bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Silencing arginine kinase/integrin β1subunit by transgenic plant expressing dsRNA inhibits the development and survival of Plutella xylostella
Authors: Fu Shu , Liu Zhaoxia , Chen Jinzhi , Sun Gengxiao , Jiang Yingxia , Li Miaowen , Xiong Lei , Chen Shaoping , Zhou Yuqing , Asad Muhammad , Yang Guang 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundPlutella xylostella is a devastating agricultural insect pest of cruciferous plants, including crops. Plant‐mediated RNA interference (RNAi) is currently being developed for plant protection. In this study, we investigated the response of P. xylostella exposed to transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants that expressed double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeting P. xylostella genes of arginine kinase (PxAK) and integrin β1 subunit (Pxβ).RESULTSTransgenic plants producing dsRNAs of the 384‐bp fragment of PxAK (dsAK plants), the 497‐bp fragment of Pxβ (dsβ plants), and the 881 bp of the combination of both genes (dsAK‐β plants) were generated and verified. Insect bioassay with these transgenic plants showed that the development of P. xylostella was affected, causing longer developmental time, and lower pupal weight and pupation rate. P. xylostella mortality rates were 25.0% when exposed to dsAK plants, 22.5% with dsβ plants, and 30.0% with dsAK‐β plants, which were all higher than 7.5% for the wild‐type plant. PxAK and Pxβ in P. xylostella were suppressed by 26.6–79.7% at the transcription level by the transgenic plants.CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that plant‐mediated RNAi targeting single gene or both PxAK and Pxβ may have the potential to control P. xylostella. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
A dual‐response surface modeling approach for gamma robust design
Authors: Zeybek Melis , Köksoy Onur , Robinson Timothy J. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractRobust parameter design is a methodology that involves experimental design and strategic modeling for the purpose of simultaneously reducing system variability while achieving a target specification for the system mean. Modeling results obtained under unrealistic assumptions about the underlying data distribution may mislead practitioners when it comes to improving system quality. Using classical normal theory modeling techniques for right‐skewed experimental data in dual‐response modeling has some drawbacks, such as obtaining a misleading fit and estimated optimal operating conditions that are potentially far from the true optimal values. Moreover, using inappropriate modeling methods can create a chain of degradation in the production phase and subsequently result in poor system performance. This paper proposes a new dual‐response surface modeling approach when the quality characteristic of a system follows a gamma distribution. The procedure and its advantages are illustrated using the well‐known printing process experiment.
Protecting shared information in networks: A network security game with strategic attacks
Authors: de Witte Bram , Frasca Paolo , Overvest Bastiaan , Timmer Judith 
Published: December 2019

SummaryA digital security breach, by which confidential information is leaked, does not only affect the agent whose system is infiltrated but is also detrimental to other agents socially connected to the infiltrated system. Although it has been argued that these externalities create incentives to underinvest in security, this presumption is challenged by the possibility of strategic adversaries that attack the least protected agents. In this paper we study a new model of security games in which agents share tokens of sensitive information in a network of contacts. The agents have the opportunity to invest in security to protect against an attack that can be either strategically or randomly targeted. We show that, in the presence of random attack, underinvestments always prevail at the Nash equilibrium in comparison with the social optimum. Instead, when the attack is strategic, either underinvestments or overinvestments are possible, depending on the network topology and on the characteristics of the process of the spreading of information. Actually, agents invest more in security than socially optimal when dependencies among agents are low (which can happen because the information network is sparsely connected or because the probability that information tokens are shared is small). These overinvestments pass on to underinvestments when information sharing is more likely (and therefore, when the risk brought by the attack is higher). In order to keep our analysis tractable, some of our results on strategic attacks make an assumption of homogeneity in the network, namely, that the network is vertex‐transitive. We complement these results with an analysis on star graphs (which are nonhomogeneous), which confirms that the essential lines of our findings can remain valid on general networks.
Lumbar spinal ligament characteristics extracted from stepwise reduction experiments allow for preciser modeling than literature data
Authors: Damm Nicolas , Rockenfeller Robert , Gruber Karin 
Published: December 2019

AbstractLumbar ligaments play a key role in stabilizing the spine, particularly assisting muscles at wide-range movements. Hence, valid ligament force–strain data are required to generate physiological model predictions. These data have been obtained by experiments on single ligaments or functional units throughout the literature. However, contrary to detailed spine geometries, gained, for instance, from CT data, ligament characteristics are often inattentively transferred to multi-body system (MBS) or finite element models. In this paper, we use an elaborated MBS model of the lumbar spine to demonstrate how individualized ligament characteristics can be obtained by reversely reenacting stepwise reduction experiments, where the range of motion (ROM) was measured. We additionally validated the extracted characteristics with physiological experiments on intradiscal pressure (IDP). Our results on a total of in each case 160 ROM and 49 IDP simulations indicated superiority of our procedure (seven and eight outliers) toward the incorporation of classical literature data (on average 71 and 31 outliers).
Sequential model based optimization of partially defined functions under unknown constraints
Authors: Antonio Candelieri 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThis paper presents a sequential model based optimization framework for optimizing a black-box, multi-extremal and expensive objective function, which is also partially defined, that is it is undefined outside the feasible region. Furthermore, the constraints defining the feasible region within the search space are unknown. The approach proposed in this paper, namely SVM-CBO, is organized in two consecutive phases, the first uses a Support Vector Machine classifier to approximate the boundary of the unknown feasible region, the second uses Bayesian Optimization to find a globally optimal solution within the feasible region. In the first phase the next point to evaluate is chosen by dealing with the trade-off between improving the current estimate of the feasible region and discovering possible disconnected feasible sub-regions. In the second phase, the next point to evaluate is selected as the minimizer of the Lower Confidence Bound acquisition function but constrained to the current estimate of the feasible region. The main of the paper is a comparison with a Bayesian Optimization process which uses a fixed penalty value for infeasible function evaluations, under a limited budget (i.e., maximum number of function evaluations). Results are related to five 2D test functions from literature and 80 test functions, with increasing dimensionality and complexity, generated through the Emmental-type GKLS software. SVM-CBO proved to be significantly more effective as well as computationally efficient.
Bounded Entanglement Entropy in the Quantum Ising Model
Authors: Grimmett Geoffrey R. , Osborne Tobias J. , Scudo Petra F. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractA rigorous proof is presented of the boundedness of the entanglement entropy of a block of spins for the ground state of the one-dimensional quantum Ising model with sufficiently strong transverse field. This is proved by a refinement of the stochastic geometric arguments in the earlier work by Grimmett et al. (J Stat Phys 131:305–339, 2008). The proof utilises a transformation to a model of classical probability called the continuum random-cluster model. Our method of proof is fairly robust, and applies also to certain disordered systems.
Zeros of the Wigner distribution and the short-time Fourier transform
Authors: Gröchenig Karlheinz , Jaming Philippe , Malinnikova Eugenia 
Published: December 2019

AbstractWe study the question under which conditions the zero set of a (cross-) Wigner distribution W(f, g) or a short-time Fourier transform is empty. This is the case when both f and g are generalized Gaussians, but we will construct less obvious examples consisting of exponential functions and their convolutions. The results require elements from the theory of totally positive functions, Bessel functions, and Hurwitz polynomials. The question of zero-free Wigner distributions is also related to Hudson’s theorem for the positivity of the Wigner distribution and to Hardy’s uncertainty principle. We then construct a class of step functions S so that the Wigner distribution $$W(f,\mathbf {1}_{(0,1)})$$

W
(
f
,

1

(
0
,
1
)

)

always possesses a zero $$f\in S \cap L^p$$

f
∈
S
∩

L
p

when $$p<\infty $$

p
<
∞

, but may be zero-free for $$f\in S \cap L^\infty $$

f
∈
S
∩

L
∞

. The examples show that the question of zeros of the Wigner distribution may be quite subtle and relate to several branches of analysis.
Competence of blended coagulants for surface water treatment
Authors: Saritha Vara , Karnena Manoj Kumar , Dwarapureddi Bhavya Kavitha 
Published: December 2019

AbstractOwing to the advantages of the natural coagulants under study, the present objective is to study the efficiency of blended coagulants: alum and chitin; alum and sago; and alum + chitin + sago. In this attempt, we have reduced the quantity of alum dose and added increasing quantities of the natural coagulants. The surface water samples collected from nearby sources were analyzed for the following parameters pre- and post-treatment with the coagulants. Coagulation and flocculation experiments were carried out using conventional jar test apparatus. Turbidity removal was observed to be nearly 99.29% at all pH ranges and doses. Removal of conductivity, solids and hardness was 58.83%, 32.03% and 33.33%, respectively. From the results obtained, it can be observed that the efficiency of blended coagulants in removal of various physicochemical parameters from the waters was better when compared to individual coagulants. The floc size in blend coagulants was larger than that of single coagulants. The data obtained in this study indicated the coagulation efficiency could be enhanced by using the blend coagulant.
An assessment of hydrates inhibition in deepwater production systems using low-dosage hydrate inhibitor and monoethylene glycol
Authors: Okereke Ndubuisi U. , Edet Pius E. , Baba Yahaya D. , Izuwa Nkemakolam C. , Kanshio Sunday , Nwogu Ngozi , Afolabi Funsho A. , Nwanwe Onyebuchi 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn this study, a deepwater pipeline-riser system that experienced hydrates was modelled in MAXIMUS 6.20 (an integrated production modelling tool) to understand, predict and mitigate hydrates formation in typical deepwater system. Highlights of the results from this study suggest that the injection of low-dosage hydrate inhibitors (LDHIs) into the hydrate-forming structures within the multiphase flow stream disperses the hydrates particles in an irregular manner and subsequently decreases the nucleation rate of the hydrate and prevents the formation of hydrates. This study found that the cost of using monoethylene glycol was significantly higher than that of LDHI by over $500/day although low-dosage hydrate inhibitors have initial relatively high CAPEX. In the long run, its OPEX is relatively low, making it cost-effective for hydrate inhibition in deepwater scenarios.
Quorum sensing involvement in response surface methodology for optimisation of sclerotiorin production by Penicillium sclerotiorum in shaken flasks and bioreactors
Authors: Amache Rana , Yerramalli Sirisha , Giovanni Sannia , Keshavarz Tajalli 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Purpose
Sclerotiorin, an azaphilone produced by some filamentous fungi including Penicillium sclerotiorum, is a pigment with variety of biological activities including lipoxygenase inhibition, reduction of cholesterol levels, and anti-cancer properties. Sclerotiorin has potential use in pharmaceutical as well as food industries. In this context, the purpose of this study was to provide a simple and robust procedure for optimised production of sclerotiorin by P. sclerotiorum using a central composite design developed through response surface methodology (RSM) and to identify the molecule(s) involved in the signalling mechanism in P. sclerotiorum.

Methods
The optimisation of sclerotiorin production was carried out using RSM in shaken flasks and the obtained results were then replicated using a 2-L stirred tank bioreactor. Penicillium sclerotiorum ethyl acetate culture extract was analysed using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and potential signalling molecules were identified using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Results
The experimental studies suggested an increase in the sclerotiorin production by 2.1-fold and 2.2-fold in shaken flasks and stirred tank bioreactors respectively. Further analysis of P. sclerotiorum ethyl acetate culture extract reported the presence of ricinoleic acid, an oxylipin, belonging to a family of signalling molecules tentatively involved in the enhancement of sclerotiorin production.

Conclusion
This paper has highlighted the positive effect of the optimal supplementation of P. sclerotiorum culture extracts for enhanced production of sclerotiorin. It has also examined potential molecules involved in the signalling mechanism in P. sclerotiorum culture extract for the overproduction of sclerotiorin.
Educational Variations in Cohort Trends in the Black-White Earnings Gap Among Men: Evidence From Administrative Earnings Data
Authors: Cheng Siwei , Tamborini Christopher R. , Kim ChangHwan , Sakamoto Arthur 
Published: December 2019

AbstractDespite efforts to improve the labor market situation of African Americans, the racial earnings gap has endured in the United States. Most prior studies on racial inequality have considered its cross-sectional or period patterns. This study adopts a demographic perspective to examine the evolution of earnings trajectories among white and black men across cohorts in the United States. Using more than 40 years of longitudinal earnings records from the U.S. Social Security Administration matched to the Survey of Income and Program Participation, our analyses reveal that the cohort trends in the racial earnings gap follow quite different patterns by education. Race continues to be a salient dimension of economic inequality over the life course and across cohorts, particularly at the top and the bottom of the educational distribution. Although the narrowing of the racial gap among high school graduates is in itself a positive development, it unfortunately derives primarily from the deteriorating economic position for whites without a college degree rather than an improvement in economic standing of their black counterparts.
Comparison of Van Allen Probes Energetic Electron Data With Corresponding GOES‐15 Measurements: 2012–2018
Authors: Baker D. N. , Zhao H. , Li X. , Kanekal S. G. , Jaynes A. N. , Kress B. T. , Rodriguez J. V. , Singer H. J. , Claudepierre S. G. , Fennell J. F. , Hoxie V. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractElectron fluxes (especially at energies E > 0.8 and 2 MeV) have been measured for many years by sensors on board the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES). These long‐term data (nominally at L ~ 6.6) have become a mainstay for monitoring the Earth's radiation environment. We have carried out a study directly comparing the comprehensive radiation belt particle measurements from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration dual‐spacecraft Van Allen Probes (Radiation Belt Storm Probes) sensor systems with selected GOES operational data. The Van Allen Probes have measured the properties of radiation belt electrons virtually continuously from September 2012 to 2018. We make statistical comparisons of Van Allen Probes electron data near L = 6 with concurrent daily averages of equivalent GOES‐15 flux values. We also compare Van Allen Probes data at various other L values and at a much broader range of particle energies with the more limited baseline GOES‐15 values. These comparisons inform us about the relative calibrations between the scientific and operational systems and also allow us to assess how well GOES data correlate with radiation belt behavior well away from the geostationary orbit location. We find that GOES daily average flux values can be a factor of 100 (or more) below the corresponding Van Allen Probes daily averaged fluxes at L = 6.0. This is due to the fact that GOES at stationary orbit often has excursions over large ranges of L space during a given day and strong radial gradients exist in this region of the magnetosphere. These results indicate that it is crucial to augment geosynchronous GOES observations with observations in the core of the outer belt (L ≲5.0).
Revisiting Winter Arctic Ice Mass Balance Observations With a 1‐D Model: Sensitivity Studies, Snow Density Estimation, Flooding, and Snow Ice Formation
Authors: Gani Sarah , Sirven Jérôme , Sennéchael Nathalie , Provost Christine 
Published: December 2019

AbstractWe used a state‐of‐the art one‐dimensional snow and ice model (the LIM1D model), to simulate data collected in winter 2015 north of Svalbard with ice mass balance instruments. The quality of the simulations was assessed by comparing simulated temperature profiles and sea ice thicknesses with the data: The root‐mean‐square difference between observed and modeled temperature was 1.06 °C in snow and 0.19 °C in ice, and the root‐mean‐square difference between simulated and observed ice thickness was 2.0 cm (snow depth was prescribed). The long‐wave heat flux from the ERA‐I reanalysis was adequate to perform winter numerical simulations; in contrast, the ERA‐I air temperature induced large errors in the snow and ice temperature. Snow density had a direct impact on heat transfers and, thus, on the simulation. The joint use of the data and the simulations permitted the adjustment of the snow density profiles with a light (240 kg/m3) snow deposited on top of a denser (370 kg/m3) snow. The ice flooding, which occurred after a storm‐induced breakup of floes loaded with snow, was simulated by prescribing the observed lower limit of the snow. The simulations provided insights on the evolution of sea ice bulk salinity, brine fraction, and the amount of snow ice formed during the flooding event.
Community-Based Participatory Design for Research That Impacts the Lives of Transgender and/or Gender-Diverse Autistic and/or Neurodiverse People
Authors: Strang John F. , Klomp Sascha E. , Caplan Reid , Griffin April D. , Anthony Laura G. , Harris Marvel C. , Graham Elizabeth K. , Knauss Megan , van der Miesen Anna I. R. 
Published: December 2019

Objective: Research addressing the co-occurrence of autism (and/or neurodiversity) and gender-diversity (A/ND-GD) has been conducted largely without the perspectives and voices of the A/ND-GD community. Including A/ND-GD community advocates as research partners may be a critical next step for advancing research initiatives on the co-occurrence given the apparent complexity and alterity of the A/ND-GD experience. Method: Consistent with the community-based participatory research (CBPR) model we propose herein, our authorship team includes a partnership between clinician researchers and diverse A/ND-GD community collaborators. Multiple facets of the A/ND-GD lived experience are examined, including through narratives provided by our A/ND-GD community partners. Results: Based on our experience conducting A/ND-GD-related research and our lived experience as A/ND-GD self-advocates, we highlight challenges in this line of research, including risks of conducting studies without the involvement of the A/ND-GD community. And given that many A/ND-GD youth present with gender-related urgency during the teen years, we provide a developmental framework for how CBPR-informed methods may enrich our understanding of the care needs of these young people and provide context for the apparent heterogeneity in their gender needs and trajectories over time. Conclusions: Integrating CBPR methodologies in A/ND-GD research initiatives has the potential to optimize the relevance of the research questions asked and the interpretation and contextualization of study findings. Implications for Impact Statement The perspectives and priorities of the autistic and/or neurodiverse transgender and/or gender-diverse community need to be considered when conducting research that impacts autistic/neurodiverse transgender/gender-diverse individuals. Employing community-based participatory designs for studies of this co-occurrence will help to align research agendas with community needs and appropriately contextualize research findings.
Senescent cell turnover slows with age providing an explanation for the Gompertz law
Authors: Karin Omer , Agrawal Amit , Porat Ziv , Krizhanovsky Valery , Alon Uri 
Published: December 2019

AbstractA causal factor in mammalian aging is the accumulation of senescent cells (SnCs). SnCs cause chronic inflammation, and removing SnCs decelerates aging in mice. Despite their importance, turnover rates of SnCs are unknown, and their connection to aging dynamics is unclear. Here we use longitudinal SnC measurements and induction experiments to show that SnCs turn over rapidly in young mice, with a half-life of days, but slow their own removal rate to a half-life of weeks in old mice. This leads to a critical-slowing-down that generates persistent SnC fluctuations. We further demonstrate that a mathematical model, in which death occurs when fluctuating SnCs cross a threshold, quantitatively recapitulates the Gompertz law of mortality in mice and humans. The model can go beyond SnCs to explain the effects of lifespan-modulating interventions in Drosophila and C. elegans, including scaling of survival-curves and rapid effects of dietary shifts on mortality.
Carrier multiplication in van der Waals layered transition metal dichalcogenides
Authors: Kim Ji-Hee , Bergren Matthew R. , Park Jin Cheol , Adhikari Subash , Lorke Michael , Frauenheim Thomas , Choe Duk-Hyun , Kim Beom , Choi Hyunyong , Gregorkiewicz Tom , Lee Young Hee 
Published: December 2019

AbstractCarrier multiplication (CM) is a process in which high-energy free carriers relax by generation of additional electron-hole pairs rather than by heat dissipation. CM is promising disruptive improvements in photovoltaic energy conversion and light detection technologies. Current state-of-the-art nanomaterials including quantum dots and carbon nanotubes have demonstrated CM, but are not satisfactory owing to high-energy-loss and inherent difficulties with carrier extraction. Here, we report CM in van der Waals (vdW) MoTe2 and WSe2 films, and find characteristics, commencing close to the energy conservation limit and reaching up to 99% CM conversion efficiency with the standard model. This is demonstrated by ultrafast optical spectroscopy with independent approaches, photo-induced absorption, photo-induced bleach, and carrier population dynamics. Combined with a high lateral conductivity and an optimal bandgap below 1 eV, these superior CM characteristics identify vdW materials as an attractive candidate material for highly efficient and mechanically flexible solar cells in the future.