bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Natural Resource Management: A Network Perspective
Authors: Kyriakopoulou Efthymia , Xepapadeas Anastasios
Published: August 2021

This paper studies the role of social networks in the management of natural resources. We consider a finite number of agents who exploit a specific natural resource. Harvesting is subject to three external effects, namely resource stock externalities, crowding externalities, and collaboration spillovers. We show that the structure of the social network—defined by the presence of collaboration links between individual agents—determines the equilibrium and the optimal harvesting amount. We then allow the agents to make decisions about creating or eliminating cooperation links, which endogenizes the structure of the network and is proved to affect total harvesting and aggregate welfare. Conservation plans are shown to change the regulator’s objective and increase even further the gap between the decentralized and the optimal outcomes. We show that the optimal policy depends explicitly on the structure of the network and the ‘centrality’ of the associated agents. Finally, introducing heterogeneity is proved to affect both individual profits and the incentives to create cooperation links.
Generation of Tubular and Membranous Shape Textures with Curvature Functionals
Authors: Song Anna
Published: August 2021

Tubular and membranous shapes display a wide range of morphologies that are difficult to analyze within a common framework. By generalizing the classical Helfrich energy of biomembranes, we model them as solutions to a curvature optimization problem in which the principal curvatures may play asymmetric roles. We then give a novel phase-field formulation to approximate this geometric problem, and study its Gamma-limsup convergence. This results in an efficient GPU algorithm that we validate on well-known minimizers of the Willmore energy; the software for the implementation of our algorithm is freely available online. Exploring the space of parameters reveals that this comprehensive framework leads to a wide continuum of shape textures. This first step towards a unifying theory will have several implications, in biology for quantifying tubular shapes or designing bio-mimetic scaffolds, but also in computer graphics, materials science, or architecture.
Purinergic interplay between erythrocytes and platelets in diabetes-associated vascular dysfunction
Authors: Zhou Zhichao
Published: August 2021

Cardiovascular complications in diabetes are the leading causes for high morbidity and mortality. It has been shown that alteration of purinergic signaling contributes to diabetes-associated cardiovascular complications. Red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets play a fundamental role in regulation of oxygen transport and hemostasis, respectively. Of note, these cells undergo purinergic dysfunction in diabetes. Recent studies have established a novel function of RBCs as disease mediators for the development of endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes (T2D). RBC-released ATP is defective in T2D, which has implication for induction of vascular dysfunction by dysregulating purinergic signaling. Platelets are hyperactive in diabetes. ADP-mediated P2Y1 and P2Y12 receptor activation contributes to platelet aggregation and targeting P2Y receptors particularly P2Y12 receptor in platelets is effective for the treatment of cardiovascular events. In contrast to other P2Y12 receptor antagonists, platelet-targeting drug ticagrelor has potential to initiate purinergic signaling in RBCs for the beneficial cardiovascular outcomes. It is increasingly clear that altered vascular purinergic signaling mediated by various nucleotides and nucleoside contributes to diabetes-associated vascular dysfunction. However, the contribution of complex purinergic networks between RBCs and platelets to the vascular dysfunction in diabetes remains unclear. This study discusses the possible interplay of RBCs and platelets via the purinergic network for diabetes-associated vascular dysfunction.
An introduction to stochastic bin packing-based server consolidation with conflicts
Authors: Martinovic John , Hähnel Markus , Scheithauer Guntram , Dargie Waltenegus
Published: August 2021

The energy consumption of large-scale data centers or server clusters is expected to grow significantly in the next couple of years contributing to up to 13% of the worldwide energy demand in 2030. As the involved processing units require a disproportional amount of energy when they are idle, underutilized, or overloaded, balancing the supply of and the demand for computing resources is a key issue to obtain energy-efficient server consolidations. Whereas traditional concepts mostly consider deterministic predictions of the future workloads or only aim at finding approximate solutions, in this article, we propose an exact approach to tackle the problem of assigning jobs with (not necessarily independent) stochastic characteristics to a minimal amount of servers subject to further practically relevant constraints. As a main contribution, the problem under consideration is reformulated as a stochastic bin packing problem with conflicts and modeled by an integer linear program. Finally, this new approach is tested on real-world instances obtained from a Google data center.
Disability pension among gynaecological cancer survivors with or without radiation-induced survivorship syndromes
Authors: Baloch Adnan Noor , Hagberg Mats , Thomée Sara , Steineck Gunnar , Sandén Helena
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Gynaecological cancer patients treated with external radiation therapy to the pelvis may face long-lasting and long-term gastrointestinal syndromes. The aim of this study was to assess the association between such radiation-induced survivorship syndromes and disability pension among gynaecological cancer survivors treated with pelvic radiation therapy.

Methods

This prospective register study included gynaecological cancer survivors (n=247) treated during 1991–2003, alive at the time of the study, and <65 years of age. In 2006, they completed a postal questionnaire measuring patient-reported outcomes. The self-reported data were linked to the national register on disability pensions. Relative risks and risk differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of being granted a disability pension were estimated using log-binomial regression.

Results

Gynaecological cancer survivors with gastrointestinal syndromes had a higher risk of disability pension than survivors without such syndromes. Survivors with blood discharge syndrome had a 2.0 (95% CI 1.3–3.2) times higher risk of disability pension than survivors without blood discharge syndrome. The relative risk among survivors with urgency syndrome was 1.9 (1.3–2.9) and for leakage syndrome, 2.1 (1.4–3.1). Adjusting for age did not affect our interpretation of the results.

Conclusions

Gynaecological cancer survivors with a specific radiation-induced survivorship syndrome have a higher risk of disability pension than survivors without that specific syndrome.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

The findings highlight the need for more awareness and knowledge regarding the potential role of radiation-induced survivorship syndromes for continuing work among gynaecological cancer survivors. Work-life-related parameters should be considered during radiotherapy and rehabilitation after treatment.
Vericiguat for Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Lombardi Carlo Mario , Cimino Giuliana , Pagnesi Matteo , Dell’Aquila Andrea , Tomasoni Daniela , Ravera Alice , Inciardi Riccardo , Carubelli Valentina , Vizzardi Enrico , Nodari Savina , Emdin Michele , Aimo Alberto
Published: August 2021

Purpose of Review

The nitric oxide (NO)-soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway plays an important role in the regulation of cardiovascular function, and it is disrupted in heart failure (HF), resulting in decreased protection against myocardial injury. Impaired NO-sGC-cGMP signaling in HF is secondary to reduced NO bioavailability and altered redox state of sGC, which becomes less responsive to NO. The sGC activator cinaciguat increases cGMP levels by direct NO-independent activation of sGC and may be particularly effective in conditions of increased oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, and therefore reduced NO levels, at the expense of a greater risk of hypotension. Conversely, sGC stimulators (riociguat and vericiguat) enhance sGC sensitivity to endogenous NO, thus exerting a more physiological action.

Recent Findings

Clinical trials have suggested the benefit of vericiguat in patients with high-risk HF; in particular, a lower incidence of death from cardiovascular causes or HF hospitalization.

Adding vericiguat may be considered in individual patients with HF, and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) particularly those at higher risk of HF hospitalization.
Ethics and Values in Design: A Structured Review and Theoretical Critique
Authors: Donia Joseph , Shaw James. A.
Published: August 2021

A variety of approaches have appeared in academic literature and in design practice representing “ethics-first” methods. These approaches typically focus on clarifying the normative dimensions of design, or outlining strategies for explicitly incorporating values into design. While this body of literature has developed considerably over the last 20 years, two themes central to the endeavour of ethics and values in design (E + VID) have yet to be systematically discussed in relation to each other: (a) designer agency, and (b) the strength of normative claims informing the design process. To address this gap, we undertook a structured review of leading E + VID approaches and critiques, and classified them according to their positions on normative strength, and views regarding designer agency. We identified 18 distinct approaches and 13 critiques that met the inclusion criteria for our review. Included papers were distributed across the spectrum of views regarding normative strength, and we found that no approaches and only one critique represented a view characteristic of “low” designer agency. We suggest that the absence of “low” designer agency approaches results in the neglect of crucial influences on design as targets of intervention by designers. We conclude with suggestions for future research that might illuminate strategies to achieve ethical design in information mature societies, and argue that without attending to the tensions raised by balancing normatively “strong” visions of the future with limitations imposed on designer agency in corporate-driven design settings, “meaningful” ethical design will continue to encounter challenges in practice.
Cerebellar Long Noncoding RNA Expression Profile in a Niemann-Pick C Disease Mouse Model
Authors: Han Shiqian , Ren Meng , Kuang Tianyin , Pang Mao , Guan Dongwei , Liu Yesong , Wang Yong , Zhang Wengeng , Ye Zhijia
Published: August 2021

Niemann-Pick type C (NP-C) disease is a neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder primarily caused by mutations in NPC1. However, its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. While mounting evidence has demonstrated the involvement of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, the lncRNA expression profile in NP-C has not been determined. Here, we used RNA-seq analysis to determine lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles of the cerebella of NPC1−/− mice. We found that 272 lncRNAs and 856 mRNAs were significantly dysregulated in NPC1−/− mice relative to controls (≥ 2.0-fold, p < 0.05). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT‐PCR) was utilized to validate the expression of selected lncRNAs and mRNAs. Next, a lncRNA-mRNA coexpression network was employed to examine the potential roles of the differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs. Functional analysis revealed that mRNAs coexpressed with lncRNAs are mainly linked to immune system–related processes and neuroinflammation. Moreover, knockdown of the lncRNA H19 ameliorated changes in ROS levels and cell viability and suppressed the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)–induced inflammatory response in vitro. Our findings indicate that dysregulated lncRNA expression patterns are associated with NP-C pathogenesis and offer insight into the development of novel therapeutics based on lncRNAs.
The Non-saying of What Should Have Been Said
Authors: Colonna Dahlman Roberta
Published: August 2021

According to Grice’s analysis, conversational implicatures are carried by the saying of what is said (Grice 1989: 39). In this paper, it is argued that, whenever a speaker implicates a content by flouting one or several maxims, her implicature is not only carried by the act of saying what is said and the way of saying it, but also by the act of non-saying what should have been said according to what would have been normal to say in that particular context. Implicatures that arise without maxim violation are only built on the saying of what is said, while those that arise in violative contexts are carried by the saying of what is said in combination with the non-saying of what should have been said. This observation seems to justify two claims: (i) that conversational implicatures have different epistemic requirements depending on whether they arise in violative or non-violative contexts; (ii) that implicatures arising in non-violative contexts are more strongly tied to their generating assertion than those arising with maxim violation.
Innovative therapy concepts for pediatric brain tumors
Authors: Azizi Amedeo A. , Gojo Johannes , Peyrl Andreas
Published: August 2021

In recent years, novel insight into molecular mechanisms has allowed the identification of drug targets for various pediatric brain tumors. The aim of this article is to give an overview of new treatment options in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors that target oncogenic gene fusions in pediatric brain tumors, and antiangiogenesis as promising therapy especially in recurrent medulloblastoma.
Therapeutic Use of Cerebellar Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (iTBS) in a Sardinian Family Affected by Spinocerebellar Ataxia 38 (SCA 38)
Authors: Sanna Angela , Follesa Paolo , Tacconi Paolo , Serra Mariangela , Pisu Maria Giuseppina , Cocco Viola , Figorilli Michela , Defazio Giovanni , Puligheddu Monica
Published: August 2021

Spinocerebellar ataxia 38 (SCA 38) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by conventional mutations in the ELOVL5 gene which encodes an enzyme involved in the synthesis of very long fatty acids, with a specific expression in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Three Italian families carrying the mutation, one of which is of Sardinian descent, have been identified and characterized. One session of cerebellar intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) was applied to 6 affected members of the Sardinian family to probe motor cortex excitability measured by motor-evoked potentials (MEPs). Afterwards, patients were exposed to ten sessions of cerebellar real and sham iTBS in a cross-over study and clinical symptoms were evaluated before and after treatment by Modified International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (MICARS). Moreover, serum BDNF levels were evaluated before and after real and sham cerebellar iTBS and the role of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in influencing iTBS effect was explored. Present data show that one session of cerebellar iTBS was able to increase MEPs in all tested patients, suggesting an enhancement of the cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathway in SCA 38. MICARS scores were reduced after ten sessions of real cerebellar iTBS showing an improvement in clinical symptoms. Finally, although serum BDNF levels were not affected by cerebellar iTBS when considering all samples, segregating for genotype a difference was found between Val66Val and Val66Met carriers. These preliminary data suggest a potential therapeutic use of cerebellar iTBS in improving motor symptoms of SCA38.
A cochain level proof of Adem relations in the mod 2 Steenrod algebra
Authors: Brumfiel Greg , Medina-Mardones Anibal , Morgan John
Published: August 2021

In 1947, N.E. Steenrod defined the Steenrod Squares, which are mod 2 cohomology operations, using explicit cochain formulae for cup-iproducts of cocycles. He later recast the construction in more general homological terms, using group homology and acyclic model methods, rather than explicit cochain formulae, to define modpoperations for all primesp. Steenrod’s student J. Adem applied the homological point of view to prove fundamental relations, known as the Adem relations, in the algebra of cohomology operations generated by the Steenrod operations. In this paper we give a proof of the mod 2 Adem relations at the cochain level. Specifically, given a mod 2 cocycle, we produce explicit cochain formulae whose coboundaries are the Adem relations among compositions of Steenrod Squares applied to the cocycle, using Steenrod’s original cochain definition of the Square operations.
A note on quasi-bi-slant submanifolds of Sasakian manifolds
Authors: Prasad Rajendra , Verma Sandeep Kumar
Published: August 2021

The object of the present paper is to study the notion of quasi-bi-slant submanifolds of almost contact metric manifolds as a generalization of slant, semi-slant, hemi-slant, bi-slant, and quasi-hemi-slant submanifolds. We study and characterize quasi-bi-slant submanifolds of Sasakian manifolds and provide non-trivial examples to signify that the structure presented in this paper is valid. Furthermore, the integrability of distributions and geometry of foliations are researched. Moreover, we characterize quasi-bi-slant submanifolds with parallel canonical structures.
What Aspects of Illness Influence Public Preferences for Healthcare Priority Setting? A Discrete Choice Experiment in the UK
Authors: Morrell Liz , Buchanan James , Rees Sian , Barker Richard W. , Wordsworth Sarah
Published: August 2021

Background

Decisions on funding new healthcare technologies assume that all health improvements are valued equally. However, public reaction to health technology assessment (HTA) decisions suggests there are health attributes that matter deeply to them but are not currently accounted for in the assessment process. We aimed to determine the relative importance of attributes of illness that influence the value placed on alleviating that illness.

Method

We conducted a discrete choice experiment survey that presented general public respondents with 15 funding decisions between hypothetical health conditions. The conditions were defined by five attributes that characterise serious illnesses, plus the health gain from treatment. Respondent preferences were modelled using conditional logistic regression and latent class analysis.

Results

905 members of the UK public completed the survey in November 2017. Respondents generally preferred to provide treatments for conditions with ‘better’ characteristics. The exception was treatment availability, where respondents preferred to provide treatments for conditions where there is no current treatment, and were prepared to accept lower overall health gain to do so. A subgroup of respondents preferred to prioritise ‘worse’ health states.

Conclusion

This study suggests a preference among the UK public for treating an unmet need; however, it does not suggest a preference for prioritising other distressing aspects of health conditions, such as limited life expectancy, or where patients are reliant on care. Our results are not consistent with the features currently prioritised in UK HTA processes, and the preference heterogeneity we identify presents a major challenge for developing broadly acceptable policy.
Timing of diuretics in diuresis renography
Authors: Bäck Anna-Karin , Savvopoulos Christos , Geijer Håkan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The aim of this systematic literature review was to obtain an overview of when to administer the diuretics in relation to the radiopharmaceutical during a diuresis renography.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed in three different databases (Embase, PubMed/Medline and Cochrane Library) together with an information specialist. The review question was: when should diuretics be administered in relation to the radiopharmaceutical in a diuresis renography? Studies of adults were included together with guidelines published in collaboration with an organization.

Results

Seventeen articles and four guidelines were retrieved in the literature search. The F − 15 method (diuretics administered 15 min before the radiopharmaceutical) was the one that was studied and described most and was compared with other time points for diuretic administration. The retrieved articles and guidelines report of advantages with different time points for diuretics. Both F − 15 and F + 0 are reported to clarify washout in equivocal cases compared to F + 20.

Conclusion

No consensus could be found for a preferred time point of diuretics administration during a diuresis renography.
Spatial Variation in Contraceptive Practice Across the Districts of India, 1998–2016
Authors: Joshi Shareen , Uttamacharya  , Borkotoky Kakoli , Gautam Abhishek , Datta Nitin , Achyut Pranita , Nanda Priya , Verma Ravi
Published: August 2021

India is currently one of the most demographically diverse regions of the world. Fertility and mortality rates are known to show considerable variation at the level of regions, states and districts. Little is known however, about the spatial variations of the contraceptive usage—a critical variable that is relevant to fertility as well as health policy. This paper uses data from four national population-based household surveys conducted between 1998 and 2016 to explore district-level variations in the contraceptive prevalence rate. We find no clear evidence of convergence. The gap between the best and worst performing districts is more than 70 percent across the four rounds and does not diminish over time. We also find considerable evidence of spatial clustering across districts. Districts with high prevalence concentrate in Southern states and more recently, in the Northeast of the country. Our analysis suggests that female literacy and health care infrastructure are important correlates of spatial clusters. This suggests that investments in women’s human capital and health-care infrastructure play a role in expanding women’s opportunities to time their births.
Experimental investigation and mathematical modelling of batch and semi-continuous anaerobic digestion of cellulose at high concentrations and long residence times
Authors: Bolaji I. O. , Dionisi D.
Published: August 2021

In the context of the anaerobic digestion of slowly biodegradable substrates for energy and chemicals production, this study investigated the anaerobic digestion of cellulose without any chemical pre-treatments using open (undefined) mixed microbial cultures. The anaerobic conversion of cellulose was investigated in extended-length (run length in the range 518–734 days) batch and semi-continuous runs (residence time 20–80 days), at high cellulose concentration (20–40 g L−1), at temperatures of 25 and 35 °C. The maximum cellulose removal was 77% in batch (after 412 days) and 60% (at 80 days residence time) in semi-continuous experiments. In semi-continuous experiments, cellulose removal increased as the residence time increased however the cellulose removal rate showed a maximum (0.17 g L−1 day−1) at residence time 40–60 days. Both cellulose removal and removal rate decreased when cellulose concentration in the feed was increased from 20 to 40 g L−1. Liquid-phase products (ethanol and short chain organic acids) were only observed under transient conditions but not at the steady state of semi-continuous runs. Most of the observed results were well described by a mathematical model which included cellulose hydrolysis and growth on the produced glucose. The model provided insight into the physical phenomena behind the observed results.
Regional Anesthesia for Symptomatic Treatment of Stingray Envenomation
Authors: DeYoung Henry R. , Hughey Scott B. , Miller Grant A. , Cole Jacob H. , Longwell Jason J.
Published: August 2021

Stingray envenomation is common in coastal regions around the world and may result in intense pain that can be challenging to manage. Described therapies involve hot water immersion and potentially other options such as opioid and nonopioid analgesics, removal of the foreign body, wound debridement, antibiotics for secondary infection, and tetanus toxoid. However, for some patients, this may not be enough. Peripheral nerve blockade is a frequently used perioperative analgesic technique, but it has rarely been described in the management of stingray envenomation. Here, we report a case of stingray envenomation in an otherwise healthy 36-y-old male with pain refractory to traditional therapies. After admission for pain control, the patient received an ultrasound-guided sciatic popliteal nerve block. Upon completion of the peripheral nerve block, the patient reported rapid and complete resolution of the intense pain, which did not return thereafter.
General Relativity: The Essentials
Authors: Rovelli Carlo
Published: August 2021

In this short book, renowned theoretical physicist and author Carlo Rovelli gives a straightforward introduction to Einstein's General Relativity, our current theory of gravitation. Focusing on conceptual clarity, he derives all the basic results in the simplest way, taking care to explain the physical, philosophical and mathematical ideas at the heart of “the most beautiful of all scientific theories”. Some of the main applications of General Relativity are also explored, for example, black holes, gravitational waves and cosmology, and the book concludes with a brief introduction to quantum gravity. Written by an author well known for the clarity of his presentation of scientific ideas, this concise book will appeal to university students looking to improve their understanding of the principal concepts, as well as science-literate readers who are curious about the real theory of General Relativity, at a level beyond a popular science treatment.
Research on parameter matching characteristics of pneumatic launch systems based on co-simulation
Authors: Zhang Z. , Peng Y. , Wei X. , Nie H. , Chen H. , Li L.
Published: August 2021

Pneumatic launch systems for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), including mechanical and pneumatic systems, are complex and non-linear. They are subjected to system parameters during launch, which leads to difficulty in engineering research analysis. For example, the mismatch between the UAV parameters and the parameter design indices of the launch system as well as the unclear design indices of the launching speed and overload of UAVs have a great impact on launch safety. Considering this situation, some studies are presented in this paper. Taking the pneumatic launch system as a research object, a pneumatic launcher dynamic simulation model is built based on co-simulation considering the coupling characteristics of the mechanical structure and transmission system. Its accuracy was verified by laboratory test results. Based on this model, the paper shows the effects of the key parameters, including the mass of the UAV, cylinder volume, pressure and moment of inertia of the pulley block, on the performance of the dynamic characteristics of the launch process. Then, a method for matching the parameter characteristics between the UAV and launch system based on batch simulation is proposed. The set of matching parameter values of the UAV and launch system that satisfy the launch take-off safety criteria are calculated. Finally, the influence of the system parameters of the launch process on the launch performance was analysed in detail, and the design optimised. Meaningful conclusions were obtained. The analysis method and its results can provide a reference for engineering and theoretical research and development of pneumatic launch systems.
Coevolution of actions, personal norms and beliefs about others in social dilemmas
Authors: Gavrilets Sergey
Published: August 2021

Human decision-making is affected by a diversity of factors including material cost–benefit considerations, normative and cultural influences, learning and conformity with peers and external authorities (e.g. cultural, religious, political, organisational). Also important are dynamically changing personal perceptions of the situation and beliefs about actions and expectations of others as well as psychological phenomena such as cognitive dissonance and social projection. To better understand these processes, I develop a unifying modelling framework describing the joint dynamics of actions and attitudes of individuals and their beliefs about the actions and attitudes of their groupmates. I consider which norms get internalised and which factors control beliefs about others. I predict that the long-term average characteristics of groups are largely determined by a balance between material payoffs and the values promoted by the external authority. Variation around these averages largely reflects variation in individual costs and benefits mediated by individual psychological characteristics. The efforts of an external authority to change the group behaviour in a certain direction can, counter-intuitively, have an opposite effect on individual behaviour. I consider how various factors can affect differences between groups and societies in the tightness/looseness of their social norms. I show that the most important factors are social heterogeneity, societal threat, effects of authority, cultural variation in the degree of collectivism/individualism, the population size and the subsistence style. My results can be useful for achieving a better understanding of human social behaviour and historical and current social processes, and in developing more efficient policies aiming to modify social behaviour.
Characterization of Philippine natural bentonite
Authors: Olegario Eleanor M. , Gili Mon Bryan Z.
Published: August 2021

Philippine natural bentonite is characterized using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), chemical analysis, thermogravimetric-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) was also measured. XRD shows that the mineral is composed primarily of mordenite, hectorite, and montmorillonite. SEM shows the flaky and porous structure of the bentonite powder. Chemical analyses show that SiO2 (47.90 wt%) and Al2O3 (14.02 wt%) are the major components of the clay. TG-DSC shows that the mineral contains 15.55% moisture. IR transmittance spectrum shows the common vibration bands present in the sample which include O–H stretching of inter-porous water, symmetric and asymmetric stretching of hydroxyl functional groups, asymmetrical stretching of internal tetrahedra (O–Si–O and O–Al–O), symmetrical stretching of external linkages, and so on. The measured CEC were found to be 91.37 and 43.01 meq/100 g according to the ammonium acetate method and barium acetate method, respectively.
Smoothing toroidal crossing spaces
Authors: Felten Simon , Filip Matej , Ruddat Helge
Published: August 2021

We prove the existence of a smoothing for a toroidal crossing space under mild assumptions. By linking log structures with infinitesimal deformations, the result receives a very compact form for normal crossing spaces. The main approach is to study log structures that are incoherent on a subspace of codimension 2 and prove a Hodge–de Rham degeneration theorem for such log spaces that also settles a conjecture by Danilov. We show that the homotopy equivalence between Maurer–Cartan solutions and deformations combined with Batalin–Vilkovisky theory can be used to obtain smoothings. The construction of new Calabi–Yau and Fano manifolds as well as Frobenius manifold structures on moduli spaces provides potential applications.
Unsteady control of supersonic turbulent cavity flow based on resolvent analysis
Authors: Liu Qiong , Sun Yiyang , Yeh Chi-An , Ukeiley Lawrence S. , Cattafesta Louis N. , Taira Kunihiko
Published: August 2021

We use resolvent analysis to develop a physics-based, open-loop, unsteady control strategy to attenuate pressure fluctuations in turbulent flow over a rectangular cavity with a length-to-depth ratio of $6$ at a Mach number of $1.4$ and a Reynolds number based on cavity depth of $10\,000$. Large-eddy simulations (LES) of the baseline uncontrolled flow reveal the dominance of Rossiter modes II and IV that generate high-amplitude unsteadiness via trailing-edge impingement and oblique shock waves that obstruct the free stream. To suppress the oscillations, we introduce three-dimensional unsteady blowing along the cavity leading edge. We leverage resolvent analysis as a linear model with respect to the baseline flow to guide the selections of the optimal spanwise wavenumber and frequency of the unsteady actuation input for a fixed momentum coefficient of 0.02. Instead of choosing the most amplified resolvent forcing modes, we seek a disturbance that yields sustained amplification of the primary response mode-based kinetic energy distribution over the entire cavity length. This necessary but not sufficient guideline for effective mean flow modification is evaluated using LES of the controlled cavity flows. The most effective control case reduces the pressure root mean square level up to $52\,\%$ along cavity walls relative to the baseline and is approximately twice that achievable by comparable steady blowing. Dynamic mode decomposition on the controlled flows confirms that the optimal actuation input indeed suppresses the formation of the large-scale Rossiter modes. It is expected that the present flow control guideline derived from resolvent analysis will also be applicable at higher Reynolds numbers with the aid of physical insights and further validation.
Narrative and gender as mutually constituted meaning-making systems
Authors: Fivush Robyn , Grysman Azriel
Published: August 2021

Both gender and narrative are foundational to the ways in which humans engage in meaning-making. Arguing from evolutionary, psychological and feminist theoretical perspectives, we posit that narratives and gender are culturally mediated mutually constituted meaning-making systems: Narratives are defined through gender and gender is defined through narrative. To contextualise this argument, we define ‘narrative’ and ‘gender’ and review the extant literature on how gender is expressed in culturally mediated master narratives and how narratives are performed differently by women and men. Our core argument is that the very act of narrating is a gendered activity that constructs, represents and narrates gender as a primary category of human existence, and these fundamentally gendered ways of narrating then construct, define and reify gendered ways of being in the world.
On calibrating the completometer for the mammalian fossil record
Authors: Žliobaitė Indrė , Fortelius Mikael
Published: August 2021

We know that the fossil record is incomplete. But how incomplete? Here we very coarsely estimate the completeness of the mammalian record in the Miocene, assuming that the duration of a mammalian species is about 1 Myr and the species diversity has stayed constant and is structurally comparable to the taxonomic diversity today. The overall completeness under these assumptions appears to be around 4%, but there are large differences across taxonomic groups. We find that the fossil record of proboscideans and perissodactyls as we know it for the Miocene must be close to complete, while we might know less than 15% of the species of artiodactyl or carnivore fossil species and only about 1% of primate species of the Miocene. The record of small mammals appears much less complete than that of large mammals.
Who Votes: City Election Timing and Voter Composition
Authors: HAJNAL ZOLTAN L. , KOGAN VLADIMIR , MARKARIAN G. AGUSTIN
Published: August 2021

Low and uneven turnout is a serious problem for local democracy. Fortunately, one simple reform—shifting the timing of local elections so they are held on the same day as national contests—can substantially increase participation. Considerable research shows that on-cycle November elections generally double local voter turnout compared with stand-alone local contests. But does higher turnout mean a more representative electorate? On that critical question, the evidence is slim and mixed. We combine information on election timing with detailed microtargeting data that includes voter demographic information to examine how election timing influences voter composition in city elections. We find that moving to on-cycle elections in California leads to an electorate that is considerably more representative in terms of race, age, and partisanship—especially when these local elections coincide with a presidential election. Our results suggest that on-cycle elections can improve local democracy.
Acute supplementation with whey protein or collagen does not alter appetite in healthy women: a randomised double-blind and crossover pilot study
Authors: Duarte Giovanna M. F. , de Freitas Ketolly V. , Marini Ana C. B. , Giglio Bruna M. , Fernandes Renata C. , Lobo Patrícia C. B. , Mota João F. , Pimentel Gustavo D.
Published: August 2021

Protein quality has an important role in increasing satiety. Evidence suggests that whey protein (WP) provides satiety via gastrointestinal hormone secretion. Hydrolysed collagen supplementation can also stimulate the production of incretins and influence satiety and food intake. Thus, we sought to compare the effect of acute supplementation of WP or hydrolysed collagen on post-intervention appetite and energy consumption. This was a randomised, double-blind, crossover pilot study with ten healthy adult women (22·4 years/old) who were submitted to acute intake (single dose) of a beverage containing WP (40 g of concentrated WP) or hydrolysed collagen (40 g). Subjective appetite ratings (feelings of hunger, desire to eat and full stomach) were measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), energy intake was quantified by ad libitum cheese bread consumption 2 hours after supplementation and blood was collected for leptin and glucose determination. There was no difference between treatment groups in the perception of hunger (P = 0·983), desire to eat (P = 0·326), full stomach feeling (P = 0·567) or food consumption (P = 0·168). Leptin concentrations at 60 min post supplementation were higher when subjects received hydrolysed collagen (P = 0·006). Acute supplementation with hydrolysed collagen increased leptin levels in comparison with WP, but had no effect on appetite measured by feelings of hunger, desire to eat, full stomach feeling (VAS) or energy consumption.
Positive solutions for a degenerate Kirchhoff problem
Authors: Arcoya David , Santos Júnior João R. , Suárez Antonio
Published: August 2021

By assuming that the Kirchhoff term has $K$ degeneracy points and other appropriated conditions, we have proved the existence of at least $K$ positive solutions other than those obtained in Santos Júnior and Siciliano [Positive solutions for a Kirchhoff problem with vanishing nonlocal term, J. Differ. Equ. 265 (2018), 2034–2043], which also have ordered $H_{0}^{1}(\Omega )$-norms. A concentration phenomena of these solutions is verified as a parameter related to the area of a region under the graph of the reaction term goes to zero.
Paths Not Taken: Imperial Legacies and Diasporic Imagination in the Nineteenth-Century Mediterranean
Authors: Stouraiti Anastasia
Published: August 2021

Konstantina Zanou'sTransnational patriotismis a thought-provoking book, which offers a multi-faceted perspective on its subject that brings together scholarship on nationalism and diasporas with modern Greek and Italian intellectual history. Written in lively and accessible language and based on thorough research, it makes the reader rethink some of the major dilemmas of our own time while still remaining true to the perspectives of its protagonists. To take but the most salient example, the word ‘patriotism’, which features prominently in the book's title, has dominated public debate in Britain in recent years, as so-called ‘Brexit patriotism’ has become a fashion statement.
Life after Venice
Authors: Innes Joanna
Published: August 2021

Konstantina Zanou's book could have been calledAfter Venice. It traces the disintegration of the Venetian Adriatic world, through an interlude of alternative empires – French, Austrian, British, and Russian – to an era of nations, or, as she often puts it, nation-states, with special attention to the Ionian islands, or those born there, wherever they then spent their lives. She tells this tale by attending to the concerns of individuals who spanned this space, often by moving through it, but also through the work of the imagination. She offers us a rich, humane, and reflective account.
Red List assessment of widespread and long-lived species
Authors: Fensham Roderick J.
Published: August 2021

The use of criterion A of the IUCN Red List to categorize species as threatened that have undergone recent decline can lead to the listing of relatively common and widespread species. Loss of habitat through deforestation is a common cause of decline throughout much of the world but is often not incorporated into assessments because of uncertainty about the magnitude of change. A recent assessment of eucalypt species in Australia subject to deforestation provides a method for assessment under criterion A and has implications for listing of long-lived, widespread species affected by deforestation. Scenarios for two widespread eucalypt species subject to extensive deforestation are used to demonstrate how the threat status of a species may be recategorized in a lower threat category as declines resulting from a threatening process are mitigated. I argue that criterion A indicates an appropriate assessment of extinction risk and I provide a simple function based on predicted diminishment of the population decline to identify when a species could be disqualified from a threat category under subcriterion A2 (past decline).
Moral injury and substance use disorders among US combat veterans: results from the 2019–2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study
Authors: Maguen Shira , Nichter Brandon , Norman Sonya B. , Pietrzak Robert H.
Published: August 2021

Background

Exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) is associated with increased risk for substance use disorders (SUDs), although population-based studies remain limited. The goal of this study was to better understand the relationships between PMIE exposure and lifetime and past-year alcohol use disorder (AUD), drug use disorder (DUD), and SUD.

Methods

Data were analyzed from the 2019–2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1321 combat veterans. Multivariable analyses examined associations between three types of PMIE exposure (perpetration, witnessing, and betrayal), and lifetime and past-year AUD, DUD, and SUD, adjusting for sociodemographic variables, combat exposure severity, prior trauma, and lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder.

Results

Perpetration was associated with increased odds of lifetime AUD (OR 1.15; 95% CI 1.01–1.31) and lifetime SUD (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.03–1.35). Witnessing was associated with greater odds of past-year DUD (OR 1.20; 95% CI 1.04–1.38) and past-year SUD (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.02–1.28). Betrayal was associated with past-year AUD (OR 1.20; 95% CI 1.03–1.39). A large proportion of the variance in past-year AUD was accounted for by betrayal (38.7%), while witnessing accounted for 25.8% of the variance in past-year DUD.

Conclusions

Exposure to PMIEs may be a stronger contributor to SUDs among veterans than previously known. These findings highlight the importance of targeted assessment and treatment of moral injury among veterans with SUDs, as well as attending to specific types of morally injurious experiences when conceptualizing and planning care.
Inclusive Trade: Justice, Innovation, or More of the Same?
Authors: Goff Patricia
Published: August 2021

Inclusive trade is taking hold in various forms in international organizations and in the trade policy of national governments. Absent empirical evidence that will take time to generate, it can be difficult to assess the achievements of this new approach to trade. Nancy Fraser's three justice idioms provide a conceptual entry point for evaluating the potential of the inclusive trade agenda. Fraser argues that the contemporary global justice conversation must acknowledge claims for recognition, representation, and redistribution. Applying this conceptualization to the inclusive trade agenda shows that trade agreement provisions intended to favor women and Indigenous peoples go some distance in addressing claims for recognition and representation but accomplish less in remedying injustices associated with maldistribution. Therefore, the inclusive trade agenda does significantly advance global justice for marginalized groups, but works primarily in ways that are political and cultural, not economic.
Participation and Degrees
Authors: Wieland Jan Willem
Published: August 2021

What's wrong with joining corona parties? In this article, I defend the idea that reasons to avoid such parties (or collective harms, more generally) come in degrees. I approach this issue from a participation-based perspective. Specifically, I argue that the more people are already joining the party, and the more likely it is that the virus will spread among everyone, the stronger the participation-based reason not to join. In defense of these degrees, I argue that they covary with the expression of certain attitudes.
The Attic Inscriptions: Education Project
Authors: Liddel Peter
Published: August 2021

In ‘Greek Inscriptions: insights and resources in the classroom and beyond’ (Liddel, 2017), I outlined some of the opportunities and perspectives that the study of inscriptions offers to learners getting familiar with the history and culture of ancient Greece at pre-university stage, and I considered the obstacles and opportunities that teachers and students face when trying to access them. That piece very much concentrated on inscriptions as a source for teachers and candidates of OCR's A-level Ancient History. In this essay I take a much broader approach to make a case for the relevance of ancient Greek inscriptions to pre-18 education, considering the ways in which they inform our understanding of Athenian society and contribute to the development of skills of analysis and evaluation of evidence. I highlight the growing significance of the Attic Inscriptions Online website, the Attic Inscriptions in UK Collections project, the newly-launched Attic Inscriptions: Education resource and the AIO YouTube channel to learners’ critical engagement with sources for the ancient Greek world.