bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ruthenium Nanoparticles Supported on Reduced Graphene Oxide: Efficient Catalyst for the Catalytic Reduction of Cr(VI) in the Presence of Amine‐Boranes
Authors: Yurderi Mehmet , Bulut Ahmet , Kanberoglu Gulsah Saydan , Kaya Murat , Kanbur Yasin , Zahmakiran Mehmet
Published: June 2020

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a toxic, mutagen and carcinogen contaminant exist in surface and groundwater, while its reduced form trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) is known as an essential element to normal carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism in nature. Addressed herein, for the first time, ruthenium nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide (Ru@rGO) catalyze the reduction of aqueous Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in the presence of amine‐boranes; ammonia‐borane (AB; NH3BH3), methylamine‐borane (MeAB; CH3NH2BH3), dimethylamine‐borane (DMAB; (CH3)2NHBH3) as reducing agents under mild conditions (at room temperature and under air). Ru@rGO catalyst was reproducibly fabricated through a double‐solvent method followed by wet‐chemical reduction and characterized by using various spectroscopic and visualization techniques, which showed that the formation of well‐dispersed and highly crystalline ruthenium(0) nanoparticles with a mean particle size of 2.7 ± 0.9 nm on the surface of rGO. The catalytic performance of Ru@rGO was investigated in terms of activity and stability in the ammonia‐borane assisted reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III), and the sum of the results gained from these catalytic tests revealed that Ru@rGO acts as both active (TOF=7.6 mol Cr2O72−/mol Ru.min) and stable (80% of its initial activity at 90% conversion at 5th reuse) heterogeneous catalyst in this significant catalytic transformation. This study also reports kinetic studies for Ru@rGO catalyzed Cr(VI) reduction in the presence of ammonia‐borane depending on ruthenium ([Ru]), ammonia‐borane ([AB]) concentrations and temperature to shed some light on the nature of the catalytic reaction and activation parameters.
Microwave‐Assisted Regioselective Friedel–Crafts Arylation by BF3 ⋅ OEt2: A Facile Synthetic Access to 3‐Substituted‐3‐Propargyl Oxindole Scaffolds
Authors: Laxmikeshav Kritika , Sakla Akash P. , Rasane Sai , John Stephy Elza , Shankaraiah Nagula
Published: June 2020

A facile microwave‐assisted synthetic strategy for the construction of C–C bond via regioselective Friedel–Crafts arylation of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐phenylethynyl oxindoles with different electron‐rich nucleophiles such as phenols, sulphonamides, anisole, benzofuran, and benzothiophene has been established by employing BF3 ⋅ OEt2 as catalyst. The current protocol attributes mild conditions, cost‐effective, transition‐metal free synthesis, wide substrate scope and moderate to good yields. Moreover, this method is amenable for the generation of a library of densely substituted 3‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐3‐(phenylethynyl) oxindoles and 3‐(4‐benzenesulphonamide)‐3‐(phenylethynyl) oxindoles as privileged scaffolds.
Purification of 5‐Hydroxymethyl Furfural from Side Products of Fructose Dehydration Reaction in a Green Solvent
Authors: Pawar Hitesh S.
Published: June 2020

5‐Hydroxymethyl furfural (5‐HMF) is a most promising biogenic platform molecule with its proven potential for the production of spectrum of fuel and chemical products. Spectrum of heterogeneous catalysts have been reported for converting C6 sugars into 5‐HMF but the separation of side products of fructose dehydration reaction is still a major challenge in the way of its commercialization. The present work reveled adsorptive separation and purification of 5‐HMF from side products such as humins, soluble polymers, degradation, and condensation products, etc. Quaternary ammonium chloride functionalized macroporous resin was employed as an adsorbent at ambient conditions by using isopropyl alcohol (IPA) as a green and low boiling point (LBP) solvent. The use of single adsorbent, solvent and ambient condition provides >98 % assay purity of 5‐HMF.
D‐Fructose‐Derived Acetonide as a Green Neutral Organocatalyst for Proficient One‐Pot and Three‐Component Preparation of 1,3‐Benzoxazine Monomers
Authors: Yıldırım Ayhan , Göker Mustafa
Published: June 2020

A series of 1,3‐benzoxazine monomers were successfully synthesized by simple one‐pot and three‐component condensation of phenol, paraformaldehyde and varying types of primary aliphatic and aromatic amines in a molar ratio of 1 : 2 : 1 and in the presence of non‐acidic 2,3;4,5‐di‐O‐isopropylidene‐β‐D‐fructopyranose as an effective green carbohydrate based organocatalyst obtained from renewable feedstock. This multicomponent method provides a convenient fast approach for the construction of valuable 1,3‐benzoxazine monomers (8 examples) with moderate to excellent yields. The chemical structures of the synthesized benzoxazines were confirmed by FTIR,1H NMR,13C NMR spectra and elemental analysis.
Isolation of Leptospira serovar Pomona from a crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata, L., 1758)
Authors: Cilia Giovanni , Bertelloni Fabrizio , Coppola Francesca , Turchi Barbara , Biliotti Claudia , Poli Alessandro , Parisi Francesca , Felicioli Antonio , Cerri Domenico , Fratini Filippo
Published: June 2020

Pathogenic Leptospira is widespread in rodents, the most studied reservoir and the main hosts involved in its transmission. In Italy, among rodents, Hystrix cristata (crested porcupine) is the largest species and it is distributed all over the country. In this paper, the isolation and characterization of pathogenic Leptospira spp. from the kidney of H. cristata is reported for the first time. During Autumn 2018, Leptospira detection by real‐time PCR and isolation were performed from kidneys of two died female porcupines (an adult and a porcupette). Only for porcupette kidney sample, real‐time PCR for pathogenic Leptospira tested positive. The isolated strain was identified as Leptospira interrogans serogroup Pomona serovar Pomona, using the three schemes of multilocus sequence typing. The results show that H. cristata could be a Leptospira host. The infection of serovars Pomona could be related to the habitat shared with wild boar, a typical reservoir host for this serovar.
Pentanuclear Nickel(II) Complex with two Vertex‐Shared Triaminoguanidine Fragments and Symmetric Capping Ligand
Authors: Böhme Michael , Ion Adrian E. , Kintzel Benjamin , Buchholz Axel , Görls Helmar , Plass Winfried
Published: June 2020

The pentanuclear nickel(II) complex [Ni5(saltagBr)2(tptz)4] (Ni5) with the tritopic triaminoguanidine‐derived Schiff‐base ligand H5saltagBr (1,2,3‐tris[(5‐bromosalicylidene)amino]guanidine) and tptz (2,4,6‐tris(2‐pyridyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine) as capping ligands is reported. Ni5 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with the central nickel(II) ion linking two triangular arrangements of nickel(II) ions supported by two tritopic triaminoguanidine ligands. The octahedral coordination of the four peripheral nickel(II) ions is complemented by capping tridentate tptz ligands. By variation of the synthesis also the corresponding trinuclear nickel(II) complex [Ni3(saltagBr)(tptz)3]NO3 (Ni3) is accessible. Magnetic measurements for Ni3 and Ni5 reveal a singlet ground state with antiferromagnetic coupling between the nickel(II) ions, which in the case of Ni5 can only be simulated assuming a two‐J exchange coupled spin topology. For both complexes significant zero‐field splitting for the nickel(II) ions is evident from the measured magnetic data, which can be verified by theoretical studies revealing a magnetic anisotropy with strong rhombic distortion due to the presence of the tptz co‐ligands in both compounds.
On the influence of external stochastic excitation on linear oscillators with subcritical self‐excitation and gyroscopic influence with application to brake squeal
Authors: Nguyen‐Thai M.‐T. , Wulff P. , Gräbner N. , von Wagner U.
Published: June 2020

In a linear analysis for brake squeal, an unwanted type of sound in the kHz‐range produced during the braking process of vehicles, usually only the stability of the system is examined. However, with the appearance of additional stochastic excitation, the vibration of a linear system with subcritical self‐excitation, i.e. having self‐excitation but due to damping still an asymptotically stable trivial solution, may be large enough to produce a squeal sound. In this paper, this hypothesis of stochastically reinforced self‐excitation is supported by a case study on a wobbling disk model for brake squeal, which includes both circulatory and gyroscopic forces. For this example, the Fokker‐Planck equation is solved and numerical integrations are performed. A short parameter study is carried out to examine the effect of damping and gyroscopic terms on these stochastically reinforced self‐excitation. The results suggest that this possibility should be considered additionally to classical explanations of brake squeal.
Two-loop renormalization of the matter superfields and finiteness of $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 1 supersymmetric gauge theories regularized by higher derivatives
Authors: Kazantsev A. E. , Stepanyantz K. V.
Published: June 2020

Abstract

The two-loop anomalous dimension of the chiral matter superfields is calculated for a general

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 1 supersymmetric gauge theory regularized by higher covariant derivatives. We obtain both the anomalous dimension defined in terms of the bare couplings, and the one defined in terms of the renormalized couplings for an arbitrary renormalization prescription. For the one-loop finite theories we find a simple relation between the higher derivative regulators under which the anomalous dimension defined in terms of the bare couplings vanishes in the considered approximation. In this case the one-loop finite theory is also two-loop finite in the HD+MSL scheme. Using the assumption that with the higher covariant derivative regularization the NSVZ equation is satisfied for RGFs defined in terms of the bare couplings, we construct the expression for the three-loop β-function. Again, the result is written both for the β-function defined in terms of the bare couplings and for the one defined in terms of the renormalized couplings for an arbitrary renormalization prescription.
Prozess- und Anlagensicherheit
Authors: Hohenberger Michael , Raupenstrauch Harald
Published: June 2020

Die Arbeitsgruppe Prozess- und Anlagensicherheit des Lehrstuhls für Thermoprozesstechnik an der Montanuniversität Leoben verfügt über umfangreiche Lehr- und Forschungskompetenzen. So wird beispielsweise zur Bestimmung sicherheitstechnischer Kenngrößen von Stäuben und Gasen ein eigens dafür ausgestattetes Labor betrieben. Die Forschungsschwerpunkte umfassen dabei die Untersuchung grundlegender Brand- und Explosionsmechanismen und den daraus folgenden Auswirkungen. Anwendung findet das Wissen in der Prävention von industriellen Katastrophen und Unfällen und deren Abwehr. Der Wissenstransfer erfolgt neben regulären Vorlesungen und Laborübungen durch einen berufsbegleitenden, postgradualen Universitätslehrgang in diesem Bereich.
Portfolio stress testing applied to commodity futures
Authors: Paraschiv Florentina , Reese Stine Marie , Ringkjøb Skjelstad Margrethe
Published: June 2020

In this article, we construct a portfolio of commodity futures which mimics the Dow Jones Commodity Index and perform an extensive stress testing exercise with a focus on hybrid scenarios. The increased volume of investments in commodities as financial instruments over the last decades underline the importance of a more thorough framework for stress testing of related portfolios. Our study is the first to show comparatively the marginal impact of the model choice for portfolio components versus the marginal role of tail dependence on the portfolio profit and loss in stress testing exercises. We model the distribution of returns of portfolio components with an asymmetric AR-GARCH model combined with Extreme Value Theory for extreme tails, and employ multivariate copula functions to model the time-varying joint dependence structure. Our study reveals that indeed, for a realistic stress test, a special attention should be given to the tail risk in individual commodity returns as well as to tail correlations. We also draw conclusions about parameter risk persistent in stress testing exercises. Finally yet importantly, in line with Basel IIIb, the study highlights the importance of using forward-looking hybrid and hypothetical scenarios over historical scenarios.
Impacts of epidemic outbreaks on supply chains: mapping a research agenda amid the COVID-19 pandemic through a structured literature review
Authors: Queiroz Maciel M. , Ivanov Dmitry , Dolgui Alexandre , Fosso Wamba Samuel
Published: June 2020

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak shows that pandemics and epidemics can seriously wreak havoc on supply chains (SC) around the globe. Humanitarian logistics literature has extensively studied epidemic impacts; however, there exists a research gap in understanding of pandemic impacts in commercial SCs. To progress in this direction, we present a systematic analysis of the impacts of epidemic outbreaks on SCs guided by a structured literature review that collated a unique set of publications. The literature review findings suggest that influenza was the most visible epidemic outbreak reported, and that optimization of resource allocation and distribution emerged as the most popular topic. The streamlining of the literature helps us to reveal several new research tensions and novel categorizations/classifications. Most centrally, we propose a framework for operations and supply chain management at the times of COVID-19 pandemic spanning six perspectives, i.e., adaptation, digitalization, preparedness, recovery, ripple effect, and sustainability. Utilizing the outcomes of our analysis, we tease out a series of open research questions that would not be observed otherwise. Our study also emphasizes the need and offers directions to advance the literature on the impacts of the epidemic outbreaks on SCs framing a research agenda for scholars and practitioners working on this emerging research stream.
Substrate mediated predator–prey interactions between invasive crayfish and indigenous and non-native amphipods
Authors: Beatty C. , Mathers K. L. , Patel C. , Constable D. , Wood P. J.
Published: June 2020

The increasing number of taxa being translocated across the globe is leading to many non-native species encountering indigenous taxa as well as other non-native species. Environmental heterogeneity may strongly influence the spatial distribution, habitat use and refuge availability for these taxa. Using a series of 24-h mesocosm experiments we examined the predator–prey interactions between an invasive crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) and four amphipod taxa, one indigenous (Gammarus pulex) and three non-native species (Crangonyx pseudogracilis, Dikerogammarus villosus and Gammarus tigrinus) to Great Britain. The potential mediating effect of physical habitat on predator–prey interactions was examined via the use of different substrate particle sizes; cobbles, gravels and, sand. Survivorship of amphipods in response to crayfish predation varied significantly with the highest rates recorded for the non-native species D. villosus, followed by G. tigrinus, and C. pseudogracilis, with the lowest survivorship recorded for the indigenous species G. pulex for all substrates except cobble. However, total biomass consumption of the indigenous G. pulex and the non-native D. villosus by P. leniusculus were similar suggesting that crayfish may have been satiated by larger D. villosus individuals. Substrate size had a significant influence on the predation success of P. leniusculus, with larger substrate clasts typically resulting in increased survivorship rates for all species except C. pseudogracilis, which displayed lower predation rates for sand substrates. The findings of this study highlight the risks that naïve indigenous taxa may face from new invasive species and the importance of characterising physical habitat (complexity and refugia potential) when considering the potential ecological effects of invaders on predation success.
Describing and Processing Topology and Quality of Service Parameters of Applications in the Cloud
Authors: Pierantoni Gabriele , Kiss Tamas , Terstyanszky Gabor , DesLauriers James , Gesmier Gregoire , Dang Hai-Van
Published: June 2020

Typical cloud applications require high-level policy driven orchestration to achieve efficient resource utilisation and robust security to support different types of users and user scenarios. However, the efficient and secure utilisation of cloud resources to run applications is not trivial. Although there have been several efforts to support the coordinated deployment, and to a smaller extent the run-time orchestration of applications in the Cloud, no comprehensive solution has emerged until now that successfully leverages applications in an efficient, secure and seamless way. One of the major challenges is how to specify and manage Quality of Service (QoS) properties governing cloud applications. The solution to address these challenges could be a generic and pluggable framework that supports the optimal and secure deployment and run-time orchestration of applications in the Cloud. A specific aspect of such a cloud orchestration framework is the need to describe complex applications incorporating several services. These application descriptions must specify both the structure of the application and its QoS parameters, such as desired performance, economic viability and security. This paper proposes a cloud technology agnostic approach to application descriptions based on existing standards and describes how these application descriptions can be processed to manage applications in the Cloud.
To what extent is the Chinese housing boom driven by competition in the marriage market?
Authors: Yang Siyao , Guariglia Alessandra , Horsewood Nicholas
Published: June 2020

We use the 2011 and 2013 waves of the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) to study the extent to which the acquisition of multiple houses is determined by the presence of male children in the family. We conjecture that, as a result of the very high sex ratio which can be observed in China following the one child policy, Chinese families who have a son may want to acquire additional dwellings to enhance the marriage chances of their son. In support of this argument, we find that families with male children aged 25 or older are most likely to acquire additional houses. This effect is highest in regions characterised by higher sex ratios, especially in rural areas.
Tolerance and asymptotic modelling of dynamic thermoelasticity problems for thin micro-periodic cylindrical shells
Authors: Tomczyk Barbara , Gołąbczak Marcin
Published: June 2020

The problem of linear dynamic thermoelasticity in Kirchhoff–Love-type circular cylindrical shells having properties periodically varying in circumferential direction (uniperiodic shells) is considered. In order to describe thermoelastic behaviour of such shells, two mathematical averaged models are proposed—the non-asymptotic tolerance and the consistent asymptotic models. Considerations are based on the known Kirchhoff–Love theory of elasticity combined with Duhamel-Neumann thermoelastic constitutive relations and on Fourier’s theory of heat conduction. The non-asymptotic tolerance model equations depending on a cell size are derived applying the tolerance averaging technique and a certain extension of the known stationary action principle. The consistent asymptotic model equations being independent on a microstructure size are obtained by means of the consistent asymptotic approach. Governing equations of both the models have constant coefficients, contrary to starting shell equations with periodic, non-continuous and oscillating coefficients. As examples, two special length-scale problems will be analysed in the framework of the proposed models. The first of them deals with investigation of the effect of a cell size on the shape of initial distributions of temperature micro-fluctuations. The second one deals with study of the effect of a microstructure size on the distribution of total temperature field approximated by sum of an averaged temperature and temperature fluctuations.
Numerical investigation of parametric resonance due to hydrodynamic coupling in a realistic wave energy converter
Authors: Giorgi Giuseppe , Gomes Rui P. F. , Bracco Giovanni , Mattiazzo Giuliana
Published: June 2020

Representative models of the nonlinear behavior of floating platforms are essential for their successful design, especially in the emerging field of wave energy conversion where nonlinear dynamics can have substantially detrimental effects on the converter efficiency. The spar buoy, commonly used for deep-water drilling, oil and natural gas extraction and storage, as well as offshore wind and wave energy generation, is known to be prone to experience parametric resonance. In the vast majority of cases, parametric resonance is studied by means of simplified analytical models, considering only two degrees of freedom (DoFs) of archetypical geometries, while neglecting collateral complexity of ancillary systems. On the contrary, this paper implements a representative 7-DoF nonlinear hydrodynamic model of the full complexity of a realistic spar buoy wave energy converter, which is used to verify the likelihood of parametric instability, quantify the severity of the parametrically excited response and evaluate its consequences on power conversion efficiency. It is found that the numerical model agrees with expected conditions for parametric instability from simplified analytical models. The model is then used as a design tool to determine the best ballast configuration, limiting detrimental effects of parametric resonance while maximizing power conversion efficiency.
Newton’s method with fractional derivatives and various iteration processes via visual analysis
Authors: Gdawiec Krzysztof , Kotarski Wiesław , Lisowska Agnieszka
Published: June 2020

The aim of this paper is to visually investigate the dynamics and stability of the process in which the classic derivative is replaced by the fractional Riemann–Liouville or Caputo derivatives in the standard Newton root-finding method. Additionally, instead of the standard Picard iteration, the Mann, Khan, Ishikawa and S iterations are used. This process when applied to polynomials on complex plane produces images showing basins of attractions for polynomial zeros or images representing the number of iterations required to achieve any polynomial root. The images are called polynomiographs. In this paper, we use the colouring according to the number of iterations which reveals the speed of convergence and dynamic properties of processes visualised by polynomiographs. Moreover, to investigate the stability of the methods, we use basins of attraction. To compare numerically the modified root-finding methods among them, we demonstrate their action for polynomialz3− 1 on a complex plane.
Strong Feller Property for SDEs Driven by Multiplicative Cylindrical Stable Noise
Authors: Kulczycki Tadeusz , Ryznar Michał , Sztonyk Paweł
Published: June 2020

We consider the stochastic differential equationdXt=A(Xt−)dZt,X0=x, driven by cylindricalα-stable processZtin , whereα∈ (0,1) andd≥ 2. We assume that the determinant ofA(x) = (aij(x)) is bounded away from zero, andaij(x) are bounded and Lipschitz continuous. We show that for any fixedγ∈ (0,α) the semigroupPtof the processXtsatisfies$|P_{t} f(x) - P_{t} f(y)| \le c t^{-\gamma /\alpha } |x - y|^{\gamma } ||f||_{\infty }$|Ptf(x)−Ptf(y)|≤ct−γ/α|x−y|γ||f||∞for arbitrary bounded Borel functionf. Our approach is based on Levi’s method.
The world-systemic network of global elite sociology: the western male monoculture at faculties of the top one-hundred sociology departments of the world
Authors: Demeter Marton , Toth Tamas
Published: June 2020

In this paper, we analyze the educational paths and networks of core staff members (n = 3325) of the world’s top 100 sociology departments. Results show that a significant overrepresentation of central countries and considerable gender bias can be found throughout sociology departments with strong male dominance in high positions. By using an improved word-systemic model for the interpretation of our data, we were able to categorize the main agents and patients in the world-system of global elite sociology, and we could also describe those centripetal and centrifugal forces that absorb and reeducate peripheral talent while excluding those without Western reeducation.
Serum NGAL, KIM-1, IL-18, L-FABP: new biomarkers in the diagnostics of acute kidney injury (AKI) following invasive cardiology procedures
Authors: Zdziechowska Magdalena , Gluba-Brzózka Anna , Poliwczak Adam R. , Franczyk Beata , Kidawa Michał , Zielinska Marzenna , Rysz Jacek
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess the levels of selected markers in patients who underwent planned or emergency coronary angiography and to examine if they correlated with the occurrence of AKI.

Methods

The study included 52 patients who underwent planned or emergency coronary angiography and received contrast agent. Serum levels of markers (NGAL, L-FABP, KIM-1, IL-18) were analyzed in all patients using ELISA tests, at baseline, after 24 and 72 h from angiography.

Results

9.62% of patients developed CI-AKI. No significant differences were observed between markers levels in patients who developed CI-AKI and those who did not. After 24 h, serum levels of IL-18 were higher in patients with CI-AKI, however, this difference was on the verge of significance. Increase in serum NGAL, KIM-1 and IL-18 was observed after 24 h. Serum levels of biomarkers were insignificantly higher in group with CI-AKI. Significant changes in levels in time (baseline vs. 24 h vs. 72 h) were observed only for NGAL [157.9 (92.4–221.0) vs. 201.8 (156.5–299.9) vs. 118.5 (73.4–198.7); p < 0.0001]. No significant correlations were observed between the decrease in eGFR or the increase in creatinine and biomarkers level.

Conclusion

Obtained results do not allow for the indication of efficient AKI biomarkers. Their further validation in large studies of CI-AKI patients is required.
Power Divergence Family of Statistics for Person Parameters in IRT Models
Authors: Liu Xiang , Yang James , Chae Hui Soo , Natriello Gary
Published: June 2020

We generalize the power divergence (PD) family of statistics to the two-parameter logistic IRT model for the purpose of constructing hypothesis tests and confidence intervals of the person parameter. The well-known score test statistic is a special case of the proposed PD family. We also prove the proposed PD statistics are asymptotically equivalent and converge in distribution to <mml:math xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:mnf="http://cambridge.org/core/manifest" xmlns:cup="http://contentservices.cambridge.org" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:m="http://cambridge.org/core/metadata" xmlns:core="http://cambridge.org/core" xmlns:c="http://cambridge.org/core/content">χ12\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\chi _{1}^2$$\end{document}. In addition, a moment matching method is introduced to compare statistics and choose the optimal one within the PD family. Simulation results suggest that the coverage rate of the associated confidence interval is well controlled even under small sample sizes for some PD statistics. Compared to some other approaches, the associated confidence intervals exhibit smaller lengths while maintaining adequate coverage rates. The utilities of the proposed method are demonstrated by analyzing a real data set.
Review on the Role of Hydrocarbon Resources in India’s Energy Security and Climate Goals
Authors: Vedachalam N. , Ramadass G. A. , Atmanand M. A.
Published: June 2020

In India, effective use of hydrocarbon fuels are essential for achieving energy security, economic growth, climate goals and to bridge the implementation delays in the renewable energy sector. Based on the published data, the paper reviews the role of hydrocarbon resources in the Indian energy sector and the need for an innovation-centered ecosystem in the areas of clean-coal usage, natural gas, sequestration and utilizing unconventional hydrocarbon resources.
Geochemical, Mineralogical and Petrological Characteristics of Lateritic Bauxite Deposits formed on Deccan Trap Basalt with Reference to High-level and Coastal (low level) Deposits of Maharashtra
Authors: Bhukte P. G. , Daware G. T. , Masurkar S. P. , Mahendiran P. , Janbandhu K. , Rao K. R. , Singh U. , Puttewar S. P. , Agnihotri A.
Published: June 2020

Lateritic bauxite are the products of intense subareal weathering of rocks. It is characterised by a particular enrichment of aluminium-hydroxide minerals such as gibbsite, boehmite and diaspore. Based on geological occurrences, bauxite is classified as lateritic, karstic, tikhvin type and about 86% deposits of the world are lateritic bauxite deposits. They typically are in stable areas of plateaux, where they had sufficient geological time to form and were protected from erosion. India is endowed about 3896 million tons of bauxite resources and Maharashtra state constitutes about 5 % of the total assets. The medium to high grade lateritic bauxite occurrences are located in western Maharashtra which spread up in two distinct belts, viz. high level and low-level coastal areas. The coastal bauxite deposits in Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts are located at altitude varying between 50 to 350 m above mean sea level (msl), while high level bauxite deposits of Kolhapur, Satara and Sangli districts occur on the plateaus with an elevation 900 to 1300 m above msl. Most of the laterite of the western Maharashtra overlies the Deccan Trap basalt, except in some part of coastal areas, it either caps the Kaladgi sandstone or overlie the Dharwar pebble beds. The lateritic bauxite deposits of the western Maharashtra have been studied with reference to its geology, chemico-mineralogy and petrological characteristics. Field studies indicate the following successive stages developed during in-situ weathering: Deccan trap basalt (parent rock) → weathered basalt → saprolite/lithomargic clay → bauxite → duricrust (ferruginous, aluminous laterites). The geological, physical and chemico-mineralogical characteristics of the bauxite and laterite located in two belts is distinguished from one another.

For the present study, two bauxite deposits namely Ringewadi and Velas located in Kolhapur (high-level) and Raigad (coastal) district of western Maharashtra respectively have been selected. The representative samples of bauxite, laterite, saprolite, parent rock have been collected. In present paper, comparative study has been done and the geological, geomorphological, geochemical, mineralogical, petrographic and physical characteristics of low level (coastal) and high-level lateritic bauxite deposits are highlighted.
Hydrochemical Characteristics, Groundwater Quality and Sources of Solute in the Ramganga Aquifer, Central Ganga Plain, Bareilly District, Uttar Pradesh
Authors: Ahmad Sarfaraz , Maznar Syeda Nigar
Published: June 2020

The quality of groundwater is determined in parts of Ramganga basin, Bareilly, UP, India. Spatial variation of all the major ions shows south-eastern increasing trend except chloride and sulphate. Groundwater in the area belongs to the Mg2+-Ca2+-HCO3- cation facies. The monsoonal rainfall changes the ionic abundance order from HCO3->Cl->NO3>SO4-2> F-and Mg2+> Ca2+> K+>Na+ of pre-monsoon to HCO3->Cl-> SO4-2>NO3->F- and Na+> Mg2+> Ca2+> K+ of post-monsoon. Solute acquisition processes indicated that the rock weathering is the major mechanism of ions sources in groundwater. A coupled carbonate and silicate weathering type along with ion exchange processes are responsible for particular groundwater chemistry.

Groundwater quality parameters were tested for drinking, irrigation and corrosion purposes. It is found that 8.5%, 26%, 49%, 14% and 3% of the samples fall under the excellent, good, poor, very poor and unsuitable category respectively. SAR, Na%, RSC and Kelly index suggests that groundwater is safe for irrigation purposes. But high TDS of few samples suggested the salinity hazard while using it for irrigation purposes. Low CR values indicated a lower degree of corrosion hazard to the underground metal pipelines in the area.
Mechanical earth modeling and sand onset production prediction for Well X in Malay Basin
Authors: Ismail N. I. , Naz M. Y. , Shukrullah S. , Sulaiman S. A.
Published: June 2020

This study is aimed at testing Mechanical earth modeling (MEM) and Sand onset production prediction (SOP) models using well log and core data to estimate the mechanical properties of the rock, in-situ stresses and the critical conditions at which the rock failure may occur. New numerical models were developed to predict the onset of sand production for Well X. The outputs from MEM were coupled with the Mohr Coulomb failure criterion to calculate the critical wellbore pressure of the well and consequently the depth of the rock at which failure may occur. The results showed that at depth of 1061.68–1098.10 m, the calculated critical wellbore pressures were negatives, which reveal low possibility of sand production. However, at a depth of 1098.25–2230.89 m, the calculated critical wellbore pressures were positives. In this depth range, there was high possibility of rock failure. In conclusion, based on the findings, Well X may produce sand at depth deeper than 1100 m. Therefore, mitigation and preventive actions should be planned for Well X to handle and manage the possible sand production from the identified interval.
Recognition of Natural Products as Potential Inhibitors of COVID-19 Main Protease (Mpro): In-Silico Evidences
Authors: Narkhede Rohan R. , Pise Ashwini V. , Cheke Rameshwar S. , Shinde Sachin D.
Published: June 2020

SARS-CoV-2 (2019-nCoV) emerged in 2019 and proliferated rapidly across the globe. Scientists are attempting to investigate antivirals specific to COVID-19 treatment. The 2019-nCoV and SARS-CoV utilize the same receptor of the host which is COVID-19 of the main protease (Mpro).COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 is burdensome to overcome by presently acquired antiviral candidates. So the objective and purpose of this work was to investigate the plants with reported potential antiviral activity. With the aid of in silico techniques such as molecular docking and druggability studies, we have proposed several natural active compounds including glycyrrhizin, bicylogermecrene, tryptanthrine, β-sitosterol, indirubin, indican, indigo, hesperetin, crysophanic acid, rhein, berberine and β-caryophyllene which can be encountered as potential herbal candidate exhibiting anti-viral activity against SARS-CoV-2. Promising docking outcomes have been executed which evidenced the worthy of these selected herbal remedies for future drug development to combat coronavirus disease.

Graphic Abstract
Sexual function in women with androgen excess disorders: classic forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia and polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Kępczyńska-Nyk A. , Kuryłowicz A. , Nowak A. , Bednarczuk T. , Ambroziak U.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

We compared the sexual function in women with classic forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to find if the cause of androgen excess determines sexual functioning.

Methods

Hundred and four women (21 with CAH, 63 with PCOS and 20 healthy controls) aged 18–40 years were included into the study. All participants completed a questionnaire regarding their sociodemographic background and underwent anthropometric and basic biochemical measurements. Plasma levels of total testosterone, androstenedione, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone were measured with immunoassay. To assess the sexual functions, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire was applied.

Results

Apart from the higher physical activity in PCOS patients (P = 0.017), we found no significant sociodemographic differences between the studied groups. In clinical assessment, women with CAH had a lower incidence of acne (P = 0.006). Their plasma levels of 17OHP (P = 0.005) and insulin resistance index (P = 0.0248) were higher, while total testosterone (P = 0.0495) and glucose (P = 0.0061) was lower compared to the PCOS group. Significantly more women with CAH were homosexual (P = 0.003) and bisexual (P = 0.006). CAH group showed a lower total FSFI score (P = 0.0043) and lower scores in three domains: lubrication (P = 0.0131), sexual satisfaction (P = 0.0006), and dyspareunia (P < 0.0001). Higher physical activity was associated in all women with higher total FSFI score (P = 0.009) and scores in the domain of desire (P = 0.034) and sexual satisfaction (P = 0.01), while in CAH women apart from the total score (P = 0.03) and sexual satisfaction (P = 0.002) also in the domains of orgasm (P = 0.005), and pain (P = 0.03).

Conclusions

CAH women present more often homosexual and bisexual orientation, while their sexual functions are impaired compared to PCOS patients.
COVID-19 highlights the need for universal adoption of standards of medical care for physicians in nursing homes in Europe
Authors: O’Neill Desmond , Briggs Robert , Holmerová Iva , Samuelsson Olafur , Gordon Adam L. , Martin Finbarr C. ,   The Special Interest Group in Long Term Care of the European Geriatric Medicine Society
Published: June 2020

The nursing home sector has seen a disproportionately high number of deaths as part of the COVID-19 pandemic. This reflects, in part, the frailty and vulnerability of older people living in care homes but has also, in part, been a consequence of the failure to include care homes in the systematic planning of a response to COVID, as well as a measure of neglect of standards and quality improvement in the sector. In response, the EUGMS published a set of medical standards of care developed in consultation with experts across its member national societies in 2015. The standards consisted of seven core principles of medical care for physicians working in nursing homes as a first step in developing a programme of clinical, academic and policy engagement in improving medical care for older people who are living and frequently also dying as residents in nursing homes. The gravity of the concerns arising for nursing home care from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as emerging insights on care improvement in nursing homes indicate that an update of these medical standards is timely. This was performed by the writing group from the original 2015 guidelines and is intended as an interim measure pending a more formal review incorporating a systematic review of emerging literature and a Delphi process.
Removing a false sense of (open source) security
Authors: Williams Jeff
Published: June 2020

Software is at the heart of the ‘digital transformation’ as businesses rapidly transition from traditional legacy-based models to more robust modern digital business processes. The rapid pace of modern software development has allowed businesses to transform the way they run – yielding superior customer experiences, greater efficiencies, faster time to market and better cost optimisation.

But there are many application security challenges that need to be understood and addressed. Security instrumentation technology gives developers current, real-time visibility into all open source components across their portfolio, so they know what needs to be secured, says Jeff Williams of Contrast Security.
Some observations on the transeurasian language family, from the perspective of the Farming/Language Dispersal Hypothesis
Authors: Bellwood Peter
Published: June 2020

During my attendance at the ‘Transeurasian Millets and Beans, Words and Genes’ conference in Jena (January 2019), Martine Robbeets invited me to comment on the articles that are published in this Special Collection in the journal Evolutionary Human Sciences. My comments are focused on the seven articles that deal with the ‘Farming/Language Dispersal Hypothesis’, one of the key theoretical constructs discussed during the conference. I consider how the hypothesis might aid an understanding of the prehistory and early history of the Transeurasian language family.
Antimicrobial stewardship: The influence of behavioral nudging on renal-function–based appropriateness of dosing
Authors: dos Santos Rodrigo P. , Deutschendorf Caroline , Vido Hellena G. , Gerson Rafaela B. , Marson Fabiane , Loreto Melina S. , Vaz Tiago A. , Avila André M. , Scheffel Rafael S. , Jacoby Thalita S. , dos Santos Helena B. , Dora José Miguel
Published: June 2020

Failure to adjust doses may contribute to adverse events. We evaluated the effectiveness of providing the estimated glomerular filtration rate on appropriateness of dosing for antimicrobials. The approach increased appropriateness of dosing from 33.9% to 41.4% (P < .001). Nudging prescription behavior can boost strategies for adequate antimicrobial prescription.
From high friction zone to frontal collapse: dynamics of an ongoing tidewater glacier surge, Negribreen, Svalbard
Authors: Haga Odin Næss , McNabb Robert , Nuth Christopher , Altena Bas , Schellenberger Thomas , Kääb Andreas
Published: June 2020

Negribreen, a tidewater glacier located in central eastern Svalbard, began actively surging after it experienced an initial collapse in summer 2016. The surge resulted in horizontal surface velocities of more than 25 m d−1, making it one of the fastest-flowing glaciers in the archipelago. The last surge of Negribreen likely occurred in the 1930s, but due to a long quiescent phase, investigations of this glacier have been limited. As Negribreen is part of the Negribreen Glacier System, one of the largest glacier systems in Svalbard, investigating its current surge event provides important information on surge behaviour among tidewater glaciers within the region. Here, we demonstrate the surge development and discuss triggering mechanisms using time series of digital elevation models (1969–2018), surface velocities (1995–2018), crevasse patterns and glacier extents from various data sources. We find that the active surge results from a four-stage process. Stage 1 (quiescent phase) involves a long-term, gradual geometry change due to high subglacial friction towards the terminus. These changes allow the onset of Stage 2, an accelerating frontal destabilization, which ultimately results in the collapse (Stage 3) and active surge (Stage 4).
Analyzing the cross-national comparability of party positions on the socio-cultural and EU dimensions in Europe
Authors: Bakker Ryan , Jolly Seth , Polk Jonathan
Published: June 2020

Using survey vignettes and scaling techniques, we estimate common socio-cultural and European integration dimensions for political parties across the member states of the European Union. Previous research shows that party placements on the economic left-right dimension are cross-nationally comparable across the EU; however, the socio-cultural dimension is more complex, with different issues forming the core of the dimension in different countries. The 2014 wave of the Chapel Hill Expert Survey included anchoring vignettes which we use as “bridge votes” to place parties from different countries on a common liberal/authoritarian dimension and a separate common scale for European integration. We estimate the dimensions using the Bayesian Aldrich–McKelvey technique. The resulting scales offer cross-nationally comparable, interval-level measures of a party's socio-cultural and EU ideological positions.
Do as I Say or Do as I Do? How Social Relationships Shape the Impact of Descriptive and Injunctive Norms of Voting
Authors: Fieldhouse Edward , Cutts David
Published: June 2020

Social norms play an important role in our understanding of why people vote, yet very little is known about the relative importance of descriptive and injunctive norms for voter turnout or how normative influence is affected by the political and social relationship between citizens. Using political discussion network data from the British Election Study, this article examines the joint effect of descriptive and injunctive norms on turnout. It demonstrates that citizens follow the example of those closest to them (descriptive norms), especially their partner, but they also respond to social approval of voting from political discussants regardless of the nature of their relationship.
Crime Victimization Increases Turnout: Evidence from Individual-Level Administrative Panel Data
Authors: Sønderskov Kim Mannemar , Dinesen Peter Thisted , Finkel Steven E. , Hansen Kasper M.
Published: June 2020

What are the consequences of being the victim of crime for political participation? Previous studies report mixed results with respect to voter turnout, in contrast to the positive effects found for other indicators of political engagement. However, previous turnout studies have failed to differentiate between violent and non-violent crime, and have relied on cross-sectional survey data that is prone to measurement biases and selection effects. This article addresses these shortcomings via a panel analysis of official registry data from Denmark recording individual-level turnout in two municipal elections (in 2009 and 2013) and victimization from violent and non-violent crime. It identifies the effect of victimization by comparing changes in turnout between the two elections for victims and two different counterfactual groups: non-victims in the general population, and individuals who were victimized after the 2013 election. The results show that victimization from violent crime increases turnout by 2 to 3 percentage points. The study further demonstrates a large negative between-individual effect of victimization, suggesting that previous studies have been marred by severe selection bias.
Effect of crop residue management on damage by Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), its egg parasitoids and the ants associated with sugarcane
Authors: Pérez María L. del P. , Isas Marcos G. , Goebel Francois R. , Ayup Ma. Marta , Padilla Agustín E. , Salvatore Analía R. , Gastaminza Gerardo
Published: June 2020

In the American continent, the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (F.) is the main pest in sugarcane producing areas. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of crop residue management on damage by D. saccharalis, its egg parasitoids and the ants associated with sugarcane. The study was carried out during 2011–2012, 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 crop cycles, in three commercial fields located in different regions of Tucumán state, Argentina. Two types of crop residue management (= treatments) were compared: conservation of trash at the soil surface (CT) and trash burning (TB). In ‘trash conservation’ treatment, crop residue was allowed to remain over the soil surface during the whole sugarcane growing season, while the second treatment consisted of complete burning of trash blanket approximately 2 weeks after harvest. The injury level was measured by recording the number of stalks bored and internodes bored. Parasitism was estimated by counting the total number of eggs and number of black eggs (which indicates the occurrence of egg parasitoids). Ants (Formicidae) richness was calculated by two estimators; abundance-based coverage estimator and incidence-based coverage estimator, using the non-parametric richness estimators: Chao 2 and Jackknife. Finally, the indicator value was estimated through the measurement of specificity and fidelity. In all the parameters studied no significant difference was found between TB and CT treatments.