bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Photoelectrocatalytic Reduction of CO2 over CuBi2O4/TiO2‐NTs under Simulated Solar Irradiation
Authors: Cao Huazhen , Yu Hailing , Lu Yueheng , Zhang Huibin , Hou Guangya , Tang Yiping , Zheng Guoqu
Published: May 2020

The present study focused on the photoelectrocatalytic reduction of CO2 on CuBi2O4/TiO2‐NTs(TiO2 nanotube arrays)catalyst under simulated solar irradiation. CuBi2O4 was successfully loaded on TiO2‐NTs via pulse deposition regime from a nitric acid aqueous solution with Bi3+/Cu2+ molar ratio of 2, followed by calcination in air at 450 °C. A series of condition experiments were conducted to obtain excellent‐performance CuBi2O4 film. The crystalline structure, morphology and elemental composition of catalysts were characterized by X‐ray diffractometer(XRD), field‐emission scanning electron microscope (FE‐SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Light absorption characteristics were analyzed by ultraviolet‐visible spectrophotometer (UV‐Vis). Experimental results show that the coupling of CuBi2O4 and TiO2‐NTs leads to a better visible light response and photoelectrocatalytic performance for CO2 reduction. The photocurrent on CuBi2O4/TiO2‐NTs electrode increases significantly compared with that on TiO2‐NTs. Under optimized experimental condition, the photocurrent is up to 0.5 mA cm−2 at potential of −0.5 V vs. SCE. The liquid products determined by Gas Chromatograph are mainly composed of ethanol with minor formaldehyde.
Electrochemical Evaluation of Folic Acid by Low Concentration of Methylene Blue Coated on a Green‐Synthesized ZnO Nanoparticles Suspension Solution
Authors: Hashemnia Sedigheh , Mokhtari Zaynab , Solati Zahra , Azimpanah Razieh , Nikoozad Mahsa
Published: May 2020

Here, we have reported an effective and simple electrochemical technique to determine folic acid (FA) in a colloidal suspension solution containing FeIII ion, methylene blue (MB) surface‐coated ZnO nanoparticles (MB@ZnONPs) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (FeIII/MB@ZnONPs/SDS). MB, and ZnONPs were used as redox indicator and signal amplification element respectively. Low‐concentration of MB (2.5 μM) strongly is maintained at ZnONPs surface. SDS was used to improve the dispersion stability of the suspension. ZnONPs were synthesized through biological pathway using cordia myxa leaves extract. To investigate physicochemical properties of ZnONPs and MB@ZnONPs, fourier‐transform infrared spectra, nitrogen desorption/adsorption isotherms, field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy were used. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry showed the positive effect of FeIII ion, on the redox behavior of the suspension solution, probably due to inhibiting effect of this cation on the agglomeration of MB@ZnONPs/SDS suspension. Addition of FA to suspension solution, caused a sharp decrease in the peak current. Therefore, the colloidal suspension solution employed as an analytical probe for FA determination. The response of the probe showed a linear dependence on the logarithm of FA concentration in the range of 1.42 nm to 3.30 μM (I/μA=‐0.26 Log [FA]+0.03, R2=0.99). The calculated limit of detection was 0.98 nM.
Core‐Shell Structured Bi‐Amorphous SiO2@TiO2 Composite for Lithium‐Ion Batteries Anode Material with Ultra‐Stable Performance
Authors: Yao Yixin , Li Yao , Li Cheng , Zhou Junshuai , Wu Qibing , Zheng Yan‐Zhen , Wu Jiaojiao , Zhou Zhou , Ding Haiyang , Tao Xia
Published: May 2020

Surface coating strategies have shown to be effective for improving the cyclability of SiO2 anode materials of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, we prepared commercially amorphous SiO2 nanoparticles encapsulated in amorphous titanium oxide shells (a‐TiO2) (SiO2@a‐TiO2) by a facile hydrolysis of titanium isopropylate in alkaline alcohol system. The elastic a‐TiO2 shell can mitigate the volume change of amorphous SiO2 in the lithiation/delithiation processes and improve the electrical conductivity of SiO2‐based anodes. By delicately optimizing the a‐TiO2 shell (12.18 wt.%), SiO2@a‐TiO2 composite delivers a superior cycling capacity of 647 mA h g−1 at a current density of 0.1 A g−1 after 300 cycles, corresponding to an admirable capacity retention rate of 87.3% from the 2nd to 300th cycle. The SiO2@a‐TiO2 composite with core‐shell structures has outstanding electrochemical performance, which is prepared by a low‐cost and facile solution approach, thus it is expected to realize the large‐scale production of SiO2‐based anode materials.
Enzyme Mimics for the Catalytic Generation of Nitric Oxide from Endogenous Prodrugs
Authors: Yang Tao , Zelikin Alexander N. , Chandrawati Rona
Published: May 2020

The highly diverse biological roles of nitric oxide (NO) in both physiological and pathophysiological processes have prompted great interest in the use of NO as a therapeutic agent in various biomedical applications. NO can exert either protective or deleterious effects depending on its concentration and the location where it is delivered or generated. This double‐edged attribute, together with the short half‐life of NO in biological systems, poses a major challenge to the realization of the full therapeutic potential of this molecule. Controlled release strategies show an admirable degree of precision with regard to the spatiotemporal dosing of NO but are disadvantaged by the finite NO deliverable payload. In turn, enzyme‐prodrug therapy techniques afford enhanced deliverable payload but are troubled by the inherent low stability of natural enzymes, as well as the requirement to control pharmacokinetics for the exogenous prodrugs. The past decade has seen the advent of a new paradigm in controlled delivery of NO, namely localized bioconversion of the endogenous prodrugs of NO, specifically by enzyme mimics. These early developments are presented, successes of this strategy are highlighted, and possible future work on this avenue of research is critically discussed.
The Significance of Microstructure Evolution on Governing Impact Toughness of Fe–0.2C–8.5Mn–3Al Medium‐Mn TRIP Steel Studied by a Novel Heat Treatment
Authors: Li Zhichao , Mou Yanjie , Li Xinjing , Misra Devesh , Ding Hua , He Lianfang , Li Huiping
Published: May 2020

Herein, the continuing challenge and scientific gap in obtaining high‐impact toughness in medium‐Mn steels are discussed. While addressing the challenge, the objective of the study described herein is to obtain a fundamental understanding via critical experimental analysis of the reasons underlying high‐impact toughness that is successfully obtained in Fe–0.2C–8.5Mn–3Al medium‐Mn transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steel. This is enabled by a novel and effective heat treatment involving the combination of intercritical hardening and tempering to obtain high‐impact toughness. Electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction studies clearly underscore the absence of TRIP effect in Fe–0.2C–8.5Mn–3Al medium‐Mn steel during impact and the volume fraction of austenite plays a determining role in governing impact toughness. The highest impact toughness of 255.96 J cm−2 is obtained when the steel is subjected to intercritical hardening temperature of 750 °C and low tempering temperature of 200 °C. The presence of martensite in the microstructure reduces the impact toughness on quenching from 800 °C. The fracture mode is ductile after intercritical hardening in the temperature range of 600–750 °C.
Development and validation of assay and impurities methods for acetaminophen and diphenhydramine tablets
Authors: Kirkpatrick Douglas , Momot Magdalene , Anthony Clydewyn
Published: May 2020

The United States Pharmacopeia compendium does not currently contain a documentary standard for acetaminophen and diphenhydramine hydrochloride tablets to determine quality. To address this gap, high‐performance liquid chromatography methods for assay and impurities were developed and validated. Marketed products contain different amounts of drug substances per unit (325–500 mg of acetaminophen and 12.5–25 mg of diphenhydramine), so two methods specific to each substance were required. Methods were designed for high throughput by limiting analysis time, and complexity was reduced by utilizing similar materials and instrumental configurations across methods. For each method, specificity, linearity, accuracy, and precision were demonstrated for the assay and impurity determination. Both methods were shown to be fit‐for‐purpose and may be considered for adoption as United States Pharmacopeia compendial standards.
FastLORS: Joint modelling for expression quantitative trait loci mapping in R
Authors: Rhyne Jacob , Jeng X. Jessie , Chi Eric C. , Tzeng Jung‐Ying
Published: May 2020

FastLORS is a software package that implements a new algorithm to solve sparse multivariate regression for expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) mapping. FastLORS solves the same optimization problem as LORS, an existing popular algorithm. The optimization problem is solved through inexact block coordinate descent with updates by proximal gradient steps, which reduces the computational cost compared with LORS. We apply LORS and FastLORS to a real dataset for eQTL mapping and demonstrate that FastLORS delivers comparable results with LORS in much less computing time.
Integrierter Hebeprozess für hybride Gittermastrohrtürme der Windenergie
Authors: Richter Carl , Pak Daniel , Rebelo Carlos , Mohammadi Mohammad Reza Shah
Published: May 2020

Höhere Ausbeute an Windenergie bedeutet höhere Windtürme. In einem vom Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) geförderten Projekt „Steel Hybrid Onshore Wind Towers Installed with Minimal Effort“ (SHOWTIME) wurde sich mit der Frage beschäftigt, wie sehr große Nabenhöhen (> 180 m) wettbewerbsfähig in Stahlbauweise realisiert werden können. Als Lösung wird ein Stahlhybridturm mit einem unteren Teil in Gittermastbauweise und einem oberen Teil in Rohrvollwandbauweise angestrebt. Da Mobilkräne zur Erreichung solcher Nabenhöhen teuer und teilweise gar nicht verfügbar sind, wurde nach alternativen Möglichkeiten gesucht, den Turm zu errichten. So wurde ein integriertes Hebekonzept entwickelt, mit dem das obere Rohrteil am Übergangsstück per Litzenhub nach oben gehoben wird. Wichtig in diesem Zusammenhang ist auch die temporäre Verbindung der beiden Turmteile im Übergangsstück während des Hebevorgangs, da ein Verkippen des Rohrturms während des Hubs verhindert werden muss. In diesem Beitrag werden der innovative Hebevorgang und verschiedene Schritte zur Auslegung des Hebevorgangs und des Übergangsstücks sowie der durchgeführte Demonstrationsversuch vorgestellt.
Asymmetrical LVRT of DFIG incorporating feed‐forward transient current control and controllable resistive‐type fault current limiter
Authors: Huang Jiejie , Li Shenghu
Published: May 2020

During the low‐voltage ride‐through (LVRT) of the doubly fed induction generator (DFIG), the change rate of the stator flux is introduced as the feed‐forward compensation (FFC) to prevent the stator flux oscillation from affecting the rotor current control. The dual‐sequence FFC is proposed for the asymmetrical LVRT of the DFIG. To reduce the rotor voltage increase due to the FFC, the controllable resistive‐type fault current limiter (CRTFCL) is implemented at the stator side to improve damping to the stator flux oscillation. The resistance of the CRTFCL is controlled based on the ramp function to relieve oscillations resulted from the switch‐out of the CRTFCL. With the dual‐sequence FFC and CRTFCL applied to the asymmetrical LVRT, analytical expressions of the stator current, rotor current, and rotor voltage are derived. The accuracy of the analytical expressions and the improved LVRT performance with the dual‐sequence FFC and the CRTFCL are verified based on the time‐domain simulations. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Entanglement contour and modular flow from subset entanglement entropies
Authors: Wen Qiang
Published: May 2020

Abstract

The Entanglement contour function quantifies the contribution from each degree of freedom in a region $$ \mathcal{A} $$
A
to the entanglement entropy $$ {S}_{\mathcal{A}} $$

S
A

. Recently in [1] the author gave two proposals for the entanglement contour in two-dimensional theories. The first proposal is a fine structure analysis of the entanglement wedge, which applies to holographic theories. The second proposal is a claim that for general two-dimensional theories the partial entanglement entropy is given by a linear combination of entanglement entropies of relevant subsets inside $$ \mathcal{A} $$
A
. In this paper, we further study the partial entanglement entropy proposal by showing that it satisfies all the rational requirements proposed previously. We also extend the fine structure analysis from vacuum AdS space to BTZ black holes. Furthermore, we give a simple prescription to generate the local modular flows for two-dimensional theories from only the entanglement entropies without refer to the explicit Rindler transformations.
Implementation of anesthesia quality indicators in Germany
Authors: Ziemann S. , Coburn M. , Rossaint R. , Van Waesberghe J. , Bürkle H. , Fries M. , Henrich M. , Henzler D. , Iber T. , Karst J. , Kunitz O. , Löb R. , Meißner W. , Meybohm P. , Mierke B. , Pabst F. , Schaelte G. , Schiff J. , Soehle M. , Winterhalter M. , Kowark A.
Published: May 2020

Background

In 2016 the German Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (DGAI) and the Association of German Anesthetists (BDA) published 10 quality indicators (QI) to compare and improve the quality of anesthesia care in Germany. So far, there is no evidence for the feasibility of implementation of these QI in hospitals.

Objective

This study tested the hypothesis that the implementation of the 10 QI is feasible in German hospitals.

Material and methods

This prospective three-phase national multicenter quality improvement study was conducted in 15 German hospitals and 1 outpatient anesthesia center from March 2017 to February 2018. The trial consisted of an initial evaluation of pre-existing structures and processes by the heads of the participating anesthesia departments, followed by a 6-month implementation phase of the QI as well as a final re-evaluation phase. The implementation procedure was supported by web-based implementation aids (www.qi-an.org) and internal quality management programs. The primary endpoint was the difference in the number of implemented QI per center before and after implementation. Secondary endpoints were the number of newly implemented QI per center, the overall number of successful implementations of each QI, the identification of problems during the implementation as well as the kind of impediments preventing the QI implementation.

Results

The average number of implemented QI increased from 5.8 to 6.8 (mean of the differences 1.1 ± 1.3; P < 0.01). Most frequently the QI perioperative morbidity and mortality report (5 centers) and the QI temperature management (4 centers) could be implemented. After the implementation phase, the QI incidence management and patient blood management were implemented in all 16 centers. Implementation of other quality indicators failed mainly due to a lack of time and lack of structural resources.

Conclusion

In this study the implementation of QI was proven to be mostly feasible in the participating German hospitals. Although several QI could be implemented with minor effort, more time, financial and structural resources would be required for some QI, such as the QI postoperative visit.
Postural regulation and stability with acoustic input in normal-hearing subjects
Authors: Seiwerth I. , Jonen J. , Rahne T. , Lauenroth A. , Hullar T. E. , Plontke S. K. , Schwesig R.
Published: May 2020

Background

Postural regulation is based on complex interactions among postural subsystems. The auditory system too appears to have an influence on postural control.

Objective

The aim of this study was to measure the influence of auditory input on postural control and to gain a deeper understanding of the interactions between auditory input and postural subsystems including subjective aspects.

Materials and methods

In 30 healthy normal-hearing subjects, postural regulation and stability was measured with the Interactive Balance System (IBS; Inc. neurodata GmbH, Wien, Österreich) in 8 test positions with noise (frontal presentation) and plugged without noise. The IBS is an electrophysiological measurement device that measures postural control at the product level (e.g., stability, weight distribution) and the mechanisms of postural subsystems at the process level based on frequency-oriented fast-Fourier analysis of force–time relation.

Results

At the process level, we found a relevant reduction (ηp2 ≥ 0.10) of postural regulation with noise in the frequency bands F1 (visual and nigrostriatal system ηp2 = 0.122) and F2–4 (peripheral vestibular system ηp2 = 0.125). At the product level, the weight distribution index (WDI) parameter showed a relevant increase with noise (ηp2 = 0.159). No difference between the auditory conditions was found for postural stability (parameter: stability indicator, ST). Substantial interindividual variations in the subjective estimation of the influence of auditory inputs on stability were observed.

Conclusion

In this study, a shift in the activity of postural subsystems was observed with auditory input, while no difference was seen in ST. This leads to new insights into mechanisms of audiovestibular interaction.
Translating between models of concurrency
Authors: Mestel David , Roscoe A. W.
Published: May 2020

Hoare’s Communicating Sequential Processes (CSP) (Hoare in Communicating Sequential Processes, Prentice-Hall Inc, Upper Saddle River, 1985) admits a rich universe of semantic models closely related to the van Glabbeek spectrum. In this paper we study finite observational models, of which at least six have been studied for CSP, namely traces, stable failures, revivals, acceptances, refusal testing and finite linear observations (Roscoe in Understanding concurrent systems. Texts in computer science, Springer, Berlin, 2010). (Others are known.) We show how to use the relatively recently-introduced priority operator (Roscoe in Understanding concurrent systems. Texts in Computer Science, Springer, Berlin, 2010) to transform refinement questions in these models into trace refinement (language inclusion) tests. Furthermore, we are able to generalise this to any (rational) finite observational model. As well as being of theoretical interest, this is of practical significance since the state-of-the-art refinement checking tool FDR4 (Gibson-Robinson et al. in Int J Softw Tools Technol Transf 18(2):149–167, 2016) currently only supports two such models. In particular we study how it is possible to check refinement in a discrete version of the Timed Failures model that supports Timed CSP.
Studies of chemical and mechanical properties of hybrid composites based on natural resin Dammar formulated by epoxy resin
Authors: Franz M. Heiko , Neda Ion , Maftei Catalin V. , Ciuca Ion , Bolcu Dumitru , Stănescu Marius Marinel
Published: May 2020

More and more importance has been given lately to the use of environment-friendly materials. Natural resins of vegetal, animal or mineral origin are increasingly employed. This article studies the properties of hybrid composites, obtained by formulating the natural resin Dammar with epoxy resin. The Dammar volume proportion was of 60%, 70% and 80%, respectively. The article is divided in two parts. In the first part, the chemical composition of the natural resin Dammar is analysed. Therefore, the substance was purified by chromatography. The structure and purity of the isolated substances were investigated by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR experiments and mass analysis. The second part concentrates on structural characterization and on some mechanical properties of the three different hybrid composites. For this purpose, the characteristic curves, modulus of elasticity, tensile strength and elongation at break were measured.

Graphic abstract
UAV-gestützte Vermessung im Bergbau – Zur Frage der Genauigkeit unter Verwendung von Structure from Motion
Authors: Tscharf Alexander
Published: May 2020

Aufgrund immer schneller fortschreitender Betriebe und aufgrund des hohen personellen und zeitlichen Aufwands bei herkömmlichen Vermessungsmethoden bilden UAV-gestützte (unmanned aerial vehicle) photogrammetrische Verfahren schon seit einiger Zeit eine wertvolle Ergänzung zur Erfüllung der markscheiderischen Aufgaben im Tagbau. Obwohl vergleichbare Systeme bereits in der täglichen Praxis angekommen sind, sind die erreichbare Genauigkeit und insbesondere die genauigkeitswirksamen Einflussgrößen noch nicht abschließend untersucht, weshalb die im Beitrag präsentierte Dissertation auf genau diese Frage abzielt.

Zur Beantwortung der aufgeworfenen Fragen bilden neben theoretischen Analysen vor allem praktische Untersuchungen im Labor- und Realmaßstab den Kern der Forschungsarbeiten. Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchungen zeigen, dass bei „richtigem“ Einsatz (Systemdesign, Flugplanung und Auswertung) die Genauigkeitsanforderungen der Markscheideverordnung 2013 eingehalten werden können. Hinsichtlich Parameteridentifikation sind vor allem die signifikanten Einflüsse der Flughöhe, der Bildüberlappung und der Orientierung der Aufnahmeachse relativ zum Objekt zu nennen, wobei die gesteigerte Genauigkeit in unmittelbarem Zusammenhang zur Stabilität der Bildverknüpfung bzw. der Anzahl an gültigen Verknüpfungspunkten zu stehen scheint.
A boundary-partition-based Voronoi diagram of d-dimensional balls: definition, properties, and applications
Authors: Duan Xianglong , Quan Chaoyu , Stamm Benjamin
Published: May 2020

In computational geometry, different ways of space partitioning have been developed, including the Voronoi diagram of points and the power diagram of balls. In this article, a generalized Voronoi partition of overlappingd-dimensional balls, called the boundary-partition-based diagram, is proposed. The definition, properties, and applications of this diagram are presented. Compared to the power diagram, this boundary-partition-based diagram is straightforward in the computation of the volume of overlapping balls, which avoids the possibly complicated construction of power cells. Furthermore, it can be applied to characterize singularities on molecular surfaces and to compute the medial axis that can potentially be used to classify molecular structures.
High-order cut finite elements for the elastic wave equation
Authors: Sticko Simon , Ludvigsson Gustav , Kreiss Gunilla
Published: May 2020

A high-order cut finite element method is formulated for solving the elastic wave equation. Both a single domain problem and an interface problem are treated. The boundary or interface is allowed to cut through the background mesh. To avoid problems with small cuts, stabilizing terms are added to the bilinear forms corresponding to the mass and stiffness matrix. The stabilizing terms penalize jumps in normal derivatives over the faces of the elements cut by the boundary/interface. This ensures a stable discretization independently of how the boundary/interface cuts the mesh. Nitsche’s method is used to enforce boundary and interface conditions, resulting in symmetric bilinear forms. As a result of the symmetry, an energy estimate can be made and optimal order a priori error estimates are derived for the single domain problem. Finally, numerical experiments in two dimensions are presented that verify the order of accuracy and stability with respect to small cuts.
Diffusion in nanopores: correlating experimental findings with “first-principles” predictions
Authors: Hwang Seungtaik , Kärger Jörg
Published: May 2020

Measurement of molecular diffusion in nanoporous host materials, which are typically inhomogeneous and anisotropic, often involves an intricate web of factors and relations to be taken into account since the associated diffusivities are a function of the diffusion path of the guest molecules during a given observation time. Depending on the observation time, therefore, the result of the experimental measurement can point to completely different conclusions about the underlying diffusion phenomena. The risk of misinterpretation of the experimental data, by correlating them with irrelevant phenomena, may be reduced if there is an option to compare the data with the results of totally independent measurements. The present communication addresses this issue with reference to the particular potentials of pulsed field gradient NMR and microimaging by infrared microscopy as techniques of microscopic diffusion measurement.
What am I testing and where? Comparing testing procedures based on lightweight requirements annotations
Authors: Pudlitz Florian , Brokhausen Florian , Vogelsang Andreas
Published: May 2020

Context

The testing of software-intensive systems is performed in different test stages each having a large number of test cases. These test cases are commonly derived from requirements. Each test stages exhibits specific demands and constraints with respect to their degree of detail and what can be tested. Therefore, specific test suites are defined for each test stage. In this paper, the focus is on the domain of embedded systems, where, among others, typical test stages are Software- and Hardware-in-the-loop.

Objective

Monitoring and controlling which requirements are verified in which detail and in which test stage is a challenge for engineers. However, this information is necessary to assure a certain test coverage, to minimize redundant testing procedures, and to avoid inconsistencies between test stages. In addition, engineers are reluctant to state their requirements in terms of structured languages or models that would facilitate the relation of requirements to test executions.

Method

With our approach, we close the gap between requirements specifications and test executions. Previously, we have proposed a lightweight markup language for requirements which provides a set of annotations that can be applied to natural language requirements. The annotations are mapped to events and signals in test executions. As a result, meaningful insights from a set of test executions can be directly related to artifacts in the requirements specification. In this paper, we use the markup language to compare different test stages with one another.

Results

We annotate 443 natural language requirements of a driver assistance system with the means of our lightweight markup language. The annotations are then linked to 1300 test executions from a simulation environment and 53 test executions from test drives with human drivers. Based on the annotations, we are able to analyze how similar the test stages are and how well test stages and test cases are aligned with the requirements. Further, we highlight the general applicability of our approach through this extensive experimental evaluation.

Conclusion

With our approach, the results of several test levels are linked to the requirements and enable the evaluation of complex test executions. By this means, practitioners can easily evaluate how well a systems performs with regards to its specification and, additionally, can reason about the expressiveness of the applied test stage.
Effect of Initial Wettability on Rock Mechanics and Oil Recovery: Comparative Study on Outcrop Chalks
Authors: Sachdeva Jaspreet S. , Nermoen Anders , Korsnes Reidar I. , Madland Merete V.
Published: May 2020

Brines containing surface-active divalent ions such as Ca2+, Mg2+ and SO42− impact the stiffness, strength and time-dependent deformation of water wet Mons outcrop chalk. This study documents how stiffness and strength of wettability-altered oil and water-saturated (mixed wet) Mons chalk compare to water-saturated and water wet samples during hydrostatic loading and creep. During hydrostatic creep, the strain rate response to magnesium chloride (MgCl2) brine injection is compared for water wet and mixed wet samples. For the mixed wet samples, the oil production was estimated during compaction and non-equilibrium MgCl2 flow. The results presented here were then compared to a similar test series on Kansas outcrop chalk. The differences were interpreted in terms of difference in physical parameters such as porosity and pore size. Two Mons samples were wettability-altered and tested in parallel to two completely water wet samples from the same chalk block at hydrostatic conditions and 130 °C. It was found that beyond the experimental uncertainty, the stiffness and yield strength measurements showed insignificant differences for water wet and mixed wet Mons samples. This is contrary to Kansas chalk where mixed wet samples were systematically stronger and stiffer than water wet samples. In the following creep phase, both water wet and wettability-altered Mons chalk samples gave trends comparable to each other during a stagnant phase and a following MgCl2 injection phase at varying flow rates. Similar observations were reported for water wet and wettability-altered Kansas chalks as well. Further, the same chemical reactions were observed for Kansas and Mons chalks and were found to be insensitive to the initial wettability and oil/water saturations. The oil production observations from Mons chalk showed that 43% of the total oil was recovered during early-stage compaction with no flow, whereas Kansas chalk did not produce any oil at no-flow conditions. After the oil recovery from the first 2–3 pore volumes of brine flow, no further oil production was observed due to compaction or non-equilibrium brine flow in any of the two chalk types.
3DFaceGAN: Adversarial Nets for 3D Face Representation, Generation, and Translation
Authors: Moschoglou Stylianos , Ploumpis Stylianos , Nicolaou Mihalis A. , Papaioannou Athanasios , Zafeiriou Stefanos
Published: May 2020

Over the past few years, Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) have garnered increased interest among researchers in Computer Vision, with applications including, but not limited to, image generation, translation, imputation, and super-resolution. Nevertheless, no GAN-based method has been proposed in the literature that can successfully represent, generate or translate 3D facial shapes (meshes). This can be primarily attributed to two facts, namely that (a) publicly available 3D face databases are scarce as well as limited in terms of sample size and variability (e.g., few subjects, little diversity in race and gender), and (b) mesh convolutions for deep networks present several challenges that are not entirely tackled in the literature, leading to operator approximations and model instability, often failing to preserve high-frequency components of the distribution. As a result, linear methods such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) have been mainly utilized towards 3D shape analysis, despite being unable to capture non-linearities and high frequency details of the 3D face—such as eyelid and lip variations. In this work, we present 3DFaceGAN, the first GAN tailored towards modeling the distribution of 3D facial surfaces, while retaining the high frequency details of 3D face shapes. We conduct an extensive series of both qualitative and quantitative experiments, where the merits of 3DFaceGAN are clearly demonstrated against other, state-of-the-art methods in tasks such as 3D shape representation, generation, and translation.
A robust method for estimating the two-phase flow rate of oil and gas using wellhead data
Authors: Khamehchi Ehsan , Zolfagharroshan Mohammad , Mahdiani Mohammad Reza
Published: May 2020

Flow rate prediction of multiphase flow in the oil and gas wellbores is more complicated than single-phase flow avoiding direct measurements such as using flowmeters or well logging. This study offers an approach to find the accurate two-phase flow rates, applicable in extensive cases of two-phase wells/pipelines. When in a production well, the wellhead data are accessible except for flow rate, and bottom hole conditions, computing the pressure and temperature profiles through the wellbore can be brought about by replacing different values for flow rates, and lead us to probable accurate answers. This aim can be achieved by hiring a heuristic solver to find the most accurate answers as quickly as possible. This approach is flexible and practical depending on the statement of the problem. So, in this study, it has been applied to some vertical two-phase flow wells, which their well survey data was available to avoid future loggings, the wells modeled. Two models were developed, where each one predicted the flow rate by an error of less than 2%. Considering the final results for vertical wells, in this study, the model in which a mechanistic method for predicting pressure gradient applied in proposed compared with experiment-based methods.
On the standard L-function for $$\mathrm{GSp}_{2n} \times \mathrm{GL}_1$$ and algebraicity of symmetric fourth L-values for $$\mathrm{GL}_2$$
Authors: Pitale Ameya , Saha Abhishek , Schmidt Ralf
Published: May 2020

We prove an explicit integral representation—involving the pullback of a suitable Siegel Eisenstein series—for the twisted standardL-function associated to a holomorphic vector-valued Siegel cusp form of degreenand arbitrary level. In contrast to all previously proved pullback formulas in this situation, our formula involves only scalar-valued functions despite being applicable toL-functions of vector-valued Siegel cusp forms. The key new ingredient in our method is a novel choice of local vectors at the archimedean place which allows us to exactly compute the archimedean local integral. By specializing our integral representation to the case$$n=2$$n=2we are able to prove a reciprocity law—predicted by Deligne’s conjecture—for the critical values of the twisted standardL-function for vector-valued Siegel cusp forms of degree 2 and arbitrary level. This arithmetic application generalizes previously proved critical-value results for the full level case. By specializing further to the case of Siegel cusp forms obtained via the Ramakrishnan–Shahidi lift, we obtain a reciprocity law for the critical values of the symmetric fourthL-function of a classical newform.
Schwellungsmessung mit Textilsensor für Sitz- und Steharbeit
Authors: Gahr Sabrina , Kurz Wolfgang , Kurz Bernhard
Published: May 2020

Mit dem Ziel einer kontinuierlichen und ortsunabhängigen Schwellungsmessung im Beinbereich wurde eine textiler Dehnungssensor mit portabler Signaleinheit zum StrainTex-System weiterentwickelt. In umfangreichen Vorarbeiten konnten die technischen Merkmale an die gestellten Anforderungen unter realen Einsatzbedingungen angepasst werden. Ausgewählte Fallstudien bestätigen die Praktikabilität sowie eine Schwellungsdetektion mit einer Auflösung von 0,2 mm Umfangsänderung. Damit können nun sowohl Kurzzeiteffekte durch Muskelanspannungen wie auch Langzeiteffekte infolge von Anschwellungen durch Lymph- oder Blutstau kontinuierlich und rückwirkungssfrei diagnostiziert werden. Weiterführende Untersuchungen mit Probandenkollektiven bei längerdauernden Sitz- und Stehtätigkeiten belegen hochsignifikante Differenzierungsmerkmale. Die Weiterentwicklung des Messsystems hin zu einer in Alltagskleidung integrierten, nutzerfreundlichen Schwellungsdiagnostik mit Handlungsempfehlung via App-Kopplung, wird anhand dieser Ergebnisse abgewogen.

Praktische Relevanz: Viele Arbeitnehmer sind von längerdauernder Arbeit im Sitzen oder Stehen betroffen und hierdurch einem erhöhten gesundheitlichen Risiko ausgesetzt. Die derzeitigen Messmethoden zur Prävention von Schwellungsbeschwerden sind vor allem aufgrund der Ortsabhängigkeit und Auflösung nicht für eine kontinuierliche Messung und Schnelldiagnostik geeignet. Um den betroffenen ArbeitnehmerInnen präventive Empfehlungen bspw. in Form von Bewegungsänderung zu erteilen, ist eine neue portable und kontinuierliche Messmethode mit einfachster Applikation unerlässlich.
Wakefield acceleration
Authors: Tajima T. , Yan X. Q. , Ebisuzaki T.
Published: May 2020

The fundamental idea of Laser Wakefield Acceleration (LWFA) is reviewed. An ultrafast intense laser pulse drives coherent wakefields of relativistic amplitude with the high phase velocity robustly supported by the plasma. The structures of wakes and sheaths in plasma are contrasted. While the large amplitude of wakefields involves collective resonant oscillations of the eigenmode of the entire plasma electrons, the wake phase velocity ~ c and ultrafastness of the laser pulse introduce the wake stability and rigidity. When the phase velocity gets smaller, wakefields turn into sheaths. When we deploy laser ion acceleration or high density LWFA in which the phase velocity of plasma excitation is low, we encounter the sheath dynamics. A large number of world-wide experiments show a rapid progress of this concept realization toward both the high energy accelerator prospect and broad applications. The strong interest in this has driven novel laser technologies, including the Chirped Pulse Amplification, the Thin Film Compression (TFC), the Coherent Amplification Network, and the Relativistic Compression (RC). These in turn have created a conglomerate of novel science and technology with LWFA to form a new genre of high field science with many parameters of merit in this field increasing exponentially lately. Applications such as ion acceleration, X-ray free electron laser, electron and ion cancer therapy are discussed. A new avenue of LWFA using nanomaterials is also emerging, adopting X-ray laser using the above TFC and RC. Meanwhile, we find evidence that the Mother Nature spontaneously created wakefields that accelerate electrons and ions to very high energies.
A Model and Empirical Test of Evolving Consumer Perceived Brand Innovativeness and its two-way Relationship with Consumer Perceived Product Innovativeness
Authors: Shams Rahil , Brown Mark , Alpert Frank
Published: May 2020

This paper examines the evolution of consumer perceived brand innovativeness through its relationship with product innovativeness. A survey of 617 respondents measured consumer perceptions, brand attitude, and purchase intention, with data analysed using structural equation modelling. Results indicate that after exposure to a product innovation, consumers’ existing perception of brand innovativeness and perception of the technological newness of the innovation shape their perception of product innovativeness. This leads to an updating of perceptions of innovativeness at the brand level, which subsequently influence both brand attitude and purchase intention outcomes. It also mediates the impact of product innovativeness on these variables. This model of the evolution of brand innovativeness shows how it can be strengthened (or weakened) by product innovativeness. A key managerial implication is that investment and production of highly innovative products will result in a virtuous cycle of increasing future perceptions of product and brand innovativeness.
Postcognitivist Beckett
Authors: Beloborodova Olga
Published: May 2020

The aim of this Element is to offer a reassessment of Beckett's alleged Cartesianism using the theoretical framework of extended cognition – a cluster of present-day philosophical theories that question the mind's brain-bound nature and see cognition primarily as a process of interaction between the human brain and the environment it operates in. The principal argument defended here is that, despite the Cartesian bias introduced by early Beckett scholarship, Beckett's fictional minds are not isolated 'skullscapes'. Instead, they are grounded in interaction with their fictional storyworlds, however impoverished those may have become in the later part of his writing career.
The Case for Modelled Democracy
Authors: Ahlstrom-Vij Kristoffer
Published: May 2020

The fact that most of us are ignorant on politically relevant matters presents a problem for democracy. In light of this, some have suggested that we should impose epistemic constraints on democratic participation, and specifically that the franchise be restricted along competency lines – a suggestion that in turn runs the risk of violating a long-standing condition on political legitimacy to the effect that legitimate political arrangements cannot be open to reasonable objections. The present paper therefore outlines a way to solve the problem of public ignorance without restricting the franchise. The proposal involves filtering the electoral input of a universal franchise through a statistical model that simulates what the public's political preferences would have been, had they been informed on politically relevant matters. The result is modelled democracy. A case is made that such democracy both solves the problem of public ignorance and satisfies the aforementioned condition on legitimacy.
Philanthropy for global mental health 2000–2015
Authors: Iemmi Valentina
Published: May 2020

Background

Mental disorders are the leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide. While over three-quarters of people with mental disorders live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and effective low-cost interventions are available, resource commitments are extremely limited. This paper seeks to understand the role of philanthropy in this area and to inform discussions about how to increase investments.

Methods

Novel analyses of a dataset on development assistance for health were conducted to study philanthropic development assistance for mental health (DAMH) in 156 countries between 2000 and 2015.

Results

Philanthropic contributions more than doubled over 16 years, accounting for one-third (US$364.1 million) of total DAMH 2000–2015. However, across health conditions, mental disorders received the lowest amount of philanthropic development assistance for health (0.5%). Thirty-seven of 156 LMICs received no philanthropic DAMH between 2000 and 2015 and just three LMICs (Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) received more than US$1 philanthropic DAMH per capita over the entire period. Eighty-one percent of philanthropic DAMH was disbursed to unspecified locations.

Conclusions

Philanthropic donors are potentially playing a critical role in DAMH, and the paper identifies challenges and opportunities for increasing their impact in sustainable financing for mental health.
Use of whole-genome sequencing to detect an outbreak of Malassezia pachydermatis infection and colonization in a neonatal intensive care unit—California, 2015–2016
Authors: Chow Nancy A. , Chinn Raymond , Pong Alice , Schultz Kerry , Kim Janice , Gade Lalitha , Jackson Brendan R. , Beer Karlyn D. , Litvintseva Anastasia P.
Published: May 2020

Whole-genome sequencing confirmed the presence of a Malassezia pachydermatis outbreak among neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit. This technology supports the importance of adhering to infection prevention measures.
Site-specific fertilizer nitrogen management in Bt cotton using chlorophyll meter
Authors: Shankar Arun , Gupta R. K. , Bijay-Singh
Published: May 2020

Field experiments were conducted to standardize protocols for site-specific fertilizer nitrogen (N) management in Bt cotton using Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) chlorophyll meter. Performance of different SPAD-based site-specific N management scenarios was evaluated vis-à-vis blanket fertilizer N recommendation. The N treatments comprised a no-N (control), four fixed-time and fixed N doses (60, 90, 120, and 150 kg N ha-1) including the recommended dose (150 kg ha-1), and eight fixed-time and adjustable N doses based on critical SPAD readings of 45 and 41 at first flowering and boll formation stages, respectively. The results revealed that by applying 45 or 60 kg N ha-1 at thinning stage of the crop and critical SPAD value-guided dose of 45 or 30 kg N ha-1 at first flowering stage resulted in yields similar to that recorded by applying the recommended dose of 150 kg N ha-1. However, significantly higher N use efficiency as well as 30–40% less total fertilizer N use was recorded with site-specific N management. Applying 30 kg N ha-1 at thinning and SPAD meter-guided 45 kg N ha-1 at first flowering were not enough and required additional SPAD meter-guided 45 kg N ha-1 at boll formation for sustaining yield levels equivalent to those observed by following blanket recommendation but resulted in 20% less fertilizer N application. Our data revealed that SPAD meter-based site-specific N management in Bt cotton results in optimum yield with dynamic adjustment of fertilizer N doses at first flowering and boll formation stages. The total amount of N fertilizer following site-specific management strategies was substantially less than the blanket recommendation of 150 kg N ha-1, but the extent may vary in different fields.
Mapping QTLs for protein and oil content in soybean by removing the influence of related traits in a four-way recombinant inbred line population
Authors: Li Xiyu , Xue Hong , Zhang Kaixin , Li Wenbin , Fang Yanlong , Qi Zhongying , Wang Yue , Tian Xiaocui , Song Jie , Li Wenxia , Ning Hailong
Published: May 2020

Protein content (PC) and oil content (OC) are important breeding traits of soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr.]. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for PC and OC is important for molecular breeding in soybean; however, the negative correlation between PC and OC influences the accuracy of QTL mapping. In the current study, a four-way recombinant inbred lines (FW-RILs) population comprising 160 lines derived from the cross (Kenfeng14 × Kenfeng15) × (Heinong48 × Kenfeng19) was planted in eight different environments and PC and OC measured. Conditional and unconditional QTL analyses were carried out by interval mapping (IM) and inclusive complete IM based on linkage maps of 275 simple sequences repeat markers in a FW-RILs population. This analysis revealed 59 unconditional QTLs and 52 conditional QTLs among the FW-RILs. An analysis of additive effects indicated that the effects of 13 protein QTLs were not related to OC, whereas OC affected the expression of 13 and eight QTLs either partially or completely, respectively. Eight QTLs affecting OC were not influenced by PC, whereas six and 26 QTLs were partially and fully affected by PC, respectively. Among the QTLs detected in the current study, two protein QTLs and five oil QTLs had not been previously reported. These findings will facilitate marker-assisted selection and molecular breeding of soybean.
Conquering Switzerland: the emergence of Angiostrongylus vasorum in foxes over three decades and its rapid regional increase in prevalence contrast with the stable occurrence of lungworms
Authors: Gillis-Germitsch Nina , Tritten Lucienne , Hegglin Daniel , Deplazes Peter , Schnyder Manuela
Published: May 2020

Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis and Capillaria aerophila are the most common lungworms of domestic and wild canids. We investigated the short- and long-term lungworm prevalence changes in the Swiss fox population with a focus on A. vasorum. Between 2012 and 2017, lungs and hearts of 533 foxes from north-eastern Switzerland were necropsied and blood samples tested for circulating A. vasorum antigen. Angiostrongylus vasorum prevalence increased steadily from 21.5% in 2012 to 81.8% in 2017. In contrast, C. aerophila and C. vulpis prevalences fluctuated between 41.8 and 74.7%, and 3.6 and 14.9%, respectively. Based on 3955 blood samples collected between 1986 and 2017 from three geographic areas and during four time periods, antigen seropositivity increased from 2.4 to 62.0%. In north-eastern Switzerland, seropositivity was initially low (1.9 and 1.7% in the first two time periods) but increased in the following two decades to 22.2 and 62.0%, respectively. Our findings depict the spectacular expansion of A. vasorum in the past three decades. Regionally, the prevalence in foxes increased 4-fold within 6 years in some regions. This underpins the important role of foxes as reservoir hosts, likely explaining the increasing number of cases of canine angiostrongylosis in Switzerland. Our findings are representative of central Europe and may help anticipating future developments in areas where A. vasorum is present but (still) infrequent.