bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High‐Performance Aqueous Asymmetric Supercapacitors Based on Microwave‐Synthesized Self‐Supported NiCo2O4 Nanograss and Carbide‐Derived Carbon
Authors: Zhang Fang , Su Can , Wen Fusheng , Mu Congpu , Li Xuecong , Ming Xianbing
Published: March 2020

A binder‐free supercapacitor electrode of NiCo2O4 nanograss coated on nickel foam (NF) was prepared by single‐mode microwave method along with calcination, displaying a higher specific capacitance (1042 F/g at 1 mV/s). Furthermore, we demonstrate excellent electrochemical performance of NiCo2O4 nanograss as anode electrode and carbide‐derived carbon as cathode electrode. The resultant asymmetric supercapacitors possess high specific capacitance (105.6 F/g at 1 mV/s), good cycling stability (retention capacitance of 78.5% after 5000 cycles), high energy density (32.9 Wh/kg) and large power density (970.1 W/kg), which has potential application in energy storage devices.
Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of Li‐ and Mn‐Rich Cathode Materials by Particle Blending and Surface Coating
Authors: Li Zhao , Li Qiang , Wu Shuaijin , Zhang Anbang , Zhuo Haoxiang , Zhang Gangning , Wang Zhong , Wang Lin , Ren Zhimin , Wang Jiantao
Published: March 2020

A Li‐ and Mn‐rich material Li1.18Mn0.55Ni0.18Co0.09O2 (LMR) exhibits a high specific capacity; however, this material has serious problems, including a poor rate capability and limited cycling life. A jet crushing method is used to break micron‐sized LMR particles synthesized by a solid‐state reaction into nano‐sized particles. Compared to micron‐sized particles, nano‐sized LMR particles possess a higher rate capability due to shorter Li+ diffusion pathway, but also an increase in side reactions with the electrolyte leads to poorer cycling performance. Herein, we propose a material engineering strategy that combines micron‐ and nano‐sized particle blending and a cerium oxide (CeO2) surface coating modifications to enhance the electrochemical performance of LMR material. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images demonstrate that the cubic structure of CeO2 is uniformly distributed on the surface of LMR, which is supposed to suppress the electrode/electrolyte side reactions by preventing electrode particles from being directly exposed to the electrolyte. As a result, the discharge capacity of the modified LMR material is 153.1 mAh g−1 at 5 C compared to 139.1 mAh g−1 with the pristine material. The capacity retention of the modified material is 82.8 % after 200 cycles at 1 C, which is higher than the 77.1 % capacity retention of the pristine material. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveals that the CeO2 coating layer has a significant role in mitigating oxygen release from the surface of the LMR material during cycling.
Microwave‐Assisted Rapid Preparation of Vermiculite‐Loaded Nano‐Nickel Oxide As a Highly Efficient Catalyst for Acetylene Carbonylation to Synthesize Acrylic Acid
Authors: Hu Gang , Guo Dong , Shang Haojie , Sun Yongkang , Zeng Junming , Li Jiangbing
Published: March 2020

With CuBr2 as a co‐catalyst, the nickel‐supported two‐dimensional layered vermiculite (2D‐VT)‐based composite [Ni(NO3)2•6H2O/2D‐VT] was used as a precursor and applied to various calcination methods to produce catalysts. These catalysts were used in the acetylene carbonylation reaction to synthesize acrylic acid (AA). The catalysts were characterized and evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), hydrogen temperature‐programmed reduction (H2‐TPR), nitrogen adsorption desorption analyzer (BET) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). We found that the microwave (MW) radiation calcined catalyst (MW‐NiO/2D‐VT) exhibited better catalytic performance than the muffle furnace (MF) calcination catalyst (MF‐NiO/2D‐VT). This difference is observed owing to the fast speed of microwave radiation heating, short baking time, and the instantaneous formation of nano‐NiO particles that have better dispersibility and uniformity, which is more conducive to the performance expression of nickel oxide. Under the optimal reaction conditions, the yield of AA is 86.3%. During the reaction, the MW‐NiO/2D‐VT catalyst is more stable and produces less by‐deposits than the MF‐NiO/2D‐VT catalyst. Thus, MW‐NiO/2D‐VT is more conducive to improving the selectivity of AA. In addition, theoretical calculations show that the MW‐NiO/2D‐VT catalyst has a lower apparent activation energy, which kinetically explains why MW‐NiO/2D‐VT is an excellent catalyst.
Exploring Quinazolinones as Anticonvulsants by Molecular Fragmentation Approach: Structural Optimization, Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation Studies
Authors: Ugale Vinod G. , Bari Sanjay B. , Khadse Saurabh C. , Reddy Pedavenkatagari Narayana , Bonde Chandrakant G. , Chaudhari Prashant J.
Published: March 2020

In recent years, design and synthesis of anticonvulsants effective against multiple seizures has attracted much attention of medicinal chemists. In an attempt to find novel anticonvulsants, herein we have reported structurally optimized sixteen different substituted quinazolinones explored through molecular fragmentation approach. The anticonvulsant activity of synthesized compounds was assessed by using predictable seizure models in mice. Two most promising analogues 8 d (ED50 = 35.1 mg/kg, MES, mice, i. p.; ED50 = 41.5 mg/kg, scPTZ test, mice, i. p.) and 8 l (ED50 = 21.2 mg/kg, MES, mice, i. p.; ED50 = 32.4 mg/kg, scPTZ test, mice, i. p.) exhibited broad spectrum anticonvulsant action in preclinical models of seizures. Compound 8 l was also shown profound activity against pharmaco‐resistant limbic seizures produced in 6 Hz test. Most of the synthesized molecules exhibited moderate to high anticonvulsant activity in all seizure models with no symptoms of neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. We have also used in‐silico protocol for prediction of physiochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of synthesized quinazolinones. The promising anticonvulsant activity of synthesized analogues, ex‐vivo toxicity, in‐silico molecular docking, physiochemical and pharmacokinetic predictions make us to anticipate emergence of synthesized quinazolinones as valid leads for the treatment of convulsive disorder.
Theoretical Prediction of Capacitance of Bilayer Graphene Flakes
Authors: Salehi Seyed Reza , Azami Seyed Mohammad
Published: March 2020

Electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs) have been known as energy storage device and different materials have been used as EDLC electrode materials. Recently, graphene has been considered as one of the most promising materials for use in EDLC structure. In this research, a theoretical study on bilayer graphene (as an EDLC with vacuum dielectric) in two symmetries (D2h and D6h) with different distances and applied voltages is done, where the charge separation among a bilayer graphene structure is calculated by electron deformation orbital theory. Although it was found that capacitance is almost independent of applied voltage in constant distances, the relationship between capacitance and inverse of distance was nonlinear in the cases of constant voltages. The structure change from D2h to D6h did not affect the specific capacitances, significantly, although the areal capacitance of D2h structure was greater than that of D6h structure.
2D Layered Graphene Oxide Films Integrated with Micro‐Ring Resonators for Enhanced Nonlinear Optics
Authors: Wu Jiayang , Yang Yunyi , Qu Yang , Jia Linnan , Zhang Yuning , Xu Xingyuan , Chu Sai T. , Little Brent E. , Morandotti Roberto , Jia Baohua , Moss David J.
Published: March 2020

Layered 2D graphene oxide (GO) films are integrated with micro‐ring resonators (MRRs) to experimentally demonstrate enhanced nonlinear optics. Both uniformly coated (1−5 layers) and patterned (10−50 layers) GO films are integrated on complementary‐metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (CMOS)‐compatible doped silica MRRs using a large‐area, transfer‐free, layer‐by‐layer GO coating method with precise control of the film thickness. The patterned devices further employ photolithography and lift‐off processes to enable precise control of the film placement and coating length. Four‐wave‐mixing (FWM) measurements for different pump powers and resonant wavelengths show a significant improvement in efficiency of ≈7.6 dB for a uniformly coated device with 1 GO layer and ≈10.3 dB for a patterned device with 50 GO layers. The measurements agree well with theory, with the enhancement in FWM efficiency resulting from the high Kerr nonlinearity and low loss of the GO films combined with the strong light–matter interaction within the MRRs. The dependence of GO's third‐order nonlinearity on layer number and pump power is also extracted from the FWM measurements, revealing interesting physical insights about the evolution of the GO films from 2D monolayers to quasi bulk‐like behavior. These results confirm the high nonlinear optical performance of integrated photonic resonators incorporated with 2D layered GO films.
CXCR4 expression in the bone marrow microenvironment is required for hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell maintenance and early hematopoietic regeneration after myeloablation
Authors: Singh Pratibha , Mohammad Khalid S. , Pelus Louis M.
Published: March 2020

The bone marrow (BM) microenvironment/niche plays a key role in regulating hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) activities; however, mechanisms regulating niche cell function are not well understood. In this study, we show that niche intrinsic expression of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor critically regulates HSPC maintenance during steady state, and promotes early hematopoietic regeneration after myeloablative irradiation. At steady state, chimeric mice with wild-type (WT) HSPC and marrow stroma that lack CXCR4 show decreased HSPC quiescence, and their repopulation capacity was markedly reduced. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) were significantly reduced in the BM of CXCR4 deficient mice, which was accompanied by decreased levels of the HSPC supporting factors stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and stem cell factor (SCF). CXCR4 also plays a crucial role in survival and restoration of BM stromal cells after myeloablative irradiation, where the loss of BM stromal cells was more severe in CXCR4-deficient mice compared to WT mice. In addition, transplantation of WT donor HSPC into CXCR4-deficient recipient mice demonstrated reduced HSPC homing and early hematopoietic reconstitution. We found that CXCR4 signaling attenuates irradiation-induced BM stromal cell loss by upregulating the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Survivin via the PI3K pathway. Our study suggests that SDF-1-CXCR4 signaling in the stromal microenvironment cells plays a crucial role in maintenance of HSPCs during homeostasis, and promotes niche regeneration and early hematopoietic reconstitution after transplantation. Modulation of CXCR4 signaling in the HSPC microenvironment could be a means to enhance hematopoietic recovery after clinical hematopoietic cell transplantation.
Thermo‐time domain reflectometry to evaluate unsaturated soils contaminated with nonaqueous phase liquids
Authors: Ju Zhaoqiang , Sun Hongyong , Liu Xiaojing
Published: March 2020

Soil and groundwater contamination by nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) has become a serious environmental issue. This study applied the thermo‐time domain reflectometry (TTDR) technique to determine the effects of NAPL contamination on the thermal and electromagnetic properties of unsaturated soils. Furthermore, the applicability of TTDR to determine the NAPL content was evaluated, and a new calibration equation was established to estimate the NAPL saturation level in unsaturated soils. Multiple unsaturated sand and silt loam samples at a constant water content were mixed with various amounts of motor and sunflower seed oils. The TTDR probes were then applied to simultaneously measure the dielectric constant, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and heat capacity. An independent experiment was conducted to compare the NAPL content estimated using the new calibration equation and the known content. The results show that the NAPL content had no effect on the dielectric constant, and the soil dielectric constant maintained a steady value at the same water content, which ranged from 5 to 20 with increasing water content. At a constant water content, the soil electrical conductivity slightly decreased as the NAPL content increased. The soil thermal conductivity generally increased with the addition of NAPLs. There was a linear correlation between the total liquid content in the soil and the volumetric heat capacity. A new calibration equation was established to determine the NAPL saturation in soils from the relationship between the soil saturation, volumetric heat capacity, and water content as measured by time domain reflectometry. Independent validation indicated that the calibration equation was able to provide accurate NAPL saturation data in the laboratory, with a RMSE of 0.042.
Degradation of atrazine in aqueous solution through peroxymonosulfate activated by Co‐modified nano‐titanium dioxide
Authors: Cai Hanying , Li Jun , Yin Haoxiang , Yao Gang , Lai Bo
Published: March 2020

Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) heterogeneous activation by Co3O4‐modified catalyst has shown significant implications to generate free radicals for organic pollutants degradation in water. In this study, PMS heterogeneous activation was applied to degrade atrazine (ATZ) using Co3O4‐mediated titanium dioxide nanoparticles (Co3O4/TiO2 NPs), which were synthesized by sol‐gel method. Firstly, characteristics of the fresh and used Co3O4/TiO2 NPs were analyzed via SEM, TEM, XRD, EDS, and XPS techniques. Then, the influences of several key parameters (i.e., Co3O4/TiO2 NPs dose (0.02–0.3 g/L), PMS dose (0–0.6 mM), initial pH (3.0–11.0), and co‐existing anions) on the ATZ degradation were investigated systematically. Besides, control systems were set up to verify the high efficiency of Co3O4/TiO2 NPs. In addition, the radical scavenging experiments revealed that sulfate and hydroxyl radicals were generated in the Co3O4/TiO2‐PMS system, while sulfate radicals were the dominant reactive species responsible for ATZ degradation. Furthermore, the stability and reusability of the Co3O4/TiO2 NPs were investigated after four consecutive experiments. Based on the identified products, possible degradation pathways of ATZ in the Co3O4/TiO2‐PMS system were proposed. Finally, the possible reaction mechanism of Co3O4/TiO2‐PMS system was proposed according to the comprehensive analysis. Findings of this study provided useful information for the application of Co3O4/TiO2 NPs in recalcitrant organic contaminants degradation.

Practitioner points

Co3O4/TiO2 NPs were synthesized via the simple sol‐gel method.

Co3O4/TiO2 NPs possessed excellent catalytic performance for PMS to eliminate ATZ.

Sulfate radicals play a dominant role in the degradation of ATZ.

ATZ degradation pathways and reaction mechanism in the system were proposed.
Achieving Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria: Moving Beyond Annual Celebrations to Concrete Address of the Challenges
Authors: Enabulele Osahon
Published: March 2020

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), universal health coverage (UHC) is the organization of health‐care systems in a way that provides a specific health‐care benefit package to all members of a defined population, through provision of financial risk protection in the course of accessing necessary health‐care services. Since the adoption of the concept of UHC by the World Health Assembly in the year 2005, followed by its adoption in the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Agenda as the eighth target of SDG 3, greater global attention is now focused on the achievement of UHC. While the successes recorded so far vary in different countries and continents, the case of Nigeria remains very pathetic. Nigeria's main strategic mechanism for achieving UHC is her National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which is a contributory social health insurance scheme. Since the formal launch of the NHIS on June 6, 2005, not more than 4percent of Nigeria's population has been covered by the scheme. This article is therefore aimed at reviewing Nigeria's progress toward UHC, with particular emphasis on its challenges, and with some recommendations proffered on how Nigeria can more realistically achieve UHC.
BTZ dynamics and chaos
Authors: Poojary Rohan R.
Published: March 2020

Abstract

We find an effective action for gravitational interactions with scalars inAdS3to first order inGNat the conformal boundary. This action can be understood as an action for the Brown-Henneaux modes and is given by the square-root product of right and left moving Schwarzian derivatives for conformal transformations of the boundary. We thus reproduce the result$$ {\lambda}_L=\frac{2\pi }{\beta } $$λL=2πβfor OTOC computed first in arXiv:1412.6087 for a Schwarzchild black hole inAdS3. Applying the same procedure to rotating BTZ we find the Lyapunov index to be$$ {\lambda}_L=\frac{2\pi }{\beta +}>\frac{2\pi }{\beta } $$λL=2πβ+>2πβwhereβ+=β(1− μL), with$$ {\mu}_L=\frac{r_{-}}{r_{+}} $$μL=r−r+being the chemical potential for angular momentum. We thus comment on a possible generalization to a part of the proof given in arXiv:1503.01409 to accommodate this result.
Quantum nature of Wigner function for inflationary tensor perturbations
Authors: Gong Jinn-Ouk , Seo Min-Seok
Published: March 2020

Abstract

We study the Wigner function for the inflationary tensor perturbation defined in the real phase space. We compute explicitly the Wigner function including the contributions from the cubic self-interaction Hamiltonian of tensor perturbations. Then we argue that it is no longer an appropriate description for the probability distribution in the sense that quantum nature allows negativity around vanishing phase variables. This comes from the non-Gaussian wavefunction in the mixed state as a result of the non-linear interaction between super- and sub-horizon modes. We also show that this is related to the explicit infrared divergence in the Wigner function, in contrast to the trace of the density matrix.
Suprakondyläre Humerusfraktur im Kindesalter
Authors: Weinberg Annelie-Martina , Frei Benjamin , Holweg Patrik
Published: March 2020

Die Einteilung der suprakondylären Oberarmfraktur erfolgt im deutschsprachigen Raum nach der Von-Laer-Klassifikation, die von der AO übernommen wurde und den Vorteil bietet, dass daraus die Therapie ableitbar ist. Wenn indiziert, wird die sofortige Operation einer zeitnahen verzögerten Versorgung vorgezogen. Das Ergebnis wird anhand funktioneller Tests direkt im OP kontrolliert. Frakturinstabilität und korrektes Platzieren der Kirschner(K)-Drähte stellen Herausforderungen dar. Alternativen sind Fixateur externe und elastisch stabile intramedulläre Nagelung (ESIN). Begleitende Verletzungen betreffen initial den N. medianus und die A. brachialis, in zweiter Linie den N. radialis. Der N.-ulnaris-Schaden ist meist eine postoperative Komplikation. Die knöcherne Konsolidation ist nach 3 bis 4 Wochen gegeben; danach können eingebrachte Implantate entfernt werden. Versenkte K‑Drähte und ESIN werden nach 3 bis 6 Monaten entfernt, je nach operativer Kapazität und Beschwerden des Patienten.
Sordaria macrospora: 25 years as a model organism for studying the molecular mechanisms of fruiting body development
Authors: Teichert Ines , Pöggeler Stefanie , Nowrousian Minou
Published: March 2020

Fruiting bodies are among the most complex multicellular structures formed by fungi, and the molecular mechanisms that regulate their development are far from understood. However, studies with a number of fungal model organisms have started to shed light on this developmental process. One of these model organisms isSordaria macrospora, a filamentous ascomycete from the orderSordariales. This fungus has been a genetic model organism since the 1950s, but its career as a model organism for molecular genetics really took off in the 1990s, when the establishment of a transformation protocol, a mutant collection, and an indexed cosmid library provided the methods and resources to start revealing the molecular mechanisms of fruiting body development. In the 2000s, “omics” methods were added to theS. macrosporatool box, and by 2020, 58 developmental genes have been identified in this fungus. This review gives a brief overview of major method developments forS. macrospora, and then focuses on recent results characterizing different processes involved in regulating development including several regulatory protein complexes, autophagy, transcriptional and chromatin regulation, and RNA editing.

Key points

•Sordaria macrospora is a model system for analyzing fungal fruiting body development.

•More than 100 developmental mutants are available for S. macrospora.

•More than 50 developmental genes have been characterized in S. macrospora.
The Patients with Hirschsprung's Disease Who Underwent Pull‐Through at Age Less than 1 Year: Longitudinal Bowel Function
Authors: Oh Chaeyoun , Youn Joong Kee , Han Ji‐Won , Yang Hee‐Beom , Kim Hyun‐Young , Jung Sung‐Eun
Published: March 2020

Background

Frequent stooling immediately after pull‐through (PT), fecal soiling, and constipation are chronic complications of Hirschsprung's disease (HD). This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal outcomes in terms of bowel function of patients below the age of 1 year undergoing PT.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 396 patients who underwent PT for HD between September 1979 and March 2014. Stool frequency was analyzed up to 10 years of age, and soiling and constipation were analyzed up to 15 years of age.

Results

After resection of the aganglionic segment (AS), stool frequency decreased over time. Furthermore, stool frequency among the three groups was similar 4 years after PT. Among the patients with aganglionic bowel resection, those who underwent the Soave procedure (SP) had an increase (0.56/day) in stool frequency than those who underwent the Duhamel procedure (DP). The soiling severity according to the AS was similar after 5 years of age. More severe soiling was better associated with patients who underwent the SP than those who underwent the DP. The constipation severity increased gradually until around 5 years and declined thereafter. More severe constipation was better associated with the DP than with the SP.

Conclusion

The result of the analysis of stool frequency and soiling in patients with HD indicated that shorter ASs resulted in fewer bowel movements and less severe soiling. However, with the increase in patient age, the differences became similar. Compared to the DP, the SP was associated with an increased frequency of bowel movements and soiling severity; however, the constipation severity was lower.
Ein mikrochirurgisches Wetlab für Studierende steigert das Interesse an der Augenheilkunde
Authors: Müller Andreas , Pfeiffer Norbert , Schmidt Franziska , Prokosch Verena
Published: March 2020

Hintergrund

Praktischen Inhalten wird in den Curricula der Humanmedizin zunehmend Platz eingeräumt. Bei verbreitetem Bewerbermangel trägt dies zu einem vermehrten Interesse seitens der Studierenden an den jeweiligen Fachbereichen bei. Einen praktischen Reiz der Augenheilkunde stellt die mikrochirurgische Arbeitsweise dar. Eine Einführung kann beispielsweise mit einem mikrochirurgischen Nahtkurs geleistet werden.

Ziel der Arbeit

Erfassung des Zugewinns des Interesses an der Augenheilkunde mittels Evaluation eines Nahtkurs-Wetlabs inklusive Nähen unter dem Mikroskop.

Material und Methoden

Die Daten wurden im Blockpraktikum Augenheilkunde des 6. Semesters an der Universitätsmedizin Mainz im April 2019 erhoben. In einem Fragebogen wurden verschiedene Aussagen auf Ordinalskalen gemeinsam mit dem Zentrum für Qualitätssicherung und -entwicklung der Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz bewertet und ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse

Es wurden 64 Evaluationsbögen von 8 Gruppen unterschiedlicher Dozenten zu je 8 Teilnehmern ausgewertet. Das Wetlab wurde im Mittel mit einer Schulnote von 1,24 ± 0,5 (MW±SD) bewertet. Es bestand Zustimmung (1 = stimme völlig zu, 7 = stimme gar nicht zu) zum Wunsch nach weiteren Wetlabs unter dem Mikroskop (1,86 ± 1,28) sowie nach dem Erlernen von mehr augenchirurgischen Techniken (2,02 ± 1,13). Das Interesse an der Augenheilkunde (1 = sehr groß, 7 = sehr gering) nahm von 3,66 ± 1,55 zu Beginn des Kurses auf 2,52 ± 1,00 zu.

Diskussion

Das Interesse an der Augenheilkunde lässt sich mittels eines mikrochirurgischen Wetlabs steigern. Bei Studierenden kann so das Interesse an der Augenheilkunde geweckt werden, was sich vorteilhaft auf Bewerbersituation und Forschungsarbeiten auswirken kann. So können sich bereits im Studium Erfahrungen und praktische Techniken der Augenheilkunde angeeignet werden.
Nekrotisierende Skleritis nach Akanthamöbenkeratitis
Authors: Lang Stefan J. , Böhringer Daniel , Reinhard Thomas
Published: March 2020

Die noduläre Skleritis und die nekrotisierende Skleritis sind seltene Komplikationen der Akanthamöbenkeratitis. Wir präsentieren den Fall einer 61-jährigen Patientin, die seit mehr als 4 Monaten an einer persistierenden Keratitis am rechten Auge litt. Es wurde eine perforierende Limbokeratoplastik durchgeführt. Die Untersuchung des Hornhautexplantates zeigte Akanthamöbenzysten. In den folgenden 5 Monaten zeigte die Sklera rezidivierende Abszedierungen. Wir führten insgesamt 2 Thermokauterisationen und 3 Amnionmembrantransplantationen durch. Nach unserem Wissen ist dies der erste Fall einer Sklerokeratitis nach einer Akanthamöbenkeratitis, welcher mit einer Kombination aus Thermokauterisation und Amnionmembrantransplantation behandelt wurde. Weitere Studien sind notwendig, um dieses Verfahren als Alternative zur etablierten Kryotherapie zu untersuchen.
Secondary prevention of UV-induced skin cancer: development and pilot testing of an educational patient counseling approach for individual sun protection as standard procedure of patient care
Authors: Ludewig Michaela , Rocholl Marc , John Swen Malte , Wilke Annika
Published: March 2020

Objective

To outline the development and pilot testing of a patient counseling approach for individual sun protection for patients in outdoor professions diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma or multiple actinic keratosis due to solar UV radiation. This is a secondary prevention measure as part of the standard procedure of patient care by the respective statutory accident insurance.

Methods

Results of guideline-based qualitative interviews with seven outdoor workers and a search of literature formed the basis for the counseling approach, which was compiled in a manual. Interdisciplinary experts (dermatologists and educators) reviewed and consented the final manual. The pilot testing was conducted in consecutive steps (N1 = 36 patients and N1 = 2 counselors; N4 = 12 patients and N4 = 6 counselors). The first two stages of the revised guideline ‘Criteria for Reporting the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions in healthcare (CReDECI 2)’ serve as background and structure for presenting the results.

Results

The ‘counseling approach for individual sun protection (ILB: Individuelle Lichtschutz-Beratung)’ consists of seven general and eight add-on modules. These can be combined and tailored according to the patient’s individual needs. Interactive, educational components (e.g. haptic experiments) are crucial elements of the counseling approach.

Conclusions

The special requirements of outdoor workers are hardly taken into consideration in Germany, even though the interest for an improved sun protection behavior of some occupational groups is high. The advantage of the presented approach is that the heterogeneous needs of patients can be specifically addressed with its various modules.
Quantitative absolute continuity of planar measures with two independent Alberti representations
Authors: Bate David , Orponen Tuomas
Published: March 2020

We study measures $$\mu $$μ on the plane with two independent Alberti representations. It is known, due to Alberti, Csörnyei, and Preiss, that such measures are absolutely continuous with respect to Lebesgue measure. The purpose of this paper is to quantify the result of A–C–P. Assuming that the representations of $$\mu $$μ are bounded from above, in a natural way to be defined in the introduction, we prove that $$\mu \in L^{2}$$μ∈L2. If the representations are also bounded from below, we show that $$\mu $$μ satisfies a reverse Hölder inequality with exponent 2, and is consequently in $$L^{2 + \epsilon }$$L2+ϵ by Gehring’s lemma. A substantial part of the paper is also devoted to showing that both results stated above are optimal.
Composition of amino acids and related nitrogenous nutrients in feedstuffs for animal diets
Authors: Li Peng , Wu Guoyao
Published: March 2020

We analyzed the composition of amino acids (AAs) in oligopeptides, proteins, and the free pool, as well as creatine, agmatine, polyamines, carnosine, anserine, and glutathione, in animal- and plant-derived feedstuffs. Ingredients of animal origins were black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFM), chicken by-product meal, chicken visceral digest, feather meal, Menhaden fishmeal, Peruvian anchovy fishmeal, Southeast Asian fishmeal, spray-dried peptone from enzymes-treated porcine mucosal tissues, poultry by-product meal (pet-food grade), spray-dried poultry plasma, and spray-dried egg product. Ingredients of plant origins were algae spirulina meal, soybean meal, and soy protein concentrate. All animal-derived feedstuffs contained large amounts of all proteinogenic AAs (particularly glycine, proline, glutamate, leucine, lysine, and arginine) and key nonproteinogenic AAs (taurine and 4-hydroxyproline), as well as significant amounts of agmatine, polyamines, creatine, creatinine, creatine phosphate, and glutathione. These nitrogenous substances are essential to either DNA and protein syntheses in cells or energy metabolism in tissues (particularly the brain and skeletal muscle). Of note, chicken by-product meal, poultry by-product meal, and spray-dried poultry plasma contained large amounts of carnosine and anserine (potent antioxidants). Compared with most of the animal-derived feedstuffs, plant-derived feedstuffs contained much lower contents of glycine and proline, little 4-hydroxyproline, and no creatine, creatinine, creatine phosphate, carnosine or anserine. These results indicate the unique importance of animal-source feedstuffs in improving the feed efficiency, growth and health of animals (including fish and companion animals). Because soy protein concentrate is consumed by infants, children and adults, as are BSFM and algae for children and adults, our findings also have important implications for human nutrition.
Untersuchung und Optimierung des Einflusses von niedrig auflösenden Rotorlagegebern auf die Fahrbarkeitsfunktionen elektrifizierter Fahrzeugantriebssysteme mittels eines Hardware-in-the-Loop-Prüfstands
Authors: Koch Andreas , Schulz Ludwig , Jakstas Gabrielius , Falkenstein Jens
Published: March 2020

Elektrofahrzeuge unterscheiden sich bezüglich ihres Antriebsstrangs deutlich von Kraftfahrzeugen mit verbrennungsmotorischem Antrieb. Typischerweise ist keine Trennkupplung verbaut und mit einer geringen Anzahl von Gangstufen reduzieren sich die Reibung und die Dämpfung. Ein Hauptproblem hierbei ist die Schwingungsentwicklung durch innere (Drehmomentänderungen der Elektromaschine, Bremseingriffe) und äußere Anregung (Fahrbahnunebenheiten, Schlaglöcher usw.). Um entstehende Schwingungen im Antriebsstrang und somit die Bauteilbelastungen zu verringern, sind schwingungsdämpfende Maßnahmen erforderlich. Hierbei gilt es, eine Erhöhung des Fahrkomforts ohne zu große Einbußen in der Fahrzeugdynamik zu erreichen.

Dieser Artikel beschreibt Untersuchungen des dynamischen Verhaltens eines elektrischen Fahrzeugantriebsstrangs auf einem Hardware-in-the-Loop-Prüfstand. Es werden innere Anregungen durch Drehmomentänderungen der Elektromaschine beim Anfahren betrachtet. Dabei werden die Einflüsse unterschiedlicher Auflösungen des Rotorlagegebers der Elektromaschine auf die aktive Schwingungsdämpfung untersucht. Mit dem Einführen eines Beobachters für die Rotorwinkelgeschwindigkeit der Elektromaschine wird abschließend eine Optimierung des Schwingungsverhaltens des Antriebsstrangs im Falle niedrig auflösender Rotorlagegeber vorgenommen.
Wireless HROV Control with Compressed Visual Feedback Using Acoustic and RF Links
Authors: Centelles Diego , Soriano Antonio , Marin Raul , Sanz Pedro J.
Published: March 2020

Underwater cooperative robotics offers the possibility to perform challenging intervention applications, such as recovering archeological objects as within the context of the MERBOTS research project, or grasping, transporting and assembly of big objects, using more than one mobile manipulator, as faced by the TWINBOT project. In order to enhance safety during the intervention, it is reasonable to avoid the umbilical, also giving more mobility to the robots, and enabling a broader set of cooperative movements. Several solutions, based on acoustic, radiofrequency (RF) or Visual Light Communication (VLC) have been proposed for underwater communications in the literature. This paper presents the architecture of an underwater wireless communication framework for the control of multiple semi-autonomous robots in cooperative interventions. The proposed framework is composed of several modules as the virtual reality interface using UWSim, the Underwater Multi-robot Cooperative Intervention Remote Control Protocol (UMCI-RCP) and a Generic Link Layer (GLL). UMCI-RCP allows the control of an underwater robot over limited communication links. UMCI-RCP integrates a progressive compression algorithm that provides visual feedback at a constant rate and ensures image reception even in channels with loses. The Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) medium access strategy minimizes the jitter of transmitted packets. The GLL has been designed in order to provide support for multimodal transmission (i.e. acoustic, RF and VLC) and also to interface with the UWSim-NET simulator so that facilitates the experimentation either with a real or with a simulated modem. The possibility of exchange real and simulated devices in the proposed framework are demonstrated by means of a teleoperation experiment with a BlueROV equipped with the S100 RF modems. Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) capabilities are demonstrated repeating the experiment with the real modems and modeling the BlueROV, and also modeling both the modems and the BlueROV.
Temporalizing ontology: a case for pragmatic emergence
Authors: van Dijk Ludger
Published: March 2020

Despite an attempt to break with the hierarchical picture in traditional emergentist thought, non-standard accounts of emergence are often still committed to a premise that ontology is prior to epistemology. This paper aims to topple this last remnant of the traditional hierarchy by explicating a pragmatic view of emergence based on John Dewey’s work. Dewey argued that the traditional notion of ontology is premised on a view of existence as complete. Through a discussion of Dewey’s work it is argued that this premise results in a process of reification that unduly excludes from ontology many precarious and indeterminate aspects involved both in everyday life and in philosophic and scientific inquiry. Building on a recent explication of transformational emergence the paper proposes a diachronic and non-hierarchical account of emergence, called pragmatic emergence. According to that account the relation between ontology and epistemology is a temporally reciprocal one. This means that ontological and epistemological features co-determine each other over time. Determinacy and continuity become historical features of a multitude of unfinished processes that we view from within.
Connecting Twenty-First Century Connectionism and Wittgenstein
Authors: Lowney Charles W. , Levy Simon D. , Meroney William , Gayler Ross W.
Published: March 2020

By pointing to deep philosophical confusions endemic to cognitive science, Wittgenstein might seem an enemy of computational approaches. We agree (with Mills 1993) that while Wittgenstein would reject the classicist’s symbols and rules approach, his observations align well with connectionist or neural network approaches. While many connectionisms that dominated the later twentieth century could fall prey to criticisms of biological, pedagogical, and linguistic implausibility, current connectionist approaches can resolve those problems in a Wittgenstein-friendly manner. We (a) present the basics of a Vector Symbolic Architecture formalism, inspired by Smolensky (1990), and indicate how high-dimensional vectors can operate in a context-sensitive and object-independent manner in biologically plausible time scales, reflecting Wittgenstein’s notions of language-games and family resemblance; we (b) show how “soft” symbols for such a formalism can be formed with plausible learning cycles using Sparse Distributed Memory, resolving disputes surrounding Wittgenstein’s private language argument; and (c) show how connectionist networks can extrapolate meaningful patterns to solve problems, providing “ways to go on” without explicit rules, which indicates linguistic plausibility. Connectionism thus provides a systematicity and productivity that is more than a mere implementation of a classical approach, and provides Wittgenstein-friendly and Wittgenstein-illuminating models of mind and language for cognitive science.
The genus Ravenelia (Pucciniales) in South Africa
Authors: Ebinghaus Malte , Wingfield M. J. , Begerow D. , Maier W.
Published: March 2020

The genus Ravenelia represents the third largest genus of rust fungi and parasitizes a great number of leguminous shrubs and trees, mainly in the subtropics and tropics. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of this genus using nc 28S rDNA and CO3 sequences are presented with a special focus on South African representatives of Ravenelia. Many of the specimens had been collected by us in recent years, mainly from acacia species of the genera Vachellia and Senegalia. Morphological characters were extensively studied using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The analyses resolved several well-supported phylogenetic groups. By linking these groups to their morphology and life cycle characteristics, it was possible to interpret the outcomes in terms of their evolutionary ecology and biogeography. Several characters previously used to define subgeneric groups within Ravenelia were found to be misleading because of assumed convergent evolution. However, host associations, the ability to induce aecial galls as well as the development of two-layered probasidial cells emerged as useful criteria for inferring monophyletic groups. Six novel Ravenelia species were discovered and described. Furthermore, five species represent new reports for South Africa, species descriptions were emended for two taxa, and a new host report emerged for R. inornata.
Two new species in a new genus and a critical revision of Brachybasidiaceae (Exobasidiales, Basidiomycota) in honor of Franz Oberwinkler
Authors: Piepenbring M. , Hartmann M. , Hofmann T. A. , Lutz M.
Published: March 2020

The Brachybasidiaceae are a family of 22 known species of plant-parasitic microfungi belonging to Exobasidiales, Basidiomycota. Within this family, species of the largest genus Kordyana develop balls of basidia on top of stomatal openings. Basidial cells originate from fungal stroma filling substomatal chambers. Species of Kordyana typically infect species of Commelinaceae. During fieldwork in the neotropics, fungi morphologically similar to Kordyana spp. were found on Goeppertia spp. (syn. Calathea spp., Marantaceae), namely on G. panamensis in Panama and on G. propinqua in Bolivia. These specimens are proposed as representatives of a genus new to science, Marantokordyana, based on the distinct host family and molecular sequence data of ITS and LSU rDNA regions. The specimens on the two host species represent two species new to science, M. oberwinkleriana on G. panamensis and M. boliviana on G. propinqua. They differ by the size and shape of their basidia, molecular sequence data of ITS and LSU rDNA regions, and host plant species. In the past, the understanding of Brachybasidiaceae at order and family level was significantly improved by investigation realized by Franz Oberwinkler and his collaborators at the University of Tübingen, Germany. On species level, however, our knowledge is still very poor due to incomplete species descriptions of several existing names in literature, scarceness of specimens, as well as sequence data lacking for many taxa and for further barcode regions. Especially species of Kordyana and species of Dicellomyces are in need of revision.
David Martin’s Forbidden Revolutions
Authors: Davie Grace
Published: March 2020

This article finds its focus in David Martin’sForbidden Revolutions: Pentecostalism in Latin America and Catholicism in Eastern Europe, a short but prescient book published in 1996. In it, David explores the failure of sociology to appreciate forms of religion that transgress Western expectations. Not only does he reveal their importance for the sociological agenda, but underlines their significance both in the lives of countless individuals in Latin America and in the transformations of Eastern Europe in 1989. The final section of the article places the book in a longer trajectory of Martin’s publications.
Can an Integrated Constructed Wetland in Norfolk Reduce Nutrient Concentrations and Promote In Situ Bird Species Richness?
Authors: van Biervliet Olly , McInnes Robert J. , Lewis-Phillips Jonathan , Tosney Jonah
Published: March 2020

Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICWs) are potentially effective tools in the effort to restore aquatic ecosystems, and also they incorporate multiple co-benefits. An ICW was constructed in Norfolk, UK, to address the degradation of a stream and lake receiving treated effluent from a small Sewage Treatment Works (STW). Results demonstrated that: (1) nutrient concentrations significantly reduced from the ICW influent to the effluent (percentage reductions: total phosphorus [TP]: 78%, orthophosphate: 80%, total oxidised nitrogen [TON]: 65%, nitrate: 65%, nitrite: 67%, ammoniacal nitrogen: 62%), and mean dissolved oxygen concentrations increased (influent mean: 6.4 ± 1.4 mg l−1effluent mean: 17.8 ± 3.3 mg l−1), (2) there were non-significant reductions in nutrient concentrations in the receiving stream (percentage reductions: TP: 23%, orthophosphate: 23%, TON: 26%, nitrate: 26%), with the exception of ammoniacal nitrogen (127% increase) and nitrite (76%) after ICW commissioning, and (3) mean in situ avian species richness increased from 10 to 27 species. Thus, the ICW substantially reduced nutrient concentrations, and had in situ conservation benefits. It is recommended that appropriately designed ICWs should be implemented widely and statutory authorities should ensure: 1) best-practice maintenance and 2) final effluent monitoring at both the STW and at the ICW outflows.
Old problems for neo-positivist naturalized metaphysics
Authors: Jaksland Rasmus
Published: March 2020

In her paper “Neo-positivist metaphysics” (Philosophical Studies, 160(1), 53–78, 2012), Alyssa Ney promises a naturalized metaphysics that is acceptable even by positivists’ – and specifically Carnap’s – standards. This neo-positivist metaphysics takes its outset in the findings of our best science and relies on them to inform a metaphysics that can avoid the dependence on linguistic frameworks that is inherent to Carnapian deflationism. Neo-positivist metaphysics attempts to sidestep these problems by inheriting its semantic credentials directly from science itself. This paper argues that such attempts are unsuccessful since science contains no resources with which to answer Carnap’s challenge either, and a science-based metaphysics is therefore just as vulnerable to Carnapian deflationism as traditional metaphysics. Consequently, neo-positivist metaphysics does not provide the promised metaphysics that can avoid Carnapian deflationism. While this conclusion focuses on Ney’s neo-positivist metaphysics, its scope includes any attempt to avoid Carnapian deflationism by a naturalized metaphysics that relies on strict deference to the findings of science. Substantial metaphysics – naturalized or not – is impossible unless or until Carnapian deflationism is refuted, and the resources for such a refutation cannot be found in naturalized metaphysics.
Gas Sensors Based on Chemi-Resistive Hybrid Functional Nanomaterials
Authors: Jian Yingying , Hu Wenwen , Zhao Zhenhuan , Cheng Pengfei , Haick Hossam , Yao Mingshui , Wu Weiwei
Published: March 2020

Chemi-resistive sensors based on hybrid functional materials are promising candidates for gas sensing with high responsivity, good selectivity, fast response/recovery, great stability/repeatability, room-working temperature, low cost, and easy-to-fabricate, for versatile applications. This progress report reviews the advantages and advances of these sensing structures compared with the single constituent, according to five main sensing forms: manipulating/constructing heterojunctions, catalytic reaction, charge transfer, charge carrier transport, molecular binding/sieving, and their combinations. Promises and challenges of the advances of each form are presented and discussed. Critical thinking and ideas regarding the orientation of the development of hybrid material-based gas sensor in the future are discussed.
Acid-treated Clay Minerals as Catalysts for Dehydration of Methanol and Ethanol
Authors: Marosz Monika , Kowalczyk Andrzej , Gil Barbara , Chmielarz Lucjan
Published: March 2020

The purification of clay minerals prior to their use as catalysts can escalate processing costs so methods are needed whereby less purification is necessary. One such potential method is acid treatment of the unpurified clay minerals. The main objectives of the present study were to develop the optimal acid-treatment conditions and to determine how the acidic properties of the modified clay samples influenced their catalytic capability toward the dehydration of ethanol and methanol. Clay mineral samples – allophane, palygorskite, and sepiolite, without purification – were acid treated (0.8 M HNO3; 95°C; 2, 8, or 24 h) and after calcination (500°C; 6 h) tested as catalysts for the conversion of methanol to dimethyl ether and of ethanol to diethyl ether and ethene. The changes in chemical and structural compositions as well as surface acidity of the mineral samples were analyzed and correlated with their catalytic performance. Among the samples studied, allophane was the most catalytically active in the dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether. Acid treatment of this mineral sample decreased methanol conversion slightly. An opposite effect was found for ethanol dehydration to diethyl ether, where acid treatment increased catalytic activity of allophane. The differences in catalytic performance of the mineral samples were discussed with respect to the nature and concentration of acid sites.