bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chronological Assessment of the Balta Alba Kurgan Loess-Paleosol Section (Romania) – A Comparative Study on Different Dating Methods for a Robust and Precise Age Model
Authors: Scheidt Stephanie , Berg Sonja , Hambach Ulrich , Klasen Nicole , Pötter Stephan , Stolz Alexander , Veres Daniel , Zeeden Christian , Brill Dominik , Brückner Helmut , Kusch Stephanie , Laag Christian , Lehmkuhl Frank , Melles Martin , Monnens Florian , Oppermann Lukas , Rethemeyer Janet , Nett Janina J.
Published: January 2021

Loess-paleosol sequences (LPSs) are important terrestrial archives of paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic information. One of the main obstacles for the investigation and interpretation of these archives is the uncertainty of their age-depth relationship. In this study, four different dating techniques were applied to the Late Pleistocene to Holocene LPS Balta Alba Kurgan (Romania) in order to achieve a robust chronology. Luminescence dating includes analysis of different grain-size fractions of both quartz and potassium feldspar and the best results are obtained using fine-grained quartz blue‐stimulated and polymineral post-infrared infrared-stimulated luminescence measurements. Radiocarbon (14C) dating is based on the analysis of bulk organic carbon (OC) and compound-specific radiocarbon analysis (CSRA). Bulk OC and leaf wax-derived n-alkane 14C ages provide reliable age constraints for the past c. 25–27 kyr. CSRA reveals post-depositional incorporation of roots and microbial OC into the LPS limiting the applicability of 14C dating in older parts of the sequence. Magnetic stratigraphy data reveal good correlation of magnetic susceptibility and the relative paleointensity of the Earth’s magnetic field with one another as well as reference records and regional data. In contrast, the application of paleomagnetic secular variation stratigraphy is limited by a lack of regional reference data. The identification of the Campanian Ignimbrite/Y-5 tephra layer in the outcrop provides an independent time marker against which results from the other dating methods have been tested. The most accurate age constraints from each method are used for two Bayesian age-depth modeling approaches. The systematic comparison of the individual results exemplifies the advantages and disadvantages of the respective methods. Taken as a whole, the two age-depth models agree very well, our study also demonstrates that the multi-method approach can improve the accuracy and precision of dating loess sequences.
A Thirty-Month Seafloor Test of the A-0-A Method for Calibrating Pressure Gauges
Authors: Wilcock William S. D. , Manalang Dana A. , Fredrickson Erik K. , Harrington Michael J. , Cram Geoff , Tilley James , Burnett Justin , Martin Derek , Kobayashi Taro , Paros Jerome M.
Published: January 2021

Geodetic observations in the oceans are important for understanding plate tectonics, earthquake cycles and volcanic processes. One approach to seafloor geodesy is the use of seafloor pressure gauges to sense vertical changes in the elevation of the seafloor after correcting for variations in the weight of the overlying oceans and atmosphere. A challenge of using pressure gauges is the tendency for the sensors to drift. The A-0-A method is a new approach for correcting drift. A valve is used to periodically switch, for a short time, the measured pressure from the external ocean to the inside of the instrument housing at atmospheric pressure. The internal pressure reading is compared to an accurate barometer to measure the drift which is assumed to be the same at low and high pressures. We describe a 30-months test of the A-0-A method at 900 m depth on the MARS cabled observatory in Monterey Bay using an instrument that includes two A-0-A calibrated pressure gauges and a three-component accelerometer. Prior to the calibrations, the two pressure sensors drift by 6 and 2 hPa, respectively. After the calibrations, the offsets of the corrected pressure sensors are consistent with each other to within 0.2 hPa. The drift corrected detided external pressure measurements show a 0.5 hPa/yr trend of increasing pressures during the experiment. The measurements are corrected for instrument subsidence based on the changes in tilt measured by the accelerometer, but the trend may include a component of subsidence that did not affect tilt. However, the observed trend of increasing pressure, closely matches that calculated from satellite altimetry and repeat conductivity, temperature and depth casts at a nearby location, and increasing pressures are consistent with the trend expected for the El Niño Southern Oscillation. We infer that the A-0-A drift corrections are accurate to better than one part in 105 per year. Additional long-term tests and comparisons with oceanographic observations and other methods for drift correction will be required to understand if the accuracy the A-0-A drift corrections matches the observed one part in 106 per year consistency between the two pressure sensors.
Case Report: Late-Onset Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia and Acute Covid-19 Infection in a Pregnant Woman: Multidisciplinary Management
Authors: Giavoli Claudia , Iurlaro Enrico , Morelli Valentina , Rodari Giulia , Ronchi Andrea , Pietrasanta Carlo , Pugni Lorenza , Tubiolo Daniela , Properzi Paolo , Pesenti Antonio , Mantovani Giovanna , Ferrazzi Enrico , Arosio Maura
Published: January 2021

Background

The impact of the Covid-19 infection on patients with chronic endocrine disease is not fully known. We describe here the first case of a pregnant woman with Covid-19 acute infection and non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH).

Case description

A woman at 36 weeks of gestation was referred to our Maternity Hospital for premature rupture of membranes (PROM). Her medical history was positive for NCAH on chronic steroid replacement till the age of 17 years (cortisone acetate and dexamethasone, both in the morning). At admission, her naso-oro-pharyngeal swab resulted positive for SARS-CoV-2. Due to hyperpyrexia and late preterm PROM, cesarean section was planned, and she was started on a 100 mg-bolus of hydrocortisone, followed by continuous infusion of 200 mg/24 h. A female neonate in good clinical condition and with a negative nasopharyngeal Covid-19 swab was delivered. On secondpostpartumday, the mother was in good condition and was switched to oral steroid therapy. On thirdpostpartumday she worsened, with radiological signs of acute pulmonary embolism. Oro-tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation were started, and she was switched back to intravenous steroid therapy. On April 30, pulmonary embolism was resolved, and on May 13th she was discharged in good condition.

Conclusions

We report the first case of Covid-19 acute infection that occurred in late-pregnancy in a woman with NCAH on chronic steroid replacement. The management of the patient in a reference center with early involvement of a multidisciplinary team granted prompt care and adequate protection for all the involved sanitary operators.
Sodium Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors Reduce the Risk of Heart Failure Hospitalization in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Zhang Ailing , Luo Xufei , Meng Haiyang , Kang Jian , Qin Guijun , Chen Yaolong , Zhang Xiaojian
Published: January 2021

Aim

To evaluate the impact of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) on risk of heart failure hospitalization in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

We searched the PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, CBM, and other web knowledge databases for data from randomized controlled trials. We performed statistical analyses by using review Manager (RevMan) 5.3 and STATA 12.0 for meta-analysis.

Results

Eight randomized controlled trials that compared SGLT-2i versus placebo met our inclusion criteria and were included in the study. The final meta-analysis included a total of 55,763 type 2 diabetes patients. Compared with placebo, SGLT-2i reduced the risk of heart failure hospitalization (RR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.74; P < 0.00001), MACE (defined as cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke) (RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86 to 0.98; P < 0.007), cardiovascular death (RR, 0.78; 95%CI, 0.62 to 0.99; P = 0.04) in type 2 diabetes patients. SGLT-2i could reduce the risk of death from any cause (RR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.01; P = 0.06) without statistical significance in type 2 diabetes patients.

Conclusion

Compared with placebo, SGLT-2i may reduce the risk of heart failure hospitalization, MACE, and cardiovascular death. Therefore, SGLT-2i may be an ideal choice for type 2 diabetes mellitus patient with heart failure. These results will help inform practitioners, patients, and authorities making appropriate choices in hypoglycemic therapy clinical practice.
Homogeneous Glacial Landscapes Can Have High Local Variability of Strontium Isotope Signatures: Implications for Prehistoric Migration Studies
Authors: Thomsen Erik , Andreasen Rasmus , Rasmussen Tine L.
Published: January 2021

Increasingly, strontium (Sr) isotopes are used to distinguish locals and migrants in prehistoric studies, by measuring87Sr/86Sr in human remains and comparing these values to the distribution of the bioavailable87Sr/86Sr in the study area, often in surface water. However, it has recently been shown that agricultural lime can have a substantial impact on the87Sr/86Sr ratio and strontium concentration in surface water in areas where soils are low- to non-calcareous. Agricultural lime is rich in strontium with low87Sr/86Sr ratios, such that interpretations of prehistoric migration based on surface waters affected by agricultural lime often overestimate the number of migrants in a given area. However, the impact of agricultural lime was questioned in a new study, which argues that strontium derived from agricultural lime is retained in the topsoil of the fields and therefore do not contaminate the surface water. In the present study and in a companion study in this volume, we show that strontium derived from agricultural lime is highly mobile in soils, and so contaminate surface waters extensively. We also show that the87Sr/86Sr ratios are consistently higher in waters from “pristine areas” (where no agricultural lime has been applied within a distance of 150 m from the sample locality) than in water from farmland, thus confirming that it is of vital importance for accurate mapping of isoscapes to avoid sampling waters contaminated by agricultural lime. Our new measurements of87Sr/86Sr ratios in central Jutland, Denmark, raise the highest measured values to 0.7186. High values between 0.7140 and 0.7156 occur repeatedly and it is apparent that nearly all prehistoric human finds in Jutland, previously believed to have journeyed from afar are more likely of local origin. Furthermore, we show that carbonate-rich areas along the coast of southwest Zealand carry high87Sr/86Sr values (0.7112–0.7132), where we would expect low values. This surprising result indicates that nearly all humans buried at the Viking Age site, Trelleborg could well have originated locally, in contrast to past studies, which have suggested that about 50% of the burials were of individuals who came from afar.
Integrated WGCNA and PPI Network to Screen Hub Genes Signatures for Infantile Hemangioma
Authors: Xu Miao , Ouyang Tianxiang , Lv Kaiyang , Ma Xiaorong
Published: January 2021

Background

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is characterized by proliferation and regression.

Methods

Based on the GSE127487 dataset, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between 6, 12, or 24 months and normal samples were screened, respectively. STEM software was used to screen the continued up-regulated or down-regulated in common genes. The modules were assessed by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The enrichment analysis was performed to identified the biological function of important module genes. The area under curve (AUC) value and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were used to identify hub genes. The differential expression of hub genes in IH and normal tissues was detected by qPCR.

Results

There were 5,785, 4,712, and 2,149 DEGs between 6, 12, and 24 months and normal tissues. We found 1,218 DEGs were up-regulated or down-regulated expression simultaneously in common genes. They were identified as 10 co-expression modules. Module 3 and module 4 were positively or negatively correlated with the development of IH, respectively. These two module genes were significantly involved in immunity, cell cycle arrest and mTOR signaling pathway. The two module genes with AUC greater than 0.8 at different stages of IH were put into PPI network, and five genes with the highest degree were identified as hub genes. The differential expression of these genes was also verified by qRTPCR.

Conclusion

Five hub genes may distinguish for proliferative and regressive IH lesions. The WGCNA and PPI network analyses may help to clarify the molecular mechanism of IH at different stages.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Light Dark Therapy for Maternal Postpartum Insomnia Symptoms: Protocol of a Parallel-Group Randomised Controlled Efficacy Trial
Authors: Verma Sumedha , Rajaratnam Shantha M. W. , Davey Margot , Wiley Joshua F. , Bei Bei
Published: January 2021

Background: Symptoms of insomnia are common in new mothers and have been associated with a range of negative maternal and child outcomes. Despite this, interventions to improve maternal postpartum sleep remain scarce. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Light Dark Therapy (LDT) represent two promising interventions for insomnia symptoms and associated daytime consequences such as fatigue. This randomised controlled trial examines whether CBT and LDT improve maternal insomnia symptoms as the primary outcome and maternal sleep disturbance, mood, fatigue, and sleepiness as secondary outcomes. This protocol paper outlines the development, design, and implementation of the trial.

Methods: Participants are an Australian community-sample of 90 first-time mothers who are 4–12 months postpartum with self-reported symptoms of insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index scores ≥ 8). Exclusion criteria include current severe sleep/psychiatric disorders, unsettled infant sleep behaviour, sleep-affecting medication use, and photosensitivity. Eligible women are randomised into a CBT (strategies targeting sleep, worries, fatigue, and relaxation), LDT, or a treatment-as-usual control condition. Interventions are therapist-assisted and personalised through two telephone calls and include a series of automated intervention emails delivered over 6 weeks. Primary and secondary outcomes are assessed at four time points: baseline, intervention mid-point, post-intervention, and 1-month post-intervention.

Discussion: If found effective, these interventions could represent efficacious, safe, and inexpensive treatments for improving postpartum insomnia and mitigate its negative impact on maternal well-being. Interventions tested are highly scalable and can be integrated into postpartum care and made available to the broader community.

ANZCTR trial registration: Accessible at: https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12618000842268.
High Dimensionality of the Stability of a Marine Benthic Ecosystem
Authors: Valdivia Nelson , Aguilera Moisés A. , Broitman Bernardo R.
Published: January 2021

Stability is a central property of complex systems and encompasses multiple dimensions such as resistance, resilience, recovery, and invariability. How these dimensions correlate among them is focus of recent ecological research, but empirical evidence at regional scales, at which conservation decisions are usually made, remains absent. Using a field-based manipulative experiment conducted in two marine intertidal regions, we analyze the correlations among different aspects of stability in functioning (community cover) and composition of local communities facing a press disturbance. The experiment involved the removal of the local space-dominant species for 35 months in eight sites under different environmental regimes in northern- and southern-central Chile (ca. 30 and 40°S, respectively). After the disturbance, the magnitude of the initial responses and the recovery patterns were similar among communities dominated by different species, but varied between the functional and compositional response variables, and among four dimensions of stability. The recovery trajectories in function and composition remained mostly uncorrelated across the system. Yet, larger initial functional responses were associated with faster recovery trajectories—high functional resilience, in turn, was associated with both, high and low variability in the pattern of recovery. Finally, the compositional stability dimensions were independent from each other. The results suggest that varying community compositions can perform similar levels of functioning, which might be the result of strong compensatory dynamics among species competing for space in these communities. Knowledge of several, and sometimes independent, aspects of stability is mandatory to fully describe the stability of complex ecological systems.
A Systematic Review With Network Meta-Analysis of the Available Biologic Therapies for Psoriatic Disease Domains
Authors: Torres Tiago , Barcelos Anabela , Filipe Paulo , Fonseca João Eurico
Published: January 2021

Introduction:Several new treatments have been developed for psoriatic disease, an inflammatory condition that involves skin and joints. Notwithstanding, few studies have made direct comparisons between treatments and therefore it is difficult to select the ideal treatment for an individual patient. The aim of this systematic review with network meta-analysis (NMA) was to analyze available and approved biologic therapies for each domain of psoriatic disease: skin, peripheral arthritis, axial arthritis, enthesitis, dactylitis, and nail involvement.

Methods:Data from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included. A systematic review was performed using the MEDLINE database (July 2020) using PICO criteria. Bayesian NMA was conducted to compare the clinical efficacy of biological therapy in terms of the American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR, 24 weeks) and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI, 10–16 weeks).

Results:Fifty-four RCTs were included in the systematic review. Due to the design of the RCTs, namely, outcomes and time points, network meta-analysis was performed for skin and peripheral arthritis domains. For the skin domain, 30 studies reporting PASI100 were included. The peripheral arthritis domain was analyzed through ACR70 in 12 studies. From the therapies approved for both domains, secukinumab and ixekizumab were the ones with the highest probability of reaching the proposed outcomes. There is a lack of outcome uniformization in the dactylitis, enthesitis, and nail domains, and therefore, an objective comparison of the studies was not feasible. Nevertheless, secukinumab was the treatment with the best compromise between the number of studies in each domain and the results obtained in the different outcomes.

Conclusion:Secukinumab and ixekizumab were the treatments with the highest probability of reaching both PASI100 and ACR70 outcomes. Due to the lack of a standard evaluation of outcomes of the other psoriatic disease domains, a network meta-analysis for all the domains was not possible to perform.
Addressing Non-linear System Dynamics of Single-Strand RNA Virus–Host Interaction
Authors: Romano Alessandra , Casazza Marco , Gonella Francesco
Published: January 2021

Positive single-strand ribonucleic acid [(+)ssRNA] viruses can cause multiple outbreaks, for which comprehensive tailored therapeutic strategies are still missing. Virus and host cell dynamics are tightly connected, generating a complex dynamics that conveys in virion assembly to ensure virus spread in the body. Starting from the knowledge of relevant processes in (+ss)RNA virus replication, transcription, translation, virions budding and shedding, and their respective energy costs, we built up a systems thinking (ST)–based diagram of the virus–host interaction, comprehensive of stocks, flows, and processes as well-described in literature. In ST approach, stocks and flows are expressed by a proxy of the energy embedded and transmitted, respectively, whereas processes are referred to the energy required for the system functioning. In this perspective, healthiness is just a particular configuration, in which stocks relevant for the system (equivalent but not limited to proteins, RNA, DNA, and all metabolites required for the survival) are constant, and the system behavior is stationary. At time of infection, the presence of additional stocks (e.g., viral protein and RNA and all metabolites required for virion assembly and spread) confers a complex network of feedbacks leading to new configurations, which can evolve to maximize the virions stock, thus changing the system structure, output, and purpose. The dynamic trajectories will evolve to achieve a new stationary status, a phenomenon described in microbiology as integration and symbiosis when the system is resilient enough to the changes, or the system may stop functioning and die. Application of external driving forces, acting on processes, can affect the dynamic trajectories adding a further degree of complexity, which can be captured by ST approach, used to address these new configurations. Investigation of system configurations in response to external driving forces acting is developed by computational analysis based on ST diagrams, with the aim at designing novel therapeutic approaches.
Characterization of the Complete Nucleotide Sequences of mcr-1-Encoding Plasmids From Enterobacterales Isolates in Retailed Raw Meat Products From the Czech Republic
Authors: Zelendova Marketa , Papagiannitsis Costas C. , Valcek Adam , Medvecky Matej , Bitar Ibrahim , Hrabak Jaroslav , Gelbicova Tereza , Barakova Alzbeta , Kutilova Iva , Karpiskova Renata , Dolejska Monika
Published: January 2021

The aim of our study was to determine complete nucleotide sequence of mcr-1-carrying plasmids from Enterobacterales isolates recovered from domestic and imported raw retailed meat and compare them with plasmids available at the GenBank sequence database. A set of 16 plasmids originating from Escherichia coli (n = 13), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 2), and Citrobacter braakii (n = 1) were analyzed. In our previous study, data from whole genome sequencing showed that mcr-1 gene was located on plasmids of different incompatibility groups (IncHI2, IncI2, and IncX4). The IncI2 (n = 3) and IncX4 (n = 8) plasmids harbored mcr-1.1 gene only, whereas IncHI2 sequence type 4 plasmids (n = 5) carried large multidrug resistance (MDR) regions. MDR regions of IncHI2 plasmids included additional antimicrobial resistance genes conferring resistance to β-lactams (blaTEM−1), aminoglycosides [aadA1, aadA2, and aph(6)-Id], macrolides [mef (B)], tetracycline (tetA, tetR), and sulphonamides (sul1, sul2, and sul3). Likewise, IncHI2 plasmids carried several insertion sequences including IS1, IS3, IS26, IS1326, and ISApl1. In conclusion, our findings confirmed the involvement of IncX4, IncI2, and IncHI2 plasmids in the dissemination of mcr-1.1 gene in several environmental niches, as in samples of retail meat originating from different geographical regions. In contrast to IncX4 and IncI2, IncHI2 plasmids were more diverse and carried additional genes for resistance to heavy metals and multiple antimicrobials.
Adoption of Machine Learning Algorithm-Based Intelligent Basketball Training Robot in Athlete Injury Prevention
Authors: Xu Teng , Tang Lijun
Published: January 2021

In order to effectively prevent sports injuries caused by collisions in basketball training, realize efficient shooting, and reduce collisions, the machine learning algorithm was applied to intelligent robot for path planning in this study. First of all, combined with the basketball motion trajectory model, the sport recognition in basketball training was analyzed. Second, the mathematical model of the basketball motion trajectory of the shooting motion was established, and the factors affecting the shooting were analyzed. Thirdly, on this basis, the machine learning-based improved Q-Learning algorithm was proposed, the path planning of the moving robot was realized, and the obstacle avoidance behavior was accomplished effectively. In the path planning, the principle of fuzzy controller was applied, and the obstacle ultrasonic signals acquired around the robot were taken as input to effectively avoid obstacles. Finally, the robot was able to approach the target point while avoiding obstacles. The results of simulation experiment show that the obstacle avoidance path obtained by the improved Q-Learning algorithm is flatter, indicating that the algorithm is more suitable for the obstacle avoidance of the robot. Besides, it only takes about 250 s for the robot to find the obstacle avoidance path to the target state for the first time, which is far lower than the 700 s of the previous original algorithm. As a result, the fuzzy controller applied to the basketball robot can effectively avoid the obstacles in the robot movement process, and the motion trajectory curve obtained is relatively smooth. Therefore, the proposed machine learning algorithm has favorable obstacle avoidance effect when it is applied to path planning in basketball training, and can effectively prevent sports injuries in basketball activities.
TIPE1 Promotes Cervical Cancer Cell Chemoresistance to Cisplatin in a Wild-Type p53-Dependent Manner
Authors: Jiang Jie , Gao Li , Lan Yongting , Wang Yang , Zhao Peiqing
Published: January 2021

Previous studies have revealed that TIPE1 serves as a tumor suppressor gene in several tumor types. However, we demonstrated that TIPE1 can promote cervical cancer proliferation by suppressing p53 activity. Here, we showed that TIPE1 inhibits cervical cancer cell apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, we revealed that TIPE1 facilitates chemoresistance in a wild-type p53-dependent manner. The results indicated that TIPE1 is responsible for the transition from chemosensitivity to chemoresistance, and that it can serve as a promising target in cervical cancer chemotherapy.
Photothermal Therapy for the Treatment of Glioblastoma: Potential and Preclinical Challenges
Authors: Bastiancich Chiara , Da Silva Anabela , Estève Marie-Anne
Published: January 2021

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a very aggressive primary malignant brain tumor and finding effective therapies is a pharmaceutical challenge and an unmet medical need. Photothermal therapy may be a promising strategy for the treatment of GBM, as it allows the destruction of the tumor using heat as a non-chemical treatment for disease bypassing the GBM heterogeneity limitations, conventional drug resistance mechanisms and side effects on peripheral healthy tissues. However, its development is hampered by the distinctive features of this tumor. Photoabsorbing agents such as nanoparticles need to reach the tumor site at therapeutic concentrations, crossing the blood-brain barrier upon systemic administration. Subsequently, a near infrared light irradiating the head must cross multiple barriers to reach the tumor site without causing any local damage. Its power intensity needs to be within the safety limit and its penetration depth should be sufficient to induce deep and localized hyperthermia and achieve tumor destruction. To properly monitor the therapy, imaging techniques that can accurately measure the increase in temperature within the brain must be used. In this review, we report and discuss recent advances in nanoparticle-mediated plasmonic photothermal therapy for GBM treatment and discuss the preclinical challenges commonly faced by researchers to develop and test such systems.
Simultaneous Random Number Generation and Optical Tweezers Calibration Employing a Learning Algorithm Based on the Brownian Dynamics of a Trapped Colloidal Particle
Authors: Dey Raunak , Ghosh Subhrokoli , Kundu Avijit , Banerjee Ayan
Published: January 2021

True random number generators are in high demand for secure cryptographic algorithms. Unlike algorithmically generated pseudo-random numbers they are unclonable and non-deterministic. A particle following Brownian dynamics as a result of the stochastic Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process is a source of true randomness because the collisions with the ambient molecules are probabilistic in nature. In this paper, we trap colloidal particles in water using optical tweezers and record its confined Brownian motion in real-time. Using a segment of the initial incoming data we train our learning algorithm to measure the values of the trap stiffness and diffusion coefficient and later use those parameters to extract the “white” noise term in the Langevin equation. The random noise is temporally delta correlated, with a flat spectrum. We use these properties in an inverse problem of trap-calibration to extract trap stiffnesses, compare it with standard equipartition of energy technique, and show it to scale linearly with the power of the trapping laser. Interestingly, we get the best random number sequence for the best calibration. We test the random number sequence, which we have obtained, using standard tests of randomness and observe the randomness to improve with increasing sampling frequencies. This method can be extended to the trap-calibration for colloidal particles confined in complex fluids, or active particles in simple or complex environments so as to provide a new and accurate analytical methodology for studying Brownian motion dynamics using the newly-emerged but robust machine learning platform.
Waves that Appear From Nowhere: Complex Rogue Wave Structures and Their Elementary Particles
Authors: Akhmediev Nail
Published: January 2021

The nonlinear Schrödinger equation has wide range of applications in physics with spatial scales that vary from microns to kilometres. Consequently, its solutions are also universal and can be applied to water waves, optics, plasma and Bose-Einstein condensate. The most remarkable solution presently known as the Peregrine solution describes waves that appear from nowhere. This solution describes unique events localized both in time and in space. Following the language of mariners they are called “rogue waves”. As thorough mathematical analysis shows, these waves have properties that differ them from any other nonlinear waves known before. Peregrine waves can serve as ‘elementary particles’ in more complex structures that are also exact solutions of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation. These structures lead to specific patterns with various degrees of symmetry. Some of them resemble “atomic like structures”. The number of particles in these structures is not arbitrary but satisfies strict rules. Similar structures may be observed in systems described by other equations of mathematical physics: Hirota equation, Davey-Stewartson equations, Sasa-Satsuma equation, generalized Landau-Lifshitz equation, complex KdV equation and even the coupled Higgs field equations describing nucleons interacting with neutral scalar mesons. This means that the ideas of rogue waves enter nearly all areas of physics including the field of elementary particles.
Modeling Maize Canopy Morphology in Response to Increased Plant Density
Authors: He Liang , Sun Weiwei , Chen Xiang , Han Liqi , Li Jincai , Ma Yuanshan , Song Youhong
Published: January 2021

Increased plant density markedly affects canopy morphophysiological activities and crop productivity. This study aims to model maize canopy final morphology under increased interplant competition by revising a functional–structural plant model, i.e., ADEL-Maize. A 2-year field experiment was conducted at Mengcheng, Anhui Province, China, in 2016 and 2018. A randomized complete block design of five plant densities (PDs), i.e., 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9, and 15 plants m–2, with three replications was applied using a hybrid, i.e., Zhengdan 958. Canopy morphology at different PDs was measured with destructive samplings when maize canopy was fully expanded. The relationship of changes of organ morphology in relation to increased plant density was analyzed based on 2016 data. The ADEL-Maize was first calibrated for the hybrid at 4.5 plants m–2 and then revised by introducing relationships identified from 2016 data, followed by independent validation with 2018 field data. A heatmap visualization was shown to clearly illustrate the effects of increased plant density on final morphology of laminae, sheaths, and internodes. The logarithmic + linear equations were found to fit changes for the organ size versus increased plant density for phytomers excluding ear position or linear equations for the phytomer at ear position based on 2016 field data. The revision was then further tested independently by having achieved satisfactory agreements between the simulations and observations in canopy size under different PDs with 2018 field data. In conclusion, this study has characterized the relationship between canopy morphology and increased interplant competition for use in the ADEL-Maize and realized the simulations of final size of laminae, sheaths, and internodes, as affected by increased plant density, laying a foundation to test an ideotype for maize withstanding high interplant competition.
Effects of Megafol on the Olive Cultivar ‘Arbequina’ Grown Under Severe Saline Stress in Terms of Physiological Traits, Oxidative Stress, Antioxidant Defenses, and Cytosolic Ca2+
Authors: Del Buono Daniele , Regni Luca , Del Pino Alberto Marco , Bartucca Maria Luce , Palmerini Carlo Alberto , Proietti Primo
Published: January 2021

Salinity is one of the most impacting abiotic stresses regarding crop productivity and quality. Among the strategies that are attracting attention in the protection of crops from abiotic stresses, there is the use of plant biostimulants. In this study, Megafol (Meg), a commercial plant biostimulant, was tested on olive plants subjected to severe saline stress. Plants treated with salt alone showed substantial reductions in biomass production, leaf net photosynthesis (Pn), leaf transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (gs), and relative water content (RWC). In addition, samples stressed with NaCl showed a higher sodium (Na+) content in the leaves, while those stressed with NaCl and biostimulated with Meg increased the potassium (K+) content in the leaves, thus showing a higher K+/Na+ ratio. Salinity caused the accumulation of significant quantities of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) due to decreases in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, namely superoxide dismutase (SOD – EC 1.15.1.1), ascorbate peroxidase (APX – EC 1.11.1.11), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX – EC 1.11.1.9), and catalase (CAT – EC 1.11.1.6). When olive plants under saline stress were biostimulated with Meg, the plants recovered and showed physiological and biochemical traits much improved than salt stressed samples. Finally, Meg exhibited Ca2+-chelating activity in olive pollen grains, which allowed the biostimulant to exert this beneficial effect also by antagonizing the undesirable effects of hydrogen peroxide on Ca2+ metabolism.
How Stress Facilitates Phenotypic Innovation Through Epigenetic Diversity
Authors: Srikant Thanvi , Drost Hajk-Georg
Published: January 2021

Climate adaptation through phenotypic innovation will become the main challenge for plants during global warming. Plants exhibit a plethora of mechanisms to achieve environmental and developmental plasticity by inducing dynamic alterations of gene regulation and by maximizing natural variation through large population sizes. While successful over long evolutionary time scales, most of these mechanisms lack the short-term adaptive responsiveness that global warming will require. Here, we review our current understanding of the epigenetic regulation of plant genomes, with a focus on stress-response mechanisms and transgenerational inheritance. Field and laboratory-scale experiments on plants exposed to stress have revealed a multitude of temporally controlled, mechanistic strategies integrating both genetic and epigenetic changes on the genome level. We analyze inter- and intra-species population diversity to discuss how methylome differences and transposon activation can be harnessed for short-term adaptive efforts to shape co-evolving traits in response to qualitatively new climate conditions and environmental stress.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Improve Tolerance of the Medicinal Plant Eclipta prostrata (L.) and Induce Major Changes in Polyphenol Profiles Under Salt Stresses
Authors: Duc Nguyen Hong , Vo Au Trung , Haddidi Imane , Daood Hussein , Posta Katalin
Published: January 2021

Eclipta prostrata (L.) is an important and well-known medicinal plant due to its valuable bioactive compounds. Microorganisms, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and salinity could directly impact plant metabolome, thus influencing their secondary metabolites and the efficacy of herbal medicine. In this study, the role of different single AMF species (Funneliformis mosseae, Septoglomus deserticola, Acaulospora lacunosa) and a mixture of six AMF species in plant growth and physio-biochemical characteristics of E. prostrata under non-saline conditions was investigated. Next, the most suitable AM treatment was chosen to examine the impact of AMF on physio-biochemical features and polyphenol profiles of E. prostrata under saline conditions (100 and 200 mM NaCl). The findings indicated that AMF mixture application resulted in more effective promotion on the aboveground part of non-saline plants than single AMF species. AM mixture application improved growth and salt tolerance of E. prostrata through increasing the activity of catalase, peroxidase (at 4 weeks), proline, and total phenolic content (at 8 weeks). Such benefits were not observed under high salinity, except for a higher total phenolic concentration in mycorrhizal plants at 8 weeks. Through high-performance liquid chromatography, 14 individual phenolic compounds were analyzed, with wedelolactone and/or 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid abundant in all treatments. Salinity and mycorrhizal inoculation sharply altered the polyphenol profiles of E. prostrata. Moderate salinity boosted phenolic compound production in non-AM plants at 4 weeks, while at 8 weeks, the decline in the content of phenolic compounds occurred in uncolonized plants subjected to both saline conditions. Mycorrhization augmented polyphenol concentration and yield under non-saline and saline conditions, depending on the growth stages and salt stress severity. Plant age influenced polyphenol profiles with usually a higher content of phenolic compounds in older plants and changed the production of individual polyphenols of both non-AM and AM plants under non-stress and salt stress conditions. A better understanding of factors (involving mycorrhiza and salinity) affecting the phenolic compounds of E. prostrata facilitates the optimization of individual polyphenol production in this medicinal plant.
Me, Myself, and Not-I: Self-Discrepancy Type Predicts Avatar Creation Style
Authors: Loewen Mitchell G. H. , Burris Christopher T. , Nacke Lennart E.
Published: January 2021

In video games, identification with avatars—virtual entities or characters driven by human behavior—has been shown to serve many interpersonal and intraindividual functions (like social connection, self-expression, or identity exploration) but our understanding of the psychological variables that influence players' avatar choices remains incomplete. The study presented in this paper tested whether players' preferred style of avatar creation is linked to the magnitude of self-perceived discrepancies between who they are, who they aspire to be, and who they think they should be. One-hundred-and-twenty-five undergraduate gamers indicated their preferred avatar creation style and completed a values measure from three different perspectives: their actual, ideal, and ought selves. The average actual/ideal values discrepancy was greater among those who preferred idealized avatars vs. those who preferred realistic avatars. The average actual/ought values discrepancy was greater among those who preferred completely different avatars (i.e., fantasy/role-players) vs. those who preferred realistic avatars. These results, therefore, offer additional evidence that self-discrepancy theory is a useful framework for understanding avatar preferences.
An Empirical Study on the Dairy Product Consumers’ Intention to Adopt the Food Traceability’s Technology: Push-Pull-Mooring Model Integrated by D&M ISS Model and TPB With ITM
Authors: Lin Xin , Wu Run-Ze
Published: January 2021

Against the backdrop of frequent food safety problems, the importance of establishing food traceability systems has become increasingly important and urgent to address the contradiction between consumer information on safe food choices and the proliferation of problematic foods. The purpose of this study is to empirically study the influencing factors of Chinese consumers on the food traceability system in the food safety field (hereinafter referred to as FTS). In this study, multiple models—push factor (information system success model), pull factor (ITM theory), mooring factor (TPB), and switching intention—were integrated into the push-pulling-mooring theory (PPM) to form a conceptual PPM comprehensive model framework to study the switching intentions of two-dimensional code traceability technology for dairy products of Chinese consumers. By collecting the questionnaire survey, 305 valid questionnaires were collected from the consumers of middle- and high-end dairy products in China, and the influencing factors of thrust, pull, and mooring force were identified. The results showed that 10 of the 11 hypotheses were positive, but the impact of perceived risk on user satisfaction was negative. The important value of this study is to conduct a comprehensive empirical analysis of the key factors influencing consumer choice of traceable safe food through an integrated multi-model framework to help identify ways to establish and improve consumer willingness to use QR code traceable system products, to increase consumer confidence in the use of traceable and safe food choices.
Anharmonic Vibrational Frequencies and Spectroscopic Constants for the Detection of Ethynol in Space
Authors: Dallas Jax D. , Westbrook Brent R. , Fortenberry Ryan C.
Published: January 2021

The ethynol (HCCOH) molecule has recently been shown to be present in simulated astrochemical ices possibly linking it to molecular building blocks for interstellar complex organic molecules like amino acids. The proposed reaction mechanism suggests the simultaneous formation of both ketene and ethynol from mixed carbon monoxide/water ice in simulated interstellar conditions. Rigorous anharmonic spectral data within both the IR and microwave regions are needed for possible detection of ethynol in the interstellar medium. This study provides the first such data for this molecule from high-level quantum chemical computations where experiment is currently lacking. Ethynol has aBeffcomparable to, but distinct from acetonitrile at 9,652.1 MHz and three notable infrared features with two in the hydride stretching-regions and the C–C stretch at 2,212.8 cm−1. The ketene isomer has already been detected in the interstellar medium, and the possible detection of ethynol made possible by this work may lead to a deeper understanding of the proposed ice formation mechanism involving both species and how this relates to the molecular origins of life.
Characterization of Rumen Microbiota of Two Sheep Breeds Supplemented With Direct-Fed Lactic Acid Bacteria
Authors: Mani Sinalo , Aiyegoro Olayinka A. , Adeleke Matthew A.
Published: January 2021

Supplementation of direct-fed microbials into ruminants' nutrition has shown great potential in manipulating rumen fermentation and enhancing productive animal performance. However, little is known about rumen microbial composition and diversity of Damara and Meatmaster sheep, breeds indigenous to South Africa. The study aimed at exploring and comparing the rumen microbiomes of two breeds with different feeding treatments as follows: no antibiotic, no probiotics (T1), only potential probiotic (T2), only potential probiotic (T3), the combination of potential probiotics (T4), antibiotic (T5); using a metagenomic approach. The results showed that based on the Shannon index, the microbial diversity of Damara was higher (p < 0.05) than Meatmaster, while treatment T4 was higher than treatment T1 (p < 0.05). The principal coordinate analysis showed no significant difference among treatments, while there were significant dissimilarities between sheep breeds and sample-day (p < 0.05). Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) displayed the dispersion of microbial communities among treatments, where negative control (T1) was distinct from other treatments. Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the most abundant microbial phyla across treatments for both breeds. Negative control and the combination of potential probiotics showed lower proportions of Proteobacteria compared to other treatments. At the genus level, Prevotella and Clostridium were abundant across all treatments, while Pseudomonas was abundant only in T2, T3, and T5. In all treatments, Fibrobacter was detected after the feeding trials, while it was not detected in most treatments before trials. The results revealed that the rumen microbiome's structure and abundance were slightly altered by administering lactic acid as a putative probiotic.
The Relationship and Interaction Between Industry 4.0 and Education
Authors: Beke Éva
Published: January 2021

The effects and results of Industry 4.0 are ubiquitous: in mobile applications and laptops, in sensor-driven technologies, in communication capabilities, in intelligent robots, in smart offices and in cyberspace. In the future, the most sought after skills will not only be technology-related, but there will be a huge demand for creativity, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills.

Based on this knowledge, a whole new economic model and a change to the old system will be needed.
Reconstruction of a Grinding Machine Intended for Thermo-Polymers, and Design of a Linux Based Iot Control System
Authors: Debreceni Attila , Erdei Timotei István , Tóth Szabolcs , Husi Géza
Published: January 2021

With the increasing use of 3D printing technology, a closely related problem is that of spreading. This problem is the presence of the polymer waste created by faulty prints, and support material used during printing. To create filament from this waste, it must first be chopped into fine pieces. In this project, an original polymer grinder was designed and built, adopting the innovations of Industry 4.0. Remote control and supervision were achieved using a Raspberry Pi I. type B and an Arduino Nano. The finished project can be seen in the faculty of engineering at the University of Debrecen.