bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Active landslides in the Rogun Catchment, Tajikistan, and their river damming hazard potential
Authors: Jones Nina , Manconi Andrea , Strom Alexander 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe region of Tajikistan where the Rogun Hydropower Project is currently under construction has experienced large and catastrophic slope failures in the past, often triggered by earthquakes. Co-seismic slope failures are thus common and pose a high hazard potential; however, to date, no specific analysis of slope activity in this area has been presented in international journals. Here, we present an inventory of active landslides identified through satellite imagery analysis and in particular by exploiting space-borne differential radar interferometry. Surface displacements provide the basis for the detection of active slope instabilities, which are then further classified by using geomorphological indicators visible in optical satellite imagery. Additionally, the proximity of active landslides to tectonic lineaments, as well as regional seismicity, is analysed to investigate potential relationships and to provide an integrated river damming hazard potential. The results show that approximately 31% of all detected landslides would have a high damming hazard potential upon catastrophic failure, highlighting the importance of such phenomena for efficient long-term land use planning and management of hydropower plants.
Discovering optimal strategy in tactical combat scenarios through the evolution of behaviour trees
Authors: Masek Martin , Lam Chiou Peng , Kelly Luke , Wong Martin 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIn this paper we address the problem of automatically discovering optimal tactics in a combat scenario in which two opposing sides control a number of fighting units. Our approach is based on the evolution of behaviour trees, combined with simulation-based evaluation of solutions to drive the evolution. Our behaviour trees use a small set of possible actions that can be assigned to a combat unit, along with standard behaviour tree constructs and a novel approach for selecting which action from the tree is performed. A set of test scenarios was designed for which an optimal strategy is known from the literature. These scenarios were used to explore and evaluate our approach. The results indicate that it is possible, from the small set of possible unit actions, for a complex strategy to emerge through evolution. Combat units with different capabilities were observed exhibiting coordinated team work and exploiting aspects of the environment.
Inward FDI spillovers and emerging multinationals’ outward FDI in two directions
Authors: Gao Renfei 
Published: August 2021

AbstractInward foreign direct investment (IFDI) carries critical implications for emerging market multinational enterprises’ (EMNEs’) outward foreign direct investment (OFDI). While extant research provides evidence for the positive linkage between IFDI and EMNEs’ OFDI, less is known about the directionality of such OFDI—where to go. This study aims to extend the IFDI-OFDI linkage by differentiating EMNEs’ upward and downward OFDI (i.e., OFDI projects in more and less advanced host countries than their home markets). Using panel data on 1334 Chinese multinationals, I find that IFDI promotes EMNEs’ upward OFDI, but this effect is weakened by state ownership and industry competition. Moreover, my findings show that although IFDI is not related to EMNEs’ downward OFDI in general, their linkage becomes positive in the conditions of higher state ownership or weaker industry competition. This study advances our understanding of the directionality (i.e.,where to go) of EMNEs’ OFDI in the face of IFDI spillovers.
Natural Resource Management: A Network Perspective
Authors: Kyriakopoulou Efthymia , Xepapadeas Anastasios 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThis paper studies the role of social networks in the management of natural resources. We consider a finite number of agents who exploit a specific natural resource. Harvesting is subject to three external effects, namely resource stock externalities, crowding externalities, and collaboration spillovers. We show that the structure of the social network—defined by the presence of collaboration links between individual agents—determines the equilibrium and the optimal harvesting amount. We then allow the agents to make decisions about creating or eliminating cooperation links, which endogenizes the structure of the network and is proved to affect total harvesting and aggregate welfare. Conservation plans are shown to change the regulator’s objective and increase even further the gap between the decentralized and the optimal outcomes. We show that the optimal policy depends explicitly on the structure of the network and the ‘centrality’ of the associated agents. Finally, introducing heterogeneity is proved to affect both individual profits and the incentives to create cooperation links.
Generation of Tubular and Membranous Shape Textures with Curvature Functionals
Authors: Song Anna 
Published: August 2021

AbstractTubular and membranous shapes display a wide range of morphologies that are difficult to analyze within a common framework. By generalizing the classical Helfrich energy of biomembranes, we model them as solutions to a curvature optimization problem in which the principal curvatures may play asymmetric roles. We then give a novel phase-field formulation to approximate this geometric problem, and study its Gamma-limsup convergence. This results in an efficient GPU algorithm that we validate on well-known minimizers of the Willmore energy; the software for the implementation of our algorithm is freely available online. Exploring the space of parameters reveals that this comprehensive framework leads to a wide continuum of shape textures. This first step towards a unifying theory will have several implications, in biology for quantifying tubular shapes or designing bio-mimetic scaffolds, but also in computer graphics, materials science, or architecture.
Purinergic interplay between erythrocytes and platelets in diabetes-associated vascular dysfunction
Authors: Zhou Zhichao 
Published: August 2021

AbstractCardiovascular complications in diabetes are the leading causes for high morbidity and mortality. It has been shown that alteration of purinergic signaling contributes to diabetes-associated cardiovascular complications. Red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets play a fundamental role in regulation of oxygen transport and hemostasis, respectively. Of note, these cells undergo purinergic dysfunction in diabetes. Recent studies have established a novel function of RBCs as disease mediators for the development of endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes (T2D). RBC-released ATP is defective in T2D, which has implication for induction of vascular dysfunction by dysregulating purinergic signaling. Platelets are hyperactive in diabetes. ADP-mediated P2Y1 and P2Y12 receptor activation contributes to platelet aggregation and targeting P2Y receptors particularly P2Y12 receptor in platelets is effective for the treatment of cardiovascular events. In contrast to other P2Y12 receptor antagonists, platelet-targeting drug ticagrelor has potential to initiate purinergic signaling in RBCs for the beneficial cardiovascular outcomes. It is increasingly clear that altered vascular purinergic signaling mediated by various nucleotides and nucleoside contributes to diabetes-associated vascular dysfunction. However, the contribution of complex purinergic networks between RBCs and platelets to the vascular dysfunction in diabetes remains unclear. This study discusses the possible interplay of RBCs and platelets via the purinergic network for diabetes-associated vascular dysfunction.
An introduction to stochastic bin packing-based server consolidation with conflicts
Authors: Martinovic John , Hähnel Markus , Scheithauer Guntram , Dargie Waltenegus 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe energy consumption of large-scale data centers or server clusters is expected to grow significantly in the next couple of years contributing to up to 13% of the worldwide energy demand in 2030. As the involved processing units require a disproportional amount of energy when they are idle, underutilized, or overloaded, balancing the supply of and the demand for computing resources is a key issue to obtain energy-efficient server consolidations. Whereas traditional concepts mostly consider deterministic predictions of the future workloads or only aim at finding approximate solutions, in this article, we propose an exact approach to tackle the problem of assigning jobs with (not necessarily independent) stochastic characteristics to a minimal amount of servers subject to further practically relevant constraints. As a main contribution, the problem under consideration is reformulated as a stochastic bin packing problem with conflicts and modeled by an integer linear program. Finally, this new approach is tested on real-world instances obtained from a Google data center.
Disability pension among gynaecological cancer survivors with or without radiation-induced survivorship syndromes
Authors: Baloch Adnan Noor , Hagberg Mats , Thomée Sara , Steineck Gunnar , Sandén Helena 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Purpose
Gynaecological cancer patients treated with external radiation therapy to the pelvis may face long-lasting and long-term gastrointestinal syndromes. The aim of this study was to assess the association between such radiation-induced survivorship syndromes and disability pension among gynaecological cancer survivors treated with pelvic radiation therapy.

Methods
This prospective register study included gynaecological cancer survivors (n=247) treated during 1991–2003, alive at the time of the study, and <65 years of age. In 2006, they completed a postal questionnaire measuring patient-reported outcomes. The self-reported data were linked to the national register on disability pensions. Relative risks and risk differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of being granted a disability pension were estimated using log-binomial regression.

Results
Gynaecological cancer survivors with gastrointestinal syndromes had a higher risk of disability pension than survivors without such syndromes. Survivors with blood discharge syndrome had a 2.0 (95% CI 1.3–3.2) times higher risk of disability pension than survivors without blood discharge syndrome. The relative risk among survivors with urgency syndrome was 1.9 (1.3–2.9) and for leakage syndrome, 2.1 (1.4–3.1). Adjusting for age did not affect our interpretation of the results.

Conclusions
Gynaecological cancer survivors with a specific radiation-induced survivorship syndrome have a higher risk of disability pension than survivors without that specific syndrome.

Implications for Cancer Survivors
The findings highlight the need for more awareness and knowledge regarding the potential role of radiation-induced survivorship syndromes for continuing work among gynaecological cancer survivors. Work-life-related parameters should be considered during radiotherapy and rehabilitation after treatment.
Vericiguat for Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Lombardi Carlo Mario , Cimino Giuliana , Pagnesi Matteo , Dell’Aquila Andrea , Tomasoni Daniela , Ravera Alice , Inciardi Riccardo , Carubelli Valentina , Vizzardi Enrico , Nodari Savina , Emdin Michele , Aimo Alberto 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe nitric oxide (NO)-soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway plays an important role in the regulation of cardiovascular function, and it is disrupted in heart failure (HF), resulting in decreased protection against myocardial injury. Impaired NO-sGC-cGMP signaling in HF is secondary to reduced NO bioavailability and altered redox state of sGC, which becomes less responsive to NO. The sGC activator cinaciguat increases cGMP levels by direct NO-independent activation of sGC and may be particularly effective in conditions of increased oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, and therefore reduced NO levels, at the expense of a greater risk of hypotension. Conversely, sGC stimulators (riociguat and vericiguat) enhance sGC sensitivity to endogenous NO, thus exerting a more physiological action.Recent FindingsClinical trials have suggested the benefit of vericiguat in patients with high-risk HF; in particular, a lower incidence of death from cardiovascular causes or HF hospitalization.SummaryAdding vericiguat may be considered in individual patients with HF, and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) particularly those at higher risk of HF hospitalization.
Ethics and Values in Design: A Structured Review and Theoretical Critique
Authors: Donia Joseph , Shaw James. A. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractA variety of approaches have appeared in academic literature and in design practice representing “ethics-first” methods. These approaches typically focus on clarifying the normative dimensions of design, or outlining strategies for explicitly incorporating values into design. While this body of literature has developed considerably over the last 20 years, two themes central to the endeavour of ethics and values in design (E + VID) have yet to be systematically discussed in relation to each other: (a) designer agency, and (b) the strength of normative claims informing the design process. To address this gap, we undertook a structured review of leading E + VID approaches and critiques, and classified them according to their positions on normative strength, and views regarding designer agency. We identified 18 distinct approaches and 13 critiques that met the inclusion criteria for our review. Included papers were distributed across the spectrum of views regarding normative strength, and we found that no approaches and only one critique represented a view characteristic of “low” designer agency. We suggest that the absence of “low” designer agency approaches results in the neglect of crucial influences on design as targets of intervention by designers. We conclude with suggestions for future research that might illuminate strategies to achieve ethical design in information mature societies, and argue that without attending to the tensions raised by balancing normatively “strong” visions of the future with limitations imposed on designer agency in corporate-driven design settings, “meaningful” ethical design will continue to encounter challenges in practice.
Cerebellar Long Noncoding RNA Expression Profile in a Niemann-Pick C Disease Mouse Model
Authors: Han Shiqian , Ren Meng , Kuang Tianyin , Pang Mao , Guan Dongwei , Liu Yesong , Wang Yong , Zhang Wengeng , Ye Zhijia 
Published: August 2021

AbstractNiemann-Pick type C (NP-C) disease is a neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder primarily caused by mutations in NPC1. However, its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. While mounting evidence has demonstrated the involvement of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, the lncRNA expression profile in NP-C has not been determined. Here, we used RNA-seq analysis to determine lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles of the cerebella of NPC1−/− mice. We found that 272 lncRNAs and 856 mRNAs were significantly dysregulated in NPC1−/− mice relative to controls (≥ 2.0-fold, p < 0.05). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT‐PCR) was utilized to validate the expression of selected lncRNAs and mRNAs. Next, a lncRNA-mRNA coexpression network was employed to examine the potential roles of the differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs. Functional analysis revealed that mRNAs coexpressed with lncRNAs are mainly linked to immune system–related processes and neuroinflammation. Moreover, knockdown of the lncRNA H19 ameliorated changes in ROS levels and cell viability and suppressed the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)–induced inflammatory response in vitro. Our findings indicate that dysregulated lncRNA expression patterns are associated with NP-C pathogenesis and offer insight into the development of novel therapeutics based on lncRNAs.
The Non-saying of What Should Have Been Said
Authors: Colonna Dahlman Roberta 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAccording to Grice’s analysis, conversational implicatures are carried by the saying of what is said (Grice 1989: 39). In this paper, it is argued that, whenever a speaker implicates a content by flouting one or several maxims, her implicature is not only carried by the act of saying what is said and the way of saying it, but also by the act of non-saying what should have been said according to what would have been normal to say in that particular context. Implicatures that arise without maxim violation are only built on the saying of what is said, while those that arise in violative contexts are carried by the saying of what is said in combination with the non-saying of what should have been said. This observation seems to justify two claims: (i) that conversational implicatures have different epistemic requirements depending on whether they arise in violative or non-violative contexts; (ii) that implicatures arising in non-violative contexts are more strongly tied to their generating assertion than those arising with maxim violation.
Innovative therapy concepts for pediatric brain tumors
Authors: Azizi Amedeo A. , Gojo Johannes , Peyrl Andreas 
Published: August 2021

SummaryIn recent years, novel insight into molecular mechanisms has allowed the identification of drug targets for various pediatric brain tumors. The aim of this article is to give an overview of new treatment options in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors that target oncogenic gene fusions in pediatric brain tumors, and antiangiogenesis as promising therapy especially in recurrent medulloblastoma.
Therapeutic Use of Cerebellar Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (iTBS) in a Sardinian Family Affected by Spinocerebellar Ataxia 38 (SCA 38)
Authors: Sanna Angela , Follesa Paolo , Tacconi Paolo , Serra Mariangela , Pisu Maria Giuseppina , Cocco Viola , Figorilli Michela , Defazio Giovanni , Puligheddu Monica 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSpinocerebellar ataxia 38 (SCA 38) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by conventional mutations in the ELOVL5 gene which encodes an enzyme involved in the synthesis of very long fatty acids, with a specific expression in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Three Italian families carrying the mutation, one of which is of Sardinian descent, have been identified and characterized. One session of cerebellar intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) was applied to 6 affected members of the Sardinian family to probe motor cortex excitability measured by motor-evoked potentials (MEPs). Afterwards, patients were exposed to ten sessions of cerebellar real and sham iTBS in a cross-over study and clinical symptoms were evaluated before and after treatment by Modified International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (MICARS). Moreover, serum BDNF levels were evaluated before and after real and sham cerebellar iTBS and the role of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in influencing iTBS effect was explored. Present data show that one session of cerebellar iTBS was able to increase MEPs in all tested patients, suggesting an enhancement of the cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathway in SCA 38. MICARS scores were reduced after ten sessions of real cerebellar iTBS showing an improvement in clinical symptoms. Finally, although serum BDNF levels were not affected by cerebellar iTBS when considering all samples, segregating for genotype a difference was found between Val66Val and Val66Met carriers. These preliminary data suggest a potential therapeutic use of cerebellar iTBS in improving motor symptoms of SCA38.
A cochain level proof of Adem relations in the mod 2 Steenrod algebra
Authors: Brumfiel Greg , Medina-Mardones Anibal , Morgan John 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIn 1947, N.E. Steenrod defined the Steenrod Squares, which are mod 2 cohomology operations, using explicit cochain formulae for cup-iproducts of cocycles. He later recast the construction in more general homological terms, using group homology and acyclic model methods, rather than explicit cochain formulae, to define modpoperations for all primesp. Steenrod’s student J. Adem applied the homological point of view to prove fundamental relations, known as the Adem relations, in the algebra of cohomology operations generated by the Steenrod operations. In this paper we give a proof of the mod 2 Adem relations at the cochain level. Specifically, given a mod 2 cocycle, we produce explicit cochain formulae whose coboundaries are the Adem relations among compositions of Steenrod Squares applied to the cocycle, using Steenrod’s original cochain definition of the Square operations.
A note on quasi-bi-slant submanifolds of Sasakian manifolds
Authors: Prasad Rajendra , Verma Sandeep Kumar 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe object of the present paper is to study the notion of quasi-bi-slant submanifolds of almost contact metric manifolds as a generalization of slant, semi-slant, hemi-slant, bi-slant, and quasi-hemi-slant submanifolds. We study and characterize quasi-bi-slant submanifolds of Sasakian manifolds and provide non-trivial examples to signify that the structure presented in this paper is valid. Furthermore, the integrability of distributions and geometry of foliations are researched. Moreover, we characterize quasi-bi-slant submanifolds with parallel canonical structures.
What Aspects of Illness Influence Public Preferences for Healthcare Priority Setting? A Discrete Choice Experiment in the UK
Authors: Morrell Liz , Buchanan James , Rees Sian , Barker Richard W. , Wordsworth Sarah 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Decisions on funding new healthcare technologies assume that all health improvements are valued equally. However, public reaction to health technology assessment (HTA) decisions suggests there are health attributes that matter deeply to them but are not currently accounted for in the assessment process. We aimed to determine the relative importance of attributes of illness that influence the value placed on alleviating that illness.

Method
We conducted a discrete choice experiment survey that presented general public respondents with 15 funding decisions between hypothetical health conditions. The conditions were defined by five attributes that characterise serious illnesses, plus the health gain from treatment. Respondent preferences were modelled using conditional logistic regression and latent class analysis.

Results
905 members of the UK public completed the survey in November 2017. Respondents generally preferred to provide treatments for conditions with ‘better’ characteristics. The exception was treatment availability, where respondents preferred to provide treatments for conditions where there is no current treatment, and were prepared to accept lower overall health gain to do so. A subgroup of respondents preferred to prioritise ‘worse’ health states.

Conclusion
This study suggests a preference among the UK public for treating an unmet need; however, it does not suggest a preference for prioritising other distressing aspects of health conditions, such as limited life expectancy, or where patients are reliant on care. Our results are not consistent with the features currently prioritised in UK HTA processes, and the preference heterogeneity we identify presents a major challenge for developing broadly acceptable policy.