bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiscale model of hepatitis C virus dynamics in plasma and liver following combination therapy
Authors: Woot de Trixhe Xavier , Krzyzanski Wojciech , Vermeulen An , Perez‐Ruixo Juan José
Published: July 2021

This work explores the application of a physiologically structured population (PSP) framework in modeling hepatitis C virus (HCV) kinetics. To do so, a model was developed for the viral RNA load in plasma and liver as observed in 15 patients treated with a combination therapy of pegylated interferon, ribavirin, and telaprevir. By including both intracellular and extracellular processes of the HCV lifecycle, the model provided a description of the treatment effect on the intracellular HCV lifecycle. Combining PSP models with a nonlinear mixed effects approach in a single model permits a natural inclusion of the direct‐acting antiviral effect on intracellular processes, which can then be integrated with the viral kinetics within the host while accounting for the interindividual variability between patients. This should allow an exploration of the treatment effect within the entire chronic HCV‐infected population.
A novel encountered‐type master device with precise manipulation for robot‐assisted microsurgery
Authors: Kim Duk Sang , Yang Un‐Je , Cheon Byungsik , Baek Donghoon , Kwon Dong‐Soo
Published: July 2021

Background

The unconstrained master devices have emerged as attractive alternatives to the existing linkage‐based counterparts. However, the conventional unconstrained master device's manipulation methods have several disadvantages in efficiency and precision.

Methods

We propose an encountered‐type master device based on an electromagnetic tracking solution with a prismatic joint at the tip, capable of continuous spatial manipulation with the tip supported on the surface. We performed path‐following task and pointing tasks to analyze the performance of the master device.

Results

The most convenient, efficient, accurate positioning and precise pointing were possible with a closed loop support condition. Moreover, the tasks under this condition were also completed with higher accuracy, and precision when applying lower motion scale factors.

Conclusions

The proposed master device allowed precise and accurate manipulation for microsurgical tasks. Compared with the conventional unconstrained master devices, the proposed master device provides the ability to perform precise work with a clutching‐free motion.
Prioritization of agricultural water distribution operating systems based on the sustainable development indicators
Authors: Kaghazchi Afsaneh , Hashemy Shahdany Seied Mehdy , Firoozfar Alireza
Published: July 2021

The present study investigates different operating systems' potential to be selected as a reliable alternative in the modernization of agricultural water distribution using a set of indices representing the sustainable development goals (SDGs). These indices include economic perspectives (“the implementation cost of the operating system”; “economic value of water”; “The opportunity cost” indices), environmental aspects (“water withdrawal from the aquifer”; “carbon dioxide emissions” indices), social viewpoint (“vandalism probability of on‐site equipment”; “equity of agricultural water distribution” indices), and technical considerations (such as “efficiency of water distribution” index). The hydrodynamic simulation model was developed and calibrated to simulate water distribution in Qazvin Irrigation District, central Iran, in the status quo. Five practical systems—including manual operation (A1, A2), Hydro‐mechanical gates (A3), and automatic operation (A4, A5)—were developed in MATLAB and integrated the hydrodynamic model. Agricultural water distribution practices are conducted for individual alternatives A1–A5, and the SDGs indices were determined quantitatively. The multi‐criteria decision‐making method was used to rank the indices based on their compliance with the SDGs indices. TOPSIS method was employed in non‐fuzzy status and fuzzy state to prioritize the modernization alternatives A1–A5. The relative weights of the indices were determined in a fuzzy state by the opinion of 30 experts, and that of the non‐fuzzy state was specified by the Shannon‐Entropy method. The results show that using the Shannon‐Entropy method, the “aquifer harvest index” with the weight of 0.16 is the most influential factor to meet the SDGs and the “vandalism probability of on‐site equipment” index with 0.028 weight is the least active index. The final results indicate that the modernization alternatives A1–A5 are scored 0.35, 0.33, 0.30, 0.68, and 0.70, respectively, in the TOPSIS technique, and 0.29, 0.18, 0.14, 0.40, 0.74 using the fuzzy TOPSIS technique.
Psychosocial profile of cases of gender dysphoria attending a tertiary care hospital in Delhi
Authors: Yadav Abhilasha , Rastogi Rajesh , Kumar Ramesh
Published: July 2021

There is a dearth of scientific data from India on gender dysphoria (GD), and only few published research articles, mainly in the form of case reports or case series, are present. The aim of this work is to study the socio‐demographic profile, parental/family support, comorbid psychiatric illness, and other characteristics (cross‐dressing, sexual orientation, pattern of referral) related to GD. It was a descriptive case study of 20 cases of GD (diagnosed as per DSM‐5) registered from May 2012 to February 2019 at the psychiatry Out Patient Department (OPD) of a tertiary care multispecialty teaching hospital in New Delhi. The subject's socio‐clinical profile was assessed. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out in this study. Out of the total 20 cases (n = 20), 12 cases (60%) were transgender women, rest (40%) were transgender men, with a male:female sex ratio of 3:2. The mean age of sample was 23.5 ± 6.43 years, age range being 15–41 years. In majority of cases (60%), the age of realization of their problem was in early or middle childhood. Parents of 11 cases (55%) were against the gender affirming treatments and procedures. Cross‐dressing in routine and public life was present in 12 (60%) cases; 20% of the cases had comorbid psychiatric illness. Individuals with this condition are coming forward, seeking help which shows that the awareness about availability of treatment facility especially in the government sector is increasing.
Physicochemical Properties and the Digestibility of Cassava Root and Stem Starches Associated with Genotypes
Authors: Yang Weixian , Han Xiao , Huang Tangwei , Shen Zhangyou , Qin Fengyan , Wei Maogui , Fu Zhen
Published: July 2021

Cassava stems contain up to 40% starch (by dry mass) and are currently discarded as agricultural waste. The current study aims to understand the physicochemical traits of cassava stem and root starches for investigating trends in industrial cassava applications. In total, 11 traits of both cassava stem and root starches of 15 genotypes are investigated. All the examined traits of cassava root and stem starches vary by genotype. The amylose contents of root and stem starches are in the range of 19.0–33.0% and 18.44–34.51%, respectively. The resistant starch of root and stem starches are in the range of 1.72–17.72% and 4.42–13.37%, respectively. Only the starch content, solubility, and swelling power of root starches are significantly higher than those of stem starches. The root starch gel is more stable than the stem starch gel after the fourth and fifth freeze‐thaw cycles. Furthermore, principal component analysis calculated based on starch and amylose contents, degree of swelling, digestibility, and freeze‐thaw stability demonstrates that genotypes GW46, GW88, S1, E26, and GC49 gain higher scores than control varieties South China 12 and South China 205, which are the most favorable ones by farmers in China because of good root yields.
Physicochemical Properties and In Vitro Digestibility of Dual‐Modified Starch by Cross‐Linking and Annealing
Authors: Jia Shuyu , Yu Bin , Zhao Haibo , Tao Haiteng , Liu Pengfei , Cui Bo
Published: July 2021

Native maize starch (NS) is modified by annealing (ANN) and cross‐linking (CL) processes, and also by using two different combinations of the ANN and CL processes (ANN‐CL and CL‐ANN). The effects of modifications on physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of starch are studied. The results show that CL‐ANN significantly (p < 0.05) improves swelling power and decreases solubility. The reduction in breakdown and setback indicate that ANN‐CL and CL‐ANN improve shear resistance and anti‐retrogradation effect of starch. All the modified starches exhibit native A‐type crystals but show higher crystallinity than native starch. The decreased enthalpy of the CL‐ANN starch is due to starch granule rupture during the treatment process. Scanning electron microscopy shows that ANN results in the formation of starch clusters, which are also present in CL‐ANN and ANN‐CL starches. The surface of CL starch is rough and partially cracked. CL‐ANN significantly (p < 0.05) increases the content of resistant starch to 10.74%. Physicochemical properties and digestibility of CL and ANN dual‐modified starches are related to the different combinations of the modification processes. Thus, dual modification using cross‐linking and annealing is an effective method to improve the properties of starch, thus broadening its application in the food industry.
Minimization of torque ripple in switched reluctance motor based on MPC andTSF
Authors: Ren Ping , Zhu Jingwei , Jing Zhe , Guo Zhaoyan , Xu Aide
Published: July 2021

In this paper, a novel control method based on model predictive control (MPC) and torque sharing function (TSF) is addressed to minimize the torque ripple of switched reluctance motor (SRM). Firstly, an accurate SRM model is established based on flux‐linkage characteristic curves obtained from the locked rotor test, which can predict the future operation state of the SRM drive system. Secondly, an improved TSF curve is proposed, and genetic algorithm is used to optimize TSF parameters to reduce torque ripple in commutation region. Besides, the MPC is integrated into the TSF control framework to replace the traditional hysteresis controller, and establishes a new TSF‐based model predicted torque control (MPTC) method, which avoids the frequency conversion problem caused by torque or current hysteresis controller. Further, a sector division scheme is addressed to decrease the number of candidate voltage states, whereby the computation of the controller in each sampling period is effectively reduced. Finally, in order to verify the correctness of the MPTC method, it is compared with the traditional direct instantaneous torque control (DITC). Both simulations and experiments on a three‐phase 12/8 pole SRM have confirmed that MPTC scheme can not only decreases torque ripple and stator copper losses, but also has higher efficiency than DITC. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Unlocking the origins of the Covid‐19 pandemic
Authors: Mills Georgina
Published: July 2021

Georgina Mills describes how museums are working together to uncover clues surrounding pandemics.
William Richard Allen
Authors: Greenwood Richard
Published: July 2021

A pioneer in the field of equine fertility and reproduction, particularly thoroughbred breeding.
Self‐fluorescent polymers for bioimaging
Authors: Ban Qingfu , Li Yan , Wu Si
Published: July 2021

Self‐fluorescent polymers with different fluorescent chromophores have attracted considerable attention in the field of fluorescence bioimaging due to their tunable topologies and compositions, which render high fluorescence intensity and multicolor photoluminescence. In this Review, recent advances into the construction of self‐fluorescent polymers via the integration of conventional fluorescent chromophores, such as fluorescent dyes and conjugated polymers, and nonconventional heteroatom‐containing chromophores are summarized. In addition, the classification and bonding modes of fluorescent chromophores in polymer backbones, fluorescence mechanisms, and multicolor photoluminescence are discussed. Finally, the promising applications of self‐fluorescent polymers for fluorescence bioimaging are highlighted.
The eikonal approach to gravitational scattering and radiation at $$ \mathcal{O} $$(G3)
Authors: Di Vecchia Paolo , Heissenberg Carlo , Russo Rodolfo , Veneziano Gabriele
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Using $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 8 supergravity as a theoretical laboratory, we extract the 3PM gravitational eikonal for two colliding massive scalars from the classical limit of the corresponding elastic two-loop amplitude. We employ the eikonal phase to obtain the physical deflection angle and to show how its non-relativistic (NR) and ultra-relativistic (UR) regimes are smoothly connected. Such a smooth interpolation rests on keeping contributions to the loop integrals originating from the full soft region, rather than restricting it to its potential sub-region. This task is efficiently carried out by using the method of differential equations with complete near-static boundary conditions. In contrast to the potential-region result, the physical deflection angle includes radiation-reaction contributions that are essential for recovering the finite and universal UR limit implied by general analyticity and crossing arguments. We finally discuss the real emission of massless states, which accounts for the imaginary part of the 3PM eikonal and for the dissipation of energy-momentum. Adopting a direct approach based on unitarity and on the classical limit of the inelastic tree-level amplitude, we are able to treat $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 8 and General Relativity on the same footing, and to complete the conservative 3PM eikonal in Einstein’s gravity by the addition of the radiation-reaction contribution. We also show how this approach can be used to compute waveforms, as well as the differential and integrated spectra, for the different radiated massless fields.
Matrix regularization of classical Nambu brackets and super p-branes
Authors: Ashwinkumar Meer , Schmidt Lennart , Tan Meng-Chwan
Published: July 2021

Abstract

We present an explicit matrix algebra regularization of the algebra of volume-preserving diffeomorphisms of the n-torus. That is, we approximate the corresponding classical Nambu brackets using $$ \mathfrak{sl}\left({N}^{\left\lceil \frac{n}{2}\right\rceil },\mathrm{\mathbb{C}}\right) $$
sl

N

n
2

ℂ

-matrices equipped with the finite bracket given by the completely anti-symmetrized matrix product, such that the classical brackets are retrieved in the N → ∞ limit. We then apply this approximation to the super 4-brane in 9 dimensions and give a regularized action in analogy with the matrix regularization of the supermembrane. This action exhibits a reduced gauge symmetry that we discuss from the viewpoint of L∞-algebras in a slight generalization to the construction of Lie 2-algebras from Bagger-Lambert 3-algebras.
A sufficient condition for counterexamples to the Nelson-Seiberg theorem
Authors: Sun Zheng , Tan Zipeng , Yang Lu
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Several counterexample models to the Nelson-Seiberg theorem have been discovered in previous literature, with generic superpotentials respecting the R-symmetry and non-generic R-charge assignments for chiral fields. This work present a sufficient condition for such counterexample models: the number of R-charge 2 fields, which is greater than the number of R-charge 0 fields, must be less than or equal to the number of R-charge 0 fields plus the number of independent field pairs with opposite R-charges and satisfying some extra requirements. We give a correct count of such field pairs when there are multiple field pairs with degenerated R-charges. These models give supersymmetric vacua with spontaneous R-symmetry breaking, thus are counterexamples to both the Nelson-Seiberg theorem and its extensions.
$$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 extended MacDowell-Mansouri supergravity
Authors: Alvarez Pedro D. , Delage Lucas , Valenzuela Mauricio , Zanelli Jorge
Published: July 2021

Abstract

We construct a gauge theory based in the supergroup G = SU(2, 2|2) that generalizes MacDowell-Mansouri supergravity. This is done introducing an extended notion of Hodge operator in the form of an outer automorphism of su(2, 2|2)-valued 2-form tensors. The model closely resembles a Yang-Mills theory — including the action principle, equations of motion and gauge transformations — which avoids the use of the otherwise complicated component formalism. The theory enjoys H = SO(3, 1) × ℝ × U(1) × SU(2) off-shell symmetry whilst the broken symmetries G/H, translation-type symmetries and supersymmetry, can be recovered on surface of integrability conditions of the equations of motion, for which it suffices the Rarita-Schwinger equation and torsion-like constraints to hold. Using the matter ansatz —projecting the 1 ⊗ 1/2 reducible representation into the spin-1/2 irreducible sector — we obtain (chiral) fermion models with gauge and gravity interactions.
A novel strategy for searching for CP violations in the baryon sector
Authors: Zhang Zhen-Hua , Guo Xin-Heng
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Despite the large baryon-anti-baryon asymmetry in the observable Universe, the closely related phenomenon — the violation of the combined charge and parity symmetry (CPV) — has not been observed in the baryon sector in laboratories. In this paper, a new strategy for searching for CPV in heavy hadron multi-body decays is proposed, in which a set of novel observables measuring CPV in such decays — the partial wave CP asymmetries (PWCP As) — are introduced. This strategy is model-independent and applicable to multi-body decays of heavy hadrons with arbitrary spin configurations in both initial and final states, and with any number of particles in the final state. It is especially applicable for CPV investigations in multi-body decays of heavy baryons. As applications of this strategy, we suggest to measure the PWCP As in some decay channels of bottom baryons such as $$ {\Lambda}_b^0\to p{\pi}^{-}{\pi}^{+}{\pi}^{-} $$

Λ
b
0

→
p

π
−

π
+

π
−

, Λb → pK−π+π−, $$ {\Lambda}_b^0\to p{\pi}^{-}{K}^{+}{K}^{-} $$

Λ
b
0

→
p

π
−

K
+

K
−

, $$ {\Lambda}_b^0\to \Lambda {K}^{+}{\pi}^{-} $$

Λ
b
0

→
Λ

K
+

π
−

, and $$ {\Lambda}_b^0\to p{\pi}^{-}{K}_s $$

Λ
b
0

→
p

π
−

K
s

.
On factorisation schemes for the electron parton distribution functions in QED
Authors: Frixione S.
Published: July 2021

Abstract

The electron, positron, and photon Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs) of the unpolarised electron have recently been computed at the next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy in QED, by adopting the $$ \overline{\mathrm{MS}} $$

MS
¯

factorisation scheme. We present here analogous results, obtained by working in a different framework that is inspired by the so-called DIS scheme. We derive analytical solutions relevant to the large-z region, where we show that the behaviour of the PDFs depends in a dramatic way on whether running-α effects are included to all orders, as opposed to being truncated to some fixed order. By means of suitable initial and evolution conditions, next-to-leading logarithmic accurate PDFs are obtained whose large-z functional forms are identical to those of their leading logarithmic counterparts.
Stability of constant steady states of a chemotaxis model
Authors: Cygan Szymon , Karch Grzegorz , Krawczyk Krzysztof , Wakui Hiroshi
Published: July 2021

The Cauchy problem for the parabolic–elliptic Keller–Segel system in the wholen-dimensional space is studied. For this model, every constant$$A \in {\mathbb {R}}$$A∈Ris a stationary solution. The main goal of this work is to show that$$A < 1$$A<1is a stable steady state while$$A > 1$$A>1is unstable. Uniformly local Lebesgue spaces are used in order to deal with solutions that do not decay at spatial variable on the unbounded domain.
Ein mathematisches Modell zur Schätzung der Dunkelziffer von SARS-CoV-2-Infektionen in der Frühphase der Pandemie am Beispiel Deutschland und Italien
Authors: Fiedler Jochen , Moritz Christian P. , Feth Sascha , Speckert Michael , Dreßler Klaus , Schöbel Anita
Published: July 2021

Hintergrund

Gerade in der Frühphase einer Pandemie ist es schwierig, verlässliche Zahlen über deren Ausbreitung zu erhalten. Die derzeitige COVID-19-Pandemie und das damit verbundene umfassende, aber nicht vollständige Datenmonitoring bieten die Möglichkeit, die Dunkelziffer der nicht erfassten Fälle zu schätzen.

Ziel

Vorstellung eines einfachen mathematischen Modells, welches eine frühzeitige Abschätzung der Zahl nichtregistrierter Fälle (Dunkelziffer) ermöglicht.

Material und Methoden

Es werden die Prävalenzen der gemeldeten Infektionen in verschiedenen Altersgruppen mit Kennzahlen der altersabhängigen Kontaktzahlen kombiniert. Daraus wird für jede Altersgruppe eine korrigierte Prävalenz abgeleitet, mit der dann die Dunkelziffer geschätzt werden kann.

Ergebnisse

Unser Modell berechnet für Mitte April 2020 in Deutschland insgesamt 2,8-mal so viele Infektionen wie die Zahl der registrierten Infektionen (Fälle). Für Italien ergibt sich Mitte April 2020 ein Faktor von 8,3. Die daraus abgeleiteten Fallsterblichkeiten betragen 0,98 % für Deutschland und 1,51 % für Italien, welche deutlich näher zusammenliegen als die rein aus den zu dem Zeitpunkt vorhandenen Meldezahlen abgeleiteten Fallsterblichkeiten von 2,7 % und 12,6 %.

Diskussion

Die aus dem Modell abgeleitete Dunkelziffer kann die unterschiedlichen Beobachtungen in den Fallsterblichkeiten und der Zustände in der Frühphase der COVID-19-Pandemie in Deutschland und Italien zu einem großen Teil erklären. Das Modell ist einfach, schnell und robust implementierbar und kann gut darauf reagieren, wenn die Meldezahlen hinsichtlich der Altersstruktur nicht repräsentativ für die Bevölkerung sind. Wir empfehlen, dieses Modell für eine effiziente und frühzeitige Schätzung nichtgemeldeter Fallzahlen bei zukünftigen Epidemien und Pandemien in Betracht zu ziehen.
Soziale Ungleichheit in der regionalen Ausbreitung von SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Dragano Nico , Hoebel Jens , Wachtler Benjamin , Diercke Michaela , Lunau Thorsten , Wahrendorf Morten
Published: July 2021

Hintergrund und Ziel

Ob sozioökonomische Faktoren die Ausbreitung von SARS-CoV‑2 beeinflussen, ist nicht ausreichend beantwortet, da frühere Studien in der Regel kumulative Inzidenzen betrachtet und die zeitliche Entwicklung der Ausbreitung außer Acht gelassen haben. Dieser Beitrag konzentriert sich daher auf die Entwicklung von regionalen Neuinfektionen in Zusammenhang mit sozioökonomischen Faktoren. Ausgehend vom internationalen Forschungsstand präsentieren wir eigene Analysen von Meldedaten aus Deutschland.

Methoden

Diese Studie untersucht regionale Daten gemeldeter COVID-19-Fälle für die 401 Landkreise und kreisfreien Städte (Kreisebene) in Deutschland und vergleicht den zeitlichen Verlauf entlang sozioökonomischer Merkmale der Kreise. Betrachtet werden altersstandardisierte wöchentliche Inzidenzen für den Zeitraum 03.02.2020–28.03.2021. Sozial- und Wirtschaftsindikatoren auf Kreisebene stammen aus der INKAR(Indikatoren und Karten zur Raum- und Stadtentwicklung)-Datenbank (z. B. Einkommen, Beschäftigtenquote, Wohnfläche).

Ergebnisse

Während in der ersten und zu Beginn der zweiten Welle der Pandemie Kreise mit höherem mittleren Haushaltseinkommen höhere Inzidenzen hatten, stiegen sie in Kreisen mit niedrigem Einkommen ab Dezember 2020 deutlich an. Kreise mit einem hohen Anteil an Beschäftigten allgemein und speziell solchen im Produktionssektor hatten gerade in der zweiten und dritten Welle hohe Inzidenzen. Kreise mit einer geringen Wohnfläche je Einwohner hatten ab November 2020 ausgeprägt höhere Inzidenzen.

Schlussfolgerung

Der regionale Verlauf der Pandemie unterscheidet sich nach Sozial- und Wirtschaftsindikatoren. Eine differenzierte Betrachtung dieser Unterschiede könnte Hinweise auf zielgruppenspezifische Schutz- und Teststrategien geben und helfen, soziale Faktoren zu identifizieren, die Infektionen begünstigen.
Der Chirurg im Spagat – Lehre im klinischen Alltag
Authors: Sterz J. , Britz V. , Carstensen P. , Kollewe T. , Voß S. H. , Stefanescu M. C. , Schreckenbach T. , Verboket R. D. , Rüsseler Miriam
Published: July 2021

Hintergrund

Aufgrund des Nachwuchsmangels muss die Chirurgie vermehrt für die Weiterbildung zum Chirurgen begeistern. Studierende bemängeln, dass ihr Unterricht nachrangig zur Patientenversorgung und durch die Faktoren Zeit und ärztliches Personal limitiert ist. Obwohl es viele Arbeiten mit Fokus auf die Studierenden gibt, fehlen Arbeiten mit dem Fokus auf die Sicht der Lehrenden.

Ziel der Arbeit

Die Lehre im Fach Chirurgie im Stationsalltag und Ursachen von Problemen hierbei sollen aus Sicht der Lehrenden analysiert werden.

Material und Methoden

Im Rahmen der prospektiven Studie wurde ein Leitfaden für semistrukturierte Interviews mit ausformulierten, offenen Fragen erstellt, die mit weiteren Spezifizierungsfragen versehen wurden.

Alle Interviews wurden anhand des Leitfadens geführt und aufgezeichnet. Die Anzahl der Interviews ergab sich aus dem Prinzip der inhaltlichen Sättigung.

Ergebnisse

Alle der 22 befragten Ärzte messen der Lehre im klinischen Alltag einen hohen Stellenwert bei. Dennoch beschreiben sie, dass die Lernziele im klinischen Alltag nicht immer erreicht werden. Als Hauptgrund hierfür wird die mangelnde Zeit genannt. Mit zunehmender klinischer Erfahrung kommen jedoch weitere Faktoren hinzu: Ober- und Chefärzte beklagen die zu geringen Vorkenntnisse und die zu geringe Motivation einiger Studierender. Die meisten Befragten beschreiben, keine Anerkennung für ihre Lehre zu erhalten. Insgesamt wird die studentische Lehre als zusätzliche Belastung wahrgenommen, die aber alle Befragten für lohnenswert halten.

Diskussion

Neben Personalmangel ist die fehlende Anerkennung das wichtigste Hemmnis für eine effektive Lehre. Es ist daher wichtig, die Wertigkeit der Lehre durch die Belohnung guter Lehrleistungen und Schaffung einer dahingehenden Transparenz zu erhöhen.
Immigration and economic mobility
Authors: Hoen Maria F. , Markussen Simen , Røed Knut
Published: July 2021

We examine how immigration affects natives’ relative prime-age labor market outcomes by economic class background, with class background established on the basis of parents’ earnings rank. Exploiting alternative sources of variation in immigration patterns across time and space, we find that immigration from low-income countries reduces intergenerational mobility and thus steepens the social gradient in natives’ labor market outcomes, whereas immigration from high-income countries levels it. These findings are robust with respect to a wide range of identifying assumptions. The analysis is based on high-quality population-wide administrative data from Norway, which is one of the rich-world countries with the most rapid rise in the immigrant population share over the past two decades. Our findings suggest that immigration can explain a considerable part of the observed relative decline in economic performance among natives with a lower-class background.
Impact of induction chemotherapy with intermediate-dosed cytarabine and subsequent allogeneic stem cell transplantation on the outcome of high-risk acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Fleischmann Maximilian , Schnetzke Ulf , Frietsch Jochen J. , Sayer Herbert G. , Schrenk Karin , Hammersen Jakob , Glaser Anita , Hilgendorf Inken , Hochhaus Andreas , Scholl Sebastian
Published: July 2021

Background

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with antecedent hematological disease (s-AML) and treatment-related AML (t-AML) predicts poor prognosis. Intensive treatment protocols of those high-risk patients should consider allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in first complete remission (CR). Despite allo-HSCT, relapse rate remains high. Induction chemotherapy with liposomal cytarabine and daunorubicin (CPX-351) has been approved for patients with AML with myeloid-related changes (AML-MRC) or t-AML based on improved survival and remission rates compared to standard 7 + 3 induction.

Patients and methods

110 patients with newly diagnosed s-AML or t-AML at a university hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Median age was 62 years (24–77 years). A total of 65 patients with s-AML after MDS (59%) and 23 patients (20.9%) with t-AML were included. Induction chemotherapy consisted of intermediate-dosed cytarabine (ID-AraC) in combination with idarubicin (patients up to 60 years) or mitoxantrone (patients over 60 years). In patients subsequently undergoing allo-HSCT, reduced conditioning regimens (RIC) were applied prior to transplantation in 47 of 62 patients (76%).

Results

Induction chemotherapy with ID-AraC resulted in an overall response rate of 83% including complete remission (CR/CRi) in 69 patients (63%) with a low rate of early death (2.7%). Most relevant non-hematologic toxicity consisted of infectious complications including sepsis with need of intensive care treatment in five patients (4.5%) and proven or probable invasive fungal disease in eight patients (7.2%). Relapse-free survival (RFS), event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) of the whole cohort were 19 months (0–167), 10 months (0–234) and 15 months (0–234), respectively (p < 0.0001). A significant improvement of OS was observed in patients who underwent allo-HSCT compared to those without subsequent allo-HSCT: 9 vs. 46 months, p < 0.0001. Rate of transplantation-related mortality (TRM) in the early phase post allo-HSCT was low (0.9% at day 30 and 1.8% at day 90, respectively). RIC conditioning results in OS rate of 60% after 60 months post allo-HSCT (median OS not reached).

Conclusion

S-AML and t-AML patients receiving induction chemotherapy with intermediate-dosed cytarabine showed satisfactory response rate and consolidation therapy with allo-HSCT after full or reduced-intensity conditioning further improved survival in these patients with similar outcome as reported for CPX-351.
Analytical model for managing hypotony after implantation surgery of a glaucoma drainage device
Authors: Agujetas R. , Kudiesh B. , Fernández-Vigo J. I. , García-Feijóo Julián , Montanero J. M.
Published: July 2021

The main aim of glaucoma treatment is to reduce the intraocular pressure (IOP). One of the most common surgical treatments of glaucoma is the implantation of a glaucoma drainage device to drain the aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to a filtration bleb, where the aqueous humor is absorbed. In some cases, the excess of drainage causes ocular hypotony, which constitutes a sight-threatening complication. To prevent hypotony after this intervention, surgeons frequently introduce a suture into the device tube, which increases the hydraulic resistance of the tube and, therefore, the IOP. This study aims to provide an analytical model to correct hypotony following implantation surgery of a glaucoma drainage device, which may help glaucoma surgeons decide on hypotony treatment. The results indicate that the IOP after implanting a cylindrical tube around 300 μm in diameter is essentially the same as that built up in the filtering bleb and can hardly be controlled by introducing a straight suture unless the suture diameter is slightly lower than that of the tube. On the contrary, when the tube diameter is smaller than, for example, 100 μm, significant reductions of the IOP can be obtained by introducing a thin suture into the tube.
Maßnahmenvorschläge zur Erhöhung der Biodiversität von Arthropoden in Erwerbsobstanlagen
Authors: Dannenmann Doris , Hietel Elke , Wagner Thomas
Published: July 2021

Gerade Dauerkulturen, welche über viele Jahre bestehen bleiben, können einen großen ökologischen Wert für Insekten und Spinnentiere darstellen, wenn die negativen Einflüsse durch die Bewirtschaftung durch gezielte Maßnahmen minimiert werden. Im Rahmen eines Forschungsprojektes wurde von 2016 bis 2019 an der TH Bingen in Zusammenarbeit mit der Gemeinde Zornheim (Rheinhessen), zwei dort ansässigen Obstbauern, dem Dienstleistungszentrum Ländlicher Raum Rheinhessen-Nahe-Hunsrück (DLR RNH) und der Universität Koblenz-Landau (Campus Koblenz), gefördert durch die Stiftung Natur- und Umwelt Rheinland-Pfalz die Biodiversität von Obstanlagen untersucht. Es wurde eine intensive Erfassung der Insekten und Spinnentiere auf Basis von Individuenzahlen, Verteilung der Tiere auf Großgruppen, Artenzahlen der Käfer (inkl. Rote Liste) und Wanzen, deren Diversität und der sie beeinflussenden Faktoren auf vier Erwerbsobstflächen und einer Streuobstwiese als Referenzfläche untersucht. Mittels eines im Projekt erarbeiteten Bewertungsbogens, wurden die Auswirkungen der fünf Faktorenkomplexe: Sonderstrukturen, Anlagenstruktur, Beschattung, Mahdregime und Einsatz von Pflanzenschutzmitteln erhoben. Die visuelle Darstellung der Einflussfaktoren mittels Netzdiagramm zeigt biodiversitätsbeeinträchtigende Faktoren und ermöglicht so Empfehlungen zur Aufwertung der Biodiversität. Die hier vorgeschlagenen Maßnahmen zielen auf eine Erhöhung der Biodiversität und Minimierung der negativen Auswirkungen der Bewirtschaftung in Erwerbsobstanlagen. Durch eine möglichst große, an die Kultur angepasste Strukturvielfalt soll die Verfügbarkeit von Nistplätzen, Nahrung und Überwinterungsmöglichkeiten für Insekten und Spinnentiere deutlich erhöht werden und damit zur Ausbildung stabiler Populationen führt.
Comparative hydrolysis analysis of cellulose samples and aspects of its application in conservation science
Authors: Becker Manuel , Ahn Kyujin , Bacher Markus , Xu Chunlin , Sundberg Anna , Willför Stefan , Rosenau Thomas , Potthast Antje
Published: July 2021

Knowledge about the carbohydrate composition of pulp and paper samples is essential for their characterization, further processing, and understanding the properties. In this study, we compare sulfuric acid hydrolysis and acidic methanolysis, followed by GC–MS analysis of the corresponding products, by means of 42 cellulose and polysaccharide samples. Results are discussed and compared to solid-state NMR (crystallinity) and gel permeation chromatography (weight-averaged molecular mass) data. The use of the hydrolysis methods in the context of cellulose conservation science is evaluated, using e-beam treated and artificially aged cellulose samples.
Assessment of the applicability of a low-cost sensor–based methane monitoring system for continuous multi-channel sampling
Authors: Nagahage Isura Sumeda Priyadarshana , Nagahage Ekanayaka Achchillage Ayesha Dilruk , Fujino Takeshi
Published: July 2021

Systems that are made of several low-cost gas sensors with automatic gas sampling may have the potential to serve as reliable fast methane analyzers. However, there is a lack of reports about such types of systems evaluated under field conditions. Here, we developed a continuous methane monitoring system with automated gas sampling unit using low-cost gas sensors, TGS 2611 and MQ-4, that use a simple cloud-based data acquisition platform. We verified the consistency, repeatability, and reproducibility of the data obtained by TGS 2611 and MQ-4 low-cost gas sensors by measuring high- and low-concentration methane samples. The normalized root-mean-square errors (NRMSEs) of the samples with high methane concentrations, [CH4] of 3, 4, 6, and 7%, were 0.0788, 0.0696, 0.1198, and 0.0719 for the TGS 2611 sensor, respectively, and were confirmed using a gas chromatograph as a reference analyzer. The NRMSEs of the samples with low [CH4] of 0.096, 0.145, 0.193, and 0.241% measured by the TGS 2611 sensor were 0.0641, 0.1749, 0.0157, and 0.1613, whereas those NRMSEs of the same concentrations measured by the MQ-4 sensor were 0.3143, 0.5766, 0.6301, and 0.6859, respectively. Laboratory-scale anaerobic digesters were tested using the developed system. The anaerobic digesters were continuously operated for 2 months, demonstrating the potential use of sensors for detecting and monitoring methane in the field level application. This study utilized a unique way to combine the advantages of low-cost sensors and develop a reliable monitoring system by minimizing drawbacks of low-cost sensors.
Environmental key performance indicators: the role of regulations and stakeholder influence
Authors: Zarzycka Ewelina , Krasodomska Joanna
Published: July 2021

Environmental protection is of vital importance and needs to be considered in the context of business strategies, including companies’ reporting decisions. This paper aims to investigate the importance of stakeholders for environmental key performance indicators (KPIs) and the significance of different types of environmental KPIs to various stakeholders. The study is based on a content analysis of the disclosures provided by large public interest companies operating in Poland. The data were processed to produce descriptive statistics as well as classification and regression trees (C&RTs). According to the study results, the sample companies provide a variety of environmental indicators, with a total of 735 KPIs identified. The research confirms the importance of stakeholders interested in environmental issues for corporate decisions regarding environmental KPI disclosure. The study contributes to the extant literature by providing new insights into the importance of different stakeholder groups for the disclosure of environmental KPIs. It may serve as an incentive for standard setters and practitioners to take a proactive approach in further developing and improving environment-related reporting regulations.
Automated vehicles and the morality of post-collision behavior
Authors: Krügel Sebastian , Uhl Matthias , Balcombe Bryn
Published: July 2021

We address the considerations of the European Commission Expert Group on the ethics of connected and automated vehicles regarding data provision in the event of collisions. While human drivers’ appropriate post-collision behavior is clearly defined, regulations for automated driving do not provide for collision detection. We agree it is important to systematically incorporate citizens’ intuitions into the discourse on the ethics of automated vehicles. Therefore, we investigate whether people expect automated vehicles to behave like humans after an accident, even if this behavior does not directly affect the consequences of the accident. We find that appropriate post-collision behavior substantially influences people’s evaluation of the underlying crash scenario. Moreover, people clearly think that automated vehicles can and should record the accident, stop at the site, and call the police. They are even willing to pay for technological features that enable post-collision behavior. Our study might begin a research program on post-collision behavior, enriching the empirically informed study of automated driving ethics that so far exclusively focuses on pre-collision behavior.
Sex Differences in Childlessness in Norway: Identification of Underlying Demographic Drivers
Authors: Kravdal Øystein
Published: July 2021

In Norway, as in many other rich countries, childlessness is more common among men than women and has also increased more among men. Over the last 15 years, the gap in childlessness between 45-year-old women and men has widened from 5.8 to 10.2 percentage points, according to national register data. In the Norwegian-born subgroup, the gap has increased by 2.4 percentage points, from 5.8 to 8.2. The goal of the study was to identify the demographic drivers of this development, using a quite simple, but original, decomposition approach. The components reflect changes in relative cohort sizes, whether the child has one native and one immigrant parent, whether the father was older than 45, and whether one of the parents already had a child, no longer lived in Norway at age 45, or was unidentified. It was found that the modestly increasing sex gap in childlessness among the Norwegian-born is largely linked to changes in cohort sizes, i.e. fertility trends. Changes in re-partnership have actually contributed weakly in the opposite direction: It has become more common especially among men to have the first child with a partner who already had a child, and thus not contribute to bringing also that person out of childlessness. The importance of the various components is different for immigrants, among whom the sex gap in childlessness has increased particularly much. This development may also reflect that especially male immigrants perhaps have children in the home country who are not included in the Norwegian register.
Temporal prophecy for proving temporal properties of infinite-state systems
Authors: Padon Oded , Hoenicke Jochen , McMillan Kenneth L. , Podelski Andreas , Sagiv Mooly , Shoham Sharon
Published: July 2021

Various verification techniques for temporal properties transform temporal verification to safety verification. For infinite-state systems, these transformations are inherently imprecise. That is, for some instances, the temporal property holds, but the resulting safety property does not. This paper introduces a mechanism for tackling this imprecision. This mechanism, which we call temporal prophecy, is inspired by prophecy variables. Temporal prophecy refines an infinite-state system using first-order linear temporal logic formulas, via a suitable tableau construction. For a specific liveness-to-safety transformation based on first-order logic, we show that using temporal prophecy strictly increases the precision. Furthermore, temporal prophecy leads to robustness of the proof method, which is manifested by a cut elimination theorem. We integrate our approach into the Ivy deductive verification system, and show that it can handle challenging temporal verification examples.
A Critical Analysis of Blaustein’s Polemic Against Husserl’s Method
Authors: Płotka Witold
Published: July 2021

The aim of the article is to define and investigate an interpretative framework for the philosophy of Leopold Blaustein, a student of Twardowski in Lwów (Lvov, Lviv) and Husserl in Freiburg im Breisgau. The author defends the thesis that it is justified to refer to Blaustein’s philosophy not as phenomenology sensu stricto, but as a phenomenologically-oriented descriptive psychology related but not equivalent to the project expounded by Husserl in the first edition of Logische Untersuchungen as well as in his project of phenomenological psychology (as formulated in 1925). The article traces Blaustein’s critique of Husserl’s phenomenological methods, putting it in the historical context of the discussion with Ingarden. Next, the author juxtaposes Blaustein’s understanding of psychology with Husserl’s project of 1925, which makes it possible to identify not only the differences between the two projects, but also their similarities. The article also raises questions about the scope of descriptive-psychological analyses.
Primary congenital glaucoma surgery: outcomes and visual function
Authors: Gusson Elena , Chemello Francesca , Longo Rosa , Franzolin Elia , Vesentini Roberta , Verlato Giuseppe , Marchini Giorgio
Published: July 2021

Purpose

To assess the long-term visual outcomes of children with PCG, irrespective of the type of surgical procedure, and to create visual acuity curves to help in predicting the development of visual function in these patients. The secondary aim is to identify associated factors for visual decline or loss, highlighting differences between neonatal and infantile subgroups.

Methods

The medical records of pediatric glaucoma patients from 1996 to 2017 at the University Hospital of Verona (Verona, Italy) were retrospectively reviewed. Visual acuities, surgeries, PCG subtype and etiology of vision impairment were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed to detect factors associated with vision decline.

Results

Sixty-seven eyes (40 patients) were included in the study. Developmental predictive curves of visual acuity showed that children with infantile PCG had a better visual outcome than children with neonatal PCG at each step of follow-up. A good-to-moderate VA (< 1 LogMAR) was achieved in 56 eyes (83.6%), while 11 eyes (16.4%) had poor VA (≥ 1 LogMAR). The age at onset, sex, number of surgeries, intraocular pressure (IOP) control (with or without antiglaucoma drugs), axial length (AL) and corneal opacities were statistically associated with vision impairment (p < 0.01). The main cause of visual impairment was amblyopia.

Conclusions

Visual outcomes of PCG significantly correlate with the age at diagnosis. Although a good long-term IOP control can often be achieved in PCG, often the visual acuity remains below the lower limits of the normal range. Poor vision in childhood is related to global developmental problems, and referral to third-level services should not be delayed to prevent vision impairment. In this regard, visual acuity curves can be a useful tool for the consultant ophthalmologist to define the visual development of children affected by PCG.
Filtration and fertilisation effects of the bivalves Mytilus edulis and Magallana gigas on the kelp Saccharina latissima in tank culture
Authors: Hargrave Matthew S. , Ekelund Anothai , Nylund Göran M. , Pavia Henrik
Published: July 2021

Biofouling by opportunistic epiphytes is a major concern in seaweed aquaculture. Colonisation of fouling organisms contributes to a reduction in algal performance as well as a lower quality crop. Further, epiphyte removal techniques often increase maintenance costs of cultivation systems. There have been a variety of methods to mitigate fouling in tank cultivations of seaweed, including the use of biological controls. Here, we present the use of filter feeding bivalves, the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and Pacific oyster (Magallana gigas), as a novel biofilter that also serves as a source of dissolved inorganic nitrogen in tank cultivations of the sugar kelp, Saccharina latissima. We observed significant reductions of fouling epiphytes on seaweed blades of around 50% by bivalve filtration, significant elevations of ammonium (NH4+) and phosphate (PO43−) by bivalves and alterations to kelp tissue quality when co-cultivated with bivalves rather than supplied with ambient seawater. Stable isotope ratios and seawater chlorophyll a concentrations provided evidence for bivalve biofiltration and the incorporation of their by-products into kelp tissue.
Optimization Modulo the Theories of Signed Bit-Vectors and Floating-Point Numbers
Authors: Trentin Patrick , Sebastiani Roberto
Published: July 2021

Optimization modulo theories (OMT) is an important extension of SMT which allows for finding models that optimize given objective functions, typically consisting in linear-arithmetic or Pseudo-Boolean terms. However, many SMT and OMT applications, in particular from SW and HW verification, require handling bit-precise representations of numbers, which in SMT are handled by means of the theory of bit-vectors ($${{\mathcal {B}}}{{\mathcal {V}}}$$

B
V

) for the integers and that of floating-point numbers ($$\mathcal {FP}$$
FP
) for the reals respectively. Whereas an approach for OMT with (unsigned) $${{\mathcal {B}}}{{\mathcal {V}}}$$

B
V

objectives has been proposed by Nadel & Ryvchin, unfortunately we are not aware of any existing approach for OMT with $$\mathcal {FP}$$
FP
objectives. In this paper we fill this gap, and we address for the first time $$\text {OMT}$$
OMT
with $$\mathcal {FP}$$
FP
objectives. We present a novel OMT approach, based on the novel concept of attractor and dynamic attractor, which extends the work of Nadel and Ryvchin to work with signed-$${{\mathcal {B}}}{{\mathcal {V}}}$$

B
V

objectives and, most importantly, with $$\mathcal {FP}$$
FP
objectives. We have implemented some novel $$\text {OMT}$$
OMT
procedures on top of OptiMathSAT and tested them on modified problems from the SMT-LIB repository. The empirical results support the validity and feasibility of our novel approach.