bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Characterization of Yb−Ag@TiO2 Hollow Spheres for Enhancing Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Wu Wenwen , Peng Zitong , Yao Chu , Jiang Xueliang , You Feng , Gao Yanrong
Published: May 2020

Using melamine‐formaldehyde microspheres as templates and n‐butyl titanate, silver nitrate and ytterbium nitrate hexahydrate as raw materials, the TiO2 hollow spheres (TiO2HS), which were doped with Yb and loaded with Ag, were successfully prepared by sol‐gel template method and high‐temperature calcinations and reduction. The combined action of Yb and Ag on the photocatalytic effect of methyl orange in visible light was studied. The results show that Yb3+ did not affect the reduction of Ag+ in the synthetic process, and Ag did not affect the substitution of Yb3+ for Ti4+ into the lattice of anatase phase TiO2. The introduction of Yb created impurity energy levels in the TiO2 band gap, which broadened the light absorption range and shortened the band gap width. At the same time, the Ag with strong electron conduction ability improved the carrier transfer speed. Benefitting from the combined action of Yb and Ag, the photo‐degradation efficiency of Yb−Ag@TiO2HS on methyl orange in visible light was significantly improved compared with that of undoped, Yb‐doped and Ag‐loaded TiO2HS. The degradation efficiency of Yb−Ag@TiO2HS on methyl orange was 7 times, 3 times and 4 times higher than that of TiO2HS, Yb@TiO2HS and Ag@TiO2HS, respectively.
In Situ Doping of Metal Nanoparticles into Medical Polymer Membranes and Their Biomedical Application
Authors: Li Xiaoyun , Wang Qi , Yu Yueqi , Fang Leyi , Wang Xingwen , Miao Zhuoyue , Wan Mimi , Wang Fenghe , Mao Chun
Published: May 2020

The problems faced by polymer implants in human body put forward higher requirements. Here, in‐situ doping method was proposed to introduce metal nanoparticles into polymer membranes to realize several biomedical functions by long‐term releasing metal ions evenly and slowly. Two kinds of polymer films, planar polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and porous polyurethane (pPU) films with the addition of zinc oxide and copper nanoparticles respectively were chosen as the research objects. The structures of the metal nanoparticle‐doped polymer membranes were characterized, and the release behaviors and biomedical effects of metal ions were studied. Results showed that the released zinc ions can realize anti‐bacterial property and promote osteoblast proliferation, while the released copper ions can achieve the task of anticoagulation, antimicrobial and promotion of endothelial cell growth. The in‐situ doping method may have great potential to construct multifunctional biomaterial films for versatile biomedical applications.
Conjugated Polyelectrolyte Based Colorimetric Array for the Discrimination of Primary Amino Acids
Authors: An Yuxiu , Xiao Keren , Yao Zhiyi , Li Chun
Published: May 2020

We report a colorimetric sensor based on the supramolecular complex between a conformation‐sensitive cationic polythiophene derivative, poly(3‐(4‐methyl‐3‐thienyloxy)propyltrimethylammonium) (PMTPA) and 2‐naphthalenesulfonate (NS). It could be applied to discern 19 primary amino acids by the wavelength of PMTPA/NS. The sensing performance and mechanism was investigated by spectroscopic studies such as absorption and emission spectra. This approach relies on the disassembly of PMTPA/NS aggregates induced by the amphiphilic isoindole derivatives of amino acids formed in situ. 100% confidence limits for this discrimination could be achieved by using linear discriminant analysis (LDA).
Suppression of ESIPT Phenomenon of Flavonoids on Binding Interaction with Double Stranded RNA
Authors: Sett Riya , Paul Bijan K. , Guchhait Nikhil
Published: May 2020

A detailed photophysical characterization of biologically imperative drugs, 3‐hydroxyflavone (3HF) and quercetin (QCT) upon binding with taurula yeast RNA (ribonucleic acid) has been studied. The steady‐state absorption, emission and anisotropy profiles of these anti‐cancer drugs evidence for the binding interaction through interconversion between prototropic conformations. Although diminution of fluorescence (at ∼ 515 nm for 3HF and ∼ 545 nm for QCT) was attributable to the protonated form indicating suppression of ESIPT phenomenon, the excitation spectra aids in identification of the actual conformation of the drugs after prototropic conversion. The dynamical aspects were displayed by time‐resolved fluorescence decay and rotational relaxation behavior (‘dip‐and‐rise’ decay pattern) of the drugs within RNA helix. The quenching study hints for the probable binding location and the mode of binding but the circular dichroism study confirms it to be groove binding. This study endows with not only the biological insight of RNA‐binding of naturally abundant flavonols but also photophysical depiction of spectroscopically challenging phenomenon in an aspect of its structural interconversion.
Data‐driven refinements of a genetics learning progression
Authors: Castro‐Faix Moraima , Duncan Ravit Golan , Choi Jinnie
Published: May 2020

Learning progressions are theoretical models that describe learning of scientific ideas and practices over time. These hypothetical progressions need to be tested and refined in order to productively inform instruction and assessment. In this paper, we report our attempts to revise a learning progression in genetics. In particular, we focused on two constructs that embody core ideas in classical genetics and one molecular construct. The revisions are based on analysis of pre‐ and postinterview data obtained from sixty 11th grade students before and after they engaged in a 10‐week unit that addressed these concepts. We found that while many of the students held ideas that aligned with the progression, there were several distinct dimensions of student reasoning that were not captured and led to substantial revisions of the constructs including: (a) the splitting of the construct dealing with meiosis (E) into two subconstructs (E1‐physical passage of genetic information and E2 – the role of sex cells), (b) the addition of new levels to constructs dealing with the universal nature and organization of the genetic code (A) and construct (F). For Construct A, the lower levels were expanded to include ideas about the localization of DNA in cells and to include ideas about the composition of DNA that were not captured in the progression. Revisions to Construct F included the expansion of existing levels and the addition of modes of inheritance such as codominance and incomplete dominance. The research we present offers insights about a methodological approach that can be used to test and refine progressions, as well as insights about student learning in genetics as we further describe and expand the stepping‐stone ideas in the progression and discuss further the multidimensional nature of learning progressions.
Assessing the public health impacts of legalizing recreational cannabis use: the US experience
Authors: Hall Wayne , Lynskey Michael
Published: May 2020

The sale of cannabis for adult recreational use has been made legal in nine US states since 2012, and nationally in Uruguay in 2013 and Canada in 2018. We review US research on the effects of legalization on cannabis use among adults and adolescents and on cannabis‐related harms; the impact of legalizing adult recreational use on cannabis price, availability, potency and use; and regulatory policies that may increase or limit adverse effects of legalization. The legalization of recreational cannabis use in the US has substantially reduced the price of cannabis, increased its potency, and made cannabis more available to adult users. It appears to have increased the frequency of cannabis use among adults, but not so far among youth. It has also increased emergency department attendances and hospitalizations for some cannabis‐related harms. The relatively modest effects on cannabis use to date probably reflect restrictions on the number and locations of retail cannabis outlets and the constraints on commercialization under a continued federal prohibition of cannabis. Future evaluations of legalization should monitor: cannabis sales volumes, prices and content of tetrahydrocannabinol; prevalence and frequency of cannabis use among adolescents and adults in household and high school surveys; car crash fatalities and injuries involving drivers who are cannabis‐impaired; emergency department presentations related to cannabis; the demand for treatment of cannabis use disorders; and the prevalence of regular cannabis use among vulnerable young people in mental health services, schools and the criminal justice system. Governments that propose to legalize and regulate cannabis use need to fund research to monitor the impacts of these policy changes on public health, and take advantage of this research to develop ways of regulating can­nabis use that minimize adverse effects on public health.
Transdiagnostic clinical staging in youth mental health: a first international consensus statement
Authors: Shah Jai L. , Scott Jan , McGorry Patrick D. , Cross Shane P.M. , Keshavan Matcheri S. , Nelson Barnaby , Wood Stephen J. , Marwaha Steven , Yung Alison R. , Scott Elizabeth M. , Öngür Dost , Conus Philippe , Henry Chantal , Hickie Ian B. ,   for the International Working Group on Transdiagnostic Clinical Staging in Youth Mental Health
Published: May 2020

Recognizing that current frameworks for classification and treatment in psychiatry are inadequate, particularly for use in young people and early intervention services, transdiagnostic clinical staging models have gained prominence. These models aim to identify where individuals lie along a continuum of illness, to improve treatment selection and to better understand patterns of illness continuity, discontinuity and aetiopathogenesis. All of these factors are particularly relevant to help‐seeking and mental health needs experienced during the peak age range of onset, namely the adolescent and young adult developmental periods (i.e., ages 12‐25 years). To date, progressive stages in transdiagnostic models have typically been defined by traditional symptom sets that distinguish “sub‐threshold” from “threshold‐level” disorders, even though both require clinical assessment and potential interventions. Here, we argue that staging models must go beyond illness progression to capture additional dimensions of illness extension as evidenced by emergence of mental or physical comorbidity/complexity or a marked change in a linked biological construct. To develop further consensus in this nascent field, we articulate principles and assumptions underpinning transdiagnostic clinical staging in youth mental health, how these models can be operationalized, and the implications of these arguments for research and development of new service systems. We then propose an agenda for the coming decade, including knowledge gaps, the need for multi‐stakeholder input, and a collaborative international process for advancing both science and implementation.
The general factor of psychopathology: a comparison with the general factor of intelligence with respect to magnitude and predictive validity
Authors: Pettersson Erik , Larsson Henrik , D'Onofrio Brian M. , Bölte Sven , Lichtenstein Paul
Published: May 2020

In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in the general factor of psychopathology (“p”), which is intended to summarize broad psychiat­ric comorbidity into a single index. In this study, rather than attempting to validate this model using statistical techniques, we compared the magnitude (as indicated by the variance explained in the respective indicators) and the predictive validity of the “p” factor with those of the gen­eral factor of intelligence (“g”). To compare the magnitude, for “g”, we analyzed fifteen Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale subtests (N=1,200). For “p”, we analyzed fourteen psychiatric diagnoses in Swedish adults (N=909,699), eight self‐ and parent‐rated psychopathology scales in Swedish adolescents (N=2,069), and sixteen parent‐rated psychopathology scales in Swedish children (N=14,589). To compare the predictive validity, we analyzed Swedish male military conscripts (N=414,595, mean age: 18.3 years) with measures on both “g” and “p” (derived from eight psychiatric diagnoses). We then examined their unique associations with three intelligence‐related outcomes (annual income, highest education, and university entrance exam scores), and sixteen adverse outcomes (e.g., suicidal behavior, psychotropic medication prescription, and criminality) retrieved from registers (mean age at follow‐up = 29.2 years). Results indicated that the magnitudes of “g” and “p” were very similar. Controlling for “p”, “g” significantly predicted later education (standardized beta, β=0.38, SE=0.01) and university entrance exam scores (β=0.48, SE=0.01). Controlling for “g”, “p” significantly predicted all adverse outcomes (mean β=0.32; range: 0.15 to 0.47). These findings support the notion that psychopathology indicators can be combined into a single score, similar to how intelligence subtests are combined into a general intelligence score. This “p” score might supplement specific diagnoses when formulating a management plan and predicting prognosis.
Patient Satisfaction in Emergency General Surgery: A Prospective Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Kinnear Ned , Herath Matheesha , Jolly Samantha , Han Jennie , Tran Minh , Parker Dominic , O'Callaghan Michael , Hennessey Derek , Dobbins Christopher , Sammour Tarik , Moore James
Published: May 2020

Background

The importance of the patient experience is increasingly being recognised. However, there is a dearth of studies regarding factors affecting patient‐reported outcomes in emergency general surgery (EGS), including none from the Southern Hemisphere. We aim to prospectively assess factors associated with patient satisfaction in this setting.

Methods

In this prospective cross‐sectional study, all consecutive adult patients admitted to an acute surgical unit over four weeks were invited to complete a validated Patient‐Reported Experience Measures questionnaire. These were completed either in person when discharge was imminent or by telephone  <4 weeks post‐discharge. Responses were used to determine factors associated with overall patient satisfaction.

Results

From 146 eligible patients, 100 (68%) completed the questionnaire, with a mean overall satisfaction score of 8.3/10. On multivariate analyses, eight factors were significantly associated with increased overall satisfaction. Five of these were similar to those previously prescribed by other like studies, being patient age  >50 years, sufficient analgesia, satisfaction with the level of senior medical staff, important questions answered by nurses and confidence in decisions made about treatment. Three identified factors were new: sufficient privacy in the emergency department, sufficient notice prior to discharge and feeling well looked after in hospital.

Conclusions

Factors associated with patient satisfaction were identified at multiple points of the patient journey. While some of these have been reported in similar studies, most differed. Hospitals should assess factors valued by their EGS population prior to implementing initiatives to improve patient satisfaction.
Histopathology of brain AVMs part I: microhemorrhages and changes in the nidal vessels
Authors: Järvelin Patrik , Wright Roosa , Pekonen Henri , Keränen Sara , Rauramaa Tuomas , Frösen Juhana
Published: May 2020

Background

Arteriovenous malformations of the brain (bAVM) may rupture from aneurysms or ectasias of the feeding, draining, or nidal vessels. Moreover, they may rupture from the immature, fragile nidal vessels that are characteristic to bAVMs. How the histopathological changes of the nidal vessels associate with clinical presentation and hemorrhage of the lesion is not well known.

Materials and methods

We investigated tissue samples from surgically treated bAVMs (n = 85) using standard histological and immunohistochemical stainings. Histological features were compared with the clinical presentation of the patient.

Results

Microhemorrhages from nidal vessels were found both in bAVMs with a history of clinically evident rupture and in bAVMs considered unruptured. These microhemorrhages were associated with presence of immature, pathological nidal vessels (p = 0.010) and perivascular inflammation of these vessels (p = 0.001), especially with adhesion of neutrophils (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, perivascular inflammation (OR = 19, 95% CI 1.6 to 230), neutrophil infiltration of the vessel wall (OR = 13, 95% CI 1.9 to 94), and rupture status (OR = 0.13, 95% CI 0.017 to 0.92) were significantly associated with microhemorrhages.

Conclusions

Clinically silent microhemorrhages from nidal vessels seem to be very common in bAVMs, and associate with perivascular inflammation and neutrophil infiltration. Further studies on the role of perivascular inflammation in the clinical course of bAVMs are indicated.
In vivo wear of CAD-CAM composite versus lithium disilicate full coverage first-molar restorations: a pilot study over 2 years
Authors: Güth Jan-Frederik , Erdelt Kurt , Keul Christine , Burian Gintare , Schweiger Josef , Edelhoff Daniel
Published: May 2020

Objectives

To present a digital approach to measure and compare material wear behavior of antagonistic first molar restorations made of an experimental CAD/CAM composite (COMP) and lithium disilicate ceramic (LS2) in patients with reconstructed vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) after generalized hard tissue loss.

Methods

A total of 12 patients underwent complete full jaw rehabilitation with full occlusal coverage restorations made either of COMP or LS2. The first molar restorations (n = 48) were chosen for wear examination. At annual recall appointments, polyether impressions were taken, and resulting plaster casts were digitalized using a laboratory scanner. Mean observation period was 371 days for first and 769 days for second year. The resulting 96 datasets were analyzed by superimposition of 3-D datasets using an iterative best-fit method. Based on the superimposition data, the wear rates of the occlusal contact areas (OCAs) were calculated.

Results

For antagonistic restorations made of COMP, the average wear rate was 24.8 ± 13.3 μm/month, while for LS2, it was 9.5 ± 4.3 μm/month in first year, with significant differences (p < 0.0001) between the materials. In second year, monthly wear rates decreased significantly for both materials: COMP (16.2 ± 10.7 μm/month) and LS2 (5.5 ± 3.3 μm/month). Statistical comparison between wear time showed significant differences for both materials: COMPp < 0.037 and LS2p < 0.001. A logarithmic fit (COMPR2 = 0.081; LS2R2 = 0.038) of the data was calculated to estimate the wear progression.

Significance

In patients with reconstructed VDO, restorations made of LS2 show a more stable wear behavior than ones out of experimental CAD/CAM composite. In cases of complete rehabilitation, load bearing CAD/CAM-composite restorations should be critically considered for application due to their occlusal wear behavior. However, when choosing a restorative material, not only the functional occlusal stability should be taken into account but also the prospect of minimally invasive treatment with maximum preservation of natural tooth structures.
“You relied on God and your neighbour to get through it”: social capital and climate change adaptation in the rural Canadian Prairies
Authors: Fletcher Amber J. , Akwen Nancy Sah , Hurlbert Margot , Diaz Harry P.
Published: May 2020

Social capital is increasingly recognized as a key determinant of adaptive capacity to climate change. Beyond formal adaptation infrastructure like insurance and public disaster support programmes, it can be difficult to identify the role that informal social capital—such as relationships, trust, and mutual support between community members—plays in climate adaptation. Drawing on a multi-site qualitative study in the Canadian Prairie region, this paper examines how three forms of social capital (bonding, bridging, and linking) shape rural communities’ adaptation to climate extremes. Based on in-depth interviews with 163 community members, the findings demonstrate how social capital contributes to adaptive capacity, particularly in rural areas where more formal supports may be absent or lacking. We examine how social capital is affected by existing socio-economic sensitivities, such as rural depopulation, which can reduce informal social capital while simultaneously increasing people’s dependence on it. The findings indicate the strengths and limitations of bonding and bridging social capital, particularly in the face of future climate extremes that may exceed local adaptive capacity. Further, we find that informal social capital may also reinforce gender inequality, exclusion, and inter-group differences, indicating its limitations for socially inclusive adaptation. Addressing these structural factors can help communities move past coping and toward long-term adaptation. In the face of increasing climate risks, our findings suggest the importance of public supports that are attentive to local strengths, gaps, and social relations.
Accounting for multiple testing in the analysis of spatio-temporal environmental data
Authors: Cortés José , Mahecha Miguel , Reichstein Markus , Brenning Alexander
Published: May 2020

The statistical analysis of environmental data from remote sensing and Earth system simulations often entails the analysis of gridded spatio-temporal data, with a hypothesis test being performed for each grid cell. When the whole image or a set of grid cells are analyzed for a global effect, the problem of multiple testing arises. When no global effect is present, we expect$$ \alpha $$α% of all grid cells to be false positives, and spatially autocorrelated data can give rise to clustered spurious rejections that can be misleading in an analysis of spatial patterns. In this work, we review standard solutions for the multiple testing problem and apply them to spatio-temporal environmental data. These solutions are independent of the test statistic, and any test statistic can be used (e.g., tests for trends or change points in time series). Additionally, we introduce permutation methods and show that they have more statistical power. Real-world data are used to provide examples of the analysis, and the performance of each method is assessed in a simulation study. Unlike other simulation studies, our study compares the statistical power of the presented methods in a comprehensive simulation study. In conclusion, we present several statistically rigorous methods for analyzing spatio-temporal environmental data and controlling the false positives. These methods allow the use of any test statistic in a wide range of applications in environmental sciences and remote sensing.
Protection heterogeneity in a harmonized European patent system
Authors: Zingg Raphael , Elsner Erasmus
Published: May 2020

This study proposes a divergent expectation model for patent infringement disputes, where both litigation and settlement are driven by patent quality. Under the model, patent quality depends on both broadness and definiteness of the patent. The model predicts that technologies where the definiteness attribute can be estimated with high accuracy will have higher settlement rates. At trial, it is rather the assessment of the patent quality by the judge which decides the outcome. In its empirical section, the paper evaluates over a thousand hand-collected and hand-coded patent infringement and counterclaim decisions rendered by courts in the three largest patent granting European countries—Germany, France and the United Kingdom. The paper utilizes empirical methods to investigate whether the characteristics of the patents or the country of litigation predict the outcome of litigation. Examination of the patent characteristics is guided by the factors of our model, in that the patent quality, and underlying technology and industry are tested. The findings provide evidence of the continuing heterogeneity of the patent systems in Europe, despite the harmonization efforts. Demonstrated was the lack of importance of the characteristics of the litigated patent; rather, it was the forum to which the case was brought that was decisive. At the dawn of the Unified Patent Court, our study provides for a window into the extent of heterogeneity still prevailing and a starting point for monitoring the further development of European patent harmonization.
Influence of direct electric current on wetting behavior during brazing
Authors: Bobzin Kirsten , Wietheger Wolfgang , Hebing Julian , Zhao Lidong , Schmidt Alexander , Iskandar Riza , Mayer Joachim
Published: May 2020

The wetting behavior of liquid metals is of great importance for many processes. For brazing, however, a targeted modification beyond the adjustment of conventional process parameters or the actual set-up was not possible in the past. Therefore, the effect of direct electric current along the surface of a steel substrate on the wetting behavior and the formation of the spreading pattern of an industrial nickel-based filler metal was investigated at a temperature above T = 1000 °C in a vacuum brazing furnace. By applying direct current up to I = 60 A the wetted surface area could be increased and the spreading of the molten filler metal could be controlled in dependence of the polarity of the electric current. The electric component of the Lorentz force is supposed to be feasible reasons for the observed dependence of the electrical polarity on the filler metal spreading direction. To evaluate the influence of the electric current on the phase formation subsequent selective electron microscope analyses of the spreading pattern were carried out.
Kardiovaskuläre Abklärung vor Nierentransplantation
Authors: Watschinger B. , Oberbauer R.
Published: May 2020

Es ist bis heute unklar, welche kardialen Untersuchungen bei Patienten mit Niereninsuffizienz in Vorbereitung auf eine Nierentransplantation durchgeführt werden sollen. Das hohe kardiovaskuläre Risiko von Nierenpatienten bedingt allerdings eine Abklärung vor dem geplanten Eingriff. Während manche Zentren bei den vorgesehenen Untersuchungen sehr zurückhaltend sind, schlagen andere eine invasive Untersuchung mittels Koronarangiographie vor. Eine konsequente Einschätzung der Vortestwahrscheinlichkeit einer kardialen Pathologie sollte vor der Testauswahl erfolgen, um unnötige nichtinvasive Test bei Hochrisikopatienten zu vermeiden. Wird schließlich eine koronare Herzerkrankung nachgewiesen, sind weitere Frage nach der adäquaten Versorgung der kritischen Koronarläsionen zu klären, obwohl eine breite evidenzbasierte Datenlage dazu noch nicht existiert. Ob einer konservativen Behandlung oder einer Sanierung mittels Angioplastie/Stenting bzw. einer Bypassoperation der Vorzug gegeben wird, hängt von der Ausprägung der Koronarerkrankung ab und muss in Absprache mit Kardiologen und Herzchirurgen festgelegt werden.
Beyond Money: Conscientious Objection in Medicine as a Conflict of Interests
Authors: Giubilini Alberto , Savulescu Julian
Published: May 2020

Conflict of interests (COIs) in medicine are typically taken to befinancialin nature: it is often assumed that a COI occurs when a healthcare practitioner’s financial interest conflicts with patients’ interests, public health interests, or professional obligations more generally. Even when non-financial COIs are acknowledged, ethical concerns are almost exclusively reserved for financial COIs. However, the notion of “interests” cannot be reduced to its financial component. Individuals in general, and medical professionals in particular, have different types of interests, many of which are non-financial in nature but can still conflict with professional obligations. The debate about healthcare delivery has largely overlooked this broader notion of interests. Here, we will focus on health practitioners’ moral or religious values as particular types of personal interests involved in healthcare delivery that can generate COIs and on conscientious objection in healthcare as the expression of a particular type of COI. We argue that, in the healthcare context, the COIs generated by interests of conscience can be as ethically problematic, and therefore should be treated in the same way, as financial COIs.
Fuzzy nearest neighbor approach for drought monitoring and assessment
Authors: Fadaei-Kermani E. , Ghaeini-Hessaroeyeh M.
Published: May 2020

In this paper, a new approach is proposed based on the Fuzzy-nearest neighbor model to deal with drought monitoring. According to the Standardized Precipitation Index and via Fuzzy-kNN approach, a method has been presented to predict the most likely drought conditions. In order to appraise the precision of results, the model was applied to monitor the drought status in city of Kerman, located in south east of Iran. The results showed that the area has faced drought and also rainfall shortages in recent years. The calculated values of correlation coefficient, RMSE, CRM and MAE coefficients showed the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed approach.
Kinetic equilibrium and thermodynamic analyses of As (V) removal from aqueous solution using iron-impregnated Azadirachta indica carbon
Authors: Sawood Ghazi Mohd , Gupta S. K.
Published: May 2020

Arsenic emerges out as a potential threat to human health and vegetation in recent past. Therefore, the present study aimed at adsorption of As (V) from the aqueous solution using Fe-AIB and Fe-AIL (iron-impregnated activated carbon synthesized from the powder of bark and leaves of Azadirachta indica tree). The removal of As (V) by Fe-AIB and Fe-AIL was examined under different experimental conditions. The Fe-AIB showed up to 96% As (V) removal at pH of 6.0, and up to 90% removal was observed with Fe-AIL at pH 4.0. Although the kinetic data fit best in the pseudo-second-order model, there are various other processes like intraparticle diffusion, pore diffusion and film diffusion that controls the overall rate. Mechanistic frameworks related to the adsorption process were analysed using various isotherm models. Langmuir and Freundlich models clearly explain As (V) adsorption by Fe-AIB and Fe-AIL. Thermodynamic analysis reveals the spontaneous adsorption on Fe-AIB. Moreover, it also confers the endothermic nature of the adsorption process for both the adsorbents. The presence of co-existing ions like PO43− and SiO32 negatively interfered the removal or arsenate uptake, whereas ions like SO42− and NO3− do not significantly affect the adsorption process. Consistently greater than 90% As (V) removal up to few cycles for both the adsorbents was observed in regeneration studies. Significant reusability characteristics was possessed by both the spent adsorbents, which makes them potentially efficient for large-scale practical application with enhanced performance.
The Cu2+ reduction and H2 evolution on the hetero-system CuFeO2/ZnO under visible light
Authors: Bagtache R. , Missaoui A. , Korib A. , Brahimi R. , Trari M.
Published: May 2020

The hetero-system CuFeO2/ZnO was successfully used in the Cu2+ reduction under visible light irradiation; it was conducted with varying some important factors such as the initial Cu2+ concentration, mass ratio CuFeO2/ZnO and light flux. The Cu2+ reduction obeys to a first-order kinetic with a half-life of 60 min. The regression in the reduction rate over time is due to the competitive hydrogen evolution. Indeed, the electrons are transferred to water via Cu2+ clusters. Also as application, the H2 evolution is successfully achieved with an evolution rate of 3.42 µmol (g catalyst)−1 min−1 and a quantum yield of 0.5%. The hydrogen is facilitated through generated bifunctional hetero-system because of the low H2 overvoltage on copper.
A note on Eneström–Kakeya theorem for a polynomial with quaternionic variable
Authors: Tripathi Dinesh
Published: May 2020

In this paper, we present certain results concerning the location of the zeros of polynomials with quaternionic variable which generalize and refine some known Eneström–Kakeya type bounds for the zeros of polynomials.
Decay of the stochastic linear Schrödinger equation in $$d \ge 3$$ with small multiplicative noise
Authors: Fan Chenjie , Xu Weijun
Published: May 2020

We give decay estimates of the solution to the linear Schrödinger equation in dimension $$d \ge 3$$

d
≥
3

with a small noise which is white in time and colored in space. As a consequence, we also obtain certain asymptotic behaviour of the solution. The proof relies on the bootstrapping argument used by Journé–Soffer–Sogge for decay of deterministic Schrödinger operators.
Tribological properties of novel palygorskite nanoplatelets used as oil-based lubricant additives
Authors: Wang Kunpeng , Wu Huaichao , Wang Hongdong , Liu Yuhong , Yang Lv , Zhao Limei
Published: May 2020

Layered palygorskite (PAL), commonly called attapulgite, is a natural inorganic clay mineral composed of magnesium silicate. In this study, an aqueous miscible organic solvent treatment method is adopted to prepare molybdenum-dotted palygorskite (Amo-PMo) nanoplatelets, which greatly improved the specific surface area of PAL and the dispersion effect in an oil-based lubricant system. Their layered structure and size were confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy. Following a tribological test lubricated with three additives (PAL, organic molybdenum (SN-Mo), and Amo-PMo), it was found that the sample of 0.5 wt% Amo-PMo exhibited the best tribological properties with a coefficient of friction of 0.09. Moreover, the resulting wear scar diameter and wear volume of the sliding ball surface were 63% and 49.6% of those lubricated with base oil, respectively. Its excellent lubricating performance and self-repairing ability were mainly attributed to the generated MoS2 adsorbed on the contact surfaces during the tribochemical reaction, thereby effectively preventing the direct collision between asperities on sliding solid surfaces. Thus, as-prepared Amo-PMo nanoplatelets show great potential as oil-based lubricant additives, and this study enriches the existing application of PAL in industry.
Clean coal geology in China: Research advance and its future
Authors: Wang Xiaoshuai , Tang Yuegang , Wang Shaoqing , Schobert Harold H.
Published: May 2020

In China, the connection between coal utilization and environmental pollution has been increasingly evident due to the rapid growth in energy consumption. Clean coal technology (CCT) is one of the effective methods to address coal-associated pollution. However, CCT needs the practical and theoretical support of clean coal geology (CCG). In this paper, a new definition of CCG is proposed, based on the definitions of coal, coal geology, and CCT, combined with the development of national CCG. CCG is the discipline comprehensively researching the genesis, nature, distribution, cleaning potential, clean utilization and environmental effects of resources (coal, coal bed methane, and other coal-associated resources) that can be cleaned by CCT. The research content of CCG is discussed from different aspects, such as cleaning potential evaluation, geological guarantee for coal mining, ash yields and sulfur contents, trace elements, pollution caused by coal, and mine reclamation. The progress of CCG in China is also briefly divided into four stages and delineated. Finally, scientific problems in CCG are summarized and an outlook for CCG is given.
»…indem die Tage rollen…«
Authors: Haas Claude
Published: May 2020

Der Beitrag geht von der These aus, dass Goethes Arbeit an der ›klassischen‹ Dramenform sich einer tieferen Einsicht in die zeitliche wie rechtliche Problematik der ›tragédie classique‹ verdankt als allgemein angenommen. Dabei dürfte es maßgeblich die Französische Revolution gewesen sein, die eine neue Attraktivität der ›alten‹ Form bewirkte. Das zeigt sich vor allem an Die Natürliche Tochter, einem Stück, in dessen Entstehungszeit nicht zufällig Goethes Übersetzungen zweier Dramen Voltaires fallen. Figurationen politischer Gründung und Legitimation bildeten das Zentrum des ›klassischen‹ Dramas bereits bei Corneille und stellten es zuverlässig auf eine um 1800 für konservative Autoren aktuelle Zerreißprobe. Die forciert gelassene Präsentation legitimer Herrschaft unter der Berufung auf Zeitkontinuität und lang währende ›Gewohnheiten‹ stand in der ›tragédie classique‹ nämlich in massiver Spannung zur normativen Forderung der ›Einheit‹ der Zeit, die das Drama auf eine disziplinierte Zeitökonomie und idealerweise sogar auf die Synchronisierung von dargestellter Zeit und Zeit der Darstellung verpflichtete. Dort, wo Corneille solche Spannungen entweder zu kaschieren oder politisch zu nutzen versuchte, reißt Goethe in Die Natürliche Tochter zwischen Figurenrede und Dramaturgie eine unüberwindbare Kluft und lässt ursprüngliche Funktionen der ›klassischen‹ Zeitökonomie konsequent leerlaufen. Sein Drama betreibt demnach keine restaurative Formpolitik, sondern führt die historische Uneinholbarkeit der ›klassischen‹ Form angesichts zeitgenössischer politischer Entwicklungen vor.
Experimental Study on Hydrogen Leakage and Emission of Fuel Cell Vehicles in Confined Spaces
Authors: Hao Dong , Wang Xiaobing , Zhang Yanyi , Wang Renguang , Chen Guang , Li Jun
Published: May 2020

Hydrogen safety is one of the most important safety indicators in fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) (unlike in other types of alternative energy vehicles). This indicator in FCVs is directly related to the user’s personal safety in daily vehicle usage. This paper analyzes the safety standards of FCVs in confined spaces. A sealed test chamber and an appropriate test method are developed to evaluate vehicle safety based on specific test requirements. Two FCVs are subjected to static hydrogen leakage and hydrogen emission testing performed in a confined space. The results reveal that the hydrogen concentration in the vicinity of the vehicles approximates 0.0004% which is much lower than 1% while parked for 8 h during the hydrogen leakage test. In the hydrogen emission test under operating conditions, the concentration of the hydrogen gas emitted from the vehicles exceeds 2300 ppm in the vicinity, which requires careful consideration. Based on experiment and analysis, recommendations for the hydrogen safety standards of FCVs in confined spaces are proposed.
Local solutions of the Landau equation with rough, slowly decaying initial data
Authors: Henderson Christopher , Snelson Stanley , Tarfulea Andrei
Published: May 2020

We consider the Cauchy problem for the spatially inhomogeneous Landau equation with soft potentials in the case of large (i.e. non-perturbative) initial data. We construct a solution for any bounded, measurable initial data with uniform polynomial decay in the velocity variable, and that satisfies a technical lower bound assumption (but can have vacuum regions). For uniqueness in this weak class, we have to make the additional assumption that the initial data is Hölder continuous. Our hypotheses are much weaker, in terms of regularity and decay, than previous large-data well-posedness results in the literature. We also derive a continuation criterion for our solutions that is, for the case of very soft potentials, an improvement over the previous state of the art.

Nous considérons le problème de Cauchy pour l'équation de Landau non-homogène en espace avec potentiels mous dans le cas de grandes (i.e. non perturbatrices) données initiales. Nour construisons une solution pour toute donnée initiale bornée et mesurable à décroissance polynomiale uniforme dans la variable de vitesse, et qui satisfait une hypothèse technique de borne inférieure (il est toujours permis d'avoir des régions de vide). Pour être unique dans cette famille générale, nous devons supposer que les données initiales sont Hölder continues. Nos hypothèses sont beaucoup plus faibles, en termes de régularité et de décroissance, que les résultats de la littérature sur le caractère bien-posé dans le cas de grandes données. Nous dérivons également un critère de continuation pour nos solutions qui est, pour les potentiels très mous, une amélioration par rapport à l'état de l'art.
Inheritance Systems and the Extended Synthesis
Authors: Jablonka Eva , Lamb Marion
Published: May 2020

Current knowledge of the genetic, epigenetic, behavioural and symbolic systems of inheritance requires a revision and extension of the mid-twentieth-century, gene-based, 'Modern Synthesis' version of Darwinian evolutionary theory. We present the case for this by first outlining the history that led to the neo-Darwinian view of evolution. In the second section we describe and compare different types of inheritance, and in the third discuss the implications of a broad view of heredity for various aspects of evolutionary theory. We end with an examination of the philosophical and conceptual ramifications of evolutionary thinking that incorporates multiple inheritance systems.
Skepticism Motivated: On the Skeptical Import of Motivated Reasoning
Authors: Carter J. Adam , McKenna Robin
Published: May 2020

Empirical work on motivated reasoning suggests that our judgments are influenced to a surprising extent by our wants, desires, and preferences (Kahan 2016; Lord, Ross, and Lepper 1979; Molden and Higgins 2012; Taber and Lodge 2006). How should we evaluate the epistemic status of beliefs formed through motivated reasoning? For example, are such beliefs epistemically justified? Are they candidates for knowledge? In liberal democracies, these questions are increasingly controversial as well as politically timely (Beebe et al. 2018; Lynch Forthcoming, 2018; Slothuus and de Vreese 2010). And yet, the epistemological significance of motivated reasoning has been almost entirely ignored by those working in mainstream epistemology. We aim to rectify this oversight. Using politically motivated reasoning as a case study, we show how motivated reasoning gives rise to three distinct kinds of skeptical challenges. We conclude by showing how the skeptical import of motivated reasoning has some important ramifications for how we should think about the demands of intellectual humility.
Denunciation in the German-Occupied Channel Islands, 1940–1945
Authors: Smyth Graham
Published: May 2020

Over the course of the German occupation of the British Channel Islands from 1940 to 1945, a number of letters of denunciation were sent by islanders to the German authorities, accusing fellow islanders of violations of occupation law or of anti-German activity of one sort or another. The German occupiers were ambivalent toward the denunciations. While recognizing their usefulness in maintaining order and the respect for German rule, they found both the letters and their writers distasteful. The local British authorities in Jersey and Guernsey also found the letters problematic; the consequences for the individuals targeted in the letters could be dire, and the impact on island society as a whole was significant, both during the occupation and beyond liberation in May 1945. The extent and nature of resistance and collaboration have been contentious issues in the historiography of the occupation of the Channel Islands, and these letters have been cited as evidence that islanders were unduly cooperative with the Nazis. This article examines the surviving letters of denunciation, and by placing them into the wider contexts of Nazi Europe and the historiography of denunciation in totalitarian states, argues that denunciation in the Channel Islands, far from being exceptional, was quite typical of the practice throughout the Nazi empire.
Modeling Light Exposure of Quartz Grains During Mortar Making: Consequences for Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dating
Authors: Guibert Pierre , Urbanová Petra , Javel Jean-Baptiste , Guérin Guillaume
Published: May 2020

Dating lime mortar shows great potential for establishing the chronology of a construction. The basic premise of mortar dating by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) is that quartz in the sand used for making mortar has been optically zeroed during the preparation process (optical bleaching). The moment to be dated is the last exposure of sand grains to light, before being embedded within the masonry and hidden from light. However, the main problem is the frequent partial and heterogeneous bleaching of grains, and this led us to use the single grain technique (SG-OSL) systematically. Some theoretical and experimental aspects of a new statistical treatment (the EED model, as exponential exposure distribution) are detailed and discussed. Our experience shows that SG-OSL dating of mortars is successful in a majority of situations. In a minority of cases (around 15%) difficulties originate when there is inappropriate OSL behavior of grains, and thus OSL dating is not possible. In the other cases, good agreement was obtained between OSL ages and the reference ones for a series of samples from a variety of ages and situations, even in the case of poorly bleached material. Anyway, the present situation of OSL dating methodology justifies the systematic use of SG-OSL in the dating of masonry today.
Debtholder Monitoring Incentives and Bank Earnings Opacity
Authors: Danisewicz Piotr , McGowan Danny , Onali Enrico , Schaeck Klaus
Published: May 2020

We exploit exogenous legislative changes that alter the priority structure of different classes of debt to study how debtholder monitoring incentives affect bank earnings opacity. We present novel evidence that exposing nondepositors to greater losses in bankruptcy reduces earnings opacity, especially for banks with larger shares of nondeposit funding, listed banks, and independent banks. The reduction in earnings opacity is driven by a lower propensity to overstate earnings and is more pronounced among larger banks and in banks with more real estate loan exposure. Our findings highlight the importance of creditors’ monitoring incentives in improving the quality of information disclosure.
The contingent character of interest groups–political parties’ interaction
Authors: Chaqués-Bonafont Laura , Cristancho Camilo , Muñoz-Márquez Luz , Rincón Leire
Published: May 2020

This article examines the conditions under which interest groups interact with political parties. Existing research finds that interest group–political party interactions in most western democracies have become more open and contingent over time. The close ideological and formal organisational ties that once characterised these relations have gradually been replaced by alternative, more pragmatic forms of cooperation. However, most of this research stresses the importance of the structural factors underpinning these links over time and across countries, but sheds little light on the factors driving short-term interest group–party interactions. Here, by drawing on survey data on Spanish interest groups obtained between December 2016 and May 2017, this article seeks to fill this gap by taking into account party status, issue salience and a group’s resources as explanatory variables. It shows that mainstream parties are the primary targets of interest groups, that groups dealing with salient issues are more likely to contact political parties and that the groups with most resources interact with a larger number of parties.
TESTING FOR STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN FACTOR MODELS VIA A NONPARAMETRIC REGRESSION
Authors: Su Liangjun , Wang Xia
Published: May 2020

We propose a model-free test for structural changes in factor models. The basic idea is to regress the data on commonly estimated factors by local smoothing and compare the fitted values of time-varying factor loadings with those of time-invariant factor loadings estimated via principal component analysis. By construction, the test is designed to be powerful against both smooth structural changes and sudden structural breaks with a possibly unknown number of breaks and unknown break dates in the factor loadings. No restrictions on the form of alternatives or trimming of boundary regions near the beginning or end of the sample period is required for the test. The test has power to detect the usual nonparametric rate of local alternatives. Monte Carlo studies demonstrate excellent power of the test in detecting both smooth and sudden structural changes in the factor loadings. In an application using U.S. asset returns, we find significant evidence against time-invariant factor loadings.