bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computational Insight into the Scope of the Staudinger Cycloaddition Reaction for the Preparation of β‐Lactams
Authors: Cassú Daniel
Published: March 2020

The Staudinger cycloaddition reaction represents an efficient way to readily afford β‐lactams from ketenes and imines in an asynchronous [2+2] process. Herein, a computational evaluation of the scope of the Staudinger cycloaddition reactions was undertaken by using simplified molecular models. The results pointed out that the kinetics and thermodynamics of the reaction are independent of the substituents of the imine and are essentially determined by the steric and electronic nature of the substituents of the α‐position of the ketene, being the latter the one that exerts a more dominant effect on the global feasibility of the reaction.
Polymorphism in [Ag(bpetan)]n Coordination Polymers with Nitrate and Isophthalate Anions: Photocatalytic and Antibacterial Activity, Hemolysis Assay and Study of Cytotoxicity
Authors: Kulovi Somnath , Pradhan Ananya , Maiti (Choudhury) Sujata , Puschmann Horst , Zangrando Ennio , Dalai Sudipta
Published: March 2020

Two Ag(I) coordination polymers (CPs), namely [Ag(bpetan)(NO3)]n (CP1) and {[Ag(bpetan)]2(iph).8H2O}n (CP2) [where bpetan=1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethane, H2iph= isophthalic acid] were synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, IR, UV‐Vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and single crystal X‐ray diffraction. Both the CPs crystallize in triclinic system and the crystal structures comprise [Ag(bpetan)]nn+ polymers that are linked by nitrate ions to give rise to a corrugated 2D infinite rectangular net in CP1. On the other hand, isophthalate ions in 2 do not participate in coordination and together with lattice water molecules are encapsulated between the [Ag(bpetan)]nn+ chains. A structural comparison of CP1 and CP2 was done with compounds of same stoichiometry but crystallizing in different space groups. The band gap energies of CP1 and CP2 were calculated to assess their photocatalytic activity, and the latter was found to act as a more efficient photocatalyst to degrade the methylene blue dye. In addition CP2 offers a better anti‐bacterial, cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity than CP1.
Hydro‐Assisted Self‐Regenerating BrominatedN‐Alkylated Thiophene Diketopyrrolopyrrole Dye Nanofibers—A Sustainable Synthesis Route for Renewable Air Filter Materials
Authors: Ravi Sai Kishore , Singh Varun Kumar , Suresh Lakshmi , Ku Calvin , Sanjairaj Vijayavenkataraman , Nandakumar Dilip Krishna , Chen Yun , Sun Wanxin , Sit Patrick H.‐L. , Tan Swee Ching
Published: March 2020

With rising global concerns over the alarming levels of particulate pollution, a sustainable air quality management is the need of the hour. Air filtration research has gained momentum in recent years. However, the research perspective is still blinkered toward formulating new fiber systems for the energy‐intensive electrospinning process to fabricate high quality factor air filters. A holistic approach on sustainable air filtration models is still lacking. The air filter model presented in this work uses a simple process involving water‐induced self‐organization and self‐regeneration of nanofibers, and an easy recycling route after the filter life that not only facilitates reuse of the microfibrous scaffold holding the nanofibers but also allows renewal of nanofibers. Three generations of air filters are fabricated and tested, all having high particulate matter (PM)‐adsorbing tendency, high filtration efficiency (>95%), and high Young's modulus (≈5 GPa). The renewable air filters offer a sustainable alternative to the present cost‐intensive electrospun air filters.
Self‐Assembly Behavior of Oppositely Charged Inverse Bipatchy Microcolloids
Authors: Naderi Mehr Fatemeh , Grigoriev Dmitry , Heaton Rebecca , Baptiste Joshua , Stace Anthony J. , Puretskiy Nikolay , Besley Elena , Böker Alexander
Published: March 2020

A directed attractive interaction between predefined “patchy” sites on the surfaces of anisotropic microcolloids can provide them with the ability to self‐assemble in a controlled manner to build target structures of increased complexity. An important step toward the controlled formation of a desired superstructure is to identify reversible electrostatic interactions between patches which allow them to align with one another. The formation of bipatchy particles with two oppositely charged patches fabricated using sandwich microcontact printing is reported. These particles spontaneously self‐aggregate in solution, where a diversity of short and long chains of bipatchy particles with different shapes, such as branched, bent, and linear, are formed. Calculations show that chain formation is driven by a combination of attractive electrostatic interactions between oppositely charged patches and the charge‐induced polarization of interacting particles.
Plasmonic Cocatalyst with Electric and Thermal Stimuli Boots Solar Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Pan Lou , Zhu Youcheng , Wang Ziyue , Xu Xiaoyong , He Huichao , Du Wei , Hu Jingguo , Zhou Yong
Published: March 2020

Exploring low‐cost and high‐activity cocatalysts cooperated with semiconductors is a prerequisite to advance cost‐efficient photocatalytic water splitting. Herein, nickel nanoparticles (NNPs) loaded on graphitic carbon nitride (CN) as unique non‐noble metal cocatalysts with electric and thermal excitation upon surface plasmon for photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) evolution reaction (HER) are designed. The plasmonic NNPs not only endow highly active sites, steering hot electron extraction from excited CN toward HER against charge recombination, but also act as full‐spectrum light‐harvesting antennas enabling plasmon heating for kinetic acceleration. As a result, the optimized CN/NNP hybrid exhibits a significant increase in the H2‐evolution rate up to 13.23 mmol g−1 h−1 with temperature up to 73 °C within 2 h, which far surpasses bare CN and even outperforms CN/Pt hybrid. This work describes the capacity of plasmonic cocatalysts to convert the supplementary photon ﬂux into numerous stimuli, which provides new inspirations for designing photocatalytic systems for solar energy conversion.
Implementing within‐cross genomic prediction to reduce oat breeding costs
Authors: Mellers Greg , Mackay Ian , Cowan Sandy , Griffiths Irene , Martinez‐Martin Pilar , Poland Jesse A. , Bekele Wubishet , Tinker Nicholas A. , Bentley Alison R. , Howarth Catherine J.
Published: March 2020

A barrier to the adoption of genomic prediction in small breeding programs is the initial cost of genotyping material. Although decreasing, marker costs are usually higher than field trial costs. In this study we demonstrate the utility of stratifying a narrow‐base biparental oat population genotyped with a modest number of markers to employ genomic prediction at early and later generations. We also show that early generation genotyping data can reduce the number of lines for later phenotyping based on selections of siblings to progress. Using sets of small families selected at an early generation could enable the use of genomic prediction for adaptation to multiple target environments at an early stage in the breeding program. In addition, we demonstrate that mixed marker data can be effectively integrated to combine cheap dominant marker data (including legacy data) with more expensive but higher density codominant marker data in order to make within generation and between lineage predictions based on genotypic information. Taken together, our results indicate that small programs can test and initiate genomic predictions using sets of stratified, narrow‐base populations and incorporating low density legacy genotyping data. This can then be scaled to include higher density markers and a broadened population base.
Staying cool: The development of India's pioneering energy efficiency policy for chillers
Authors: Mukherjee P. K. , Gibbs Eric , Walia Archana , Taylor Colin
Published: March 2020

Chillers are the key energy‐consuming piece of equipment in most large space cooling systems. They can account for more than 40% of total energy consumption in any typical commercial building and in specific industrial building installations depending on the product and process. With climate change driving rapidly rising demand for commercial and industrial cooling, especially in emerging economies, energy efficiency policies for chillers are crucial to moderate future electricity demand and thereby minimize greenhouse gas emissions. However, most developing and emerging economies lack energy efficiency policies for this significant and growing cooling equipment sector. India recently announced new energy efficiency policies for chillers, projected to avoid 28 TWh of electricity consumption and 23 million tons of CO2 emissions cumulatively through 2030. This article presents a case study of the unique challenges and solutions required to design a new energy efficiency policy for chillers in India. First, the energy consumed in chiller systems is sensitive to building occupancy, load changes, seasonal variations, operation and maintenance, and climatic conditions. In order to address these sensitivities, the chiller testing standard in India factors local weather and temperature conditions into energy performance ratings to account for these sensitivities. Further, every large chiller is a customized product, therefore developing a viable policy and implementation process required collaboration with international and national experts in standardization, manufacturers, building consultants, and testing laboratories.

This article is categorized under:

Energy Efficiency > Economics and Policy

Solar Energy: Thermal ‐‐> Climate and Environment
A short-term inhalation study to assess the reversibility of sensory irritation in human volunteers
Authors: Kleinbeck Stefan , Schäper Michael , Pacharra Marlene , Lehmann Marie Louise , Golka Klaus , Blaszkewicz Meinolf , Brüning Thomas , van Thriel Christoph
Published: March 2020

Sensory irritation is an acute adverse effect caused by chemicals that stimulate chemoreceptors of the upper respiratory tract or the mucous membranes of the outer eye. The avoidance of this end point is of uttermost importance in regulatory toxicology. In this study, repeated exposures to ethyl acrylate were analyzed to investigate possible carryover effects from day to day for different markers of sensory irritation. Thirty healthy subjects were exposed for 4 h on five subsequent days to ethyl acrylate at concentrations permitted by the German occupational exposure limit at the time of study. Ratings of eye irritation as well as eye blinking frequencies indicate the elicitation of sensory irritation. These markers of sensory irritation showed a distinct time course on every single day. However, cumulative carryover effects could not be identified across the week for any marker. The rhinological and biochemical markers could not reveal hints for more pronounced sensory irritation. Neither increased markers of neurogenic inflammation nor markers of immune response could be identified. Furthermore, the performance on neurobehavioral tests was not affected by ethyl acrylate and despite the strong odor of ethyl acrylate the participants improved their performances from day to day. While the affected physiological marker, the increased eye blinking frequency stays roughly on the same level across the week, subjective markers like perception of eye irritation decrease slightly from day to day though the temporal pattern of, i.e., eye irritation perception stays the same on each day. A hypothetical model of eye irritation time course derived from PK/PD modeling of the rabbit eye could explain the within-day time course of eye irritation ratings repeatedly found in this study more precisely.
Regulatory T cells specifically suppress conventional CD8αβ T cells in intestinal tumors of APCMin/+ mice
Authors: Szeponik Louis , Akeus Paulina , Rodin William , Raghavan Sukanya , Quiding-Järbrink Marianne
Published: March 2020

The presence of activated T cells in colorectal cancer tissues is a strong predictor of patient survival. Our previous studies have shown that regulatory T cells (Treg) are able to reduce T cell transendothelial migration in vitro and accumulation of effector T cells in intestinal tumors in vivo in the murine APCMin/+ model for microsatellite stable intestinal tumors. In this study, we investigated the effect of Treg depletion on the density and effector functions of different TCRαβ+ and TCRγδ+ T cell populations in intestinal tumors. We used the APCMin/+\DEREG mouse model, which harbor a diphtheria toxin receptor under the control of the FOXP3 promoter, to deplete Treg in tumor bearing mice. We found that the density of conventional TCRαβ+CD8αβ+ T cells was significantly increased in Treg-depleted tumors in comparison with Treg-proficient tumors. Furthermore, TCRαβ+CD8αβ+ T cells showed increased proliferation and activation as well as increased Granzyme B and IFN-γ production in Treg-depleted tumors. In sharp contrast, the densities and effector functions of TCRαβ+CD8αα+ T cells and TCRγδ+ T cells remained unchanged by Treg depletion. We also documented a distinct population of IL-17A+TNF+ TCRγδ+CD8− T cells in tumors, which were not affected by Treg depletion. We conclude that Treg depletion affects only conventional TCRαβ+CD8αβ+ T cells in intestinal tumors, while unconventional T cells and T cells in unaffected tissue are not altered. Immunotherapies aimed at depleting Treg from tumors may thus be a viable option for reinvigoration of conventional cytotoxic T cells with a Th1 cytokine profile.
Is the initiation of selfing linked to a hermaphrodite’s female or male reproductive function?
Authors: Kaufmann Philipp , Schärer Lukas
Published: March 2020

There is an ongoing debate about whether simultaneous hermaphrodites capable of selfing should prefer selfing over outcrossing or vice versa. While many theoretical models predict a transmission advantage for alleles that favour selfing, empirical studies often reveal low selfing rates. Despite these considerations, the underlying mechanisms that determine reproductive strategies in simultaneously hermaphroditic animals are poorly understood. In our study on the facultatively selfing free-living flatworm, Macrostomum hystrix, we ask whether the initiation of selfing, as inferred from the differential spatial distribution of received sperm, is linked to an individual’s female or male reproductive function. Specifically, the initiation of selfing could (i) be linked to the male function, when an individual is unable to donate sperm to others and hence donates sperm to self, or it could (ii) be linked to the female function, when an individual fails to receive sperm from others—and hence is unable to fertilize its eggs via outcrossing—thus inducing it to self-fertilize. We experimentally created a social environment that allowed focals to outcross via sperm donation, but simultaneously prevented them from receiving sperm—by pairing them with a partner lacking the male copulatory organ—so that fertilization of the focal’s eggs was restricted to selfing. Our results suggest that such focals generally do not initiate selfing, while we readily observe selfing in isolated worms. This suggests that in isolated M. hystrix, it is the male function that is linked to the initiation of selfing, likely due to a lack of opportunities for sperm donation.

Significance statement

A variety of simultaneously hermaphroditic animals are capable of reproducing via both selfing and outcrossing. While the reproductive choices of such animals can be modelled by the joint action of genetic (e.g. inbreeding depression) and ecological factors (e.g. partner availability), experimental evaluation of theoretical results is often lacking. By manipulating the social environment of focal individuals, we here provide evidence that explores the respective role that the co-occurring male and female sex functions have on the initiation of selfing in a simultaneously hermaphroditic flatworm species. Specifically, our results suggest that the initiation of selfing is linked to the worm’s male function. Insights about which function is linked to the initiation of selfing may ultimately help to better understand reproductive decisions in simultaneous hermaphrodites.
Design and realization of flexible droplet-based lab-on-a-chip devices
Authors: Fink Gerold , Hamidović Medina , Springer Andreas , Wille Robert , Haselmayr Werner
Published: March 2020

This article provides an overview on the emerging field of droplet-based microfluidic networks. In such networks, droplets i.e., encapsulating biochemical samples can be adaptively transported via microchannels through different operations for particular experiments. This approach is particularly promising for the next generation of lab-on-a-chip devices, which should support more complex operations and more flexibility. We give an accessible introduction to droplet-based microfluidics and describe the principles, of microfluidic switches, which are the main components in microfluidic networks. Based on these principles we present the addressing schemes for microfluidic bus networks. Since the design of microfluidic networks is a rather complex task, which requires the consideration of a huge number of physical parameters, we introduce design automation methods and simulation tools. Finally, we present a method for the precise generation of individual droplets, which enables the practical realization of microfluidic networks. Moreover, we show the latest experimental results on droplet generation and switching.
Development of a wireless accelerometer-based Intravaginal device to detect pelvic floor motion for evaluation of pelvic floor dysfunction
Authors: Bohorquez Jose , McKinney Jessica , Keyser Laura , Sutherland Robin , Pulliam Samantha J.
Published: March 2020

Urinary incontinence (UI) is experienced by an estimated 51% of women in the U.S. and often results from impaired function or weakening of the pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is a frontline nonsurgical treatment, yet a number of symptomatic individuals cannot accurately perform a pelvic floor muscle contraction with simple verbal or written instruction. Long-term adherence to PFMT regimens is often a barrier to resolution of symptoms. Various biofeedback tools have been utilized to aid correct pelvic floor muscle performance and adherence. One novel device, the leva® Pelvic Digital Health System, utilizes an intravaginal probe embedded with MEMS accelerometer sensors that allow real-time visualization of the shape and motion of the vagina during PFMT. Early positive results with this device prompted design of a wearable version. The purpose of this study was to design a wearable, wireless clinical research device to optimize MEMS accelerometer sensor placement to detect maximal movement during a pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) and to test the form factor for retention and user acceptability. The device comprised a ring designed to sit at the fornix with an extension following the length of the vagina. This paper presents design components and results from clinical testing of 10 subjects. It was determined that a ring form factor alone, similar to other vaginal rings (pessaries, estrogen rings) provided less accurate visual information about PFME performance. By contrast, we determined that a ring with an extension allowed for device retention and improved real-time detection of vaginal shape and motion during PFMT.
Avian injury quantification using the Shoreline Deposition Model and model sensitivities
Authors: Amend Meredith , Martin Nadia , Dwyer F. James , Donlan Michael , Berger Michael , Varela Veronica
Published: March 2020

Deposition models, such as the Shoreline Deposition Model (SDM) used to quantify nearshore avian injuries resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, were developed to improve the estimates of nearshore avian mortality resulting from the release of oil into coastal and marine environments. Unlike earlier approaches to injury quantification, such as simple counts of carcasses on the shoreline, a modeling approach allows trustees to evaluate the precision of their estimate (i.e., to develop a confidence interval) and can inform decision-making and the likely utility of additional primary data collection activities through sensitivity analyses. In this paper, we rely on published literature, actual DWH data, and a deposition model simulation to evaluate how different model inputs and assumptions can affect the accuracy and precision of model results. We find that the precision of deposition models is strongly affected by the length of time between subsequent shoreline searches, the underlying magnitude of carcass deposition, carcass persistence probabilities, and carcass detection probabilities. In addition, the accuracy of deposition model results may be affected by natural fluctuations in deposition rates. Given these findings, we recommend that natural resource trustees include an evaluation of future model uncertainty as part of their initial data collection efforts. This will allow them to deploy resources in a way that maximizes the utility of future deposition model results. We also identify several factors that do not need to be assessed immediately following a spill event, thereby potentially freeing resources for more time critical data collection efforts.
Data-Driven Classification of Coronal Hole and Streamer Belt Solar Wind
Authors: Bloch Téo , Watt Clare , Owens Mathew , McInnes Leland , Macneil Allan R.
Published: March 2020

We present two new solar wind origin classification schemes developed independently using unsupervised machine learning. The first scheme aims to classify solar wind into three types: coronal-hole wind, streamer-belt wind, and ‘unclassified’ which does not fit into either of the previous two categories. The second scheme independently derives three clusters from the data; the coronal-hole and streamer-belt winds, and a differing unclassified cluster. The classification schemes are created using non-evolving solar wind parameters, such as ion charge states and composition, measured during the three Ulysses fast latitude scans. The schemes are subsequently applied to the Ulysses and the Advanced Compositional Explorer (ACE) datasets. The first scheme is based on oxygen charge state ratio and proton specific entropy. The second uses these data, as well as the carbon charge state ratio, the alpha-to-proton ratio, the iron-to-oxygen ratio, and the mean iron charge state. Thus, the classification schemes are grounded in the properties of the solar source regions. Furthermore, the techniques used are selected specifically to reduce the introduction of subjective biases into the schemes. We demonstrate significant best case disparities (minimum ≈8%, maximum ≈22%) with the traditional fast and slow solar wind determined using speed thresholds. By comparing the results between the in- (ACE) and out-of-ecliptic (Ulysses) data, we find morphological differences in the structure of coronal-hole wind. Our results show how a data-driven approach to the classification of solar wind origins can yield results which differ from those obtained using other methods. As such, the results form an important part of the information required to validate how well current understanding of solar origins and the solar wind match with the data we have.
Energy Metabolism Analysis of Three Different Mesenchymal Stem Cell Populations of Umbilical Cord Under Normal and Pathologic Conditions
Authors: Russo Eleonora , Lee Jea-Young , Nguyen Hung , Corrao Simona , Anzalone Rita , La Rocca Giampiero , Borlongan Cesar V.
Published: March 2020

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) are a pivotal source of therapeutically active cells for regenerative medicine due to their multipotent differentiation potential, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory proprieties, as well as logistical collection advantages without ethical concerns. However, it remains poorly understood whether MSCs from different compartments of the human umbilical cord are therapeutically superior than others. In this study, MSCs were isolated from Wharton’s jelly (WJ-MSCs), perivascular region (PV-MSCs) and cord lining (CL-MSCs) of hUC. These cells expressed the mesenchymal markers (CD90, CD73), stemness marker (OCT4), endothelial cell adhesion molecular marker (CD146), and the monocyte/macrophage marker (CD14) found within the MSC population implicated as a key regulator of inflammatory responses to hypoxia, was displayed by WJ-, PV-, and CL-MSCs respectively. A direct consequence of oxygen and glucose deprivation during stroke and reperfusion is impaired mitochondrial function that contributes to cellular death. Emerging findings of mitochondria transfer provide the basis for the replenishment of healthy mitochondria as a strategy for the treatment of stroke. Cell Energy Phenotype and Mito Stress tests were performed the energy metabolic profile of the three MSC populations and their mitochondrial function in both ambient and OGD cell culture conditions. PV-MSCs showed the highest mitochondrial activity. CL-MSCs were the least affected by OGD/R condition, suggesting their robust survival in ischemic environment. In this study, MSC populations in UC possess comparable metabolic capacities and good survival under normal and hypoxic conditions suggesting their potential as transplantable cells for mitochondrial-based stem cell therapy in stroke and other ischemic diseases.
Flow structure in the wake of a space-launcher model with propulsive-jet simulation
Authors: Schreyer Anne-Marie
Published: March 2020

The flow around a space launcher is dominated by flow separation at the junction between the main body and engine and strongly influenced by the propulsive jet. The flow field is highly unsteady with strong local pressure and temperature loads. To conceive a means of mitigating these effects and allow for smarter launcher designs, a better understanding is necessary. The wake of a generic axisymmetric launcher model with and without afterexpanding propulsive jet was investigated at Mach 2.9, a Reynolds number$$\text {Re}_D=1.3\cdot 10^6$$ReD=1.3·106(model diameter D), and a nozzle exit velocity of the jet simulation of Mach 2.5. I observed the evolution of the flow and its spectral content with velocity measurements with particle image velocimetry and wall-pressure recordings. Coherent structures were analyzed based on a proper orthogonal decomposition. The propulsive jet has two major influences. First, the turbulent intensities in the shear layer are damped, and the larger structures in the wake contain less turbulent kinetic energy than in the baseline case without propulsive jet. Second, the reattachment process is modified and the wake instability phenomena change accordingly. Without propulsive jet, large-scale separation with reattachment on the nozzle fairing occurs and the low-frequency unsteadiness of the closed separation bubble/recompression-shock system is relevant. This phenomenon only has a minor influence under the influence of the jet plume, where the flow is displaced away from the surface and the reattachment process is incomplete. Here, shear-layer instabilities become more prominent.
Palaeofloristics of Lower Gondwana Exposure near Kumunda Village, Angul District, Talcher Basin, Odisha, India: A Comprehensive Study on Megafloral and Palynofloral Assemblages
Authors: Sahoo Mrutyunjaya , Goswami Shreerup , Aggarwal Neha , Pillai Sankar Suresh Kumar
Published: March 2020

Megafloristics and palynology of a fossiliferous section near Kumunda Village, Angul district, Talcher Basin, Odisha have been studied. The exposure is located at 20°58'32" N latitude and 85°01'45" E longitude. The megafloral assemblage of the investigated section comprises Glossopteris, Vertebraria indica (Glossopteridales); Trizygia speciosa (Sphenophyllales); Schizoneura gondwanensis, Equicetaceous stems (Equisetales) and Neomariopteris hughesii (Filicales) along with stem casts. The genus Glossopteris dominates the assemblage with 20 different species and more than 60% in occurrence. The specimens are preserved as both impressions and compressions on compact, fine-grained carbonaceous shales. In addition, two distinct palynofloral assemblages have been recognized in this section. Palyno-assemblage-I is characterized by the predominance of Striatopodocarpites spp. and Faunipollenites spp., while Palynoassemblage-II is dominated by Striatopodocarpites spp. and Faunipollenites spp. along with Densipollenites spp. The Palynoassemblages I and II correlate with Striatopodocarpites– Faunipollenites assemblage zone and StriatopodocarpitesDensipollenites assemblage zone respectively of the Late Permian Raniganj Formation in the Damodar Basin. The presence of key species viz., Densipollenites magnicorpus, Falcisporites nuthallensis, Strotersporites spp., Lunatisporites pellucidus, Guttulapollenites hannonicus, Corisaccites alutus, Weylandites lucifer and Hamiapollenites bifurcates in these palynoassemblages assign their affinity to the Late Permian. The present palynological investigations have identified the presence of Raniganj/Lower Kamthi (Late Permian) sediments exposed near Kumunda village, which is lithologically designated as Barakar Formation (Early Permian). Hence a precise and more thorough sampling for palynological studies and detailed geological mapping of this area should be attempted to delimit more accurately the distribution of the different Lower Gondwana formations in this investigated area of this basin. The rich diversity of Glossopteris leaves in the fine sediments infers seasonal falling and favourable conditions for plant growth with warm, humid (very high), temperate climate with intermittent rainfall during this period in Talcher Basin.
An inclusive consistency check procedure for quality control methods of the black oil laboratory data
Authors: Hashemi Seyed Mohammad Hossein , Monfaredi Kazem , Sedaee Behnam
Published: March 2020

Invalid PVT data provide high uncertainty in field development studies such as reservoir fluid compartmentalization, reserve estimation, reservoir simulation, production engineering, and surface facility design. Then, consistency check should be conducted to ensure the validity of PVT data and to identify the most representative PVT sample(s). In this paper, preliminary and complementary consistency check of PVT laboratory methods was applied to design a new comprehensive validity check procedure for verification of the reservoir fluid properties. This procedure would be ascertained whether or not the data could be used as the most representative fluid sample in further studies. The data used in this study were collected from seven undersaturated oil reservoirs, and challenges were observed through the 28 full set of available PVT laboratory data. In our study quality checking procedure of PVT samples consists of different methods such as graphical method, recombination and material balance check for well stream composition test, Buckley, modified Wilson and Hoffman plot, Watson characterization factor, Y-function of CCE test, Y-function of DL test, compositional material balance of DL test, overall mass balance for density, Bo and GOR of DL test and density check for separator test. After implementing the applicable proposed checking procedure to detect the validity of laboratory PVT sample, only 9 out of 28 PVT samples were satisfied all the preliminary and complementary check methods. Furthermore, a practical strategy, to select representative reservoir fluid sample, was also provided and discussed based on the consistency check, well condition check and comparison of fluid properties.
Influence of welding stresses on relief cracking during heat treatment of a creep-resistant 13CrMoV steel: part I—effect of heat control on welding stresses and stress relief cracking
Authors: Kromm A. , Lausch T. , Schroepfer D. , Rhode M. , Kannengiesser T.
Published: March 2020

The avoidance of failures during the fabrication or operation of petrochemical reactors made of creep-resistant, low-alloy steels as 13CrMoV9-10 requires still research despite over 60 years of international investigations in the field of stress relief cracking. The quality of modern base materials and filler metals leads to the fact that previously known crack causes, such as impurities of S or P, recede into the background. Rather, the causes are increasingly to be found in the fabrication process. Investigations on the influence of heat control on the stresses in welded components and thus on the stress relief cracking sensitivity under realistic manufacturing conditions are not yet available. This work is subdivided in two parts. Part 1 of this study focused on the effect of heat control during submerged arc welding on the stresses. For this purpose, a testing facility was applied, which allows to observe the forces and moments accumulating during welding or heat treatment in a component-like specimen under shrinkage restraint. The stress acting in the specimen increases with higher preheat/interpass temperatures and higher heat input. During the heat treatment, the stresses are relieved. Nevertheless, cracks are formed already during heating. The total crack length correlates with the heat input.
3D bare-hand interactions enabling ubiquitous interactions with smart objects
Authors: Ong S. K. , Wang X. , Nee A. Y. C.
Published: March 2020

Ubiquitous augmented reality (UAR) implementation can benefit smart shop floor operations significantly. UAR from a user’s first-person view can support and provide the user with suitable and comprehensive information without him/her being distracted from ongoing tasks. A natural hand-based interaction interface, namely, a mobile bare-hand interface (MBHI), is proposed to assist a user in exploring and navigating a large amount of information for a task in the user’s first-person view. The integration of a smart shop floor and UAR-based MBHI is particularly challenging. A real shop floor environment is composed of challenging conditions for the implementation of UAR, e.g., messy backgrounds and significant changes in illumination conditions. Meanwhile, the MBHI is required to provide precise and quick responses to minimize the difficulty of a user’s task. In this study, a wearable UAR system integrated with an MBHI is proposed to augment the shop floor environment with smart information. A case study is implemented to demonstrate the practicality and effectiveness of the proposed UAR and MBHI system.
Ökonomische Bildung in Deutschland
Authors: Loerwald Dirk
Published: March 2020

Seit vielen Jahrzehnten wird in Wissenschaft, Gesellschaft und Politik die Frage diskutiert, ob und in welcher Form ökonomische Bildung ein integraler Bestandteil von Allgemeinbildung sein soll. Im Vergleich zu Schulfächern wie beispielsweise Geschichte, Erdkunde, Musik oder Biologie ist die Situation für die ökonomische Bildung sehr heterogen. Jedes Bundesland geht eigene Wege. Im Ergebnis verlassen manche Schülerinnen und Schüler die weiterführenden Schulen mit ökonomischen Grundkenntnissen, viele andere haben Ökonomie in ihrer Schullaufbahn eher in homöopathischen Dosen erfahren. Mit Blick auf die augenscheinliche Relevanz von Wirtschaft für Individuen und Gesellschaft sollte das nachdenklich stimmen. Aufgrund der heterogenen Situation und der zum Teil defizitär verankerten ökonomischen Bildung im allgemeinbildenden Schulwesen hat sich Ende 2019 das Bündnis für Ökonomische Bildung Deutschland (BÖB) gegründet. Als Netzwerk von Lehrkräften, Verbänden, Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft setzt sich dieses Bündnis für die Stärkung der ökonomischen Bildung ein. Konkret wird eine nationale Strategie für ökonomische Bildung in Deutschland gefordert, die bundesweit eine hinreichende Verankerung in den Lehrplänen und eine fachlich und fachdidaktisch fundierte Ausbildung von Lehrkräften gewährleistet. Zu diesem Bündnis gehören mittlerweile ca. 70 Institutionen und die Grundposition ist in einem Eckpunktepapier nachzulesen, das in dieser Ausgabe des LIST-Forums abgedruckt ist. Die in diesem Papier sehr verdichtet zusammengetragenen Eckpunkte basieren auf z. T. umfassenden fachdidaktischen Argumenten, die in jahrelangen Diskursen entwickelt wurden. Die Grundzüge dieser Diskurse sollen im vorliegenden Beitrag entfaltet werden, womit eine fachdidaktische Einordnung vorgenommen werden kann.
Signs your cyber security is doomed to fail
Authors: Chung Marcus
Published: March 2020

Cybercrime represents big money for cyber criminals. Unfortunately, that will likely equate to significant operational and financial losses for unprepared businesses.

While most enterprises have come to terms with the fact that a future security incident is inevitable, many still struggle to translate this into the right security architecture and mindset.

One of the reasons is that too many organisations buy into some persistent misconceptions regarding cyber security. They also make some basic errors in their attitudes towards the threats and how their organisations should deal with them. Marcus Chung of BoldCloud Looks at seven of the most common problems that could indicate your business is at risk.
Gluten-Free: Where’s the Beef?
Authors: Ates Aaron M. , Lusk Jayson L.
Published: March 2020

This research seeks to determine effects of rising interest in gluten-free foods on U.S. retail food demand and, ultimately, producer and consumer welfare. Increased gluten-free interest led to a modest reduction in cereals and bakery demand and increases in meat, alcoholic beverages, and food away from home demand. Combining estimated effects with an equilibrium displacement model suggests the reduction in cereal and bakery demand decreases wheat and barley producer profits by US$7.2 million/year. After accounting for positive demand impacts on other products, results indicate wheat and barley supply is redistributed away from food production into animal production, increasing wheat producer welfare.
The Degenerating Sex: Female Sterilisation, Medical Authority and Racial Purity in Catholic Brazil
Authors: Roth Cassia
Published: March 2020

This article examines female sterilisation practices in early twentieth-century Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It argues that the medical profession, particularly obstetricians and psychiatrists, used debates over the issue to solidify its moral and political standing during two political moments of Brazilian history: when the Brazilian government separated church and state in the 1890s and when Getúlio Vargas’s authoritarian regime of the late 1930s renewed alliances with the Catholic church. Shifting notions of gender, race, and heredity further shaped these debates. In the late nineteenth century, a unified medical profession believed that female sterilisation caused psychiatric degeneration in women. By the 1930s, however, the arrival of eugenics caused a divergence amongst physicians. Psychiatrists began supporting eugenic sterilisation to prevent degeneration – both psychiatric and racial. Obstetricians, while arguing that sterilisation no longer caused mental disturbances in women, rejected it as a eugenic practice in regard to race. For obstetricians, the separation of sex from motherhood was more dangerous than any racial ‘impurities’, both phenotypical and psychiatric. At the same time, a revitalised Brazilian Catholic church rejected eugenics and sterilisation point blank, and its renewed ties with the Vargas regime blocked the medical implementation of any eugenic sterilisation laws. Brazilian women, nonetheless, continued to access the procedure, regardless of the surrounding legal and medical proscriptions.
The Contraceptive Pill in Irelandc.1964–79: Activism, Women and Patient–Doctor Relationships
Authors: Kelly Laura
Published: March 2020

The twentieth-century history of men and women’s attempts to gain access to reproductive health services in the Republic of Ireland has been significantly shaped by Ireland’s social and religious context. Although contraception was illegal in Ireland from 1935 to 1979, declining family sizes in this period suggest that many Irish men and women were practising fertility control measures. From the mid-1960s, the contraceptive pill was marketed in Ireland as a ‘cycle regulator’. In order to obtain a prescription for the pill, Irish women would therefore complain to their doctors that they had heavy periods or irregular cycles. However, doing so could mean going against one’s faith, and also depended on finding a sympathetic doctor. The contraceptive pill was heavily prescribed in Ireland during the 1960s and 1970s as it was the only contraceptive available legally, albeit prescribed through ‘coded language’. The pill was critiqued by men and women on both sides of the debate over the legalisation of contraception. Anti-contraception activists argued that the contraceptive pill was an abortifacient, while both anti-contraception activists and feminist campaigners alike drew attention to its perceived health risks. As well as outlining these discussions, the paper also illustrates the importance of medical authority in the era prior to legalisation, and the significance of doctors’ voices in relation to debates around the contraceptive pill. However, in spite of medical authority, it is clear that Irish women exercised significant agency in gaining access to the pill.
Nonsingular bilinear maps revisited
Authors: Domínguez Carlos , Lam Kee Yuen
Published: March 2020

A bilinear map $\varPhi :\mathbb {R}^r\times \mathbb {R}^s\to \mathbb {R}^n$ is nonsingular if $\varPhi (\overrightarrow {a},\overrightarrow {b})=\overrightarrow {0}$ implies $\overrightarrow {a}=\overrightarrow {0}$ or $\overrightarrow {b}=\overrightarrow {0}$. These maps are of interest to topologists, and are instrumental for the study of vector bundles over real projective spaces. The main purpose of this paper is to produce examples of such maps in the range $24\leqslant r\leqslant 32,\ 24\leqslant s\leqslant 32,$ using the arithmetic of octonions (otherwise known as Cayley numbers) as an effective tool. While previous constructions in lower dimensional cases use ad hoc techniques, our construction follows a systematic procedure and subsumes those techniques into a uniform perspective.
Extreme districts, moderate winners: Same-party challenges, and deterrence in top-two primaries
Authors: Crosson Jesse
Published: March 2020

In an effort to break the link between districts' lack of competitiveness and the election of ideologues, Washington and California recently adopted the “top-two” primary election system. Among other features, the top-two primary allows members of the same party to run against one another in the general election. Although proponents argue that this system encourages the election of more moderate candidates in highly partisan districts, early reports have uncovered mixed evidence of this effect. This study addresses this puzzle by first disentangling the conditions under which one should expect such primaries to encourage the election of more moderate candidates. Using election returns data from the 2008 through 2014 elections, I find that districts facing same-party general-election competition do elect more moderate legislators than similar districts not subject to same-party competition. However, using an application of a common regression discontinuity diagnostic test, I also find that elite actors appear able to strategically avoid this kind of competition—partially explaining why broader effects of the top-two have not been uncovered. The findings contribute not only to ongoing debates about the effectiveness of the top-two primary, but also to our understanding of how political elites may maneuver institutional changes to their own benefit.
The working class and early retirement in Denmark: individual push factors
Authors: Qvist Jeevitha Yogachandiran
Published: March 2020

Previous research finds that members of the working class have a higher risk of early retirement compared to professionals because they are pushed into early retirement. This indicates that not all workers can respond to incentives to extend their working life. Yet, little previous work has been conducted to quantify systematically the extent to which push factors explain why members of the working class have a higher risk of early retirement compared to professionals. Using longitudinal data on Danish workers, the results suggest that members of the working class have an increased risk of early retirement compared to professionals, but poor health, previous spells of unemployment and low job quality mediate a large part of this effect. Among men, the push factors mediate 57 and 86 per cent of the effect of social class on early retirement for skilled manual and unskilled manual workers, respectively. Among women, the push factors mediate 43 and 55 per cent of the effect of social class on early retirement for skilled manual and unskilled manual workers, respectively. Overly physical work demands is the most important mediator, which explains between 23 and 31 per cent of the total effect of belonging to the working class on early retirement. Moreover, the magnitudes of the indirect effects of the push factors depend on the particular pathway into retirement.
Time series analysis and forecasting of chlamydia trachomatis incidence using surveillance data from 2008 to 2019 in Shenzhen, China
Authors: Weng R. X. , Fu H. L. , Zhang C. L. , Ye J. B. , Hong F. C. , Chen X. S. , Cai Y. M.
Published: March 2020

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection has been a major public health threat globally. Monitoring and prediction of CT epidemic status and trends are important for programme planning, allocating resources and assessing impact; however, such activities are limited in China. In this study, we aimed to apply a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model to predict the incidence of CT infection in Shenzhen city, China. The monthly incidence of CT between January 2008 and June 2019 in Shenzhen was used to fit and validate the SARIMA model. A seasonal fluctuation and a slightly increasing pattern of a long-term trend were revealed in the time series of CT incidence. The monthly CT incidence ranged from 4.80/100 000 to 21.56/100 000. The mean absolute percentage error value of the optimal model was 8.08%. The SARIMA model could be applied to effectively predict the short-term CT incidence in Shenzhen and provide support for the development of interventions for disease control and prevention.
Origins of too-big-to-fail policy in the United States
Authors: Nurisso George C. , Prescott Edward Simpson
Published: March 2020

This article traces the origin of too-big-to-fail policy in modern US banking to the bailout of the $1.2b Bank of the Commonwealth in 1972. It describes this bailout and those of subsequent banks through that of Continental Illinois in 1984. During this period, market concentration due to interstate banking restrictions is a factor in most of the bailouts and systemic risk concerns were raised to justify the bailouts of surprisingly small banks. Finally, most of the bailouts in this period relied on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's use of the Essentiality Doctrine and Federal Reserve lending. A discussion of this doctrine is used to illustrate how legal constraints on regulators may become less constraining over time.
The Adaptation Strategies of Post-Communist Political Parties: An Introduction
Authors: Gherghina Sergiu
Published: March 2020

Starting with the third decade of post-communism, the political landscape of the world that once belonged to the Soviet bloc or its satellites has been marked by important transformations at institutional and individual levels. So far, relatively little is known about how political parties respond to recent challenges and developments in politics and societies. This Focus seeks to address this gap in the literature and pursues theoretical, empirical and methodological objectives. The collection of articles seeks to outline a few theoretical models of adaptation to the political realities, to identify and explain various ways in which political parties respond to challenges and continue to perform their function of representation, and to measure variables and concepts that were previously approached only from a normative or descriptive perspective.