bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ENSO and PDO related interannual variability in the north and east‐central part of the Bolivian Altiplano in South America
Authors: Rojas‐Murillo Katherine , Lupo Anthony R. , Garcia Magali , Gilles Jere , Korner Alex , Rivera Marco A.
Published: September 2021

Previous studies in this region focused on interannual and interdecadal precipitation variability during Dec–Feb (summer), relating the El Niño (EN) phase to droughts. Many studies examine this variability over different parts of the Altiplano, and mountainous terrain is well‐known for producing complex climate signals as well as variability over relatively small regions. Studies that have examined climate variability over the Altiplano suggest that the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) influence is complex. The monthly precipitation, maximum and minimum temperature from 1979 to 2017 are used to examine how ENSO and PDO (Pacific decadal oscillation) influence climate conditions. Power spectra analysis determined the periodicities, and analysis of variance was applied to standardized anomalies of the three variables to evaluate PDO and ENSO as variance factors. Frequency distributions were calculated by PDO and ENSO phases, and the differences were tested using the Chi‐square test. Our results suggest a PDO and ENSO influence, displaying more dry anomalies during DJF for EN/PDO(+), in agreement with a northward position of the Bolivian high. More wet anomalies during SON (Sep–Oct–Nov) in Neutral (NEU)/PDO(+) due to an upper‐level weak westerly flow during PDO(+). For maximum temperature, a reduction in cold anomalies during EN/PDO(−) was observed along with greater warm anomalies in JJA (Jun–Jul–Aug), SON and MAM (Mar–Apr–May). Similar results were observed for NEU phase, due to a greater occurrence of high pressures centres over the region during the PDO(−). Minimum temperature results displayed more variation within stations and a less clear response to ENSO compared to PDO. The research found a clear influence of PDO in the regional climatology associated with the influence of the upper‐level jet stream using the NCEP‐NCAR composites. This provided a better understanding of these two phenomena, which would allow the production of seasonal forecasts based on ENSO and PDO using both surface and upper‐level information.
Agronomic potential of two different glass‐based materials as novel inorganic slow‐release iron fertilizers
Authors: D'Amato Roberto , De Feudis Mauro , Troni Elisabetta , Gualtieri Sabrina , Soldati Roberto , Famiani Franco , Businelli Daniela
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND

Large amounts of chemical fertilizers are still currently used to compensate the soil nutrients scarcity in order to increase and sustain crop yield with consequent rising of environmental pollution and health problems. To mitigate these environmental risks, fertilizers with slow‐release behaviours have been developed. The aim of this study was to assess the agronomic potential of two different glass‐based materials (by‐products from the ceramic sector) as inorganic slow‐release iron (Fe) fertilizers.

RESULTS

The X‐ray powder diffraction confirmed the presence of amorphous structure and the richness in Fe of the investigated materials. The solubility analysis highlighted the slow Fe release from the glassy network and that the maximum of the Fe release was at alkaline pH suggesting their potential use as slow‐release Fe fertilizers, especially in calcareous soils. The pot and leaching experiments demonstrated that although the glass‐based materials increased the amount of soil available Fe, we did not observe Fe leaching and plant toxicity. This fact would suggest their reliability to increase soil fertility without negative effects on the environment.

CONCLUSION

The use of glass‐based materials, specifically by‐products from the ceramic sectors, as inorganic slow‐release Fe fertilizers can be sustained. The tests performed at three different pH conditions testified the slow‐release behaviour of the tested materials and underlined that the Fe release increases at alkaline environment. Therefore, the present study pointed out the glass‐based materials by products from the ceramic sector as novel slow‐release and environmental‐friendly fertilizers in agriculture. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Influence of strains and environmental cultivation conditions on the bioconversion of ergosterol and vitamin D2 in the sun mushroom
Authors: Vieira Junior Wagner Gonçalves , Centeio Cardoso Rossana Veviana , Fernandes Ângela , Ferreira Isabel Cristina Fernandes Rodrigues , Barros Lillian , Pardo‐Giménez Arturo , Mendel Soares Douglas Moraes , Stevani Cassius Vinicius , Zied Diego Cunha
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND

The fungus Agaricus subrufescens is grown commercially in China, the USA, Brazil, Taiwan and Japan, among others. However, each country adopts a cultivation system that significantly influences the agronomical parameters and chemical composition of the harvested mushrooms. In this study, the influence of the cultivation process on the content of ergosterol and vitamin D2 was evaluated.

RESULTS

Four commercial strains of A. subrufescens (ABL 04/49, ABL CS7, ABL 18/01 and ABL 19/01) and two environmental cultivation conditions (in the field and a controlled chamber with the absence of sunlight) were used. Infield cultivation, ABL CS7 and ABL 19/01 strains presented better agronomic parameters, whereas in a protected environment ABL 19/01, ABL 04/49 and ABL 18/01 demonstrated better performance, respectively. The highest biological efficiency value (64%) was provided by ABL 19/01 strain in a controlled environment.

CONCLUSION

The highest content in ergosterol (990 mg kg−1) and vitamin D2 (36.8 mg kg−1) were observed in mushrooms obtained in the field from strain ABL 04/49, which presents reasonable agronomic parameters for cultivation. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
Pathological examples of structures with o‐minimal open core
Authors: Block Gorman Alexi , Caulfield Erin , Hieronymi Philipp
Published: August 2021

This paper answers several open questions around structures with o‐minimal open core. We construct an expansion of an o‐minimal structure by a unary predicate such that its open core is a proper o‐minimal expansion of . We give an example of a structure that has an o‐minimal open core and the exchange property, yet defines a function whose graph is dense. Finally, we produce an example of a structure that has an o‐minimal open core and definable Skolem functions, but is not o‐minimal.
New results for impulsive fractional differential equations through variational methods
Authors: Gao Dongdong , Li Jianli
Published: August 2021

In this paper, we mainly discuss the existence of solutions for impulsive fractional differential equations. By applying variational methods and critical point theory, some new criteria to guarantee that the impulsive fractional differential equation has infinitely many solutions are established. Moreover, we improve and extend some previous results.
On local‐in‐time Strichartz estimates for the Schrödinger equation with singular potentials
Authors: Kim Seongyeon , Seo Ihyeok , Seok Jihyeon
Published: August 2021

There have been a lot of works concerning the Strichartz estimates for the perturbed Schrödinger equation by potential. These can be basically carried out adopting the well‐known procedure for obtaining the Strichartz estimates from the weighted L2 resolvent estimates for the Laplacian. In this paper we handle the Strichartz estimates without relying on the resolvent estimates. This enables us to consider various potential classes such as the Morrey–Campanato classes.
Erratum to the paper “Global Lp estimates for degenerate Ornstein–Uhlenbeck operators with variable coefficients”
Authors: Bramanti Marco , Cupini Giovanni , Lanconelli Ermanno , Priola Enrico
Published: August 2021

In this note we point out and correct a mistake in our paper “Global Lp estimates for degenerate Ornstein–Uhlenbeck operators with variable coefficients”, published in Math. Nachr. 286 (2013), no. 11–12, 1087–1101.
Dynamic stability of a class of fractional‐order nonlinear systems via fixed point theory
Authors: Liu Xin , Chen Lili , Zhao Yanfeng , Song Xianhua
Published: September 2021

In this paper, the problem of the uniform stability for a class of fuzzy fractional‐order genetic regulatory networks with random discrete delays, distributed delays, and parameter uncertainties is studied. Although there is a portion of literature on using fixed point theorems to study the stability of fractional neural networks, most of them required the fractional order to be in
. However, the case of the fractional‐order belonging to
has not been discussed. To solve it, this work proposes a novel idea of using fixed point theory to study the stability of fuzzy (0,1) order neural networks, the problem of the uniqueness of the solution of the considered genetic regulatory networks is resolved, and a novel sufficient condition to guarantee the uniform stability of above genetic regulatory networks is also derived. Eventually, an example is given to demonstrate that the obtained result is effective.
Challenges in ensuring the generalizability of image quantitation methods for MRI
Authors: Keenan Kathryn E. , Delfino Jana G. , Jordanova Kalina V. , Poorman Megan E. , Chirra Prathyush , Chaudhari Akshay S. , Baessler Bettina , Winfield Jessica , Viswanath Satish E. , deSouza Nandita M.
Published: August 2021

Image quantitation methods including quantitative MRI, multiparametric MRI, and radiomics offer great promise for clinical use. However, many of these methods have limited clinical adoption, in part due to issues of generalizability, that is, the ability to translate methods and models across institutions. Researchers can assess generalizability through measurement of repeatability and reproducibility, thus quantifying different aspects of measurement variance. In this article, we review the challenges to ensuring repeatability and reproducibility of image quantitation methods as well as present strategies to minimize their variance to enable wider clinical implementation. We present possible solutions for achieving clinically acceptable performance of image quantitation methods and briefly discuss the impact of minimizing variance and achieving generalizability towards clinical implementation and adoption.
Additive Schwarz preconditioners for C0 interior penalty methods for the obstacle problem of clamped Kirchhoff plates
Authors: Brenner Susanne C. , Sung Li‐Yeng , Wang Kening
Published: September 2021

The discrete variational inequalities resulting from interior penalty methods for the obstacle problem of clamped Kirchhoff plates can be solved by the primal‐dual active set algorithm. We develop and analyze additive Schwarz preconditioners for the auxiliary systems that appear in each iteration of the primal‐dual active set algorithm. Numerical results corroborate our theoretical estimates.
“Money was the problem”: Caregivers' self‐reported reasons for abandoning their children's cancer treatment in southwest Uganda
Authors: Atwiine Barnabas , Busingye Imelda , Kyarisiima Rose , Baluku Emmanuel , Mbabazi Ruth , Bamwine Brian , Ankunda Siyadora , Libes Jaime , Weinstein Howard , Schwartz Kevin , Kiwanuka Gertrude
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Treatment abandonment contributes significantly to poor survival of children with cancer in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC). In order to inform an approach to this problem, we investigated why caregivers withdraw their children from treatment.

Methods

In a qualitative study, carried out in October and November 2020, in‐depth interviews were conducted with caregivers of children who had abandoned cancer treatment at the Pediatric Cancer Unit of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in south‐western Uganda. Recorded in‐depth interviews were transcribed and analyzed to identify themes of caregivers’ self‐reported reasons for treatment abandonment. The study was approved by the Review and Ethics Committee of Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

Results

Seventy‐seven out of 343 (22.4%) children diagnosed with cancer abandoned treatment during the study period; 20 contactable and consenting caregivers participated in the study. The median age of the caregivers was 37 years and most (65%) were mothers. At the time of this study, eight (40%) children were alive and five (62.5%) were males; with a median age of 6.5 years. Financial difficulty, other obligations, the child falsely appearing cured, preference for alternative treatments, belief that cancer was incurable, fear that the child's death was imminent and chemotherapy side effects were the caregivers’ reasons for treatment abandonment.

Conclusions and recommendation

Seeking cancer treatment for children in Uganda is an expensive venture and treatment abandonment is mainly caused by caregivers’ difficult socio‐economic circumstances. This problem needs to be approached with empathy and support rather than blame.
Rheological investigation of nylon‐carbon fiber composites fabricated using material extrusion‐based additive manufacturing
Authors: Das Arit , Etemadi Martin , Davis Bradley A. , McKnight Steven H. , Williams Christopher B. , Case Scott W. , Bortner Michael J.
Published: August 2021

Fused filament fabrication (FFF) has seen broad industrial adoption as it is capable of manufaturing large complex parts from robust thermoplastics in a cost‐effective manner. However, the mechanical performance of the printed parts is limited due to poor interlayer bonding and the presence of voids. In order to overcome these drawbacks, the addition of short or continuous fibers into the polymer matrix has been investigated, as the fibers can act as a mechanical reinforcement while also mitigating residual stress resulting from the material's rapid solidification following extrusion. Therefore, understanding the implications of process parameters and fiber reinforcements on printed part properties through detailed crystallization analysis and rheological characterizations is of paramount importance. The goal of this study is to understand the process–structure–property relationships of short carbon fiber‐reinforced polyamide 6 (CF‐PA6) by comparing the melt rheology and crystallinity of CF‐PA6 versus a neat PA6 polymer. Differences in the melting and crystallization behavior resulting from the reinforcing fibers revealed an increased time window for crystallization in the fiber‐reinforced matrix. Rheological characterizations at the recommended printing temperatures demonstrate the shear‐thinning behavior of the samples at shear rates relevant to FFF. From a statistical design of experiments analysis, the layer thickness was found to be the most significant parameter affecting the tensile properties of a printed part at a constant printing temperature and printing speed. The tensile fracture surfaces of the printed specimens using scanning electron microscopy were analyzed to provide insights into the failure mechanisms as a function of AM processing variables.
Turning wastes into value‐added materials: Polystyrene nanocomposites (PS‐AgNPs) from waste thermocol and green synthesized silver nanoparticles for water disinfection application
Authors: Bag Subhendu Sekhar , Bora Anupama , Golder Animes Kr.
Published: September 2021

Due to the scarcity of clean water, scientists worldwide are keen to develop cost‐effective, non‐toxic and eco‐friendly water disinfection systems. Achieving proper disinfection without creating harmful byproducts for removing or inactivating waterborne pathogens is the main challenge. In this respect, polystyrene (PS) nanocomposites find wide applications in water storage, food packaging material, transportation, medicine, and so forth. The addition of nanoparticles such as silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into PS enhances its mechanical properties, gas barrier properties, thermal stability, and so forth. This study reports the development of PS‐AgNPs composite using green synthesized AgNPs and waste thermocol. Firstly, the green synthesized AgNPs were prepared in different concentrations and embedded accordingly into the PS matrix. The morphology of PS‐AgNPs nanocomposites was studied using Field Emission Transmission Scanning Microscopy (FESEM) and Field Emission Transmission Electron Microscopy (FETEM). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to evaluate the prepared nanocomposites' surface chemical bonding and surface composition. The thermal property of the nanocomposites was investigated by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The tensile strength of the composites was also estimated. These PS‐AgNPs nanocomposites showed an antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli, a disease‐causing gram‐negative bacteria commonly found in water. Among them, the PS‐AgNPs cup encapsulating 10% AgNPs showed optimum tensile strength and bacteria disinfection property. These nanocomposites have been utilized to prepare cups as a model of water tank for water storage having disinfection properties.
Editor's Letter
Authors: Mick Connie Snyder
Published: September 2021

This letter from the editor provides a brief summary of the articles contained in this issue and invites readers to respond and submit their own articles.
Assessment of domain interactions in the fourteenth round of the Critical Assessment of Structure Prediction (CASP14)
Authors: Schaeffer R. Dustin , Kinch Lisa , Kryshtafovych Andriy , Grishin Nick V.
Published: August 2021

The high accuracy of some CASP14 models at the domain level prompted a more detailed evaluation of structure predictions on whole targets. For the first time in critical assessment of structure prediction (CASP), we evaluated accuracy of difficult domain assembly in models submitted for multidomain targets where the community predicted individual evaluation units (EUs) with greater accuracy than full‐length targets. Ten proteins with domain interactions that did not show evidence of conformational change and were not involved in significant oligomeric contacts were chosen as targets for the domain interaction assessment. Groups were ranked using complementary interaction scores (F1, QS score, and Jaccard coefficient), and their predictions were evaluated for their ability to correctly model inter‐domain interfaces and overall protein folds. Target performance was broadly grouped into two clusters. The first consisted primarily of targets containing two EUs wherein predictors more broadly predicted domain positioning and interfacial contacts correctly. The other consisted of complex two‐EU and three‐EU targets where few predictors performed well. The highest ranked predictor, AlphaFold2, produced high‐accuracy models on eight out of 10 targets. Their interdomain scores on three of these targets were significantly higher than all other groups and were responsible for their overall outperformance in the category. We further highlight the performance of AlphaFold2 and the next best group, BAKER‐experimental on several interesting targets.
A multiscale approach to predict the binding mode of metallo beta‐lactamase inhibitors
Authors: Gervasoni Silvia , Spencer James , Hinchliffe Philip , Pedretti Alessandro , Vairoletti Franco , Mahler Graciela , Mulholland Adrian J.
Published: August 2021

Antibiotic resistance is a major threat to global public health. β‐lactamases, which catalyze breakdown of β‐lactam antibiotics, are a principal cause. Metallo β‐lactamases (MBLs) represent a particular challenge because they hydrolyze almost all β‐lactams and to date no MBL inhibitor has been approved for clinical use. Molecular simulations can aid drug discovery, for example, predicting inhibitor complexes, but empirical molecular mechanics (MM) methods often perform poorly for metalloproteins. Here we present a multiscale approach to model thiol inhibitor binding to IMP‐1, a clinically important MBL containing two catalytic zinc ions, and predict the binding mode of a 2‐mercaptomethyl thiazolidine (MMTZ) inhibitor. Inhibitors were first docked into the IMP‐1 active site, testing different docking programs and scoring functions on multiple crystal structures. Complexes were then subjected to molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and subsequently refined through QM/MM optimization with a density functional theory (DFT) method, B3LYP/6‐31G(d), increasing the accuracy of the method with successive steps. This workflow was tested on two IMP‐1:MMTZ complexes, for which it reproduced crystallographically observed binding, and applied to predict the binding mode of a third MMTZ inhibitor for which a complex structure was crystallographically intractable. We also tested a 12‐6‐4 nonbonded interaction model in MD simulations and optimization with a SCC‐DFTB QM/MM approach. The results show the limitations of empirical models for treating these systems and indicate the need for higher level calculations, for example, DFT/MM, for reliable structural predictions. This study demonstrates a reliable computational pipeline that can be applied to inhibitor design for MBLs and other zinc‐metalloenzyme systems.
Simultaneous voltammetric determination of tramadol and paracetamol exploiting glassy carbon electrode modified with FeNi3 nanoalloy in biological and pharmaceutical media
Authors: Hajmalek Saeed , Jahani Shohreh , Foroughi Mohammad Mehdi
Published: September 2021

The present study aimed to develop FeNi3 nanoalloy‐modified glassy carbon electrode (FeNi3/GCE) to detect paracetamol and tramadol drugs individually and simultaneously. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), chronoamperometry (CA) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were applied to analyze the electrochemical properties of these drugs. The obtained results indicated the facilitation of paracetamol and tramadol oxidation on the FeNi3/GCE surface. The DPV findings confirmed the co‐detection of paracetamol and tramadol within a linear working range between 0.1 and 900.0 μM, with a limit of detection (S/N=3) of 10.0 and 8.2 nM, respectively. Multiple strengths were found for the synthesized electrode, including simplicity, high stability, potent reproducibility and excellent regeneration via simple polishing. The practical application of FeNi3/GCE in serum and urine specimens and pharmaceutical preparations confirmed high selectivity and sensitivity of this electrode to detect both paracetamol and tramadol.
From Glycals to Nitrogen Heterocycles and Carbocycles via “Cleavage‐Intramolecular Recombination Strategy”
Authors: Ramesh Namakkal G.
Published: September 2021

Glycals (carbohydrate enol‐ethers) have enjoyed profound applications in organic synthesis for more than a century. They not only serve as versatile glycosyl donors or as substrates for Ferrier rearrangement, but also find extensive synthetic applications especially as a “chiral pool” for accomplishing the synthesis of a variety of natural and biologically important compounds. As cyclic enol ethers, they demonstrate high reactivity and are among the most and variously transformable monosaccharide derivatives. The uniqueness of the reactivity of glycals is that they can be synthetically tuned to get a library of derivatives through stereo‐ and regioselective introduction of a variety of functional groups at C1, C2, C3 as well as C4 carbons of the sugar. We have developed a practical approach for stereoselective mono‐ and diamination of glycals and over the years utilized these scaffolds for the synthesis of a variety of biologically important nitrogen heterocycles and carbocycles through a “Diversity Oriented Approach”. Our synthetic strategy in this direction mainly relied on the cleavage of ring O−C bond of the sugar followed by an “intramolecular recombination” reaction. Utilizing this strategy, we have accomplished the synthesis of several biologically important natural products, their analogues and related unnatural derivatives. Examples of such compounds reported from our group include polyhydroxypyrrolidines, DMDP, anisomycin, steviamine, pochonicine, conduramines, bulgecinine, aminocyclitols, azepanes, 4‐hydroxy‐D‐proline, azanucleosides and their analogues. A personal account highlighting these syntheses is presented here.
Cane toad (Rhinella marina) vitamin A, vitamin E, and carotenoid kinetics
Authors: Freel Tarra , Koutsos Elizabeth , Minter Larry J. , Tollefson Troy , Ridgley Frank , Smith Dustin , Scott Heather , Ange‐van Heugten Kimberly
Published: August 2021

Many amphibian species are threatened with extinction. Understanding their vitamin A (retinol), E (alpha‐tocopherol), and carotenoid requirements is vital, as normal levels of these nutrients have a known connection to breeding success with abnormal levels leading to disease. This research examined vitamins A, E, and carotenoids (apocarotenoid, beta‐carotene; beta‐cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, and esters) concentration kinetics in the liver and plasma of 65 (57.8) cane toads (Rhinella marina) over 4 months supplemented with commercially available invertebrates in human care. Cane toads were opportunistically collected as part of a population control program for use as an amphibian model species. Toads were randomly assigned to one of two diets: treatment 1 was brown house crickets (Acheta domesticus) consuming Mazuri® Hi Calcium Gut Loading Diet without vitamin A or E supplement, plus fresh raw vegetables (carrot/sweet potato); Treatment 2 was the same diet except no vegetables. Ten toads were euthanized on Day 0 to analyze baseline free‐ranging liver and plasma metabolites. Six toads consuming each treatment were euthanized on Days 22, 50, and 81, and n = 7 on Day 119 for analysis. Regardless of dietary treatment, most liver and blood metabolites were substantially higher at time 0 than all time points thereafter (p < .05); Ex: liver vitamin A at time 0 was 87.7 ± 16.12 µg/g while Day 119 for treatments 1 and 2 were 11.6 ± 1.19 and 8.2 ± 0.74, respectively. Few statistically significant differences between diets at the same time point were noted (p < .05). The results from this study indicate that additional or alternative diet supplementation may be needed for cane toads (and potentially other amphibians) to mimic their free‐ranging diets.
Mortality trends for five species of macropods from a single institution from 1995 to 2016
Authors: Anderson Kadie , Dennis Patricia M.
Published: August 2021

Macropods are commonly kept and exhibited species worldwide. Mortality records were reviewed for five species of macropods housed at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo from 1995 to 2016. One hundred sixty‐seven deaths occurred including Western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus) (n = 22), Bennett's wallaby (M. rufogriseus) (n = 64), red kangaroo (M. rufus) (n = 56), wallaroo (M. robustus) (n = 9), and Tammar wallaby (M. eugenii) (n = 16). The leading cause of death was trauma, followed by bronchopneumonia for all species. Gastric dilatation was identified as a concern for red kangaroo. Females lived longer than males across species and were overrepresented by the data set. Oral necrobacillosis and osteomyelitis were health concerns for macropods in this review. Mortality reviews are important as they identifying collection trends and influencing long‐term care.
(Non)-escape of mass and equidistribution for horospherical actions on trees
Authors: Ciobotaru Corina , Finkelshtein Vladimir , Sert Cagri
Published: August 2021

LetGbe a large group acting on a biregular treeTand$$\Gamma \le G$$Γ≤Ga geometrically finite lattice. In an earlier work, the authors classified orbit closures of the action of the horospherical subgroups on$$G/\Gamma $$G/Γ. In this article we show that there is no escape of mass and use this to prove that, in fact, dense orbits equidistribute to the Haar measure on$$G/\Gamma $$G/Γ. On the other hand, we show that new dynamical phenomena for horospherical actions appear on quotients by non-geometrically finite lattices: we give examples of non-geometrically finite lattices where an escape of mass phenomenon occurs and where the orbital averages along a Følner sequence do not converge. In the last part, as a by-product of our methods, we show that projections to$$\Gamma \backslash T$$Γ\Tof the uniform distributions on large spheres in the treeTconverge to a natural probability measure on$$\Gamma \backslash T$$Γ\T. Finally, we apply this equidistribution result to a lattice point counting problem to obtain counting asymptotics with exponential error term.
Additional lateral extra-articular tenodesis in revision ACL reconstruction does not influence the outcome of patients with low-grade anterior knee laxity
Authors: Eggeling Lena , Drenck T. C. , Frings J. , Krause M. , Korthaus Alexander , Krukenberg Anna , Frosch Karl-Heinz , Akoto Ralph
Published: August 2021

Introduction

There is limited evidence on the indications of lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) in revision ACLR. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the LET in patients with revision ACLR with preoperative low-grade anterior knee laxity.

Methods

Between 2013 and 2018, 78 patients who underwent revision ACLR with preoperative low-grade anterior knee laxity [≤ 5 mm side-to-side difference (SSD)] were included in the retrospective cohort study. An additional modified Lemaire tenodesis was performed in 23 patients during revision ACLR and patients were clinically examined with a minimum of 2 years after revision surgery. Postoperative failure of the revision ACLR was defined as SSD in Rolimeter® testing ≥ 5 mm or pivot-shift grade 2/3.

Results

In total, failure of the revision ACLR occurred in 11.5% (n = 9) of the cases at a mean follow-up of 28.7 ± 8.8 (24–67) months. Patients with an additional LET and revision ACLR did not show a significantly reduced failure rate (13% vs. 11%) or an improved clinical outcome according to the postoperative functional scores or pain in regards to patients with an isolated revision ACLR (Tegner 5.7 ± 1.3 vs. 5.9 ± 1.5, n.s.; IKDC 77.5 ± 16.2 vs. 80.1 ± 14.9, n.s., Lysholm 81.9 ± 14.2 vs. 83.8 ± 14.5, n.s.; VAS 1.9 ± 2.2 vs. 1.2 ± 1.7, n.s.).

Conclusions

An additional LET in patients with revision ACLR with low-grade anterior knee laxity does not influence patient-related outcomes or failure rates. Subjects with preoperative low-grade anterior knee laxity may not benefit from a LET in revision ACLR.

Level of evidence

III
The role of objective and subjective effort costs in voluntary task choice
Authors: Dreisbach Gesine , Jurczyk Vanessa
Published: August 2021

Human beings tend to avoid effort, if a less effortful option is equally rewarding. However, and in sharp contrast to this claim, we repeatedly found that (a subset of) participants deliberately choose the more difficult of two tasks in a voluntary task switching (VTS) paradigm even though avoidance of the difficult task was allowed (Jurczyk et al., Motivation Science 5:295–313, 2019). In this study, we investigate to what extent the deliberate switch to the difficult task is determined by the actual objective or the subjective effort costs for the difficult task. In two experiments, participants (N = 100, each) first went through several blocks of voluntary task choices between an easy and a difficult task. After that, they worked through an effort discounting paradigm, EDT, (Westbrook et al., PLoS One 8(7):e68210, 2013) that required participants to make a series of iterative choices between re-doing a difficult task block for a fixed amount or an easy task block for a variable (lower) amount of money until the individual indifference point was reached. In Experiment 1, the EDT comprised the same tasks from the VTS, in Experiment 2, EDT used another set of easy vs. difficult tasks. Results showed that the voluntary switch to the difficult task was mostly predicted by the objective performance costs and only marginally be the subjective effort cost. The switch to the difficult task may thus be less irrational than originally thought and at its avoidance at least partially driven by economic considerations.
Computing the effective crack energy of heterogeneous and anisotropic microstructures via anisotropic minimal surfaces
Authors: Ernesti Felix , Schneider Matti
Published: August 2021

A variety of materials, such as polycrystalline ceramics or carbon fiber reinforced polymers, show a pronounced anisotropy in their local crack resistance. We introduce an FFT-based method to compute the effective crack energy of heterogeneous, locally anisotropic materials. Recent theoretical works ensure the existence of representative volume elements for fracture mechanics described by the Francfort–Marigo model. Based on these formulae, FFT-based algorithms for computing the effective crack energy of random heterogeneous media were proposed, and subsequently improved in terms of discretization and solution methods. In this work, we propose a maximum-flow solver for computing the effective crack energy of heterogeneous materials with local anisotropy in the material parameters. We apply this method to polycrystalline ceramics with an intergranular weak plane and fiber structures with transversely isotropic crack resistance.
Effect of different thawing methods on the quality of mackerel (Pneumatophorus japonicus)
Authors: Zhou Peng-cheng , Xie Jing
Published: August 2021

Five thawing methods such as flow water thawing, ultrasonic flowing water thawing, air thawing, microwave thawing and low temperature thawing were used, and the physical, chemical properties and structure of mackerels after thawing were assessed. The results showed that the low temperature thawing had the best water retention, lower protein and fat oxidation. The microwave thawing had the shortest thawing time, but uneven heating leads to partial maturation. Air thawing prolonged exposure to air leads to high levels of protein and fat oxidation. The flow water thawing had better water retention than that of the ultrasonic flowing water thawing, only the thawing time was slightly longer than that of the ultrasonic flowing water thawing. In general, the low temperature thawing performed well after thawing. The flow water thawing used only 1/43 of the low temperature thawing's elapsed time after sacrificing some acceptable qualities. Thus, flow water thawing is more suitable for thawing frozen mackerel.
Synergistic effects of habitat configuration and land-use intensity shape the structure of bird assemblages in human-modified landscapes across three major neotropical biomes
Authors: Nogueira Olinda Maira Alves , Palmeirim Ana Filipa , Peres Carlos A. , dos Santos-Filho Manoel
Published: August 2021

Maximizing biodiversity persistence in heterogeneous human-modified landscapes is hindered by the complex interactions between habitat quality and configuration of native and non-native habitats. Here we examined these complex interactions considering avian diversity across 26 sampling sites, each of which comprised of three sampling points located across a gradient of disturbance: core native habitat fragment, fragment edge, and non-native adjacent matrix. The 78 sampling points were further nested within three neotropical biomes—Amazonia, Cerrado and Pantanal—in central-western Brazil. Matrix type consisted of cattle pastures in the Amazon and teak plantations in the Pantanal and Cerrado. We considered the interactive effects of (1) disturbance-context: fragment core, edge and adjacent matrix, (2) matrix type: tree plantation or cattle pastures, both subject to varying land-use intensity, and (3) native habitat configuration (fragment size, shape and isolation) on bird species richness, abundance and composition. Based on point-count surveys, we recorded 210 bird species. Bird species richness and abundance declined across the disturbance gradient, while genus composition only differed within the adjacent matrix, particularly cattle-pastures. The effect of native habitat area was positive but only detected at fragment edges. Overall bird diversity increased at sites characterized by higher availability of either relict trees within pasture landscapes or old-growth trees within teak plantation landscapes. The core of native fragments played a primary role in ensuring the persistence of bird diversity, regardless of fragment size. In contrast to pastures, tree plantations likely harbour a higher proportion of forest-dependent species while bird diversity can be further enhanced by reduced management intensity in both matrix types. Strategies to maximize avian persistence should not only include retaining native habitats, but also maximizing the size of core native habitats. Likewise, more structurally complex matrix types should be encouraged while maintaining low levels of land-use intensity.
Tourism governance during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis: A proposal for a sustainable model to restore the tourism industry
Authors: Robina-Ramírez Rafael , Sánchez Marcelo Sánchez-Oro , Jiménez-Naranjo Héctor Valentín , Castro-Serrano José
Published: August 2021

Unsustainable models of governance belonging to a widespread neoliberal mindset in developed countries have commonly been applied in the tourism industry. The management of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis has provided exemplary lessons regarding the application of sustainable models of governance. Through a participatory research, guidances are provided to tackle the COVID-19 effects in the tourist sector, namely in the Spanish southwestern region of Sierra de Gata. Seventeen indicators are proposed to enhance the safety measures, commitment of tourist authorities, communities empowered and protection of common resources among tourism industry, tourist authority and communities to spread cooperative awareness, mutual trust and shared objectives. Using a sample of 161 tourism companies, we tested a model of tourism governance with two focus groups during May and October 2020. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was utilized. Based on the data attained from a questionnaire and interviews, a sustainable tourism model to recover the threatened tourism sector is proposed. Indeed, our results can be used to draw theoretical and practical conclusions such as 1.) connecting private and public interactions to tackle the spread of the virus and strategies to recover the damaged tourist sector, 2.) to develop corporative values among the tourist industry and communities, 3.) to enhance governance models (trusts, consortia, tourist boards, clusters) to promote cooperation, 4.) to improve the local participation of companies, communities and associations in decision-making, and 5.) to prioritize qualitative development goals over quantitative ones, in the touristic territory. These conclusions are applicable to other regions suffering from the damaging consequences of the pandemic.
Data-driven remote governance of sparsely populated areas: measurement and commensuration of wildcat gold mining in French Guiana
Authors: Noucher Matthieu , Le Tourneau François-Michel , Gautreau Pierre
Published: August 2021

The increase in the price of gold, due to a shift to safe investments during the global economic crisis, has led to a rapid expansion of gold production. Alongside legal gold mines, wildcat gold mining has developed in French Guiana since the early 2000s. This phenomenon, with its social, environmental and economic consequences, is at the heart of the environmental governance of this territory. However, its difficult quantification is the subject of multiple controversies. Environmental governance is increasingly dependent on metrological regimes aimed at quantifying political action in order to objectify it. This article examines the role of metrology in implementing environmental policies in sparsely populated regions via the example of wildcat gold mining in French Guiana. Based on the study of two observatories, one managed by public authorities, the other by an NGO, we deconstruct their maps and counter-maps of wildcat gold mining. To do so, we make a distinction between measurement, commensuration and its diffusion. This focus on “measurement-commensuration-diffusion” allows us to identify three key phases in the production of nature statistics. We argue that the critical analysis of metrological processes through this three-step framework reveals methodological controversies that reflect different and even divergent political visions. The article also shows that metrological systems for environmental protection are the focus of targeted political disputes. It reports on the current disagreements—not only between the State and NGOs but also within the State itself—on the proposed solutions for fighting the impacts of wildcat gold mining in French Guiana and the broader issues of data production in Amazonia.
Dynamic Viscosity of Binary Fluid Mixtures: A Review Focusing on Asymmetric Mixtures
Authors: Thol Monika , Richter Markus
Published: August 2021

A literature review on experimental data for binary mixtures of methane and carbon dioxide with hydrocarbons up ton-hexadecane is presented. Based on these data, the extended corresponding states method, two entropy scaling approaches, and the friction theory are analyzed with respect to their capability of calculating viscosity values with increasing asymmetry of the binary mixture. It is shown that not only the viscosity model but also the underlying thermodynamic equation of state has a significant influence on the result of such calculations. Shortcomings are identified both in the experimental data and in the modeling approaches.
Viscosity and Surface Tension of Benzene at Saturation Conditions from Surface Light Scattering
Authors: Kerscher Manuel , Fröba Andreas P. , Koller Thomas M.
Published: August 2021

In the present study, the liquid viscosity and surface tension of benzene was determined at saturation conditions from surface light scattering (SLS) experiments between (283 and 393) K. Based on the application of the hydrodynamic theory for surface fluctuations at the vapor–liquid phase boundary which was successfully validated by the measurements, a simultaneous determination of liquid viscosity and surface tension with average relative expanded uncertainties (k = 2) of (1.0 and 0.8)% was achieved. Agreement between the measurement data and reference values available in the literature was found for the viscosity and in general also for the surface tension, where benzene constitutes a recommended reference material of relatively moderate surface tension values. All these findings demonstrate for a repeated time that SLS is a suitable method for the investigation of fluids including reference fluids such as benzene, which enables a sound representation of its surface tension, presumably as a result of a rather random molecular orientation at the surface. Overall, the experimental results from this work could contribute to an improved data situation for benzene, in particular with respect to providing viscosities and surface tensions at true saturation conditions.
COSMO: A Conic Operator Splitting Method for Convex Conic Problems
Authors: Garstka Michael , Cannon Mark , Goulart Paul
Published: August 2021

This paper describes the conic operator splitting method (COSMO) solver, an operator splitting algorithm and associated software package for convex optimisation problems with quadratic objective function and conic constraints. At each step, the algorithm alternates between solving a quasi-definite linear system with a constant coefficient matrix and a projection onto convex sets. The low per-iteration computational cost makes the method particularly efficient for large problems, e.g. semidefinite programs that arise in portfolio optimisation, graph theory, and robust control. Moreover, the solver uses chordal decomposition techniques and a new clique merging algorithm to effectively exploit sparsity in large, structured semidefinite programs. Numerical comparisons with other state-of-the-art solvers for a variety of benchmark problems show the effectiveness of our approach. Our Julia implementation is open source, designed to be extended and customised by the user, and is integrated into the Julia optimisation ecosystem.
Reap what you sow: implementing agencies as strategic actors in policy feedback dynamics
Authors: Polman Daniel , Alons Gerry
Published: August 2021

Government agencies responsible for policy implementation have expertise on policy practicability, efficiency and effectiveness, and knowledge which is provided to policymakers as feedback. However, we know very little about the feedback dynamics in which implementing agencies provide different types of feedback with the intention that it is used by policymakers, and the strategic decisions underlying these dynamics. This article connects the literature on policy feedback and knowledge use to develop a typology of implementation feedback which can account for these strategic actions. While existing distinctions between positive and negative feedback lead to confusion when applied to implementation feedback, our typology moves beyond this confusion, by classifying implementation feedback on the basis of two dimensions: preferences of implementing agencies and whether feedback is in response an agenda for change, or existing policy instruments. To illustrate the typology, we look at implementation feedback surrounding the post-2013 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. We find that implementing agencies engage predominantly in problem-solving and mitigating types of implementation feedback, which are the types of feedback most likely to be used instrumentally by policymakers. Moreover, role perception of implementing agencies limits feedback focused on agenda removal, which is more politically sensitive and contested. These insights are important for our understanding of policy feedback on the level of policy instruments and settings. Moreover, future research can use this typology to structure feedback by other actors.
On the pragmatic and epistemic virtues of inference to the best explanation
Authors: Pettigrew Richard
Published: August 2021

In a series of papers over the past twenty years, and in a new book, Igor Douven (sometimes in collaboration with Sylvia Wenmackers) has argued that Bayesians are too quick to reject versions of inference to the best explanation that cannot be accommodated within their framework. In this paper, I survey their worries and attempt to answer them using a series of pragmatic and purely epistemic arguments that I take to show that Bayes’ Rule really is the only rational way to respond to your evidence.
Worth the effort? Comparison of different MCMC algorithms for estimating the Pareto/NBD model
Authors: Simon Lydia , Adler Jost
Published: August 2021

The Pareto/NBD model is one of the best-known models in customer base analysis. Extant literature has brought up three different Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) procedures for parameter estimation of this model. Nevertheless, three main research gaps remain. Firstly, the issue of hyper parameter sensitivity for these procedures has been disregarded even though this is crucial when dealing with small sample sizes. Secondly, present research lacks a performance comparison between the different MCMC procedures as well as with Maximum Likelihood Estimates (MLE). Thirdly, existing minimal data set requirements for this model neglect MCMC estimation procedures as they only refer to MLE. To tackle these gaps, we perform two extensive simulation studies. We demonstrate that the algorithms differ in their sensitivity towards the hyper distributions and identify one algorithm that outperforms the other procedures in all respects. In addition, we provide deeper insights into individual level forecasts when using MCMC and enhance extant data set limitation guidelines by considering not only the cohort size but also the length of the calibration period.