bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing Establishment and Growth of Agricultural Plantings on Reservoir Mudflats
Authors: Norris David M. , Hatcher Hunter R. , Colvin Michael E. , Coppola Giancarlo , Lashley Marcus A. , Miranda Leandro E.
Published: February 2020

Winter drawdowns in flood control reservoirs create expansive mudflats that lack the vegetation typical of littoral zones, which reduces the amount of structure available for fish habitat. This study investigated the feasibility of establishing agricultural plantings as a management action to ameliorate mudflats by providing structural cover following reservoir refilling. We tested cool-season annual grasses and clovers applied in several mixed and monoculture treatments that were sown on the mudflats of Enid Reservoir, Mississippi, during the winter drawdown in three consecutive years. Soil samples were taken for analysis of pH and macronutrients prior to planting. Plantings were monitored until the following spring to evaluate effectiveness of establishment through ground coverage, height, and stem density sampling. Plots were assigned a seeding treatment of either grasses (ryegrass Lolium spp. or triticale x Triticosecale sp.), clovers (balansa clover Trifolium michelianum or berseem clover Trifolium alexandrinum), or both (mixed plantings) or left as an unseeded control. Differences among plant treatments were assessed via repeated measures analysis of variance and differences among means evaluated with Tukey's honestly significant difference test. Soil productivity within the study area was poor all 3 years. Grasses germinated both when disked into the soil and when top sown, while clover only germinated when disked. Plots seeded with grasses performed better than control plots with respect to stem density, height, and ground coverage, while plots seeded with grass and clover mixtures performed better than control plots only with respect to height, and plots seeded with only clover did not perform significantly better than control plots. Results serve as an evaluation of the efficacy of agricultural plant establishment on the mudflats of a flood control reservoir, inform the direction of future research, and identify considerations regarding the application of agricultural plantings as a management tool to create fish habitat.
Equilibrium strategies and optimal pricing in an online retailing queueing system
Authors: Wang Jinting , Wang Zhongbin , Chen Yang
Published: February 2020

This article considers an M/M/1 online retailing queueing model with strategic customers and a monopoly retailer. Customers arrive according to a Poisson process, and upon arrival, they decide whether to purchase the product based on a reward‐cost structure. The valuation of the product is determined by its matching probability with the demand. After receiving the purchased product, each customer enters a “virtual” orbit to update the information about the product and then makes her decision on whether to replace or return the product based on the product's assessed value. Accordingly, a two‐dimensional decision among customers is formulated and we investigate the equilibrium customer strategies and the optimal pricing strategy for the retailer. Interestingly, in equilibrium, we find that the system's throughput can be nonmonotone in the product's matching probability. In addition, under the equilibrium strategy of customers, we reveal the fact that the retailer's optimal price is not necessarily increasing in the matching probability. From the perspective of the social planner, the returning behavior can worsen the social welfare, and therefore those unsatisfied customers are encouraged to replace the product rather than to return it. Finally, some numerical experiments are conducted to verify our results and to examine the sensitivity of several key performance measures of the system.
Management of children and adolescents with gray zone lymphoma: A case series
Authors: Perwein Thomas , Lackner Herwig , Ebetsberger‐Dachs Georg , Beham‐Schmid Christine , Zach Klara , Tamesberger Melanie , Simonitsch‐Klupp Ingrid , Lüftinger Roswitha , Dworzak Michael , Mann Georg , Benesch Martin , Attarbaschi Andishe ,   the Austrian Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology and the Austrian Berlin‐Frankfurt‐Münster (BFM) Study Group
Published: February 2020

Background

Data on management of gray zone lymphoma (GZL) in children and adolescents are scarce.

Procedure

This retrospective study assessed clinical characteristics and outcome in six Austrian patients with GZL less than 18 years of age (male‐to‐female ratio: 1:1; median age: 15.8 years).

Results

Two patients each had a classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL)‐like and composite GZL subtype, and one patient each had a large B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (LBCL)‐like and sequential GZL subtype. All had advanced disease with mediastinal and extranodal involvement. Five patients received an LBCL‐ and one patient a cHL‐directed polychemotherapy ± radiotherapy. Out of the former patients, three survived, including two who relapsed and underwent high‐dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue. The latter patient survived.

Conclusions

GZL remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, necessitating the development of novel treatment concepts performed in a prospective setting.
Collective and personal self‐esteem as mediators between perceived group discrimination and adjustment in Chinese migrant children
Authors: Jia Xuji , Li Yaqian , Su Peng , Liu Xia , Lin Danhua
Published: February 2020

Previous studies have shown that perceived discrimination is negatively correlated with children's psychological development. However, how perceived group discrimination (PGD) leads to negative adjustment is not known. For 692 Chinese rural‐to‐urban migrant children, we examined the relations between PGD and both behavioral and emotional adaptation (antisocial behavior and positive affect), as mediated by collective self‐esteem (CSE) and personal self‐esteem (PSE). Children (50.7% boys; Mage = 13.37 years) completed questionnaires on PGD, antisocial behavior, positive affect, CSE, and PSE. PGD was positively associated with antisocial behavior and negatively associated with positive affect according to structural equation modeling. CSE and PSE accounted for some of the PGD related to antisocial behavior and fully accounted for PGD effects on positive affect. These findings suggested that the combination of CSE and PSE is a potential mechanism that underlies PGD associated with both antisocial behavior and positive affect.
An Experimental Study of Nozzle Temperature and Heat Treatment (Annealing) Effects on Mechanical Properties of High‐Temperature Polylactic Acid in Fused Deposition Modeling
Authors: Akhoundi Behnam , Nabipour Mojtaba , Hajami Faramarz , Shakoori Diana
Published: February 2020

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is the trendiest three‐dimensional (3D) printing method among additive manufacturing technologies. In this process, the final parts are constructed through layer‐by‐layer adhesion of thermoplastic polymers. Amorphous thermoplastic polymers have better printability compared to semicrystalline ones; so, they are most popular with FDM users. Generally, the overall mechanical properties of FDM 3D printed parts are weaker in comparison to the traditional methods (such as injection molding) due to the weak bonds between the deposited rasters and layers. Therefore, the introduction of new materials with higher mechanical properties and easy printing process of the semicrystalline polymers has always been challenging to progress the mechanical properties of the products. In this study by the FDM process, the effect of nozzle temperature and heat treatment (annealing) on the mechanical properties of high‐temperature polylactic acids is investigated. The increase in the nozzle temperature develops the rasters and layers bonding, and the heat treatment of the parts after printing rises the crystallinity percentage, which is crucial for the improvement of mechanical properties. Experimental results show that an increase in the nozzle temperature raises the tensile strength and modulus to 65.7 MPa and 4.97 GPa, respectively. Furthermore, the heat treatment process increases the tensile strength and modulus up to 67.4 MPa and 5.65 GPa. The final tensile modulus values are the highest ones reported for pure materials printed by the FDM process. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 60:979–987, 2020. © 2020 Society of Plastics Engineers
Patient‐reported outcomes from the distress assessment and response tool program in Chinese cancer inpatients
Authors: Tang Lili , Zhang Yening , Pang Ying
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Distress screening using measures of patient‐reported outcomes (PRO) has been introduced in China and is increasingly recognized as contributing to whole‐patient care. We carried out a multi‐centered cross‐sectional survey of Chinese cancer inpatients to explore the symptom burden, symptom clusters, and risk factors of distress.

Method

Patients were recruited from five hospitals in four provinces. The Distress Assessment and Response Tool (DART) was used as the screening tool. Demographic and medical information was collected. Descriptive analysis, the chi‐square test, logistics regression analysis, and hierarchical clustering analysis were used.

Results

Totally 1045 valid questionnaires were collected (83.6% validity ratio). Low well‐being (39.4%), lack of appetite (35.4%), tiredness (32.9%), pain (21.1%), and anxiety (19.8%) were the top five symptoms. Patients in Ci County had a heavier symptom burden than patients at other sites. Depression, anxiety, nausea, drowsiness, and pain were considered pain‐illness symptoms; lack of appetite, low well‐being, tiredness, and shortness of breath were considered fatigue‐illness symptoms. Social difficulty was a risk factor for all symptoms. A high proportion of suicide ideation (38.8%) and suicide intention (10.5%) was identified among patients with potential depression.

Conclusion

The high symptom burden of Chinese cancer inpatients indicates the necessity of distress screening; well‐designed screening programs such as the multidimensional DART and its acceptability in China should be further explored. Social difficulty has a universal impact on patients' well‐being, and psychosocial care should be integrated into holistic symptoms management.
Multirepresentation, Multiheuristic A* search‐based motion planning for a free‐floating underwater vehicle‐manipulator system in unknown environment
Authors: Youakim Dina , Cieslak Patryk , Dornbush Andrew , Palomer Albert , Ridao Pere , Likhachev Maxim
Published: February 2020

A key challenge in autonomous mobile manipulation is the ability to determine, in real time, how to safely execute complex tasks when placed in unknown or changing world. Addressing this issue for Intervention Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (I‐AUVs), operating in potentially unstructured environment is becoming essential. Our research focuses on using motion planning to increase the I‐AUVs autonomy, and on addressing three major challenges: (a) producing consistent deterministic trajectories, (b) addressing the high dimensionality of the system and its impact on the real‐time response, and (c) coordinating the motion between the floating vehicle and the arm. The latter challenge is of high importance to achieve the accuracy required for manipulation, especially considering the floating nature of the AUV and the control challenges that come with it. In this study, for the first time, we demonstrate experimental results performing manipulation in unknown environment. The Multirepresentation, Multiheuristic A* (MR‐MHA*) search‐based planner, previously tested only in simulation and in a known a priori environment, is now extended to control Girona500 I‐AUV performing a Valve‐Turning intervention in a water tank. To this aim, the AUV was upgraded with an in‐house‐developed laser scanner to gather three‐dimensional (3D) point clouds for building, in real time, an occupancy grid map (octomap) of the environment. The MR‐MHA* motion planner used this octomap to plan, in real time, collision‐free trajectories. To achieve the accuracy required to complete the task, a vision‐based navigation method was employed. In addition, to reinforce the safety, accounting for the localization uncertainty, a cost function was introduced to keep minimum clearance in the planning. Moreover a visual‐servoing method had to be implemented to complete the last step of the manipulation with the desired accuracy. Lastly, we further analyzed the approach performance from both loose‐coupling and clearance perspectives. Our results show the success and efficiency of the approach to meet the desired behavior, as well as the ability to adapt to unknown environments.
Design and testing of the JPL‐Nautilus Gripper for deep‐ocean geological sampling
Authors: Backus Spencer B. , Onishi Rina , Bocklund Andrew , Berg Andrew , Contreras Eric D. , Parness Aaron
Published: February 2020

We present the design and experimental results for the JPL‐Nautilus Gripper, a 16‐finger highly underactuated microspine gripper for use in the deep ocean. The gripper can grasp objects from 10 to 30 cm in size and anchor to flat and curved rocky surfaces (i.e., cliff faces and seamounts). Laboratory results demonstrated an anchoring capability of greater than 450 N on rough rocks in both shear and normal loading directions. Deployment on the Hercules ROV (remotely operated vehicle) aboard the E/V Nautilus on three deep‐ocean dives verified performance at depths up to to 2,100 m with approximately 100 N loads applied through the ROV's thrusters, including moment loads. The gripper also serves as a development unit for future robotic tools that will include a coring drill in the center of the gripper, as previously demonstrated in non‐ocean environments with microspine grippers. Such a tool will facilitate the collection of geologic samples from the deep ocean using more agile and cost‐effective systems.
Terrestrial Relay‐Aided Cooperative High Throughput Satellite Systems
Authors: Sirigina Rajendra Prasad , AS Madhukumar , Bowyer Mark
Published: February 2020

Full frequency reuse based dual satellite system (DSS) is investigated in this work. In the case of DSS, user terminals receive inter spot beam and intra spot beam interfering signals due to the simultaneous transmission of data from both satellites. Cooperative precoding algorithm is proposed to mitigate these effects. The achievable data rates with zero‐forcing (ZF) and regularized ZF precoding algorithms are characterized. If the user terminals served by both satellites are colocated, then the proposed cooperative precoding algorithm fails because of correlated channels. To this end, relay‐aided DSS (RA‐DSS) is proposed. The achievable data rates of both full‐duplex and half‐duplex RA‐DSSs are characterized. Through simulations, it is shown that the proposed full‐duplex RA‐DSS achieves better data rate than the DSS, single satellite system, and orthogonal transmission even if the users are closely placed.
Regulated, reliable, and reputable: Protect patients with uniform standards for stem cell treatments
Authors: Lomax Geoffrey P. , Torres Art , Millan Maria T.
Published: February 2020

The promise of cell and gene therapies is being realized as new products emerge to treat diseases once considered intractable. These treatments are emerging amidst reports of patients being injured by unproven “stem cell” interventions. At this juncture, it is vital to be supporting the continued development of promising regenerative medicine products while protecting patients from the risks posed by unproven interventions. Various stakeholders, including governments, patient groups, medical societies, and the media, are committed to this outcome. In this perspective, we draw on our experience gained from partnerships in developing regenerative medicine products to identify technical, organizational, and ethical benchmarks for the responsible delivery of regenerative medicine treatments. These benchmarks may serve as the basis for policy interventions intended to drive the responsible delivery of stem cell and regenerative medicine products. Our particular focus is on a California-based policy, but the suggested benchmarks are broadly applicable to national and international jurisdictions.

Significance statement This perspective is aimed at building consensus for the stem cell field to ensure proper conduct of clinical research and the regulation of the practice of medicine involving cell-based treatments.
Mercury forms and their transformation in pyrite under weathering
Authors: Cao Qingyi , Qian Yahui , Liang Handong , Li Zhanping , Chen Siyao , Yang Liu , Zhan Qin
Published: February 2020

Pyrite is considered to be the major carrier of mercury in coal. Here, the chemical characteristics of two natural pyrite samples of different weathering degrees were characterized by time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS). Thermal stability of Hg was also analyzed via temperature programmed desorption experiment (TPD). Characteristic ions such as S−, Fe+, FeS−, and FeS2−were detected on the surface of fresh pyrite. The release temperature of Hg ranged between 180°C and 300°C, and the characteristic peak of black HgS was recorded. In addition, abundant Fe2O3−, FeSO−, SO4−, and HSO4−were detected on the surface of weathered pyrite, and the release temperature of Hg therein was mainly distributed at 260°C to 380°C and 520°C to 600°C, corresponding to the characteristic peaks of red HgS and HgSO4, respectively. The results show that pyrite is acidified during weathering and that Hg forms in pyrite are transformed from the original state (HgS) to HgSO4.
Bimetallic Metal‐Organic Framework Derived ZnO/Ni0.9Zn0.1O Nanocomposites for Improved Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes
Authors: Zhong Ming , Qu Shuang‐Yan , Zhao Kun , Fei Peng , Wei Miao‐Miao , Yang Haidong , Su Bitao
Published: February 2020

An optimized structure is of considerable importance for nickle oxide (NiO)‐based materials to achieve high performance as catalyst for contaminant degradation due to the inherent large band gap. Herein, a series of hybrids of NiO nanoparticles doped with zinc oxide (ZnO) semiconductor were fabricated via a facile one‐step calcination of bimetallic metal‐organic frameworks with varied Ni2+/Zn2+ molar ratios (MOF‐NiZn). It is worth noting that partial positions of Ni in NiO lattice are replaced by Zn to form a Ni0.9Zn0.1O phase. Benefiting from the unique hybrid advantage, the rationally designed material could effectively lower the band gap of NiO, thus improving the photocatalytic performance. The optimized ZnO/Ni0.9Zn0.1O‐82 catalyst exhibits the highest degradation activity towards methylene blue (MB) with efficiency up to 97.4 % within 60 min. Additionally, the radicals trapping experiments reveal that the photo‐generated hydroxyl radical (.OH) is the predominant active species during the photodegradation of MB.
Removal of Fluoride by Graphene Oxide/Alumina Nanocomposite: Adsorbent Preparation, Characterization, Adsorption Performance and Mechanisms
Authors: Xu Naicai , Li Sixia , Li Wu , Liu Zhong
Published: February 2020

GO/Al2O3 was successfully prepared by using hydrothermal method which was used to study the removing of fluoride from water. The characterization results of X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectra indicated that γ‐Al2O3 had been modified onto GO nanosheets. The BET surface area of GO/Al2O3 is 326.22 m2 g−1 and the corresponding pore size center at 3.7 nm. A batch of fluoride adsorption experiments were employed to investigate the effects of various factors such as solution pH values, contact time, fluoride initial concentrations, temperature, adsorbent dose, co‐existing anions, and recycling on fluoride removal. The results showed that the adsorption capacity (4.68  mg g‐1) of GO/Al2O3 is higher than that of γ‐Al2O3 (3.04 mg g−1). In addition, the modified adsorbent had a wide range of pH applications. Adsorption kinetics is well represented by the pseudo‐second‐order model, which indicating the adsorption processes are involved in chemisorption with ion exchange. The influences of co‐existing anions on fluoride removal followed the decreasing order of PO43‐>HCO3‐>SO42‐>Cl‐>NO3‐, which was related to the charge and radius of ions. The recycle performance of GO/Al2O3 is not so good owing to the poor strength of GO during the cycle process. Fluoride adsorption onto GO/Al2O3 could be attributed to electrostatic attraction, ligand exchange, ion exchange and hydrogen‐bond interaction between fluoride and OH groups.
Classical Motion of the Nuclei in a Molecule: A Concept Without Alternatives
Authors: Frank Irmgard
Published: February 2020

It is still true that chemical reactions can be explained by a quantum treatment of the electrons and a classical motion of the nuclei. The paper tries to make this finding more plausible by examining elementary ground and excited state reactions using Car‐Parrinello and Born‐Oppenheimer molecular dynamics. Several different reaction pathways leading to different products were observed for the chlor methane photoreaction, illustrating the classical chaos connected with molecular dynamics on‐the‐fly simulations. Kasha's rule saying that all photochemistry occurs in the first excited state is preserved one more time.
How Reliable Are Enantiomeric Excess Measurements Obtained By Chiral HPLC?
Authors: Payne Curtis , Kass Steven R.
Published: February 2020

Uncertainties and errors in enantiomeric excess determinations obtained by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a chiral column are evaluated with different peak resolutions and elution orders using (R)‐ and (S)‐ibuprofen standards. Five injections of each sample were made to reduce the variability in the data and each chromatogram was monitored at multiple wavelengths to facilitate the detection of chemical impurities. Using appropriate sample concentrations, the most favorable detection wavelengths, and default instrument parameters led to large errors (>10 %) whereas properly set integration values gave impressive reproducibilities (±0.5 % or better) and accuracies (<1 %) in the most favorable situations. Uncertainties and errors of up to±2.0 % and 5.2 % ee, respectively were also observed under separation conditions routinely reported in chemistry journals. This study aims to provide a practical guide to the accuracy and precision that can be achieved with HPLC, and suggestions for obtaining reliable results.
BackStreamDB: A stream processing engine for backbone traffic monitoring with anomaly detection
Authors: Duarte Elias P. , Hara Carmem , Torres Pedro , Gomes Christian
Published: February 2020

BackStreamDB is distributed traffic monitoring system based on a stream processing engine (SPE) designed to monitor the traffic of wide area backbones. BackStreamDB provides arbitrary metrics about the traffic in real time, taking into account the backbone as a whole. The system was developed for and successfully deployed on the Brazilian National Academic Network (RNP). In this work, we describe the functionality for the detection of traffic anomalies. A large number of Internet attacks are continuously reported, and several types of attacks result in anomalous traffic. In the proposed strategy for anomaly detection, the traffic is sampled by monitors that are distributed across the backbone, which are accessed and processed by the SPE. BackStreamDB was extended with stream processing modules for computing traffic entropy and principal component analysis, which are the employed to detect traffic anomalies. Experimental results are reported which were obtained to validate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy for different types of attacks.
Probabilistic model for time to cover cracking due to corrosion
Authors: Baji Hassan , Yang Wei , Li Chun‐Qing , Shi Wenhai
Published: February 2020

The time to cover cracking is widely used as a service life indicator in the assessment of deterioration of corrosion‐affected reinforced concrete structures. This paper presents a general probabilistic procedure for prediction of time to cover cracking. Within this procedure, the response surface method (RSM) is employed to calibrate a new model for calculating of radial displacement required for cover cracking based on the results obtained from the finite element (FE) analysis. By taking advantage of the central limit theorem (CLT), simple but accurate probabilistic models for prediction of time to cover cracking that only rely on the knowledge of first and second moments of basic random variables are derived. Rigorous simulation analysis has proved the accuracy of these models. It is shown in the paper that using this probabilistic procedure, factors affecting randomness of time to cover cracking can be easily identified. It is also shown that the time to cover cracking is highly variable with the concrete cover, tensile strength of concrete, corrosion current density, and the model error as the most influential factors on its randomness.
Optimizing mix proportion of recycled aggregate concrete by readjusting the aggregate gradation
Authors: Duan Zhenhua , Li Biao , Xiao Jianzhuang , Guo Wei
Published: February 2020

It is necessary to ensure the properties of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) can meet the requirements of those for the corresponding natural aggregate concrete (NAC), since only in such cases recycled aggregates (RA) may be accepted for structural use. This study aims to propose a modified design method of RAC based on aggregate gradation readjustment (AGR). It tries to maintain the effective amounts of both the coarse and fine aggregates of RAC similar to that of the NAC after concrete mixing as it is well known that due to the weakness of the old attached mortar to RA, the gradation of the aggregates would be undesirably changed. Two series of concrete mixtures were conducted. One was to examine the variations of the compressive strength and porosity along with the aggregate adjustment ratio using a single RA source; while the other one was used to verify the effect of the proposed AGR method through the investigation of concrete properties made with RAs obtained from different sources. The results show that the proposed method was beneficial to improving all the properties of RAC investigated.
Fluorescent carbon dots as intracellular imaging probes
Authors: Ali Haydar , Ghosh Santu , Jana Nikhil R.
Published: February 2020

Fluorescent carbon dot has emerged as promising alternative of conventionally known quantum dot or molecular probe as potential intracellular imaging probe. In particular, <10 nm size, tunable and bright fluorescence of carbon dot deserve the application potential as intracellular imaging probe. However, synthesis of carbon dot with narrow particle size distribution, preparation of high‐quality red/near‐infrared emitting carbon dot and appropriate design of functional carbon dot for subcellular targeting are most critical issues. This advanced review focus on the application potential of fluorescent carbon dot as intracellular imaging probe. At first, we briefly discuss different types of fluorescent carbon dots and origin of their fluorescence. Next, we focus on surface chemistry and functionalization which are relevant to intracellular probe development. Finally we have summarized various types of intracellular nanoprobes that are developed from fluorescence carbon dot.

This article is categorized under:

Diagnostic Tools > in vitro Nanoparticle‐Based Sensing
Halide‐directed Assembly of Mercury(II) Coordination Polymers for Electrochemical Biosensing Toward Penicillin
Authors: Xue Ya‐Qi , Bi Yan , Chen Jing
Published: February 2020

Three 1D/2D HgII coordination polymers (CPs), namely {[Hg3(L)2Cl6](H2O)}n (1), [Hg(L)Br2]n (2), and [Hg(L)I2]n (3) were prepared by assembly of 3,4‐bis(3‐pyridyl)‐5‐(4‐pyridyl)‐1,2,4‐triazole (L) with different inorganic HgII salts (i.e. HgCl2, HgBr2 or HgI2). Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis reveals two types of bimetallic subunits [(Hg)2C6N4] and [(Hg)2C12N6] in CP 1, which are further extended to a 2D coordination network. Both of CPs 2 and 3 show 1D zigzag arrays bridged by L ligands. Notably, the L ligands take the (η4, μ4) coordination fashion in 1 but (η2, μ2) binding mode in 2 and 3. The structural differences of CPs 1–3 indicate that the L ligand can adjust its coordination fashions to meet the requirements of HgII centers, relying on the presence of distinct halide anions. In addition, 1 can be applied to fabricate an electrochemical biosensor for the detection of penicillin.
Introduction
Authors: Christen Markus , Gordijn Bert , Loi Michele
Published: February 2020

This introduction provides a short overview on the book “The Ethics of Cybersecurity”. The volume explains the foundations of cybersecurity, ethics and law, outlines various problems of the domain such as ethical hacking and cyberwar, and it lists recommendations and best practices for cybersecurity professionals working in various application areas. Furthermore, the introduction outlines the background of the European CANVAS project, from which this volume emerged.
Cybersecurity and the State
Authors: Schlehahn Eva
Published: February 2020

This chapter provides an overview on state actor’s opinions and strategies relating to cybersecurity matters. These are addressed on the EU level as well as on the level of the individual European Member States while the focus is on legislation, policy and political approaches to cybersecurity. In this context, many different measures and approaches are taken both in the Union and nationally to streamline knowledge, resources, and measures to combat cybercrime. Furthermore, the role of the new European data protection framework is addressed, and it is explained why data protection has a close relationship to security matters. The main tensions and conflicts in relation to IT and cybersecurity are depicted, which evolve primarily around the frequently negative effect of IT and cybersecurity measures on the rights of data subjects. However, the issue of governmental surveillance is also addressed, with its implications for the fundamental rights of European citizens. Solution approaches to align the two domains of data protection and cybersecurity are explored, since cybersecurity incidents often involve the loss or compromise of an individual’s personal information. To this end, overlaps and synergies are examined that seem promising for a more holistic approach to cyber threats. For instance, this could be achieved by applying principles such as data protection by design and default in IT more thoroughly. In addition, methodologies of data protection impact assessments as well as a more broad deployment of technical and organisational measures while using well-known information security best practices and standards can help to enhance cybersecurity across the European Union.
Freedom of Political Communication, Propaganda and the Role of Epistemic Institutions in Cyberspace
Authors: Miller Seumas
Published: February 2020

This article provides definitions of fake news, hate speech and propaganda, respectively. These phenomenon are corruptive of the epistemic norms, e.g. to tell the truth. It also elaborates on the right to freedom of communication and its relation both to censoring propaganda and to the role of epistemic institutions, such as a free and independent press and universities. Finally, it discusses the general problem of countering political propaganda in cyberspace and argues, firstly, that there is an important role for epistemic institutions in this regard and secondly, that social media platforms need to be redesigned since, as they stand and notwithstanding the benefits which they provide, they are a large part of the problem.
Cybersecurity and Cyber Warfare: The Ethical Paradox of ‘Universal Diffidence’
Authors: Lucas George
Published: February 2020

In lieu of the present range of rival and only partial ethical accounts, this essay proposes an underlying interpretive framework for the cyber domain as a Hobbsean state of nature, with its current status of unrestricted conflict constituting a ‘war of all against all’. The fundamental ethical dilemma in Hobbes’s original account of this “original situation” was how to bring about the morally required transition to a more stable political arrangement, comprising a rule of law under which the interests of the various inhabitants in life, property and security would be more readily guaranteed. Hobbes described opposition to this morally requisite transition as arising from ‘universal diffidence’, the mutual mistrust between individuals, coupled with the misguided belief of each in his or her own superiority. His is thus a perfect moral framework from which to analyse agents in the cyber domain, where individual arrogance often seems to surpass any aspirations for moral excellence. With this framework in place, it is briefly noted that the chief moral questions pertain to whether we may already discern a gradual voluntary recognition and acceptance of general norms of responsible individual and state behaviour within the cyber domain, arising from experience and consequent enlightened self-interest (As, for example, in the account of emergent norms found in Lucas (The ethics of cyber warfare. Oxford University Press, New York, 2017)), or whether the interests of the responsible majority must eventually compel some sort of transition from the state of nature by forcibly overriding the wishes of presumably irresponsible or malevolent outliers in the interests of the general welfare (the moral paradox of universal diffidence).
Cyber Peace: And How It Can Be Achieved
Authors: Inversini Reto
Published: February 2020

This contribution investigates elements of cyber conflicts and attacks to determine the current state of cyber peace. The first section examines the current state of the Internet and whether or not it is in a state of cyber war. It analyses the classical concept of peace and war and determines which elements can be adapted to the digital sphere and where such a transformation can be problematic. The term ‘cyber peace’ is then defined and the components that make such a state possible identified. The last section discusses the different roles and their responsibilities to reach and preserve a state of peace in the digital sphere, coming to the conclusion that the Internet is not in a state of cyber war but more in a state of negative or unstable peace. To protect the Internet as a critical infrastructure from being abused as a new battleground, this chapter suggests moving towards a state of stable peace, and proposes increasing the security and resilience on a technical level and building up trust between all actors, ranging from the individual to the state level.
Privacy-Preserving Technologies
Authors: Domingo-Ferrer Josep , Blanco-Justicia Alberto
Published: February 2020

This chapter introduces privacy and data protection by design, and reviews privacy-enhancing techniques (PETs). Although privacy by design includes both technical and operational measures, the chapter focuses on the technical measures. First, it enumerates design strategies. Next, it considers privacy-enhancing techniques that directly address thehidestrategy, but also aid in implementing theseparate,controlandenforcestrategies. Specifically, it addresses PETs for: (1) identification, authentication and anonymity; (2) private communications; (3) privacy-preserving computations; (4) privacy in databases; and (5) discrimination prevention in data mining.
Best Practices and Recommendations for Cybersecurity Service Providers
Authors: Kirichenko Alexey , Christen Markus , Grunow Florian , Herrmann Dominik
Published: February 2020

This chapter outlines some concrete best practices and recommendations for cybersecurity service providers, with a focus on data sharing, data protection and penetration testing. Based on a brief outline of dilemmas that cybersecurity service providers may experience in their daily operations, it discusses data handling policies and practices of cybersecurity vendors along the following five topics: customer data handling; information about breaches; threat intelligence; vulnerability-related information; and data involved when collaborating with peers, CERTs, cybersecurity research groups, etc. There is, furthermore, a discussion of specific issues of penetration testing such as customer recruitment and execution as well as the supervision and governance of penetration testing. The chapter closes with some general recommendations regarding improving the ethical decision-making procedures of private cybersecurity service providers.
A Framework for Ethical Cyber-Defence for Companies
Authors: Stevens Salome
Published: February 2020

Private sector companies are becoming increasingly frustrated over the lack of effective solutions to growing criminal threats in cyberspace, leading to calls by security experts for a more active cyber-defence including offensive actions in cyberspace taken with defensive purposes in mind. However, should private companies use active cyber-defence measures or would they by such an act implicate themselves in illegal actions? As long as there is no specific regulation defining the legal grounds for active cyber-defence, the conventional doctrine of a right to self-defence may be the closest analogy within the physical realm. This chapter examines cyber-defence along the lines of a right to self-defence and concludes that the categorisation of passive and active does not allow for a thorough analysis of the legal and ethical justification of a specific defensive measure. Instead, a categorisation based on the effects of a specific measure is suggested. Along the lines of this effect-based categorisation—and considering the capabilities as well as the limits of the application of a right to self-defence to cyberspace—this chapter proposes some concrete recommendations for companies on how to define ethical cyber-defence within their security strategy.
Ethical Frameworks for Cybersecurity
Authors: Loi Michele , Christen Markus
Published: February 2020

This chapter presents several ethical frameworks that are useful for analysing ethical questions of cybersecurity. It begins with two frameworks that are important in practice: the principlist framework employed in the Menlo Report on cybersecurity research and the rights-based principle that is influential in the law, in particular EU law. It is argued that since the harms and benefits caused by cybersecurity operations and policies are of a probabilistic nature, both approaches cannot avoid dealing with risk and probability. Therefore, the chapter turns to the ethics of risk, showing that it is a necessary complement to such approaches. The ethics of risk are discussed in more detail by considering two consequentialist approaches (utilitarianism and maximin consequentialism), deontological approaches and contractualist approaches to risk at length, highlighting the difficulties raised by special cases. Finally, Nissenbaum’s ‘contextual integrity’ approach is introduced, which has become an important framework for understanding privacy, both descriptively and normatively. A revised version of this framework is proposed for identifying and ethically assessing changes brought about by cybersecurity measures and policies, not only in relation to privacy but more generally to the key expectations concerning human interactions within the practice.
Cybersecurity Regulation in the European Union: The Digital, the Critical and Fundamental Rights
Authors: Fuster Gloria González , Jasmontaite Lina
Published: February 2020

This chapter provides an overview of the European Union (EU) policies and legislative measures developed in an attempt to regulate cybersecurity. By invoking a historical perspective, policy developments that have shaped the cybersecurity landscape of the EU are highlighted. More concretely, this contribution investigates how the EU has been delimiting and constructing its cybersecurity policies in relation to different and sometimes opposing objectives, and questions what such choices reveal about (and how they determine) the evolution of the EU’s cybersecurity policy and its legal contours. For this purpose, the major steps in the evolution of the EU’s agenda on cybersecurity are analysed, ranging from the adoption of the 2013 Cybersecurity Strategy to other numerous norms, initiatives and sectorial frameworks that tackle issues arising from the active use of information systems and networks. The chapter reviews the mobilisation of multiple areas (such as the regulation of electronic communications, critical infrastructures and cybercrime) in the name of cybersecurity imperatives, and explores how the operationalisation of such imperatives surfaced in the EU cybersecurity strategy published in September 2017. The chapter suggests that one of the key challenges of cybersecurity regulation is to impose the right obligations on the right actors, through the right instrument. Reflecting on issues surrounding the current liability framework dating from the 80s, it considers how principles such as data protection by design and default as well as the ‘duty of care’ have emerged. Finally, the chapter considers how the perception of cybersecurity’s relationship with (national) security plays a determinant role in the current EU legislative and policy debates, where fundamental rights considerations, despite being acknowledged in numerous policy documents, are only considered in a limited manner.
Cybersecurity of Critical Infrastructure
Authors: Viganò Eleonora , Loi Michele , Yaghmaei Emad
Published: February 2020

This chapter provides a political and philosophical analysis of the values at stake in ensuring cybersecurity for critical infrastructures. It presents a review of the boundaries of cybersecurity in national security, with a focus on the ethics of surveillance for protecting critical infrastructures and the use of AI. A bibliographic analysis of the literature is applied until 2016 to identify and discuss the cybersecurity value conflicts and ethical issues in national security. This is integrated with an analysis of the most recent literature on cyber-threats to national infrastructure and the role of AI. This chapter demonstrates that the increased connectedness of digital and non-digital infrastructure enhances the trade-offs between values identified in the literature of the past years, and supports this thesis with the analysis of four case studies.
Constraints on flavor-diagonal non-standard neutrino interactions from Borexino Phase-II
Authors:   The Borexino collaboration, Agarwalla S. K. , Agostini M. , Altenmüller K. , Appel S. , Atroshchenko V. , Bagdasarian Z. , Basilico D. , Bellini G. , Benziger J. , Bick D. , Bonfini G. , Bravo D. , Caccianiga B. , Calaprice F. , Caminata A. , Cappelli L. , Cavalcante P. , Cavanna F. , Chepurnov A. , Choi K. , D’Angelo D. , Davini S. , Derbin A. , Di Giacinto A. , Di Marcello V. , Ding X. F. , Di Ludovico A. , Di Noto L. , Drachnev I. , Fomenko K. , Formozov A. , Franco D. , Gabriele F. , Galbiati C. , Gschwender M. , Ghiano C. , Giammarchi M. , Goretti A. , Gromov M. , Guffanti D. , Hagner C. , Hungerford E. , Ianni Aldo , Ianni Andrea , Jany A. , Jeschke D. , Kumaran S. , Kobychev V. , Korga G. , Lachenmaier T. , Laubenstein M. , Litvinovich E. , Lombardi P. , Ludhova L. , Lukyanchenko G. , Lukyanchenko L. , Machulin I. , Manuzio G. , Marcocci S. , Maricic J. , Martyn J. , Meroni E. , Meyer M. , Miramonti L. , Misiaszek M. , Muratova V. , Neumair B. , Nieslony M. , Oberauer L. , Orekhov V. , Ortica F. , Pallavicini M. , Papp L. , Penek Ö. , Pietrofaccia L. , Pilipenko N. , Pocar A. , Raikov G. , Ranucci G. , Razeto A. , Re A. , Redchuk M. , Romani A. , Rossi N. , Rottenanger S. , Schönert S. , Semenov D. , Skorokhvatov M. , Smirnov O. , Sotnikov A. , Sun C. , Suvorov Y. , Takeuchi T. , Tartaglia R. , Testera G. , Thurn J. , Unzhakov E. , Vishneva A. , Vogelaar R. B. , von Feilitzsch F. , Wojcik M. , Wurm M. , Zaimidoroga O. , Zavatarelli S. , Zuber K. , Zuzel G.
Published: February 2020

Abstract

The Borexino detector measures solar neutrino fluxes via neutrino-electron elastic scattering. Observed spectra are determined by the solar-νe survival probability Pee(E), and the chiral couplings of the neutrino and electron. Some theories of physics beyond the Standard Model postulate the existence of Non-Standard Interactions (NSI’s) which modify the chiral couplings and Pee(E). In this paper, we search for such NSI’s, in particular, flavor-diagonal neutral current interactions that modify the νee and ντe couplings using Borexino Phase II data. Standard Solar Model predictions of the solar neutrino fluxes for both high- and low-metallicity assumptions are considered. No indication of new physics is found at the level of sensitivity of the detector and constraints on the parameters of the NSI’s are placed. In addition, with the same dataset the value of sin2θW is obtained with a precision comparable to that achieved in reactor antineutrino experiments

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A cyclin-dependent kinase, CDK11/p58, represses cap-dependent translation during mitosis
Authors: An Sihyeon , Kwon Oh Sung , Yu Jinbae , Jang Sung Key
Published: February 2020

During mitosis, translation of most mRNAs is strongly repressed; none of the several explanatory hypotheses suggested can fully explain the molecular basis of this phenomenon. Here we report that cyclin-dependent CDK11/p58—a serine/threonine kinase abundantly expressed during M phase—represses overall translation by phosphorylating a subunit (eIF3F) of the translation factor eIF3 complex that is essential for translation initiation of most mRNAs. Ectopic expression of CDK11/p58 strongly repressed cap-dependent translation, and knockdown of CDK11/p58 nullified the translational repression during M phase. We identified the phosphorylation sites in eIF3F responsible for M phase-specific translational repression by CDK11/p58. Alanine substitutions of CDK11/p58 target sites in eIF3F nullified its effects on cell cycle-dependent translational regulation. The mechanism of translational regulation by the M phase-specific kinase, CDK11/p58, has deep evolutionary roots considering the conservation of CDK11 and its target sites on eIF3F fromC. elegansto humans.
Informationen zur medizinischen Vorgeschichte in der Notaufnahme
Authors: Lorsbach M. , Gillessen A. , Revering K. , Juhra C.
Published: February 2020

Hintergrund

Die Einführung einer elektronischen Patientenakte (ePA) bzw. eines Notfalldatensatzes (NFD) ist ebenso wie die Reform der Notfallversorgung in Deutschland derzeit immer wieder Teil politischer Diskussionen. Derzeit existieren in Deutschland keine Daten zum Nutzen einer solchen ePA bzw. NFD für die Notaufnahmen. Ziel dieser Studie war es herauszufinden, ob mitgebrachte Vorbefunde Einfluss auf Diagnostik- und Therapieentscheidungen in der Notaufnahme haben.

Methodik

Zur Beantwortung der Frage wurde eine deskriptive Beobachtungsstudie in einer interdisziplinären Notaufnahme durchgeführt mit einer Studienpopulation von n = 96.

Ergebnisse

Hinsichtlich vorhandener Vorbefunde konnten bei 55 Patienten (59 %) weder ein Arztbrief noch eine Medikamentenliste gefunden werden. Jedoch konnten bei 48 % der Patienten, die über die Notaufnahme stationär aufgenommen wurden, Ergänzungen der Anamnese nachgewiesen werden.

Bei 8 (9 %) Patienten zeigte sich, dass Therapie- und/oder Diagnostikentscheidungen hätten diskutiert bzw. geändert werden müssen, falls die ergänzten anamnestischen Informationen in der Notaufnahme vorgelegen hätten. Die Dauer der Anamnese zeigte sich ebenfalls verlängert bei fehlenden Vorbefunden seitens des Patienten (Mittelwert: 10–15 min; Standardabweichung: ±<5 min) im Gegensatz zu den Patienten mit Vorbefunden (Mittelwert: 5–10 min; Standardabweichung: ±<5 min).

Diskussion

Mithilfe von ePA und NFD könnten Therapie- und Diagnostikentscheidungen sicherer gestellt werden. Beim Fehlen von Vorbefunden ist die Anamnesedauer in Notaufnahmen deutlich verlängert, was sich durch die Einführung einer ePA bzw. eines NFD reduzieren ließe.