bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital education transaction object authentication service based on blockchain technology
Authors: Zhao Gang , Di Bingbing , He Hui , Zhu Wenjuan
Published: February 2020

With the rapid development of E‐Learning, the demand for high‐quality personalized education services and resources has increased rapidly. In order to meet this demand, a project called “Digital Education Crowdfunding and Crowdcreating Personalized Service Platform Development and Application Demonstration” was launched in China. The goal of the project is to provide a personalized education resource and service trading platform for producers, suppliers, and users by joint investment and collaborative creation. So how to ensure the authenticity and credibility of the objects (education resources and services) involved in this multi‐party participated service platform becomes a challenging task. Blockchain is emerging as a promising technology that enables people to make secure and reliable transactions because of the decentralization and collective maintenance features. Thus in this letter we proposed a novel blockchain‐based authentication service for digital education transaction object to resolve the problem of education transaction object authentication among different education institutions. We constructed information models for the two types object and stored the metadata information of the model on the blockchain to make it transparent and safe. And smart contracts are designed to authenticate education transaction object automatically among different education institutions. To improve the performance of blockchain‐based authentication service, an improved consensus process for blockchain network is proposed and incorporated into our prototype system. Performance simulation is carried out and the experimental results demonstrate the practicality of our blockchain‐based authentification service.
Common correlated effects estimation of heterogeneous dynamic panel quantile regression models
Authors: Harding Matthew , Lamarche Carlos , Pesaran M. Hashem
Published: February 2020

This paper proposes a quantile regression estimator for a heterogeneous panel model with lagged dependent variables and interactive effects. The paper adopts the Common Correlated Effects (CCE) approach proposed in the literature and demonstrates that the extension to the estimation of dynamic quantile regression models is feasible under similar conditions to the ones used in the literature. The new quantile regression estimator is shown to be consistent and its asymptotic distribution is derived. Monte Carlo studies are carried out to study the small sample behavior of the proposed approach. The evidence shows that the estimator can significantly improve on the performance of existing estimators as long as the time series dimension of the panel is large. We present an application to the evaluation of Time‐of‐Use pricing using a large randomized control trial.
3‐Hydroxypicolinic Acid as an Effective Matrix for Sophorolipid Structural Elucidation Using Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time‐of‐Flight Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Yatim Abdul Rashid M. , Wan Muhammad Zulkifli Wan Nur Fatihah , Majid Amin Malik Shah , Foster John L. , Hayes Douglas G.
Published: February 2020

Determination of the distribution of sophorolipid (SL) congeners controls their self‐assembly structures and therefore their employment as glycolipid biosurfactants in cosmetics, environmental remediation, and personal care applications. The compatibility of 3‐hydroxypicolinic acid (HPA) as a matrix for compositional analysis of SL using palm olein as carbon energy source by matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) analysis under positive and negative ion modes is studied in this work. Examination in positive ion mode revealed ions that were not detected in negative ion mode. Molecular ions produced using HPA matrix were lactonic Glc‐Glc‐1′,4″‐C18:1, anionic Glc‐Glc‐1′‐C18:1, lactonic monoacetate of Glc‐Glc‐1′,4″‐C18:1, and anionic monoacetate Glc‐Glc‐1′‐C18:1 and the anionic diacetate of Glc‐Glc‐1′‐C18:1. We also detected Glc‐Glc‐1′‐C18:0, GlcOAc‐Glc‐1′‐C18:0, GlcOAc‐GlcOAc‐1′,4″‐C18:0, and GlcOAc—GlcOAc‐1′‐C18:0 which are congeners of SL with stearic acid moieties. 3‐HPA has been established to be the superior matrix for elucidation of structures for SL using MALDI‐TOF MS.
Dissolution optimization and kinetics of nickel and cobalt from iron‐rich laterite ore, using sulfuric acid at atmospheric pressure
Authors: Hosseini Nasab Marzieh , Noaparast Mohammad , Abdollahi Hadi
Published: February 2020

More than 70% of the world's nickel reserves are found in laterite ores. In this research, a laterite ore sample, containing Ni, Co, and Fe, was employed to study the recovery of nickel and cobalt. Thus, the effect of calcination, acid concentration, percent solids, and stirring rate on nickel and cobalt recoveries from an iron‐rich laterite sample was investigated. Optimization with response surface methodology and kinetic studies were performed. The calcination of the sample prior to leaching at 500°C for 2 h provided condition for better nickel and cobalt dissolutions. At optimal conditions, the concentration of sulfuric acid, solid‐to‐liquid ratio, stirring speed, temperature, and time test were equal to 5 M, 0.1, 370 rpm, 90°C, and 2 h, respectively. The highest recoveries of nickel and cobalt were 65.9% and 63.1%, respectively. Solids content had a negative effect on Ni and Co recovery, whereas acid concentration was positively affected. Addition of 10% (w/v) NaCl in the presence of 5 M acid concentration, 60°C, 370 rpm, and leaching time of 2 h increased the nickel and cobalt recoveries, 15.3% and 21.4%, respectively. The high dependence of process on temperature indicates chemical control; the activation energies Ea = 59.54 and Ea = 45.74 kJ/mol, respectively, for nickel and cobalt, were also consistent with this conclusion.
Feasible Preparation of a Thin‐Film Composite Nanofiltration (TFC NF) Membrane with Enhanced Skin–Substrate Adhesion and Compaction Resistance: In Situ Construction of Rigid–Flexible Polymer Composited Microspheres (CPs) in the Casting Solution
Authors: Lian Xiangyang , Xie Jianqiang , Shi Qiang , Liu Wanjun , Yao Shaowei , Sun Xiufang
Published: February 2020

Novel microspheres (CPs) composited by rigid and flexible polymers are synthesized and embedded in the supporting membranes to enhance both the skin–substrate adhesion and compaction resistance of the thin‐film composite (TFC) nanofiltration membranes. The CPs are in situ formed in the casting solution after the rigid poly(p‐phenylene terephthamide) (PPTA) is produced in the flexible poly(m‐phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA) solution. Then the PPTA/PMIA in situ blending membranes are prepared by using the NIPs method, and the TFC NF membranes are fabricated via interfacial polymerization on them. The CPs are characterized via polarizing microscopy and TEM. The surface morphology and chemical composition of the blended membranes are characterized by using FESEM, AFM, FTIR, and WCA, respectively. As the results show, the supporting membrane with higher PPTA content exhibits higher permeability, thermal stability, and compaction resistance. Moreover, the adhesion strength between the TFC functional layer and the supporting membrane is improved significantly. It is proposed that this improvement can be attributed to the CPs that are exposed on the top surface of the supporting membrane, which leads to a great enhancement because of the anchoring effect between the functional layer and the CPs.
HEMA‐Modified Expandable P(MMA‐AA) Bone Cement with Dual Water Absorption Networks
Authors: Chen Lei , Tang Yufei , Zhao Kang , Liu Jiaxin , Jiao Mengzhen , Bai Hao , Wu Zixiang
Published: February 2020

Although the shrinkage of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement has been tackled by the poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐acrylic acid) [P(MMA‐AA)] bone cement due to the expandable P(MMA‐AA) copolymer in the solid phase, the hydrophobicity of PMMA and its solidification restrict simulated body fluid (SBF) diffusion and expansion properties. In this research, hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)‐modified P(MMA‐AA) bone cement (HMBC) is obtained by introducing HEMA into the liquid phase of P(MMA‐AA) bone cement. It is assumed that the dual water absorption networks can promote the SBF absorption capacity, thus resulting in the increased expansion behavior. The results demonstrate that the introduction of HEMA improves the hydrophilicity of the bulk. SBF absorption efficiency and swelling efficiency are promoted in the primary step of expansion. The porous structure of HMBC contributes to the increased SBF absorption and swelling in the second step of expansion behavior. Meanwhile, the remarkable absorption ratio and expansion ratio reach 88.5% and 97.4%, respectively. Furthermore, enhanced biocompatibility and osteogenesis activity provide HMBC as a promising biomaterial in the clinical setting.
Simulation and implementation of CMOS 8:1 LC‐tank injection‐locked frequency divider
Authors: Jang Sheng‐Lyang , Ciou You‐Liang
Published: February 2020

This letter simulates and measures a wide locking range LC‐resonator injection‐locked frequency divider (ILFD) designed in the TSMC 0.18 μm process. The balanced‐injection 8:1 ILFD uses a current‐mode design method with one 2:1 p‐core LC sub‐ILFD and one 4:1 n‐core LC sub‐ILFD with wide locking range. The 4:1 sub‐ILFD uses a 5‐turn symmetric octagonal inductor and two 4‐turn inter‐wound transformers and parasitic capacitors to build the LC‐resonator. The primary and the secondary inductors in the 1:1 transformer are identical for simple design. At the core power consumption 9.537 mW and at the incident power of 0 dBm, the measured 8:1 locking range is 1.11 GHz, from the incident frequency 16.83 to 17.94 GHz. The whole CMOS die occupies an area of 0.931 × 1.2 mm2. The simulated 8:1 sub‐ILFD also has wide locking range.
Young adults and their digitally extended selves: Assessing the impact of gender
Authors: Nargundkar Rajendra V. , Nafees Lubna , Kushal Shweta
Published: February 2020

This paper explored the concept of the extended self in the context of virtual realities and spaces, and through the prism of gender. It demonstrated the manner in which selves are constructed and presented on social media platforms. Through this enquiry, the study showed that both genders engage in self‐construction in diverse ways, with different impacts in terms of the tools used for self‐presentation. The study can be useful in terms of assessing young adults' behaviors in the virtual arena and analyzing the various ways of extending self.
Relationship Between Pubic Symphysis Separation and Postpartum Pelvic Girdle Pain: A Retrospective Study of 32 Cases
Authors: Qiao Jie , Qin Jian , Feng Jing , Huang Mi , Xia Ping
Published: February 2020

Background

Pain severity of postpartum pelvic girdle pain (PGP) does not seem closely related to the symphysis gap.

Objective

To determine the relationship between the pubic symphysis gap and postpartum PGP in women treated with the squeeze‐and‐clap maneuver.

Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

Hospital Clinic

Patients

32 patients with postpartum PGP.

Methods

The patients were grouped by the pubic symphysis gap as: group A (6–11 mm), group B (12–20 mm), and group C (21–30 mm).

Main outcome measurements

GP severity was measured by visual analogue scale (VAS). The symphysis gap was measured on radiographs. All patients were treated with the squeeze‐and‐clap maneuver. The VAS scores and the symphysis gaps at the first clinic visit and the second clinic visit 4–8 weeks later were analyzed.

Results

There was no significant difference in VAS scores between the three groups at the first clinic visit and the second clinic visit. VAS scores of the three groups were all significantly decreased at the second clinic visit compared with the first clinic visit (all P < .001). The symphysis gap was significantly decreased in group C at the second clinic visit (P = 0.004), but not in group A and group B.

Conclusion

Pubic symphysis separation was not associated with pain severity of postpartum PGP.
No Backdoors: Investigating the Dutch Standpoint on Encryption
Authors: Veen Jeroen , Boeke Sergei
Published: February 2020

The use of end‐to‐end encryption services by terrorists and criminals has led many of the world's security and law enforcement agencies to emphasize the need for exceptional access: a backdoor in encryption. The debate involves governments and private parties, and can be approached through the different prisms of privacy, national security, and economics. This article provides historical background and context on the issue of government access to encryption, before focusing on the Dutch government's position on encryption. In January 2016 the Netherlands was the first country to adopt an official and unambiguous standpoint that ruled out backdoors in encryption. Building on interviews conducted with policymakers in various ministries, the authors elucidate the decision making process and identify key factors that led to the government's position. The impetus provided by Parliament, the role of the NGO Bits of Freedom, and an approach that transcended sectoral interests all contributed. While the unique political context and culture of the Netherlands complicates the application of lessons identified to other countries, the case study does illustrate how a multistakeholder process can lead to a clear standpoint of ruling out backdoors in encryption.
Synthesis of polyimides with lower H2O‐absorption and higher thermal properties by incorporation of intramolecular H‐bonding
Authors: Qian Guangtao , Chen Haiquan , Song Guangliang , Yao Jianan , Hu Mengjie , Chen Chunhai
Published: February 2020

To introduce intramolecular hydrogen bonds in the polyimides (PIs), 5(6)‐amino‐2‐(5‐aminopyridin‐2‐yl)‐benzimidazole (PyPABZ) were designed and synthesized. The intramolecular interaction was indicated by Fourier transform infrared when different copolyimides were prepared with 4,4′‐oxydianiline and PyPABZ. These modified poly(benzimidazole imide)s eliminate the problem of high water absorption for benzimidazole (BI)‐containing PIs in the materials applications. Moreover, the high packing coefficient and rigidity of these copolyimides caused by the strong intramolecular interaction from the H‐bonding and the resulting PIs exhibited outstanding thermal properties such as high glass‐transition temperature (Tg) and low coefficient of thermal expansion.
Development of a mapping approach encompassing most fluvial processes: Lessons learned from the freedom space for rivers concept in Quebec (Canada)
Authors: Massé Simon , Demers Sylvio , Besnard Clément , Buffin‐Bélanger Thomas , Biron Pascale M. , Choné Guénolé , Massey William
Published: February 2020

The consensus around the need for a shift in river management approaches to include more natural processes is steadily growing amongst scientists, practitioners, and governmental agencies. The freedom space for rivers concept promotes the delineation of a single space that integrates multiple fluvial dynamics such as floods, lateral migration, channel avulsions, and riparian wetlands connectivity. The objective of this research is to assess the validity of the hydrogeomorphological approach to delineate the freedom space for an extensive sampling of river reaches, covering 167 km, in contrasting watersheds in Quebec (Canada). Comparative analysis was conducted on the relative importance of erosion and flood processes on the freedom space delineation for various fluvial types. Semiautomated tools based on light detection and ranging (LiDAR) digital elevation models were also tested on an additional 274 km of watercourses to facilitate freedom space mapping over extensive zones and for highly dynamics environments such as alluvial fans. In the studied reaches, flood and erosion processes occur respectively, on average, in a space equivalent to 2.6 and 20.6 channel widths. In unconfined landscapes, flood processes represent an area up to almost four times the area of erosion processes expected in a 50‐year period. In partly confined and confined environments, erosion processes are more likely to exceed flooding zone, and therefore need to be integrated in the mapping. This study helps better determine the conditions for which the full methodology of freedom space mapping is required or where semiautomated methods can be used. It provides useful guidelines for the implementation of the freedom space approach.
Familiarize yourself with budgeting best practices to boost your department's success
Authors: Pavlik Amelia
Published: February 2020

Among the long list of administrative duties that come with the job, the budgeting process often ranks as the one responsibility for which student affairs professionals feel least equipped to manage.
OSA Esterification of Amaranth and Maize Starch Nanocrystals and Their Use in “Pickering” Emulsions
Authors: Sánchez de la Concha Brenda B. , Agama‐Acevedo Edith , Agurirre‐Cruz Andres , Bello‐Pérez Luis A. , Alvarez‐Ramírez José
Published: February 2020

Emulsions are widely used in food, drug, and cosmetic products. Due to their small size, starch nanocrystals are proposed to stabilize Pickering emulsions. However, this application is effective only when starch nanocrystals offer a strong amphipathic character. Waxy maize and amaranth starch nanocrystals are treated chemically with octenyl succinic acid (OSA) to obtain particles which are able to stabilize of oil‐in‐water emulsions. The emulsification capacity of OSA‐treated starch nanocrystals is compared with the capacity offered by non‐treated starch. It is shown that OSA treatment enhanced the emulsification capacity, and the effect is attributed to the increase of repulsive forces as reflected by ζ‐potential. Compared with nanocrystals obtained from waxy maize starch, amaranth exhibits superior emulsification ability, which is preserved under storage conditions. Overall, the results show that OSA‐treated starch nanocrystals are viable alternatives for the stabilization of emulsion systems.
Algebraic expressions for estimating the impact depths of a surface barrier over a homogeneous soil
Authors: Zhang Zhuanfang Fred
Published: February 2020

Engineered surface barriers are used to isolate subsurface contaminants for effective long‐term containment of waste of a variety of types. The impact depths of a surface barrier are affected by the pre‐barrier recharge rate and the properties of the soil beneath the barrier. In this paper, algebraic expressions are developed to estimate drainage velocities and barrier impact depths after the emplacement of a surface barrier. Four impact depth terms are used to convey barrier impact: the near‐zero‐, 50%, average‐, and full‐impact depths. The algebraic expressions show that the average‐impact depth is no more than one‐third of the near‐zero‐impact depth, whereas the 50% impact depth is slightly larger than one‐half of the near‐zero‐impact depth. The full‐impact depth, depending on the final recharge rate from the surface barrier, is usually much smaller than the other impact depths. These differences lead to a very large transition zone beneath a surface barrier. A field drainage experiment and a series of numerical simulations were used to test the algebraic expressions. The experimental data and numerical results corroborated the analytical models by predicting very similar water content profiles and/or near‐zero‐, 50%, average‐, and full‐impact depths during the drainage process. The algebraic expressions provided are useful for quickly identifying sites where the depth of the existing contaminants could be beyond the protection of a surface barrier.
Soft theorems from compactification
Authors: Marotta Raffaele , Verma Mritunjay
Published: February 2020

Abstract

We analyze the single subleading soft graviton theorem in (d + 1) dimensions under compactification on S1. This produces the single soft theorems for the graviton, vector and scalar fields in d dimension. For the compactification of 11-dimensional supergravity theory, this gives the soft factorization properties of the single graviton, dilaton and RR 1-form fields in type IIA string theory in ten dimensions. For the case of the soft vector field, we also explicitly check the result obtained from compactification by computing the amplitudes with external massive spin two and massless finite energy states interacting with soft vector field. The former are the Kaluza-Klein excitations of the d + 1 dimensional metric. Describing the interaction of the KK-modes with the vector field at each level by the minimally coupled Fierz-Pauli Lagrangian, we find agreement with the results obtained from the compactification if the gyromagnetic ratio in the minimally coupled Fierz-Pauli Lagrangian is taken to be g = 1.
Exploring the membrane theory of entanglement dynamics
Authors: Mezei Márk , Virrueta Julio
Published: February 2020

Abstract

Recently an effective membrane theory valid in a “hydrodynamic limit” was proposed to describe entanglement dynamics of chaotic systems based on results in random quantum circuits and holographic gauge theories. In this paper, we show that this theory is robust under a large set of generalizations. In generic quench protocols we find that the membrane couples geometrically to hydrodynamics, joining quenches are captured by branes in the effective theory, and the entanglement of time evolved local operators can be computed by probing a time fold geometry with the membrane. We also demonstrate that the structure of the effective theory does not change under finite coupling corrections holographically dual to higher derivative gravity and that subleading orders in the hydrodynamic expansion can be incorporated by including higher derivative terms in the effective theory.
Discrete fragmentation systems in weighted $$\pmb {\ell ^{1}}$$ spaces
Authors: Kerr Lyndsay , Lamb Wilson , Langer Matthias
Published: February 2020

We investigate an infinite, linear system of ordinary differential equations that models the evolution of fragmenting clusters. We assume that each cluster is composed of identical units (monomers), and we allow mass to be lost, gained or conserved during each fragmentation event. By formulating the initial-value problem for the system as an abstract Cauchy problem (ACP), posed in an appropriate weighted $$\ell ^1$$

ℓ
1

space, and then applying perturbation results from the theory of operator semigroups, we prove the existence and uniqueness of physically relevant, classical solutions for a wide class of initial cluster distributions. Additionally, we establish that it is always possible to identify a weighted $$\ell ^1$$

ℓ
1

space on which the fragmentation semigroup is analytic, which immediately implies that the corresponding ACP is well posed for any initial distribution belonging to this particular space. We also investigate the asymptotic behaviour of solutions and show that, under appropriate restrictions on the fragmentation coefficients, solutions display the expected long-term behaviour of converging to a purely monomeric steady state. Moreover, when the fragmentation semigroup is analytic, solutions are shown to decay to this steady state at an explicitly defined exponential rate.
A robust flow cytometry-based biomass monitoring tool enables rapid at-line characterization of S. cerevisiae physiology during continuous bioprocessing of spent sulfite liquor
Authors: Vees Charlotte Anne , Veiter Lukas , Sax Fritz , Herwig Christoph , Pflügl Stefan
Published: February 2020

Assessment of viable biomass is challenging in bioprocesses involving complex media with distinct biomass and media particle populations. Biomass monitoring in these circumstances usually requires elaborate offline methods or sophisticated inline sensors. Reliable monitoring tools in an at-line capacity represent a promising alternative but are still scarce to date. In this study, a flow cytometry-based method for biomass monitoring in spent sulfite liquor medium as feedstock for second generation bioethanol production with yeast was developed. The method is capable of (i) yeast cell quantification against medium background, (ii) determination of yeast viability, and (iii) assessment of yeast physiology though morphological analysis of the budding division process. Thus, enhanced insight into physiology and morphology is provided which is not accessible through common online and offline biomass monitoring methods. To demonstrate the capabilities of this method, firstly, a continuous ethanol fermentation process of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with filtered and unfiltered spent sulfite liquor media was analyzed. Subsequently, at-line process monitoring of viability in a retentostat cultivation was conducted. The obtained information was used for a simple control based on addition of essential nutrients in relation to viability. Thereby, inter-dependencies between nutrient supply, physiology, and specific ethanol productivity that are essential for process design could be illuminated.
Role of FDG-PET/CT in children with fever of unknown origin
Authors: Pijl Jordy P. , Kwee Thomas C. , Legger G.E. , Peters Helja J.H. , Armbrust Wineke , Schölvinck E.H. , Glaudemans Andor W.J.M.
Published: February 2020

Purpose

To determine the role of18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/computed tomography (CT) in children with fever of unknown origin (FUO).

Methods

This retrospective single-center study included 110 children (0–18 years) with FUO who underwent FDG-PET/CT between 2010 and 2019. The diagnostic value of FDG-PET/CT for identifying cause of fever was calculated, treatment modifications after FDG-PET/CT were assessed, and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify clinical and biochemical factors associated with FDG-PET/CT outcome.

Results

In 53 out of 110 patients (48%), FDG-PET/CT identified a (true positive) cause of fever. Endocarditis (11%), systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (5%), and inflammatory bowel disorder (5%) were the most common causes of FUO. In 42 patients (38%), no cause of fever was found on FDG-PET/CT. In 58 out of 110 patients (53%), treatment modifications were made after FDG-PET/CT. FDG-PET/CT achieved a sensitivity of 85.5%, specificity of 79.2%, positive predictive value of 84.1%, and negative predictive value of 80.9%. On multivariate logistic regression, C-reactive protein was positively associated with finding a true positive focus of fever on FDG-PET/CT (OR = 1.01 (95% CI 1.00–1.02) per mg/L increase in CRP), while leukocyte count was negatively associated with finding a true positive focus of fever (OR = 0.91 (95% CI 0.85–0.97) per 109leukocytes/L increase).

Conclusion

FDG-PET/CT is a valuable diagnostic tool in the evaluation of children with FUO, since it may detect a true underlying cause in almost half (48%) of all cases where none was found otherwise. It allows full-body evaluation in patients without disease-specific symptoms on one examination. CRP and leukocyte count were significantly associated with FDG-PET/CT results, which may contribute to a priori assessment on the outcome of FDG-PET/CT. Future research could be aimed at evaluating more patient-specific factors to prospectively estimate the added value of FDG-PET/CT in children with FUO.
Rationale and design of two randomized sham-controlled trials of catheter-based renal denervation in subjects with uncontrolled hypertension in the absence (SPYRAL HTN-OFF MED Pivotal) and presence (SPYRAL HTN-ON MED Expansion) of antihypertensive medications: a novel approach using Bayesian design
Authors: Böhm Michael , Townsend Raymond R. , Kario Kazuomi , Kandzari David , Mahfoud Felix , Weber Michael A. , Schmieder Roland E. , Tsioufis Konstantinos , Hickey Graeme L. , Fahy Martin , DeBruin Vanessa , Brar Sandeep , Pocock Stuart
Published: February 2020

Background

The SPYRAL HTN clinical trial program was initiated with two 80-patient pilot studies, SPYRAL HTN-OFF MED and SPYRAL HTN-ON MED, which provided biological proof of principle that renal denervation has a blood pressure-lowering effect versus sham controls for subjects with uncontrolled hypertension in the absence or presence of antihypertensive medications, respectively.

Trial design

Two multicenter, prospective, randomized, sham-controlled trials have been designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of catheter-based renal denervation for the reduction of blood pressure in subjects with hypertension in the absence (SPYRAL HTN-OFF MED Pivotal) or presence (SPYRAL HTN-ON MED Expansion) of antihypertensive medications. The primary efficacy endpoint is baseline-adjusted change from baseline in 24-h ambulatory systolic blood pressure. The primary safety endpoint is incidence of major adverse events at 1 month after randomization (or 6 months in cases of new renal artery stenosis). Both trials utilize a Bayesian design to allow for prespecified interim analyses to take place, and thus, the final sample sizes are dependent on whether enrollment is stopped at the first or second interim analysis. SPYRAL HTN-OFF MED Pivotal will enroll up to 300 subjects and SPYRAL HTN-ON MED Expansion will enroll up to 221 subjects. A novel Bayesian power prior approach will leverage historical information from the pilot studies, with a degree of discounting determined by the level of agreement with data from the prospectively powered studies.

Conclusions

The Bayesian paradigm represents a novel and promising approach in device-based hypertension trials.

Clinical trial registration

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02439749 (SPYRAL HTN-OFF MED Pivotal) and NCT02439775 (SPYRAL HTN-ON MED Expansion).
Correction to: Jumping with variably scaled discontinuous kernels (VSDKs)
Authors: De Marchi S. , Marchetti F. , Perracchione E.
Published: February 2020

The article Jumping with variably scaled discontinuous kernels (VSDKs) written by S. De Marchi, F. Marchetti and E. Perracchione was originally published electronically on the publisher’s Internet portal on [date of OnlineFirst publication] without open access. With the author(s)’ decision to opt for Open Choice, the copyright of the article changed on January 2020 to © The Author(s) 2020 and the article is forthwith distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made.
Initial dynamic thermal dissipation modes enhance heat dissipation in gold nanoparticle–polydimethylsiloxane thin films
Authors: Howard Tyler V. , Berry Keith R. , Roper D. Keith
Published: February 2020

Plasmonic nanocomposite materials have exhibited value for applications ranging from biological hyperthermia to optical sensing and waveguiding. Energy absorbed from incident irradiation can be re-emitted as light or decay into phonons that propagate through the surrounding material and increase its temperature. Previous works have examined steady-state thermal dissipation resulting from irradiated plasmonic nanocomposites. This work shows heat dissipation in the first few seconds can significantly exceed that during subsequent steady state, depending on film geometry, nanoparticle diameter and concentration, laser irradiation power, and position within and adjacent to the irradiated spot. Films of lower thickness containing 16 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) irradiated at 13.5 mW laser power showed highest enhancement and tunability of the dynamic thermal mode within and adjacent to the irradiated spot. Measured initial nanocomposite film temperature in or near the irradiated spot exceeded that resulting from constant bulk film thermal dissipation. These results improve understanding of cooling dynamics of resonantly irradiated nanocomposite materials and guide development of devices with enhanced thermal dissipation dynamics.
Immigrant Fertility in Comparative Perspective: South Africa and the United States
Authors: Aguilera Guadalupe , Korinek Kim
Published: February 2020

Because immigrant fertility is situated within two societies, the resultant childbearing patterns reflect a culmination of selectivity into migration alongside blended experiences of origin-destination contexts around fertility norms. We analyze the ways that national origin shapes patterns of childbearing within fertility covariates. We use data from Statistics South Africa and the United States Census Bureau harmonized in the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series, International for a disaggregated analysis of the odds of a birth in the past year among the three most prominent immigrant groups compared with native-born women in each receiving country. Interacted logistic regression analyses and margins results demonstrate significant nativity-based differences in the odds of childbearing across age, previous childbearing, and marital status, but not across educational attainment. We attribute variation in the covariates of fertility across nativities to demographic composition and the contexts of migration unique to each group.
Between Pleasure and Pain: A Pilot Study on the Biological Mechanisms Associated with BDSM Interactions in Dominants and Submissives
Authors: Wuyts Elise , De Neef Nele , Coppens Violette , Fransen Erik , Schellens Eline , Van Der Pol Maarten , Morrens Manuel
Published: February 2020

Background

BDSM is an abbreviation used to reference the concepts of bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadism, and masochism, enacted by power exchanges between consensual partners.

Aim

To shed light upon the rewarding biological mechanisms associated with BDSM interactions.

Methods

A group of 35 BDSM couples (dominant and submissive counterparts) were recruited and tested during a BDSM interaction, with an additional control group of 27 non-BDSM interested people tested in a normal social interaction.

Outcomes

We compared the evolution of the stress and reward hormone levels of cortisol, beta-endorphins, and endocannabinoids (2AG and anandamide) in a group of BDSM practitioners before and after an active BDSM interaction with the levels in control individuals.

Results

We showed that submissives showed increases in cortisol and endocannabinoid levels due to the BDSM interaction, with dominants only showing increased endocannabinoid levels when the BDSM interaction was associated with power play.

Clinical Implications

This study effectively provides a link between behavior that many think of as aberrant on one hand, and biological pleasure experience on the other, in the hope that it may relieve some of the stigma these practitioners still endure.

Strengths & Limitations

It is one of the first and largest studies of its kind, but is still limited in sample size and only represents a specific population of Flemish BDSM practitioners.

Conclusion

Even though this is one of the first studies of its kind, we can conclude that there is a clear indication for increased pleasure in submissives when looking at biological effects of a BDSM interaction, which was related to the increases in experienced stress.
A Cross-Sectional Study Using Health Behavior Theory to Predict Rapid Compliance With Campus Emergency Notifications Among College Students
Authors: Rogers Christopher J. , Forster Myriam , Bahr Kaitlin , Benjamin Stephanie M.
Published: February 2020

Objective:

Compliance with college emergency notifications can minimize injury; however, time is often wasted in alert verification. Building on prior research, this study assesses using health-behavior theory to predict rapid compliance to emergency notifications across a range of scenarios and within a diverse college population.

Methods:

Cross-sectional, student data were collected in 2017-2018 (n= 1529). The Theory of Planned Behavior and Protection Motivation Theory were used to explain intention to comply with emergency notifications in scenarios: robbery, shooter, fire, chemical spill, protest, health emergency, and air quality. Regression models assessed associations between constructs and intention to rapidly comply with each notification.

Results:

The most consistent predictors of rapid compliance were attitudes and subjective norms (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.057-1.118; 95% CI: 1.009-1.168). Scenarios prone to rapid developments such as robbery, shooter, and fire were associated with increased perceived threat and response efficacy (AOR: 1.024-1.082; 95% CI: 1.003-1.132) Slower developing situations such as air quality and health hazards were associated with increased perceived control (AOR: 1.027-1.073; 95% CI: 1.031-1.117).

Conclusions:

This study identified attitude and subjective norms as consistent predictors of rapid compliance and improves understanding of additional constructs across scenarios. Campuses may benefit from leveraging concepts from health-behavior theory to provide targeted intervention focusing on factors associated with rapid compliance.
Independent experts with political mandates: ‘Role distance’ in the production of political knowledge
Authors: Niederberger Aurel
Published: February 2020

Some experts take on political mandates and simultaneously base their authority on a claim to independence: this balancing act enables international organisations (IOs) to incorporate ‘independent’ experts and generate ‘objective’ knowledge around their policies. However, how do these experts reconcile the contradictory roles of a mandated expert and an independent expert? I address this question by taking recourse to Goffman's sociology and two related concepts:sociological ambivalencerefers to situations in which a person faces conflicting expectations. This conflict can be remedied throughrole distance, that is, behaviour that signals a degree of disaffection from the role one is currently performing while one simultaneously continues to perform that role. I conduct a case study of ‘independent’ experts hired by the UN Security Council to monitor sanctions, analysing how their position is sociologically ambivalent and how their knowledge practices are interlaced with performances of role distance. The findings have two implications for macro-phenomena: first, by keeping their contradictory role constellation functional, experts make it possible for IOs to mobilise ‘independent expertise’. Second, because experts perform role distance through the way they produce knowledge, role distance leaves traces in political knowledge.
The Discursive Politics of Education Policy in China: Educating Migrant Children
Authors: Yu Min , Crowley Christopher B.
Published: February 2020

This article explores the discursive functioning of education policies, bringing into consideration community perspectives regarding policy enactment in contemporary China. With the intention of building upon ongoing discussions surrounding both the conceptions and purposes of policy sociology, we critically analyse policies directly related to the education of migrant children living in and around China's largest urban centres, with a specific focus on those implemented in Beijing. We emphasize two important aspects that previous studies of China's education policies have tended to underplay given their focus on social-economic perspectives. The first argument is that education policies have an underlying agenda that extends beyond that of simply addressing the educational needs of migrant children – evidenced through the discursive functions of policy texts. The second argument is related and seeks to raise questions about who is best served by these policies and for whom these policies are intended.
Health systems strengthening to optimise scale-up in global mental health in low- and middle-income countries: lessons from the frontlines–RETRACTED
Authors: Petersen I. , van Rensburg A. , Gigaba S. , Luvuno Z.P.B. , Fairall L.
Published: February 2020

Against the backdrop of mounting calls for the global scaling-up of mental health services – including quality care and prevention services – there is very little guidance internationally on strategies for scaling-up such services. Drawing on lessons from scale-up attempts in six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and using exemplars from the front-lines in South Africa; we illustrate how health reforms towards people-centred chronic disease management provide enabling policy window opportunities for embedding mental health scale-up strategies into these reforms. Rather than going down the oft-trodden road of vertical funding for scale-up of mental health services, we suggest using the policy window that stresses global policy shifts towards strengthening of comprehensive integrated primary health care systems that are responsive to multimorbid chronic conditions. This is indeed a substantial opportunity to firmly locate mental health within these horizontal health systems strengthening funding agendas. While this approach will promote systems more enabling of scaling up of mental health services, implications for donor funders and researchers alike is the need for increased time commitments, resources and investment in local control.
Probing the Magnetic Structure of a Pair of Transpolar Arcs With a Solar Wind Pressure Step
Authors: Milan S. E. , Carter J. A. , Hubert B.
Published: February 2020

We present observations of the Northern Hemisphere auroras taken with the far ultraviolet cameras onboard the Imager for Magnetopause‐to‐Aurora Global Exploration spacecraft during a compression of the magnetosphere by a solar wind pressure step on 30 December 2001. The compression occurs during a period of northward interplanetary magnetic field which has given rise to the presence of a pair of transpolar arcs (TPAs) near the dawnside oval. The compression causes a brightening of the oval, from dayside to nightside over the course of 10 min, followed by a brightening of the midnight sector oval and TPAs from nightside to dayside, again over 10 min. We suggest that the brightening is caused by pitch angle scattering of particles trapped on closed magnetic field lines and that the sequence of the brightening tracks the solar wind pressure step as it progresses along the length of the magnetotail. Traveling at 600 km s
, the step reaches up to 90
down‐tail over the period of brightening, suggesting that the magnetic field lines which map to the TPAs are closed and stretch almost this length down‐tail.
Investigating Magnetosphere‐Ionosphere‐Thermosphere (M‐I‐T) Coupling Occurring During the 7–8 November 2004 Superstorm
Authors: Horvath Ildiko , Lovell Brian C.
Published: February 2020

In this study, we investigate the shock‐sheath driven 7–8 November 2004 superstorm for its flux transfer events and resultant flow channel (FC) events and associated neutral (DN) and electron (Ne) density features in order to understand better the underlying coupled magnetosphere (M) and ionosphere (I) processes and responses in the thermosphere (T). We focus on the (i) subauroral, auroral, and polar cap regions, (ii) localized DN increases and associated Ne features and FCs developed, and (iii) energy deposition occurred. Results show the development of localized DN increases (1) within/over FCs and associated enhanced small‐scale field aligned currents suggesting Joule heating driving upwelling during forward and reverse polar convections, (2) appearing with Ne increases during storm‐enhanced density (SED) events suggesting strong M‐I‐T coupling and with Ne depletions during plasmaspheric erosion events suggesting weak M‐I‐T coupling, and (3) in the thermosphere's increasing NO and continuously low O/N2 composition regions. During erosion events, strong storm‐time subauroral polarization streams (SAPS) E fields developed. Meanwhile the well‐developed plasmapause appeared with decreased total electron content (TEC) on its poleward side and with increased TEC and Ne (appearing as a shoulder feature that is the signature of SED) on its equatorward side. From these we conclude that although strong M‐I‐T coupling was apparent during SED events, M‐I‐T coupling was also strong during erosion events when the combination of strong convection E field and large storm‐time SAPS E fields eroded the high‐latitude region and thus decreased the high‐latitude Ne and TEC.
Stability and Solubility of the FeAlO3 Component in Bridgmanite at Uppermost Lower Mantle Conditions
Authors: Liu Zhaodong , McCammon Catherine , Wang Biao , Dubrovinsky Leonid , Ishii Takayuki , Bondar Dmitry , Nakajima Ayano , Tange Yoshinori , Higo Yuji , Cui Tian , Liu Bingbing , Katsura Tomoo
Published: February 2020

We report the stability and solubility of the FeAlO3 component in bridgmanite based on phase relations in the system MgSiO3‐FeAlO3 at 27 GPa and 2000 K using a multi‐anvil apparatus combined with in situ synchrotron X‐ray diffraction measurements. The results demonstrate that the FeAlO3 component dominates Fe3+ and Al3+ substitution in bridgmanite, although trace amounts of oxygen‐ and Mg‐site vacancy components are also present. Bridgmanite with more than 40 mol% FeAlO3 transforms into the LiNbO3‐type phase upon decompression. The FeAlO3 end‐member decomposes into corundum and hematite and does not form single‐phase bridgmanite. We determined the maximum solubility of the FeAlO3 component in bridgmanite at 27 GPa and 2000 K to be 67 mol%, which is significantly higher than previously reported values (25–36 mol%). We determined the partial molar volume (27.9 mol/cm3) and bulk modulus (197 GPa) of hypothetical FeAlO3 bridgmanite, which are significantly higher and lower than those of AlAlO3 and FeSiO3 bridgmanite, respectively. The non‐ideality of MgSiO3‐FeAlO3 solid solution (W = 13 kJ/mol, where W is the interaction parameter) is significantly larger than that for MgSiO3‐AlAlO3 (5 kJ/mol) and MgSiO3‐FeSiO3 (3 kJ/mol) solid solutions. The rapid decrease in abundance of the MgAlO2.5 component in bridgmanite with increasing pressure is enhanced by the presence of the FeAlO3 component. The FeAlO3 content in pyrolite and mid‐ocean ridge basalt is far below its solubility limit in bridgmanite and provides new insight into the mineralogy of the lower mantle.
Mapping and Understanding Patterns of Air Quality Using Satellite Data and Machine Learning
Authors: Stirnberg Roland , Cermak Jan , Fuchs Julia , Andersen Hendrik
Published: February 2020

The quantification of factors leading to harmfully high levels of particulate matter (PM) remains challenging. This study presents a novel approach using a statistical model that is trained to predict hourly concentrations of particles smaller than 10 
m (PM10) by combining satellite‐borne aerosol optical depth (AOD) with meteorological and land‐use parameters. The model is shown to accurately predict PM10 (overall R
 = 0.77, RMSE = 7.44 
g/m
) for measurement sites in Germany. The capability of satellite observations to map and monitor surface air pollution is assessed by investigating the relationship between AOD and PM10 in the same modeling setup. Sensitivity analyses show that important drivers of modeled PM10 include multiday mean wind flow, boundary layer height (BLH), day of year (DOY), and temperature. Different mechanisms associated with elevated PM10 concentrations are identified in winter and summer. In winter, mean predictions of PM10 concentrations >35 
g/m
occur when BLH is below
500 m. Paired with multiday easterly wind flow, mean model predictions surpass 40 
g/m
of PM10. In summer, PM10 concentrations seemingly are less driven by meteorology, but by emission or chemical particle formation processes, which are not included in the model. The relationship between AOD and predicted PM10 concentrations depends to a large extent on ambient meteorological conditions. Results suggest that AOD can be used to assess air quality at ground level in a machine learning approach linking it with meteorological conditions.