bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The discontinuous Galerkin method for discretely observed Asian options
Authors: Hozman Jiří , Tichý Tomáš 
Published: January 2020

Asian options represent an important subclass of the path‐dependent contracts that are identified by payoff depending on the average of the underlying asset prices over the prespecified period of option lifetime. Commonly, this average is observed at discrete dates, and also, early exercise features can be admitted. As a result, analytical pricing formulae are not always available. Therefore, some form of a numerical approximation is essential for efficient option valuation. In this paper, we study a PDE model for pricing discretely observed arithmetic Asian options with fixed as well as floating strike for both European and American exercise features. The pricing equation for such options is similar to the Black‐Scholes equation with 1 underlying asset, and the corresponding average appears only in the jump conditions across the sampling dates. The objective of the paper is to present the comprehensive methodological concept that forms and improves the valuation process. We employ a robust numerical procedure based on the discontinuous Galerkin approach arising from the piecewise polynomial generally discontinuous approximations. This technique enables a simple treatment of discrete sampling by incorporation of jump conditions at each monitoring date. Moreover, an American early exercise constraint is directly handled as an additional nonlinear source term in the pricing equation. The proposed solving procedure is accompanied by an empirical study with practical results compared to reference values.
Mechanical and thermal properties of Carpinas betulus fiber filled polypropylene composites
Authors: Atagur Metehan , Seki Yasemin , Pasaoglu Yigit , Sever Kutlay , Seki Yoldas , Sarikanat Mehmet , Altay Lutfiye 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe aim of this study is to demonstrate whether Carpinus betulus L. (CB) powder can be used as an alternative filler/reinforcement material for polypropylene (PP). About 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt% CB loaded PP composites were prepared by a high‐speed thermokinetic mixer. In this article, the effects of weight fraction of CB within PP on thermal, viscoelastic, chemical, mechanical, crystallographic, and morphological properties of PP composites were investigated by tensile and three‐point bending test, dynamic mechanic analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Melting temperature of the composites decreased with the increase of CB content. The crystallization temperature of PP increased with the addition of CB into PP. When 10 wt% CB filler was loaded into PP, the tensile of PP increased by about 29 wt%. The storage modulus of PP were remarkably enhanced with increasing CB weight fraction. About 5 wt% CB addition into PP increased the flexural strength of PP by about 32%.
Microbial carbon and nitrogen processes in high‐Arctic riparian soils
Authors: Pastor Ada , Poblador Sílvia , Skovsholt Louis J. , Riis Tenna 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe aim of this work was to assess the biogeochemical role of riparian soils in the High Arctic to determine to what extent these soils may act as sources or sinks of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). To do so, we compared two riparian areas that varied in riparian vegetation coverage and soil physical perturbation (i.e., thermo‐erosion gully) in NE Greenland (74°N) during late summer. Microbial soil respiration (0.4–3.2 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1) was similar to values previously found across vegetation types in the same area and increased with higher temperatures, soil column depth and soil organic C degradation. Riparian soils had low nitrate concentrations (0.02–0.64 μg N‐NO3− g−1), negligible net nitrification rates and negative net N mineralization rates (−0.58 to 0.33 μg N g−1 day−1), thus indicating efficient microbial N uptake due to low N availability. We did not find any effects of physical perturbation on soil respiration or on N processing, but the dissolved fraction of organic matter in the soil was one order of magnitude lower on the disturbed site. Overall, our results suggest that riparian soils are small N sources to high‐Arctic streams and that a depleted dissolved organic C pool in disturbed soils may decrease exports to the adjacent streams under climate change projection.
Observational evidence of the preferential occurrence of wind convergence over sea surface temperature fronts in the Mediterranean
Authors: Meroni Agostino N. , Giurato Michele , Ragone Francesco , Pasquero Claudia 
Published: January 2020

AbstractAir and sea interact on a wide range of scales, shaping climate and influencing weather. The direct effect of sea surface temperature (SST) structures on the extratropical atmosphere at the daily time‐scale is generally masked by the large variability associated with atmospheric dynamics. With 25 years of daily SST and surface wind observational products, obtained with data from buoys, satellite and atmospheric analysis in the Mediterranean, we show that strong surface wind convergence preferentially occurs when the air encounters a cold SST front. The mechanism responsible for the influence of ocean fronts on surface winds is rooted in the thermal disequilibrium that emerges at the air–sea interface, where cold water enhances the stability of the boundary layer, decoupling surface winds from the stronger winds aloft. Surface convergence drives upward motion which, under appropriate conditions, favours cloud formation. Thus, these results suggest that weather forecast models need to properly represent the small‐scale ocean thermal structures, which could affect rainfall.
Accurate theoretical prediction of optical properties of BODIPY dyes
Authors: Matulis Vitaly E. , Ragoyja Ekaterina G. , Ivashkevich Oleg A. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBoron‐dipyrromethene dyes (BODIPY) are of great interest nowadays mostly due to their valuable optical properties. Nevertheless, no systematic research of the optical property dependence on the structure of dyes has been performed yet. In this work, analysis of the available quantum‐chemical methods for BODIPY optical property calculations has been carried out. The accuracy of eight DFT functionals has been studied. The solvation effects upon excitation have been considered within two schemes. The methods that predict the absorption and emission spectra of BODIPY derivatives with high accuracy have been proposed. Using the suggested methods, the influence of nature of substituents and their position in the BODIPY core on the optical spectra of the dyes has been studied. A complex pattern of red‐ and blue‐shifts in optical spectra in dependence of nature and position of substituents has been revealed. The results of this work provide the way for efficient design of BODIPY derivatives with desired optical properties.
Reptile community responses to native and non‐native riparian forests and disturbance along two rivers in Arizona
Authors: Bateman Heather L. , Riddle Sidney B. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractAridland riparian forests are undergoing compositional changes in vegetation and wildlife communities due to altered hydrology. As flows have been modified, woody vegetation has shifted from native‐tree dominated to non‐native and shrub encroached habitats. Squamate vertebrates such as lizards and snakes are important food web links in riparian ecosystems of the Sonoran Desert. However, little is known about how these communities might respond as riparian forests transition from native tree dominated habitats to open xeroriparian woodlands. We used pitfall arrays deployed across three types of riparian forest to document reptile community patterns, measure vegetation, and produce species‐habitat models. Riparian forests differed on the basis of habitat composition and physiognomy. Two types, cottonwood‐willow (Populus‐Salix) and mesquite (Prosopis) stands, were characterized by high woody species richness. The third type, non‐native saltcedar (Tamarix) stands, had high densities of woody debris and greater canopy coverage. Results show that lizards were common and abundances greatest in cottonwood‐willow, especially for arboreal species. Species‐habitat models for three of five lizard species indicated a negative association to saltcedar‐invaded habitat and no species appeared to select saltcedar‐dominated habitat. Mesquite was an intermediate habitat between upland and riparian, and supports high species diversity. A wildfire in the cottonwood‐willow forest disproportionately affected abundance of ground‐foraging whiptail (Aspidoscelis) lizards; whereas, abundance of arboreal spiny (Sceloporus) species was unchanged. Expected drivers from climate and water use could transition cottonwood forests to other woody‐dominated types. Our results suggest that mesquite woodlands would provide higher quality habitat for riparian reptiles compared to non‐native saltcedar stands.
1,3,5‐Triphenylpyrazoline Based Fluorescent Probe for Selective Sensing and Imaging of Glutathione in Live Cell under Oxidative Stress
Authors: Subramaniyan Siva Bala , Annes Sesuraj Babiola , Yuvasri Manokaran , Nivedha Kolanchinathan , Ramesh Subburethinam , Anbazhagan Veerappan 
Published: January 2020

AbstractHerein, a facile method to synthesize the fluorescence probe 1‐(4‐(1,5‐diphenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazol‐3‐yl)phenyl)‐1H‐pyrrole‐2,5‐dione (probe 10) was reported. The relative quantum yield determined using quinine sulfate for the probe 10 is 42% in 100% acetonitrile (ACN), which was reduced to 6% in 10% ACN‐water system. The turn‐off probe 10 becomes turn‐on selectively in the presence of glutathione (GSH). The Probe 10 is highly sensitive to GSH in the presence of common interfering molecules like cysteine, N‐acetylcysteine, thioglycolic acid, mercaptoethanol, and mercaptopropionoic acid. The limit of detection is 0.06 μM. The practical use of the probe 10 was demonstrated through quantifying GSH (1.68 mM) in the blood serum of healthy person, artificial cerebrospinal fluid, and artificial urine. Probe 10 works on a wide range of pH 2–12. Cells expressing GSH can be imaged using probe 10 and also useful in analysing the percentage of GSH in the cells under oxidative stress.
Mechanically Induced N‐arylation of Amines with Diaryliodonium Salts
Authors: Jiang Jun , Li Jianjun 
Published: January 2020

AbstractDiaryliodonium salts are stable and less toxic arylation reagents widely used in organic chemistry. Various N‐arylated compounds have been prepared with diaryliodonium salts in the past decades. Taking the advantages of their superiority, herein, we have developed two novel arylation methods of amines with diaryliodonium salts by ball milling for the preparation of diarylamines. The protocols are highlighted by operational simplicity, mild conditions and broad functional group tolerance. It is found that the reaction undergoes the cross‐coupling pathway as amines milled with diaryliodonium salts in the presence of catalyst CuI. The ball milled organic reaction of amines by liquid‐assisted grinding in the absence of transition metals follows a radical mechanism.
Process Optimization of Potassium Release from K–Feldspar by Combining Calcination and Hydrothermal Method
Authors: Liu Shanke , Han Cheng , Liu Jianming 
Published: January 2020

AbstractAn optimized process of the hydrothermal treatment of potassium feldspar (K‐feldspar) and lime to obtain a potash alternative is reported. The optimization did not change a two‐key‐step process and only modified the first step, in which K‐feldspar was calcined together with calcium carbonate. However, this modified treatment greatly improved the dissolution of K‐feldspar, and the released K+Al+Si content was increased by 43 %. Phase analysis showed that new phases (i. e., leucite, larnite, and portlandite) appeared, and the structure of K‐feldspar was destroyed during calcination. After the hydrothermal reaction (i. e., the second step), many new mineral phases were generated: bütschliite, calcite, hibschite, tobermorite, and alpha‐dicalcium silicate hydrate. Therefore, the optimized product showed better physicochemical properties. In addition, the activity of lime was investigated to evaluate its effect on the hydrothermal dissolution of K‐feldspar. The optimized hydrothermal product, as a potential commodity, was evaluated from technological and environmental points of view.
Effects of a professional development program on science teacher knowledge and practice, and student understanding of interdisciplinary science concepts
Authors: Yang Yang , Liu Xiufeng , Gardella Joseph A. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractSituated in the context of an in‐service professional development (PD) program focused on Interdisciplinary Science Inquiry, this quantitative study tests the validity of and further explores the theoretical model adapted from Desimone's (2009), Educational Researcher, 38, 181–199 conceptual framework on effectiveness of PD. The participants include 204 teachers and 5,581 students within 12 local public schools from 2012 to 2016. The multilevel models indicate that PD participation, school‐, and teacher‐level factors influence teacher pedagogical content knowledge and inquiry instruction in different ways. Furthermore, the inquiry instruction significantly relates student understanding of interdisciplinary science concepts (ISCs) through a few mediators. Therefore, this study reinforces calls to provide teachers with high quality PD and contributes to current knowledge base of the mechanisms of how inquiry instruction influences students' understanding of ISCs.
Economics and mental health: the current scenario
Authors: Knapp Martin , Wong Gloria 
Published: January 2020

Economics and mental health are intertwined. Apart from the accumulating evidence of the huge economic impacts of mental ill‐health, and the growing recognition of the effects that economic circumstances can exert on mental health, governments and other budget‐holders are putting increasing emphasis on economic data to support their decisions. Here we consider how economic evaluation (including cost‐effectiveness analysis, cost‐utility analysis and related techniques) can contribute evidence to inform the development of mental health policy strategies, and to identify some consequences at the treatment or care level that are of relevance to service providers and funding bodies. We provide an update and reflection on economic evidence relating to mental health using a lifespan perspective, analyzing costs and outcomes to shed light on a range of pressing issues. The past 30 years have witnessed a rapid growth in mental health economics, but major knowledge gaps remain. Across the lifespan, clearer evidence exists in the areas of perinatal depression identification‐plus‐treatment; risk‐reduction of mental health problems in childhood and adolescence; scaling up treatment, particularly psychotherapy, for depression; community‐based early intervention and employment support for psychosis; and cognitive stimulation and multicomponent carer interventions for dementia. From this discussion, we pull out the main challenges that are faced when trying to take evidence from research and translating it into policy or practice recommendations, and from there to actual implementation in terms of better treatment and care.
Gauging 1-form center symmetries in simple SU(N) gauge theories
Authors: Bolognesi Stefano , Konishi Kenichi , Luzio Andrea 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Consequences of gauging exact $$ {\mathbb{Z}}_k^C $$

ℤ
k
C

center symmetries in several simple SU(N) gauge theories, where k is a divisor of N, are investigated. Models discussed include: the SU(N) gauge theory with Nf copies of Weyl fermions in self-adjoint single-column antisymmetric representation, the well-discussed adjoint QCD, QCD-like theories in which the quarks are in a two-index representation of SU(N), and a chiral SU(N) theory with fermions in the symmetric as well as in anti-antisymmetric representations but without fundamentals. Mixed 't Hooft anomalies between the 1-form $$ {\mathbb{Z}}_k^C $$

ℤ
k
C

symmetry and some 0- form (standard) discrete symmetry provide us with useful information about the infrared dynamics of the system. In some cases they give decisive indication to select only few possiblities for the infrared phase of the theory.
The cannabinoid ligands SR141716A and AM251 enhance human and mouse islet function via GPR55-independent signalling
Authors: Ruz-Maldonado Inmaculada , Liu Bo , Atanes Patricio , Pingitore Attilio , Huang Guo Cai , Choudhary Pratik , Persaud Shanta J. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractAimsEndocannabinoids are lipid mediators involved in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. They interact with the canonical cannabinoid receptors CB1and CB2, and it is now apparent that some cannabinoid receptor ligands are also agonists at GPR55. Thus, CB1antagonists such as SR141716A, also known as rimonabant, and AM251 act as GPR55 agonists in some cell types. The complex pharmacological properties of cannabinoids make it difficult to fully identify the relative importance of CB1and GPR55 in the functional effects of SR141716A, and AM251. Here, we determine whether SR141716A and AM251 regulation of mouse and human islet function is through their action as GPR55 agonists.MethodsIslets isolated fromGpr55+/+andGpr55−/−mice and human donors were incubated in the absence or presence of 10 µM SR141716A or AM251, concentrations that are known to activate GPR55. Insulin secretion, cAMP, IP1, apoptosis and β-cell proliferation were quantified by standard techniques.ResultsOur results provide the first evidence that SR141716A and AM251 are not GPR55 agonists in islets, as their effects are maintained in islets isolated fromGpr55−/−mice. Their signalling through Gq-coupled cascades to induce insulin secretion and human β-cell proliferation, and protect against apoptosis in vitro,indicate that they have direct beneficial effects on islet function.ConclusionThese observations may be useful in directing development of peripherally restricted novel therapeutics that are structurally related to SR141716A and AM251, and which potentiate glucose-induced insulin secretion and stimulate β-cell proliferation.
Application of artificial neural networks for automated analysis of cystoscopic images: a review of the current status and future prospects
Authors: Negassi Misgana , Suarez-Ibarrola Rodrigo , Hein Simon , Miernik Arkadiusz , Reiterer Alexander 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundOptimal detection and surveillance of bladder cancer (BCa) rely primarily on the cystoscopic visualization of bladder lesions. AI-assisted cystoscopy may improve image recognition and accelerate data acquisition.ObjectiveTo provide a comprehensive review of machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL) and convolutional neural network (CNN) applications in cystoscopic image recognition.Evidence acquisitionA detailed search of original articles was performed using the PubMed-MEDLINE database to identify recent English literature relevant to ML, DL and CNN applications in cystoscopic image recognition.Evidence synthesisIn total, two articles and one conference abstract were identified addressing the application of AI methods in cystoscopic image recognition. These investigations showed accuracies exceeding 90% for tumor detection; however, future work is necessary to incorporate these methods into AI-aided cystoscopy and compared to other tumor visualization tools. Furthermore, we present results from the RaVeNNA-4pi consortium initiative which has extracted 4200 frames from 62 videos, analyzed them with the U-Net network and achieved an average dice score of 0.67. Improvements in its precision can be achieved by augmenting the video/frame database.ConclusionAI-aided cystoscopy has the potential to outperform urologists at recognizing and classifying bladder lesions. To ensure their real-life implementation, however, these algorithms require external validation to generalize their results across other data sets.
Overexpression of mitochondrial creatine kinase preserves cardiac energetics without ameliorating murine chronic heart failure
Authors: Cao Fang , Maguire Mahon L. , McAndrew Debra J. , Lake Hannah A. , Neubauer Stefan , Zervou Sevasti , Schneider Jürgen E. , Lygate Craig A. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractMitochondrial creatine kinase (Mt-CK) is a major determinant of cardiac energetic status and is down-regulated in chronic heart failure, which may contribute to disease progression. We hypothesised that cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of Mt-CK would mitigate against these changes and thereby preserve cardiac function. Male Mt-CK overexpressing mice (OE) and WT littermates were subjected to transverse aortic constriction (TAC) or sham surgery and assessed by echocardiography at 0, 3 and 6 weeks alongside a final LV haemodynamic assessment. Regardless of genotype, TAC mice developed progressive LV hypertrophy, dilatation and contractile dysfunction commensurate with pressure overload-induced chronic heart failure. There was a trend for improved survival in OE-TAC mice (90% vs 73%, P = 0.08), however, OE-TAC mice exhibited greater LV dilatation compared to WT and no functional parameters were significantly different under baseline conditions or during dobutamine stress test. CK activity was 37% higher in OE-sham versus WT-sham hearts and reduced in both TAC groups, but was maintained above normal values in the OE-TAC hearts. A separate cohort of mice received in vivo cardiac 31P-MRS to measure high-energy phosphates. There was no difference in the ratio of phosphocreatine-to-ATP in the sham mice, however, PCr/ATP was reduced in WT-TAC but preserved in OE-TAC (1.04 ± 0.10 vs 2.04 ± 0.22; P = 0.007). In conclusion, overexpression of Mt-CK activity prevented the changes in cardiac energetics that are considered hallmarks of a failing heart. This had a positive effect on early survival but was not associated with improved LV remodelling or function during the development of chronic heart failure.
Alteration of brain temperature and systemic inflammation in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Chen Hsiu-Ling , Yamada Kei , Sakai Koji , Lu Cheng-Hsien , Chen Meng-Hsiang , Lin Wei-Che 
Published: January 2020

AbstractObjectivesParkinson’s disease (PD) is known to be related to various factors, including neuroinflammation, increased oxidative stress, and brain temperature alteration. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between these factors using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) thermometry and blood tests of systemic inflammation.MethodsFrom July 2012 to Jun 2017, 103 patients with PD (44 men and 59 women; mean age, 60.43 ± 9.12 years) and 106 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers (48 men and 58 women; mean age, 58.16 ± 8.45 years) retrospectively underwent magnetic resonance DWI thermometry to estimate brain intraventricular temperature (Tv). Subjects were divided into three subgroups in light of their ages. The tested inflammatory markers included plasma nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA, apoptotic leukocytes, and serum adhesion molecules. The correlations among theTvvalues, clinical severity, and systemic inflammatory markers were then calculated.ResultsThe PD patients did not show a natural trend of decline inTvwith age. Comparisons among the different age groups revealed that the younger PD subjects had significantly lowerTvvalues than the younger controls, but the older subjects had no significant group differences. Overall, the PD patients exhibited lowerTvvalues than the controls, as well as increased oxidative stress. The brain temperature showed positive correlations with inflammatory markers, including plasma nuclear DNA and L-selectin levels, in all the subjects.ConclusionsPossible pathophysiological correlations between systemic inflammation and brain temperature were indicated by the results of this study, a finding which may aid us in investigating the underlying pathogenesis of PD.