bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapidity dependence of heavy-flavour production in heavy-ion collisions within a full 3+1 transport approach: quenching, elliptic and directed flow
Authors: Beraudo Andrea , De Pace Arturo , Monteno Marco , Nardi Marzia , Prino Francesco
Published: June 2021

Abstract

We extend our POWLANG transport setup for the modelling of heavy-flavour production in heavy-ion collisions to the case of full 3+1 simulations, dropping the approximation of longitudinal boost-invariance of the background medium. This enables us to provide predictions for observables for which the rapidity dependence is essential in order to obtain a non-vanishing signal, like the directed flow v1, and to get reliable results also for kinematic distributions of heavy-flavour particles at forward rapidity. We compare our predictions with experimental data obtained in Au-Au and Pb-Pb collisions at RHIC and at the LHC.
QCD evolution of the gluon Sivers function in heavy flavor dijet production at the Electron-Ion Collider
Authors: Kang Zhong-Bo , Reiten Jared , Shao Ding Yu , Terry John
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Using Soft-Collinear Effective Theory, we develop the transverse-momentum-dependent factorization formalism for heavy flavor dijet production in polarized-proton-electron collisions. We consider heavy flavor mass corrections in the collinear-soft and jet functions, as well as the associated evolution equations. Using this formalism, we generate a prediction for the gluon Sivers asymmetry for charm and bottom dijet production at the future Electron-Ion Collider. Furthermore, we compare theoretical predictions with and without the inclusion of finite quark masses. We find that the heavy flavor mass effects can give sizable corrections to the predicted asymmetry.
Critical behaviour of hydrodynamic series
Authors: Asadi M. , Soltanpanahi H. , Taghinavaz F.
Published: June 2021

Abstract

We investigate the time-dependent perturbations of strongly coupled $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 SYM theory at finite temperature and finite chemical potential with a second order phase transition. This theory is modelled by a top-down Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton description which is a consistent truncation of the dimensional reduction of type IIB string theory on AdS5×S5. We focus on spin-1 and spin-2 sectors of perturbations and compute the linearized hydrodynamic transport coefficients up to the third order in gradient expansion. We also determine the radius of convergence of the hydrodynamic mode in spin-1 sector and the lowest non-hydrodynamic modes in spin-2 sector. Analytically, we find that all the hydrodynamic quantities have the same critical exponent near the critical point θ = $$ \frac{1}{2} $$

1
2

. Moreover, we propose a relation between symmetry enhancement of the underlying theory and vanishing of the only third order hydrodynamic transport coefficient θ1, which appears in the shear dispersion relation of a conformal theory on a flat background.
Continuum-mediated self-interacting dark matter
Authors: Chaffey Ian , Fichet Sylvain , Tanedo Philip
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Dark matter may self-interact through a continuum of low-mass states. This happens if dark matter couples to a strongly-coupled nearly-conformal hidden sector. This type of theory is holographically described by brane-localized dark matter interacting with bulk fields in a slice of 5D anti-de Sitter space. The long-range potential in this scenario depends on a non-integer power of the spatial separation, in contrast to the Yukawa potential generated by the exchange of a single 4D mediator. The resulting self-interaction cross section scales like a non-integer power of velocity. We identify the Born, classical and resonant regimes and investigate them using state-of-the-art numerical methods. We demonstrate the viability of our continuum-mediated framework to address the astrophysical small-scale structure anomalies. Investigating the continuum-mediated Sommerfeld enhancement, we demonstrate that a pattern of resonances can occur depending on the non-integer power. We conclude that continuum mediators introduce novel power-law scalings which open new possibilities for dark matter self-interaction phenomenology.
Flux-mediated dark matter
Authors: Kang Yoo-Jin , Lee Hyun Min , Menkara Adriana G. , Song Jiseon
Published: June 2021

Abstract

We propose a new mechanism to communicate between fermion dark matter and the Standard Model (SM) only through the four-form flux. The four-form couplings are responsible for the relaxation of the Higgs mass to the correct value and the initial displacement of the reheating pseudo-scalar field from the minimum. We show that the simultaneous presence of the pseudo-scalar coupling to fermion dark matter and the flux-induced Higgs mixing gives rise to unsuppressed annihilations of dark matter into the SM particles at present, whereas the direct detection bounds from XENON1T can be avoided. We suggest exploring the interesting bulk parameter space of the model for which dark matter annihilates dominantly into a pair of singlet-like scalars with similar mass as for dark matter.
Stock market returns and oil price shocks: A CoVaR analysis based on dynamic vine copula models
Authors: Kielmann Julia , Manner Hans , Min Aleksey
Published: June 2021

Crude oil plays a significant role in economic developments in the world. Understanding the relationship between oil price changes and stock market returns helps to improve portfolio strategies and risk positions. Kilian (Am Econ Rev 99(3): 1053–1069, 2009) proposes to decompose the oil price into three types of oil price shocks by using a structural vector autoregression model. This paper investigates the dynamic, nonlinear dependence and risk spillover effects between BRICS stock returns and the different types of oil price shocks using an appropriate multivariate and dynamic copula model. Risk is measured using the conditional value at risk, conditioning on one or more simultaneous oil and stock market shocks. For this purpose, a D-vine-based quantile regression model and the GAS copula model are combined. Our results show, inter alia, that the early stages of the Covid-19 crisis lead to increasing risk levels in the BRICS stock markets except for the Chinese one, which has recovered quickly and therefore shows no changes in the risk level.
Change of tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance during total knee arthroplasty had no influence on clinical outcome and anterior knee pain
Authors: Hess Silvan , Fromm Timo , Schiapparelli Filippo , Moser Lukas B. , Robertson Emma , Amsler Felix , Rasch Helmut , Hirschmann Michael T.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The main purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a correlation between the change of tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance and clinical outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods

A total of 52 knees undergoing TKA due to primary osteoarthritis were included in this retrospective study. All patients had pre- and postoperative CT scans. TT-TG distance was measured by two independent observers and the following alignment parameters were measured: hip-knee ankle angle (HKA), femoral mechanical angle (FMA), tibial mechanical angle (TMA), and posterior condylar angle (PCA). Clinical outcome was assessed using Knee Society Score (KSS) pre- and post-operatively and at a minimum of 12-month follow-up. Evidence of AKP was noted from follow-up reports. Pre- and postoperative scores were compared using a paired Student t-test. Pearson correlations were calculated to assess the influence of TT-TG on clinical outcome and of alignment parameters on the change in TT-TG. TT-TG between patients with and without AKP was compared using unpaired Student’s t-test (p < 0.05).

Results

Neither the absolute postoperative TT-TG nor the amount of change in TT-TG correlated with the post-operative KSS or the change in KSS. Post-operative TT-TG and change in TT-TG did not differ significantly between patients with and patients without AKP. Only the change in FMA showed a correlation with the change in TT-TG (p = 0.01, r = 0.36).

Conclusion

Despite a missing correlation between outcomes and TT-TG distance in this study, excessive TT-TG distance should be avoided. Furthermore, surgeons need to be aware that changes in femoral joint line orientation might affect TT-TG distance.
Einfaches Verfahren zur Abschätzung des postoperativen Abbildungsmaßstabs und der Aniseikonie bei der Kataraktoperation
Authors: Langenbucher Achim , Hoffmann Peter , Wendelstein Jascha , Szentmáry Nóra
Published: June 2021

Hintergrund und Zielsetzung

Die Aniseikonie als mögliche Ursache asthenopischer Beschwerden tritt bei der modernen Kataraktchirurgie oft in den Hintergrund. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist es, dem Kliniker ein einfaches Berechnungsmodell an die Hand zu geben, mit dem der Abbildungsmaßstab des pseudophaken Auges abgeschätzt werden kann.

Methoden

Das Berechnungsschema für den Abbildungsmaßstab des pseudophaken Auges bezieht sich auf die formelbasierte (vergenzbasierte) Berechnung der Intraokularlinse mit theoretisch-optischen Formeln. Aus den biometrischen Größen, die in der Regel für beide Augen bei der Linsenberechnung vorliegen, kann aus den Vergenzen vor und hinter den 3 oder 4 refraktiven Grenzflächen im pseudophaken Augenmodell der Abbildungsmaßstab für Objekte im Unendlichen oder in einer endlichen Messdistanz ermittelt werden.

Ergebnisse

Bei der formelbasierten Berechnung wird ein pseudophakes Augenmodell mit 3 bzw. 4 refraktiven Grenzflächen (postoperative Brillenrefraktion; dünne Hornhaut, beschrieben durch die Vorderfläche, bzw. dicke Hornhaut, beschrieben durch die Vorder- und Rückfläche; Intraokularlinse) definiert und mit den Methoden der linearen Optik die Vergenz vor und hinter jeder Grenzfläche bestimmt. Der Quotient aus dem Produkt der Vergenzen vor den Grenzflächen und dem Produkt der Vergenzen unmittelbar hinter den Grenzflächen beschreibt direkt den Abbildungsmaßstab des Auges. Aus dem Vergleich des Abbildungsmaßstabs beider Augen kann unmittelbar der retinale Bildgrößenunterschied ermittelt werden. Exemplarisch wird dies anhand der Haigis- und Hoffer-Q-Formel (3 Flächen) und der Castrop-Formel (4 Flächen) gezeigt.

Schlussfolgerungen

Wird bei der Planung der Kataraktoperation die Biometrie und Linsenberechnung an beiden Augen durchgeführt, so kann mit einfachen Mitteln der Abbildungsmaßstab bei beiden Augen und aus dem Vergleich beider Augen die Aniseikonie des pseudophaken Patienten ermittelt werden. Eine derartige Abschätzung sollte fester Bestandteil der Linsenberechnung werden, um mögliche asthenopische Beschwerden nach der Kataraktoperation früh zu erkennen.
High-performance adaptive texture streaming and rendering of large 3D cities
Authors: Zhang Alex , Chen Kan , Johan Henry , Erdt Marius
Published: June 2021

We propose a high-performance texture streaming system for real-time rendering of large 3D cities with millions of textures. Our main contribution is a texture streaming system that automatically adjusts the streaming workload at runtime based on measured frame latencies, specifically addressing the high memory binding costs of hardware virtual texturing which causes frame rate stuttering. Our system streams textures in parallel with prioritization based on GPU computed mesh perceptibility, and these textures are cached in a sparse partially resident image at runtime without the need for a texture preprocessing step. In addition, we improve rendering quality by minimizing texture pop-in artifacts using a color blending scheme based on mipmap levels. We evaluate our texture streaming system using three structurally distinct datasets with many textures and compared it to a baseline, a game engine, and our prior method. Results show an 8X improvement in rendering performance and 7X improvement in rendering quality compared to the baseline.
Periinterventional inflammation and blood transfusions predict postprocedural delirium after percutaneous repair of mitral and tricuspid valves
Authors: Körber Maria I. , Schäfer Matthieu , Vimalathasan Rakave , Mauri Victor , Iliadis Christos , Metze Clemens , Freyhaus Henrik ten , Rudolph Volker , Baldus Stephan , Pfister Roman
Published: June 2021

Objectives

The aim of this study was to examine predictors and impact of postoperative delirium (POD) on outcome after percutaneous repair of mitral and tricuspid valves.

Background

POD is common in elderly patients and contributes to increased health care costs and worse outcome. Predictors of POD in percutaneous mitral or tricuspid valve procedures are unclear.

Methods

In a prospective single-center study, patients were screened for POD using the Confusion Assessment Method on the first and second postprocedural days, and up until 7 days in patients with clinical suspicion of delirium. Associations of POD with baseline characteristics, periprocedural outcome and mid-term mortality were examined.

Results

One hundred and seventy-seven patients were included (median age 78 years [72–82], 41.8% female) and median (IQR) follow-up was 489 (293–704) days. Patients developing POD (n = 16, 9%) did not differ in baseline and procedural characteristics but more often received postinterventional blood transfusions (37.5% vs. 9.9%, p value = 0.007) and suffered from infections (43.8% vs. 9.9%, p value = 0.001). Patients with POD showed worse survival (HR: 2.71 [1.27–5.78]; p = 0.01), with an estimated 1-year survival of 46 ± 13% compared to 80 ± 3% in patients without POD (log-rank p value 0.007). In multivariate Cox regression, POD remained a significant predictor of mid-term mortality (HR 4.75 [1.97–11.5]; p = 0.001).

Conclusion

After percutaneous mitral or tricuspid valve repair, POD was independently associated with worse mid-term survival. Procedure- rather than patient-associated characteristics such as blood transfusions and infections emerged as important risk factors for development of POD. Considering the substantial prognostic impact of POD, further studies on its prevention are warranted to improve patient outcome.
Changes in muscle–tendon unit length–force characteristics following experimentally induced photothrombotic stroke cannot be explained by changes in muscle belly structure
Authors: Paudyal Arjun , Degens Hans , Baan Guus C. , Noort Wendy , Slevin Mark , van Wegen Erwin , Kwakkel Gert , Maas Huub
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of experimentally induced photothrombotic stroke on structural and mechanical properties of rat m. flexor carpi ulnaris.

Methods

Two groups of Young-adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were measured: stroke (n = 9) and control (n = 7). Photothrombotic stroke was induced in the forelimb region of the primary sensorimotor cortex. Four weeks later, muscle–tendon unit and muscle belly length–force characteristics of the m. flexor carpi ulnaris, mechanical interaction with the neighbouring m. palmaris longus, the number of sarcomeres in series within muscle fibres, and the physiological cross-sectional area were measured.

Results

Stroke resulted in higher force and stiffness of the m. flexor carpi ulnaris at optimum muscle–tendon unit length, but only for the passive conditions. Stroke did not alter the length–force characteristics of m. flexor carpi ulnaris muscle belly, morphological characteristics, and the extent of mechanical interaction with m. palmaris longus muscle.

Conclusion

The higher passive force and passive stiffness at the muscle–tendon unit level in the absence of changes in structural and mechanical characteristics of the muscle belly indicates that the experimentally induced stroke resulted in an increased stiffness of the tendon.
A tailored approach in lymph node-positive perihilar cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Benzing Christian , Krenzien Felix , Mieg Alexa , Wolfsberger Annika , Andreou Andreas , Nevermann Nora , Pelzer Uwe , Fehrenbach Uli , Haiden Lena Marie , Öllinger Robert , Schöning Wenzel , Schmelzle Moritz , Pratschke Johann
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Extended right hepatectomy is associated with wide surgical margins in PHC and often favored for oncological considerations. However, it remains uncertain whether established surgical principles also apply to the subgroup of node-positive patients. The aim of the present study was to define a tailored surgical approach for patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) and lymph node metastases.

Methods

We reviewed the course of all consecutive patients undergoing major hepatectomy for PHC between 2005 and 2015 at the Department of Surgery, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.

Results

Two hundred and thirty-one patients underwent major hepatectomy for PHC with 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates of 72%, 48%, and 36%, and 60%, 22%, and 12%, respectively. In lymph node-positive patients (n = 109, 47%), extended left hepatectomy was associated with improved OS and DFS, respectively, when compared to extended right hepatectomy (p = 0.008 and p = 0.003). Interestingly, OS and DFS did not differ between R0 and R1 resections in those patients (both p = ns). Patients undergoing extended left hepatectomy were more likely to receive adjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.022). This is of note as adjuvant chemotherapy, besides grading (p = 0.041), was the only independent prognostic factor in node-positive patients (p=0.002).

Conclusion

Patients with node-positive PHC might benefit from less aggressive approaches being associated with lower morbidity and a higher chance for adjuvant chemotherapy. Lymph node sampling might help to guide patients to the appropriate surgical approach according to their lymph node status.
Heat stress inhibits TLR4-NF-κB and TLR4-TBK1 signaling pathways in broilers infected with Salmonella Typhimurium
Authors: Li Wei-Hao , Liu Yi-Lei , Lun Jian-Chi , He Yong-Ming , Tang Lu-Ping
Published: June 2021

With the global warming, the harm of heat stress (HS) to the breeding industry has become more common, which causes the decline of animal production performance and low immunity. This study aimed to analyze the effect of HS on the intestinal immune function of Salmonella-infected chickens. Fourteen-day-old broilers were divided into the following four groups of eight replicates: control (Control), heat stress (HS), Salmonella Typhimurium (ST), and heat stress + Salmonella Typhimurium (HS+ST). The broilers were subjected to a heat stress of 35 °C from 15 to 28 days of age. Salmonella Typhimurium (ST, 14028, 109 cfu/mL) was inoculated, via oral administration at 29 days of age, into ST and HS+ST group birds. On the 4th day after Salmonella Typhimurium administration, an increase in jejunum IgA levels was observed in chickens infected with Salmonella Typhimurium. Mechanistic regulation of TLR4-NFκB-NLRP3 and TLR4-TBK1 signaling by heat stress was evaluated in Salmonella Typhimurium–infected broilers. Heat stress markedly inhibited the expression of cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, NLRP3, caspase-1, NF-κB-p65, and p-NF-κB-p65, and the TLR4-TBK1 cytokines IFN-α, IFN-γ, p-IRF3, and p-TBK1 in jejunum of broilers infected with Salmonella Typhimurium. Collectively, our results demonstrate that heat stress can inhibit intestinal immune response by downregulating the expression of TLR4-NFκB-NLRP3 and TLR4-TBK1 signaling pathways in broilers infected with Salmonella Typhimurium.
The Functionally Grading Elastic and Viscoelastic Properties of the Body Region of the Knee Meniscus
Authors: Maritz Jared , Agustoni Greta , Dragnevski Kalin , Bordas Stéphane P. A. , Barrera Olga
Published: June 2021

The knee meniscus is a highly porous structure which exhibits a grading architecture through the depth of the tissue. The superficial layers on both femoral and tibial sides are constituted by a fine mesh of randomly distributed collagen fibers while the internal layer is constituted by a network of collagen channels of a mean size of 22.14 $$\mu $$
μ
m aligned at a $$30^{\circ }$$

30
∘

inclination with respect to the vertical. Horizontal dog-bone samples extracted from different depths of the tissue were mechanically tested in uniaxial tension to examine the variation of elastic and viscoelastic properties across the meniscus. The tests show that a random alignment of the collagen fibers in the superficial layers leads to stiffer mechanical responses (E = 105 and 189 MPa) in comparison to the internal regions (E = 34 MPa). All regions exhibit two modes of relaxation at a constant strain ($$\tau _1 = 6.4$$

τ
1

=
6.4

to 7.7 s, $$\tau _2$$

τ
2

= 49.9 to 59.7 s).
Endothelial cell plasticity at the single-cell level
Authors: Pasut Alessandra , Becker Lisa M. , Cuypers Anne , Carmeliet Peter
Published: June 2021

The vascular endothelium is characterized by a remarkable level of plasticity, which is the driving force not only of physiological repair/remodeling of adult tissues but also of pathological angiogenesis. The resulting heterogeneity of endothelial cells (ECs) makes targeting the endothelium challenging, no less because many EC phenotypes are yet to be identified and functionally inventorized. Efforts to map the vasculature at the single-cell level have been instrumental to capture the diversity of EC types and states at a remarkable depth in both normal and pathological states. Here, we discuss new EC subtypes and functions emerging from recent single-cell studies in health and disease. Interestingly, such studies revealed distinct metabolic gene signatures in different EC phenotypes, which deserve further consideration for therapy. We highlight how this metabolic targeting strategy could potentially be used to promote (for tissue repair) or block (in tumor) angiogenesis in a tissue or even vascular bed-specific manner.
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Infection in Cisgender and Transgender Women in the U.S.: A Narrative Review of the Literature
Authors: Baldwin Aleta , Light Brenda , Allison Waridibo E.
Published: June 2021

Using a socioecological approach, this review describes the peer-reviewed literature on oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among both cisgender (cis women) and transgender women (trans women) in the U.S. A search of the PubMed database and HIV-related conference abstracts generated over 2,200 articles and abstracts. Of these, 103 fulfilled review inclusion criteria. Most of the existing research presents findings on individual-level factors associated with PrEP use such as willingness and perceived barriers. There was far less investigation of factors related to PrEP at more distal ecological levels. Though trans women are at greater risk of HIV infection than cisgender women, less is known about this population group with respect to PrEP despite their inclusion in many major clinical trials. Further, the literature is characterized by a persistent conflation of sex and gender which makes it difficult to accurately assess the reviewed research on HIV prevention and PrEP apart from risk group. Informed by these findings, we highlight specific opportunities to improve access to PrEP and reduce socioecological barriers to PrEP care engagement for cisgender and transgender women.
“It’s a Little Bit Tricky”: Results from the POLYamorous Childbearing and Birth Experiences Study (POLYBABES)
Authors: Landry Samantha , Arseneau Erika , Darling Elizabeth K.
Published: June 2021

The number of polyamorous people in Canada is growing steadily, and many polyamorous people are of childbearing age and report living with children. Experiences of polyamorous families, particularly those related to pregnancy and childbirth, have thus far been underrepresented in the literature. The POLYamorous Childbearing and Birth Experiences Study (POLYBABES) sought to explore the pregnancy and birth experiences of polyamorous people. Having previously reported findings relating to experiences with the health system and healthcare providers, this article specifically focuses on the social aspects of polyamorous families’ experiences. We explored the impact of polyamory on one’s self identity, relationship structures, and experiences navigating the social world. Anyone who self-identified as polyamorous during pregnancy and birth, gave birth in Canada within 5 years, and received some prenatal care was eligible to participate in this study. Participants were recruited through social media and interviewed online or in person. Twenty-four participants were interviewed (11 birthing people and 13 of their partners). Thematic analysis was used to explore the data, and four primary themes were identified: deliberately planning families, more is more, presenting polyamory, and living in a mononormative world. Each theme was further broken down into a number of sub-themes. We also collaborated with research participants to create a glossary of terms. By exploring the pregnancy and birth experiences of polyamorous families and focusing on participant voices, this research adds to the limited research on polyamorous families and contributes to the process of breaking down stigma associated with alternative family structures. Further, by creating an accessible glossary of terms, researchers and lay persons alike have been given access to a meaningful resource.
Direct electrospinning of cellulose in the DBU-CO2 switchable solvent system
Authors: Heidari Mina , Onwukamike Kelechukwu N. , Grau Etienne , Grelier Stéphane , Cramail Henri , Meier Michael A. R. , Greiner Andreas
Published: June 2021

We report the use of the DBU-CO2 switchable solvent system for the direct electrospinning of cellulose. Two cellulose types were investigated, i.e. microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and cellulose pulp (CP). The morphologies of the obtained cellulose fibers were studied using scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy. Results obtained showed that only particles with mean diameter about 1.2 μm could be obtained when MCC was used, even at high concentration (10 wt%). In the case of CP, an optimized concentration of 4 wt% resulted in standing fibers with a mean diameter of about 500nm. In order to improve the spinnability of the cellulose, different concentrations and ratios of PVA in combination with cellulose were investigated. The combination of cellulose (both MCC and CP) resulted in the formation of a unique fiber morphology, characterized by a homogeneous bead-like structure. An in-depth study of the fiber structure was carried out using Raman spectroscopy and showed that both cellulose and PVA were present in the formed beads. Finally, the challenge observed remained a complete removal of the solvents, which are not volatile enough, as well as explore a coagulation collection process for the fiber recovery in order to recover and re-use the employed solvent.

Graphic abstract
Young Adulthood Outcomes of Joint Mental Health Trajectories: A Group-Based Trajectory Model Analysis of a 13-Year Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Murray Aja Louise , Nagin Daniel , Obsuth Ingrid , Ribeaud Denis , Eisner Manuel
Published: June 2021

Developmental trajectories of common mental health issues such as ADHD symptoms, internalising problems, and externalising problems can often be usefully summarised in terms of a small number of ‘developmental subtypes’ (e.g., ‘childhood onset’, ‘adolescent onset’) that may differ in their profiles or levels of clinically meaningful variables such as etiological risk factors. However, given the strong tendency for symptoms in these domains to co-occur, it is important to consider not only developmental subtypes in each domain individually, but also the joint developmental subtypes defined by symptoms trajectories in all three domains together (e.g., ‘late onset multimorbid’, ‘pure internalising’, ‘early onset multimorbid’). Previous research has illuminated the joint developmental subtypes of ADHD symptoms, internalising problems, and externalising problems that emerge from normative longitudinal data using methods such as group-based trajectory modelling, as well as predictors of membership in these developmental subtypes. However, information on the long-term outcomes of developmental subtype membership is critical to illuminate the likely nature and intensity of support needs required for individuals whose trajectories fit different developmental subtypes. We, therefore, evaluated the relations between developmental subtypes previously derived using group-based trajectory modelling in the z-proso study (n = 1620 with trajectory data at ages 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15) and early adulthood outcomes. Individuals with multimorbid trajectories but not ‘pure’ internalising problem elevations showed higher levels of social exclusion and delinquency at age 20. These associations held irrespective of the specific developmental course of symptoms (e.g., early versus late onset versus remitting). There was also some evidence that intimate partner violence acts as a form of heterotypic continuity for earlier externalising problems. Results underline the need for early intervention to address the pathways that lead to social exclusion and delinquency among young people with multiple co-occurring mental health issues.
The unique effects of Covid-19 – A qualitative study of the factors that influence teachers’ acceptance and usage of digital tools
Authors: Wohlfart Olivia , Trumler Tim , Wagner Ingo
Published: June 2021

The objective of this study is to examine the factors that influence teachers’ acceptance of digital tools for undertaking distance teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on the variables of the technology acceptance model, we have conducted interviews with 15 secondary school teachers with varying degrees of professional experiences and combinations of subjects, from the federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg in Germany and analyzed the same. The results indicate that, other than user motivation, three areas, namely “regulations and specifications,” “technological infrastructure,” and “heterogeneity of students and teachers,” affect the adoption of digital tools. The Covid-19 pandemic, which inevitably led teachers to embrace digital tools, positively influenced the perception and immediate usefulness of digital tools. We assert that no other variable would have been able to universally influence technology usage and acceptance to such an extent as to replicate the findings of our study and simultaneously highlight the uniqueness of the current situation and the necessity for examining its impact.
The Implications of COVID-19 for Early Childhood Education in Ethiopia: Perspectives from Parents and Caregivers
Authors: Kim Janice H. , Araya Mesele , Hailu Belay Hagos , Rose Pauline M. , Woldehanna Tassew
Published: June 2021

Recent research on the effects of COVID-19 on school closures has mainly focused on primary and secondary education, with extremely limited attention to early childhood education (ECE). To address this gap, we identify the extent to which parents and caregivers with pre-primary school-aged children were engaged in their children’s learning during school closures in Ethiopia. Our focus on Ethiopia is of particular relevance given that ECE provision has expanded dramatically in recent years, aimed at ensuring children are prepared for primary school. Using data collected through a phone survey with 480 parents and caregivers, the results revealed that learning disruption due to COVID-19 school closures is likely to be substantial and will probably widen existing inequalities further. Many poorer households and those where parents or caregivers are not literate, are less likely to have child-oriented learning resources, and home learning activities between parents and children in these households are limited. The study highlights that greater attention needs to be paid to mitigate the threats of COVID-19 on Ethiopia’s recent gains in ECE, to prevent the pandemic from further reinforcing inequalities between children from advantaged and disadvantaged households.
Truncated pair-wise likelihood for the Brown-Resnick process with applications to maximum temperature data
Authors: Huang Zhendong , Shulyarenko Olga , Ferrari Davide
Published: June 2021

Max-stable processes are a natural extension of multivariate extreme value theory important for modeling the spatial dependence of environmental extremes. Inference for max-stable processes observed at several spatial locations is challenging due to the intractability of the full likelihood function. Composite likelihood methods avoid these difficulties by combining a number of low-dimensional likelihood objects, typically defined on pairs or triplets of spatial locations. This work develops a new truncation procedure based on ℓ1-penalty to reduce the complexity and computational cost associated with the composite likelihood function. The new method is shown to achieve a favorable trade-off between computational burden and statistical efficiency by dropping a number of noisy sub-likelihoods. The properties of the new method are illustrated through numerical simulations and an application to real extreme temperature data.
Exploring hierarchical porous silica-supported Ag3PO4 as high-efficient and environmental-friendly photocatalytic disinfectant
Authors: Zheng Pei , Jin Bo , Dai Sheng
Published: June 2021

Silver orthophosphate (Ag3PO4) is an attractive photocatalytic catalyst for disinfection and degradation, but its instability arising from silver release generates significant environmental issue. Aiming to develop a highly efficient and environmental-friendly catalyst, we synthesized Ag3PO4 nanoparticle incorporated hierarchical porous silica (Ag3PO4@h-SiO2) as a novel high-performance photocatalytic catalyst without observed silver release. Brain-like hierarchical porous SiO2 (h-SiO2) brings a scaffold support with high surface areas, and the h-SiO2 surface modified thiols are able to anchor in situ formed 10 nm Ag3PO4 to eliminate silver release. Systematic investigations revealed that because of its structural advantages, Ag3PO4@h-SiO2 show excellent disinfection and degradation ability under visible-light irradiation and stable characteristics without obviously observed silver leaching during photo-oxidation operation. In-depth scavenger study reveals Ag3PO4@h-SiO2 as an effective semiconducting photocatalyst stimulates the production of photo-generated reactive species, which dominate its distinguished disinfection performance via photo-oxidation.

Graphical abstract

Ag3PO4 are anchored to thiol modified hierarchical porous SiO2 to produce a visible-light responsive photocatalyst of Ag3PO4@h-SiO2. The enhanced catalytic sites and surface areas promote pathogen disinfection, and the structure advantages minimize silver release to environment. Both H2O2 and holes being generated in photocatalysis dominate overall disinfection activity.
Complete resource pooling of a load-balancing policy for a network of battery swapping stations
Authors: Sloothaak Fiona , Cruise James , Shneer Seva , Vlasiou Maria , Zwart Bert
Published: June 2021

To reduce carbon emission in the transportation sector, there is currently a steady move taking place to an electrified transportation system. This brings about various issues for which a promising solution involves the construction and operation of a battery swapping infrastructure rather than in-vehicle charging of batteries. In this paper, we study a closed Markovian queueing network that allows for spare batteries under a dynamic arrival policy. We propose a provisioning rule for the capacity levels and show that these lead to near-optimal resource utilization, while guaranteeing good quality-of-service levels for electric vehicle users. Key in the derivations is to prove a state-space collapse result, which in turn implies that performance levels are as good as if there would have been a single station with an aggregated number of resources, thus achieving complete resource pooling.
Test–retest reliability of the EQ-5D-5L and the reworded QOLIBRI-OS in the general population of Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom
Authors: Long Di , Polinder Suzanne , Bonsel Gouke J. , Haagsma Juanita A.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

To assess the test–retest reliability of the EQ-5D-5L and the reworded Quality of Life After Traumatic Brain Injury Overall Scale (QOLIBRI-OS) for the general population of Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom (UK).

Methods

The sample contains 1864 members of the general population (aged 18–75 years) of Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK who completed a web-based questionnaire at two consecutive time points. The survey included items on gender, age, level of education, occupational status, household annual income, chronic health status, and the EQ-5D-5L and reworded QOLIBRI-OS instrument. Test–retest reliability of the EQ-5D-5L dimensions, EQ-5D-5L summary index, EQ VAS, reworded QOLIBRI-OS dimensions and reworded QOLIBRI-OS level sum score was examined by Gwet’s Agreement Coefficient (Gwet’s AC) and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC).

Results

Gwet’s AC ranged from 0.64 to 0.97 for EQ-5D-5L dimensions. The ICC ranged from 0.73 to 0.84 for the EQ-5D-5L summary index and 0.61 to 0.68 for EQ VAS in the three countries. Gwet’s AC ranged from 0.35 to 0.55 for reworded QOLIBRI-OS dimensions in the three countries. The ICC ranged from 0.69 to 0.77 for reworded QOLIBRI-OS level sum score.

Conclusion

Test–retest reliability of the EQ-5D-5L administered via a web-based questionnaire was substantial to almost perfect for the EQ-5D-5L dimensions, good for EQ-5D-5L summary index, and moderate for the EQ VAS. However, test–retest reliability was less satisfactory for the reworded QOLIBRI-OS. This indicates that the web-based EQ-5D-5L is a reliable instrument for the general population, but further research of the reworded QOLIBRI-OS is required.
Income inequality and intragenerational income mobility in Sweden from 1983 to 2010: Following two birth cohorts
Authors: Jansson Birgitta
Published: June 2021

Sweden has been known for having one of the most equal income distributions in the world. However, in recent decades, Sweden has experienced increasing income inequality. An alternative way of measuring the development of inequality is to study and compare the income development within and between two birth cohorts according to gender and different positions of income distribution. The focus in this paper is to study how individual disposable personal income has changed by aging and at various positions of the income distribution, as well as the gender disposable income gap and intragenerational income mobility. Three positions of the income distribution were chosen: percentile 10; median; and percentile 99. Two cohorts, including all individuals born in 1948 and 1958, were tracked from 35 years of age to 53 years of age – with two 18-year overlapping periods, 1983–2000, and 1993–2010. The results show a complex and multifaceted image of the development of income inequality and mobility, within and between the two birth cohorts. Especially male low-income earners, born 1958, have been left behind. Income mobility differ according to gender where women have increased mobility in the bottom quintile and decreased in the top quintile, men experienced the opposite. When modelling mobility education have decreased to contribute to an upward mobility, especial for cohort born 1958. Taking all the results together, the development of increasing income inequality in Sweden is apparent.
Enculturation and the historical origins of number words and concepts
Authors: dos Santos César Frederico
Published: June 2021

In the literature on enculturation—the thesis according to which higher cognitive capacities result from transformations in the brain driven by culture—numerical cognition is often cited as an example. A consequence of the enculturation account for numerical cognition is that individuals cannot acquire numerical competence if a symbolic system for numbers is not available in their cultural environment. This poses a problem for the explanation of the historical origins of numerical concepts and symbols. When a numeral system had not been created yet, people did not have the opportunity to acquire number concepts. But, if people did not have number concepts, how could they ever create a symbolic systemfor numbers? Here I propose an account of the invention of symbolic systems for numbers by anumeric people in the remote past that is compatible with the enculturation thesis. I suggest that symbols for numbers and number concepts may have emerged at the same time through the re-semantification of words whose meanings were originally non-numerical.
GUIDE-Modell: Ein Kompass für den Beratungstisch
Authors: Andres Roduit Christine , Walter Marie-Christine
Published: June 2021

Karrierecoaches und Laufbahnberatenden sowie Klient/innen ein Modell zur Verfügung zu stellen, das eine selbstgesteuerte und erfolgreiche Laufbahngestaltung stützt – diesem Ziel folgte die öffentliche Berufs‑, Studien- und Laufbahnberatung Oberwallis bei der Entwicklung des Guide-Modells. Dieses basiert auf prozessorientierten Laufbahnberatungsmodellen und inhaltsorientierten Ressourcenmodellen. Anhand eines Fallbeispiels aus dem Karrierecoaching wird die Anwendung des GUIDE-Modells in der Praxis veranschaulicht. Erkenntnisse aus der Praxisarbeit mit dem Modell, welches als Drehscheibe auf dem Beratungstisch vorliegt, werden dargelegt und diskutiert.
Evaluation of a Health-Management Course for Recently Settled Immigrants
Authors: Sjöström Rita , Kaev Gunilla , Söderström Lars
Published: June 2021

This study aims to evaluate an intervention, consisting of nine weeks of health-management course, combined with social and working life orientation and language instruction for recently settled immigrants in Sweden. One hundred one participants in the intervention groups and 48 participants in the control group participated. The intervention consisted of a health management course combined with social and working life orientation and the control group participated in the regular local authority program for social and working life orientation. Measurement instruments were health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and registration of work rate. Several participants in the groups were in work, primarily in subsidized employment, after six months. Recently settled men were employed to a greater extent than the women, where poorer physical and mental health could be observed among women in this study. Participants in the intervention and the control groups had maintained HRQoL from pre-intervention to six months post-intervention. More studies investigating the participants experiences of the health-managing course but also more homogenous measurements in studies for recently settled immigrants are needed.
Mass occurrence of small isopodan crustaceans in 100-million-year-old amber: an extraordinary view on behaviour of extinct organisms
Authors: Schädel Mario , Hörnig Marie K. , Hyžný Matúš , Haug Joachim T.
Published: June 2021

Within Isopoda (woodlice and relatives), there are lineages characterised by a parasitic lifestyle that all belong to Cymothoida and likely form a monophyletic group. Representatives of Epicaridea (ingroup of Cymothoida) are parasitic on crustaceans and usually go through three distinct larval stages. The fossil record of Epicaridea is sparse and thus little is known about the palaeoecology and the origin of the complex life cycle of modern epicarideans. We present an assemblage of over 100 epicarideans preserved in a single piece of Late Cretaceous Myanmar amber. All individuals are morphologically similar to cryptoniscium stage larvae. The cryptoniscium stage usually constitutes the third and last larval stage. In modern representatives of Epicaridea, the cryptoniscium larvae are planktic and search for suitable host animals or adult females. These fossil specimens, though similar to some extant species, differ from other fossil epicaridean larvae in many aspects. Thus, a new species (and a new genus),Cryptolacruma nidis, is erected. Several factors can favour the preservation of multiple conspecific animals in a single piece of amber. However, the enormous density of epicarideans in the herein presented amber piece can only be explained by circumstances that result in high local densities of individuals, close to the resin-producing tree.
Recognising the impact of highly accomplished and lead teachers
Authors: Willis Jill , Churchward Peter , Crosswell Leanne , Spooner-Lane Rebecca , Wise Josephine , Jessen Suzanne
Published: June 2021

The Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT) Certification process introduced in Australia in 2012 was designed to recognise expert teachers, to encourage them to continue to influence and impact their students and colleagues through their exemplary classroom practice. Expert teachers prepare evidence of their impactful practices, and have this evidence evaluated through a National Certifying Authority. HALTs are a relatively new role in Australian education, and little is known about their impact in schools, or the potential for their ongoing role as middle leaders in schools. This paper analyses the experiences of HALT teachers who had been certified by Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) in 2018, and what impact they recognised they were having in the schools who supported them through their certification process. Impact is theorised as a temporal, reflexive narrative. Data were gathered in a cascading evaluative process through portfolio analysis, interviews with nationally certified teachers, school-based mentors and school leaders and a survey about their teacher and middle leader efficacy. The process of applying for HALT Certification had significant positive personal impact for the teachers, their students, their colleagues in their school and for some, beyond their school. The recognition of impact as a temporal narrative with distinct genres, and the concept of HALT teachers as middle leaders may point to new avenues of supporting applicants and to potential benefits for schools to encourage teachers to consider national certification.
Growth of single crystals in the (Na1/2Bi1/2)TiO3–(Sr1–xCax)TiO3 system by solid state crystal growth
Authors: Le Phan Gia , Tran Huyen Tran , Lee Jong-Sook , Fisher John G. , Kim Hwang-Pill , Jo Wook , Moon Won-Jin
Published: June 2021

Ceramics based on (Na1/2B1/2)TiO3are promising candidates for actuator applications because of large strains generated by an electric field-induced phase transition. For example, the (1−x)(Na1/2Bi1/2)TiO3-xSrTiO3system exhibits a morphotropic phase boundary atx= 0.2–0.3, leading to high values of inverse piezoelectric constantd*33, which can be further improved by the use of single crystals. In our previous work, single crystals of (Na1/2B1/2)TiO3-SrTiO3and (Na1/2B1/2)TiO3-CaTiO3were grown by the solid state crystal growth technique. Growth in the (Na1/2B1/2)TiO3-SrTiO3system was sluggish whereas the (Na1/2B1/2)TiO3-CaTiO3single crystals grew well. In the present work, 0.8(Na1/2Bi1/2)TiO3-0.2(Sr1−xCax)TiO3single crystals (withx= 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) were produced by the solid state crystal growth technique in an attempt to improve crystal growth rate. The dependence of mean matrix grain size, single crystal growth distance, and electrical properties on the Ca concentration was investigated in detail. These investigations indicated that atx= 0.3 the matrix grain growth was suppressed and the driving force for single crystal growth was enhanced. Replacing Sr with Ca increased the shoulder temperatureTsand temperature of maximum relative permittivityTmax, causing a decrease in inverse piezoelectric properties and a change from normal to incipient ferroelectric behavior.