bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Auxetic, Partially Auxetic, and Nonauxetic Behaviour in 2D Crystals of Hard Cyclic Tetramers
Authors: Tretiakov Konstantin V. , Wojciechowski Krzysztof W.
Published: May 2020

Poisson's ratios of 2D crystals of hard, cyclic tetramers, further referred to as tetramers, are investigated by Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. The tetramers, very simple model molecules, which are composed of four identical hard disks of diameter σ with centers forming a square of side d, are studied in the isobaric–isothermal ensemble. It is found that, at the same thermodynamical parameters, but depending on the anisotropy parameter , the tetramers spontaneously form crystalline phases, representing each of the five Bravais lattices (BLs) which are possible in the 2D space. The following BLs are observed: 1) the oblique (monoclinic) one, 2) the rectangular (orthorhombic) one, 3) the centered rectangular (orthorhombic) one, 4) the hexagonal one, and 5) the square (tetragonal) one. Among them, structures showing auxetic, partially auxetic, and nonauxetic behaviour are found. This fact makes the tetramer an interesting example of a prototype “molecule,” which, depending on its shape, assembles materials of all possible behaviors regarding Poisson's ratio. It is worth noting that tetramers with form a strongly auxetic phase that, at the considered thermodynamic conditions, reaches Poisson's ratios varying in the range between −0.589(3) and −0.162(4).
The GPS for surgery: A user‐centered evaluation of a navigation system for laparoscopic surgery
Authors: Penza Veronica , Soriero Domenico , Barresi Giacinto , Pertile Davide , Scabini Stefano , Mattos Leonardo S.
Published: May 2020

Background

Unsafe surgical care has emerged as a significant public health concern, motivated by a high percentage of major complications happening during surgery, attributed to surgeons' skills and experience, and determined to be preventable.

Methods

This article presents APSurg, an Abdominal Positioning Surgical system designed to improve awareness and safety during laparoscopic surgery. The proposed system behaves like a GPS, offering an additional dynamic virtual reality view of the surgical field.

Results

This work presents an evaluation study in terms of accuracy, effectiveness, and usability. Tests were conducted performing a localization task on an abdomen phantom in a simulated scenario. Results show a navigation accuracy below 5 mm. The task execution time was reduced by a 15% and the performed incision dimension was reduced by a 46%, with respect to a standard setup. A custom questionnaire showed a significant positive impact in exploiting APSurg during the surgical task execution.
Sodium sulfate resistance of alkali/slag activated silico–manganese fume‐based composites
Authors: Nasir Muhammad , Johari Megat Azmi Megat , Maslehuddin Mohammed , Yusuf Moruf Olalekan
Published: May 2020

The durability of alkali‐activated silico–manganese fume (SMF)‐based mortar specimens was investigated by immersing them in 5% Na2SO4 solution and water (controlled environment) for up to 40 weeks. The effect of blast furnace slag (BFS) content [R = BFS/(BFS + SMF) = 0 and 0.3] and alkali concentration (4 and 10 M NaOHaq) was studied. Visual appearance, variation in alkalinity, mass loss, compressive strength, and microstructural changes were recorded. The maximum strength of 49.4 MPa was noted in BFS‐blended high‐alkaline binder system while the ultimate residual strength and mass loss were 88.8% and − 2.4%, respectively. The high sulfate‐resistance of this binder is attributed to the dense matrix resulting from the formation of C─S─H, K─A─S─H, and C─Mn─H. BFS‐blended mild‐alkaline system exhibited incomplete precursor dissolution thereby gaining a moderate strength of 39.6 MPa with the residual strength and mass loss of 74.1%and − 4.4%, respectively. The decomposition of the specimens on exposure to Na2SO4 may be ascribed to high pH differential from the mobility of Na+, SO42−, and OH− in and out of the mortar leading to formation of additional gypsum and calcite. The BFS‐free system displayed excellent stability under sulfate environment owing to the dearth of Ca in SMF. This was notably aided by increased precipitation of quartz together with the formation of degradation products and despite that still attained low strength of about 20 MPa. It is postulated that Ca/Si, Ca/Mn, Si/Mn, Ca/K, and Si/K ratios are the controlling factors influencing the sulfate‐resistance of the developed binders.
BRST cohomology of timelike Liouville theory
Authors: Bautista Teresa , Erbin Harold , Kudrna Matěj
Published: May 2020

Abstract

We compute the Hermitian sector of the relative BRST cohomology of the spacelike and timelike Liouville theories with generic real central charge c

L
in each case, coupled to a spacelike Coulomb gas and a generic transverse CFT. This paper is a companion of [1], and its main goal is to completely characterize the cohomology of the timelike theory with c

L

≤ 1 which was defined there. We also apply our formulas to revisit the BRST cohomology of the spacelike Liouville theory with c

L

> 1, which includes generalized minimal gravity. We prove a no-ghost theorem for the Hermitian sector in the timelike theory and for some spacelike models.
Enclosure and non-existence theorems for area stationary currents and currents with mean curvature vector
Authors: Henkemeyer Patrick
Published: May 2020

We discuss certain geometric properties for area stationary currents and currents with integrable mean curvature, so called “enclosure theorems”. As a consequence, we obtain non-existence results for currents with connected support. Finally, we extend these results to currents in submanifolds and state a non-existence result for stationary currents in spheres.
A New Method for Imaging Seismic Quiescence and Its Application to the Mw = 8.3 Kurile Islands Earthquake on 15 November 2006
Authors: Katsumata Kei , Zhuang Jiancang
Published: May 2020

In the present paper, a new method referred to as the Poisson probability map (PMAP) method is presented for identifying and visualizing seismic quiescence. With the PMAP, theP-value is defined as the probability that consecutive earthquakes occur according to a homogeneous Poisson process: the smaller theP-value, the less frequently the longer time interval is observed, i.e. the more significant the seismic quiescence. The PMAP method was applied to the sequence which preceded the Kurile Islands earthquake that occurred on 15 November 2006 [Mw = 8.3 and the centroid = (154.33 °E, 46.71 °N)]. The seismic quiescence is identified by a smallP-value of 9.0 × 10–5that was found to start in 1990.1, which lasted for 15.4 years and ended in 2005.5 within a circular area centered at (153.8 °E, 47.1 °N) and with a radius of 26 km. This seismic quiescence has not previously been recognized using any other method.
Association Between Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Calibre and Body Figure: A Preoperative Tool to Assess Thin‐Diameter Nerves in Thyroidectomy
Authors: Wu Kun‐Ta , Chan Yi‐Chia , Chou Fong‐Fu , Wu Yi‐Ju , Chi Shun‐Yu
Published: May 2020

Inadvertent recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury is a major complication of thyroidectomy. This study aimed to investigate the association between preoperative clinical parameters and RLN size prediction. Total thyroidectomy and thyroid lobectomy data were collected between January 2014 and April 2017. Routine identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerves was performed, while intraoperative findings (nerve diameter, thyroid gland weight, intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) use, and signal recording) and demographic data were collected for analysis. A total of 848 patients with 1357 RLNs at risk were enrolled in this study. RLN diameter was thinner in females, those with body height <160 cm, and those with a BMI <25 (all p < 0.001). RLN diameter was directly proportional to age, body weight, height, and BMI. RLN diameter was thinner (1.71 mm vs. 1.55 mm, p = 0.039) and branched nerve incidence was higher (18.5% vs. 29.7%, p = 0.09) in the postoperative RLN injury group. Branched nerves were more frequently encountered in female patients (female vs. male: 28.8% vs. 18.7%, p = 0.004). The risk of RLN palsy in intraoperative IONM loss patients was 27 times higher compared to that in IONM normal patients (1.55% vs. 30%, p < 0.001). Thinner nerves did not yield a higher rate of IONM signal loss. Thinner nerves and higher palsy rates could be anticipated in females, younger age groups, those with shorter stature, and those with low BMI. RLN diameter was not associated with the rate of IONM signal loss.
Least-Squares Padé approximation of parametric and stochastic Helmholtz maps
Authors: Bonizzoni Francesca , Nobile Fabio , Perugia Ilaria , Pradovera Davide
Published: May 2020

The present work deals with rational model order reduction methods based on the single-point Least-Square (LS) Padé approximation techniques introduced in Bonizzoni et al. (ESAIM Math. Model. Numer. Anal., 52(4), 1261–1284 2018, Math. Comput. 89, 1229–1257 2020). Algorithmical aspects concerning the construction of rational LS-Padé approximants are described. In particular, we show that the computation of the Padé denominator can be carried out efficiently by solving an eigenvalue-eigenvector problem involving a Gramian matrix. The LS-Padé techniques are employed to approximate the frequency response map associated with two parametric time-harmonic acoustic wave problems, namely a transmission-reflection problem and a scattering problem. In both cases, we establish the meromorphy of the frequency response map. The Helmholtz equation with stochastic wavenumber is also considered. In particular, for Lipschitz functionals of the solution and their corresponding probability measures, we establish weak convergence of the measure derived from the LS-Padé approximant to the true one. 2D numerical tests are performed, which confirm the effectiveness of the approximation methods.
Status quo of adoption of precision agriculture enabling technologies in Swiss plant production
Authors: Groher Tanja , Heitkämper Katja , Walter Achim , Liebisch Frank , Umstätter Christina
Published: May 2020

This paper presents the state of application of Precision Agricultural enabling Technology (PAT) in Swiss farms as an example for small-scale, highly mechanised Central European agriculture. Furthermore, correlations between farm and farmers’ characteristics and technology adoption were evaluated. Being part of a comprehensive and representative study assessing the state of mechanisation and automation in Swiss agriculture, this paper focuses on the adoption of Driver Assistance Systems (DAS) and activities in which Electronic Measuring Systems (EMS) are used. The adoption rate of DAS was markedly higher compared to EMS in all agricultural enterprises. The adoption rate was highest for high-value enterprise vegetables and surprisingly low for the high-value enterprise grapes. The results of a binary logistic regression showed that farmers located in the mountain zone were less likely to adopt PAT compared to farmers in the valley. Small farm size correlated with low adoption rates and vice versa showing adoption happens country-specific in the upper farm size distribution. The results show the potential for novel technologies to be adopted by farmers of high-value products. Furthermore, technologies have been partially used to reduce physical workload but not yet to evaluate crop or management performance to support decisions. However, automatic collection and forwarding of data is a fundamental step towards Smart Farming realizing its full potential in the future.
Effects of gE/gI deletions on the miRNA expression of PRV-infected PK-15 cells
Authors: Liu Xiao , Zhou Yuancheng , Luo Yuan , Chen Yanxi
Published: May 2020

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) belongs to the Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily of Herpesviridae. PRV-induced pseudorabies is a highly contagious disease that has caused huge economic losses to the global swine industry. The PRV gE/gI gene deletion vaccine strain (Fa ΔgE/gI strain) constructed from the PRV Fa wild-type strain was shown to have a protective effect against infection. However, the interaction between PRV gE/gI genes and host miRNA needs further exploration, and little is known about the regulatory mechanisms of non-coding RNAs during PRV infection. miRNAs play a key regulatory role in viral infection and immune responses, so we analyzed the differential expression of miRNAs induced by the PRV Fa ΔgE/gI strain and Fa wild-type strain in the PK15 cell line. High-throughput sequencing reads were aligned to known Sus scrofa pre-miRNAs in the miRBase database. Target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted using the miRGen 3.0 database, then filtered miRNA target genes were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/ Proteins (STRING) analysis. Stem-loop quantitative real-time PCR was performed to confirm the accuracy of high-throughput sequencing data. In total, 387, 472, and 490 annotated and novel mature miRNAs were identified from PRV Fa ΔgE/gI strain-infected, Fa wild-type strain-infected, and non-infected PK-15 cells, respectively. Five PRV-encoded miRNAs were also identified. GO analysis showed that target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs in PRV Fa ΔgE/gI strain-infected and Fa wild-type strain-infected PK-15 cells were mainly involved in biological regulation and metabolic processes. STRING analysis showed that immune-related target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs in the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, B cell receptor signaling pathway, T cell receptor signaling pathway, nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway, and transforming growth factor-β signaling pathway were interrelated. This is the first report of the small RNA transcriptome in PRV mutant wild-type strain-infected and Fa ΔgE/gI strain-infected porcine cell lines. Our findings will contribute to the prevention and treatment of PRV mutant strains.
Short beam shear properties and failure modes of the wood-based X-type lattice sandwich structure
Authors: Zheng Tengteng , Zou Liuxiao , Hu Yingcheng
Published: May 2020

A wood-based X-type lattice sandwich structure was manufactured by insertion-glue method. The birch was used as core, and Oriented Strand Board was used as panel of the sandwich structure. The short beam shear properties and the failure modes of the wood-based X-type lattice sandwich structure with different core direction (vertical and parallel), unit specification (120 mm × 60 mm and 60 mm × 60 mm), core size (50 mm and 60 mm), and drilling depth (9 mm and 12 mm) were investigated by a short beam shear test and the establishment of a theoretical model to study the equivalent shear modulus and deflection response of the X-type lattice sandwich structure. Results from the short beam shear test and the theoretical model showed that the failure modes of the wood-based X-type lattice sandwich structure were mainly the wrinkling and crushing of the panels under three-point bending load. The experimental values of deflection response of various type specimens were higher than the theoretical values of them. For the core direction of parallel, the smaller the unit specification is, the shorter the core size is, and the deeper the drilling depth is, the greater the short beam shear properties of the wood-based X-type lattice sandwich structure is.
Detection of flow units of Quseir Formation (Lower Campanian) as a potential reservoir using experimental correlations of capillary pressure derived parameters, Gebel el-Silsila, Egypt
Authors: Elnaggar Osama M. , Temraz Mostafa G. , Khallaf Mohamed K.
Published: May 2020

Sandstone surface samples were collected from Quseir Fm., a member of Nubian Sandstone at Gebel el-Silsila and subjected to petrographical investigation using polarizing microscope. X-Ray diffraction was carried out to determine mineralogy. Scanning electron microscope also was utilized for the morphological characterization of the rock components. This sandstone petrofacies is mainly quartz arenite. The depositional environment of the studied sandstones is fluvial to fluvial-marine, and they suffered post-depositional alterations. Alterations include diagenesis (clay infiltration and original detrital grains disintegration), weathering, deterioration phenomena as erosion, voids existence due to dissolution and absence of bound materials. Mineralogical characterization indicated that quartz is the main constituent of sandstone in addition to kaolinite clay mineral as a cementing material. Petrophysically, the studied samples subjected to porosity and permeability measurements. The measurements showed that the samples are highly porous and permeable. Permeability–porosity relation displayed two groups (A and B). Although porosity values are close to great extent, permeability is quite different for the two groups due to the different distributions of pore throats, perhaps as a result of uneven clay distribution within the two groups of samples. Many capillary pressure-derived parameters were calculated using experimental correlations. The results confirmed the presence of two flow groups, macroport group (group A) and megaport group (group B) that is the best in terms of reservoir quality. The two groups reflect the excellent properties for the studied potential reservoir.
Nutritional and prebiotic efficacy of the microalga Arthrospira platensis (spirulina) in honey bees
Authors: Ricigliano Vincent A. , Simone-Finstrom Michael
Published: May 2020

We evaluated the microalga Arthrospira platensis (commonly called spirulina), as a pollen substitute for honey bees. Nutritional analyses indicated that spirulina is rich in essential amino acids and a wide variety of functional lipids (i.e., phospholipids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and sterols) common in pollen. Feeding bioassays were used to compare dry and fresh laboratory-grown spirulina with bee-collected pollen and a commercial pollen substitute using sucrose syrup as a control. Diets were fed ad libitum as a paste to newly emerged bees in cages (10–13 cage replicates) and bees were sampled at days 5 and 10 for physiological and molecular measurements. Spirulina diets produced biomarker profiles (thorax weight, head protein content, and beneficial gut bacteria abundance) that were indicative of elevated nutritional states, meeting or exceeding the other diets in some metrics despite reduced consumption. Furthermore, spirulina diets led to significantly increased fat body lipid content and mRNA levels of the central storage lipoprotein vitellogenin. We conclude that spirulina has significant potential as a pollen substitute or prebiotic diet additive to improve honey bee health.
Research progress and prospects of coal petrology and coal quality in China
Authors: Tang Yuegang , Li Ruiqing , Wang Shaoqing
Published: May 2020

Clean utilization of coal depends on the quality of raw coal, which depends on the coal-forming parent materials (petrology and chemical composition of coal), the multiple media of the coal-forming environment, and some epigenetic conditions, such as thermal evolution (coalification), magmatic hydrothermal fluid, groundwater. Based on the research results of predecessors and prediction studies of coal resources since the founding of China, the present status of research on coal petrology, coal quality, coal metamorphism, and coal geochemistry in China is discussed in detail, with emphasis on research progress and the general situation of highly efficient and clean utilization of coal in the technical fields of coking, pyrolysis, combustion, gasification, and liquefaction, and the development prospects of coal petrology and coal quality in China are prospected.
Development history and prospect of remote sensing technology in coal geology of China
Authors: Tan Kelong , Qiao Junwei
Published: May 2020

Coal remote sensing technology was founded in the period of coal resources survey after the founding of People’s Republic of China. Aerophoto Grammetry & Remote Sensing Bureau of China National Administration of Coal Geology was established, specializing in the application and promotion of coal remote sensing technology. With the rapid development of coal geological exploration in China, coal remote sensing technology has evolved from coal geology based survey to comprehensive survey that factors in resources, environment, ecology and so on. This paper summarizes the general situation, theories, development process, key research and future of remote sensing technology for coal mining in China. Spanning over 50 years, the history of China’s coal remote sensing technology can be divided into five stages: aero-geological mapping, coal remote sensing theory experimental research, application research and promotion, architecture planning and productionisation, “3S” technology integration and application. This paper expounds the main technical progress, application fields, major projects and major achievements in various historical periods, and points out that the coal remote sensing has entered a unified development stage of “Aviation, Aerospace and Ground”, with a focus on high-resolution remote sensing, hyperspectral remote sensing, radar remote sensing, “3S” technology integration and multi-means comprehensive exploration and evaluation. In the future, coal remote sensing technology will develop rapidly in data mass, technology integration, evaluation intelligence, integration application programming, system visualization, etc. Coal remote sensing technology has entered the industrial development from technology application.
The Bail-in Beyond Unpredictability: Creditors’ Incentives and Market Discipline
Authors: Martino Edoardo
Published: May 2020

The market discipline of creditors on the risk-taking behaviour of borrowing banks represents a long-lasting debate. Such a debate gained new attention after the post-crisis stream of reforms concerning resolution policy: creditors should be incentivized to make an optimal effort in monitoring their borrowers and, at the same time, their interests have been aligned with the social ones. Many commentators criticized such an expectation especially in the European context, arguing that the lack of credibility and excessive complexity of the resolution mechanism impair the ability and willingness of creditors to exert a disciplining role. This article aims at taking a step forward in this scientific debate, investigating whether the ability to exert disciplining activity is inherently impaired by the design of the Directive. In other words, this research wants to assess if, assuming an ideal environment, creditors would have optimal incentives to monitor banks’ behaviour and to react accordingly. To do so, the article reviews the literature on market discipline, then carries out a legal analysis of the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD), focusing on those norms shaping the market for bail-inable securities. Eventually, the incentives stemming from those norms are discussed, assuming an ideal environment where a bail-in is certain and credible and the market for bail-inable securities works smoothly. The analysis highlights that the incentives of creditors toward market discipline are inherently diluted by the BRRD’s legal design because of competing policy objectives pursued by the Directive. The direct normative consequence of such a finding is that enhancing information and predictability, though desirable in principle, will never lead to an optimal monitoring effort, leaving the floor to alternative rule-based strategies.
Investigation of strain rate sensitivity of Gum Metal under tension using digital image correlation
Authors: Golasiński Karol , Pieczyska Elżbieta , Maj Michał , Staszczak Maria , Świec Paweł , Furuta Tadahiko , Kuramoto Shigeru
Published: May 2020

Mechanical behavior of a multifunctional titanium alloy Gum Metal was investigated by conducting tensile tests at various strain rates and applying digital image correlation (DIC) technique. Stress–strain curves confirmed low Young’s modulus and high strength of the alloy. The determined values of yield strength had a tendency to increase, whereas the elongation to the specimen rupture tended to decrease with increasing strain rate. True stress versus strain curves were analyzed using selected lengths of virtual extensometer (VE) placed in the strain localization area. When the initial length of the VE was the same as the gauge length, work hardening was observed macroscopically at lower strain rates, and a softening was seen at higher strain rates. However, the softening effect was not observed at the shorter VE lengths. Evolution of the Hencky strain and rate of deformation tensor component fields were analyzed for various strain rates at selected stages of Gum Metal loading. The DIC analysis demonstrated that for lower strain rates the deformation is macroscopically uniform up to the higher average Hencky strains, whereas for higher strain rates the strain localization occurs at the lower average Hencky strains of the deformation process and takes place in the smaller area. It was also found that for all strain rates applied, the maximal values of Hencky strain immediately before rupture of Gum Metal samples were similar for each of the applied strain rates, and the maximal local values of deformation rate were two orders higher when compared to applied average strain rate values.
Knobbly but nice
Authors: DOBBS NEIL
Published: May 2020

Our main result states that, under an exponential map whose Julia set is the whole complex plane, on each piecewise smooth Jordan curve there is a point whose orbit is dense. This has consequences for the boundaries of nice sets, used in induction methods to study ergodic and geometric properties of the dynamics.
Improved stability of a compact vacuum-free laser-plasma X-ray source
Authors: Martín L. , Benlliure J. , Cortina-Gil D. , Peñas J. , Ruiz C.
Published: May 2020

We report the development of a stable high-average power X-ray source generated by the interaction of ultrashort laser pulses (35 fs, 1 mJ, 1 kHz) with a solid target in air. The achieved source stability, which is essential for the applications foreseen for these laser-driven plasma accelerators, is due to the combination of precise positioning of the target on focus and the development of a fast rotating target system able to ensure the refreshment of the material at every shot while minimizing positioning errors with respect to the focal spot. This vacuum-free laser-plasma X-ray source provides an average dose rate of 1.5 Sv/h at 30 cm and a repeatability better than 93% during more than 36 min of continuous operation per target.
The Nicolas Maduro Regime (O.A.S.)
Authors: Cerna Christina M.
Published: May 2020

On September 11, 2019, twelve states parties invoked the Inter-American Treaty on Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR), because they considered the crisis in Venezuela to have a destabilizing impact on the peace and security of the hemisphere. Venezuela was one of the twelve, voting in favor; this was because, on April 9, 2019, the Organization of American States (OAS) formally recognized Juan Guaido's representative, Gustavo Tarre, in lieu of Nicolas Maduro's Ambassador. At the OAS General Assembly in June, Tarre's appointment was approved in a much contested and heated session. The OAS has thirty-five member states and approximately one-third of its membership supported the invocation of the TIAR. The TIAR is the OAS's mutual defense pact; it was last invoked following the events of September 11, 2001. Article 5 of the NATO Charter, calling for collective action in the case of an armed attack on one member, is derived from Article 3 of the TIAR. Following invocation of the TIAR, the Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (the OAS equivalent to the UN Security Council, but without veto power) held its 30th meeting in New York City during the UN General Assembly. The result of that meeting was the adoption of the Resolution under consideration here.
U.S. v. Assa Co. Ltd. (2d Cir.)
Authors: Folkman Theodore J.
Published: May 2020

On August 9, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit decided United States v. Assa Co. The decision is significant for its holding that a civil forfeiture action in rem concerning property of a foreign state or its instrumentality is not an action against the foreign state or instrumentality for purposes of the jurisdictional and immunity provisions of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA).
In re del Valle Ruiz (2d Cir.)
Authors: Hubbard Jared
Published: May 2020

On October 7, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a decision in In re del Valle Ruiz that significantly expands the ability of parties to foreign legal proceedings to obtain discovery from U.S. courts. The Second Circuit reached two key conclusions that work to expand the reach of discovery by American courts: first, that the reach of 28 U.S.C. section 1782 applies to the full limit of constitutional due process, and second, that there is no bar on the ability of U.S. courts to order the production of documents outside of the United States under section 1782.
Successful aging at work: A process model to guide future research and practice
Authors: Kooij Dorien T. A. M. , Zacher Hannes , Wang Mo , Heckhausen Jutta
Published: May 2020

Although aging workforces result in numerous practical challenges for organizations and societies, little research has focused on successful aging at work. The limited existent research has generated rather diverse conceptualizations of successful aging at work, which are often broad and difficult to operationalize in practice. Therefore, to advance research and practice, we offer a specific and practical conceptualization of successful aging at work by developing a process model, which identifies relevant antecedents and mechanisms. In particular, we define successful aging at work as the proactive maintenance of, or adaptive recovery (after decline) to, high levels of abilityandmotivation to continue working among older workers. We also argue that proactive efforts to maintain, or adaptive efforts to recover and restore, high ability and motivation to continue working result from a self-regulation process that involves goal engagement and disengagement strategies to maintain, adjust, and restore person–environment fit. Further, we propose that at various levels (i.e., person, job, work group, organization, and society) more distal factors function as antecedents of this self-regulation process, with age-related bias and discrimination potentially operating at each level. Finally, we offer a roadmap for future research and practical applications.
Receptive number morphosyntax in children with Down syndrome
Authors: ABREU-MENDOZA ROBERTO A. , JASSO TANIA , SOTO-ALBA ELIA E. , ARIAS-TREJO NATALIA
Published: May 2020

This study investigated the comprehension of plural morphosyntactic markers and its relationship with numerical comparison abilities in children with Down syndrome (DS). It evaluated 16 Spanish-speaking children with DS (mean verbal mental age = 3;6) and 16 typically developing children with similar receptive vocabulary (mean chronological age = 3;5). Children participated in two preferential looking tasks assessing their abilities to map singular and plural markers to their visual referents and to distinguish one object from more than one. Results showed that both groups of children correctly mapped plural markers to their referents but failed to map singular ones. Furthermore, results also indicated that both groups also looked at collections of more than one object with four objects but not at those with two. The eye movement patterns of children who looked at collections of more than one object suggest a counting-like strategy. These results indicate that comprehension of plural markers of children with DS is similar to that of their typically developing peers; however, it is not related to their numerical abilities.
Using Artificial Intelligence to classify Jobseekers: The Accuracy-Equity Trade-off
Authors: DESIERE SAM , STRUYVEN LUDO
Published: May 2020

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly popular in the public sector to improve the cost-efficiency of service delivery. One example is AI-based profiling models in public employment services (PES), which predict a jobseeker’s probability of finding work and are used to segment jobseekers in groups. Profiling models hold the potential to improve identification of jobseekers at-risk of becoming long-term unemployed, but also induce discrimination. Using a recently developed AI-based profiling model of the Flemish PES, we assess to what extent AI-based profiling ‘discriminates’ against jobseekers of foreign origin compared to traditional rule-based profiling approaches. At a maximum level of accuracy, jobseekers of foreign origin who ultimately find a job are 2.6 times more likely to be misclassified as ‘high-risk’ jobseekers. We argue that it is critical that policymakers and caseworkers understand the inherent trade-offs of profiling models, and consider the limitations when integrating these models in daily operations. We develop a graphical tool to visualize the accuracy-equity trade-off in order to facilitate policy discussions.
Second Earners and In-Work Poverty in Europe
Authors: JARA TAMAYO H. XAVIER , POPOVA DARIA
Published: May 2020

Dual or multiple earnership has been considered an important factor to prevent in-work poverty. The aim of this paper is to quantify the impact of second earnership on the risk of in-work poverty and the role of the tax-benefit system in moderating this risk. Our analysis refers to 2014 and employs EUROMOD, the tax-benefit microsimulation model for the European Union and the United Kingdom. In order to assess the role of second earners in preventing in-work poverty we simulate a counterfactual scenario where second earners become unemployed. Our results show that the effect of net replacement rates (i.e. the ratio of household income before and after the transition of second earners to unemployment) on the probability of in-work poverty is negative and statistically significant, but in relative terms it appears to be small compared to the effects of individual labour market characteristics, such as low pay and part-time employment.
A critical virus production rate for efficiency of oncolytic virotherapy
Authors: TAO YOUSHAN , WINKLER MICHAEL
Published: May 2020

In a planar smoothly bounded domain$\Omega$, we consider the model for oncolytic virotherapy given by$$\left\{ \begin{array}{l} u_t = \Delta u - \nabla \cdot (u\nabla v) - uz, \\[1mm] v_t = - (u+w)v, \\[1mm] w_t = d_w \Delta w - w + uz, \\[1mm] z_t = d_z \Delta z - z - uz + \beta w, \end{array} \right.$$with positive parameters$ D_w $,$ D_z $and$\beta$. It is firstly shown that whenever$\beta \lt 1$, for any choice of$M \gt 0$, one can find initial data such that the solution of an associated no-flux initial-boundary value problem, well known to exist globally actually for any choice of$\beta \gt 0$, satisfies$$u\ge M \qquad \mbox{in } \Omega\times (0,\infty).$$If$\beta \gt 1$, however, then for arbitrary initial data the corresponding is seen to have the property that$$\liminf_{t\to\infty} \inf_{x\in\Omega} u(x,t)\le \frac{1}{\beta-1}.$$This may be interpreted as indicating that$\beta$plays the role of a critical virus replication rate with regard to efficiency of the considered virotherapy, with corresponding threshold value given by$\beta = 1$.
The southern Jiangsu coast is a critical moulting site for Spoon-billed Sandpiper Calidris pygmaea and Nordmann’s Greenshank Tringa guttifer
Authors: YANG ZIYOU , LAGASSÉ BENJAMIN J. , XIAO HUI , JACKSON MICHA V. , CHIANG CHUNG-YU , MELVILLE DAVID S. , LEUNG KAR SIN KATHERINE , LI JING , ZHANG LIN , PENG HE-BO , GAN XIAOJING , LIU WEN-LIANG , MA ZHIJUN , CHOI CHI-YEUNG
Published: May 2020

The extent of intertidal flats in the Yellow Sea region has declined significantly in the past few decades, resulting in severe population declines in several waterbird species. The Yellow Sea region holds the primary stopover sites for many shorebirds during their migration to and from northern breeding grounds. However, the functional roles of these sites in shorebirds’ stopover ecology remain poorly understood. Through field surveys between July and November 2015, we investigated the stopover and moult schedules of migratory shorebirds along the southern Jiangsu coast, eastern China during their southbound migration, with a focus on the ‘Critically Endangered’ Spoon-billed Sandpiper Calidris pygmaea and ‘Endangered’ Nordmann’s Greenshank Tringa guttifer. Long-term count data indicate that both species regularly occur in globally important number in southern Jiangsu coast, constituting 16.67–49.34% and 64.0–80.67% of their global population estimates respectively, and it is highly likely that most adults undergo their primary moult during this southbound migration stopover. Our results show that Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Nordmann’s Greenshank staged for an extended period of time (66 and 84 days, respectively) to complete their primary moult. On average, Spoon-billed Sandpipers and Nordmann’s Greenshanks started moulting primary feathers on 8 August ± 4.52 and 27 July ± 1.56 days respectively, and their moult durations were 72.58 ± 9.08 and 65.09 ± 2.40 days. In addition, some individuals of several other shorebird species including the ‘Endangered’ Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris, ‘Near Threatened’ Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, ‘Near Threatened’ Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata and Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii also underwent primary moult. Our work highlights the importance of the southern Jiangsu region as the primary moulting ground for these species, reinforcing that conservation of shorebird habitat including both intertidal flats and supratidal roosting sites in this region is critical to safeguard the future of some highly threatened shorebird species.
Spawning induction and embryonic development of Salminus hilarii (Characiformes: Characidae)
Authors: Araújo Bruno Cavalheiro , Mello Paulo Henrique , Moreira Renata Guimarães , Hilsdorf Alexandre Wagner Silva , Marques Victor Hugo , Honji Renato Massaaki
Published: May 2020

The present study aimed to evaluate two different methods of artificial reproduction induction, and characterize the embryonic development of Salminus hilarii. Different than observed for other tropical fish species, artificial reproduction induction followed by hand-stripping of gametes was considered unfeasible for S. hilarii, as no gamete fertilization was observed. However, females that were induced and spawned naturally presented a fertilization rate of 65.64 ± 0.54%. With a mean temperature of 26.20 ± 0.90ºC it was possible to clearly distinguish a large perivitelline space at 14 min after fertilization (AF) and at 49 min AF more than 50% of the embryos presented two blastomeres, and these cleavages occurred until 1 h 54 min AF. The gastrula phase was characterized at 3 h 56 min AF, and blastopore closure was observed at 8 h 31 min AF. At 9 h 1 min, organogenesis started, with a clear distinction of the yolk mass, embryonic axis, cephalic and caudal regions; at 11 h 51 min AF the embryos already had advanced segmentation and a free tail. Total hatching occurred at 21 h 17 min and after opening the mouth, which occurred at 33 h 9 min, the larvae of S. hilarii presented a strong and characteristic cannibalism. This information can be considered fundamental to improving S. hilarii production in captivity and for collaboration with a conservation programme in the upper Tietê river basin.
Rationale and design of a cohort study evaluating triage of acute chest pain in out-of-hours primary care in the Netherlands (TRACE)
Authors: Manten Amy , Cuijpers Cuny J.J. , Rietveld Remco , Groot Emma , van de Graaf Freek , Voerman Sandra , Himmelreich Jelle C.L. , Lucassen Wim A.M. , van Weert Henk C.P.M. , Harskamp Ralf E.
Published: May 2020

The aims of this study are (1) to evaluate the performance of current triage for chest pain; (2) to describe the case mix of patients undergoing triage for chest pain; and (3) to identify opportunities to improve performance of current Dutch triage system for chest pain. Chest pain is a common symptom, and identifying patients with chest pain that require urgent care can be quite challenging. Making the correct assessment is even harder during telephone triage. Temporal trends show that the referral threshold has lowered over time, resulting in overcrowding of first responders and emergency services. While various stakeholders advocate for a more efficient triage system, careful evaluation of the performance of the current triage in primary care is lacking. TRiage of Acute Chest pain Evaluation in primary care (TRACE) is a large cohort study designed to describe the current Dutch triage system for chest pain and subsequently evaluate triage performance in regard to clinical outcomes. The study consists of consecutive patients who contacted the out-of-hours primary care facility with chest pain in the region of Alkmaar, the Netherlands, in 2017, with follow-up for clinical outcomes out to August 2019. The primary outcome of interest is ‘major event’, which is defined as the occurrence of death from any cause, acute coronary syndrome, urgent coronary revascularization, or other high-risk diagnoses in which delay is inadmissible and hospitalization is necessary. We will evaluate the performance of the triage system by assessing the ability of the triage system to correctly classify patients regarding urgency (accuracy), the proportion of safe actions following triage (safety) as well as rightfully deployed ambulances (efficacy). TRACE is designed to describe the current Dutch triage system for chest pain in primary care and to subsequently evaluate triage performance in regard to clinical outcomes.
Nick Martin and the Genetics of Depression: Sample Size, Sample Size, Sample Size
Authors: Byrne Enda M. , Henders Anjali K. , Hickie Ian B. , Middeldorp Christel M. , Wray Naomi R.
Published: May 2020

Nick Martin is a pioneer in recognizing the need for large sample size to study the complex, heterogeneous and polygenic disorders of common mental disorders. In the predigital era, questionnaires were mailed to thousands of twin pairs around Australia. Always quick to adopt new technology, Nick’s studies progressed to phone interviews and then online. Moreover, Nick was early to recognize the value of collecting DNA samples. As genotyping technologies improved over the years, these twin and family cohorts were used for linkage, candidate gene and genome-wide association studies. These cohorts have underpinned many analyses to disentangle the complex web of genetic and lifestyle factors associated with mental health. With characteristic foresight, Nick is chief investigator of our Australian Genetics of Depression Study, which has recruited 16,000 people with self-reported depression (plus DNA samples) over a time frame of a few months — analyses are currently ongoing. The mantra of sample size, sample size, sample size has guided Nick’s research over the last 30 years and continues to do so.
Geschlechterunterschiede auf Kompetenzrastern
Authors: Machts Nils , Möller Jens
Published: May 2020

Zusammenfassung. In dieser Studie geht es um die Gegenüberstellung von Geschlechterunterschieden in Testleistungen, Notenzeugnissen und Kompetenzeinschätzungen auf Kompetenzrastern als alternatives Zeugnisformat. Ein besonderes Augenmerkt liegt auf der Bedeutung überfachlicher Kompetenzeinschätzungen für das Zustandekommen von Noten und fachlichen Kompetenzeinschätzungen. Zu diesem Zweck wurde eine Stichprobe von N = 469 Schülerinnen und Schülern der vierten Klasse in der Grundschule mit Daten zu Testleistungen in den Fächern Deutsch und Mathematik sowie Beurteilungen durch die Lehrkräfte auf Notenzeugnissen und Kompetenzrastern verwendet. Es zeigten sich weitgehend erwartungskonforme Geschlechterunterschiede in allen drei Bereichen. Als zentraler Befund zeigte sich, dass die überfachlichen Kompetenzeinschätzungen auch über die Testleistungen hinaus Noten und fachliche Kompetenzeinschätzungen vorhersagen und Geschlechterunterschiede erklären können. Außerdem erklärten spezifisch auf soziale Aspekte bezogene Einschätzungen einen signifikanten Anteil in den Noten, nicht aber in den fachlichen Kompetenzeinschätzungen.
Hardwood Forest Soils Are Sinks for Plant-Produced Volatiles
Authors: Shultz David
Published: May 2020

New research identifies temperature, moisture, and soil fungi as important factors in influencing how biogenic volatile organic compounds cycle between plants and the atmosphere.
Estimation of the Tangential Winds and Asymmetric Structures in Typhoon Inner Core Region Using Himawari‐8
Authors: Tsukada Taiga , Horinouchi Takeshi
Published: May 2020

Observations of the winds in tropical cyclones are still limited. We propose a new method for deriving the tangential winds in tropical cyclones, which employs a spectral analysis of high‐frequency cloud imaging by latest‐generation geostationary meteorological satellites such as Himawari‐8. The method was applied to the visible images of boundary layer clouds in the eye of Typhoon Lan (2017) over an 8.5‐hr period. The low‐level tangential winds over the central two thirds of the eye in radius were close to a rigid body rotation and increased with time. On its outside was a region with striating clouds rotating at much higher angular velocities, which may have been supergradient. Asymmetric motions were visualized as the deviation from the inner rotation, and the vorticity of some mesovortices were quantified. These asymmetric motions are suggested to transport angular momentum to accelerate the inner rotation.
A Machine Learning‐Based Global Atmospheric Forecast Model
Authors: Arcomano Troy , Szunyogh Istvan , Pathak Jaideep , Wikner Alexander , Hunt Brian R. , Ott Edward
Published: May 2020

The paper investigates the applicability of machine learning (ML) to weather prediction by building a reservoir computing‐based, low‐resolution, global prediction model. The model is designed to take advantage of the massively parallel architecture of a modern supercomputer. The forecast performance of the model is assessed by comparing it to that of daily climatology, persistence, and a numerical (physics‐based) model of identical prognostic state variables and resolution. Hourly resolution 20‐day forecasts with the model predict realistic values of the atmospheric state variables at all forecast times for the entire globe. The ML model outperforms both climatology and persistence for the first three forecast days in the midlatitudes, but not in the tropics. Compared to the numerical model, the ML model performs best for the state variables most affected by parameterized processes in the numerical model.
Stable diagonal stripes in the t–J model at n̅h = 1/8 doping from fPEPS calculations
Authors: Dong Shao-Jun , Wang Chao , Han Yong-Jian , Yang Chao , He Lixin
Published: May 2020

We investigate the two-dimensional t–J model at a hole doping of $${\bar{n}}_{{\rm{h}}}=1/8$$

n

¯

h

=
1
/
8

using recently developed high accuracy fermionic projected entangled pair states method. By applying the stochastic gradient descent method combined with the Monte Carlo sampling technique, we obtain the ground state hole energy Ehole = −1.621 for J/t = 0.4. We show that the ground state has stable diagonal stripes instead of vertical stripes with a width of 4 unit cells, and stripe filling ρl = 0.5. We further show that the long-range superconductivity order is suppressed at this point.