bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metal–Semiconductor Phase Twinned Hierarchical MoS2 Nanowires with Expanded Interlayers for Sodium‐Ion Batteries with Ultralong Cycle Life
Authors: Ye Wei , Wu Fangfang , Shi Nianxiang , Zhou Han , Chi Qianqian , Chen Weihua , Du Shiyu , Gao Peng , Li Haibo , Xiong Shenglin
Published: December 2019

Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) are considered a prospective candidate for large‐scale energy storage due to the merits of abundant sodium resources and low cost. However, a lack of suitable advanced anode materials has hindered further applications. Herein, metal–semiconductor mixed phase twinned hierarchical (MPTH) MoS2 nanowires with an expanded interlayer (9.63 Å) are engineered and prepared using MoO3 nanobelts as a self‐sacrificed template in the presence of a trace amount of (NH4)6Mo7O24·4H2O as initiator. The greatly expanded interlayer spacing accelerates Na+ insertion/extraction kinetics, and the metal–semiconductor mixed phase enhances electron transfer ability and stabilizes electrode structure during cycling. Benefiting from the structural merits, the MPTH MoS2 electrode delivers high reversible capacities of 200 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 for 200 cycles and 154 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 for 2450 cycles in the voltage range of 0.4–3.0 V. Strikingly, the electrode maintains 6500 cycles at a current density of 2 A g−1, corresponding to a capacity retention of 82.8% of the 2nd cycle, overwhelming the all reported MoS2 cycling results. This study provides an alternative strategy to boost SIB cycling performance in terms of reversible capacity by virtue of interlayer expansion and structure stability.
Improving computational performance in likelihood‐based network clustering
Authors: Ballard Alan , Perry Marcus B.
Published: December 2019

Clustering networks by maximizing likelihood produces high‐quality clusters and allows for statistical significance testing, but calculating parameter estimates is burdensome. We introduce efficient expressions for updating parameter estimates and compare the time to solution between the previous naively calculated likelihood, the proposed efficient likelihood, and competing modularity‐based methods.
The impact of student misconceptions on student persistence in a MOOC
Authors: Chen Chen , Sonnert Gerhard , Sadler Philip M. , Sasselov Dimitar , Fredericks Colin
Published: December 2019

Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) provide opportunities to learn a vast range of subjects. Because MOOCs are open to anyone with computer access and rarely have prerequisite requirements, the range of student backgrounds can be far more varied than in conventional classroom‐based courses. Prior studies have shown that misconceptions have a huge impact on students' learning performance; however, no study has empirically examined the relationship between misconceptions and learning persistence. This study of 12,913 MOOC‐takers examines how students' misconceptions about the upcoming course material affect course completion. Using a survival analysis approach, we found that, controlling for the score in a pre‐course test, students holding more misconceptions had a higher dropout rate at the start of the course, an effect that diminished over time. Other student variables were found to have a positive impact on survival that persisted throughout the entire course: U.S. location, higher age, an intention to complete, better English skills, prior familiarity with the subject, motivation to earn a certificate, and score and time spent on the previous problem set (homework). By contrast, student gender, education level, number of previous MOOCs completed, and motivation to participate in online discussion forums did not affect survival.
On the future of Higgs, electroweak and diboson measurements at lepton colliders
Authors: de Blas Jorge , Durieux Gauthier , Grojean Christophe , Gu Jiayin , Paul Ayan
Published: December 2019

Abstract

LEP precision on electroweak measurements was sufficient not to hamper the extraction of Higgs couplings at the LHC. But the foreseen permille-level Higgs measure- ments at future lepton colliders might suffer from parametric electroweak uncertainties in the absence of a dedicated electroweak program. We perform a joint, complete and consis- tent effective-field-theory analysis of Higgs and electroweak processes. The full electroweak- sector dependence of the e
+
e

−

→ WW production process is notably accounted for, us- ing statistically optimal observables. Up-to-date HL-LHC projections are combined with CEPC, FCC-ee, ILC and CLIC ones. For circular colliders, our results demonstrate the importance of a new Z -pole program for the robust extraction of Higgs couplings. At linear colliders, we show how exploiting multiple polarizations and centre-of-mass energies is crucial to mitigate contaminations from electroweak parameter uncertainties on the Higgs physics program. We also investigate the potential of alternative electroweak measurements to compensate for the lack of direct Z -pole run, considering for instance radiative return to these energies. Conversely, we find that Higgs measurements at linear colliders could improve our knowledge of the Z couplings to electrons.
$$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 Super-Yang-Mills correlators at strong coupling from string theory and localization
Authors: Binder Damon J. , Chester Shai M. , Pufu Silviu S. , Wang Yifan
Published: December 2019

Abstract

We compute 1/λ corrections to the four-point functions of half-BPS operators in SU(N)

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 4 super-Yang-Mills theory at large N and large ’t Hooft coupling λ =

$$ {g}_{\mathrm{YM}}^2N $$

g
YM
2

N

using two methods. Firstly, we relate integrals of these correlators to derivatives of the mass deformed S
4 free energy, which was computed at leading order in large N and to all orders in 1/λ using supersymmetric localization. Secondly, we use AdS/CFT to relate these 1/λ corrections to higher derivative corrections to supergravity for scattering amplitudes of Kaluza-Klein scalars in IIB string theory on AdS5
× S
5, which in the flat space limit are known from worldsheet calculations. These two methods match at the order corresponding to the tree level R
4 interaction in string theory, which provides a precise check of AdS/CFT beyond supergravity, and allow us to derive the holographic correlators to tree level D
4
R
4 order. Combined with constraints from [1], our results can be used to derive CFT data to one-loop D
4
R
4 order. Finally, we use AdS/CFT to fix these correlators in the limit where N is taken to be large while gYM is kept fixed. In this limit, we present a conjecture for the small mass limit of the S
4 partition function that includes all instanton corrections and is written in terms of the same Eisenstein series that appear in the study of string theory scattering amplitudes.
Precision measurements on δCP in MOMENT
Authors: Tang Jian , Vihonen Sampsa , Wang Tse-Chun
Published: December 2019

Abstract

As it is very promising to expect a discovery of CP violation in the leptonic sector, the precision measurement of the Dirac CP phase δ
CP is going to be one of the key interests in the future neutrino oscillation experiments. In this work, we examine the physics reach of the proposed medium baseline muon decay experiment MOMENT. In order to identify potential bottlenecks and opportunities to improve CP precision in MOMENT, we investigate the effect of statistical error, systematic uncertainties, fraction of the muon beam polarity, and adjusting the baseline length to match the first or second oscillation maximum on the precision measurement of δ
CP. We also simulate superbeam experiments T2K, NOνA, T2HK, DUNE and T2HKK in comparison and complementary to MOMENT. To reach the precision of δ
CP at 12° or better at 1 σ confidence level, we find it sufficient to combine the data of MOMENT, DUNE and T2HK.
Towards the higher point holographic momentum space amplitudes. Part II. Gravitons
Authors: Albayrak Soner , Kharel Savan
Published: December 2019

Abstract

In this follow up paper, we calculate higher point tree level graviton Witten diagrams in AdS4 via bulk perturbation theory. We show that by rearranging the bulk to bulk graviton propagators, the calculations effectively reduce to the computation of a scalar factor. Analogous to the amplitudes for vector boson interactions we computed in the previous paper, scalar factors for the graviton exchange diagrams also become relatively simple when written in momentum space. We explicitly calculate higher point correlators and discuss how this momentum space formalism makes flat space and collinear limits simpler.
1/N correction in holographic Wilson loop from quantum gravity
Authors: Hashimoto Koji , Sasaki Wataru , Sumimoto Takayuki
Published: December 2019

Abstract

We study 1/N corrections to a Wilson loop in holographic duality. Extending the AdS/CFT correspondence beyond the large N limit is an important but a subtle issue, as it needs quantum gravity corrections in the gravity side. To find a physical property of the quantum corrected geometry of near-horizon black 0-branes previously obtained by Hyakutake, we evaluate a Euclidean string worldsheet hanging down in the geometry, which corresponds to a rectangular Wilson loop in the SU(N) quantum mechanics with 16 supercharges at a finite temperature with finite N . We find that the potential energy defined by the Wilson loop increases due to the 1/N correction, therefore the quantum gravity correction weakens the gravitational attraction.
On supersymmetry breaking vacua from D-branes at orientifold singularities
Authors: Argurio Riccardo , Bertolini Matteo , Meynet Shani , Pasternak Antoine
Published: December 2019

Abstract

We present a large class of models of D-branes at (orientifold) Calabi-Yau sin- gularities which enjoy dynamical supersymmetry breaking at low energy, by means of either the SU(5) or 3–2 supersymmetry breaking models. Once embedded in a warped throat or, equivalently, in a large N theory, all models display an instability along a Coulomb branch direction towards supersymmetry preserving vacua. Interestingly, the nature of the run- away mechanism is model-independent and has a precise geometrical interpretation. This naturally suggests the properties a Calabi-Yau singularity should have in order for such instability not to occur.
Influence of turbulence and in-stream structures on the transport and survival of grass carp eggs and larvae at various developmental stages
Authors: Prada Andres F. , George Amy E. , Stahlschmidt Benjamin H. , Jackson Patrick Ryan , Chapman Duane C. , Tinoco Rafael O.
Published: December 2019

Understanding the response of grass carp to flow and turbulence regimes during early life stages is fundamental to monitoring and controlling their spread. A comprehensive set of hydrodynamic experiments was conducted with live grass carp eggs and larvae, to better understand their drifting and swimming patterns with 3 different in-stream obstructions: (1) a gravel bump, (2) a single cylinder, and (3) submerged vegetation. The hydrodynamic behavior of eggs and larvae with each obstruction was continuously monitored for about 85 consecutive hours. Transient spatial distributions of the locations of eggs and larvae throughout the water column were generated for each flow scenario. Results show that the active swimming capabilities of larvae allow them to seek areas of low turbulence and low shear stresses, and that eggs are susceptible to damage by high levels of turbulence, which was further corroborated with tests in an oscillating grid-stirred turbulence tank. Our study seeks to better inform field collection of grass carp during early life stages, and to guide the design of alternative approaches to control the dispersal of this invasive species in North America.
Posterior tibial nerve stimulation for overactive bladder—techniques and efficacy
Authors: Bhide Alka A. , Tailor Visha , Fernando Ruwan , Khullar Vik. , Digesu Giuseppe Alessandro
Published: December 2019

The ideal treatment for overactive bladder is still elusive. In those where medication fails to improve symptoms options include invasive treatments such as botulinum toxin-A, sacral neural stimulation or posterior tibial nerve stimulation. Scientific professional society guidelines advise percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation as a third line treatment option only after multi-disciplinary team review as well as failure of both conservative and pharmacological management. The aim of this article is to review all techniques for tibial nerve stimulation and their efficacy.
IR action spectroscopy of glycosaminoglycan oligosaccharides
Authors: Lettow Maike , Grabarics Márkó , Mucha Eike , Thomas Daniel A. , Polewski Łukasz , Freyse Joanna , Rademann Jörg , Meijer Gerard , von Helden Gert , Pagel Kevin
Published: December 2019

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are a physio- and pharmacologically highly relevant class of complex saccharides, possessing a linear sequence and strongly acidic character. Their repetitive linear core makes them seem structurally simple at first glance, yet differences in sulfation and epimerization lead to an enormous structural diversity with only a few GAGs having been successfully characterized to date. Recent infrared action spectroscopic experiments on sulfated mono- and disaccharide ions show great promise. Here, we assess the potential of two types of gas-phase action spectroscopy approaches in the range from 1000 to 1800 cm−1 for the structural analysis of complex GAG oligosaccharides. Synthetic tetra- and pentasaccharides were chosen as model compounds for this benchmark study. Utilizing infrared multiple photon dissociation action spectroscopy at room temperature, diagnostic bands are largely unresolved. In contrast, cryogenic infrared action spectroscopy of ions trapped in helium nanodroplets yields resolved infrared spectra with diagnostic features for monosaccharide composition and sulfation pattern. The analysis of GAGs could therefore significantly benefit from expanding the conventional MS-based toolkit with gas-phase cryogenic IR spectroscopy.
A limited sampling schedule to estimate individual pharmacokinetics of pemetrexed in patients with varying renal functions
Authors: de Rouw Nikki , Visser Sabine , Koolen Stijn L. W. , Aerts Joachim G. J. V. , van den Heuvel Michel M. , Derijks Hieronymus J. , Burger David M. , ter Heine Rob
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Pemetrexed is a widely used cytostatic agent with an established exposure–response relationship. Although dosing is based on body surface area (BSA), large interindividual variability in pemetrexed plasma concentrations is observed. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) can be a feasible strategy to reduce variability in specific cases leading to potentially optimized pemetrexed treatment. The aim of this study was to develop a limited sampling schedule (LSS) for the assessment of pemetrexed pharmacokinetics.

Methods

Based on two real-life datasets, several limited sampling designs were evaluated on predicting clearance, using NONMEM, based on mean prediction error (MPE %) and normalized root mean squared error (NRMSE %). The predefined criteria for an acceptable LSS were: a maximum of four sampling time points within 8 h with an MPE and NRMSE ≤ 20%.

Results

For an accurate estimation of clearance, only four samples in a convenient window of 8 h were required for accurate and precise prediction (MPE and NRMSE of 3.6% and 5.7% for dataset 1 and of 15.5% and 16.5% for dataset 2). A single sample at t = 24 h performed also within the criteria with MPE and NRMSE of 5.8% and 8.7% for dataset 1 and of 11.5% and 16.4% for dataset 2. Bias increased when patients had lower creatinine clearance.

Conclusions

We presented two limited sampling designs for estimation of pemetrexed pharmacokinetics. Either one can be used based on preference and feasibility.
The impact of food additives, artificial sweeteners and domestic hygiene products on the human gut microbiome and its fibre fermentation capacity
Authors: Gerasimidis Konstantinos , Bryden Katie , Chen Xiufen , Papachristou Eleftheria , Verney Anais , Roig Marine , Hansen Richard , Nichols Ben , Papadopoulou Rodanthi , Parrett Alison
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This study investigated the effect of food additives, artificial sweeteners and domestic hygiene products on the gut microbiome and fibre fermentation capacity.

Methods

Faecal samples from 13 healthy volunteers were fermented in batch cultures with food additives (maltodextrin, carboxymethyl cellulose, polysorbate-80, carrageenan-kappa, cinnamaldehyde, sodium benzoate, sodium sulphite, titanium dioxide), sweeteners (aspartame-based sweetener, sucralose, stevia) and domestic hygiene products (toothpaste and dishwashing detergent). Short-chain fatty acid production was measured with gas chromatography. Microbiome composition was characterised with 16S rRNA sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Results

Acetic acid increased in the presence of maltodextrin and the aspartame-based sweetener and decreased with dishwashing detergent or sodium sulphite. Propionic acid increased with maltodextrin, aspartame-based sweetener, sodium sulphite and polysorbate-80 and butyrate decreased dramatically with cinnamaldehyde and dishwashing detergent. Branched-chain fatty acids decreased with maltodextrin, aspartame-based sweetener, cinnamaldehyde, sodium benzoate and dishwashing detergent. Microbiome Shannon α-diversity increased with stevia and decreased with dishwashing detergent and cinnamaldehyde. Sucralose, cinnamaldehyde, titanium dioxide, polysorbate-80 and dishwashing detergent shifted microbiome community structure; the effects were most profound with dishwashing detergent (R2 = 43.9%, p = 0.008) followed by cinnamaldehyde (R2 = 12.8%, p = 0.016). Addition of dishwashing detergent and cinnamaldehyde increased the abundance of operational taxonomic unit (OTUs) belonging to Escherichia/Shigella and Klebsiella and decreased members of Firmicutes, including OTUs of Faecalibacterium and Subdoligranulum. Addition of sucralose and carrageenan-kappa also increased the abundance of Escherichia/Shigella and sucralose, sodium sulphite and polysorbate-80 did likewise to Bilophila. Polysorbate-80 decreased the abundance of OTUs of Faecalibacterium and Subdoligranulum. Similar effects were observed with the concentration of major bacterial groups using qPCR. In addition, maltodextrin, aspartame-based sweetener and sodium benzoate promoted the growth of Bifidobacterium whereas sodium sulphite, carrageenan-kappa, polysorbate-80 and dishwashing detergent had an inhibitory effect.

Conclusions

This study improves understanding of how additives might affect the gut microbiota composition and its fibre metabolic activity with many possible implications for human health.
Children struggle beyond preschool-age in a continuous version of the ambiguous figures task
Authors: Rafetseder Eva , Schuster Sarah , Hawelka Stefan , Doherty Martin , Anderson Britt , Danckert James , Stöttinger Elisabeth
Published: December 2019

Children until the age of five are only able to reverse an ambiguous figure when they are informed about the second interpretation. In two experiments, we examined whether children’s difficulties would extend to a continuous version of the ambiguous figures task. Children (Experiment 1: 66 3- to 5-year olds; Experiment 2: 54 4- to 9-year olds) and adult controls saw line drawings of animals gradually morph—through well-known ambiguous figures—into other animals. Results show a relatively late developing ability to recognize the target animal, with difficulties extending beyond preschool-age. This delay can neither be explained with improvements in theory of mind, inhibitory control, nor individual differences in eye movements. Even the best achieving children only started to approach adult level performance at the age of 9, suggesting a fundamentally different processing style in children and adults.
Validation of non-invasive cerebrovascular pressure reactivity and pulse amplitude reactivity indices in traumatic brain injury
Authors: Calviello Leanne A. , Czigler András , Zeiler Frederick A. , Smielewski Peter , Czosnyka Marek
Published: December 2019

Background

Two transcranial Doppler (TCD) estimators of cerebral arterial blood volume (CaBV) coexist: continuous outflow of arterial blood outside the cranium through a low-pulsatile venous system (continuous flow forward, CFF) and pulsatile outflow through regulating arterioles (pulsatile flow forward, PFF). We calculated non-invasive equivalents of the pressure reactivity index (PRx) and the pulse amplitude index PAx with slow waves of mean CaBV and its pulse amplitude.

Methods

About 273 individual TBI patients were retrospectively reviewed. PRx is the correlation coefficient between 30 samples of 10-second averages of ICP and mean ABP. PAx is the correlation coefficient between 30 samples of 10-second averages of the amplitude of ICP (AMP, derived from Fourier analysis of the raw full waveform ICP tracing) and mean ABP. nPRx is calculated with CaBV instead of ICP and nPAx with the pulse amplitude of CaBV instead of AMP (calculated using both the CFF and PFF models). All reactivity indices were additionally compared with Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) to verify potential outcome-predictive strength.

Results

When correlated, slow waves of ICP demonstrated good coherence between slow waves in CaBV (>0.75); slow waves of AMP showed good coherence with slow waves of the pulse amplitude of CaBV (>0.67) in both the CFF and PFF models. nPRx was moderately correlated with PRx (R = 0.42 for CFF and R = 0.38 for PFF; p < 0.0001). nPAx correlated with PAx with slightly better strength (R = 0.56 for CFF and R = 0.41 for PFF; p < 0.0001). nPAx_CFF showed the strongest association with outcomes.

Conclusions

Non-invasive estimators (nPRx and nPAx) are associated with their invasive counterparts and can provide meaningful associations with outcome after TBI. The CFF model is slightly superior to the PFF model.
On the Nature of Monozygotic Twin Concordance and Discordance for Autistic Trait Severity: A Quantitative Analysis
Authors: Castelbaum Lauren , Sylvester Chad M. , Zhang Yi , Yu Qiongru , Constantino John N.
Published: December 2019

The characterizing features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are continuously distributed in nature; however, prior twin studies have not systematically incorporated this knowledge into estimations of concordance and discordance. We conducted a quantitative analysis of twin–twin similarity for autistic trait severity in three existing data sets involving 366 pairs of uniformly-phenotyped monozygotic (MZ) twins with and without ASD. Probandwise concordance for ASD was 96%; however, MZ trait correlations differed markedly for pairs with ASD trait burden below versus above the threshold for clinical diagnosis, with R2s on the order of 0.6 versus 0.1, respectively. Categorical MZ twin discordance for ASD diagnosis is rare and more appropriately operationalized by standardized quantification of twin–twin differences. Here we provide new evidence that although ASD itself is highly heritable, variation-in-severity of symptomatology above the diagnostic threshold is substantially influenced, in contrast, by non-shared environmental factors which may identify novel targets of early ASD amelioration.
Interactions between labile carbon, temperature and land use regulate carbon dioxide and methane production in tropical peat
Authors: Girkin N. T. , Dhandapani S. , Evers S. , Ostle N. , Turner B. L. , Sjögersten S.
Published: December 2019

Tropical peatlands are a significant carbon store and contribute to global carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions. Tropical peatlands are threatened by both land use and climate change, including the alteration of regional precipitation patterns, and the 3–4 °C predicted warming by 2100. Plant communities in tropical peatlands can regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes through labile carbon inputs, but the extent to which these inputs regulate the temperature response of CO2 and CH4 production in tropical peat remains unclear. We conducted an anoxic incubation experiment using three peat types of contrasting botanical origin to assess how carbon addition affects the temperature response (Q10) of CO2 and CH4 production. Peats from forested peatlands in Panama and Malaysia, and a converted oil palm and pineapple intercropping system in Malaysia, differed significantly in redox potential, total carbon and carbon: nitrogen ratio. The production of CO2 and CH4 varied significantly among peat types and increased with increasing temperature, with Q10s for both gases of 1.4. Carbon addition further increased gas fluxes, but did not influence the Q10 for CO2 or CH4 production or significantly affect the Q10 of either gas. These findings demonstrate that the production of CO2 and CH4 in tropical peat is sensitive to warming and varies among peat types, but that the effect of root inputs in altering Q10 appears to be limited.
Decolonising technological pedagogical content knowledge of first year mathematics students
Authors: Khoza Simon Bheki , Biyela Audrey Thabile
Published: December 2019

Decolonising students’ knowledge of technology, pedagogy, and mathematics content is important because it helps students understand their learning needs. Decolonisation is a process of critiquing and renewing the curriculum. Learning needs are circumstances that demand individuals’ actions in order to address professional, personal, and/or social needs. The purpose of this article is to explore and decolonise students’ knowledge of technology, pedagogy, and content in the learning of first year Bachelor of Education mathematics. Ten students learned a mathematics module at a South African university and were purposively selected to participate in this study. Semi-structured interviews, observation, and reflective activities/questionnaires, framed by critical action research, were used for data generation. The students’ knowledge revealed that the technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) was useful when used as the learning framework, which generated curriculum concepts for the module to support the student knowledge of technology, pedagogy, and content. The concepts were learning needs, content, goals, activities, time, environment, community, assessment, and GeoGebra resources. GeoGebra was the main learning resource that helped the students to integrate other resources into the module. The study concluded that, although the technological and content knowledge dominated the learning in other cases of the module, the pedagogical knowledge which was a result of their self-reflection to understand their identities, drove the module all the time. This study, consequently, recommends that students should use their knowledge of technology, pedagogy, and content as taxonomies of learning, in order to address mathematics, individual, and societal needs through the integration of technology.
The Role of Geological Investigations for Dam Siting: Mosul Dam a Case Study
Authors: Sissakian Varoujan K. , Adamo Nasrat , Al-Ansari Nadhir
Published: December 2019

Dams are engineering structures constructed for different purposes. They are of different sizes, shapes and types. In all cases, many essential studies should be carried out before deciding the location, type and size of the dam. Among those studies is the geological investigations which should be carried out to deduce the geological conditions in the most relevant site, depth of the foundations and their types, cut-off depth, type of the available construction materials, and type of the expected geological hazards. Without proper geological investigations, the siting of a dam will cause serious hazards during construction and during commissioning of the dam. In this study, Mosul Dam case is considered as the consequences of inadequate geological investigations which were carried out by the contractor and supervised by Swiss Consultant. The location of the dam site and its foundations are built over a highly karstified area, where gypsum and limestone beds are exposed and exist deep under the ground surface, and even deeper than the foundations. Accordingly, grouting treatment was carried out and still on going, but all the attempts to have a safe and relevant dam were in vain. In this study we have provided the essential studies which should be included during the geological investigation to have a safe and sound dam.
Intergroup Competition Enhances Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) In-group Cohesion
Authors: Samuni L. , Mielke A. , Preis A. , Crockford C. , Wittig R. M.
Published: December 2019

In-group cohesion is an essential component of successful intergroup competition in both human and nonhuman animals, likely facilitating group members access to potential benefits. However, when benefits are equally shared among group members, group defense becomes a collective action problem, which might subvert cohesive participation during intergroup competition. There is a lack of consensus across studies and species with regard to the link between in-group cohesion and intergroup competition, likely as a result of species differences in managing the collective action problem. Here, we examine this link in a species with a striking example of collective action during intergroup competition, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus). Using two years of focal-follow data on males and females in two groups at the Taï Forest, Côte d’Ivoire, we investigated the immediate and long-term effects of intergroup competition (border patrols and intergroup encounters) on measures of in-group cohesion, namely modularity, party size, and intergroup aggression. We found that groups’ association patterns were less modular (more cohesive) in months in which they engaged in more border patrols and intergroup encounters. We found that current and greater prior engagement in intergroup competition predicted larger party sizes. Furthermore, current, but not prior engagement in intergroup competition, predicted reduced intragroup aggression by males but not by females. Increased in-group cohesion in chimpanzees likely reduces potential costs of intergroup competition engagement, by facilitating joint participation in current and future intergroup conflicts, overcoming the collective action problem.
An Approach to Improve Dementia Health Literacy in Indigenous Communities
Authors: Webkamigad Sharlene , Warry Wayne , Blind Melissa , Jacklin Kristen
Published: December 2019

This project aims to improve health literacy in Indigenous communities through the development of evidence-based culturally relevant health promotion materials on dementia that bridge the gap between Indigenous and Western perspectives of the illness. The research team worked in partnership with Health Canada’s First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program (FNIHCC) and consulted with Indigenous elders to utilize a two-eyed seeing framework that draws upon Indigenous knowledge and Western biomedicine. A consolidated review of materials and research involving Indigenous perspectives of Alzheimer’s and age-related dementias led to the development of two culturally appropriate fact sheets. Two Indigenous-specific fact sheets were developed “What is Dementia? Indigenous Perspectives and Cultural Understandings” and “Signs and Symptoms of Dementia: An Indigenous Guide.” The fact sheets prioritize Indigenous knowledge and pay particular attention to Indigenous languages, diverse Indigenous cultures, and literacy levels. The content uses phrasing and words from Indigenous people involved in the research to share information. Biomedical concepts and words were included when necessary but language or presentation of these aspects were often modified to reflect Indigenous conceptualizations. This project provides a foundation for evidence-based knowledge translation in relation to cultural safety in dementia care. Specifically, the researchers outline how health care providers can develop culturally appropriate health promotion material, thus increasing Indigenous cultural understandings of dementia and health literacy.
Distribution of Trapped Magnetic Flux in Superconducting Stacks Magnetised by Angled Field
Authors: Tomkow Lukasz , Smara Anis , Climente-Alarcon Vicente , Glowacki Bartek A.
Published: December 2019

Some novel energy applications require the use of complex shapes of stacks of superconducting tapes as trapped-flux magnets. A trapped-flux magnet magnetised in a superconducting motor may experience an angled magnetising field rather than a field normal to its surface. This will affect the trapped magnetic flux distribution. This work presents the results of the numerical and experimental analyses of the stacks magnetised in an angled magnetic field. The finite element model using H-formulation is developed to compute the induced superconducting currents. The measurements are performed on stacks with different thicknesses and with different orientations against a magnetising field. The resulting distribution of the magnetic flux as well as the electric currents is computed, presented and discussed in details. The importance of the observed distribution patterns is assessed in the context of the implementation of such stacks in a fully superconducting electric motor.
Analysis of laminar flow and heat transfer in an interrupted microchannel heat sink with different shaped ribs
Authors: Wang Wei , Li Yongji , Zhang Yaning , Li Bingxi , Sundén Bengt
Published: December 2019

A numerical study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of laminar flow and heat transfer enhancement in an interrupted microchannel heat sink (IMCHS) with different shaped ribs at Reynolds number ranging from 100 to 900. The global flow features, heat transfer and friction for IMCHS with no ribs, rectangle ribs, triangle ribs and trapezoid ribs are detailed compared. The results show that the local heat transfer and friction performance of IMCHS with ribs show significant increase at the windward side of the ribs. Additionally, the smaller the chamfer of ribs, the larger average heat transfer and friction performance. For IMCHS with rectangle ribs, the maximum increment of Nu and f can reach to 1.81 and 2.59, respectively. Concerning the overall heat transfer performance (PEC), the trapezoid ribs show the best behavior with PEC = 1.65–1.38 at Re = 100–900.
One Hundred Twenty-Seven Subsemilattices and Planarity
Authors: Czédli Gábor
Published: December 2019

Let L be a finite n-element semilattice. We prove that if L has at least 127 ⋅ 2n− 8 subsemilattices, then L is planar. For n > 8, this result is sharp since there is a non-planar semilattice with exactly 127 ⋅ 2n− 8 − 1 subsemilattices.
High Content Solid Dispersions for Dose Window Extension: A Basis for Design Flexibility in Fused Deposition Modelling
Authors: Govender Rydvikha , Abrahmsén-Alami Susanna , Folestad Staffan , Larsson Anette
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This study uses high drug content solid dispersions for dose window extension beyond current demonstrations using fused deposition modelling (FDM) to; i) accommodate pharmaceutically relevant doses of drugs of varying potencies at acceptable dosage form sizes and ii) enable enhanced dose flexibility via modular dosage form design concepts.

Methods

FDM was used to generate ~0.5 mm thick discs of varying diameter (2–10 mm) from melt-extruded feedstocks based on 10% to 50% w/w felodipine in ethyl cellulose. Drug content was determined by UV spectroscopy and dispensing precision from printed disc mass.

Results

Mean felodipine content was within ±5% of target values for all print volumes and compositions including contents as high as ~50% w/w. However, poor dispensing precision was evident at all print volumes.

Conclusions

In pursuit of dose flexibility, this successful demonstration of dose window extension using high content solid dispersions preserves FDM design flexibility by maintaining applicability to drugs of varying potencies. The achieved uniformity of content supports the application of varying content solid dispersions to modular dosage form concepts to enhance dose flexibility. However, poor dispensing precision impedes its utilisation until appropriate compatibility between FDM hardware and materials at varying drug contents can be attained.
Does idiosyncratic risk matter in IPO long-run performance?
Authors: Beaulieu Marie-Claude , Mrissa Bouden Habiba
Published: December 2019

This paper studies how firm-level idiosyncratic risk varies over time and affects both initial public offering (IPO) and matched non-IPO firms’ long-run performance. It revisits the traditional approach to compute the long-run performance by conditioning aftermarket performance on idiosyncratic risk with a generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity GARCH-M extension of the standard three-factor Fama and French (3FF) model. Our findings show a positive long-run relationship between idiosyncratic risk and expected returns for almost all IPOs and matched non-IPO firms. We find that, in general, IPOs do not underperform their peers when we adjust long-run abnormal returns for firm-level idiosyncratic risk. We also note that the idiosyncratic risk exposure depends on the IPO profile; it is more important for firms going public in hot-issue markets, undervalued IPOs and high idiosyncratic-risk issues. Thus, this paper suggests that a part of abnormal returns in specific IPOs long-run performance is derived from firm idiosyncratic risk.
Do employees’ generational cohorts influence corporate venturing? A multilevel analysis
Authors: Guerrero Maribel , Amorós José Ernesto , Urbano David
Published: December 2019

Organizations are facing an interesting phenomenon in the composition of their workforce: the concurrence of multiple age generations that demand suitable strategies regarding work design, job satisfaction, and incentives. Ongoing entrepreneurship and strategic management debates require a better understanding of the relationship between workplace generational cohorts’ configurations and organizational performance. We propose a conceptual model for understanding how a diversified workforce influences some determinants (i.e., employees’ human capital and attitudes, organizational climate, and environmental conditions) of entrepreneurial organizations’ outcomes (i.e., corporate venturing). Our framework offers insights into corporate venturing determinants for three generational cohorts: Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y. Using a sample of 20,256 employees across 28 countries, our findings lend support to the positive effect of individual and organizational determinants on corporate venturing, as well as how these effects are reinforced per generational cohort. Specifically, our results show that younger generations (millennials) have more propensity to be involved in corporate venturing activities. This study also contributes to thought-provoking implications for entrepreneurial organizational leaders who manage employees from different generations.
Public Policies and Equality of Opportunity for Wellbeing in Multiple Dimensions: A Theoretical Discussion and Evidence from Bolivia
Authors: Krishnakumar Jaya , Nogales Ricardo
Published: December 2019

Roemer’s equality of opportunity (EOp) theory is increasingly used as the framework for assessing the link between public policies and social justice. Most studies focus on a single (monetary) wellbeing indicator and take individual efforts as being randomly distributed. However, recent development theories have uniformly advocated the use of a multidimensional wellbeing measure and the importance of individual responsibility. We propose a theoretical framework and a modelling tool to include these aspects in an assessment of the connection between public policies and inequality of opportunity for wellbeing within a Romerian setting. Using Bolivian data, we demonstrate the empirical usefulness of our framework and find that Bolivian social programmes are strongly associated with the reduction of unfair inequalities arising from ethnicity and family background, although their levels are far away from being optimal. We highlight the role of effort in this connection and show that it is a fundamental mediating factor.
Computation and investigation of mode characteristics in nonlinear system with tuned/mistuned contact interface
Authors: She Houxin , Li Chaofeng , Tang Qiansheng , Ma Hui , Wen Bangchun
Published: December 2019

This study derived a novel computation algorithm for a mechanical system with multiple friction contact interfaces that is well-suited to the investigation of nonlinear mode characteristic of a coupling system. The procedure uses the incremental harmonic balance method to obtain the nonlinear parameters of the contact interface. Thereafter, the computed nonlinear parameters are applied to rebuild the matrices of the coupling system, which can be easily solved to calculate the nonlinear mode characteristics by standard iterative solvers. Lastly, the derived method is applied to a cycle symmetry system, which represents a shaft-disk-blade system subjected to dry friction. Moreover, this study analyzed the effects of the tuned and mistuned contact features on the nonlinear mode characteristics. Numerical results prove that the proposed method is particularly suitable for the study of nonlinear characteristics in such nonlinear systems.
Familiarizing Students with Definition of Lebesgue Outer Measure Using Mathematica: Some Examples of Calculation Directly from Its Definition
Authors: Wojas Włodzimierz , Krupa Jan , Bojarski Jarosław
Published: December 2019

In this paper we present some examples of calculation the Lebesgue outer measure of some subsets of $$\mathbb {R}^2$$R2 directly from definition 1. We will consider the following subsets of $$\mathbb {R}^2$$R2: $$\displaystyle \{(x, y)\in \mathbb {R}^2: 0\le y \le x^2, x\in [0, 1]\}$${(x,y)∈R2:0≤y≤x2,x∈[0,1]}, $$\displaystyle \{(x, y)\in \mathbb {R}^2: 0\le y \le \exp (-x), x\ge 0\}$${(x,y)∈R2:0≤y≤exp(-x),x≥0}, $$\big \{ (x,y) \in \mathbb {R}^2: \ln x \le y \le 0, x\in (0, 1]\big \}$${(x,y)∈R2:lnx≤y≤0,x∈(0,1]}, $$\big \{ (x,y) \in \mathbb {R}^2: 0\le y \le 1/x, x\ge 1\big \}$${(x,y)∈R2:0≤y≤1/x,x≥1}, $$\displaystyle \{(x, y)\in \mathbb {R}^2: 0\le y \le \sin x, x\in [0, \pi /2]\}$${(x,y)∈R2:0≤y≤sinx,x∈[0,π/2]}, $$\displaystyle \{(x, y)\in \mathbb {R}^2: 0\le y \le \exp (x), x\in [0, 1]\}$${(x,y)∈R2:0≤y≤exp(x),x∈[0,1]}, $$\displaystyle \{(x, y)\in \mathbb {R}^2: 0\le y \le \ln (1-2r \cos x+r^2), x \in [0, \pi ]\}$${(x,y)∈R2:0≤y≤ln(1-2rcosx+r2),x∈[0,π]}, $$r>1$$r>1 and some others. We could not find any analogical examples in available literature (except for rectangle and countable sets), so this paper is an attempt to fill this gap. We calculate sums, limits and plot graphs and dynamic plots of needed sets and unions of rectangles sums of which volumes approximate Lebesgue outer measure of the sets, using Mathematica. We also show how to calculate the needed sums and limits by hand (without CAS). The title of this paper is very similar to the title of author’s article (Wojas and Krupa in Math Comput Sci 11:363–381, 2017) which deals with definition of Lebesgue integral but this paper deals with definition of Lebesgue outer measure instead.
Value Chain Analysis of Chaya (Mayan Spinach) in Guatemala
Authors: Amaya Nadezda , Padulosi Stefano , Meldrum Gennifer
Published: December 2019

Chaya is a highly nutritious perennial leafy vegetable native to Mesoamerica. This drought-resistant crop has low production and consumption levels in Guatemala, but has the potential to help agriculture and food systems be more nutritious and resilient. This study analyzed the value chain of chaya in Guatemala, and identified bottlenecks and opportunities for its use-enhancement. This research, the first of its kind applied to this crop in Guatemala, combined Rapid Market Appraisal tools. Small-scale chaya production, consumption, and marketing were observed in three focal sites (Guatemala City, Petén, and Dry Corridor). It was observed that producers are not motivated to produce chaya commercially and vendors are unwilling to sell it because of low demand and profitability. One Guatemalan company identified produces nutraceutical chaya products with few sales points in the country and occasionally abroad. Low demand is a primary bottleneck in the value chain due to lack of consumer awareness, changing eating habits, limited recipes, and availability in home-gardens. There is also a reluctance to grow, consume, or sell a crop perceived as a “food of the poor.” Low prices and profitability were other constraints registered. The findings can inform future interventions for enhancing the use of this crop to fight malnutrition.
Spawning Microhabitat Selection in Wild-Caught Delta Smelt Hypomesus transpacificus under Laboratory Conditions
Authors: Lindberg Joan C. , Tsai Yi-Jiun J. , Kammerer Brittany D. , Baskerville-Bridges Bradd , Hung Tien-Chieh
Published: December 2019

Very little is understood about the spawning habitat of endangered delta smeltHypomesus transpacificus, which hinders ongoing recovery efforts such as wetland habitat restoration and spawning habitat augmentation. To address this, the spawning response of wild-caughtH. transpacificusto different substrates and water velocities was examined across three experiments. In experiment 1, spawning response to dead wood, pebble, natural and artificialSchoenoplectus acutus, empty tray, and tank floor at water velocities of 1.4 and 8.8 cm/s was tested. Egg deposition on pebble at 8.8 cm/s velocity (78.1% of 7778 total eggs) was significantly greater than that on all other substrate-velocity combinations. In experiment 2, spawning response to naturalS. acutus, dead wood, sand, pebble, cobble, and empty tray at velocities of 8.7 and 15.4 cm/s was tested. Egg deposition on pebble at 15.4 cm/s (61.5% of 36171 total eggs) was significantly greater than that on all substrate-velocity combinations except for sand at 15.4 cm/s. Sand at 15.4 cm/s (22.3%) contained significantly more eggs than all combinations except for pebble at 8.7 and 15.6 cm/s. In experiment 3, egg attachment to naturalS. acutus, dead wood, sand, pebble, cobble, and empty tray when exposed to 14.6 cm/s velocity was tested. Egg loss on sand was significantly greater than that on empty tray and pebble, indicating that egg deposition on sand may have been underestimated in experiment 2. Together, these results indicate thatH. transpacificusselects pebble and sand at higher water velocities for spawning under certain laboratory conditions. These findings are important, as they provide insight into the potential natural habitats that may be used for spawning and thereby inform ongoing habitat restoration efforts.
A state of the art review of hydroforming technology
Authors: Bell Colin , Corney Jonathan , Zuelli Nicola , Savings David
Published: December 2019

Hydroforming is a relatively new metal forming process with many advantages over traditional cold forming processes including the ability to create more complicated components with fewer operations. For certain geometries, hydroforming technology permits the creation of parts that are lighter weight, have stiffer properties, are cheaper to produce and can be manufactured from fewer blanks which produces less material waste. This paper provides a detailed survey of the hydroforming literature of both established and emerging processes in a single taxonomy. Recently reported innovations in hydroforming processes (which are incorporated in the taxonomy) are also detailed and classified in terms of “technology readiness level”. The paper concludes with a discussion on the future of hydroforming including the current state of the art techniques, the research directions, and the process advantages to make predictions about emerging hydroforming technologies.