bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of low molecular weight organic acids on aggregation behavior of biochar colloids at acid and neutral conditions
Authors: Wang Yang , Wang Changxi , Xiong Jiayi , Zhang Qianru , Shang Jianying 
Published: March 2022

AbstractLow molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs), as active components in the rhizosphere carbon cycling, may influence the environmental behaviors of biochar colloids. This study selected the pine-wood and wheat-straw biochars (PB and WB) as two typical biochars. The effects of typical LMWOAs (oxalic acid, citric acid, and malic acid) on aggregation kinetics of PB and WB colloids were investigated under pH 4 and 6 conditions. Critical coagulation concentrations (CCCs) of both PB and WB colloids were decreased with the LMWOAs regardless of the types of biochar and the solution pH, and the most significant effect occurred in pH 4 due to more LMWOAs sorption on the biochar colloids. The different types of LMWOAs caused various CCCs changes. For example, the CCC values of PB colloids decreased from 75 mM to 56, 52, and 47 mM in the pH 4 NaCl solutions when 1 mM oxalic acid, citric acid, and malic acid were present in the suspensions, respectively. The chemical structure (functional groups) and molecular weight of LMWOAs, solution pH, and the electrophoretic mobility (EPM) of biochar co-influence the interactions between biochar colloids and LMWOAs, thus affecting the stability of biochar colloids in the presence of LMWOAs. The presence of LMWOAs accelerated the aggregation of colloidal biochar by increasing the interaction of surface bridging bonds (hydrogen bonding) and decreasing the repulsive force between colloidal biochar particles. This study showed that LMWOAs could accelerate the aggregation of biochar colloids in acidic or neutral environments and reduce the mobility of biochar colloids in soil rhizosphere.
A Combination of Residual Distribution and the Active Flux Formulations or a New Class of Schemes That Can Combine Several Writings of the Same Hyperbolic Problem: Application to the 1D Euler Equations
Authors: Abgrall R. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractWe show how to combine in a natural way (i.e., without any test nor switch) the conservative and non-conservative formulations of an hyperbolic system that has a conservative form. This is inspired from two different classes of schemes: the residual distribution one (Abgrall in Commun Appl Math Comput 2(3): 341–368, 2020), and the active flux formulations (Eyman and Roe in 49th AIAA Aerospace Science Meeting, 2011; Eyman in active flux. PhD thesis, University of Michigan, 2013; Helzel et al. in J Sci Comput 80(3): 35–61, 2019; Barsukow in J Sci Comput 86(1): paper No. 3, 34, 2021; Roe in J Sci Comput 73: 1094–1114, 2017). The solution is globally continuous, and as in the active flux method, described by a combination of point values and average values. Unlike the “classical” active flux methods, the meaning of the point-wise and cell average degrees of freedom is different, and hence follow different forms of PDEs; it is a conservative version of the cell average, and a possibly non-conservative one for the points. This new class of scheme is proved to satisfy a Lax-Wendroff-like theorem. We also develop a method to perform non-linear stability. We illustrate the behaviour on several benchmarks, some quite challenging.
Sustainability and Financial Crime
Authors: Ruggiero Vincenzo 
Published: March 2022

AbstractSustainable development promises a wave of new approaches to environmental and social issues due to its perceived holistic nature. New ways of producing and consuming are purported to pave the way for smooth and consensual governance and the reduction of conflicts. The diversion of finance towards sustainable development may also impact on financial crime, at least in the views of optimists who focus on the connections between the two. It is felt that there is no really sustainable finance (the alignment of financial operations with sustainable development) without developing strong and efficient means to fight financial crime. This paper examines such optimistic views, providing, first, an account of institutional strategies relating to sustainable finance, and second, an analysis of some forms of financial crime. Focusing particularly but not exclusively on the UK, a final hypothesis is then formulated around the scenario we are likely to face in the near future if the financial sphere is coopted into the arena of sustainable development.
Predictors of humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 in patients receiving maintenance dialysis
Authors: Li Tingting , Gandra Sumanth , Reske Kimberly A. , Olsen Margaret A. , Bommarito Silvana , Miller Candace , Hock Karl G. , Ballman Claire A. , Su Christina , Le Dang Na , Kwon Jennie H. , Warren David K. , Fraser Victoria J. , Farnsworth Christopher W. ,   for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epicenters Program
Published: March 2022

Abstract

Objective:
Patients on dialysis are at high risk for severe COVID-19 and associated morbidity and mortality. We examined the humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 in a maintenance dialysis population.

Design:
Single-center cohort study.

Setting and participants:
Adult maintenance dialysis patients at 3 outpatient dialysis units of a large academic center.

Methods:
Participants were vaccinated with 2 doses of BNT162b2, 3 weeks apart. We assessed anti–SARS-CoV-2 spike antibodies (anti-S) ∼4–7 weeks after the second dose and evaluated risk factors associated with insufficient response. Definitions of antibody response are as follows: nonresponse (anti-S level, <50 AU/mL), low response (anti-S level, 50–839 AU/mL), and sufficient response (anti-S level, ≥840 AU/mL).

Results:
Among the 173 participants who received 2 vaccine doses, the median age was 60 years (range, 28–88), 53.2% were men, 85% were of Black race, 86% were on in-center hemodialysis and 14% were on peritoneal dialysis. Also, 7 participants (4%) had no response, 27 (15.6%) had a low response, and 139 (80.3%) had a sufficient antibody response. In multivariable analysis, factors significantly associated with insufficient antibody response included end-stage renal disease comorbidity index score ≥5 and absence of prior hepatitis B vaccination response.

Conclusions:
Although most of our study participants seroconverted after 2 doses of BNT162b2, 20% of our cohort did not achieve sufficient humoral response. Our findings demonstrate the urgent need for a more effective vaccine strategy in this high-risk patient population and highlight the importance of ongoing preventative measures until protective immunity is achieved.
Prevalence of COVID-19 in West Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: A Population-Based Retrospective Study
Authors: Adane Tiruneh , Adugna Yonnas , Aynalem Melak 
Published: March 2022

Abstract

Objective:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly around the world, affecting every community directly or indirectly. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the prevalence of COVID-19 infection in the population of the West Gondar zone.

Method:
A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2020 to January 2021, in the West Gondar zone, Northwest Ethiopia. Records of study participants with required information like age, gender, travel history, type of specimen taken, and site of specimen taken were included. For analysis, the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20 software was used. Descriptive statistics were summarized as percentages and means ± standard deviation. The chi-squared test is used to compare categorical data.

Results:
A total of 1,166 participants were enrolled in this study. Of them, 16 individuals had positive results, giving a prevalence of 1.37% (95% CI: 0.66-2.08). Living in an urban area (P-value = 0.035) and being female (P-value = 0.045) was statistically associated with the positive rate for COVID-19.

Conclusions:
This study revealed a low prevalence of COVID-19 infection in the study area despite the increasing and rapid dissemination of the disease. State-wide population prevalence study should be done to estimate the general prevalence of COVID-19 in Ethiopia.
The Influencer Republic: Monetizing Political Speech on Social Media
Authors: De Gregorio Giovanni , Goanta Catalina 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThis paper addresses the specific challenges arising from the monetization of political speech on social media, and propose a normative argument to extend consumer disclosures to political speech. Political speech enjoys the highest degree of protection by national constitutions as well as supranational and international charters. Unlike commercial speech which usuallyenjoy less constitutional protection, political speech is the foundation of constitutional democracies. The blurring line between political and commercial speech introduces a new layer of complexity in tackling hidden political advertising. Indeed, political speech is likely to attract commercial speech inside a broader scope of protection with the result that potential limitations of this kind of speech would be required to pass a very strict test through the balance with other constitutional safeguards or legitimate interests according to the criteria of necessity, legitimacy and proportionality. This could also question the scope of other regulation designed to govern commercial speech like advertising. To this end, the paper compares regulatory and judicial interpretations adopted in Europe and the United States, and is structured as follows. In the first part, we explore the content monetization business models (including influencer marketing) used on social media, and we identify three types of influencer ‘personas’ who are prone to engage in political speech. The second part looks into the constitutional differences between commercial and political speech across the Atlantic. The third part provides the normative argument at the intersection between consumer law and freedom of expression, and the fourth part concludes.
Explaining the gradient: Requirements for theories of visual awareness
Authors: Schmidt Thomas , Biafora Melanie 
Published: March 2022

AbstractWe propose that any theory of visual awareness must explain the gradient of different awareness measures over experimental conditions, especially when those measures form double dissociations among each other. Theories meeting this requirement must be specific to the measured facets of awareness, such as motion, contrast, or color. Integrated information theory (IIT) lacks such specificity because it is an underconstrained theory with unspecific predictions.
What is exactly the problem with panpsychism?
Authors: Pennartz Cyriel M. A. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractMerker et al.'s critique calls for a deeper analysis of panpsychism. In principle, the concept of integrated information can be applied to photodiodes and subatomic particles, but I suggest the main obstacle is the lack of any evidence to confirm the presence of consciousness. Also MRW's perspectivalist theory illustrates the difficulties in synthesizing a full-fledged theory of consciousness.
Searching in the wrong place: Might consciousness reside in the brainstem?
Authors: Devor Marshall , Koukoui Mary , Baron Mark 
Published: March 2022

AbstractDoubtless, the conscious brain integrates masses of information. But declaring that consciousness simply “emerges” when enough has accumulated, doesn't really explain how first person experience is implemented by neurons. Moreover, empirical observations challenge integrated information theory's (IIT) reliance on thalamo–cortical interactions as the information integrator. More likely, the cortex streams processed information to a still-enigmatic consciousness generator, one perhaps located in the brainstem.
Escaping from the IIT Munchausen method: Re-establishing the scientific method in the study of consciousness
Authors: Verschure Paul 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIntegrated information theory (IIT) is an example of “ironic science” and obstructs the scientific study of consciousness. By confusing the ontological status of a method to quantify network complexity with that of a theory of consciousness, IIT has to square the circle and spirals toward its panpsychism conclusion. I analyze the consequences of this fallacy and suggest how the study of consciousness can be brought back into the realm of rational, empirical science.
The integrated information theory of consciousness: Unmasked and identified
Authors: Merker Bjorn , Williford Kenneth , Rudrauf David 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIn our response to a truly diverse set of commentaries, we first summarize the principal topical themes around which they cluster, then address two “outlier” positions (the problem of consciousness has been solved vs. is intractable). Next, we address ways in which commentaries by non-integrated information theory (IIT) authors engage with the specifics of our IIT critique, turning finally to the four commentaries by IIT authors.
Developing soybean seed germination: low ABA and high EXP1 gene expression promote embryonic axis growth whereas the seed coat delays radicle protrusion
Authors: Montechiarini Nidia H. , Morandi Eligio N. , Gosparini Carlos O. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractSeed germination implies an expansion process restarting the growth of the embryonic axis (Ax) and which is completed by radicle emergence through the seed covering layers. In developing soybean seeds, abscisic acid in Ax (ABAa) mainly inhibits Ax growth. Additionally, the expression of the EXP1 gene at the elongation zone (EZ) was found to be involved in the promotion of mature soybean Ax growth, which increased during water incubation and which was repressed by exogenous ABA. This work aimed to evaluate (1) the ABAa and EXP1 levels at the EZ and (2) the role of the seed coat (SC) in developing soybean seed germination. Whole seeds (Se), embryos (Em) and Ax at 25–45 d after anthesis (DAA) germinated in vitro, and germination performance increased with DAA. ABAa decreased in planta from 25 DAA until its critical non-inhibitory threshold (ABAc) at around physiological maturity (45 DAA). At earlier ages, the ABAc was reached during the in vitro incubation. Concomitantly, EXP1 transcripts accumulated with age into the pool of long-lived mRNAs and were up-regulated during incubation. Additionally, isolated Ax germinated faster, took up more water and increased its water potential more rapidly during incubation than Ax in Se. Also, a lower osmotic gradient was required to germinate at 45 DAA, when ABAa was no longer inhibitory. Simultaneously, the pressure to protrude SC through the micropylar area increased from 25 to 45 DAA. These results support the role of ABAa and EXP1 in controlling Ax growth and the SC in delaying radicle protrusion.
Leveraging frequency agility of an MIMO antenna cluster with a transmitter IC
Authors: Saleem Ali Raza , Luomaniemi Rasmus , Lehtovuori Anu , Stadius Kari , Kosunen Marko , Viikari Ville , Ryynänen Jussi 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThis paper presents the prototype demonstration where an integrated transmitter circuit drives a mobile handset terminal antenna in order to provide frequency tunability and multiple input multiple output (MIMO) operation across the 0.5–4.5 GHz frequency range. The transmitter implementation incorporates on-chip weighted signal generation, i.e. amplitude and phase scaling to provide sufficient MIMO performance in the low band (700–960 MHz) and in the high band (1.5–4.5 GHz). In the transmitter, two antenna elements are used for MIMO operation in the low band and another two in the high band. The transmitter integrated circuit (IC) is fabricated in a 28 nm bulk CMOS technology with an active on-chip area of 0.2 mm$^2$. A custom antenna measurement procedure is proposed here in order to support and verify active antenna measurements with transmitter IC. A measurement procedure for the transmitter system comprising the transmitter IC and four antenna clusters is developed and discussed in comparison with traditional passive antenna measurements. The measurement results demonstrate that the transmitter IC driving the antenna clusters provides total antenna efficiency of $-6.5$ dB to $-1.5$ dB, and envelope correlation coefficient below 0.4 across the designated frequency bands. The results indicate that the implemented transmitter IC successfully tunes frequency response of the antenna clusters, and enhances the MIMO operation of such mobile antennas.
Factors Influencing the Molecular Compositions and Distributions of Atmospheric Nitrogen‐Containing Compounds
Authors: Jiang Hongxing , Li Jun , Tang Jiao , Zhao Shizhen , Chen Yinjun , Tian Chongguo , Zhang Xiangyun , Jiang Bin , Liao Yuhong , Zhang Gan 
Published: March 2022

AbstractAtmospheric nitrogen‐containing organic compounds (NOCs) are critical components of global nitrogen deposition and light‐absorption species. The sources and compositions of NOCs are complex and remain largely unknown. Here, NOCs in 55 ambient aerosol samples collected in Guangzhou, South China, were analyzed via ultrahigh‐resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry in negative‐ion and positive‐ion electrospray ionization (ESI) modes. The molecular compositions of NOCs measured via ESI– and ESI+ exhibited considerable differences. NOCs detected in the negative mode were mainly composed of highly oxygenated organic nitrates (O/N = 6), whereas NOCs detected in the positive mode were mainly composed of reduced nitrogen‐containing compounds (e.g., amides and amino acids). CHN compounds potentially corresponding to amines and alkaloids showed low abundance in the detection modes. Non‐metric multidimensional scaling and individual compound correlation analyses showed that the molecular compositions of NOCs were mainly affected by anthropogenic activities and meteorological parameters. For example, anthropogenic activities such as biomass burning and secondary nitrogen‐chemistry processes led to the accumulation of aromatic and highly oxygenated NOCs during winter. During summer, higher OH radical concentrations and temperatures will result in more prevalent or persistent reduced aliphatic NOCs, particularly lipid‐like amines. Some variables (e.g., relative humidity) have distinct effects on the variation of different types of NOCs. More research is needed to reveal the influencing mechanisms. This study clarifies the molecular compositions of NOCs and the mechanisms by which various factors influence the molecular variations. The findings can guide the assessment of NOCs evolution and deposition.
Reconstructing antibody dynamics to estimate the risk of influenza virus infection
Authors: Tsang Tim K. , Perera Ranawaka A. P. M. , Fang Vicky J. , Wong Jessica Y. , Shiu Eunice Y. , So Hau Chi , Ip Dennis K. M. , Malik Peiris J. S. , Leung Gabriel M. , Cowling Benjamin J. , Cauchemez Simon 
Published: March 2022

AbstractFor >70 years, a 4-fold or greater rise in antibody titer has been used to confirm influenza virus infections in paired sera, despite recognition that this heuristic can lack sensitivity. Here we analyze with a novel Bayesian model a large cohort of 2353 individuals followed for up to 5 years in Hong Kong to characterize influenza antibody dynamics and develop an algorithm to improve the identification of influenza virus infections. After infection, we estimate that hemagglutination-inhibiting (HAI) titers were boosted by 16-fold on average and subsequently decrease by 14% per year. In six epidemics, the infection risks for adults were 3%–19% while the infection risks for children were 1.6–4.4 times higher than that of younger adults. Every two-fold increase in pre-epidemic HAI titer was associated with 19%–58% protection against infection. Our inferential framework clarifies the contributions of age and pre-epidemic HAI titers to characterize individual infection risk.
Impact of yellow fever virus envelope protein on wild-type and vaccine epitopes and tissue tropism
Authors: Davis Emily H. , Wang Binbin , White Mellodee , Huang Yan-Jang S. , Sarathy Vanessa V. , Wang Tian , Bourne Nigel , Higgs Stephen , Barrett Alan D. T. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe envelope (E) protein of flaviviruses is functionally associated with viral tissue tropism and pathogenicity. For yellow fever virus (YFV), viscerotropic disease primarily involving the liver is pathognomonic for wild-type (WT) infection. In contrast, the live-attenuated vaccine (LAV) strain 17D does not cause viscerotropic disease and reversion to virulence is associated with neurotropic disease. The relationship between structure-function of the E protein for WT strain Asibi and its LAV derivative 17D strain is poorly understood; however, changes to WT and vaccine epitopes have been associated with changes in virulence. Here, a panel of Asibi and 17D infectious clone mutants were generated with single-site mutations at the one membrane residue and each of the eight E protein amino acid substitutions that distinguish the two strains. The mutants were characterized with respect to WT-specific and vaccine-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) binding to virus plus binding of virus to brain, liver, and lung membrane receptor preparations (MRPs) generated from AG129 mice. This approach shows that amino acids in the YFV E protein domains (ED) I and II contain the WT E protein epitope, which overlap with those that mediate YFV binding to mouse liver. Furthermore, amino acids in EDIII associated with the vaccine epitope overlap with those that facilitate YFV binding mouse brain MRPs. Taken together, these data suggest that the YFV E protein is a key determinant in the phenotype of WT and 17D vaccine strains of YFV.
Big data collection in pharmaceutical manufacturing and its use for product quality predictions
Authors: Žagar Janja , Mihelič Jurij 
Published: March 2022

AbstractAdvances in data science and digitalization are transforming the world, and the pharmaceutical industry is no exception. Multiple sensor-equipped manufacturing processes and laboratory analysis are the main sources of primary data, which have been utilized for the presented dataset of 1005 actual production batches of selected medicine. This dataset includes incoming raw material quality results, compression process time series and final product quality results for the selected product. The data is highly valuable for it provides an insight into every 10 seconds of the process trajectory for 1005 actual production batches along with product quality collected over several years. It therefore offers an opportunity to develop advanced analysis models and procedures which would lead to the omission of current conventional and time consuming laboratory testing. Benefits for both the industry and patient are obvious: reducing product lead times and costs of manufacture.