bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Awareness of climate risks and opportunities: empirical evidence on determinants and value from the U.S. and European insurance industry
Authors: Gatzert Nadine , Reichel Philipp
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we study the awareness of European and U.S. insurance companies of climate-related risks and opportunities using a respective indicator from the Refinitiv Eikon database that uses reporting data. Based on this, we examine the determinants and value of the awareness of business risks and opportunities resulting from climate change, which, to the best of our knowledge, has not been done so far, despite its increasing and specific relevance for the insurance industry. We use a logistic regression analysis as well as a linear fixed effects model for a 10-year period from 2009 to 2018. Our results show that larger European insurers are significantly more likely to exhibit such awareness. When controlling for subsectors, property & casualty insurers tend to be aware of the risks and opportunities resulting from climate change. Moreover, when using the linear fixed effects model, we find a statistically significant positive value effect on Tobin’s Q.
A BLOC-1–AP-3 super-complex sorts a cis-SNARE complex into endosome-derived tubular transport carriers
Authors: Bowman Shanna L. , Le Linh , Zhu Yueyao , Harper Dawn C. , Sitaram Anand , Theos Alexander C. , Sviderskaya Elena V. , Bennett Dorothy C. , Raposo-Benedetti Graça , Owen David J. , Dennis Megan K. , Marks Michael S.
Published: April 2021

Membrane transport carriers fuse with target membranes through engagement of cognate vSNAREs and tSNAREs on each membrane. How vSNAREs are sorted into transport carriers is incompletely understood. Here we show that VAMP7, the vSNARE for fusing endosome-derived tubular transport carriers with maturing melanosomes in melanocytes, is sorted into transport carriers in complex with the tSNARE component STX13. Sorting requires either recognition of VAMP7 by the AP-3δ subunit of AP-3 or of STX13 by the pallidin subunit of BLOC-1, but not both. Consequently, melanocytes expressing both AP-3δ and pallidin variants that cannot bind their respective SNARE proteins are hypopigmented and fail to sort BLOC-1–dependent cargo, STX13, or VAMP7 into transport carriers. However, SNARE binding does not influence BLOC-1 function in generating tubular transport carriers. These data reveal a novel mechanism of vSNARE sorting by recognition of redundant sorting determinants on a SNARE complex by an AP-3–BLOC-1 super-complex.
Multiple-analyte mass detection in a coupled microresonator array
Authors: Chatterjee Animesh
Published: April 2021

Resonant sensors using coupled micro-cantilever arrays have found wide applications in the ultrasensitive mass detection of biomolecules and chemical analytes. Experimental observations indicate that a target mass deposited on one of the cantilevers can be detected by measuring the change in resonant frequencies or in eigenmodes. Analytical works have studied eigenvalue and eigenmode sensitivities, but for a single analyte only. Since a resonator array consists of several cantilevers, it offers an opportunity for the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes. However, multiple-analyte mass detection has not been investigated so far. In this paper, an analytical foundation for the detection of multiple analytes, through the measurement of eigenvalue shifts, is developed using matrix perturbation theory. The formulation presents a system of over-determined linear equations in terms of unknown analyte masses. A novel approach based on solving the equations in a least square sense is proposed and it is shown that it gives far better estimation accuracy than using a subset of equations for direct solution. The approach is demonstrated through numerical simulation for a typical three-cantilever array for the detection of two analyte masses. Estimation errors are studied for a range of analyte masses and presented in the form of an error surface. The effect of interconnection stiffness and array size on estimation error is also investigated. The robustness of the method is further tested against manufacturing variations and it is shown that an envelope guideline of maximum estimation error can be constructed for the user.
Gravitational wave constraints on the primordial black hole dominated early universe
Authors: Domènech Guillem , Lin Chunshan , Sasaki Misao
Published: April 2021

We calculate the gravitational waves (GWs) induced by the density fluctuations due to the inhomogeneous distribution of primordial black holes (PBHs)
in the case where PBHs eventually dominate and reheat the universe by Hawking evaporation.
The initial PBH density fluctuations are isocurvature in nature.
We find that most of the induced GWs are generated right after evaporation,
when the universe transits from the PBH dominated era to the radiation dominated era and the curvature perturbation starts to oscillate wildly.
The strongest constraint on the amount of the produced GWs comes from the big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN).
We improve previous constraints on the PBH fraction and find that it cannot exceed 10-4. Furthermore,
this maximum fraction decreases as the mass increases and reaches 10-12 for
MPBH∼ 5×108 g, which is the largest mass allowed by the BBN constraint
on the reheating temperature. Considering that PBH may cluster above a given clustering scale, we also derive a lower bound
on the scale of clustering. Interestingly, the GW spectrum for MPBH∼ 104 -108 g enters the observational
window of LIGO and DECIGO and could be tested in the future. Although we focus on the PBH dominated early universe in this paper,
our methodology is applicable to any model with early isocurvature perturbation.
Radial oscillations and stability of compact stars in f(R, T) = R+ 2β T gravity
Authors: M.Z. Pretel Juan , E. Jorás Sergio , R.R. Reis Ribamar , D.V. Arbañil José
Published: April 2021

We examine the static structure configurations and radial stability of compact stars within the context of f(R, T) gravity, with R and T standing for the Ricci scalar and trace of the energy-momentum tensor, respectively. Considering the f(R, T)=R+2β T functional form, with β being a constant, we derive the corresponding hydrostatic equilibrium equation and the modified Chandrasekhar's pulsation equation. The mass-radius relations and radial mode frequencies are obtained for some realistic equations of state. Our results show that the traditional stellar stability criteria, namely, the necessary condition d M/dρc >0 and sufficient condition ω2 >0, still hold in this theory of gravity.
Heterogeneous dual memristive circuit: Multistability, symmetry, and FPGA implementation*
Authors: Cheng Yi-Zi , Min Fu-Hong , Rui Zhi , Zhang Lei
Published: April 2021

An improved heterogeneous dual memristive circuit (DMC) is proposed based on Chua’s circuit, which shows good symmetry and multistablility. For the difficulty in controlling the initial conditions, which restricts the engineering applications, the 3rd-order model (3OM) in flux–charge domain is derived from the 5th-order model (5OM) in volt–ampere domain by using the flux–charge analysis method (FCAM). The consistence of symmetry and multistability before and after dimensionality decreasing is meticulously investigated via bifurcation diagram, Lyapunov exponents, and especially attraction basins. The comparative analysis validates the effectiveness of reduction model and improves the controllability of the circuit. To avoid the noise in the analog circuit, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is utilized to realize the reduction model, which is rarely reported and valuable for relevant research and application.
Abnormal phenomenon of source-drain current of AlGaN/GaN heterostructure device under UV/visible light irradiation*
Authors: Liu Yue-Bo , Shen Jun-Yu , Xing Jie-Ying , Yao Wan-Qing , Liu Hong-Hui , Dai Ya-Qiong , Yang Long-Kun , Wang Feng-Ge , Ren Yuan , Zhang Min-Jie , Wu Zhi-Sheng , Liu Yang , Zhang Bai-Jun
Published: April 2021

We report an abnormal phenomenon that the source-drain current (I
D) of AlGaN/GaN heterostructure devices decreases under visible light irradiation. When the incident light wavelength is 390 nm, the photon energy is less than the band gaps of GaN and AlGaN whereas it can causes an increase of I
D. Based on the UV light irradiation, a decrease of I
D can still be observed when turning on the visible light. We speculate that this abnormal phenomenon is related to the surface barrier height, the unionized donor-like surface states below the surface Fermi level and the ionized donor-like surface states above the surface Fermi level. For visible light, its photon energy is less than the surface barrier height of the AlGaN layer. The electrons bound in the donor-like surface states below the Fermi level are excited and trapped by the ionized donor-like surface states between the Fermi level and the conduction band of AlGaN. The electrons trapped in ionized donor-like surface states show a long relaxation time, and the newly ionized donor-like surface states below the surface Fermi level are filled with electrons from the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) channel at AlGaN/GaN interface, which causes the decrease of I
D. For the UV light, when its photon energy is larger than the surface barrier height of the AlGaN layer, electrons in the donor-like surface states below the Fermi level are excited to the conduction band and then drift into the 2DEG channel quickly, which cause the increase of I
D.
A CNN identified by reinforcement learning-based optimization framework for EEG-based state evaluation
Authors: Yang Yuxuan , Gao Zhongke , Li Yanli , Wang He
Published: April 2021

Objective.Electroencephalogram (EEG) data, as a kind of complex time-series, is one of the most widely-used information measurements for evaluating human psychophysiological states. Recently, numerous works applied deep learning techniques, especially the convolutional neural network (CNN), into EEG-based research. The design of the hyper-parameters of the CNN model has a great influence on the performance of the model. Therefore, automatically designing these hyper-parameters can save the time and labor of experts. This leads to the appearance of the neural architecture search technique. In this paper, we propose a reinforcement learning (RL)-based step-by-step framework to efficiently search for CNN models.Approach.Specifically, the deep Q network in RL is first used to determine the depth of convolutional layers and the connection modes among layers. Then particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to fine-tune the number and size of convolution kernels. Through this step-by-step strategy, the search space can be narrowed in each step for saving the overall time cost. This framework is employed for both EEG-based sleep stage classification and driver drowsiness evaluation tasks.Main results.The results show that compared with state-of-the-art methods, the high-performance CNN models identified by the proposed optimization framework, can achieve high overall accuracy and better root mean squared error in the two tasks.Significance.Therefore, the proposed optimization framework has a great potential to provide high-performance results for other kinds of classification and prediction tasks. In this way, it can greatly save researchers’ time cost and promote broader applications of CNNs.
The existing technology and the application of digital artificial intelligent in the wastewater treatment area: A review paper
Authors: Martini Sri , Roni Kiagus Ahmad
Published: April 2021

Wastewater treatment using various existing technologies, including advanced oxidation processes, adsorption, and membrane separation for various pollutants removal from industrial and municipal wastewater streams, is an essential aspect of reaching environmental sustainability to keep human well-being and healthy economic growth. However, some challenging elements along with the wastewater treatment process affect pollutant removal efficiency and other resources. This condition will lead to various uncertainty in the wastewater treatment system related to the fluctuations in the quality of treated water and wastewater, operation costs, and environmental risk. Artificial intelligence can then be such a reliable solution to predict and minimize those complications and optimize the process and parameters implemented in the wastewater treatment system.
Blackspot Analysis of Road Traffic Crashes in Surabaya-Manyar Toll Road, East Java
Authors: Hartatik Nurani , Prasetijo Joewono , Muslihati Atqiya
Published: April 2021

Traffic crashes are one of the problems that cannot be prevented, especially on toll roads. Knowing the crash element, including crash number, type, factor, and fatality, could lead the investigation to set crash solving and prevention by finding the blackspot point. Surabaya-Manyar toll roads were reported as crash-prone locations, with 149 crashes from 2014-2018. This research concerns the impact on a specific period obtained by PT. Margabumi Matrajaya was ranging from 2014-2018 at Surabaya-Manyar toll road. The objectives aim to analyze the crash element using submitted data from PT. Margabumi Matrajaya to find the blackspot at each line. The collected data were the primary data from field observation and documentation and secondary data, consisting of crash data, road length, time of the crash, what types of vehicles were involved in the crash, and wound victim data. The locations of crash-prone points (Blackspots) on the Surabaya-Manyar Toll road are as follows: The locations of crash-prone points (Blackspots) on the Surabaya Toll road-Manyar line mostly occurred at Km 9 + 925-16 + 400 mostly in 2018, on the Romokalisari-Kebomas section, and for Manyar-Surabaya line, occurred at Km 3 + 500-0 + 000 mostly in 2016, on the Tandes-Dupak section. Therefore, to decrease the crash number in Surabaya-Manyar toll road, PT. Margabumi Matrajaya should add traffic sign as blackspot area, speed trap, warning sign like slippery road ahead warning, crossroad, and merging traffic.
ATP and WTP analysis in determining retribution rate for building construction permit in Boyolali district
Authors: Yantini  , Sunarjono Sri , Solikin Mochamad , Hidayati Nurul
Published: April 2021

Building Construction Permit (BCP) is a permit granted by the regional government except for buildings with particular government functions to build new, change, expand, reduce, and maintain buildings according to applicable administrative and technical requirements. This study aims to analyze and determine the unit price building levies for building permits in Boyolali Regency. The study aim also can fulfill the concept of cost recovery and equity. The amount of retribution paid by the community is equal to the operational costs in the licensing process or services provided by the local government and adjusted to the public ability to pay and willingness to pay or benefits provided by the local government. This research is a descriptive-analytical study. The sample in this study was 100 respondents. This research’s data sources consist of primary data in interviews and questionnaires and secondary data in operational costs and targets and realization of BCP income. The results showed that the BCP levy rate set’s value was lower than the value of the Activity Operational Costs (OAC). However, the value of the OAC tariff is greater than the value of ATP and WTP. The ability to pay BCP levies is equivalent to the willingness to pay BCP levies.
The influence of activator type and temperature activation on the specific surface of corncob waste adsorbent
Authors: Rachmawati Novia , Mujiburohman Muhammad
Published: April 2021

Activated carbon is widely used in various applications. It can be produced from natural sources having carbon content including corncob waste. This study aims to make activated carbon from the corncob waste. The effect of types of activators and activation temperature on the specific surface of the activated carbon was investigated. The experimental stages involved preparation, carbonization, activation, and sample analysis. During activation, the types of activators and temperature activation were varied, i.e. HNO3, HCl, H2 SO4, NaOH, all with concentration of 10% (mass), and variations in temperature of 70°C, 90°C, 110°C. The specific surface of activated carbon was determined with the methylene blue adsorption method using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The results showed that the activation using 10% NaOH at a temperature of 110°C had the highest specific surface, i.e. 21.876 m2/g.
The impact of land-use change on Cengklik Reservoir’s sedimentation rate
Authors: Pudyastuti Purwanti Sri , Yakan Annisa Fathi , Abdurrosyid Jaji , Budinetro Hermono S
Published: April 2021

The Cengklik Reservoir is operated for irrigation of rice fields in 3 sub-districts in Boyolali Regency, namely Sambi, Ngemplak, and Nogosari. At the present time, the volume of the Cengklik Reservoir has decreased and resulted in dryness during the dry season. One of the main causes is due to the high sedimentation rate. This research was conducted to evaluate changes in land use that resulted in sedimentation in the Cengklik Reservoir. Erosion prediction in this study uses USLE (Universal Soil Loss Equation) analysis. The amount of sediment obtained uses the standard erosion data from USLE calculations, namely by multiplying the amount of erosion by the SDR and the area of River Basin. The potential for erosion and sedimentation used land use data for 10 years, from 2009 to 2019. Based on the research, the amount of erosion and sedimentation in the Cengklik Reservoir was fluctuated with the highest amount occurring in 2016, with erosion of 9,292 tones/ha/year and sedimentation of 4304,154 tons/year. In general, erosion and sedimentation have increased from 2009 to 2019. The classification of erosion in the Cengklik Reservoir according to this study was categorized as light erosion. The trap efficiency used in this study was calculated using formulae based on the research of Heinemann (1981) using the Brune method for small reservoirs with an area of less than 0.5 km2. In general, based on this study, the Trap Efficiency in Cengklik Reservoir was 95.254%.
Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Hand Sanitizer Based on Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana)
Authors: Harismah Kun , Ariningrum Nurul Diah , Fuadi Ahmad Muhammad , Mujiburohman Muhammad , Mirzaei Mahmoud
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this study was to analyze the quality of herbal hand sanitizer based on stevia in the addition of trembesi (Albizia saman (Jacq.) Merr) leaf extract. Experimental research in the laboratory, the study used two factorial Completely Randomized Design, namely stevia extract (1.0; 0.75; 0.50; 0.25; 0.0%) and trembesi extract (0; 0.25;0, 5;0.75; 1.0%) with two repetitions. Each formulation was tested according to SNI 0625881992. The results showed that all formulation comply with SNI-06-2588-1992 standards.
Effect of Sintering Temperature in Curcumin Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell using ITO Glass
Authors: Purnama Herry , Prabowo Bima A. , Hanif Lazuardi N. , Ridwan Ibrahim , Hidayati Nur
Published: April 2021

The world’s energy needs are increasing as the human population increases. The fulfillment of fossil-based energy has reached optimal conditions and is predicted to decline in the future. One potential that can be developed to meet future energy needs is dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). DSSC is an efficient third generation that produces green energy at low production costs because no vacuum system or expensive equipment is required to manufacture. This study examines the structure of the DSSC using indium tin oxide (ITO) glass, and its working principles are described. The dye solution uses curcumin as the photosensitizer. From the results of this study, it is known that DSSC at a sintering temperature of 400°C has better results than DSSC with a sintering temperature of 350°C. The DSSC with turmeric ( Curcuma longa) has an efficiency of 0.81%.
Developing Standard Operational Procedures for Maintenance and Repair of Mechanical and Electrical Component in Government Building to Improving Safety Planning
Authors: Putri Anita Handayani , Latief Yusuf , Sagita Leni , Machfudiyanto Rossy Armyn
Published: April 2021

To develop maintenance and repair procedures for mechanical and electrical components of government building to improve safety planning. Method of the research using content and construct validation, pilot survey and respondent survey which is then validated using Delphi Method by experts. Result of this research are In developing the maintenance and repair procedures for mechanical and electrical components of government buildings, stages are carried out in the form of identifying the organizational forms and job descriptions of the institution, identifying the components and activities of mechanical and electrical maintenance and maintenance of the building, identifying the person in charge and implementing work activities, establishing the flow of communication, identify risk events in the activity, analyse the highest risk, identify the highest risk response, and develop procedures with the addition of risk response activities. OHS planning developed in this study is risk based so that it can reduce the adverse impacts on occupational health and safety (OHS) by referring to Minister of Public Works Regulation No. 05 of 2014. This research is about how to develop standard operational procedures for mechanical and electrical components in government buildings. The current government building is a building that has a fairly old age, resulting the condition of the building has a lot of damage in various components, for instance mechanical and electrical components. If ignored, these conditions will lead to decrease the quality of the building and may eventually lead to the destruction of the building. Building maintenance and repair work is one of the solutions to maintain the reliability of the building remains functional. However, the absence of proper procedures on government buildings in one of the government agencies becomes obstacles to the implementation of the work. This causes maintenance and repair activities to be ineffective and inefficient, in addition to affecting the results obtained.
Development of Quality Management System for Construction Services Procurement to Improve the Quality of Contractor Performance in Universitas Indonesia
Authors: Okifitriana Maharani , Latief Yusuf
Published: April 2021

Purpose: Construction work was one of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) that stated in Universitas Indonesia (UI) Strategic Plan. Therefore, the success in the implementation of construction work had quite an influence in overall UI performance achievement, both the activities performance and financial performance. However, in the practice, the construction work implementation in UI was not always in line with the plan/expectation. The construction work was often delayed until the termination of contract that resulted in the obstruction of operational activities. This research had a purpose to develop the Quality Management System (QMS) for the Construction Services Procurement Process to Improve the Quality of Contractor Performance in Universitas Indonesia.Methodology: Research methods used were literature study, survey, and statistical analysis. Results: The development of Quality Management System (QMS) for the construction services procurement process in Universitas Indonesia. Applications/Originality/Value: With the development of this QMS, it is expected that the construction services procurement process could improve the quality of contractor performance and reduce the stoppage rate of projects.
The influence of harmonic distortion on losses and efficiency of three-phase distribution transformer
Authors: Ulinuha Agus , Sari Eka Muthia
Published: April 2021

The operation of non-linear load leads to distortion on system and equipment. The nonlinear relation between voltage and current implies higher frequency components of current and voltage called harmonic. This may constitute distortion on the fundamental waveform. If this distorted waveform applies to a transformer, it may lead to additional losses and therefore reduces transformer efficiency. The losses occur due to the degree of harmonic distortion, commonly called total harmonic distortion (THD). This paper discusses the operating condition of three-phase transformer serving nonlinear load in the form of power converter. The related impacts of THD on voltage and current, additional power losses and its efficiency are analysed. The calculation is implemented on a 200 kVA three-phase transformer serving a rectifier supplying a balanced inductive load. For analysis purpose the system is simulated using Simulink in MATLAB environment. From the generated results it is identified the THD of voltage and current distortions of 19% and 18%, respectively. These distortion is analysed to confirm the standard of IEEE 519-2014 verifying the distortions exceeding the maximum limit for both voltage and current. The effect of harmonic on transformer loss is also observed. The loss is calculated taking into account all parameters ensuring the calculation is valid. The result indicates the increase of loss due to considering harmonic distortion from 0.62 kW to 1.854 kW causing reduction of efficiency from 99.65% to 98.97%. This loss addition implies a derating of the transformer to avoid transformer overload that may shorten the device’s lifetime.
Feasibility Analysis of Renewable Energy Alternative Selection in Rural Areas Using Zero Energy Building Concept
Authors: Ramadhan Rahadian , Farizal
Published: April 2021

This study aims to utilizing renewable energy in rural areas using zero energy building (ZEB) concept and feasibility analysis, related to alternative renewable energy-based electricity generation in the use of energy in rural area. The first step, is to find out the amount of renewable energy in each city or district by looking at the average amount of rainfall, average wind speed, and the electrification ratio in each district or city in each province, the second stage is a literature study related to renewable energy technology, and the final step in this study is to determine the feasibility analysis related to the technology of renewable energy resources used by calculating the payback period and determining the cost of electricity produced Alternative 1 was chosen because it is the most efficient choice with only 2.56 years of payback period, suitable for use in rural areas and able to meet all the daily electricity needs of the house, by generating electricity of 1.156 kWh / year, with a COE of Rp1.410. This study compares several alternative of renewable energy technologies (i.e. solar panel and wind turbine) that can be used to meet electricity consumption needs in rural areas, combined with using a pico-hydro rainwater harvesting, which uses rainwater as an alternative energy source.
Climate-mediated dynamics of the northern limit of paddy rice in China
Authors: Liang Shefang , Wu Wenbin , Sun Jing , Li Zhipeng , Sun Xiao , Chen Hao , Chen Shi , Fan Lingling , You Liangzhi , Yang Peng
Published: April 2021

Paddy rice agriculture plays an important role in food security and has a considerable influence on natural systems. In the context of climate change, understanding the nature and drivers of shifts in the northern limit of paddy rice (NLPR) is crucial for adaptation strategies and food security. However, quantitative studies on the effect of climate change on paddy rice distribution shifts have not been well performed. Here, we mapped the NLPR in China using Landsat imagery from 1984 to 2013, analyzed the latitudinal and elevational dynamics of the NLPR using Fishnet analysis, and explored the factors driving the changes in rice area across the NLPR regions using a linear regression model. Our results show that between 1984 and 2013, the NLPR shifted 24.93 km northward (the greatest movement was 88.01 km occurring at approximately 133° E) and elevational limits increased by 39.15 m (the greatest movement was 117.08 m occurring at approximately 129° E). While socioeconomic factors (e.g. benefits, policies, irrigation, and mulch) played significant roles in rice area changes, the changes in rice area across the NLPR regions had the strongest positive association with the increase in the previous temperature, indicating that rice cultivation in the NLPR regions has moved to higher latitudes over the 30 year study period to adapt to climate change. Our study highlighted that quantifying the interactions between climate change and crop production systems can facilitate a better understanding of the human responses to changes in the growing conditions in the face of climate change and ensuring regional and global food security.
On construction of finite averaging sets for

SL(2,C)

via its Cartan decomposition
Authors: Markiewicz Marcin , Przewocki Janusz
Published: April 2021

Averaging physical quantities over Lie groups appears in many contexts across the rapidly developing branches of physics like quantum information science or quantum optics. Such an averaging process can be always represented as averaging with respect to a finite number of elements of the group, called a finite averaging set. In the previous research such sets, known as t-designs, were constructed only for the case of averaging over unitary groups (hence the name unitary
t
-designs). In this work we investigate the problem of constructing finite averaging sets for averaging over general non-compact matrix Lie groups, which is much more subtle task due to the fact that the the uniform invariant measure on the group manifold (the Haar measure) is infinite. We provide a general construction of such sets based on the Cartan decomposition of the group, which splits the group into its compact and non-compact components. The averaging over the compact part can be done in a uniform way, whereas the averaging over the non-compact one has to be endowed with a suppressing weight function, and can be approached using generalized Gauss quadratures. This leads us to the general form of finite averaging sets for semisimple matrix Lie groups in the product form of finite averaging sets with respect to the compact and non-compact parts. We provide an explicit calculation of such sets for the group

S
L

(

2
,
C

)

, although our construction can be applied to other cases. Possible applications of our results cover finding finite ensembles of random operations in quantum information science and quantum optics, which can be used in constructions of randomised quantum algorithms, including optical interferometric implementations.
Quantum measurement of space-time events
Authors: Brody Dorje C , Hughston Lane P
Published: April 2021

The phase space of a relativistic system can be identified with the future tube of complexified Minkowski space. As well as a complex structure and a symplectic structure, the future tube, seen as an eight-dimensional real manifold, is endowed with a natural positive-definite Riemannian metric that accommodates the underlying geometry of the indefinite Minkowski space metric, together with its symmetry group. A unitary representation of the 15-parameter group of conformal transformations can then be constructed that acts upon the Hilbert space of square-integrable holomorphic functions on the future tube. These structures are enough to allow one to put forward a quantum theory of phase-space events. In particular, a theory of quantum measurement can be formulated in a relativistic setting, based on the use of positive operator valued measures, for the detection of phase-space events, hence allowing one to assign probabilities to the outcomes of joint space-time and four-momentum measurements in a manifestly covariant framework. This leads to a localization theorem for phase-space events in relativistic quantum theory, determined by the associated Compton wavelength.
The methods and fruits of science
Authors: Wallace David
Published: April 2021

This chapter briefly discusses central key topics in the philosophy of science that the remainder of the book draws upon. It begins by considering the scientific method. ‘Induction’—the idea that we construct scientific theories just by generalizing from observations—is a very poor match to real science. ‘Falsification’—Popper’s idea that we create a theory, test against observation, and discard it if it fails the test—is much more realistic, but still too simple: data only falsifies data given auxiliary assumptions that can themselves be doubted. The issues are illustrated through an example from modern astrophysics: dark matter. The chapter then explores how we can resolve issues of underdetermination, where two theories give the same predictions. Finally, it introduces ‘scientific realism’, the view that our best theories tell us things about the world that go beyond what is directly observable.
The architects of a reef
Authors: Sheppard Charles
Published: April 2021

Coral reefs are tropical ecosystems but show global patterns. The Caribbean has about 60 reef-building coral species, while Southeast Asia has nearly 1,000, this number broadly diminishing with distance east and west from the Southeast Asian region. Diversity of corals also diminishes broadly with distance north and south of the equator. While basic patterns exist, there are several kinds of reef in the same sense that there are different kinds of forests, sometimes forming near-monocultures, sometimes with more diverse mixtures of species. Their key to success is that they house vast numbers of captive dinoflagellates that photosynthesize in a close symbiosis, which explains how these complex ecosystems persist in the absence of substantial fields of large, visible seaweeds. All deposit limestone in its aragonite form, in a way characteristic to each species, which has been used for distinguishing between species. The basic unit of a coral, the polyp, reproduces sexually, but more importantly by asexual budding, which allows for the growth of large colonies of polyps, all clones. Numerous other organisms have crucial associations with the coral polyp: bacteria and archaea especially, the whole forming what is now termed the coral holobiont. Aside from photosynthesis, corals have nematocysts in their tentacles to capture zooplankton food. Corals compete for space using these stinging cells also, amongst other methods. On any reef, soft corals are numerous, especially in the Caribbean, though these do not deposit limestone rock. Calcareous algae are crucial reef-building components too, particularly in the shallows.
Microbial engines of the coral reef
Authors: Sheppard Charles
Published: April 2021

The symbiosis between corals and the dinoflagellates—zooxanthellae—is the key to a tight recycling of nutrients on reefs that generally thrive best in nutrient poor parts of the oceans. But several other mechanisms and species groups aid transmission of organic matter and energy along the numerous food chains of a reef. Viruses, bacteria, and archaea are key to the recycling of carbon and organic compounds, making the ‘microbial loop’, one key but invisible aspect to how the reef functions. Cyanobacteria, formerly blue-green algae, are a major part of the micro-benthos too, and are important primary producers. Protists are also hugely abundant—larger, single-celled organisms which are eukaryotes with cells with nuclei, and this group has species that exist in planktonic and benthic forms. Foraminifera are important protists, being abundant and having calcareous tests, so that they are significant sand producers in some areas. Finally, zooplankton provide food for numerous reef species, and indeed larvae from all species form part of the plankton temporarily too.
Global scale pressures on reefs—climate change
Authors: Sheppard Charles
Published: April 2021

Ocean temperatures are rising. This is critical for corals and other reef organisms because most live very close to their thermal limits already. The rise is caused by the greenhouse effect from increasing CO2 emissions. Superimposed on a general background rise caused by the general increase in heat content of the world are pulses—ocean heatwaves—caused by vagaries in ocean circulation. Globally, this is now the greatest threat to reefs. Warming pulses cause mass coral bleaching and mortality when the overstressed symbiotic algae are expelled from the corals, showing the white limestone beneath the now transparent coral tissue. All coral reef areas of the world now exhibit mass bleaching events. Recovery of a reef is possible, but only if given some decades of stable temperatures, and predictions are that warming events are occurring increasingly frequently and are of increasing severity. Coral cover on reefs in all reef areas is declining sharply. Seawater also becomes increasingly acidic, which impedes coral calcification. Added to this, there is a lag of 20–40 years for carbon dioxide in the air to equilibrate with the ocean, so even were there to be a cessation in the rise in the atmosphere today, these effects would continue to develop for a few decades more. 350 parts per million CO2 is considered to be a threshold concentration for calcification to be possible but already the atmosphere is at about 415 ppm. Sea levels are rising too as a result, and reefs are degrading and losing their ability to act as breakwaters.
Subtherapeutic posaconazole prophylaxis in a gastric bypass patient following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Highsmith Emily A , Doan Vi P , Canada Todd W
Published: April 2021

Purpose

A case of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) with subtherapeutic posaconazole prophylaxis in a gastric bypass patient following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is reported.

A 52-year-old malnourished male with a medical history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for obesity developed acute myelogenous leukemia and underwent allogeneic HSCT approximately 17 months later. He was admitted 1 month after HSCT for failure to thrive and initiated on parenteral nutrition due to worsening diarrhea and suspected gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease (GI GVHD). During admission, the patient was continued on daily oral posaconazole for antifungal prophylaxis and was found to have subtherapeutic posaconazole and deficient vitamin levels, likely secondary to his gastrojejunostomy and increased gastric transit time. The oral posaconazole was altered to twice-daily dosing in an effort to increase serum drug levels and prevent IFIs.

Conclusion

Patients with a history of gastric bypass are at increased risk for malabsorption of oral posaconazole and nutrients, especially following HSCT with suspected GI GVHD.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Salivary Metanephrines in Pheochromocytomas and Paragangliomas
Authors: Eijkelenkamp Karin , Osinga Thamara E , van Faassen Martijn , Kema Ido P , Kerstens Michiel N , Pacak Karel , Sluiter Wim J , Links Thera P , van der Horst-Schrivers Anouk N A
Published: April 2021

Background

Measurements of plasma free metanephrines are recommended for diagnosing pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGL). Metanephrines can be detected in saliva with LC-MS/MS with sufficient analytical sensitivity and precision. Because collecting saliva is noninvasive and less cumbersome than plasma or urine sampling, we assessed the diagnostic accuracy of salivary metanephrines in diagnosing PPGL.

Methods

This 2-center study included 118 healthy participants (44 men; mean age: 33 years (range: 19--74 years)), 44 patients with PPGL, and 54 patients suspected of PPGL. Metanephrines were quantified in plasma and saliva using LC-MS/MS. Diagnostic accuracy; correlation between plasma and salivary metanephrines; and potential factors influencing salivary metanephrines, including age, sex, and posture during sampling, were assessed.

Results

Salivary metanephrines were significantly higher in patients with PPGL compared with healthy participants (metanephrine (MN): 0.19 vs 0.09 nmol/L, P < 0.001; normetanephrine (NMN): 2.90 vs 0.49 nmol/L, P < 0.001). The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of salivary metanephrines were 89% and 87%, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy of salivary metanephrines was 88%, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.880. We found a significant correlation between plasma and salivary metanephrines (Pearson correlation coefficient: MN, 0.86, P < 0.001; NMN, 0.83, P < 0.001). Salivary NMN concentrations were higher when collected in a seated position compared with supine (P < 0.001) and increased with age (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Salivary metanephrines are a promising tool in the biochemical diagnosis of PPGL. Salivary metanephrines correlate with plasma free metanephrines and are increased in patients with PPGL. At this time, however, salivary metanephrines cannot replace measurement of plasma free metanephrines.
Is it necessary to routinely perform feeding jejunostomy at the time of esophagectomy? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Mei Li-Xiang , Wang Yong-Yong , Tan Xiang , Chen Yong , Dai Lei , Chen Ming-Wu
Published: April 2021

Feeding jejunostomy (FJ) is a routine procedure at the time of esophagectomy in some centers. With the widespread popularization of enhanced recovery after surgery, the necessity of FJ has been increasingly questioned. This study aims to analyze the differences in safety and effectiveness between with (FJ group) or without (no-FJ group) performing FJ at the time of esophagectomy. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were comprehensively searched for relevant studies, including randomized controlled trials and cohort studies. The primary outcome was the length of hospital stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes were overall postoperative complications, postoperative pneumonia, intestinal obstruction, and weight loss at 3 and 6 months after esophagectomy. Weighted mean differences (WMD) and odds ratios (OR) were calculated for statistical analysis. About 12 studies comprising 2,173 patients were included. The FJ group had a longer LOS (WMD = 2.05, P = 0.01) and a higher incidence of intestinal obstruction (OR = 11.67, P < 0.001) than the no-FJ group. The incidence of overall postoperative complications (OR = 1.24, P = 0.31) and postoperative pneumonia (OR = 1.43, P = 0.13) were not significantly different, nor the weight loss at 3 months (WMD = 0.58, P = 0.24) and 6 months (P > 0.05) after esophagectomy. Current evidence suggests that routinely performing FJ at the time of esophagectomy appears not to generate better postoperative outcomes. FJ may need to be performed selectively rather than routinely. More studies are required to further verify.
Variants in STXBP3 are Associated with Very Early Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Immune Dysregulation
Authors: Ouahed Jodie , Kelsen Judith R , Spessott Waldo A , Kooshesh Kameron , Sanmillan Maria L , Dawany Noor , Sullivan Kathleen E , Hamilton Kathryn E , Slowik Voytek , Nejentsev Sergey , Neves João Farela , Flores Helena , Chung Wendy K , Wilson Ashley , Anyane-Yeboa Kwame , Wou Karen , Jain Preti , Field Michael , Tollefson Sophia , Dent Maiah H , Li Dalin , Naito Takeo , McGovern Dermot P B , Kwong Andrew C , Taliaferro Faith , Ordovas-Montanes Jose , Horwitz Bruce H , Kotlarz Daniel , Klein Christoph , Evans Jonathan , Dorsey Jill , Warner Neil , Elkadri Abdul , Muise Aleixo M , Goldsmith Jeffrey , Thompson Benjamin , Engelhardt Karin R , Cant Andrew J , Hambleton Sophie , Barclay Andrew , Toth-Petroczy Agnes , Vuzman Dana , Carmichael Nikkola , Bodea Corneliu , Cassa Christopher A , Devoto Marcella , Maas Richard L , Behrens Edward M , Giraudo Claudio G , Snapper Scott B
Published: April 2021

Background and Aims

Very early onset inflammatory bowel disease [VEOIBD] is characterized by intestinal inflammation affecting infants and children less than 6 years of age. To date, over 60 monogenic aetiologies of VEOIBD have been identified, many characterized by highly penetrant recessive or dominant variants in underlying immune and/or epithelial pathways. We sought to identify the genetic cause of VEOIBD in a subset of patients with a unique clinical presentation.

Methods

Whole exome sequencing was performed on five families with ten patients who presented with a similar constellation of symptoms including medically refractory infantile-onset IBD, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and, in the majority, recurrent infections. Genetic aetiologies of VEOIBD were assessed and Sanger sequencing was performed to confirm novel genetic findings. Western analysis on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and functional studies with epithelial cell lines were employed.

Results

In each of the ten patients, we identified damaging heterozygous or biallelic variants in the Syntaxin-Binding Protein 3 gene [STXBP3], a protein known to regulate intracellular vesicular trafficking in the syntaxin-binding protein family of molecules, but not associated to date with either VEOIBD or sensorineural hearing loss. These mutations interfere with either intron splicing or protein stability and lead to reduced STXBP3 protein expression. Knock-down of STXBP3 in CaCo2 cells resulted in defects in cell polarity.

Conclusion

Overall, we describe a novel genetic syndrome and identify a critical role for STXBP3 in VEOIBD, sensorineural hearing loss and immune dysregulation.
Improving 1-year mortality prediction in ACS patients using machine learning
Authors: Weichwald Sebastian , Candreva Alessandro , Burkholz Rebekka , Klingenberg Roland , Räber Lorenz , Heg Dik , Manka Robert , Gencer Baris , Mach François , Nanchen David , Rodondi Nicolas , Windecker Stephan , Laaksonen Reijo , Hazen Stanley L , von Eckardstein Arnold , Ruschitzka Frank , Lüscher Thomas F , Buhmann Joachim M , Matter Christian M
Published: April 2021

Background

The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score is an established clinical risk stratification tool for patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We developed and internally validated a model for 1-year all-cause mortality prediction in ACS patients.

Methods

Between 2009 and 2012, 2’168 ACS patients were enrolled into the Swiss SPUM-ACS Cohort. Biomarkers were determined in 1’892 patients and follow-up was achieved in 95.8% of patients. 1-year all-cause mortality was 4.3% (n = 80). In our analysis we consider all linear models using combinations of 8 out of 56 variables to predict 1-year all-cause mortality and to derive a variable ranking.

Results

1.3% of 1’420’494’075 models outperformed the GRACE 2.0 Score. The SPUM-ACS Score includes age, plasma glucose, NT-proBNP, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), Killip class, history of peripheral artery disease (PAD), malignancy, and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. For predicting 1-year mortality after ACS, the SPUM-ACS Score outperformed the GRACE 2.0 Score which achieves a 5-fold cross-validated AUC of 0.81 (95% CI 0.78–0.84). Ranking individual features according to their importance across all multivariate models revealed age, trimethylamine N-oxide, creatinine, history of PAD or malignancy, LVEF, and haemoglobin as the most relevant variables for predicting 1-year mortality.

Conclusions

The variable ranking and the selection for the SPUM-ACS Score highlight the relevance of age, markers of heart failure, and comorbidities for prediction of all-cause death. Before application, this score needs to be externally validated and refined in larger cohorts.

Clinical Trial Registration

NCT01000701.