bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy based iterative matting technique for underwater images
Authors: Amin Benish , Riaz M Mohsin , Ghafoor Abdul 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe paper presents an iterative matting technique for extraction of underwater objects from images. The technique adopts histogram division and stretching to obtain multiple images of different contrast levels that exhibit all image details. For each contrast image, alpha matte is produced and is further refined with every iteration. In the end, fuzzy weights are assigned to the alpha mattes obtained at different contrast levels that are combined using weighted average. The resultant alpha matte thus includes more accurate pixels from multiple alpha mattes and generates much refined matte image. The proposed technique is tested, visually and quantitatively, on a manual dataset containing 50 images. The less MSE shows that the proposed technique achieves noticeably higher accuracy as compared with contemporary image matting techniques.
Performance analysis of a directly modulated semiconductor optical amplifiers using non‐return‐to‐zero, duobinary and quaternary pulse amplitude modulation signalling
Authors: Gutiérrez‐Castrejón Ramón , Fernández‐Segura Osvaldo , Torres‐Ferrera Pablo , Ceballos‐Herrera Daniel Enrique 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACTNumerical investigation was done for the response of two semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA) to direct modulation using three of the most commonly employed intensity modulation formats: non‐return‐to‐zero (NRZ), duobinary (DB) and quaternary pulse amplitude modulation (PAM‐4). It was shown that an optimized SOA not only delivers an average optical power of 18 dBm, but can also be modulated at 25.4, 28.0 and 29.3 Gb/s with the aforementioned formats, respectively. No optical or electronic assistance is considered. The use of spectral‐efficient PAM‐4 thus leads to an improvement of almost 4 Gb/s with respect to NRZ. Slightly faster modulation is reached by operating the SOA deeper into saturation. These figures fall to 12.8, 15.0 and 16.3 Gb/s after 20 km conventional single‐mode fibre propagation in C‐band. Calculation of 10 Gb/s back‐to‐back sensitivities at the low‐density parity‐check forward error correction bit‐error ratio (BER) threshold of 1×10−2 resulted in −24.5, −20.5 and −20.0 dBm for NRZ, DB and PAM‐4 modulations, with a 50 km transmission penalty lower than 3 dB for PAM‐4. This enables the use of directly modulated SOAs as transmitter alternative in high‐loss access networks, such as super‐passive optical networks, provided that further technical improvements can be performed to meet its challenging loss budget.
Horizontal shear instabilities in rotating stellar radiation zones
Authors: Park J. , Prat V. , Mathis S. , Bugnet L. 
Published: December 2020

Context. Stellar interiors are the seat of efficient transport of angular momentum all along their evolution. In this context, understanding the dependence of the turbulent transport triggered by the instabilities of the vertical and horizontal shears of the differential rotation in stellar radiation zones as a function of their rotation, stratification, and thermal diffusivity is mandatory. Indeed, it constitutes one of the cornerstones of the rotational transport and mixing theory, which is implemented in stellar evolution codes to predict the rotational and chemical evolutions of stars.
Aims. We investigate horizontal shear instabilities in rotating stellar radiation zones by considering the full Coriolis acceleration with both the dimensionless horizontal Coriolis component f̃ and the vertical component f.
Methods. We performed a linear stability analysis using linearized equations derived from the Navier-Stokes and heat transport equations in the rotating nontraditional f-plane. We considered a horizontal shear flow with a hyperbolic tangent profile as the base flow. The linear stability was analyzed numerically in wide ranges of parameters, and we performed an asymptotic analysis for large vertical wavenumbers using the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin-Jeffreys (WKBJ) approximation for nondiffusive and highly-diffusive fluids.
Results. As in the traditional f-plane approximation, we identify two types of instabilities: the inflectional and inertial instabilities. The inflectional instability is destabilized as f̃ increases and its maximum growth rate increases significantly, while the thermal diffusivity stabilizes the inflectional instability similarly to the traditional case. The inertial instability is also strongly affected; for instance, the inertially unstable regime is also extended in the nondiffusive limit as 0 < f < 1 + f̃ 2/N2, where N is the dimensionless Brunt-Väisälä frequency. More strikingly, in the high thermal diffusivity limit, it is always inertially unstable at any colatitude θ except at the poles (i.e., 0° < θ <  180°). We also derived the critical Reynolds numbers for the inertial instability using the asymptotic dispersion relations obtained from the WKBJ analysis. Using the asymptotic and numerical results, we propose a prescription for the effective turbulent viscosities induced by the inertial and inflectional instabilities that can be possibly used in stellar evolution models. The characteristic time of this turbulence is short enough so that it is efficient to redistribute angular momentum and to mix chemicals in stellar radiation zones.
Kristallarthropathien und andere Gelenkerkrankungen durch Ablagerungen
Authors: Frohne Inna , Dechant Claudia , Sander Oliver 
Published: December 2020

ZUSAMMENFASSUNGDurch Kristalle und andere Ablagerungen ausgelöste Arthropathien können sich als Zufallsbefund ohne Symptome, aber auch als akute immobilisierende Arthritis eines oder mehrerer Gelenke manifestieren. Sie treten auch koinzident mit anderen Arthropathien und Arthritiden auf. Typisch sind symptomfreie Intervalle. Aber auch chronisch progrediente Erkrankungsverläufe sind bekannt. Die häufigsten Erkrankungen sind durch CPP- und Urat-Kristalle ausgelöst, andere seltenere Ursachen sind die Hämochromatose, Oxalatarthropathie, Ochronose, Lipid- oder Amyloidoseablagerung. Die durch Ablagerungen ausgelösten Arthropathien können damit auch immer ein Indikator für eine Allgemeinerkrankung sein, welche dann einer ganzheitlichen internistischen Betrachtung bedarf. Die Erkrankungswahrscheinlichkeiten nehmen mit dem Alter zu. Neben der typischen Anamnese und Klinik sind die Bildgebung, hier vor allem Ultraschall und die Dual Energy Computertomografie (DECT), die Labordiagnostik inklusive der Synoviaanalyse essenzielle Bausteine der Diagnostik. Die Therapie ist im akuten Schub symptomatisch, sofern möglich sollte eine gezielte Prophylaxe weiterer Ablagerungen erfolgen.
Primäre Immundefekte und Autoimmunität
Authors: Meyer-Bahlburg Almut 
Published: December 2020

ZUSAMMENFASSUNGPrimäre Immundefekte sind seltene angeborene Erkrankungen, die lange Zeit vor allem durch eine erhöhte Infektanfälligkeit und das Auftreten schwerer und opportunistischer Infektionen charakterisiert waren. In den letzten Jahren wurden aber zunehmend primäre Immundefekte identifiziert, bei denen die Immundysregulation im Vordergrund steht und die durch Autoimmunität und Autoinflammation gekennzeichnet sind. Chronische Arthritiden und andere rheumatologische Symptome können dabei nicht nur als Komplikation der Immundefekte auftreten, sondern auch eines der charakteristischen Krankheits-definierenden Symptome darstellen. Gerade im Kindes- und Jugendalter kann die rheumatologische Manifestation zudem als erstes klinisches Symptom des zugrunde liegenden Immundefekts auftreten. Daher ist in der Kinder- und Jugendrheumatologie ein grundlegendes Wissen über primäre Immundefekte unabdingbar. Im folgenden Übersichtsartikel soll ein Überblick über primäre Immundefekte, die mit rheumatologischen Symptomen einhergehen können, gegeben werden. Ein besonderer Fokus liegt dabei auf kürzlich charakterisierten neuen Immundefekten, bei denen die Autoimmunität häufig im Vordergrund steht.
Acute Elevated Resistin Exacerbates Mitochondrial Damage and Aggravates Liver Steatosis Through AMPK/PGC-1α Signaling Pathway in Male NAFLD Mice
Authors: Wen Fengyun , Shi Zhuoyan , Liu Xiaoping , Tan Yuguang , Wei Lan , Zhu Xuemin , Zhang Hui , Zhu Xiaohuan , Meng Xiangmiao , Ji Weixia , Yang Mengting , Lu Zhaoxuan 
Published: December 2020

AbstractResistin was identified as a link between obesity and insulin resistance and is associated with many diseases in mice. Deciphering the related development and molecular mechanism is necessary for the treatment of these diseases. Previous studies have revealed that increased resistin levels are correlated with lipid accumulation and play a role in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development. However, the exact mechanisms underlying these processes remain unclear. To further clarify whether acute elevated resistin level exacerbated liver steatosis, a high-fat diet-induced NAFLD animal model was used and treated with or without resistin for 6 days. We discovered that resistin altered mitochondrial morphology, decreased mitochondrial content, and increased lipid accumulation in HFD mice. qRT-PCR and western blot analysis showed that acute elevated resistin significantly altered the gene expression of mitochondrial biogenesis and liver lipid metabolism molecules in HFD mice. Consequently, in vitro experiments verified that resistin reduced the mitochondrial content, impaired the mitochondrial function and increased the lipid accumulation of palmitate-treated HepG2 cells. Additionally, we demonstrated that resistin upregulated proinflammatory factors, which confirmed that resistin promoted the development of inflammation in NAFLD mice and palmitate-treated HepG2 cells. Signaling-transduction analysis demonstrated that acute elevated resistin aggravated liver steatosis through AMPK/PGC-1α pathway in male mice. This reveals a novel pathway through which lipogenesis is induced by resistin and suggests that maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis may be key to treatments for preventing resistin-induced NAFLD aggravation.
Antimicrobial Screening, in Silico Studies and QSAR of Chalcone-based 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole Hybrids
Authors: Yadav Pinki , Lal Kashmiri , Kumar Ashwani 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe in vitro antimicrobial properties of some chalcones (1a–1c ) and chalcone tethred 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles (2a–2u) towards different microbial strains viz. Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans are reported. Compounds 2g and 2u exhibited better potency than the standard Fluconazole with MIC values of 0.0063 µmol/mL and 0.0068 µmol/mL, respectively. Furthermore, molecular docking was performed to investigate the binding modes of two potent compounds 2q and 2g with E. coli topoisomerase II DNA gyrase B and C. albicans lanosterol 14α-demethylase, respectively. Based on these results, a statistically significant quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) model was successfully summarized for antibacterial activity against B. subtilis.
Saikosaponin D Ameliorates Mechanical Hypersensitivity in Animal Models of Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Lee Gyeongbeen , Nam Yeon-Ju , Kim Woo Jung , Shin Bo Hye , Lee Jong Suk , Park Hwan Tae , Kim Pansoo , Lee Ji Hyun , Choi Yongmun 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWe have previously identified saikosaponins as transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 antagonists and showed that saikosaponin D improves neuropathic pain induced by the anticancer drug vincristine in mice. In order to gain more insight into the therapeutic effects of saikosaponin D, we tested saikosaponin D in animal models of neuropathic pain induced by either streptozotocin, which mimics diabetes, or paclitaxel, a commonly used chemotherapy treatment. Our findings indicate that although saikosaponin D improved pain outcomes in neuropathic pain models, the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of saikosaponin D appear to differ between streptozotocin- and paclitaxel-induced pain. Streptozotocin-induced neuropathic pain was significantly alleviated 30 minutes after oral administration of saikosaponin D, while 1-day oral administration of saikosaponin D had little effect on paclitaxel-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. Attenuation of paclitaxel-induced mechanical hypersensitivity was evident only after repeated administration of saikosaponin D. Although the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of saikosaponin D remain to be elucidated, our results shed new light on the therapeutic potential of saikosaponin D in the management of neuropathic pain caused by diabetes or chemotherapy.
Gefühle und Gedanken von Erwerbsminderungsberenteten zur Rückkehr ins Erwerbsleben
Authors: Bökel Andrea , Nowik Daniel , Sturm Christian , Briest Juliane 
Published: December 2020

Zusammenfassung
Ziel Exploration der Gefühle und Gedanken von Erwerbsminderungsberenteten zur Rückkehr ins Erwerbsleben.
Methodik Im Rahmen einer schriftlichen Befragung von Personen mit zeitlich befristeter Erwerbsminderungsrente beantworteten die Teilnehmenden eine offene Frage, die auf ihre Gedanken und Gefühle im Hinblick auf eine Rückkehr ins Erwerbsleben fokussierte. Die qualitative Inhaltsanalyse wurde als kategorienbildende Textanalyse angewendet.
Ergebnisse Aus 2622 Analyseeinheiten wurden 8 Hauptkategorien induktiv gebildet. Prominente Gefühle im Hinblick auf die Rückkehr ins Erwerbsleben waren Sorgen und Ängste, wie Versagensangst oder das Empfinden von viel Stress und hohem Druck sowie Hoffnungen u.a. auf Erfolgserleben, soziale Kontakte und Anerkennung.
Schlussfolgerung Die Ergebnisse bieten erstmalig eine systematische Darstellung der Thematik anhand subjektiver Beschreibungen der Betreffenden und stellen sie damit als Expertinnen und Experten in den Fokus der wissenschaftlichen Betrachtung.
Guns don’t kill people…: good guys and the legitimization of gun violence
Authors: Stroud Angela 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBuilding on literatures that examine why firearms are appealing and to whom and employing Weber’s concept of “legitimate violence”, this paper utilizes an online concealed carry forum to critically analyze how firearm proliferation is rationalized in the U.S. The analysis focuses on three specific examples of violence—the Parkland, Florida, and Philando Castile shootings, and stories of children who find guns and shoot themselves and/or others. This work is a critical examination of the social construction of “legitimate violence” that deconstructs the discourses embedded in the “pro-gun” notion that the answer to gun violence is more guns.
Mechanisms by which adiponectin reverses high fat diet-induced insulin resistance in mice
Authors: Li Xiruo , Zhang Dongyan , Vatner Daniel F. , Goedeke Leigh , Hirabara Sandro M. , Zhang Ye , Perry Rachel J. , Shulman Gerald I. 
Published: December 2020

Significance
As it is estimated that one in three Americans will suffer from type 2 diabetes by 2050, interventions to ameliorate insulin resistance are of great interest. Adiponectin has emerged as a promising insulin-sensitizing adipokine; however, the mechanisms by which adiponectin administration improves insulin sensitivity are unclear. Here, we show that globular adiponectin (gAcrp30) and full-length adiponectin (Acrp30) reverse insulin resistance in HFD-fed mice through reductions in ectopic lipid in liver and muscle likely by stimulation of LPL activity in eWAT and increased eNOS/AMPK activation and fat oxidation in muscle. These effects, in turn, lead to decreased plasma membrane diacylglycerol content, resulting in decreased PKCε activation in liver and decreased PKCε/PKCθ activity in muscle and improved insulin signaling in these tissues.
Quantifying the dynamics of migration after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico
Authors: Acosta Rolando J. , Kishore Nishant , Irizarry Rafael A. , Buckee Caroline O. 
Published: December 2020

Significance
Understanding the population composition and distribution of a region affected by a major natural disaster is vital for the allocation of resources to communities in need and critical to inform mortality estimates. Currently, the US Census Bureau is the only institution that publishes reliable population estimates for the United States and its territories. Since these are published once per year, it is impossible to use census-based population estimates to assess short-term postdisaster out-of-jurisdiction migration and within-jurisdiction migration. The utilization of social media traces, coupled with mobile phone data, could provide live estimates of postdisaster population changes in disaster-affected areas.
Negation and mood in epistemic contexts
Authors: Gielau Elizabeth 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
This squib examines mood contrasts in Spanish and
(Modern) Greek. It is argued that the dual interpretation of
negation, first analyzed in Horn’s (1989) seminal work, can provide new insights for
mood contrasts in negated epistemic contexts. I show that
metalinguistic (narrow-scope) negation of Spanish
creo ‘I believe’ and Greek
pistévo ‘I believe’ entails an intentional,
rather than intensional, pragmatic function: the speaker wishes to
reserve truth-value judgment, resulting in an unevaluated
propositional complement. In intentional contexts, the subjunctive
is exhibited in Spanish, and the indicative in Greek. I suggest that
the subjunctive is exhibited in Spanish because unevaluated
propositions fail to update the context, in keeping with Farkas (2003). Conversely,
the indicative surfaces in Greek because unevaluated propositions
are not non-veridical, aligning with Giannakidou (1997, 1998, 1999, 2006,
2009, 2013). I then
extend the investigation to emotive predicates, another context of
mood variation, providing more evidence that metalinguistic negation
marks unassertive propositional complements.
The complicated timeline of Spanish
Authors: O’Neill Sarah , Shea Christine 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Sound change is a dynamic process that shapes the
phonology and lexicon of a language across a language’s history. The
existence of loanwords and cultismos
(learned forms) complicate this process. Not
all words are equally subjected to sound change. In Spanish,
cultismos and loanwords often exhibit
characteristics that differ from derived words
(words that underwent regular phonological sound changes in
Spanish). In either instance, the resulting word differs from other
items in the Spanish lexicon. We discuss the significance of
loanwords and cultismos for the Spanish lexicon. We
suggest that although they result in less regularity across the
lexicon, there are also consistent patterns that arise. Through
these ‘regular irregularities,’ speakers may build associations
between lexical forms and possibly access them to facilitate lexical
activation.
Spanish impersonal se in control infinitivals
and the ungrammaticality of se se sequences
Authors: MacDonald Jonathan E. , Vázquez-Lozares Almike 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
In this paper, we offer an analysis of impersonal
se (Impse) constructions in control
infinitivals. We claim that se itself spells out
the valued version of the [uD] feature that Holmberg (2010) and Roberts (2010) propose is a property of T
in consistent null subject languages. As a corollary, we link
Impse constructions to the consistent null subject
status of a language (in the spirit of Belletti, 1982). Moreover, we claim that in
Impse constructions there is a projected null
external argument (pro
se) interpreted as non-referential because of the valued
version of Holmberg’s [uD] feature in T that se
spells out. We also argue that ungrammatical sequences of
Impse and other se result from the
featural deficiency of pro
se; specifically, it lacks a specification for
number.
System-Level Factors Shaping the Implementation of “Hub and Spoke” Systems to Expand MOUD in Rural Areas
Authors: Snell-Rood Claire , Willging Cathleen , Showalter David , Peters Hannah , Pollini Robin A. 
Published: December 2020

Background Hub and spoke systems (HSS) are increasingly promoted as a systems-level intervention to expand access to medication for opioid use disorders (MOUD), particularly in rural areas with limited treatment options. The HSS model consists of sub-systems in which “hubs” deliver specialized expertise to a regional network of office-based opioid treatment (OBOT) providers in “spokes,” who together create a continuum of acute and chronic care. Yet, little is known about system-level factors (e.g., system structure, financing) that influence HSS implementation and sustainability in rural areas. Methods For this case study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with substance use disorder treatment providers ( N = 26) and system-level stakeholders ( N = 16) in five rural HSS sub-systems throughout one state. We undertook iterative textual analysis of interview transcripts, identifying and coding themes related to key implementation constructs associated with the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation and Sustainability (EPIS) framework. Results California policy-makers adopted HSS to expand rural access to opioid treatment programs (OTPs, i.e., providers of methadone and other medications for opioid use disorder). However, stakeholders questioned the model's fit for rural regions featuring few established OTPs that could function as hubs and critiqued its treatment-focused approach, felt to sideline harm reduction service providers. Contracts to serve rural regions were awarded entirely to for-profit methadone providers, contributing to stigma and distrust among many buprenorphine providers whose organizations were later recruited as spokes. While hubs offered financial resources enabling some spokes to expand MOUD, the needs of spokes varied considerably. Relationships between hubs and spokes to facilitate the care continuum under HSS were restricted by limited behavioral health resources and the large distances characterizing rural California. Conclusions This case study reveals how rural contextual factors such as geography and behavioral healthcare resource availability can dramatically influence differential HSS implementation.