bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Analysis Method and Corresponding Voltage Regulation Strategy for LLC Resonant Converter
Authors: Dong Li , Jiang Pei
Published: June 2021

At present, intermittent control is a main method to solve the problem of pumping output voltage with light load of LLC resonant converter, which can not only solve the problem of high pumping output voltage, but also, to a certain extent, improve the efficiency of light load to a certain extent when converter is operating. However, in extremely light‐loading, especially in no‐ loading, with the intermittent cycle increasing and the low‐frequency ripple being introduced, which cannot meet the demand of high‐quality output voltage, and is not conducive to the converter's stable operation. Due to the extremely small power transferred by the converter, in this case, efficiency is not the main factor considered. In this paper, a voltage regulation strategy based on energy feedback is proposed for LLC resonant converter in extremely light‐loading. The output voltage is controlled by adjusting the feedback energy to the source. Compared with the uncontrollable burst off mode of the intermittent control, the proposed control method can effectively improve the output voltage quality due to the controllability in voltage drop mode and the independence from the load. It also can eliminate low frequency ripple and extend battery charging life. The output voltage ripple is minimized by optimizing the duty cycle and the phase shift angle. The correctness and feasibility of the proposed method are verified by experiments. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Analysis on an Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine with a Non‐uniform Halbach Array
Authors: Hong Tao , Di Chong , Li Shihao , Bao Xiaohua
Published: June 2021

Halbach array has been more frequently used in the field of electromagnetism in recent days because of some unique advantages such as the self‐shielding and sinusoidal field distribution. In order to reduce the impact of the high order harmonic content of the air‐gap flux density of the interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) on the performance of the machine, a new non‐uniform Halbach array structure is proposed in this paper. Firstly, an equivalent analytical model is established to analyze the influence on the air‐gap flux density. At the same time, the interior permanent magnet synchronous motor model is built by using the finite element analysis. Then, the relationship between the air‐gap flux density and the four design parameters (the thickness of the permanent magnet, the magnetization angle, the angle of the permanent magnet, and the proportion of auxiliary magnetic poles) is analyzed by using the Taguchi method orthogonal experiment. The total harmonic distortion (THD) of air‐gap magnetic fields and its fundamental harmonic amplitude are employed as the evaluation criteria. Finally, the effectiveness of this optimization method is verified by comparing the harmonic content of the air‐gap flux density before and after the optimization. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Personal Identification Based on the Picking‐Up Movement Measured Using a Doppler Radar
Authors: Saho Kenshi , Shioiri Keitaro
Published: June 2021

This study demonstrates personal identification based on the movement of picking up an object placed on the floor. A Doppler radar identifies the picking‐up movement, consequently, the radar images of time–velocity distribution (spectrogram images) were input to a convolutional neural network to recognize the individuals. The experimental results showed an 85.9% accuracy in identifying six men. This suggests that the picking‐up movement can be used as a novel biometric method. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Thiamethoxam‐induced oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and disturbance of steroidogenic genes in male rats: Palliative role of Saussurea lappa and Silybum marianum
Authors: Habotta Ola A. , Ateya Ahmed , Saleh Rasha M. , El‐Ashry Eman S.
Published: June 2021

Thiamethoxam (TMX) belongs to the neonicotinoid insecticide family and may evoke marked endocrine disruption. In this study, the reproductive toxicity of TMX on male rats was assessed along with the ability of Saussurea lappa (costus roots) and/or Silybum marianum extract (SM) to alleviate TMX toxicity. Male rats were allocated to seven groups and orally treated daily for 4 weeks: Control (saline), Costus (200 mg/kg), SM (150 mg/kg), TMX (78.15 mg/kg), TMX‐costus, TMX‐SM, and TMX‐costus‐SM (at the aforementioned doses). Compared with control group, TMX administration induced reductions in testicular levels of glutathione and antioxidant activities of SOD and CAT. In addition, TMX‐exposed rats showed lower serum testosterone hormonal levels as well as higher malondialdehyde and nitric acid levels were detected in TMX‐administered rats. On a molecular basis, mRNA expressions of StAR, CYP17a, 3β‐HSD, SR‐B1, and P450scc genes were significantly down‐regulated in TMX group, whereas the expression of LHR and aromatase genes was up‐regulated. Moreover, TMX‐induced testicular damage was confirmed by histopathological screening. Importantly, however, the administration of either costus roots or SM significantly alleviated all aforementioned TMX‐induced changes, indicating the effective antioxidant activities of these plant products. Interestingly, simultaneous treatment with costus root and SM provided better protection against TMX reproduction toxicity than treatment with either agent alone.
Clinical management of patients with drug‐induced liver injury (DILI)
Authors: Björnsson Einar S.
Published: June 2021

Drug‐induced liver injury (DILI) should be considered in all patients with recent elevation of liver tests without obvious etiology and normal hepatobiliary imaging. There is currently no biomarker that is helpful in diagnosis which relies on clinical and laboratory findings. Diagnosis is dependent on temporal relationship with a recently started drug or herbal and dietary supplement and elevated liver tests with exclusion of competing etiologies. The implicated agent should be discontinued and the patient should be observed closely. This is particularly important in patients with jaundice who have approximately 10% risk of liver related mortality and/or need for liver transplantation. There is no specific therapy for DILI which is only symptomatic such as for itching. Patients with jaundice and coagulopathy usually require hospitalization.
Transvaginal sonography determines accurately extent of infiltration of rectosigmoid deep endometriosis
Authors: Aas‐Eng M. K. , Lieng M. , Dauser B. , Diep L. M. , Leonardi M. , Condous G. , Hudelist G.
Published: June 2021

Objective

To investigate the agreement of measurements of the three diameters of rectosigmoid deep endometriosis (DE) lesions between presurgical evaluation using transvaginal sonography (TVS) and postsurgical specimen measurement (PSM).

Methods

This was a prospective observational multicenter study including symptomatic women undergoing surgical treatment for DE involving the rectosigmoid, by either discoid or segmental resection, from April 2017 to December 2019. TVS was performed presurgically to evaluate lesion size (craniocaudal–midsagittal length, anteroposterior thickness and transverse diameter), in accordance with the International Deep Endometriosis Analysis (IDEA) group consensus statement, and was compared with PSM. The agreement of lesion dimensions between the two methods was assessed by Bland–Altman plots and limits of agreement and additionally by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Systematic and proportional bias was assessed using the paired t‐test.

Results

A total of 207 consecutive women were eligible for inclusion. Forty‐one women were excluded, leaving 166 women for final analysis. A total of 123 segmental resections and 46 discoid resections were performed (both procedures were performed in three women). The mean difference between TVS and PSM was 0.90 (95% CI, 0.85–0.95) mm for lesion length measurements, 1.03 (95% CI, 0.98–1.09) mm for lesion thickness measurements and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.79–0.89) mm for transverse diameter measurements. Bland–Altman analysis demonstrated good agreement between the two methods for measurements of lesion length. Furthermore, there was good reliability and correlation between TVS and PSM for lesion length measurements, as demonstrated by an ICC of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.75–0.87) and Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.72 (95% CI, 0.62–0.80), moderate‐to‐good reliability and correlation for lesion thickness measurements, with an ICC of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.67–0.82) and Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.61 (95% CI, 0.51–0.70), and poor‐to‐moderate reliability and correlation for transverse diameter measurements, with an ICC of 0.58 (95% CI, 0.39–0.71) and Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.46 (95% CI, 0.33–0.58).

Conclusion

Preoperative TVS determines accurately rectosigmoid DE lesion length. TVS can thereby contribute to optimal planning of surgical treatment options in women with rectosigmoid DE. © 2021 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Experimentally validated three‐dimensional computational aerodynamics of wind turbine blade sections featuring leading edge erosion cavities
Authors: Campobasso Michele Sergio , Castorrini Alessio , Cappugi Lorenzo , Bonfiglioli Aldo
Published: June 2021

Wind turbine blade leading edge erosion reduces the lift and increases the drag of the blade airfoils. This occurrence, in turn, reduces turbine power and energy yield. This study focuses on the aerodynamic analysis of large and sparse erosion cavities, observed in intermediate to advanced erosion stages, whose size and surface pattern do not lend themselves to experimental and numerical analysis by means of distributed roughness models alone. Making use of three‐dimensional Navier‐Stokes computational fluid dynamics enhanced by laminar‐to‐turbulent transition modeling, and geometrically resolving individual erosion cavities, the study validates this simulation‐based approach for predicting the aerodynamics and performance loss of blade sections featuring the aforementioned erosion cavities against available experimental data. It is found that the considered cavities can trigger transition, indicating the necessity of both resolving their geometry in the simulations and also modeling distributed surface roughness, of typically lower level, as this latter affects the properties of boundary layers and, if sufficiently high, may trigger transition over the entire spanwise length affected. The energy yield loss of a utility‐scale turbine due to the considered erosion pattern is found to be between 2.1% and 2.6% using measured and computed force data of the nominal and eroded outboard blade airfoil. A parametric analysis of the cavity geometry suggests that the geometry of the cavity edge has a much larger impact on aerodynamic performance than the cavity depth.
Biomaterials and nanomaterials for sustained release vaccine delivery
Authors: Luzuriaga Michael A. , Shahrivarkevishahi Arezoo , Herbert Fabian C. , Wijesundara Yalini H. , Gassensmith Jeremiah J.
Published: June 2021

Vaccines are considered one of the most significant medical advancements in human history, as they have prevented hundreds of millions of deaths since their discovery; however, modern travel permits disease spread at unprecedented rates, and vaccine shortcomings like thermal sensitivity and required booster shots have been made evident by the COVID‐19 pandemic. Approaches to overcoming these issues appear promising via the integration of vaccine technology with biomaterials, which offer sustained‐release properties and preserve proteins, prevent conformational changes, and enable storage at room temperature. Sustained release and thermal stabilization of therapeutic biomacromolecules is an emerging area that integrates material science, chemistry, immunology, nanotechnology, and pathology to investigate different biocompatible materials. Biomaterials, including natural sugar polymers, synthetic polyesters produced from biologically derived monomers, hydrogel blends, protein–polymer blends, and metal–organic frameworks, have emerged as early players in the field. This overview will focus on significant advances of sustained release biomaterial in the context of vaccines against infectious disease and the progress made towards thermally stable “single‐shot” formulations.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Infectious Disease
Vereinbarkeit von Pflege und Beruf: generelle und aktuelle Herausforderungen Betroffener
Authors: Eggert Simon , Teubner Christian , Budnick Andrea , Gellert Paul
Published: June 2021

Das Thema Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Pflege ist in Deutschland gesellschaftlich relevant und nimmt zukünftig weiter an Bedeutung zu. Schon heute sind zwei von drei pflegenden Angehörigen unter 65 Jahren erwerbstätig. Arbeitnehmende, die privat Pflegeaufgaben übernehmen, stehen oft vor erheblichen Herausforderungen und drohen überdies dem Arbeitsmarkt teilweise oder vollständig entzogen zu werden. Gleichzeitig sind pflegende Angehörige die Basis der pflegerischen Versorgung im Sinne des SGB XI in Deutschland.

Vereinbarkeitskonflikte werden in der Forschung als bedeutsame Stressoren für erwerbstätige pflegende Angehörige gesehen, positive Arbeitssituationen dagegen als mindestens etwas entlastend eingeschätzt. Erschwerend für die Vereinbarkeitsbemühungen wirkt sich u. a. aus, wenn die Pflegekonstellation mit einer Demenzerkrankung verbunden ist. Die Unterstützungsbemühungen von Unternehmen und Politik für erwerbstätige pflegende Angehörige haben sich in den vergangenen Jahren intensiviert, erscheinen aber nach wie vor verbesserungsbedürftig.

In der aktuellen Coronavirus-Pandemie hat sich die Situation für viele pflegende Angehörige insgesamt verschärft. So zeigen die Ergebnisse der vorliegenden ZQP-Befragung, dass erwerbstätige Angehörige signifikant häufiger von einer Verschlechterung der Pflegesituation in der ersten Infektionswelle im Vergleich mit nicht-erwerbstätigen berichten. Ein Großteil der Befragten gibt an, dass die Vereinbarkeit von Pflege und Beruf nun noch schwieriger geworden sei.
Nonvanishing finite scalar mass in flux compactification
Authors: Hirose Takuya , Maru Nobuhito
Published: June 2021

Abstract

We study possibilities to realize a nonvanishing finite Wilson line (WL) scalar mass in flux compactification. Generalizing loop integrals in the quantum correction to WL mass at one-loop, we derive the conditions for the loop integrals and mode sums in one-loop corrections to WL scalar mass to be finite. We further guess and classify the four-point and three-point interaction terms satisfying these conditions. As an illustration, the nonvanishing finite WL scalar mass is explicitly shown in a six dimensional scalar QED by diagrammatic computation and effective potential analysis. This is the first example of finite WL scalar mass in flux compactification.
Autoencoders for unsupervised anomaly detection in high energy physics
Authors: Finke Thorben , Krämer Michael , Morandini Alessandro , Mück Alexander , Oleksiyuk Ivan
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Autoencoders are widely used in machine learning applications, in particular for anomaly detection. Hence, they have been introduced in high energy physics as a promising tool for model-independent new physics searches. We scrutinize the usage of autoencoders for unsupervised anomaly detection based on reconstruction loss to show their capabilities, but also their limitations. As a particle physics benchmark scenario, we study the tagging of top jet images in a background of QCD jet images. Although we reproduce the positive results from the literature, we show that the standard autoencoder setup cannot be considered as a model-independent anomaly tagger by inverting the task: due to the sparsity and the specific structure of the jet images, the autoencoder fails to tag QCD jets if it is trained on top jets even in a semi-supervised setup. Since the same autoencoder architecture can be a good tagger for a specific example of an anomaly and a bad tagger for a different example, we suggest improved performance measures for the task of model-independent anomaly detection. We also improve the capability of the autoencoder to learn non-trivial features of the jet images, such that it is able to achieve both top jet tagging and the inverse task of QCD jet tagging with the same setup. However, we want to stress that a truly model-independent and powerful autoencoder-based unsupervised jet tagger still needs to be developed.
Stadiengerechte Therapie des Keratokonus
Authors: Seitz B. , Daas L. , Hamon L. , Xanthopoulou K. , Goebels S. , Spira-Eppig C. , Razafimino S. , Szentmáry N. , Langenbucher A. , Flockerzi E.
Published: June 2021

Der Keratokonus (KK) ist eine progrediente kegelförmige Hornhautvorwölbung, die eine parazentrale Verdünnung an der Kegelspitze verursacht und typischerweise beidseitig asymmetrisch auftritt. Nach einer sorgfältigen Anamnese und Einstufung des Schweregrades steht heute eine gezielte stadiengerechte Therapie zur Verfügung. Ist der Brillenvisus nicht mehr ausreichend, werden von einem Spezialisten formstabile sauerstoffdurchlässige Kontaktlinsen (KL) angepasst. Bei Progression und für den Patienten im Alltag nutzbarem Visus empfiehlt sich das Riboflavin-UVA-Crosslinking (CXL), bei herabgesetztem Visus und klarer zentraler Hornhaut sind bei KL-Intoleranz intrastromale Ringsegmente (ICRS) indiziert. Ist das Stadium weiter fortgeschritten, empfiehlt sich die tiefe anteriore lamelläre (DALK) oder perforierende Keratoplastik (PKP). Bei einem akuten Keratokonus ist die PKP kontraindiziert, allerdings verkürzen tiefstromale Nähte zur Readaptation des Descemet-Risses mit Gasfüllung der Vorderkammer den Verlauf erheblich. Fast keine andere Augenerkrankung ist heutzutage einer frühen apparativen Diagnose und stadiengerechten Therapie so gut zugänglich wie der KK.
Laparoscopic varicocelectomy in male infertility
Authors: Seiler Felix , Kneissl Philipp , Hamann Claudius , Jünemann Klaus-Peter , Osmonov Daniar
Published: June 2021

Background

The suitability of laparoscopic varicocelectomy for assisted reproductive technology depends on the improvement of semen parameters. The present study analyzed the improvement of semen parameters following laparoscopic varicocele ligation.

Material and methods

A retrospective study of the laparoscopic varicocele clippings at the Department of Urology of University Hospital of Kiel between the years 2007 and 2019 was conducted. The semen analyses according to WHO standards (sperm count, density, motility and morphology) were conducted before and 12 months after surgery. Screening for surgical complications took place at the time of the follow-up seminal analysis. Included were patients with oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia and/or teratozoospermia (group 1, OAT) or with nonobstructive azoospermia (group 2, NOA).

Results

This study included data of 27 patients and 22 patients presented preoperative OAT (81%, group 1). Another 5 patients showed NOA (19%, group 2). Data of group 1 showed that semen parameters normalized in 32% of the patients after surgery. Significant improvement in total sperm count (p < 0.005), sperm density (p < 0.005) and total motile sperm count (p < 0.005) was observed. No deterioration of semen parameters was observed. In group 2 we detected spermatozoa in 1 case in the postoperative ejaculate. None of the patients showed complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification, postoperative hydrocele formation or recurrence of varicocele at the time of control spermiogram.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic varicocelectomy is a valid therapeutic approach to improve semen parameters for further assisted reproductive techniques. Spermatogenesis may be induced for patients with NOA. Normalization of semen parameters can be achieved for patients with OAT.
A detailed analysis of anatomical plausibility of crossed and uncrossed streamline rendition of the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract (DRT(T)) in a commercial stereotactic planning system
Authors: Coenen Volker A. , Sajonz Bastian E. , Reinacher Peter C. , Kaller Christoph P. , Urbach Horst , Reisert M.
Published: June 2021

Background

An increasing number of neurosurgeons use display of the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract (DRT) based on diffusion weighted imaging (dMRI) as basis for their routine planning of stimulation or lesioning approaches in stereotactic tremor surgery. An evaluation of the anatomical validity of the display of the DRT with respect to modern stereotactic planning systems and across different tracking environments has not been performed.

Methods

Distinct dMRI and anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of high and low quality from 9 subjects were used. Six subjects had repeated MRI scans and therefore entered the analysis twice. Standardized DICOM structure templates for volume of interest definition were applied in native space for all investigations. For tracking BrainLab Elements (BrainLab, Munich, Germany), two tensor deterministic tracking (FT2), MRtrix IFOD2 (https://www.mrtrix.org), and a global tracking (GT) approach were used to compare the display of the uncrossed (DRTu) and crossed (DRTx) fiber structure after transformation into MNI space. The resulting streamlines were investigated for congruence, reproducibility, anatomical validity, and penetration of anatomical way point structures.

Results

In general, the DRTu can be depicted with good quality (as judged by waypoints). FT2 (surgical) and GT (neuroscientific) show high congruence. While GT shows partly reproducible results for DRTx, the crossed pathway cannot be reliably reconstructed with the other (iFOD2 and FT2) algorithms.

Conclusion

Since a direct anatomical comparison is difficult in the individual subjects, we chose a comparison with two research tracking environments as the best possible “ground truth.” FT2 is useful especially because of its manual editing possibilities of cutting erroneous fibers on the single subject level. An uncertainty of 2 mm as mean displacement of DRTu is expectable and should be respected when using this approach for surgical planning. Tractographic renditions of the DRTx on the single subject level seem to be still illusive.
Improved design criterion for frictionally engaged contacts in overrunning clutches
Authors: Nagler Nadine , Lohrengel Armin
Published: June 2021

Overrunning clutches, also known as freewheel clutches, are frictionally engaged, directional clutches; they transmit torque depending on the Freewheel clutch rings’ rotation directions. The torque causes a tangential force in the Hertzian contact area. The hitherto “state-of-the-art design criterion” bases on this load situation. In practice, axial loads additionally act on the frictionally engaged Hertzian contact area. This additional axial load can cause the loss of the friction connection and so the freewheel clutch slips. This publication presents an improved design criterion for frictionally engaged contacts in freewheel clutches. It allows to consider tangential as well as axial loads during the design process. Additionally, it offers the possibility to estimate the probability of frictional engagement loss and gross slip based on the freewheel clutch’s application scenario. This publication points out how to use the improved design criterion to design freewheel clutches that are more robust against a loss of function.
Architectural properties of the musculoskeletal system in the shoulder of two callitrichid primate species derived from virtual dissection
Authors: Eigen Lennart , Nyakatura John A.
Published: June 2021

Callitrichidae are small, arboreal New World primates that utilize a variety of locomotor behaviors including trunk-to-trunk leaping (TTL) and horizontal locomotion which involve differential functional demands. Little is known about the relationship between the preferred locomotor behavior and musculoskeletal architecture of these primates. In this study, we compared the musculoskeletal architecture of selected shoulder muscles in two cadavers each of the trunk-to-trunk leaperCebuella pygmaeaand the mainly pronograde quadrupedally movingSaguinus imperator subgrisescens. Contrast-enhanced microfocus computed tomography (µCT) was used to virtually dissect the cadavers, produce muscle maps, and create 3D reconstructions for an image-based analysis of the muscles. Muscle lengths, muscle volumes, and osteological muscle moment arms were measured, and the anatomical cross-sectional areas (ACSA) were calculated. We expected the muscles of the forelimb ofS. imperatorto be larger in volume and to be relatively shorter with a larger ACSA due to a higher demand for powerful extension in the forelimbs of this horizontally locomoting species. ForC. pygmaea, we expected relatively larger moment arms for the triceps brachii, supraspinatus, infraspinatus and subscapularis, as larger moment arms present an advantage for extensive vertical clinging on the trunk. The muscles ofS. imperatorwere relatively larger in volume than inC. pygmaeaand had a relatively larger ACSA. Thus, the shoulder muscles ofS. imperatorwere suited to generate relatively larger forces than those ofC. pygmaea. Contrary to our expectations, there were only slight differences between species in regard to muscle lengths and moment arms, which suggests that these properties are not dependent on the preferred locomotor mode. The study of this limited dataset demonstrates that some but not all properties of the musculoskeletal architecture reflect the preferred locomotor behavior in the two species of Callitrichidae examined.
Epidemiological modelling of the health and economic effects of COVID-19 control in Australia’s second wave
Authors: Grafton R. Quentin , Parslow John , Kompas Tom , Glass Kathryn , Banks Emily
Published: June 2021

Background

We investigated the public health and economy outcomes of different levels of social distancing to control a ‘second wave’ outbreak in Australia and identify implications for public health management of COVID-19.

Methods

Individual-based and compartment models were used to simulate the effects of different social distancing and detection strategies on Australian COVID-19 infections and the economy from March to July 2020. These models were used to evaluate the effects of different social distancing levels and the early relaxation of suppression measures, in terms of public health and economy outcomes.

Results

The models, fitted to observations up to July 2020, yielded projections consistent with subsequent cases and showed that better public health outcomes and lower economy costs occur when social distancing measures are more stringent, implemented earlier and implemented for a sufficiently long duration. Early relaxation of suppression results in worse public health outcomes and higher economy costs.

Conclusions

Better public health outcomes (reduced COVID-19 fatalities) are positively associated with lower economy costs and higher levels of social distancing; achieving zero community transmission lowers both public health and economy costs compared to allowing community transmission to continue; and early relaxation of social distancing increases both public health and economy costs.
Knowledge Formation in Systemic Counselling Trainees from Germany: A Pilot Study from a Competence-Based Perspective
Authors: Henrich Marlene
Published: June 2021

This pilot study has two areas of focus. It examines how the knowledge and competences of twelve Master’s-level systemic counselling trainees are connected, and how well their own assessment of their competence corresponds to external assessment. Methodologically, three instruments were used: first, an instrument to measure their explicit knowledge; second, videos of consultations with simulated clients to measure their competence in practice; third, a self-assessment measure to explore how externally assessed competence corresponds to self-assessment. The results show no indication that knowledge is related to externally assessed competence. Furthermore, their self-assessment did not show any systematic connection to the external assessment. The study concludes that the development of systemic counselling skills is a long-term process of theory acquisition, practise, and reflection. Important reflection processes can be stimulated by self-assessment. However, such assessments are not sufficient to capture the quality and scope of competence.
Conceptual Learning and Local Incommensurability: A Dynamic Logic Approach
Authors: Strößner Corina
Published: June 2021

In recent decades, the logical study of rational belief dynamics has played an increasingly important role in philosophy. However, the dynamics of concepts such as conceptual learning received comparatively little attention within this debate. This is problematic insofar as the occurrence of conceptual change (especially in the sciences) has been an influential argument against a merely logical analysis of beliefs. Especially Kuhn’s ideas about the incommensurability, i.e., untranslatability, of succeeding theories seem to stand in the way of logical reconstruction. This paper investigates conceptual change as model-changing operations similar to belief revision and relates it to the notion of incommensurability. I consider several versions of conceptual change and discuss their influences on the expressive power, translatability and the potential arising of incommensurability. The paper concludes with a discussion of animal taxonomy in Aristotle’s and Linnaeus’s work.
From unavoidable food waste to advanced biomaterials: microfibrilated lignocellulose production by microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment of cassava peel and almond hull
Authors: Sulaeman Allyn P. , Gao Yang , Dugmore Tom , Remón Javier , Matharu Avtar S.
Published: June 2021

Lignocellulose based nanomaterials are emerging green biosolids commonly obtained from wood pulp. Alternative feedstocks, such as as unavoidable food waste, are interesting resources for nano/microfibers. This research reports the production and characterization of microfibrillated lignocellulose (MFLC) from cassava peel (CP) and almond hull (AH) via acid-free microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment (MHT) at different temperatures (120–220 °C). During processing, the structural changes were tracked by ATR-IR, TGA, XRD, 13C CPMAS NMR, zeta potential, HPLC, elemental analysis (CHN; carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen), TEM and SEM analyses. The microwave processing temperature and nature of feedstock exerted a significant influence on the yields and properties of the MFLCs produced. The MFLC yields from CP and AH shifted by 15–49% and 31–73%, respectively. Increasing the MHT temperature substantially affected the crystallinity index (13–66% for CP and 36–62% for AH) and thermal stability (300–374 °C for CP and 300–364 °C for AH) of the MFLCs produced. This suggested that the MFLC from CP is more fragile and brittle than that produced from AH. These phenomena influenced the gelation capabilities of the fibers. AH MFLC pretreated with ethanol at low temperature gave better film-forming capabilities, while untreated and heptane pretreated materials formed stable hydrogels at solid concentration (2% w/v). At high processing temperatures, the microfibrils were separated into elementary fibers, regardless of pretreatment or feedstock type. Given these data, this work demonstrates that the acid-free MHT processing of CP and AH is a facile method for producing MFLC with potential applications, including adsorption, packaging and the production of nanocomposites and personal care rheology modifiers.

Graphic abstract
Möbius and coboundary polynomials for matroids
Authors: Johnsen Trygve , Verdure Hugues
Published: June 2021

We study how some coefficients of two-variable coboundary polynomials can be derived from Betti numbers of Stanley–Reisner rings. We also explain how the connection with these Stanley–Reisner rings forces the coefficients of the two-variable coboundary polynomials and Möbius polynomials to satisfy certain universal equations.
What Can We Learn from the Functional Clustering of Mortality Data? An Application to the Human Mortality Database
Authors: Léger Ainhoa-Elena , Mazzuco Stefano
Published: June 2021

This study analyzed whether there are different patterns of mortality decline among low-mortality countries by identifying the role played by all the mortality components. We implemented a cluster analysis using a functional data analysis (FDA) approach, which allowed us to consider age-specific mortality rather than summary measures, as it analyses curves rather than scalar data. Combined with a functional principal component analysis, it can identify what part of the curves is responsible for assigning one country to a specific cluster. FDA clustering was applied to the data from 32 countries in the Human Mortality Database from 1960 to 2018 to provide a comprehensive understanding of their patterns of mortality. The results show that the evolution of developed countries followed the same pattern of stages (with different timings): (1) a reduction of infant mortality, (2) an increase of premature mortality and (3) a shift and compression of deaths. Some countries were following this scheme and recovering the gap with precursors; others did not show signs of recovery. Eastern European countries were still at Stage (2), and it was not clear if and when they will enter Stage 3. All the country differences related to the different timings with which countries underwent the stages, as identified by the clusters.
Combining green LiDAR bathymetry, aerial images and telemetry data to derive mesoscale habitat characteristics for European grayling and brown trout in a Norwegian river
Authors: Sundt Håkon , Alfredsen Knut , Museth Jon , Forseth Torbjørn
Published: June 2021

While many studies provide microscale relationships between fish and habitat characteristics, studies covering longer river reaches are scarce. Modern remote sensing techniques may enable new and effective ways of mapping and assessing mesoscale habitat characteristics. Using green LIDAR-derived bathymetry and hydraulic modelling, we tested how mesoscale depth and velocity were related to fish counts of adult European grayling (Thymallus thymallusL.) and brown trout (Salmo truttaL.) in 500 m river sections in three separate periods during the year. Using riverbank sinuosity from aerial images and a Froude number-based index from the hydraulic model as proxies for mesoscale spatial and hydraulic heterogeneity, we tested for temporal correlations with river section fish counts of adult European grayling and brown trout. Results showed that mesoscale mean depth and velocity were correlated to period fish counts of adult European grayling. Using mixed model analysis we found that riverbank sinuosity and the Froude number-based index were significantly correlated with river section occurrence of adult European grayling during spawning. The results can be used to assess how flow-induced changes and channel adjustments at the mesoscale level can influence access to and use of relevant habitats in rivers occupied by European grayling and brown trout.
Time to Say ‘Good Buy’ to the Passive Consumer? A Conceptual Review of the Consumer in the Bioeconomy
Authors: Wilke Ulrich , Schlaile Michael P. , Urmetzer Sophie , Mueller Matthias , Bogner Kristina , Pyka Andreas
Published: June 2021

Successful transitions to a sustainable bioeconomy require novel technologies, processes, and practices as well as a general agreement about the overarching normative direction of innovation. Both requirements necessarily involve collective action by those individuals who purchase, use, and co-produce novelties: the consumers. Based on theoretical considerations borrowed from evolutionary innovation economics and consumer social responsibility, we explore to what extent consumers’ scope of action is addressed in the scientific bioeconomy literature. We do so by systematically reviewing bioeconomy-related publications according to (i) the extent to which consumers are regarded as passive vs. active, and (ii) different domains of consumer responsibility (depending on their power to influence economic processes). We find all aspects of active consumption considered to varying degrees but observe little interconnection between domains. In sum, our paper contributes to the bioeconomy literature by developing a novel coding scheme that allows us to pinpoint different aspects of consumer activity, which have been considered in a rather isolated and undifferentiated manner. Combined with our theoretical considerations, the results of our review reveal a central research gap which should be taken up in future empirical and conceptual bioeconomy research. The system-spanning nature of a sustainable bioeconomy demands an equally holistic exploration of the consumers’ prospective and shared responsibility for contributing to its coming of age, ranging from the procurement of information on bio-based products and services to their disposal.
Promotion effect of rare earth elements (Ce, Nd, Pr) on physicochemical properties of M-Al mixed oxides (M = Cu, Ni, Co) and their catalytic activity in N2O decomposition
Authors: Ho Phuoc Hoang , Jabłońska Magdalena , Beltrami Giada , Martucci Annalisa , Cacciaguerra Thomas , Paulus Werner , Di Renzo Francesco , Fornasari Giuseppe , Vaccari Angelo , Benito Patricia , Palkovits Regina
Published: June 2021

A series of M-AlOxmixed oxides (M = Cu, Co, Ni) with the addition of high loadings of rare earth elements (REE, R = Ce, Nd, Pr; R0.5M0.8Al0.2, molar ratio) were investigated in N2O decomposition. The precursors were prepared by coprecipitation and subsequent calcination at 600 °C. The obtained mixed metal oxides were characterized by X-ray diffraction with Rietveld analysis, N2sorption, and H2temperature-programmed reduction. Depending on the nature of REE and the initial M-Al system, R cations could be separately segregated in oxide form or coordinated with the transition metal cations and form mixed structures. The addition of Ce3+consistently led to nanocrystalline CeO2mixed with the divalent oxides, whereas the addition of Nd3+or Pr3+resulted in the formation of their respective oxide phases as well as perovskites/Ruddlesden–Popper phases. The presence of REE modified the textural and redox properties of the calcined materials. The rare earth element-induced formation of low-temperature reducible MOxspecies that systematically improved the N2O decomposition on the modified catalysts compared to the pristine M-Al materials by the order of Co > Ni > Cu. The Ce0.5Co0.8Al0.2catalyst revealed the highest activity and remained stable (approximately 90% of N2O conversion) for 50 h during time-on-stream in 1000 ppm N2O, 200 ppm NO, 20 000 ppm O2, 2500 ppm H2O/N2balance at WHSV = 16 L g−1 h−1.
Coulomb Blockade Thermometry Beyond the Universal Regime
Authors: Yurttagül Nikolai , Sarsby Matthew , Geresdi Attila
Published: June 2021

The charge localization of single electrons on mesoscopic metallic islands leads to a suppression of the electrical current, known as the Coulomb blockade. When this correction is small, it enables primary electron thermometry, as it was first demonstrated by Pekola et al. (Phys Rev Lett 73:2903, 1994). However, in the low temperature limit, random charge offsets influence the conductance and limit the universal behavior of a single metallic island. In this work, we numerically investigate the conductance of a junction array and demonstrate the extension of the primary regime for large arrays, even when the variations in the device parameters are taken into account. We find that our simulations agree well with measured conductance traces in the submillikelvin electron temperature regime.
Intercomparison exercise on difficult to measure radionuclides in activated concrete—statistical analysis and comparison with activation calculations
Authors: Leskinen Anumaija , Gautier Celine , Räty Antti , Kekki Tommi , Laporte Elodie , Giuliani Margaux , Bubendorff Jacques , Laurila Julia , Kurhela Kristian , Fichet Pascal , Salminen-Paatero Susanna
Published: June 2021

This paper reports the results obtained in a Nordic Nuclear Safety Research project during the second intercomparison exercise for the determination of difficult to measure radionuclides in decommissioning waste. Eight laboratories participated by carrying out radiochemical analysis of 3H, 14C, 36Cl, 41Ca, 55Fe and 63Ni in an activated concrete. In addition, gamma emitters, namely 152Eu and 60Co, were analysed. The assigned values were derived from the submitted results according to ISO 13,528 standard and the performance assessments were determined using z scores. The measured results were compared with activation calculation result showing varying degree of comparability.
The Effect of Al on the Formation of a CrTaO4 Layer in Refractory High Entropy Alloys Ta-Mo-Cr-Ti-xAl
Authors: Schellert S. , Gorr B. , Christ H.- J. , Pritzel C. , Laube S. , Kauffmann A. , Heilmaier M.
Published: June 2021

In this study, the effect of Al on the high temperature oxidation of Al-containing refractory high entropy alloys (RHEAs) Ta-Mo-Cr-Ti-xAl (x = 5; 10; 15; 20 at%) was examined. Oxidation experiments were performed in air for 24 h at 1200 °C. The oxidation kinetics of the alloy with 5 at% Al is notably affected by the formation of gaseous MoO3 and CrO3, while continuous mass gain was detected for alloys with the higher Al concentrations. The alloys with 15 and 20 at% Al form relatively thin oxide scales and a zone of internal corrosion due to the formation of dense CrTaO4 scales at the interface oxide/substrate. The alloys with 5 and 10 at% Al exhibit, on the contrary, thick and porous oxide scales because of fast growing Ta2O5. The positive influence of Al on the formation of Cr2O3 followed by the growth of CrTaO4 to yield a compact scale is explained by getter and nucleation effects.
Commonalities in Private Commercial Real Estate Market Liquidity and Price Index Returns
Authors: van Dijk Dorinth W. , Francke Marc K.
Published: June 2021

We examine co-movements in private commercial real estate index returns and market liquidity in the US (apartment, office, retail) and for eighteen global cities, using data from Real Capital Analytics over the period 2005–2018. Our measure of market liquidity is based on the difference between supply and demand price indexes. We document for all analyzed markets much stronger commonalities in changes in market liquidity compared to commonalities in real price index returns. We further provide empirical evidence that space markets are less integrated than capital markets by analyzing co-movements in net-operating-income and cap rate spreads (over similar maturity bond yields). In a theoretical simulation model, we show that the strong integration of capital markets compared to space markets, is in fact the reason why market liquidity co-moves so strongly compared to returns. Our results are of interest for large private real estate investors such as pension funds and other institutional investors who are interested in spreading risk. Our findings imply that fully diversified price return benefits may be difficult to obtain, because market liquidity may dry up in all markets simultaneously, which makes portfolio re-balancing more difficult and costly.
Plasma Upflows Induced by Magnetic Reconnection Above an Eruptive Flux Rope
Authors: Baker Deborah , Mihailescu Teodora , Démoulin Pascal , Green Lucie M. , van Driel-Gesztelyi Lidia , Valori Gherardo , Brooks David H. , Long David M. , Janvier Miho
Published: June 2021

One of the major discoveries of Hinode’s Extreme-ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) is the presence of upflows at the edges of active regions. As active regions are magnetically connected to the large-scale field of the corona, these upflows are a likely contributor to the global mass cycle in the corona. Here we examine the driving mechanism(s) of the very strong upflows with velocities in excess of 70 km s−1, known as blue-wing asymmetries, observed during the eruption of a flux rope in AR 10977 (eruptive flare SOL2007-12-07T04:50). We use Hinode/EIS spectroscopic observations combined with magnetic-field modeling to investigate the possible link between the magnetic topology of the active region and the strong upflows. A Potential Field Source Surface (PFSS) extrapolation of the large-scale field shows a quadrupolar configuration with a separator lying above the flux rope. Field lines formed by induced reconnection along the separator before and during the flux-rope eruption are spatially linked to the strongest blue-wing asymmetries in the upflow regions. The flows are driven by the pressure gradient created when the dense and hot arcade loops of the active region reconnect with the extended and tenuous loops overlying it. In view of the fact that separator reconnection is a specific form of the more general quasi-separatrix (QSL) reconnection, we conclude that the mechanism driving the strongest upflows is, in fact, the same as the one driving the persistent upflows of ≈10 – 20 km s−1 observed in all active regions.
On Online Practices of Hospitality in Higher Education
Authors: Imperiale Maria Grazia , Phipps Alison , Fassetta Giovanna
Published: June 2021

This article contributes to conversations on hospitality in educational settings, with a focus on higher education and the online context. We integrate Derrida’s ethics of hospitality framework with a focus on practices of hospitality, including its affective and material, embodied dimension (Zembylas: Stud Philos Educ 39:37–50, 2019). This article offers empirical examples of practices of what we termed ‘virtual academic hospitality’: during a series of online collaborative and cross borders workshops with teachers of English based in the Gaza Strip (Palestine), we performed academic hospitality through virtual convivial rituals and the sharing of virtual gifts, which are illustrated here. We propose a revision of the concept of academic hospitality arguing that: firstly, academic hospitality is not limited to intellectual conversations; secondly, that the relationship between hospitality and mobility needs to be revised, since hospitality mediated by the technological medium can be performed, and technology may even stretch hospitality towards the unreachable ‘unconditional hospitality’ theorised by Derrida (Of hospitality: Anne Dufourmantelle invited Jacques Derrida to respond. Stanford University Press, Stanford, 2000); and thirdly, that indigenous epistemics, with their focus on the affective, may offer alternative understandings of conviviality within the academy. These points may contribute to the collective development of a new paradigmatic understanding of hospitality, one which integrates Western and indigenous traditions of hospitality, and which includes the online environment.