bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prescribing DNA Origami Patterns via Scaffold Decoration
Authors: Zhang Yinan , Li Qian , Liu Xiaoguo , Fan Chunhai , Liu Huajie , Wang Lihua
Published: March 2020

DNA origami has rapidly emerged as a powerful technique to fabricate user‐defined DNA nanostructures. However, the ability to custom‐make patterns on DNA origami template is hampered by the heavy workload and high cost of changing staple DNA (up to several hundred strands per set). Here, a scaffold‐decorated DNA origami method is developed by prescribing the pattern information to the scaffold DNA. For each pixel of an origami, a designed “pixel strand” (P‐strand) is hybridized to the scaffold, strongly preoccupying a specific position and competing with invading staples in a mild origami assembly. To fabricate a new origami pattern, the P‐strand set needs to be replaced with a universal staple set. The yield of thus‐fabricated DNA origami patterns is comparable to a conventional DNA origami with canonical method. One‐pot fabrication of three different nanopatterns in a single test‐tube is further demonstrated. Also, dynamic switch of the pattern is shown. This method provides a generic approach and offers large flexibility for scaling up the nanofabrication with DNA origami by kinetically modulating the reaction pathway of the staples with the scaffold DNA, which represents a novel route in the self‐assembly of complex biomolecular systems.
Pasting, Rheological, and Thermal Properties and Structural Characteristics of Large and Small Arenga pinnata Starch Granules
Authors: Mei Jiang‐Yang , Zhang Lu , Lin Ying , Li Shu‐Bo , Bai Cong‐Hao , Fu Zhen
Published: March 2020

Arenga pinnata starch (APS) is separated into large and small size fractions. The large granules (APS‐L) show a more elongated oval shape, while the small granules (APS‐S) are roughly close to a round shape. The large and small granules exhibit a Maltese cross at one end of the APS granules. Both large and small fractions show C‐type crystallinity, but the APS‐L display a higher crystallinity and more ordered molecular structure. In addition, APS‐L have higher helices content than that of APS‐S. The APS‐L have higher peak viscosity, trough, and final viscosity values, breakdown value, gelatinization enthalpy, and gelatinization temperatures than that of the APS‐S, but the APS‐L fraction displays a lower setback value. The APS‐S gel is more elastic and more solid than APS‐L gel. The results indicate that granule size is significantly related to pasting, rheological, and thermal properties of the APS.
Effective throughput of alternate rician shadowed fading links
Authors: Bilim Mehmet
Published: March 2020

The performance of effective throughput (ET) over alternate Rician‐shadowed fading channels is analyzed. A novel expression for the exact ET is obtained in terms of the Meijer'sGfunction. Moreover, an asymptotic ET expression at the high signal‐to‐noise ratio regime is also derived to gain more insight. In order to prove the correctness of our analytical derivations, some comparisons between the exact simulations and numerical results are presented. The results demonstrate that increasing the value ofmshadowing fading is more dominant than the value ofKi (i ∈ {1, 2}) Rician parameters since this means a weak shadowing condition. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Matter, Literacy, and English Language Teaching in an Underprivileged School in Spain
Authors: Villacañas de Castro Luis S. , Cano Bodi Violeta , Hortelano Montejano Ana , Giner Real Clàudia , Gómez Pons Icíar , Mesas Tomás Belén , Sanz Martínez Claudia , Tortosa Gozálvez Clara
Published: March 2020

This article analyzes the processes and findings of a collaborative action research (CAR) project that aimed to analyze the potential of materiality to radically transform the way English was taught and learned in an underprivileged public school in Spain. The CAR drew on new materialisms and new literacy studies to explore the relationship between matter and English language teaching from socioeconomic, sociocultural, and technological perspectives. The main pedagogical strategy consisted of widening the quantity and quality of the material resources in the English classroom, precisely to draw a material link between the English classroom and the students’ homes, communities, and the informal literacies they enacted in them. Through two cycles of inquiry, the CAR team put into practice two multimodal and artifactual workshops with a group of nine children from underprivileged, minority backgrounds. A variety of qualitative strategies were used (including classroom recordings, student interviews, and photographs) to confirm that the insights from new materialisms and new literacy studies had generated opportunities for meaningful English learning within a culturally sustaining pedagogy.
The Literature Selection Bookmark
Authors: Moorhouse Benjamin Luke
Published: March 2020

The author introduces the literature selection bookmark, a tool that inservice and preservice teachers who are teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) in international contexts can use to guide them in selecting authentic children’s English literature and analyze its utility in the elementary English‐language classroom. Authentic children’s English literature, stories written for children to read for pleasure in English‐speaking countries, are a useful teaching resource in the EFL classroom. The author describes the tool’s function, design, and use in a teacher preparation course for preservice EFL teachers in Hong Kong. The author also includes preservice teachers’ thoughts about the bookmark’s potential usefulness in the EFL classroom.
Scientific analysis of some glazed pottery unearthed from Warring States Chu tombs in Jiangling, Hubei Province: Indication for the origin of the low‐fired glazed pottery in China
Authors: Dong Junqing , Li Qinghui , Liu Song
Published: March 2020

A portable energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectrometer and a micro‐Raman spectrometer are used for the nondestructive analysis of a batch of glazed pottery ornaments unearthed from Warring States Chu (楚) tombs (B.C.475–B.C.221) in Jiangling, Hubei Province, China. According to the chemical compositions obtained, all of the glazes belong to the lead–barium–silicate (PbO–BaO–SiO2) system and contain certain levels of copper. The man‐made barium copper silicate pigment crystals, such as Chinese blue (BaCuSi4O10) and Chinese purple (BaCuSi2O6), are identified from several samples by micro‐Raman spectrometer. Besides, gypsum and hematite are found in the white and brown regions of two eye beads. Combined with other glazed pottery and the related silicate artifacts (e.g., lead–barium glass and faience, potash–lime glass and glazed pottery, high‐lead glazed pottery, etc.), the origin, development, and affected factors of ancient Chinese low‐fired glazed pottery have been discussed preliminarily. The present study provides principal evidences for the technological provenance, raw material recipes, and the relationship between low‐fired glazed pottery and related vitreous materials of ancient China. It also provides some significant clues for the origin and the development of ancient Chinese lead–barium glass.
Circulating nutrient concentrations in free‐ranging Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) in Punta San Juan, Peru
Authors: Colchao Paulo , Adkesson Michael J. , Allender Matthew C. , Fascetti Andrea J. , Cardeña Marco , Cárdenas‐Alayza Susana , Dierenfeld Ellen S. , Deem Sharon L.
Published: March 2020

Free‐ranging Humboldt penguin (HP, Spheniscus humboldti) populations are under pressure from resource competition with industrial fisheries, habitat loss, and El Niño Southern Oscillation events. Foraging patterns for this top marine predator change during periods of aberrant oceanographic conditions and scarce fish stock numbers. These radical dietary fluctuations can lead to poor fertility, early embryonic death, poor hatchability, suppressed immune function, high chick mortality, and illness. To understand the variability of nutrient status in reproductive seasons, we measured select circulating nutrient concentrations (fat‐soluble vitamins A, D, E, and carotenoids, fatty acids, amino acids, minerals, and electrolytes) of 105 HP at Punta San Juan, Peru during the first reproductive seasons of 2007 and 2008. We determined significant differences in nutrient status between sexes, years of sampling, and reproductive stages. Males (4.5 ± 0.38 kg) weighed more than females (4.0 ± 0.29 kg) and exhibited higher concentrations of vitamin A (0.71 ± 0.11 vs. 0.61 ± 0.12 µg/ml) and docosahexaenoic acid (6.70 ± 1.61 vs. 5.65 ± 1.59%). Males also displayed lower concentrations of β‐carotene (0.01 ± 0.01 vs. 0.012 ± 0.001 µg/ml) and phosphorus (3.43 ± 0.83 vs. 4.40 ± 1.66 mg/dl). Comparison between the 2 years showed most circulating amino acid concentrations were higher in 2007. Significant differences in circulating amino acids and vitamins were also noted between different reproductive stages. These results demonstrate concentrations of nutrients can vary due to the physiological state of the animal, as well as the overall dynamics of their marine ecosystem habitat.
Bio-inspired design: the impact of collaboration between engineers and biologists on analogical transfer and ideation
Authors: Hashemi Farzaneh Helena
Published: March 2020

To develop innovative technical solutions, designers seek inspiration from nature and its almost infinite pool of biological solutions. However, understanding biological solutions and transferring appropriate analogies to develop technical solutions pose a considerable challenge. A strategy to facilitate interdisciplinary understanding is collaboration between engineers and biologists. So far, the impact of this type of collaboration on analogical transfer and ideation has not been studied in an experimental setting. To close this research gap, this work examines design experiments with engineer–biologist pairs, half of whom were provided with a support for analogical transfer (BioId Support). Engineer–biologist pairs were compared to single disciplinary pairs with regards to the transfer of selected analogy categories. The impact of the transferred analogy categories on the quality of solution ideas was analysed—quality was regarded as an indicator for the solution ideas’ innovative potential. The results show a positive influence of the supported collaboration between engineers and biologists on the transferred analogy categories. These analogy categories positively influence the quality of solution ideas. This work indicates benefits of collaboration between engineers and biologists for bio-inspired design. In addition, it provides a starting point for improving bio-inspired design methods.
Boundary Effect on the Nodal Length for Arithmetic Random Waves, and Spectral Semi-correlations
Authors: Cammarota Valentina , Klurman Oleksiy , Wigman Igor
Published: March 2020

We test M. Berry’s ansatz on nodal deficiency in presence of boundary. The square billiard is studied, where the high spectral degeneracies allow for the introduction of a Gaussian ensemble of random Laplace eigenfunctions (“boundary-adapted arithmetic random waves”). As a result of a precise asymptotic analysis, two terms in the asymptotic expansion of the expected nodal length are derived, in the high energy limit along a generic sequence of energy levels. It is found that the precise nodal deficiency or surplus of the nodal length depends on arithmetic properties of the energy levels, in an explicit way. To obtain the said results we apply the Kac–Rice method for computing the expected nodal length of a Gaussian random field. Such an application uncovers major obstacles, e.g. the occurrence of “bad” subdomains, that, one hopes, contribute insignificantly to the nodal length. Fortunately, we were able to reduce this contribution to a number theoretic question of counting the “spectral semi-correlations”, a concept joining the likes of “spectral correlations” and “spectral quasi-correlations” in having impact on the nodal length for arithmetic dynamical systems. This work rests on several breakthrough techniques of J. Bourgain, whose interest in the subject helped shaping it to high extent, and whose fundamental work on spectral correlations, joint with E. Bombieri, has had a crucial impact on the field.
Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3) protein expression on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in aggressive and TP53-mutated salivary gland carcinomas
Authors: Arolt Christoph , Meyer Moritz , Ruesseler Vanessa , Nachtsheim Lisa , Wuerdemann Nora , Dreyer Thomas , Gattenlöhner Stefan , Wittekindt Claus , Buettner Reinhard , Quaas Alexander , Klussmann Jens Peter
Published: March 2020

Salivary gland carcinomas (SGCs) are rare and can be subdivided into distinct entities, some of which confer a poor prognosis. As targets for effective systemic therapy are warranted, some studies investigated the role of immune-checkpoint proteins PD-L1 and CTLA-4 in SGC. Our study depicts the expression of lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3) in a test cohort and a larger validation cohort, totaling 139 SGCs. LAG3 is expressed on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), mediates T cell exhaustion and is subject to numerous currently recruiting clinical studies. Overall, one-third of SGCs were infiltrated by LAG3-expressing TILs with a strikingly high concordance between the test cohort and the validation cohort (30% and 28.2%, respectively). In the validation cohort, entity-wise LAG3 expression frequencies were highly variable. The highest rates were observed in salivary duct carcinoma (SDC; 66.7%) and adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified (ANOS; 50.0%). We observed LAG3 expression on effector T cells and in smaller frequencies also on FOXP3− T helper cells and FOXP3+ Tregs. LAG3 expression significantly correlated with advanced nodal metastases, cytotoxic T cell infiltrate and TP53 mutations. In the group of adenoid cystic carcinomas, LAG3 expression was also associated with a shorter event-free survival (EFS). Tumors with TP53 nonsense mutations (TP53 null type) exhibited higher LAG3 frequencies and a shorter EFS compared to TP53 wild type. This is the first report of LAG3 expression in SGC, a promising target for immunotherapy. LAG3 blockage could be distinctly applicable for SDC and ANOS, two SGC types with a particularly poor outcome.
The effects of soft tissue lateral release on the stability of the ligament complex of the knee
Authors: Völlner Florian , Herl Florian , Greimel Felix , Benditz Achim , Renkawitz Tobias , Grifka Joachim , Craiovan Benjamin , Weber Markus
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Valgus deformity presents a particular challenge in total knee arthroplasty. This condition regularly leads to contractures of the lateral capsular ligament complex and to overstretching of the medial ligamentous complex. Reconstruction of the knee joint kinematics and anatomy often requires lateral release. However, data on how such release weakens the stability of the knee are missing in the literature. This study investigated the effects of sequential lateral release on the collateral stability of the ligament complex of the knee in vitro.

Methods

Ten knee prostheses were implanted in 10 healthy cadaveric knee joints using a navigation device. Soft tissue lateral release consisted of five release steps, and stiffness and stability were determined at 0, 30, 60 and 90° flexion after each step.

Results

Soft tissue lateral release increasingly weakened the ligament complex of the lateral compartment. Because of the large muscular parts, the release of the iliotibial band and the M. popliteus had little effect on the stability of the lateral and medial compartment, but release of the lateral ligament significantly decreased the stability in the lateral compartment over the entire range of motion. Stability in the medial compartment was hardly affected. Conversely, further release of the posterolateral capsule and the posterior cruciate ligament led to the loss of stability in the lateral compartment only in deep flexion, whereas stability decreased significantly in the medial compartment.

Conclusion

Our study shows for the first time the association between sequential lateral release and stability of the ligamentous complex of the knee. To maintain the stability, knee surgeons should avoid releasing the entire lateral collateral ligament, which would significantly decrease stability in the lateral compartment.
Intratympanic gentamycine for Ménière’s disease: is there a selective vestibulotoxic effect?
Authors: Molnár András , Maihoub Stefani , Gáborján Anita , Tamás László , Szirmai Ágnes
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The aim of our study is to investigate the effectiveness and safety of the treatment, based on vertigo diaries and pure tone audiograms.

Methods

The complete medical documentation of 105 definite patients suffering from Ménière’s disease was analyzed. In the studied group, nine patients were treated with intratympanic gentamycine. Long-term follow-up of the patients was carried out, using vertigo diaries, medical letters, anamnestic data, and pure tone audiograms. Audiometric results and vertigo complaints before and after treatment were contrasted using IBM SPSS V24 software.

Results

Based on our analysis, vertigo attacks appeared significantly less often after gentamycine treatment [p < 0.001; Odds ratio 0.003 (95% CI 0.001–0.012)], which confirms the efficacy of the therapy. Pure tone stages before and after the application of gentamycine were contrasted using the Mann–Whitney U test. When comparing the audiometric results of long-term follow-ups by using the logistic regression, a statistically significant difference was observed between the treated and not treated groups [p = 0.001; Odds ratio 0.141 (95% CI 0.064–0.313)], and based on the survivorship curve hearing impairment was more common in the not treated group which also supports our results. Based on the non-parametric test, there was no significant difference (p = 0.84) between the pure-tone stages of the control group and of those treated with gentamycine.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that intratympanic gentamycine is effective in controlling vertigo attacks, and there is no higher risk for hearing loss than in case of spontaneous progression of the disorder.
Relationship between magnetic fabrics and deformation of the Miocene Pohorje intrusions and surrounding sediments (Eastern Alps)
Authors: Fodor László I. , Márton Emő , Vrabec Marko , Koroknai Balázs , Trajanova Mirka , Vrabec Mirijam
Published: March 2020

The Miocene deformation history of magmatic and host metamorphic rocks and surrounding sediments was reconstructed by measuring meso- and microscale structures and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) data in order to constrain the structural evolution of the Pohorje pluton during the onset of lithospheric extension at the Eastern Alps–Pannonian Basin transition. Principal AMS axes, lineation and foliation are very similar to mesoscopic lineation and foliation data from the main intrusive body and from some dykes. Although contribution from syn-magmatic texture is possible, these structures were formed during the cooling of the pluton and associated subvolcanic dykes just shortly after the 18.64 Ma pluton intrusion. Dykes emplaced during progressively younger episodes reflect decreasing amount of ductile strain, while firstly mesoscopic foliation and lineation, and then the tectonic AMS signal gradually disappears. In the structurally highest N–S trending dacite dykes, the AMS fabric only reflects the magmatic flow. The Miocene sediments underwent the same, NE–SW to E–W extension as the magmatic and host metamorphic rocks as indicated by both AMS and fault-slip data. All these events occurred prior to ~ 15 Ma, i.e., during the main syn-rift extension of the Pannonian Basin and during the fastest exhumation of the Tauern and Rechnitz windows, both demonstrating considerable extension of diverse crustal segments of the Alpine nappe pile. After a counterclockwise rotation around ~ 15 Ma, the maximum stress axis changed to a SE–NW orientation, but it was only registered by brittle faulting. During this time, the overprinting of a syn-rift extensional AMS texture was not possible in the cooled or cemented magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.
Long-term real time object tracking based on multi-scale local correlation filtering and global re-detection
Authors: Zhao Qi , Zhang Boxue , Feng Wenquan , Du Zhiying , Zhang Hong , Sun Daniel
Published: March 2020

This paper investigates long-term visual object tracking which is a complex problem in computer vision community and big data analysis, due to the variation of the target and the surrounding environment. A novel tracking algorithm based on local correlation filtering and global keypoint matching is proposed to solve problems occurred during long-term tracking such as occlusion, target-losing, etc. The algorithm consists of two major components: (1) local object tracking module, and (2) global losing re-detection module. The local tracking module optimizes the conventional correlation filtering algorithm. Firstly, the Color Name feature is applied to increase the color sensitivity. Secondly, a scale traversal is employed to accommodate target scale changes. In the global losing re-detection module, the target losing judgment and global re-detection is realized by keypoint feature models of foreground and background. The proposed tracker achieves the 1st place in the VTB50 test set with 81.3% precision and 61.3% success rate, which outperforms other existing state-of-the-art trackers by over 10%. And it achieves the 2nd place in our Chasing-Car test set with a higher real-time performance 43.2 fps. The experimental results show that the proposed tracker has higher accuracy and robustness when dealing with situations like object deformation, occlusion and target-losing, etc.
The periodic version of the Da Prato–Grisvard theorem and applications to the bidomain equations with FitzHugh–Nagumo transport
Authors: Hieber Matthias , Kajiwara Naoto , Kress Klaus , Tolksdorf Patrick
Published: March 2020

In this article, the periodic version of the classical Da Prato–Grisvard theorem on maximal $${{L}}^p$$

L

p

-regularity in real interpolation spaces is developed, as well as its extension to semilinear evolution equations. Applying this technique to the bidomain equations subject to ionic transport described by the models of FitzHugh–Nagumo,
Aliev–Panfilov, or Rogers–McCulloch, it is proved that this set of equations admits a unique, strongT-periodic solution in a neighborhood of stable equilibrium points provided it is innervated by T-periodic forces.
Long-term (up to 16 months) health-related quality of life after adjuvant tailored dose-dense chemotherapy vs. standard three-weekly chemotherapy in women with high-risk early breast cancer
Authors:   the Swedish Breast Cancer Group, the Austrian Breast, Colorectal Cancer Study Group, the German Breast Cancer Group, Brandberg Yvonne , Johansson Hemming , Hellström Mats , Gnant Michael , Möbus Volker , Greil Richard , Foukakis Theodoros , Bergh Jonas
Published: March 2020

Purpose

To prospectively compare HRQoL effects of two modern adjuvant chemotherapy breast cancer treatment regimens at six time-points up to 16 months after random assignment.

Methods

The open-label, randomized, Phase 3 “Panther trial” was conducted between February 2007 and September 2011. 760 women, aged 65 years and younger, after surgery for non-metastatic node-positive or high-risk node-negative breast cancer were randomized 1:1 to the experimental group (four cycles of tailored and dose-dense adjuvant epirubicin and cyclophosphamide/2 weeks followed by four cycles of tailored dose-dense docetaxel/2 weeks) or standard group (three cycles of fluorouracil and epirubicin-cyclophosphamide/3 weeks followed by three cycles of docetaxel/3 weeks). HRQoL was assessed at all Swedish centres using EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 at six points during 16 months before randomization.

Results

Response rates to questionnaires were highest at baseline 728/780 (93%) and lowest 16 months after randomization, 557/750 (74%). HRQoL declined during treatment in both groups. At the end of treatment, the experimental group reported statistically significantly lower HRQoL (P < 0.001) than the standard group on global health status, physical functioning, role functioning, social functioning, fatigue, sexual functioning, and systemic therapy effects. No differences were found for emotional functioning, body image, and arm and breast symptoms. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups at the first follow-up and at subsequent assessments. HRQoL levels at the 16-month follow-up were similar to baseline values.

Conclusions

Negative HRQoL impact of the dose-dense and tailored strategy appears to be prominent during treatment, but HRQoL recover once treatment ends.

Trial Registration

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00798070; isrctn.org Identifier:
ISRCTN39017665.
Inexact first-order primal–dual algorithms
Authors: Rasch Julian , Chambolle Antonin
Published: March 2020

We investigate the convergence of a recently popular class of first-order primal–dual algorithms for saddle point problems under the presence of errors in the proximal maps and gradients. We study several types of errors and show that, provided a sufficient decay of these errors, the same convergence rates as for the error-free algorithm can be established. More precisely, we prove the (optimal) $$O\left( 1/N\right)$$O1/N convergence to a saddle point in finite dimensions for the class of non-smooth problems considered in this paper, and prove a $$O\left( 1/N^2\right)$$O1/N2 or even linear $$O\left( \theta ^N\right)$$OθN convergence rate if either the primal or dual objective respectively both are strongly convex. Moreover we show that also under a slower decay of errors we can establish rates, however slower and directly depending on the decay of the errors. We demonstrate the performance and practical use of the algorithms on the example of nested algorithms and show how they can be used to split the global objective more efficiently.
Defining sustainability? Insights from a small village in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Dogmus Özge Can , Nielsen Jonas Ø.
Published: March 2020

The term “sustainability” is flexible as it needs to function in many different contexts and across many issues. At the same time, this flexibility makes it difficult to assess and easy to misuse. Over the last three decades, numerous sustainability assessment tools have been developed to better define the term. In this paper, we critically address these attempts and argue that the flexibility of the term is not solely problematic, but allow people to create their own sustainability imaginaries, by which we mean a society’s understanding of how environmental resources should be used. We show this through a case study, the Martin Brod village in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where, within a few years, the inhabitants changed their sustainability imaginaries in parallel with shifting external socio-economic conditions and expectations. We primarily applied qualitative research methods. Our results show that changing sustainability imaginaries was made possible due to the flexibility of the term which enabled otherwise disempowered local inhabitants to have agency. Consequently, a stricter definition of sustainability may have unintended consequences for people struggling to maintain a political voice in settings such as Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Does university have an effect on young people’s active citizenship in England?
Authors: Yang Jinyu , Hoskins Bryony
Published: March 2020

Educational attainment measured by years of education has been widely reported as leading to higher levels of political participation. The theory is that education plays an important role in a person’s civic skills and cognitive capacity that helps them understand and connect with the world of politics and be able to defend their interests (Nie et al. 1996). However, a number of studies argue that education has no effect on political engagement as educational attainment has been identified as a proxy for socioeconomic background and cognitive ability. In order to examine whether the university has an effect on young people’s intentions for active citizenship in England, hybrid cumulative logit models are used in the Citizenship Education Longitudinal Study (CELS) 2009–2014 with between and within effects which help explain differences between individuals and within individuals at different time points. Control measures of previous citizenship education are also included in the analysis. We find that the university has a positive independent effect on intentions to vote, a negative effect on intentions to volunteer, but not on intentions to protest in the future for young people in England. These findings help clarify the role of higher education (HE) in developing and maintaining democracy and social cohesion.
Ion Mobilities for Heaviest Element Identification
Authors: Rickert Elisabeth , Backe Hartmut , Block Michael , Laatiaoui Mustapha , Lauth Werner , Raeder Sebastian , Schneider Jonas , Schneider Fabian
Published: March 2020

Relativistic effects strongly influence the chemical and physical properties of the heaviest elements, which can significantly differ from the periodicity predicted by the periodic table of elements. Former systematic mobility measurements on monoatomic lanthanide ions revealed the dependence of ion-atom interactions on the underlying electronic configuration and helped in studying the aforementioned effects. Presently, the measurements are being extended to the actinides, where larger deviations from periodicity are expected. Our studies will cover ion mobilities of several actinide elements under different conditions of electric fields, buffer-gas pressures and temperatures, which will constitute benchmark data for state-of-the-art ab initio calculations.
Knots not concordant to L-space knots
Authors: Yozgyur Ramazan
Published: March 2020

In this short note we use methods of Friedl, Livingston and Zentner to show that there are knots that are not algebraically concordant to a connected sum of positive and negative L-space knots.
Breaking the explanatory circle
Authors: Hicks Michael Townsen
Published: March 2020

Humeans are often accused of positing laws which fail to explain or are involved in explanatory circularity. Here, I will argue that these arguments are confused, but not because of anything to do with Humeanism: rather, they rest on false assumptions about causal explanation. I’ll show how these arguments can be neatly sidestepped if one takes on two plausible commitments which are motivated independently of Humeanism: first, that laws don’t directly feature in scientific explanation (a view defended recently by Ruben in R Inst Philos Suppl 27:95–117, 1990, 10.1017/S1358246100005063 and Skow in Reasons why, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2016) and second, the view that explanation is contrastive. After outlining and motivating these views, I show how they bear on explanation-based arguments against Humeanism.
Semitic inscriptions in the St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod: a reply to alternative interpretations
Authors: Gippius Alexey A. , Gzella Holger , Mikheev Savva M. , Schaeken Jos
Published: March 2020

In the present article, we offer a detailed reply to alternative interpretations of our explanation of two eleventh-century phrases inscribed many times on the walls of the St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod:коуни рониandпарехъ мари. According to our previous article in this journal, the phrases have a Semitic origin: Hebrewqūmī ronnīand Syriac /barren̲k mār/, respectively. In both instances new empirical evidence is provided by S. Ju. Temčin. In the case ofкоуни рониwe argue that his alternative hypothesis cannot be maintained for a number of compelling reasons; our interpretation stands as it is. In the case ofпарехъ мариwe basically agree with Temčin and provide evidence that sheds further light on its path of transmission into Slavic.
25C-NBOMe short characterisation
Authors: Kamińska Katarzyna , Świt Paweł , Malek Kamilla
Published: March 2020

Purpose

N-Methoxybenzyls, a group of toxic phenylethylamine derivatives of the 2C family compounds, are a new class of potent serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonist hallucinogens with potential harmful effects. This study summarizes current state of knowledge of one of the most dangerous representative of this group—N-(2-methoxybenzyl)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-chlorophenethylamine (25C-NBOMe). Due to hallucinogenic properties similar to those observe after lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) usage (altered thoughts, feelings, and awareness of one’s surroundings), this compound is very attractive to hallucinogenic substances users.

Methods

An exhaustive literature search was carried out in PubMed, Google Scholar and other biomedical data bases without limiting period, to identify relevant articles.

Results

Despite frequent recreational use, knowledge about the 25C-NBOMe action and toxic and fatal consequences is still very limited. Most data on this drug come from clinical reports, from cases of acute fatal and non-fatal intoxications. Some animal and in vitro studies indicated a route of metabolism of the drug in the body. The drug and its metabolites were also detected in human blood and urine using combinations of chromatographic separation and mass spectrometry detection.

Conclusions

Overall, findings show that 25C-NBOMe is a powerful hallucinogen. Easy online availability, low prize and the lack of knowledge of 25C-NBOMe makes this substance potentially very dangerous to its users. Thus, further investigation on the mechanism of action, chemical, pharmacological and toxicological properties is needed to evaluate 25C-NBOMe potential harmful effects.
Heterogeneous Nucleation of Eutectic Structure in Al-Mg-Si Alloys
Authors: Que Zhongping , Wang Yun , Fan Zhongyun
Published: March 2020

The microstructure of Al-5Mg-2Si-0.4Mn-0.7Fe alloy solidified at different conditions were examined. Different kinds of eutectic structures such as (Al15(Fe,Mn)3Si2 + α-Al), (Mg2Si + α-Al) and (FIMCs + Mg2Si + α-Al) were selected due to the different primary phases formation. The phase relationships between the phases within the eutectic structures, and the phase relationships between the primary phases and the eutectic leading phases were investigated. A well-defined orientation relationship (OR) between α-Al15(FeMn)3Si2 and Mg2Si was examined.
Spatial monopoly pricing under non-constant marginal costs
Authors: Graubner Marten
Published: March 2020

The firm’s price policy decision is a central issue in spatial economics. Previous results show, e.g., that the specification of consumers’ demand functions is pivotal but mostly mill and uniform pricing are compared in a monopoly setting with constant marginal costs. The results in this paper highlight that some conclusions of prior work do not hold if the monopolist operates under non-constant marginal production costs. For instance, the optimal price is no longer independent of transport costs, and the welfare ranking of mill and uniform pricing also depends on the shape of the cost function.
A review on railway delay management
Authors: König Eva
Published: March 2020

Passengers traveling by train may need to change trains on their route. If the focal train of a passenger is late, the passenger might miss his connection and has to decide how to continue his trip. Delay management addresses the question whether the connecting train should wait (or not) for the delayed passengers. If the connecting train waits, delays would get transferred through the network. In literature, several works consider delays and their impact on railways and how to reschedule disturbed plans. We focus on works, aiming to minimize passenger inconvenience as it is done in delay management. In the last two decades, dozens of works considering the delay management problem have emerged, tackling the problem in different ways. In this paper, an overview on the existing literature is given, and a new classification is introduced. We provide a taxonomy scheme for railway problems at an operational level and show how the field of delay management fits to other parts of the planning process. Moreover, limitations of the delay management approaches are discussed and future research opportunities are suggested.
Thermal disinfection of hospital wastewater in a pilot-scale continuous-flow system
Authors: Śmiech K. M. , Kovács T. , Wildschut R. F. , Criado Monleon A. J. , de Vries-Onclin B. , Bowen J. G. , Agostinho L. L. F.
Published: March 2020

Thermal disinfection is probably the oldest water treatment method ever used. Similarly to other disinfection processes, it targets the inactivation of pathogenic (micro)organisms present in water, wastewater and other media. In this work, a pilot-scale continuous-flow thermal disinfection system was investigated using highly contaminated hospital wastewater as influent without any pre-treatment step for turbidity removal. The results proved that the tested system can be used with influent turbidity as high as 100 NTU and still provide up to log 8 microbial inactivation. Further results have shown energy consumption comparable to other commercially available thermal disinfection systems and relatively low influence on the investigated physical–chemical parameters.
Longitudinal resident coaching in the outpatient setting: A novel intervention to improve ambulatory consultation skills
Authors: Graddy Ryan , Reynolds Stasia S. , Wright Scott M.
Published: March 2020

Background Direct observation with feedback to learners should be a mainstay in resident education, yet it is infrequently done and its impact on consultation skills has rarely been assessed.

Approach This project presents the framework and implementation of a longitudinal low-frequency, high-intensity direct observation and coaching intervention, and elaborates on insights learned. Internal medicine interns at one residency training program were randomized to an ambulatory coaching intervention or usual precepting. Over one year, coached interns had three complete primary care visits directly observed by a faculty clinician-coach who provided feedback informed by a behavior checklist. Immediately after each of the coached patient encounters, interns completed a structured self-assessment and coaches led a 30-minute feedback session informed by intern self-reflection and checklist items. Interns with usual precepting had two mini-CEX observations over the course of the year without other formal direct observation in the ambulatory setting.

Evaluation As part of the post-intervention assessment, senior faculty members blinded to intervention and control group assignments evaluated videotaped encounters. Coached interns completed an average of 21/23 behaviors from the checklist, while interns from the control group completed 18 (p < 0.05). The median overall grade for coached interns was B+, compared to B−/C+ for controls (p < 0.05).

Reflection Coaching interns longitudinally using a behavior checklist is feasible and associated with improved consultation performance. Direct observation of complete clinical encounters followed by systematic coaching is educationally valuable, but time and resource intensive.
The travel blogger as digital nomad: (Re-)imagining workplace performances of digital nomadism within travel blogging work
Authors: Willment Nina
Published: March 2020

Through analysis of empirical fieldwork conducted with British travel bloggers, this paper details a novel and significant investigation into the nuances of self-presentation and performances inherent in travel blogging work, through the lens of digital nomadism. Working with Goffman’s (The presentation of self in everyday life. Penguin, London, 1959) ideas of front and back regionalisation, the paper explores the distinct ways in which digital nomadism is performed by the travel blogger. Firstly, the paper highlights how performances of digital nomadism are integral to the successful self-presentation of the travel blogger as an aspirational worker. Next, it showcases how travel bloggers use performances of digital nomadism in the strategic complication of the front and back-stage of their work, in order to demonstrate authenticity to their audience. The paper then considers how travel bloggers undertake performances of digital nomadism, explicitly within the front-stage to aid in their overall impression management of being a travel blogger. Subsequently, the paper turns to discussions of how technology becomes utilised in performances of digital nomadism which flow across the travel blogger’s front and back-stage. Finally, the paper reviews how, through performances of digital nomadism, the travel blogger appropriates their own back-stage leading to issues of overwork and precarity. The paper’s original contribution lies in its use of the lens of digital nomadism to enable us to explore and reimagine the workplace performances of travel bloggers. In doing so, the paper is able to speculate on the nuances and motivations implicit in these performances, digging deeper into issues of online self-presentation, authenticity and place.
Comparative Modeling of Ions and Solvent Properties in Ca-Na Montmorillonite by Atomistic Simulations and Fluid Density Functional Theory
Authors: Yang Guomin , Prasianakis Nikolaos I. , Churakov Sergey V.
Published: March 2020

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide an accurate description of the mineral–fluid interface from the perspective of the atomistic level taking into account all atom interactions. This simulation approach is computationally expensive if applied to large molecular systems. Classical Fluid Density Functional Theory (f-DFT) delivers structural and thermodynamic information at comparatively small computational costs. Numerous applications of f-DFT for electrolytes neglect an explicit consideration of solvent. In this work, an unrestricted three-component model (3CM) of f-DFT was applied, which incorporates Lennard-Jones (LJ) attractions for the description of the short-range interactions of fluid–fluid and fluid–wall rather than the hard sphere repulsions, named DFT/LJ-3CM. The DFT/LJ-3CM model considers ions as charged LJ particles and treats solvent molecules as neutral LJ particles. To validate the performance of the DFT/LJ-3CM, the f-DFT calculations were compared with atomistic simulations for montmorillonite (Mnt) with various hydrated states in electrolyte solutions. This benchmarking was used to assess critically the advantages and limitations of the f-DFT model. The calibrated DFT/LJ-3CM model for Na and Ca Mnt was applied to calculate cation selectivity for the ion exchange equilibrium with effective ion radius and swelling behavior of Mnt. The predictions of the DFT/LJ-3CM model were found to be in good agreement with the atomistic simulations and experimental data under a wide range of conditions. At the same time, the DFT calculations were 3–4 orders of magnitude faster than conventional MD simulations. Thus, the DFT/LJ-3CM model can be a computationally effective alternative to atomistic simulation in providing structural and thermodynamic properties of fluid–clay mineral interfaces. The DFT/LJ-3CM model provides a robust approach, which can be used for upscaling in reactive transport simulators and modeling ion migration taking place under more complex thermo-chemo-hydro-mechanical conditions.
Aristotle in The Hague: Artistic Pleading and Emotional Theatricality in International Criminal Proceedings
Authors: Buis Emiliano J.
Published: March 2020

This essay contends that emotions provide an extralegal framework that can contribute to a better comprehension of international legal justice and the ways in which it works. The examination of two cases brought before the International Criminal Court (ICC)—namely Ongwen (ICC-02/04-01/15) and Al Mahdi (ICC-01/12-01/15)— identifies how the parties in the process attempt to harness the power of emotion in their pleadings and arguments. This examination fosters a better understanding of the dramatic nature of international trials.
Art, Aesthetics, Justice, and Reconciliation: What can art do?
Authors: Kerr Rachel
Published: March 2020

The potential convergence of art and international justice has received greater attention in recent years. In light of recognition of the limitations of international courts and the challenges of outreach, scholars and practitioners have begun to seek alternative ways of fostering engagement among the communities most affected by the crimes under their jurisdiction. In this context, the question has arisen: What can art do? What is the potential role of art and aesthetics in furthering goals of international courts beyond justice, i.e., towards peace and reconciliation? In this essay, I discuss three ways in which art has enormous potential, while also acknowledging that there are associated risks and challenges that might cause us to temper our enthusiasm.
Memorializing Dissent: Justice Pal in Tokyo
Authors: Drumbl Mark A.
Published: March 2020

Memorials and monuments are envisioned as positive ways to honor victims of atrocity. Such displays are taken as intrinsically benign, respectful, and in accord with the arc of justice. Is this correlation axiomatic, however? Art, after all, may be a vehicle for multiple normativities, contested experiences, and variable veracities. Hence, in order to really speak about the relationships between the aesthetic and international criminal law, one must consider the full range of initiatives—whether pop-up ventures, alleyway graffiti, impromptu ceremonies, street art, and grassroots public histories—prompted by international criminal trials. Courts may be able to stage their own outreach, to be sure, but they cannot micromanage the outreach of others. And the outreach of others may look and sound strikingly different than that curated and manicured by courts. This essay presents one such othered outreach initiative: a memorial in Tokyo dedicated to Justice Radhabinod Pal of India, who authored a vehement dissent at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE). The IMTFE was established in 1946 to prosecute Japan's leadership in the aftermath of the Second World War. Pal would have acquitted each defendant. This essay describes Justice Pal's legal philosophy, situates his place in the currents of international law, and reflects on the broader role of memorials as discursive sites.
Data protection by design: Building the foundations of trustworthy data sharing
Authors: Stalla-Bourdillon Sophie , Thuermer Gefion , Walker Johanna , Carmichael Laura , Simperl Elena
Published: March 2020

Data trusts have been conceived as a mechanism to enable the sharing of data across entities where other formats, such as open data or commercial agreements, are not appropriate, and make data sharing both easier and more scalable. By our definition, a data trust is a legal, technical, and organizational structure for enabling the sharing of data for a variety of purposes. The concept of the “data trust” requires further disambiguation from other facilitating structures such as data collaboratives. Irrespective of the terminology used, attempting to create trust in order to facilitate data sharing, and create benefit to individuals, groups of individuals, or society at large, requires at a minimum a process-based mechanism, that is, a workflow that should have a trustworthiness-by-design approach at its core. Data protection by design should be a key component of such an approach.