solid interface properties of solid surfaces decorated by a regular pattern. The solid surface was represented by a mosaic of truncated pyramids of two different slopes of side walls equivalent to a surface covered with triangular grooves of different dihedral angles. On the basis of the computations performed for a single elementary cell, the components of the interfacial energies and the apparent contact angles have been found for different Young contact angles and different tilting angles of the pyramid walls. It was found that at certain sets of angles, the wetting takes place with the partial coverage of the pyramid sidewalls—in between the Cassie–Baxter and Wenzel regimes. The influence of the line tension on the studied surface wettability was also examined.

Graphic abstract
THE EFFICIENCY OF SIN STOCKS: A MULTIFRACTAL ANALYSIS OF DRUG INDICES
Authors: Aslam Faheem , Ferreira Paulo , Amjad Fahd , Ali Haider
Published: November 2021

This study provides the first evidence of market efficiency of drug indices, especially cannabis and tobacco, which are known in finance as sin markets. The multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA) is employed on the daily data of six cannabis and one tobacco indices in order to measure efficiency by quantifying the intensity of self-similarity. The findings confirm multifractality in all sample series. Interestingly, Dow Jones Tobacco (DJUSTB) Index shows the highest multifractality, demonstrating the lowest efficiency, whereas S&P/TSX Cannabis (SPTXCAN) Index is the most efficient of all the time series under analysis, with the lowest multifractality levels. Only the North American Marijuana (NAMMAR), Cannabis World Index Gross Total Return (CANWLDGR) and DJUSTB show persistent behavior. These findings could be of interest to policymakers and regulators to establish new reforms to improve the efficiency of these markets, as well as for actual and potential investors.
A Low-Noise High-Gain Recycling Folded Cascode Operational Transconductance Amplifier Based on Gate Driven and Quasi-Floating Bulk Technique
Authors: Saini Roowz , Sharma Kulbhushan , Sharma Rajnish
Published: November 2021

Operational Transconductance Amplifier (OTA) is an important circuit block used in the design of filter, amplifiers and oscillators for various analog-mixed circuit systems. However, design of a low-noise, high-gain OTA with low-power consumption is a challenging task in CMOS technology owing to high-power requirements of OTA for emulating high gain. This paper represents the design of gate-driven quasi-floating bulk recycling folded cascode (GDQFB RFC) OTA which has been shown to provide low-noise operation, emulates high gain and draws very less power. The design utilizes the gate-driven quasi-floating bulk (GDQFB) technique on a recycling folded cascode structure, which enhances the transconductance of OTA and improves its performance. All the post-layout simulation results have been obtained in 0.18-μm CMOS N-well technology using BSIM3V3 device models. The obtained results indicate very high gain of 100.4 dB, gain-bandwidth of 69 kHz, phase margin of 51.9∘ with power consumption of 2.31μW from ±0.9V supply voltage. The input referred noise emulated by proposed OTA is 0.684, 0.21 and 0.0592μV/√Hz @ 1 Hz, 10 Hz and 1 kHz, respectively. The input common mode range and output voltage swing are found to be −0.402 to 0.669 V and −0.493 to 0.610 V, respectively. Corner simulations and Monte Carlo analysis have been performed to verify the robustness of the proposed OTA. The proposed OTA can be used in design of filters and amplifiers for bio-instruments, sensor applications, neural recording applications and human implants etc.
A Holistic Solution for Reliability of 3D Parallel Systems
Authors: Bagherzadeh Javad , Amarnath Aporva , Tan Jielun , Pal Subhankar , Dreslinski Ronald G.
Published: November 2021

Monolithic 3D technology is emerging as a promising solution that can bring massive opportunities, but the gains can be hindered due to the reliability issues exaggerated by high temperature. Conventional reliability solutions focus on one specific feature and assume that the other required features would be provided by different solutions. Hence, this assumption has resulted in solutions that are proposed in isolation of each other and fail to consider the overall compatibility and the implied overheads of multiple isolated solutions for one system.

This article proposes a holistic reliability management engine, R2D3, for post-Moore’s M3D parallel systems that have low yield and high failure rate. The proposed engine, comprising a controller, reconfigurable crossbars, and detection circuitry, provides concurrent single-replay detection and diagnosis, fault-mitigating repair, and aging-aware lifetime management at runtime. This holistic view enables us to create a solution that is highly effective while achieving a low overhead. Our solution achieves 96% coverage of defect; reduces

V
th

degradation by 53%, leading to a 78% performance improvement on average over 8 years for an eight-core system; and ultimately yields a 2.16× longer mean-time-to-failure (MTTF) while incurring an overhead of 7.4% in area, 6.5% in power, and an 8.2% decrease in frequency.
When Gender Matters in Organizational Negotiations
Authors: Bowles Hannah Riley , Thomason Bobbi , Macias-Alonso Inmaculada
Published: November 2021

A person's gender is not a reliable predictor of their negotiation behavior or outcomes, because the degree and character of gender dynamics in negotiation vary across situations. Systematic effects of gender on negotiation are best predicted by situational characteristics that cue gendered behavior or increase reliance on gendered standards for agreement. In this review, we illuminate two levers that heighten or constrain the potential for gender effects in organizational negotiations: ( a) the salience and relevance of gender within the negotiating context and ( b) the degree of ambiguity (i.e., lack of objective standards or information) with regard to what is negotiable, how to negotiate, or who the parties are as negotiators. In our summary, we review practical implications of this research for organizational leaders and individuals who are motivated to reduce gender-based inequities in negotiation outcomes. In conclusion, we suggest future directions for research on gender in organizational negotiations.
A Low-Cost Neutral Aqueous Redox Flow Battery with Dendrite-Free Tin Anode
Authors: Chen Hui , Wang Zhongjie , Zhang Shirui , Cheng Ming , Chen Fuyu , Xu Ying , Luo Juhua
Published: November 2021

A neutral aqueous tin-based flow battery is proposed by employing Sn2+/Sn as active materials for the negative side, [Fe(CN)6]3−/ Fe(CN)6]4− as active materials for the positive side, and potassium chloride as the supporting electrolyte, and its overall performances and cost for capacity unit are investigated. Cyclic voltammetry is performed and shows that the Sn2+/Sn has outstanding electrochemical behavior. The charging-discharging tests are conducted with the optimized electrolyte composition of 0.2 M [Fe(CN)6]3− and 3 M KCl. It is shown that the flow cell can reach a high energy efficiency of 80% at 10 mA cm−2 and be stably operated at 40 mA cm−2. The 120-cycling test shows that the flow cell can be of superior cycling performances, benefitting from the dendrite-free property of tin. Finally, cost analysis further confirms its competitiveness in price, offering a promising future for commercial application. This work not only forms a promising energy storage device with dendrite-free and low-cost benefits, but also provide a deep insight into its overall behavior, which is highly beneficial to the full understanding and further advancement of the proposed neutral tin-iron flow battery.
Predicting Winter Wheat Grain Yield Using Fractional Green Canopy Cover (FGCC)
Authors: Reed Vaughn , Arnall Daryl B. , Finch Bronc , Bigatao Souza Joao Luis
Published: November 2021

Optical sensors have grown in popularity for estimating plant health, and they form the basis of midseason yield estimations and nitrogen (N) fertilizer recommendations, such as the Oklahoma State University (OSU) nitrogen fertilization optimization algorithm (NFOA). That algorithm uses measurements of normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI), yet not all producers have access to the sensors required to make these measurements. In contrast, most producers have access to smartphones, which can measure fractional green canopy cover (FGCC) using the Canopeo app, but the usefulness of these measurements for midseason yield estimations remains untested. Our objectives were to (1) quantify the relationship between NDVI and FGCC, (2) assess the potential for using FGCC values in place of NDVI values in the current OSU Yield Prediction Model, and (3) compare the performance of NDVI and FGCC-based yield prediction models from the collected dataset. This project, implemented on 13 winter wheat sites over the 2019-2020 growing season, used a range of nitrogen (N) rates (0, 34, 67, 101, and 134 kg N ha−1) to provide different levels of yield. Our results indicated that while NDVI and FGCC are highly correlated (r2 = 0.76), FGCC is not suitable for direct insertion into the current yield prediction model. However, a yield prediction model derived from FGCC provided similar estimates of yield compared to NDVI (Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency = −3.3). This new FGCC-based model will give more producers access to sensor-based yield prediction and N rate recommendations.
The Implication of Dropping Race from the MDRD Equation to Estimate GFR in an African American-Only Cohort
Authors: Yap Ernie , Prysyazhnyuk Yelyzaveta , Ouyang Jie , Puri Isha , Boutin-Foster Carla , Salifu Moro
Published: November 2021

The widely used Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula adapts a 1.212 multiplier for individuals who are identified as African Americans (AAs) or Blacks, which leads to a higher GFR estimation. As it stands, AAs have a lower prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) but higher incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) compared with Whites. Many hypotheses have been postulated to explain this paradox, but the imprecision of the GFR estimation with race-adaptation could be contributory. We performed a single-center, longitudinal, retrospective study on a cohort of outpatient AA patients using the MDRD and MDRDrace removed and CKD-EPI and CKD-EPIrace removed and their progression to CKD G5 (eGFR <15 ml/min/1.73 m2). 327 patients were analyzed. Median follow-up was 88.1 months (interquartile range, 34.4–129.1). When race was removed from MDRD, 39.9% of patients in CKD G1/2 were reclassified to CKD G3a, 72.6% of patients in CKD G3a would be reclassified to CKD G3b, and 54.1% and 36.4% of patients would be reclassified from CKD 3b to CKD G4 and CKD G4 to CKD G5, respectively

p
<
0.0001

. Comparing the CKD-EPI formula against the MDRD in our cohort, we found that 8.2%, 18.8%, and 11.4% of patients were reclassified from CKD G1/2 to CKD G3a, CKD G3a to G3b, and CKD G3b to CKD G4 respectively. Overall median time to progression to CKD G5 was 137.4 (131.9–142.8) months in patients who were not reclassified and 133.6 (127.6–139.6) months for patients who were reclassified by MDRDrace removed

p
<
0.288

. Concerns of inequitable access to healthcare have elicited calls to review race-corrected eGFR equations. A substantial number of individuals would have their CKD stage reclassified should have the MDRDrace removed equation be adopted en masse on an AA-only population. The discrepancy is highest at the 45–59 and >60 ml/min/1.72 min2 ranges. This will have tremendous impact on our center’s approach to pharmacological dosing, referral system, best practices, and outcome surveillance. Comprehensive review of the current “race-corrected” eGFR will require a multifaceted approach and adjunctive use of noncreatinine-based approach.
Evaluation of Agricultural Supply Chain Effects and Big Data Analysis Based on Internet of Things Technology
Authors: Fang Qingjun , Su Cai
Published: November 2021

Building an information-based rural economic supply chain is an effective way to implement the rural revitalization strategy. The construction of China’s agricultural product logistics market is still very backward, mainly including imperfect information system and high cost of intermediate circulation links. How to optimize the supply chain of agricultural products, ensure the normal supply of agricultural products quality and quantity in the market, improve people’s living standards, and achieve the purpose of improving benefits is an important topic to be studied today. Aiming at the problems of traditional agricultural products supply chain, the application of Internet of Things technology in supply chain can be effectively solved. Therefore, this paper proposes the research on the environmental effect evaluation of rural economic supply chain based on Internet of Things technology and proposes to build a wireless sensor network for agricultural products for the collection and exchange of agricultural products information. At the same time, RFID (radio-frequency identification) electronic tags integrated with sensors are applied in other links of the supply chain. The experimental results show that the construction of the rural economic supply chain system based on Internet of Things technology can effectively optimize the rural economic supply chain, realize efficient information sharing, improve the quality of agricultural products, reduce the cost of each link of the supply chain, improve the competitiveness of rural supply chain, and promote the good development of rural agricultural products and rural economic supply chain environment.
The Modulation of Working-Memory Performance Using Gamma-Electroacupuncture and Theta-Electroacupuncture in Healthy Adults
Authors: Ren Meng , Xu Jingjing , Zhao Jingjun , Zhang Sicong , Wang Wenjing , Xu Shutian , Zhou Zhiqing , Chen Xixi , Chen Songmei , Li Yuanli , Shan Chunlei
Published: November 2021

Working memory (WM), a central component of general cognition, plays an essential role in human beings’ daily lives. WM impairments often occur in psychiatric, neurodegenerative, and neurodevelopmental disorders, mainly presenting as loss of high-load WM. In previous research, electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to be an effective treatment for cognitive impairments. Frequency parameters are an important factor in therapeutic results, but the optimal frequency parameters of EA have not yet been identified. In this study, we chose theta-EA (θ-EA; 6 Hz) and gamma-EA (γ-EA; 40 Hz), corresponding to the transcranial alternating-current stimulation (tACS) frequency parameters at the Baihui (DU20) and Shenting (DU24) acupoints, in order to compare the effects of different EA frequencies on WM. We evaluated WM performance using visual 1-back, 2-back, and 3-back WM tasks involving digits. Each participant (N = 30) attended three different sessions in accordance with a within-subject crossover design. We performed θ-EA, γ-EA, and sham-EA in a counterbalanced order, conducting the WM task both before and after intervention. The results showed that d-prime (d′) under all three stimulation conditions had no significance in the 1-back and 2-back tasks. However, in the 3-back task, there was a significant improvement in d′ after intervention compared to d′ before intervention under θ-EA (F [1, 29] = 22.64;

P
<
0.001

), while we saw no significant difference in the γ-EA and sham-EA groups. Reaction times for hits (RT-hit) under all three stimulation conditions showed decreasing trends in 1-, 2-, and 3-back tasks but without statistically significant differences. These findings suggest that the application of θ-EA might facilitate high-load WM performance.
Variations on Reservoir Parameters of Oil Shale Deposits under Periodic Freeze-Thaw Cycles: Laboratory Tests
Authors: Li Rui-heng , Sun Zhong-guang , He Jiang-fu , Liao Zhi-wei , Li Lei , Qian Fang
Published: November 2021

As one of the most important unconventional hydrocarbon resources, the oil shale has been extracted with a frozen wall to successfully increase the shale oil production and reduce environmental pollution, which results from the harmful liquids in the in situ conversion processing of oil shale. Thereby, the strength and permeability of the frozen wall are extremely critical to reduce the harmful chemicals leaching into the groundwater. However, the permeability and strength of the frozen wall can be influenced by periodic freeze-thaw cycles. In order to investigate the damage and deterioration characteristics of oil shale samples after various periodic freeze-thaw cycles, the oil shale samples were periodically frozen and thawed as many as 48 times, after which the sample mass, stress-strain, freeze-thaw coefficient, uniaxial compressive strength, elastic modulus, and longitudinal wave velocity of the oil shale samples were separately measured. According to the measured results, the number of freeze-thaw cycles greatly influenced the physical and mechanical properties of oil shale samples. The uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus of the oil shale samples were changed with maximum variation rates of 64% and 65%, respectively. Meanwhile, the freeze-thaw coefficient of measured oil shale samples exponentially decreased with the increased number of freeze-thaw cycles, whereas the longitudinal wave velocity of tested samples ranged from 1602 m/s to 2464 m/s as a result of the new micropores inside the oil shale sample. Research results have enormous significance to the efficient and safe in situ exploitation of oil shale deposits.
ULK1 Suppresses Osteoclast Differentiation and Bone Resorption via Inhibiting Syk‐JNK through DOK3
Authors: Zhang Yufeng , Zhang Sheng , Wang Yi , Yang Zhiqiang , Chen Zhe , Wen Nengqiao , Yang Min , Huang Zan , Xie Yuanlong , Cai Lin
Published: November 2021

Bone resorption diseases, including osteoporosis, are usually caused by excessive osteoclastogenesis. Unc‐51‐like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1), a mammalian serine/threonine kinase, may participate in the regulation of bone homeostasis and osteolytic metastasis. In this study, ULK1 expression during osteoclastogenesis was detected with RT‐PCR. We knocked down or overexpressed ULK1 through siRNA or lentiviral transduction in bone marrow macrophage (BMM). TRAP and phalloidin staining were performed to detect the osteoclastogenesis activity. Ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model of osteoporosis and a mouse of model osteoclast‐induced bone resorption were applied to explore the role of ULK1 in bone resorption in vivo. The results showed that ULK1 expression was downregulated during osteoclast differentiation and was clinically associated with osteoporosis. ULK1 inhibited osteoclast differentiation in vitro. Knockdown of ULK1 expression activated phosphorylation of c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) and spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk). Docking protein 3 (DOK3) was coexpressed with ULK1 during osteoclastogenesis. Downregulation of DOK3 offsets the effect of ULK1 on osteoclastogenesis and induced phosphorylation of JNK and Syk. Activation of ULK1 impeded bone loss in OVX mice with osteoporosis. Additionally, upregulation of ULK1 inhibited osteoclast‐induced bone resorption in vivo. Therefore, our study reveals a novel ULK1/DOK3/Syk axis that regulates osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption, and targeting ULK1 is a potential therapeutic strategy for osteoporosis.
The Second Hyper-Zagreb Coindex of Chemical Graphs and Some Applications
Authors: Ayache Ahmed , Alameri Abdu , Alsharafi Mohammed , Ahmed Hanan
Published: November 2021

The second hyper-Zagreb coindex is an efficient topological index that enables us to describe a molecule from its molecular graph. In this current study, we shall evaluate the second hyper-Zagreb coindex of some chemical graphs. In this study, we compute the value of the second hyper-Zagreb coindex of some chemical graph structures such as sildenafil, aspirin, and nicotine. We also present explicit formulas of the second hyper-Zagreb coindex of any graph that results from some interesting graphical operations such as tensor product, Cartesian product, composition, and strong product, and apply them on a q-multiwalled nanotorus.
Clinical Analysis of Macular Choroidal Thickness in Pseudoexfoliative Glaucoma and Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
Authors: Li Fan , Huo Yiming , Ma Lihua , Zhang Qing , Zhang Hengli , Yan Xiaowei , Geng Yulei , Tang Guangxian
Published: November 2021

Purpose. To evaluate the differences in macular choroidal thickness and volume among patients with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PXG), patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and controls. Methods. A total of 50 PXG patients (50 eyes) and 56 POAG patients (56 eyes) were selected as the PXG group and the POAG group, respectively, in this case-control study. A total of 54 age-, gender-, IOP-, and axial length-matched healthy individuals (54 eyes) were selected as the control group. Enhanced-depth imaging-optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) was used to measure and analyze the choroidal thicknesses and volumes in 9 macular regions of all subjects. Results. The choroidal thicknesses in the central subfield (CSM), temporal inner macula (TIM), inferior inner macula (IIM), and temporal outer macula (TOM) and the mean macular choroidal thickness were significantly thinner in the PXG group than in the control group (all

P
<
0.05

). The choroidal volumes in the TIM, IIM, and TOM and the mean macular choroidal volume were significantly smaller in the PXG group than in the control group (all

P
<
0.05

). The choroidal thicknesses in the CSM and IIM and the mean macular choroidal thickness were significantly thinner in the PXG group than in the POAG group (all

P
<
0.05

). The choroidal volumes in the IIM and TOM and the mean macular choroidal volume were significantly smaller in the PXG group than in the POAG group (all

P
<
0.05

). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that the mean macular choroidal thickness was significantly thinner in association with older subjects and longer axial length eyes. There was no association between the macular choroidal thickness of various macular regions and visual field mean defect (MD) in groups PXG and POAG (all

P
>
0.05

). Conclusions. The macular choroidal thicknesses and volumes (inferior and temporal) in PXG patients were thinner and smaller than those in POAG patients and healthy individuals. The role of choroidal thickness changes in the course of PXG remains unclear. A future prospective study is needed to better define these changes in PXG patients.
Evaluation of the Clinical Effects and Frequency of MEFV Gene Mutation in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Sahin S. , Gulec D. , Günay S. , Cekic C.
Published: November 2021

Background. The clinical and pathological features of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) are similar. Objective. Here, the frequency of Mediterranean Fever (MEFV) gene mutation and its effect on the outcome of IBD were evaluated. Methods. DNA sequence analysis detected the variants on the MEFV gene in patients with IBD. The relationship between mutations and the need for steroids, immunomodulators, biologics, and surgery was assessed. Results. We evaluated 100 patients with IBD (55 with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 45 with Crohn’s disease (CD)) and 60 healthy individuals as controls. The frequency of MEFV gene mutation was 26.7% (

n
=
12

) and 14.5% (

n
=
8

) for UC and CD, respectively. No relationship was found between MEFV gene mutation and the need for steroids, immunomodulators, and biologics (

p
=
0.446
;
p
=
0.708
;
p
>
0.999

, resp.); however, in UC, the need for surgery in those with mutation (

p
=
0.018

) and E148Q mutation alone was significant (

p
=
0.037

). Conclusion. The rate of MEFV gene mutations was high in patients with UC who required surgery. These patients have frequent and severe attacks, indicating that the mutations are related to disease severity. MEFV mutation as a modifier factor of IBD should be considered.
Tourist Street View Navigation and Tourist Positioning Based on Multimodal Wireless Virtual Reality
Authors: Chai Shousheng , Shan Jun , Chan Yi Hui
Published: November 2021

Based on the multimodal wireless virtual reality technology, this article researches and implements two different spatial positioning estimation systems based on intelligent networks and mixed reality devices, which can estimate their position and attitude in space with higher accuracy. Based on the multimodal protocol, an extensible information exchange protocol is designed to meet the requirements of the terminal and the background service in the scenic spot, which realizes the information interaction between the terminal and the background service and supports the realization of system functions. Second, a real‐time data management module is designed for the two types of terminal historical location query and real‐time location query. Through the research and summary of GPS positioning technology and existing matching algorithms, as well as the analysis of positioning errors, a scenic map matching algorithm based on an improved virtual reality model is proposed. Later, in the electronic map design, the traditional linear street view model was improved, the width element of the street view was increased, and the rectangular street view model was introduced. When the candidate road section was selected, the candidate road section was determined by the area intersection method of the error rectangle and the rectangular street view, and the search path was improved, while reducing omissions in the selection of candidate road sections. In the process of adaptive moving target feature learning, it can effectively remove the inaccurate foreground extraction caused by the misjudgement and misdetection of the multimodal background modeling method. This plays an important role in the later trajectory tracking and reduces the uninterruptedness. The simulation results show that the real‐time data is cached in the memory, and the real‐time data is divided and organized on the basis of region, which realizes efficient designated terminal location query, range query, neighbour query, and many other typical real‐time location‐based queries. Finally, using the characteristics of the database management system adopted, through a reasonable design of the database table structure, efficient access to historical data is realized. System test results show that the system has realized multimedia applications, electronic maps, travel notes, and other functions and has a friendly interface, easy operation, and good maintainability and scalability.