bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teaching life cycle assessment in higher education
Authors: Viere Tobias , Amor Ben , Berger Nicolas , Fanous Ruba Dolfing , Arduin Rachel Horta , Keller Regula , Laurent Alexis , Loubet Philippe , Strothmann Philip , Weyand Steffi , Wright Laurie , Sonnemann Guido
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Scientific Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) literature provides some examples of LCA teaching in higher education, but not a structured overview of LCA teaching contents and related competencies. Hence this paper aims at assessing and highlighting trends in LCA learning outcomes, teaching approaches and developed content used to equip graduates for their future professional practices in sustainability.

Methods

Based on a literature review on teaching LCA in higher education and a collaborative consensus building approach through expert group panel discussions, an overview of LCA learning and competency levels with related teaching contents and corresponding workload is developed. The levels are built on the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) and Bloom’s taxonomy of learning.

Results and discussion

The paper frames five LCA learning and competency levels that differ in terms of study program integration, workload, cognitive domain categories, learning outcomes, and envisioned professional skills. It furthermore provides insights into teaching approaches and content, including software use, related to these levels.

Conclusions and recommendations

This paper encourages and supports higher educational bodies to implement a minimum of ‘life cycle literacy’ into students’ curriculum across various domains by increasing the availability, visibility and quality of their teaching on life cycle thinking and LCA.
Group Epistemology and Structural Factors in Online Group Polarization
Authors: Boyd Kenneth
Published: December 2020

There have been many discussions recently from philosophers, cognitive scientists, and psychologists about group polarization, with online and social media environments in particular receiving a lot of attention, both because of people's increasing reliance on such environments for receiving and exchanging information and because such environments often allow individuals to selectively interact with those who are like-minded. My goal here is to argue that the group epistemologist can facilitate understanding the kinds of factors that drive group polarization in a way that has been overlooked by the existing research. Specifically, I argue that polarization can occur in part because of the ways that members of a group treat the group itself (as opposed to an individual member within that group) as a source of information, and in doing so makes their own position, as well as that of the group, more extreme. I refer to this as a structural factor in driving polarization, and argue that such factors can contribute to explanations of polarization that occurs specifically in an important subset of groups, namely online and social media groups in which little is known about other members within the group, what I refer to as anonymous, semi-anonymous and pseudonymous (ASAP) groups.
Modules over algebraic cobordism
Authors: Elmanto Elden , Hoyois Marc , Khan Adeel A. , Sosnilo Vladimir , Yakerson Maria
Published: December 2020

We prove that the$\infty $-category of$\mathrm{MGL} $-modules over any scheme is equivalent to the$\infty $-category of motivic spectra with finite syntomic transfers. Using the recognition principle for infinite$\mathbf{P} ^1$-loop spaces, we deduce that very effective$\mathrm{MGL} $-modules over a perfect field are equivalent to grouplike motivic spaces with finite syntomic transfers.

Along the way, we describe any motivic Thom spectrum built from virtual vector bundles of nonnegative rank in terms of the moduli stack of finite quasi-smooth derived schemes with the corresponding tangential structure. In particular, over a regular equicharacteristic base, we show that$\Omega ^\infty _{\mathbf{P} ^1}\mathrm{MGL} $is the$\mathbf{A} ^1$-homotopy type of the moduli stack of virtual finite flat local complete intersections, and that for$n>0$,$\Omega ^\infty _{\mathbf{P} ^1} \Sigma ^n_{\mathbf{P} ^1} \mathrm{MGL} $is the$\mathbf{A} ^1$-homotopy type of the moduli stack of finite quasi-smooth derived schemes of virtual dimension$-n$.
PRELIMINARY RADIOCARBON DATING RESULTS OF BONE SAMPLES AT THE LAC-UFF, BRAZIL
Authors: Oliveira Fabiana , Macario Kita , Silva Karolayne , Pereira Bruna , Chanca Ingrid , Alves Eduardo , Cid Alberto , Scheel-Ybert Rita , Amaral Dayanne , Ribeiro-Pinto Natacha , Pessenda Luiz C Ruiz
Published: December 2020

Collagen extraction depends on the state of bone preservation, and the acidity of Brazilian soils often prevents the use of this material for radiocarbon dating. When available, however, bone samples constitute very important chronological records for both archaeological sites and natural depositional sites of specific animals. The extraction of collagen was performed using two filters, the first aiming to remove insoluble contaminants, and the second, a vivaspin ultrafilter 30KD to retain large molecular weight materials. The collagen was liofilized and converted to CO2 by combustion in sealed quartz tubes with CuO and Ag. The graphite was produced by zinc reduction in independently sealed Pyrex™ tubes. In order to verify the accuracy of this protocol, we analyzed a modern bone and four previously dated fragments, including those from the Sixth International Radiocarbon Intercomparison (SIRI), and a fragment of human bone from the Amourins site, a Brazilian shellmound. The results for the known age material are in agreement with the expected and the studied sector of Amourins shellmound was dated 4100–3900 years cal BP from a chronological model performed with charcoal dating found in different stratigraphic layers. Samples were dated at the radiocarbon laboratory of Universidade Federal Fluminense (LAC-UFF) in Brazil.
The role of a virtual telephone clinic in the follow-up management of lateral skull base tumours
Authors: Hogan S , Hintze J , Fitzgerald C , Javadpour M , Rawluk D , McConn Walsh R
Published: December 2020

Objective

The purpose of this article was to determine the impact of employing a telephone clinic for follow-up of patients with stable lateral skull-base tumours.

Method

An analysis of 1515 patients in the national lateral skull-base service was performed, and 148 patients enrolled in the telephone clinic to date were identified. The length of time that patients waited for results of their follow-up scans and the travel distance saved by patients not having to attend the hospital for their results was determined.

Results

The mean time from scan to receiving results was 30.5 ± 32 days, 14 days sooner than in the face-to-face group (p = 0.0016). The average round-trip distance travelled by patients to the hospital for results of their scans was 256 ± 131 km.

Conclusion

The telephone clinic led to a significant reduction in time until patients received their scan results and helped reduce travel distance and clinic numbers in traditional face-to-face clinics.
TWISTING THE ARM OF MICHAEL MAIERHOF: COMPOSER, PERFORMER, CONCERT ORGANISER
Authors: Moore Thomas R.
Published: December 2020

The German composer Michael Maierhof took a curious and unusual path to becoming a professional composer, performer and concert organiser, one that gives him a unique perspective on the German art music scene. This interview with Maierhof took place on 17 January 2020 in Maierhof's apartment in Hamburg, Germany and forms part of my research into the artistic and socio-economic motivations that composers and artistic directors employ when utilizing a conductor. The interview explores his personal history, compositional techniques, and perspective on the course of contemporary musical history before going on to consider his views on conductor's responsibilities and their role in contemporary music.
Diatom communities differ among Antarctic moss and lichen vegetation types
Authors: Bishop Jordan M. , Wasley Jane , Waterman Melinda J. , Kohler Tyler J. , Van de Vijver Bart , Robinson Sharon A. , Kopalová Kateřina
Published: December 2020

Continental Antarctica is a polar desert containing sparse pockets of vegetation within ice-free areas. Despite the recognized association between lichens, mosses and epiphytic diatoms, the environmental factors controlling diatom community structure are poorly understood. We investigated the association between diatom communities and host vegetation characteristics by experimentally adding nutrients and/or water to two bryophyte (healthy and moribund) and two lichen (crustose andUsnea) vegetation types in the Windmill Islands. Diatom communities were morphologically characterized, diversity indices calculated and differences between treatments, vegetation type and vegetation characteristics tested. We identified 49 diatom taxa, 8 of which occurred with > 1% relative abundance. Bryophyte and lichen vegetation harboured significantly different diatom communities, both in composition and diversity indices. Specifically,Luticola muticopsiswas more prevalent in moribund bryophytes and crustose lichens, andUsnealichens showed lower species richness than other types. While nutrient and water additions did not significantly alter diatom communities, diversity indices and some species showed relationships with vegetation physiological characteristics, notably %N and δ13C, suggesting the importance of ambient gradients in water and nutrient availability. Collectively, this work suggests that future conditions favouring the dominance of a particular vegetation type may have a homogenizing effect on the terrestrial diatom communities of East Antarctica.
Vasoactive-ventilation-renal score: a reliable prognostic index for perioperative outcomes following congenital heart surgery in adults
Authors: Torpoco Rivera Diana M. , Garcia Richard U. , Aggarwal Sanjeev
Published: December 2020

Introduction:

The number of adults requiring surgeries for CHD is increasing. We sought to evaluate the utility of the vasoactive-ventilation-renal (VVR) score as a predictor of prolonged length of stay in adults following CHD surgery.

Methods:

This is a retrospective review of 158 adult patients who underwent CHD surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass. VVR score was calculated upon arrival to ICU and every 6 hours for the first 48 hours post-operatively. Our primary outcome was prolonged length of stay defined as hospital length of stay greater than 75th percentile for the cohort (≥8 days).

Results:

The study cohort had a median age of 25.6 years (18–60 years), and 83 (52.5%) were male. The groups with and without prolonged length of stay were comparable in age, gender, race, and surgical severity score. VVR score was significantly higher at all time points in the group with prolonged length of stay. The first post-operative day peak VVR score ≥13 had a sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 75% for predicting prolonged length of stay (p = 0.0001). On regression analysis, peak VVR score during the first day was independently associated with prolonged length of stay.

Conclusions:

Peak VVR score during the first post-operative day was a strong predictor of prolonged length of stay in adults following CHD surgery.
Retrenched, Reconfigured and Broken: The British Welfare State after a Decade of Austerity
Authors: Farnsworth Kevin
Published: December 2020

This article is an attempt to take stock and critically reflect on the UK’s decade of austerity and social policy hostility over the past decade. It distinguishes between economic and political austerity and digs deeper into the data on expenditure in order to examine the impact of austerity on British public expenditure and politics. It argues that the decade of austerity was a hostile one for British social policy which not only undermined the financial base of key parts of the welfare state, it reshaped it and redefined its priorities, setting in train a series of subsequent events that would further change, not just British social policies, but British economics, polity and politics. And, as subsequent crises – notably Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic – testify, crisis events tend to be linked, and each one shapes and influences the ability of the state to respond to the next.
Individual and Needs-Based: The Platform-Model for Personnel Allocation in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Authors: Kölch Michael G. , Klein Marianne , Knebusch Veronika , Deister Arno , Heuft Gereon , Sauter Dorothea , Brückner-Bozetti Peter
Published: December 2020

Abstract. Objective: An initiative by scientific societies of psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine, and further associations established the Platform-Model for the development of a needs-based system for adequate personnel allocation in psychiatric inpatient and day clinic units. We present the development of the instrument and a pilot study to identify feasibility and limitations. Methods: The basis of the study was a threefold methodological approach. Paradigmatic case vignettes adequately reflecting symptomatology and circumstances were described and validated, working profiles were generated and validated, and a matrix representing different needs-based dimensions was developed. Through reference date surveys, patients were assigned to needs-based clusters and Psych-PV categories. The required treatment effort under consideration of guidelines or expert consensus was estimated in several rounds of expert panels (Delphi method). Results: The pilot study proves the feasibility of the Platform-Model. Methodological findings as well as limitations of the model were identified in order to further develop the Platform-Model. Conclusions: The Platform-Model cannot serve as a tool to describe clinical pathways, but it appears to be an adequate and practical tool for assessment of the required staffing level based on patient needs independent of diagnosis and setting.
A New Approach to Characterizing Space Plasmas
Authors: Rehnberg Morgan
Published: December 2020

When plasma particle velocity distributions have multiple, distinct parts, treating each as a separate beam may yield more intuitive results.
Estimating Maximum Extent of Auroral Equatorward Boundary Using Historical and Simulated Surface Magnetic Field Data
Authors: Blake Seán P. , Pulkkinen Antti , Schuck Peter W. , Glocer Alex , Tóth Gabor
Published: December 2020

The equatorward extent of the auroral oval, the region which separates the open‐field polar cap regions with the closed field subauroral regions, is an important factor to take into account when assessing the risk posed by space weather to ground infrastructure. During storms, the auroral oval is known to move equatorward, accompanied by ionospheric current systems and significant magnetic field variations. Here we outline a simple algorithm which can be used to estimate the maximum extent of the auroral equatorward boundary (MEAEB) using magnetic field data from ground‐based observatories. We apply this algorithm to three decades of INTERMAGNET data, and show how the auroral oval in the Northern hemisphere moves South with larger (more negative Dst) storms. We simulate a number of storms with different magnitudes using the Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF), and apply the same auroral boundary detection algorithm. For SWMF simulated storms with Dst > −600nT, the estimates of the MEAEB are broadly in line with the same estimates for historical events. For the extreme scaled storms (with Dst < −1,000 nT), there is considerable scatter in the estimated location of the auroral equatorward boundary. Our largest storm simulation was calculated using Carrington‐like estimates for the solar wind conditions. This resulted in a minimum Dst = −1,142 nT, and a minimum estimated auroral boundary of 35.5° MLAT in places.
LogSum + L2 penalized logistic regression model for biomarker selection and cancer classification
Authors: Liu Xiao-Ying , Wu Sheng-Bing , Zeng Wen-Quan , Yuan Zhan-Jiang , Xu Hong-Bo
Published: December 2020

Biomarker selection and cancer classification play an important role in knowledge discovery using genomic data. Successful identification of gene biomarkers and biological pathways can significantly improve the accuracy of diagnosis and help machine learning models have better performance on classification of different types of cancer. In this paper, we proposed aLogSum + L2penalized logistic regression model, and furthermore used a coordinate decent algorithm to solve it. The results of simulations and real experiments indicate that the proposed method is highly competitive among several state-of-the-art methods. Our proposed model achieves the excellent performance in group feature selection and classification problems.
The impact of low advanced glycation end products diet on obesity and related hormones: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sohouli Mohammad Hassan , Sharifi-Zahabi Elham , Lari Abolfazl , Fatahi Somaye , Shidfar Farzad
Published: December 2020

Several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have investigated the effect of dietary advanced glycation end products (AGE) on obesity factors and related hormones in adults; results were conflicting. Therefore, a study was performed to assess the effect of low advanced glycation end products diet on obesity and related hormones. A comprehensive literature search without any limitation on language was conducted using the following bibliographical databases: Web of Science, Scopus, Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Embase up to October, 2019. From the eligible trials, 13 articles were selected for the systematic review and meta-analysis. Our systematic reviews and meta-analyses have shown a significant decrease in BMI (WMD: − 0.3 kg/m2; 95% CI: − 0.52, − 0.09, p = 0.005; I2 = 55.8%), weight (WMD: − 0.83 kg; 95% CI: − 1.55, − 0.10, p = 0.026; I2 = 67.0%), and leptin (WMD: − 19.85 ng/ml; 95% CI: − 29.88, − 9.82, p < 0.001; I2 = 81.8%) and an increase in adiponectin (WMD: 5.50 µg/ml; 95% CI: 1.33, 9.67, p = 0.010; I2 = 90.6%) levels after consumption of the low AGE diets compared to the high AGE diets. Also, the effect of intake of low AGE compared to high AGE diets was more pronounced in subgroup with duration > 8 weeks for the BMI and weight. Overall, according to our results, although low AGE diets appeared to be statistically significant in reducing the prevalence of obesity and chronic diseases compared to high consumption of dietary AGEs. But, no clinical significance was observed. Therefore, to confirm these results clinically, further prospective studies should be conducted in this regard. The study protocol was registered in the in International prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) database as CRD42020203734.
Surpassing the classical limit in magic square game with distant quantum dots coupled to optical cavities
Authors: Bugu Sinan , Ozaydin Fatih , Kodera Tetsuo
Published: December 2020

The emergence of quantum technologies is heating up the debate on quantum supremacy, usually focusing on the feasibility of looking good on paper algorithms in realistic settings, due to the vulnerability of quantum systems to myriad sources of noise. In this vein, an interesting example of quantum pseudo-telepathy games that quantum mechanical resources can theoretically outperform classical resources is the Magic Square game (MSG), in which two players play against a referee. Due to noise, however, the unit winning probability of the players can drop well below the classical limit. Here, we propose a timely and unprecedented experimental setup for quantum computation with quantum dots inside optical cavities, along with ancillary photons for realizing interactions between distant dots to implement the MSG. Considering various physical imperfections of our setup, we first show that the MSG can be implemented with the current technology, outperforming the classical resources under realistic conditions. Next, we show that our work gives rise to a new version of the game. That is, if the referee has information on the physical realization and strategy of the players, he can bias the game through filtered randomness, and increase his winning probability. We believe our work contributes to not only quantum game theory, but also quantum computing with quantum dots.
Copper-catalyzed radical cascade cyclization for synthesis of CF3-containing tetracyclic benzimidazo[2,1-a]iso-quinolin-6(5H)-ones
Authors: Sun Kai , Li Guofeng , Guo Sa , Zhang Zhiguo , Zhang Guisheng
Published: December 2020

A practical copper-catalyzed radical cascade carbocyclization reaction was developed for the preparation of a variety of structurally diverse CF3-containing tetracyclic core benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinoline-6(5H)-ones.
Consolidation of strong colloidal gels under arbitrary compressive loadings
Authors: Islam Mohammad Manjiul , Lester Daniel Robert
Published: December 2020

Visualization of the particulate network (left) and force chains (right) at various solids concentrations during biaxial consolidation.
A high-performance and portable asymptotic preserving radiation hydrodynamics code with the M1 model
Authors: Bloch H. , Tremblin P. , González M. , Padioleau T. , Audit E.
Published: December 2020

Aims. We present a new radiation hydrodynamics code called ARK-RT which uses a two-moment model with the M1 closure relation for radiative transfer. This code was designed to be ready for high-performance computing on exascale architectures.

Methods. The two-moment model is solved using a finite-volume scheme. The scheme is designed to be asymptotic preserving in order to accurately capture both optically thick and thin regimes. We also propose a well-balanced discretization of the radiative flux source term which allows users to capture constant flux steady states with discontinuities in opacity. We use the library Trilinos for linear algebra and the package Kokkos allows us to reach high-performance computing and portability across different architectures, such as multi-core, many-core, and GP-GPU.

Results. ARK-RT is able to reproduce standard tests in both free-streaming and diffusive limits, including purely radiative tests and radiation hydrodynamics ones. Using a time-implicit solver is profitable as soon as the time-step given by the hydrodynamics is between 50 and 100 times larger than the explicit time-step for radiative transfer, depending on the preconditioner and the architecture. Nevertheless, more work is needed to ensure stability in all circumstances. Using ARK-RT, we study the propagation of an ionization front in convective dense cores. We show that the ionization front is strongly stable against perturbations even with destabilizing convective motions. As a result, the presence of instabilities should be interpreted with caution. Overall, ARK-RT is well-suited to studying many astrophysical problems involving convection and radiative transfer such as the dynamics of H II regions in massive pre-stellar dense cores and future applications could include planetary atmospheres.
In situ lunar phase curves measured by Chang’E-4 in the Von Kármán Crater, South Pole-Aitken basin
Authors: Jiang Te , Hu Xiaoyi , Zhang Hao , Ma Pei , Li Chunlai , Ren Xin , Liu Bin , Liu Dawei , Yang Jianfeng , Xue Bin , Jin Weidong , Zhu Meng-Hua , Huang Changning , Lin Hongyu
Published: December 2020

Context.The Yutu-2 rover of the Chang’E-4 (CE-4) mission measured the lunar phase curves in the Von Kármán crater, South Pole-Aitken basin.

Aims.We aim to study the photometric properties of the regolith at CE-4’s landing site and compare them with those of Chang’E-3 (CE-3) in order to understand the regolith physical properties of the two landing sites.

Methods.We extracted theinsitulunar phase curves measured by CE-4 with a very wide phase angle coverage (1°–144°) and performed photometric model inversions using both the Hapke model and the Lumme-Bowell model.

Results.Compared with the CE-3 measurement taken in Mare Imbrium, the CE-4 phase curves show the colorimetric opposition effect and have a steeper and narrower opposition spike. The surface regolith at the CE-4 site is much darker, more porous, more forward scattering, and has a larger slope angle (Hapke model) than that of CE-3.

Conclusions.The CE-4 site may have experienced more space weathering alterations than the CE-3 site, which is consistent with their different surface model ages (~3.6 Ga for CE-4 and ~3 Ga for CE-3).
UV absorption lines and their potential for tracing the Lyman continuum escape fraction
Authors: Mauerhofer V. , Verhamme A. , Blaizot J. , Garel T. , Kimm T. , Michel-Dansac L. , Rosdahl J.
Published: December 2020

Context.The neutral intergalactic medium above redshift ∼6 is opaque to ionizing radiation, and therefore indirect measurements of the escape fraction of ionizing photons are required from galaxies of this epoch. Low-ionization-state absorption lines are a common feature in the rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) spectrum of galaxies, showing a broad diversity of strengths and shapes. As these spectral features indicate the presence of neutral gas in front of UV-luminous stars, they have been proposed to carry information on the escape of ionizing radiation from galaxies.

Aims.We aim to decipher the processes that are responsible for the shape of the absorption lines in order to better understand their origin. We also aim to explore whether the absorption lines can be used to predict the escape fraction of ionizing photons.

Methods.Using a radiation-hydrodynamical cosmological zoom-in simulation and the radiative transfer postprocessing codeRASCASwe generated mock C IIλ1334 and Lyβlines of a virtual galaxy atz = 3 withM1500 = −18.5 as seen from many directions of observation. We also computed the escape fraction of ionizing photons in those directions and looked for correlations between the escape fraction and properties of the absorption lines, in particular their residual flux.

Results.We find that the resulting mock absorption lines are comparable to observations and that the lines and the escape fractions vary strongly depending on the direction of observation. The effect of infilling due to the scattering of the photons and the use of different apertures of observation both result in either strong or very mild changes of the absorption profile. Gas velocity and dust always affect the absorption profile significantly. We find no strong correlations between observable Lyβor C IIλ1334 properties and the escape fraction. After correcting the continuum for attenuation by dust to recover the intrinsic continuum, the residual flux of the C IIλ1334 line correlates well with the escape fraction for directions with a dust-corrected residual flux larger than 30%. For other directions, the relations have a strong dispersion, and the residual flux overestimates the escape fraction for most cases. Concerning Lyβ, the residual flux after dust correction does not correlate with the escape fraction but can be used as a lower limit.
ALMA chemical survey of disk-outflow sources in Taurus (ALMA-DOT)
Authors: Garufi A. , Podio L. , Codella C. , Fedele D. , Bianchi E. , Favre C. , Bacciotti F. , Ceccarelli C. , Mercimek S. , Rygl K. , Teague R. , Testi L.
Published: December 2020

We present an overview of the ALMA chemical survey of disk-outflow sources in Taurus (ALMA-DOT), a campaign devoted to the characterization of the molecular emission from partly embedded young stars. The project is aimed at attaining a better understanding of the gaseous products delivered to planets by means of high-resolution maps of the assorted lines probing disks at the time of planet formation (≲1 Myr). Nine different molecules are surveyed through our observations of six Class I/flat-spectrum sources. As part of a series of articles analyzing specific targets and molecules, in this work we describe the sample and provide a general overview of the results, focusing specifically on the spatial distribution, column densities, and abundance ratios of H2CO, CS, and CN. In these embedded sources, the 12CO emission is dominated by envelope and outflow emission while the CS and, especially, the H2CO are good tracers of the gaseous disk structure. The spatial distribution and brightness of the o-H2CO 31,2−21,1 and CS 5−4 lines are very similar to each other and across all targets. The CN 2−1 line emission is fainter and distributed over radii larger than the dust continuum. The H2CO and CS emission is always dimmed in the inner ~50 au. While the suppression by the dusty disk and absorption by the line-of-sight material significantly contributes to this inner depression, an actual decrease in the column density is plausible in most cases, making the observed ring-like morphology realistic. We also found that the gaseous disk extent, when traced by H2CO (150−390 au), is always 60% larger than the dust disk. This systematic discrepancy may, in principle, be explained by the different optical depth of continuum and line emission without invoking any dust radial drift. Finally, the o-H2CS 71,6−61,5 and CH3OH 50,5−40,4 line emission are detected in two disks and one disk, respectively, while the HDO is never detected. The H2CO column densities are 12−50 times larger than those inferred for Class II sources while they are in line with those of other Class 0/I. The CS column densities are lower than those of H2CO, which is an opposite trend with regard to Class II objects. We also inferred abundance ratios between the various molecular species finding, among others, a H2CS/H2CO ratio that is systematically lower than unity (0.4−0.7 in HL Tau, 0.1 − 0.2 in IRAS 04302+2247, and <0.4 in all other sources), as well as a CH3OH/H2CO ratio (<0.7 in HL Tau and 0.5−0.7 in IRAS 04302+2247) that is lower than the only available estimate in a protoplanetary disks (1.3 in TW Hya) and between one and two orders of magnitude lower than those of the hot corinos around Class 0 protostars. These results are a first step toward the characterization of the disk’s chemical evolution, which ought to be complemented by subsequent observations of less exceptional disks and customized thermo-chemical modeling.
A minimizing Movement approach to a class of scalar reaction–diffusion equations
Authors: Fleißner Florentine Catharina
Published: December 2020

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a Minimizing Movement approach to scalar reaction–diffusion equations of the form

[see formula in PDF]

with parameters Λ, Σ > 0 and no-flux boundary condition

[see formula in PDF]

which is built on their gradient-flow-like structure in the space [see formula in PDF] of finite nonnegative Radon measures on [see formula in PDF], endowed with the recently introduced Hellinger-Kantorovich distance HKΛ,Σ. It is proved that, under natural general assumptions on [see formula in PDF] and [see formula in PDF], the Minimizing Movement scheme

[see formula in PDF]

for

[see formula in PDF]

yields weak solutions to the above equation as the discrete time step size τ ↓ 0. Moreover, a superdifferentiability property of the Hellinger-Kantorovich distance HKΛ,Σ, which will play an important role in this context, is established in the general setting of a separable Hilbert space; that result will constitute a starting point for the study of the differentiability of HKΛ,Σ along absolutely continuous curves which will be carried out in a subsequent paper.
Evaluation of the efficiency of the vertical acoustic shield to protect the environment from noise
Authors: Lugovaya Elizaveta , Garnizonov Dmitrii , Kaverzneva Tatiana , Tatiana Shemiakina
Published: December 2020

This study analyzes the noise protection properties of the vertical acoustic shield in order to obtain comparative data on its efficiency. This is essential for reduction of the negative impact of traffic noise on the population, the environment and economic facilities, including energy facilities.
Tendencies of using and quality improving products made of fibrous metal composites for structural elements of power engineering under environmental conditions
Authors: Oleshko Alexey
Published: December 2020

This paper discusses the relevance of a composite material based on a titanium alloy reinforced with fibers of silicon carbide. The development trends are given for the production of Ti-SiC composite material both abroad and in Russia. Ways to improve the quality of manufactured products from Ti-SiC in the development of heat-stressed parts made of fiber-reinforced metal composites for power engineering in terms of the environment are defined in this paper.
Inverse mechano-electrical reconstruction of cardiac excitation wave patterns from mechanical deformation using deep learning
Authors: Christoph Jan , Lebert Jan
Published: December 2020

The inverse mechano-electrical problem in cardiac electrophysiology is the attempt to reconstruct electrical excitation or action potential wave patterns from the heart’s mechanical deformation that occurs in response to electrical excitation. Because heart muscle cells contract upon electrical excitation due to the excitation–contraction coupling mechanism, the resulting deformation of the heart should reflect macroscopic action potential wave phenomena. However, whether the relationship between macroscopic electrical and mechanical phenomena is well-defined and unique enough to be utilized for an inverse imaging technique in which mechanical activation mapping is used as a surrogate for electrical mapping has yet to be determined. Here, we provide a numerical proof-of-principle that deep learning can be used to solve the inverse mechano-electrical problem in phenomenological two- and three-dimensional computer simulations of the contracting heart wall, or in elastic excitable media, with muscle fiber anisotropy. We trained a convolutional autoencoder neural network to learn the complex relationship between electrical excitation, active stress, and tissue deformation during both focal or reentrant chaotic wave activity and, consequently, used the network to successfully estimate or reconstruct electrical excitation wave patterns from mechanical deformation in sheets and bulk-shaped tissues, even in the presence of noise and at low spatial resolutions. We demonstrate that even complicated three-dimensional electrical excitation wave phenomena, such as scroll waves and their vortex filaments, can be computed with very high reconstruction accuracies of about 95% from mechanical deformation using autoencoder neural networks, and we provide a comparison with results that were obtained previously with a physics- or knowledge-based approach.
Eigenmode analysis of the sheared-flow Z-pinch
Authors: Angus J. R. , Van De Wetering J. J. , Dorf M. , Geyko V. I.
Published: December 2020

Experiments have demonstrated that a Z-pinch can persist for thousands of times longer than the growth time of global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) instabilities such as the m=0 sausage and m=1 kink modes. These modes have growth times on the order of ta=a/vi, where vi is the ion thermal speed and a is the pinch radius. Axial flows with duz/dr ≲ vi/a have been measured during the stable period, and the commonly accepted theory is that this amount of shear is sufficient to stabilize these modes as predicted by numerical studies using the ideal MHD equations. However, these studies only consider specific equilibrium profiles that typically have a modest magnitude for the logarithmic pressure gradient, qP≡d ln P/d ln r, and may not represent experimental conditions. Linear stability of the sheared-flow Z-pinch is studied here via a direct eigen-decomposition of the matrix operator obtained from the linear ideal MHD equations. Several equilibrium profiles with a large variation of qP are examined. Considering a practical range of k, 1/3 ≲ ka ≲ 10, it is shown that the shear required to stabilize m=0 modes can be expressed as duz/dr≥Cγ0/(ka)α. Here, γ0=γ0(ka) is the profile-specific growth rate in the absence of shear, which scales approximately with |qP|. Both C and α are profile-specific constants, but C is order unity and α≈1. It is further demonstrated that even a large value of shear, duz/dr=3vi/a, is not sufficient to provide linear stabilization of the m=1 kink mode for all profiles considered. This result is in contrast to the currently accepted theory predicting stabilization at much lower shear, duz/dr=0.1vi/a, and suggests that the experimentally observed stability cannot be explained within the linear ideal-MHD model.
Evolution of the second mode in a hypersonic boundary layer
Authors: Zhang Chuanhong
Published: December 2020

The temporal and spatial evolution of the second-mode instabilities at the final stage of transition in a hypersonic boundary layer is investigated. Experiments are conducted on a flared cone in a Mach 6 wind tunnel using time-resolved Rayleigh-scattering flow visualization, fast-response pressure sensors. The second mode lifts up away from the wall and evolves into a hairpin-shaped vortex at the final stage of transition, which can also be indicated by a rapid broadening of the disturbance amplitude spectra. Then, these hairpin vortices deform, mutually interact, and break down to smaller scales rapidly as the flow starts to become turbulent.
Possible Predation on Feathertail Gliders (Acrobates pygmaeus) by Agile Antechinus (Antechinus agilis).
Authors: Ward S.J.
Published: December 2020

A series of observations of the remains of partially eaten feathertail gliders Acrobates pygmaeus and three other small forest vertebrates is reported. All were made while checking nest-boxes erected for an ecological study of A. pygmaeus, and each nest-box had a restricted entrance hole. The delicacy with which some of these animals had been killed and eaten and the small size of the entrances to the nest-boxes indicated a small- sized predator was responsible, and the most likely species in the area is the agile antechinus Antechinus agilis. These small dasyurid marsupials were also captured from the nest-boxes on several occasions. Based on faecal analysis, they had previously been considered almost totally insectivorous.
Surveys of Arboreal and Terrestrial Mammals in The Montane Forests of Queanbeyan, New South Wales.
Authors: Goldingay R. , Daly G.
Published: December 2020

Surveys of arboreal and terrestrial mammals were conducted across four State Forests in south-east New South Wales encompassing 80 000 ha. Methods used included spotlighting, Elliott trapping, pitfall trapping, hair-tubing and predator scat analysis. The survey included a plot-based approach and the targeting of areas containing the potential habitat of endangered species. Seven species of arboreal marsupial were detected during spotlighting. The greater glider (Petauroides volans) was significantly more abundant in moist forest compared to dry forest. Its density in moist forest was twice as high in unlogged compared to logged forest and is equivalent to the highest recorded in any forest in NSW. Other arboreal species were less abundant. The yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis), which is Threatened in NSW, was detected at only two sites despite the occurrence of suitable habitat throughout the study area. Eight species of native terrestrial mammals were detected. The tiger quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), which is Threatened in NSW, appears to be more common in the southern part of the study area adjoining large areas of National Park, than in other State Forests of south-east NSW. Continued analysis of predator scats is required to determine whether several other species of Threatened terrestrial mammal occur in these forests.
An Assessment of Stream Flow Modelling Combined with The Montana Method as a Basis for Developing Optimal Environmental Flows Below a Proposed Dam.
Authors: Goldney D , Gilbert L.
Published: December 2020

Little research has been carried out in Australia to determine the riparian and environmental flows needed to maintain riverine ecosystem integrity. Given the range of organisms present in the Australian freshwater biota, each with its own optimal requirements, it is probable that management flow conditions arrived at from species-specific studies, may not necessarily benefit all organisms. We also have inadequate understanding of how freshwater organisms interact with dynamic changes that occur in river systems (drought and flood), and the generally degraded nature of these streams. Hence formulating management outcomes in regard to flow conditions must be viewed as a particularly complex issue. In this paper a case history study is described for a tableland stream in the central west of New South Wales, where a major dam is being built on a first order stream. Comparisons are made with three other creek/river systems in the central tablelands and some implications for platypus conservation are identified.
The Evolutionary History and Diversity of Australian Mammals
Authors: Archer M. , Arena R. , Bassarova M. , Black K. , Brammall J. , Cooke B. , Creaser P. , Crosby K. , Gillespie A. , Godthelp H. , Gott M. , Kear B. , Krikman A. , Mackness B. , Muirhead J. , Musser A. , Myers T. , Pledge N. , Wroe S.
Published: December 2020

Palaeodiversity and relationships of all groups of Australian mammals are reviewed. The fossil record spanning this time is of variable quality. 'Dark Ages' about which nothing is known in terms of Australian mammal evolution include the late Triassic to late Jurassic, late Cretaceous to late Paleocene and middle Eocene to middle Oligocene. Very little is known about the early Cretaceous and late Miocene. The late Oligocene to middle Miocene record documents the highest levels of biodiversity known for the continent, comparable to that which characterises the lowland rainforests of Borneo and Brazil. Order Monotremata spans at least the last 110 million years and includes four families. The enigmatic Ausktribosphenos from 115 million-year-old sediments in Victoria may represent an archaic monotreme, specialised peramurid or previously undocumented order of mammals but is unlikely to represent a placental as suggested in the initial description. Order Microbiotheria is represented in the early Eocene (~55 mya) by two genera similar in morphology to early Eocene taxa from Argentina. Order Peramelemorphia spans the early Eocene to Holocene and includes at least five families. Order Dasyuromorphia spans at least the late Oligocene to Holocene and includes at least three families. Other dasyuromorphian-like marsupials are indeterminate in terms of family-level affinities. Order Notoryctemorphia spans the early Miocene to Holocene with one family. Order Yalkaparidontia spans the late Oligocene to middle Miocene with one genus. Order Diprotodontia spans the late Oligocene to Holocene, represented throughout by three major groups: Phalangerida (eight families), Vombatomorphia (seven families) and Macropodoidea (at least three families). A possible placental condylarth (Tingamarra) has been recorded from the early Eocene. An archaeonycteridid bat (Australonycteris) is known from the early Eocene. Among bats, the late Oligocene to middle Miocene is dominated by rhinolophoids, many of which have European, Asian and African affinities. Mystacinids, megadermatids, hipposiderids and molossids are well-represented in the Oligocene to Miocene deposits. Vespertilionids are uncommon in the Oligocene to Miocene but become more diverse in the Pliocene to Holocene. Emballonurids and rhinolophids appear for the first time in the Plio-Pleistocene. Pteropodids are unknown prior to the Holocene. Murids span the early Pliocene to Holocene. In the oldest assemblage at Riversleigh, one undescribed lineage resembles archaic forms otherwise only known from the fossil records of Africa and Eurasia.
Harem Structure and Reproductive Behaviour of Pteropus tonganus In American Samoa.
Authors: Grant G.S. , Banack S.A.
Published: December 2020

We studied the reproductive biology of Pteropus tonganus on Tutuila, American Samoa from 1992 to 1994. Pteropus tonganus typically roosts in colonies consisting of harem groups averaging 5.3 females per male and peripheral single males and groups of males. The mating system appeared to have elements of both female defense polygyny and resource defense polygyny. The reproductive status of females within harems varied throughout the year so that some females appeared non-pregnant while others were pregnant or nursed large young (up to about 3/4 the length of the female). Post-partum mating was frequent, especially with females that had small dependent young. Mating, pregnancy, birthing, and young of all sizes occurred year-round. However, some evidence of bimodal peaks occurred during January and June- August.
Observations of the Gross and Microscopic Anatomy of the Gastrointestinal Tracts of the Heath Mouse Pseudomys shortridgei and the Swamp Rat Rattus lutreolus (Rodentia: Muridae).
Authors: Meulman E.P. , Klomp N.l. , Samuel J.L.
Published: December 2020

Gastrointestinal tracts of the Heath Mouse Pseudomys shortridgei and the Swamp Rat Rattus lutreolus were examined. Each species had a relatively simple stomach divided into non-glandular and glandular areas, a well-developed caecum, and long mucosal folds within the proximal colon. The observed gut anatomy of both species is consistent with possible adaptation to hindgut fermentation.
Current Research On The Platypus, Ornithorhynchus
anatinus In Tasmania: Abstracts From The 1999 'Tasmanian
Platypus Workshop'.
Authors: Munks S. , Nicol N.
Published: December 2020

The platypus is found in a high proportion of the river catchments in Tasmania including King and Bruny Island and possibly Three Hummock Island (Rounsevell et al., 1991, Grant, 1992, Hird and Paterson, 1995, Connolly and Obendorf, 1998). It is found in a wide variety of habitats, including urban streams, farm dams, cave systems, estuaries, pristine rivers and alpine lakes (references in Connolly and Obendorf, 1998). However, despite its widespread occurrence, and apparent differences from its mainland relatives, until recently little detailed research had been carried out on the species in this state. In order to review and discuss the preliminary results of the upsurge in research into platypus in the last six years and to identify management issues and priorities for further work a one day 'Tasmanian Platypus Workshop' was held at the University of Tasmania in May 1999. The workshop aimed to improve co-ordination between researchers studying platypus, to ensure greater opportunities for efficiencies in research which would in turn minimise the impacts of research on platypus populations. These proceedings contain the abstracts of the talks presented at the meeting and the outcomes of the subsequent discussion.
Obituary: Meredith Joan Smith (Nee Clark)
Authors: Barker S.
Published: December 2020

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Physical mechanisms of amyloid nucleation on fluid membranes
Authors: Krausser Johannes , Knowles Tuomas P. J. , Šarić Anđela
Published: December 2020

Significance

Cellular membranes are believed to play a central role in the formation of amyloid aggregates implicated in pathologies like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Indeed, lipid membranes can significantly accelerate amyloid aggregation through a process that depends on the membrane-phase behavior, the molecular mechanisms of which are still unclear. We developed a coarse-grained computer model to explore pathways of amyloid aggregation on cell membranes. We found that increase in membrane fluidity drastically enhances the rate of aggregation by enabling lipid incorporation into the fibril structure. We show that, in this way, lipids substantially lower the free-energy barrier for fibril formation. We directly compare our results to experimental data and offer mechanistic explanation for the membrane-assisted amyloid nucleation.
A non-diagonalizable pure state
Authors: Koszmider Piotr
Published: December 2020

Significance

The paper provides a new construction of a pure state on the algebra of all bounded linear operators on the infinite-dimensional Hilbert space. Such pure states correspond to physical pure states of quantum systems with infinitely many degrees of freedom. The special property of the state is that it cannot be reduced to a pure state on any of the algebras of all diagonal operators with respect to some orthonormal basis (cannot be diagonalized). This solves in the negative a 40-y-old conjecture of J. Anderson without any extra set-theoretic hypothesis, unlike the previous results of this type.