bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unexpected Cleavage of N‐N Bonds of Pentafluorophenylhydrazones – Formation of Nitriles by a Radical Fragmentation Reaction
Authors: Bortňák Dušan , Milata Viktor , Šofranko Jakub , Végh Daniel , Prousek Josef , Barbieriková Zuzana , Breza Martin , Brezová Vlasta , Dvoranová Dana , Šoral Michal
Published: April 2020

A novel method of the preparation of (hetero)aryl nitriles based on the fragmentation of the corresponding pentafluorophenylhydrazones is described. The synthesis is metal‐free, proceeds in neutral conditions with no need of protecting group application and provides most nitriles in moderately good yields. The synthesis was performed on ten pentafluorophenylhydrazones with different functional groups within the carbonyl part – the reaction was found to be partially substrate selective. The reaction prefers substrates with aromatic electron donating substituents on the carbonyl part of the hydrazone. The second reaction product, 2,3,5,6‐tetrafluoroaniline, can be easily separated by vacuum distillation. Although the reaction mechanism is yet to be ascertained, all synthetic and spectroscopic data suggest a radical reaction mechanism.
Representational indispensability and ontological commitment
Authors: Heron John ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: April 2020

Recent debates about mathematical ontology are guided by the view that Platonism's prospects depend on mathematics' explanatory role in science. If mathematics plays an explanatory role, and in the right kind of way, this carries ontological commitment to mathematical objects. Conversely, the assumption goes, if mathematics merely plays a representational role then our world-oriented uses of mathematics fail to commit us to mathematical objects. I argue that it is a mistake to think that mathematical representation is necessarily ontologically innocent and that there is an argument from mathematics' representational capacity to Platonism. Given that it is common ground between the Platonist and nominalist that mathematics plays a representational role in science, this representationalist argument is to be preferred over the explanatory, or enhanced, indispensability argument.
Expression of transferrin receptor‐1 (TFR‐1) in canine osteosarcomas
Authors: De Vico Gionata , Martano Manuela , Maiolino Paola , Carella Francesca , Leonardi Leonardo
Published: April 2020

Due to high rates of proliferation and DNA synthesis, neoplastic cells have higher requirements of iron than normal cells. For that reason, neoplastic cells have remodelled iron metabolism pathways, over‐expressing genes encoding for iron uptake proteins, among which Transferrin Receptor‐1 (TFR‐1). Accumulating evidence has proven that overexpression of TFR‐1 and high Iron concentration, are both widespread condition of cancer cells, both essential to tumour onset and progression. We studied TFR‐1 and PCNA immunohistochemical expression in fifteen (15) Canine osteoblastic osteosarcomas (COS). After immunohistochemical staining, counting of TFR‐1 positive cells by two independent observers showed that 85%–95% of neoplastic cells were strongly labelled at cytoplasmic level by anti‐TFR‐1 antibody in all examined COS. Furthermore, 70%–80% of neoplastic cells were positively labelled at the nuclear level by PCNA. Surprisingly, about 100% of intratumour vascular endothelial cells were also positive, whereas extratumour vascular endothelial cells were negative. The latter is an interesting finding, as TFR‐1 is usually not expressed in normal vasculature, with the exception of normal brain vascular endothelium, where it allows transport of transferrin, and thus iron, into tissues, suggesting a similar function here to support cancer growth. The early results presented highlight the relevance of TFR‐1 expression in canine OS, suggesting therapies involving both TFR‐1 and Iron metabolisms in dogs with osteosarcoma should be developed.
Carbon turnover and microbial activity in an artificial soil under imposed cyclic drainage and imbibition
Authors: Pronk Geertje J. , Mellage Adrian , Milojevic Tatjana , Smeaton Christina M. , Engel Katja , Neufeld Josh D. , Rezanezhad Fereidoun , Van Cappellen Philippe
Published: April 2020

Water table fluctuations generate temporally and spatially dynamic physicochemical conditions that drive biogeochemical hot spots and hot moments in the vadose zone. However, their role in the cycling of soil C remains poorly known. Here, we present results from unvegetated column experiments filled with 45 cm of artificial soil containing 10% humus, and inoculated with a natural microbial extract. In one series of three replicate columns, five cycles, each consisting of a 4‐wk drainage followed by a 4‐wk imbibition period, were imposed, whereas in a second series, the water table remained static. Depth‐resolved O2 concentration profiles and headspace CO2 effluxes were markedly different between the two regimes. In the fluctuating regime, drainage periods yielded 2.5 times greater CO2 effluxes than imbibition periods. At the end of the experiment, the fluctuating water table columns exhibited a distinct zone of organic C (OC) depletion in the depth interval of 8–20 cm that was not observed under the static regime. Although this zone showed elevated levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the microbial biomass was actually lower than at the corresponding depth interval of the static regime. A vertically stratified microbial community established in all columns that depended on oxygenation with depth. The 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene analyses showed a slightly higher diversity in the soil exposed to moisture fluctuations, but there was no clear difference in major taxa and microbial community composition between treatments. These results thus suggest that the localized enhancement of OC degradation induced by the water table fluctuations was driven by a more active, rather than a more abundant or compositionally very different, microbial community.
A high efficiency photon veto for the Light Dark Matter eXperiment
Authors:   The LDMX collaboration, Åkesson Torsten , Blinov Nikita , Bryngemark Lene , Colegrove Owen , Collura Giulia , Dukes Craig , Dutta Valentina , Echenard Bertrand , Eichlersmith Thomas , Group Craig , Hiltbrand Joshua , Hitlin David G. , Incandela Joseph , Krnjaic Gordan , Lazaro Juan , Li Amina , Mans Jeremiah , Masterson Phillip , McCormick Jeremy , Moreno Omar , Mullier Geoffrey , Nagar Akshay , Nelson Timothy , Niendorf Gavin , Oyang James , Petersen Reese , Pöttgen Ruth , Schuster Philip , Siegel Harrison , Toro Natalia , Tran Nhan , Whitbeck Andrew
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Fixed-target experiments using primary electron beams can be powerful discovery tools for light dark matter in the sub-GeV mass range. The Light Dark Matter eXperiment (LDMX) is designed to measure missing momentum in high-rate electron fixed-target reactions with beam energies of 4 GeV to 16 GeV. A prerequisite for achieving several important sensitivity milestones is the capability to efficiently reject backgrounds associated with few-GeV bremsstrahlung, by twelve orders of magnitude, while maintaining high efficiency for signal. The primary challenge arises from events with photo-nuclear reactions faking the missing-momentum property of a dark matter signal. We present a methodology developed for the LDMX detector concept that is capable of the required rejection. By employing a detailed Geant4-based model of the detector response, we demonstrate that the sampling calorimetry proposed for LDMX can achieve better than 10
−13 rejection of few-GeV photons. This suggests that the luminosity-limited sensitivity of LDMX can be realized at 4 GeV and higher beam energies.
Dirac vs. Majorana HNLs (and their oscillations) at SHiP
Authors: Tastet J.-L. , Timiryasov I.
Published: April 2020

Abstract

SHiP is a proposed high-intensity beam dump experiment set to operate at the CERN SPS. It is expected to have an unprecedented sensitivity to a variety of models containing feebly interacting particles, such as Heavy Neutral Leptons (HNLs). Two HNLs or more could successfully explain the observed neutrino masses through the seesaw mechanism. If, in addition, they are quasi-degenerate, they could be responsible for the baryon asymmetry of the Universe. Depending on their mass splitting, HNLs can have very different phenomenologies: they can behave as Majorana fermions — with lepton number violating (LNV) signatures, such as same-sign dilepton decays — or as Dirac fermions with only lepton number conserving (LNC) signatures. In this work, we quantitatively demonstrate that LNV processes can be distinguished from LNC ones at SHiP, using only the angular distribution of the HNL decay products. Accounting for spin correlations in the simulation and using boosted decision trees for discrimination, we show that SHiP will be able to distinguish Majorana-like and Dirac-like HNLs in a significant fraction of the currently unconstrained parameter space. If the mass splitting is of order 10
−6 eV, SHiP could even be capable of resolving HNL oscillations, thus providing a direct measurement of the mass splitting. This analysis highlights the potential of SHiP to not only search for feebly interacting particles, but also perform model selection.
Exact NLO matching and analyticity in b → sℓℓ
Authors: Asatrian Hrachia M. , Greub Christoph , Virto Javier
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Exclusive rare decays mediated by b → sℓℓ transitions receive contributions from four-quark operators that cannot be naively expressed in terms of local form factors. Instead, one needs to calculate a matrix element of a bilocal operator. In certain kinematic regions, this bilocal operator obeys some type of Operator Product Expansion, with coefficients that can be calculated in perturbation theory. We review the formalism and, focusing on the dominant SM operators O
1,2, we perform an improved calculation of the NLO matching for the leading dimension-three operators. This calculation is performed completely analytically in the two relevant mass scales (charm-quark mass mc and dilepton squared mass q
2), and we pay particular attention to the analytic continuation in the complex q
2 plane. This allows for the first time to study the analytic structure of the non-local form factors at NLO, and to calculate the OPE coefficients far below q
2 = 0, say

$$ {q}^2\underset{\sim }{<}-10{\mathrm{GeV}}^2 $$

q
2

<
~

−
10

GeV
2

. We also provide explicitly the contributions proportional to different charge factors, which obey separate dispersion relations.
Electric dipole moments of neutron and heavy quarks in the B-LSSM
Authors: Yang Jin-Lei , Feng Tai-Fu , Cui Sheng-Kai , Liu Chang-xin , Li Wei , Zhang Hai-Bin
Published: April 2020

Abstract

The searching for the electric dipole moments (EDMs) of neutron (d

n
), b quark (d

b
) and c quark (d

c
) gives strict upper bounds on these quantities. And recently, new up- per bounds on d

b
, d

c
are obtained by the strict limit on d

n
. The models of new physics (NP) with additional CP-violating (CPV) sources are constrained strictly by these EDMs. In this work, we focus on the CPV effects on these EDMs in the minimal supersymmetric extension (MSSM) of the SM with local B − L gauge symmetry (B-LSSM). The contributions from one-loop and some two-loop diagrams to the quark EDM are given in general form, which can also be used in the calculation of quark EDM in other models of NP. Considering the constrains from updated experimental data, the numerical results show that the two-loop corrections can make important contributions to these EDMs. Compared with the MSSM, the effects of new CPV phases and new parameters in the B-LSSM on these EDMs are also explored.
Refixation von osteochondralen Fragmenten mit resorbierbaren Polylactid-Implantaten
Authors: Rüther H. , Seif Amir Hosseini A. , Frosch S. , Hoffmann D. , Lotz J. , Lehmann W. , Streit U. , Wachowski M. M.
Published: April 2020

Hintergrund

Bei Patienten, die im Rahmen eines Traumas an Knie- und Sprunggelenk eine Verletzung mit Abscheren eines osteochondralen „flake“ erleiden, ist heute die Refixation mittels resorbierbarer Implantate eine häufig verwendete Therapieoption. Hierzu gibt es bisher wenige Studien mit klinischen Langzeitergebnissen. Ziel dieser Studie war die Erfassung der klinischen und MR-morphologischen Langzeitergebnisse nach Refixation mittels resorbierbarer PLLA-Implantate.

Material und Methoden

In dieser retrospektiven Studie wurden 12 Patienten mit 13 Läsionen erfasst, die im Schnitt 13,9 (±1,2) Jahre zuvor eine Refixation eines durchschnittlich 3,33 cm2(±2,33) großen osteochondralen Flake an Knie- (10 Patienten) und oberem Sprunggelenk (2 Patienten) mit resorbierbaren Implantaten (Nägel, Stifte, Schrauben) aus Polylactid (PLLA) (Fa. Bionx, Tampere, Finnland) erhalten hatten. Zur Objektivierung des klinischen Ergebnisses wurden 8 etablierte Scores (VASS, Tegner, Lysholm, McDermott, KSS, WOMAC, AOFAS, FADI+Sports) verwendet. Des Weiteren wurden die knöcherne Integration und Knorpelmorphologie mittels protonengewichteter und knorpelsensitiver „3D-double-echo-steady-state“(DESS)-Sequenzen im MRT (3 T) erfasst. Zur Objektivierung der Ergebnisse diente ein modifizierter MRT-Score nach Henderson et al.

Ergebnisse

Nach 13,9 (±1,2) Jahren zeigten sich sowohl für die Knie- als auch die Sprunggelenkpatienten sehr gute Ergebnisse (Knie: VASS: 1,2 (±1,7); Tegner 4,4 (±1,3); Lysholm 85,7 (±12,2); McDermott 90,7 (±8,6); KSS 189 (±14,2); WOMAC (6,16 % (±8,45))), (OSG: VASS: 2,5 (±2,5); Tegner 5,5 (±1,5); Lysholm 87 (±13), McDermott 88 (±12); WOMAC (8,54 % (±8,54); AOFAS 75,5 (±24,5); FADI+Sports 118 (±18))). In der MRT zeigte sich in allen 12 Fällen eine gute Integration des refixierten Flake. In 5 Fällen kam es zu einer moderaten subchondralen Zystenbildung (∅ ≤1 mm). Allerdings zeigten alle Patienten milde Veränderungen der Knorpelkontur. Hieraus ergab sich ein durchschnittlicher modifizierter Henderson-Score-Wert von 14,4 (±2,0) (Bestwert: 8, schlechtester Wert: 32), was einem guten MR-morphologischen Ergebnis entspricht.

Schlussfolgerung

Aufgrund der klinischen und auch MR-morphologischen Langzeitergebnisse ist die Refixation von osteochondralen Flakes mittels resorbierbarer Implantate (PLLA) als empfehlenswertes Verfahren zu werten.
A comparison of the real and non-archimedean Monge–Ampère operator
Authors: Vilsmeier Christian
Published: April 2020

LetXbe a proper algebraic variety over a non-archimedean, non-trivially valued field. We show that the non-archimedean Monge–Ampère measure of a metric arising from a convex function on an open face of some skeleton of$$X^{an }$$Xanis equal to the real Monge–Ampère measure of that function up to multiplication by a constant. As a consequence we obtain a regularity result for solutions of the non-archimedean Monge–Ampère problem on curves.
Functional morphology of the primary olfactory centers in the brain of the hermit crab Coenobita clypeatus (Anomala, Coenobitidae)
Authors: Polanska Marta A. , Kirchhoff Tina , Dircksen Heinrich , Hansson Bill S. , Harzsch Steffen
Published: April 2020

Terrestrial hermit crabs of the genusCoenobitadisplay strong behavioral responses to volatile odors and are attracted by chemical cues of various potential food sources. Several aspects of their sense of aerial olfaction have been explored in recent years including behavioral aspects and structure of their peripheral and central olfactory pathway. Here, we use classical histological methods and immunohistochemistry against the neuropeptides orcokinin and allatostatin as well as synaptic proteins and serotonin to provide insights into the functional organization of their primary olfactory centers in the brain, the paired olfactory lobes. Our results show that orcokinin is present in the axons of olfactory sensory neurons, which target the olfactory lobe. Orcokinin is also present in a population of local olfactory interneurons, which may relay lateral inhibition across the array of olfactory glomeruli within the lobes. Extensive lateral connections of the glomeruli were also visualized using the histological silver impregnation method according to Holmes-Blest. This technique also revealed the structural organization of the output pathway of the olfactory system, the olfactory projection neurons, the axons of which target the lateral protocerebrum. Within the lobes, the course of their axons seems to be reorganized in an axon-sorting zone before they exit the system. Together with previous results, we combine our findings into a model on the functional organization of the olfactory system in these animals.
Evaluation of the Manchester triage system for patients with acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Kiblboeck Daniel , Steinrueck Klara , Nitsche Christian , Lang Wolfgang , Kellermair Joerg , Blessberger Hermann , Steinwender Clemens , Siostrzonek Peter
Published: April 2020

Background

An early diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is crucial for treatment and prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Manchester triage system (MTS) for patients with ACS, e.g. ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (N-STEMI) and unstable angina pectoris (UAP).

Methods

Retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with ACS (STEMI, N‑STEMI and UAP) who were triaged in the emergency department (ED) with the MTS.

Results

In this study 282 patients with ACS (STEMI: 34.0%, N‑STEMI: 61.7%, UAP: 4.3%) were triaged as MTS level 1 (immediate assessment): 0.4%, MTS level 2 (very urgent): 51.4%, MTS level 3 (urgent): 41.5%, MTS level 4 (standard): 6.7%, MTS level 5 (non-urgent): 0%. We observed significantly lower mean MTS levels in males (male: 2.48 ± 0.59, female: 2.68 ± 0.68, p = 0.02) and in patients younger than 80 years (age <80 years: 2.50 ± 0.61, age ≥80 years: 2.70 ± 0.67, p = 0.03). We did not find a significant difference of mean MTS levels in different types of ACS (STEMI: 2.46 ± 0.6, N‑STEMI: 2.59 ± 0.64, STEMI vs N‑STEMI: p = 0.11, UAP: 2.67 ± 0.65, STEMI vs UAP: p = 0.26) and with respect to diabetes (diabetic: 2.47 ± 0.57, non-diabetic: 2.58 ± 0.65, p = 0.13). The in-hospital mortality was 2.5% (MTS level 2: n = 3, MTS level 3: n = 3, MTS level 4: n = 1).

Conclusion

The majority of patients with ACS were classified as MTS levels 2 and 3. There was no significant difference of mean MTS levels in patients with STEMI, NSTEMI and UAP. In order to assure an early diagnosis of STEMI, an electrocardiogram (ECG) should be carried out immediately or at least within 10 min after first medical contact in the ED in all patients suspected for ACS, irrespective of the assigned MTS level.
Recent advances in our understanding of the organization of dorsal horn neuron populations and their contribution to cutaneous mechanical allodynia
Authors: Peirs Cedric , Dallel Radhouane , Todd Andrew J.
Published: April 2020

The dorsal horns of the spinal cord and the trigeminal nuclei in the brainstem contain neuron populations that are critical to process sensory information. Neurons in these areas are highly heterogeneous in their morphology, molecular phenotype and intrinsic properties, making it difficult to identify functionally distinct cell populations, and to determine how these are engaged in pathophysiological conditions. There is a growing consensus concerning the classification of neuron populations, based on transcriptomic and transductomic analyses of the dorsal horn. These approaches have led to the discovery of several molecularly defined cell types that have been implicated in cutaneous mechanical allodynia, a highly prevalent and difficult-to-treat symptom of chronic pain, in which touch becomes painful. The main objective of this review is to provide a contemporary view of dorsal horn neuronal populations, and describe recent advances in our understanding of on how they participate in cutaneous mechanical allodynia.
Micro-Foundations of Diverging Economic Policies: Keynesian, Behavioural, Neoclassic
Authors: Schettkat Ronald
Published: April 2020

Germany’s austerity-oriented economic policy is the wrong approach. Markets need demand stimulation to achieve full use of resources, argues Krugman, a Keynesian economist. Neoclassical economists have been warning that expansionary macroeconomic policies are not only useless but can even be harmful (e.g. Phelps). These stark differences in the evaluation of economic policy proposals are deeply rooted in their underlying microeconomic reasoning, in the theories of the motivation and behaviour of economic agents as investors, workers, consumers and speculators as well as their interactions. The claim of missing micro-foundations in Keynes’s theory is false. In contrast, recent findings of behavioural economics have strongly confirmed Keynes’s micro-foundations that lead to his macroeconomic conclusions.
Steady-State Large-Eddy Simulations of Convective and Stable Urban Boundary Layers
Authors: Grylls Tom , Suter Ivo , van Reeuwijk Maarten
Published: April 2020

A comprehensive investigation is carried out to establish best practice guidelines for the modelling of statistically steady-state non-neutral urban boundary layers (UBL) using large-eddy simulation (LES). These steady-state simulations enable targeted studies under realistic non-neutral conditions without the complications associated with the inherently transient nature of the UBL. An extensive set of simulations of convective and stable conditions is carried out to determine which simplifications, volumetric forcings, and boundary conditions can be applied to replicate the mean and turbulent (variance and covariance) statistics of this intrinsically transient problem most faithfully. In addition, a new method is introduced in which a transient simulation can be ‘frozen’ into a steady state. It is found that non-neutral simulations have different requirements to their neutral counterparts. In convective conditions, capping the boundary-layer height h with the top of the modelled domain to h/5 and h/10 (which is common practice in neutral simulations) reduces the turbulent kinetic energy by as much as 61% and 44%, respectively. Consistent with the literature, we find that domain heights $$l_z \ge 5 |L|$$lz≥5|L| are necessary to reproduce the convective-boundary-layer dynamics, where L is the Obukhov length. In stably stratified situations, the use of a uniform momentum forcing systematically underestimates the mechanical generation of turbulence over the urban canopy layer, and therefore leads to misrepresentations of both the inner- and outer-layer dynamics. The new ‘frozen-transient’ method that is able to maintain a prescribed flow state (including entrainment at the boundary-layer top) is shown to work well in both stable and convective conditions. Guidelines are provided for future studies of the capped and uncapped convective and stable UBL.
Safety and tolerability of subcutaneous trastuzumab at home administration, results of the phase IIIb open-label BELIS study in HER2-positive early breast cancer
Authors: Denys Hannelore , Martinez-Mena Corina L. , Martens Marc T. , D’Hondt Randal G. , Graas Marie-Pascale L. , Evron Ella , Fried Georgeta , Ben-Baruch Noa E. , Vulsteke Christof , Van Steenberghe Mona M.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The subcutaneous (SC) administration of trastuzumab is highly preferred by patients. At home, administration of trastuzumab SC might further improve patient benefit. The aims of the BELIS study are to evaluate the safety and tolerability of trastuzumab SC when administered at home by a healthcare professional (HCP) and to evaluate patient-reported outcomes for treatment experience of at home cancer therapy.

Methods

This open-label phase IIIb study enrolled HER2-positive early breast cancer patients in Belgium and Israel who completed the first six cycles of trastuzumab IV (neo)adjuvant therapy. The study consisted of three consecutive treatment periods: three cycles of trastuzumab IV and SC each at the hospital and six cycles of trastuzumab SC at home.

Results

Between November 2013 and December 2014, 23 centres enrolled 102 patients in the intent-to-treat population of which 101 patients entered the safety population. No new safety signals were detected with as expected, more mild administration site events with trastuzumab SC when compared to IV treatment. All patients agreed that they had benefit from at home administration to a large (18/81; 22%) or very large (63/81; 78%) extent. All HCPs (21/21) agreed that SC is the quickest method from start of preparation to finish of administration and that less resource use is needed.

Conclusion

The results of the BELIS study support that trastuzumab SC can be safely administered at home by a HCP and all patients considered this setting as beneficial. HCPs consider the SC formulation as the quickest method to administer trastuzumab.

Trial registration

EudraCT Identifier: 2013-000123-13. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01926886.
Toward the visual understanding of computing curricula
Authors: Takada Shingo , Cuadros-Vargas Ernesto , Impagliazzo John , Gordon Steven , Marshall Linda , Topi Heikki , van der Veer Gerrit , Waguespack Leslie
Published: April 2020

Various computing subdisciplines, such as computer science and software engineering, each have their own curricular guidelines. They can be very difficult to understand and compare for people such as prospective students, industry personnel, and even faculty members. This is compounded by a lack of information surrounding undergraduate computing curricular topics via visual methods. This paper describes two experimental activities where the objective is to explore the possibility of obtaining quantitative data sets necessary for visualization, one based on competencies and the other based on knowledge areas. Both activities were based on surveys. The results from the first activity showed that a consensus interpretation could be obtained for the knowledge, skills, and dispositions implied by the competency descriptions, although not as strongly for dispositions. The second activity resulted in a table of knowledge areas with minimum and maximum weights for six computing subdisciplines. Finally, this paper also shows two examples of how users can explore the various curricular guidelines through visualization.
Commitment Versus Discretion in Climate and Energy Policy
Authors: Habermacher Florian , Lehmann Paul
Published: April 2020

To decarbonize the power sector, policy-makers need to commit to long-term credible rules for climate and energy policy. Otherwise, risk of opportunistic policy-making will impair investments into low-carbon technologies. However, the future benefits and costs of decarbonization are subject to substantial uncertainties. Thus, there may also be societal gains from allowing policy-makers the discretion to adjust the policies as new information becomes available. We examine how this trade-off between policy commitment—either unconditional or state-contingent—and discretion affects the optimal intertemporal design of market-based instruments in the power sector. Using a dynamic partial equilibrium model, we show that commitment to a state-contingent level of ambition for the market-based instrument leads to higher welfare than both unconditional commitment and discretion. With benefit uncertainty, the choice between the practically more feasible approaches of unconditional commitment and discretion is analytically ambiguous. A basic numerical illustration suggests that policy discretion may outperform unconditional commitment in terms of welfare. However, this result is reversed when only a limited fraction of benefit uncertainty resolves in reasonable time, when future policy-makers have own agendas, or when investors are risk-averse. With cost uncertainty, policy discretion is welfare-superior if the government can commit to a technology deployment target.
Christiaan Sybesma (August 31, 1928–January 31, 2018), an extraordinary biophysicist of our time
Authors: Vredenberg Wim J. , Govindjee Govindjee
Published: April 2020

We provide here a brief Tribute to Christiaan Sybesma (1928–2018), a highly respected biophysicist of our time. We remember him by giving a brief highlight of his life and a glimpse of his outstanding contributions in photosynthesis. He was a charming and highly respected scientist of our time.
A Generalized Proof-Theoretic Approach to Logical Argumentation Based on Hypersequents
Authors: Borg AnneMarie , Straßer Christian , Arieli Ofer
Published: April 2020

In this paper we introduce hypersequent-based frameworks for the modelling of defeasible reasoning by means of logic-based argumentation and the induced entailment relations. These structures are an extension of sequent-based argumentation frameworks, in which arguments and the attack relations among them are expressed not only by Gentzen-style sequents, but by more general expressions, calledhypersequents. This generalization allows us to overcome some of the known weaknesses of logical argumentation frameworks and to prove several desirable properties of the entailments that are induced by the extended (hypersequent-based) frameworks. It also allows us to incorporate as the deductive base of our formalism some well-known logics (like the intermediate logic , the modal logic , and the relevance logic ), which lack cut-free sequent calculi, and so are not adequate for standard sequent-based argumentation. We show that hypersequent-based argumentation yields robust defeasible variants of these logics, with many desirable properties.
Epistemic value in the subpersonal vale
Authors: Carter J. Adam , Rupert Robert D.
Published: April 2020

A vexing problem in contemporary epistemology—one with origins in Plato’sMeno—concerns the value of knowledge, and in particular, whether and how the value of knowledge exceeds the value of mere (unknown) true opinion. The recent literature is deeply divided on the matter of how best to address the problem. One point, however, remains unquestioned: that if a solution is to be found, it will be at the personal level, the level at which states of subjects or agents, as such, appear. We take exception to this orthodoxy, or at least to its unquestioned status. We argue that subpersonal states play a significant—arguably, primary—role in much epistemically relevant cognition and thus constitute a domain in which we might reasonably expect to locate the “missing source” of epistemic value, beyond the value attached to mere true belief.
Antioxidant defence barrier of great tit Parus major nestlings in response to trace elements
Authors: Koim-Puchowska Beata , Drozdz-Afelt Joanna M. , Lamparski Robert , Menka Aleksandra , Kaminski Piotr
Published: April 2020

Metals can have direct and indirect effects on the generation of reactive oxygen species in wild birds. The aim of this work has been to examine the effect of exposure to trace metals (copper Cu, iron Fe, cobalt Co, manganese Mn) on oxidative stress biomarkers such as lipoperoxidation TBARS and level of superoxide dismutase SOD, catalase CAT, and reduced glutathione GSH in the livers and kidneys of great tit Parus major nestlings (n = 165, 63 broods) living in polluted environments associated with soda plants and agricultural activities (Kujawy region) and from a reference site (Tuchola Forest), both in the north of Poland. As we predicted, the level of TBARS in both organs of chicks from polluted areas was higher than in those from reference site. This could be connected with Fe concentrations, particularly in areas adjacent to soda plants (livers Rs = 0.49, p < 0.002; kidneys Rs = 0.69, p < 0.001). We also showed differences in the level of antioxidants depending on the environment. CAT activity was higher in nestlings from Kujawy than in those from Tuchola. Meanwhile SOD activity (both organs) and GSH levels (kidneys) were lower in the polluted area compared to the reference site. Concentrations of Cu, Fe, Co, and Mn may play a role in regulating the antioxidant system components’ activity.
Integrating autonomously navigating assistance systems into the clinic: guiding principles and the ANTS-OR approach
Authors: Bernhard Lukas , Ostler Daniel , Feußner Hubertus , Wilhelm Dirk
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Autonomously self-navigating clinical assistance systems (ASCAS) seem highly promising for improving clinical workflows. There is great potential for easing staff workload and improving overall efficiency by reducing monotonous and physically demanding tasks. However, a seamless integration of such systems into complex human-supervised clinical workflows is challenging. As of yet, guiding principles and specific approaches for solving this problem are lacking.

Methods

We propose to treat ASCAS orchestration as a scheduling problem. However, underlying objectives and constraints for this scheduling problem differ considerably from those found in other domains (e.g., manufacturing, logistics). We analyze the clinical environment to deduce unique needs and conclude that existing scheduling approaches are not sufficient to overcome these challenges.

Results

We present four guiding principles, namely human precedence, command structure, emergency context and immediacy, that govern the integration of self-navigating assistance systems into clinical workflows. Based on these results, we propose our approach, namely Auto-Navigation Task Scheduling for Operating Rooms (ANTS-OR), for solving the ASCAS orchestration problem in a surgical application scenario, employing a score-based scheduling strategy.

Conclusion

The proposed approach is a first step toward addressing the ASCAS orchestration problem for the OR wing. We are currently advancing and validating our concept using a simulation environment and aim at realizing a dynamic end-to-end ASCAS orchestration platform in the future.
Facets of Mindfulness in Stages of Behavior Change Toward Organic Food Consumption
Authors: Richter Nadine , Hunecke Marcel
Published: April 2020

Objectives

The preference of organically grown foods can potentially decrease greenhouse gas emissions, which are related to climate change. Recent empirical studies suggest associations between dispositional mindfulness and self-reported pro-environmental behavior. In order to identify the potential and mechanisms of mindfulness with regard to pro-environmental behaviors, it is necessary to consider theories of action.

Methods

The present study examines the relationship between five facets of self-attributed mindfulness and organic food consumption considering a stage model of behavior change that includes different types of intentions and stage-specific predictors adapted from the theory of planned behavior and the norm-activation model. A cross-sectional online study was conducted with a sample of 560 participants. The mean age of the participants was 30 (SD = 10.5) years, and the sample consisted largely of females (76%). A minority reported regular meditation practice (8%).

Results

The multivariate analyses showed a significant relationship between observing and goal intention (β = .317,p < .000) as well as the indirect effects of observing on goal intention that is mediated by personal norms and attitude. Further, people in the postaction stage have higher levels of observing than those in the predecision stage (p = .003,d = .43). Overall, the mindfulness facets contribute low to the explained variance of the stage model variables.

Conclusion

Consistent across the analyses, the mindfulness facet of observing was proved to be a particularly relevant predictor of organic food consumption-related variables. The investigation of the observing facet could be beneficial to understand associated mechanisms and starting points to promote pro-environmental behavior through mindfulness.
Blocking of Stimulus Control and Conditioned Reinforcement
Authors: Vandbakk Monica , Olaff Heidi Skorge , Holth Per
Published: April 2020

Stimuli with no specific biological relevance for the organism can acquire multiple functions through conditioning procedures. Conditioning procedures involving compound stimuli sometimes result in blocking, related to the phenomenon of overshadowing. This can affect the establishment of conditioned stimuli in classical conditioning and discriminative stimuli in operant conditioning. The aim of the current experiment was to investigate whether a standard blocking procedure might block the establishment of a conditioned reinforcer—in addition to blocking discriminative control by that stimulus in rats. We used successive discrimination training to establish a tone or a light as a discriminative stimulus for chain pulling, upon which an unconditioned reinforcer (water) was contingent. Next, we trained a tone–light compound stimulus the same way. Finally, we conducted two tests, one for stimulus control and one for a conditioned reinforcing effect on a new response. Little or no discriminative control was evident by the second stimulus, which was added to the previously established discriminative stimulus later during training. The subsequent test showed blocking of conditioned reinforcement in five of the seven rats. Procedures that generate blocking can have a practical impact on attempts to establish discriminative stimuli and/or conditioned reinforcers in applied settings and needs careful attention.
The contribution of religious education and ethics to the development of worldviews: reflections of Finnish 9th grade students
Authors: Kavonius Marjaana , Ubani Martin
Published: April 2020

The purpose of this article is to discuss the role of religious education and ethics instruction in the development of worldviews in public education using empirical data. The research question of the article is: How is the contribution of RE and Ethics in the development of worldviews perceived among 9th grade students? The study is based on qualitative interview data (N = 37) gathered from Finnish 9th grade students of different religious and worldview backgrounds. The article will also describe three cases from that sample: from Islamic RE, Lutheran RE and Ethics instruction. The data was analyzed with qualitative content analysis. The results indicate that students’ perceptions on the contribution of RE or ethics to the development of their worldviews could be divided into two groups: RE or Ethics were seen as contributors to students’ already existing worldviews or considered insignificant in relation to the development of their worldviews. Whether the instruction was considered strengthening or irrelevant in the development of a worldview did not depend on the background of the student. Aspects related to experiences about the instruction were intertwined with the questions referring to the contribution of instruction in the formation of worldviews.
„die sagen wirklich dass das radikal ist ein Kopftuch zu tragen. Ich bin jetzt schon für die Extremistin“ – Zum Umgang praktizierender Musliminnen mit stigmatisierenden Fremd(heits)zuschreibungen und Terrorismusverdacht
Authors: Jukschat Nadine , Lehmann Lena
Published: April 2020

Muslime/innen in Deutschland sind alltäglich mit Islam- und Muslimfeindlichkeit bzw. antimuslimischen Rassismus, mindestens aber mit „Fremdzuschreibungen von Fremdheit“ konfrontiert. Angesichts von Terror und Gewalt im Namen des Islam und einer zunehmend versicherheitlichten Perspektive auf gesellschaftliche Probleme scheinen neben ‚klassischen‘ Stereotypen (wie Rückständigkeit, Fundamentalismus und patriarchale Unterdrückung der Frau) verstärkt Gefährlichkeitszuschreibungen an den Islam geheftet zu werden. Insbesondere strenger praktizierende Muslime/innen geraten in diesem gesellschaftlichen Klima unter Radikalismus- bzw. Extremismusverdacht bzw. werden als bedrohlich wahrgenommen. Die Untersuchung setzt an diesem hegemonialen Islamdiskurs an. Auf der Basis von biografisch-narrativen Interviews sowie einer Gruppendiskussion mit praktizierenden, sich bedeckenden Muslimas und orientiert an der Grounded Theory Methodologie untersucht er, wie sich dieser Diskurs in Erfahrungen von Muslime/innen niederschlägt, auf ihre Selbst- und Welt-Wahrnehmung auswirkt und wie praktizierende Muslime/innen mit den Zuschreibungen umgehen, mit denen sie sich im Alltag auseinandersetzen müssen. Dabei zeigt sich eine Reflexivierung muslimischer Lebenspraxis, die Fremdzuschreibungen von islamistischer Gefahr und Bedrohung stets mitführt. Im Umgang mit den stigmatisierenden Fremdidentifizierungen lassen sich idealtypisch zwei Strategien unterscheiden: 1) Umgangsweisen, die als Formen derSelbstermächtigungbeschrieben werden und 2) eherdefensive Formen des Umgangs, die zu einer Identifikation mit der Opferrolle und Rückzug tendieren. Vor den Hintergrund der eigenen Felderfahrungen reflektiert der Beitrag dabei zudem die Rolle von Forscher/innen im Themenfeld bei der (Re‑)Produktion gesellschaftlicher Islamdiskurse.
Würdevolles Altern – neue Technologien, Telemedizin und Ethik
Authors: Klein Andreas
Published: April 2020

Würdevolles Altern erscheint in einer Hochleistungsgesellschaft als prekäre Formel, da dies zwar von den meisten Menschen gewollt wird, das Alter(n) jedoch weitgehend mit negativen Attributen versehen wird: Defizite, Mängel, Abbauprozesse, Leistungseinbußen und eine Last für andere und die Gesellschaft. Die positiven Faktoren wie etwa zahlreiche Entlastungen oder Erfahrungssättigung treten hingegen in den Hintergrund. Trotz des Lobs der Vielheit, der Differenz, der Buntheit und der Destandardisierung von Lebensentwürfen bleiben hier ganz bestimmte, kulturell grundierte Leitperspektiven prägend, denen man sich nur schwer entziehen kann. Sowohl ethisch als auch gesamtgesellschaftlich wären kulturelle und individuelle Bewertungsperspektiven auf das Alter(n) kritisch zu reflektieren und alternative Deutungsoptionen einzubeziehen, die Neuorientierungen und Neujustierungen von den Verkrustungen der Perspektiven befreien.

Mittlerweile sind sich bereits alternative Konzepte des Selbstverständnisses älterer Menschen etabliert. Selbstbestimmung und Individualisierung werden eigenständig aufgegriffen und sind nicht länger jüngeren Generationen vorbehalten. Überkommene Rollenverständnisse werden dabei einer kritischen Revision unterzogen und umbesetzt. Dabei verliert Alter überhaupt zunehmend an Differenzierungsrelevanz, weil Menschen mit aufgrund ihrer jeweiligen Bedürfnisse und Interessen im Mittelpunkt stehen und nicht alleine wegen ihres Alters. Dies hat auch die Wirtschaft längst erkannt, wodurch ältere Menschen als interessante und finanzkräftige Adressaten in den Fokus rücken. Längst ist von „golden“ oder „silver agern“ die Rede.

In diesem Kontext spielen auch neue Technologien eine entscheidende Rolle, weil sie Menschen im fortgeschrittenen Alter in ihren neu bestimmten Lebenskonzepten erhebliche Unterstützung und Selbstkontrolle bieten können, insbesondere im Gesundheitsbereich. Sie ermöglichen, grundlegende ethische Prinzipien zu unterstützen, wenngleich neben den Vorteilen auch die Risiken und gesellschaftlichen Transformationen kritisch zu bedenken und zu bewerten sind. Ein kurzer Überblick soll diese Aspekte verdeutlichen und vertiefen.
Searching for Sarah: Black Girlhood, Education, and the Archive
Authors: Baumgartner Kabria
Published: April 2020

Roberts v. City of Boston is a well-known legal case in the history of US education. In 1847, the Boston School Committee denied Sarah C. Roberts, a five-year-old African American girl, admission to the public primary school closest to her home. She was instead ordered to attend the all-black Abiel Smith School, about a half-mile walk from her home. In March 1848, Sarah's father, Benjamin, sued the city of Boston for denying Sarah the right to attend the public school closest to her home. The case wound its way through the courts, eventually reaching the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. In 1850, Chief Justice Lemuel Shaw ruled in favor of the city of Boston, affirming that the Boston School Committee had “not violated any principle of equality, inasmuch as they have provided a school with competent instructors for the colored children, where they enjoy equal advantages of instruction with those enjoyed by the white children.” And thus, the doctrine of separate but equal was born in Massachusetts.
Proton deflectometry of a capacitor coil target along two axes
Authors: Bradford P. , Read M. P. , Ehret M. , Antonelli L. , Khan M. , Booth N. , Glize K. , Carroll D. , Clarke R. J. , Heathcote R. , Ryazantsev S. , Pikuz S. , Spindloe C. , Moody J. D. , Pollock B. B. , Tikhonchuk V. T. , Ridgers C. P. , Santos J. J. , Woolsey N. C.
Published: April 2020

A developing application of laser-driven currents is the generation of magnetic fields of picosecond–nanosecond duration with magnitudes exceeding

$B=10~\text{T}$

. Single-loop and helical coil targets can direct laser-driven discharge currents along wires to generate spatially uniform, quasi-static magnetic fields on the millimetre scale. Here, we present proton deflectometry across two axes of a single-loop coil ranging from 1 to 2 mm in diameter. Comparison with proton tracking simulations shows that measured magnetic fields are the result of kiloampere currents in the coil and electric charges distributed around the coil target. Using this dual-axis platform for proton deflectometry, robust measurements can be made of the evolution of magnetic fields in a capacitor coil target.
The oldest hyolithids (Cambrian Series 2, Montezuman Stage) from the Iapetan margin of Laurentia
Authors: Peel John S. , Willman Sebastian , Hageman Steven J.
Published: April 2020

The recent description of the nevadioid trilobiteBuenellus chilhoweensisWebster and Hageman, 2018 established the presence of early Cambrian Montezuman Stage (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 3) faunas in the Murray Shale of Chilhowee Mountain, Tennessee. The description recognized the oldest known age-diagnostic Cambrian trilobite from the Laurentian margin of the former Iapetus Ocean sinceBuenellusBlaker, 1988 is known otherwise only from the Sirius Passet Lagerstätte on the Innuitian margin of North Greenland. The bivalved arthropodsIsoxys chilhoweanusWalcott, 1890 andIndota tennesseensis(Resser, 1938a) have also been described from the Murray Shale, but hyolithids appear to be the dominant body fossils in terms of diversity and abundance. Although poorly preserved, the hyolithids occurring together withBuenellus chilhoweensisare described to improve understanding of the Murray Shale biota. The hyolith assemblages of the Murray Shale and Sirius Passet Lagerstätte are not closely similar, although the poor preservation of both hinders comparison.
Case study of a disability support worker’s organizational commitment
Authors: Mpofu Ngonidzashe
Published: April 2020

This case study assessed the role of job burnout as it relates to employee organisational commitment. An interview was carried out with a disability support worker and the variables she perceived as contributing to her job burnout, affecting organisational commitment or turnover intentions. The Job Demands-Resources model was used for understanding job burnout; three areas of focus were identified: role ambiguity, role overload, and perceived supervisor support.
Good, better, best? A model for Australian practitioners of forensic vocational assessment
Authors: Lee Marcia S.
Published: April 2020

Vocational assessment is the foundation of future vocational choices available to a person with a disability. In a compensable environment with potential for litigation, the assessment process becomes more complex and challenging for claimant, practitioner, and other stakeholders. The purpose of forensic (medicolegal) vocational assessment in Australia is reviewed. Comparison of ethics, qualifications, and experience of Australian forensic assessors (practitioners) and their North American counterparts points to an urgent need for an accreditation framework. This paper discusses microaccreditation as an independent model of training and credentialing of Australian forensic vocational practitioners. Credentialing the forensic vocational practitioner serves to underpin the quality and rigor of vocational assessments undertaken in a highly scrutinized legal market.