bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Tyranny of Health: Juli Zeh's “Body Utopia” Corpus Delicti: Ein Prozess (2009)
Authors: Seeber Hans Ulrich
Published: October 2020

Juli Zeh, who enjoys an international reputation, is one of the most gifted and productive writers of Germany today. Her dystopian tale Corpus Delicti: Ein Prozess (2009; English translation, 2012) represents a lively, intelligent, and innovative addition to the genre. It presents a picture of a benevolent dictatorship that demands good health as the highest duty of its citizens, in a sequence of dramatic scenes combining the virtues of a thriller with a dystopia focusing on the present-day preoccupation with health and the body. Most segments are presented as scenes of a trial against a biologist who is accused of rebellion against “The Method,” the ruling order of the future state, whose dominant ideology is “Health as the Principle of State Legitimacy.” Thus metaphysical morality and Enlightenment values such as freedom, democracy, and justice have been replaced by a scientific, secular notion of life as the ultimate criterion and value.
Rechazo y discurso de odio en Twitter análisis de contenido de los tuits sobre migrantes y refugiados en español
Authors: Arcila Calderón Carlos , Blanco-Herrero David , Valdez Apolo María Belén
Published: October 2020

Se analiza el rechazo verbal al extranjero como potencial detector de discurso de odio a través de dos análisis de contenido de tuits en español recogidos con la API de Twitter: el primero, manual, a 1.469 tuits; el segundo, automático, analiza otros 337.116 tuits utilizando técnicas de big data. El rechazo fue predominante en el primer análisis y minoritario en el segundo, mostrando la fluctuación que experimentan estas expresiones en función del contexto mediático. En ambos casos el rechazo hacia los migrantes fue significativamente mayor que hacia los refugiados, como se había observado ya en contextos internacionales. El trabajo también generó un corpus de entrenamiento sobre rechazo al extranjero y observó los aspectos negativos asociados más frecuentemente al rechazo, así como la relación entre este y la condición informativa u opinativa del tuit.
Regenerative braking as a way to recover lost energy in hybrid vehicles
Authors: Soliński Michał
Published: October 2020

Very rapid development of the automotive industry forces designers to implement new solutions. One of them is the construction of braking systems, which can enable the recovery of part of the energy lost during the braking process in hybrid vehicles. The article presents the basic types of hybrid drives currently used in motor vehicles. The principle of operation of the mechanical and electrical energy recovery system had been discussed, and the vehicles in which such solutions had been applied were indicated.
Communication floods – Emails in scholarly communication
Authors: Lüthje Corinna , Thiele Franziska
Published: October 2020

The aim of this study is to display the current email usage among academics and the email‘s influence on the field of science by analyzing qualitative interviews and media diaries with 55 German-speaking academics. Emails pose a particular challenge for separating work and personal spheres. Mobile media such as tablets and smartphones reinforce the penetrating effects of emails. Our results show that scholars hardly engage in a temporal and spatial separation of the spheres when accessing work emails. This is one of the reasons why emails contribute to a perception of information overload and stress. While emails cause problems in many fields, we assume that it is particularly pronounced in the scientific field. In order to raise awareness for this topic and to facilitate the handling of emails in the scientific community, we recommend introducing email workshops and regulations at universities.
Justice Beyond Borders – Extraterritorial Obligations from Thucydides to Grotius
Authors: Altwicker Tilmann
Published: October 2020

The article traces the problem of extraterritorial obligations in the early history of ideas, spanning from Thucydides to Grotius. Extraterritorial obligations are defined here as moral obligations of a legitimate authority to perform or not to perform an act vis-à-vis individuals who are not its subjects. The article shows that arguments about justice beyond the border rely on transnational conceptions of the common good. In the early history of ideas concerning extraterritorial obligations, the following questions were central: Can there be a transnational meaning of moral concepts? Are extraterritorial obligations merely negative obligations? Is the extraterritorial pursuit of state interests limited by higher-ranking principles? Under which circumstances is the extra-territorial use of force permitted in order to protect individuals?
Epochenwandel im Völkerrecht?
Authors: Kadelbach Stefan , Kleinlein Thomas
Published: October 2020

This article asks whether public international law is facing an epochal change. The first section spots various current trends in international law that suggest a decreasing significance of international law and institutions in today’s international relations. In order to assess whether these observations amount to an overall trend, the second section traces perceptions of instability and change in public international law scholarship of the past, presents a short history of international law since 1945 and discusses the problems of a periodization of the history of international law. The third section adopts a normative perspective to capture tendencies of change in the policy fields of security, economy and governance. The final section discusses responses to these developments in international legal theory, offers a brief practical political philosophy of contemporary international law, or recommendations for foreign policy. It suggests not to abandon the belief in the „co-operation thesis“ but to adhere to constructive multilateralism as a regulative idea.
Biomass Pretreatment and Characterization: A Review
Authors: Anukam Anthony , Berghel Jonas
Published: October 2020

Biomass has the potential to replace conventional fuels in a number of applications, particularly in biofuel production. It is an abundantly available renewable material with great potential as a feedstock for bioconversion processes for the production of energy, fuels and a variety of chemicals. Due to its biogenic origin, the carbon dioxide released from its combustion process does not impact atmospheric carbon dioxide. Despite these merits, a major problem hindering its widespread use has always been its recalcitrant nature, in terms of its inherent characteristics, which are unfavorable to its use in bioconversion and bio refinery processes. This makes it necessary for biomass to be pretreated before use in any conversion process for maximum product recovery. However, a major issue with regards to biomass pretreatment is the lack of rapid, high throughput and reliable tools for assessing and tracing biopolymer components of biomass relevant to the energy production potential of the biomass. This chapter therefore presents an overview of the pretreatment and characterization of biomass relevant to energy, fuels and chemicals production. The information provided will bequeath readers with the basic knowledge necessary for finding an auspicious solution to pretreatment problems and the production of energy from pretreated biomass.
Compare Catalase Activity Between Aspergillus flavus and A. fumigatus, Isolated from Clinical and Environmental Specimens
Authors: Rouein Sara , Ghasemi Fatemeh , Badiee Parisa
Published: October 2020

Background: Catalase enzyme is a potential virulence factor for Aspergillus species. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the catalase activity in conidium and mycelium of Aspergillus flavus and A. fumigatus isolated from environmental and clinical samples. Methods: Forty Aspergillus species (20 A. fumigatus and 20 A. flavus) were evaluated. Species were identified using the macroscopic and microscopic criteria of the isolates on culture media and the PCR-RFLP method, using the MwoI enzyme. The activity of the enzyme was evaluated using the Amplex red catalase assay kit. The Shapiro Wilk, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney, and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests were used to analyze the data. Results: The mean conidial and mycelial catalase activities in A. flavus clinical and environmental isolates were 58.10, 57.80 mU/mL, and 1328.30, 531.60 mU/mL, respectively. In A. fumigatus clinical and environmental isolates, the activities were 61.10 and 61.40 mU/mL, and 1248.90 and 722.90 mU/mL, respectively. A significant difference was found between conidial and mycelial catalase activity in Aspergillus species (P = 0.01). The mycelial catalase activity of Aspergillus species isolated from clinical samples was higher than the environmental ones (A. flavus P = 0.01 and A. fumigatus P = 0.04). Conclusions: The mycelial catalase activity was higher than conidia. Clinical isolates of A. flavus had similar mycelium activity to A. fumigatus. By using the information provided in the present study, the severity of aspergillosis can be predicted, which paves the way for identifying new antifungal agents.
Infinite Lifespans, Terraforming Planets, And Intergenerational Justice
Authors: Dumitru Adelin-Costin ,   Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Published: October 2020

When it comes to specifying the moral duties we bear towards future generations, most political philosophers position themselves on what could be regarded as a safe ground. A variant of the Lockean proviso is commonplace in the literature on intergenerational justice, taking the form of an obligation to bestow upon future people a minimum of goods necessary for reaching a certain threshold of well-being (Meyer, 2017). Furthermore, even this minimum is often frowned upon, given the non-identity problem and the challenges this presents to the topic of justice between generations. Additional issues are raised at the level of non-ideal theory, the most significant being the problem of non-compliance (Gosseries and Meyer, 2009).In this paper I intend to probe the limits of “practical political possibility” (Rawls 1999), by inquiring whether embracing the sufficiency view (Frankfurt, 1987; Crisp, 2003; Benbaji, 2005) as a distributive pattern and capabilities as a metric can lead to more burdensome obligations for present generations. More specifically, I try to show that we have a duty to invest in research that aims at prolonging the lifespan of humans (the idea can already be found in the sufficientarian literature, for instance in Farrelly, 2007). Moreover, given the Earth’s limited resources, we ought to encourage the terraforming of other planets in order to make them inhabitable for (future) people.I argue that these two seemingly far-fetched projects are in fact worthwhile goals to pursue on the one hand, and moral obligations on the other hand. Nonetheless, they are not the only ones we ought to take on; for instance, we must simultaneously pursue them and try to improve the prospects of those who fall under a sufficiency threshold here and now. That is, specifying these (prima facie) duties towards future generations is connected with stronger obligations towards the current generation.Towards the end of the paper I engage in a discussion regarding the role of the feasibility constraint in a theory of justice, as rationales pertaining to feasibility are perhaps going to be the most recurrent criticisms raised against my proposal. To that end, I defend limitarian policies, which aim at setting an upper limit to how much money individuals are allowed to possess (Robeyns, 2017; Volacu and Dumitru, 2019).
The Role Of Truth In Explanatory Understanding
Authors: Petkov Stefan ,   Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Published: October 2020

This paper discusses the polemical question of whether explanations that produce understanding must be true. It argues positively for the role of truth in reaching explanatory understanding, by presenting three lines of criticism of alternative accounts. The first is that by rejecting truth as a criterion for evaluating explanations, any non-factual account thereby effectively cuts ties with the central theories of explanations, which provide at least partial criteria for explanatory understanding. The second line of criticism is that some of the most well-known non-factual accounts implicitly operate over a notion of partial-truth, and as such, they do not provide a valid alternative. The final critical argument is that, in the place of truth evaluations, these accounts often offer a multiplicity of other criteria, and by changing a unitary criterion such as truth for a collection of other requirements, these non-factive theories introduce a level of ad hoc-ness, which diminishes their normative value.
How to Assign Weights to Values?
Authors: Serafimova Silviya ,   Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Published: October 2020

In this paper, one of my primary objectives is to analyze why adopting particular machine-learning techniques and using a moral AI as an adviser is an insufficient condition for eradicating racist human attitudes. By outlining some difficulties in justifying what artificial “explicit ethical agents” in Moor’s sense should look like, I explore why, even if the development of machine-learning techniques can be accepted in epistemic terms, it does not follow that the techniques in question will have a positive impact in changing immoral human behavior.
Muslims In Europe Between “European” And “Islamic” Values
Authors: Gadzhimuradova Gyulnara ,   Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Published: October 2020

A world in constant motion, in a state of migration turbulence, presents humanity with new challenges and risks. Globalization is a blessing or a tragedy for humanity, occasioning the problem of how to preserve one’s identity, remaining “one’s own among strangers” while, at the same time, not becoming “a stranger among one’s own.” Integration processes in the world today are met with resistance by multidirectional processes that encourage a critical engagement with all spheres of life in modern society in order to counteract forces of depersonalization and the disappearance of one's identity – one's self – as expressed in the preservation of one's ethnic group, culture, religion, and so on. This is especially evident in attempts at preserving identity within Muslim communities in European countries.Given the growing Muslim population in Europe, it has become obvious that “European” and “Islamic” values are opposed in the context of preserving one's own identity, which is increasingly manifested in a religious context. Europe today has become a hostage of its values, which are despised by many of the immigrants who have poured into its borders. These are tolerance, political correctness, multiculturalism, democracy, and freedom of speech, among others, which are perceived as weakness and indecision. Eastern mentality, habits, and traditions are sometimes very different from European ones. The author examines the transformation of Muslim identity and the compatibility of “European” and “Islamic” values. The article also presents the opinions of various researchers on this issue, and provides possible scenarios for the trajectory of events, given continued intercultural contact through immigration and given the stakes and state of this collision of values.
The Status Quo Is Unacceptable
Authors: Milou Eric
Published: October 2020

When so many students fail higher education mathematics courses every year and many more students pass courses that do not prepare them for their future, we need innovative approaches to fixing this significant dilemma.
Why Multiply? Area Measurement and Multiplicative Reasoning
Authors: Singleton Brandon K. , Ellis Amy B.
Published: October 2020

Asked to quantify the changes in area of growing rectangles, these students reasoned about multiplicative relationships in interesting new ways.
Cooperation between Russia and Italy within the framework of EU programs in scientific sphere in the first quarter of the XXI century
Authors: Shaidaeva Marina Rakhmanovna
Published: October 2020

This article discusses the key vectors of humanitarian cooperation between Russia and the European Union in the area of science in the first quarter of the XXI century. Italy as the EU member-state with high scientific capacity manifests as a direct subject for the analysis of peculiarities of this cooperation. The selected chronology is substantiated by the fact that most intensive cooperation between Russia and EU in humanitarian sphere falls on that period. Determination of the key vectors of cooperation between Russia and Italy in the XXI century allows tracing the dynamics of Russia-EU relations in the indicated field at the current stage. The scientific novelty is defined by the absence of research dedicated to international cooperation of Russia and Italy. The following conclusions are formulated: 1) since 2012 there is observed a certain decline in the intensity of scientific and technical cooperation between Russia and EU due to political contradictions that aggravated after 2014; 2) at the same time, the foundation formed in the previous decades allowed transferring the scientific and technical cooperation from the political level into the practical, namely to the sphere of direct interaction between the Russian scholars from the EU member-states (including Italian); 3) a crucial role was played by the nonprofit sector and large enterprises that are interested in the advancement of innovations; 4) therefore, namely the contacts between universities, research centers, innovation organizations, and scholars may become the foundation for the development of comprehensive cooperation between Russia and the European Union. The obtained experience demonstrates that many crucial steps in this direction have already been taken.
Analysis of recalling the members of Mongolian Parliament by the voters
Authors: Sukhbaatar Zhavkhlan
Published: October 2020

Usage of the mechanism of recalling the members of legislative body became relevant in recent years for improving discipline of the elected members of Mongolian Parliament. Due to the principle of division of powers and peculiarities of the legal status of high-ranking officials, the system of responsibility established by the Mongolian Law on Civil Service, is ineffective. The author examines the questions related to recall of the members of Mongolian Parliament, as well as compares the political responsibility of parliamentarians in different countries. An opinion is expressed, according to which the vague legal framework of responsibility of parliamentarians are being criticized by the public, which justifies the need for the reform of this type of responsibility of parliamentarians. There is yet no sufficient research on this type of responsibility of the members of parliament, and this is a novelty in the constitutional law of Mongolia and other countries. The effective use of this type of responsibility depends on multiple factors, including state administration, political culture, political maturity, and activity of the electorate. Analysis is conducted on the experience and measures taken by other countries with regards to parliamentary responsibility and recall of deputies, as well as notification of the citizens about existing procedures for recalling deputies. Clarification is made on the rights of voters to recall a member of parliament in order to increase effectiveness of the procedure for the recall of deputies.
Butterfly Rays (Gymnuridae) of North Carolina
Authors: SCHWARTZ FRANK J , PURIFOY JOE , SAFRIT GLENN
Published: October 2020

Sampling two Onslow Bay sites bi-weekly from 1975–2010 using semi-balloon otter trawls 950 times collected two species of butterfly rays Gymnura altevala and Gymnura micrura: 37 were G. altevala and 244 were G. micrura. All but one male G. altevala were collected at the inshore site. Most specimens of both species were less than 1,000 mm disc width (DW). Most specimens were collected in April and October. Both species remain infrequent visitors of North Carolinian waters.
Four New Land Snail Species from the Southern Appalachian Mountains
Authors: Dourson Daniel C.
Published: October 2020

Four new species of land snails Carychium arboreum, Fumonelix langdoni, Fumonelix cherohalaensis, and Fumonelix roanensis are described from the southern Appalachian Mountains located in North Carolina and Tennessee, U.S.A. Carychium arboreum is presently known from Swain County, North Carolina. Fumonelix langdoni is known only from along the Appalachian Trail flanking Monroe County, Tennessee and Swain County, North Carolina and is endemic to the Great Smoky National Park. Fumonelix cherohalaensis appears restricted to elevations above 1,372 m in northern hardwood forests along the Cherohala Scenic Highway located in Graham County, North Carolina and Monroe County, Tennessee. Fumonelix roanensis is currently known from Roan Mountain in Mitchell County, North Carolina where it is found in upper elevation northern hardwood and spruce/fir forests.
Land Snails of Selected Rare High Elevation Forests and Heath Balds of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Authors: Dourson Daniel C. , Langdon Keith
Published: October 2020

Selected high elevation forests and heath balds of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) between Newfound Gap and Thunderhead Mountain were comprehensively sampled for the first time. Thirty-three species including one new species Fumonelix langdoni (Dourson) were documented occurring at elevations between 1,372 m to 2,012 m. Two previous land snail inventories in the park by Thompson (1981) and Dourson (2005) added sixteen species, bringing the total land snail fauna to forty nine species living above 1,372 m within park boundaries. Overall species richness declines with elevation yet numbers of snails appear to change little with increasing altitude. Heath balds were comparably rich sites for gastropods, Vitrinizonites latissimus (Lewis) being the most frequently observed land snail. Mesodon altivagus, (Pilsbry) and Fumonelix jonesiana (Archer) both documented during the survey are of global importance, a result of an exceptionally restricted range within the park. One ambiguous species in the genus Fumonelix (Polygyridae) is discussed and likely represents new taxa. Appalachina chilhoweensis (J. Lewis) was found at 1,666 m, representing the highest elevation the species has been documented to date.
Additional Fishes Inhabiting North Carolina's Estuarine and Marine Ocean Waters to 2,000+ m Depths
Authors: Schwartz Frank J.
Published: October 2020

Improved sampling by otter trawls, ships that are capable of sampling deeper waters, submersible observations, visual observations and published studies reveal 244 additional fish species inhabit estuarine to 2,000+ m ocean water depths off North Carolina.
Output feedback tracking control for rigid body attitude via immersion and invariance angular velocity observers
Authors: Xia Dongdong , Yue Xiaokui , Wen Haowei
Published: October 2020

A novel immersion and invariance (I&I) angular velocity observer is presented for the attitude tracking control of a rigid body with the lack of angular rate. Global exponential convergence of angular velocity estimate errors are guaranteed by an innovative filter design for the estimates' Euclidean norm. The proposed method requires fewer filter states compared with existing I&I angular velocity observer designs, which achieves a simpler closed‐loop structure (dynamic reduction). The observer synthesis and convergence are independent of the control torque, which leads to much convenience in establishing “separation property” when combining a proportional‐derivative attitude tracking controller driven by angular velocity estimates. A rigorous stability analysis is provided to ensure the (almost) global asymptotic convergence of the overall closed‐loop tracking errors, and several numerical simulations are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the combined implementation of proposed angular velocity observer and full‐state feedback attitude tracking controller.
Dome‐Patterned Metamaterial Sheets
Authors: Faber Jakob A. , Udani Janav P. , Riley Katherine S. , Studart André R. , Arrieta Andres F.
Published: October 2020

The properties of conventional materials result from the arrangement of and the interaction between atoms at the nanoscale. Metamaterials have shifted this paradigm by offering property control through structural design at the mesoscale, thus broadening the design space beyond the limits of traditional materials. A family of mechanical metamaterials consisting of soft sheets featuring a patterned array of reconfigurable bistable domes is reported here. The domes in this metamaterial architecture can be reversibly inverted at the local scale to generate programmable multistable shapes and tunable mechanical responses at the global scale. By 3D printing a robotic gripper with energy‐storing skin and a structure that can memorize and compute spatially‐distributed mechanical signals, it is shown that these metamaterials are an attractive platform for novel mechanologic concepts and open new design opportunities for structures used in robotics, architecture, and biomedical applications.
Interrelationships between water use efficiency and light use efficiency in four row crop canopies
Authors: Kukal Meetpal S. , Irmak Suat
Published: October 2020

Quantitative evidence of light use efficiency (LUE) controls on water use efficiency (WUE) is lacking, especially comparatively across row crops. Field research experiments (2016–2018) were set up for maize (Zea mays L.), soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), under optimal growth conditions in dry sub‐humid conditions. Overall, LUE was able to explain 52% of variance in WUE, and were related as WUE = 1.73 LUE, although crop‐specific variation was observed. Highest sensitivity of WUE to changes in LUE was found in sorghum, followed by soybean, winter wheat, and maize. Evapotranspiration per unit light absorbed by crop canopy, which is a measure of canopy conductance (gc) ranged from a minimum of 0.45 kg H2O MJ−1 in sorghum to a maximum of 0.68 kg H2O MJ−1 in maize. Slopes of WUE vs. LUE relationship were limited by energy‐limited upper ceiling of latent heat of vaporization and characterized distribution of absorbed energy into latent heat of vaporization and sensible heat. Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) accounted for 41% of variability in the WUE vs. LUE relationship, and the relationship was subject to change with VPD conditions higher or lower than 0.85 kPa. Seasonal evolution of crop‐specific gc was modeled and communicated as a function of heat accumulation during the growing season. The research findings contribute to quantification of critical parameters that bridge water and light use efficiency, and better understanding of the resource use in C3 and C4 agricultural row crops.
Effect of curing bath conditions on the morphology and structure of poly(high internal phase emulsion) fibers
Authors: Gong Xuehui , Zhao Boran , Manas‐Zloczower Ica , Feke Donald L.
Published: October 2020

The potential of polymerizing high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) as a simple and environmentally friendly technique to fabricating porous fibers has been demonstrated. Porous fibers with varied microstructure can be created through manipulation of the composition of the curing bath in which the HIPEs are polymerized. Osmotic pressure effects, activated through setting the electrolyte concentration in the curing bath different than that of the aqueous phase within the HIPE, can be used to alter the void size near the periphery of the fiber. Adding initiator to the bath triggers a relatively faster polymerization reaction at the HIPE‐bath interface, which can lock‐in the microstructure before other kinetic effects occur. Including surfactant in the curing bath can affect the HIPE stability and thus the fiber morphology. Porous fibers exhibiting a variety of surface morphologies, ranging from completely closed surfaces to those with 30‐μm voids, have been produced. This new approach enables the possibility of designing porous fibers for different applications via simple manipulation of curing‐bath conditions.
Galleria mellonellalarvae fat body disruption (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) caused by the venom ofHabrobracon brevicornis(Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
Authors: Kryukova Natalia A. , Mozhaytseva Ksenia A. , Rotskaya Ulyana N. , Glupov Viktor V.
Published: October 2020

The ability ofHabrobracon brevicornisvenom to elevate the nutritional suitability of a host by affecting the host larvae fat body condition was studied. To understand whetherH. brevicorniscrude venom impacts the host biochemical profile, the concentrations of total lipids and main sugars in the host larvae lymph were analyzed. All measurements were carried out during the first 3 days after envenomation. A significant increase in the lipid level was fixed only on the second day after envenomation. A significant increase in the total trehalose count was detected during all 3 days, while a significant increase in glucose concentration was noted only on the first day. Well‐observed disruptions were fixed in thin and semithin sections of theG. mellonellalarval fat body starting from the second day after envenomation. Significant increases in both phospholipase A2and C enzyme activity as well as acid proteases were detected in the wax moth fat body after envenomation during all experimental times. At the same time, imbalances in the antioxidant system, including changes in the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidases, catalase, and glutathione‐S‐transferase, were detected. The reliable increase in the expression of the gene encoding Hsp70 was fixed both for 24 and 48 h after envenomation, while a reliable increase in the expression of the gene encoding inhibitor of apoptosis protein was detected only 24 h after wax moth larvae envenomation. Considering the absence of DNA fragmentation, the imbalance in the “ROS/antioxidants” system, and the increased activity of phospholipases and acid proteases in the fat body cells from envenomated wax moth larvae, we can hypothesize that the fat body disruption occurs in a necrotic manner. The results of the work expand the knowledge about the biochemical aspects of interaction between ectoparasitoids and their hosts
A fundamental problem of hypothesis testing with finite inventory in e‐commerce
Authors: Bohle Dennis , Marynych Alexander , Meiners Matthias
Published: October 2020

We draw attention to a problem that is often overlooked or ignored by companies practicing hypothesis testing (A/B testing) in online environments. We show that conducting experiments on limited inventory that is shared between variants in the experiment can lead to high false‐positive rates since the core assumption of independence between the groups is violated. We provide a detailed analysis of the problem in a simplified setting whose parameters are informed by realistic scenarios. The setting we consider is a two‐dimensional (2D) random walk in a semiinfinite strip. It is rich enough to take a finite inventory into account, but is at the same time simple enough to allow for a closed form of the false‐positive probability. We prove that high false‐positive rates can occur, and develop tools that are suitable to help design adequate tests in follow‐up work. Our results also show that high false‐negative rates may occur. The proofs rely on a functional limit theorem for the 2D random walk in a semiinfinite strip.
Außerschulische Lernorte im Berufsfeldpraktikum
Authors: Gülpen Martin , Wenning Silvia
Published: October 2020

In Nordrhein‐Westfalen sind Praktika Bestandteil der Lehrerausbildung. Eines davon, das Berufsfeldpraktikum, soll an außerschulischen Lernorten absolviert werden. Dabei sollen nicht nur mögliche außerschulische Berufsfelder kennengelernt werden, sondern auch positive fachliche Rückkopplungen für den eigentlichen Lehrberuf ermöglicht werden. Die Biologiedidaktik der Universität Duisburg‐Essen kooperiert mit außerschulischen Lernorten in NRW wie z. B. Museen, Zooschulen oder biologischen Stationen, die biologische Bildungsangebote anbieten und ein gemeinsames Konzept mit fünf Ausbildungsbausteinen tragen. Diese abgestimmte Zusammenarbeit ermöglicht eine Unterstützung für die außerschulischen Lernorte und neue Erfahrungen auf Seiten der Studierenden auch für ihren späteren Unterricht. Die Universität bereitet die fünf Bausteine des Konzeptes im Seminar vor. Im Praktikum wenden die Studierenden ihr Wissen an, sammeln Erfahrungen und reflektieren und dokumentieren sie mit dem von beiden Partnern verabredeten Portfolio. Erste Evaluationsergebnisse zeigen einen hohen Nutzwert für alle Beteiligten.
Kabelbakterien – Leben in Himmel und Hölle
Authors: Engelhardt Harald
Published: October 2020

Mikroben vermögen eine Unzahl verschiedener Verbindungen bis hin zu kleinsten Metallionen mit der Umwelt auszutauschen. Seit einigen Jahren weiß man, dass Bakterien selbst Elektronen unmittelbar auf Festkörper und andere Zellen übertragen können. Diese Fähigkeit haben Kabelbakterien perfektioniert – sie leiten Strom über weite Strecken und schaffen damit eine direkte Verbindung zwischen oxischen und anoxischen Zonen im Sediment von Gewässern.
Die DNA‐Doppelhelix und der Goldene Schnitt
Authors: Quadbeck‐Seeger Hans‐Jürgen
Published: October 2020

Wohl über keine andere Struktur in den Naturwissenschaften ist schon so viel publiziert worden wie über die Doppelhelix der DNA. In diesem Artikel soll auf zwei Phänomene aufmerksam gemacht werden, die über die strenge naturwissenschaftliche Betrachtung hinausgehen. Dies ist zum einen der Bezug der DNA zum Goldenen Schnitt, der gerne esoterisch gedeutet wird. Daraus abgeleitet erfolgt zweitens eine Betrachtung der Doppelhelix im Kontext zu barocker Kirchenarchitektur.
Mikromanagement
Authors: Hauk Andrea
Published: October 2020

Fehlentscheidungen sind menschlich. Wir aber lassen in unserer neuen Serie „Management‐Fallstricke“ einmal die Tiere zu Wort kommen. In Form von Fabeln vermittelt unsere Autorin Andrea Hauk in anschaulicher Weise typische Denkfehler, die auf allen Managementebenen zu Hause sind. Vielleicht sind Sie ja selbst auch schon einmal in die eine oder andere Falle getappt?
Fossilien‐ und Heimatmuseum Messel: Die Säugetiere entwickelten sich rasant
Authors: Winkelmann Klaus
Published: October 2020

Vor 48 Mio. Jahren im Eozän war es in Europa ca. 10 Grad wärmer als heute. Es herrschte ein tropisch/subtropisches Klima mit der entsprechenden Flora und Fauna. Reptilien und Amphibien traten auf, und die Säugetiere – noch klein von Wuchs – hatten sich gerade von der Herrschaft der ausgestorbenen Dinosaurier befreit und entwickelten sich rasant. In den Ablagerungen eines tiefen Sees in der Nähe von Messel, genannt „Grube Messel“, fossilisierten diese Lebewesen. Das von Bewohnern des Ortes 1980 gegründete Fossilien‐ und Heimatmuseum Messel zeigt ca. 90 Fossilien aus dieser Zeit und beschreibt sie. Die „Fossilienfundstelle Grube Messel“ ist seit 1995 ein UNESCO Weltnaturerbe.
Applicability of the adjusted graded prognostic assessment for lung cancer with brain metastases using molecular markers (Lung‐molGPA) in a Chinese cohort: A retrospective study of multiple institutions
Authors: Zhang Tingyou , Zhang Yu , Zhou Lin , Deng Shanshan , Huang Meijuan , Liu Yuncong , Liu Yongmei , Gong Youlin , Zhu Jiang , Xue Jianxin , Bai Yuju , Ma Hu , Zhang Yan , Yu Min , Li Yanying , Wang Yongsheng , Zou Bingwen , Zhou Xiaojuan , Xiu Weigang , Na Feifei , Xu Yong , Peng Feng , Wang Jin , Lu You
Published: October 2020

Background

In this era of precision medicine, prognostic heterogeneity is an important feature of patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with brain metastases (BM). This multi‐institutional study is aimed to verify the applicability of the adjusted Lung‐molGPA model for NSCLC with BM in a Chinese cohort.

Methods

This retrospective study included 1903 patients at three hospitals in Southwest China. The performance of the Lung‐molGPA model was compared with that of the adjusted DS‐GPA model in terms of estimating the survival of NSCLC with BM.

Results

The median OS of this patient cohort was 27.0 months, and the adenocarcinoma survived longer than the non‐adenocarcinoma (28.0 months vs 18.7 months, p < 0.001). The adjusted Lung‐molGPA model was more accurate in predicting survival of adenocarcinoma patients than the adjusted DS‐GPA model (C‐index: 0.615 vs 0.571), and it was not suitable for predicting survival of non‐adenocarcinoma patients (p = 0.286, 1.5‐2.0 vs 2.5‐3.0; p = 0.410, 2.5‐3.0 vs 3.5‐4.0).

Conclusions

The adjusted Lung‐molGPA model is better than the DS‐GPA model in predicting the prognosis of adenocarcinoma patients. However, it failed to estimate the prognosis for non‐adenocarcinoma patients.
A novel method for fuel oil desulphurization by deep eutectic solvent extraction coupled with reduction using sodium borohydride
Authors: Shu Chenhua , Zhu Feng , Zhu Xianhong , Lai Faying
Published: October 2020

In order to improve sulphur removal efficiency, deep eutectic solvent (DES) is first introduced into the fuel oil desulphurization process with sodium borohydride (NaBH4). Thereby, a novel method for fuel oil desulphurization by extraction coupled with reduction is proposed, where DES is used as stabilizer and extractant and NaBH4 is used as reducing agent. The nickel borides produced from NaBH4 and nickel salts were characterized using a particle size analyzer, surface area analyzer, and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the nickel borides produced in DES have smaller particle sizes and a higher BET surface area than that in methanol/tetrahydrofuran (MeOH/THF). Sulphur removal efficiency using DES as medium was higher than that using MeOH/THF as medium. The effect of process parameters on the sulphur removal efficiency was investigated by orthogonal experiments. The results showed that the sulphur removal efficiency of dibenzothiophene can reach more than 96%. The desulphurization of dibenzothiophene should proceed over the cleavage of C−S bond to biphenyl and desulphurization reaction followed the pseudo‐first‐order reaction. The structures of the DESs remained unchanged after regeneration. In summary, the novel desulphurization method is feasible and promising.
The potential association between common comorbidities and severity and mortality of coronavirus disease 2019: A pooled analysis
Authors: Luo Liman , Fu Menglu , Li Yuanyuan , Hu Shuiqing , Luo Jinlan , Chen Zhihui , Yu Jing , Li Wenhua , Dong Ruolan , Yang Yan , Tu Ling , Xu Xizhen
Published: October 2020

Backgroud

The association between underlying comorbidities and cardiac injury and the prognosis in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients was assessed in this study.

Hypothesis

The underlying comorbidities and cardiac injury may be associated with the prognosis in COVID‐19 patients.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science, and The Cochrane library from December 2019 to July 2020. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to estimate the probability of comorbidities and cardiac injury in COVID‐19 patients with or without severe type, or in survivors vs nonsurvivors of COVID‐19 patients.

Results

A total of 124 studies were included in this analysis. A higher risk for severity was observed in COVID‐19 patients with comorbidities. The pooled result in patients with hypertension (OR 2.57, 95% CI: 2.12‐3.11), diabetes (OR 2.54, 95% CI: 1.89‐3.41), cardiovascular diseases (OR 3.86, 95% CI: 2.70‐5.52), chronic obstractive pulmonary disease (OR 2.71, 95% CI: 1.98‐3.70), chronic kidney disease (OR 2.20, 95% CI: 1.27‐3.80), and cancer (OR 2.42, 95% CI: 1.81‐3.22) respectively. All the comorbidities presented a higher risk of mortality. Moreover, the prevalence of acute cardiac injury is higher in severe group than in nonsevere group, and acute cardiac injury is associated with an increased risk for in‐hospital mortality.

Conclusion

Comorbidities and acute cardiac injury are closely associated with poor prognosis in COVID‐19 patients. It is necessary to continuously monitor related clinical indicators of organs injury and concern comorbidities in COVID‐19 patients.
Configurational paths of employee reactions to corporate social responsibility: An organizational justice perspective
Authors: Chen Li‐Fei , Khuangga Donna Larissa
Published: October 2020

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is critical for organizations who want to pursue sustainable development and competitive advantage by influencing employee attitudes. Drawing on the deontic justice theory, we argue that internal and external CSR initiatives promote self‐focused and other‐focused justice, respectively, which contribute to employee‐perceived organizational justice and shape positive employee behaviors. This study applied a fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis method to determine the interactive effects of employee perceptions of CSR practices and organizational justice on employee outcomes. An examination of data from 1,231 employees in Taiwan revealed that high CSR perceptions lead to high perceived justice among employees who attach high importance to justice. In addition, while high perceived justice by itself is insufficient to determine positive employee outcomes, the combination of high perception of internal CSR, external CSR, and organizational justice is sufficient to predict positive employee outcomes. The findings provide implications for both research and practice.
Mercury in Ringed Seals (Pusa hispida) from the Canadian Arctic in Relation to Time and Climate Parameters
Authors: Houde Magali , Taranu Zofia E. , Wang Xiaowa , Young Brent , Gagnon P. , Ferguson Steve H. , Kwan Michael , Muir Derek C.G.
Published: October 2020

Mercury is found in Arctic marine mammals that are important in the diet of northern Indigenous peoples. The objectives of the present long-term study, spanning a 45-yr period, were to 1) investigate the temporal trends of total mercury (THg; muscle and liver) and selenium (Se; liver) in ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from different regions of the Canadian Arctic; and 2) examine possible relationships with age, diet, and climate parameters such as air temperature, precipitation, climatic indices, and ice-coverage. Ringed seals were collected by hunters in northern communities in the Beaufort Sea, Central Arctic, Eastern Baffin Island, Hudson Bay, and Ungava/Nunatsiavut regions (Canada) between 1972 and 2017. Mercury levels did not change through time in seal liver, but THg levels in muscle decreased in seals from Hudson Bay (−0.91%/yr) and Ungava/Nunatsiavut (−1.30%/yr). Carbon stable isotope values in seal muscle decreased significantly through time in 4 regions. Selenium-to-THg ratios were found to be >1 for all years and regions. Variation partitioning analyses across regions indicated that THg trends in seals were mostly explained by age (7.3–21.7%), climate parameters (3.5–12.5%), and diet (up to 9%); climate indices (i.e., Arctic and North Atlantic Oscillations, Pacific/North American pattern) explained the majority of the climate portion. The THg levels had a positive relationship with Arctic Oscillation for multiple regions. Associations of THg with air temperature, total precipitation, and sea-ice coverage, as well as with North Atlantic Oscillation and Pacific/North American pattern were found to vary with tissue type and geographical area. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:2462–2474. © 2020 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Abstract

Total mercury and selenium concentrations were evaluated through time (1970s–2017) in ringed seals from the Canadian Arctic. Associations between concentrations of trace metal in tissues, age and diet of seals as well as climate parameters were also investigated.
A free element scheme for simulating two‐ and three‐dimensional incompressible fluid flow
Authors: Liu Hua‐Yu , Gao Xiao‐Wei , Xu Bing‐Bing
Published: October 2020

In this work, Free Element method (FECM) is extended to solve incompressible Navier‐Stokes equations. The momentum equations are discretized by FECM, which permits overlapped elements. Then, the velocities at midpoints are interpolated by improved Momentum Interpolation Method to avoid oscillation caused by decoupling of velocity and pressure. At last, the pressure correction equation is solved to make sure the results satisfying continuity equation. The interpolation of midpoint's velocity is proved to be independent of the under‐relaxation factor and time step size. The deferred correction is employed for utilization of higher‐order discretization of convective terms. Taylor‐Green vortex, flow over a cylinder, lid‐driven flow, cooling tunnel, and flow over airfoil are simulated. The results computed by the proposed method are compared with exact solutions and benchmark solutions, which indicates that the new method has the second order accuracy in space. What is more, the proposed method works well on random node distributions as well, which means that the method is much robust.
Traffic tunnels – Development of a cross‐asset, reliability‐based life cycle management
Authors: Grunicke Urs H. , Stefan Christian , van Linn Andreas , Weninger‐Vycudil Alfred , Mellert Lars Derek
Published: October 2020

Tunnels within primary road networks are complex systems. The prerequisite of a good level of service is the seamless interaction of the various tunnel components (structural elements and technical equipment). Due to their heterogeneous nature, electrical and structural components are subject to divergent aging processes which require recurring maintenance procedures and rehabilitation measures. Considering the diversity of specifications and requirements among electrical/mechanical and structural components, it is evident that there is a considerable mismatch of maintenance cycles among them. Hence, tunnel asset management faces the challenge to develop strategies to integrate both the necessary functional integrity of the individual components over their respective lifecycle and the requirement of an optimized management for the overall system. Yet, the synchronization of measures towards maximizing system availability must not contradict positive wear‐and‐tear contingencies of the various tunnel components. Evidence based forecasting and reliability centred decision models are key elements of modern life cycle management. They must include interdependencies between the diversity of components and their manifold maintenance cycles.
Analytische und numerische Belastungsermittlung aus Baugrubenumschließung auf das Krafthaus Kirchbichl
Authors: Gloimüller Stefan , Pánová Petra , Lang Georg
Published: October 2020

Tiroler Wasserkraft AG realized the extension of hydropower plant Kirchbichl located in the Unterinntal built in the 1940s for the first time. The excavation pits were retained by a bored pile wall with jet grouting connections between the piles, supported with up to two bracing horizons. Safety against uplift during construction stage is managed by a deep‐set jet grouting plate, which is partially anchored. Due to the dismantling of the bracing during the construction progress a partially load transfer from the bored pile wall on the partly completed concrete construction and the jet grouted plate occurs. This interaction is simulated at the static calculations. The excavation shoring was calculated by using a geotechnical program. The resulting spring supporting forces from geotechnical consideration were used in the finite element model as loads on the new reinforced concrete walls to calculate the necessary reinforcement content during construction sequence. The results from construction sequence were perpetuated at final state of the new powerhouse structure to get the governing reinforcement content.