bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adaptive user clustering for downlink nonorthogonal multiple access based 5G systems using Brute‐force search
Authors: Prabha Kumaresan S. , Chee Keong Tan , Ching Kwang Lee , Yin Hoe Ng 
Published: August 2020

AbstractNonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has been envisaged as a potential candidate for the forthcoming 5G cellular networks and beyond 5G networks. The existing user clustering schemes in NOMA systems exploit the channel heterogeneity and channel diversity to partition the users into different clusters by grouping the same number of users to each cluster. Due to the constraint of having the fixed number of users in each cluster, the channel heterogeneity and diversity cannot be fully explored, which causes the existing user clustering scheme to perform poorly in terms of throughput performance. In this article, an efficient and dynamic clustering method termed adaptive user clustering (AUC), which flexibly group the users to different clusters based on their channel conditions regardless of the cluster size, is proposed. The channel heterogeneity and diversity are fully exploited in user grouping that maximizes the system throughput. The clustering mechanism of the proposed AUC scheme is performed using the Brute‐force search (B‐FS) method by searching through all the possible partitions for the best partition with the highest throughput. Simulation results obtained demonstrate that the proposed AUC scheme using the B‐FS method always outperforms the existing user grouping approaches in various network scenarios in terms of throughput performance.
New insights into Citrus genus: From ancient fruits to new hybrids
Authors: Denaro Marcella , Smeriglio Antonella , Xiao Jianbo , Cornara Laura , Burlando Bruno , Trombetta Domenico 
Published: August 2020

AbstractCitrus fruits are among the most ancient known and have always attracted the interest of humans, from both a nutritional and a health point of view. Even though there is substantial scientific literature regarding the Citrus genus and associated isolated bioactive compounds, there are still few studies on the botanical features, the phytochemical profiles, and the biological activities for some ancient Citrus fruits as well as for new hybrids that have become part of the international market. We have witnessed both the rediscovery and revaluation of some cultivated ancient fruits in some limited areas and the introduction of new hybrids destined to the food, ornamental, and food design market. This is the first review that sheds light on the botanical and chemical features as well as on the biological properties of Citrus fruits that are under‐investigated, localizing them in an international context. The manuscript focuses in particular on five under‐investigated species: Citrus australasica F. Muell. (Finger lime), Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle (Buddha's hand), Citrus junos Sieb ex Tan. (Yuzu), Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck var. pompia Camarda (Pompia), and Citrus lumia Risso (Lumia).
Recent advances on emerging nanomaterials for controlling the mycotoxin contamination: From detection to elimination
Authors: Zhang Xianlong , Li Guoliang , Wu Di , Liu Jianghua , Wu Yongning 
Published: August 2020

AbstractMycotoxins, a toxic secondary metabolite, unpredictably, and unavoidably occur in foods and feeds, leading to adverse health impacts and enormous economic losses in the agriculture industry. Moreover, mycotoxin contamination has been a great threat for the public health and agriculture economy development worldwide. Therefore, the control of the mycotoxin contamination is of great importance and has caused rising concern worldwide. Recently, emerging nanomaterials have been promisingly applied in the control of mycotoxin contamination and have obtained many achievements. In this review, first of all, the type, occurrence, and toxicity of mycotoxins are simply discussed. Then, attentions are focused on the applications of emerging nanomaterials to controlling the mycotoxin contamination, including mycotoxin assay, the inhibition of mycotoxin production, the adsorption of mycotoxins, and mycotoxin elimination. In the end, the future opportunities and challenges on the toxicity, occurrence, and control of mycotoxins are tentatively put forward.
Sichuan paocai fermented by mixed‐starter culture of lactic acid bacteria
Authors: Luo Yuanli , Liu Yuling , Ren Ting , Wang Bin , Peng Yumei , Zeng Sheng , Su Yu 
Published: August 2020

AbstractTo satisfy the demand of industrial production, selecting strains suitable for fermentation initiation is necessary. In this study, the effects of mixed‐starter culture including Leuconostoc, Lactobacillus, and Weissella on the quality of Sichuan pickle were discussed. Results showed that mixed‐starter culture can accelerate fermentation and had the highest efficiency for nitrite degradation, that is, the maximum nitrite concentration was 8.97 g/kg on day 1 and decreased to 1.88 mg/kg after 3 days. The mixed‐starter culture improved the sensory properties of pickles, which easily produced acids but had reduced amounts of total acids. The pickle products fermented by the mixed‐starter culture contained increased lactic acid (17.52 g/kg), mannitol (0.62%), umami (35.85), and sweet (11.36) amino acids on day 4. The strains Weissella paramesenteroides C2‐2 and Lactobacillus brevis ZP11‐2 grew well in the mixed‐starter culture fermentation.
Protohistoric briquetage at Puntone (Tuscany, Italy): principles and processes of an industry based on the leaching of saline lagoonal sediments
Authors: Sevink Jan , de Neef Wieke , Alessandri Luca , van Hall Rutger L. , Ullrich Burkart , Attema Peter A. J. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractA protohistoric (c.10th–5th c. BC) briquetage site at Puntone (Tuscany, Italy) was studied to unravel the salt production processes and materials involved. Geophysical surveys were used to identify kilns, pits, and dumps. One of these pits and a dump were excavated, followed by detailed chemical and physical analyses of the materials encountered. The pit had been used for holding brine, obtained by leaching of lagoonal sediment over a sieve, that afterwards was discarded to form large dumps. Phases distinguished indicate that the pit filled with fine sediment and was regularly “cleaned.” The presence of ferroan‐magnesian calcite in the pit fill testifies to the prolonged presence of anoxic brine. The production processes could be reconstructed in detail by confronting the analytical results with known changes in composition of a brine upon evaporation. These pertain in particular to the accumulation of “bitterns” and increased B (boron) concentrations in a residual brine. Both could be traced in the materials studied, and were found to be far more indicative than the ubiquitously studied concentrations of Cl and Na.
Reproducibility in the absence of selective reporting: An illustration from large‐scale brain asymmetry research
Authors: Kong Xiang‐Zhen ,   ENIGMA Laterality Working Group, Francks Clyde 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe problem of poor reproducibility of scientific findings has received much attention over recent years, in a variety of fields including psychology and neuroscience. The problem has been partly attributed to publication bias and unwanted practices such as p‐hacking. Low statistical power in individual studies is also understood to be an important factor. In a recent multisite collaborative study, we mapped brain anatomical left–right asymmetries for regional measures of surface area and cortical thickness, in 99 MRI datasets from around the world, for a total of over 17,000 participants. In the present study, we revisited these hemispheric effects from the perspective of reproducibility. Within each dataset, we considered that an effect had been reproduced when it matched the meta‐analytic effect from the 98 other datasets, in terms of effect direction and significance threshold. In this sense, the results within each dataset were viewed as coming from separate studies in an “ideal publishing environment,” that is, free from selective reporting and p hacking. We found an average reproducibility rate of 63.2% (SD = 22.9%, min = 22.2%, max = 97.0%). As expected, reproducibility was higher for larger effects and in larger datasets. Reproducibility was not obviously related to the age of participants, scanner field strength, FreeSurfer software version, cortical regional measurement reliability, or regional size. These findings constitute an empirical illustration of reproducibility in the absence of publication bias or p hacking, when assessing realistic biological effects in heterogeneous neuroscience data, and given typically‐used sample sizes.
The effects of fiscal governance on fiscal performance in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Nabieu Gladys A. A. , Bokpin Godfred A. , Osei Achampong K. , Asuming Patrick O. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractFiscal governance implemented around the globe offer useful information on the potential viable reasons for its increasing dependence and their implication for fiscal performance. This paper investigates the effects of fiscal governance in explaining the fiscal performance of countries in Africa. The paper uses a panel data of 43 countries from worldwide databases spanning from 1985 to 2011. The random effects model approach is used to analyse the data based on the diagnostic tests. Additionally, the panel corrected standard errors and Hausmann and Taylor estimation models are used to test the robustness of our results to further correct for possible errors and endogeneity in the regressors. The empirical analysis shows that fiscal policy rules and institutions have statistically significant effect on fiscal performance. The results from all the methods indicate higher coefficients of the expenditure rule relative to the other rules. This trend suggests the suitability of the adoption of the expenditure rule within the Sub‐Saharan African environment. This could be partly explained by the fact that, the restrictions placed on expenditures with the aim of controlling excessive spending behaviours of fiscal authorities have been very successful in influencing fiscal deficits in Sub‐Saharan Africa. This study contributes to the literature on the implication of the adoption of fiscal governance in African countries. The policy message to stakeholders is that, fiscal governance should be further strengthened to improve fiscal performance.
Appropriate strategies to establish knowledge‐based companies: Evidence from Iran
Authors: Fallah Haghighi Negin , Mirtorabi Mahdieh Sadat , Bijani Masoud , Valizadeh Naser 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe study aimed to put forward appropriate strategies for establishment of knowledge‐based companies (KBCs) in Iran. The statistical population included faculty members as founders of KBCs at Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST). The strategies were then suggested based on threats, opportunities, weaknesses, and strengths (TOWS) matrix. Priority analysis of strategies revealed that “using technical skills, commercializing technical knowledge, and practicalizing inventions and research results to develop high technologies” was the most prioritized offensive (aggressive) strategy, “practicalizing inventions and research results and commercializing internal technical knowledge as well as brining the IROST's brand together with that of KBCs to improve trust of business environment in domestic products” was of top priority as a competitive (diversification) strategy, “amending or revising rules and regulations, procedures, and executive policies of intellectual property (IP) rights along with commercializing and giving scientific/intellectual value to KBCs to support entrepreneurship and innovative programs aimed at developing high technologies and production of strategic raw materials” was advocated as a priority among conservative (contingent) strategies, and “amending or revising rules and regulations, procedures, and executive policies of IP rights along with commercializing and giving scientific/intellectual value to KBCs to reduce information rents and reproduction of knowledge‐based products” was recognized as the most prioritized defensive strategy. Results of cluster analysis to classify these strategies in terms of time also demonstrated that out of the 14 strategies identified, two of them were of crash type, eight cases were labelled as short‐term, two strategies were mid‐term, and two cases were selected as long‐term ones.
Aggregate insider trading and future market returns in theUnited States, Europe, and Asia
Authors: Malliouris Dennis D. , Vermorken Alphons T. , Vermorken Maximilian A.M. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractUsing a well‐established methodology to measure aggregate insider trading, this exploratory study examines the relation between aggregate insider trading and future stock market returns. Analysing a unique data set of more than 1.3 million individual insider transactions in 16,893 US, European, and Asian firms between 2003 and 2017, we provide novel results for a multitude of countries. We find that the null‐hypothesis (i.e., aggregate insider trading is not related to future stock market returns and thus corporate insiders cannot forecast economy‐wide trends) cannot be unanimously rejected for all 32 countries in the sample. Aggregate insider trading in the United States, Asia, China, Hong Kong, and India is coherently positively associated with future market returns according to two aggregate insider sentiment indicators. For Switzerland, Sweden, Poland, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines we further find limited evidence indicating a positive association between aggregate insider trading and future index returns. On the contrary, there is some evidence that in Germany, Austria, Ireland, and Denmark aggregate insider trading is negatively associated with future market returns. Implications and further research opportunities are discussed.
Encapsulation effect of π‐conjugated quaterthiophene on the radial breathing and tangential modes of semiconducting and metallic single‐walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Chenouf Jamal , Boutahir Mourad , Fakrach Brahim , Rahmani Abdelhai , Chadli Hassane , Hermet Patrick , Mejía‐López Jose , Rahmani Abdelali 
Published: August 2020

AbstractWe developed a hybrid approach, combining the density functional theory, molecular mechanics, bond polarizability model and the spectral moment's method to compute the nonresonant Raman spectra of a single quaterthiophene (4T) molecule encapsulated into a single‐walled carbon nanotube (metallic or semiconducting). We reported the optimal tube diameter allowing the 4T encapsulation. The influence of the encapsulation on the Raman modes of the 4T molecule and those of the nanotube (radial breathing modes and tangential modes) are analyzed. An eventual charge transfer between the 4T oligomer and the nanotube is discussed.
Communicating our way to engaged volunteers: A mediated process model of volunteer communication, engagement, and commitment
Authors: Trent Sheridan B. , Allen Joseph A. , Prange Kelly A. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractRetaining productive volunteers is an essential issue nonprofit organizations face, as volunteers help extend nonprofits' services to their target populations. The current study examined two facets of communication, perception of voice (i.e., upward communication) and satisfaction with communication (i.e., downward communication), as well as training, as important volunteer management practices with respect to facilitating volunteer engagement and commitment using both psychological contract and social exchange theories as the framework. One‐hundred and seventy‐one volunteers from two nonprofit organizations were surveyed to assess their satisfaction with the communication processes at their respective agencies, as well as their level of engagement, commitment, and perception of the training they received for their volunteer roles. Volunteer perceptions of both upward and downward communication were found to be indirectly related to organizational commitment through engagement. In addition, results indicated that volunteer training practices moderated the effects of upward and downward communication on engagement and commitment. Findings suggested that upward and downward communication are important predictors of volunteer engagement and commitment. Furthermore, providing training may help to strengthen these indirect effects.
Complex assessment of relationship quality within dyads
Authors: Reblin Maija , Vaughn Allison A. , Birmingham Wendy C. , Smith Timothy W. , Uchino Bert N. , Spahr Chandler M. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractHigher quality relationships have been linked to improved outcomes; however, the measurement of relationship quality often ignores its complexity and the possibility of co‐occurring positivity and negativity across different contexts. The goal of this study is to test the added benefit of including multiple dimensions, contexts, and perspectives of relationship quality from both individuals in predicting marital functioning. The Social Relationships Index assessed positive and negative dimensions of relationship quality under neutral, positive, and support‐seeking contexts for 183 heterosexual married couples. Models showed that the inclusion of multiple dimensions of relationship quality across all three contexts improved prediction of marital functioning for both women and men. The use of multidimensional multicontextual relationship quality assessments is highly recommended.
Social support as a mediator of occupational stressors and mental health outcomes in first responders
Authors: Kshtriya Sowmya , Kobezak Holly M. , Popok Paula , Lawrence Jacqueline , Lowe Sarah R. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis cross‐sectional study aimed to address whether occupational stressors are associated with adverse mental health outcomes in first responders via lower social support. A total of 895 first responders including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and firefighters from 50 US States and the Virgin Islands (mean = 37.32, standard deviation = 12.09, 59.2% male, and 91.3% White) completed an online survey. Bivariate analyses indicated that occupational stressors were positively correlated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression (MD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms, and negatively correlated with social support, whereas social support was negatively correlated with PTSD, MD, and GAD symptoms. Mediation analyses revealed significant indirect effects of occupational stressors on PTSD, MD, and GAD symptoms via social support, after controlling for covariates. Although longitudinal research is needed for a more robust examination of this pathway, the results highlight the importance of social support in first responders. Efforts to augment the support systems of first responders are recommended.
Targeted mutagenesis of EOD3 gene in Brassica napus L. regulates seed production
Authors: Khan Muhammad H. U. , Hu Limin , Zhu Miaoshan , Zhai Yungu , Khan Shahid U. , Ahmar Sunny , Amoo Olalekan , Zhang Kunpeng , Fan Chuchuan , Zhou Yongming 
Published: August 2020

AbstractSeed size and number are central to the evolutionary fitness of plants and are also crucial for seed production of crops. However, the molecular mechanisms of seed production control are poorly understood in Brassica crops. Here, we report the gene cloning, expression analysis, and functional characterization of the EOD3/CYP78A6 gene in rapeseed. BnaEOD3 has four copies located in two subgenomes, which exhibited a steady higher expression during seed development with differential expression among copies. The targeted mutations of BnaEOD3 gene were efficiently generated by stable transformation of the CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat) vector. These mutations were stably transmitted to T1 and T2 generations and a large collection of homozygous mutants with combined loss‐of‐function alleles across four BnaEOD3 copies were created for phenotyping. All mutant T1 lines had shorter siliques, smaller seeds, and an increased number of seeds per silique, in which the quadrable mutants showed the most significant changes in these traits. Consequently, the seed weight per plant in the quadrable mutants increased by 13.9% on average compared with that of wild type, indicating that these BnaEOD3 copies have redundant functions in seed development in rapeseed. The phenotypes of the different allelic combinations of BnaEOD3 copies also revealed gene functional differentiation among the two subgenomes. Cytological observations indicated that the BnaEOD3 could act maternally to promote cotyledon cell expansion and proliferation to regulate seed growth in rapeseed. Collectively, our findings reveal the quantitative involvement of the different BnaEOD3 copies function in seed development, but also provided valuable resources for rapeseed breeding programs.
Evaluating and modeling biological sulfur production in the treatment of sulfide‐laden streams containing ammonium
Authors: Cueto David , Mora Mabel , Gabriel David 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDBiological treatment of effluents containing H2S and ammonium are of great interest as both can trigger serious environmental problems when disposed of. The aim of this study was to optimize the production of biosulfur from the partial oxidation of sulfide in sulfide‐ and ammonium‐containing streams. Biological performance was evaluated under various aerating conditions and key kinetic parameters were adjusted based on an existing mathematical model adapted to this system.RESULTSAn optimal conversion of sulfide to S0 of 86% (w/w) was found at an oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) of −380 ± 10 mV and at an O2/S2− molar ratio of 0.44. Partial nitrification was observed at ORP higher than −200 mV and in excess of oxygen supply. Sulfide‐oxidizing bacteria (SOB) outcompeted ammonium‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in the competition for dissolved oxygen. In a modeling effort, the maximum specific growth rate for SOB, the sulfur shrinking kinetic constant, the maximum specific growth rate for AOB and the AOB oxygen half‐saturation constant were adjusted to 10.1 day−1, 0.3 mg2/3 VSS mg−2/3 S, 1.75 day−1 and 1.5 mg L−1, respectively, during model calibration.CONCLUSIONSOptimal S0 production was found under limiting O2 conditions in which AOB were not able to outcompete SOB. The mathematical model described satisfactorily the experimental profiles for ammonium, nitrite, sulfide and sulfate as a function of the aeration flow rate. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI)