bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a sensor with a conductive textile for detecting decubitus ulcers
Authors: Tsuda Yuri , Odagaki Masato , Kondo Yasuhito
Published: May 2020

The present paper describes the design and evaluation results of a sensor for measuring body pressure and sweat volume using conductive fibers. Pressure ulcers that develop from staying in the same posture for a long time are a serious problem in nursing care. The main causes of pressure ulcers are blockage of capillaries due to body pressure and skin structure degeneration due to sweat. To quantify the causes of pressure ulcers, Mengeng Liu et al. have developed a sensitive (14.4 kPa−1) pressure sensor using conductive fibers with excellent cleaning and flexibility. However, a conductive fiber sensor that focuses on both body pressure and sweating has not yet been established. Therefore, in the present research, we made a sensor that can measure body pressure and sweat volume with only fibers and evaluated the performance of the proposed method. The fabricated sensor is a parallel plate capacitive sensor made of two conductive fibers that sandwich an insulating cloth. When body pressure is applied, the distance between two parallel conductive fibers increases, and when sweat is applied, the dielectric constant of the fabric changes, increasing the capacitance of the sensor. Capacitance change can be evaluated by peak holding the output of the AC bridge circuit. Through an evaluation experiment using a vise and a constant temperature and constant‐humidity chamber, the fabricated sensor was confirmed to be able to measure a pressure change of 10 mmHg and a humidity change of 10%. This sensor, which can evaluate pressure and humidity (amount of adhering water) at the same time and at low cost, contributes to reducing the burden of nursing care. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
On the horizon—the value and promise of the global pipeline of Alzheimer's disease therapeutics
Authors: Cole Michael A. , Seabrook Guy R.
Published: May 2020

Introduction

The recent failure of several late‐stage Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical trials focused on amyloid beta (Aβ) highlights the challenges of finding effective disease‐modifying therapeutics. Despite major advances in our understanding of the genetic risk factors of disease and the development of clinical biomarkers, and that not all Aβ‐based approaches are equivalent, these failures may engender skepticism regarding the value of the AD pipeline.

Methods

To investigate these concerns, we compiled a database of current Phase 2 and 3 trials based on disease‐modifying targets through a query of the National Institutes of Health's ClinicalTrials.gov. We then assessed the financial value of the pipeline. Financial modeling utilized risk‐adjusted net present value (rNPV) measurements and included sensitivity analyses to help inform the drug development process.

Results

Results indicate that the preponderance of current Phase 3 trials were indeed targeting Aβ, with only 15% addressing other targets. In contrast, the pipeline of Phase 2 trials was more diverse. The estimated rNPV of Phase 2 and 3 therapeutics was estimated to be $338 billion over 10 years. This figure increased to a theoretical cumulative value of $788 billion when incorporating the assumption that diagnostics will be developed to identify individuals at high risk for developing AD. Results from model sensitivity analyses showed that speed of market penetration and patient access contributed the most weight to financial value. In contrast, decreasing drug development costs had minimal impact on rNPV.

Discussion

These findings argue in favor of conducting thorough biomarker‐driven Phase 2 proof of concept studies to avoid prematurely advancing assets into Phase 3. Insights from these analyses are also discussed in the context of the financial ecosystem needed to maintain a healthy AD pipeline.
A review of applications of fractional advection–dispersion equations for anomalous solute transport in surface and subsurface water
Authors: Sun Liwei , Qiu Han , Wu Chuanhao , Niu Jie , Hu Bill X.
Published: May 2020

Fractional advection–dispersion equations (FADEs) have been widely used in hydrological research to simulate the anomalous solute transport in surface and subsurface water. However, a large gap still exists between real‐world application (i.e., being a prediction tool) and theoretical FADEs. To better understand this disparity, the FADEs are firstly reviewed from the perspective of fractional‐in‐time and fractional‐in‐space, as well as the anomalous characteristics described by those functions. Then, challenges for the application of FADEs are summarized, including the theoretical gap of FADEs that needs multidisciplinary efforts to fill, extensive requirements for computation techniques and mathematical knowledge to apply the FADEs, the poor predictability for most parameters in the FADEs, and the limitations for collecting geologic information of flow fields. Then, some suggestions are given for future work, such as developing excellent code sets and mature simulation software with a friendly interface. This kind of work would alleviate the computation workload of hydrologists, especially those without coding expertise. Summarizing and determining the value ranges of the important parameters are needed (e.g., the order of the fractional derivative), through the extensive field, laboratory, and numerical experiments rather than blindly using their mathematical ranges. It is also needed to perform global sensitivity analysis for the FADEs. Meanwhile, comprehensive comparison work is necessary for suggesting a model suitable for a specific problem. Last but not least, further research is clearly needed to establish a link between nonlocal parameters and the heterogeneity property to develop more efficient fractional order partial differential equations.

This article is categorized under:

Science of Water > Methods

Science of Water > Water Quality
Validity and utility of Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP): I. Psychosis superspectrum
Authors: Kotov Roman , Jonas Katherine G. , Carpenter William T. , Dretsch Michael N. , Eaton Nicholas R. , Forbes Miriam K. , Forbush Kelsie T. , Hobbs Kelsey , Reininghaus Ulrich , Slade Tim , South Susan C. , Sunderland Matthew , Waszczuk Monika A. , Widiger Thomas A. , Wright Aidan G.C. , Zald David H. , Krueger Robert F. , Watson David ,   HiTOP Utility Workgroup
Published: May 2020

The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) is a scientific effort to address shortcomings of traditional mental disorder diagnoses, which suffer from arbitrary boundaries between psychopathology and normality, frequent disorder co‐occurrence, heterogeneity within disorders, and diagnostic instability. This paper synthesizes evidence on the validity and utility of the thought disorder and detachment spectra of HiTOP. These spectra are composed of symptoms and maladaptive traits currently subsumed within schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders, and schizotypal, paranoid and schizoid personality disorders. Thought disorder ranges from normal reality testing, to maladaptive trait psychoticism, to hallucinations and delusions. Detachment ranges from introversion, to maladaptive detachment, to blunted affect and avolition. Extensive evidence supports the validity of thought disorder and detachment spectra, as each spectrum reflects common genetics, environmental risk factors, childhood antecedents, cognitive abnormalities, neural alterations, biomarkers, and treatment response. Some of these characteristics are specific to one spectrum and others are shared, suggesting the existence of an overarching psychosis superspectrum. Further research is needed to extend this model, such as clarifying whether mania and dissociation belong to thought disorder, and explicating processes that drive development of the spectra and their subdimensions. Compared to traditional diagnoses, the thought disorder and detachment spectra demonstrated substantially improved utility: greater reliability, larger explanatory and predictive power, and higher acceptability to clinicians. Validated measures are available to implement the system in practice. The more informative, reliable and valid characterization of psychosis‐related psychopathology offered by HiTOP can make diagnosis more useful for research and clinical care.
The Crystal Structures and Raman Spectra of Three New Hydrothermally Synthesized Copper–Zinc–Oxotellurates(IV)
Authors: Missen Owen P. , Weil Matthias , Mills Stuart J. , Libowitzky Eugen , Kolitsch Uwe , Stöger Berthold
Published: May 2020

Abstract. Three new copper–zinc–tellurites, Zn4Cu(TeIVO3)4Cl2, Cu2Zn2(TeIVO3)2(SO4)(OH)2·H2O and Cu2Zn(TeIVO4)(SO4)·H2O (henceforth I, II and III), were synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions (473 K, in Teflon‐lined steel vessels). They were characterized in detail by a combination of crystal‐structure determination (using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data), single‐crystal micro‐Raman spectroscopy and chemical analyses (energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy in a scanning electron microscope). Each compound crystallizes in a new structure type, and additionally, II and III represent the first two ever reported copper–zinc–tellurite–sulfates. I [systematic name: tetrazinc copper(II) tetrakis‐oxotellurate(IV) dichloride] is triclinic, P1, and forms a framework structure based on ZnO6 and ZnO5Cl octahedra, linked into sheets connected via Jahn–Teller‐distorted CuO4Cl2 octahedra, with TeIVO3 trigonal pyramids and TeIV2O6 dimers (composed of two edge‐sharing TeIVO4 disphenoids) filling the remaining space. II [dicopper(II) dizinc bis‐oxotellurate(IV) oxosulfate(VI) bis‐hydroxide monohydrate] is trigonal, R3m, with a simonkolleite‐like framework. Distinct layers formed from (Cu,Zn)φ6 (φ = O, OH) octahedra and TeIVO3 trigonal pyramids extend parallel to (001) and sandwich disordered SO42– anions and H2O groups. III [dicopper(II) zinc oxotellurate(IV) oxosulfate(VI) hydrate] is orthorhombic, Pnma, and also has a layered structure [extending parallel to (100)]. Positively charged layers of composition [Cu2ZnTeIVO4]2+ (containing Te as TeIVO4 disphenoids) alternate with SO42– anions and H2O groups in the interlayer space. Stacking disorder caused by the order‐disorder nature of the crystal structure is reflected by the presence of residual electron density in difference‐Fourier maps and the structure was refined as an overlay of two stacking possibilities.
Two-step electroweak symmetry-breaking: theory meets experiment
Authors: Bell Nicole F. , Dolan Matthew J. , Friedrich Leon S. , Ramsey-Musolf Michael J. , Volkas Raymond R.
Published: May 2020

Abstract

We study the phenomenology of a hypercharge-zero SU (2) triplet scalar whose existence is motivated by two-step electroweak symmetry-breaking. We consider both the possibility that the triplets are stable and contribute to the dark matter density, or that they decay via mixing with the standard model Higgs boson. The former is constrained by disappearing charged track searches at the LHC and by dark matter direct detection experiments, while the latter is constrained by existing multilepton collider searches. We find that a two-step electroweak phase transition involving a stable triplet with a negative quadratic term is ruled out by direct detection searches, while an unstable triplet with a mass less than 230 GeV is excluded at 95% confidence level.
Die „historische Studie“ SOLIDARITY als Antwort der Forschung auf die Sars-CoV-2 Pandemie
Authors: Gadebusch Bondio Mariacarla , Marloth Maria
Published: May 2020

Dieser Beitrag ist Teil des Forums COVID-19: Perspektiven in den Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften. Das neuartige Coronavirus (Sars-CoV-2) stellt die Weltgemeinschaft vor eine große Herausforderung. Das Wissen über das Virus und seine Eigenschaften ist lückenhaft, aber der Bedarf, politische und medizinische Entscheidungen an wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnis auszurichten ist groß. Diese Lage führt zu einer Dynamisierung der Forschung. Ein prominentes Beispiel ist die WHO-Studie SOLIDARITY. Die epistemologischen Besonderheiten und die daraus resultierenden ethischen Implikationen werden in diesem Beitrag näher beleuchtet.
Testing and unpacking the effects of digital fake news: on presidential candidate evaluations and voter support
Authors: Leyva Rodolfo , Beckett Charlie
Published: May 2020

There is growing worldwide concern that the rampant spread of digital fake news (DFN) via new media technologies is detrimentally impacting Democratic elections. However, the actual influence of this recent Internet phenomenon on electoral decisions has not been directly examined. Accordingly, this study tested the effects of attention to DFN on readers’ Presidential candidate preferences via an experimental web-survey administered to a cross-sectional American sample (N = 552). Results showed no main effect of exposure to DFN on participants’ candidate evaluations or vote choice. However, the perceived believability of DFN about the Democratic candidate negatively mediated evaluations of that candidate—especially amongst far-right ideologues. These results suggest that DFN may at worst reinforce the partisan dispositions of mostly politically conservative Internet users, but does not cause or induce conversions in these dispositions. Overall, this study contributes novel experimental evidence, indicating that the potential electoral impact of DFN, although concerning, is strongly conditional on a reciprocal interaction between message receptibility and a pre-existing right-wing ideological orientation. The said impact is, therefore, likely narrow in scope.
Beneficial switch from aflibercept to ranibizumab for the treatment of refractory neovascular age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Marquis Liza-Marie , Mantel Irmela
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of switching to ranibizumab in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) refractory to aflibercept treatment and to identify predictive factors for switch response.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted including 32 eyes from 26 patients with refractory nAMD, who switched from monthly intravitreal aflibercept treatment (≥ 6 months) to ranibizumab. Outcome measures included changes in visual acuity (VA), intraretinal fluid (IRF), subretinal fluid (SRF), pigment epithelial detachment (PED), and central retinal thickness (CRT), evaluated at 6 months before switch (T1), at the time of switch (T2), and 3 months post-switch (T3).

Results

There was an increase in CRT from T1 to T2, which decreased after switch from T2 to T3. Regression analysis of the changes per month observed between time points showed significant differences in PED height (p = 0.02), SRF (p = 0.01), and neuroretinal thickness as a measure for IRF (p = 0.03). No significant change was found for VA. Predictive factors for better switch response included an exacerbation between T1 and T2, thicker measurements at T2, male sex, shorter treatment duration before switch, and fewer preceding injections. No association with preceding switch was found.

Conclusion

Patients with nAMD refractory to aflibercept benefit from switching to ranibizumab, particularly those whose condition worsened prior to the switch. This may be explained by drug tolerance to aflibercept. Our findings may facilitate making appropriate treatment decisions, potentially improving patient outcomes.
Stochastic quasi-gradient methods: variance reduction via Jacobian sketching
Authors: Gower Robert M. , Richtárik Peter , Bach Francis
Published: May 2020

We develop a new family of variance reduced stochastic gradient descent methods for minimizing the average of a very large number of smooth functions. Our method—JacSketch—is motivated by novel developments in randomized numerical linear algebra, and operates by maintaining a stochastic estimate of a Jacobian matrix composed of the gradients of individual functions. In each iteration, JacSketch efficiently updates the Jacobian matrix by first obtaining a random linear measurement of the true Jacobian through (cheap) sketching, and then projecting the previous estimate onto the solution space of a linear matrix equation whose solutions are consistent with the measurement. The Jacobian estimate is then used to compute a variance-reduced unbiased estimator of the gradient. Our strategy is analogous to the way quasi-Newton methods maintain an estimate of the Hessian, and hence our method can be seen as a stochastic quasi-gradient method. Our method can also be seen as stochastic gradient descent applied to a controlled stochastic optimization reformulation of the original problem, where the control comes from the Jacobian estimates. We prove that for smooth and strongly convex functions, JacSketch converges linearly with a meaningful rate dictated by a single convergence theorem which applies to general sketches. We also provide a refined convergence theorem which applies to a smaller class of sketches, featuring a novel proof technique based on a stochastic Lyapunov function. This enables us to obtain sharper complexity results for variants of JacSketch with importance sampling. By specializing our general approach to specific sketching strategies, JacSketch reduces to the celebrated stochastic average gradient (SAGA) method, and its several existing and many new minibatch, reduced memory, and importance sampling variants. Our rate for SAGA with importance sampling is the current best-known rate for this method, resolving a conjecture by Schmidt et al. (Proceedings of the eighteenth international conference on artificial intelligence and statistics, AISTATS 2015, San Diego, California, 2015). The rates we obtain for minibatch SAGA are also superior to existing rates and are sufficiently tight as to show a decrease in total complexity as the minibatch size increases. Moreover, we obtain the first minibatch SAGA method with importance sampling.
The OGS-Eclipse code for simulation of coupled multiphase flow and geomechanical processes in the subsurface
Authors: Benisch Katharina , Wang Wenqing , Delfs Jens-Olaf , Bauer Sebastian
Published: May 2020

This paper presents a numerical simulation tool for the analysis of coupled processes related to subsurface operations. The tool combines the open-source scientific code OpenGeoSys with the reservoir simulator Eclipse enabling the coupling of thermal, hydraulic, mechanical and geochemical processes. While the coupling of multiphase flow with heat and reactive geochemical component transport has been already implemented, OpenGeoSys-Eclipse is now extended for the coupling of multiphase flow and deformation. By this, OpenGeoSys-Eclipse is capable of addressing the impact of pore pressure changes on rock stability and deformation as well as the feedback effects of geomechanical processes on multiphase flow via pore volume coupling and porosity and permeability update. The coupling is verified by several test cases of gas storage scenarios and compared with reference simulations of OpenGeoSys. The results are in good agreement regarding the general effects of geomechanical feedback on pore pressure as well as porosity and permeability changes. Differences in the results are only observed for the pore volume coupling arising from the different implementation of rock compressibility models in the two simulators. The simulations are furthermore used to investigate the relevance of addressing geomechanical feedback in numerical scenario simulations for the assessment of subsurface operations. The results show clearly, that, depending on the given storage site conditions and rock types, the feedback of deformation on pore pressure can be significant and should therefore be accounted for in the assessment.
Judicial perspectives on the sentencing of minor drug offenders in Indonesia: discretionary practice and compassionate approaches
Authors: Mustafa Cecep , Malloch Margaret , Hamilton Smith Niall
Published: May 2020

This paper explores the perceptions of Indonesian Judges in sentencing minor drug offenders. The Judge holds a central role in the administration of justice and, because of the significance of judicial discretion, it is essential to understand how judges come to their sentencing decisions. To develop an understanding of what judges are trying to achieve when sentencing minor drug offenders, a total of 31 judges were interviewed: 28 participants came from District Courts in Urban and Rural jurisdictions in Indonesia (17 from Urban Courts and 11 from Rural Courts) and three were Supreme Court judges. The findings highlight that the process of justice involves not merely the application of the rule of the law or relevant legal codes; rather, how the judiciary balance and interpret the law is a central part of court sentencing practice.
Primary cilia-dependent signaling is involved in regulating mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and pluripotency maintenance
Authors: Ma Zhourui , Qin Mingde , Liang Hansi , Chen Ruihua , Cai Shizhong , Huang Zhijian , Tai Guangping
Published: May 2020

Using a large-scale quantitative mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) membrane proteomics analysis, we identified a large group of ciliary proteins in the MSCs membrane fraction, which prompted us to examine the cilia, intricate organelles that were originally discovered approximately 100 years ago. Here we characterize their primary structure and function in MSCs. We first characterized the primary cilia on undifferentiated human MSCs by immunostaining and verified these observation with scanning and 3D electronic microscopy. To investigate the function of the primary cilia of the MSCs we induced loss of function by means of siRNA knockdown (targeted to two known ciliary proteins: IFT172 and KIF3A). After either of these two proteins was knocked down by the respective siRNA, the MSCs showed fewer and shortened primary cilia. The MSCs proliferation assays showed increased cell proliferative activity under confluent conditions after the siRNA knockdown of IFT172 or KIF3A; among these MSCs, the proportion in S phase was increased in the IFT172 siRNA knockdown group. The expression of stem cell markers on the MSCs, namely, Oct4, Nanog and Sox2, were downregulated after the siRNA-induced knockdown of IFT172 or KIF3A, and the gene expression upregulation of ectoderm lineage markers was notable. Furthermore, manipulation of the primary cilia-dependent Shh pathway, using the Shh activator SAG (smoothened agonist), upregulated the gene expression of pluripotency markers, including Nanog and Oct4, and transcriptional target genes in the Shh pathway. This study confirms that MSCs have primary cilia and provides evidence that primary cilia-dependent signaling pathways play functional roles in MSCs proliferation and stemness maintenance.
Dynamics of a neuron–glia system: the occurrence of seizures and the influence of electroconvulsive stimuli
Authors: Erhardt André H. , Mardal Kent-Andre , Schreiner Jakob E.
Published: May 2020

In this paper, we investigate the dynamics of a neuron–glia cell system and the underlying mechanism for the occurrence of seizures. For our mathematical and numerical investigation of the cell model we will use bifurcation analysis and some computational methods. It turns out that an increase of the potassium concentration in the reservoir is one trigger for seizures and is related to a torus bifurcation. In addition, we will study potassium dynamics of the model by considering a reduced version and we will show how both mechanisms are linked to each other. Moreover, the reduction of the potassium leak current will also induce seizures. Our study will show that an enhancement of the extracellular potassium concentration, which influences the Nernst potential of the potassium current, may lead to seizures. Furthermore, we will show that an external forcing term (e.g. electroshocks as unidirectional rectangular pulses also known as electroconvulsive therapy) will establish seizures similar to the unforced system with the increased extracellular potassium concentration. To this end, we describe the unidirectional rectangular pulses as an autonomous system of ordinary differential equations. These approaches will explain the appearance of seizures in the cellular model. Moreover, seizures, as they are measured by electroencephalography (EEG), spread on the macro–scale (cm). Therefore, we extend the cell model with a suitable homogenised monodomain model, propose a set of (numerical) experiment to complement the bifurcation analysis performed on the single–cell model. Based on these experiments, we introduce a bidomain model for a more realistic modelling of white and grey matter of the brain. Performing similar (numerical) experiment as for the monodomain model leads to a suitable comparison of both models. The individual cell model, with its seizures explained in terms of a torus bifurcation, extends directly to corresponding results in both the monodomain and bidomain models where the neural firing spreads almost synchronous through the domain as fast traveling waves, for physiologically relevant paramenters.
Learning Design: European Approaches
Authors: Wasson Barbara , Kirschner Paul A.
Published: May 2020

Research on instructional and learning design is ‘booming’ in Europe, although there has been a move from a focus on content and the way to present it in a formal educational context (i.e., instruction), to a focus on complex learning, learning environments including the workplace, and access to learner data available in these environments. We even see the term ‘learning experience design’ (Neelen and Kirschner 2020) to describe the field. Furthermore, there is an effort to empower teachers (and even students) as designers of learning (including environments and new pedagogies), and to support their reflection on their own practice as part of their professional development (Hansen and Wasson 2016; Luckin et al. 2016; Wasson et al. 2016). While instructional design is an often heard term in the United States and refers to “translating principles of learning and instruction into plans for instructional materials, activities, information resources, and evaluation” (Smith and Ragan 1999), Europe tends to lean more towards learning design as the key for providing efficient, effective, and enjoyable learning experiences. This is not a switch from an instructivist to a constructivist view nor from a teacher-centred to a student-centred paradigm. It is, rather, a different mind-set where the emphasis is on the goal (i.e., learning) rather than the approach (i.e., instruction). Designing learning opportunities in a technology enhanced world builds on theories of human learning and cognition, opportunities provided by technology, and principles of instructional design. New technology both expands and challenges some instructional design principles by opening up new opportunities for distance collaboration, intelligent tutoring and support, seamless and ubiquitous learning and assessment technologies, and tools for thinking and thought. In this article, the authors give an account of their own and other research related to instructional and learning design, highlight related European research, and point to future research directions.
Feedback im Anfangsunterricht der Grundschule – Eine Videostudie zum Feedbackverhalten von Lehrpersonen in der Domäne Schreiben
Authors: Pohlmann-Rother Sanna , Kürzinger Anja , Lipowsky Frank
Published: May 2020

Im Beitrag wird das Feedbackverhalten von Grundschullehrkräften als Merkmal der Tiefenstruktur des Unterrichts in der ersten Jahrgangsstufe analysiert. Es wird der Frage nachgegangen, wie häufig und in welcher Form Lehrkräfte während einer Schülerarbeitsphase beim Schreiben (Texte verfassen) Rückmeldungen geben und wie sie diese auf die Schülerinnen und Schüler verteilen. Im Anschluss werden Zusammenhänge zwischen einzelnen Feedbackformen und der Qualität der Schülertexte analysiert. Die vorliegenden Analysen stammen aus dem DFG-Projekt NaSch1 („Narrative Schreibkompetenz in Klasse 1“) und stützen sich auf 47 ca. 90-minütige videografierte Unterrichtseinheiten mit 540 Lernenden aus der PERLE-Videostudie. Die Ergebnisse zeigen deutliche Unterschiede im Rückmeldeverhalten der Lehrpersonen. Elaborierte Feedbackformen (z. B. tutorielles Feedback) treten seltener auf als einfache Formen. Tendenziell erhalten Jungen häufiger ein Feedback, wobei die Initiative zur Erteilung eines Feedbacks eher von den Lernenden als von den Lehrkräften ausgeht. In den Mehrebenenanalysen lassen sich keine signifikanten Zusammenhänge zwischen einfachen bzw. elaborierten Rückmeldeformen und der Textqualität nachweisen. Dagegen zeigt sich ein negativer Zusammenhang zwischen inhaltsbezogenem Feedback und der sprachsystematischen Dimension der Textqualität.
Strongyloides stercoralis Hyper infection Syndrome
Authors: Karanam L Sampath Kumar , Basavraj Gopi Krishna , Papireddy Chaitanya Kumar Reddy
Published: May 2020

Strongyloides stercoralis is a helminth, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical countries. Its infestation in humans usually does not produce symptoms. However, in some patients, severe and life-threatening forms of this infection can occur, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Severe parasitic infection is triggered by any imbalance in the host’s immunity favouring the auto-infective cycle. This results in an increase in the intraluminal parasitic burden. In addition, tissue infestation is also very common. Clinical presentation is variable, and it is very difficult to diagnose clinically. Diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. In some cases, the diagnosis is established only on histopathological examination of the excised tissue by the pathologist. Here, the authors report a case of an elderly male diabetic patient, who presented to the emergency department with the features of acute abdomen. On exploratory laparotomy, he was found to have the features suggestive of gangrene of small bowel. Resection of the gangrenous bowel was done, and end-to-end anastomosis was done as the rest of the bowel appeared to be normal. However, the patient died of multi-organ failure and septicaemia on the second postoperative day. The resected intestine showed tissue infestation of Strongyloides stercoralis on histopathological examination. In this review article, the authors summarize a case of hyper infection syndrome of strongyloidiasis and discuss the various aspects of Strongyloides stercoralis infection with emphasis on life cycle of the parasite and different clinical features of the disease.
Optimization of the heat treatment of additively manufactured Ni-base superalloy IN718
Authors: Diepold Benedikt , Vorlaufer Nora , Neumeier Steffen , Gartner Thomas , Göken Mathias
Published: May 2020

Additive manufacturing (AM) of Ni-base superalloy components can lead to a significant reduction of weight in aerospace applications. AM of IN718 by selective laser melting results in a very fine dendritic microstructure with a high dislocation density due to the fast solidification process. The complex phase composition of this alloy, with three different types of precipitates and high residual stresses, necessitates adjustment of the conventional heat treatment for AM parts. To find an optimized heat treatment, the microstructures and mechanical properties of differently solution heat-treated samples were investigated by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, including electron backs-catter diffraction, and compression tests. After a solution heat treatment (SHT), the Nb-rich Laves phase dissolves and the dislocation density is reduced, which eliminates the dendritic substructure. SHT at 930 or 954°C leads to the precipitation of the δ-phase, which reduces the volume fraction of the strengthening γ′- and γ″-phases formed during the subsequent two stage aging treatment. With a higher SHT temperature of 1000°C, where no δ-phase is precipitated, higher γ′ and γ″ volume fractions are achieved, which results in the optimum strength of all of the solution heat treated conditions.
Nonlinear regression analysis of the sorption of crystal violet and methylene blue from aqueous solutions onto an agro-waste derived activated carbon
Authors: Jasper Enebi Estella , Ajibola Victor Olatunji , Onwuka Jude Chinedu
Published: May 2020

Sorption of synthetic dyes on low-cost solid sorbents is a simple technique for their removal from wastewater. Recent initiatives in the sorption process have sought the use of activated carbon derived from agricultural wastes as it provides an attractive and cheaper alternative to commercial activated carbon, which is usually expensive. This research investigates the sorption kinetics and equilibrium of two synthetic cationic dyes, crystal violet and methylene blue from aqueous media using activated carbon prepared from an agro-waste, Millettia thonningii seed pods. Sorption experiments were carried out using the batch process. The kinetic data were analyzed using the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion models while the equilibrium data were analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Redlich–Peterson isotherm models. Nonlinear regression method was used to fit the data to the isotherm models in order to determine model parameters and the best-fit isotherms. Thus, three error functions; coefficient of determination, Chi-square statistic test, and the sum of error squares were applied to evaluate the sorption data. The pseudo-second-order model best described the sorption kinetics of both dyes while the Redlich–Peterson model described the equilibrium data the most, followed closely by the Freundlich isotherm model indicating a heterogeneous sorbent surface. The experimental results indicate that the agro-waste derived activated carbon is a viable adsorbent for the remediation of dye-contaminated water.
Role of ley pastures in tomorrow’s cropping systems. A review
Authors: Martin Guillaume , Durand Jean-Louis , Duru Michel , Gastal François , Julier Bernadette , Litrico Isabelle , Louarn Gaëtan , Médiène Safia , Moreau Delphine , Valentin-Morison Muriel , Novak Sandra , Parnaudeau Virginie , Paschalidou Foteini , Vertès Françoise , Voisin Anne-Sophie , Cellier Pierre , Jeuffroy Marie-Hélène
Published: May 2020

Diversification of cropping systems has been proposed as a major mechanism to move towards sustainable cropping systems. To date, a diversification option that has received little attention is introduction of ley pastures into cropping systems, but the use of ley pastures is challenged by most future-oriented scenarios aiming to feed the world sustainably. In these scenarios, ruminant livestock feed only on permanent pastures, while cropping systems focus completely on production of crop-based human food. Diversification of cropping systems with ley pastures is thus compromised by knowledge gaps and future-oriented policy options. Here, we review ecosystem services provided by introducing ley pastures into cropping systems to increase sustainability of agriculture, discuss types of ley pastures and their management liable to promote these services, and raise future challenges related to introducing ley pastures into cropping systems. We conclude that (1) ley pastures provide a large set of input (soil conservation, nutrient provision and recycling, soil water retention, biological control of pests) and output (water purification, climate regulation, habitat provision for biodiversity conservation, forage production) ecosystem services of primary importance to cropping systems and society, respectively, as long as their spatial and temporal insertion within cropping systems is well-managed; otherwise, disservices may be produced. (2) To benefit from ecosystem services provided by ley pastures in cropping systems while limiting their disservices, it appears necessary to define a safe operating space for ley pastures in cropping systems. Moving towards this space requires changing plant breeding programs towards multiservice ley pastures, producing knowledge about emerging ways of introducing ley pastures into cropping systems (e.g., living mulch, green manure) and better quantifying the bundles of ecosystem services provided by ley pastures in cropping systems.
Modeling the biogeochemistry of sulfur in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands of the Vienna Woods
Authors: Dolschak Klaus , Berger Torsten W.
Published: May 2020

In this article, we describe the setup and the application of a novel Sulfur Dynamics Model (SDM), with the aim to identify and quantify processes, which are crucial for the understanding of the biogeochemical sulfur (S) cycle of forest ecosystems. The simulator takes into account abiotic processes as well as biotic interactions between atmosphere, plant and soil. We applied the model to two Austrian beech stands where deposition of S and soil solution chemistry were monitored intensively over a two-year period. Under consideration of high historic loads and the more recent recession of atmospheric S deposition, we found a suitable model configuration where it was possible to assign both intra-annual fluctuations of the SO4-S in soil solution and long-time trends in the stream discharge to specific S transformation processes. We identified the interplay of microbial immobilization (the microbial conversion of solute sulfate to organic soil S) and mineralization as key driver of short-term fluctuations in the soil solution. In the long term, the delayed release of historically accumulated S is driven mainly by the slow mineralization of S rich plant biomass, recalcitrant to decomposition. Adsorption and desorption processes seem to play only a negligible role on our investigated stands. We conclude that our proposed model which is based on the current understanding of S biogeochemistry is sufficient to describe S dynamics on the investigated forest stands. The code file (SAS) for all model functions will be provided by the authors after request.
The Christmas Market Attack in Berlin and Attitudes Toward Refugees: A Natural Experiment with Data from the European Social Survey
Authors: Nägel Christof , Lutter Mark
Published: May 2020

Using a quasi-experimental research design, this study examines changes in attitudes toward refugees after the terrorist attack on the Berlin Christmas market of December 19, 2016. In our analysis, we make use of random variation in the field period of the European Social Survey (ESS) to fashion a natural experimental design. The survey’s field period took place in Germany from August 23, 2016, to March 26, 2017. Hence, the Christmas market attack took place approximately halfway through the ESS’s field phase, thus making it possible to study the causal effect on changing attitudes toward minorities before and after the attack. We argue that the terrorist attack creates a spillover effect and negatively shapes public opinion of uninvolved ethnic minorities. Our data analysis suggests that immediately after the event, only people with a right-wing political attitude appear to be affected by the proposed spillover effect. However, we find that the worsening of attitudes toward refugees can also be observed in the general population as time progresses. We do not find variation according to educational levels.
Revisiting a Remedy Against Chains of Unkindness
Authors: Schnedler Wendelin , Stephan Nina Lucia
Published: May 2020

Previous experiments observe a chain of unkindness: unkindly treated people treat an innocent third party unkindly. As a remedy, it has been proposed that the unkindly treated person engages in emotional regulation by writing a letter to the unkind person. Indeed, subjects who received little money were willing to leave more to a third person when they were writing a letter rather than waiting.

Here, we examine whether emotional regulation is indeed behind this observation. In line with emotional regulation, we find that letter writing also leads to more giving if the person is treated unkindly by being assigned to a frustrating rather than a pleasant job. Being able to write, however, does not affect self-reported happiness differently from having to wait. Even more strikingly, subjects assigned to pleasant jobs also give more when writing rather than waiting. This is not consistent with emotional regulation.
The rise of compliant mechanisms: Composites’ role in enabling an engineering revolution
Authors: Mathijsen Django
Published: May 2020

Traditionally, engineers have been trained to construct mechanisms using hinges, springs and stiff linkages. Modern materials and computational tools however are making it possible to do away with hinges and springs, using flexible linkages instead of stiff ones. The resulting “compliant mechanisms” can offer greater performance, lower weight and lower cost. We talk to Professor Larry Howell of Brigham Young University to find out how the idea was born and what material properties are required by these innovative new mechanisms.
Epoxy eliminates need for heat and maintains integrity of protective corrosion coating
Authors: Atkinson Simon
Published: May 2020

Henkel Ag & Co KgaA has developed a tin replacement material for repairing a vehicle's body. Described as a cold rebuilding epoxy material, it eliminates the need for heat or exposing areas to an open flame, and ensures that the paint and protective corrosion coating around the area of repair is not damaged.
Novel Coronavirus, Old Partisanship: COVID-19 Attitudes and Behaviours in the United States and Canada
Authors: Pickup Mark , Stecula Dominik , van der Linden Clifton
Published: May 2020

The novel coronavirus reached the United States and Canada almost at the same time. The first reported American case was January 20, 2020, and in Canada it was January 15, 2020 (Canada, 2020; Holshue et al., 2020). Yet, the response to this crisis has been different in the two countries. In the US, President Donald Trump, prominent Republicans, and conservative media initially dismissed the dangers of COVID-19 (Stecula, 2020). The pandemic became politicized from the early days, and even though Trump and Republicans have walked back many of their initial claims, there continue to be media reports of partisan differences in public opinion shaped by that early response. At the same time, the response in Canada has been mostly characterized by across-the-board partisan consensus among political elites (Merkley et al., 2020).
From Seoul to Copenhagen: Migrating K-Pop Cover Dance and Performing Diasporic Youth in Social Media
Authors: Oh Chuyun
Published: May 2020

This article examines the practice of the Danish K-pop (Korean pop) cover dance crew CODE9 as an example of the rapid cultural exchange on the Internet that reshapes the diffusion of dance styles and ideas. CODE9 demonstrates K-pop as a “migratory dance practice,” forming a transnational dancing community with modern technology at its center. By adapting and embodying K-pop, CODE9 creates a “Thirdspace” in between reality and fantasy, between being oneself and being a Korean idol. With CODE9, K-pop moves in and out of Denmark, through the practice of watching, learning, performing, and then circulating dance online.
Renegotiating Identity Markers in Contemporary Halling Practices
Authors: Fiskvik Anne
Published: May 2020

Contemporary halling, seen in theatrical dance works by the Norwegian choreogaphers Hallgrim Hansegaard and Sigurd Johan Heide, exists in a fluid interplay between traditional dance and influences from other cultures. This article examines how typical halling moves are negotiated and “remixed” through practices taking place inside and outside of the Nordic sphere. Hansegaard and Heide can be seen as representatives of “wayfinding artists,” influenced by migrant practices through moving, “wayfinding” in and out of the Nordic region.
Migratory Choreography and Spaces of Resistance
Authors: Vedel Karen
Published: May 2020

This article examines dance pieces premiered in the Nordic countries at the height of the Syrian refugee crisis in 2015. Framed by the heated debates on current immigration policies, as well as prevailing tropes of a theater of migration and the figure of “the migrant,” the analysis centers on the potential for creating spaces of resistance in the encounter between choreographic performance and spectators. Drawing on analytical concepts such as migratory aesthetics and choreographic agency, the focus is on the interrelationship between the choreographic articulations of experience of migration and their materialization before an audience.
DETERMINISTIC INVESTMENT STRATEGY IN A DC PENSION PLAN WITH INFLATION RISK UNDER MEAN-VARIANCE CRITERION
Authors: Peng Xingchun , Chen Fenge
Published: May 2020

This paper studies an optimal deterministic investment problem for a DC pension plan member with inflation risk. We describe the price processes of the inflation-indexed bond and the stock by a continuous diffusion process and a jump diffusion process with random parameters, respectively. The contribution rate linked to the income of the DC plan member is assumed to be a non-Markovian adapted process. Under the mean-variance criterion, we use Malliavin calculus to derive a characterization for the optimal deterministic investment strategy. In some special cases, we obtain the explicit expressions for the optimal deterministic strategies.
SIX NEW SPECIES OF VACCINIUM (ERICACEAE) FROM NEW GUINEA
Authors: Argent G. , Wilkie P.
Published: May 2020

Six new species of Vaccinium, identified as new to science by the late George Argent while compiling a revision of Vaccinium sect. Orianthe for New Guinea, are described and illustrations provided.
Experimental manipulation of beliefs about the importance of thoughts and the effect on an aggressive impulse
Authors: Jiménez-Ros A. , Faísca L. , Martins T. , Janeiro L. , Martins A.T.
Published: May 2020

Background:

Cognitive models of obsessive-compulsive disorder attribute a causal role to maladaptive beliefs.

Aims:

To test this hypothesis, we manipulated Overimportance of Thoughts (OT) beliefs and experimentally evaluated their effect on the response to an induced aggressive impulse.

Method:

Eighty-five participants completed a battery of self-report instruments assessing obsession symptoms, thought control, affectivity and obsessive beliefs, and were then randomly assigned to two conditions. In the experimental condition participants read a scientific abstract on the importance of thought control whilst those in the control condition read a neutral abstract. All participants identified a loved person and imagined feeling the impulse to stab this person, then completed again OT beliefs measures (Overimportance of Thought, Moral-Thought Action Fusion and Thought Action Fusion Likelihood).

Results:

The Moral component of the Thought Action Fusion was reduced by reading a brief text about the possibility and desirability of thought control. However, experimentally induced changes in beliefs did not yield differences in the intrusiveness of the aggressive impulse.

Conclusions:

Some beliefs can be modified through a single session in which information similar to what could be obtained in quotidian life is provided.