bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hierarchical planning in a supervisory control context with compositional abstraction
Authors: Vilela Juliana , Hill Richard 
Published: September 2021

AbstractHierarchy is a tool that has been applied to improve the scalability of solving planning problems modeled using Supervisory Control Theory. In the work of Hill and Lafortune (2016), the notion of cost equivalence was employed to generate an abstraction of the supervisor that, with additional conditions, guarantees that an optimal plan generated on the abstraction is also optimal when applied to the full supervisor. Their work is able to improve their abstraction by artificially giving transitions zero cost based on the sequentially-dependent ordering of events. Here, we relax the requirement on a specific ordering of the dependent events, while maintaining the optimal relationship between upper and lower levels of the hierarchy. This present paper also extends the authors’ work (Vilela and Hill 2020) where we developed a new notion of equivalence based on cost equivalence and weak bisimulation that we term priced-observation equivalence. This equivalence allows the supervisor abstraction to be generated compositionally. This helps to avoid the explosion of the state space that arises from having to first synthesize the full supervisor before the abstraction can be applied. Here, we also show that models with artificial zero-cost transitions can be created compositionally employing the new relaxed sequential dependence definition. An example cooperative robot control application is used to demonstrate the improvements achieved by the compositional approach to abstraction proposed by this paper.
Disentangling atmospheric compositions of K2-18 b with next generation facilities
Authors: Changeat Quentin , Edwards Billy , Al-Refaie Ahmed F. , Tsiaras Angelos , Waldmann Ingo P. , Tinetti Giovanna 
Published: September 2021

AbstractRecent analysis of the planet K2-18 b has shown the presence of water vapour in its atmosphere. While the H2O detection is significant, the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) WFC3 spectrum suggests three possible solutions of very different nature which can equally match the data. The three solutions are a primary cloudy atmosphere with traces of water vapour (cloudy sub-Neptune), a secondary atmosphere with a substantial amount (up to 50% Volume Mixing Ratio) of H2O (icy/water world) and/or an undetectable gas such as N2(super-Earth). Additionally, the atmospheric pressure and the possible presence of a liquid/solid surface cannot be investigated with currently available observations. In this paper we used the best fit parameters from Tsiaras et al. (Nat. Astron.3, 1086, 2019) to build James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and Ariel simulations of the three scenarios. We have investigated 18 retrieval cases, which encompass the three scenarios and different observational strategies with the two observatories. Retrieval results show that twenty combined transits should be enough for the Ariel mission to disentangle the three scenarios, while JWST would require only two transits if combining NIRISS and NIRSpec data. This makes K2-18 b an ideal target for atmospheric follow-ups by both facilities and highlights the capabilities of the next generation of space-based infrared observatories to provide a complete picture of low mass planets.
Effects of nitrogen enrichment on zooplankton biomass and N:P recycling ratios across a DOC gradient in northern-latitude lakes
Authors: Bergström A.-K. , Deininger A. , Jonsson A. , Karlsson J. , Vrede T. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractWe used data from whole-lake studies to assess how changes in food quantity (phytoplankton biomass) and quality (phytoplankton community composition, seston C:P and N:P) with N fertilization affect zooplankton biomass, community composition and C:N:P stoichiometry, and their N:P recycling ratio along a gradient in lake DOC concentrations. We found that despite major differences in phytoplankton biomass with DOC (unimodal distributions, especially with N fertilization), no major differences in zooplankton biomass were detectable. Instead, phytoplankton to zooplankton biomass ratios were high, especially at intermediate DOC and after N fertilization, implying low trophic transfer efficiencies. An explanation for the observed low phytoplankton resource use, and biomass responses in zooplankton, was dominance of colony forming chlorophytes of reduced edibility at intermediate lake DOC, combined with reduced phytoplankton mineral quality (enhanced seston N:P) with N fertilization. N fertilization, however, increased zooplankton N:P recycling ratios, with largest impact at low DOC where phytoplankton benefitted from light sufficiently to cause enhanced seston N:P. Our results suggest that although N enrichment and increased phytoplankton biomass do not necessarily increase zooplankton biomass, bottom-up effects may still impact zooplankton and their N:P recycling ratio through promotion of phytoplankton species of low edibility and altered mineral quality.
Biomacromolecules in recent phosphate-shelled brachiopods: identification and characterization of chitin matrix
Authors: Agbaje Oluwatoosin B. A. , Brock Glenn A. , Zhang Zhifei , Duru Kingsley C. , Liang Yue , George Simon C. , Holmer Lars E. 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Phosphate-shelled brachiopods differ in filter-feeding lifestyle, with Lingula anatina an active infaunal burrower, and Discinisca tenuis a shallow marine epibenthic animal. The shells of these animals are built of organophosphatic constituents, the organic fibres/sheets reinforced with calcium phosphate to provide a sophisticated ultrastructural robustness. This investigation examined the nature of the organic fibres in order to improve understanding of how living organisms produce hierarchically structured biomaterials. Unlike powdered samples commonly used in previous studies, organic fibres were isolated for the first time and the shell fractions were purified, in order to study the content and nature of the biopolymer fibres. Biochemical methods including Calcofluor staining revealed a chitin matrix. Ultrastructural analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis, and spectroscopic analyses show that the core polysaccharide framework is composed of layers of β-chitin sheets and/or fibrils that are coated with a fibrous organic matrix. There is more chitin matrix in the L. anatina shells (26.6 wt.%) compared to the D. tenuis shells (12.9 wt.%). Taken together, the data show that the chitin matrix contributes to increased skeletal strength, making L. anatina highly adapted for life as an active burrower. In comparison, D. tenuis contains less chitin and lives as attached epibenthos in a shallow marine environment.

Graphical abstract

First spectroscopic evidence of β-chitin sheets in recent organophosphatic brachiopods
The associations between organophosphate esters and urinary incontinence in the general US population
Authors: He Mingjing , Jin Kun , Qiu Shi , Liao Xinyang , Zheng Xiaonan , Chen Zeyu , Ai Jianzhong , Yang Lu , Jiang Zhongyuan , Hu Dan , Wei Qiang 
Published: September 2021

AbstractOrganophosphate esters (OPEs) impact health in many ways. Since its relationship with urinary incontinence remains unknown, we aimed to explore their associations in the US general population. We combined the results of urine specimens test and self-reported urinary incontinence conditions from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013–2014 among 2666 participants and then conducted linear regression and logistic regression to analyse associations between log2-transformed OPE concentrations and urinary incontinence. We found that 0.92% of men and 15.74% of women complained of mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). The concentrations of diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) were significantly correlated to MUI among women when treated as a continuous variable (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.15; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01–1.31; p = 0.0369) and as a categorical variable (adjusted OR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.03–1.49; p for trend = 0.0245), whereas no positive correlation was found in males. There were no significant associations between the other three OPEs: bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (BCEP), bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCPP) and dibutyl phosphate (DBUP). The association of DPHP with an increased prevalence OR of MUI in women is a public health concern; future prospective studies are needed to explore its potential mechanism.
Characterizations of Herglotz–Nevanlinna Functions Using Positive Semi-Definite Functions and the Nevanlinna Kernel in Several Variables
Authors: Nedic Mitja 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIn this paper, we give several characterizations of Herglotz–Nevanlinna functions in terms of a specific type of positive semi-definite functions called Poisson-type functions. This allows us to propose a multidimensional analogue of the classical Nevanlinna kernel and a definition of generalized Nevanlinna functions in several variables. Furthermore, a characterization of the symmetric extension of a Herglotz–Nevanlinna function is also given. The subclass of Loewner functions is discussed as well, along with an interpretation of the main result in terms of holomorphic functions on the unit polydisk with non-negative real part.
N-Myc promotes angiogenesis and therapeutic resistance of prostate cancer by TEM8
Authors: Li Mingfeng , Fang Linna , Kwantwi Louis Boafo , He Guifang , Luo Wenwu , Yang Lijie , Huang Yuhang , Yin Shiyuan , Cai Yongping , Ma Wei , Zhan Heqin , Tong Zhuting , Zhang Li , Liang Chaozhao , Yin Yu 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAlthough patients with early localized prostate cancer can survive longer, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) has gradually emerged with the use of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). N-Myc and TEM8 play a vital role in the progression of several cancer types. However, the underlying mechanism of how N-Myc and TEM8 promote the progression of prostate cancer remains unclear. In this study, the expression of N-Myc and TEM8 was detected in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa) tissues by immunohistochemistry (IHC). LNCaP cell lines were maintained in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% charcoal-stripped fetal bovine serum. Subsequently, R language software was used to verify our results. Tubule formation assay of human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) was conducted to examine the effect of N-Myc and TEM8 overexpression on angiogenesis in prostate cancer cells. IHC results showed a positive correlation between the expression of N-Myc and TEM8 in prostate cancer tissues. Further analysis showed that N-Myc and TEM8 were associated with clinicopathological features and poor prognosis in prostate cancer patients. Moreover, the overexpression of N-Myc and TEM8 promoted proliferation of prostate cancer cells and angiogenesis. Additionally, N-Myc and TEM8 overexpression was associated with therapeutic resistance. We further found that N-Myc promoted angiogenesis and therapeutic resistance in prostate cancer via TEM8. Hence, targeting N-Myc/TEM8 pathway in prostate cancer would be a novel therapeutic strategy to enhance the treatment of prostate cancer patients.
Association of CDH11 with Autism Spectrum Disorder Revealed by Matched-gene Co-expression Analysis and Mouse Behavioral Studies
Authors: Wu Nan , Wang Yue , Jia Jing-Yan , Pan Yi-Hsuan , Yuan Xiao-Bing 
Published: September 2021

AbstractA large number of putative risk genes for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been reported. The functions of most of these susceptibility genes in developing brains remain unknown, and causal relationships between their variation and autism traits have not been established. The aim of this study was to predict putative risk genes at the whole-genome level based on the analysis of gene co-expression with a group of high-confidence ASD risk genes (hcASDs). The results showed that three gene features – gene size, mRNA abundance, and guanine-cytosine content – affect the genome-wide co-expression profiles of hcASDs. To circumvent the interference of these features in gene co-expression analysis, we developed a method to determine whether a gene is significantly co-expressed with hcASDs by statistically comparing the co-expression profile of this gene with hcASDs to that of this gene with permuted gene sets of feature-matched genes. This method is referred to as "matched-gene co-expression analysis" (MGCA). With MGCA, we demonstrated the convergence in developmental expression profiles of hcASDs and improved the efficacy of risk gene prediction. The results of analysis of two recently-reported ASD candidate genes, CDH11 and CDH9, suggested the involvement of CDH11, but not CDH9, in ASD. Consistent with this prediction, behavioral studies showed that Cdh11-null mice, but not Cdh9-null mice, have multiple autism-like behavioral alterations. This study highlights the power of MGCA in revealing ASD-associated genes and the potential role of CDH11 in ASD.
Co-occurrence of immature T-lymphoblastic lymphoma and acute myeloid leukemia—microenvironment-dependent lineage differentiation derived from a common progenitor?
Authors: Porpaczy Edit , Sperr Wolfgang R. , Thalhammer Renate , Mitterbauer-Hohendanner Gerlinde , Müllauer Leonhard , Simonitsch-Klupp Ingrid , Schiefer Ana-Iris 
Published: September 2021

AbstractMixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) is an uncommon disease characterized by currently only limited knowledge concerning biology, clinical presentation, and treatment outcome. We here describe a most unusual case of simultaneous occurrence of T-lymphoblastic lymphoma in cervical and mediastinal lymph nodes and acute myeloid leukemia in the bone marrow (BM) successfully treated with allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Although the blasts in both locations showed additional aberrant expression of other lineage markers (even B-cell markers), diagnostic criteria of MPAL were not fulfilled either in the LN or in the BM. We performed next generation sequencing (NGS) with the objective to look for common genetic aberrations in both tissues. Histology, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, AML-associated genetic alterations (FLT3, NPM1, KIT D816V, CEPBA), and clonal T-cell receptor β and γ gene rearrangements were performed according to routine diagnostic workflows. Next generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing were additionally performed in BM and LN. Somatic mutation in the EZH2 gene (p.(Arg684Cys)) was detected in the BM by NGS, and the same mutation was found in the LN. Since an identical genetic aberration (EZH2 mutation) was detected in both locations, a common progenitor with regional dependent differentiation may be involved.
Nitrate vulnerability of karst aquifers and associated groundwater-dependent ecosystems in the Baltic region
Authors: Kalvāns Andis , Popovs Konrāds , Priede Agnese , Koit Oliver , Retiķe Inga , Bikše Jānis , Dēliņa Aija , Babre Alise 
Published: September 2021

AbstractGroundwater pollution by agrochemicals such as nitrogen fertilizers can cause complex biogeochemical transformations to take place in groundwater-dependent ecosystems. To explore the interaction between nitrogen load and groundwater-dependent, spring-fed ecosystems, a study was conducted in Latvia in an area of suspected high nitrate (NO3−) vulnerability due to its geological settings. A map of NO3−vulnerability along the margins of the carbonate aquifer in Latvia is presented. The map is based on a conceptual model that was developed during an extensive case study involving hydrological, hydrochemical, and habitat investigation of springs discharging from a karst aquifer and spring-fed ecosystems. Areas that should be prime targets for restricting fertilizer application are highlighted on the map. Although the case study revealed increased nitrogen pollution (up to 51 mg L−1, standard deviation of 9 mg L−1, in the springs discharging from the karst aquifer), no clear evidence of adverse effects due to NO3−pollution on the groundwater-dependent ecosystems using biotic indicators was found, highlighting the resilience of spring-fed ecosystems against high nitrogen inputs. In the case study, downstream groundwater-dependent ecosystems retained 70% of the reactive nitrogen during the vegetation season, but only a small proportion during the cold season. Thus, NO3−pollution can be partly mitigated by restoring wetlands along valley slopes where natural groundwater discharge takes place. The conceptual model developed for groundwater NO3−vulnerability is applicable to other areas in the Baltic region and other places with similar climatic and geological conditions.
Structural reliability under uncertainty in moments: distributionally-robust reliability-based design optimization
Authors: Kanno Yoshihiro 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThis study considers structural optimization under a reliability constraint, in which the input distribution is only partially known. Specifically, when it is only known that the expected value vector and the variance-covariance matrix of the input distribution belong to a given convex set, it is required that the failure probability of a structure should be no greater than a specified target value for any realization of the input distribution. We demonstrate that this distributionally-robust reliability constraint can be reduced equivalently to deterministic constraints. By using this reduction, we can handle a reliability-based design optimization problem under the distributionally-robust reliability constraint within the framework of deterministic optimization; in particular, nonlinear semidefinite programming. Two numerical examples are solved to demonstrate the relation between the optimal value and either the target reliability or the uncertainty magnitude.
Can you trust clinical practice guidelines for laparoscopic surgery? A systematic review of clinical practice guidelines for laparoscopic surgery
Authors: Leung Jeffrey , Leong Jonathan , Au Yeung Kenneth , Hao Bo Zhen , McCluskey Aled , Kayani Yusuf , Davidson Brian R. , Gurusamy Kurinchi S. 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background
Clinical practice guidelines aim to support clinicians in providing clinical care and should be supported by evidence. There is currently no information on whether clinical practice guidelines in laparoscopic surgery are supported by evidence.

Methods
We performed a systematic review and identified clinical practice guidelines of laparoscopic surgery published in PubMed and Embase between March 2016 and February 2019. We performed an independent assessment of the strength of recommendation based on the evidence provided by the guideline authors. We used the ‘Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II’ (AGREE-II) Tool’s ‘rigour of development’, ‘clarity of presentation’, and ‘editorial independence’ domains to assess the quality of the guidelines. We performed a mixed-effects generalised linear regression modelling.

Results
We retrieved 63 guidelines containing 1905 guideline statements. The median proportion of ‘difference in rating’ of strength of recommendation between the guideline authors and independent assessment was 33.3% (quartiles: 18.3%, 55.8%). The ‘rigour of development’ domain score (odds ratio 0.06; 95% confidence intervals 0.01–0.48 per unit increase in rigour score; P value = 0.0071) and whether the strength of recommendation was ‘strong’ by independent evaluation (odds ratio 0.09 (95% confidence intervals 0.06–0.13; P value < 0.001) were the only determinants of difference in rating between the guideline authors and independent evaluation.

Conclusion
A considerable proportion of guideline statements in clinical practice guidelines in laparoscopic surgery are not supported by evidence. Guideline authors systematically overrated the strength of the recommendation (i.e., even when the evidence points to weak recommendation, guideline authors made strong recommendations).
Pietsch’s variants of s-numbers for multilinear operators
Authors: Fernandez D. L. , Mastyło M. , Silva E. B. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractWe study variants of s-numbers in the context of multilinear operators. The notion of an $$s^{(k)}$$

s

(
k
)

-scale of k-linear operators is defined. In particular, we shall deal with multilinear variants of the $$s^{(k)}$$

s

(
k
)

-scales of the approximation, Gelfand, Hilbert, Kolmogorov and Weyl numbers. We investigate whether the fundamental properties of important s-numbers of linear operators are inherited to the multilinear case. We prove relationships among some $$s^{(k)}$$

s

(
k
)

-numbers of k-linear operators with their corresponding classical Pietsch’s s-numbers of a generalized Banach dual operator, from the Banach dual of the range space to the space of k-linear forms, on the product of the domain spaces of a given k-linear operator.
A novel trust management model for edge computing
Authors: Latif Rabia , Ahmed Malik Uzair , Tahir Shahzaib , Latif Seemab , Iqbal Waseem , Ahmad Awais 
Published: September 2021

AbstractEdge computing is a distributed architecture that features decentralized processing of data near the source/devices, where data are being generated. These devices are known as Internet of Things (IoT) devices or edge devices. As we continue to rely on IoT devices, the amount of data generated by the IoT devices have increased significantly due to which it has become infeasible to transfer all the data over to the Cloud for processing. Since these devices contain insufficient storage and processing power, it gives rise to the edge computing paradigm. In edge computing data are processed by edge devices and only the required data are sent to the Cloud to increase robustness and decrease overall network overhead. IoT edge devices are inherently suffering from various security risks and attacks causing a lack of trust between devices. To reduce this malicious behavior, a lightweight trust management model is proposed that maintains the trust of a device and manages the service level trust along with quality of service (QoS). The model calculates the overall trust of the devices by using QoS parameters to evaluate the trust of devices through assigned weights. Trust management models using QoS parameters show improved results that can be helpful in identifying malicious edge nodes in edge computing networks and can be used for industrial purposes.
Subcutaneous Uptake on [18F]Florbetaben PET/CT: a Case Report of Possible Amyloid-Beta Immune-Reactivity After COVID-19 Vaccination
Authors: Laudicella Riccardo , Burger Irene Andrea , Panasiti Francesco , Longo Costanza , Scalisi Salvatore , Minutoli Fabio , Baldari Sergio , Grimaldi Luigi Maria Edoardo , Alongi Pierpaolo 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Introduction

Large-scale worldwide COVID-19 vaccination programs are being rapidly deployed, and high-risk patients with comorbidity are now receiving the first doses of the vaccine. Physicians should be, therefore, aware of new pitfalls associated with the current pandemic vaccination program, also in the case of [18F]Florbetaben PET/CT.
Case Presentation
We described the first image of [18F]Florbetaben PET/CT in the evaluation of a 70-year-old male with suspicious Alzheimer disease and unclear history of heart disease. We detailed the diagnostic imaging PET/CT workup with different findings.

Conclusion
In this case, [18F]Florbetaben PET/CT can demonstrate potential beta-amyloid immune-reactivity and deposition associated with the current COVID-19 pandemic vaccination programs.