bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parvovirus B19 and mumps virus antibodies are major constituents of the intrathecal immune response in European patients with MS and increase the diagnostic sensitivity and discriminatory power of the MRZ reaction
Authors: Jarius S. , Wilken D. , Haas J. , Ruprecht K. , Komorowski L. , Wildemann B.
Published: March 2021

Background

A positive MRZ reaction, as defined by intrathecal IgG production against at least two of its constituents, measles virus (M), rubella virus (R) and varicella zoster virus (Z), is detectable in ~ 63% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and is currently considered the laboratory marker with the highest specificity and positive likelihood ratio for MS. However, M, R and Z are only the most well-established constituents of a broader intrathecal humoral immune response in MS.

Objective

To identify additional anti-microbial antibodies inclusion of which in the classical MRZ panel may result in increased sensitivity without compromising the marker’s high specificity for MS.

Methods

We determined the antibody indices (AIs) for 11 viral and bacterial agents (M, R, Z, herpes simplex virus, Epstein–Barr virus, mumps virus, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus B19, Bordetella pertussis, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and Clostridium tetani) in paired cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples from patients with MS and disease controls.

Results

A positive ‘classical’ MRZ reaction was found in 17/26 (65.4%) MS patients. The five most frequently positive AIs among patients with MS were M (76.9%), Z (61.5%), R (57.7%), parvovirus B19 (42.3%), and mumps (28%). Addition of parvovirus B19 and mumps virus to the MRZ panel resulted in an increase in sensitivity in the MS group from 65.4% to 73.1%, with 22% of the initially MRZ-negative patients exhibiting a de novo-positive response. The extended MRZ panel (‘MRZplus’) distinguished sharply between MS (≥ 3 AIs in 90% of all positives) and controls (varying diagnoses, from migraine to vasculitis; 0-1 AIs; p < 0.000001). The highest median AI in the MS group was found for parvovirus B19 (3.97), followed by measles virus (2.79).

Conclusion

Inclusion of parvovirus B19 and mumps virus in the test panel resulted in an increase in the sensitivity and discriminatory power of MRZ. Our results provide a strong rational for prospective studies investigating the role of extended MRZ panels in the differential diagnosis of MS.
Targeted adjustment of residual stresses in hot-formed components by means of process design based on finite element simulation
Authors: Behrens B.‐A. , Brunotte K. , Wester H. , Kock C.
Published: March 2021

The aim of this work is to generate an advantageous compressive residual stress distribution in the surface area of hot-formed components by intelligent process control with tailored cooling. Adapted cooling is achieved by partial or temporal instationary exposure of the specimens to a water–air spray. In this way, macroscopic effects such as local plastification caused by inhomogeneous strains due to thermal and transformation-induced loads can be controlled in order to finally customise the surface-near residual stress distribution. Applications for hot-formed components often require special microstructural properties, which guarantee a certain hardness or ductility. For this reason, the scientific challenge of this work is to generate different residual stress distributions on components surfaces, while the geometric as well as microstructural properties of AISI 52100 alloy stay the same. The changes in the residual stresses should therefore not result from the mentioned changed component properties, but solely from the targeted process control. Within the scope of preliminary experimental studies, tensile residual stresses in a martensitic microstructure were determined on reference components, which had undergone a simple cooling in water (from the forming heat), or low compressive stresses in pearlitic microstructures were determined after simple cooling in atmospheric air. Numerical studies are used to design two tailored cooling strategies capable of generating compressive stresses in the same components. The developed processes with tailored cooling are experimentally realised, and their properties are compared to those of components manufactured involving simple cooling. Based on the numerical and experimental analyses, this work demonstrates that it is possible to influence and even invert the sign of the residual stresses within a component by controlling the macroscopic effects mentioned above.
Methodological approach for measuring the effects of organisational-level interventions on employee withdrawal behaviour
Authors: Akerstrom M. , Severin J. , Imberg H. , Jonsdottir I. H. , Björk L. , Corin L.
Published: March 2021

Background

Theoretical frameworks have recommended organisational-level interventions to decrease employee withdrawal behaviours such as sickness absence and employee turnover. However, evaluation of such interventions has produced inconclusive results. The aim of this study was to investigate if mixed-effects models in combination with time series analysis, process evaluation, and reference group comparisons could be used for evaluating the effects of an organisational-level intervention on employee withdrawal behaviour.

Methods

Monthly data on employee withdrawal behaviours (sickness absence, employee turnover, employment rate, and unpaid leave) were collected for 58 consecutive months (before and after the intervention) for intervention and reference groups. In total, eight intervention groups with a total of 1600 employees participated in the intervention. Process evaluation data were collected by process facilitators from the intervention team. Overall intervention effects were assessed using mixed-effects models with an AR (1) covariance structure for the repeated measurements and time as fixed effect. Intervention effects for each intervention group were assessed using time series analysis. Finally, results were compared descriptively with data from process evaluation and reference groups to disentangle the organisational-level intervention effects from other simultaneous effects.

Results

All measures of employee withdrawal behaviour indicated statistically significant time trends and seasonal variability. Applying these methods to an organisational-level intervention resulted in an overall decrease in employee withdrawal behaviour. Meanwhile, the intervention effects varied greatly between intervention groups, highlighting the need to perform analyses at multiple levels to obtain a full understanding. Results also indicated that possible delayed intervention effects must be considered and that data from process evaluation and reference group comparisons were vital for disentangling the intervention effects from other simultaneous effects.

Conclusions

When analysing the effects of an intervention, time trends, seasonal variability, and other changes in the work environment must be considered. The use of mixed-effects models in combination with time series analysis, process evaluation, and reference groups is a promising way to improve the evaluation of organisational-level interventions that can easily be adopted by others.
Scoliosis and Prognosis—a systematic review regarding patient-specific and radiological predictive factors for curve progression
Authors: Lenz Maximilian , Oikonomidis Stavros , Harland Arne , Fürnstahl Philipp , Farshad Mazda , Bredow Jan , Eysel Peer , Scheyerer Max Joseph
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Idiopathic scoliosis, defined as a > 10° curvature of the spine in the frontal plane, is one of the most common spinal deformities. Age, initial curve magnitude and other parameters define whether a scoliotic deformity will progress or not. Still, their interactions and amounts of individual contribution are not fully elaborated and were the aim of this systematic review.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted in the common databases using MESH terms, searching for predictive factors of curve progression in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (“adolescent idiopathic scoliosis” OR “ais” OR “idiopathic scoliosis”) AND (“predictive factors” OR “progression” OR “curve progression” OR “prediction” OR “prognosis”). The identified and analysed factors of each study were rated to design a top five scale of the most relevant factors.

Results

Twenty-eight investigations with 8255 patients were identified by literature search. Patient-specific risk factors for curve progression from initial curve were age (at diagnosis < 13 years), family history, bone mineral status (< 110 mg/cm3 in quantitative CT) and height velocity (7–8 cm/year, peak 11.6 ± 1.4 years). Relevant radiological criteria indicating curve progression included skeletal maturity, marked by Risser stages (Risser < 1) or Sanders Maturity Scale (SMS < 5), the initial extent of the Cobb angle (> 25° progression) and curve location (thoracic single or double curve).

Discussion

This systematic review summarised the current state of knowledge as the basis for creation of patient-specific algorithms regarding a risk calculation for a progressive scoliotic deformity. Curve magnitude is the most relevant predictive factor, followed by status of skeletal maturity and curve location.
Fragility assessment of existing low-rise steel moment-resisting frames with masonry infills under mainshock-aftershock earthquake sequences
Authors: Di Sarno Luigi , Wu Jing-Ren
Published: March 2021

This paper presents the fragility assessment of non-seismically designed steel moment frames with masonry infills. The assessment considered the effects of multiple earthquakes on the damage accumulation of steel frames, which is an essential part of modern performance-based earthquake engineering. Effects of aftershocks are particularly important when examining damaged buildings and making post-quake decisions, such as tagging and retrofit strategy. The procedure proposed in the present work includes two phase assessment, which is based on incremental dynamic analyses of two refined numerical models of the case-study steel frame, i.e. with and without masonry infills, and utilises mainshock-aftershock sequences of natural earthquake records. The first phase focuses on the undamaged structure subjected to single and multiple earthquakes; the effects of masonry infills on the seismic vulnerability of the steel frame were also considered. In the second phase, aftershock fragility curves were derived to investigate the seismic vulnerability of infilled steel frames with post-mainshock damage caused by mainshocks. Comparative analyses were conducted among the mainshock-damaged structures considering three post-mainshock damage levels, including no damage. The impact of aftershocks was then discussed for each mainshock-damage level in terms of the breakpoint that marks the onset of exceeding post-mainshock damage level, as well as the probability of exceeding of superior damage level due to more significant aftershocks. The evaluation of the efficiency of commonly used intensity measures of aftershocks was also carried out as part of the second phase of assessment.
Energetic boundary element method for accurate solution of damped waves hard scattering problems
Authors: Aimi Alessandra , Diligenti Mauro , Guardasoni Chiara
Published: March 2021

The paper deals with the numerical solution of 2D wave propagation exterior problems including viscous and material damping coefficients and equipped by Neumann boundary condition, hence modeling the hard scattering of damped waves. The differential problem, which includes, besides diffusion, advection and reaction terms, is written as a space–time boundary integral equation (BIE) whose kernel is given by the hypersingular fundamental solution of the 2D damped waves operator. The resulting BIE is solved by a modified Energetic Boundary Element Method, where a suitable kernel treatment is introduced for the evaluation of the discretization linear system matrix entries represented by space–time quadruple integrals with hypersingular kernel in space variables. A wide variety of numerical results, obtained varying both damping coefficients and discretization parameters, is presented and shows accuracy and stability of the proposed technique, confirming what was theoretically proved for the simpler undamped case. Post-processing phase is also taken into account, giving the approximate solution of the exterior differential problem involving damped waves propagation around disconnected obstacles and bounded domains.
The impact of metakaolin, silica fume and fly ash on the temperature resistance of high strength cement paste
Authors: Abdelmelek Nabil , Lubloy Eva
Published: March 2021

The effects of elevated temperatures on the properties of high-strength cement paste (HSCP) based on metakaolin (MK), silica fume (SF), and fly ash (FA) were studied in the current experimental research. The resistance of HSCP against elevated temperatures was evaluated as well. The new method is expressed by the total area under each curve of strength, known as “temperature resistance”, is adopted. Results of the HSCP mixtures containing MK, SF, and FA with replacements ratios of 9%, 6% and 15% have shown excellent temperature resistance at all levels of maximum temperatures, respectively. Properties added to HSCP by these supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) such as decreasing the amount of CaO and increasing the amounts of SiO2 and Al2O3 have minimized the harmful effects of the use of pure ordinary Portland cement (OPC) at elevated temperatures. The results have shown also that the grinding fineness of OPC influences the amount of optimum replacement of the used SCM on HSCP at elevated temperatures. Hence, the amount of optimum replacement of MK blended with CEM I 42.5 N was 9% whereas, the amount of optimum replacement of MK blended with CEM I 52.5 N shifted to 3%. Finally, the fineness of cement of 4500 cm2 g−1 has shown a better-elevated temperature resistance compared to the cement with a fineness of 4000 cm2 g−1 in case of using pure OPC.
Predicate fronting in Yiddish and conditions on multiple copy Spell-Out
Authors: Bleaman Isaac L.
Published: March 2021

Predicate fronting with doubling (also known as thepredicate cleft) has long been a challenge for theories of syntax that do not predict the pronunciation of multiple occurrences. Previous analyses that derive the construction via syntactic movement, including those attributing verb doubling to the formation of parallel chains (e.g., Aboh 2006; Kandybowicz 2008), are incompatible with remnant movement (Müller 1998), which does not give rise to doubling. This article presents data from the predicate fronting construction in Yiddish, in which verbs always double but complements never do. I argue that these seemingly contradictory pronunciation facts can be reconciled even if one assumes that phrasal movement and head movement are both syntactic. More specifically, the pronunciation of occurrences in Yiddish (doubled or not) follows from the general conditions on Spell-Out (or Transferpf) defined by Collins and Stabler (2016), modified only to accommodate syntactic head movement. Post-syntactic PF repairs are thus not required to account for the facts of the Yiddish predicate fronting construction. If such repairs are needed to generate doubling phenomena in other languages, they should be explicitly defined so as to modify or override the predictions of default Spell-Out conditions.
What is the benefit from publishing a working paper in a journal in terms of citations? Evidence from economics
Authors: Wohlrabe Klaus , Bürgi Constantin
Published: March 2021

Many papers in economics that are published in peer reviewed journals are initially released in widely circulated working paper series. This raises the question about the benefit of publishing in a peer-reviewed journal in terms of citations. Specifically, we address the question: to what extent does the stamp of approval obtained by publishing in a peer-reviewed journal lead to more subsequent citations for papers that are already available in working paper series? Our data set comprises about 28,000 working papers from four major working paper series in economics. Using panel data methods, we show that the publication in a peer reviewed journal results in around twice the number of yearly citations relative to working papers that never get published in a journal. Our results hold in several robustness checks.
Iris-based human identity recognition with machine learning methods and discrete fast Fourier transform
Authors: Szymkowski Maciej , Jasiński Piotr , Saeed Khalid
Published: March 2021

One of the most important modules of computer systems is the one that is responsible for user safety. It was proven that simple passwords and logins cannot guarantee high efficiency and are easy to obtain by the hackers. The well-known alternative is identity recognition based on biometrics. In recent years, more interest was observed in iris as a biometrics trait. It was caused due to high efficiency and accuracy guaranteed by this measurable feature. The consequences of such interest are observable in the literature. There are multiple, diversified approaches proposed by different authors. However, neither of them uses discrete fast Fourier transform (DFFT) components to describe iris sample. In this work, the authors present their own approach to iris-based human identity recognition with DFFT components selected with principal component analysis algorithm. For classification, three algorithms were used—k-nearest neighbors, support vector machines and artificial neural networks. Performed tests have shown that satisfactory results can be obtained with the proposed method.
A deep cascaded segmentation of obstructive sleep apnea-relevant organs from sagittal spine MRI
Authors: Ivanovska Tatyana , Daboul Amro , Kalentev Oleksandr , Hosten Norbert , Biffar Reiner , Völzke Henry , Wörgötter Florentin
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The main purpose of this work was to develop an efficient approach for segmentation of structures that are relevant for diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), namely pharynx, tongue, and soft palate, from mid-sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MR) data. This framework will be applied to big data acquired within an on-going epidemiological study from a general population.

Methods

A deep cascaded framework for subsequent segmentation of pharynx, tongue, and soft palate is presented. The pharyngeal structure was segmented first, since the airway was clearly visible in the T1-weighted sequence. Thereafter, it was used as an anatomical landmark for tongue location. Finally, the soft palate region was extracted using segmented tongue and pharynx structures and used as input for a deep network. In each segmentation step, a UNet-like architecture was applied.

Results

The result assessment was performed qualitatively by comparing the region boundaries obtained from the expert to the framework results and quantitatively using the standard Dice coefficient metric. Additionally, cross-validation was applied to ensure that the framework performance did not depend on the specific selection of the validation set. The average Dice coefficients on the test set were $$0.89\pm 0.03$$

0.89
±
0.03

, $$0.87\pm 0.02$$

0.87
±
0.02

, and $$0.79\pm 0.08$$

0.79
±
0.08

for tongue, pharynx, and soft palate tissues, respectively. The results were similar to other approaches and consistent with expert readings.

Conclusion

Due to high speed and efficiency, the framework will be applied for big epidemiological data with thousands of participants acquired within the Study of Health in Pomerania as well as other epidemiological studies to provide information on the anatomical structures and aspects that constitute important risk factors to the OSAS development.
Fernbeschulung während der COVID-19 bedingten Schulschließungen weiterführender Schulen: Analysen zum Gelingen aus Sicht von Schülerinnen und Schülern
Authors: Züchner Ivo , Jäkel Hannah Rahel
Published: March 2021

Im Zuge der Schulschließungen im Rahmen der Schutzmaßnahmen gegen COVID-19 standen deutsche Schulen historisch erstmals vor der Aufgabe, flächendeckende Fernbeschulung für Schülerinnen und Schüler zu gewährleisten. Der über Nacht einsetzenden Herausforderung zur Konzeptionierung und Durchführung dieses Unterrichts auf Distanz begegneten Schulen, Lehrkräfte und Lernende in vielfacher Weise, ohne auf bewährte Strukturen zurückgreifen zu können. Der Beitrag entwirft anhand des Angebots-Nutzungs-Modells von Helmke (2012) und ersten Forschungsergebnissen zur Lehre während der Schulschließungen ein theoretisches Modell des Bedingungsgefüges von Fernbeschulung. Dieses wird genutzt, um dann anhand der Daten einer Online-Befragung mit 1128 Schülerinnen und Schülern von weiterführenden Schulen vom Mai 2020 exemplarisch anhand der von den Schülerinnen und Schülern eingeschätzten Fähigkeit zur Bewältigung der „Haus“Aufgaben das Zusammenspiel der skizzierten Dimensionen während der Fernbeschulung – mit besonderem Fokus auf die Rolle digitaler Medien.
The Occurrence of Zoonotic Anaplasma phagocytophilum Strains, in the Spleen and Liver of Wild Boars from North-West and Central Parts of Poland
Authors: Myczka Anna W. , Szewczyk T. , Laskowski Z.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

TheAnaplasmagenus includes a Gram-negative bacterium infecting the blood cells of wild and domestic mammals, causing tick-borne fever. Infection with pathogenicAnaplasma phagocytophilumstrains may cause Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis. Wild boars (Sus scrofa) may act as natural wild reservoir hosts for potentially zoonoticA. phagocytophilumstrains; however, there is still little data to confirm this statement. The aim of this study was to verify whether wild boars can be classified as natural reservoirs ofAnaplasmaspp. and to compare the suitability of spleen and liver samples for such analysis.

Methods

Liver and spleen samples were collected from 59 wild boars (2017–2019). The organs were tested forAnaplasma phagocytophilumusing short (partial) fragments of three markers: 16S rRNA,groEL,ankA.

Results

Anaplasmaspp. DNA was detected in 12 out of 59 samples, with a prevalence of 20.34%. The presence ofA. phagocytophilumwas confirmed by sequencing of the partial 16S rRNA gene. Positive individuals were tested for the characteristic markers:groELandankA. The analysis of the nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA,groELandankA, indicated that the strains ofA. phagocytophilumdetected in these studies are potentially zoonotic for humans.

Conclusion

Wild boars from Poland can be classified as a natural reservoir of the zoonotic strain ofAnaplasma phagocytophilum. Both the spleen and the liver tissues were found to be suitable materials for the detection ofA. phagocytophilum.
Recent Advances in Spectroscopic Gas Sensing With Micro/Nano-Structured Optical Fibers
Authors: Jin Wei , Bao Haihong , Zhao Pengcheng , Zhao Yan , Qi Yun , Wang Chao , Ho Hoi Lut
Published: March 2021

With micro- and nano-structured optical fibers, parts-per-million to parts-per-trillion level gas detection has been demonstrated for a range of gases such as methane, acetylene, ethane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and oxygen. We review the recent development in optical fiber gas cells and gas detection systems based on direct absorption, photothermal, photoacoustic, and stimulated Raman spectroscopies.
Calibration Uncertainty of 23nm Engine Exhaust Condensation Particle Counters with Soot Generators: a European Automotive Laboratory Comparison
Authors: Terres Alexander , Giechaskiel Barouch , Nowak Andreas , Ebert Volker
Published: March 2021

Calibration of condensation particle counters (CPC) to measure non-volatile particle number (PN) from vehicle emissions is a significant source of uncertainty of the regulated particle number measurements. In this work, the calibration uncertainty of automotive and calibration laboratories was determined in a first-of-its-kind comparison. For this purpose, the counting efficiency of a reference CPC for automotive exhaust emission measurements was determined at seven participants across Europe with ten soot aerosol generators. Calibration uncertainty was found to be very different in the CPC’s cut-off regime (around the D50 of 23nm) with a coefficient of variation (CoV) of 11% and the plateau regime (from the D90 of 41nm upwards) with a CoV of 4.5%. The uncertainty was higher for a group of soot generators with poorly optimized operating points with a CoV of 31% at 23nm and 5.8% at ≥41nm. Specific influence factors on the calibration uncertainty (measured as the inter-lab variability) could be identified. The calibration of the laboratories’ reference counters accounted for most of the variability in the plateau regime, while 20% of the variability was attributed to the sample flow measurement. Differences between soot generators were the main cause of variability in the cut-off regime due to the increased material sensitivity of the CPC at this particle size but had only secondary relevance in the plateau regime. The calibration uncertainty found in this inter-laboratory exercise should be a guideline for users and legislators, as it provides a typical value for the expected measurement uncertainty of a CPC for automotive exhaust PN.
The Dimension of the Body in Higher Education: Matrix of Meanings in Students’ Diaries
Authors: Tau Ramiro , Kloetzer Laure , Henein Simon
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we attempt to show some consequences of bringing the body back into higher education, through the use of performing arts in the curricular context of scientific programs. We start by arguing that dominant traditions in higher education reproduced the mind-body dualism that shaped the social matrix of meanings on knowledge transmission. We highlight the limits of the modern disembodied and decontextualized reason and suggest that, considering the students’ and teachers’ bodies as non-relevant aspects, or even obstacles, leads to the invisibilization of fundamental aspects involved in teaching and learning processes. We thus conducted a study, from a socio-cultural perspective, in which we analyse the emerging matrix of meanings given to the body and bodily engagement by students, through a systematic qualitative analysis of 47 personal diaries. We structured the results and the discussion around five interpretative axes: (1) the production of diaries enables historicization, while the richness of bodily experience expands the boundaries of diaries into non-textual modalities; (2) curricular context modulates the emergent meanings of the body; (3) physical and symbolic spaces guide the matrix of bodily meanings; (4) the bodily dimension of the courses facilitates the emergence of an emotional dimension to get in touch with others and to register one's own emotional experiences; and (5) the body functions as a condition for biographical continuity. These axes are discussed under the light of the general process of consciousness-raising and resignification of the situated body in the educational practice.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Serum Levels Indicate Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of DHEA and Estradiol (E2) in Women at Term Pregnancy
Authors: Habib Pardes , Neulen Joseph , Habib Shahin , Rösing Benjamin
Published: March 2021

Neuroactive steroids such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P4) are associated with structural and functional changes in the central nervous system (CNS). Measurement of steroid levels in the CNS compartments is restricted in accessibility. Consequently, there is only limited human data on the distributional equilibrium for steroid levels between peripheral and central compartments. While some neuroactive steroids including DHEA and E2 have been reported to convey excitatory and proconvulsant properties, the opposite was demonstrated for P4. We aimed to elucidate the correlation between peripheral and central DHEA, E2, and P4 levels in women at term pregnancy. CSF and serum samples of 27 healthy pregnant women (22–39 years) at term pregnancy were collected simultaneously under combined spinal and epidural anesthesia and used for DHEA ELISA and E2, and P4 ECLIA. All three neuroactive steroids were detected at markedly lower levels in CSF compared to their corresponding serum concentrations (decrease, mean ± SD, 97.66 ± 0.83%). We found a strong correlation for DHEA between its serum and the corresponding CSF levels (r = 0.65, p = 0.003). Serum and CSF levels of E2 (r = 0.31, p = 0.12) appeared not to correlate in the investigated cohort. DHEA serum concentration correlated significantly with E2 (r = 0.58, p = 0.0016) in CSF. In addition, a strong correlation was found between DHEA and E2, both measured in CSF (r = 0.65, p = 0.0002). Peripheral DHEA levels might serve as an indicator for central nervous levels of the neuroactive steroids DHEA and E2 in pregnant women.
On the energy losses due to tracks vibrations in rubber track crawler vehicles
Authors: Chołodowski Jakub , Dudziński Piotr A. , Ketting Michael
Published: March 2021

In spite of an increasing number of rubber-tracked vehicles, there are no engineering models for predicting and optimizing the energy consumption of vehicles of this type. To formulate those models, the models of the phenomena resulting in the internal losses of rubber-track systems need to be developed. This article presents a model describing the losses caused by the transverse vibrations of rubber tracks. The predictions made using the model are discussed against the background of the preliminary experimental tests on a sample rubber track for heavy off-road vehicles. The model predictions and the experimental tests suggest that the losses caused by the 1st mode vibration of rubber tracks are marginal in relation to the total internal resistance of rubber-track systems. However, according to the model predictions, a significant increase in the rubber-tracked undercarriage internal resistance is expected as a result of the high-amplitude track vibrations corresponding to the higher-order modes. To make the model applicable in practice, a method for determining the essential parameters of the model, including the bending stiffness and the decrement of oscillation damping, is demonstrated. The accuracy of the method is confirmed by the computations, where the sag and the frequency of the 1st mode free vibration of a sample track are predicted with an error of 10% and 1.8%, respectively. The parameter values obtained by this method are suitable for modeling a wide variety of off-road vehicles. The method can be applied to many other types of reinforced rubber belts, e.g., conveyor belts.
Survival after Margin-Positive Resection in the Era of Modern Chemotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer: Do Patients Still Benefit?
Authors: Arrington Amanda K. , Hsu Chiu-Hsieh , Schaefer Kenzie L. , O'Grady Catherine L. , Khreiss Mohammad , Riall Taylor S.
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND:

R0 resection for pancreatic cancer is considered standard of care, but is not always achieved. This study looks at R1/R2 resection outcomes compared with chemotherapy alone. Our hypothesis is that patients with margin-positive disease have better outcomes than those receiving chemotherapy alone.

STUDY DESIGN:

Stage II pancreatic cancer patients who underwent R1/R2 surgery with/without neoadjuvant chemotherapy, from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) 2010 to 2017 were identified and compared with similar staged patients who received chemotherapy alone. The surgical group was then analyzed by subset based on receipt of chemotherapy: upfront surgery (+/- adjuvant therapy) and neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery (+/- adjuvant therapy).

RESULTS:

There were 11,699 Stage II pancreatic cancer patients included, 9,521 (81.4%) of whom were treated with chemotherapy alone, 15.7% (n = 1,836) had upfront surgery, and 2.9% (n = 342) had neoadjuvant therapy with surgery. R1/R2 neoadjuvant patients had the best overall survival at a mean of 19.75 months (95% CI 17.91, 22.28) compared with the upfront surgery group (17.77 months, 95% CI 15.64, 19.55) and the chemotherapy alone group (10.12 months, 95% CI 8.97, 11.50) (hazard ratio [HR] 0.46 upfront surgery and 0.32 neoadjuvant group, respectively, p < 0.0001). Even with R2 resection, survival was better in surgical patients compared with patients who underwent chemotherapy only (15.76 mo vs 10.22 mo, p = 0.06). Patients with R1/R2 resections had improved survival if they received neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy, though the survival rates were significantly lower than those with standard R0 resections (n = 16,129).

CONCLUSIONS:

R1 resection has benefit over chemotherapy alone in pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer patients who are left with microscopic R1 disease have better survival than without surgery, particularly in the setting of neoadjuvant therapy.
Practical Aspects of Transitioning from Intravenous to Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Therapy in Neuromuscular Disorders
Authors: Menon Deepak , Sarpong Evelyn , Bril Vera
Published: March 2021

Recent evidence shows that subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) is as efficacious as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and has a better safety profile and acceptance rate among patients with neuromuscular disorders who require maintenance IVIG treatment. Awareness of the practical aspects of patient selection, enrollment, dose calculation, administration, and follow-up would help physicians coordinate a smooth and seamless transition from IVIG to SCIG. SCIG is ideally offered to patients having intolerable side effects during IVIG or wearing-off effect and in those keen for treatment autonomy. The weekly dose of SCIG is calculated by multiplying the maintenance dose of IVIG by the dose adjustment factor and dividing by the interval between IVIG in weeks and is initiated 1 week after the last dose of IVIG. The physician places the order for the SCIG and the clinic nurse or the physician refers the patient to the home care nursing program for further education and training. The necessary supplies are dispatched to the patient who would also collect the SCIG from the transfusion center of the nearest hospital. The patient is educated on assembling and administering the infusion, and home visits are continued until the patient or caregiver is confident. Regular follow-up with the patient is maintained to assess treatment response and side effects if any. With a smooth transition, most patients have excellent tolerance to SCIG and in our experience seldom request switching back to IVIG. Transitioning patients from IVIG to SCIG offers several advantages and thus, in general, is preferable for multiple stakeholders.
Revision of the long-proboscid scorpionflies, Lichnomesopsyche Ren, Labandeira, and Shih, 2010
Authors: Lian Xinneng , Cai Chenyang , Huang Diying
Published: March 2021

The Mesozoic mecopteran family Mesopsychidae has attracted extensive attention by their long proboscis that is presumably associated with pollination of early gymnosperms. Three previously reported species of Lichnomesopsyche Ren, Labandeira, and Shih, 2010 from the Middle−Upper Jurassic Haifanggou Formation at Daohugou (Inner Mongolia, northeastern China) display distinct resemblances in wing venation, so that their classification, based on currently described characters, remains elusive. Herein, we describe and figure exquisitely preserved male genital structures of L. gloriae Ren, Labandeira, and Shih, 2010, L. daohugouensis Ren, Labandeira, and Shih, 2010, and L. prochorista Lin et al., 2016, which can be used for defining and recognizing the three species. Our discovery indicates that the male genitalia are the major critical structures for species-level classification of the peculiar genus Lichnomesopsyche. Details of the maxillary palps and legs of L. gloriae and L. daohugouensis are also described.
Public order as a protectable interest
Authors: Guo Zhilong
Published: March 2021

Public order as a protectable interest is an important criterion for determining a consistent and rational scope of crimes against public order. From the specific perspective of everyday life, Feinberg's theory of minimum welfare interests neglects those kinds of interests that relate to a smooth or harmonious life. Socio-legal perspectives make it clear that safety interests, which directly concern basic living (bodily existence), do not include various kinds of order interests – and thus life order interests in convenience, comfort and peace, distinguishable from safety interests that are protected by English public order laws, can be construed as the public order interest. By critically adopting Feinberg's individualistic approach to analysing public interests in three types of case, the test of being public is further clarified. Typical categories of public order are socially and normatively identified before concluding with a discussion of the effects the identification made by the paper might make to the scope and nature of public order law and offences.
Food and Religious Identities in the Venetian Inquisition, ca. 1560–ca. 1640
Authors: Barnett Eleanor
Published: March 2021

Through Venetian Inquisition trials relating to Protestantism, witchcraft, and Judaism, this article illuminates the centrality of food and eating practices to religious identity construction. The Holy Office used food to assert its model of post-Tridentine piety and the boundaries between Catholics and the non-Catholic populations in the city. These trial records concurrently act as access points to the experiences and beliefs—to the lived religion—of ordinary people living and working in Venice from 1560 to 1640. The article therefore offers new insight into the workings and impacts of the Counter-Reformation.
Violence and Atheism in the Age of Abolition
Authors: Bowman Matthew
Published: March 2021

This essay offers an interpretation of certain sections of the American abolitionist movement before the Civil War. It posits that many antebellum opponents of slavery and enslaved people alike subscribed to a theory of Christianity that, following Scottish common-sense theology and the experiential, liberation-oriented Christianity of the enslaved, maintained that morality and immorality were equally comprehensible and perceivable to all humanity. When, therefore, reports of physical violence and oppression wreaked upon enslaved people in the South began circulating in the North, the conclusion that slavers must be atheists who were not truly practicing Christianity united both black Christians and white Unitarians in a common critique of slavery. The accusation that slaveholding was a form of atheism lent weight to common fears that slavery was a form of tyranny undermining the potential of American democracy among Northern Americans.
The Antwerpian Printer Jacob van Liesvelt, his Widow, and their Bibles: Myths and Facts from a Confessional Era
Authors: François Wim
Published: March 2021

Jacob van Liesvelt, an Antwerpian printer, was executed in 1545 for publishing without the consent of the authorities. His sad story has been retold throughout the centuries. In an early Protestant tradition, it was argued that Van Liesvelt died because of certain Reformation-minded marginal notes contained in the Bible of 1542, an argument that has been continuously elaborated upon over the years, giving rise to the myth of Van Liesvelt as the martyr of the Word of God. This article critically questions the story of Van Liesvelt's execution, showing ways to “debunk” the myth. However, in her book Pragmatic Toleration (2015), the American scholar Victoria Christman reworks a theory earlier put forward in an article in The Sixteenth Century Journal (2011), building on the Van Liesvelt myth from husband to widow. She argues that the latter, Maria Ancxt, simply continued her husband's Protestant Bible production, uninhibited by his terrifying fate and without experiencing any form of judicial censure. This essay, in contrast, presents a painstaking study of Ancxt's entire Bible production, which firmly arrives at the conclusion that it was largely Catholic in character—although Ancxt explored the boundaries of what was possible—and that this is the reason why she was never disturbed by the authorities. This essay, therefore, also includes more general remarks on confessionally or ideologically colored history writing—in the past and present—while exploring its boundaries.
NARROWING FOREIGN AFFAIRS NON-JUSTICIABILITY
Authors: Teo Marcus
Published: March 2021

The UK Supreme Court's decision inBelhaj v Strawdefined foreign affairs non-justiciability and unearthed its constitutional foundations. However, two decisions sinceBelhaj—High Commissioner for Pakistan v Prince Muffakham JahandThe Law Debenture Trust Corpn plc v Ukraine—have calledBelhajinto doubt, narrowing non-justiciability to give effect to ordinary private law rights. This article analyses these decisions and argues that their general approach of subjecting issues involving transactions between sovereign States to private international law's framework is desirable, because the constitutional foundations of non-justiciability identified inBelhajare shaky. Yet, it is suggested that private international law itself may require courts to exercise judicial restraint on these issues, given its goal of upholding the efficient resolution of international disputes in appropriate fora.
GLOBAL EXPORT CONTROLS OF CYBER SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY AND THE DISRUPTED TRIANGULAR DIALOGUE
Authors: Kim Heejin
Published: March 2021

The proliferation and abuse of cyber surveillance technology is a global policy problem. The Wassenaar Arrangement is a central platform of international cooperation for regulating dual-use goods and technologies and the so-called ‘cyber’ amendments to Wassenaar have created a multilateral control mechanism for the export of cyber surveillance technology. Following criticism of the repressive use of ICT-powered surveillance tools supplied by private companies in the early 2010s, Wassenaar States revised the Arrangement to regulate certain types of surveillance. This article begins by examining key features of the cyber amendments. Based on the analysis of recent export control law reforms in the three leading State actors in the production, sales and governance of cyber surveillance technology—namely the United States, China, and the European Union—the article identifies the diminishing importance of the Wassenaar Arrangement. It also shows how approaches in the three jurisdictions diverge not only from the terms of equivalent Wassenaar controls, but also from one another. They all aim to become a stronger and more autonomous entity in the regulation of cyber surveillance technology. In the face of escalating confrontation between the G2 concerning emerging technologies, it will be interesting to see how the EU's turn to a more human rights-centred approach to governing the export of cyber surveillance technology will be received by the US and Chinese governments in the long run and how it will interact with export control reforms designed with competing geopolitical, commercial and security agendas.
Sex differences in neural correlates of common psychopathological symptoms in early adolescence
Authors: Biondo Francesca , Thunell Charlotte Nymberg , Xu Bing , Chu Congying , Jia Tianye , Ing Alex , Quinlan Erin Burke , Tay Nicole , Banaschewski Tobias , Bokde Arun L. W. , Büchel Christian , Desrivières Sylvane , Flor Herta , Frouin Vincent , Garavan Hugh , Gowland Penny , Heinz Andreas , Ittermann Bernd , Martinot Jean-Luc , Lemaitre Hervé , Nees Frauke , Orfanos Dimitri Papadopoulos , Poustka Luise , Millenet Sabina , Fröhner Juliane H. , Smolka Michael N. , Walter Henrik , Whelan Robert , Barker Edward D. , Schumann Gunter ,   IMAGEN Consortium
Published: March 2021

Background

Sex-related differences in psychopathology are known phenomena, with externalizing and internalizing symptoms typically more common in boys and girls, respectively. However, the neural correlates of these sex-by-psychopathology interactions are underinvestigated, particularly in adolescence.

Methods

Participants were 14 years of age and part of the IMAGEN study, a large (N = 1526) community-based sample. To test for sex-by-psychopathology interactions in structural grey matter volume (GMV), we used whole-brain, voxel-wise neuroimaging analyses based on robust non-parametric methods. Psychopathological symptom data were derived from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).

Results

We found a sex-by-hyperactivity/inattention interaction in four brain clusters: right temporoparietal-opercular region (p < 0.01, Cohen's d = −0.24), bilateral anterior and mid-cingulum (p < 0.05, Cohen's d = −0.18), right cerebellum and fusiform (p < 0.05, Cohen's d = −0.20) and left frontal superior and middle gyri (p < 0.05, Cohen's d = −0.26). Higher symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention were associated with lower GMV in all four brain clusters in boys, and with higher GMV in the temporoparietal-opercular and cerebellar-fusiform clusters in girls.

Conclusions

Using a large, sex-balanced and community-based sample, our study lends support to the idea that externalizing symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention may be associated with different neural structures in male and female adolescents. The brain regions we report have been associated with a myriad of important cognitive functions, in particular, attention, cognitive and motor control, and timing, that are potentially relevant to understand the behavioural manifestations of hyperactive and inattentive symptoms. This study highlights the importance of considering sex in our efforts to uncover mechanisms underlying psychopathology during adolescence.
Modelling and assessment of Galileo and Galileo/GPS velocity determination with stand-alone receiver
Authors: Yin Xiao , Chai Hongzhou , Xiang Minzhi , Du Zhenqiang
Published: March 2021

Reasonable stochastic model and function model are the premise of accurate velocity determination, especially in the time-differenced carrier-phase (TDCP) method. This paper presents, first, an elevation-dependent stochastic model (ESM), and then gives a simplified and unified Galileo/GPS combined TDCP function model, where the inter-system bias (ISB) variations are analysed based on correlation coefficients and the scaled sensitivity matrix. To evaluate the performance of the proposed models, datasets collected at 10 multi-GNSS experiment (MGEX) stations and a vehicle kinematic experiment are employed. The results indicate that the ESM model can improve the accuracy of the velocity solution, especially for the Galileo/GPS combined system, in comparison with the equivalent weight ratio method. In contrast to the Galileo-only velocity solution, the Galileo/GPS combined velocity solution can bring improvements of about 1–1⋅5 mm/s, 0⋅5 mm/s and 1⋅5–2⋅5 mm/s in East, North and Up components, respectively. Compared with the traditional Galileo/GPS TDCP model, the simplified and unified model shows no obvious differences in all components in the environment with more visible satellites, but it performs better in a challenging environment with few visible satellites.