bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modulations of Digestive and Metabolic Enzymes Profiles during Restriction Feeding in Rohu Labeo rohita Fingerlings
Authors: Dar Showkat Ahamd , Srivastava Prem Prakash , Nazir Mir Ishfaq , Jahan Iffat , Varghese Tincy , Hajam Irshad Ahmad , Gupta Subodh
Published: August 2020

A 60-d experimental trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of alternative feeding, restriction feeding, and refeeding on digestive enzymes, metabolic enzymes, and metabolites in Rohu Labeo rohita fingerlings. Fish weighing around 13 ± 2 g were randomly distributed into four treatment groups and a control group. The control group was fed with 3% body mass twice a day throughout the experiment. The four treatment groups consisted of T1 (alternate day feeding), T2 (0.5% feeding), T3 (1% feeding), and T4 (2% feeding). The fish were fed for the first 30 d according to the feeding schedule, and from day 31 onwards all of the treatment groups were fed the same rations as were the control fish up to 60 d. The samples were collected on days 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 of the experimental trial. The activity of digestive enzymes decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in T1, T2, and T3 with respect to the control, and the lowest activities were found on day 30 of the experiment. The glucose-6-phospahate dehydrogenase activity decreased with the level of restriction feeding, with the lowest activity occurring at day 30 in the T2 group, and it improved with refeeding. The serum glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol concentrations decreased, with the lowest levels occurring in the T2 group at day 30. The current study revealed that restriction feeding and refeeding affected the digestion and metabolism of Rohu fingerlings within a short period of 30 d, and refeeding restored the optimum activity levels within the same 30-d period thereafter.
Factors associated with posttraumatic growth in patients with severe burns by treatment phase
Authors: Hwang Sun‐mi , Lim Eun Ju
Published: August 2020

Aim

This study aimed to identify differences in the level of depressive symptoms, social support and posttraumatic growth among patients with severe burns by treatment phase and the factors associated with posttraumatic growth in the acute and rehabilitation phases.

Design

A cross‐sectional descriptive design.

Methods

The factors associated with posttraumatic growth in 179 patients with severe burns were assessed using regression analysis.

Results

Compared with those in the acute phase (mild depression), those in the rehabilitation phase showed moderate depression and lower positive self‐perception, resulting in a significant difference in the means. Social support was significantly correlated with posttraumatic growth and explained 14.9% of its variance in the acute phase. Depressive symptoms and social support were significantly associated with posttraumatic growth and explained 28.2% of its variance in the rehabilitation phase. Therefore, the need for counselling support and intervention for patients with severe burns is evident.
Optimal weighted fusion Kalman estimator for the incremental system with correlated noises
Authors: Yan Guangming , Wang Mandi , Zhang Bo , Sun Xiaojun
Published: August 2020

When the observation equation of system has not been verified or corrected under certain environmental conditions, applying it will yield to unknown system error and filtering error. The unknown system error can be effectively eliminated by introducing the incremental equation. In this article, the local Kalman estimator for the incremental system with correlated noises is first presented. It solves the state estimation problem for the system with unknown measurement error, which does not meet the requirements of classical Kalman filter. Furthermore, under the linear minimum variance optimal fusion criterion, the optimal weighted measurement fusion Kalman estimator is proposed for the multi‐sensor incremental system with correlated noises. It effectively solves the state estimation problem for the multi‐sensor system under poor observation condition. The proposed algorithms are simple in form and small in computational burden so as to be easily applied in engineering practice. A simulation example shows their effectiveness and feasibility.
A pilot study of the preliminary efficacy of Pain Buddy: A novel intervention for the management of children's cancer‐related pain
Authors: Hunter John F. , Acevedo Amanda M. , Gago‐Masague Sergio , Kain Alexandra , Yun Christine , Torno Lilibeth , Jenkins Brooke N. , Fortier Michelle A.
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Cancer‐related pain in children is prevalent and undermanaged. Mobile health (mHealth) applications provide a promising avenue to address the gap in pain management in children with cancer. Pain Buddy is a multicomponent mHealth application developed to manage cancer‐related pain in children. The goal of this paper is to present preliminary efficacy data of the impact of Pain Buddy on children's pain severity and frequency.

Methods

In a randomized controlled trial over 60 days, children (N = 48) reported daily pain on a tablet while receiving usual care. Those in the intervention group (N = 20) received remote symptom monitoring and skills training for pain management. Children in the attention control group (N = 28) only reported on their pain.

Results

Both groups experienced significant reductions in average daily pain over the study period (B = −0.10, z = −3.40, P = 0.001), with no group differences evident (z = −0.83, P = 0.40). However, the intervention group reported significantly fewer instances of moderate to severe pain compared with the control group, t(4125) = 2.67, P = 0.007. In addition, the intervention group reported no instances of moderate to severe pain toward the end of the study period.

Conclusion

Pain Buddy is an innovative and interactive mHealth application that aims to improve pain and symptom management among children with cancer. The findings from this pilot study suggest that Pain Buddy may aid in the reduction of pain severity in children during cancer treatment.
Laser Forensics: The Invisible – Revealed and Measured
Authors: Kern Sven
Published: August 2020

According to the developers at Scanovis – a start‐up company based in Koblenz – brushes, powder and chemicals will soon be tools of the past for securing evidence at crime scenes. The company has developed a laser‐based solution that, among other things, uses IR laser radiation to detect fingerprints at the scene of a crime, quickly making them visible in a 3D scan and recording them digitally. Decisive factors for this technological breakthrough are the precision of the results delivered by the laser scanner and the easy handling of the system. But how to adjust the optics of a system using a low power laser in the mid‐infrared spectrum (MIR)? Working together with Ophir's measurement experts, the company was able to combine different measurement methods to this end.
The synthesis and activity evaluation of N‐acylated analogs of echinocandin B with improved solubility and lower toxicity
Authors: Zhu Bing , Dong Yuanzhen , Ma Jie , Chen Minwei , Ruan Sida , Zhao Wenjie , Feng Jun
Published: August 2020

Presently, echinocandins have been recommended as the first‐line drugs for the treatment of invasive candidiasis. However, low oral bioavailability and solubility limit their application. To improve this situation, this study chose amino acid and fatty acid as raw materials to modify the nucleus of echinocandin B. Six N‐acylated analogs were screened from the derivatives that possessed potent antifungal activity and good water solubility. Based on antifungal susceptibility and hemolytic toxicity, compound 5 as the candidate had good antifungal activity and no hemolytic effect. Moreover, compared with anidulafungin, compound 5 showed a comparable fungicidal effect, much higher solubility, and lower toxicity. In conclusion, compound 5 has the potential for further research and development on account of reserved antifungal activity, high solubility, and low toxicity.
Designing historical control studies with survival endpoints using exact statistical inference
Authors: Han Gang
Published: August 2020

Historical control trials compare an experimental treatment with a previously conducted control treatment. By assigning all recruited samples to the experimental arm, historical control trials can better identify promising treatments in early phase trials compared with randomized control trials. Existing designs of historical control trials with survival endpoints are based on asymptotic normal distribution. However, it remains unclear whether the asymptotic distribution of the test statistic is close enough to the true distribution given relatively small sample sizes in early phase trials. In this article, we address this question by introducing an exact design approach for exponentially distributed survival endpoints, and compare it with an asymptotic design in both real examples and simulation examples. Simulation results show that the asymptotic test could lead to bias in the sample size estimation. We conclude the proposed exact design should be used in the design of historical control trials.
Consensus building in linguistic failure mode and effect analysis: A perspective based on prospect theory
Authors: Fan Chuanhao , Zhu Yan , Li Wei , Zhang Hengjie
Published: August 2020

As one of many scientific and efficient risk assessment approaches, failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) has been widely applied across various fields. There are two core issues in the FMEA approach: identifying the latent failure modes of the systems, products, processes and services and the risk assessment and the prioritization of those failure modes. Then, corrective measures must be taken in a timely and accessible manner to prevent the occurrence of failure modes with higher risk levels. In practice, several FMEA members from different fields are usually involved in the FMEA implementation process; the risk assessment information given by them may vary greatly. Therefore, it is necessary to integrate a consensus‐building process into FMEA. Meanwhile, the psychological behaviours of FMEA members have had a great impact on the final prioritization of failure modes. Prospect theory is an effective approach for describing individual psychological behaviours. Therefore, this paper presents a novel linguistic FMEA approach to address the consensus issue from the perspective of prospect theory. In the proposed linguistic FMEA approach, a consensus measurement approach based on prospect theory is constructed. Then, a novel feedback adjustment mechanism is designed in which FMEA members can adjust not only their assessment information but also their reference points to achieve an acceptable consensus degree. Eventually, a practical application is used to show the validity and applicability of the proposed linguistic FMEA approach.
Software process selection system based on multicriteria decision making
Authors: Pandey Prateek , Litoriya Ratnesh
Published: August 2020

Whatever be the nature of underlying software, the impact of the software development process that was used to create it would remain vital. The objective of this paper is to provide a process selection framework for the software development firm's engineers and managers, looking to identify the proper way to build software to run on a mobile, web, or desktop. The motivation behind this work comes from the fact that the applications that fall in one of the above three categories can be significantly different in terms of scale, UI, and memory requirements, time to market, and other characteristics. Software development that needs to be completed in a challenging timeframe has to resort to principles and values as declared in Agile Manifesto. The availability of various agile methodologies has made the project managers often stuck when selecting the most suitable one. The proposed agile process identification system addresses this dilemma of engineering fraternity using a fuzzy variant of a popular multiple‐criteria decision‐making (MCDM) technique called the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The proposed system is validated through a primary dataset generated as a result of the development of 20 software projects. The results are encouraging enough with a probability of true identification close to 88%.
Accelerated differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into neural lineages via an early intermediate ectoderm population
Authors: Walsh Patrick , Truong Vincent , Nayak Sushmita , Saldías Montivero Marietta , Low Walter C. , Parr Ann M. , Dutton James R.
Published: August 2020

Differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into ectoderm provides neurons and glia useful for research, disease modeling, drug discovery, and potential cell therapies. In current protocols, hPSCs are traditionally differentiated into an obligate rostro-dorsal ectodermal fate expressing PAX6 after 6 to 12 days in vitro when protected from mesendoderm inducers. This rate-limiting step has performed a long-standing role in hindering the development of rapid differentiation protocols for ectoderm-derived cell types, as any protocol requires 6 to 10 days in vitro to simply initiate. Here, we report efficient differentiation of hPSCs into a naive early ectodermal intermediate within 24 hours using combined inhibition of bone morphogenic protein and fibroblast growth factor signaling. The induced population responds immediately to morphogen gradients to upregulate rostro-caudal neurodevelopmental landmark gene expression in a generally accelerated fashion. This method can serve as a new platform for the development of novel, rapid, and efficient protocols for the manufacture of hPSC-derived neural lineages.
Different Faults Diagnosis and Classification on‐Line in Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines Using Improved Exponential Discriminant Analysis
Authors: Xiao Li , Gao Feng , Hou Shuping , Niu Feng , Yu Lu , Zhang Huifang
Published: August 2020

Reliability is an important performance for permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) exploited to industrial applications and electric‐energy vehicles. Both air‐eccentricity and inter‐turn short circuit (ITSC) could induce the machine running in unbalanced status. Once not restored timely, the fault will lead to the whole drive system and its application damage. To enhance the reliability for PMSM, an effective fault diagnosis and classification method is necessary in advance. For this purpose, an improved exponential discriminant analysis (IEDA) algorithm is proposed and optimized. Further, the distortion characteristics of phase current signals with air‐eccentricity and ITSC are extracted and trained by the IEDA, which are applied for diagnosing whether the motor healthy or faulty and distinguishing fault types. Besides, the IEDA can not only identify fault type accurately but also estimate the fault degree precisely. Finally, compared to other common learning methods, several simulations and practical tests accompanying with diverse operating status are implemented, and their results can prove the proposed method has more accuracy and robustness than other methods. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Will “social distancing” lead to future “research distancing”: A reflection on COVID‐19 impacts on Alzheimer's disease research
Authors: Bardach Shoshana H. , Gibson Allison K. , Rhodus Elizabeth K. , Jicha Gregory A.
Published: August 2020

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID‐19) has dramatically altered everyday life, including the field of Alzheimer's disease (AD) research. This perspective article explores some of the ways in which COVID‐19 has already impacted the field, anticipates some of the long‐lasting effects, and explores strategies for addressing current and future needs. Areas of impact include study integrity, regulatory and industry issues, and participant engagement. Proposed strategies for addressing these challenges include analytic methods to deal with large degrees of missing data and development of patient‐centered, user‐friendly, remote data collection tools and assessments. We also highlight the importance of maintaining participant well‐being as a first and constant priority.
Two dimensional ferroelectrics: Candidate for controllable physical and chemical applications
Authors: Shang Jing , Tang Xiao , Kou Liangzhi
Published: August 2020

The recent emerged two‐dimensional (2D) ferroelectrics have attracted tremendous research interests due to their promising application in nonvolatile electronics devices. The reversible electric polarization of ferroelectrics from the off‐centered positive and negative surfaces can effectively lift the band states near Fermi level and modulate the charge distribution, which therefore play important roles for the controllable electronic/magnetic properties and chemical reactions. Here, based on the latest revealed 2D ferroelectrics, we reviewed the research progress of ferroelectric controlled physical properties and chemical reactions, including the effects of reversible polarization on magnetic and electronic behaviors, polarization dependent photocatalytic water splitting and gas adsorptions. The associated applications in electronics, sensors and energy conversion are also discussed. At last, the possible research directions of 2D ferroelectrics have also been proposed. The review is expected to inspire the research interests of 2D ferroelectrics in the practical applications.

This article is categorized under:

Structure and Mechanism > Computational Materials Science

Electronic Structure Theory > Density Functional Theory
Improving signal‐to‐noise ratio for the forensic analysis of glass using micro X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry
Authors: Corzo Ruthmara , Steel Eric
Published: August 2020

Micro X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry (μXRF) is a standard technique used for the elemental analysis of glass fragments in forensic casework. The glass specimens encountered in casework are usually small (<1 mm), thin fragments that are partially transparent to the exciting X‐ray beam. In addition to providing fluorescence from the small glass fragments, the primary beam X‐rays can scatter within the chamber and provide noise in the measurements. To reduce scatter from the sample stage, the fragments are typically mounted on a thin plastic film and raised on an XRF sample cup (≤3 cm in height). However, at these heights, there may still be significant scatter from the sample stage, which adversely affects the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and the limit of detection (LOD). A plastic mount was designed and 3D‐printed in‐house to allow fragments to be raised as high as possible from the sample stage, thereby minimizing stage scatter. Most elements detected in glass showed an improvement in the SNR when using the 3D‐printed mount for analyses. The greatest improvement (>30%) was observed for lower atomic number elements (Na and Mg) and higher atomic number elements (Sr and Zr). Another simple method to improve SNR is the use of primary beam filters; when using primary beam filters during analyses, elements with characteristic lines in the high‐energy range (Rb, Sr, and Zr) showed the greatest improvement (>70%) in SNR. The impact of both strategies for the improvement of SNR is presented here.
Fetal programming effects of pentaerythritol tetranitrate in a rat model of superimposed preeclampsia
Authors: Man Andy W. C. , Chen Min , Zhou Yawen , Wu Zhixiong , Reifenberg Gisela , Daiber Andreas , Münzel Thomas , Xia Ning , Li Huige
Published: August 2020

Preeclampsia is a common medical condition during pregnancy and a major cause of maternal and prenatal mortality. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of maternal treatment with pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) in Dahl salt-sensitive rats (DSSR), a model of superimposed preeclampsia. F0 parental DSSR were treated with PETN (50 mg/kg) from the time point of mating to the end of lactation. Maternal PETN treatment improved fetal growth and had no effect on blood pressure in DSSR offspring fed with normal chow or high-salt diet. Upon high-fat diet (HFD) feeding, offspring from PETN-treated mother showed improved glucose tolerance despite similar weight gain. Unexpectedly, maternal PETN treatment significantly potentiated the HFD-induced blood pressure elevation in male DSSR offspring. Endothelium-derived hyperpolarization factor (EDHF)-mediated vasodilation was similar between NCD-fed and HFD-fed control offspring but was markedly reduced in HFD-fed PETN offspring. EDHF genes were downregulated in the vasculature of HFD-fed PETN offspring, which was associated with epigenetic changes in histone modifications. In conclusion, maternal PETN treatment in DSSR shows both beneficial and unfavorable effects. It improves fetal growth and ameliorates glucose tolerance in the offspring. Although maternal PETN treatment has no effect on blood pressure in offspring fed with normal chow or high-salt diet, the offspring is at higher risk to develop HFD-induced hypertension. PETN may potentiate the blood pressure response to HFD by epigenetic modifications of EDHF genes.

Key messages

The core findings of this article suggest that maternal PETN treatment of DSSR, a rat model of a spontaneous superimposed preeclampsia, leads to

• Improvement of fetal growth;

• No changes of maternal blood pressure or markers of preeclampsia;

• Amelioration of HFD-induced glucose intolerance in adult offspring;

• No changes in blood pressure development of the offspring on normal chow or high salt-diet;

• Potentiation of blood pressure elevation of the offspring on HFD.
Metoprolol blunts the time-dependent progression of infarct size
Authors: Lobo-Gonzalez Manuel , Galán-Arriola Carlos , Rossello Xavier , González‐Del‐Hoyo Maribel , Vilchez Jean Paul , Higuero-Verdejo María I. , García-Ruiz Jose M. , López-Martín Gonzalo J. , Sánchez-González Javier , Oliver Eduardo , Pizarro Gonzalo , Fuster Valentin , Ibanez Borja
Published: August 2020

Early metoprolol administration protects against myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury, but its effect on infarct size progression (ischemic injury) is unknown. Eight groups of pigs (total n = 122) underwent coronary artery occlusion of varying duration (20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, or 60 min) followed by reperfusion. In each group, pigs were randomized to i.v. metoprolol (0.75 mg/kg) or vehicle (saline) 20 min after ischemia onset. The primary outcome measure was infarct size (IS) on day7 cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) normalized to area at risk (AAR, measured by perfusion computed tomography [CT] during ischemia). Metoprolol treatment reduced overall mortality (10% vs 26%, p = 0.03) and the incidence and number of primary ventricular fibrillations during infarct induction. In controls, IS after 20-min ischemia was ≈ 5% of the area AAR. Thereafter, IS progressed exponentially, occupying almost all the AAR after 35 min of ischemia. Metoprolol injection significantly reduced the slope of IS progression (p = 0.004 for final IS). Head-to-head comparison (metoprolol treated vs vehicle treated) showed statistically significant reductions in IS at 30, 35, 40, and 50-min reperfusion. At 60-min reperfusion, IS was 100% of AAR in both groups. Despite more prolonged ischemia, metoprolol-treated pigs reperfused at 50 min had smaller infarcts than control pigs undergoing ischemia for 40 or 45 min and similar-sized infarcts to those undergoing 35-min ischemia. Day-45 LVEF was higher in metoprolol-treated vs vehicle-treated pigs (41.6% vs 36.5%, p = 0.008). In summary, metoprolol administration early during ischemia attenuates IS progression and reduces the incidence of primary ventricular fibrillation. These data identify metoprolol as an intervention ideally suited to the treatment of STEMI patients identified early in the course of infarction and requiring long transport times before primary angioplasty.
Automated detection of electrically evoked stapedius reflexes (eSR) during cochlear implantation
Authors: Weiss Nora M. , Óvári Attila , Oberhoffner Tobias , Demaret Laurent , Bicer Atabek , Schraven Sebastian , Ehrt Karsten , Dahl Rüdiger , Schneider Armin , Mlynski Robert
Published: August 2020

Introduction

In cochlear implantation, objective fitting methods are needed to optimize audiological results in small children or patients with poor compliance. Intraoperatively measured electrically evoked stapedius reflexes (eSR) can be used as a marker for the patient’s discomfort level. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate an automated detection method for eSR and to compare it to the detection rate of the surgeon and independent observers.

Methods

Cochlear implantation using a fully digital surgical microscope was performed. Movements of the stapedius tendon were recorded and analyzed by means of computer vision technique. Differences in eSR elicited by stimulating electrodes at different cochlear locations (basal, middle and apical) were analyzed. The eSR detection rate of the image processing algorithm was compared to the surgeon’s detection rate and to those of two less experienced observers.

Results

A total of 387 electrically impulses were applied. The stimulation of middle turn electrodes showed significantly higher detection rates (50.4%) compared to the basal (40.0%; p = 0.001) and apical (43.6%; p = 0.03) turn. The software identified significantly more of the applied stimuli (58.4%) compared to the surgeon (46.3%; p = 0.0007), the intermediate observer (37.7%; p < 0.0001) and the unexperienced observer (41.3%; p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The feasibility of an automated intraoperative software-based detection of eSR is demonstrated. By improving the eSR detection methods and their clinical applicability, their utility in objective cochlear implant fitting may be substantially increased.
Babylonian observations of a unique planetary configuration
Authors: de Jong Teije , Hunger Hermann
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we discuss Babylonian observations of a “massing of the planets” reported in two Astronomical Diaries, BM 32562 and BM 46051. This extremely rare astronomical phenomenon was observed in Babylon between 20 and 30 March 185 BC shortly before sunrise when all five planets were simultaneously visible for about 10 to 15 min close to the horizon in the eastern morning sky. These two observational texts are not only interesting as records of an extremely rare planetary configuration, but also because (1) the observers appear to be confused by the presence of all planets simultaneously and mix them up in their reports, and (2) the two reports of the same observations are so different that we are forced to conclude that they were carried out by two different observers. There is an additional astronomical event which makes this planetary configuration even more unique: the exact conjunction of the planets Mars and Jupiter in the afternoon of 25 March 185 BC. An exact conjunction, where two planets are so close together that they appear as one object in the sky, is also extremely rare. Although this exact conjunction between Mars and Jupiter occurred during the day so that it was not observable, it was correctly predicted by the Babylonian scholars: a remarkable achievement and a nice illustration of their astronomical craftsmanship. Finally, our study clearly exposes one of the limitations of Babylonian naked-eye astronomy. When first appearances of the planets Mercury, Mars and Saturn are expected around the same date, it is nearly impossible to correctly identify them because their expected positions are only approximately known while they have about the same visual magnitude so that they become visible at about the same altitude above the horizon.
Characterization of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) Generated from the Lower Cretaceous Carbonate Formations in the Arabian Peninsula and Gulf
Authors: Arneodo Francesco , Balata Marco , Benabderrahmane Mohamed Lotfi , Bruno Gianmarco , Di Giovanni Adriano , Fawwaz Osama , Laubenstein Matthias , Manenti Laura , Nisi Stefano , Richter Rüdiger B.
Published: August 2020

For most of the petroleum reservoirs in the world, the impact of the mother nuclides such as uranium-238 on the deposition of radioactive materials a.k.a. NORM from the formation and particularly as mineral scales adherent to tubulars and other equipment is considered insignificant. Uranium is regarded as insoluble in the reservoir formation and the prevailing understanding is that dissolved radium is not generated necessarily by U and Th in solution. Consequently, “uranium scale”, as a technical term, seems to be non-existent in the oil and gas industry. However, gamma spectroscopy and chemical analysis of NORM scale samples of carbonate origin, performed in the course of this research, has proven that they actually can contain uranium. A fundamental relationship between uranium and vanadium in scales is presumed. The highest specific activity of 238U in scale analyzed with gamma spectroscopy was at 11.4 [Bq/g] and supplementary chemical analysis has shown concentrations of up to 740 ppm total uranium and up to 260 ppm vanadium.
An evaluation of three DoE-guided meta-heuristic-based solution methods for a three-echelon sustainable distribution network
Authors: Validi Sahar , Bhattacharya Arijit , Byrne P. J.
Published: August 2020

This article evaluates the efficiency of three meta-heuristic optimiser (viz. MOGA-II, MOPSO and NSGA-II)-based solution methods for designing a sustainable three-echelon distribution network. The distribution network employs a bi-objective location-routing model. Due to the mathematically NP-hard nature of the model a multi-disciplinary optimisation commercial platform, modeFRONTIER®, is adopted to utilise the solution methods. The proposed Design of Experiment (DoE)-guided solution methods are of two phased that solve the NP-hard model to attain minimal total costs and total CO2 emission from transportation. Convergence of the optimisers are tested and compared. Ranking of the realistic results are examined using Pareto frontiers and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution approach, followed by determination of the optimal transportation routes. A case of an Irish dairy processing industry’s three-echelon logistics network is considered to validate the solution methods. The results obtained through the proposed methods provide information on open/closed distribution centres (DCs), vehicle routing patterns connecting plants to DCs, open DCs to retailers and retailers to retailers, and number of trucks required in each route to transport the products. It is found that the DoE-guided NSGA-II optimiser based solution is more efficient when compared with the DoE-guided MOGA-II and MOPSO optimiser based solution methods in solving the bi-objective NP-hard three-echelon sustainable model. This efficient solution method enable managers to structure the physical distribution network on the demand side of a logistics network, minimising total cost and total CO2 emission from transportation while satisfying all operational constraints.
Drama and Discounting in the Relational Dynamics of Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Grigore Georgiana , Molesworth Mike , Vonțea Andreea , Basnawi Abdullah Hasan , Celep Ogeday , Jesudoss Sylvian Patrick
Published: August 2020

Employing theoretical resources from Transactional Analysis (TA) and drawing from interviews with managers dealing with social or environmental issues in their role, we explain how CSR activity provides a context for dramas in which actors may ignore, or discount aspects of self, others, and the contexts of their work as they maintain and reproduce the roles of Rescuers, Persecutors and Victims. In doing so, we add to knowledge about CSR by providing an explanation for how the contradictions of CSR are avoided in practice even when actors may be aware of them. Specifically, we theorise how CSR work can produce dramatic stories where adversity is apparently overcome, whilst little is actually achieved at the social level. We also add to the range of psychoanalytic tools used to account for organisational behaviours, emphasising how TA can explain the relational dynamics of CSR.
Analysis of a cellulose synthase catalytic subunit from the oomycete pathogen of crops Phytophthora capsici
Authors: Pang Zhili , McKee Lauren S. , Srivastava Vaibhav , Klinter Stefan , Díaz-Moreno Sara M. , Orlean Peter , Liu Xili , Bulone Vincent
Published: August 2020

Phytophthora capsici Leonian is an important oomycete pathogen of crop vegetables, causing significant economic losses each year. Its cell wall, rich in cellulose, is vital for cellular integrity and for interactions with the host organisms. Predicted cellulose synthase (CesA) proteins are expected to catalyze the polymerization of cellulose, but this has not been biochemically demonstrated in an oomycete. Here, we present the properties of the four newly identified CesA proteins from P. capsici and compare their domain organization with that of CesAs from other lineages. Using a newly constructed glucosyltransferase-deficient variant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with low residual background activity, we have achieved successful heterologous expression and biochemical characterization of a CesA protein from P. capsici (PcCesA1). Our results demonstrate that the individual PcCesA1 enzyme produces cellobiose as the major reaction product. Co-immunoprecipitation studies and activity assays revealed that several PcCesA proteins interact together to form a complex whose multiproteic nature is most likely required for cellulose microfibril formation. In addition to providing important insights into cellulose synthesis in the oomycetes, our data may assist the longer term identification of cell wall biosynthesis inhibitors to control infection by pathogenic oomycetes.
Consumer Law and Policy Relating to Change of Circumstances Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors:   COVID-19- Consumer Law Research Group, Alderman Richard , De Franceschi Alberto , Giancaspro Mark , Howells Geraint , Lei Chen , Lete Javier , Micklitz Hans-W , Miscenic Emilia , Naude Tjakie , Pichonnaz Pascal , Poillot Elise , Ramsay Iain , Terryn Evelyne , Twigg-Flesner Christian , Wilhelmsson Thomas
Published: August 2020

An unprecedented number of consumer problems has been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, not least with regard to refunds of prepayments and the ability of consumers to keep up their monthly payments under loan and rental agreements. Based on a notion of societal force majeure sketched in this paper, we propose guiding principles in respect of the introduction of moratoria on recurring payments, the use of refunds or vouchers in respect of prepayments, and associated enforcement challenges. This analysis draws on experiences around the globe.
Seismic Risks: a Criminological Analysis of European Investment Bank Support for the Castor Project
Authors: Beizsley Daniel
Published: August 2020

The Castor project was a proposed underground gas storage facility off Spain’s Mediterranean coast financed through a public–private partnership (PPP) between the Spanish state and a consortium led by the Spanish conglomerate Grupo ACS. During the project’s development, cost overruns led to it being refinanced through a bond issuance organized by the European Investment Bank (EIB)—the finance arm of the European Union (EU). On reaching the injection stage, gas escaped violently causing hundreds of small-scale earthquakes resulting in the project’s closure and, as per the terms of the concession, the generation of a €1.3 billion debt for Spanish gas consumers. Using criminological concepts and theory, this article will first explore how the seismic risks that the project posed were excluded from the EIB appraisal process before identifying the causes of the disaster as a product of the “financialization” of infrastructure and investor protection frameworks needed to sustain it.
Experimental Study of Self-heating Ignition of Lithium-Ion Batteries During Storage: Effect of the Number of Cells
Authors: He Xuanze , Restuccia Francesco , Zhang Yue , Hu Zhenwen , Huang Xinyan , Fang Jun , Rein Guillermo
Published: August 2020

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used as energy storage devices. However, a disadvantage of these batteries is their tendency to ignite and burn, thereby creating a fire hazard. Ignition of LIBs can be triggered by abuse conditions (mechanical, electrical or thermal abuse) or internal short circuit. In addition, ignition could also be triggered by self-heating when LIBs are stacked during storage or transport. However, the open circuit self-heating ignition has received little attention and seems to be misunderstood in the literature. This paper quantifies the self-heating behaviour of LIB by means of isothermal oven experiments. Stacks of 1, 2, 3 and 4 Sanyo prismatic LiCoO2 cells at 30% state of charge were studied. The surface and central temperatures, voltage, and time to ignition were measured. Results show that self-heating ignition of open circuit LIBs is possible and its behaviour has three stages: heating up, self-heating and thermal runaway. We find for the first time that, for this battery type, as the number of cells increases from 1 to 4, the critical ambient temperature decreases from 165.5°C to 153°C. A Frank-Kamenetskii analysis using the measured data confirms that ignition is caused by self-heating. Parameters extracted from Frank-Kamenetskii theory are then used to upscale the laboratory results, which shows large enough LIB ensembles could self-ignite at even ambient temperatures. This is the first experimental study of the effect of the number of cells on self-heating ignition of LIBs, contributing to the understanding of this new fire hazard.
Palliative care needs-assessment and measurement tools used in patients with heart failure: a systematic mixed-studies review with narrative synthesis
Authors: Remawi Bader Nael , Gadoud Amy , Murphy Iain Malcolm James , Preston Nancy
Published: August 2020

Patients with heart failure have comparable illness burden and palliative care needs to those with cancer. However, few of them are offered timely palliative care. One main barrier is the difficulty in identifying those who require palliative care. Several palliative care needs-assessment/measurement tools were used to help identify these patients and assess/measure their needs, but it is not known which one is the most appropriate for this population. This review aimed to identify the most appropriate palliative care needs-assessment/measurement tools for patients with heart failure. Cochrane Library, MEDLINE Complete, AMED, PsycINFO, CINAHL Complete, EMBASE, EThOS, websites of the identified tools, and references and citations of the included studies were searched from inception to 25 June 2020. Studies were included if they evaluated palliative care needs-assessment/measurement tools for heart failure populations in terms of development, psychometrics, or palliative care patient/needs identification. Twenty-seven papers were included regarding nineteen studies, most of which were quantitative and observational. Six tools were identified and compared according to their content and context of use, development, psychometrics, and clinical applications in identifying patients with palliative care needs. Despite limited evidence, the Needs Assessment Tool: Progressive Disease – Heart Failure (NAT:PD-HF) is the most appropriate palliative care needs-assessment tool for use in heart failure populations. It covers most of the patient needs and has the best psychometric properties and evidence of identification ability and appropriateness. Psychometric testing of the tools in patients with heart failure and evaluating the tools to identify those with palliative care needs require more investigation.
Weight-Based Discrimination in the Italian Labor Market: an Analysis of the Interaction with Gender and Ethnicity
Authors: Busetta Giovanni , Campolo Maria Gabriella , Panarello Demetrio
Published: August 2020

Access to the Italian job market is undermined by several kinds of discrimination influencing the opportunities for individuals to obtain a job. In this study, we analyze together the impact of three of the most relevant kinds of discrimination operating in the Italian labor market: gender, race, and weight. Our aim is to assess whether gender and race either increase or decrease the impact of weight-based discrimination. In this respect, we submit a set of fictitious résumés including photos of either obese or thin applicants in response to real online job offers. Our results indicate that the strongest kind of discrimination operating in the Italian labor market is the one connected to the candidate’s geographical origin. Moreover, we find discrimination based on body weight to be more relevant within immigrants than within natives, and gender gap appears to be higher within the obese candidates’ group compared to the normal-weight candidates’ one. This last result is particularly relevant, as the growing rates of obesity forecasted for the next years could in turn produce an increase in the gender gap, which in Italy is already massive.
Anti-Leukemia Activity of Au/CuO/ZnO Nanoparticles Synthesized used Verbena officinalis Extract
Authors: Dobrucka Renata , Romaniuk-Drapała Aleksandra , Kaczmarek Mariusz
Published: August 2020

As biological synthesis has become an alternative to chemical and physical methods for synthesizing nanoparticles, this work describes the synthesis of Au/CuO/ZnO nanoparticles using Verbena officinalis extract. The synthesized Au/CuO/ZnO nanoparticles were characterized using Ultraviolet–Visible, Fourier Transform-Infrared, Transmission Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy. The influence of Au/CuO/ZnO nanoparticles on cell viability was evaluated in vitro, using the established cell line – Jurkat (ATCC® TIB-152™). The Annexin V binding test confirmed the previous results of the MTT assay, which indicate that the studied complex of Au/CuO/ZnO nanoparticles has a strong cytotoxic effect on the Jurkat cell line. The type of death and the effectiveness of cell elimination depended both on the concentration of the complex and the duration of culture.
Twisted characters and holomorphic symmetries
Authors: Saberi Ingmar , Williams Brian R.
Published: August 2020

We consider holomorphic twists of arbitrary supersymmetric theories in four dimensions. Working in the BV formalism, we rederive classical results characterizing the holomorphic twist of chiral and vector supermultiplets, computing the twist explicitly as a family over the space of nilpotent supercharges in minimal supersymmetry. The BV formalism allows one to work with or without auxiliary fields, according to preference; for chiral superfields, we show that the result of the twist is an identical BV theory, the holomorphic $$\beta \gamma $$

β
γ

system with superpotential, independent of whether or not auxiliary fields are included. We compute the character of local operators in this holomorphic theory, demonstrating agreement of the free local operators with the usual index of free fields. The local operators with superpotential are computed via a spectral sequence and are shown to agree with functions on a formal mapping space into the derived critical locus of the superpotential. We consider the holomorphic theory on various geometries, including Hopf manifolds and products of arbitrary pairs of Riemann surfaces, and offer some general remarks on dimensional reductions of holomorphic theories along the $$(n-1)$$

(
n
-
1
)

-sphere to topological quantum mechanics. We also study an infinite-dimensional enhancement of the flavor symmetry in this example, to a recently studied central extension of the derived holomorphic functions with values in the original Lie algebra, that generalizes the familiar Kac–Moody enhancement in two-dimensional chiral theories.
Engineering the pH-Sensitivity of the Graphene and Carbon Nanotube Based Nanomedicines in Smart Cancer Therapy by Grafting Trimetyl Chitosan
Authors: Khoshoei Azadeh , Ghasemy Ebrahim , Poustchi Fatemeh , Shahbazi Mohammad-Ali , Maleki Reza
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The aim of this study was to introduce a smart and responsive drug carrier for Doxorubicin (DOX) and Paclitaxel (PAX) for desirable therapeutic application.

Method

Loading and releasing of DOX and PAX from smart and pH-sensitive functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNTs) and graphene carriers have been simulated by molecular dynamics. The influences of chitosan polymer on proposed carriers have been studied, and both carriers were functionalized with carboxyl groups to improve the loading and releasing properties of the drugs.

Results

The results showed that DOX could be well adsorbed on both functionalized SWCNTs and graphene. In contrast, there was a weak electrostatic and Van der Waals interaction between both these drugs and carriers at cancerous tissues, which is highly favorable for cancer therapy. Adding trimethyl chitosan (TMC) polymer to carriers facilitated DOX release at acidic tissues. Furthermore, at blood pH, the PAX loaded on the functionalized SWCNTs carrier represented the highest dispersion of the drug while the DOX-graphene showed the highest concentration of the drug at a point. In addition, the mean-square displacement (MSD) results of PAX-graphene indicated that the PAX could be adsorbed quickly and be released slowly. Finally, functionalized graphene-TMC-PAX is a smart drug system with responsive behavior and controllable drug release, which are essential in cancer therapy.

Conclusion

Simultaneous application of the carboxyl group and TMC can optimize the pH sensitivity of the SWCNTs and graphene to prepare a novel and smart drug carrier for cancer therapy.
Pros and cons of using a standard protocol to test germination of alpine species
Authors: Margreiter Vera , Pagitz Konrad , Berg Christian , Schwager Patrick , Erschbamer Brigitta
Published: August 2020

Storing seeds in seed banks is an effective way to preserve plant diversity and conserve species. An essential step towards a valuable conservation is the validation of germination. This study presents a germination screening of seeds from 255 species of the European Eastern Alps, which were to be stored at the Millennium Seed Bank (Kew, UK). The final germination percentage (FGP) was determined using a standard protocol in the laboratory. Species were classified according to species rarity, plant community, occurrence at elevation belts, bedrock types, as well as CSR strategies, and further, seed mass was examined. We could not find statistically significant differences of FGP within these classes, but 74.9% of all tested species germinated using the standard protocol, and half of them had FGP ≥ 20.1–100%. A treatment with gibberellic acid enhanced the germination in half of the species to which this treatment was applied. Common families in alpine regions, i.e. Asteraceae, Poaceae and Saxifragaceae were highlighted in terms of their germination behaviour. The results provide an evaluation of the application of standard protocols to a broad Alpine species pool on the one hand, and on the other hand, provide ecological insights of the species tested. Germination is not only one of the most important events of the reproductive cycle of plants but could also be a key feature in species' responses to changing environmental conditions.