bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anthropogenic Disturbance and Population Viability of Woodland Caribou in Ontario
Authors: Fryxell John M. , Avgar Tal , Liu Boyan , Baker James A. , Rodgers Arthur R. , Shuter Jennifer , Thompson Ian D. , Reid Douglas E. B. , Kittle Andrew M. , Mosser Anna , Newmaster Steven G. , Nudds Tom D. , Street Garrett M. , Brown Glen S. , Patterson Brent
Published: February 2020

One of the most challenging tasks in wildlife conservation and management is to clarify how spatial variation in land cover due to anthropogenic disturbance influences wildlife demography and long‐term viability. To evaluate this, we compared rates of survival and population growth by woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) from 2 study sites in northern Ontario, Canada that differed in the degree of anthropogenic disturbance because of commercial logging and road development, resulting in differences in predation risk due to gray wolves (Canis lupus). We used an individual‐based model for population viability analysis (PVA) that incorporated adaptive patterns of caribou movement in relation to predation risk and food availability to predict stochastic variation in rates of caribou survival. Field estimates of annual survival rates for adult female caribou in the unlogged ( 0.90) and logged ( 0.76) study sites recorded during 2010–2014 did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) from values predicted by the individual‐based PVA model (unlogged:  = 0.87; logged:  0.79). Outcomes from the individual‐based PVA model and a simpler stage‐structured matrix model suggest that substantial differences in adult survival largely due to wolf predation are likely to lead to long‐term decline of woodland caribou in the commercially logged landscape, whereas the unlogged landscape should be considerably more capable of sustaining caribou. Estimates of population growth rates (λ) for the 2010–2014 period differed little between the matrix model and the individual‐based PVA model for the unlogged (matrix model  = 1.01; individual‐based model  = 0.98) and logged landscape (matrix model  = 0.88; individual‐based model  = 0.89). We applied the spatially explicit PVA model to assess the viability of woodland caribou across 14 woodland caribou ranges in Ontario. Outcomes of these simulations suggest that woodland caribou ranges that have experienced significant levels of commercial forestry activities in the past had annual growth rates <0.89, whereas caribou ranges that had not experienced commercial forestry operations had population growth rates >0.96. These differences were strongly related to regional variation in wolf densities. Our results suggest that increased wolf predation risk due to anthropogenic disturbance is of sufficient magnitude to cause appreciable risk of population decline in woodland caribou in Ontario. © 2020 The Authors. The Journal of Wildlife Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Wildlife Society.
Smoking and Alcohol Consumption Are Associated With the Increased Risk of Peritonsillar Abscess
Authors: Kim So Young , Lim Hyoseob , Choi Hyo Geun
Published: February 2020

Objectives/Hypothesis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship among smoking, alcohol consumption, and peritonsillar abscess in a Korean population.

Study Design

Individuals ≥40 years old from the Korean National Health Insurance Service‐Health Screening Cohort were assessed from 2002 to 2013.

Methods

In total, 1,285 peritonsillar abscess participants were matched with 5,140 controls at a ratio of 1:4 with respect to age group, sex, income group, region of residence, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. We analyzed the participants' previous histories of smoking (current smokers vs. nonsmokers or past smokers) and alcohol consumption (drinkers vs. nondrinkers) in the peritonsillar abscess and control groups. Peritonsillar abscess was defined using the International Classification of Disease‐10 code J36 combined with claim codes for incision and drainage or aspiration. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were analyzed using unconditional logistic regression analyses, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.

Results

The rates of smoking and consuming alcohol were higher in the peritonsillar abscess group than in the control group. The adjusted OR of smoking for peritonsillar abscess was 1.23 (95% CI = 1.06–1.44, P = .009), and that of alcohol consumption was 1.18 (95% CI = 1.02–1.36, P = .024).

Conclusion

The odds of smoking and alcohol consumption were increased in peritonsillar abscess patients compared to those in the control group.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 2020
Septal Cartilage Traction Suture Technique for Correction of Caudal Septal Deviation
Authors: Seo Hyo‐Seok , Na Han‐Seul , Kim Sung‐Dong , Yi Keun‐Ik , Mun Sue‐Jean , Cho Kyu‐Sup
Published: February 2020

Objective

Correction of the caudal septum deviation is the most difficult part of the septoplasty and a common cause of revision septoplasty. The purpose of this study was to present authors’ preliminary results in the treatment of patients with caudal septal deviation using the septal cartilage traction suture technique.

Study Design

Prospective, single center, observational study.

Materials and Methods

Sixty‐seven patients with a caudal septal deviation underwent septal cartilage traction suture technique with endonasal septoplasty. After removal of excessive caudal cartilage, the caudal L‐strut was sutured at two or more points using 5–0 Vicryl on the modified Killian incision site. Subjective outcomes using visual analog scales (VAS) and Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, objective endoscopic examination, and acoustic rhinometry data were assessed.

Results

There was significant symptomatic improvement in the VAS and NOSE scale at 1, 3, and 6 months postsurgery. Complete correction in the endoscopy was observed in the 91.0% of patients at 3 months postsurgery. The results of acoustic rhinometry increased from 0.3 and 4.3 preoperatively to 0.7 and 7.7 at 3 months postoperatively. Furthermore, no patient experienced septal hematoma, septal perforation, and loss of nasal tip support at 6 months follow‐up.

Conclusions

The septal cartilage traction suture technique obtained significant improvement in subjective and objective outcomes in patients with caudal septal deviation. This technique is a simple, safe, and effective method to treat caudal septal deviation.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 2020
Revealing Interfacial Interactions in Random Copolymer Adsorbed Layers by Solvent Leaching
Authors: Davis Mary J. B. , Randazzo Katelyn , Zuo Biao , Priestley Rodney D.
Published: February 2020

Annealing a supported polymer film in the melt state results in the growth of an irreversibly adsorbed layer, which has been shown to influence thin film properties such as diffusion and glass transition temperature. Adsorbed layer growth is attributed to many simultaneous interactions between individual monomer units and the substrate, stabilizing chains against desorption. In this study, adsorbed layers of polystyrene (PS), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and their random copolymers are isolated by select solvents. While PS adsorbed layer thickness is largely unaffected by the choice of washing solvent, the PMMA adsorbed layer completely desorbs when washed with tetrahydrofuran and chloroform, as opposed to toluene. Scaling relationships between adsorbed layer thickness and degree of chain adsorption at the substrate enable the use of adsorbed layer thickness to probe specific polymer‐substrate interactions. Composition‐dependent desorption trends indicate non‐preferential adsorption between styrene and methyl methacrylate repeat units at the substrate, despite differences in substrate interaction strength. This insight contributes to the developing mechanism for the adsorption of random copolymers during melt‐state annealing, further extending the ability to predict processing‐inducted changes to the properties of polymer thin films to heterogeneous systems.
A new type of compact ultra‐wideband planar fractal antenna with WLAN band rejection
Authors: Garg Rahul Kumar , Nair Maroor Vikraman Deepak , Singhal Sarthak , Tomar Raghuvir
Published: February 2020

A new type of fractal‐shaped microstrip patch antenna for ultra‐wideband (UWB) applications and with sufficient rejection in the WLAN band is presented. The radiating patch is placed on a 1.6 mm thick low‐cost FR‐4 epoxy substrate and is fed using a symmetric coplanar waveguide. The size of the proposed antenna in terms of wavelength is 0.189λ0 × 0.197λ0. A sectorial‐circular slot in the patch is used to create WLAN band notch. An impedance bandwidth of 11.76 GHz (from 2.19 to 13.95 GHz) is achieved, along with achieving WLAN band rejection from 4.67 to 6.21 GHz. Nearly omnidirectional radiation pattern with the maximum gain of 5 dB in the passband is achieved. In the rejection band, the gain drops to −3 dB. The simulated results are verified against experimental data and a good agreement between the two sets of data is seen. The proposed antenna covers both the unlicensed 2.4 GHz band and the UWB.
Spatial Distribution Patterns of Japanese Eels Anguilla japonica in a Large Subtropical River (Pearl River), China
Authors: Shuai Fangmin , Liu Qianfu , Liu Yaqiu , Wu Zhi , Lek Sovan , Chen Yushun
Published: February 2020

The Japanese Eel Anguilla japonica is an important migratory fish with great commercial and conservational significance in Asia. The Pearl River in southern China provides important natural growing and rearing grounds for glass eel recruits, but there is very limited information on their population characteristics. We studied the resource status and habitat preferences of Japanese Eels in the Pearl River from 2015 to 2018. In total, 181 Japanese Eels (89 males and 92 females) were collected during the study period. In terms of frequency of occurrence, Japanese Eels contributed less than 1% of the total number of collected fish specimens. Most of the eels were between 255 and 600 mm TL. Redundancy analysis indicated that eels were mainly distributed in the downstream portion of the river and preferred more complex habitats characterized by larger river fractals, higher coefficients of fluvial facies, and greater river widths. Adults preferred to inhabit areas with larger fractals and river widths, whereas juveniles inhabited areas with higher coefficients of fluvial facies. Young‐of‐the‐year eels preferred habitats near the estuary and with high water salinity. Dams have blocked the eels’ migration routes and affected their spatial distribution, in turn leading to a reduction in the population. This study was part of a long‐term investigation of wild Japanese Eels in the Pearl River, and the results showed that the Japanese Eel resource in southern China is extremely scarce and its conservation is greatly needed.
Resolution‐dependent influences of compressed sensing in quantitative T2 mapping of articular cartilage
Authors: Wang Nian , Badar Farid , Xia Yang
Published: February 2020

This study evaluates the resolution‐dependent influences of compressed sensing (CS) in MRI quantification of T2 mapping in articular cartilage with osteoarthritis (OA). T2‐weighed 2D experiments of healthy and OA cartilage were fully sampled in k‐space with five echo times at both 17.6 μm and 195.3 μm in‐plane resolutions; termed as microscopic MRI (μMRI) and macroscopic MRI (mMRI) respectively. These fully sampled k‐space data were under‐sampled at various 2D CS accelerating factors (AF = 4–32). The under‐sampled data were reconstructed individually into 2D images using nonlinear reconstruction, which were used to calculate the T2 maps. The bulk and zonal variations of T2 values in cartilage were evaluated at different AFs. The study finds that the T2 images at AFs up to 8 preserved major visual information and produced negligible artifacts for μMRI. The T2 values remained accurate for different sub‐tissue zones at various AFs. The absolute difference between the CS (AF up to 32) and the Ground Truth (i.e., using 100% of the k‐space data) of the mean T2 values through the whole tissue depth was higher in mMRI versus μMRI. For mMRI (where the resolution mimics the clinical MRI of human cartilage), the quantitative T2 mapping at AFs up to 4 showed negligible variations. This study demonstrates that both clinical MRI and μMRI can benefit from the use of CS in image acquisition, and μMRI benefits more from the use of CS by acquiring much less data, without losing significant accuracy in the quantification of T2 maps in osteoarthritic cartilage.
Fabrication of oligo‐glycerol based hydrolase responsive amphiphilic nanocarriers
Authors: Mittal Ayushi , Singh Abhishek K. , Kumar Anoop , Parmanand  , Achazi Katharina , Haag Rainer , Sharma Sunil K.
Published: February 2020

Herein, we report on the synthesis of a new class of novel non‐ionic amphiphiles using triglycerol as a core, which is further functionalized with hydrophilic units poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (Mn: 350 and 550) and a pair of hydrophobic alkyl chains (C18 or C15) via chemo‐enzymatic approach. Fluorescence measurements and dynamic light scattering studies showed that all of the synthesized amphiphilic systems spontaneously self‐ assemble in aqueous solution, which is further confirmed by the transmission electron microscopy. Encapsulation of hydrophobic moieties like Nile red and nimodipine was studied using ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐vis) and fluorescence spectrometer techniques. A cytotoxicity study of the amphiphiles using A549, HeLa, and MCF7 cell, which showed that all of the synthesized nanocarriers are well tolerated at the concentrations studied. The release profile of encapsulated Nile red in synthesized amphiphilic system was studied in the presence of the immobilized enzyme (Novozym 435).
One‐step synthesis of macromonomers catalyzed by phosphazene base
Authors: Xia Deyong , Jiang Qimin , Jiang Li , Huang Wenyan , Yang Hongjun , Xue Xiaoqiang , Jiang Bibiao
Published: February 2020

Herein, we report one‐step synthesis of polymethacrylates‐based macromonomers (MMs) in the presence of an organocatalyst phosphazene base (t‐BuP4) and a functional initiator N‐butyl‐4‐vinylbenzamide (N‐BVBA) containing a secondary amide and a styrenic double bond. A series of styrenic MMs with controlled molecular weight and relatively narrow polydispersity were synthesized under mild conditions. Detailed NMR analyses of the initiation process suggested that the anionic polymerization was initiated by nitrogen anion generated from abstraction of the proton from the secondary amide. NMR and MALDI‐TOF MS analyses confirmed: (1) the selective polymerization of methacrylate‐type double bonds, (2) controlled chain‐end functionality of MMs with an unreacted styrenic double bond, as well as (3) the absence of transesterification between N‐BVBA and methacrylate monomers. Furthermore, the homopolymerization and copolymerization of the MMs with comonomers were carried out for the preparation of graft copolymers. Through conventional radical polymerization, graft copolymers with different grafting densities were obtained at high MMs conversions, indicating the high reactivity of MMs. Thus, the one‐step approach demonstrates a simple metal‐free access to the controlled synthesis of MMs, and the prepared MMs can polymerize efficiently to convert into graft copolymers.
Unmet information needs of men with breast cancer and health professionals
Authors: Bootsma Tom I. , Duijveman Petra , Pijpe Anouk , Scheelings Pernilla C. , Witkamp Arjen J. , Bleiker Eveline M. A.
Published: February 2020

Objective

Male breast cancer (MBC) is rare. Information about breast cancer is usually designed for female patients. However, in males this disease and some side effects differ from its female counterpart. Therefore, there is a need for male‐specific information. The aim was to assess unmet information needs of (a) MBC patients and (b) health professionals.

Methods

Dutch MBC patients (diagnosed between 2011 and 2016 in 21 hospitals), patient advocates and partners were invited to participate in focus groups and/or complete a paper‐based questionnaire on information needs. In addition, an online questionnaire on information needs was sent to health professionals involved in MBC patient care.

Results

In three focus groups with MBC patients (N = 12) and partners (N = 2) the following unmet information themes were identified: patients' experiences/photographs, symptoms, (delay of) diagnosis, treatments, side effects, follow‐up, psychological impact/coping, genetics and family, research and raising awareness. 77 of 107 MBC patients (72%) completed the questionnaire: most patients lacked information about acute (65%) or late (56%) side effects, particularly sexual side effects. Among health professionals, 110 of 139 (79%) had searched for MBC‐related information, specifically: patient information, anti‐hormonal therapy, genetic testing, research, and psychosocial issues.

Conclusions

Unmet information needs in MBC patients and health professionals were identified. Specific information on MBC should be developed to improve timely diagnosis, quality of life, treatment, and survival. A targeted website is an ideal tool to meet these needs. Therefore, we integrated these results into a user‐centered design to develop an informative website, www.mannenmetborstkanker.nl.
Partnership dynamics among immigrants and their descendants in four European countries
Authors: Hannemann Tina , Kulu Hill , González‐Ferrer Amparo , Pailhé Ariane , Rahnu Leen , Puur Allan
Published: February 2020

This study investigates union formation and dissolution among immigrants and their descendants in four European countries with different migration histories and family patterns (United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Estonia). Although there is a growing body of literature on migrant families in Europe, there is still little comparative research on partnership dynamics among immigrants and their descendants. We apply event history analysis to pooled data from the four countries. The analysis shows a significant variation in partnership patterns across migrant groups in some countries (e.g., South Asians vs. Caribbeans in the United Kingdom) and similar partnership behaviour for some migrant groups in different countries (e.g., South Asians in the United Kingdom and immigrants from Turkey in France). Descendants of immigrants often exhibit partnership patterns that are similar to those of their parents' generation. The country context matters; specific patterns are observed for Spain and Estonia.
Pseudopotential‐fragment spectroscopy for organic molecules and carbon allotropes
Authors: Punter Alexander , Nava Paola , Carissan Yannick
Published: February 2020

Following on from a previous work (Punter et al., IJQC 2019, 119, 23), pseudopotential sets are developed and tested for a variety of sp2 and sp3 carbon fragments. These fragments contain only one or two explicit protons and electrons, and make use of non‐atom‐centered potentials. They are tested with density functional theory calculations in a selection of chemical environments in which several physical characteristics, including orbital and first ionization energies, are found to be well reproduced. They are then employed in the reproduction of molecular absorption spectra for large organic molecules and carbon allotropes, and are found to recreate both absorption and electronic circular dichroism spectra to a high accuracy. They are also found significantly to increase the computational efficiency of time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations in which they are used.
Comparison of planktonic and reed biofilm bacteria in different riverine water bodies of river Danube
Authors: Borsodi Andrea K. , Anda Dóra , Krett Gergely , Megyes Melinda , Németh Kitti , Dobosy Péter , Aszalós Júlia Margit , Engloner Attila
Published: February 2020

As the submerged shoot parts of common reed (Phragmites australis) can provide large surfaces for biofilm‐forming bacteria, extensive reed stands can effectively contribute to the self‐purification in the littoral zones of freshwaters. However, bacterial biofilm developed on reed surfaces have been studied only in still waters. In the present study, comparative examinations were performed on the planktonic and reed biofilm bacterial communities from two different riverine water bodies. Water and reed biofilm samples were taken at the beginning and end of the vegetation period from (a) a regulated side arm and (b) a separated oxbow of River Danube. Besides measuring physical and chemical environmental variables, planktonic bacterial cell numbers were detected by 4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole staining method, and the bacterial communities were compared by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Our results demonstrated that the structure and composition of bacterial communities correlated with different environmental variables and were different regarding both the habitats (planktonic vs. reed biofilm) and the types of riverine water bodies. The seasonal differences in the bacterial community structures were smaller in the river side arm than in the separated oxbow. In the water column, representatives of widespread and typical freshwater planktonic bacteria (“Candidatus Planktophila,” Limnohabitans, and Polynucleobacter), whereas, in the reed biofilm samples, phototrophic and plant associated bacteria were identified.
An unseen synchrony or recurrent resource pulse opportunity? linking fisheries with aeroecology
Authors: Hansen Henry H. , Pegg Mark , Van Den Broeke Matthew , Watkinson Doug , Enders Eva C.
Published: February 2020

Understanding insect and fish interactions from a spatial and temporal perspective can have implications on large‐scale phenology in freshwater systems, yet current information is limited. We employed a novel approach of combining information from acoustic telemetry for six freshwater fish species and weather radar to assess the phenology of mayfly emergence and foraging patterns of freshwater fish. We hypothesized that freshwater fish conduct synchronous movements with annual mayfly hatches as a pulse resource opportunity. Generalized additive models were developed to assess movement distance as a function of species and time; before, during, and after annual mayfly hatch events. A cross‐section abundance index was also employed to quantify dynamics of aerial mayflies. Hatch dynamics revealed nocturnal emergence behaviour with annual variations in intensity, spatial extent, and origin. We found that the hatch was likely a pulse resource feeding opportunity for channel catfish, common carp, freshwater drum, and walleye instead of a synchronized feeding event. Bigmouth buffalo and lake sturgeon utilized riverine habitat away from the hatch and did not likely forage on the emerging mayflies. Remote sensing of fishes and emergent insects using our approach is the first attempt at bridging the capabilities of fisheries ecology and aeroecology to advance movement ecology.
Spatial effects of economic growth, energy consumption and environmental pollution in the provinces of China—An empirical study of a spatial econometrics model
Authors: Zhang Jie , Zhang Ke , Zhao Feng
Published: February 2020

With sustained economic growth, environmental pollution in China has become increasingly serious and displays certain regional differences. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of economic growth, energy consumption, and environmental pollution in China and understand the dynamic pollution mechanisms for the implementation of regional collaborative governance. Based on the theory of the environmental Kuznets curve, this paper uses panel data from 31 provinces in China from 2008 to 2018 and applies a spatial analysis model to study the correlation among economic growth, energy consumption, and the spatial distribution of environmental pollution. A spatial measurement method is adopted to study the spatial effects of economic growth and energy consumption on environmental pollution. The results show that economic growth, the energy structure, and industrial pollution in China are spatially correlated and that there are different agglomeration areas in the spatial distribution. In terms of the temporal dimension, the energy consumption effect and technological pollution effect in China led to increased environmental pollution, and changes in the structure effect indirectly improved the environmental situation. In the spatial dimension, the high‐value clusters of the structural, energy consumption, and technological pollution effects are mainly in the central and western regions of China, and the low‐value clusters are mostly in the eastern and northeastern regions of China.
An Efficient location‐aware routing approach in opportunistic networks
Authors: Wang Xinyan , Wang Xiaoming , Wang Liang , Qin Xueyang
Published: February 2020

An opportunistic network is a kind of self‐organizing network that makes use of the encountering opportunities to realize short‐distance wireless communication. Because of the intermittent connectivity between nodes and dynamic network topology, how to devise a reliable and efficient routing approach has become a challenging issue. However, the periodic update mechanism of the node's location information in the existing works costs too much. To address this issue, we propose a location‐aware opportunistic routing (LAOR) approach. In the the proposed LAOR, we first establish a location‐aware prediction model based on the Markov process to predict the node's next location. Then we devise a decision‐making scheme of message forwarding to select the desired relay nodes based on the node's delivery probability. In addition, we introduce a dynamic buffer management strategy to determine the message priority. Finally, we validate the effectiveness of our proposed model and the high efficiency of the LAOR approach. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed LAOR outperforms the existing Epidemic, Prophet, history‐based prediction routing, and location prediction‐based forwarding for routing using Markov chain algorithms in terms of delivery ratio, overhead ratio, and the number of messages dropped. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Extraction of nanostructured sodium nitrate from industrial effluent and their thermal properties
Authors: Yadav Krishna K. , Sharma Manu , Jha Menaka
Published: February 2020

This study describes a process of extraction of high purity sodium nitrate from corrosive chemical industry effluents. Here, we have designed a process to convert highly corrosive effluents of ceramic industries having pH ~13.1 into sodium nitrate nanoparticles. The extraction of sodium nitrate has been carried out via neutralization of industrial effluent by nitric acid. We have also studied the effect of low boiling point co‐solvent during recrystallization of sodium nitrate. TEM studies of sodium nitrate extracted from the filtrate in the absence of co‐solvent show the formation of nanoparticle of ~70 nm. Further, a drastic decrease in particle size to 10 nm has been observed when co‐solvents (methanol, ethanol, and acetone) were used in combination with filtrate during the recrystallization process of sodium nitrate. Thermal properties of sodium nitrate extracted from filtrate have been investigated. Our result indicates that the nanoparticles extracted from filtrate having very high heat storage density (453 J/g) without hampering the melting point and boiling point of the materials.

Practitioner points

The new chemical process has been developed to treat the industrial effluent

Extraction of nanostructured sodium nitrate has been carried from industrial effluent

The particle size of sodium nitrate drastically influenced by the used co‐solvent for recrystallization

The highest heat storage density is 453 J/g, which was obtained from the recrystallization of the filtrate
Towards Guidelines for Medical Professionals to Ensure Cybersecurity in Digital Health Care
Authors: Koeppe David
Published: February 2020

There are no independent foundations and systems for general information security in medicine. For the special processing situations and in particular for the very high protection requirements of data and processes—ultimately health and life can depend on bits and bytes—a corresponding implementation of the essentially industry-independent procedure must take place. This topic is set to receive a special boost both among patients and among those responsible in the institutions because of the considerable increase in data protection awareness following the EU data protection basic regulation. This set of regulations addresses not only the lawfulness but also the security of the processing and threatens considerable sanctions in the event of gross negligence in this area. Regardless of whether this leads to the implementation of a proper information security management system in a larger institution—or whether the resources for such a large solution are not available in a small medical practice and it is instead sufficient for a successive long-term project to be processed—the topic must be addressed systematically.
A Care-Based Stakeholder Approach to Ethics of Cybersecurity in Business
Authors: Morgan Gwenyth , Gordijn Bert
Published: February 2020

This chapter focuses on ethical issues in cybersecurity in business. It first sketches the main ethical issues discussed in the academic literature thus far. Next, it identifies some important topics that have not yet received the attention they deserve. The chapter then focuses on one of those topics, ransomware attacks, one of the most prevalent cybersecurity threats to businesses today. It provides a brief overview of the main types of ransomware attacks and discusses businesses’ responsibilities to their stakeholders to respond to them. Daniel Engster’s care-based stakeholder approach is used to assess the responsibilities that businesses have to their stakeholders. The analysis involves establishing who counts as a stakeholder when a ransomware attack occurs and what the stakeholders’ interests might be. Based on stakeholders’ interests, the analysis concludes on whether businesses have an ethical responsibility to their stakeholders to (1) respond to grey hat demands by patching identified vulnerabilities within the given timeframe and (2) respond to black hat demands by paying the ransom.
Open research data, an archival challenge?
Authors: Borgerud Charlotte , Borglund Erik
Published: February 2020

The Swedish government has decided that all research results in the form of research data and scientific publications financed with public funds should be openly accessible as far as possible. The question is whether the responsible actors and if the universities are ready to implement the change. The significance of open access has amplified in Sweden. Earlier research has brought to light that the collection and preservation of research data are often surrounded by ambiguous rules and lack a comprehensive structure. For example, archiving is not given enough consideration in connection to research projects and researchers often tend to save their material on platforms that are not persistent over time. This article is based upon a qualitative research approach where 15 semi-structured interviews have been used as primarily data sources to investigate the implementation of open access of research data and scientific publications. The article investigated how Swedish universities and public authorities were working with archiving and implementation of open research data and their opinions on open access. The results displayed a lack of coordination, resources and infrastructure but also that common agreed nomenclature were missing. The management of research data was not part of an overall recordkeeping strategy. One explanation could be differences in the information culture among researchers and archivists. Social sciences theory has been combined with archival theory in order to explain the reasons to this. These have been put in relation to the principles of the open data directive.
Degradation of the cellulosic key chromophore 2,5-dihydroxy-[1,4]-benzoquinone (DHBQ) under conditions of chlorine dioxide pulp bleaching: formation of rhodizonate as secondary chromophore—a combined experimental and theoretical study
Authors: Guggenberger Matthias , Hettegger Hubert , Zwirchmayr Nele Sophie , Hosoya Takashi , Bacher Markus , Zaccaron Sara , Böhmdorfer Stefan , Reiter Heidemarie , Spitzbart Martin , Dietz Thomas , Eibinger Klaus , Mahler Arnulf Kai , Winter Heribert , Röder Thomas , Potthast Antje , Rosenau Thomas
Published: February 2020

2,5-Dihydroxy-[1,4]-benzoquinone (DHBQ, 1) is the most prominent representative of cellulosic key chromophores, which occur almost ubiquitously in all types of aged cellulosics. The degradation of DHBQ by chlorine dioxide under conditions of industrial pulp bleaching (“D stage”) was studied, i.e. in moderately acidic medium (pH 3) at temperatures between 50 and 90 °C. The degradation in the presence of excess ClO2 generates rhodizonic acid (RhA, 5,6-dihydroxycyclohex-5-ene-1,2,3,4-tetrone, 2) as a secondary chromophore which is even more stable and more potent as a chromophore than the starting DHBQ, especially in the form of its salts. At least a threefold ClO2 excess is needed for complete DHBQ consumption. The reaction from DHBQ to RhA involves pentahydroxybenzene (PHB, I) as an intermediate which is either readily further oxidized to RhA by excess ClO2 or slowly reconverted to DHBQ in the absence of ClO2. The RhA yield after 30 min reaction time had a maximum of 83% at a DHBQ/ClO2 molar ratio of 1:5, and decreased with increasing ClO2 charge, reaching 38% at a DHBQ/ClO2 ratio of 1:8 and above. Degradation of DHBQ by ClO2 is 42 times faster than that of RhA (50 °C, pH 3). RhA is present in aqueous medium in the form of its dihydrate, 2,3,5,5,6,6-hexahydroxycyclohex-2-ene-1,4-dione, which contains two pairs of geminal diols at C-5 and C-6. At pH 5 and above it forms an aromatic C6O62− dianion, so that the RhA salts are very stable. These salts are intensively colored, not only the ones with transition metal cations, but also those with monovalent (Na+, K+) and especially divalent (Ca2+, Mg2+) main group metals, and usually have very low solubility so that they precipitate on the pulp fibers. It was demonstrated that the inferior ClO2-bleachability of some pulps is due to the conversion of DHBQ into colored RhA and its respective salts.

Graphic abstract
Field performance of a low-cost sensor in the monitoring of particulate matter in Santiago, Chile
Authors: Tagle Matías , Rojas Francisca , Reyes Felipe , Vásquez Yeanice , Hallgren Fredrik , Lindén Jenny , Kolev Dimitar , Watne Ågot K. , Oyola Pedro
Published: February 2020

Integration of low-cost air quality sensors with the internet of things (IoT) has become a feasible approach towards the development of smart cities. Several studies have assessed the performance of low-cost air quality sensors by comparing their measurements with reference instruments. We examined the performance of a low-cost IoT particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) sensor in the urban environment of Santiago, Chile. The prototype was assembled from a PM10–PM2.5 sensor (SDS011), a temperature and relative humidity sensor (BME280) and an IoT board (ESP8266/Node MCU). Field tests were conducted at three regulatory monitoring stations during the 2018 austral winter and spring seasons. The sensors at each site were operated in parallel with continuous reference air quality monitors (BAM 1020 and TEOM 1400) and a filter-based sampler (Partisol 2000i). Variability between sensor units (n = 7) and the correlation between the sensor and reference instruments were examined. Moderate inter-unit variability was observed between sensors for PM2.5 (normalized root-mean-square error 9–24%) and PM10 (10–37%). The correlations between the 1-h average concentrations reported by the sensors and continuous monitors were higher for PM2.5 (R2 0.47–0.86) than PM10 (0.24–0.56). The correlations (R2) between the 24-h PM2.5 averages from the sensors and reference instruments were 0.63–0.87 for continuous monitoring and 0.69–0.93 for filter-based samplers. Correlation analysis revealed that sensors tended to overestimate PM concentrations in high relative humidity (RH > 75%) and underestimate when RH was below 50%. Overall, the prototype evaluated exhibited adequate performance and may be potentially suitable for monitoring daily PM2.5 averages after correcting for RH.
Portfolio Decision Analysis for Evaluating Stakeholder Conflicts in Land Use Planning
Authors: Fasth Tobias , Bohman Samuel , Larsson Aron , Ekenberg Love , Danielson Mats
Published: February 2020

Urban planning typically involves multiple actors and stakeholders with conflicting opinions and diverging preferences. The proposed development plans and actions greatly affect the quality of life of the local community at different spatial scales and time horizons. Consequently, it is important for decision-makers to understand and analyse the conflicting needs and priorities of the local community. This paper presents a decision analytic framework for evaluating stakeholder conflicts in urban planning. First, the stakeholders state their preferences regarding the actions in terms of a set of criteria and estimate the weight of each criterion. Then, a conflict index and overall value for each action is calculated. Next, a set of Pareto efficient portfolios of actions are generated by solving an optimization problem with different levels of conflict as a resource constraint. Finally, a sensitivity analysis of the actions is performed. The framework is demonstrated using real-world survey data collected in the municipality of Upplands Väsby, Sweden.
On the Absence of Moral Goodness in Hobbes’s Ethics
Authors: Olsthoorn Johan
Published: February 2020

This article reassesses Hobbes’s place in the history of ethics based on the first systematic analysis of his various classifications of formal goodness. The good was traditionally divided into three: profitably good, pleasurably good, and morally good (bonum honestum). Across his works, Hobbes replaced the last withpulchrum—a decidedly non-moral form of goodness on his account. I argue that Hobbes’s dismissal of moral goodness was informed by his hedonist conception of the good and accompanied by reinterpretations of right reason and natural law. By dispensing moral goodness and insisting on the hedonist and relational nature of the good, Hobbes moreover recast and rendered more urgent the question of why we should be moral. Hobbes is commonly thought to have raised this question so starkly because of his general insensitivity to the demands of justice. My analysis suggests that it may also, or rather, have been due to his restrictive conception of the good. A comparison with other moral philosophers from the period—including Suárez, Gassendi, Locke, and Pufendorf—indicates how unusual Hobbes’s jettisoning of moral goodness was.
The Association Between Autistic Traits and Mental Well-Being
Authors: Stimpson Nikolas J. , Hull Laura , Mandy William
Published: February 2020

It is now accepted that sub-clinical autistic traits are continuously distributed in the general population. It appears that there has been no prior research on the relationship between autistic traits and mental well-being. We explored the nature of such a relationship using multiple regression models. 227 non-clinical adults aged 18–50 years completed an online self-report questionnaire with measures including the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale and the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ). Of the BAPQ subscales, aloofness (social anhedonia) but not rigidity or pragmatic language problems was associated with decreased mental well-being when controlling for extraversion, neuroticism, depression, and self-reported physical health. This association was partially mediated by crisis support (the number of people a respondent felt they could turn to for help in the event of a serious personal crisis). The results suggest that aloofness is a significant negative predictor of mental well-being, and that autistic traits might not be best represented as a single unitary factor in the context of outcomes related to mental well-being. Implications pertaining to the importance of social support and the possible contributing role of low self-perceived social competence to aloofness are discussed.
On the cosimulation of multibody systems and hydraulic dynamics
Authors: Rahikainen Jarkko , González Francisco , Naya Miguel Ángel , Sopanen Jussi , Mikkola Aki
Published: February 2020

The simulation of mechanical devices using multibody system dynamics (MBS) algorithms frequently requires the consideration of their interaction with components of a different physical nature, such as electronics, hydraulics, or thermodynamics. An increasingly popular way to perform this task is through co-simulation, that is, assigning a tailored formulation and solver to each subsystem in the application under study and then coupling their integration processes via the discrete-time exchange of coupling variables during runtime. Co-simulation makes it possible to deal with complex engineering applications in a modular and effective way. On the other hand, subsystem coupling can be carried out in a wide variety of ways, which brings about the need to select appropriate coupling schemes and simulation options to ensure that the numerical integration remains stable and accurate. In this work, the co-simulation of hydraulically actuated mechanical systems via noniterative, Jacobi-scheme co-simulation is addressed. The effect of selecting different co-simulation configuration options and parameters on the accuracy and stability of the numerical integration was assessed by means of representative numerical examples.
Tumescent Injections in Subcutaneous Pig Tissue Disperse Fluids Volumetrically and Maintain Elevated Local Concentrations of Additives for Several Hours, Suggesting a Treatment for Drug Resistant Wounds
Authors: Koulakis John P. , Rouch Joshua , Huynh Nhan , Wu Holden H. , Dunn James C. Y. , Putterman Seth
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Bolus injection of fluid into subcutaneous tissue results in accumulation of fluid at the injection site. The fluid does not form a pool. Rather, the injection pressure forces the interstitial matrix to expand to accommodate the excess fluid in its volume, and the fluid becomes bound similar to that in a hydrogel. We seek to understand the properties and dynamics of externally tumesced (swollen) subcutaneous tissue as a first step in assessing whether tumescent antibiotic injections into wounds may provide a novel method of treatment.

Methods

Subcutaneous injections of saline are performed in live and dead pigs and the physical properties (volume, expansion ratio, residence time, apparent diffusion constant) of the resulting fluid deposits are observed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and 3D scanning.

Results

Subcutaneous tissue can expand to a few times its initial volume to accommodate the injected fluid, which is dispersed thoroughly throughout the tumescent volume. The fluid spreads to peripheral unexpanded regions over the course of a few minutes, after which it remains in place for several hours. Eventually the circulation absorbs the excess fluid and the tissue returns to its original state.

Conclusions

Given the evidence for dense fluid dispersal and several-hour residence time, a procedure is proposed whereby tumescent antibiotic injections are used to treat drug-resistant skin infections and chronic wounds that extend into the subcutaneous tissue. The procedure has the potential to effectively treat otherwise untreatable wounds by keeping drug concentrations above minimum inhibitory levels for extended lengths of time.
Gene editing in plants: assessing the variables through a simplified case study
Authors: Shockey Jay
Published: February 2020

Key message

Multiple variables that control the relative levels of successful heritable plant genome editing were addressed using simple case studies in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The recent advent of genome editing technologies (especially CRISPR, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) has revolutionized various fields of scientific research. The process is much more specific than previous mutagenic processes and allows for targeting of nearly any gene of interest for the creation of loss-of-function mutations and many other types of editing, including gene-replacement and gene activation. However, not all CRISPR construct designs are successful, due to several factors, including differences in the strength and cell- or tissue-type specificity of the regulatory elements used to express the Cas9 (CRISPR Associated protein 9) DNA nuclease and single guide RNA components, and differences in the relative editing efficiency at different target areas within a given gene. Here we compare the levels of editing created in Arabidopsis thaliana by CRISPR constructs containing either different promoters, or altered target sites with varied levels of guanine–cytosine base content. Additionally, nuclease activity at sites targeted by imperfectly matched single guide RNAs was observed, suggesting that while the primary goal of most CRISPR construct designs is to achieve rapid, robust, heritable gene editing, the formation of unintended mutations at other genomic loci must be carefully monitored.
Response to Comment on “On the Origin of Frictional Energy Dissipation”, by B.N.J. Persson
Authors: Hu Renfeng , Krylov Sergey Yu. , Frenken Joost W. M.
Published: February 2020

We are grateful to Dr. B.N.J. Persson for his prompt attention to our work (Hu et al. in Tribol Lett, 10.1007/s11249-019-1247-7, 2020). In his Comment, he remarks (i) that near-critical damping of motion in/on solids, one of our main results, is well known for atoms and molecules at surfaces and (ii) that this result may be invalid for real practical cases (Persson in Tribol Lett, this issue). We fully agree with both statements. However, some discussion is justified.
Why theory matters in correctional psychology
Authors: Ward Tony
Published: February 2020

Contemporary forensic psychology is characterized by a relative lack of attention to theory building and conceptual analysis. In my view, this neglect of theory amounts to theoretical illiteracy and represents a significant obstacle to the explanation of crime and its management. In this paper I explore the problem of theoretical illiteracy for forensic psychological research and practice. First, I discuss why theory is important in science and the dangers of ignoring it. Second, I review the role of theory in addressing the myriad of practical problems facing human beings. Third, I outline three strategies to increase researchers and practitioners’ appreciation of theory construction and development: adopting a more comprehensive model of scientific method, epistemic iteration, and promoting model pluralism. Fourth, I examine two examples of core concepts from correctional psychology, that of dynamic risk factors and classification, and demonstrate how the above strategies can be used to address problems with these constructs.