bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Secure state estimation for unmanned aircraft cyber‐physical systems under multiple attacks
Authors: Feng Xiaoxue , Li Xiaoyu , Li Shuhui , Pan Feng
Published: January 2022

By exploiting the communication infrastructure among the sensor, actuator, and control system, attackers may compromise the security of unmanned aircraft cyber‐physical systems, with techniques such as denial‐of‐service (DoS) attack, random attack, and data‐injection attack. In this paper, the data‐injection attacks for controller and sensor are modeled as the dual unknown disturbance inputs (dual‐UIs) appearing in dynamic and measurement model. The problem of secure state estimation under multiple attacks together with the DoS attack‐induced packet dropout is transformed into the problem of stochastic system state estimation under dual‐UIs together with the missing measurement. Therefore, a recursive dual‐UIs decoupling filter is proposed through minimizing the minimum upper bound of the estimation covariance. First, a Kalman‐like recursive filter scheme independent of the dual‐UIs is established to realize the unbiased estimation. Meanwhile, a lower bounded adaptive factor is introduced to depict the state related unknown dual‐UI that cannot be eliminated completely due to the randomly missing measurements. Then, the minimum upper bound of the estimation covariance is deduced via online scalar convex optimization, based on which the measurement coefficient matrix is derived under the dual‐UIs decoupling conditions. Finally, the sufficient condition for the convergence of the proposed filter is shown and the stability of the state estimate is investigated. Simulation cases of unmanned aircraft longitudinal flight control system verifies the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.
Mixed performance for robust fuzzy control of nonlinear autonomous surface vehicle via T‐S model approach
Authors: Lien Chang‐Hua , Shen Chia‐Pao , Chang Hao‐Chin , Hou Yi‐You , Yu Ker‐Wei
Published: January 2022

This paper addresses the robust fuzzy control with mixed performance of autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) via T‐S model approach. The nonlinear model demonstrates the motion of autonomous surface vehicle. The dynamics of this model is governed by a six‐dimensional differential equation with nonlinear behavior. A robust fuzzy control is proposed to guarantee the mixed performance of uncertain T‐S fuzzy model under consideration. Linear matrix inequality (LMI) optimization approach is developed to achieve the design of controller for parallel distributed compensator (PDC) and minimization the H2 measure or H∞ performance. The mixed H2/H∞ performance can be used to achieve the disturbance attenuation and motion reduction of ASV. Finally, an example is illustrated to show the main contribution of our results. The proposed PDC is provided to guarantee the mixed performance for the nonlinear model of ASV.
A parametric experimental validation of a biorefinery concept based on anaerobic digestion of fruit and vegetable waste
Authors: Magama Primrose , Chiyanzu Idan , Mulopo Jean
Published: January 2022

The goal of this paper was to assess the possibilities for one‐stage reactor anaerobic digestion processing of fruit and vegetable biomass within a biorefinery concept for optimum products. Co‐digestion was the simplest strategy to implement to increase product yield among the variables tested (pH, ultrasonification, and co‐digestion). Methane yields from co‐digestion of fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) and pig manure (PM) ranged from 318 to 434 NmL /g VS, with the highest yield (434 NmL /g VS) achieved at a co‐digestion ratio of FVW75:PM25, representing a 20% increase over the methane production from FVW alone. The pH value was determined to be the most effective variable for enhancing methane production, with pH = 8 producing the maximum cumulative methane yield of 497 NmL/g VS. There was no significant change in the composition of volatile fatty acids (VFA) with pH in terms of dominant product type; valeric acid was the predominant VFA synthesized at all starting pH values except pH = 12, where formic acid was the predominant acid formed. As a digestate post‐treatment procedure, hydrothermal carbonization was combined with anaerobic digestion. At 200 °C, the maximum hydrochar yield production was 58.2%, with a higher heating value of 10.75 MJ/kg. © 2022 The Authors. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining published by Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
High‐density lipoprotein lipid peroxidation as a diagnostics biomarker in coronary artery disease
Authors: Yazdandoust Shima , Parizadeh Seyyed Mohammad Reza , Ghayour‐Mobarhan Majid , Yaghmaei Parichehreh , Sahebkar Amir Hossein
Published: January 2022

This study aimed at evaluating the serum High‐density lipoprotein lipid peroxidation (HDLox) levels and their association with coronary artery disease (CAD). This case–control study comprised 572 patients with stable CAD and 281 healthy subjects with no history of cardiovascular disease (control group). Based on the results of coronary angiography, the patient group was divided into two groups: CAD− and CAD+. HDLox was measured using a fluorimetric method. The ability of HDLox and serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) to detect CAD and coronary artery stenosis ≥50% was also compared using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The CAD patients showed significantly higher serum HDLox levels, compared to the control group [1.15 (1.01–1.31) vs. 0.85 (0.62–1.06), no units, p < 0.001]. Moreover, serum HDLox levels were significantly lower in CAD− patients, compared to the CAD+ patients [1.05 (0.92–1.22) vs. 1.24 (1.12–1.35), no units, p < 0.001]. According to the results of univariate and multivariate logistic regression, the HDLox showed association with the presence of CAD (odds ratio [OR]: 1.754; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.564–1.968; p < 0.001) and coronary artery stenosis ≥50% (OR: 1.729; 95% CI: 1.534–1.949; p < 0.001). The results obtained from the area under the ROC curve revealed that the HDLox could better detect the risk of CAD and coronary artery stenosis ≥50% compared to serum HDL‐C level. The oxidation of HDL leads to a reduction in its antioxidant function and it has a crucial role in the development of atherosclerosis. HDLox is suggested as a diagnostics biomarker for CAD.
Recent research progress of biologically active peptides
Authors: Kang Linlin , Han Tingting , Cong Hailin , Yu Bing , Shen Youqing
Published: January 2022

With the rapid development of molecular biology and biochemical technology, great progress has been made in the study of peptides. Peptides are easy to digest and absorb, with lowering of blood pressure and cholesterol, improving immunity, regulating hormones, antibacterial, and antiviral effects. Peptides also have physiological regulation and biological metabolism functions with applications in the fields of feed production and biomedical research. In the future, the research focus of bioactive peptides will focus on their efficient preparation and application. This article introduces a comprehensive review of the types, synthesis, functionalization, and bio‐related applications of bioactive peptides. For this aim, we introduced in detail various biopeptides and then presented the production methods of bioactive peptides, such as enzymatic synthesis, microbial fermentation, chemical synthesis, and others. The applications of bioactive peptides for anticancers, immune therapy, antibacterial, and other applications have been introduced and discussed. And discussed the development prospects of biologically active peptides.
Wnt inhibitory 1 ameliorates neovascularization and attenuates photoreceptor injury in an oxygen‐induced retinopathy mouse model
Authors: Tan Wei , Xu Huizhuo , Chen Bolin , Duan Tianqi , Liu Kangcheng , Zou Jing
Published: January 2022

Retinal neovascularization (RNV) associated diseases typically exhibit pathological neovascularization and neurodegeneration. Wnt inhibitor factor 1 (WIF1) is a secreted Wnt antagonist that regulates angiogenesis. However, the significance of WIF1 in RNV associated disease has not been explicitly tested. In our study, we found that the WIF1 expressions were strongly downregulated in the vitreous of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Similarly, retinal WIF1 expression was significantly downregulated in OIR mice, relative to normal mice at P17. After injection of WIF1 overexpression lentivirus into the vitreous of OIR mice, overexpressing WIF1 in OIR mice vitreous strongly reduced avascular areas and neovascular tufts, increased vessel branches, raised a‐, b‐waves and oscillatory potentials amplitudes on ERG, increased retinal thickness and the number of synapses in retina, normalized the Golgi, mitochondria, and outer segments of photoreceptors. Furthermore, overexpression WIF1 suppressed expressions of β‐catenin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), p‐AKT and p‐ERK, reduced retinal reactive oxygen species (ROS) and 4‐HNE levels, improved autophagic flux, and mitigated apoptosis. In summary, WIF1 plays a key role in alleviating angiogenesis and in improving visual function in OIR mice by suppressing the Wnt/β‐catenin‐VEGF signaling pathway and ROS levels. WIF1 is an excellent candidate for targeted therapy against RNV associated diseases.
The climate resilience cycle: Using scenario analysis to inform climate‐resilient business strategies
Authors: Huiskamp Udeke , ten Brinke Bauke , Kramer Gert Jan
Published: January 2022

Climate change affects the business environment, and companies need future‐oriented information to build climate resilience. To this end, companies are encouraged to conduct climate change scenario analysis, as recommended by the Task Force on Climate‐Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). However, companies' actual adoption of this practice is limited as they lack a straightforward scenario analysis implementation process and relevant climate change knowledge. This research develops an implementation process by clarifying the concept of resilience into a stability and a change domain and by specifying the type of focal questions for these two domains. Next, a scenario typology guides the selection of reference scenarios, and two standard scenario methods guide the tailoring of these reference scenarios to company‐specific scenarios. By structuring this process in five steps and specifying input and process requirements, we provide an implementation process called the climate resilience cycle. By applying the cycle in transdisciplinary teams of climate change experts and company staff with knowledge about the company value chain, we bring in the required knowledge. To become climate resilient, the outcomes of the climate resilience cycle need to be integrated in the business planning and the overall company strategy. We argue that implementing the cycle as a new company routine contributes to the development of dynamic capabilities like sensing, seizing and transforming, which have been proven to be essential for integrating sustainability in company strategies. Once begun, we show how the cycle can become part of a company strategy process.
Smoothing the circular economy transition: The role of resources and capabilities enablers
Authors: Seles Bruno Michel Roman Pais , Mascarenhas Janaina , Lopes de Sousa Jabbour Ana Beatriz , Trevisan Adriana Hoffman
Published: January 2022

A transition to the circular economy may be a solution to dissociate financial growth from negative environmental impacts. However, this transition can require an in‐depth understanding of which enablers an organization requires. This research aims to identify the enablers of the circular economy presented in the literature and analyze them against the theories about resources, capabilities, and dynamic capabilities and against the ReSOLVE framework. Through a systematic literature review, this research identified thirteen enablers grouped in three different dimensions (management and people; structure, product, and process; and relationship with stakeholders). Some enablers can be considered as resources, capabilities, or dynamic capabilities and are capable of helping firms to reach a successful transition to the circularity. They may even be sources of competitive advantage in the context of circular economy, mainly the enablers of the dimension “structure, product, and process.” The dimensions of enablers have direct and indirect links with the ReSOLVE framework action areas. Through the discussions of some real cases, it was possible to exemplify how some enablers lead companies to circularity. Besides that, this research posits seven research gaps for future studies.
Responsiveness and other psychometric properties of the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale Severity Scale—Second Edition in a Dutch clinical sample
Authors: Alić Mediha , de Leeuw Aart , Selier Jonathan , van Megen Harold , Visser Henny
Published: January 2022

The Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y‐BOCS) is a widely used clinician‐rated interview to assess the presence and severity of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). The scale is revised (Y‐BOCS‐II) to overcome several psychometric limitations, for example by extending the scoring for better discrimination within higher severity levels. The aim of the present study was to examine the responsiveness and other psychometric properties of the Y‐BOCS‐II Severity Scale in a Dutch clinical sample. The Y‐BOCS‐II is translated into Dutch and administered to 110 patients seeking therapy for OCD. This was done twice, before and after treatment. The original Y‐BOCS was simultaneously rated. Self‐report measures regarding depression, symptom severity and OCD symptoms were assessed. The Y‐BOCS‐II has a good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.84), test–retest (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.89) and interrater reliability (ICC = 0.98). The construct validity proved to be modest to good. The responsiveness over time was in favour of the Y‐BOCS‐II, compared with the Y‐BOCS‐I, particularly in the moderate–severely affected OCD patients. The Y‐BOCS‐II Severity Scale is a reliable and valid instrument for accurately assessing the severity of OCD symptoms and for measuring treatment‐induced change. This second version also has clinical and psychometric advantages over the Y‐BOCS‐I. When these findings are sufficiently replicated, use of the Y‐BOCS‐II as the new common standard seems recommendable.
Molecular Mechanism of the Mononuclear Copper Complex‐Catalyzed Water Oxidation from Cluster‐Continuum Model Calculations
Authors: Wu Peng , Yan Shengheng , Fang Wenhan , Wang Binju
Published: January 2022

Cluster‐continuum model calculations were conducted to decipher the mechanism of water oxidation catalyzed by a mononuclear copper complex. Among various O−O bond formation mechanisms investigated in this study, the most favorable pathway involved the nucleophilic attack of OH− onto the .+L−CuII−OH− intermediate. During such process, the initial binding of OH− to the proximity of .+L−CuII−OH− would result in the spontaneous oxidation of OH−, leading to OH⋅ radical and CuII−OH− species. The further O−O coupling between OH⋅ radical and CuII−OH− was associated with a barrier of 14.8 kcal mol−1, leading to the formation of H2O2 intermediate. Notably, the formation of “CuIII−O.−” species, a widely proposed active species for O−O bond formation, was found to be thermodynamically unfavorable and could be bypassed during the catalytic reactions. On the basis the present calculations, a catalytic cycle of the mononuclear copper complex‐catalyzed water oxidation was proposed.
Have we addressed internationalization sufficiently? Investigating British and Sino‐British postgraduate curricula with a postcolonial design perspective
Authors: Wang Qian , Gooden Amy , Gu Haibo , Ma Hanlihui , Pan Yuchen
Published: January 2022

Using the Internationalization of the Curriculum (IoC) model, this study analyses postgraduate educational programmes that contribute to internationalization in higher education at British and Sino‐British transnational universities. The purpose is to explore postcolonial curricular design influences and opportunities. The study identified patterns based on content analysis of twelve programmes' goals, approaches, and course listings. The findings reflected noteworthy similarities with limited emphasis on the emerging paradigmatic shift of IoC. The study invited one programme director from each type of university to speak about the design intentions from an insider's perspective. The discovery was that both types of universities were driven, in part, by a response to global market trends rather than an ideological postcolonial design imperative. Semi‐structured interviews of postgraduate Chinese students in the Sino‐British university's programme were conducted to understand students' perceptions of learning and former pedagogical experiences. Students appreciated opportunities to explore indigenous knowledge and experiences to make the curriculum relevant and meaningful. They expressed a clear need to conduct independent discoveries without necessarily following the patterns established by Western scholars. The paper offers suggestions for constructing postcolonial learning environments. Implications for educational practices are discussed.
Modeling demersal fish and benthic invertebrate assemblages in support of marine conservation planning
Authors: O'Brien John M. , Stanley Ryan R. E. , Jeffery Nicholas W. , Heaslip Susan G. , DiBacco Claudio , Wang Zeliang
Published: January 2022

Marine classification schemes based on abiotic surrogates often inform regional marine conservation planning in lieu of detailed biological data. However, these schemes may poorly represent ecologically relevant biological patterns required for effective design and management strategies. We used a community‐level modeling approach to characterize and delineate representative mesoscale (tens to thousands of kilometers) assemblages of demersal fish and benthic invertebrates in the Northwest Atlantic. Hierarchical clustering of species occurrence data from four regional annual multispecies trawl surveys revealed three to six groupings (predominant assemblage types) in each survey region, broadly associated with geomorphic and oceanographic features. Indicator analyses identified 3–34 emblematic taxa of each assemblage type. Random forest classifications accurately predicted assemblage distributions from environmental covariates (AUC > 0.95) and identified thermal limits (annual minimum and maximum bottom temperatures) as important predictors of distribution in each region. Using forecasted oceanographic conditions for the year 2075 and a regional classification model, we projected assemblage distributions in the southernmost bioregion (Scotian Shelf‐Bay of Fundy) under a high emissions climate scenario (RCP 8.5). Range expansions to the northeast are projected for assemblages associated with warmer and shallower waters of the Western Scotian Shelf over the 21st century as thermal habitat on the relatively cooler Eastern Scotian Shelf becomes more favorable. Community‐level modeling provides a biotic‐informed approach for identifying broadscale ecological structure required for the design and management of ecologically coherent, representative, well‐connected networks of Marine Protected Areas. When combined with oceanographic forecasts, this modeling approach provides a spatial tool for assessing sensitivity and resilience to climate change, which can improve conservation planning, monitoring, and adaptive management.
Sex, body size, and boldness shape the seasonal foraging habitat selection in southern elephant seals
Authors: Allegue Hassen , Guinet Christophe , Patrick Samantha C. , Hindell Mark A. , McMahon Clive R. , Réale Denis
Published: January 2022

Selecting foraging habitat is a fundamental behavior in the life of organisms as it directly links resource acquisition to fitness. Differences in habitat selection among individuals may arise from several intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and yet, their interaction has been given little attention in the study of wild populations. We combine sex, body size, and boldness to explain individual differences in the seasonal foraging habitat selection of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) from the Kerguelen Archipelago. We hypothesize that habitat selection is linked to the trade‐off between resource acquisition and risk, and that individuals differ in their position along this trade‐off because of differences in reproductive strategies, life stages, and metabolic requirements. Before the post‐molt foraging trip, we used a novel object approach test to quantify the boldness of 28 subadult and adult females and 42 subadult males and equipped them with data loggers to track their movements at sea. Subadult males selected neritic and oceanic habitats, whereas females mostly selected less productive oceanic habitats. Both sexes showed a seasonal shift from Antarctic habitats in the south in the summer to the free of ice subantarctic and subtropical habitats in the north in the winter. Males avoided oceanic habitats and selected more productive neritic and Antarctic habitats with body size mostly in the winter. Bolder males selected northern warmer waters in winter, while shyer ones selected the Kerguelen plateau and southern colder oceanic waters. Bolder females selected the Kerguelen plateau in the summer when prey profitability is assumed to be the highest. This study not only provides new insights into the spatiotemporal foraging ecology of elephant seals in relation to personality but also emphasizes the relevance of combining several intrinsic and extrinsic factors in understanding among‐individual variation in space use essential in wildlife management and conservation.
Influence of biomimicry structures on ecosystem function in a Rocky Mountain incised stream
Authors: Reinert James Holden , Albertson Lindsey K. , Junker James R.
Published: January 2022

Rising levels of stream degradation have motivated a boom in restoration projects across the globe. However, postrestoration monitoring is still frequently lacking and does not always incorporate biotic responses to changes in the physical template. Beaver mimicry structures (BMSs) are becoming a popular tool to restore degraded streams throughout the American West, but relatively little is known about how these installations influence both biotic and abiotic factors, with consequences for ecosystem functioning. We monitored basal resources, organic and inorganic material standing stocks, and macroinvertebrate density, biomass, and production to quantify functional responses to BMS installation. We compared conditions at BMS sites to naturally occurring beaver dam and reference riffle sites in a low‐gradient stream in southwest Montana. Thermal ranges were contracted, and daily maximum temperatures were higher, in the BMS treatment compared to the reference riffle treatment. Fine sediment standing stock and basal resources were similar in Beaver and BMS treatments, and both treatments were higher than reference riffles. All treatments differed in macroinvertebrate density, which was highest in the Beaver treatment, followed by Mimic and then Reference treatment. Biomass and secondary production were higher in Beaver and BMS treatments compared to the Reference treatment, but only Beaver and Reference treatments differed significantly, likely due to differences in physical habitat and basal resource availability. Consequently, production of collector–gatherers in the BMS treatment and shredders in the Beaver treatment was higher than in reference riffles. Changes to local hydrology and sediment dynamics resulting from BMS influence biotic functional responses like organic material standing stock and secondary production, creating habitat and ecosystem function distinct from riffles and similar to target conditions of natural beaver dams. To continue to improve BMS as a standard restoration practice, future research could consider the extent of degradation, increasing temporal scale of monitoring. Alterations to aquatic–terrestrial subsidies and impacts to fishes.
Redundancy analysis reveals complex den use patterns by eastern spotted skunks, a conditional specialist
Authors: Thorne Emily D. , Ford W. Mark
Published: January 2022

Wildlife managers tasked with understanding habitat and resource selection at the population level attempt to characterize patterns in nature that aid and inform conservation. Resource selection functions (RSFs), such as discrete choice analyses, are the standard convention to characterize the effects of habitat attributes on resource selection patterns. These tools are invaluable for wildlife management and conservation and have proven successful in numerous studies. However, the analysis of small datasets using RSF becomes problematic when attempting to account for complex sources of variation, and the inclusion of factors such as weather or intrinsic variation on target species' response may produce models with poor predictive ability. We compared the application of generalized linear mixed‐effects modeling (GLMM) and redundancy analysis (RDA) on Appalachian spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius putorius) den selection data at four study sites within the George Washington, Jefferson, and Monongahela National Forests, and surrounding private lands in the Appalachian Mountains of western Virginia and northeastern West Virginia. We assessed the need for the inclusion of alternative sources of variation (i.e., weather conditions and individual intrinsic variation) in addition to standard habitat attributes to better identify sources of variation in den selection. The RDA elucidated complex and opposing relationships, whereby den type use was based on reproductive status or weather condition, which were not evident in the GLMM model that relied solely on habitat measures. Our results demonstrated the importance of examining resource selection data using multivariate techniques in addition to conventional discrete choice analyses to better understand intricate habitat–species relationships, especially for small datasets. Furthermore, from our analyses, we proposed that spotted skunks are neither a true generalist nor specialist species. We introduced and define the term “conditional specialist” to represent a species that is conditionally selective of a given resource in response to one or more current environmental or intrinsic conditions.
Natriuretic peptide‐based inclusion criteria in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction clinical trials: insights from PARAGON‐HF
Authors: Pabón Maria A. , Cunningham Jonathan W. , Claggett Brian L. , Packer Milton , Zile Michael , Pfeffer Marc A. , Lefkowitz Martin , Shi Victor , Rizkala Adel , McMurray John J.V. , Solomon Scott D. , Vaduganathan Muthiah
Published: January 2022

Aim

Natriuretic peptides (NPs) are now routinely incorporated as key inclusion criteria in clinical trials of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) as objective measures of risk. An early amendment in PARAGON‐HF required all participants to have elevated NP concentrations, but some were enrolled pre‐amendment, providing a unique opportunity to understand the influence of enrolment pathway in HFpEF clinical trials.

Methods and results

Among 4796 participants in PARAGON‐HF, 193 (4.0%) did not meet the final NP‐based enrolment criteria (N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide >300 pg/ml for patients in sinus rhythm or >900 pg/ml for patients in atrial fibrillation/flutter). These patients had lower rates of the primary endpoint of total heart failure hospitalizations and cardiovascular death as compared with patients meeting final enrolment criteria (8.6 [6.7–11.2] events per 100 patient‐years vs. 14.0 [13.4–14.7] events per 100 patient‐years; p = 0.01). The rate ratio for the treatment effect comparing sacubitril/valsartan with valsartan was 0.85 (95% confidence interval 0.74–0.99; p = 0.04) in those who met final criteria.

Conclusions

Natriuretic peptides are an important tool in HFpEF clinical trials to objectively affirm diagnoses and enrich clinical event rates.
A comprehensive review of nano‐phase change materials with a focus on the effects of influential factors
Authors: Abdoos Bahare , Ghazvini Mahyar , Pourfayaz Fathollah , Ahmadi Mohammad Hossein , Nouralishahi Amideddin
Published: January 2022

Conservation of energy and reduction of carbon dioxide footprint are among the most crucial global challenges faced by humanity. Dozens of solutions have been so far introduced to address this issue. Nano‐phase change materials (nano‐PCMs) are new emerging technology that are vastly being studied which are believed to minimize energy waste. This study focuses on many aspects of nano‐PCMs with applications in the building industry. It was found that carbon‐based nanoparticles have the greatest thermal properties to be integrated into the PCMs. In this work, a summary of the previous review articles regarding PCM and nano‐PCM following the comparison of various types of nano‐particles in terms of their impact on thermal conductivity enhancement of PCMs is reported. Moreover, other influencial thermophyical properties of nanoparticles such as size, concentration, dispersion, shape, and inclination angle and their effect on thermal properties of PCMs are discussed.
Agenda‐setting, policy formulation, and the EU institutional context: The case of the Just Transition Fund
Authors: Leppänen Taru , Liefferink Duncan
Published: January 2022

Utilizing Kingdon's Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) as a basis, this article aims to further the understanding of the influence institutional factors have on agenda‐setting and policy formulation in the European Union (EU). It does so by analyzing the policy process of the Just Transition Fund (JTF) from agenda‐setting to policy formulation by the Commission. The research finds that policy entrepreneurship is strongly determined by the characteristics and overlap of institutional policy windows. In the JTF case, the institutional context enhanced the influence of policy entrepreneurs within the European Parliament, especially the S&D party, on the combined process of agenda‐setting and policy formulation. Therefore, this paper illustrates that EU MSF scholarship would benefit from taking institutional factors more into account. The conclusions also indicate that supranational institutions can play a larger role in EU climate policy formulation than some of the current research suggests.
Logjam fluctuations during the decade after a major blowdown along a mountain stream in the US Southern Rockies
Authors: Wohl Ellen
Published: January 2022

A blowdown in 2011 along a 1200‐m length of Glacier Creek in the Southern Rockies of Colorado, USA substantially increased the number of channel‐spanning logjams and initiated formation of a 100‐m‐long multithread channel segment. Annual logjam surveys during 2012–2020 indicate that these effects have persisted for a decade, with the number of logjams remaining high despite inter‐annual variations in the location of individual jams. No single logjam has remained in place continuously since the blowdown, but logjams tend to persist longest and to re‐form at sites with large ramp pieces from one or both sides of the channel and a lateral constriction created by bedrock or large boulders that can buttress the ramped piece(s) downstream. The most persistent logjams also form in secondary channels in the multithread section and logjams in the multithread reach tend to have larger backwater storage than logjams in the single‐thread reaches. The results presented here are unique in detailing changes in logjams during the decade following abrupt recruitment of a substantial volume of large wood to a mountain stream.
The effect of strip orientation and width on radiation interception in maize–soybean strip intercropping systems
Authors: Liu Haitao , Chen Shanghong , Li Baoguo , Guo Song , Tian Jing , Yao Li , Lin Chaowen
Published: January 2022

Maize–soybean intercropping systems are widely used in developing countries, but few studies have been performed to optimize such systems. The effects of strip width and orientation on photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) distribution characteristics were therefore determined to gain a better understanding of crop productivity in maize–soybean intercropping systems. A series of intercropping experiments incorporating different strip orientations and widths were conducted. In addition, an improved radiation transmission model was used to simulate PAR interception by the maize and soybean crops. We found that more PAR was intercepted by the soybean plants than by the maize plants when the strip orientation angle increased from 0° to 90° in the maize–soybean intercropping systems. This result was obtained in most of the main maize production areas, including those with different latitudes. The effect of strip widths within the intercropping systems also had a significant effect on PAR interception. The relative fraction of PAR intercepted ranged from 39.4% to 86% for soybean and 105.8% to 169.3% for maize. The effect of soybean strip width on leaf PAR interception was greater than that of maize strip width. These results are not only of fundamental biological importance but they also have important implications for agriculture in terms of the optimization of production in intercropping systems.
Wholistic approach: Transcriptomic analysis and beyond using archival material for molecular diagnosis
Authors: Macagno Nicolas , Pissaloux Daniel , de la Fouchardière Arnaud , Karanian Marie , Lantuejoul Sylvie , Galateau Salle Françoise , Meurgey Alexandra , Chassagne‐Clement Catherine , Treilleux Isabelle , Renard Caroline , Roussel Juliette , Gervasoni Julie , Cockenpot Vincent , Crozes Carole , Baltres Aline , Houlier Aurélie , Paindavoine Sandrine , Alberti Laurent , Duc Adeline , Le Loarer Francois , Dufresne Armelle , Brahmi Mehdi , Corradini Nadège , Blay Jean‐Yves , Tirode Franck
Published: January 2022

Many neoplasms remain unclassified after histopathological examination, which requires further molecular analysis. To this regard, mesenchymal neoplasms are particularly challenging due to the combination of their rarity and the large number of subtypes, and many entities still lack robust diagnostic hallmarks. RNA transcriptomic profiles have proven to be a reliable basis for the classification of previously unclassified tumors and notably for mesenchymal neoplasms. Using exome‐based RNA capture sequencing on more than 5000 samples of archival material (formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded), the combination of expression profiles analyzes (including several clustering methods), fusion genes, and small nucleotide variations has been developed at the Centre Léon Bérard (CLB) in Lyon for the molecular diagnosis of challenging neoplasms and the discovery of new entities. The molecular basis of the technique, the protocol, and the bioinformatics algorithms used are described herein, as well as its advantages and limitations.
Global patterns of Hodgkin lymphoma incidence and mortality in 2020 and a prediction of the future burden in 2040
Authors: Singh Deependra , Vaccarella Salvatore , Gini Andrea , De Paula Silva Neimar , Steliarova‐Foucher Eva , Bray Freddie
Published: January 2022

Our study examines global patterns of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in 2020 and predicts the future incidence and mortality burden in 2040 using IARC's GLOBOCAN estimates of the number of new cases and deaths of HL in 185 countries. A total of 83 000 new cases of HL and 23 000 deaths from HL were estimated in 2020. In general, incidence and mortality rates were consistently higher in males (50% more cases and deaths than females) across world regions and countries. Incidence rates varied markedly by world region, at least 10‐fold in both sexes, with the highest incidence rates observed in Southern Europe. Mortality exhibited an inverse pattern compared to incidence, with rates elevated in Western Asia and Northern Africa. The number of HL incident cases is predicted to rise to around 107 000 cases (a 30% increase) by 2040 due to demographic changes, assuming global rates in 2020 remains unchanged. The findings provide a baseline and impetus for developing strategies that aim to reduce the burden of HL in future decades.
Irrigation water fitness assessment based on Bayesian network and FAO guidelines
Authors: Ilić Milica , Mutavdžić Beba , Srđević Zorica , Srđević Bojan
Published: January 2022

The use of inappropriate irrigation water may lead to unwanted consequences for the soil, plants, irrigation system equipment and more. Ideally, the assessment of water fitness should include all influential factors and their interdependence. Because that is rarely the case, as an attempt to satisfy such requirements we propose a new approach based on the FAO guidelines and Bayesian network (BN) modelling. Fifteen factors recommended by the FAO were used to create a network to assess irrigation water fitness. The usability of the BN was tested on two water samples from two measuring points in Vojvodina Province, Serbia. The results obtained from the same sample are diverse and depend on the plants' tolerance to salt and ionic toxicity, and on soil texture. For the different conditions at the measuring point Hetin, the probability of no restriction on use varied from 50 to 84%. In the case of the Bačko Gradište measuring point, the probability varied from 66 to 91.5%, and the strongest fitness depends on the soil texture. Comparison of the obtained results with the FAO classification shows high correlation and points to flexibility and adaptability of the created network to change data or working with missing data.
Sustained released of bioactive mesenchymal stromal cell‐derived extracellular vesicles from 3D‐printed gelatin methacrylate hydrogels
Authors: Born Louis J. , McLoughlin Shannon T. , Dutta Dipankar , Mahadik Bhushan , Jia Xiaofeng , Fisher John P. , Jay Steven M.
Published: January 2022

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) represent an emerging class of therapeutics with significant potential and broad applicability. However, a general limitation is their rapid clearance after administration. Thus, methods to enable sustained EV release are of great potential value. Here, we demonstrate that EVs from mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) can be incorporated into 3D‐printed gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel bioink, and that the initial burst release of EVs can be reduced by increasing the concentration of crosslinker during gelation. Further, the data show that MSC EV bioactivity in an endothelial gap closure assay is retained after the 3D printing and photocrosslinking processes. Our group previously showed that MSC EV bioactivity in this assay correlates with pro‐angiogenic bioactivity in vivo, thus these results indicate the therapeutic potential of MSC EV‐laden GelMA bioinks.
Loss of Vlk in Prx1+ Cells Delays the Initial Steps of Endochondral Bone Formation and Fracture Repair in the Limb
Authors: Maridas David E , Gamer Laura , Moore Emily R , Doedens Annemiek M , Yu Yunqing , Ionescu Andreia , Revollo Leila , Whitman Malcolm , Rosen Vicki
Published: January 2022

Vertebrate lonesome kinase (Vlk) is a secreted tyrosine kinase important for normal skeletogenesis during embryonic development. Vlk null mice (Vlk−/−) are born with severe craniofacial and limb skeletal defects and die shortly after birth. We used a conditional deletion model to remove Vlk in limb bud mesenchyme (Vlk-Prx1 cKO) to assess the specific requirement for Vlk expression by skeletal progenitor cells during endochondral ossification, and an inducible global deletion model (Vlk-Ubq iKO) to address the role of Vlk during fracture repair. Deletion of Vlk with Prx1-Cre recapitulated the limb skeletal phenotype of the Vlk−/− mice and enabled us to study the postnatal skeleton as Vlk-Prx1 cKO mice survived to adulthood. In Vlk-Prx1 cKO adult mice, limbs remained shorter with decreased trabecular and cortical bone volumes. Both Vlk-Prx1 cKO and Vlk-Ubq iKO mice had a delayed fracture repair response but eventually formed bridging calluses. Furthermore, levels of phosphorylated osteopontin (OPN) were decreased in tibias of Vlk-Ubq iKO, establishing OPN as a Vlk substrate in bone. In summary, our data indicate that Vlk produced by skeletal progenitor cells influences the timing and extent of chondrogenesis during endochondral bone formation and fracture repair. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Magnetic solid‐phase extraction and spectrophotometric determination of pseudoephedrine in real samples
Authors: Pourbasheer Eslam , Fathi Majd Sima , Azari Zhila , Ansari Samira , Ganjali Mohammad Reza
Published: January 2022

In the present study, the magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as an efficient sorbent were successfully utilized for the investigation of pseudoephedrine in water and urine samples before spectrophotometric evaluation. Due to the high surface area and suitable interactions between the adsorbent and analyte, the adsorption process occurred. The optimization process was applied to the parameters that might have an impact on the extraction efficiencies, including the pH, sorbent quantity, salt effect, type and volume of eluent, and the contact time affecting the adsorption and desorption of the analyte. By exerting the optimum procedure, the proper linearities ranging from 1 to 30 and 1 to 24 μg/mL with good correlation coefficients of 0.999 and 0.998 enhanced for water and urine samples. This method is proved to be as accurate and precise as it is necessary to be executed for the analytical measurements, since the measured recoveries were 99 and 96.12%, with the detection limits of 0.88 and 1.003 μg/mL for water and urine samples, respectively. The obtained results indicate that the proposed method is simple, effective, and inexpensive for the measurements of pseudoephedrine in water and urine samples.
A systematic review examining the relationship between cytokines and cachexia in incurable cancer
Authors: Paval D. Robert , Patton Rebekah , McDonald James , Skipworth Richard J.E. , Gallagher Iain J. , Laird Barry J. ,   the Caledonian Cachexia Collaborative
Published: January 2022

Cancer cachexia is an unmet clinical need that affects more than 50% of patients with cancer. The systemic inflammatory response, which is mediated by a network of cytokines, has an established role in the genesis and maintenance of cancer as well as in cachexia; yet, the specific role of the cytokine milieu in cachexia requires elucidation. This systematic review aims to examine the relationship between cytokines and the cachexia syndrome in patients with incurable cancer. The databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched for studies published between 01/01/2004 and 06/01/2020. Included studies measured cytokines and their relationship with cachexia and related symptoms/signs in adults with incurable cancer. After title screening (n = 5202), the abstracts (n = 1264) and the full‐text studies (n = 322) were reviewed independently by two authors. The quality assessment of the selected papers was conducted using the modified Downs and Black checklist. Overall, 1277 patients with incurable cancer and 155 healthy controls were analysed in the 17 eligible studies. The mean age of the patients was 64 ± 15 (mean ± standard deviation). Only 34% of included participants were female. The included studies were assessed as moderate‐quality to high‐quality evidence (mean quality score: 7.8; range: 5–10). A total of 31 cytokines were examined in this review, of which interleukin‐6 (IL‐6, 14 studies) and tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α, 12 studies) were the most common. The definitions of cachexia and the weight‐loss thresholds were highly variable across studies. Although the data could not be meta‐analysed due to the high degree of methodological heterogeneity, the findings were discussed in a systematic manner. IL‐6, TNF‐α, and IL‐8 were greater in cachectic patients compared with healthy individuals. Also, IL‐6 levels were higher in cachectic participants as opposed to non‐cachectic patients. Leptin, interferon‐γ, IL‐1β, IL‐10, adiponectin, and ghrelin did not demonstrate any significant difference between groups when individuals with cancer cachexia were compared against non‐cachectic patients or healthy participants. These findings suggest that a network of cytokines, commonly IL‐6, TNF‐α, and IL‐8, are associated with the development of cachexia. Yet, this relationship is not proven to be causative and future studies should opt for longitudinal designs with consistent methodological approaches, as well as adequate techniques for analysing and reporting the results.
Covariance, feedback, and discounting in ratio schedules
Authors: Baum William M
Published: January 2022

Action–outcome relations in the everyday world are often looser than the relations programmed in the laboratory. Reinforcement theory addressed this looseness by theorizing about “delay of reinforcement.” Response–reinforcer interval affects response rate and choice, but need not be thought of as delay. Experiments on temporal discounting are often said to reveal effects of delay also, but the intervals chosen differ from delays, because an outcome after a week, month, or year occurs after life has continued and many events have intervened. They are better called lag intervals. The present experiment studied the effects of varying lag interval on pigeons' responding on ratio‐like schedules of food. In a continuous procedure, a lag interval separated pecking that earned food from delivery of the food earned. In one series of conditions, the relation was fixed equivalent to variable‐ratio (VR) 40 while the lag interval varied. In a second series, the equivalent VR varied while the lag interval was fixed. The results accorded with matching theory, but with a factor for temporal discounting or loose feedback. The results suggest that both temporal discounting and probability discounting may be characterized within matching theory, but that temporal discounting requires a separate treatment from probability discounting.
Fiscal stimulus packages to COVID‐19: The role of informality
Authors: Elgin Ceyhun , Williams Colin C. , Oz‐Yalaman Gamze , Yalaman Abdullan
Published: January 2022

In this paper, we use a novel cross‐country dataset to investigate the relationship between the prevalence of the shadow economy and fiscal policy responses to the economic crisis induced by the pandemic. The finding is that countries with a relatively larger shadow economy before the pandemic have adopted a smaller fiscal policy package. The results are robust to different econometric specifications, including an instrumental variable estimation. This reinforces the wider literature that countries (especially those with larger shadow economies) generally follow a procyclical policy as opposed to the optimal and countercyclical one.