bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy System Models for City Climate Mitigation Plans—Challenges and Recommendations
Authors: Unluturk Burcu , Krook-Riekkola Anna
Published: February 2021

Many cities around the world have adopted climate neutrality targets, and, to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, they need climate action plans. Energy system optimization models (ESOMs) can be used as tools to support their energy transitions. ESOMs have been in use at the national level for several years and also have recently been used at the city level. Even though several researchers have focused on how city ESOMs can be developed, the literature lacks a discussion of the challenges that are faced in data collection during model development. In this paper, we share the challenges encountered in the model development, as well as in the scenario development and recommend practical solutions for overcoming these challenges. The following three challenges were identified and discussed in the model development process: (a) data availability and quality; (b) communication; and (c) knowledge and background of civil servants and researchers. The main challenges in the scenario development were: (a) parameter selection and (b) complexity. It was found that explanation of the terminology used in ESOMs, presentation of the model structure and preliminary base-year results were crucial actions for overcoming challenges during model development. During the scenario development, collaboration between modelers and civil servants when reviewing parameter combinations and working with preliminary scenario results were decisive strategies for improving the civil servants’ understanding of ESOMs. Complementarily, it was found that continuous communication between the researcher and the civil servant and good comprehension of the model on the municipality's side helped improve the usefulness of ESOMs in cities’ energy transitions.
City Assessment Tool to Measure the Impact of Public Policies on Smart and Sustainable Cities. The Case Study of the Municipality of Alcobendas (Spain) Compared with Similar European Cities
Authors: Sisto Raffaele , García López Javier , Lumbreras Martín Julio , Mataix Aldeanueva Carlos , Ramos Ferreiro Linos
Published: February 2021

Data analytics is a key resource to analyze cities and to find their strengths and weaknesses to define long-term sustainable strategies. On the one hand, urban planning is geared to adapting cities’ strategies towards a qualitative, intelligent, and sustainable growth. On the other hand, institutions are geared towards open governance and collaborative administration models. In this context, sustainability has become a global concern for urban development, and the sustainable development goals (SDGs), defined by United Nations, are the framework to be followed to define the new city goals and to measure the advances of the policies implemented over recent years. The main objective of this research is to explain the methods and results of the application of a city assessment tool for measuring the impact of public policies on the socioeconomic and environmental structure of a city. It addresses the case study of the evaluation of the strategic plan “Diseña 2020” of the municipality of Alcobendas (Madrid, Spain, with 116.037 inhabitants), the document used to communicate the actions needed to achieve the city goals during the planning exercise. A selection of urban indicators has been aligned with the SDGs defined in the Agenda 2030 to develop a tool for the measurement of the impacts of policies in economic, social, and ecological terms. Through this set of indicators, the tool is able to quantify the impact of the policies on the city and the SDGs and to support the decision-making processes of the administration. The set of urban indicators is divided into five areas: economic development and employment, sustainable development, open government, social responsibility, and quality of life. The data evolution, across the recent years 2012–2018, is used to monitor and benchmark the effects of the applied policies. In addition, Alcobendas can be compared with other Spanish and European cities with similar characteristics; it makes possible assessing the achievement of the city’s strategic areas, incorporating the current trends and fostering the SDGs. Thanks to the quantitative comparable results and the objective approach, this research shows a methodology based on indicators that could be applied and scaled to other cities to generate a common framework for measuring the impact of public policies on cities.
Snap4City Platform to Speed Up Policies
Authors: Mitolo Nicola , Nesi Paolo , Pantaleo Gianni , Paolucci Michela
Published: February 2021

In the development of smart cities, there is a great emphasis on setting up so-called Smart City Control Rooms, SCCR. This paper presents Snap4City as a big data smart city platform to support the city decision makers by means of SCCR dashboards and tools reporting in real time the status of several of a city’s aspects. The solution has been adopted in European cities such as Antwerp, Florence, Lonato del Garda, Pisa, Santiago, etc., and it is capable of covering extended geographical areas around the cities themselves: Belgium, Finland, Tuscany, Sardinia, etc. In this paper, a major use case is analyzed describing the workflow followed, the methodologies adopted and the SCCR as the starting point to reproduce the same results in other smart cities, industries, research centers, etc. A Living Lab working modality is promoted and organized to enhance the collaboration among municipalities and public administration, stakeholders, research centers and the citizens themselves. The Snap4City platform has been realized respecting the European Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and it is capable of processing every day a multitude of periodic and real-time data coming from different providers and data sources. It is therefore able to semantically aggregate the data, in compliance with the Km4City multi-ontology and manage data: (i) having different access policies; and (ii) coming from traditional sources such as Open Data Portals, Web services, APIs and IoT/IoE networks. The aggregated data are the starting point for the services offered not only to the citizens but also to the public administrations and public-security service managers, enabling them to view a set of city dashboards ad hoc composed on their needs, for example, enabling them to modify and monitor public transportation strategies, offering the public services actually needed by citizens and tourists, monitor the air quality and traffic status to establish, if impose or not, traffic restrictions, etc. All the data and the new knowledge produced by the data analytics of the Snap4City platform can also be accessed, observing the permissions on each kind of data, thanks to the presence of an APIs complex system.
The hemogenic endothelium: a critical source for the generation of PSC-derived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells
Authors: Lange Lucas , Morgan Michael , Schambach Axel
Published: February 2021

In vitro generation of hematopoietic cells and especially hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are subject to intensive research in recent decades, as these cells hold great potential for regenerative medicine and autologous cell replacement therapies. Despite many attempts, in vitro, de novo generation of bona fide HSCs remains challenging, and we are still far away from their clinical use, due to insufficient functionality and quantity of the produced HSCs. The challenges of generating PSC-derived HSCs are already apparent in early stages of hemato-endothelial specification with the limitation of recapitulating complex, dynamic processes of embryonic hematopoietic ontogeny in vitro. Further, these current shortcomings imply the incompleteness of our understanding of human ontogenetic processes from embryonic mesoderm over an intermediate, specialized hemogenic endothelium (HE) to their immediate progeny, the HSCs. In this review, we examine the recent investigations of hemato-endothelial ontogeny and recently reported progress for the conversion of PSCs and other promising somatic cell types towards HSCs with the focus on the crucial and inevitable role of the HE to achieve the long-standing goal—to generate therapeutically applicable PSC-derived HSCs in vitro.
Changes in plant diversity in a water-limited and isolated high-mountain range (Sierra Nevada, Spain)
Authors: Lamprecht Andrea , Pauli Harald , Fernández Calzado Maria Rosa , Lorite Juan , Molero Mesa Joaquín , Steinbauer Klaus , Winkler Manuela
Published: February 2021

Climate change impacts are of a particular concern in small mountain ranges, where cold-adapted plant species have their optimum zone in the upper bioclimatic belts. This is commonly the case in Mediterranean mountains, which often harbour high numbers of endemic species, enhancing the risk of biodiversity losses. This study deals with shifts in vascular plant diversity in the upper zones of the Sierra Nevada, Spain, in relation with climatic parameters during the past two decades. We used vegetation data from permanent plots of three surveys of two GLORIA study regions, spanning a period of 18 years (2001–2019); ERA5 temperature and precipitation data; and snow cover durations, derived from on-site soil temperature data. Relationships between diversity patterns and climate factors were analysed using GLMMs. Species richness showed a decline between 2001 and 2008, and increased thereafter. Species cover increased slightly but significantly, although not for endemic species. While endemics underwent cover losses proportional to non-endemics, more widespread shrub species increased. Precipitation tended to increase during the last decade, after a downward trend since 1960. Precipitation was positively related to species richness, colonisation events, and cover, and negatively to disappearance events. Longer snow cover duration and rising temperatures were also related to increasing species numbers, but not to cover changes. The rapid biotic responses of Mediterranean alpine plants indicate a tight synchronisation with climate fluctuations, especially with water availability. Thus, it rather confirms concerns about biodiversity losses, if projections of increasing temperature in combination with decreasing precipitation hold true.
Hyperinsulinaemic–hypoglycaemic glucose clamps in human research: a systematic review of the literature
Authors:   on behalf of the Hypo-RESOLVE consortium, Fabricius Therese W. , Verhulst Clementine E. M. , Kristensen Peter L. , Tack Cees J. , McCrimmon Rory J. , Heller Simon , Evans Mark L. , Amiel Stephanie A. , Pieber Thomas R. , de Galan Bastiaan E. , Pedersen-Bjergaard Ulrik
Published: February 2021

Aims/hypothesis

The hyperinsulinaemic–hypoglycaemic glucose clamp technique has been developed and applied to assess effects of and responses to hypoglycaemia under standardised conditions. However, the degree to which the methodology of clamp studies is standardised is unclear. This systematic review examines how hyperinsulinaemic–hypoglycaemic clamps have been performed and elucidates potential important differences.

Methods

A literature search in PubMed and EMBASE was conducted. Articles in English published between 1980 and 2018, involving adults with or without diabetes, were included.

Results

A total of 383 articles were included. There was considerable variation in essential methodology of the hypoglycaemic clamp procedures, including the insulin dose used (49-fold difference between the lowest and the highest rate), the number of hypoglycaemic steps (range 1−6), the hypoglycaemic nadirs (range 2.0–4.3 mmol/l) and the duration (ranging from 5 to 660 min). Twenty-seven per cent of the articles reported whole blood glucose levels, most venous levels. In 70.8% of the studies, a dorsal hand vein was used for blood sampling, with some form of hand warming to arterialise venous blood in 78.8% of these. Key information was missing in 61.9% of the articles.

Conclusions/interpretation

Although the hyperinsulinaemic–hypoglycaemic clamp procedure is considered the gold standard to study experimental hypoglycaemia, a uniform standard with key elements on how to perform these experiments is lacking. Methodological differences should be considered when comparing results between hypoglycaemic clamp studies.

PROSPERO registration

This systematic review is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42019120083).

Graphical abstract
UNITY and Büchi automata
Authors: Hesselink Wim H.
Published: February 2021

UNITY is a model for concurrent specifications with a complete logic for proving progress properties of the form “
P
leads to
Q
”. UNITY is generalized to U-specifications by giving more freedom to specify the steps that are to be taken infinitely often. In particular, these steps can correspond to non-total relations. The generalization keeps the logic sound and complete. The paper exploits the generalization in two ways. Firstly, the logic remains sound when the specification is extended with hypotheses of the form “
F
leads to
G
”. As the paper shows, this can make the logic incomplete. The generalization is used to show that the logic remains complete, if the added hypotheses “
F
leads to
G
” satisfy “
F
unless
G
”. The main result extends the applicability and completeness of UNITY logic to proofs that a given concurrent program satisfies any given formula of LTL, linear temporal logic, without the next-operator which is omitted because it is sensitive to stuttering. For this purpose, the program, written as a UNITY program, is extended with a number of boolean variables. The proof method relies on implementing the LTL formula, i.e., restricting the specification in such a way that only those runs remain that satisfy the formula. This result is a variation of the classical construction of a Büchi automatonfor a given LTL formula that accepts precisely those runs that satisfy the formula.
Qualitative profiling of mono- and sesquiterpenols in aglycon libraries from Vitis vinifera L. Gewürztraminer using multidimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Authors: Könen Philipp P. , Stötzel Ines , Schwab Wilfried , Wüst Matthias
Published: February 2021

In grape berries (Vitis vinifera L.), sesquiterpenes are mainly accumulated as hydrocarbons in the epicuticular wax layer of grapes, whereas monoterpenes, which are predominantly present as alcohols, are glycosylated and are stored as glycosides in the vacuoles of grape berry cells. In this study, extensive analysis of grape berry hydrolysates by means of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–time-of-flight–mass spectrometry demonstrated that glycosylated sesquiterpene alcohols show very little structural diversity when compared to the sesquiterpene hydrocarbon fraction in the cuticle and are glycosylated to a rather low extent when compared to monoterpenols. Twenty-four enzymatically released terpenols were found in hydrolysates of the aromatic white wine variety Gewürztraminer (V. vinifera subsp. vinifera) after previous solid-phase extraction and headspace solid-phase microextraction. The detection of only three sesquiterpene alcohols, namely farnesol, nerolidol and drimenol, shows that most sesquiterpene hydrocarbons do not have a related hydroxylated structure in grapes. Nevertheless, the presence of the acyclic aglycone farnesol and nerolidol may be of importance for the wine aroma, since these structural isomers can be converted into numerous sesquiterpenes by nonenzymatic acid-catalyzed reactions during wine production. Grape-derived glycosidically bound sesquiterpene alcohols, therefore, represent, in addition to free sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, another pool of compounds that may influence the aroma profile of wines.
Frühe digitale Poesie
Authors: Bernhart Toni , Richter Sandra
Published: February 2021

Die Idee, Poesie maschinell zu generieren, ist so alt wie die Maschinen selbst. Sie lässt sich seit dem Mittelalter beobachten und setzt sich fort bis in die Gegenwart, in der Storytelling-Experimente Algorithmen zur natürlichsprachigen Textgenerierung (NLG) nutzen. Die weltweit ersten Versuche, Poesie digital herzustellen, gelangen in den 1950er Jahren den Mathematikern Christopher Strachey (1916–1975) in Manchester und Theo Lutz (1932–2010) in Stuttgart. Durch zufallsmäßige Auswahl passfähiger Wörter und Sätze erzeugte Strachey 1952 auf einer Ferranti Mark I kurze Liebesbriefe. Dazu verwendete er das Programmierhandbuch von Alan Turing (1912–1954). Daneben schrieb Strachey Programme für das Dame-Spiel und zur computationellen Erzeugung von Musik. Lutz stellte 1959 mithilfe eines Programms im Freiburger Code auf einer Zuse Z 22 seine Stochastischen Texte her, wofür er Wortmaterial aus Franz Kafkas Roman Das Schloss (1926) verwendete und wobei er mit dem Philosophen Max Bense (1910–1990) und dem späteren Informatik-Pionier Rul Gunzenhäuser (1933–2018) kooperierte. Weil Lutz’ Arbeitsunterlagen nahezu vollständig erhalten und im Deutschen Literaturarchiv Marbach für die Forschung zugänglich sind, gilt Lutz als ein literatur- und informatikgeschichtlich bedeutsamer Vertreter früher digitaler Poesie, die lange Zeit fast nur in avantgardistischen Zirkeln diskutiert wurde und kaum den Weg in eine breitere Öffentlichkeit fand. Erst aktuelle Debatten um sogenannte Künstliche Intelligenz (KI) lenken wieder die Aufmerksamkeit auf diese frühen Experimente, die ein faszinierender Mosaikstein der Technik‑, Kultur- und Literaturgeschichte sind.
Effect of Exogenously Applied 24-Epibrassinolide and Brassinazole on Xylogenesis and Microdistribution of Cell Wall Polymers in Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) De Wit
Authors: Pramod S. , Anju M. , Rajesh H. , Thulaseedharan A. , Rao Karumanchi S.
Published: February 2021

Plant growth regulators play a key role in cell wall structure and chemistry of woody plants. Understanding of these regulatory signals is important in advanced research on wood quality improvement in trees. The present study is aimed to investigate the influence of exogenous application of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) and brassinosteroid inhibitor, brassinazole (BRZ) on wood formation and spatial distribution of cell wall polymers in the xylem tissue of Leucaena leucocephala using light and immuno electron microscopy methods. Brassinazole caused a decrease in cambial activity, xylem differentiation, length and width of fibres, vessel element width and radial extent of xylem suggesting brassinosteroid inhibition has a concomitant impact on cell elongation, expansion and secondary wall deposition. Histochemical studies of 24-epibrassinolide treated plants showed an increase in syringyl lignin content in the xylem cell walls. Fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy studies revealed the inhomogenous pattern of lignin distribution in the cell corners and middle lamellae region of BRZ treated plants. Immunolocalization studies using LM10 and LM 11 antibodies have shown a drastic change in the micro-distribution pattern of less substituted and highly substituted xylans in the xylem fibres of plants treated with EBR and BRZ. In conclusion, present study demonstrates an important role of brassinosteroid in plant development through regulating xylogenesis and cell wall chemistry in higher plants.
Umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells administration improved neurobehavioral status and alleviated brain injury in a mouse model of cerebral palsy
Authors: Chang Yanqun , Lin Shouheng , Li Yongsheng , Liu Song , Ma Tianbao , Wei Wei
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common neuromuscular disease in children, and currently, there is no cure. Several studies have reported the benefits of umbilical cord blood (UCB) cell treatment for CP. However, these studies either examined the effects of UCB cell fraction with a short experimental period or used neonatal rat models for a long-term study which displayed an insufficient immunological reaction and clearance of human stem cells. Here, we developed a CP model by hypoxia-ischemic injury (HI) using immunodeficient mice and examined the effects of human UCB CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) on CP therapy over a period of 8 weeks.

Methods

Sixty postnatal day-9 (P9) mouse pups were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 15/group) as follows: (1) sham operation (control group), (2) HI-induced CP model, (3) CP model with CD34+ HSC transplantation, and (4) CP model with CD34- cell transplantation. Eight weeks after insult, the sensorimotor performance was analyzed by rotarod treadmill, gait dynamic, and open field assays. The pathological changes in brain tissue of mice were determined by HE staining, Nissl staining, and MBP immunohistochemistry of the hippocampus in the mice.

Results

HI brain injury in mice pups resulted in significant behavioral deficits and loss of neurons. Both CD34+ HSCs and CD34- cells improved the neurobehavioral statuses and alleviated the pathological brain injury. In comparison with CD34- cells, the CD34+ HSC compartments were more effective.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that CD34+ HSC transplantation was neuroprotective in neonatal mice and could be an effective therapy for CP.
An architectonic type principle in the development of laminar patterns of cortico-cortical connections
Authors: Beul Sarah F. , Goulas Alexandros , Hilgetag Claus C.
Published: February 2021

Structural connections between cortical areas form an intricate network with a high degree of specificity. Many aspects of this complex network organization in the adult mammalian cortex are captured by an architectonic type principle, which relates structural connections to the architectonic differentiation of brain regions. In particular, the laminar patterns of projection origins are a prominent feature of structural connections that varies in a graded manner with the relative architectonic differentiation of connected areas in the adult brain. Here we show that the architectonic type principle is already apparent for the laminar origins of cortico-cortical projections in the immature cortex of the macaque monkey. We find that prenatal and neonatal laminar patterns correlate with cortical architectonic differentiation, and that the relation of laminar patterns to architectonic differences between connected areas is not substantially altered by the complete loss of visual input. Moreover, we find that the degree of change in laminar patterns that projections undergo during development varies in proportion to the relative architectonic differentiation of the connected areas. Hence, it appears that initial biases in laminar projection patterns become progressively strengthened by later developmental processes. These findings suggest that early neurogenetic processes during the formation of the brain are sufficient to establish the characteristic laminar projection patterns. This conclusion is in line with previously suggested mechanistic explanations underlying the emergence of the architectonic type principle and provides further constraints for exploring the fundamental factors that shape structural connectivity in the mammalian brain.
Photosynthetically Controlled Spirulina, but Not Solar Spirulina, Inhibits TNF-α Secretion: Potential Implications for COVID-19-Related Cytokine Storm Therapy
Authors: Tzachor Asaf , Rozen Or , Khatib Soliman , Jensen Sophie , Avni Dorit
Published: February 2021

An array of infections, including the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), trigger macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) and subsequentlyhypercytokinemia, commonly referred to as a cytokine storm (CS). It is postulated that CS is mainly responsible for critical COVID-19 cases, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Recognizing the therapeutic potential of Spirulina blue-green algae (Arthrospira platensis), in this in vitro stimulation study, LPS-activated macrophages and monocytes were treated with aqueous extracts of Spirulina, cultivated in either natural or controlled light conditions. We report that an extract of photosynthetically controlled Spirulina (LED Spirulina), at a concentration of 0.1 µg/mL, decreases macrophage and monocyte-induced TNF-α secretion levels by over 70% and 40%, respectively. We propose prompt in vivo studies in animal models and human subjects to determine the putative effectiveness of a natural, algae-based treatment for viral CS and ARDS, and explore the potential of a novel anti-TNF-α therapy.

Graphical abstract
Prevalence of high-riding vertebral arteries and narrow C2 pedicles among Central-European population: a computed tomography-based study
Authors: Klepinowski Tomasz , Żyłka Natalia , Pala Bartłomiej , Poncyljusz Wojciech , Sagan Leszek
Published: February 2021

High-riding vertebral artery (HRVA) and narrow C2 pedicles (C2P) pose a great risk of injuring the vessel during C2 pedicle or transarticular screw placement. Recent meta-analysis revealed a paucity of European studies regarding measurements and prevalence of these anatomical variants. Three hundred eighty-three consecutive cervical spine CT scans with 766 potential screw insertion sites were analyzed independently by two trained observers. C2 internal height (C2InH), C2 isthmus height (C2IsH), and C2P width were measured. Kappa statistics for inter- and intraobserver reliability as well as for inter-software agreement were calculated. HRVA was defined as C2IsH of ≤ 5 mm and/or C2InH of ≤ 2 mm. Narrow C2P was defined as C2P width ≤ 4 mm. STROBE checklist was followed. At least 1 HRVA was found in 25,3% (95% CI 21,1–29,8) of patients (16,7% of potential sites). At least 1 narrow C2P was seen in 36,8% (95% CI 32,1–41,7) of patients (23,8% of potential sites). Among those with HRVA, unilateral HRVA was present in 68,0% (95% CI 58,4–77,0), whereas bilateral HRVA in 32,0% (95% CI 23,0–41,6). No difference in terms of laterality (right or left) was seen neither for HRVA nor narrow C2P. Significant differences were found between females and males for all measurements. Each parameter showed either good or excellent inter- or intraobserver, and inter-software agreement coefficients. HRVA and narrow C2P are common findings in Central-European population and should be appreciated at the planning stage before craniocervical instrumentation. Measurements can be consistently reproduced by various observers at varying intervals using different software.
Cost-effectiveness of the latent tuberculosis screening program for migrants in Stockholm Region
Authors: Shedrawy Jad , Deogan Charlotte , Öhd Joanna Nederby , Hergens Maria-Pia , Bruchfeld Judith , Jonsson Jerker , Siroka Andrew , Lönnroth Knut
Published: February 2021

Introduction

The majority of tuberculosis (TB) cases in Sweden occur among migrants from endemic countries through activation of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Sweden has LTBI-screening policies for migrants that have not been previously evaluated. This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of the current screening strategy in Stockholm.

Methods

A Markov model was developed to predict the costs and effects of the current LTBI-screening program compared to a scenario of no LTBI screening over a 50-year time horizon. Epidemiological and cost data were obtained from local sources when available. The primary outcomes were incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in terms of societal cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY).

Results

Screening migrants in the age group 13–19 years had the lowest ICER, 300,082 Swedish Kronor (SEK)/QALY, which is considered cost-effective in Sweden. In the age group 20–34, ICER was 714,527 SEK/QALY (moderately cost-effectives) and in all age groups above 34 ICERs were above 1,000,000 SEK/QALY (not cost-effective). ICER decreased with increasing TB incidence in country of origin.

Conclusion

Screening is cost-effective for young cohorts, mainly between 13 and 19, while cost-effectiveness in age group 20–34 years could be enhanced by focusing on migrants from highest incidence countries and/or by increasing the LTBI treatment initiation rate. Screening is not cost-effective in older cohorts regardless of the country of origin.
The effect of navigation method and visual display on distance perception in a large-scale virtual building
Authors: Li Hengshan , Mavros Panagiotis , Krukar Jakub , Hölscher Christoph
Published: February 2021

Immersive virtual reality (VR) technology has become a popular method for fundamental and applied spatial cognition research. One challenge researchers face is emulating walking in a large-scale virtual space although the user is in fact in a small physical space. To address this, a variety of movement interfaces in VR have been proposed, from traditional joysticks to teleportation and omnidirectional treadmills. These movement methods tap into different mental processes of spatial learning during navigation, but their impacts on distance perception remain unclear. In this paper, we investigated the role of visual display, proprioception, and optic flow on distance perception in a large-scale building by manipulating four different movement methods. Eighty participants either walked in a real building, or moved through its virtual replica using one of three movement methods: VR-treadmill, VR-touchpad, and VR-teleportation. Results revealed that, first, visual display played a major role in both perceived and traversed distance estimates but did not impact environmental distance estimates. Second, proprioception and optic flow did not impact the overall accuracy of distance perception, but having only an intermittent optic flow (in the VR-teleportation movement method) impaired the precision of traversed distance estimates. In conclusion, movement method plays a significant role in distance perception but does not impact the configurational knowledge learned in a large-scale real and virtual building, and the VR-touchpad movement method provides an effective interface for navigation in VR.
Who is the African Farmer? The Importance of Actor Representations in the Debate About Biotechnology Crops in Africa
Authors: Beumer Koen , Swart Jac. A. A.
Published: February 2021

The discussion about the impact of agricultural biotechnology on Africa is deeply divided and contains widely diverging claims about the impact of biotechnology on African farmers. Building upon literature on the ‘good farmer’ that highlights that farmers identities are an important factor in explaining the success or failure of agricultural change, we argue that the identity of the farmer is an undervalued yet crucial aspect for understanding the debate about the impact of agricultural biotechnology on African farmers. In this article we therefore investigate what farmers’ identities are implicated in the arguments about the impact of biotechnology on African farmers. We aim to identify the main fault lines in different accounts of the African biotechnology farmer by analysing the identities ascribed to them in two prominent cases of controversy: the debates at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg and the discussion about the impact of biotechnology on smallholder farmers in the Makhathini flats in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Our findings demonstrate that arguments about biotechnology are informed by diverging conceptions of who the African farmer is, what is important for the African farmer, and what role the African farmer has in relation to agricultural biotechnology. These findings remain relevant for current discussions on gene editing technologies like CRISPR-Cas. Openly discussing these different views on the identity of smallholder farmers is crucial for moving forward in the biotechnology controversy and can inform future attempts to elicit the farmer’s voice.
Linearization of McCormick relaxations and hybridization with the auxiliary variable method
Authors: Najman Jaromił , Bongartz Dominik , Mitsos Alexander
Published: February 2021

The computation of lower bounds via the solution of convex lower bounding problems depicts current state-of-the-art in deterministic global optimization. Typically, the nonlinear convex relaxations are further underestimated through linearizations of the convex underestimators at one or several points resulting in a lower bounding linear optimization problem. The selection of linearization points substantially affects the tightness of the lower bounding linear problem. Established methods for the computation of such linearization points, e.g., the sandwich algorithm, are already available for the auxiliary variable method used in state-of-the-art deterministic global optimization solvers. In contrast, no such methods have been proposed for the (multivariate) McCormick relaxations. The difficulty of determining a good set of linearization points for the McCormick technique lies in the fact that no auxiliary variables are introduced and thus, the linearization points have to be determined in the space of original optimization variables. We propose algorithms for the computation of linearization points for convex relaxations constructed via the (multivariate) McCormick theorems. We discuss alternative approaches based on an adaptation of Kelley’s algorithm; computation of all vertices of an n-simplex; a combination of the two; and random selection. All algorithms provide substantial speed ups when compared to the single point strategy used in our previous works. Moreover, we provide first results on the hybridization of the auxiliary variable method with the McCormick technique benefiting from the presented linearization strategies resulting in additional computational advantages.
No Country for Asylum Seekers? How Short-Term Exposure to Refugees Influences Attitudes and Voting Behavior in Hungary
Authors: Gessler Theresa , Tóth Gergő , Wachs Johannes
Published: February 2021

How does exposure to refugees influence political behavior? We present evidence from Hungary, a country with widespread anti-immigration attitudes, that short term exposure during the 2015 refugee crisis predicts anti-refugee voting and sentiment. We code exposure to refugees at the settlement level using reports from state media, an independent online news site, and an online social media aggregator. Settlements through which refugees traveled showed significantly higher anti-refugee voting in a national referendum in 2016. The effect decreases sharply with distance. Using a difference-in-differences model, we find that the far-right opposition gained, while the governing right-wing party lost votes in these settlements in subsequent parliamentary elections. This suggests incumbents are punished by voters skeptical of immigration regardless of their policy position. Survey data supports this finding of a competition among right-wing parties, as individuals in exposed settlements are more fearful of immigrants and support restrictive policies only if they identify as right-wing.
How coordinated sectoral responses to environmental policy increase the availability of product life cycle data
Authors: Jordan Nino David
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) have a significant potential for contributing to consumption-based approaches to climate change. This paper provides an important building block towards a theoretical model of the factors accounting for variations in the availability of life cycle data across countries. It does so by positing a mechanism linking industry associations’ institutional role within environmental policy processes to the availability of product life data and by empirically validating it.

Methods

Interviews, qualitative document analysis, web scraping, quantitative text analysis, set-theoretical causal reasoning, and process tracing.

Results and discussion

Environmental policies that stipulate industry-government deliberations and assign a coordinating or mediating role to industry peak associations can stimulate the exchange of environmental information among industrial sectors. The policy instruments of determination of ‘best available techniques’ (BAT) towards standard setting, negotiated collective agreements and carbon pricing all contribute towards the institutionalisation of organised information exchange within industry. This lowers transaction costs for the monitoring, reporting and verification of sectoral environmental data and can thus be conducive to the creation of sectoral life cycle assessment data, with positive knock-on effects on the availability of firm- and product-specific LCA labels.

Conclusions

Industry associations’ institutional role within environmental policy processes can partially explain cross-national variations in the availability of product life cycle inventories.
Nichtzirrhotische portale Hypertension – Ursachen und praktisches Management
Authors: Queck A. , Trebicka J.
Published: February 2021

Unter dem Krankheitsbild der nichtzirrhotischen portalen Hypertension (NCPH) wird eine heterogene Gruppe nichtzirrhotischer Pathogenesen portaler Hypertension zusammengefasst. Es wird anhand der korrespondierenden anatomischen Veränderungen zwischen einer prä-, intra- und posthepatischen Genese unterschieden. Gefäßveränderung proximal der Leber (z. B. Pfortaderthrombose) führen zu einer prähepatischen, distal der Leber gelegene (z. B. Budd-Chiari-Syndrom) zu einer posthepatischen NCPH. Intrahepatisch kann die NCPH durch angeborene Defekte (z. B. kongenitale hepatische Fibrose), granulomatöse Erkrankungen (Schistosomiasis, Sarkoidose), Malignome, Medikamente, das sinusoidale Obstruktionssyndrom, Speichererkrankungen (Amylodiose), idiopathisch und durch die portosinusoidale vaskuläre Erkrankung ausgelöst werden. Klinisch manifestiert sich die Erkrankung durch Komplikationen portaler Hypertension, jedoch häufig auch als Zufallsbefund (Varizen; leichtgradige Blutbildveränderungen; Transaminasen/γ-Glutamyltransferase-Erhöhung). Die Basisdiagnostik umfasst den laborchemischen und histologischen Ausschluss einer Lebergrunderkrankung und Zirrhose, die abdominelle Sonographie und die Gastroskopie. Aufgrund einer Assoziation zu hämato- und immunologischen Erkrankungen ist eine interdisziplinäre Abklärung indiziert. Neben der Therapie der Grunderkrankung ist beim Vorliegen einer Thrombose oder einer prothrombotischen Veranlagung eine Antikoagulation empfohlen. Komplikationen der portalen Hypertension werden ähnlich wie bei der zirrhotischen portalen Hypertension behandelt, jedoch findet die Shunttherapie als endgültige Therapie bei erhaltener Leberfunktion mehr Verwendung.
Factors to consider when interrogating 3D culture models with plate readers or automated microscopes
Authors: Riss Terry , Trask O. Joseph
Published: February 2021

Along with the increased use of more physiologically relevant three-dimensional cell culture models comes the responsibility of researchers to validate new assay methods that measure events in structures that are physically larger and more complex compared to monolayers of cells. It should not be assumed that assays designed using monolayers of cells will work for cells cultured as larger three-dimensional masses. The size and barriers for penetration of molecules through the layers of cells result in a different microenvironment for the cells in the outer layer compared to the center of three-dimensional structures. Diffusion rates for nutrients and oxygen may limit metabolic activity which is often measured as a marker for cell viability. For assays that lyse cells, the penetration of reagents to achieve uniform cell lysis must be considered. For live cell fluorescent imaging assays, the diffusion of fluorescent probes and penetration of photons of light for probe excitation and fluorescent emission must be considered. This review will provide an overview of factors to consider when implementing assays to interrogate three dimensional cell culture models.
Hot forming of shape memory alloys in steel shells: formability, interface, bonding quality
Authors: Gerstein Gregory , Kahra Christoph , Golovko Oleksandr , Schäfke Florian , Klose Christian , Herbst Sebastian , Nürnberger Florian , Maier Hans Jürgen
Published: February 2021

Metal forming of shape memory alloys (SMA) can be challenging since these are very often brittle due to their intermetallic character. However, formability is often needed not only for realising the desired geometry but also for tailoring the microstructure and the functional properties. To investigate whether the encapsulation in a steel shell can improve the formability of shape memory alloys, Co49Ni21Ga30 and Ni49.5Fe14.5Mn4.0Ga26.0Co6.0 samples were subjected to tensile tests, upsetting, rolling and extrusion. A ferritic steel (1.0503) was used as the shell material. The shell was employed to curtail the formation of tensile stresses in the core, to maintain high temperatures during processing and to prevent oxidation. With this approach, not only forming of the SMA in the steel shell was possible but also an intensive metallurgical bond between the SMA and the steel shell can be achieved during hot rolling or extrusion.
Cascade Regression-Based Face Frontalization for Dynamic Facial Expression Analysis
Authors: Wang Yiming , Dong Xinghui , Li Gongfa , Dong Junyu , Yu Hui
Published: February 2021

Facial expression recognition has seen rapid development in recent years due to its wide range of applications such as human–computer interaction, health care, and social robots. Although significant progress has been made in this field, it is still challenging to recognize facial expressions with occlusions and large head-poses. To address these issues, this paper presents a cascade regression-based face frontalization (CRFF) method, which aims to immediately reconstruct a clean, frontal and expression-aware face given an in-the-wild facial image. In the first stage, a frontal facial shape is predicted by developing a cascade regression model to learn the pairwise spatial relation between non-frontal face-shape and its frontal counterpart. Unlike most existing shape prediction methods that used single-step regression, the cascade model is a multi-step regressor that gradually aligns non-frontal shape to its frontal view. We employ several different regressors and make a ensemble decision to boost prediction performance. For facial texture reconstruction, active appearance model instantiation is employed to warp the input face to the predicted frontal shape and generate a clean face. To remove occlusions, we train this generative model on manually selected clean-face sets, which ensures generating a clean face as output regardless of whether the input face involves occlusions or not. Unlike the existing face reconstruction methods that are computational expensive, the proposed method works in real time, so it is suitable for dynamic analysis of facial expression. The experimental validation shows that the ensembling cascade model has improved frontal shape prediction accuracy for an average of 5% and the proposed method has achieved superior performance on both static and dynamic recognition of facial expressions over the state-of-the-art approaches. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method has achieved expression-preserving frontalization, de-occlusion and has improved performance of facial expression recognition.
Low-temperature-processed metal oxide electron transport layers for efficient planar perovskite solar cells
Authors: Song Jia-Xing , Yin Xin-Xing , Li Zai-Fang , Li Yao-Wen
Published: February 2021

As a promising photovoltaic technology, perovskite solar cells (pero-SCs) have developed rapidly over the past few years and the highest power conversion efficiency is beyond 25%. Nowadays, the planar structure is universally popular in pero-SCs due to the simple processing technology and low-temperature preparation. Electron transport layer (ETL) is verified to play a vital role in the device performance of planar pero-SCs. Particularly, the metal oxide (MO) ETL with low-cost, superb versatility, and excellent optoelectronic properties has been widely studied. This review mainly focuses on recent developments in the use of low-temperature-processed MO ETLs for planar pero-SCs. The optical and electronic properties of widely used MO materials of TiO2, ZnO, and SnO2, as well as the optimizations of these MO ETLs are briefly introduced. The commonly used methods for depositing MO ETLs are also discussed. Then, the applications of different MO ETLs on pero-SCs are reviewed. Finally, the challenge and future research of MO-based ETLs toward practical application of efficient planar pero-SCs are proposed.

Graphical abstract
Making Sense of the Relationship Between Adaptive Thinking and Heuristics in Evolutionary Psychology
Authors: Matsumoto Shunkichi
Published: February 2021

In recent years, quite a few evolutionary psychologists have come to embrace a heuristic interpretation of the discipline. They claim that, no matter how methodologically incomplete, adaptive thinking works fine as a good heuristic that effectively reduces the hypothesis space by generating novel and promising hypotheses that can eventually be empirically tested. The purpose of this article is to elucidate the use of heuristics in evolutionary psychology, thereby clarifying the role adaptive thinking has to play. To that end, two typical heuristic interpretations—Machery’s "bootstrap strategy" and Goldfinch’s heuristically streamlined evolutionary psychology—are examined, focusing on the relationship between adaptive thinking and heuristics. The article draws two primary conclusions. The first is that the reliability of the heuristic hypothesis generation procedure (in the context of discovery) should count no less than the conclusiveness of the final testing procedure (in the context of justification) in establishing scientific facts; nature does not always get the last word. Philosophy also counts. The second is that adaptive thinking constitutes a core heuristic in evolutionary psychology that provides the discipline with its raison d'être,but this is only possible when adaptive thinking is substantiated with sufficient historical underpinnings.
Bedside ultrasound as a screening test for the diagnosis of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBI)
Authors: de Sio Chiara , Venafro Mario , Foccillo Giampiero , Nevola Riccardo , Monaco Lucio
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Between 15 and 30% of all nosocomial bacteremias and sepsis are associated with the use of intravascular devices. Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBI) are infections in which the organism identified in the blood is also present on the tip of the catheter itself or in a blood sample taken through it. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of infections related to the use of central catheters.

Methods

Between January 2018 and June 2019, we carried out a prospective study on 36 patients with a central catheter, such as a central venous catheter (CVC), a central catheter with peripheral insertion (PICC), or a fully implanted central venous catheter (PORT-a-cath) and who had signs and symptoms of infection. These patients were submitted to an ultrasound of the catheter upon arrival in the ward in case of suspected infection, or at the time of the onset of signs and symptoms of infection (if these arose during hospitalization). Patients with a central catheter but without signs and symptoms of infection were not included in the study.

The end point of the study was to evaluate sensitivity (SENS), specificity (SPEC), positive and negative predictive value (PPV-NPV) and overall diagnostic accuracy (ODA) of ultrasound in the diagnosis of CRBI through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

US showed a SENS of 94%, a SPEC of 84%, a PPV of 84%, an NPV of 94% and an ODA of 88.8% for the diagnosis of CRBI.

Conclusions

Preliminary data from our study show that US of intravascular devices has a high SENS and SPEC in the diagnosis of CRBI, and can, therefore, be used as a valid tool to decide whether to remove the device early or leave it in place.