bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
K‐submodular function‐based service‐limit incentive mechanisms for crowd heterogeneous sensing
Authors: Sun Jiajun , Sun Shuning , Li Meng , Liu Shuyan
Published: October 2022

Recently, crowd sensing, as a new paradigm, uses mobile devices from users to efficiently fulfill allocated tasks, enabling many novel applications such as location sensing and air pollution monitoring. To achieve high‐quality service, extensive user participation is crucial. Most of existing works only apply for the homogeneous task scene where the requester has a budget limit and types of sensors used are homogeneous. On the contrary, we investigate a different scenario where the platform has a service limit and types of sensors are heterogeneous. Specially, we design the two service‐limit incentive mechanisms, called SCH and SWH, respectively, by minimizing the total cost for a more general case where the value function is monotone
‐submodular for participatory users so that given services can be fulfilled. The two mechanisms make it possible to extend current small‐scale crowd sensing to large‐scale crowd sensing, which have the following properties: individual rationality, task feasibility, computational efficiency, truthfulness, and constant frugality. Finally, we use extensive simulations to validate theoretical properties of our mechanisms.
Creating a caring, responsive environment for students with childhood trauma
Authors: Shapley Derrick
Published: October 2022

Working at a historically Black college, I have seen the impact of childhood trauma on a person's development and college success. In a survey of our college campus, we found that 82% of students experienced either food or housing insecurity or both in the past year. The presence of poverty and trauma has been a continuing presence throughout many of their lives. We discovered that 35% of students had experienced homelessness at some point. Fifty percent of students surveyed had a family member who had been a victim of physical violence.
Predicting the distribution of plant associations under climate change: A case study on Larix gmelinii in China
Authors: Chen Chen , Zhang Xi‐juan , Wan Ji‐zhong , Gao Fei‐fei , Yuan Shu‐sheng , Sun Tian‐tian , Ni Zhen‐dong , Yu Jing‐hua
Published: October 2022

Association is the basic unit of plant community classification. Exploring the distribution of plant associations can help improve our understanding of biodiversity conservation. Different associations depend on different habitats and studying the association level is important for ecological restoration, regional ecological protection, regulating the ecological balance, and maintaining biodiversity. However, previous studies have only focused on suitable distribution areas for species and not on the distribution of plant associations. Larix gmelinii is a sensitive and abundant species that occurs along the southern margin of the Eurasian boreal forests, and its distribution is closely related to permafrost. In this study, 420 original plots of L. gmelinii forests were investigated. We used a Maxent model and the ArcGIS software to project the potential geographical distribution of L. gmelinii associations in the future (by 2050 and 2070) according to the climate scenarios RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5. We used the multi‐classification logistic regression analysis method to obtain the response of the suitable area change for the L. gmelinii alliance and associations to climate change under different climate scenarios. Results revealed that temperature is the most crucial factor affecting the distribution of L. gmelinii forests and most of its associations under different climate scenarios. Suitable areas for each association type are shrinking by varying degrees, especially due to habitat loss at high altitudes in special terrains. Different L. gmelinii associations should have different management measures based on the site conditions, composition structure, growth, development, and renewal succession trends. Subsequent research should consider data on biological factors to obtain more accurate prediction results.
Variation in egg size and offspring phenotype among and within seven Arctic charr morphs
Authors: Beck Samantha V. , Räsänen Katja , Kristjánsson Bjarni K. , Skúlason Skúli , Jónsson Zophonías O. , Tsinganis Markos , Leblanc Camille A.
Published: October 2022

Maternal effects have the potential to alter early developmental processes of offspring and contribute to adaptive diversification. Egg size is a major contributor to offspring phenotype, which can influence developmental trajectories and potential resource use. However, to what extent intraspecific variation in egg size facilitates evolution of resource polymorphism is poorly understood. We studied multiple resource morphs of Icelandic Arctic charr, ranging from an anadromous morph—with a phenotype similar to the proposed ancestral phenotype—to sympatric morphs that vary in their degree of phenotypic divergence from the ancestral anadromous morph. We characterized variation in egg size and tested whether egg size influenced offspring phenotype at early life stages (i.e., timing of‐ and size at‐ hatching and first feeding [FF]). We predicted that egg size would differ among morphs and be less variable as morphs diverge away from the ancestral anadromous phenotype. We also predicted that egg size would correlate with offspring size and developmental timing. We found morphs had different egg size, developmental timing, and size at hatching and FF. Egg size increased as phenotypic proximity to the ancestral anadromous phenotype decreased, with larger eggs generally giving rise to larger offspring, especially at FF, but egg size had no effect on developmental rate. The interaction between egg size and the environment may have a profound impact on offspring fitness, where the resulting differences in early life‐history traits may act to initiate and/or maintain resource morphs diversification.
Differentially Accelerated Electron and Hole Diffusion in MAPbI3 Film Surface Treated by a Quaternary Ammonium Halide for High‐Efficiency Solar Cells
Authors: Zhang Haijuan , Miao Yanfeng , Gao Yong , Zhao Yixin , Chen Jie
Published: October 2022

Surface treatment with moisture‐tolerant molecules is an effective approach for improving the long‐term stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), but may bring drawbacks to carrier dynamics and power conversion efficiency (PCE). Although PSCs with both high stability and PCE have been realized by specially designed molecules recently, the underlying mechanism boosting the superior PCE is still not clear, limiting the further optimization of the photovoltaic performances. Herein, by monitoring carrier dynamics in tetra‐ethyl ammonium iodine (TEAI)‐treated MAPbI3 using femtosecond transient reflectivity technique with the rationally selected pump‐probe wavelengths, the electron and hole diffusivities are found being 7 and 3 times faster than those in the pristine MAPbI3, respectively. The differentially enhanced electron and hole diffusivity and the associated charge separation might originate from TEAI, which can effectively passivate both the negatively and positively charged defects. This study indicates that quaternary ammonium halide might be an efficient tool for improving both moisture stability and PCE of perovskites due to its hydrophobic organic cations ready to anchor along the surface and anions with a deeper penetration.
Ground stability of gob‐side entry by roof cutting in relation to mining stages: A case study
Authors: Zhu Hengzhong , Song Jinwang , Meng Youhui , Zang Chuanwei
Published: October 2022

In this study, we present a comprehensive investigation of the ground stability of a gob‐side entry by roof cutting in relation to the mining stage, based on field measurements, theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and in situ practice. Differing from the normal mode of gob‐side entry, the mining‐induced stress and strain evolution under gob‐side entry by roof cutting (GSERC) is extremely complex, and unreasonable support can cause serious deformation and roof collapse of the GSERC. Taking Dadougou coal mine as the engineering background, a field investigation of the ground response, a rock mechanics experiment, and field measurement of the surrounding rock mass were first conducted. The roof‐to‐floor convergence presented an asymmetric deformation feature, based on the central axis. Numerical simulation is used to obtain results regarding the evolution of the second invariant of deviator stress and the third invariant of deviator stress (DSTI) in the primary use stage and the secondary reuse stage. It was found that the roof cutting action caused the peak value of the DSTI to transfer to the deep part of the roof. The DSTI value is greater than 0, indicating that tensile failure is dominant at 6–8 m of the roof above tailgate 5202, the upper part of the virgin coal rib, and 1.4 m away from the gangue rib. Finally, a support strategy for the following mining stages, including a support scheme for the primary use stage and the secondary reuse stage, is proposed based on the evolution law of the GSERC. The field‐measured results demonstrate that this support strategy can effectively control the convergence of tailgate 5203, thus leading to a better environment for coal mining. Additionally, the proposed mining stage support strategy can provide a reference for other similar projects.
Cell population dynamics in the course of adult hippocampal neurogenesis: Remaining unknowns
Authors: Olpe Cora , Jessberger Sebastian
Published: October 2022

Neural stem cells (NSCs) generate new neurons throughout life in the mammalian hippocampus. The distinct developmental steps in the course of adult neurogenesis, including NSC activation, expansion, and neuronal integration, are increasingly well characterized down to the molecular level. However, substantial gaps remain in our knowledge about regulators and mechanisms involved in this biological process. This review highlights three long‐standing unknowns. First, we discuss potency and identity of NSCs and the quest for a unifying model of short‐ and long‐term self‐renewal dynamics. Next, we examine cell death, specifically focusing on the early demise of newborn cells. Then, we outline the current knowledge on cell integration dynamics, discussing which (if any) neurons are replaced by newly added neurons in the hippocampal circuits. For each of these unknowns, we summarize the trajectory of studies leading to the current state of knowledge. Finally, we offer suggestions on how to fill the remaining gaps by taking advantage of novel technology to reveal currently hidden secrets in the course of adult hippocampal neurogenesis.
Predictors of hazardous drinking and internet gaming severity among a military sample
Authors: Prosek Elizabeth A. , Giordano Amanda L. , Burgin Elizabeth E. , Valverde Nancy , Hagedorn W. Bryce
Published: October 2022

Researchers have placed a necessary focus on the mental health and substance use needs of U.S. military populations. In the present study, we examined a sequential regression model in which psychological, emotional, and spiritual factors predicted hazardous drinking and internet gaming severity in a national sample of 207 with military identities. Results indicated that posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, shame, and negative religious coping predicted hazardous alcohol use. Additionally, religious and spiritual struggles predicted higher internet gaming severity. Future research is needed to better contextualize combat era demographics and mental health risk and protective factors associated with alcohol use and internet gaming among military populations.
GII.17[P17] and GII.8[P8] noroviruses showed different RdRp activities associated with their epidemic characteristics
Authors: Gao Junshan , Zhang Zilei , Xue Liang , Li Ying , Cheng Tong , Meng Luobing , Li Yijing , Cai Weicheng , Hong Xiaojing , Zhang Jumei , Wang Juan , Chen Moutong , Ye Qinghua , Ding Yu , Wu Qingping
Published: October 2022

Norovirus is the primary foodborne pathogenic agent causing viral acute gastroenteritis. It possesses broad genetic diversity and the prevalence of different genotypes varies substantially. However, the differences in RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) activity among different genotypes of noroviruses remain unclear. In this study, the molecular mechanism of RdRp activity difference between the epidemic strain GII.17[P17] and the non‐epidemic strain GII.8[P8] was characterized. By evaluating the evolutionary history of RdRp sequences with Markov Chain Monte Carlo method, the evolution rate of GII.17[P17] variants was higher than that of GII.8[P8] variants (1.22 × 10−3 nucleotide substitutions/site/year to 9.31 × 10−4 nucleotide substitutions/site/year, respectively). The enzyme catalytic reaction demonstrated that the Vmax value of GII.17[P17] RdRp was 2.5 times than that of GII.8[P8] RdRp. And the Km of GII.17[P17] and GII.8[P8] RdRp were 0.01 and 0.15 mmol/L, respectively. Then, GII.8[P8] RdRp fragment mutants (A−F) were designed, among which GII.8[P8]‐A/B containing the conserved motif G/F were found to have significant effects on improving RdRp activity. The Km values of GII.8[P8]‐A/B reached 0.07 and 0.06 mmol/L, respectively. And their Vmax values were 1.34 times than that of GII.8[P8] RdRp. In summary, our results suggested that RdRp activities were correlated with their epidemic characteristics. These findings will ultimately provide a better understanding in replication mechanism of noroviruses and development of antiviral drugs.
Effects of different storage temperatures and time on frozen storage stability of steamed bread
Authors: Gao Haiyan , Zeng Jingjing , Qin Yueqi , Zeng Jie , Wang Zhaojun
Published: October 2022

Backgrounds

This research intended to explore the effects of different frozen storage temperatures and time on the stability of steamed bread. The quality characteristics, moisture content and microstructure of steamed bread were determined after quick‐frozen for 30 min at −32 °C and frozen storage at −6, −12, −18, −24 and −30 °C for 1–4 weeks.

Results

When the frozen storage temperature is lower, the moisture content, specific volume, pH and the strong bound water in the steamed bread increase, the water loss rate and the contents of freezable water, the weak bound water and free water decreased. With the extension of frozen storage time, the pH value and water loss of steamed bread first increased and then decreased, while the trend of water content was opposite. The specific volume, cohesion and elasticity of steamed bread decreased, while the freezable water content, hardness and chewiness increased. The bound water of steamed bread gradually migrated to free water. In addition, the longer the frozen storage time and the higher the temperature, and the more serious the damage to the microstructure was.

Conclusion

The shelf life of steamed bread frozen storage at −12 °C could be up to 3 weeks, and the quality of steamed bread stored at −30 °C for more than 3 weeks was the best. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Topologically Enhanced Cation–π Interactions for Developing High‐Performance Underwater Adhesive
Authors: Pang Huiwen , Yu Rong , Huang Anmin , Li Xiang , Xu Zenghui , Yin Shulin
Published: October 2022

Cation–π interactions provide an excellent way to develop high‐performance underwater adhesives. Although numerous underwater adhesive systems are designed based on cation–π interactions, they still lack precise design of the adhesive polymer backbone and topological control of the adhesive polymer. In this study, a novel short‐chain adhesive polymer with excellent underwater adhesion is developed based on the topologically enhanced cation–π interactions. Dihydrocaffeic acid containing catechol is incorporated into a short‐chain cationic polymer of polycarbodiimides through the nucleophilic reactions between carboxyl and carbodiimide groups to produce a catechol‐decorated cationic adhesive polymer (CCAP). The unique molecular structure of the CCAP confers the adhesive system strong cohesion and topologically enhanced cation–π interactions, leading to excellent underwater adhesion. Fe3+ is introduced into the adhesive system to promote the coordination of catechol and the oxidative crosslinking of catechol to further improve the cohesion of the CCAP. In addition, based on the synergy between reversible noncovalent bonds and the irreversible oxidative crosslinking system, the prepared adhesive can also act as a high‐strength hot‐melt adhesive, which maintains nearly 90% of its adhesion strength after 10 attachment–detachment cycles, showing its great potential for use as a sustainable reusable dismountable adhesive. This study provides a novel strategy to develop high‐performance underwater adhesive with temperature sensitivity.
Polymersomes with Red/Near‐Infrared Emission and Reactive Oxygen Species Generation
Authors: Zhang Zhihua , Chen Hui , Wang Youchao , Zhang Nian , Trépout Sylvain , Tang Ben Zhong , Gasser Gilles , Li Min‐Hui
Published: October 2022

In photodynamic therapy (PDT), the uses of nanoparticles bearing photosensitizers (PSs) can overcome some of the drawbacks of using a PS alone (e.g., poor water solubility and low tumor selectivity). However, numerous nano‐formulations are developed by physical encapsulation of PSs through Van der Waals interactions, which have not only a limited load efficiency but also some in vivo biodistribution problems caused by leakage or burst release. Herein, polymersomes made from an amphiphilic block copolymer, in which a PS with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE‐PS) is covalently attached to its hydrophobic poly(amino acid) block, are reported. These AIE‐PS polymersomes dispersed in aqueous solution have a high AIE‐PS load efficiency (up to 46% as a mass fraction), a hydrodynamic diameter of 86 nm that is suitable for in vivo applications, and an excellent colloidal stability for at least 1 month. They exhibit a red/near‐infrared photoluminescence and ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) under visible light. They are non‐cytotoxic in the dark as tested on Hela cells up to concentration of 100 µm. Benefiting from colloidal stability, AIE property and ROS generation capability, such a family of polymersomes can be great candidates for image‐guided PDT.
Reassembled saturation transfer (REST) MR images at 2 B1 values for in vivo exchange‐dependent imaging of amide and nuclear Overhauser enhancement
Authors: Chen Yanrong , Dang Xujian , Hu Wanting , Sun Yaozong , Bai Yan , Wang Xiaoli , He Xiaowei , Wang Meiyun , Song Xiaolei
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Design an efficient CEST scheme for exchange‐dependent images with high contrast‐to‐noise ratio.

Theory

Reassembled saturation transfer (REST) signals were defined as r.Z = r.Zref ‐ r.ZCEST and the reassembled exchange‐dependen magnetization transfer ratio r.MTRRex = r.1/Zref ‐ r.1/ZCEST, utilizing the averages over loosely sampled reference frequency offsets as Zref and over densely sampled target offsets as ZCEST. Using r.MTRRex measured under 2 B1,sat values, exchange rate could be estimated.

Methods

The REST approach was optimized and assessed quantitatively by simulations for various exchange rates, pool concentration, and water T1. In vivo evaluation was performed on ischemic rat brains at 7 Tesla and human brains at 3 Tesla, in comparison with conventional asymmetrical analysis, Lorentzian difference (LD), an MTRRex_LD.

Results

For a broad choice of ranges and numbers, Δr.Z and r.MTRRex exhibited comparable quantification features with conventional LD and MTRRex_LD, respectively, when B1,sat ≤ 1 μT. The subtraction of 2 REST values under distinct B1,sat values showed linear relationships with exchange rate and obtained immunity to field inhomogeneity and variation in MT and water T1. For both rat and human studies, REST images exhibited similar contrast distribution to MTRRex_LD, with superiority in contrast‐to‐noise ratio and acquisition efficiency. Compared with MTRRex_LD, 2‐B1,sat subtraction REST images displayed better resistance to B1 inhomogeneity, with more specific enhanced regions. They also showed higher signals for amide than for nuclear Overhauser enhancement effect in human brain, presumably reflecting the higher increment from faster‐exchanging species as B1,sat increased.

Conclusion

Featuring high contrast‐to‐noise ratio efficiency, REST could be a practical exchange‐dependent approach readily applicable to either retrospective Z‐spectra analysis or perspective 6‐offset acquisition.
Grating‐like anechoic layer for broadband underwater sound absorption
Authors: Yu Chenlei , Duan Mingyu , He Wei , Chen Xin , Xin Fengxian , Lu Tian J.
Published: October 2022

To address the challenging task of effective sound absorption in the low and broad frequency band for underwater structures, we propose a novel grating‐like anechoic layer by filling rubber blocks and an air backing layer into metallic grating. The metallic gratings are incorporated into the anechoic layer as a skeleton for enhanced viscoelastic dissipation by promoting shear deformation between rubber and metal plates. The introduction of an air backing layer releases the bottom constraint of the rubber, thus intensifying its deformation under acoustic excitation. Based on the homogenization method and the transfer matrix method, a theoretical model is developed to evaluate the sound absorption performance of the proposed anechoic layer, which is validated against finite element simulation results. It is demonstrated that a sound absorption coefficient of the grating‐like anechoic layer of 0.8 can be achieved in the frequency range of 1294–10 000 Hz. Given the importance of sound absorption at varying frequencies, the weighted average method is subsequently used to comprehensively evaluate the performance of the anechoic layer. Then, with structural density taken into consideration, an integrated index is proposed to further evaluate the acoustic properties of the proposed anechoic layer. Finally, the backing conditions and the boundary conditions of finite‐size structures are discussed. The results provide helpful theoretical guidance for designing novel acoustic metamaterials with broadband low‐frequency underwater sound absorption.
Birds of prey from 4th to 18th centuries AD of the Volga River basin of Russia
Authors: Shaymuratova Dilyara , Askeyev Arthur , Askeyev Oleg , Askeyev Igor
Published: October 2022

The article analyzes studies of bone assemblages of birds of prey from medieval and post‐medieval archaeological sites in the Volga River basin territory. We provide data on the presence of birds of prey: Accipitriformes (hawks and eagles), Falconiformes (falcons), and Strigiformes (owls) within the Volga region during the Middle Ages and post‐Middle Ages (4th–18th centuries AD) in bird communities from 15 archaeological sites. Archaeological bird of prey remains from the Volga basin could contribute to the understanding of the interaction between different ethnic groups in the region within the context of human–nature interaction. In quantitative terms, the clear predominance of the northern goshawk and white‐tailed sea‐eagle, as well as the high proportion of the Eurasian sparrowhawk and relatively high species diversity of falcons and owls observed in medieval time, indicates social or environmental context has changed in a short period of time. The use of birds of prey by the various ethnic groups in the Volga River basin was multifaceted, including for falconry/hawking practice, feathers, amulets, or ornaments and for religious/politics ceremonies.
Nitrocellulose Propellants Standard Stability Tests Enhancement Employing Semiconductor Sensors
Authors: Duro Víctor , López Raúl , del Águila Yeud A. , Pardo Rafael , Debán Luis M.
Published: October 2022

Nowadays, solid propulsion is the workhorse of a wide range of applications, from gun ammunition to missiles; and Nitrocellulose, NC, is still widely used in propellant compositions. However, its long‐time storage represents a serious risk due to NC natural autocatalytic degradation process, that may lead to severe accidents. Some National Surveillance Programs continue using the so‐called Stability Tests to monitor Nitrocellulose condition and storage risks; nevertheless, most users consider these tests technologically outdated and difficult to achieve a precise interpretation. This manuscript deals with this NC stability challenge, developing an innovative technology but maintaining Stability Tests phenomenological behaviour, in order to quantify naturally emitted nitrogen oxides, NOx, from Nitrocellulose vapours, as the main indicator for propellants degradation degree. However, accurate NOx quantification is usually strongly interfered by other naturally emitted vapours from gunpowder components, both in Stability Tests and in the technological proposal. Consequently, this document not only describes the technology and main development milestone, but individual components are also studied to reach a proper essay validation, employing Metal Oxide sensors, MOx. Additionally, signal deconvolution is presented to sharpen the NOx determination from interferences with two real samples (NC gunpowder), which are natural and artificially aged, determining performance of sensors and comparing conclusions with those from classical tests. Finally, presented results have shown insignificant interference of other chemicals present in the gunpowder over NOx quantification. According to these conclusions, this technology can be considered a technological improvement on NC Stability Tests.
Probing the origin of prion protein misfolding via reconstruction of ancestral proteins
Authors: Cortez Leonardo M. , Morrison Anneliese J. , Garen Craig R. , Patterson Sawyer , Uyesugi Toshi , Petrosyan Rafayel , Sekar Rohith Vedhthaanth , Harms Michael J. , Woodside Michael T. , Sim Valerie L.
Published: October 2022

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative diseases caused by pathogenic misfolding of the prion protein, PrP. They are transmissible between hosts, and sometimes between different species, as with transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy to humans. Although PrP is found in a wide range of vertebrates, prion diseases are seen only in certain mammals, suggesting that infectious misfolding was a recent evolutionary development. To explore when PrP acquired the ability to misfold infectiously, we reconstructed the sequences of ancestral versions of PrP from the last common primate, primate‐rodent, artiodactyl, placental, bird, and amniote. Recombinant ancestral PrPs were then tested for their ability to form β‐sheet aggregates, either spontaneously or when seeded with infectious prion strains from human, cervid, or rodent species. The ability to aggregate developed after the oldest ancestor (last common amniote), and aggregation capabilities diverged along evolutionary pathways consistent with modern‐day susceptibilities. Ancestral bird PrP could not be seeded with modern‐day prions, just as modern‐day birds are resistant to prion disease. Computational modeling of structures suggested that differences in helix 2 could account for the resistance of ancestral bird PrP to seeding. Interestingly, ancestral primate PrP could be converted by all prion seeds, including both human and cervid prions, raising the possibility that species descended from an ancestral primate have retained the susceptibility to conversion by cervid prions. More generally, the results suggest that susceptibility to prion disease emerged prior to ~100 million years ago, with placental mammals possibly being generally susceptible to disease.
The end of urban sprawl? Internal migration across the rural‐urban continuum in Switzerland, 1966−2018
Authors: Lerch Mathias
Published: October 2022

In high‐income countries, migration redistributed populations from congested city centres into the sparsely populated outskirts, raising challenges to environmental and population health and the conservation of biodiversity. We evaluate whether this periurbanisation process came to a halt in Switzerland by expecting a decline in internal migration and a renewed residential attractiveness of urban agglomeration centres (i.e., re‐urbanisation)—two recent trend changes observed in Europe. Relying on data from censuses, registers and surveys, we describe trends in the intensity, geography and sociodemographic differentials of migration across consistently defined urban agglomeration density zones between 1966 and 2018. Although the overall intensity of migration declined, the rate increased among the working age population in part because of the societal diffusion of tertiary education. The dominant urban‐bound migration flows are increasingly confined within agglomerations over time. After the diffusion of periurbanisation down the city hierarchy between 1966 and 1990, we observe the emergence of re‐urbanisation in some agglomerations and sociodemographic groups around 2000. However, this phenomenon has been temporarily inflated by period‐specific transformations in Swiss society. More recently, the process of periurbanisation intensified again and expanded more and more beyond official agglomeration borders.
Adaptive event‐triggered bipartite consensus control for multi‐agent systems under signed digraphs
Authors: Mu Rui , Wei Airong , Li Haitao , Zhang Xianfu , Duan Zhiyu
Published: October 2022

In this paper, the bipartite consensus problem is addressed via adaptive event‐triggered control for multi‐agent systems in directed communication networks, where cooperative and competitive interactions are considered simultaneously. Under a strongly connected digraph, a novel fully distributed control protocol is first put forward, which consists of an adaptive controller and two event‐triggered mechanisms. The protocol is flexible and capable of achieving bipartite consensus without employing global information. Meanwhile, the Zeno behavior cannot occur by embedding functions in the event‐triggered mechanisms. Furthermore, a general digraph with a spanning tree is investigated, and it is shown that the proposed protocol is still effective in bipartite consensus including the leader–follower one as a special case. It is worth noting that there is no need for the protocol to continuously update the controller, nor to maintain the uninterrupted communication with neighbors. Finally, the validity of the presented results is confirmed by simulations.
Mission‐critical open‐source software adoption model validation using Partial Least Square ‐ Structural Equation Modeling
Authors: Laila Umm‐e , Ahmed Najeed , Arfeen Asad , Ali Agha Yasir , Khurram Mohammad , Khan Muzammil Ahmed
Published: October 2022

This paper aims to validate the mission‐critical OSS (open‐source software) model acceptance process using a third‐order formative‐formative measuring model. A two‐stage formative‐formative model was used for partial least square analysis. It includes eight primary mission‐critical OSS adoption constructs and three second‐order (technological, organizational, and environmental). Although nomological validity was affirmed, the empirical findings show the absence of multicollinearity. This study will give organizations in critical industries enough information to understand the importance and weight of each component/factor of the mission‐critical OSS adoption model. The coefficient of determination R2 exceeds the minimum threshold (0.750), and all the hypotheses are significant. This study also contributed to the existing literature by identifying those factors that influence mission‐critical OSS adoption, allowing firms in critical sectors to better understand their mission‐critical OSS adoption issues. Cross‐cultural validation across a broad community is proposed to increase the validity and generalization of the sample scales.
The Anisian (Middle Triassic) brachiopods from the southern Qilian Mountains, north‐western China
Authors: Guo Zhen , Chen Zhong‐Qiang , Huang Yuangeng , Chen Hongfei , Qiu Yunming , Guo Xiao
Published: October 2022

The Anisian (Middle Triassic) witnessed the diversification of brachiopods after the Permian–Triassic extinction. The Anisian brachiopod fauna from the southern Qilian Mountains in north‐western China has the highest taxonomic diversity at species level among coeval faunas worldwide. Nevertheless, many taxa from this remote region remain poorly defined, and therefore require emendation. Here we describe 23 species (including two uncertain species) in 15 brachiopod genera based on well‐preserved carbonate and silicified specimens collected from the Anisian Dajialian and Qieermagou formations in Tianjun, southern Qilian Mountains. Two new genera (Crenulatomargus, Tianjunospina) and six new species (Costirhynchopsis xui, Crenulatomargus terebratuliformis, Schwagerispira elegans, Lepismatina? inusitata, Tianjunospina junheensis, Qilianoconcha circularis) are erected. The diagnoses of Triasorhynchia, Yangkongia, Sinucostella, Aequspiriferina, Qilianoconcha and Parantiptychia are emended. Also, the genus Eoantiptychia and the family Triasorhynchiidae are regarded as junior synonyms of Qilianoconcha and Tetrarhynchiidae, respectively. After systematic description and taxonomic emendation, 56 species (including seven uncertain species) in 26 genera are confirmed in the southern Qilian brachiopod fauna. Network analysis of 14 brachiopod faunas worldwide shows that six groups were detected during the Anisian (Qingyan, southern Qilian – western Qinling, Himalaya – northern Siberia, central Qinghai, New Zealand, and Europe/western Tethys). Compared with those from the western Tethys, the eastern Tethyan faunas are less allied to each other. Except for the assemblage from the adjacent western Qinling area, other coeval faunas have much lower affinities with the Qilian fauna.
Evaluation of therapeutic effects of an herbal mixture (Echinacea purpurea and Glycyrrhiza glabra) for treatment of clinical coccidiosis in broilers
Authors: Ghafouri Seyed Ali , Ghaniei Abolfazl , Tamannaei Amir Ebrahim Tavanaee , Sadr Soheil , Charbgoo Ali , Ghiassi Shakila , Abuali Morteza
Published: October 2022

Background

Avian coccidiosis is thought to be one of the most expensive infectious diseases in the poultry industry.

Objectives

Safe and alternative anti‐coccidial drugs are herbal extracts because they do not result in tissue residue and drug resistance. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti‐coccidial effect of the herbal mixture, a complex of two plants (Echinacea purpurea, Glycyrrhiza glabra) in broiler chickens in comparison with toltrazuril.

Methods

One hundred twenty broiler chickens were used in this experiment and divided into 4 equally numbered groups. All the groups, except Group D, were experimentally infected with mixed Eimeria spp. (E. Tenella, E. maxima, E. necatrix and E. brunetti) on day 14. Group A treated with an herbal mixture [Glycyrrhiza glabra Extract 5% (standardised to 5.4% glycyrrhizic acid) and Echinacea purpurea Extract 2% (standardised to 4% total phenolic content based on chlorogenic acid); Coxinin‐EC®; Shamim Teb Sepid Giti]. Group B treated with toltrazuril. Group C was experimentally infected with mixed Eimeria spp. but they did not have any treatment, this group was our positive control. Performance indices, faecal oocyst excretion, and intestinal lesion score were determined during the experiment.

Results

Positive control group had the poorest results and more mortality than other groups. Group D was not infected and was healthy all the experiment period. Treatment with herbal complex significantly reduced the negative performance and pathogenic effects associated with Eimeria spp. at a level that was comparable with toltrazuril.

Conclusions

In summary, the anti‐coccidial activity of the studied herbal complex suggests its use as an alternative anti‐coccidial agent to chemotherapeutic drugs for controlling coccidiosis in poultry.

Highlights

Coccidiosis is an important infectious disease that causes serious financial loss to the poultry industry.

Chemical anti‐coccidial drugs and vaccines are the main control strategies to combat the disease. However, these tools have some constraints.

Herbal remedies are suitable alternatives to chemical compounds for control of losses associated with coccidiosis in poultry.

An herbal mixture (Echinacea purpurea, Glycyrrhiza glabra) has promising effects for controlling of coccidiosis in broiler chickens.
Climate change in contemporary British and Irish poetry and poetic criticism: Literary representation and environmental activism
Authors: Xie Chao
Published: October 2022

Much ink has been spilt on the study of climate change fiction (cli‐fi), whereas relatively less attention has been devoted to the burgeoning growth of climate change poetry. As a sub‐genre of ecopoetry which aims at dealing with realistic environmental issues and raising readers' awareness to protect the earth, climate change poetry not only represents the ongoing climatic crises in varied ways, be they realistic or imaginative, but also actively engages in provoking ecological responsibilities and environmental activism. This article is an overview of contemporary British and Irish climate change poetry and its literary criticism. Having emerged at the end of the 20th century in the United Kingdom, this poetic genre cuts across literature and environment, rising both as a prominent literary mode and an important environmental phenomenon. Interdisciplinarity, multiple topics, environmental activism, and experimentation are its primary characteristics. Current scholarship on contemporary British and Irish climate change poetry is limited and it mainly adopts theories of ecocriticism and the Anthropocene. Climate justice, poetry and activism, and comparative literary perspective are among promising avenues for the future study of this new poetic genre. Contemporary British and Irish climate change poetry, and its criticism, indicate both poets and critics' efforts to represent and, more importantly, to grapple with ongoing climate change.

This article is categorized under:

Trans‐disciplinary Perspectives > Humanities and the Creative Arts

Climate, Nature, and Ethics > Ethics and Climate Change
Assessing release strategies for reintroductions of endangered Wyoming toads
Authors: Linhoff Luke J. , Donnelly Maureen A.
Published: October 2022

We performed 3 experimental reintroductions of the critically endangered Wyoming toad (Anaxyrus baxteri) to study the toad's spatial ecology, behavior, and test the effectiveness of a soft‐release strategy at Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Wyoming, USA. We tracked reintroduced, captive‐bred toads (n = 46) and field collected toads that had been in the wild for at least one year (n = 12) using a harmonic tracking system totaling 1,438 toad relocations in 2014 and 2015. We compared the spatial ecology and behavior of soft‐released toads, hard‐released toads, and overwintered toads. Hard‐released toads were transported to the reintroduction site and released. Soft‐released toads were kept in an outdoor enclosure at the release site for 14 days before release. Compared to hard‐released toads, the soft‐release group's average total path distance moved was lower (mean difference = 263.23, CI = 115.37 – 411.05, P = 0.007). Additionally, hard‐released toads in the first 2 days post release moved 380% farther than the soft‐released toads in the same 2‐day period. Our results indicated that soft‐releases are an effective way to improve site fidelity and retain wild‐type spatial ecology and behavior of reintroduced captive‐bred amphibians.
A Cationic Barium Hydride Complex Supported by an NNNN‐Type Macrocycle
Authors: Höllerhage Thomas , Spaniol Thomas P. , Englert Ulli , Okuda Jun
Published: October 2022

The dibenzyl complex of barium [(Me4TACD)Ba(CH2Ph)2] was prepared by reacting [Ba(CH2Ph)2] with NNNN‐type macrocycle Me4TACD (Me4TACD=1,4,7,10‐tetramethyltetraazacyclododecane) and isolated as yellow crystals. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction revealed η2‐ and η3‐coordination of the benzyl groups. The benzylbarium cation in [(Me4TACD)Ba(CH2Ph)(thf)][B(C6H3‐3,5‐Me2)4] was obtained upon protonolysis of the neutral bariumdibenzyl with the weak Brønsted acid [NEt3H][B(C6H3‐3,5‐Me2)4] and isolated as colorless crystals. When the benzylbarium cation was reacted with H2 (1 bar) in THF at room temperature, colorless crystals of the dinuclear hydride complex [(Me4TACD)2Ba2(μ‐H)2(thf)4][B(C6H3‐3,5‐Me2)4]2 precipitated from the reaction mixture and characterized by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. The structural motif [Ba2(μ‐H)2]2+ was compared with that published in the literature. Hydrogenolysis of the dibenzyl [(Me4TACD)Ca(CH2Ph)2] under the same conditions resulted in decomposition.
How planar superconductors cure their infrared divergences
Authors: Diamantini M. C. , Trugenberger C. A. , Vinokur V. M.
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Planar superconductors, emerging in thin films with thickness comparable to the superconducting coherence length, differ crucially from their bulk counterparts. Coulomb interactions between charges are logarithmic up to distances comparable to typical sample sizes and the Anderson-Higgs mechanism is ineffective to screen the infrared divergences of the resulting (2+1)-dimensional QED because the Pearl length screening the vortex interactions is also typically larger than the sample size. As a result, the system decomposes into superconducting droplets with the typical size of order of superconducting coherence length. We show that two possible phases of the film match the two known mechanisms for curing the (2+1)-dimensional QED infrared divergences, either by generating a mixed topological Chern-Simons mass or by magnetic monopole instantons. The former mechanism works in superconductors, the latter one governs mirror-dual superinsulators. Planar superconductors are thus described by a topological Chern-Simons gauge (TCSG) theory that replaces the Ginzburg-Landau model in two dimensions. In the TCSG model, the Higgs field is absent. Accordingly, in planar superconductors Abrikosov vortices do not form, and only Josephson vortices without normal core do exist.
Electroweak constraints from the COHERENT experiment
Authors: Skiba Witold , Xia Qing
Published: October 2022

Abstract

We compute bounds on coefficients of effective operators in the Standard Model that can be inferred from observations of neutrino scattering by the COHERENT experiment. While many operators are bound extremely well by past experiments the full future data set from COHERENT will provide modest improvements for some operators.
Inflammation, sauna bathing, and all-cause mortality in middle-aged and older Finnish men: a cohort study
Authors: Kunutsor Setor K. , Jae Sae Young , Kurl Sudhir , Kauhanen Jussi , Laukkanen Jari A.
Published: October 2022

Inflammation and sauna bathing are each related to the risk of all-cause mortality. The interplay between inflammation, sauna bathing and all-cause mortality is not well understood. We aimed to evaluate the separate and joint associations of inflammation (high sensitivity C-reactive protein, hsCRP) and frequency of sauna bathing (FSB) with all-cause mortality in a cohort of Caucasian men. We used the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Study cohort comprising 2575 men aged 42–61 years at baseline. Serum hsCRP was measured using an immunometric assay and sauna bathing habits were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. High sensitivity CRP was categorized as normal and high (≤ 3 and > 3 mg/L, respectively) and FSB as low and high (defined as ≤ 2 and 3–7 sessions/week respectively). A total of 1618 deaths occurred during a median follow-up of 27.8 years. Comparing high vs normal hsCRP levels, the multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CI) for all-cause mortality was 1.27 (1.13–1.44). Comparing high vs low FSB, the multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CI) for all-cause mortality was 0.86 (0.76–0.97). Compared with normal hsCRP-low FSB, high hsCRP-low FSB was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality 1.28 (1.12–1.47), with no evidence of an association for high hsCRP-high FSB and all-cause mortality risk 1.06 (0.81–1.40). Positive additive and multiplicative interactions were found between hsCRP and FSB in relation to mortality. In a general Finnish male population, both hsCRP and FSB are each independently associated with all-cause mortality. However, frequent sauna baths appear to offset the increased all-cause mortality risk related to high hsCRP levels.
Seismic surveys near gray whale feeding areas off Sakhalin Island, Russia: assessing impact and mitigation effectiveness
Authors: Aerts Lisanne , Jenkerson Michael R. , Nechayuk Vladimir E. , Gailey Glenn , Racca Roberto , Blanchard Arny L. , Schwarz Lisa K. , Melton H. Rodger
Published: October 2022

In 2015, two oil and gas companies conducted seismic surveys along the northeast coast of Sakhalin Island, Russia, near western gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) feeding areas. This population of whales was listed as Critically Endangered at the time of the operations described here but has been reclassified as Endangered since 2018. The number and duration of the 2015 seismic surveys surpassed the level of previous seismic survey activity in this area, elevating concerns regarding disturbance of feeding gray whales and the potential for auditory injury. Exxon Neftegas Limited (ENL) developed a mitigation approach to address these concerns and, more importantly, implemented a comprehensive data collection strategy to assess the effectiveness of this approach. The mitigation approach prioritized completion of the seismic surveys closest to the nearshore feeding area as early in the season as possible, when fewer gray whales would be present. This was accomplished by increasing operational efficiency through the use of multiple seismic vessels and by establishing zones with specific seasonal criteria determining when air gun shutdowns would be implemented. These zones and seasonal criteria were based on pre-season modeled acoustic footprints of the air gun array and on gray whale distribution data collected over the previous 10 years. Real-time acoustic and whale sighting data were instrumental in the implementation of air gun shutdowns. The mitigation effectiveness of these shutdowns was assessed through analyzing short-term behavioral responses and shifts in gray whale distribution due to sound exposure. The overall mitigation strategy of an early survey completion was assessed through bioenergetics models that predict how reduced foraging activity might affect gray whale reproduction and maternal survival. This assessment relied on a total of 17 shore-based and 5 vessel-based teams collecting behavior, distribution, photo-identification, prey, and acoustic data. This paper describes the mitigation approach, the implementation of mitigation measures using real-time acoustic and gray whale location data, and the strategy to assess impacts and mitigation effectiveness.