bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Fenfluramine and Norfenfluramine Enantiomers and Various Antiepileptic Drugs in a Zebrafish Model of Dravet Syndrome
Authors: Li Jing , Nelis Maxim , Sourbron Jo , Copmans Daniëlle , Lagae Lieven , Cabooter Deirdre , de Witte Peter A. M. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractDravet syndrome (DS) is a rare genetic encephalopathy that is characterized by severe seizures and highly resistant to commonly used antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). In 2020, FDA has approved fenfluramine (FFA) for treatment of seizures associated with DS. However, the clinically used FFA is a racemic mixture (i.e. (±)-FFA), that is substantially metabolized to norfenfluramine (norFFA), and it is presently not known whether the efficacy of FFA is due to a single enantiomer of FFA, or to both, and whether the norFFA enantiomers also contribute significantly. In this study, the antiepileptic activity of enantiomers of FFA (i.e. (+)-FFA and (−)-FFA) and norFFA (i.e. (+)-norFFA and (−)-norFFA) was explored using the zebrafish scn1Lab−/− mutant model of DS. To validate the experimental conditions used, we assessed the activity of various AEDs typically used in the fight against DS, including combination therapy. Overall, our results are highly consistent with the treatment algorithm proposed by the updated current practice in the clinical management of DS. Our results show that (+)-FFA, (−)-FFA and (+)-norFFA displayed significant antiepileptic effects in the preclinical model, and thus can be considered as compounds actively contributing to the clinical efficacy of FFA. In case of (−)-norFFA, the results were less conclusive. We also investigated the uptake kinetics of the enantiomers of FFA and norFFA in larval zebrafish heads. The data show that the total uptake of each compound increased in a time-dependent fashion. A somewhat similar uptake was observed for the (+)-norFFA and (−)-norFFA, implying that the levo/dextrotation of the structure did not dramatically affect the uptake. Significantly, when comparing (+)-FFA with the less lipophilic (+)-norFFA, the data clearly show that the nor-metabolite of FFA is taken up less than the parent compound.
Characterizing Family Contextual Factors and Relationships with Child Behavior and Sleep Across the Buffering Toxic Stress Consortium
Authors: Phu Tiffany , Miles Elly , Dominguez Amy , Hustedt Jason , Watamura Sarah Enos ,   BTS Consortium Principal Investigators
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe Buffering Toxic Stress (BTS) consortium included six sites in locations that varied widely in racial/ethnic composition and population density. Each site tested a promising parent–child intervention designed to supplement Early Head Start (EHS) services and prevent “toxic stress.” To better understand family risk in a large and diverse EHS sample, studies gathered extensive data on family risk exposure, including demographic risk factors (single mother, unemployed, less than high school education or its equivalent, and neighborhood safety), income-to-needs ratio, household resource constraints, perceptions of economic hardship and pressure, caregiver mental health, and caregiver-reported dysfunctional parent–child interactions. Results presented here for all six sites offer context for the more targeted studies in this special issue. Average levels of family characteristics and child behavior varied by site. We also characterized associations between family characteristics, observer-rated child temperament, and child outcomes (i.e., caregiver-reported child behavior problems and behavioral sleep quality), controlling for child age; these relationships were similar across sites. Demographic risk and caregiver mental health problems were positively associated with child behavior problems, with low income-to-needs ratio and increased financial strain relating to behavioral problems in infancy and toddlerhood. Caregiver mental health problems, financial strain, and social and affect temperament dimensions were related to increased behavioral sleep problems. Dysfunctional parent–child interactions and household resource constraints did not demonstrate statistically significant associations. Findings suggest helpful targets to increase effectiveness of parent–child interventions in early childhood on behavior and sleep outcomes.
Understanding mathematics of Grover’s algorithm
Authors: Szabłowski Paweł J. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe analyze the mathematical structure of the classical Grover’s algorithm and put it within the framework of linear algebra over the complex numbers. We also generalize it in the sense, that we are seeking not the one ‘chosen’ element (sometimes called a ‘solution’) of the dataset, but a set ofmsuch ‘chosen’ elements (out of$$n>m)$$n>m). Besides, we do not assume that the so-called initial superposition is uniform. We assume also that we have at our disposal an oracle that ‘marks,’ by a suitable phase change$$\varphi $$φ, all these ‘chosen’ elements. In the first part of the paper, we construct a unique unitary operator that selects all ‘chosen’ elements in one step. The constructed operator is uniquely defined by the numbers$$\varphi $$φand$$\alpha $$αwhich is a certain function of the coefficients of the initial superposition. Moreover, it is in the form of a composition of two so-called reflections. The result is purely theoretical since the phase change required to reach this heavily depends on$$\alpha $$α. In the second part, we construct unitary operators having a form of composition of two or more reflections (generalizing the constructed operator) given the set of orthogonal versors. We find properties of these operations, in particular, their compositions. Further, by considering a fixed, ‘convenient’ phase change$$\varphi ,$$φ,and by sequentially applying the so-constructed operator, we find the number of steps to find these ‘chosen’ elements with great probability. We apply this knowledge to study the generalizations of Grover’s algorithm ($$m=1,\phi =\pi $$m=1,ϕ=π), which are of the form, the found previously, unitary operators.
Evaluating Gaussian process metamodels and sequential designs for noisy level set estimation
Authors: Lyu Xiong , Binois Mickaël , Ludkovski Michael 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe consider the problem of learning the level set for which a noisy black-box function exceeds a given threshold. To efficiently reconstruct the level set, we investigate Gaussian process (GP) metamodels. Our focus is on strongly stochastic simulators, in particular with heavy-tailed simulation noise and low signal-to-noise ratio. To guard against noise misspecification, we assess the performance of three variants: (i) GPs with Student-tobservations; (ii) Student-tprocesses (TPs); and (iii) classification GPs modeling the sign of the response. In conjunction with these metamodels, we analyze several acquisition functions for guiding the sequential experimental designs, extending existing stepwise uncertainty reduction criteria to the stochastic contour-finding context. This also motivates our development of (approximate) updating formulas to efficiently compute such acquisition functions. Our schemes are benchmarked by using a variety of synthetic experiments in 1–6 dimensions. We also consider an application of level set estimation for determining the optimal exercise policy of Bermudan options in finance.
Performance of deep learning technology for evaluation of positioning quality in periapical radiography of the maxillary canine
Authors: Mori Mizuho , Ariji Yoshiko , Fukuda Motoki , Kitano Tomoya , Funakoshi Takuma , Nishiyama Wataru , Kohinata Kiyomi , Iida Yukihiro , Ariji Eiichiro , Katsumata Akitoshi 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Objectives
The aim of the present study was to create and test an automatic system for assessing the technical quality of positioning in periapical radiography of the maxillary canines using deep learning classification and segmentation techniques.

Methods
We created and tested two deep learning systems using 500 periapical radiographs (250 each of good- and bad-quality images). We assigned 350, 70, and 80 images as the training, validation, and test datasets, respectively. The learning model of system 1 was created with only the classification process, whereas system 2 consisted of both the segmentation and classification models. In each model, 500 epochs of training were performed using AlexNet and U-net for classification and segmentation, respectively. The segmentation results were evaluated by the intersection over union method, with values of 0.6 or more considered as success. The classification results were compared between the two systems.

Results
The segmentation performance of system 2 was recall, precision, and F measure of 0.937, 0.961, and 0.949, respectively. System 2 showed better classification performance values than those obtained by system 1. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values differed significantly between system 1 (0.649) and system 2 (0.927).

Conclusions
The deep learning systems we created appeared to have potential benefits in evaluation of the technical positioning quality of periapical radiographs through the use of segmentation and classification functions.
Nonlocal regularization of an anisotropic critical state model for sand
Authors: Gao Zhiwei , Li Xin , Lu Dechun 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMany advanced constitutive models which can capture the strain-softening and state-dependent dilatancy response of sand have been developed. These models can give good prediction of the single soil element behaviour under various loading conditions. But the solution will be highly mesh-dependent when they are used in real boundary value problems due to the strain-softening. They can give mesh-dependent strain localization pattern and bearing capacity of foundations on sand. Nonlocal regularization of an anisotropic critical state sand model is presented. The evolution of void ratio which has a significant influence on strain-softening is assumed to depend on the volumetric strain increment of both the local and neighbouring integration points. The regularization method has been implemented using the explicit stress integration method. The nonlocal model has been used in simulating both drained plane strain compression and the response of a strip footing on dry sand. In plane strain compression, mesh-independent results for the force–displacement relationship and shear band thickness can be obtained when the mesh size is smaller than the internal length. The force–displacement relationship of strip footings predicted by the nonlocal model is much less mesh-sensitive than the local model prediction. The strain localization under the strip footing predicted by the nonlocal model is mesh independent. The regularization method is thus proper for application in practical geotechnical engineering problems.
Mechanical Models of Pattern and Form in Biological Tissues: The Role of Stress–Strain Constitutive Equations
Authors: Villa Chiara , Chaplain Mark A. J. , Gerisch Alf , Lorenzi Tommaso 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMechanical and mechanochemical models of pattern formation in biological tissues have been used to study a variety of biomedical systems, particularly in developmental biology, and describe the physical interactions between cells and their local surroundings. These models in their original form consist of a balance equation for the cell density, a balance equation for the density of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and a force-balance equation describing the mechanical equilibrium of the cell-ECM system. Under the assumption that the cell-ECM system can be regarded as an isotropic linear viscoelastic material, the force-balance equation is often defined using the Kelvin–Voigt model of linear viscoelasticity to represent the stress–strain relation of the ECM. However, due to the multifaceted bio-physical nature of the ECM constituents, there are rheological aspects that cannot be effectively captured by this model and, therefore, depending on the pattern formation process and the type of biological tissue considered, other constitutive models of linear viscoelasticity may be better suited. In this paper, we systematically assess the pattern formation potential of different stress–strain constitutive equations for the ECM within a mechanical model of pattern formation in biological tissues. The results obtained through linear stability analysis and the dispersion relations derived therefrom support the idea that fluid-like constitutive models, such as the Maxwell model and the Jeffrey model, have a pattern formation potential much higher than solid-like models, such as the Kelvin–Voigt model and the standard linear solid model. This is confirmed by the results of numerical simulations, which demonstrate that, all else being equal, spatial patterns emerge in the case where the Maxwell model is used to represent the stress–strain relation of the ECM, while no patterns are observed when the Kelvin–Voigt model is employed. Our findings suggest that further empirical work is required to acquire detailed quantitative information on the mechanical properties of components of the ECM in different biological tissues in order to furnish mechanical and mechanochemical models of pattern formation with stress–strain constitutive equations for the ECM that provide a more faithful representation of the underlying tissue rheology.
World impact of kernel European Union 9 countries from Google matrix analysis of the world trade network
Authors: Loye Justin , Ermann Leonardo , Shepelyansky Dima L. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe use the United Nations COMTRADE database for analysis of the multiproduct world trade network. With this data, considered for years 2012–2018, we determined the world trade impact of the Kernel of EU 9 countries (KEU9), being Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, considered as one united country. We apply the advanced Google matrix analysis for investigation of the influence of KEU9 and show that KEU9 takes the top trade network rank positions thus becoming the main player of the world trade being ahead of USA and China. Our network analysis provides additional mathematical grounds in favor of the recent proposal (Saint-Etienne in: Osons l’Europe des Nations. Editions de l’Observatoire/Humensis, Paris, 2018) of KEU9 super-union which is based only on historical, political and economy basis.
Getting High: High Fidelity Simulation of High Granularity Calorimeters with High Speed
Authors: Buhmann Erik , Diefenbacher Sascha , Eren Engin , Gaede Frank , Kasieczka Gregor , Korol Anatolii , Krüger Katja 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAccurate simulation of physical processes is crucial for the success of modern particle physics. However, simulating the development and interaction of particle showers with calorimeter detectors is a time consuming process and drives the computing needs of large experiments at the LHC and future colliders. Recently, generative machine learning models based on deep neural networks have shown promise in speeding up this task by several orders of magnitude. We investigate the use of a new architecture—the Bounded Information Bottleneck Autoencoder—for modelling electromagnetic showers in the central region of the Silicon-Tungsten calorimeter of the proposed International Large Detector. Combined with a novel second post-processing network, this approach achieves an accurate simulation of differential distributions including for the first time the shape of the minimum-ionizing-particle peak compared to a full Geant4 simulation for a high-granularity calorimeter with 27k simulated channels. The results are validated by comparing to established architectures. Our results further strengthen the case of using generative networks for fast simulation and demonstrate that physically relevant differential distributions can be described with high accuracy.
Reinforcement learning versus swarm intelligence for autonomous multi-HAPS coordination
Authors: Anicho Ogbonnaya , Charlesworth Philip B. , Baicher Gurvinder S. , Nagar Atulya K. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis work analyses the performance of Reinforcement Learning (RL) versus Swarm Intelligence (SI) for coordinating multiple unmanned High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) for communications area coverage. It builds upon previous work which looked at various elements of both algorithms. The main aim of this paper is to address the continuous state-space challenge within this work by using partitioning to manage the high dimensionality problem. This enabled comparing the performance of the classical cases of both RL and SI establishing a baseline for future comparisons of improved versions. From previous work, SI was observed to perform better across various key performance indicators. However, after tuning parameters and empirically choosing suitable partitioning ratio for the RL state space, it was observed that the SI algorithm still maintained superior coordination capability by achieving higher mean overall user coverage (about 20% better than the RL algorithm), in addition to faster convergence rates. Though the RL technique showed better average peak user coverage, the unpredictable coverage dip was a key weakness, making SI a more suitable algorithm within the context of this work.
Experimental and numerical analysis of cord–elastomer composites
Authors: Weiser Stephan , Lehmann Thomas , Landgraf Ralf , Goldberg Niels , Donner Hendrik , Ihlemann Jörn 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIn this paper, experimental and numerical investigations on cord–elastomer composites are presented. A finite-element model is introduced, which was developed within the framework of an industrial project. The model is able to simulate an elastomer matrix with inserted cords as load bearing elements and to predict the strains and stresses in cord and elastomer sections. The inelastic material behavior of the elastomer matrix and the yarns is described by corresponding material models suitable for large deformation processes. With the help of a specially developed demonstrator bellows, which is similar to an air spring, the simulation results are compared with experiments. For this purpose, the digital image correlation method is used to determine the deformations on the outer surface of the demonstrator bellows and to calculate the strains on and between the cords. The comparison of the results shows that the employed simulation method is very well suited to predict the strains in these cord–elastomer composites.
Facing up to security and privacy in online meetings
Authors: Botha Reinhardt , Furnell Steven 
Published: May 2021

One of the most noticeable effects of the Covid-19 pandemic from the technology perspective has been the significant uptake of online meeting platforms, which many have suddenly found to be a necessary alternative to face-to-face meetings in all manner of contexts. From relatively casual meetings that may have taken place among co-workers in the office, through to the staging of full conference events, online platforms have essentially come to the rescue when in-person gatherings were no longer an option. There has been a significant uptake of online meeting platforms for everything from casual meetings to full conference events. In many cases, this has been driven by a rapid transition to home working. However, with a significant number of people becoming first-time users, it caught a user population that was unprepared and unaware of what good security looked like. Additionally, with home working, they may have had no easy option to turn to for support. Reinhardt Botha and Steven Furnell examine the challenges that have arisen and how they can be addressed.
When is the right time to outsource your security function?
Authors: Dodds Scott 
Published: May 2021

The structure of IT security teams varies across different businesses. Of those that have a dedicated in-house security team, many roles are involved – CISO, risk and compliance groups, security ops centre, threat intelligence teams and malware analysis teams to name a few. This complex division of responsibilities may work harmoniously, but what happens when one element fails? In-house security teams involve many roles – CISO, risk and compliance groups, security ops centre, threat intelligence teams and malware analysis teams to name a few. This complex division of responsibilities may work harmoniously, but what happens when one element fails? Scott Dodds of Ultima MSP argues that outsourcing a business's security function to a managed service provider (MSP) could provide the ability to deliver greater compliance and greater efficiency of cyber security solutions. But how easy is it to effectively outsource the security function?
Pathogen-specific changes in composition and quality traits of milk from goats affected by subclinical intramammary infections
Authors: Bezerra Andreia B. , de Leon Candice M. C. G. , Givisiez Patrícia E. N. , Silva Núbia M. V. , Santos Filho Lauro , Pereira Walter Esfraim , Pimenta Filho Edgard C. , Azevedo Paulo S. , Oliveira Celso J. B. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe investigated the effects of pathogens associated with subclinical intramammary infections on yield, composition and quality indicators of goat milk. By means of a longitudinal study, individual half udder milk samples (n = 132) were collected at different lactation periods and assessed for milk yield and physicochemical composition, somatic cell count (SCC), total bacteria count (TBC) and microbiological culture. Staphylococci species accounted for the great majority of the isolates (96.1%). Intramammary infections significantly reduced fat and total solids in goat milk and increased both SCC and TBC. However, these indicators were significantly higher in udder halves affected by S. aureus compared with other staphylococci species.
From David Burrell CSC to Sara Grant RSCJ: The distinctive relation between creature and Creator in Christian theology
Authors: Soars Daniel 
Published: May 2021

AbstractI focus in this article on the work of the contemporary Thomist, David Burrell, and the ways in which he is influenced particularly by Robert Sokolowski and Kathryn Tanner in his articulation of thesui generisrelation between creature and Creator. By paying close attention to Burrell's work on the metaphysics of creation I show how the notions of ‘distinction’ and ‘relation’ cannot be separated in his understanding of the world-and-God. I then examine how Thomas's own thinking through of these issues was carried out in engagement with voices from outside the Christian tradition and, finally, explore Burrell's invitation to extend the conversation beyond Abrahamic frontiers by turning to the work of a lesser-known Thomist scholar – Sara Grant.