bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temperature Dependency of Trap‐Controlled Persistent Luminescence
Authors: Du Jiaren , Feng Ang , Poelman Dirk
Published: July 2020

Phosphors featuring persistent luminescence, as distinctive photonic materials, have been explored extensively owing to their unusual properties and commercial interest as self‐sustained emitters in night‐vision surveillance, emergency signage, optical data storage, and in vivo bio‐imaging. However, widespread utilization of persistent phosphors at various outdoor conditions remains a formidable challenge due to the dependence of persistent luminescence performance on the environmental temperature. Here, the relation between the optimum working temperature and thermoluminescence (TL) glow curve is revealed with different TL read‐out approaches. Notably, the optimum working temperature, Toptimum, is proved to be an intrinsic parameter of a persistent phosphor, irrelevant to the TL heating rate. Temperature dependency of trap filling and releasing processes, demonstrated on a benchmark persistent phosphor with multiple trap occupation levels, is investigated to shed more light on temperature‐dependent, trap‐controlled persistent luminescence. This work presents new perspectives on their wide applications in terms of designing and screening persistent phosphors for various ambient conditions, and beyond.
Quality‐improving R&D and merger policy in a differentiated duopoly: Cournot and Bertrand equilibria
Authors: Takashima Nobuyuki , Ouchida Yasunori
Published: July 2020

We combine a model of product research and development (R&D) and technological spillover with the concept of technological distance and examine horizontal mergers in a duopolistic market with R&D. The results are fourfold. First, a merger can better encourage R&D investment than the competition case. Second, with a small degree of product differentiation (PD), the merger criterion under the Cournot duopoly is stricter than that of the Bertrand case. By contrast, with a moderate or large degree of PD, the opposite is true. Third, with a small technological distance, a merger should be allowable. Finally, with a small degree of PD and moderate technological distance, a merger should be allowable.
Mechanics of incompressible test bodies moving in Riemannian spaces
Authors: Kovalchuk Vasyl , Gołubowska Barbara , Rożko Ewa Eliza
Published: July 2020

In the present paper, we have discussed the mechanics of incompressible test bodies moving in Riemannian spaces with nontrivial curvature tensors. For Hamilton's equations of motion, the solutions have been obtained in the parametrical form and the special case of the purely gyroscopic motion on the sphere has been discussed. For the geodetic case when the potential is equal to zero, the comparison between the geodetic and geodesic solutions has been done and illustrated in details for the case of a particular choice of the constants of motion of the problem. The obtained results could be applied, among others, in geophysical problems, for example, for description of the movement of continental plates or the motion of a drop of fat or a spot of oil on the surface of the ocean (e.g., produced during some “ecological disaster”), or generally in biomechanical problems, for example, for description of the motion of objects with internal structure on different curved two‐dimensional surfaces (e.g., transport of proteins along the curved biological membranes).
Positive solutions for a singular fractional boundary value problem
Authors: Tudorache Alexandru , Luca Rodica
Published: July 2020

We investigate the existence of positive solutions for a system of Riemann‐Liouville fractional differential equations, supplemented with uncoupled nonlocal boundary conditions which contain various fractional derivatives and Riemann‐Stieltjes integrals, and the nonlinearities of the system are nonnegative functions and they may be singular at the time variable. In the proof of our main theorems, we use the Guo‐Krasnosel'skii fixed point theorem.
Decoupling of folded‐end dipole antenna elements of a 9.4 T human head array using an RF shield
Authors: Avdievich Nikolai I. , Solomakha Georgiy , Ruhm Loreen , Scheffler Klaus , Henning Anke
Published: July 2020

Dipole antennas have recently been introduced to the field of MRI and successfully used, mostly as elements of ultra‐high field (UHF, ≥ 7 T) human body arrays. Usage of dipole antennas for UHF human head transmit (Tx) arrays is still under development. Due to the substantially smaller size of the sample, dipoles must be made significantly shorter than in the body array. Additionally, head Tx arrays are commonly placed on the surface of rigid helmets made sufficiently large to accommodate tight‐fit receive arrays. As a result, dipoles are not well loaded and are often poorly decoupled, which compromises Tx efficiency. Commonly, adjacent array elements are decoupled by circuits electrically connected to them. Placement of such circuits between distantly located dipoles is difficult. Alternatively, decoupling is provided by placing passive antennas between adjacent dipole elements. This method only works when these additional components are sufficiently small (compared with the size of active dipoles). Otherwise, RF fields produced by passive elements interfere destructively with the RF field of the array itself, and previously reported designs have used passive dipoles of about the size of array dipoles. In this work, we developed a novel method of decoupling for adjacent dipole antennas, and used this technique while constructing a 9.4 T human head eight‐element transceiver array. Decoupling is provided without any additional circuits by simply folding the dipoles and using an RF shield located close to the folded portion of the dipoles. The array reported in this work demonstrates good decoupling and whole‐brain coverage.
Hemoglobin A1c and fructosamine correlate in a patient with sickle cell disease and diabetes on chronic transfusion therapy
Authors: McLean Ashley , Wright Frances , deJong Neal , Skinner Sarah , Loughlin Ceila E. , Levenson Amy , Carden Marcus A.
Published: July 2020

In patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and diabetes mellitus (DM), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is unreliable and the American Diabetes Association recommends monitoring long‐term glycemia by measuring serum glucose, but use of serum fructosamine (SF), a measurement independent of red cell lifespan, has been reported. SF as a screen for DM in SCD, however, is not standardized and its relationship to serum glucose has not been validated. Further, screening for DM was not adequately addressed in the 2014 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) guidelines for SCD management. Blood transfusions, an important treatment for some patients with SCD, can also impact HbA1c. We present a case of a patient with SCD and cystic fibrosis‐related diabetes on monthly chronic transfusions therapy (CTT) who had well‐correlated “steady state” HbA1c and SF levels over time, suggesting for the first time these markers may actually be useful when following long‐term glycemic control in patients with SCD on CTT programs.
Prospective randomized trial of interventions for vincristine‐related neuropathic pain
Authors: Anghelescu Doralina L. , Tesney Jessica Michala , Jeha Sima , Wright Becky B. , Trujillo Luis , Sandlund John T. , Pauley Jennifer , Cheng Cheng , Pei Deqing , Pui Ching‐Hon
Published: July 2020

Background

To evaluate the efficacy of gabapentin at 20 mg/kg per day in the treatment of vincristine‐related neuropathic pain.

Procedure

Children aged 1‐18 years who developed vincristine‐induced neuropathy on a St Jude frontline acute lymphoblastic leukemia trial were prospectively enrolled on a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, phase II trial with two treatment arms: gabapentin plus opioid versus placebo plus opioid. Daily evaluations of morphine dose (mg/kg per day) and pain scores were conducted for up to 21 days; the values of the two arms were compared to assess analgesic efficacy.

Results

Of 51 study participants, 49 were eligible for analyses. Twenty‐five participants were treated with gabapentin, with a mean (SD) dose of 17.97 (2.76) mg/kg per day (median 18.26, range 6.82‐21.37). The mean (SD) opioid doses taken, expressed as morphine equivalent daily (mg/kg per day), were 0.26 (0.43) in the gabapentin group (25 patients, 432 days) and 0.15 (0.22) in the placebo group (24 patients, 411 days; P = .15). Only the risk classification of acute lymphoblastic leukemia was significantly associated with the daily morphine dosage (P = .0178): patients in the lower risk arm received higher daily morphine dosages. Multivariate analyses revealed a significant difference between the groups’ average daily scores for the previous 24 h and “right now.”

Conclusion

In this population of children with vincristine‐related neuropathic pain, opioid consumption and pain scores were higher in the gabapentin group than in the placebo group. Future randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled studies should test gabapentin given longer or at a higher dose.
Tumor rupture in hepatoblastoma: A high risk factor?
Authors: Pondrom Morgane , Pariente Daniele , Mallon Brenda , Taque Sophie , Branchereau Sophie , Chardot Christophe , Laithier Véronique , Tabone Marie‐Dominique , Lejeune Julien , Faure‐Conter Cécile , Saumet Laure , Vérité Cécile , Aerts Isabelle , Brugières Laurence , Fresneau Brice
Published: July 2020

Background

Hepatoblastoma tumor rupture is a high‐risk criterion in the SIOPEL 3/4 protocol. Little is known about the outcome of these children.

Methods

Radiological signs of possible tumor rupture, defined as peritoneal effusion, peritoneal nodules, or hepatic subcapsular hematoma, were reported in 24 of 150 patients treated for hepatoblastoma in France from January 2000 to December 2014 after central radiological expert review.

Results

Twenty‐two patients with available clinical data were included (nine PRETEXT‐I/II, six PRETEXT‐III, seven PRETEXT‐IV, and five had lung metastases). Five patients had a subcapsular hematoma only, and 17 patients had intraperitoneal rupture (subcapsular hematoma and peritoneal effusion). A hepatic biopsy was performed in 19 patients. Intraperitoneal rupture occurred before biopsy in 12 and after biopsy in three (including one with prebiopsy subcapsular hematoma) (missing data: two). All patients were treated with chemotherapy, with high‐risk regimens including cisplatin or carboplatin and doxorubicin in 19 and cisplatin or carboplatin alone in three. Liver surgery was performed in 20 patients (including three liver transplants). Fifteen patients (68%) achieved complete remission. With a median follow‐up of 5.5 years, 11 events occurred (six progressions and three relapses, including three peritoneal progressions/relapses, one surgical complication, and one second cancer) and eight patients died. One of eight patients with no other high‐risk criterion had a relapse. The three‐year event‐free survival and overall survival rates were 49.6% (95% CI = 30‐69) and 68.2% (40‐84), respectively.

Conclusions

Tumor rupture is predictive of poor prognosis with risk of peritoneal progression/relapse. However, it should not be a contraindication for liver transplantation.
Perceived discrimination, social support, and psychological distress in transgender individuals
Authors: Falak Sobia , Safdar Faiza , Nuzhat‐ul‐Ain
Published: July 2020

The present study aimed to find the relationship among perceived discrimination, social support, and psychological distress in transgender individuals (TIs) and the predictors of psychological distress in TIs. A correlational research design was used in the present study. It was hypothesized that there would likely to be a positive relationship between perceived discrimination and psychological distress and that there would likely be a negative relationship between social support and psychological distress. It was also hypothesized that perceived discrimination would predict psychological distress. Permission for using the questionnaires was taken from the authors of the original tools and the authors of the Urdu translated versions of the tools. The sample of 111 participants with an age range of 20–65 years was recruited by using purposive and non‐probability snowball sampling techniques. The Everyday Perceived Discrimination Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale were used to determine perceived discrimination, social support, and psychological distress, respectively, in TIs. Results revealed that there was a significant positive relationship between perceived discrimination and psychological distress, a significant negative relationship between social support and psychological distress, and there was also a significant negative relationship between perceived discrimination and social support. Additional findings revealed that perceived discrimination was found more in younger TIs than older TIs while social support from significant others was greater for younger TIs than for their older counterparts.
Asymmetric chain‐growth synthesis of polyisocyanide with chiral nickel precatalysts
Authors: Schraff Sandra , Kreienborg Nora M. , Trampert Jens , Sun Yu , Orthaber Andreas , Merten Christian , Pammer Frank
Published: July 2020

Nickel(II)‐aryl complexes [(L2)Ni(Ar)Br] bearing either chiral phosphine ligands (L2 = RR‐ or SS‐DIPAMP, Ar = ortho‐anisyl), or a chiral aryl‐group have been prepared, and their structural optical an chiroptical properties have been characterized. Enantiomeric pairs of both catalysts have been used for the asymmetric polymerization of different isocyanides (M1, M2, M3), to give well defined polyisocyanides (P1, P2, P3). Their polymerization behavior has been studied, which confirmed chain‐growth polymerization in all cases. The asymmetric induction has been verified by circular dichroism spectroscopy on enantiomeric pairs of all three polymers.
Anomalous Hall Effect and Magnetoresistance in Sputter‐Deposited Magnetic Weyl Semimetal Co2TiGe Thin Films
Authors: Dyck Denis , Becker Andreas , Koo Jungwoo , Matalla-Wagner Tristan , Krieft Jan , Reiss Günter
Published: July 2020

Herein, sputter‐deposited ferromagnetic Weyl semimetal (WSM) and full‐Heusler compound Co2TiGe is investigated. Crystal quality is analyzed using X‐ray diffraction and reflectivity. In addition, temperature‐dependent transport and magnetization measurements are carried out. The sample shows indications on the formation of L21crystal structure. Magnetization measurements show a saturation magnetization of 1.98 μB(f.u.)−1and 1.45 μB(f.u.)−1at 50 and 300 K, respectively. This is in close agreement to the calculated value of 2 μB(f.u.)−1at 0 K using the Slater–Pauling rule. The obtained Curie temperature is 378.5 K, which is close to prior results for bulk samples. The residual resistivity of 142.7 μΩ cm is mainly dominated by disorder scattering. At temperatures above 60 K, the Coulomb interaction dominates the resistance. The residual resistance ratio is around 1.49. Hall measurements show positive ordinary Hall and anomalous Hall constants and a positive dependence on temperature. Skew scattering and side jumps or intrinsic mechanisms contribute in similar amounts to the anomalous Hall resistivity, which indicates a higher than usual intrinsic contribution, which is expected for WSMs. The expected relation between the longitudinal and the anomalous Hall conductivity of is not met.
Twisting and Reverse Magnetic Field Effects on Energy Conversion of Magnetostrictive Wire Metal Matrix Composites
Authors: Yang Zhenjun , Wang Zhenjin , Seino Manabu , Kumaoka Daisuke , Murasawa Go , Narita Fumio
Published: July 2020

Lightweight metal matrix composites have attracted a great attention for their technological application in aerospace, automotive, or sporting goods, and the multifunctionality of these composites will further expand the range of applications. Herein, a kind of lightweight 1–3 magnetostrictive FeCo/AlSi composites is investigated to evaluate the effects of the specific structure design and reverse magnetic field on the energy conversion under compression. The microstructure of the FeCo/AlSi composite before compression was observed, and the results indicate that there is a large bonding interface, which has the benefits of strain/stress transfer. Compared with the FeCo/AlSi composite with straight FeCo wire, a design with twisted FeCo wire significantly enhances the output performance of the magnetostrictive FeCo/AlSi composite. Furthermore, comparison of the output voltage for the FeCo/AlSi composite in the N–S mode (forward magnetization) and N–N mode (reverse magnetization) reveals that the reverse magnetization can improve the efficiency of the energy conversion notably. In addition, the results of the output voltage in the theoretical calculation are virtually consistent with that in practical measurement.
Jiawei Shengmai San herbal formula ameliorates diabetic associate cognitive decline by modulatingAKTandCREBin rats
Authors: Ahmed Ayaz , Zeng Guirong , Azhar Mudassar , Lin Haiying , Zhang Mijia , Wang Fengzhong , Zhang Hong , Jiang Dejian , Yang Sijin , Farooq Ahsana Dar , Choudhary Muhammad Iqbal , Liu Xinmin , Wang Qiong
Published: July 2020

Memory loss is a complication of diabetes which requires new approaches to its treatment. Shengmai San (SMS) is a famous traditional Chinese formula containingPanax ginseng,Ophiopogon japonicas, andSchisandra chinensis, whereas Radix puerariae has many reported pharmacological uses. In this study the combination, as Jiawei SMS (J‐SMS) was screened for its ability to reverse diabetes‐associated cognitive decline in rats. This was assessed behaviorally in diabetic rats (Streptozotocin, 45 mg/kg), with biochemical and western blot analysis (Akt and CREB). Diabetic rats showed fasting blood glucose (FBG) in the range of 13–15 mM throughout the study. J‐SMS (0.5, 1.5, 4.5 g/kg) treatment significantly improved learning and memory deficit among diabetic rats as evidenced by preference for novel object, reduced escape latency and increased number of platform crossings (p< .05) in the NORT and MWM tests. Treatment with J‐SMS also significantly improved the histopathological changes in the diabetic brain and increased the protein expression of AKT and CREB, required for proper memory function (p< .01). This study highlighted that J‐SMS can reverse reference and working memory deficit among diabetic rats by modulating AKT and CREB proteins activation. Thus, J‐SMS formulation might be possible candidate for further development.
Trophoblast lineage specification in the mammalian preimplantation embryo
Authors: Toyooka Yayoi
Published: July 2020

Background

The establishment of the trophectoderm (TE) and the inner cell mass (ICM) is the first cell lineage segregation that occurs in mammalian preimplantation development. TE will contribute to the placenta while ICM cells give rise to the epiblast (EPI) and primitive endoderm (PrE). There are two historical models for TE/ICM segregation: the positional (inside‐outside) model and the polarity model, but both models alone cannot explain the mechanism of TE/ICM segregation.

Methods

This article discusses a current possible model based on recent studies including the finding through live‐cell imaging of the expression patterns of caudal type homeobox 2 (Cdx2), a key transcription factor of TE differentiation in the mouse embryo.

Results

It was observed that a part of outer Cdx2‐expressing blastomeres was internalized at the around 20‐ to 30‐cell stage, downregulates Cdx2, ceases TE differentiation, and participates in ICM lineages.

Conclusion

The early blastomere, which starts differentiation toward the TE cell fate, still has plasticity and can change its fate. Differentiation potency of all blastomeres until approximately the 32‐cell stage is presumably not irreversibly restricted even if they show heterogeneity in their epigenetic modifications or gene expression patterns.
Enhanced Functional Properties of Ti3C2Tx MXenes as Negative Electrodes in Sodium‐Ion Batteries by Chemical Tuning
Authors: Gentile Antonio , Ferrara Chiara , Tosoni Sergio , Balordi Marcella , Marchionna Stefano , Cernuschi Federico , Kim Min‐Ho , Lee Hyun‐Wook , Ruffo Riccardo
Published: July 2020

The large implementation of electrochemical energy storage devices requires the development of new chemistries tailored for specific uses. Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) can cover different application fields, however the state‐of‐the‐art negative material, hard carbon, suffers from poor cyclability and rate capability. MXenes are a vast class of 2D‐materials of the general formula Mn+1XnTx (M = transition metal, X = C or N, and T = M‐terminating group) with peculiar structural features able to reversible intercalate chemical species, such as alkaline cations. The MXene compound Ti3C2Tx is one of the most investigated, thanks to the easy preparation route by etching of the pristine compound Ti3AlC2. In this work, the effect of the etching conditions and of the postsynthesis thermal treatments on the chemical, morphological, and structural properties of Ti3C2Tx are investigated, and in turn the correlation between its features and the functional properties as negative materials in SIBs are studied. The Ti3C2Tx obtained in high hydrofluoric concentration and after a 300 °C thermal treatment shows 110 mAh g−1 at 30 mA g−1 with an average potential of 1.33 V versus Na+/Na, 100% and good rate capability, since it is still able to deliver 73 mAh g−1 at 1500 mA g−1.
Synergies and competition: Export survival in Africa and Latin America
Authors: Blanco Luisa , Mora Jesse , Olabisi Michael , Prieger James E.
Published: July 2020

Using firm‐level export data from six African (Burkina Faso and Senegal) and Latin American (Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay) countries, we examine factors that determine the survival of export flows. We explore the effects on export survival of changes in the number of home‐country exporters serving the same destination, firm‐level export diversification, and country‐level factors. Unlike previous studies, we find that export survival rates decrease with the number of co‐exporters selling the same product to the same country. We also find that the relationship between firm‐level product diversification and export flow survival is hump‐shaped: firms that do not diversify or are highly diversified have lower survival of product‐destination flows. Our findings are robust to various alternative specifications. The main findings hold across both regions and all countries. However, the number of co‐exporters negatively affects survival in Africa more than in Latin America.
Altered age‐linked regulation of plasma DYRK1A in elderly cognitive complainers (INSIGHT‐preAD study) with high brain amyloid load
Authors: Delabar Jean M. , Ortner Marion , Simon Stephanie , Wijkhuisen Anne , Feraudet‐Tarisse Cecile , Pegon Jonathan , Vidal Emma , Hirschberg Yael , Dubois Bruno , Potier Marie‐Claude
Published: July 2020

Introduction

An effective therapy has not yet been developed for Alzheimer's disease (AD), in part because pathological changes occur years before clinical symptoms manifest. We recently showed that decreased plasma DYRK1A identifies individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or AD, and that aged mice have higher DYRK1A levels.

Methods

We assessed DYRK1A in plasma in young/aged controls and in elderly cognitive complainers with low (L) and high (H) brain amyloid load.

Results

DYRK1A level increases with age in humans. However, plasma from elderly individuals reporting cognitive complaints showed that the H group had the same DYRK1A level as young adults, suggesting that the age‐associated DYRK1A increase is blocked in this group. L and H groups had similar levels of clusterin.

Discussion

These results are reflective of early changes in the brain. These observations suggest that plasma DYRK1A and not clusterin could be used to classify elderly memory complainers for risk for amyloid beta pathology.
Community water governance for urban water security in the Global South: Status, lessons, and prospects
Authors: Adams Ellis A. , Zulu Leo , Ouellette‐Kray Quinn
Published: July 2020

As public and private water policies fail to address urban water insecurity in the Global South, community‐based water governance (CWG) has emerged as an alternative. However, systematic understanding of the current state, performance, and future opportunities of urban CWG remains lacking. We critically review literature (75 case studies from 1990 to 2019) on urban CWG in the Global South, focusing on the current scope and status of knowledge; importance, challenges, innovations, and opportunities; and prospects for scaling up CWG to enhance water security in urban areas. Institutional arrangements, scope and complexity, capacity, and outcomes of CWG varied widely. Most case studies showed improvements in water quantity, supply reliability, pricing, community empowerment, employment, reduced nonrevenue water, and financial viability. Community partnerships with nongovernmental organizations, private‐sector agents, public utilities, and donors; technological innovations; and community autonomy were important for financial sustainability, asset security, and service improvements. Many CWG interventions however remained fragmented, limited in geographic scope, and were undermined by poor funding, weak infrastructure and capacity, political interference, overburdening of poor communities, and collective‐action challenges surrounding elite capture, marginalization, and unequal benefit sharing. We argue that these challenges notwithstanding, CWG interventions offer more benefits than failures and remain critical alternatives for urban water security in the Global South. New research is needed to understand the impact of CWG under diverse settings, the role of incentives and financing mechanisms, and how persistent collective‐action challenges including gendered participation and marginalization undermine CWG.

This article is categorized under:

Human Water > Water Governance

Engineering Water > Planning Water
Crosslinked polymer nanocapsules for therapeutic, diagnostic, and theranostic applications
Authors: Sun Haotian , Erdman William , Yuan Yuan , Mohamed Mohamed Alaa , Xie Ruosen , Wang Yuyuan , Gong Shaoqin , Cheng Chong
Published: July 2020

Crosslinked polymer nanocapsules (CPNCs) are hollowed nanoparticles with network‐like polymeric shells stabilized by primary bonds. CPNCs have drawn broad and significant interests as nanocarriers for biomedical applications in recent years. As compared with conventional polymeric nanoparticles systems without cavity and/or crosslinking architectures, CPNCs possess significant biomedical relevant advantages, including (a) superior structural stability against environmental conditions, (b) high loading capacity and ability for region‐specific loading of multiple cargos, (c) tuneable cargo release rate via crosslinking density, and (d) high specific surface area to facilitate surface adsorption, modification, and interactions. With appropriate base polymers and crosslinkages, CPNCs can be biocompatible and biodegradable. While CPNC‐based biomedical nanoplatforms can possess relatively stable physicochemical properties owing to their crosslinked architectures, various biomedically relevant stimuli‐responsivities can be incorporated with them through specific structural designs. CPNCs have been studied for the delivery of small molecule drugs, genes, proteins, and other therapeutic agents. They have also been investigated as diagnostic platforms for magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound imaging, and optical imaging. Moreover, CPNCs have been utilized to carry both therapeutics and bioimaging agents for theranostic applications. This article reviews the therapeutic, diagnostic and theranostic applications of CPNCs, as well as the preparation of these CPNCs, reported in the past decade.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease

Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants

Diagnostic Tools > in vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging
A Revolution Deferred: Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Egypt
Authors: Saad Radwa , Abed Sara Soumaya
Published: July 2020

Egypt’s Jan 25th revolution in 2011 set a new precedent for women’s activism in the public sphere. Large numbers of women engaged in revolutionary protests alongside their male counterparts in ways that defied traditional and cultural norms. Their contributions, however, did not come without a cost. Sexual violence against women and girls emerged as one of the biggest impediments threatening their activism. Women from all walks of life were subject to brutal, ubiquitous and, indiscriminate form of various forms of sexual violence ranging from mob attacks to direct sexual assaults perpetrated by security forces during the revolution and its aftermath. The ways in which sexual violence was navigated, framed, resisted and remonstrated therefore played a critical role in influencing the process and outcome of women’s activism during the revolution. This chapter examines how pervasive forms of sexual violence influenced women’s contributions and activism in the Jan 25th revolution. It argues that sexual violence served as both an obstacle and an opportunity that enabled women to reap sociopolitical gains central to resolving deep-rooted gender inequalities, which otherwise may have been lost in the revolutionary backdrop.
Outlook
Authors: Liu Zhiyuan , Lin Yankai , Sun Maosong
Published: July 2020

The aforementioned representation learning models and methods have shown their effectiveness in various NLP scenarios and tasks. With the rapid growth of data scales and the development of computation devices, there are also new challenges and opportunities for next-stage researches of deep learning techniques. In the last chapter, we will look into the future directions of representation learning techniques for NLP. To be more specific, we will consider the following directions including using more unsupervised data, utilizing few labeled data, employing deeper neural architectures, improving model interpretability and fusing the advantages of other areas.
RETRACTED CHAPTER: Document Representation
Authors: Liu Zhiyuan , Lin Yankai , Sun Maosong
Published: July 2020

The authors have retracted this Chapter because significant portions of the text are duplicated from [1] and [2]. The authors apologise to readers for this error. All authors agree with this retraction.
Stress tensor sector of conformal correlators operators in the Regge limit
Authors: Karlsson Robin , Kulaxizi Manuela , Parnachev Andrei , Tadić Petar
Published: July 2020

Abstract

An important part of a CFT four-point function, the stress tensor sector, comprises the exchanges of the stress tensor and its composites. The OPE coefficients of these multi-stress tensor operators and consequently, the complete stress tensor sector of four- point functions in CFTs with a large central charge, can be determined by computing a heavy-heavy-light-light correlator. We show how one can make substantial progress in this direction by bootstrapping a certain ansatz for the stress tensor sector of the correlator, iteratively computing the OPE coefficients of multi-stress tensor operators with increasing twist. Some parameters are not fixed by the bootstrap — they correspond to the OPE coefficients of multi-stress tensors with spin zero and two. We further show that in holographic CFTs one can use the phase shift computed in the dual gravitational theory to reduce the set of undetermined parameters to the OPE coefficients of multi-stress tensors with spin zero. Finally, we verify some of these results using the Lorentzian OPE inversion formula and comment on its regime of applicability.
Dark matter and Standard Model reheating from conformal GUT inflation
Authors: Biondini S. , Kumar K. Sravan
Published: July 2020

Abstract

Spontaneous breaking of conformal symmetry has been widely exploited in successful model building of both inflationary cosmology and particle physics phenomenology. Conformal Grand Unified Theory (CGUT) inflation provides the same scalar tilt and tensor-to-scalar ratio as of Starobinsky and Higgs inflation. Moreover, it predicts a pro- ton life time compatible with the current experimental bound. In this paper, we extend CGUT to account for the production of dark matter and the reheating of the Standard Model. To this end, we introduce a hidden sector directly coupled to the inflaton, whereas the reheating of the visible sector is realized through a portal coupling between the dark particles and the Higgs boson. The masses and interactions of the dark particles and the Higgs boson are determined by the form of the conformal potential and the non-vanishing VEV of the inflaton. We provide benchmark points in the parameter space of the model that give the observed dark matter relic density and reheating temperatures compatible with the Big Bang nucleosynthesis.
Optimized hidden target screening for very polar molecules in surface waters including a compound database inquiry
Authors: Minkus Susanne , Grosse Sylvia , Bieber Stefan , Veloutsou Sofia , Letzel Thomas
Published: July 2020

Highly polar trace organic compounds, which are persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) or are very persistent and very mobile (vPvM) in the aquatic environment, may pose a risk to surface water, ground water, and drinking water supplies. Despite the advances in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, there often exists an analytical blind spot when it comes to very polar chemicals. This study seeks to make a broad polarity range analytically accessible by means of serially coupling reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) to high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Moreover, a workflow is presented using optimized data processing of nontarget screening (NTS) data and subsequently generating candidate lists for the identification of very polar molecules via an open-access NTS platform and implemented compound database. First, key input parameters and filters of the so-called feature extraction algorithms were identified, and numerical performance indicators were defined to systematically optimize the data processing method. Second, all features from the very polar HILIC elution window were uploaded to the STOFF-IDENT database as part of the FOR-IDENT open-access NTS platform, which contains additional physicochemical information, and the features matched with potential compounds by their accurate mass. The hit list was filtered for compounds with a negative log D value, indicating that they were (very) polar. For instance, 46 features were assigned to 64 candidate compounds originating from a set of 33 samples from the Isar river in Germany. Three PMT candidates (e.g., guanylurea, melamine, and 1,3-dimethylimidazolidin-2-one) were illustratively validated using the respective reference standards. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that polarity-extended chromatography reproducibly retards and separates (very) polar compounds from surface waters. These findings further indicate that a transparent and robust data processing workflow for nontarget screening data is available for addressing new (very) polar substances in the aqueous environment.
Bilateral fibular fractures in a pre-ambulant infant
Authors: Paddock Michael , Horton David , Offiah Amaka C.
Published: July 2020

Multiple long-bone fractures, particularly bilateral fractures, are of moderate specificity for inflicted injury (physical abuse) in infants and young children. Bilateral healing fractures of the fibulae are rare and, depending on age, raise the suspicion of inflicted injury. We report healing undisplaced fractures of both fibulae, in almost identical positions, in a pre-ambulant infant. The caregivers reported that the infant repeatedly banged his legs against the metal frame of his playpen. A video of this mechanism was provided to the instructed radiology expert and showed that the point of impact of the infant’s legs against the metal frame was at a similar level to the radiographic abnormalities. This mechanism was therefore believed to be consistent with the injuries, resulting in a diagnosis of self-inflicted bilateral fibular fractures and not of inflicted injury.
Neonatal bacterial meningitis versus ventriculitis: a cohort-based overview of clinical characteristics, microbiology and imaging
Authors: Peros Thomas , van Schuppen Joost , Bohte Anneloes , Hodiamont Caspar , Aronica Eleonora , de Haan Timo
Published: July 2020

Central nervous system (CNS) infections are potentially life threatening in neonates and can lead to the ill-defined diagnosis of ventriculitis. With this study we aimed to explore and describe ventriculitis regarding clinical, microbiological and ultrasonographic characteristics. We performed a retrospective cohort study including all neonates with a culture-proven CNS infection admitted to our tertiary NICU over a 12-year period (2004–2016). For each case clinical data was gathered, and three timed cranial ultrasounds were anonymized and retrospectively reviewed and assessed for signs of ventriculitis. Forty-five patients were included with 9 (20%) diagnosed with ventriculitis. Mortality in both ventriculitis and non-ventriculitis cases was one-third. Patients with pre-existing conditions as post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus are at risk of developing ventriculitis. Most common pathogens were gram negative bacteria (68.9%). Ultrasonographic signs of ventriculitis developed over time, and interrater agreement was substantial.

Conclusion: Neonatal ventriculitis is a serious entity in the continuum of meningitis. Early and correct diagnoses of ventriculitis are both important because of possible persisting or newly developing hydrocephalus or seizures. Sequential imaging should be performed.

What is Known:• CNS infections in neonates lead to high mortality and morbidity.• Ventriculitis is a severe complication of meningitis.

What is New:• High morbidity; the majority of ventriculitis patients have pre-existing PHVD and develop seizures and hydrocephalus.• Interrater agreement is good; bedside CUS is a useful tool for reaching a sustainable diagnosis of ventriculitis.
Räumliche Ausbreitung von COVID-19 durch interregionale Verflechtungen
Authors: Mense Andreas , Michelsen Claus
Published: July 2020

Das Coronavirus hat die Weltwirtschaft in eine Krise gestürzt. Seit Anfang März 2020 wurden in Deutschland Kontakt- und Ausgangsbeschränkungen sowie Verbote der Geschäftstätigkeit verhängt, die Schul- und Kitabetreuung ausgesetzt und strenge Hygienevorgaben erlassen. Daraufhin hat sich die Zahl der gemeldeten Neuinfektionen deutlich reduziert. Zudem ist das Gesundheitssystem Deutschlands nicht überlastet. Nicht zuletzt deshalb wird mittlerweile eine intensive Debatte über Lockerungen geführt, die zusätzliche wirtschaftliche Aktivität zulassen würden. Vor allem Pendlerverflechtungen hatten einen großen Anteil an der Ausbreitung von COVID-19 in Deutschland. Schlechte Witterung und eine hohe Bevölkerungsdichte waren weitere Treiber des Infektionsgeschehens.
Light cone and Weyl compatibility of conformal and projective structures
Authors: Matveev Vladimir S. , Scholz Erhard
Published: July 2020

In the literature different concepts of compatibility between a projective structure $${\mathscr {P}}$$
P
and a conformal structure $${\mathscr {C}}$$
C
on a differentiable manifold are used. In particular compatibility in the sense of Weyl geometry is slightly more general than compatibility in the Riemannian sense. In an often cited paper (Ehlers et al. in: O’Raifertaigh (ed) General Relativity, Papers in Honour of J.L. Synge, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 2012) Ehlers/Pirani/Schild introduce still another criterion which is natural from the physical point of view: every light like geodesics of $${\mathscr {C}}$$
C
is a geodesics of $${\mathscr {P}}$$
P
. Their claim that this type of compatibility is sufficient for introducing a Weylian metric has recently been questioned (Trautman in Gen Relativ Gravit 44:1581–1586, 2012); (Vladimir in Commun Math Phys 329:821–825, 2014); as reported by Scholz (in: A scalar field inducing a non-metrical contribution to gravitational acceleration and a compatible add-on to light deflection, 2019). Here it is proved that the conjecture of EPS is correct.
The effectiveness of soft law in international environmental regimes: participation and compliance in the Hyogo Framework for Action
Authors: Wanner Maximilian S. T.
Published: July 2020

A number of recent international environmental regimes including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction rely on soft law featuring voluntary action, wide-ranging provisions for participants and non-binding commitments, while skirting the idea of sanctions. Because of the increasing prevalence of soft law regimes, their intuitional design attributes and characteristics give rise to new questions about regime effectiveness. Concepts such as compliance and participation that originate from the assessment of the effectiveness of hard law regimes need to be revisited and adapted to this new subset with its distinct characteristics. The aim of this study, then, is to empirically investigate the prospects of effectiveness in the specific case of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005–2015 on disaster risk reduction (DRR) as an illustrative case study of soft law regimes. The study, thereby, examines participation and compliance as key factors of regime effectiveness by analysing data and descriptive statistics based on national reports and their indicators on DRR measures. The study not only aims to advance the understanding of concepts central to the assessment of regime effectiveness in the context of soft law regimes. It also investigates DRR for the first time on a global scale from a regime effectiveness perspective documenting variation on the country level and serving as a guide to interesting cases and comparative research for future study.
Effects of Modified Used Cooking Oil on Structure and Properties of Closed-Cell Polyurethane foams
Authors: Kurańska Maria , Leszczyńska Milena , Kubacka Joanna , Prociak Aleksander , Ryszkowska Joanna
Published: July 2020

The aim of this work is to evaluate the influence of bio-polyol synthesized from used cooking oil on selected properties of rigid polyurethane foams. Application of bio-polyol allows utilization of used cooking oil in the preparation of polyurethane foams according to circular economy. In our work, bio-polyurethane foams were obtained by replacing 20, 60 and 100% of petrochemical polyol with bio-polyol from waste oil. It was observed that the introduction of the bio-polyol caused an increase in the reactivity of the polyurethane system during the foaming process, which was also confirmed by dielectric polarization changes. A complete replacement of petrochemical polyol with the bio-polyol caused cell opening in the foams. A replacement of 20 wt% of petrochemical polyol with the bio-polyol allowed preparation of polyurethane foams with improved thermal insulating properties. The introduction of 20% of the bio-polyol resulted in an increase of the compressive strength in a parallel direction compared to the reference material. The dimensional stability of bio-foams was very high since none of the dimensions differed by more than 0.5% upon treatment with an elevated temperature (70 °C).
How to speed up the detection of aerobic microbial contaminations by using isothermal microcalorimetry
Authors: Fricke Christian , Harms Hauke , Maskow Thomas
Published: July 2020

Isothermal microcalorimetry (IMC) is regarded as a promising diagnostic tool for fast detection of bacterial contaminations in various matrices. Based on a reference detection time determined by visual inspection of bacterial growth on solid medium, we investigated the strict aerobically growing Pseudomonas putida mt-2 KT2440 in a static 4-mL ampoule system on solid and liquid media by IMC to evaluate the three main options to reduce the detection time of bacterial contamination. Firstly, the sample preparation (e.g. membrane filtration) leads to an elevated number of bacteria in the measuring ampoule and thus to a reduced detection time. Secondly, the amount of substrate and oxygen has been investigated by varying the filling volume of medium in the calorimetric ampoule. Here, we were able to show how biophysical characteristics like the substrate and oxygen diffusion determined the shape of heat flow signals and thus the detection time. Finally, the technical framework determines the sensitivity of the IMC instrument. We examined the impact of four different detection threshold values (2, 10, 50 and 100 µW) on the detection time as a function of the initial number of bacteria presented in the ampoule and the filling volume.
Landscape influence on biophony in an urban environment in the European Alps
Authors: Dein Jacob , Rüdisser Johannes
Published: July 2020

Context

Biophony is the acoustic manifestation of biodiversity, and humans interact with biophony in many ways. However, quantifying biophony across urban landscapes has proven difficult in the presence of anthrophony, or sounds generated by humans. Improved assessment methods are required to progress our understanding of the processes influencing biophony across a variety of spatial–temporal scales.

Objectives

We aimed to identify how the landscape influences biophony, as well as the total acoustic environment, along an urban to rural gradient. We designed the study to quantify how soundscape–landscape relationships change across a variety of spatial–temporal scales.

Methods

We recorded the afternoon acoustic environment during the spring of 2016 at 30 locations in the city of Innsbruck, Austria using a spatially balanced random sampling design. We quantified the total acoustic environment with the sound exposure level (SEL) metric, and developed a new metric, percent biophony (PB), to quantify biophony while avoiding noise bias. We quantified relationships with land cover (LC) classes, as well as a landscape index, distance to nature (D2N), across 10 scales.

Results

D2N within 1280 m best predicted PB, while both the LC class trees and D2N within 40 m best predicted SEL. PB increased more throughout the spring at locations with more natural surrounding LC, while PB did not change significantly at locations with more urban surrounding LC.

Conclusions

LC and composite indices can serve as reasonable predictors for the acoustic environment; however, the relationships are scale dependent. Mapping soundscapes can help to illustrate possible driving mechanisms and provide a valuable tool for urban management and planning.