bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interpreting the YouTube Zoo: Ethical Potential of Captive Encounters
Authors: Kisora Yulia , Driessen Clemens
Published: April 2021

YouTube hosts a vast number of videos featuring zoo animals and humans actively reacting to each other. These videos can be seen as a popular genre of online entertainment, but also as a significant visual artefact of our relations with animals in the age of humans. In this chapter we focus on two viral videos featuring captive orangutans interacting with zoo visitors. The interpretations of ape-human interactions arising from the extensive number of comments posted to the videos are ambivalent in how they see the animals and their assumed capabilities. We argue that the YouTube Zoo could figure as a snapshot of human-animal relations in late modern times: mediating artificial conditions of animals suspended between the wild and the domestic, while offering a screened account of a deeply surprising interaction. The chapter shows the potential of close interactions between humans and animals to destabilise or reinforce the neat divisions between the human and the animal. It also shows the ethical potential of these interactions to either reinforce or question common practices of dealing with wild animals.
The Welfarist Account of Disenhancement as Applied to Nonhuman Animals
Authors: Shriver Adam
Published: April 2021

I criticize the current usage of the terms “enhancement” and “disenhancement” in the debate over the genetic modification of animals and propose an alternative definition of these terms based on how modifications affect animals’ welfare in particular contexts. The critique largely follows a similar criticism of the use of the term “enhancements” in the human bioethics literature. I first describe how the term “disenhancement” has been used in debates thus far, and argue that the present lack of a shared definition is problematic. I then consider some potential definitions of “disenhancement” that can be adapted from the human bioethics literature and argue that most of these uses are flawed for the purposes of using the term in current ethical debates. Finally, I elaborate on the welfarist conception of disenhancement and consider some potential objections, using examples from the literature to illustrate key points.
Justified Species Partiality
Authors: Sandler Ronald , Basl John
Published: April 2021

A core question in practical ethics is ‘which entities do we need to consider in our decision-making?’ In this chapter we evaluate the justifications and motivations for defending species-membership views of human moral status. These are views on which human beings have a distinctive type of moral status grounded in their being human or possessing some property that almost perfectly correlates with being human. Many ethicists endorse species-membership views on moral status because they believe that moral status differences are needed to support widely held and purportedly well-justified beliefs about species differentiation in consideration and treatment. We argue against the need to adopt a species-membership or human-privilege view on moral status in order to justify species partiality in consideration and treatment. The sort of partiality with respect to consideration and treatment that motivates species-membership views is largely consistent with more egalitarian views about moral status, according to which an entity’s moral status depends on its own features, not the biological group to which it belongs. Given the traditional objections to species-membership views, to the extent that justified species partiality is consistent with alternative views of moral status, there is reason to reject the moral status significance of being human.
Comment: The Current State of Nonhuman Animal Agency
Authors: Leuven Joost
Published: April 2021

Nonhuman animals frequently rebel against human domination. The existence of such cases of rebellion forces us to consider the moral importance of agency in nonhuman animal lives. It is necessary that moral philosophers look critically at the topic of self-realization in nonhuman animals. By reflecting on the attempts by the authors in this section of the book to do just that, this comment aims to make sense of nonhuman animal agency in the Anthropocene.
Effects of CrN/TiN Coatings on Interfacial Contact Resistance of Stainless Steel 410 Bipolar Plates in Fuel Cells
Authors: Forouzanmehr Mohsen , Reza Kashyzadeh Kazem , Borjali Amirhossein , Jafarnode Mosayeb , Chizari Mahmoud
Published: April 2021

Challenge on energy resources exists, especially when the fossil resources are limited. Fuel cells, as an alternative replacement, can be used. Fuel cells with coated bipolar plates are the interest of this paper. Current research is concerned with the effects of CrN/TiN coatings on interfacial contact resistance (ICR). Stainless steel 410 was selected as a base metal, and the coating process was performed using chromium nitride and titanium nitride by cathodic arc evaporation method. It was found that the surface roughness and ICR values of CrN-coated sample are lower than the TiN-coated sample. The concluded that the CrN layer could be replaced with the TiN layer for better performance of bipolar plates.
Moisture Stable Soot Coated Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskite Photoelectrodes for Hydrogen Production in Water
Authors: Tiwari Udit , Dass Sahab
Published: April 2021

Metal halide perovskites have triggered a quantum leap in the photovoltaic technology marked by a humongous improvement in the device performance in a matter of just a few years. Despite their promising optoelectronic properties, their use in the photovoltaic sector remains restricted due to their inherent instability towards moisture. Here, we report a simple, cost-effective and highly efficient protection strategy that enables their use as photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production while being immersed in water. A uniform coating of candle soot and silica is developed as an efficient hydrophobic coating that protects the perovskite from water while allowing the photogenerated electrons to reach the counter electrode. We achieve remarkable stability with photocurrent density above 1.5 mA cm−2 at 1 V versus saturated calomel electrode (SCE) for ~1 h under constant illumination. These results indicate an efficient route for the development of stable perovskite photoelectrodes for solar water splitting.
Design Procedure of a Hybrid Renewable Power Generation System
Authors: Hosseini Seyed Vahid , Izadi Ali , Madani Seyed Hossein , Chen Yong , Chizari Mahmoud
Published: April 2021

Electrification of small communities in districted off-grid area remains as a challenge for power generation industries. In the current study, various aspects of design of a standalone renewable power plant are examined and implemented in a case study of a rural area in Cape Town, South Africa. Estimating required electricity based on local demand profile, investment, operability, and maintenance costs of different generation technologies are studied in order to investigate their potential in an off-grid clean energy generation system. Several configurations of hybridization of solar system, wind, and micro gas turbine in combination with a battery are investigated. The Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) and number of days with more than 3 h black out are compared.
How Clean Is the Air You Breathe? Air Quality During Commuting Using Various Transport Modes in Nottingham
Authors: Shakmak Bubaker , Watkins Matthew , Al-Habaibeh Amin
Published: April 2021

Air quality has developed into a significant global issue and its negative effect on human health, wellbeing and ultimately the effect of shortening of life expectancy is becoming a pressing concern. Such concerns are most acute in cities in the UK. Although many cities, including Nottingham, are taking significant measures to enhance air quality, there was limited work focusing on the individual’s experience during commuting. This paper suggests a novel approach for measuring commuting air quality through quantifying particulate matters PM2.5 and PM10, using the city of Nottingham as a case study. Portable low-cost systems comprising of a GPS sensor and an Aeroqual pollution data logger were used to capture data and develop the sensor fusion via newly developed software. Data was collected from a variety of transport modes comprising bike, bus, car, tram and walking to provide evidence on relative particulate levels and 2D and 3D data maps were produced to communicate the relative pollution levels in a publicly accessible manner. The study found as expected particulate pollution to be higher during peak hours and typically closer to the city. However whilst the lowest particulate concentrations were found on the Tram the highest were for cyclists contrary to the literature. The project encompasses a democratic crowd sourced approach to data collection by enabling the public to gather data via their daily commute, increasing people’s awareness of the air quality in their locality. The acquired data permitted a range of comparisons considering differing times of day and zones such as the city centre and surrounding residential areas in the City council boundary.
Mechanical Strength of Poly Nanofiber Patch Under a Biaxial Tensile Loading
Authors: Sensoy Elif , Chizari Mahmoud
Published: April 2021

Most conventional material testing apparatuses are unable to assess poly-nanofibers sheets in biaxial directions. This study reports the design and prototyping of a biaxial tensile apparatus which can measure the mechanical property of a poly nanofibers patch. Several samples were assessed using the designed biaxial tensile testing machine and results recorded. Function of the apparatus was validated versus convention methods and outcome confirmed that it is accurate and reliable for testing poly nanofibers patch.
Exploring the Relationship Between Heat Absorption and Material Thermal Parameters for Thermal Energy Storage
Authors: Sevilla Law Torres , Radulovic Jovana
Published: April 2021

Using thermal energy storage alongside renewables is a way of diminishing the energy lack that exists when renewable energies are unable to run. An in-depth understanding of the specific effect of material properties is needed to enhance the performance of thermal energy storage systems. In this paper, we used fitting models and regression analysis to quantify the effect that latent heat of melting and material density have on the overall heat absorption. A single tank system, with encapsulated phase change materials is analysed with materials properties tested in the range of values commonly found in the literature. These materials are, therefore, hypothetically constructed ones based on materials such as paraffin. The software used for the numerical analysis is COMSOL Mulitphysics. Results show that the relationship between the latent heat and density regarding heat absorbed is a positive linear function for this system.
A Novel Approach for U-Value Estimation of Buildings’ Multi-layer Walls Using Infrared Thermography and Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Sen Arijit , Al-Habaibeh Amin
Published: April 2021

Estimating the U-value of walls of buildings is a key process to evaluate the overall thermal performance. Low U-value in buildings is desired in order to keep heat within the envelop and consume less energy in heating. Addressing the limitations in the currently used U-value estimation techniques, this paper proposes a novel approach for estimating the U-value of the envelop of buildings using infrared thermography and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) with the application of a point heat source. The novel system is calibrated by training the ANN in a lab environment using a wide range of samples with multi-layers to be able to estimate the in situ U-value of walls in real buildings during field work with relatively high accuracy.
Binary versus Multiclass Deep Learning Modelling in Energy Disaggregation
Authors: Schirmer Pascal A. , Mporas Iosif
Published: April 2021

This paper compares two different deep-learning architectures for the use in energy disaggregation and Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring. Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring breaks down the aggregated energy consumption into individual appliance consumptions, thus detecting device operation. In detail, the “One versus All” approach, where one deep neural network per appliance is trained, and the “Multi-Output” approach, where the number of output nodes is equal to the number of appliances, are compared to each other. Evaluation is done on a state-of-the-art baseline system using standard performance measures and a set of publicly available datasets out of the REDD database.
Detection of Patterns in Pressure Signal of Compressed Air System Using Wavelet Transform
Authors: Thabet Mohamad , Sanders David , Bausch Nils
Published: April 2021

This paper investigates detecting patterns in the pressure signal of a compressed air system (CAS) with a load/unload control using a wavelet transform. The pressure signal of a CAS carries useful information about operational events. These events form patterns that can be used as ‘signatures’ for event detection. Such patterns are not always apparent in the time domain and hence the signal was transformed to the time-frequency domain. Three different CAS operating modes were considered: idle, tool activation and faulty. The wavelet transforms of the CAS pressure signal reveal unique features to identify events within each mode. Future work will investigate creating machine learning tools for that utilize these features for fault detection in CAS.
Disruption of Family Lives in the Course of Migration: ‘Tied Migrants’ and Partnership Breakup Patterns Among German (R)emigrants
Authors: Baykara-Krumme Helen , Erlinghagen Marcel , Mansfeld Lisa
Published: April 2021

The chapter focuses on partnership dissolution in the course of international migration. Rather than studying mobility outcomes following the dissolution of a partnership, we ask under which conditions international migration increases the risk of separation among couples. Our analysis includes individuals in marital and non-marital relationships who leave Germany and move to another country or re-migrate back to Germany. Based on the first two waves of the German Emigration and Remigration Panel Study (GERPS), our logistic regression estimations show that non-egalitarian, non-synchronised migration patterns are important predictors of union dissolution for male and female emigrants and remigrants. Until now, the role of family migration on the subsequent stability of a union has been largely underexplored, and this chapter contributes to closing this research gap.
Healthy Migrants? Comparing Subjective Health of German Emigrants, Remigrants, and Non-Migrants
Authors: Stawarz Nico , Ette Andreas , Rüger Heiko
Published: April 2021

This article analyses the self-rated health of German emigrants and remigrants compared to non-mobile Germans. Moreover, using a scale measuring self-assessed health changes, we are able to research the health dynamics immediately before and after the migration event. Data from the German Emigration and Remigration Panel Study (GERPS) as well as from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) that covers the general German population are used. In researching how self-selectivity of German migrants contributes to health differences, we use linear regression models to control for a series of relevant covariates. Our findings show a healthy migrant effect for German emigrants and remigrants compared to the German general population. This advantage diminishes after controlling for the covariates, but remains relevant in size and significance. Moreover, the health advantage increases with age at the time of migration. Furthermore, we find only weak evidence that migration has a negative effect on health. The analyses rather show that more than 50% of the migrants report that their health is the same as before the migration, around 30% report health improvements, and only a minor group report worsening health.
Sense of Belonging: Predictors for Host Country Attachment Among Emigrants
Authors: Décieux Jean Philippe , Murdock Elke
Published: April 2021

German citizens usually leave their home country voluntarily and face fewer barriers, e.g. in terms of freedom of travel or labour market integration. However, when arriving in their host country, they are confronted with the need to adapt to life in a new society. Analysing data from the German Emigration and Remigration Panel Study, we found that half of the emigrants developed a sense of belonging to their new host society. Moreover, we set out to examine this development of host country attachment. Guided by findings from acculturation and expatriate attachment research, we identified factors potentially contributing to host country attachment and tested these in a series of regression models. Permanence of the intended stay is the strongest predictor, and social integration also plays an important role. Host country language competence is also important for the identification processes. Regarding cultural distance, our findings suggest an inverted U-shaped relationship with certain cultural novelty facilitating the development of host country belonging. Moreover, the data point to a complex relationship between cultural characteristics of the target country and factors related to an emotional settlement.
Surveying Across Borders: The Experiences of the German Emigration and Remigration Panel Study
Authors: Ette Andreas , Décieux Jean P. , Erlinghagen Marcel , Guedes Auditor Jean , Sander Nikola , Schneider Norbert F. , Witte Nils
Published: April 2021

International migration is often characterised as a process of immigration from economically less developed to highly developed countries. Whereas the factors driving those flows and the integration of the respective ethnic groups are widely analysed, the international mobility of the populations of precisely those affluent societies is regularly missed and less-frequently studied. The chapter describes the research design of the German Emigration and Remigration Panel Study as one of the first endeavours to study the internationally mobile populations from prosperous welfare states. Following an origin-based probability sampling of internationally migrating German citizens, it offers survey data to study the consequences of emigration and remigration along the life course. The chapter discusses the quality of this new data infrastructure along the survey lifecycle and compares the distribution of central demographic characteristics in the survey with official reference statistics. The aim is to establish this approach as a new avenue for studying the global lives of internationally mobile populations.
Harnessing Canada’s Potential for Global Health Leadership: Leveraging Strengths and Confronting Demons
Authors: Weldon Isaac , Hoffman Steven J.
Published: April 2021

Despite its modest position on the international stage, Canada has been able to leverage significant influence in matters of global health. The country’s global health leadership draws on its strengths as a staunch participant in multilateral activities, a large funder of global health initiatives, a defender of a rule-based international order, and an active promoter of human rights, health equity, and global citizenship. These sources of strength, though, are being undermined by ongoing challenges to and recent deviations from the country’s traditional commitment to global health. Canada recently shifted its funding for global health initiatives away from its multilateral partnerships, recent actions have violated international law, findings from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission reveal how Canada’s Indigenous peoples still face many health disparities at home, and some Canadian businesses continue to operate in foreign markets with questionable human rights practices. While there are many reasons to celebrate Canadian contributions to global health, there is also much that can be improved. If Canada wants to harness its potential as a global health leader, it should focus on consolidating the sources of its strength, which will give it greater influence in matters of global health.
Übergreifende Auswertung der Ergebnisse
Authors: Schäfer Philipp
Published: April 2021

Die ermittelten und analysierten Daten zu den Recyclingverfahren der Beispielmetalle Kupfer, Tantal und Kobalt sind in diesem Kapitel in den übergreifenden Kontext des Metallrecyclings eingeordnet und ausgewertet. Dabei sind die wesentlichsten Einflussfaktoren auf die Recyclingaufwände in Abschnitt 6.1 anhand der empirischen Datenbasis aus Kapitel 5 identifiziert und diskutiert (Antwort auf Forschungsfrage (4)). Anhand dieser Datenbasis ist in Abschnitt 6.2 ein approximativer generischer Modellansatz zur Abschätzung der Energiebedarfe des Recyclings abgeleitet. Damit ist die Antwort auf die Forschungsfrage (5) gegeben. In Abschnitt 6.3 ist analysiert, welche Faktoren die aktuellen EoL-RQ beeinflussen, was auf globaler Ebene tatsächlich recycelt wird und welche Potenziale für weitere Einsparungen an Energieeinsatz und THGE durch Recycling noch existieren. Zudem ist darauf eingegangen inwieweit politische Interventionen notwendig sind bzw. vorgenommen werden sollten, um Recycling stärker hinsichtlich der Reduktion von Energieeinsatz und THGE auszurichten. Dieser Abschnitt befasst sich damit mit der Forschungsfrage (6).
Diskussion
Authors: Schäfer Philipp
Published: April 2021

In diesem Kapitel sind die Methoden, Auswertungen und Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Arbeit kritisch reflektiert. Abschnitt 7.1 diskutiert vor dem Hintergrund des sich wandelnden globalen Energiesystems die zukünftige Entwicklung der Relevanz des KEA als Aufwandsindikator.  Dabei sind ebenso die mit der Energiesystemtransformation verbundenen Implikationen für die Metallbereitstellung adressiert. In Abschnitt 7.2 ist auf die Einschränkungen und Unsicherheiten der erstellten Recyclingmodelle und vorgenommenen Auswertungen eingegangen. Eine weitere wesentliche und weitreichende Einschränkung bezieht sich auf die, für die vorgenommenen Auswertungen der KEA-optimierten EoL-RQ unumgängliche, Ein-Metall Betrachtung. Abschnitt 7.3 beinhaltet eine ausführliche Diskussion dieser Einschränkung und gibt Empfehlungen für weitere Forschungen.
Fazit
Authors: Schäfer Philipp
Published: April 2021

Recycling und CE sollen eine nachhaltige Entwicklung unterstützen – darüber ist man sich in der Literatur bereits einig. Wie dieses Ziel genau erreicht werden soll, unterliegt allerdings noch keinem Konsens. Dennoch sind Recycling und das Konzept der CE mittlerweile zentraler Bestandteil zahlreicher politischer Aktionspläne und die Vision der vollständig geschlossenen Materialkreisläufe ist dabei sich zu etablieren.
Untersuchungsdesign
Authors: Steiner Erich
Published: April 2021

Das Kapitel dokumentiert die Eckwerte der empirischen Untersuchung und erörtert detailliert die eingesetzten Analyseinstrumente.
Ergebnisse
Authors: Steiner Erich
Published: April 2021

Im vorliegenden Kapitel werden die Befunde der Untersuchung präsentiert und erörtert.
State of the Art des Social Sellings
Authors: Römmelt Benedikt
Published: April 2021

Der Begriff „Social Selling“ wird häufig in unterschiedliche Deutungen verwandt. In einer Symbiose der Wissenschafts- und Praktiker-Perspektiven wird der Begriff abgegrenzt und grundlegende Gemeinsamkeiten herausgearbeitet. Anschließend erfolgt die Einordnung des Social Selling ins Marketing- und Vertriebsmanagement. Auf Basis existierender Studien wird der Nutzen von Social beschrieben.
Entropic order parameters for the phases of QFT
Authors: Casini Horacio , Huerta Marina , Magán Javier M. , Pontello Diego
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We propose entropic order parameters that capture the physics of generalized symmetries and phases in QFT’s. We do it through an analysis of simple properties (additivity and Haag duality) of the net of operator algebras attached to space-time regions. We observe that different types of symmetries are associated with the breaking of these properties in regions of different non-trivial topologies. When such topologies are connected, we show that the non locally generated operators generate an Abelian symmetry group, and their commutation relations are fixed. The existence of order parameters with area law, like the Wilson loop for the confinement phase, or the ’t Hooft loop for the dual Higgs phase, is shown to imply the existence of more than one possible choice of algebras for the same underlying theory. A natural entropic order parameter arises by this non-uniqueness. We display aspects of the phases of theories with generalized symmetries in terms of these entropic order parameters. In particular, the connection between constant and area laws for dual order and disorder parameters is transparent in this approach, new constraints arising from conformal symmetry are revealed, and the algebraic origin of the Dirac quantization condition (and generalizations thereof) is described. A novel tool in this approach is the entropic certainty relation satisfied by dual relative entropies associated with complementary regions, which quantitatively relates the statistics of order and disorder parameters.
Dynamic environments do not appear to constrain spider web building behaviour
Authors: Mulder Tom , Wilkins Lucas , Mortimer Beth , Vollrath Fritz
Published: April 2021

Many laboratory experiments demonstrate how orb-web spiders change the architecture of their webs in response to prey, surroundings and wind loading. The overall shape of the web and a range of other web parameters are determined by frame and anchor threads. In the wild, unlike the lab, the anchor threads are attached to branches and leaves that are not stationary but move, which affects the thread tension field. Here we experimentally test the effect of a moving support structure on the construction behaviour and web-parameters of the garden cross spider Araneus diadematus. We found no significant differences in building behaviour between rigid and moving anchors in total time spent and total distance covered nor in the percentage of the total time spent and distance covered to build the three major web components: radials, auxiliary and capture spirals. Moreover, measured key parameters of web-geometry were equally unaffected. These results call for re-evaluation of common understanding of spider webs as thread tensions are often considered to be a major factor guiding the spider during construction and web-operation.
Physical activity attenuates postprandial hyperglycaemia in homozygous TBC1D4 loss-of-function mutation carriers
Authors: Schnurr Theresia M. , Jørsboe Emil , Chadt Alexandra , Dahl-Petersen Inger K. , Kristensen Jonas M. , Wojtaszewski Jørgen F. P. , Springer Christian , Bjerregaard Peter , Brage Søren , Pedersen Oluf , Moltke Ida , Grarup Niels , Al-Hasani Hadi , Albrechtsen Anders , Jørgensen Marit E. , Hansen Torben
Published: April 2021

Aims/hypothesis

The common muscle-specific TBC1D4 p.Arg684Ter loss-of-function variant defines a subtype of non-autoimmune diabetes in Arctic populations. Homozygous carriers are characterised by elevated postprandial glucose and insulin levels. Because 3.8% of the Greenlandic population are homozygous carriers, it is important to explore possibilities for precision medicine. We aimed to investigate whether physical activity attenuates the effect of this variant on 2 h plasma glucose levels after an oral glucose load.

Methods

In a Greenlandic population cohort (n = 2655), 2 h plasma glucose levels were obtained after an OGTT, physical activity was estimated as physical activity energy expenditure and TBC1D4 genotype was determined. We performed TBC1D4–physical activity interaction analysis, applying a linear mixed model to correct for genetic admixture and relatedness.

Results

Physical activity was inversely associated with 2 h plasma glucose levels (β[main effect of physical activity] −0.0033 [mmol/l] / [kJ kg−1 day−1], p = 6.5 × 10−5), and significantly more so among homozygous carriers of the TBC1D4 risk variant compared with heterozygous carriers and non-carriers (β[interaction] −0.015 [mmol/l] / [kJ kg−1 day−1], p = 0.0085). The estimated effect size suggests that 1 h of vigorous physical activity per day (compared with resting) reduces 2 h plasma glucose levels by an additional ~0.7 mmol/l in homozygous carriers of the risk variant.

Conclusions/interpretation

Physical activity improves glucose homeostasis particularly in homozygous TBC1D4 risk variant carriers via a skeletal muscle TBC1 domain family member 4-independent pathway. This provides a rationale to implement physical activity as lifestyle precision medicine in Arctic populations.

Data repository

The Greenlandic Cardio-Metabochip data for the Inuit Health in Transition study has been deposited at the European Genome-phenome Archive (https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ega/dacs/EGAC00001000736) under accession EGAD00010001428.

Graphical abstract
Determination of effective stiffness properties of multilayered composite beams
Authors: Bîrsan Mircea , Pietras Daniel , Sadowski Tomasz
Published: April 2021

Starting from a Cosserat-type model for curved rods, we derive analytical expressions for the effective stiffness coefficients of multilayered composite beams with an arbitrary number of layers. For this purpose, we employ the comparison with analytical solutions of some bending, torsion, and extension problems for three-dimensional beams and rods. The layers of the composite beam consist of different orthotropic or isotropic non-homogeneous elastic materials. We apply the obtained general formulas to calculate exact analytical solutions of some beam problems and compare them with corresponding results of numerical simulations. The numerical study shows a wide range of validity and applicability of the obtained formulas.
The geometric invariants for the spectrum of the Stokes operator
Authors: Liu Genqian
Published: April 2021

For a bounded domain$$\Omega \subset {\mathbb {R}}^n$$Ω⊂Rnwith smooth boundary, we explicitly calculate the first two coefficients of the asymptotic expansion for the integral of the trace of the Stokes semigroup$$e^{-t S}$$e-tSas$$t\rightarrow 0^+$$t→0+. These coefficients (i.e., spectral invariants) provide precise information for the volume of the domain$$\Omega $$Ωand the surface area of the boundary$$\partial \Omega $$∂Ωby the spectrum of the Stokes problem. As an application, we show that ann-dimensional ball is uniquely determined by its Stokes spectrum among all Euclidean bounded domains with smooth boundary.
On the Modular Operator of Mutli-component Regions in Chiral CFT
Authors: Hollands Stefan
Published: April 2021

We introduce a new approach to find the Tomita–Takesaki modular flow for multi-component regions in general chiral conformal field theory. Our method is based on locality and analyticity of primary fields as well as the so-called Kubo–Martin–Schwinger (KMS) condition. These features can be used to transform the problem to a Riemann–Hilbert problem on a covering of the complex plane cut along the regions, which is equivalent to an integral equation for the matrix elements of the modular Hamiltonian. Examples are considered.
Musculoskeletal Benefits from a Physical Activity Program in Primary School are Retained 4 Years after the Program is Terminated
Authors: Rosengren Björn E. , Lindgren Erik , Jehpsson Lars , Dencker Magnus , Karlsson Magnus K.
Published: April 2021

Daily school physical activity (PA) improves musculoskeletal traits. This study evaluates whether the benefits remain 4 years after the intervention. We followed 45 boys and 36 girls who had had 40 min PA/school day during the nine compulsory school years and 21 boys and 22 girls who had had 60 min PA/school week (reference), with measurements at baseline and 4 years after the program terminated. Bone mineral content (BMC; g) and bone mineral density (BMD; g/cm2) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and knee flexion peak torque relative to total body weight (PTflexTBW) at a speed of 180 degrees/second with a computerized dynamometer. Group differences are presented as mean differences (adjusted for sex and duration of follow-up period) with 95% confidence intervals. The total gain bone mass [mean difference in spine BMC +32.0 g (14.6, 49.4) and in arms BMD of +0.06 g/cm2 (0.02, 0.09)] and gain in muscle strength [mean difference in PTflex180TBW +12.1 (2.0, 22.2)] were greater in the intervention than in the control group. There are still 4 years after the intervention indications of benefits in both bone mass and muscle strength gain. Daily school PA may counteract low bone mass and inferior muscle strength in adult life. ClinicalTrials.gov.NCT000633828 retrospectively registered 2008-11-03
Synthesis and production of steviol glycosides: recent research trends and perspectives
Authors: Libik-Konieczny Marta , Capecka Ewa , Tuleja Monika , Konieczny Robert
Published: April 2021

Steviol glycosides (SvGls) are plant secondary metabolites belonging to a class of chemical compounds known as diterpenes. SvGls have been discovered only in a few plant species, including in the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. Over the last few decades, SvGls have been extensively researched for their extraordinary sweetness. As a result, the nutritional and pharmacological benefits of these secondary metabolites have grown increasingly apparent. In the near future, SvGls may become a basic, low-calorie, and potent sweetener in the growing natural foods market, and a natural anti-diabetic remedy, a highly competitive alternative to commercially available synthetic drugs. Commercial cultivation of stevia plants and the technologies of SvGls extraction and purification from plant material have already been introduced in many countries. However, new conventional and biotechnological solutions are still being sought to increase the level of SvGls in plants. Since many aspects related to the biochemistry and metabolism of SvGls in vivo, as well as their relationship to the overall physiology of S. rebaudiana are not yet understood, there is also a great need for in-depth scientific research on this topic. Such research may have positive impact on optimization of the profile and SvGls concentration in plants and thus lead to obtaining desired yield. This research summarizes the latest approaches and developments in SvGls production.

Key points

• Steviol glycosides (SvGls) are found in nature in S. rebaudiana plants.

• They exhibit nutraceutical properties.

• This review provides an insight on different approaches to produce SvGls.

• The areas of research that still need to be explored have been identified.
Photosynthetically stimulated bioerosion in symbiotic sponges: the role of glycerol and oxygen
Authors: Achlatis Michelle , van der Zande Rene M. , Webb Alice E. , de Bakker Didier M. , de Nooijer Lennart J. , de Goeij Jasper M.
Published: April 2021

On coral reefs, some of the most aggressive calcium carbonate eroders are dinoflagellate-hosting sponges of the genus Cliona. Like in other marine taxa, the influence of these symbiotic microorganisms on the metabolism of the host sponge, and thereby on erosion of the surrounding ecosystem, is increasingly acknowledged. Despite elevating pH (and hence carbonate saturation state), dinoflagellate photosynthesis promotes bioerosion by their hosts. This paradox might be solved by a spatial isolation of photosynthesis from carbonate dissolution, but it remains unknown which mechanism connects the dinoflagellates’ photosynthesis with the sponge’s bioerosion. Here, we simulate the outcomes of photosynthesis in two separate ways, namely as production of carbon-rich compounds (in this case glycerol) and as an increase in oxygen content. This allows testing their potential to enhance bioerosion rates of sponge holobionts that were preconditioned under variable photosynthetic regimes. We find that glycerol, a commonly shared photosynthate in marine symbioses, stimulates chemical bioerosion rates in the dark of photosynthetically impaired sponges. Chemical bioerosion was all the more limited by availability of sufficient oxygen, while the combination of added glycerol and oxygen boosted chemical bioerosion rates. We argue that under normal physiological conditions, bioerosion is promoted by both organic carbon and oxygen production, and we provide evidence for the storage of photosynthates for night-time use. We further discuss our findings in the context of the current knowledge of the bioerosion mechanism, which we expand by integrating the effects of carbon-rich compounds and oxygen as drivers for bioerosion by Cliona.
Males as victims of intimate partner violence — results from a clinical-forensic medical examination centre
Authors: Wörmann Xenia , Wilmes Sandra , Seifert Dragana , Anders Sven
Published: April 2021

Only few studies have reported on males as victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) so far. The aim of the present study is to analyse frequency and case characteristics of physical violence against male IPV victims examined in a clinical-forensic medical examination centre for victims of violence in Germany over an 11-year period, contributing to a better understanding of IPV in men. Male victims represented 6.2% of IPV cases (n = 167) with a median age of 40 years. Cases were reported to the police in 78.4% before medicolegal examination. In 60.5% of the cases, the perpetrator was the current partner, and 82% occurred in a domestic environment with a predominance of female offenders. In more than half of the cases (57.5%), the victims consulted the examination centre without prior healthcare utilisation. About one-third of the victims reported previous IPV (31.7%). The findings point to the relevance of men as victims of IPV, case group–specific risk factors, injury-dependent behaviour related to healthcare utilisation, the need to establish or strengthen specialised support services for affected men and underscore the importance of clinical-forensic services in documenting and assessing violence-related injuries.
Ecovillage foodscapes: zooming in and out of sustainable food practices
Authors: Ulug Ciska , Trell Elen-Maarja , Horlings Lummina
Published: April 2021

This article uses foodscapes as a lens to explore the potential of ecovillages’ food practices towards enhancing sustainable food systems. Ecovillages are collective projects where members attempt to integrate sustainability principles into daily community life. In these communities, food acts, not only as an element of social life, but also as a venue through which to interact with mainstream food systems and society. Yet, how food practices at ecovillages contribute to sustainable food systems remains vague. This article proposes foodscapes, as a lens, for exploring the sustainability potential of place-based food practices in ecovillages, while also directing attention to how these practices intersect with networks at broader social and spatial scales. It asks, how can we better understand and draw from sustainable food practices, when considering these as both, place-based and relational? And what is the potential and the role of ecovillage communities to contribute to broader sustainable food system change? Drawing on ethnographic and food mapping methods, the article explores selected food practices at three ecovillage communities in the United States. Using social practice theory for “zooming in” on place-based practices and “zooming out” to examine relational networks, we investigate how these communities create internally sustainable food systems, while externally bridging themselves with broader urban and rural communities. Through viewing ecovillage food practices as place-based and relational, we develop a broader and spatially-focused understanding of food system sustainability.
Whistleblower rewards, false reports, and corporate fraud
Authors: Buccirossi Paolo , Immordino Giovanni , Spagnolo Giancarlo
Published: April 2021

It is often claimed that rewards for whistleblowers lead to fraudulent reports, but for several US programs this has not been a major problem. We model the interaction between rewards for whistleblowers, sanctions against fraudulent reporting, judicial errors, and standards of proof in the court case on a whistleblower’s allegations and the possible follow-up for fraudulent allegations. Balancing whistleblower rewards, sanctions against fraudulent reports, and courts’ standards of proof is essential for these policies to succeed. When the risk of retaliation is severe, larger rewards are needed and so are tougher sanctions against fraudulent reports. The precision of the legal system must be sufficiently high, hence these programs are not viable in weak institution environments, where protection is imperfect and court precision low, or where sanctions against false reporting are mild.
In vivo analysis of a proprietary glass-based adhesive for sternal fixation and stabilization using rabbit and sheep models
Authors: Mehrvar Cina , Deignan Emily , Hurtig Mark , Cohen Gideon , Zalzal Paul , Safir Oleg , Alhalawani Adel , Papini Marcello , Towler Mark R.
Published: April 2021

Wire cerclage remains the standard method of care for sternal fixation, following median sternotomy, despite being beset with complications. An emerging treatment option has been to augment the wires with an adhesive. A patented ionomeric glass (mole fraction: SiO2:0.48, ZnO:0.36, CaO:0.12, SrO:0.04) has been used to formulate GPC+, a glass polyalkenoate cement (GPC), by mixing it with poly(acrylic) acid (PAA) and de-ionized water. In a human cadaver study, this material, when applied with wire cerclage, was able to significantly reduce sternal instability. However, the material has yet to be tested in pertinent animal models. Here, after a series of physical and mechanical tests to confirm suitability of the experimental material for implantation, three samples of GPC+ were implanted in either the tibia or femur of three different rabbits, alongside sham defects, for two different time modalities. A further seven samples of GPC+ and one poly(methyl methacrylate) control (PMMA) were implanted in either the tibia or femur of two different sheep. The sheep containing the PMMA was sacrificed at 8 weeks and the other at 16 weeks, to evaluate time dependent biological response. Upon sacrifice, microCT images were acquired and histology slides prepared for analysis. All three GPC+ samples implanted in the rabbit model, for the two time modalities, were characterized by minimal bone resorption along with a mild inflammatory response. Five of the seven GPC+ materials implanted in the sheep model (all three implanted for 8 weeks and two of those implanted for 16 weeks) were associated with mild to moderate immune response, comparable to that observed with PMMA, as well as mild bone resorption. The remaining two GPC + materials (implanted in the sheep model for 16 weeks) exhibited no bone resorption or inflammatory response and appeared to stimulate increased bone density at the implant site. These results suggest that GPC + can be a viable bone adhesive for use in hard tissue applications such as sternal fixation and stabilization.
Mobilization Under Threat: Emotional Appeals and Pro-Opposition Political Participation Online
Authors: Young Lauren E.
Published: April 2021

Large numbers of people living under authoritarian governments participate in pro-opposition politics despite sometimes significant risks. Increasing amounts of this political participation are taking place and being organized online. Do emotions play a causal role in inducing pro-opposition participation in authoritarian regimes? Can emotions that mobilize participation be spread via social media? Through an experiment carried out by an opposition party in Zimbabwe, I test whether campaign appeals to opposition supporters’ emotions affect their level of political participation in online pro-opposition discussions. I find that across two different issue areas, randomly assigned anger appeals increase participation on average by 0.4 standard deviations more than enthusiasm appeals with the same informational content. In real terms, this represents between 30% and 170% more participation in the groups assigned to the anger appeals across four different measures of participation. There is little evidence that these effects are stronger in areas with less poverty or that have historically been affected by more violence, or when coupled with messages emphasizing personal power. These results suggest that anger appeals that highlight economic grievances can be an important force for mobilizing online political participation in repressive environments.
1H, 13C, 15N and 31P chemical shift assignment for stem-loop 4 from the 5′-UTR of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Vögele Jennifer , Ferner Jan-Peter , Altincekic Nadide , Bains Jasleen Kaur , Ceylan Betül , Fürtig Boris , Grün J. Tassilo , Hengesbach Martin , Hohmann Katharina F. , Hymon Daniel , Knezic Bozana , Löhr Frank , Peter Stephen A. , Pyper Dennis , Qureshi Nusrat S. , Richter Christian , Schlundt Andreas , Schwalbe Harald , Stirnal Elke , Sudakov Alexey , Wacker Anna , Weigand Julia E. , Wirmer-Bartoschek Julia , Wöhnert Jens , Duchardt-Ferner Elke
Published: April 2021

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the cause of the respiratory disease COVID-19. As of today, therapeutic interventions in severe COVID-19 cases are still not available as no effective therapeutics have been developed so far. Despite the ongoing development of a number of effective vaccines, therapeutics to fight the disease once it has been contracted will still be required. Promising targets for the development of antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2 can be found in the viral RNA genome. The 5′- and 3′-genomic ends of the 30 kb SCoV-2 genome are highly conserved among Betacoronaviruses and contain structured RNA elements involved in the translation and replication of the viral genome. The 40 nucleotides (nt) long highly conserved stem-loop 4 (5_SL4) is located within the 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR) important for viral replication. 5_SL4 features an extended stem structure disrupted by several pyrimidine mismatches and is capped by a pentaloop. Here, we report extensive 1H, 13C, 15N and 31P resonance assignments of 5_SL4 as the basis for in-depth structural and ligand screening studies by solution NMR spectroscopy.
Mutual learning-based efficient synchronization of neural networks to exchange the neural key
Authors: Sarkar Arindam
Published: April 2021

Synchronization of two neural networks through mutual learning is used to exchange the key over a public channel. In the absence of a weight vector from another party, the key challenge with neural synchronization is how to assess the coordination of two communication parties. There is an issue of delay in the current techniques in the synchronization assessment that has an impact on the security and privacy of the neural synchronization. In this paper, to assess the complete coordination of a cluster of neural networks more efficiently and timely, an important strategy for assessing coordination is presented. To approximately determine the degree of synchronization, the frequency of the two networks having the same output in prior iterations is used. The hash is used to determine if both the networks are completely synchronized exactly when a certain threshold is crossed. The improved technique makes absolute coordination between two communication parties using the weight vectors’ has value. In contrast, with existing approaches, two communicating parties who follow the proposed approach will detect complete synchronization sooner. This reduces the effective geometric likelihood. The proposed method, therefore, increases the safety of the protocol for neural key exchange. This proposed technique has been passed through different parametric tests. Simulations of the process show effectiveness in terms of cited results in the paper.