bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long‐term behavioral effects observed in mice chronically exposed to static ultra‐high magnetic fields
Authors: Tkáč Ivan , Benneyworth Michael A. , Nichols‐Meade Tessa , Steuer Elizabeth L. , Larson Sarah N. , Metzger Gregory J. , Uğurbil Kâmil
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The primary goal of this study was to investigate whether chronic exposures to ultra‐high B0 fields can induce long‐term cognitive, behavioral, or biological changes in C57BL/6 mice.

Methods

C57BL/6 mice were chronically exposed to 10.5‐T or 16.4‐T magnetic fields (3‐h exposures, two exposure sessions per week, 4 or 8 weeks of exposure). In vivo single‐voxel 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to investigate possible neurochemical changes in the hippocampus. In addition, a battery of behavioral tests, including the Morris water‐maze, balance‐beam, rotarod, and fear‐conditioning tests, were used to examine long‐term changes induced by B0 exposures.

Results

Hippocampal neurochemical profile, cognitive, and basic motor functions were not impaired by chronic magnetic field exposures. However, the balance‐beam–walking test and the Morris water‐maze testing revealed B0‐induced changes in motor coordination and balance. The tight‐circling locomotor behavior during Morris water‐maze tests was found as the most sensitive factor indexing B0‐induced changes. Long‐term behavioral changes were observed days or even weeks subsequent to the last B0 exposure at 16.4 T but not at 10.5 T. Fast motion of mice in and out of the 16.4‐T magnet was not sufficient to induce such changes.

Conclusion

Observed results suggest that the chronic exposure to a magnetic field as high as 16.4 T may result in long‐term impairment of the vestibular system in mice. Although observation of mice may not directly translate to humans, nevertheless, they indicate that studies focused on human safety at very high magnetic fields are necessary.
Antimicrobial Solutions for Touchscreens in Times of Pandemic
Authors: Robrecht Michael J.
Published: April 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic has caused people to rethink touch‐enabled displays’ use in publicly accessible locations because of germs. This article discusses the touchscreen industry's challenges, and how antimicrobial coatings may be one potential solution.
Multidisciplinary effort to improve the diagnosis of malnutrition in hospitalized patients
Authors: Quartarolo Jennifer , Dolopo Analyn , Richard Byron
Published: April 2021

Malnutrition has been increasingly demonstrated to be common and underrecognized in hospitalized patients. Rates have been demonstrated as high as 55%, but the diagnosis of malnutrition has historically been made in only a minority of inpatients. Laboratory studies, including serum prealbumin level, have been shown to have poor predictive value of malnutrition. In 2014, our institution embarked on a system‐wide effort to improve diagnosis of malnutrition in hospitalized patients. We adopted the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (AND/ASPEN) Clinical Characteristics and implemented the Nutrition‐Focused Physical Exam/Assessment into clinical practice. Dietitians recorded malnutrition diagnoses in a flow sheet in the electronic medical record (EMR) and alerted the primary team when a patient met criteria for malnutrition. An editable link to malnutrition diagnosis was created in the discharge summary templates in the EMR. Over 4 years, these efforts led to an increase in our rate of diagnosis of malnutrition from 6% to 12%, which was sustained over the last 2 years. We also found that the percentage of inpatients having serum prealbumin levels checked decreased from 13% to 8% over the study period. We found that a system‐wide, stepwise approach to improving our diagnosis of inpatients with malnutrition was effective and appears sustainable over the period studied. We noted a behavior change for providers in both documenting the condition and decreasing their utilization of laboratory studies as part of their clinical diagnostic workup, thus avoiding unnecessary laboratory draws and leading to potential cost saving.
A meta‐analysis on predictors of turnover intention of hospital nurses in South Korea (2000–2020)
Authors: Kim Hyeoneui , Kim Eun Gyung
Published: April 2021

Aims

To identify the predictors of Registered Nurses’ turnover intention and analyse the effect sizes.

Design

A systematic review and meta‐analysis of previous research, conducted to comprehensively identify the predictors of turnover intention.

Methods

In total, 417 studies from 1 January 2000 to 30 April 2020 that investigated predictors of turnover intention of South Korean nurses were reviewed. The data were analysed using the R statistical package. Network graphs were used to analyse the relationships among turnover predictors, and meta‐analysis was performed to determine the effect sizes of the correlations.

Results

This review analysed common predictors identified in previous studies. Burnout (0.541), emotional exhaustion (0.511), job stress (0.390) and career plateau (0.386) showed positive effect sizes, while organizational commitment (−0.540), person−organizational fit (−0.521), career commitment (−0.508), work engagement (−0.503), job satisfaction (−0.491) and job embeddedness (−0.483) showed negative effect sizes.
Methodological considerations for the design and implementation of a fully longitudinal mixed methods study
Authors: Schumacher Karen L. , Plano Clark Vicki L. , Eilers June , Kigondu Naomi , Geary Carol , Kupzyk Kevin , Lydiatt William M. , Lackner Rudy P. , Ly Quan
Published: April 2021

Growing interest is evident in longitudinal mixed methods research, particularly fully longitudinal mixed methods designs in which both quantitative and qualitative data are collected concurrently for the duration of the study. Fully longitudinal mixed methods designs are particularly relevant for research on dynamic phenomena because of their ability to illuminate both quantitative and qualitative dimensions of change in real time as the phenomenon of interest changes. However, these are complex research designs and their data‐intense nature makes them potentially burdensome for study participants, challenging for research teams, and costly for funding agencies. Despite growing use, the methodological literature on fully longitudinal mixed methods research is sparse and little guidance is available for researchers considering this approach. We address this gap by describing our experience with the design and implementation of a fully longitudinal mixed methods study of a dynamic phenomenon, namely, family caregiving during cancer treatment. We describe important questions and key decisions confronted while developing the research proposal, proactive strategies for study implementation, and implementation realities encountered while the study was in progress. On the basis of insights gained through real‐world experience, we offer three guiding principles for researchers undertaking such a study. First, align the study design with the nature of the dynamics in the phenomenon of interest. Second, plan from the start when and how the integration of the longitudinal quantitative and qualitative data will occur. Third, employ implementation strategies that take into account the practical aspects of repeated contacts with study participants for an extended period.
There's no place like home: Exploring sexual and gender diverse youth's outcomes related to urban/nonurban settings, opted consent procedure, and social support
Authors: Kiperman Sarah , Saint Jo
Published: April 2021

This study uses the minority stress model to examine the relationship between sexual and gender diverse youth's (SGDY's) emotional and peer problem outcomes with their school setting (i.e., attending school in an urban or nonurban setting) and consent type (i.e., parental/guardian or waived consent). The study also explores how social support can alter these relationships as a protective factor. The instruments used to collect data were self‐report and included the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results indicated that more youth in nonurban settings experienced emotional and peer problems compared to those in urban settings, and youth who opted for waived consent endorsed fewer emotional and peer problems compared to youth who opted for parental/guardian consent. When controlling for social support, the consent procedure and school setting variables lost significance. Implications for school psychologists are reviewed.
Teacher empathy and students with problem behaviors: Examining teachers' perceptions, responses, relationships, and burnout
Authors: Wink Mackenzie N. , LaRusso Maria D. , Smith Rhiannon L.
Published: April 2021

Managing students' problem behaviors in the classroom is a difficult challenge for many teachers. A teacher's ability to empathize with students' perspectives and life experiences could impact their approach to the student's problem behaviors; however, few previous studies examine teacher empathy. This study adapted an existing empathy measure to assess educators' cognitive and affective empathy for students. Participants were elementary school teachers (N = 178) who reported on their levels of empathy and completed measures of teacher‐student relationships, student behaviors, and approaches to handling behaviors for their self‐reported most challenging student. Results indicated the adapted measure reliably assessed teachers' cognitive empathy and an affective form of empathy characterized as empathic distress (experiencing personal distress from others' distress). Teachers higher in cognitive empathy reported more positive mindsets about student behavior, greater competence in handling problem behaviors, increased use of effective problem‐solving strategies, greater relationship closeness, and lower levels of job burnout. Teachers high in empathic distress showed largely opposite findings, with more negative misbehavior mindsets, greater relationship conflict, less competence, fewer problem‐solving strategies, and higher job burnout. These findings have implications for supporting teachers to effectively intervene and build positive relationships with behaviorally challenging students.
Water stress assessment on grapevines by using classification and regression trees
Authors: Sánchez‐Ortiz Antoni , Mateo‐Sanz Josep M. , Nadal Montserrat , Lampreave Míriam
Published: April 2021

Multiple factors, such as the vineyard environment and winemaking practices, are known to affect the development of vines as well as the final composition of grapes. Water stress promotes the synthesis of phenols and is associated with grape quality as long as it does not inhibit production. To identify the key parameters for managing water stress and grape quality, multivariate statistical analysis is essential. Classification and regression trees are methods for constructing prediction models from data, especially when data are complex and when constructing a single global model is difficult and models are challenging to interpret. The models were obtained by recursively partitioning the data space and fitting a simple prediction model within each partition. The partitioning can be represented graphically as a decision tree. This approach permitted the most decisive variables for predicting the most vulnerable vineyards and wine quality parameters associated with water stress. In Priorat AOC, Carignan grapevines had the highest water potential and abscisic acid concentration in the early growth plant stages and permitted vineyards to be classified by mesoclimate. This information is useful for identifying which measurements could most easily differentiate between early and late‐ripening vineyards. LWP and Ts during an early physiological stage (pea size) permitted warm and cold areas to be differentiated.
Estimating the stability and reactivity of novel bicyclic germylenes at density functional theory
Authors: Abedini Nastaran , Kassaee Mohamad Z.
Published: April 2021

The effects of nitrogen substituent on stability (ΔΕs–t) of novel germylenes with one, two, and three germylene centers are compared and contrasted at B3LYP/6‐311++G** level of theory. These singlet and triplet germylenes (1s–18s and 1t–18t, respectively) appear as minimum on its energy surface, and the order of their stability estimated by singlet (s)–triplet (t) energy difference (ΔEs–t = Et − Es) is 16 > 6 > 1 > 15 > 17 > 2 > 8 > 3 > 9 > 11 > 7 > 10 > 12 > 14 > 5 > 4 > 18 > 13. Hence, every singlet germylene shows more stability than its corresponding triplet. Germylene 13 with the lowest stability (ΔEs–t = 4.31 kcal/mol) has the highest nucleophilicity (4.47 eV).

Applying suitable isodesmic reactions, we show that the σ‐acceptor nitrogen substituents stabilize not only the singlet but also the triplet states with their positive ΔE. The aim of the present work is to recognize the influence of nitrogen and germylene centers on the stability and band gap (ΔΕHOMO–LUMO), electrophilicity (ω), nucleophilicity (N), and etc. They can be used as accumulated multidentate ligands.
Oligo(ethylene imine)‐grafted glycidyl methacrylate linear and star homopolymers: Odd–even correlated transfection efficiency
Authors: Pafiti Kyriaki S. , Kepola Eleni J. , Vlasiou Manolis C. , Yamasaki Edna N. , Patrickios Costas S. , Mastroyiannopoulos Nikolaos P. , Phylactou Leonidas A. , Théato Patrick
Published: April 2021

The present study aims to investigate an odd–even effect of the number of ethylene imine units in the side‐groups of totally abiotic synthetic polymers on their efficiency in DNA transfection. A library of fifteen polymers was fabricated. Two star homopolymers and one linear homopolymer based on glycidyl methacrylate were synthesized and used as precursors to which five linear oligo(ethylene imine)s (OEI) were grafted. The number of ethylene imine groups of the OEIs was varied. Specifically, ethylene diamine, diethylene triamine, triethylene tetramine, tetraethylene pentamine, and pentaethylene hexamine were used. Each of these fifteen OEI‐grafted polymers was evaluated in terms of their efficiency to transfer plasmid DNA encoding firefly luciferase in C2C12 mouse myoblast cells. The transfection efficiency displayed an odd‐even pattern, with all OEI‐grafted polymers with an odd number of ethylene imine repeating units exhibiting higher transfection efficiency compared with those possessing an even number of ethylene imine repeating units. The odd–even effect was more pronounced for the star polymers with longer arms (degree of polymerization, DP = 100), while in case of the linear polymers, the odd–even effect was only observed for the lowest polymer loading. The cytotoxicity of the OEI‐grafted polymers also followed an odd–even pattern, with the OEI‐grafted star polymers with an arm DP of 100 and the linear polymers clearly presenting an odd‐even effect, while the cytotoxicity of the OEI‐grafted star polymers with an arm DP of 20 slightly increased with the number of ethylene imine repeating units.
Airflow dispersion during common neonatal resuscitation procedures: A simulation study
Authors: Kwok T'ng Chang , Swaby Rabbi , Sharkey Don
Published: April 2021

Background

Aerosol generating medical procedures (AGMPs) are common during newborn resuscitation. Neonates with respiratory viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection may pose a risk to healthcare workers. International guidelines differ on methods to minimize the risk due to limited data.

Objective

We examined the expiratory airflow dispersion during common neonatal resuscitation AGMPs using infant simulators.

Methods

Expiratory airflow dispersion in term and preterm manikins was simulated (n = 288) using fine particle smoke at tidal volumes of 5 ml/kg. Using ImageJ, we quantified dispersion during common airway procedures including endotracheal tube (ETT) and T‐piece ventilation.

Results

Maximal expiratory dispersion distances for the unsupported airway and disconnected uncuffed ETT scenarios were 30.2 and 22.7 cm (term); 22.1 and 17.2 cm (preterm), respectively. Applying T‐piece positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) via an ETT (ETTPEEP) generated no expiratory dispersion but increased tube leak during term simulation, while ventilation breaths (ETTVENT) caused significant expiratory dispersion and leak. There was no measurable dispersion during face mask ventilation. For term uncuffed ETT ventilation, the particle filter eliminated expiratory dispersion but increased leak. No expiratory dispersion and negligible leak were observed when combining a cuffed ETT and filter. Angulated T‐pieces generated the greatest median dispersion distances of 35.8 cm (ETTPEEP) and 23.3 cm (ETTVENT).

Conclusions

Airflow dispersion during neonatal AGMPs is greater than previously postulated and potentially could contaminate healthcare providers during resuscitation of infants infected with contagious viruses such as SARS‐CoV‐2. It is possible to mitigate this risk using particle filters and cuffed ETTs. Applicability in the clinical setting requires further evaluation.
E‐cigarette and vaping product use‐associated lung injury in the pediatric population: A critical review of the current literature
Authors: Kaslow Jacob A. , Rosas‐Salazar Christian , Moore Paul E.
Published: April 2021

Use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), also known as e‐cigarettes, in the adolescent population has significantly increased over the past several years. This rise led to an outbreak of e‐cigarette or vaping product use‐associated lung injury (EVALI) in the summer of 2019. Since that time, numerous case reports and case series on vaping and EVALI have been published but the majority of literature highlights the adult population with few articles focusing on pediatric patients. Given the addictive nature of these products and the lack of full understanding of the human health effects, there is concern that use of ENDS may have lasting impacts on users, especially adolescents and young adults. The goal of this review is to critically assess published data on ENDS use in children, report our institutional experience, discuss the reasons why the use of ENDS have increased among young individuals, outline the current understanding of EVALI as it pertains to the pediatric population, and discuss future opportunities for health policy implementation.
Role of sweat ion ratios in diagnosing cystic fibrosis
Authors: Treggiari Davide , Tridello Gloria , Menin Laura , Borruso Antonella , Pintani Emily , Iansa Patrizia , Cipolli Marco , Melotti Paola
Published: April 2021

Sweat chloride (Cl−) concentration is the gold standard for diagnosing cystic fibrosis (CF). This is, however, challenging among patients with borderline values. Previous studies have reported that the sweat Cl−/Na+ ratio may be useful for diagnosing CF; however, little is known about Cl−/K+ and (Cl− + Na+)/K+ ratios. This study aimed to retrospectively define the most appropriate outcome of the sweat test. Samples of sweat were collected using the Gibson and Cooke method. Cl−, Na+, and K+ were further quantified in 2084 participants—1283 CF and 801 non‐CF—based on clinical diagnosis. Among those with borderline sweat Cl− values (n = 502), 34.8% had CF. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the area under the curve was calculated to evaluate the diagnostic value of the ion ratios. In the overall population, all the ratios significantly discriminated CF from non‐CF, whereas in the borderline group, only Cl−/Na+ significantly discriminated CF and non‐CF subjects, regardless of age.
Assimilation of GNSS reflectometry delay‐Doppler maps with a two‐dimensional variational analysis of global ocean surface winds
Authors: Huang Feixiong , Garrison James L. , Mark Leidner S. , Grieco Giuseppe , Stoffelen Ad , Annane Bachir , Hoffman Ross N.
Published: April 2021

Direct remote‐sensing observations (e.g., radar backscatter, radiometer brightness temperature, or radio occultation bending angle) are often more effective for use in data assimilation (DA) than the corresponding geophysical retrievals (e.g., ocean surface winds, soil moisture, or atmospheric water vapor). In the particular case of Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS‐R), the lower‐level delay‐Doppler map (DDM) observable shows a complicated relationship with the ocean surface wind field. Prior studies have demonstrated DA using GNSS‐R wind retrievals inferred from DDMs. The complexity of the DDM dependence on winds, however, suggests that the alternative approach of ingesting DDM observables directly into DA systems, without performing a wind retrieval, may be beneficial. We demonstrate assimilation of DDM observables from the NASA Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) mission into global ocean surface wind analyses using a two‐dimensional variational analysis method. Bias correction and quality‐control methods are described. Several models for the required observation‐error covariance matrix are developed and evaluated, with the conclusion that a diagonal matrix performs as well as a fully populated matrix empirically tuned to a large ensemble of CYGNSS observation data. The 10‐m surface winds from the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) operational forecast are used as the background (i.e., prior in the variational analysis). Results are compared with independent scatterometer (the advanced scatterometer (ASCAT), the oceansat‐2 Scatterometer (OSCAT)) winds. For one month (June 2017) of data, the root‐mean‐square difference (RMSD) was reduced from 1.17 to 1.07 m·s−1 and bias from −0.14 to −0.08 m·s−1 for the wind speed at the specular point. Within a 150‐km wide swath along the specular point track, the RMSD was reduced from 1.20 to 1.13 m·s−1. These RMSD and bias statistics are smaller than other CYGNSS wind products available at this time.
The robust minimal controllability and observability problem
Authors: Ramos Guilherme , Silvestre Daniel , Silvestre Carlos
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we study the Robust Minimal Controllability and Observability Problem (rMCOP). The scenario that motivated this question is related to the design of a drone formation to execute some task, where the decision of which nodes to equip with a more expensive communication system represents a critical economic choice. Given a linear time‐invariant system for each of the vehicles, this problem consists of identifying a minimal subset of state variables to be actuated and measured, ensuring that the overall formation model is both controllable and observable while tolerating a prescribed level of inputs/outputs that can fail. Based on the tools in the available literature, a naive approach would consist of enumerating separately all possible minimal solutions for the controllability and observability parts. Then, iterating over all combinations to find the maximum intersection of sensors/actuators in the independent solutions, yielding a combinatorial problem. The presented solution couples the design of both controllability and observability parts through a polynomial reformulation as a minimum set multi‐covering problem under some mild assumptions. In this format, the algorithm has the following interesting attributes: (i) only requires the solution of a single covering problem; 9ii) using polynomial approximations algorithms, one can obtain close‐to‐optimal solutions to the rMCOP.
Multiparameter one‐sided tests for nonlinear mixed effects models with censored responses
Authors: Zhou Guohai , Wu Lang
Published: April 2021

Nonlinear mixed‐effects (NLME) models are commonly used in longitudinal studies such as pharmacokinetics and HIV viral dynamics studies. NLME models are often derived based on underlying data‐generating mechanisms, therefore the parameters in these models often have natural physical interpretations that may suggest reasonable constraints on certain parameters. For example, the HIV viral decay rates for populations receiving anti‐HIV treatments may be reasonably expected to be nonnegative. Hypothesis testing for these parameters should incorporate practically reasonable constraints to increase statistical power. Motivated from HIV viral dynamic models, in this article we propose multiparameter one‐sided or constrained tests for NLME models with censored responses, for example, viral dynamic models with viral loads subject to lower detection limits. We propose approximate likelihood‐based tests that are computationally efficient. We evaluate the tests via simulations and show that the proposed tests are more powerful than the corresponding two‐sided or unrestricted tests. We apply the proposed tests to two AIDS datasets with new findings.
Trajectory clustering using mixed classification models
Authors: Klich Amna , Ecochard René , Subtil Fabien
Published: April 2021

Trajectory classification has become frequent in clinical research to understand the heterogeneity of individual trajectories. The standard classification model for trajectories assumes no between‐individual variance within groups. However, this assumption is often not appropriate, which may overestimate the error variance of the model, leading to a biased classification. Hence, two extensions of the standard classification model were developed through a mixed model. The first one considers an equal between‐individual variance across groups, and the second one considers unequal between‐individual variance. Simulations were performed to evaluate the impact of these considerations on the classification. The simulation results showed that the first extended model gives a lower misclassification percentage (with differences up to 50%) than the standard one in case of presence of a true variance between individuals inside groups. The second model decreases the misclassification percentage compared with the first one (up to 11%) when the between‐individual variance is unequal between groups. However, these two extensions require high number of repeated measurements to be adjusted correctly. Using human chorionic gonadotropin trajectories after curettage for hydatidiform mole, the standard classification model classified trajectories mainly according to their levels whereas the two extended models classified them according to their patterns, which provided more clinically relevant groups. In conclusion, for studies with a nonnegligible number of repeated measurements, the use, in first instance, of a classification model that considers equal between‐individual variance across groups rather than a standard classification model, appears more appropriate. A model that considers unequal between‐individual variance may find its place thereafter.
Addressing new challenges in smart urban planning using Information and Communication Technologies
Authors: Pérez‐delHoyo Raquel , Mora Higinio , Nolasco‐Vidal José Manuel , Abad‐Ortiz Rubén , Mollá‐Sirvent Rafael A.
Published: April 2021

Cities today face the challenge of achieving more participatory and inclusive urban planning. Information and Communication Technologies make it possible to have access to information on the preferences and real uses that citizens make of urban public space; activities that are not always those foreseen in the original planning of cities. This knowledge provides a new understanding of urban capabilities and opportunities that enables planning closer to citizens' needs and designing cities more intelligently and effectively. Thus, a new, more social urbanism, where the citizen is a participant and not a mere observer, is possible with the help of technology. This work studies the potential of geolocated data generated by citizens and retrieved from social networks of sport, which analysis has been possible with the support of the measurement and visualization tools offered by geographic information systems accessible online, open access cartography available on the Internet, among other resources.
Experimental study on seismic performance of shear wall with precast concrete hollow molds
Authors: Zhang Xin , Wang Yan , Lu Zheng , Yuan Yao
Published: April 2021

A new type of connection between shear walls is proposed for the shear wall with precast concrete hollow molds (PCHM). The overlapping reinforcements are inserted into the PCHM before pouring concrete into the hollow in this method. Full‐scale test specimens are tested under low cyclic loading test to analyze their seismic performance, such as failure modes, hysteretic characters, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation, and ductility. For the precast specimen, although the penetrating crack appears at the horizontal connection, there is no large slippage leading to anchorage failure and disengagement of interfaces. Generally, compared with cast‐in‐situ shear walls, shear walls with PCHM have no large difference in bearing capacity, failure mode, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation and ductility. Therefore, the proposed shear wall with the new type of connection method is worth popularizing and utilizing in practical engineering projects with similar design procedure to cast‐in‐situ structures.
Registrar touches every aspect of a community college population's needs
Authors: Enos Gary A.
Published: April 2021

Having a role in each student's academic experience, from the details of the admissions process all the way through the exhilaration of graduation, motivates Sara Schumacher in her role as Registrar at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, North Carolina. No two interactions with students are exactly alike, said Schumacher, and the diversity of student needs in the community college population often has had her taking on advising roles during her career, even when that was not strictly part of her job description.
Prospects for Greater Peace
Authors: Cilliers Jakkie
Published: April 2021

In this chapter, Cilliers assesses historical and present conflict dynamics across Africa and how they relate to governance, demographics and socioeconomics. Woven throughout is a discussion on the role of peacekeepers and external involvement more broadly, the surge of terrorism in Africa and how these two phenomena bear upon one another. It assesses the origins, nature and implications of the declining trends in armed conflict and the emergence of urban protests as the key feature of violence and instability in much of Africa. In an alternative future scenario, Cilliers assesses what development outcomes Africa could expect if it were to succeed in reducing levels of instability in a scenario named Silencing the Guns.
Wanted: A Revolution in Agriculture
Authors: Cilliers Jakkie
Published: April 2021

Agriculture is the backbone of many African economies. Cilliers explores the history and role of agriculture in development, and the likely future trajectory of agriculture in Africa along the Current Path, drawing lessons from other regions. Improvements in this sector, particularly access to finance and use of modern technology can unlock the significant potential to achieve food security, improve health and nutrition outcomes, create agribusiness ventures that influence employment, earn foreign exchange through exports and promote economic prosperity. The chapter concludes with a scenario that emulates the impact of a revolution in agriculture on food security and growth.
Changing Productive Structures
Authors: Cilliers Jakkie
Published: April 2021

In this chapter, Cilliers offers various explanations for Africa’s lack of sustained, structural economic transformation from low-value economic activities towards high-value services and manufacturing, and explores the challenges associated with the continent failing to industrialise. He offers historical context for how this situation emerged, drawing from global datasets such as trade data from the UN Conference on Trade and Development. The chapter then proceeds to look to the future of industrialisation in Africa in the context of technology-driven changes to the manufacturing sector globally via the fourth industrial revolution, which could offer the continent opportunities to gain a foothold in global value chains. The latter portion of the chapter models key interventions in a Made in Africa scenario, and examines its economic impact to 2040.
Hybridity, Adaptive Peacebuilding and Complexity
Authors: de Coning Cedric , McDonald-Colbert Lawrence
Published: April 2021

Complexity science provides us with a theoretical framework for understanding how complex social systems lapse into violent conflict, and how they can prevent, or recover from conflict. For a peace process to become self-sustainable, resilient social institutions need to emerge from within, i.e. from the culture, history and socio-economic context of the relevant society. International actors can assist and facilitate this process, but if they interfere too much, they will undermine the self-organising processes necessary to sustain resilient social institutions. Adaptive Peacebuilding navigates this hybrid peacebuilding dilemma with an adaptive methodology where peacebuilders, together with the communities and people affected by the conflict, actively engage in a structured process to sustain peace and resolve conflicts by employing an iterative process of learning and adaptation. A complexity informed approach to hybrid peacebuilding aims to safeguard, stimulate, facilitate and create the space for societies to develop resilient capacities for self-organisation.
Frictional Binaries: Hybridity, Civil Society, and Liberal-Local Peacebuilding in Mindanao
Authors: Manaysay Ferth Vandensteen , Espesor Jovanie Camacho
Published: April 2021

International and local civil society organisations have usually been identified amongst the key actors for the conceptual and practical development of liberal and post-liberal peace approaches. The concept of hybrid peacebuilding, for example, has highlighted the need to empower local civil society groups. Critics of the ‘local turn’ in peacebuilding, however, argue against the conceptual idealisation of hybridity. Using examples from Mindanao, this chapter contends that the debates on liberal-local hybridity can most meaningfully gain from asking questions not only about the processes of internationalisation and localisation, but also about the ways in which hybrid mechanisms are able to produce more or less stable outcomes. By turning into the agency of civil society actors, it suggests that the concept of hybridity, which is often represented using dichotomised categories (e.g. ‘liberal-international’ and ‘illiberal-local’), tends to oversimplify the conceptual intricacies and dynamic processes between top-down and bottom-up approaches. The analysis in the chapter aims to contribute to the discussions on hybridity by illustrating the manner civil society actors are able to negotiate their complexities within the frictional binaries of liberal ideas, institutions and resources vis-à-vis local practices, power relations and norms.
Rise of China’s Developmental Peace: Prospects for Asian Hybrid Peacebuilding
Authors: Wong KwokChung , Li Fujian
Published: April 2021

The rise of China represents an increase not only in Chinese military, political and economic power, but also in Chinese interests in becoming a more proactive player in the field of international peacebuilding, particularly in Asia, where it aims to protect stability and enhance the scope of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, without a clear peacebuilding policy at home, China is not adopting a systematic and unified approach to peacebuilding despite its developmental peace having many traits that resemble the pursuit of hybrid peacebuilding that other major actors in the field have adopted to address the shortcomings of liberal peacebuilding. Asia is a conflict-prone region. This chapter examines the practice of developmental peace in Myanmar and Afghanistan/Pakistan to demonstrate the potential for peacebuilding with Chinese characteristics. The rise of China also brings an interesting style of peacebuilding that is focused on addressing conflict through economic development, while upholding the host country’s sovereign rights.
Conclusion: Alternative Theory and Practice of Peacebuilding in Asia
Authors: Uesugi Yuji , Deekeling Anna , Umeyama Sophie Shiori , McDonald-Colbert Lawrence
Published: April 2021

The concluding chapter summarises the findings of the previous chapters and presents their common assertions. The goal is to evaluate whether the existent gap between hybrid peacebuilding theory and its practice has been successfully closed. Building upon a complexity-informed framework of hybrid emergence, the mid-space actor typology is developed to link between an analytical framework and practical application. This volume has demonstrated that mid-space actors can provide viable focal points for establishing resilient and self-sufficient social institutions from within without dictating the content of such emergences. The case studies of Cambodia and Mindanao were examined to assess the on-the-ground operation of mid-space actors, and the cases of China and Japan illuminated how the conceptual framework of hybridity could improve contemporary peacebuilding models.
Zwischen Organisation und Verfahren: Rechtskommunikation in der vormodernen Gesellschaft
Authors: Schwarting Rena
Published: April 2021

Bevor die Genese des RKG nachgezeichnet wird, geht es darum, ein historisches Verständnis über die gesellschaftlichen Strukturbedingungen der vormodernen Rechtskommunikation zu gewinnen.
Semantic 3D City Modeling and BIM
Authors: Kolbe Thomas H. , Donaubauer Andreas
Published: April 2021

Semantic 3D city modeling and building information modeling (BIM) are methods for modeling, creating, and analyzing three-dimensional representations of physical objects of the environment. Digital modeling of the built environment has been approached from at least four different domains: computer graphics and gaming, planning and construction, urban simulation, and geomatics. This chapter introduces the similarities and differences of 3D models from these disciplines with regard to aspects like scale, level of detail, representation of spatial and semantic characteristics, and appearance. Exemplified by the international standards CityGML and Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), information models from semantic 3D city modeling and BIM and their corresponding modeling approaches are explored, and the relationships between them are discussed. Based on use cases from infrastructure planning, approaches for integrating information from semantic 3D city modeling and BIM, such as semantic transformation between CityGML and IFC, are described. Furthermore, the role of semantic 3D city modeling and BIM for recent developments in urban informatics, such as smart cities and digital twins, is investigated and illustrated by real-world examples.
EFT for soft drop double differential cross section
Authors: Pathak Aditya , Stewart Iain W. , Vaidya Varun , Zoppi Lorenzo
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We develop a factorization framework to compute the double differential cross section in soft drop groomed jet mass and groomed jet radius. We describe the effective theories in the large, intermediate, and small groomed jet radius regions defined by the interplay of the jet mass and the groomed jet radius measurement. As an application we present the NLL′ results for the perturbative moments that are related to the coefficients C1 and C2 that specify the leading hadronization corrections up to three universal parameters. We compare our results with Monte Carlo simulations and a calculation using the coherent branching method.
Superluminality in DHOST theory with extra scalar
Authors: Mironov S. , Rubakov V. , Volkova V.
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We consider DHOST Ia theory interacting gravitationally with an additional conventional scalar field minimally coupled to gravity. At the linearized level of perturbations about cosmological background, we find that in the presence of a slowly rolling extra scalar field, one of the modes generically propagates at superluminal speed. This result is valid for any stable cosmological background. We identify a subclass of DHOST Ia theories in which this superluminality property is absent, and all modes may propagate (sub)luminally. We discuss possible implications for the interacting DHOST Ia theories.
Collider constraints on dark mediators
Authors: Mies Hanna , Scherb Christiane , Schwaller Pedro
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We explore the constraints current collider searches place on a QCD-like dark sector. A combination of multi-jet, multi-jet plus missing energy and emerging jets searches is used to derive constraints on the mediator mass across the full range of the dark meson lifetimes for the first time.

The dark sector inherits a flavour structure from the coupling between the dark quarks and the SM quarks through the mediator. When this is taken into account, the differently flavoured dark pions become distinguishable through their lifetime. We show that also in these cases the above mentioned searches remain sensitive, and we obtain limits on the mediator mass also for the flavoured scenario.

We then contrast the constraints from collider searches with direct detection bounds on the dark matter candidate itself in both the flavoured and unflavoured scenario. Using a simple prescription it becomes possible to display all constraints in the dark matter and mediator mass plane. Constraints from direct detection tend to be stronger than the collider constraints, unless the coupling to the first generation quarks is suppressed, in which case the collider searches place the most stringent limits on the parameter space.
Truncations of ordered abelian groups
Authors: D’Aquino Paola , Derakhshan Jamshid , Macintyre Angus
Published: April 2021

We give axioms for a class of ordered structures, called truncated ordered abelian groups (TOAG’s) carrying an addition. TOAG’s come naturally from ordered abelian groups with a 0 and a $$+$$
+
, but the addition of a TOAG is not necessarily even a cancellative semigroup. The main examples are initial segments $$[0, \tau ]$$

[
0
,
τ
]

of an ordered abelian group, with a truncation of the addition. We prove that any model of these axioms (i.e. a truncated ordered abelian group) is an initial segment of an ordered abelian group. We define Presburger TOAG’s, and give a criterion for a TOAG to be a Presburger TOAG, and for two Presburger TOAG’s to be elementarily equivalent, proving analogues of classical results on Presburger arithmetic. Their main interest for us comes from the model theory of certain local rings which are quotients of valuation rings valued in a truncation [0, a] of the ordered group $${\mathbb {Z}}$$
Z
or more general ordered abelian groups, via a study of these truncations without reference to the ambient ordered abelian group. The results are used essentially in a forthcoming paper (D’Aquino and Macintyre, The model theory of residue rings of models of Peano Arithmetic: The prime power case, 2021, arXiv:2102.00295) in the solution of a problem of Zilber about the logical complexity of quotient rings, by principal ideals, of nonstandard models of Peano arithmetic.
Manifold role of ubiquitin in Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer
Authors: Sokolova Olga , Naumann Michael
Published: April 2021

Infection with H. pylori induces a strong host cellular response represented by induction of a set of molecular signaling pathways, expression of proinflammatory cytokines and changes in proliferation. Chronic infection and inflammation accompanied by secretory dysfunction can result in the development of gastric metaplasia and gastric cancer. Currently, it has been determined that the regulation of many cellular processes involves ubiquitinylation of molecular effectors. The binding of ubiquitin allows the substrate to undergo a change in function, to interact within multimolecular signaling complexes and/or to be degraded. Dysregulation of the ubiquitinylation machinery contributes to several pathologies, including cancer. It is not understood in detail how H. pylori impacts the ubiquitinylation of host substrate proteins. The aim of this review is to summarize the existing literature in this field, with an emphasis on the role of E3 ubiquitin ligases in host cell homeodynamics, gastric pathophysiology and gastric cancer.
Revisiting the light time correction in gravimetric missions like GRACE and GRACE follow-on
Authors: Yan Yihao , Müller Vitali , Heinzel Gerhard , Zhong Min
Published: April 2021

The gravity field maps of the satellite gravimetry missions Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE ) and GRACE Follow-On are derived by means of precise orbit determination. The key observation is the biased inter-satellite range, which is measured primarily by a K-Band Ranging system (KBR) in GRACE and GRACE Follow-On. The GRACE Follow-On satellites are additionally equipped with a Laser Ranging Interferometer (LRI), which provides measurements with lower noise compared to the KBR. The biased range of KBR and LRI needs to be converted for gravity field recovery into an instantaneous range, i.e. the biased Euclidean distance between the satellites’ center-of-mass at the same time. One contributor to the difference between measured and instantaneous range arises due to the nonzero travel time of electro-magnetic waves between the spacecraft. We revisit the calculation of the light time correction (LTC) from first principles considering general relativistic effects and state-of-the-art models of Earth’s potential field. The novel analytical expressions for the LTC of KBR and LRI can circumvent numerical limitations of the classical approach. The dependency of the LTC on geopotential models and on the parameterization is studied, and afterwards the results are compared against the LTC provided in the official datasets of GRACE and GRACE Follow-On. It is shown that the new approach has a significantly lower noise, well below the instrument noise of current instruments, especially relevant for the LRI, and even if used with kinematic orbit products. This allows calculating the LTC accurate enough even for the next generation of gravimetric missions.
Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation of Breast Cancer Liver Metastases: Short- and Long-Term Results with Predicting Factors for Survival
Authors: Schullian Peter , Johnston Edward , Laimer Gregor , Putzer Daniel , Eberle Gernot , Scharll Yannick , Ianetti-Hackl Claudia , Bale Reto
Published: April 2021

Purpose

To evaluate safety, local oncological control, long-term outcome and potential prognostic factors of stereotactic RFA (SRFA) for the treatment of BCLMs.

Methods

Between July 2003 and December 2019, 42 consecutive female patients with median age 54.0 years were treated with SRFA at our institution for 110 BCLMs in 48 ablation sessions. Median tumor size was 3.0 cm (0.8–9.0). Eighteen (42.9%) patients had extrahepatic metastasis at initial SRFA.

Results

Technical success rate was 100%, i.e., all coaxial needles were inserted with appropriate accuracy within 10 mm off plan and 107/110 (92.3%) BCLMs were successfully ablated at initial SRFA. Four Grade 1 (8.3%, 4/48) and one Grade 2 (2.1%, 1/48) complications occurred. No perioperative deaths occurred. Local recurrence developed in 8 of 110 tumors (7.3%). Overall survival (OS) rates of all patients at 1, 3, and 5 years from the date of the first SRFA were 84.1%, 49.3%, and 20.8% with a median OS of 32.3 months. Univariable cox regression analyses revealed age > 60 years and extrahepatic disease (without bone only metastases) as significant predictors of worse OS (p = 0.013 and 0.025, respectively). Size and number of metastases, hormone receptor status and time onset did not significantly affect OS after initial SRFA.

Conclusions

SRFA is a safe, minimally invasive treatment option in the management of BCLMs, especially in younger patients without advanced extrahepatic metastasis, including those with large liver tumors.