bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Manganese Doping Promotes the Synthesis of Bismuth‐based Perovskite Nanocrystals While Tuning Their Band Structures
Authors: Liu Maning , Ali‐Löytty Harri , Hiltunen Arto , Sarlin Essi , Qudsia Syeda , Smått Jan‐Henrik , Valden Mika , Vivo Paola
Published: April 2021

The doping of halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) with manganese cations (Mn2+) has recently enabled enhanced stability, novel optical properties, and modulated charge carrier dynamics of the NCs host. However, the influence of Mn doping on the synthetic routes and the band structures of the host has not yet been elucidated. Herein, it is demonstrated that Mn doping promotes a facile, safe, and low‐hazard path toward the synthesis of ternary Cs3Bi2I9 NCs by effectively inhibiting the impurity phase (i.e., CsI) resulting from the decomposition of the intermediate Cs3BiI6 product. Furthermore, it is observed that the deepening of the valence band level of the host NCs upon doping at Mn concentration levels varying from 0 to 18.5% (atomic ratio) with respect to the Bi content. As a result, the corresponding Mn‐doped NCs solar cells show a higher open‐circuit voltage and longer electron lifetime than those employing the undoped perovskite NCs. This work opens new insights on the role of Mn doping in the synthetic route and optoelectronic properties of lead‐free halide perovskite NCs for still unexplored applications.
A guidance to implement or reinforce a DevOps approach in organizations: A case study
Authors: Muñoz Mirna , Rodríguez Mario Negrete
Published: April 2021

In recent years, stakeholders expect the delivery of new features almost every day to give fast feedback about changes or issues in software projects. To achieve this, they have opted to try new practices such as those from DevOps to improve their processes. Organizations such as IBM, Facebook, Amazon, and so on are implementing a DevOps culture. However, for small organizations, which are a large majority in the software development market, it is complicated to adopt DevOps because there is no guide to follow. Organizations have experienced issues trying to implement a DevOps approach, mainly for reasons such as a lack of process, guidance, or uncoordinated activities among organizations. Moreover, some organizations have a wrong understanding of DevOps: as just a set of automation tools to achieve a continuous release. This paper presents a guide to implement or reinforce a DevOps approach. Besides, the results of a case study of implementing the guide in a small organization are included. These results have shown that the guide helped the team: to identify its gaps toward the implementation of a DevOps approach; to have a better understanding of DevOps; and to facilitate the DevOps implementation providing a set of tasks, roles, and metrics.
An approach to forecast impact of Covid‐19 using supervised machine learning model
Authors: Mohan Senthilkumar , A John , Abugabah Ahed , M Adimoolam , Kumar Singh Shubham , kashif Bashir Ali , Sanzogni Louis
Published: April 2021

The Covid‐19 pandemic has emerged as one of the most disquieting worldwide public health emergencies of the 21st century and has thrown into sharp relief, among other factors, the dire need for robust forecasting techniques for disease detection, alleviation as well as prevention. Forecasting has been one of the most powerful statistical methods employed the world over in various disciplines for detecting and analyzing trends and predicting future outcomes based on which timely and mitigating actions can be undertaken. To that end, several statistical methods and machine learning techniques have been harnessed depending upon the analysis desired and the availability of data. Historically speaking, most predictions thus arrived at have been short term and country‐specific in nature. In this work, multimodel machine learning technique is called EAMA for forecasting Covid‐19 related parameters in the long‐term both within India and on a global scale have been proposed. This proposed EAMA hybrid model is well‐suited to predictions based on past and present data. For this study, two datasets from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare of India and Worldometers, respectively, have been exploited. Using these two datasets, long‐term data predictions for both India and the world have been outlined, and observed that predicted data being very similar to real‐time values. The experiment also conducted for statewise predictions of India and the countrywise predictions across the world and it has been included in the Appendix.
ESGO/ISUOG/IOTA/ESGE Consensus Statement on preoperative diagnosis of ovarian tumors
Authors: Timmerman D. , Planchamp F. , Bourne T. , Landolfo C. , du Bois A. , Chiva L. , Cibula D. , Concin N. , Fischerova D. , Froyman W. , Gallardo G. , Lemley B. , Loft A. , Mereu L. , Morice P. , Querleu D. , Testa A. C. , Vergote I. , Vandecaveye V. , Scambia G. , Fotopoulou C.
Published: April 2021

The European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO), the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG), the International Ovarian Tumour Analysis (IOTA) group and the European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (ESGE) jointly developed clinically relevant and evidence‐based statements on the preoperative diagnosis of ovarian tumors, including imaging techniques, biomarkers and prediction models.

ESGO/ISUOG/IOTA/ESGE nominated a multidisciplinary international group, including expert practising clinicians and researchers who have demonstrated leadership and expertise in the preoperative diagnosis of ovarian tumors and management of patients with ovarian cancer (19 experts across Europe). A patient representative was also included in the group. To ensure that the statements were evidence‐based, the current literature was reviewed and critically appraised.

Preliminary statements were drafted based on the review of the relevant literature. During a conference call, the whole group discussed each preliminary statement and a first round of voting was carried out. Statements were removed when consensus among group members was not obtained. The voters had the opportunity to provide comments/suggestions with their votes. The statements were then revised accordingly. Another round of voting was carried out according to the same rules to allow the whole group to evaluate the revised version of the statements. The group achieved consensus on 18 statements.

This Consensus Statement presents these ESGO/ISUOG/IOTA/ESGE statements on the preoperative diagnosis of ovarian tumors and the assessment of carcinomatosis, together with a summary of the evidence supporting each statement.
Effect of zeolitic metal–organic framework on thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties of Ca/Zn‐stabilized polyvinyl chloride
Authors: Shariatmadari Reza , Kalaee Mohammadreza , Khajavi Ramin , Shariatinia Zahra
Published: April 2021

In order to enhance the heat stability of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), several heat stabilizing parameters such as metal content, antioxidant percentage, primary‐to‐secondary antioxidant ratios, stearic‐to‐acetylacetonate ratio, the amounts of pentaerythritol and β‐diketone were studied using oven and Congo red tests. Results indicated that the percentage contribution of the calcium‐to‐zinc molar ratio in the static heat stability was 60.78%. Due to the synergistic effects of the calcium/zinc stabilizer and the zeolitic metal–organic framework (MOF) as an effective co‐stabilizer, the heat stability was increased from 109 to 148 min. The EDX analysis was carried out to determine the mechanism of HCl gas absorption by the zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) existing in the PVC compound. Furthermore, the Ca/Zn thermal stabilizer showed poor electrical insulating properties, but the ZIF‐8 improved electrical resistivity of the PVC compounds. Volume resistivity of ZIF‐8 was significantly higher than that of the commonly used Ca/Zn stabilizers. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and tensile test of the PVC compound containing the ZIF‐8 showed increased Tg and enhanced toughness.
Development and testing of a three‐dimensional ballistics model for bat strikes on wind turbines
Authors: Prakash Shivendra , Markfort Corey D.
Published: April 2021

Bats colliding with spinning wind turbine blades result in bat mortality. Carcass surveys at individual wind turbines vary from daily to once a week and from large cleared plots to only the road and pad area. A physics‐based model is proposed to guide carcass surveys, for designing curtailment studies to detect treatment fatalities and for improving fatality estimates by accounting for unsearched areas. The model considers the effects of carcass size, weight, and drag, and it accounts for the turbine rotor size and rotation rate to simulate the trajectory of a carcass after it is struck by a wind turbine blade. A carcass parameter is defined as the ratio of drag force to body weight, which accounts for the relative effect of bat biophysical and aerodynamic characteristics. By applying restrictions on carcass survey and turbine yaw data, a limited sample of bat fatalities was obtained, and the analysis revealed that bats fall downwind of wind turbines, indicating wind drift significantly influences carcass fall trajectories. The new ballistics model includes the effect of wind drift on fall trajectory of a carcass. The model was used to investigate the sensitivity of carcass fall trajectories to variability of the input parameters. The tests showed that larger values of the carcass parameter, that is, when drag dominates, such as for small carcasses, resulted in larger downwind drift, whereas large carcasses with smaller carcass parameter values resulted in larger distances within the rotor plane. The relationship of wind speed and RPM was found to influence the carcass downwind distance more compared to the within rotor plane distance. Using carcass survey data, turbine operation data, and wind speed records, for seven bats surveyed the day after colliding with a wind turbine, modelled back‐trajectories were used to identify the likely strike location on the rotor. The model can be improved by validating the modelled trajectories with the recorded bat‐blade strikes in thermal videos. It should be noted that the findings of the present study are based on the bat fatalities that met strict criteria leading to small sample size and hence requires further evaluation for testing the robustness of the model.
High-Load Titanium Drilling Using an Accurate Robotic Machining System
Authors: Brownbill Robert , Silk Philip , Whiteside Peter , Hutabarat Windo , Burroughes Harry
Published: April 2021

Robotic drilling systems have been used in the manufacture of large aerospace components for a number of years. Systems have been developed by several systems integrators in order to accurately drill materials from CFRP to Titanium. These systems, however, have been unable to achieve large diameter holes in Titanium due to reduced structural stiffness and end effector capabilities. Typically, large holes are either drilled using large cartesian CNC-controlled machines or drilled using automated drilling units (ADU). However, there is a pull from aerospace OEMS to move away from large monolithic machines, in favour of flexible robotic system. Flexible robotic systems provide a number of benefits for large structure assembly. The following report primarily outlines drilling trials conducted on the Accurate Robotic Machining System, during which holes from 25 mm to 32 mm ID were drilled in titanium implementing an empirical test schedule. Additionally, a discussion on the benefits of drilling large diameter holes using flexible robotic platforms.
Human and Workcell Event Recognition and Its Application Areas in Industrial Assembly
Authors: Propst Matthias , Akkaladevi Sharath Chandra , Hofmann Michael , Wögerer Christian , Pichler Andreas
Published: April 2021

Assistance systems in production gain increased importance for industry, to tackle the challenges of mass customization and the demographic change. Common to these systems is the need for context awareness and understanding of the state of an assembly process. This paper presents an approach towards Event Recognition in manual assembly settings and introduces concepts to apply this key technology to the application areas of Quality Assurance, Worker Assistance, and Process Teaching.
Development of a Sensitive Winding Application Based on a Serial Robot and Integrated Torque Sensors
Authors: Kanso A. , Vette-Steinkamp M. , Müller R.
Published: April 2021

Conventional winding technologies have already been implemented in the electrical and manufacturing industries. However, the adoption of such technology remains a challenge in the rubber industry, as sensitivity perception is required. A solution to this problem can be achieved by making use of robots equipped with additional sensors. Sensitive robotic applications require accurate force/torque data acquisition. The integration of accurate force/torque sensors is unsatisfactory, moreover a novel method for the processing of the measured data is a requisite. In this paper, a concept for the development of a sensitive winding application based on a serial sensitive robot is presented.
Anomalous dimensions of effective theories from partial waves
Authors: Baratella Pietro , Fernandez Clara , von Harling Benedict , Pomarol Alex
Published: April 2021

Abstract

On-shell amplitude methods have proven to be extremely efficient for calculating anomalous dimensions. We further elaborate on these methods to show that, by the use of an angular momentum decomposition, the one-loop anomalous dimensions can be reduced to essentially a sum of products of partial waves. We apply this to the SM EFT, and show how certain classes of anomalous dimensions have their origin in the same partial-wave coefficients. We also use our result to obtain a generic formula for the one-loop anomalous dimensions of nonlinear sigma models at any order in the energy expansion, and apply our method to gravity, where it proves to be very advantageous even in the presence of IR divergencies.
Two-loop analysis of classically scale-invariant models with extended Higgs sectors
Authors: Braathen Johannes , Kanemura Shinya , Shimoda Makoto
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We present the first explicit calculation of leading two-loop corrections to the Higgs trilinear coupling λhhh in models with classical scale invariance (CSI), using the effective-potential approximation. Furthermore, we also study — for the first time at two loops — the relation that appears between the masses of all states in CSI theories, due to the requirement of reproducing correctly the 125-GeV Higgs-boson mass. In addition to obtaining analytic results for general CSI models, we consider two particular examples of Beyond-the-Standard-Model theories with extended Higgs sectors, namely an N-scalar model (endowed with a global O(N) symmetry) and a CSI version of the Two-Higgs-Doublet Model, and we perform detailed numerical studies of these scenarios. While at one loop the value of the Higgs trilinear coupling is identical in all CSI models, and deviates by approximately 82% from the (one-loop) SM prediction, we find that the inclusion of two- loop corrections lifts this universality and allows distinguishing different BSM scenarios with CSI. Taking into account constraints from perturbative unitarity and the relation among masses, we find for both types of scenarios we consider that at two loops λhhh deviates from its SM prediction by 100 ± 10% — i.e. a quite significant further deviation with respect to the one-loop result of ∼ 82%.
Five-brane current algebras in type II string theories
Authors: Hatsuda Machiko , Sasaki Shin , Yata Masaya
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We study the current algebras of the NS5-branes, the Kaluza-Klein (KK) five-branes and the exotic $$ {5}_2^2 $$

5
2
2

-branes in type IIA/IIB superstring theories. Their worldvolume theories are governed by the six-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= (2, 0) tensor and the $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= (1, 1) vector multiplets. We show that the current algebras are determined through the S- and T-dualities. The algebras of the $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= (2, 0) theories are characterized by the Dirac bracket caused by the self-dual gauge field in the five-brane worldvolumes, while those of the $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= (1, 1) theories are given by the Poisson bracket. By the use of these algebras, we examine extended spaces in terms of tensor coordinates which are the representation of ten-dimensional supersymmetry. We also examine the transition rules of the currents in the type IIA/IIB supersymmetry algebras in ten dimensions. Based on the algebras, we write down the section conditions in the extended spaces and gauge transformations of the supergravity fields.
Simultaneous Small Fractional Parts of Polynomials
Authors: Maynard James
Published: April 2021

Let $$f_1,\dots ,f_k\in \mathbb {R}[X]$$

f
1

,
⋯
,

f
k

∈
R

[
X
]

be polynomials of degree at most d with $$f_1(0)=\dots =f_k(0)=0$$

f
1

(
0
)

=
⋯
=

f
k

(
0
)

=
0

. We show that there is an $$n<x$$

n
<
x

such that $$\Vert f_i(n)\Vert _{\mathbb {R}/\mathbb {Z}}\ll x^{c/k}$$

‖

f
i

(
n
)

‖

R
/
Z

≪

x

c
/
k

for all $$1\le i\le k$$

1
≤
i
≤
k

for some constant $$c=c(d)$$

c
=
c
(
d
)

depending only on d. This is essentially optimal in the k-aspect, and improves on earlier results of Schmidt who showed the same result with $$c/k^2$$

c
/

k
2

in place of c/k.
A parsimonious approach for large-scale tracer test interpretation
Authors: Bailly-Comte Vincent , Pistre Séverin
Published: April 2021

Dye tracing is an efficient method for spring watershed delineation, but is also used in surface waters to assess pollution migration over several kilometers. The aim of this study is to develop a simple and parsimonious approach that accounts for a linear relationship between dispersivity and scale that could be used for the simulation of large-scale transport processes in aquifers. The analysis of 583 tracer recoveries is used to validate an inverse relationship between arrival time and peak concentration, which is shown to be a consequence of the linear relationship between dispersivity and scale. These results show that the tracer displacement through a given tracing system can be characterized at a large scale by a constant Peclet number. This interpretation is used to propose a new approach for tracer test design based on the analytical expression of the peak/time factor. It is also used for Peclet number assessment and simulation of the whole tracer residence-time distribution using a new method based on the ratio between the mode of the residence time distribution (hmod) and the corresponding time from injection (tmod), which is called the hmod/tmod method. This methodology is applied to two tracer tests carried out in a karst aquifer over 13 km between the same injection and detection points under distinct hydrological conditions. These results found practical applications in generalizing tracer test results to various flow conditions, or guiding the parameterization of physically-based vulnerability mapping methods.
Different latencies of edge detection cause the fluttering-heart illusion
Authors: Suzuki Masahiro , Yanaka Kazuhisa
Published: April 2021

We studied the mechanism causing the fluttering-heart illusion in which the motion of an inner figure appears unsynchronized compared with that of the outer figure surrounding it although the motion of both figures is objectively synchronized in reality. Experiment 1 examined the effect of edges’ luminance contrasts. The illusion was measured under conditions where the luminance contrasts of the outer and inner figures’ edges were varied. The results indicated that the illusion occurred when the outer figure’s edge had a high luminance contrast and the inner figure’s edge had a low luminance contrast and that the illusion was reversed when the outer figure’s edge had a low luminance contrast and the inner figure’s edge had a high luminance contrast. Experiment 2 examined the effect of the first- and second-order edges. The illusion was measured under conditions where the first- and second-order edges coexisted or only the first-order edges existed. The results indicated that the illusion occurred when the outer figure had the first-order edge and the inner figure had the second-order edge, and that the illusion was reversed when the outer figure had the second-order edge and the inner figure had the first-order edge. These findings supported the hypothesis that the different latencies of edge detection cause the fluttering-heart illusion.
Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis: diagnosis and monitoring
Authors: Meca-Lallana Virginia , Gascón-Giménez Francisco , Ginestal-López Ricardo C. , Higueras Yolanda , Téllez-Lara Nieves , Carreres-Polo Joan , Eichau-Madueño Sara , Romero-Imbroda Jesús , Vidal-Jordana Ángela , Pérez-Miralles Francisco
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Cognitive impairment (CI) has a prevalence of 45–70% in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), producing a negative impact on their quality of life, personal life, and work. Early detection of CI has become an important aspect to be considered for an adequate follow-up, to optimize social adaptation and to implement specific cognitive rehabilitation strategies. The aim of this work is to propose a suitable cognitive evaluation of patients with MS based on available and efficient tools for diagnosis and monitoring purposes well supported by literature review and clinical experience.

Methods

A multidisciplinary panel of professionals from the field of neurology, neuropsychology, and neuroimaging performed a literature review of the topic of cognitive impairment assessment. This was combined and completed with their clinical experience to produce a set of recommendations.

Results

Some limitations to cognitive evaluation are described: shortage of time and resources during the neurology consultation, scarceness or absence of specialized professionals’ availability, importance of tests adaptation, and doubts about its use to define therapeutic efficiency. We recommend a baseline and annual screening evaluation, and we suggest a baseline and periodic neuropsychological assessment. The latter ought to change to a recommendation with the presence of either positive screening test, or subjective to cognitive complaints, screening-test results and patient or family report mismatch, or in specific social/work situations.

Conclusions

Cognitive evaluation should be performed on all patients diagnosed with MS and throughout follow-up. It is necessary to support the creation of multidisciplinary MS teams to optimize the evaluation and follow-up of MS patients.
Mutation testing with hyperproperties
Authors: Fellner Andreas , Tabaei Befrouei Mitra , Weissenbacher Georg
Published: April 2021

We present a new method for model-based mutation-driven test case generation. Mutants are generated by making small syntactical modifications to the model or source code of the system under test. A test case kills a mutant if the behavior of the mutant deviates from the original system when running the test. In this work, we use hyperproperties—which allow to express relations between multiple executions—to formalize different notions ofkillingfor both deterministic as well as non-deterministic models. The resulting hyperproperties are universal in the sense that they apply to arbitrary reactive models and mutants. Moreover, an off-the-shelf model checking tool for hyperproperties can be used to generate test cases. Furthermore, we propose solutions to overcome the limitations of current model checking tools via a model transformation and a bounded SMT encoding. We evaluate our approach on a number of models expressed in two different modeling languages by generating tests using a state-of-the-art mutation testing tool.
The feasibility of a noise elimination method using continuous wave response of therapeutic ultrasound signals for ultrasonic monitoring of high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment
Authors: Takagi Ryo , Washio Toshikatsu , Koseki Yoshihiko
Published: April 2021

Purpose

In this study, the robustness and feasibility of a noise elimination method using continuous wave response of therapeutic ultrasound signals were investigated when tissue samples were moved to simulate the respiration-induced movements of the different organs during actual high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment. In addition to that, the failure conditions of the proposed algorithm were also investigated.

Methods

The proposed method was applied to cases where tissue samples were moved along both the lateral and axial directions of the HIFU transducer to simulate respiration-induced motions during HIFU treatment, and the noise reduction level was investigated. In this experiment, the speed of movement was increased from 10 to 40 mm/s to simulate the actual movement of the tissue during HIFU exposure, with the intensity and driving frequency of HIFU set to 1.0–5.0 kW/cm2 and 1.67 MHz, respectively. To investigate the failure conditions of the proposed algorithm, the proposed method was applied with the HIFU focus located at the boundary between the phantom and water to easily cause cavitation bubbles. The intensity of HIFU was set to 10 kW/cm2.

Results

Almost all HIFU noise was constantly able to be eliminated using the proposed method when the phantom was moved along the lateral and axial directions during HIFU exposure. The noise reduction level (PRL in this study) at an intensity of 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 kW/cm2 was in the range of 28–32, 38–40, and 42–45 dB, respectively. On the other hand, HIFU noise was not basically eliminated during HIFU exposure after applying the proposed method in the case of cavitation generation at the HIFU focus.

Conclusions

The proposed method can be applicable even if homogeneous tissues or organs move axially or laterally to the direction of HIFU exposure because of breathing. A condition under which the proposed algorithm failed was when instantaneous tissue changes such as cavitation bubble generation occurred in the tissue, at which time the reflected continuous wave response became less steady.
Social Determination of HIV: Women’s Relationship Work in the Context of Mass Incarceration and Housing Vulnerability
Authors: Blankenship Kim M. , Rosenberg Alana , Keene Danya E. , Dawson Akiv J. , Groves Allison K. , Schlesinger Penelope
Published: April 2021

We contrast a typical “social determinants of health” framing with a more dynamic and complex “social determination of health” framing to analyze HIV-related sexual risk among women in low-income, segregated neighborhoods in New Haven, CT. Using an abductive approach, we analyze repeated, longitudinal qualitative interviews conducted over a 2-year period with a sample of 14 HIV-negative women who engaged in sex with men during the study period. Three case studies are presented to demonstrate how behaviors and sexual practices typically described as HIV “risks” can be understood as part of the work of establishing and maintaining monogamous committed relationships, which we call “relationship work,” shaped in a context characterized by housing vulnerabilities and the many manifestations of mass incarceration and the surveillance state. We conclude by suggesting that for these women, their relationship work is the work of HIV prevention and life in low-income segregated neighborhoods is their HIV-related risk.
The iBerry study: a longitudinal cohort study of adolescents at high risk of psychopathology
Authors: Grootendorst-van Mil Nina H. , Bouter Diandra C. , Hoogendijk Witte J. G. , van Jaarsveld Stefanie F. L. M. , Tiemeier Henning , Mulder Cornelis L. , Roza Sabine J.
Published: April 2021

The iBerry study is a population-based cohort study designed to investigate the transition from subclinical symptoms to a psychiatric disorder. Adolescents were selected based on their self-reported emotional and/or behavioral problems assessed by completing the strengths and difficulties questionnaire-youth (SDQ-Y) in their first year of high school. A total of 16,736 SDQ-Y questionnaires completed in the academic years 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 by students in the greater Rotterdam area in the Netherlands were screened. A high-risk group of adolescents was then selected based on the 15% highest-scoring adolescents, and a low-risk group was randomly selected from the 85% lowest-scoring adolescents, with a 2.5:1 ratio between the number of high-risk and low-risk adolescents. These adolescents were invited to come with one parent for a baseline visit consisting of interviews, questionnaires, neuropsychological tests, and biological measurements to assess determinants of psychopathology. A total of 1022 high-risk and low-risk adolescents (mean age at the first visit: 15.0 years) enrolled in the study. The goal of the iBerry study is to follow these adolescents for a 10-year period in order to monitor any changes in their symptoms. Here, we present the study design, response rate, inclusion criteria, and the characteristics of the cohort; in addition, we discuss possible selection effects. We report that the oversampling procedure was successful at selecting a cohort of adolescents with a high rate of psychiatric problems based on comprehensive multi-informant measurements. The future results obtained from the iBerry Study will provide new insights into the way in which the mental health of high-risk adolescents changes as they transition to adulthood. These findings will therefore facilitate the development of strategies designed to optimize mental healthcare and prevent psychopathology.
The Ethics of Touch and the Importance of Nonhuman Relationships in Animal Agriculture
Authors: Cooke Steve
Published: April 2021

Animal agriculture predominantly involves farming social animals. At the same time, the nature of agriculture requires severely disrupting, eliminating, and controlling the relationships that matter to those animals, resulting in harm and unhappiness for them. These disruptions harm animals, both physically and psychologically. Stressed animals are also bad for farmers because stressed animals are less safe to handle, produce less, get sick more, and produce poorer quality meat. As a result, considerable efforts have gone into developing stress-reduction methods. Many of these attempt to replicate behaviours or physiological responses that develop or constitute bonding between animals. In other words, humans try to mitigate or ameliorate the damage done by preventing and undermining intraspecies relationships. In doing so, the wrong of relational harms is compounded by an instrumentalisation of trust and care. The techniques used are emblematic of the welfarist approach to animal ethics. Using the example of gentle touching in the farming of cows for beef and dairy, the paper highlights two types of wrong. First, a wrong done in the form of relational harms, and second, a wrong done by instrumentalising relationships of care and trust. Relational harms are done to nonhuman animals, whilst instrumentalisation of care and trust indicates an insensitivity to morally salient features of the situation and a potential character flaw in the agents that carry it out.
Polyurethane derived from castor oil monoacylglyceride (Ricinus communis) for bone defects reconstruction: characterization and in vivo testing
Authors: de Morais João Pedro Pereira , Pacheco Isnayra Kerolaynne Carneiro , Filho Antonio Luiz Martins Maia , Ferreira Daniel Cabral Leão , Viana Felipe José Costa , da Silva Reis Fernando , de Matos José Milton Elias , dos Santos Rizzo Marcia , Fialho Ana Cristina Vasconcelos
Published: April 2021

Biomaterials used in tissue regeneration processes represent a promising option for the versatility of its physical and chemical characteristics, allowing for assisting or speeding up the repair process stages. This research has characterized a polyurethane produced from castor oil monoacylglyceride (Ricinus communis L) and tested its effect on reconstructing bone defects in rat calvaria, comparing it with commercial castor oil polyurethane. The characterizations of the synthesized polyurethane have been performed by spectroscopy in the infrared region with Fourier transform (FTIR); thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG); X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). For the in vivo test, 24 animals have been used, divided into 3 groups: untreated group (UG); control group treated with Poliquil® castor polyurethane (PCP) and another group treated with castor polyurethane from the Federal University of Piauí - UFPI (CPU). Sixteen weeks after surgery, samples of the defects were collected for histological and histomorphometric analysis. FTIR analysis has shown the formation of monoacylglyceride and polyurethane. TG and DTG have indicated thermal stability of around 125 °C. XRD has determined the semi-crystallinity of the material. The polyurethane SEM has shown a smooth morphology with areas of recesses. Histological and histomorphometric analyzes have indicated that neither CPU nor PCP induced a significant inflammatory process, and CPU has shown, statistically, better performance in bone formation. The data obtained shows that CPU can be used in the future for bone reconstruction in the medical field.
Biomechanical evaluation of temporary epiphysiodesis at the femoral epiphysis using established devices from clinical practice
Authors: Struwe Charlotte , Walter Sebastian G. , Druschel Claudia , Bornemann Rahel , Ploeger Milena , Koob Sebastian , Placzek Richard
Published: April 2021

The aim of this study is to compare biomechanical features of different devices used in clinical routine for temporary epiphysiodesis (eight-Plate® and FlexTackTM). The tested implants were divided into four different groups (eight-Plate® vs. FlexTackTM for lateral and anterior implantation) á 10 samples for testing implanted eight-Plate® vs. FlexTackTM in fresh frozen pig femora for maximum load forces (Fmax) and axial physis distance until implant failure (lmax). A servo hydraulic testing machine (858 Mini Bionix 2) was used to exert and measure reproducible forces. Statistical analyses tested for normal distribution and significant (p < 0.05) differences in primary outcome parameters. There were no significant differences between the eight-Plate® lateral group and the FlexTackTM lateral group for neither Fmax (p = 0.46) nor lmax (p = 0.65). There was a significant higher Fmax (p < 0.001) and lmax (p = 0.001) measured in the eight-Plate® group compared to the FlexTackTM group when implanted anteriorly. In anterior temporary ephiphysiodesis, eight-Plate® demonstrated superior biomechanical stability. At this stage of research, there is no clear advantage of either implant and the choice remains within the individual preference of the surgeon.
Attachment and the Development of Depressive Symptoms in Adolescence: The Role of Regulating Positive and Negative Affect
Authors: Verhees Martine W. F. T. , Finet Chloë , Vandesande Sien , Bastin Margot , Bijttebier Patricia , Bodner Nadja , Van Aswegen Tanya , Van de Walle Magali , Bosmans Guy
Published: April 2021

Although widely accepted, attachment theory’s hypothesis that insecure attachment is associated with the development of depressive symptoms through emotion regulation strategies has never been longitudinally tested in adolescence. Additionally, previous research only focused on strategies for regulating negative affect, whereas strategies for regulating positive affect may also serve as a mechanism linking insecure attachment to depressive symptoms. This study aimed to fill these research gaps by testing whether the association between attachment and change in depressive symptoms over time is explained by strategies for regulating negative and positive affect in adolescence. Adolescents (N = 1706; 53% girls; Mage = 12.78 years, SDage = 1.54 at Time 1) were tested three times, with a 1-year interval between measurement times. They reported on their attachment anxiety and avoidance at Time 1, depressive symptoms at Times 1 and 3, and regulation of negative affect (brooding and dampening) and positive affect (focusing and reflection) at Time 2. The results from multiple mediation analyses showed that more anxiously attached adolescents developed more depressive symptoms via increased brooding and dampening. More avoidantly attached adolescents developed more depressive symptoms via decreased focusing. These findings provide longitudinal support for attachment theory’s emotion regulation hypothesis, and show that the regulation of both negative and positive affect is important.
The relative abundance of wheat Rubisco activase isoforms is post-transcriptionally regulated
Authors: Perdomo Juan Alejandro , Buchner Peter , Carmo-Silva Elizabete
Published: April 2021

Diurnal rhythms and light availability affect transcription–translation feedback loops that regulate the synthesis of photosynthetic proteins. The CO2-fixing enzyme Rubisco is the most abundant protein in the leaves of major crop species and its activity depends on interaction with the molecular chaperone Rubisco activase (Rca). InTriticum aestivumL. (wheat), three Rca isoforms are present that differ in their regulatory properties. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the relative abundance of the redox-sensitive and redox-insensitive Rca isoforms could be differentially regulated throughout light–dark diel cycle in wheat. WhileTaRca1-βexpression was consistently negligible throughout the day, transcript levels of bothTaRca2-βandTaRca2-αwere higher and increased at the start of the day, with peak levels occurring at the middle of the photoperiod. Abundance of TaRca-β protein was maximal 1.5 h after the peak inTaRca2-βexpression, but the abundance of TaRca-α remained constant during the entire photoperiod. The redox-sensitive TaRca-α isoform was less abundant, representing 85% of the redox-insensitive TaRca-β at the transcript level and 12.5% at the protein level. Expression of Rubisco large and small subunit genes did not show a consistent pattern throughout the diel cycle, but the abundance of Rubisco decreased by up to 20% during the dark period in fully expanded wheat leaves. These results, combined with a lack of correlation between transcript and protein abundance for both Rca isoforms and Rubisco throughout the entire diel cycle, suggest that the abundance of these photosynthetic enzymes is post-transcriptionally regulated.
On L-functions of modular elliptic curves and certain K3 surfaces
Authors: Amir Malik , Hong Letong
Published: April 2021

Inspired by Lehmer’s conjecture on the non-vanishing of the Ramanujan $$\tau $$
τ
-function, one may ask whether an odd integer $$\alpha $$
α
can be equal to $$\tau (n)$$

τ
(
n
)

or any coefficient of a newform f(z). Balakrishnan, Craig, Ono and Tsai used the theory of Lucas sequences and Diophantine analysis to characterize non-admissible values of newforms of even weight $$k\ge 4$$

k
≥
4

. We use these methods for weight 2 and 3 newforms and apply our results to L-functions of modular elliptic curves and certain K3 surfaces with Picard number $$\ge 19$$

≥
19

. In particular, for the complete list of weight 3 newforms $$f_\lambda (z)=\sum a_\lambda (n)q^n$$

f
λ

(
z
)

=
∑

a
λ

(
n
)

q
n

that are $$\eta $$
η
-products, and for $$N_\lambda $$

N
λ

the conductor of some elliptic curve $$E_\lambda $$

E
λ

, we show that if $$|a_\lambda (n)|<100$$

|

a
λ

(
n
)

|
<
100

is odd with $$n>1$$

n
>
1

and $$(n,2N_\lambda )=1$$

(
n
,
2

N
λ

)
=
1

, then $$\begin{aligned} a_\lambda (n) \in&\{-5,9,\pm 11,25, \pm 41, \pm 43, -45,\pm 47,49, \pm 53,55, \pm 59, \pm 61,\\&\pm 67, -69,\pm 71,\pm 73,75, \pm 79,\pm 81, \pm 83, \pm 89,\pm 93 \pm 97, 99\}. \end{aligned}$$

a
λ

(
n
)

∈

{
-
5
,
9
,
±
11
,
25
,
±
41
,
±
43
,
-
45
,
±
47
,
49
,
±
53
,
55
,
±
59
,
±
61
,

±
67
,
-
69
,
±
71
,
±
73
,
75
,
±
79
,
±
81
,
±
83
,
±
89
,
±
93
±
97
,
99
}
.

Assuming the Generalized Riemann Hypothesis, we can rule out a few more possibilities leaving $$\begin{aligned} a_\lambda (n) \in \{-5,9,\pm 11,25,-45,49,55,-69,75,\pm 81,\pm 93, 99\}. \end{aligned}$$

a
λ

(
n
)

∈

{
-
5
,
9
,
±
11
,
25
,
-
45
,
49
,
55
,
-
69
,
75
,
±
81
,
±
93
,
99
}

.
Disability and work intensity in Italian households
Authors: Calegari Elena , Fabrizi Enrico , Mussida Chiara
Published: April 2021

The 2030 Agenda of the United Nations clearly sets the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the labour market as a main goal. However, especially in care welfare systems characterized by a low level of social services, disability not only impacts the labour market participation of disabled people themselves but may also affect the labour opportunities of other members of their household. Using EU-SILC data to compute individual work intensity-as a better measure of the actual level of labour attainment-this paper aims to disentangle direct and indirect correlations between disability and labour market participation in Italian households. In confirming the negative direct correlation between disability and labour market participation, the results also show a negative indirect correlation that depends on the family relationship between the disabled person and household members.
Signalling entrepreneurs’ credibility and project quality for crowdfunding success: cases from the Kickstarter and Indiegogo environments
Authors: Huang Shuangfa , Pickernell David , Battisti Martina , Nguyen Thang
Published: April 2021

In recent years, entrepreneurs have increasingly turned to crowdfunding, a new form of entrepreneurial finance, to fund projects. Whilst research has shown that signals originating from the entrepreneur and project can affect the outcome of crowdfunding, how different signals work together under different signalling environments remains underexplored. Drawing on signalling theory, we examine how signals of entrepreneurs’ credibility (success, failure, backer and industry experience) and project quality (preparedness and third-party endorsements) produce crowdfunding success in different signalling environments. We collected a unique dataset with matched projects listed on both Kickstarter and Indiegogo, but with different funding models, to represent two distinct signalling environments. Results based on qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) identify two distinct signalling patterns that show entrepreneur’s credibility and project quality signals can complement each other to produce crowdfunding success. In an environment with less uncertainty, entrepreneur’s credibility in terms of crowdfunding experience can also compensate absent project quality to produce crowdfunding success. In an environment with higher uncertainty, entrepreneur’s credibility and project quality need to be both present to establish the necessary legitimacy for crowdfunding to be successful. Furthermore, by integrating positive (i.e. success) and negative (i.e. failure) signals, we demonstrate how signal incongruence can enhance crowdfunding success.

Plain English Summary Failure experience is an important signal in achieving crowdfunding success, but its effectiveness depends on other signals as well as the signalling environment. Our study shows how crowdfunding success can be achieved in multiple ways and that the path to success depends on the funding model of the platform used. For entrepreneurs to demonstrate credibility, backer experience and project preparedness are important. Both are under the control of the entrepreneur and well worth considering investing effort into. Importantly, the study also shows that demonstrating failure experience is important in achieving crowdfunding success. Failure experience can either replace the lack of prior success experience by demonstrating a track record of learning or it can enhance prior success experience by producing a more realistic picture of the entrepreneurs. Thus, the study offers practical implications for entrepreneurs on how to use different signals to increase the likelihood of success in reward-based crowdfunding.
The Form of Life of Sanctity in Music Beyond Hagiography: The Case of John Coltrane and His “Ascension”
Authors: Marino Gabriele
Published: April 2021

The paper investigates the cultural unit of “sanctity” in the light of the notion of “form of life”, in order to show how jazz master John Coltrane (1926–1967) pursued sanctity as a regulative model with regards both to personhood and musicianship, so as to translate his existential quest into music. Firstly, the paper briefly summarizes: what we mean today by sanctity (focusing on Catholicism and distinguishing between a traditional view and a contemporary, post-Conciliar one); what are the relationships interweaving music and sanctity (the latter mainly providing the former with imagery and narrative—e.g. hagiographic—model); what we mean by form of life—a notion (Lebensform) brought into philosophical discourse by Ludwig Wittgenstein—in semiotic terms (Jacques Fontanille) and why we can apply it to sanctity. Afterwards, the paper addresses Coltrane’s musical career, relying both on hagiographic discourse built around him (e.g. John Scheinfeld’s documentary Chasing Trane, 2016) and his discography, with special focus on three game-changers among his albums: Giant Steps (1960), A Love Supreme (1965), and Ascension (1967, published posthumously). Coltrane headed a twofold conversion: he abandoned his native Methodist faith to embrace a personal form of syncretic pantheism; he abandoned the language of traditional jazz to embrace the avant-garde technique of modal composition (in the line of George Russell, Bill Evans, Miles Davis) and the once despised free jazz (Ornette Coleman). Not only Coltrane wanted to be a saint, not only was he regarded as such to the extent that a “St. John William Coltrane Church” was established in San Francisco (by 1969, with official recognition in 1982), but he tried to be one through music; namely, by conveying his spiritual journey via sonic means: proposing a musical catechism (Giant Steps), a musical mass (A Love Supreme), and his own mystique (Ascension). Consistently with the process of selection any saintly figure—and mystiques especially—undergoes in order to be canonized stricto sensu, only some tokens within Coltrane’s body of work were included in the canon (both of the musical and religious kind), while his later works were left out due to their radicalism.
Can Financial Economics Cure Cancer?
Authors: Lo Andrew W.
Published: April 2021

Funding for early-stage biomedical innovation has become more difficult to secure at the same time that medical breakthroughs seem to be occurring at ever increasing rates. One explanation for this counterintuitive trend is that increasing scientific knowledge can actually lead to greater economic risk for investors in the life sciences. While the Human Genome Project, high-throughput screening, genetic biomarkers, immunotherapies, and gene therapies have made a tremendously positive impact on biomedical research and, consequently, patient lives, they have also increased the cost and complexity of the drug development process, causing many investors to shift their assets to more attractive investment opportunities. This suggests that new business models and financing strategies can be used to reduce the risk and increase the attractiveness of biomedical innovation so as to bring new and better therapies to patients faster.