bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computational and experimental designing of imprinted sorbent for the determination of nitroxidative stress products: an analysis of 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid conversion
Authors: Janczura Marta , Sobiech Monika , Giebułtowicz Joanna , Luliński Piotr
Published: February 2021

It this paper, the comprehensive design process was carried out to fabricate selective, molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). The material was used as a sorbent in the optimized analytical method, aimed at verifying the hypothesis that the conditions of an analytical process could convert 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid to 4-hydro-3-nitrophenylacetic acid, comprising a series of novel studies. The design stage consisted of the analysis of specificity of the MIP, synthesized from the cross-linker and used five various functional monomers independently, in the presence of four different templates. The MIP from 1-vinylimidazole, imprinted by 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, revealed the highest specificity in relation to 4-hydro-3-nitrophenylacetic acid, with an affinity factor equal to 3, and the highest selectivity from a group of structurally similar and biologically important biomolecules. The theoretical analysis revealed that electrostatic interaction between the analyte and the polymer matrix enhanced selectivity. The physicochemical characterization showed the specific surface area of the MIP as being equal to 368.6 m2 g−1, and the presence of nitrogen atoms at the level of 6.80% wt., confirming the monomer residue in the material structure. The MIP was applied in the solid phase extraction protocol, allowing for the analysis of 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenylacetic acid in a human urine sample. Finally, the conversion of 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid in human urine in nitrate and nitrite salts at low pH conditions revealed an almost twofold increase in 4-hydro-3-nitrophenylacetic acid to 775 ± 81 ng L−1. The results also confirmed the applicability of the new MIP sorbent for the purpose of analysis of low levels of analyte, present in the complex sample.
Uncovering today’s rationalistic attunement
Authors: Schuetze Paul , von Maur Imke
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we explore a rationalistic orientation in Western society. We suggest that this orientation is one of the predominant ways in which Western society tends to frame, understand and deal with a majority of problems and questions – namely in terms of mathematical analysis, calculation and quantification, relying on logic, numbers, and statistics. Our main goal in this paper is to uncover the affective structure of this rationalistic orientation. In doing so, we illustrate how this orientation structures the way not only individuals but society as a whole frames and solves problems. We firstly point towards some exemplary instances of the rationalistic orientation, specifically regarding science, society, and lifeworld practice. Crucially, we argue that the rationalistic orientation is not merely based on a set of beliefs we could easily correct; but rather, that it is an affective condition tacitly shaping our engagement with the world in an encompassing way. Relating to the work of Martin Heidegger, we argue that what we have called an orientation in the beginning is in fact a rationalistic attunement. This attunement fundamentally shapes the pre-reflective level of how individuals approach the world. We elaborate this claim by showing how the rationalistic attunement concretely manifests in tangible socio-material affect dynamics. In the end, we motivate a critical stance towards this attunement, providing the ability to reflect upon and question instances where this way of framing and solving problems is counterproductive.
Use of the Long-Term Conditions Questionnaire (LTCQ) for monitoring health-related quality of life in people affected by cognitive impairment including dementia: pilot study in UK memory clinic services
Authors: Potter Caroline M. , Peters Michele , Cundell Maureen , McShane Rupert , Fitzpatrick Ray
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The aim of this study was to validate the Long-Term Conditions Questionnaire (LTCQ) among patients using memory clinic services in England. LTCQ is a short self-administered measure of ‘living well with long-term conditions’ that has not been previously tested in patients with cognitive impairment.

Methods

The mixed-methods study included cognitive interviews to test the comprehensibility and content validity of LTCQ from the patient’s perspective, followed by a pilot survey to test the measure’s internal consistency, construct validity, structural validity, and responsiveness. Participants were recruited through memory clinics following a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

Results

Interview respondents (n = 12) all found LTCQ’s content relevant, with only minor formatting modifications required. Among survey respondents (n = 105), most patients (86%) were able to self-report answers to LTCQ. High multimorbidity among the sample was associated with reduced LTCQ and EQ-5D scores. Internal consistency of LTCQ was high (Cronbach’s α = 0.93), no floor or ceiling effects were observed, and missing data levels were low. Factor analysis results further supported LTCQ’s structural validity, and predicted positive correlation with EQ-5D indicated construct validity. Score changes observed in a four-month follow-up survey (n = 61) are suggestive of LTCQ’s responsiveness.

Conclusion

LTCQ is a valid means of assessing health-related quality of life for people living with cognitive impairment (including dementia) in the early period of support following diagnosis. Owing to high levels of multimorbidity in this patient population, LTCQ offers an advantage over dementia-specific measures in capturing the cumulative impact of all LTCs experienced by the patient.
The longitudinal relationship between early inhibitory control skills and emergent literacy in preschool children
Authors: Gandolfi Elena , Traverso Laura , Zanobini Mirella , Usai Maria Carmen , Viterbori Paola
Published: February 2021

This study analyses the longitudinal relationship between early inhibitory control skills and subsequent emergent literacy. At Time 1, a sample of 50 typically monolingual Italian toddlers aged 28 to 36 months in their last year of day-care was assessed on expressive vocabulary and two inhibitory control measures, tapping specifically response inhibition and interference suppression. At Time 2, during the preschool years, children aged 49 to 72 months were re-assessed on a battery of emergent literacy tasks including three phonological awareness tasks and an orthographic knowledge task. The results of the hierarchical linear regression analyses suggest that interference suppression evaluated at Time 1 is a key process in the acquisition and construction of both phonological awareness and early orthographic knowledge, even when children’s early expressive vocabulary was included in the analyses. Unlike previous studies, the present study included very young children, thus allowing us to explore the developmental antecedents of two important precursors of reading and writing abilities.
Exploring the Discursive Construction of Obedience: An Analysis of Application Letters for the Position of Executioner in Hitler’s Germany
Authors: Leisser Daniel , Bray Katie , Hernández Anaruth , Nasr Doha
Published: February 2021

This article presents an empirical investigation into the construction of obedience in letters of applications mailed to National Socialist authorities for the position of executioner between the years 1933 and 1945. To this end, a corpus of 178 letters of application was compiled, annotated, and analyzed using the corpus analysis toolkits Antconc and Lancsbox. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of the corpus was conducted. The findings were related to and interpreted from the perspectives of applied legal linguistics, stylistics, and legal history. The project aims to explore the construction of a shared discourse of obedience and how this discourse is operative in the letters of application. Drawing on an explorative interdisciplinary framework, this project seeks to answer the following research questions: Is obedience a construct in applicants’ letters of motivation? Which linguistic devices and discursive strategies are used by the executioners to express submission to officials of the National Socialist state? Are there variants of the construction of submission by applicants?
The Concept of “Person” in the Italian Legislation on Informed Consent and Advance Healthcare Directives
Authors: Cresti Matteo
Published: February 2021

The aim of the paper is that of investigating the concept of “person” in the context of Italian law on informed consent and advance healthcare directives (law n. 219/2017). The following paper will first consider the importance of the concept of “person” within bioethics; secondly it will exhibit how there are different levels of bioethics, and that on the discussion level of laws and regulations, concepts worthy of metaphysical and value references cannot be used, because they must be shared by everyone in a pluralistic society. I’ll then move on to discuss the law on informed consent and advance healthcare directives; first I’ll discuss the references to the Italian Constitution, showing that the implied concept of “person” is closely linked to the concepts of “equality” and “autonomy”, and finally I’ll discuss the particular case of minors and the protection that the law provides them.
Structure Sensitivity and Hydration Effects in Pt/TiO2 and Pt/TiO2–SiO2 Catalysts for NO and Propane Oxidation
Authors: Viéitez-Calo Sara , Morgan David J. , Golunski Stan , Taylor Stuart H. , Twigg Martyn V.
Published: February 2021

The NO and propane oxidation activities of a series of 1%Pt/TiO2–SiO2 catalysts show different underlying trends as the support composition changes. Surface characterisation of the catalysts indicates that the trend for NO conversion is consistent with the oxidation rate being dependent on the degree of metallic character of the Pt nanoparticles, rather than their morphology. Although a similar correlation is expected for the total oxidation of propane, it is masked by the effects of adventitious ions originating during manufacture of the support materials. When residual chloride is present in the support, most of the exposed Pt is stabilised in its low-activity ionic form; while support materials containing W or oxidised-S ions give rise to catalysts with much higher activity than expected from their measured Pt0 content. When a Cl-containing, but SiO2-free, TiO2 support material is pre-treated hydrothermally, the propane-oxidation activity of the resultant Pt/TiO2 catalyst is substantially improved, so that it matches the performance of highly-metallic Pt supported on TiO2 containing 16 wt% SiO2. The hydrothermal pre-treatment removes residual chloride from the support material, but it also leaves the catalyst in a hydrated state. We show that, by controlling the metallic content of Pt nanoparticles, understanding the promoting and inhibiting effects of adventitious ions, and optimising the degree of catalyst hydration, the activity of 1%Pt/TiO2–SiO2 catalysts can be made to exceed that of a benchmark 2%Pt/γ-Al2O3 formulation for both NO and propane oxidation.
Nano-Sensor Modelling for Intra-Body Nano-Networks
Authors: Akkaş Mustafa Alper
Published: February 2021

In this work, the author has evaluated the propagation of electromagnetic waves inside the human tissue such as blood, skin and fat for single-path and multi-path layers according to nano sensor transmit power calculations. In particular, the propagation characteristics of the Intra-Body Nano-Network communication channel are calculated using a theoretical approach. The analysis in this paper provides an evaluation related to the path loss, bit error rate, signal to noise ratio and the channel capacity. The model is evaluated for each single-path effect and multi-path effect. The effects of human tissue for each blood, skin and fat for single-path effect and multi-path are included in the analysis. The model frequency range is chosen from 0.01 to 1.5 THz frequencies, which are ideal for designing nano sensors antennae and using THz range for communication. This paper will also guide other researchers who are working on the electromagnetic radiation performance of Intra-Body Nano-Network and Nano sensors designed at the THz range.
A DNA sensor based on upconversion nanoparticles and two-dimensional dichalcogenide materials
Authors: Alexaki Konstantina , Giust Davide , Kyriazi Maria-Eleni , El-Sagheer Afaf H. , Brown Tom , Muskens Otto L. , Kanaras Antonios G.
Published: February 2021

We demonstrate the fabrication of a new DNA sensor that is based on the optical interactions occurring between oligonucleotide-coated NaYF4:Yb3+;Er3+ upconversion nanoparticles and the two-dimensional dichalcogenide materials, MoS2 and WS2. Monodisperse upconversion nanoparticles were functionalized with single-stranded DNA endowing the nanoparticles with the ability to interact with the surface of the two-dimensional materials via van der Waals interactions leading to subsequent quenching of the upconversion fluorescence. By contrast, in the presence of a complementary oligonucleotide target and the formation of double-stranded DNA, the upconversion nanoparticles could not interact with MoS2 and WS2, thus retaining their inherent fluorescence properties. Utilizing this sensor we were able to detect target oligonucleotides with high sensitivity and specificity whilst reaching a concentration detection limit as low as 5 mol·L−1, within minutes.
Dual inhibition of TGFβ and AXL as a novel therapy for human colorectal adenocarcinoma with mesenchymal phenotype
Authors: Ciardiello Davide , Blauensteiner Bernadette , Matrone Nunzia , Belli Valentina , Mohr Thomas , Vitiello Pietro Paolo , Martini Giulia , Poliero Luca , Cardone Claudia , Napolitano Stefania , De Falco Vincenzo , Giunta Emilio Francesco , Ciaramella Vincenza , Corte Carminia della , Barra Giusi , Selvaggi Francesco , Franco Renato , Marino Federica Zito , Cuomo Antonio , Morgillo Floriana , Troiani Teresa , Sibilia Maria , Ciardiello Fortunato , Martinelli Erika
Published: February 2021

A subset of colorectal cancer (CRC) with a mesenchymal phenotype (CMS4) displays an aggressive disease, with an increased risk of recurrence after surgery, reduced survival, and resistance to standard treatments. It has been shown that the AXL and TGFβ signaling pathways are involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, migration, metastatic spread, and unresponsiveness to targeted therapies. However, the prognostic role of the combination of these biomarkers and the anti-tumor effect of AXL and TGFβ inhibition in CRC still has to be assessed. To evaluate the role of AXL and TGFβ as negative biomarker in CRC, we conducted an in-depth in silico analysis of CRC samples derived from the Gene Expression Omnibus. We found that AXL and TGFβ receptors are upregulated in CMS4 tumors and are correlated with an increased risk of recurrence after surgery in stage II/III CRC and a reduced overall survival. Moreover, we showed that AXL receptor is differently expressed in human CRC cell lines. Dual treatment with the TGFβ galunisertib and the AXL inhibitor, bemcentinib, significantly reduced colony formation and migration capabilities of tumor cells and displayed a strong anti-tumor activity in 3D spheroid cultures derived from patients with advanced CRC. Our work shows that AXL and TGFβ receptors identify a subgroup of CRC with a mesenchymal phenotype and correlate with poor prognosis. Dual inhibition of AXL and TGFβ could represent a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with this aggressive disease.
Erratum to: Principles of carbon nanotube dielectrophoresis
Authors: Li Wenshan , Hennrich Frank , Flavel Benjamin S. , Dehm Simone , Kappes Manfred , Krupke Ralph
Published: February 2021

The original article has been corrected.
Effect of pre-treatment and drying methods on the content of minerals, B-group vitamins and tocopherols in kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) leaves
Authors: Korus Anna
Published: February 2021

Dried vegetables are widely used in food production. Kale leaves, due to their high health-promoting properties, can be a valuable raw material for drying. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of blanching, drying methods (air-drying, freeze-drying), the time and temperature of storage on the content of ash, minerals, vitamins B1, B2, and tocopherols in dried kale products. The dried products were evaluated directly after processing and after 12 months of storage at ambient temperature, 18–20 °C and cold temperature, 8–10 °C. In 100 g dry matter from fresh raw material the dominant minerals were potassium (2613 mg), calcium (1346 mg), phosphorus (432 mg), magnesium (129 mg). Kale leaves had 0.828 mg vitamin B1, 1.533 mg vitamin B2 and 16.55 mg total tocopherols per 100 g of dry matter. Blanching, applied prior to drying, significantly reduced the levels of minerals (3–38%) and vitamins (8–45%), except for calcium, zinc and manganese. This pre-treatment had, however, a beneficial effect, especially on vitamin retention during the storage of dried products. After 12 month storage, the losses of vitamin B1, B2 and total tocopherols in dried, previously blanched, raw materials ranged from 3 to 10%, 1 to 4%, and 1 to 16%, respectively, depending on the type of sample. In the dried products obtained from unblanched raw material, the losses were larger and amounted to 10–17%, 8–16% and 4–17%, respectively. Throughout drying and storage, the minerals examined were fairly stable. Dried kale is generally a good source of minerals and vitamins. However, blanching before drying is recommended. In addition, freeze-drying and storage in cold temperature allows for higher vitamin preservation in dried kale.
Which sequences are orbits?
Authors: Nicks Daniel A. , Sixsmith David J.
Published: February 2021

In the study of discrete dynamical systems, we typically start with a function from a space into itself, and ask questions about the properties of sequences of iterates of the function. In this paper we reverse the direction of this study. In particular, restricting to the complex plane, we start with a sequence of complex numbers and study the functions (if any) for which this sequence is an orbit under iteration. This gives rise to questions of existence and of uniqueness. We resolve some questions, and show that these issues can be quite delicate.
Duopoly price competition with limited capacity
Authors: Bërdëllima A.
Published: February 2021

We study a variation of the duopoly model by Kreps and Scheinkman (1983). Firms limited by their capacity of production engage in a two stage game. In the first stage they commit to levels of production not exceeding their capacities which are then made common knowledge. In the second stage after production has taken place firms simultaneously compete in prices. Solution of this sequential game shows that the unique Cournot equilibrium outcome as in Kreps and Scheinkman is not always guaranteed. However the Cournot outcome is still robust in the sense that given sufficiently large capacities this equilibrium holds. If capacities are sufficiently small, firms decide to produce at their full capacity and set a price which clears the market at the given level of output.
Who's afraid of epigenetics? Habits, instincts, and Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theory
Authors: Portera Mariagrazia , Mandrioli Mauro
Published: February 2021

Our paper aims at bringing to the fore the crucial role that habits play in Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by means of natural selection. We have organized the paper in two steps: first, we analyse value and functions of the concept of habit in Darwin's early works, notably in hisNotebooks, and compare these views to his mature understanding of the concept in theOrigin of Speciesand later works; second, we discuss Darwin’s ideas on habits in the light of today’s theories of epigenetic inheritance, which describe the way in which the functioning and expression of genes is modified by the environment, and how these modifications are transmitted over generations. We argue that Darwin’s lasting and multifaceted interest in the notion of habit, throughout his intellectual life, is both conceptually and methodologically relevant. From a conceptual point of view, intriguing similarities can be found between Darwin’s (early) conception of habit and contemporary views on epigenetic inheritance. From a methodological point of view, we suggest that Darwin’s plastic approach to habits, from his early writings up to the mature works, can provide today’s evolutionary scientists with a viable methodological model to address the challenging task of extending and expanding evolutionary theory, with particular reference to the integration of epigenetic mechanisms into existing models of evolutionary change. Over his entire life Darwin has modified and reassessed his views on habits as many times as required by evidence: his work on this notion may represent the paradigm of ahabitof good scientific research methodology.
Inorganic Colloidal Electrolyte for Highly Robust Zinc-Ion Batteries
Authors: Gao Jiawei , Xie Xuesong , Liang Shuquan , Lu Bingan , Zhou Jiang
Published: February 2021

Zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) is a promising electrical energy storage candidate due to its eco-friendliness, low cost, and intrinsic safety, but on the cathode the element dissolution and the formation of irreversible products, and on the anode the growth of dendrite as well as irreversible products hinder its practical application. Herein, we propose a new type of the inorganic highly concentrated colloidal electrolytes (HCCE) for ZIBs promoting simultaneous robust protection of both cathode/anode leading to an effective suppression of element dissolution, dendrite, and irreversible products growth. The new HCCE has high Zn2+ ion transference number (0.64) endowed by the limitation of SO42−, the competitive ion conductivity (1.1 × 10–2 S cm−1) and Zn2+ ion diffusion enabled by the uniform pore distribution (3.6 nm) and the limited free water. The Zn/HCCE/α-MnO2 cells exhibit high durability under both high and low current densities, which is almost 100% capacity retention at 200 mA g−1 after 400 cycles (290 mAh g−1) and 89% capacity retention under 500 mA g−1 after 1000 cycles (212 mAh g−1). Considering material sustainability and batteries’ high performances, the colloidal electrolyte may provide a feasible substitute beyond the liquid and all-solid-state electrolyte of ZIBs.
Efficient Two-Dimensional Perovskite Solar Cells Realized by Incorporation of Ti3C2Tx MXene as Nano-Dopants
Authors: Jin Xin , Yang Lin , Wang Xiao-Feng
Published: February 2021

Two-dimensional (2D) perovskites solar cells (PSCs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their excellent stability against humidity; however, some imperfectness of 2D perovskites, such as poor crystallinity, disordered orientation, and inferior charge transport still limit the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2D PSCs. In this work, 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets with high electrical conductivity and mobility were employed as a nanosized additive to prepare 2D Ruddlesden–Popper perovskite films. The PCE of solar cells was increased from 13.69 (without additive) to 15.71% after incorporating the Ti3C2Tx nanosheets with an optimized concentration. This improved performance is attributed to the enhanced crystallinity, orientation, and passivated trap states in the 3D phase that result in accelerated charge transfer process in vertical direction. More importantly, the unencapsulated cells exhibited excellent stability under ambient conditions with 55 ± 5% relative humidity.
Equity in healthcare utilisation and cost of treatment in Western India
Authors: Gumber Anil
Published: February 2021

The paper compares the morbidity and healthcare utilisation scenario prevalent in Gujarat and Maharashtra as well as for all − India over the last 35 years by exploring the National Sample Surveys data for 1980–81, 1986–87, 1995–96, 2004, and 2014. The differentials and trends in morbidity rate, health seeking behaviour, use of public and private providers for inpatient and outpatient care and associated cost, and burden of treatment are analysed by population groups. Changes in people’s demand for health services are correlated with the supply factors i.e. expansion of public and private health infrastructure. Rising cost and burden of treatment on the poor are examined through receipt of free inpatient and outpatient services as well as the extent of financial protection under the health insurance schemes received by them. Overtime, morbidity rates have gone up, with several folds increase in select states; the reliance on public provision has gone down substantially despite being cheaper than the private sector; and cost of treatment at constant prices increased considerably even for the poor. Hospitalisation costs were higher among insured than the non-insured households in several states irrespective of whether resident in rural or urban areas (Haryana, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, and Assam have reported that insured households ended-up paying almost double the hospitalisation expenses in 2014). Leaving aside Kerala (where insured households have paid just a half of the cost of the non-insured), this clearly reflects the widespread prevalence of moral hazard and insurance collusion in India.
A detailed study on design, fabrication, analysis, and testing of the anti-roll bar system for formula student cars
Authors: Kelkar Sachin Sunil , Gautam Puneet , Sahai Shubham , Agrawal Prajwal Sanjay , Manoharan R.
Published: February 2021

This study explains a coherent flow for designing, manufacturing, analyzing, and testing a tunable anti-roll bar system for a formula student racecar. The design process starts with the analytical calculation for roll stiffness using constraining parameters such as CG (Center of Gravity) height, total mass, and weight distribution in conjunction with suspension geometry. Then, the material selection for the design i.e. Aluminum 7075 T6 is made based on parameters such as density and modulus of rigidity. A MATLAB program is used to iterate deflection vs load for different stiffness and shaft diameter values. This is then checked with kinematic deflection values in Solidworks geometry. To validate with the material deflection, finite element analysis is performed on ANSYS workbench. Manufacturing accuracy for the job is checked using both static analysis in lab settings and using sensors on vehicles during on-track testing. The error percentage is found to be 4% between the target stiffness and the one obtained from static testing. Parameters such as moment arm length, shaft diameter and length, and deflection were determined and validated. This paper shows the importance of an anti-roll bar device to tune the roll stiffness of the car without interfering with the ride stiffness.
N, S doped carbon quantum dots inside mesoporous silica for effective adsorption of methylene blue dye
Authors: Teymoorian Termeh , Hashemi Nazanin , Mousazadeh Mohammad H. , Entezarian Zahra
Published: February 2021

This study aimed to develop non-metal elements for doping carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with nitrogen and sulfur (N, S-CQDs), which loaded inside hexagonal mesoporous silica (HMS) in order to effectively remove methylene blue dye (MB) from an aqueous solution. The histidine and cysteine amino acids were used as the source for synthesis N, S-CQDs through the hydrothermal method. Morphology and structure of the N, S-CQDs, and adsorbent (N, S-CQDs/HMS) were characterized by using different microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The adsorption parameters such as adsorbent dosage (0.25–1 g/L), pH (2–10), contact time (15–75 min), and initial MB dye concentration (20–300 mg/L) were investigated. The maximum adsorption capacity and removal efficiency of MB were determined at 370.4 mg/g and 97%, respectively, under optimum conditions at 303 K. The adsorption isotherm studies were fitted with the Freundlich isotherm equation, and the dye removal kinetics of the adsorbent followed the pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic studies showed that the adsorption process had exothermic and spontaneous behavior. The removal of MB next to the Rhodamine B and Reactive Black 5 dyes indicated that the N, S-CQDs/HMS had excellent selective behavior for MB absorption. This prepared adsorbent could be well recycled with suitable activity after four repeated adsorption–desorption cycles. Results revealed that the porous characters, surface area, charge properties, reduction in the bandgap, and quantum yield of the N, S-CQDs/HMS were essential factors that affected dye adsorption.
An investigation on dam settlement during and end of construction using instrumentation data and numerical analysis
Authors: Beiranvand Behrang , Komasi Mehdi
Published: February 2021

In the present study, using instrumentation data regarding vertical and horizontal displacement of the dam have been analyzed. Also, the largest and most critical section of the Marvak earth dam is modeled with the behavioral model of the Mohr–Coulomb by GeoStudio software. Numerical modeling of the dam has been done considering the actual embankment conditions and to analyze the changes of the immediate settlement during construction and the consolidation settlement just after construction and initial impounding. The outcomes of instrumentation and numerical analysis at the end of Marvak dam construction showed a settlement between 20 and 500 mm. The results show that the settlement will occur during the construction at the upper levels and the end of construction at the middle levels of the dam. By comparing observed and predicted data, multivariate regression and the explanation coefficient criterion (R2) was found to be R2 = 0.9579, which shows a very good correlation between observed and predicted data, and represents a good match for the settlement points and their location with the initial conditions of the design, and the behavior of the dam in terms of the settlement is found to be stable.
Design of a dynamic and self-adapting system, supported with artificial intelligence, machine learning and real-time intelligence for predictive cyber risk analytics in extreme environments – cyber risk in the colonisation of Mars
Authors: Radanliev Petar , De Roure David , Page Kevin , Van Kleek Max , Santos Omar , Maddox La’Treall , Burnap Pete , Anthi Eirini , Maple Carsten
Published: February 2021

Multiple governmental agencies and private organisations have made commitments for the colonisation of Mars. Such colonisation requires complex systems and infrastructure that could be very costly to repair or replace in cases of cyber-attacks. This paper surveys deep learning algorithms, IoT cyber security and risk models, and established mathematical formulas to identify the best approach for developing a dynamic and self-adapting system for predictive cyber risk analytics supported with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and real-time intelligence in edge computing. The paper presents a new mathematical approach for integrating concepts for cognition engine design, edge computing and Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to automate anomaly detection. This engine instigates a step change by applying Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning embedded at the edge of IoT networks, to deliver safe and functional real-time intelligence for predictive cyber risk analytics. This will enhance capacities for risk analytics and assists in the creation of a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the opportunities and threats that arise when edge computing nodes are deployed, and when Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies are migrated to the periphery of the internet and into local IoT networks.
On the first eigenvalue of the Laplace operator for compact spacelike submanifolds in Lorentz–Minkowski spacetime 𝕃m
Authors: Palomo Francisco J. , Romero Alfonso
Published: February 2021

By means of a counter-example, we show that the Reilly theorem for the upper bound of the first non-trivial eigenvalue of the Laplace operator of a compact submanifold of Euclidean space (Reilly, 1977, Comment. Mat. Helvetici, 52, 525–533) does not work for a (codimension ⩾2) compact spacelike submanifold of Lorentz–Minkowski spacetime. In the search of an alternative result, it should be noted that the original technique in (Reilly, 1977, Comment. Mat. Helvetici, 52, 525–533) is not applicable for a compact spacelike submanifold of Lorentz–Minkowski spacetime. In this paper, a new technique, based on an integral formula on a compact spacelike section of the light cone in Lorentz–Minkowski spacetime is developed. The technique is genuine in our setting, that is, it cannot be extended to another semi-Euclidean spaces of higher index. As a consequence, a family of upper bounds for the first eigenvalue of the Laplace operator of a compact spacelike submanifold of Lorentz–Minkowski spacetime is obtained. The equality for one of these inequalities is geometrically characterized. Indeed, the eigenvalue achieves one of these upper bounds if and only if the compact spacelike submanifold lies minimally in a hypersphere of certain spacelike hyperplane. On the way, the Reilly original result is reproved if a compact submanifold of a Euclidean space is naturally seen as a compact spacelike submanifold of Lorentz–Minkowski spacetime through a spacelike hyperplane.
Dwight L. Moody in Ulster: Evangelical Unity, Denominational Identity and the Fundamentalist Impulse
Authors: HOLMES ANDREW R. , MATHIESON STUART
Published: February 2021

The American evangelist Dwight L. Moody visited Ulster on three occasions – 1874, 1883 and 1892 – and his modern, respectable version of revivalism offered a welcome alternative to the ambiguous legacy of the 1859 Ulster revival. Moody stimulated an outpouring of interdenominational activism and may have contributed to a fundamentalist impulse amongst Evangelicals. His legacy in Ulster, as elsewhere, was to energise Evangelicals but at the expense of weakening the ability, perhaps even the desire, of church members to adhere to denominational principles. In that sense, both so-called ‘fundamentalists’ and ‘modernists’ in Northern Ireland in the 1920s were Moody's heirs.
Cochlear implantation in children with Mondini dysplasia: our experience
Authors: Suri N M , Prasad A R , Sayani R K , Anand A , Jaychandran G
Published: February 2021

Objective

This study details the intra-operative complications, and compares auditory scales post-implantation of either profoundly deaf young children with radiologically normal inner ears (group A) or children with Mondini dysplasia (group B).

Methods

A retrospective survey was carried out of 338 patients with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss who underwent cochlear implant surgery from February 2015 to May 2017. Patients were divided into 2 groups of 27 patients each. Both groups were followed up to three years post-implantation.

Results

Cerebrospinal fluid ooze developed in 12 patients, and 2 patients had a cerebrospinal fluid ‘gusher’, one of which had to be explored within 24 hours. After implant use for one year, both groups had similar speech perception scores.

Conclusion

The cerebrospinal fluid gusher in Mondini dysplasia should be anticipated and adequately managed intra-operatively. This study highlights the tailoring of a post-implantation rehabilitation programme according to individual needs.
Economic Statecraft in the 21st Century: Implications for the Future of the Global Trade Regime
Authors: Aggarwal Vinod K. , Reddie Andrew W.
Published: February 2021

This article introduces a special issue that examines the effects of strategic competition on the future of the global trade regime. We argue that traditional work in economics and the current set-up of global economic regimes ignores economic statecraft as a key element in understanding trade conflict. Specifically, we outline three examples of contemporary economic statecraft – industrial policy, trade restrictions, and new investment rules – that have been used to block foreign direct investment on the basis of national security claims. Based on this analysis, we explore how the WTO and other economic regimes might address the global economic governance of economic statecraft. In concluding, we outline the theoretical and empirical work in the subsequent case studies that examine the use of economic statecraft in the United States, China, India, Japan, and South Korea.
Exorcising the positivist ghost in the priority-setting machine: NICE and the demise of the ‘social value judgement’
Authors: Charlton Victoria , Weale Albert
Published: February 2021

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the UK's primary health care priority-setting body, has traditionally described its decisions as being informed by ‘social value judgements’ about how resources should be allocated across society. This paper traces the intellectual history of this term and suggests that, in NICE's adoption of the idea of the ‘social value judgement’, we are hearing the echoes of welfare economics at a particular stage of its development, when logical positivism provided the basis for thinking about public policy choice. As such, it is argued that the term offers an overly simplistic conceptualisation of NICE's normative approach and contributes to a situation in which NICE finds itself without the necessary language fully and accurately to articulate its basis for decision-making. It is suggested that the notion of practical public reasoning, based on reflection about coherent principles of action, might provide a better characterisation of the enterprise in which NICE is, or hopes to be, engaged.
Toward a fully integrated automotive radar system-on-chip in 22 nm FD-SOI CMOS
Authors: Ritter Philipp
Published: February 2021

Next-generation automotive radar sensors are increasingly becoming sensitive to cost and size, which will leverage monolithically integrated radar system-on-Chips (SoC). This article discusses the challenges and the opportunities of the integration of the millimeter-wave frontend along with the digital backend. A 76–81 GHz radar SoC is presented as an evaluation vehicle for an automotive, fully depleted silicon-over-insulator 22 nm CMOS technology. It features a digitally controlled oscillator, 2-millimeter-wave transmit channels and receive channels, an analog base-band with analog-to-digital conversion as well as a digital signal processing unit with on-chip memory. The radar SoC evaluation chip is packaged and flip-chip mounted to a high frequency printed circuit board for functional demonstration and performance evaluation.
French Adaptation of the Coparenting Relationship	Scale
Authors: Favez Nicolas , Tissot Hervé , Golay Philippe , Max Aline , Feinberg Mark E. , Bader Michel
Published: February 2021

Abstract. The Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS) is a 35-item parent-reported questionnaire designed to assess the quality of the coparental relationship. It was designed in the United States and validated in English. We present in this article a French adaptation of the CRS. A total of 399 participants from the French-speaking part of Switzerland (146 fathers, 253 mothers) completed the questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the theoretically grounded seven-factor structure of the original instrument was valid to explain the structure of the Swiss data. Metric measurement invariance was achieved when comparing mothers and fathers, but only configural invariance was achieved when comparing the original US sample and the Swiss sample. Intercultural differences may possibly explain this result. Convergent validity was tested against parent-reported task sharing and health-related issues in children. Results of multiple hierarchical regression analyses showed theoretically coherent links between the dimensions of the French version and these variables. The French version of the CRS is thus a valid instrument to assess the coparental relationship.
Modeling Joint Relationship and Design Scenarios Between Precipitation, Surface Temperature, and Atmospheric Precipitable Water Over Mainland China
Authors: Ayantobo Olusola Olaitan , Wei Jiahua , Wang Guangqian
Published: February 2021

This study employs copula model to discuss joint relationship and design scenarios between precipitation (P), surface temperature (T), and precipitable water (PW) in seven regions and mainland China over 1980–2016 within a bivariate framework. Markov Chain Monte Carlo modeling in a Bayesian framework was applied to calculate copula parameters while best fitted copulas were assessed using Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Nash‐Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE), and maximum likelihood criteria. Results showed that the spatial variations of P decreased from South to Northwest, T decreased from South to North and from East to West. Distributions of P and T were similar, with higher values in regions c and d. PW was higher in the south, with more than 64.54 mm in the southwest, 25 mm in the north‐central. The correlation between PW and P as well as PW and T were higher than 0.74. Birnbaum Saunders distribution was considered appropriate to fit P in regions a and f while P and PW in other regions are good with Generalized Pareto. T performed better with generalized extreme in all regions. Moreover, Gumbel, Frank, and Joe copulas provided good fit for PW and P in regions b, f, and g, respectively while in regions a, c, d, and e, Nelson provided perfect fit. For PW and T, Nelson was a good fit in all regions. The bivariate probabilities and design scenarios in various regions suggest tremendous variations, with regions having high probabilities associated with low return periods. We showed that joint analysis of climate variables gives more robust design quantiles.
The Anthropocene: Comparing Its Meaning in Geology (Chronostratigraphy) with Conceptual Approaches Arising in Other Disciplines
Authors: Zalasiewicz Jan , Waters Colin N. , Ellis Erle C. , Head Martin J. , Vidas Davor , Steffen Will , Thomas Julia Adeney , Horn Eva , Summerhayes Colin P. , Leinfelder Reinhold , McNeill J. R. , Gałuszka Agnieszka , Williams Mark , Barnosky Anthony D. , Richter Daniel de B. , Gibbard Philip L. , Syvitski Jaia , Jeandel Catherine , Cearreta Alejandro , Cundy Andrew B. , Fairchild Ian J. , Rose Neil L. , Ivar do Sul Juliana A. , Shotyk William , Turner Simon , Wagreich Michael , Zinke Jens
Published: February 2021

The term Anthropocene initially emerged from the Earth System science community in the early 2000s, denoting a concept that the Holocene Epoch has terminated as a consequence of human activities. First associated with the onset of the Industrial Revolution, it was then more closely linked with the Great Acceleration in industrialization and globalization from the 1950s that fundamentally modified physical, chemical, and biological signals in geological archives. Since 2009, the Anthropocene has been evaluated by the Anthropocene Working Group, tasked with examining it for potential inclusion in the Geological Time Scale. Such inclusion requires a precisely defined chronostratigraphic and geochronological unit with a globally synchronous base and inception, with the mid‐twentieth century being geologically optimal. This reflects an Earth System state in which human activities have become predominant drivers of modifications to the stratigraphic record, making it clearly distinct from the Holocene. However, more recently, the term Anthropocene has also become used for different conceptual interpretations in diverse scholarly fields, including the environmental and social sciences and humanities. These are often flexibly interpreted, commonly without reference to the geological record, and diachronous in time; they often extend much further back in time than the mid‐twentieth century. These broader conceptualizations encompass wide ranges and levels of human impacts and interactions with the environment. Here, we clarify what the Anthropocene is in geological terms and compare the proposed geological (chronostratigraphic) definition with some of these broader interpretations and applications of the term “Anthropocene,” showing both their overlaps and differences.
Field‐Based Evidence for Intra‐Slab High‐Permeability Channel Formation at Eclogite‐Facies Conditions During Subduction
Authors: Piccoli Francesca , Ague Jay J. , Chu Xu , Tian Meng , Vitale Brovarone Alberto
Published: February 2021

Fluid release from subducting oceanic lithosphere is a key process for subduction zone geodynamics, from controlling arc volcanism to seismicity and tectonic exhumation. However, many fundamental details of fluid composition, flow pathways, and reactivity with slab‐forming rocks remain to be thoroughly understood. In this study we investigate a multi‐kilometer‐long, high‐pressure metasomatic system preserved in the lawsonite‐eclogite metamorphic unit of Alpine Corsica, France. The fluid‐mediated process was localized along a major intra‐slab interface, which is the contact between basement and cover unit. Two distinct metasomatic stages are identified and discussed. We show that these two stages resulted from the infiltration of deep fluids that were derived from the same source and had the same slab‐parallel, updip flow direction. By mass balance analysis, we quantify metasomatic mass changes along this fluid pathway and the time‐integrated fluid fluxes responsible for them. In addition, we also assess carbon fluxes associated with these metasomatic events. The magnitude of the estimated fluid fluxes (104–105) indicates that major intra‐slab interfaces such as lithological boundaries acted as fluid channels facilitating episodic pulses of fluid flow. We also show that when fluids are channelized, high time‐integrated fluid fluxes lead to carbon fluxes several orders of magnitude higher than carbon fluxes generated by local dehydration reactions. Given the size and geologic features of the investigated metasomatic system, we propose that it represents the first reported natural analogue of the so‐called high permeability channels predicted by numerical simulations.
Quasiperiodic 1‐Hour Alfvén Wave Resonances in Saturn's Magnetosphere: Theory for a Realistic Plasma/Field Model
Authors: Rusaitis L. , Khurana K. K. , Kivelson M. G. , Walker R. J.
Published: February 2021

We model the omnipresent quasiperiodic 60 min waves in Saturn's outer magnetosphere as field line resonances adopting a realistic magnetic field model and a measurement‐based plasma density distribution using Alfvén wave resonance theory for arbitrary field geometries (Singer et al., 1981). The modeled eigenfrequencies for the second and higher modes are roughly independent of invariant latitude, mapping into large regions of the magnetosphere up to at least 20 RS, and the third and fourth harmonic modes having close to 1 h eigenperiod. The model predicts the normalized amplitudes of these higher modes of the magnetic field perturbations at high latitudes to exceed the amplitudes at the plasma sheet, in agreement with the observations of more frequent occurrences at mid‐to‐high latitudes. The periods of the higher order field line resonances in the outer magnetosphere differ considerably from those in a dipole model, illustrating the importance of a realistic field model.