bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Linguistic features of a politically correct English language discourse
Authors: Melnikova Kseniya , Guslyakova Alla
Published: February 2021

The problem of the research is the insufficient study of political correctness (PC) in the intercultural and linguistic aspects, as well as the urgent need to establish its status in the modern integrated culture. The relevance of the study is due to there is no unified approach to the analysis of the concept of PC in the political sphere. There is a special ideological cultural and behavioural linguistic tolerant tendency on the contrary to expressions subjected to public ostracism because the speeches of public figures contain too many politically incorrect statements. Thus, the “listener” may have an internal protest against the use of PC vocabulary in everyday life, although its use is forced upon society by all types of media. The study is touch upon the analysis of the vast corpus of statements by US President D. Trump on Twitter, as well as other open Internet sources. The problem of studying PC was dealt with as Russian scientists, such as A.B. Ostroukh, M. Yu. Palazhchenko, Yu.L. Gumanova, S.G. Ter Minasova, L.V. Tsurikova and others, as well as their foreign colleagues: Paul Berman, Deborah Cameron and others. The research aims to attempt to describe the PC category in terms of cultural, behavioural and linguistic perspectives. By the tasks set for the study, the following methods were used: descriptive method, methods of distributive, component, quantitative and comparative analysis. The results could be used in educational and methodological activities as well as preparation of materials on cultural linguistics, lexicology, linguistic stylistics submissions, etc. The further research course plans to establish the relationship between the occasional euphemistic vocabulary.
Brandbekämpfung an Bord – physische Anforderungen auf verschiedenen Schiffstypen
Authors: Heblich Frank , Kähler Wataru
Published: February 2021

Diese Pilotstudie zeigt ein kleines Spektrum möglicher Belastungen im Rahmen der Brandbekämpfung an Bord von Schiffen. Die Beanspruchungen der Probanden decken sich mit denen von Probanden, die auf Atemschutzübungsstrecken an Land untersucht worden sind. Daraus könnte man schlussfolgern, dass bei einer Eignungsuntersuchung auch vergleichbare Untersuchungsinhalte sinnvoll wären. Vorher müssten in weitergehenden Untersuchungen aber die Validität sowohl der Seediensttauglichkeitsuntersuchung als auch der Eignungsuntersuchung der Feuerwehrleute gemäß berufsgenossenschaftlichem Grundsatz durch ausreichende Evidenz nachgewiesen werden.
Mortality of Spanish Former Elite Soccer Players and Coaches
Authors: Diz José Carlos , Sueiro Santiago Iglesias , Ferreira Eva Diz , Sanchez-Lastra Miguel Adriano , Ayán Carlos
Published: February 2021

We analyzed whether male Spanish elite soccer players live longer than the general population. Secondly, we compared their mortality with a cohort of soccer players who continued working as soccer elite coaches after retirement. Using age and calendar-date adjusted life tables, we analyzed the mortality hazard ratio of 1333 Spanish male players born before 1950, and who played in elite leagues from 1939, compared with the Spanish population. Using Cox proportional hazards model we compared their mortality with a cohort of 413 players who continued as coaches. Players showed significantly lower mortality than the general population, but this advantage decreased with advanced age, disappearing after 80 years. Coaches showed a similar pattern. Comparing players versus coaches, date of birth and years as professional were associated with survival, but debut age and player position were not. Unadjusted median survival time was 79.81 years (IQR 72.37–85.19) for players and 81.8 years (IQR 74.55–86.73) for coaches. Kaplan-Meier estimator adjusted for covariables showed no difference between cohorts (p=0.254). In conclusion, former Spanish male players showed lower mortality than the general population, but this effect disappeared after 80 years of age. Continuing their career as coaches after retirement from playing did not confer major benefits.
Kultursensibel kommunizieren in der Medizin
Authors: Golsabahi-Broclawski Solmaz
Published: February 2021

Was im Urlaub reizvoll erscheint, kann in der Sprechstundeim günstigsten Fall zu Verständnisproblemen,aber auch zu Abwehr bis hin zu einer aggressiven Grundhaltungund ausbleibenden Behandlungserfolgen führen.Sprachliche und kulturelle Unterschiede, verschiedeneSichtweisen auf Gesundheit und Krankheit undpersönliche Erfahrungen mit den jeweiligen Gesundheitssystemennehmen Einfluss auf die Interaktion zwischenPatient und Therapeut.Die Autorin stellt die Ansätze der transkulturellen Kommunikationvor, die helfen kann, über Gemeinsamkeiteneine Brücke zwischen den Kulturen zu bauen.
Prävention viraler Infekte – Das empfehlen die Praktikerinnen und Praktiker
Authors: Fischer Sabine , Bocksch Manfred , Gündling Peter W. , Klützke Nina , Woestmann Ulrich , Jeitler Michael , Seifert Georg , Kessler Christian S.
Published: February 2021

Die zkm hat Ärztinnen und Ärzte gefragt, was sie in der derzeitigen Situation ihren PatientInnenzur Prävention viraler Infekte empfehlen.
Using a Portable Near-infrared Spectroscopy Device to Estimate The Second Ventilatory Threshold
Authors: Rodrigo-Carranza Víctor , González-Mohíno Fernando , Turner Anthony P. , Rodriguez-Barbero Sergio , González-Ravé José María
Published: February 2021

A breakpoint in a portable near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) derived deoxygenated haemoglobin (deoxy[Hb]) signal during an incremental VO2max running test has been associated with the second ventilatory threshold (VT2) in healthy participants. Thus, the aim was to examine the association between this breakpoint (NIRS) and VT2 in well-trained runners. Gas exchange and NIRS data were collected during an incremental VO2max running test for 10 well-trained runners. The breakpoint calculated in oxygen saturation (StO2) and the VT2 were determined and compared in terms relative to %VO2max, absolute speed, VO2, and maximum heart rate (HRmax). There were no significant differences (p>0.05) between the breakpoint in StO2 and VT2 relative to %VO2max (87.00±6.14 and 88.28 ± 3.98 %), absolute speed (15.70±1.42 and 16.10±1.66 km·h−1), VO2 (53.71±15.17 and 54.66±15.57 ml·kg−1·min−1), and%HRmax (90.90±4.17 and 91.84±3.70%). There were large and significant correlations between instruments relative to%VO2max (r=0.68, p<0.05), absolute speed (r=0.86, p<0.001), VO2 (r=0.86, p<0.001), and %HRmax (r=0.69; p<0.05). A Bland and Altman analysis of agreement between instruments resulted in a mean difference of − 1.27±4.49%, −0.40±0.84 km·h−1,−0.90±3.07 ml·kg−1·min−1, and − 0.94±3.14 for %VO2max, absolute speed, VO2, and %HRmax, respectively. We conclude that a portable NIRS determination of the StO2 breakpoint is comparable with VT2 using gas exchange and therefore appropriate for use in determining exercise training above VT2 intensity. This is the first study to analyze the validity with the running mode using a NIRS portable device.
Synthetic Strategies to Access Heteroatomic Spirocentres Embedded in Natural Products
Authors: Badart Michael P. , Hawkins Bill C.
Published: February 2021

The spirocyclic motif is abundant in natural products and provides an ideal three-dimensional template to interact with biological targets. With significant attention historically expended on the synthesis of flat-heterocyclic compound libraries, methods to access the less-explored three-dimensional medicinal-chemical space will continue to increase in demand. Herein, we highlight by reaction class the common strategies used to construct the spirocyclic centres embedded in a series of well-studied natural products.

1 Introduction

2 Cycloadditions

3 Palladium-Catalysed Coupling Reactions

4 Conjugate Additions

5 Imines, Aminals, and Hemiaminal Ethers

6 Mannich-Type Reactions

7 Oxidative Dearomatisation

8 Alkylation

9 Organometallic Additions

10 Conclusions
Isotropic Grassmannians, Plücker and Cartan maps
Authors: Balogh F. , Harnad J. , Hurtubise J.
Published: February 2021

This work is motivated by the relation between the KP and BKP integrable hierarchies, whose τ-functions may be viewed as flows of sections of dual determinantal and Pfaffian line bundles over infinite dimensional Grassmannians. In finite dimensions, we show how to relate the Cartan map, which, for a vector space V of dimension N, embeds the Grassmannian GrV0(V+V*) of maximal isotropic subspaces of V + V*, with respect to the natural scalar product, into the projectivization of the exterior space Λ(V), and the Plücker map, which embeds the Grassmannian GrV(V + V*) of all N-planes in V + V* into the projectivization of ΛN(V + V*). The Plücker coordinates on GrV0(V+V*) are expressed bilinearly in terms of the Cartan coordinates, which are holomorphic sections of the dual Pfaffian line bundle Pf*→GrV0(V+V*,Q). In terms of affine coordinates on the big cell, this is equivalent to an identity of Cauchy–Binet type, expressing the determinants of square submatrices of a skew symmetric N × N matrix as bilinear sums over the Pfaffians of their principal minors.
Self-organized pattern formation in radio frequency capacitively coupled discharges
Authors: Bera Kallol , Rauf Shahid , Forster John , Collins Ken
Published: February 2021

Self-organized structures that are spread perpendicular to the radio frequency (RF) current direction have been observed in low temperature RF capacitively coupled plasmas. A fluid plasma model that includes thermoelectric electron energy transport is used to understand how these structures form. The electron thermoelectric transport coefficient is calculated using Bolsig+ for different chemistries and is found to be large for Ar plasma. Thermoelectric electron energy transport, which is driven by particle diffusion, opposes electron thermal conduction and can localize the plasma, leading to periodic structures. To examine these structures in radio frequency (RF) capacitive plasmas, two-dimensional Ar plasma at 13.5 MHz is first simulated without and then with thermoelectric electron energy transport. The charged species densities are perturbed in the simulations, and the growth or decay of different modes with time is observed. The periodicity of the structure is found to be determined by the relative strength of thermoelectric electron energy transport compared to energy conduction and losses. The effect of operating variables such as chemistry and pressure and design variables such as inter-electrode gap and steps in the electrode have been studied. For Ar plasma as pressure is decreased, the plasma peaks become stronger since thermoelectric electron energy transport is enhanced. Within limits, steps in the electrodes can be used to control the location of the periodic structures. For N2 plasma, the periodic structure does not appear as thermoelectric electron energy transport is weak. The spacing between plasma peaks is found to be dependent on pressure, chemistry, and inter-electrode gap.
Efficiency enhancement of ion acceleration from thin target irradiated by multi-PW few-cycle laser pulses
Authors: Wu X. Z. , Gong Z. , Shou Y. R. , Tang Y. H. , Yu J. Q. , Mourou G. , Yan X. Q.
Published: February 2021

We investigate the energy conversion efficiency from the laser to the accelerated ion beams in the interaction of different duration laser pulses with a simple plane foil, while the laser energy is kept constant. By employing multi-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, we demonstrate that an intense few-cycle pulse is more beneficial for the energy transferring from the laser to the generated ions. Owing to the short acceleration time window of few-cycle pulses, the overwhelming majority of laser energy could be transferred to ions through a high-efficiency radiation pressure acceleration mechanism before the rupture of the target caused by transverse instabilities and finite spot effects. More importantly, it is found that a laser pulse with a too short duration also fails to reach the highest energy conversion efficiency for a given laser energy. The optimal pulse duration is related to laser energy and ion species. Our three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that the highest energy conversion efficiency is obtained with a laser pulse with a duration of two cycles, which, unlike a single-cycle pulse, is the optimal duration for the given laser energy (49 J). Furthermore, when the laser energy is reduced to 12 J, four-cycle becomes the optimal duration.
Implosion dynamics of triple-nozzle gas-puff z pinches on COBRA
Authors: Lavine E. S. , Rocco S. V. , Banasek J. T. , Potter W. M. , Greenly J. B. , Wilhelm H. , Qi N. , Hammer D. A. , Kusse B. R.
Published: February 2021

Experiments on the 1-MA, 220-ns COBRA generator at Cornell University [J. B. Greenly et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 79, 073501 (2008)] were conducted to provide detailed measurements of structured cylindrical gas-puff z pinches. In the experiments, a 7 cm diameter triple-nozzle gas valve assembly with concentric outer and inner annular nozzles and a central gas jet initialize the z-pinch load with various working gases, radial density profiles, and externally applied axial magnetic fields. Planar laser-induced fluorescence provides a measure of the initial neutral gas density of the load, while three-frame laser shearing interferometry and multi-frame extreme ultraviolet (XUV) cameras reveal the formation and propagation of a magneto-Rayleigh–Taylor (MRT) unstable shock layer. Implosion trajectories are compared to simple, experimentally informed models and found to be in good agreement. Differences in the structure of the accelerating plasma sheath and evolution of the MRT instability are observed for different gas species and axial magnetic field strengths, correlating with differences in pinch uniformity and x-ray emission. The average instability growth is compared to linear MRT theory predictions using the instantaneous acceleration of the best-fit implosion models and characteristic instability wavelength, with the effective Atwood number and seed perturbation size as fit parameters. For high density argon center jets, ionization prior to the arrival of the imploding plasma sheath suggests a heating mechanism consistent with photoionization by XUV self-emission.
On formation of dry spots in heated liquid films
Authors: Fedorchenko A. I. , Hruby J.
Published: February 2021

Here, the phenomenon of food sticking when frying in a frying pan is experimentally explained. Thermocapillary convection causes a dry spot formation in the center of the frying pan upon heating of the sunflower oil film. It is shown that the speed of formation of a dry spot is similar to the speed of receding motion of the edge of a droplet upon impact and spreading on a solid surface. This allows theoretical determination of the speed of dewetting. For the thin liquid film flowing vertically over a solid surface, the critical volumetric flow rate qcr partitions two regimes: metastable or subcritical, when small perturbation of the film free surface results in the film rupture (q < qcr) and stable or supercritical at q > qcr. For the falling thin liquid film, the critical volumetric flow rate qcr partitions two regimes: metastable or subcritical (q < qcr) and stable or supercritical at q > qcr. At q < qcr, small deformations of the film free surface result in the film rupture. For the case of the temperature distribution in the form of a unit step function, the fundamental solution G1(x) describing the deformation of the film free surface has been derived by the perturbation technique. This solution is important by itself since it describes the most “dangerous” film surface profile at a prescribed value of the temperature drop. For an arbitrary surface temperature distribution θ (ξ), the convolution of G1(ξ) and θ ′(ξ) yields the film thickness profile.
Lamb wave coupled resonance for SAW acoustofluidics
Authors: Ni Zhengyang , Xu Guangyao , Huang Junjie , Yao Ge , Tu Juan , Guo Xiasheng , Zhang Dong
Published: February 2021

A surface acoustic wave (SAW)-driven acoustofluidic chip of high energy efficiency is proposed through model analysis. The chip supports propagation of Lamb waves in the lid above a fluid-filled channel. Eigenmode resonance in the on-chip channel is then achieved by coupling both the SAWs and the Lamb waves into the fluid. Specifically, the phase velocity of the Lamb mode equals the SAW speed along the substrate, and the leaky angles of both match that required by the expected channel mode. Compared to resonant SAW acoustofluidics (RSA), Lamb wave coupled RSA can make the energy tripled or higher. Meanwhile, the obtained resonance frequency deviates very slightly from the designed value, limiting the error to 0.5, while RSA chips exhibit errors as high as 5.7. The proposed design protocol can help to promote the energy efficiencies and contain the in-channel temperature rise and resonance frequency deviations in SAW acoustofluidics.
Anisotropic E × B shearing rate in a magnetic island
Authors: Hahm T. S. , Kim Y. J. , Diamond P. H. , Choi G. J.
Published: February 2021

We derive the E × B shearing rate associated with vortex flow inside a macroscopic magnetic island (MI) in axisymmetric toroidal geometry. Due to the elongation of the MI and incompressibility of the E × B flow, the shearing rate near X-points is much lower than that near the mid-plane (x-axis of the local Cartesian coordinate) of the MI on the same flux surface. Furthermore, the rate formally vanishes at the X-points where the local poloidal magnetic field associated with the MI stagnates. This calculation of E × B shearing profile and, in particular, minimal E × B shear near the X-points is consistent with the recent experimental finding that turbulence tends to spread into an MI through regions around the X-points [K. Ida et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 245001 (2018)] and can contribute to more thorough quantitative interpretation of the results from experiments and simulations.
Parameter interval optimization of the DBD plasma actuator based on orthogonal experiment and RBF neural network approximation model
Authors: Zhang Yanghui , Hu Xingjun , Hui Zheng , Liu Yichen , Zhang Zhiqiang , Wang Jingyu
Published: February 2021

To further improve the performance of the dielectric barrier discharge-plasma actuator (DBD-PA) and to ensure the convenience of excitation intensity adjustment, the parameters of the DBD-PA were subjected to interval optimization on the basis of an orthogonal experiment and the radial basis function (RBF) neural network approximation model. The parameters of the DBD-PA included electrode gap d1, exposed electrode width d2, covered electrode width d3, frequency f, and voltage peak-to-peak value Vpp. The maximum velocity Umax induced by DBD-PA was taken as the target variable. Orthogonal analysis results showed that the influence of Vpp on Umax was highly significant, whereas d1 had some influence and the other three parameters' influence was not significant. On the basis of the orthogonal experiment results, an RBF neural network approximate model was established. Through two groups of randomized experiments, the prediction error of the approximate model is verified to be within 3%. The interval optimization algorithm was used to optimize the parameters of the DBD-PA with Vpp as the uncertain variable. The optimal parameter combination of deterministic variables obtained by optimization is d1 = 0 mm, d2 = 13 mm, d3 = 20 mm, and f = 8.6 kHz. Under different Vpp, the performance of the DBD-PA greatly improved in the optimal parameter combination, and the average increase in Umax was about 0.52 m/s.
Fluid dynamics and epidemiology: Seasonality and transmission dynamics
Authors: Dbouk Talib , Drikakis Dimitris
Published: February 2021

Epidemic models do not account for the effects of climate conditions on the transmission dynamics of viruses. This study presents the vital relationship between weather seasonality, airborne virus transmission, and pandemic outbreaks over a whole year. Using the data obtained from high-fidelity multi-phase, fluid dynamics simulations, we calculate the concentration rate of Coronavirus particles in contaminated saliva droplets and use it to derive a new Airborne Infection Rate (AIR) index. Combining the simplest form of an epidemiological model, the susceptible–infected–recovered, and the AIR index, we show through data evidence how weather seasonality induces two outbreaks per year, as it is observed with the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. We present the results for the number of cases and transmission rates for three cities, New York, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro. The results suggest that two pandemic outbreaks per year are inevitable because they are directly linked to what we call weather seasonality. The pandemic outbreaks are associated with changes in temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed independently of the particular season. We propose that epidemiological models must incorporate climate effects through the AIR index.
A method for characterizing near-interface traps in SiC metal–oxide–semiconductor capacitors from conductance–temperature spectroscopy measurements
Authors: Nicholls Jordan R. , Vidarsson Arnar M. , Haasmann Daniel , Sveinbjörnsson Einar Ö. , Dimitrijev Sima
Published: February 2021

The state-of-the-art technology for gate oxides on SiC involves the introduction of nitrogen to reduce the density of interface defects. However, SiC metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) field-effect transistors still suffer from low channel mobility even after the nitridation treatment. Recent reports have indicated that this is due to near-interface traps (NITs) that communicate with electrons in the SiC conduction band via tunneling. In light of this evidence, it is clear that conventional interface trap analysis is not appropriate for these defects. To address this shortcoming, we introduce a new characterization method based on conductance–temperature spectroscopy. We present simple equations to facilitate the comparison of different fabrication methods based on the density and location of NITs and give some information about their origin. These techniques can also be applied to NITs in other MOS structures.
Single frequency vertical piezoresponse force microscopy
Authors: Hong Seungbum
Published: February 2021

Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) uses a cantilever arm to track the electromechanical motion of the electric dipole moment to visualize the ferroelectric domain structure, which provides an important insight into the physics of switchable electric polarization—especially for memory devices and integrated microelectronics. Here, I provide a tutorial on single frequency vertical PFM, the most basic mode of PFM. I will start with the basic components of atomic force microscopy (AFM), including tip, cantilever, X–Y stage, Z actuator, and lock-in amplifier. Contact mode AFM will be briefly explained and discussed, where you can find two modes: constant deflection and constant height modes. Single-frequency vertical PFM splits the frequency domain of tip vibration into low and high frequencies and uses a low-pass filter to nullify any motion caused by topography (constant deflection). In contrast, the lock-in amplifier will pinpoint the vibration induced by the vertical piezoelectric strain along the sample’s surface normal (constant height). This tutorial will provide an overall and detailed step by step instruction to conduct PFM imaging and piezoresponse hysteresis loop measurement using atomic force microscopy and a lock-in amplifier and teach how to interpret the PFM images and the piezoresponse hysteresis loops for various applications.
Efficient simulation of time- and frequency-resolved four-wave-mixing signals with a multiconfigurational Ehrenfest approach
Authors: Chen Lipeng , Sun Kewei , Shalashilin Dmitrii V. , Gelin Maxim F. , Zhao Yang
Published: February 2021

We have extended the multiconfigurational Ehrenfest approach to the simulation of four-wave-mixing signals of systems involving multiple electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom. As an illustration, we calculate signals of three widely used spectroscopic techniques, time- and frequency-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, transient absorption spectroscopy, and two-dimensional (2D) electronic spectroscopy, for a two-electronic-state, twenty-four vibrational-mode conical intersection model. It has been shown that all these three spectroscopic signals characterize fast population transfer from the higher excited electronic state to the lower excited electronic state. While the time- and frequency-resolved spectrum maps the wave packet propagation exclusively on the electronically excited states, the transient absorption and 2D electronic spectra reflect the wave packet dynamics on both electronically excited states and the electronic ground state. Combining trajectory-guided Gaussian basis functions and the nonlinear response function formalism, the present approach provides a promising general technique for the applications of various Gaussian basis methods to the calculations of four-wave-mixing spectra of polyatomic molecules.
A patterned phase-changing vanadium dioxide film stacking with VO2 nanoparticle matrix for high performance energy-efficient smart window applications
Authors: Ren Han , Hassna Ouassal , Li Jie , Arigong Bayaner
Published: February 2021

A vanadium dioxide (VO2) based solid-to-solid phased changing material has been attracting great interest in smart window applications. However, achieving high solar modulation and high transparency simultaneously in visible light is the major challenge for the practical application of this smart material. To resolve this issue, in this paper, a smart film composed of a VO2 nanoparticle matrix and a patterned VO2 film is presented. Numerical modeling and electromagnetic simulation are carried out to characterize the performance in terms of solar modulation and luminous transmittance, and a parametric study is carried out to optimize the proposed smart window film. Compared with the VO2 nanoparticle matrix, the proposed structure can obtain 23% solar modulation and 57% luminous transmittance but with a much thinner thickness, which will significantly reduce the cost and fabrication complexity and extend the environment stability.
Using machine learning to estimate the effect of racial segregation on COVID-19 mortality in the United States
Authors: Torrats-Espinosa Gerard
Published: February 2021

Significance

This study examines the role that racial residential segregation has played during the first 9 mo of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. To account for other factors that may explain COVID-19 mortality and infection, I assemble a dataset that includes 50 county-level factors that measure demographics, density, and potential for public interaction, social capital, health risk factors, capacity of the health care system, air pollution, employment in essential businesses, and political views. I use double-lasso regression to guide the selection of the most important controls. Results show that more-segregated counties had higher mortality and infection rates overall and larger mortality rates among Blacks relative to Whites.
PON2 subverts metabolic gatekeeper functions in B cells to promote leukemogenesis
Authors: Pan Lili , Hong Chao , Chan Lai N. , Xiao Gang , Malvi Parmanand , Robinson Mark E. , Geng Huimin , Reddy Srinivasa T. , Lee Jaewoong , Khairnar Vishal , Cosgun Kadriye Nehir , Xu Liang , Kume Kohei , Sadras Teresa , Wang Shaoyuan , Wajapeyee Narendra , Müschen Markus
Published: February 2021

Significance

B lymphoid transcription factors (e.g., IKZF1 and PAX5) not only mediate B cell lineage commitment but also repress glucose transport and energy supply, thus acting as metabolic gatekeepers. While previous studies showed regulation of metabolic gatekeeper functions at the transcriptional level, we here discovered a mechanism of regulation based on protein–protein interactions between PON2 and the glucose-transport inhibitor stomatin (STOM).
Superdiffusion of quantized vortices uncovering scaling laws in quantum turbulence
Authors: Tang Yuan , Bao Shiran , Guo Wei
Published: February 2021

Significance

Quantum turbulence (QT) can appear in the presence of a chaotic tangle of quantized vortices in various quantum-fluid systems, including atomic Bose–Einstein condensates, superfluid helium, superfluid neutron stars, etc. Insights into the generic scaling behaviors of tangled vortices are crucial in developing an advanced statistical model of QT. By tracking tracer particles trapped on vortices in superfluid
4
He, we report the observation of an apparent superdiffusion of the vortices in QT. Our analysis shows that this superdiffusion is not due to Lévy flights, i.e., long-distance hops that are responsible for superdiffusion of random walkers. Instead, a power-law scaling of the vortex–velocity correlation is identified as the cause. This finding may motivate extensive future research on hidden scaling laws in QT.
COVID-19 gender policy changes support female scientists and improve research quality
Authors: Witteman Holly O. , Haverfield Jenna , Tannenbaum Cara
Published: February 2021

With more time being spent on caregiving responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, female scientists’ productivity dropped. When female scientists conduct research, identity factors are better incorporated in research content. In order to mitigate damage to the research enterprise, funding agencies can play a role by putting in place gender equity policies that support all applicants and ensure research quality. A national health research funder implemented gender policy changes that included extending deadlines and factoring sex and gender into COVID-19 grant requirements. Following these changes, the funder received more applications from female scientists, awarded a greater proportion of grants to female compared to male scientists, and received and funded more grant applications that considered sex and gender in the content of COVID-19 research. Further work is urgently required to address inequities associated with identity characteristics beyond gender.
Thymine dissociation and dimer formation: A Raman and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopic study
Authors: Nagpal Anushka , Dhankhar Dinesh , Cesario Thomas C. , Li Runze , Chen Jie , Rentzepis Peter M.
Published: February 2021

Significance

Bacteria inactivation by ultraviolet light is caused due to the formation of thymine dimers that inhibit DNA replication. We have used spectroscopic means for the identification of thymine dimer(s) that may pave the way for fast and definite identification of the ratio of live and dead bacteria, as suggested by our previous spectroscopic studies. In the present study, the dissociation of thymine to thymine dimers and (6-4) photoproducts was detected by means of a Raman, absorption, and synchronous fluorescence study. These data provide a fast method for determining, in situ, the reaction mechanism and final photoproducts formed as a function of UV irradiation dose.
Polylanguaging and bivalency in the Ecuadorian linguistic landscape
Authors: Lavender Jordan
Published: February 2021

This study analyzes the linguistic landscape (LL) of Azogues, Ecuador, by analyzing 171 photographs of business signs, taken during the summer of 2017. It analyzes cases of language mixing from a polylanguaging perspective (Jørgensen et al. 2011) and applies the concept of bivalency (Woolard 1999) to understand how linguistic features are used on signs in the LL to index membership in multiple groups and to construct multiple identities through the use of Spanish and English. It investigates the use of bivalency in lexical items, orthography and other linguistic features. This study analyzes the use of English as an outcome of globalization and examines the use of bivalency as a strategy to index global identity when access to English is limited.
Mechanical, structural and nuclear radiation shielding competencies of some tellurite glasses reinforced with molybdenum trioxide
Authors: El-Denglawey A , Issa Shams A M , Saddeek Yasser B , Elshami Wiam , Sayed M A , Elsaman Reda , Tarhan N , Tekin H O
Published: February 2021

In this study, a group of molybdenum boro-tellurite glass samples and their mechanical parameters and nuclear radiation shielding competencies were investigated. The amorphous structures of molybdenum boro-tellurite glasses were confirmed by XRD patterns. Synergistic positive effect of MoO3 reinforcement on gamma ray attenuation properties and mechanical parameters was investigated. For this aim, and in the energy range 0.015–15 MeV, the mass attenuation coefficients (MAC) had been computed by computational methods. At 0.015 MeV, the MAC values increase from 28.06 to 33.25 (cm2 g−1) as the MoO3 content increases from 0 to 30 mol %, while the half value layer values decrease from 4.84 to 3.88 (cm) at 15 MeV. The longitudinal ultrasonic velocity (VL) and shear ultrasonic velocity (VS), longitudinal modulus (L), shear modulus (S), bulk modulus (K), and Young’s modulus (Y) increase from 3450 to 3637 (m s−1), from 1994 to 2146 (m s−1), from 53.44 to 64.88 (GPa), from 17.86 to 22.58 (GPa), from 29.63 to 34.77 (GPa), and from 44.61 to 55.69 (GPa), respectively. The analysis of the shielding and mechanical indicates best protection of the explored glasses for γ-irradiation. Based on the analysis, the glass 30MoO3-70TeO2 with the maximum MoO3 addition indicated best γ-irradiation protection and mechanical parameters among the explored glasses.
Cluster decomposing and multi-objective optimization based-ensemble learning framework for motor imagery-based brain–computer interfaces
Authors: Zuo Cili , Jin Jing , Xu Ren , Wu Lianghong , Liu Chang , Miao Yangyang , Wang Xingyu
Published: February 2021

Objective. Motor imagery (MI) is a mental representation of motor behavior and a widely used pattern in electroencephalogram (EEG) based brain–computer interface (BCI) systems. EEG is known for its non-stationary, non-linear features and sensitivity to artifacts from various sources. This study aimed to design a powerful classifier with a strong generalization capability for MI based BCIs. Approach. In this study, we proposed a cluster decomposing based ensemble learning framework (CDECL) for EEG classification of MI based BCIs. The EEG data was decomposed into sub-data sets with different distributions by clustering decomposition. Then a set of heterogeneous classifiers was trained on each sub-data set for generating a diversified classifier search space. To obtain the optimal classifier combination, the ensemble learning was formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem and a stochastic fractal based binary multi-objective fruit fly optimization algorithm was proposed for solving the ensemble learning problem. Main results. The proposed method was validated on two public EEG datasets (BCI Competition IV datasets IIb and BCI Competition IV dataset IIa) and compared with several other competing classification methods. Experimental results showed that the proposed CDECL based methods can effectively construct a diversity ensemble classifier and exhibits superior classification performance in comparison with several competing methods. Significance. The proposed method is promising for improving the performance of MI-based BCIs.
Persistent obstruction theory for a model category of measures with applications to data merging
Authors: Smith Abraham , Bendich Paul , Harer John
Published: February 2021

Collections of measures on compact metric spaces form a model category (“data complexes”), whose morphisms are marginalization integrals. The fibrant objects in this category represent collections of measures in which there is a measure on a product space that marginalizes to any measures on pairs of its factors. The homotopy and homology for this category allow measurement of obstructions to finding measures on larger and larger product spaces. The obstruction theory is compatible with a fibrant filtration built from the Wasserstein distance on measures.

Despite the abstract tools, this is motivated by a widespread problem in data science. Data complexes provide a mathematical foundation for semi-automated data-alignment tools that are common in commercial database software. Practically speaking, the theory shows that database JOIN operations are subject to genuine topological obstructions. Those obstructions can be detected by an obstruction cocycle and can be resolved by moving through a filtration. Thus, any collection of databases has a persistence level, which measures the difficulty of JOINing those databases. Because of its general formulation, this persistent obstruction theory also encompasses multi-modal data fusion problems, some forms of Bayesian inference, and probability couplings.
Is There a Rejuvenating Effect of (Grand)Childcare? A Longitudinal Study on German Data
Authors: Bordone Valeria , Arpino Bruno
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Provision of grandchild care has been found to be associated with a youthful subjective age. Yet, previous studies on this topic were cross-sectional and ignored the increasing proportions of older people growing old without the opportunity to become a grandparent. This study investigates the effects of childcare to grandchildren and to other children on subjective age using panel data.

Methods

We exploit the longitudinal nature of data from the German Ageing Survey (DEAS) to examine the association between grandparental childcare and care to other children with subjective age, using fixed-effects regression analyses on a sample of 50–85 years old individuals (men: N = 11,151; n = 3,984; women: N = 10,687; n = 3,746, where N is the number of observations and n is the number of individuals).

Results

The results from cross-sectional analyses show a “rejuvenating effect” of provision of both types of childcare in later life, especially for women. However, longitudinal analyses find very small and statistically insignificant effects.

Discussion

We show for the first time that both grandchild care and childcare outside the grandparent–grandchild relationship are associated with a youthful subjective age for older people. However, these associations are likely due to selection effects, that is, unobserved characteristics of people that make them more likely to engage in childcare and are also associated with subjective age. Our results warn against causal interpretation of associations found in previous studies, but also open up new research questions on the role played by childcare other than to grandchildren.
Shakespeare and principal components analysis
Authors: Rizvi Pervez
Published: February 2021

The use of principal components analysis (PCA) in literary studies was pioneered by John Burrows. From him it was adopted by the New Oxford Shakespeare project team, who used it to support their controversial attributions of parts of Arden of Faversham to Shakespeare and parts of the Henry VI trilogy to Marlowe. This essay examines a representative sample of the PCA tests done using function words by that team. It observes that, as with their Zeta method, they used the unsound bisector line method of interpretation. By calculating information which they did not disclose, it finds that their decision to discard all but two principal components was not justified by the data they were using, putting into doubt their interpretations of the results. It shows that their test method is vulnerable by design to the making of false attributions and demonstrates this by a new experiment. By a further experiment, it shows that the PCA tests may be telling us that differences between characters are greater than those between authors, at least in the use of function words. It concludes that the PCA tests done by that project cannot be relied on; and, given the already demonstrated unreliability of their Zeta tests, these new findings invalidate all work presented in the influential book Shakespeare, Computers, and the Mystery of Authorship.
Sleep and Cancer
Authors: Lowery-Allison Amy E. , Eldridge-Smith E. Devon
Published: February 2021

Sleep disorders are common, yet underdiagnosed, in cancer care. This chapter focuses on three of the most prevalent disorders: sleep apnea, circadian rhythm disruption, and insomnia, with insomnia being the main focus. Causes and consequences are discussed through the lens of Spielman’s 3P model of chronic insomnia. The chapter discusses the challenges of screening and diagnosing sleep disorders in cancer and gives recommendations for establishing and improving these practices. It also reviews interventions used to treat insomnia and the varying degrees of empirical support that currently exist. Finally, the chapter discusses barriers to treatment and special groups of individuals that require special consideration.
Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy for Cancer Survivors
Authors: van der Spek Nadia , Lichtenthal Wendy G. , Holtmaat Karen , Breitbart William S. , Verdonck-de Leeuw Irma M.
Published: February 2021

This chapter gives an overview of the application, content, and scientific evidence of meaning-centered group psychotherapy for cancer survivors (MCGP-CS). Experiencing meaning is strongly related to adjustment and psychological well-being after cancer diagnosis and medical treatment for survivors. MCGP-CS is an eight-session group intervention that aims to help survivors enhance or maintain a sense of meaning, in order to improve their psychological well-being and decrease distress. The chapter describes two adaptations of MCGP for survivors: a US version developed specifically for breast cancer survivors and a Dutch version developed for general cancer survivors. This chapter includes summaries of the content of each session and examples of some of the exercises in the manual. Furthermore, it summarizes the results of two conducted pilot studies, a randomized controlled trial, and a cost-utility analysis, all showing positive effects. Finally, future directions for MCGP for cancer survivors are given.
Circadian Rhythms
Authors: Joyce Daniel S. , Zeitzer Jamie M.
Published: February 2021

Circadian rhythms are endogenous, near 24-hour oscillations that underlie nearly all facets of our health and behavior. The daily cycle of sleep and wake is the most conspicuous circadian-influenced behavior in humans. This chapter introduces the circadian rhythms in humans that give rise to our daily cycling of sleep and alertness, including their fundamental features and loci of origin. The interplay between circadian rhythms and sleep is discussed, including physiological and behavioral methods for the measurement of circadian rhythms. Finally, typical and atypical features of circadian rhythms in relation to health and aging are considered with particular reference to the impact of modern societal pressures.
Office-Based Evaluation of Sleep Disordered Patients
Authors: Doghramji Karl
Published: February 2021

Sleep-related complaints are commonly encountered in the context of ambulatory care, including insomnia, excessive sleepiness, and parasomnias. This chapter outlines a systematic approach to the evaluation of these complaints, with the goal of uncovering conditions that may be associated with these complaints and guiding the course of clinical care. The patient’s past medical, psychiatric, and surgical history; medications; substance use; family history; and social and occupational history, as well as the specific symptoms, should be examined. A physical examination and the use of rating scales can be helpful. When specific conditions can thus be identified, treatment can be tailored to those conditions, thus optimizing clinical outcomes.
Insomnia Disorder—Pathophysiology
Authors: Benz Fee , Hertenstein Elisabeth , Johann Anna , Riemann Dieter
Published: February 2021

Insomnia disorder is defined as persistent difficulty with initiating or maintaining sleep, or early morning awakening accompanied by daytime impairment. Although insomnia disorder is a highly prevalent disorder and a major public health burden, the pathophysiology of the disorder is still not fully understood. Neurobiological as well as psychological models have been suggested highlighting genetic, behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and neurobiological factors. While psychological perspectives emphasize the role of dysfunctional sleep-related cognitions and a selective attention toward sleep-related stimuli, neurobiological perspectives particularly look at physiological alterations such as brain circuits that may be involved in the pathophysiology of insomnia. Relevant models explaining how insomnia develops and how it becomes chronic are described, and the evidence is summarized. Thus, this chapter provides an overview of important etiological models and further approaches dealing with the pathophysiology of insomnia disorder.
Parasomnias
Authors: Jung Jessica , Louis Erik K. St.
Published: February 2021

Parasomnias are undesirable and abnormal movements, behaviors, emotions, perceptions, and dreams that occur during or immediately surrounding sleep. The parasomnias are categorized as nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep parasomnias, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep parasomnias, and other parasomnias. This chapter provides an overview to the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, differential diagnoses, diagnostic approach, and treatment of common parasomnias encountered in clinical practice. These common parasomnias include NREM parasomnias, considered to be disorders of arousal from NREM sleep and which include a heterogeneous spectrum of sleep behaviors encountered following arousal from NREM sleep exemplified by the phenotypes of sleep terrors, sleep walking, confusional arousals, sleep-related eating disorder, and sexsomnias; the REM parasomnias, including nightmare disorder, recurrent isolated sleep paralysis, and REM sleep behavior disorder, which is strongly associated with prodromal or overt alpha-synucleinopathy neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson disease and dementia with Lewy bodies; and other parasomnias, including a spectrum of “leftovers” that do not map well to NREM or REM sleep specifically such as exploding head syndrome, sleep-related hallucinations, sleep enuresis, and parasomnias ascribed to medical disorders, medication or substance use, or unspecified etiologies. It is important for a psychiatrist to be conversant with the complete range of parasomnias given the importance of effective management of frequent psychiatric and psychological comorbidities, which serve as drivers of the frequency and severity of nocturnal events, and to ensure timely referral for polysomnography or other necessary sleep diagnostics where appropriate.
Pediatric Sleep–Wake Disorders
Authors: Marshall Rebecca , Johnson Kyle P. , Ivanenko Anna
Published: February 2021

This chapter reviews pediatric sleep–wake disorders, with a particular focus on evaluation and treatment of sleep disturbances comorbid with primary psychiatric disorders and commonly prevalent primary sleep disorders in the pediatric population. The sleep disturbances due to primary sleep disorders can often result in symptoms and behaviors suggestive of a psychiatric condition such as inattention, poor impulse control, academic impairment, mood changes, fatigue, and excessive daytime sleepiness. It is important that the pediatric clinician assesses the youth presenting with sleep and psychiatric symptomatology for presence of primary sleep disorders. Consultation with a sleep physician for further evaluation and treatment is recommended if a primary sleep disorder is suspected. More evidence-based treatments are needed for primary insomnia and sleep disturbances comorbid with primary psychiatric disorders in pediatric population.