bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does the height to entrepreneurship nexus have two stages? New evidence from 27 nations
Authors: Habibov Nazim , Auchynnikava Alena , Luo Rong 
Published: April 2021

AbstractWe examine the association between height and entrepreneurship in 27 nations, finding that the relationship between height and entrepreneurship can be considered to be a two-stage process. During the first stage, individuals make the decision of whether or not to try to set up their own business. At this stage, the effect of height is stronger: each 10-cm increase in height is associated with an approximately 1.4 percentage point increase in the probability of having tried to set up a business. During the second stage, after a positive decision to embark upon entrepreneurship has already been taken, people may find success in setting up their business. At this stage, although taller individuals are still more likely to experience success than their shorter counterparts, the effect of height becomes much weaker. Each 10-cm increase in height is associated with an approximately 0.4 percentage point increase in the probability of having tried to set up a business without success, and an approximately 0.4 percentage point increase in the likelihood of having set up a business in which the respondent is no longer involved, or that is no longer operational. Finally, each 10-cm increase in height is associated with an approximately 1 percentage point increase in the probability of remaining an entrepreneur. At the same time, we found that the effect of height is stronger in magnitude than the effects of gender, health and university education. This finding is remarkable insofar as gender, health and university education are usually considered to be the main determinants of entrepreneurship.
Water sorption on coal: effects of oxygen-containing function groups and pore structure
Authors: Liu Ang , Liu Shimin , Liu Peng , Wang Kai 
Published: April 2021

AbstractCoal-water interactions have profound influences on gas extraction from coal and coal utilization. Experimental measurements on three coals using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and dynamic water vapor sorption (DVS) were conducted. A mechanism-based isotherm model was proposed to estimate the water vapor uptake at various relative humidities, which is well validated with the DVS data. The validated isotherm model of sorption was further used to derive the isosteric heat of water vapor sorption. The specific surface area of coal pores is not the determining parameter that controls water vapor sorption at least during the primary adsorption stage. Oxidation degree dominates the primary adsorption, and which togethering with the cumulative pore volume determine the secondary adsorption. Higher temperature has limited effects on primary adsorption process.The isosteric heat of water adsorption decreases as water vapor uptake increases, which is found to be close to the latent heat of bulk water condensation at higher relative humidity. The results confirmed that the primary adsorption is controlled by the stronger bonding energy while the interaction energy between water molecules during secondary adsorption stage is relatively weak. However, the thermodynamics of coal-water interactions are complicated since the internal bonding interactions within the coal are disrupted at the same time as new bonding interactions take place within water molecules. Coal has a shrinkage/swelling colloidal structure with moisture loss/gain and it may exhibit collapse behavior with some collapses irreversible as a function of relative humidity, which further plays a significant role in determining moisture retention.
Hybrid online-flipped learning pedagogy for teaching laboratory courses to mitigate the pandemic COVID-19 confinement and enable effective sustainable delivery: investigation of attaining course learning outcome
Authors: Elkhatat Ahmed M. , Al-Muhtaseb Shaheen A. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractSince the early spring of 2020, the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) outbreak has hindered traditional face-to-face teaching and hands-on, traditional delivery of laboratory courses, forcing universities to migrate from the traditional way of teaching to a remote online approach. Although few studies addressed the pandemic's impact on educational outcomes, no studies are found to investigate the impact of the remote online teaching approach on laboratory courses. This paper highlights the impact of the online teaching approach, coupled with flipped learning pedagogy, as a substitute for traditional laboratories. The course learning outcomes and assessment tools are analyzed and discussed for 46 students enrolled in the Unit Operations Laboratory course in the chemical engineering program at Qatar University. Results show that the course learning outcomes are achieved effectively using the hybrid online-flipped learning pedagogy, which can be considered for computerized traditional laboratories as a moderation solution to alleviate pandemic COVID-19 confinement on learning outcome. This methodology can also be sustained in the future to facilitate the teaching of such lab courses, even in normal conditions, to optimize the resources and avail the delivery of such courses to a larger audience who may have various obstacles to attending traditional lab courses.
GEOGRAPHICAL DIVERSIFICATION AND LONGEVITY RISK MITIGATION IN ANNUITY PORTFOLIOS
Authors: De Rosa Clemente , Luciano Elisa , Regis Luca 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACTThis paper provides a method to assess the risk relief deriving from a foreign expansion by a life insurance company. We build a parsimonious continuous-time model for longevity risk that captures the dependence across different ages in domestic versus foreign populations. We calibrate the model to portray the case of a UK annuity portfolio expanding internationally toward Italian policyholders. The longevity risk diversification benefits of an international expansion are sizable, in particular when interest rates are low. The benefits are judged based on traditional measures, such as the Risk Margin or volatility reduction, and on a novel measure, the Diversification Index.
Dietary habits and the gut microbiota in military Veterans: results from the United States-Veteran Microbiome Project (US-VMP)
Authors: Brostow Diana P. , Stamper Christopher E. , Stanislawski Maggie A. , Stearns-Yoder Kelly A. , Schneider Alexandra , Postolache Teodor T. , Forster Jeri E. , Hoisington Andrew J. , Lowry Christopher A. , Brenner Lisa A. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACTDietary patterns influence gut microbiota composition. To date, there has not been an assessment of diet and gut microbiota in Veterans, who have a history of unique environmental exposures, including military deployment, that may influence associations between diet and gut microbiota. Our aim was to characterise Veteran habitual dietary intake and quality, and to evaluate correlations between diet and gut microbiota. We administered Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQs) and collected stool samples from 330 Veterans. FFQ data were used to generate Healthy Eating Indices (HEI) of dietary quality. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify two dietary patterns we defined as “Western” and “Prudent.” Stool samples underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and the resulting data were used to evaluate associations with dietary variables/indices. Analyses included linear regression of α-diversity, constrained analysis of principal coordinates of β-diversity, and multivariate association with linear models and Analysis of Composition of Microbiomes analyses of dietary factors and phylum- and genus-level taxa. There were no significant associations between dietary patterns or factors and α- or β-diversity. At the phylum level, increasing HEI scores were inversely associated with relative abundance of Actinobacteria, and added sugar was inversely associated with abundance of Verrucomicrobia. Veterans largely consumed a Western-style diet, characterised by poor adherence to nutritional guidelines.
Working memory as a factor mediating explicit and implicit knowledge of English grammar
Authors: Pawlak Mirosław , Biedroń Adriana 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis paper reports the findings of a study that investigated the relationship between phonological short-term memory (PSTM), working memory capacity (WMC), and the level of mastery of L2 grammar. Grammatical mastery was operationalized as the ability to produce and comprehend English passive voice with reference to explicit and implicit (or highly automatized) knowledge. Correlational analysis showed that PSTM was related to implicit productive knowledge while WMC was linked to explicit productive knowledge. However, regression analysis showed that those relationships were weak and mediated by overall mastery of target language grammar, operationalized as final grades in a grammar course.
The urban networks of Anglo-Norman Meath and the Teutonic Order's Kulmerland: a comparative analysis
Authors: Maleszka Anna , Czaja Roman 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis article presents comparative research on the role of towns and urban networks in the process of constructing space during conquest and colonization in selected ‘non-Roman’ regions of Europe in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It focuses on Kulmerland in Prussia and Meath in Ireland. In both regions, the creation of urban networks and new regional spaces entailed the use of pre-existing settlement. However, reception intensity was determined by both the state of preservation of the earlier settlement and the needs of territorial authorities. This comparison shows ways of using symbolic potential (names, central places) and former settlement points for the construction of cities. In both territories, the functions of central places were particularized due to subinfeudation.
Leptin decreases apoptosis and promotes the activation of primordial follicles through the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway in cultured ovine ovarian tissue
Authors: Macedo T.J.S. , Menezes V.G. , Barberino R.S. , Silva R.L.S. , Gouveia B.B. , Monte A.P.O. , Lins T.L.B.G. , Santos J.M.S. , Bezerra M.É.S. , Wischral A. , Queiroz M.A.A. , Araújo G.G.L. , Batista A.M. , Matos M.H.T. 
Published: April 2021

SummaryThis study evaluated the effects of leptin on primordial follicle survival and activation after in vitro culture of ovine ovarian tissue and if leptin acts through the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway. Ovarian fragments were fixed for histology (fresh control) or cultured for 7 days in control medium (α-MEM+) alone or supplemented with leptin (1, 5, 10, 25 or 50 ng/ml). Follicle morphology, activation and apoptosis were analyzed. Next, the fragments were cultured in the medium that showed the best results in the absence or the presence of the PI3K inhibitor (LY294002), and immunohistostaining of p-Akt protein was assessed. After culture, the percentage of normal follicles decreased (P < 0.05) in all treatments compared with the fresh control. Moreover, control medium and 1 ng/ml leptin had similar (P > 0.05) percentages of normal follicles, which were significantly higher than those in other treatments. However, culture with 1 ng/ml leptin maintained apoptosis similarly (P > 0.05) to that of the fresh control and lower (P < 0.05) than that in α-MEM+. Leptin did not influence follicle activation (P > 0.05) compared with the control medium (α-MEM+). Culture in 1 ng/ml leptin with LY294002 decreased the normal follicles and increased apoptosis, inhibited follicle activation (P < 0.05), and reduced p-Akt immunostaining, compared with the medium containing 1 ng/ml leptin without PI3K inhibitor. In conclusion, leptin at 1 ng/ml reduces apoptosis and promotes the activation of primordial follicles compared with the fresh control after in vitro culture of ovine ovarian tissue possibly through the PI3K/Akt pathway.
Slope‐Aspect Induced Climate Differences Influence How Water Is Exchanged Between the Land and Atmosphere
Authors: Bilir T. Eren , Fung Inez , Dawson Todd E. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractCross‐slope climate differences in the midlatitudes are ecologically important, and impact vegetation‐mediated water balance between the earth surface and the atmosphere. We made high‐resolution in situ observations of air temperature, relative humidity, soil moisture, insolation, and sap velocity observations on 14 Pacific madrone trees (Arbutus menziesii) spanning adjacent north and south slopes at the University of California's Angelo Coast Range Reserve. To understand the cross‐slope response of sap velocity, a proxy for transpiration, to microclimate, we modeled the sap velocity on each slope using a transpiration model driven by ambient environment and parameterized with a Markov Chain Monte Carlo parameter estimation process. The results show that trees on opposing slopes do not follow a shared pattern of physiological response to transpiration drivers. This means that the observed sap velocity differences are not due entirely to observed microclimate differences, but also due to population‐level physiological differences, which indicates acclimation to inhabited microclimate. While our present data set and analytical tools do not identify mechanisms of acclimation, we speculate that differing proportions of sun‐adapted and shade‐adapted leaves, differences in stomatal regulation, and cross‐slope root zone moisture differences could explain some of the observed and modeled differences.
Estimates of Individual Fracture Compliances Along Boreholes From Full‐Waveform Sonic Log Data
Authors: Barbosa Nicolás D. , Greenwood Andrew , Caspari Eva , Dutler Nathan , Holliger Klaus 
Published: April 2021

AbstractAn important seismic attenuation mechanism in fractured environments is related to energy conversion into reflected and transmitted waves at fracture interfaces. Using full‐waveform sonic (FWS) log data, we show that it is possible to quantify transmission losses across a set of fractures from time delays and amplitude differences of the critically refracted P‐wave as compared to intact sections along the borehole. In the presence of fractures, the transmission coefficient associated with a given fracture is obtained by combining information on transmission losses from multiple receivers and source positions into a linear system of equations for all fractures intersecting the borehole. Fracture compliance is computed from the inferred transmission coefficient based on a linear slip model. For validation, we use synthetic FWS log data obtained from numerical simulations of wave propagation in a water‐filled borehole surrounded by low‐permeability rocks with discrete fractures. The methodology is then applied to field data acquired along boreholes penetrating multiple fractures in a granodioritic host rock. We show that our estimations of mechanical compliance are consistent with previously reported values, which were estimated for individual fractures intersecting one of the boreholes with a related method valid only for isolated single fractures. Comparison between our estimates of fracture compliance and transmissivity profiles from previous hydraulic characterizations of the fractures suggests that the proposed method may also allow to locate the most permeable fractures along a borehole, which, in turn, opens the perspective of enhancing the design and effectiveness of subsequent hydraulic testing and fracturing experiments.
Phase-field modeling of grain evolutions in additive manufacturing from nucleation, growth, to coarsening
Authors: Yang Min , Wang Lu , Yan Wentao 
Published: April 2021

AbstractA three-dimensional phase-field model is developed to simulate grain evolutions during powder-bed-fusion (PBF) additive manufacturing, while the physically-informed temperature profile is implemented from a thermal-fluid flow model. The phase-field model incorporates a nucleation model based on classical nucleation theory, as well as the initial grain structures of powder particles and substrate. The grain evolutions during the three-layer three-track PBF process are comprehensively reproduced, including grain nucleation and growth in molten pools, epitaxial growth from powder particles, substrate and previous tracks, grain re-melting and re-growth in overlapping zones, and grain coarsening in heat-affected zones. A validation experiment has been carried out, showing that the simulation results are consistent with the experimental results in the molten pool and grain morphologies. Furthermore, the grain refinement by adding nanoparticles is preliminarily reproduced and compared against the experimental result in literature.
Experimental test of the Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger-type paradoxes in and beyond graph states
Authors: Liu Zheng-Hao , Zhou Jie , Meng Hui-Xian , Yang Mu , Li Qiang , Meng Yu , Su Hong-Yi , Chen Jing-Ling , Sun Kai , Xu Jin-Shi , Li Chuan-Feng , Guo Guang-Can 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger (GHZ) paradox is an exquisite no-go theorem that shows the sharp contradiction between classical theory and quantum mechanics by ruling out any local realistic description of quantum theory. The investigation of GHZ-type paradoxes has been carried out in a variety of systems and led to fruitful discoveries. However, its range of applicability still remains unknown and a unified construction is yet to be discovered. In this work, we present a unified construction of GHZ-type paradoxes for graph states, and show that the existence of GHZ-type paradox is not limited to graph states. The results have important applications in quantum state verification for graph states, entanglement detection, and construction of GHZ-type steering paradox for mixed states. We perform a photonic experiment to test the GHZ-type paradoxes via measuring the success probability of their corresponding perfect Hardy-type paradoxes, and demonstrate the proposed applications. Our work deepens the comprehension of quantum paradoxes in quantum foundations, and may have applications in a broad spectrum of quantum information tasks.
Urinary microRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers for toxic acute kidney injury in humans
Authors: Shihana Fathima , Wong Wilson K. M. , Joglekar Mugdha V. , Mohamed Fahim , Gawarammana Indika B. , Isbister Geoffrey K. , Hardikar Anandwardhan A. , Seth Devanshi , Buckley Nicholas A. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractMicroRNAs in biofluids are potential biomarkers for detecting kidney and other organ injuries. We profiled microRNAs in urine samples from patients with Russell’s viper envenoming or acute self-poisoning following paraquat, glyphosate, or oxalic acid [with and without acute kidney injury (AKI)] and on healthy controls. Discovery analysis profiled for 754 microRNAs using TaqMan OpenArray qPCR with three patients per group (12 samples in each toxic agent). From these, 53 microRNAs were selected and validated in a larger cohort of patients (Russell’s viper envenoming = 53, paraquat = 51, glyphosate = 51, oxalic acid = 40) and 27 healthy controls. Urinary microRNAs had significantly higher expression in patients poisoned/envenomed by different nephrotoxic agents in both discovery and validation cohorts. Seven microRNAs discriminated severe AKI patients from no AKI for all four nephrotoxic agents. Four microRNAs (miR-30a-3p, miR-30a-5p, miR-92a, and miR-204) had > 17 fold change (p < 0.0001) and receiver operator characteristics area-under-curve (ROC-AUC) > 0.72. Pathway analysis of target mRNAs of these differentially expressed microRNAs showed association with the regulation of different nephrotoxic signaling pathways. In conclusion, human urinary microRNAs could identify toxic AKI early after acute injury. These urinary microRNAs have potential clinical application as early non-invasive diagnostic AKI biomarkers.
β2-adrenergic receptor agonist counteracts skeletal muscle atrophy and oxidative stress in uremic mice
Authors: Higashihara Takaaki , Nishi Hiroshi , Takemura Koji , Watanabe Hiroshi , Maruyama Toru , Inagi Reiko , Tanaka Tetsuhiro , Nangaku Masaomi 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIn patients with chronic kidney disease, skeletal muscle dysfunction is associated with mortality. Uremic sarcopenia is caused by ageing, malnutrition, and chronic inflammation, but the molecular mechanism and potential therapeutics have not been fully elucidated yet. We hypothesize that accumulated uremic toxins might exert a direct deteriorative effect on skeletal muscle and explore the pharmacological treatment in experimental animal and culture cell models. The mice intraperitoneally injected with indoxyl sulfate (IS) after unilateral nephrectomy displayed an elevation of IS concentration in skeletal muscle and a reduction of instantaneous muscle strength, along with the predominant loss of fast-twitch myofibers and intramuscular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The addition of IS in the culture media decreased the size of fully differentiated mouse C2C12 myotubes as well. ROS accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction were also noted. Next, the effect of the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) agonist, clenbuterol, was evaluated as a potential treatment for uremic sarcopenia. In mice injected with IS, clenbuterol treatment increased the muscle mass and restored the tissue ROS level but failed to improve muscle weakness. In C2C12 myotubes stimulated with IS, although β2-AR activation also attenuated myotube size reduction and ROS accumulation as did other anti-oxidant reagents, it failed to augment the mitochondrial membrane potential. In conclusion, IS provokes muscular strength loss (uremic dynapenia), ROS generation, and mitochondrial impairment. Although the β2-AR agonist can increase the muscular mass with ROS reduction, development of therapeutic interventions for restoring skeletal muscle function is still awaited.
Predicting range shifts of three endangered endemic plants of the Khorassan-Kopet Dagh floristic province under global change
Authors: Erfanian Mohammad Bagher , Sagharyan Mostafa , Memariani Farshid , Ejtehadi Hamid 
Published: April 2021

AbstractEndemic plants of the Khorassan-Kopet Dagh (KK) floristic province in northeastern Iran, southern Turkmenistan, and northwestern Afghanistan are often rare and range-restricted. Because of these ranges, plants in the KK are vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Species distribution modelling (SDM) can be used to assess the vulnerability of species under climate change. Here, we evaluated range size changes for three (critically) endangered endemic species that grow at various elevations (Nepeta binaloudensis, Phlomoides binaludensis, and Euphorbia ferdowsiana) using species distribution modelling. Using the HadGEM2-ES general circulation model and two Representative Concentration Pathways Scenarios (RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5), we predicted potential current and future (2050 and 2070) suitable habitats for each species. The ensemble model of nine algorithms was used to perform this prediction. Our results indicate that while two of species investigated would benefit from range expansion in the future, P. binaludensis will experience range contraction. The range of E. ferdowsiana will remain limited to the Binalood mountains, but the other species will have suitable habitats in mountain ranges across the KK. Using management efforts (such as fencing) with a focus on providing elevational migration routes at local scales in the KK is necessary to conserve these species. Additionally, assisted migration among different mountains in the KK would be beneficial to conserve these plants. For E. ferdowsiana, genetic diversity storage employing seed banks and botanical garden preservation should be considered.