bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the electromagnetic properties of eco‐friendly transparent wood
Authors: Cho Sung‐Sil , Song Sung‐Ho , Hong Ic‐Pyo
Published: March 2020

In this study, we fabricated transparent wood that can replace transparent building materials, such as glass or plastic, and analyzed its electromagnetic properties through experiments. The results of the dielectric constant measurement experiment revealed that the electromagnetic properties of the fabricated transparent wood differ from those of conventional wood. The waveguide measurement method was used to investigate the electromagnetic wave transmission and reflection properties of the transparent wood. The results were compared with those of a simulation, and agreement between the results was confirmed. We found, by studying the electromagnetic shielding performance through an indium tin oxide coating, that the proposed transparent wood can be used as an eco‐friendly electromagnetic shielding material.
The new world [dis] order in the complexity of multi‐polarity: United States of America's hegemonic decline and the configuration of new power patterns
Authors: Rapanyane Makhura Benjamin
Published: March 2020

History tells us that the United States of America (US)'s hegemonic predomination materialized from a very long‐ideological battle and/ Cold War, sometimes referred to as the war of words lasted for about five decades from the mid‐1940s to 1989, and consequently stopped after the fragmentation of the Soviet Union Empire. Thus, in contemporary times, it is lamentably regrettable that USA has come to face oligopolistic challenge in the context of both political and economic dominion. The international system is slowly but surely experiencing the emergence of brand new political and economic power patterns vis‐à‐vis China, European Union (EU) and Brazil, Russian, India, China, South Africa (BRICS). In light of the aforementioned, this article assesses the symptoms of US hegemonic decline and how this helps shape the current global academic and/ scholarly debates on the strategic environment. Equally important is the adoption and application of Afrocentricity as the theoretical framework in the quest for ”relocation from the knowledge production margins” and the spirit of the anticipation of the DE‐colonial Political contemplation in South Africa's life‐time. As a theory, it is employed to answer the central question: Is it a reality or a myth that USA's dominion over the international system is coming to an end? Methodologically, this article relied on interdisciplinary discourse analysis and thematic content prevailing documents.
Unravelling bibliophiles' preference on the basis of bestseller lists in India
Authors: Khajuria Pranvi , Gopinathan R.
Published: March 2020

This study investigates different genres in Indian book market to establish a clear understanding of dominating genres in the market. The focus of the study is in tandem with two groups: fiction and non‐fiction books on the basis of 52 weeks' bestsellers list. The model employs a point system constructed by mapping performance score of different genres. By using these performance scores, Kruskal‐Wallis H test and Mann–Whitney U test are performed. The results show that there is a significant difference between each genre but one particular genre stands out the most in both the categories. Romance in Fiction category and Self‐help in non‐fiction category dominates the Indian book market as shown by the study. This evidence has a far‐reaching implication toward the understanding of the dynamics of genre preferences in India.
Comparison between clickable cyclic TAT and penetratin for delivery of cyclic and bicyclic‐peptide cargos
Authors: Kulkarni Ketav , Sang Jianrong , Ma Xiuquan , Wilce Jacqueline A.
Published: March 2020

Growth‐receptor bound 7 (Grb7) is an adapter protein identified as a target for the inhibition of signaling pathways in breast and other cancers. We have previously developed cyclic and bicyclic G7‐peptide inhibitors, targeted to the Grb7‐SH2 domain, and used the cell‐penetrating peptide (CPP) penetratin to deliver them to cells to test their biological effects. Here we used an alternative peptide known as cyclic TAT (cTAT) to determine whether it would be more effective for the delivery of the G7‐peptides. We report the synthesis of propargyl‐cTAT for the conjugation to azido‐peptides G7‐18NATE and G7‐B7M2 via click chemistry. We then compare these peptides with G7‐18NATE‐Pen and G7‐B7M2‐Pen for their ability to inhibit signaling, proliferation, migration and, invasion of SKBR‐3 and MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines. We found both penetratin and cTAT conjugated G7‐peptides were able to enter cells and exert biological effects but that cTAT was not more effective than penetratin for delivery of G7‐18NATE, and neither CPP was highly effective for the delivery of G7‐B7M2 in cell assays.
Eosinophilic granulomatous polyangiitis with IgG4 hypergammaglobulinaemia and salivary gland swelling
Authors: Takahashi Koichiro , Sadamatsu Hironori , Tashiro Hiroki , Kato Go , Uchida Masaru , Sueoka‐Aragane Naoko
Published: March 2020

A 51‐year‐old woman was admitted to our hospital for cough, fever, purpura in the legs, and salivary gland swelling. Six years ago, she had been diagnosed with bronchial asthma and was treated with a combination of inhaled corticosteroid and long‐acting beta2‐agonist. Blood examination showed increased eosinophils at 3027 cells/μL and elevated levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 at 261 mg/dL and C‐reactive protein at 2.76 mg/dL. Chest radiograph and computed tomography (CT) showed infiltrates in the bilateral lower lobes. Neck CT showed bilateral salivary gland swelling. Pathological examinations of the lungs and skin purpura showed granuloma with eosinophilic infiltration and perivascular dermatitis, respectively. She was diagnosed with eosinophilic granulomatous polyangiitis (EGPA) and treated with corticosteroids, which resolved the eosinophilia, salivary gland swelling, elevated IgG4 titre, and lung infiltration. As our patient did not meet the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) 2019 criteria of IgG4‐related disease, the diagnostic was EGPA with IgG4 hypergammaglobulinaemia and salivary gland swelling.
Becoming Shuri: CTE, Racializing Affect, and the Becoming‐Technologist
Authors: Jocson Korina M. , Dixon‐Román Ezekiel J.
Published: March 2020

Racializing affect draws on Black feminist theories to extend affect theory and related poststructuralist approaches within literacy studies. The authors examined literacies via a study of affect and youth of color in career and technical education (CTE) and the reconfiguration of CTE to enable radical change in the racializing experiences of/with technologies. An information technology classroom and its spatial arrangements, plus the larger CTE school, offered a lens into how material spatial movement (mobility and dislocation) affects bodily movements (rhythm, relationality, intensity, and energy) in a rhizomatic becoming process of reconstituted racializing affect with technology. Interested in the emergent rhythms and living intensities within affect theory, the authors also drew on the movie Black Panther to further theorize affect in relation to the discussion on becoming‐technologist through the character of Shuri. This creative rendering provided a different methodological approach to reflect the authors’ own intensities as researchers and consumers of popular culture in the analysis. Together, the authors hope to shed light on CTE as an understudied educational context and to reimagine race, gender, and difference in relation to technology and literacy learning.
Investigating diversity and impact of the popularity metrics for ranking software packages
Authors: Saini Munish , Verma Rohan , Singh Antarpuneet , Chahal Kuljit Kaur
Published: March 2020

Context

Community‐based collaborative approach in open source software paradigm promotes reuse of existing software packages. There are several repositories (e.g., npm) for packages and have their own set of metrics for ranking.

Objective

This study explores the diversity of different popularity metrics and also the relationship between popularity metrics and development activity of the packages. Another aim is to create a package popularity index by aggregating a set of noncollinear popularity metrics.

Method

Using 195 K packages from different repositories, we investigated the correlation between different popularity metrics. K‐medoids algorithm helped to identify packages with different levels of popularity. Random forests method is utilized to create the package popularity index. Lastly, we used scikit‐learn implementation for determining feature importance in the model.

Results

Popularity metrics of the Github platform are very strongly correlated (R ≥ 0.85) for highly popular packages. Popular packages have high‐development activity. However, the number of downloads of a package does not associate with development activity. Not all the metrics are important for determining popularity of a software package.

Conclusion

This study provides practical guidelines to understand important metrics to determine the popularity of software packages. Researchers should focus on non‐collinear metrics, thereby avoiding similar metrics while aggregating for building models.
Unraveling the Complex Nanomorphology of Ternary Organic Solar Cells with Multimodal Analytical Transmission Electron Microscopy
Authors: Rechberger Stefanie , Gasparini Nicola , Singh Ranbir , Kim Min , Chochos Christos L. , Gregoriou Vasilis G. , Cho Kilwon , Brabec Christoph J. , Ameri Tayebeh , Spiecker Erdmann
Published: March 2020

Elucidating the complex materials distribution in the active layers of ternary organic solar cells is one of the greatest challenges in the field of organic photovoltaics. Knowledge of the nanomorphology is key to understanding photophysical processes (e.g., charge separation, adjustment of the recombination mechanism, and suppression of the radiationless and energetic losses) and thus improving the device performance. Herein, for the first time, the successful discrimination and spatial mapping of the active layer components of a ternary organic solar cell are demonstrated using analytical transmission electron microscopy. The material distribution of all three organic components is successfully visualized by multimodal imaging using complementary electron energy loss signals. A complete picture of the morphological aspects can be gained by studying the lateral and cross‐sectional morphology as well as the morphology evolution as a function of the mixing ratio of the polymers. Finally, a correlation between the morphology, photophysical processes, and device performance of the ternary and the reference binary system is achieved, explaining the differences of the power conversion efficiency between the two systems.
Synthesis of Quinoline/Phenanthroline Impregnated Sugarcane Bagasse for Recovering Uranium(VI) and Thorium(IV) from their Solutions
Authors: Bakry Ahmed R.
Published: March 2020

This present research aims to synthesize and investigate the adsorption potential of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) impregnated with 8 hydroxy quinolone 8‐(HQ) and 1,10 phenethroline (phen) to prepare impregnated sugarcane bagasse (ISCB) for removal UVI and ThIV. The effects of the operating parameters, including pH of the solution, contact time, initial concentration, temperature, dose and interfering ions on the adsorption efficiency were investigated to identify an optimal condition. The characterization of SEM‐EDX and FTIR analyses shows that ISCB has a porous structure and carbon‐containing functional groups. The adsorption result revealed that ISCB removed 98 % for both UVI and ThIV. The result obtained fitted well for Langmuir isotherms model with 185.19 mg·g–1 and 250 mg·g–1 as theoretical capacity for UVI and ThIV respectively. The adsorption process followed the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model. In conclusion, this study proved that ISCB has the potential to be used as an effective and low‐cost adsorbent to remove UVI and ThIV. Finally we obtain products from thorium as ThO2 and uranium as Na2U2O7 from Abu Rushied leach liquor.
Deformed Heisenberg charges in three-dimensional gravity
Authors: Namburi Jeevan Chandra , Wieland Wolfgang
Published: March 2020

Abstract

We consider the bulk plus boundary phase space for three-dimensional gravity with negative cosmological constant for a particular choice of conformal boundary conditions: the conformal class of the induced metric at the boundary is kept fixed and the mean extrinsic curvature is constrained to be one. Such specific conformal boundary conditions define so-called Bryant surfaces, which can be classified completely in terms of holomorphic maps from Riemann surfaces into the spinor bundle. To study the observables and gauge symmetries of the resulting bulk plus boundary system, we will introduce an extended phase space, where these holomorphic maps are now part of the gravitational bulk plus boundary phase space. The physical phase space is obtained by introducing two sets of Kac-Moody currents, which are constrained to vanish. The constraints are second-class and the corresponding Dirac bracket yields an infinite-dimensional deformation of the Heisenberg algebra for the spinor-valued surface charges. Finally, we compute the Poisson algebra among the generators of conformal diffeomorphisms and demonstrate that there is no central charge. Although the central charge vanishes and the boundary CFT is likely non-unitary, we will argue that a version of the Cardy formula still applies in this context, such that the entropy of the BTZ black hole can be derived from the degeneracy of the eigenstates of quasi-local energy.
Gallium arsenide waveguides as a platform for direct mid-infrared vibrational spectroscopy
Authors: Haas Julian , Stach Robert , Kolm Claudia , Krska Rudolf , Mizaikoff Boris
Published: March 2020

During recent years, mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy has matured into a versatile and powerful sensing tool for a wide variety of analytical sensing tasks. Attenuated total reflection (ATR) techniques have gained increased interest due to their potential to perform non-destructive sensing tasks close to real time. In ATR, the essential component is the sampling interface, i.e., the ATR waveguide and its material properties interfacing the sample with the evanescent field ensuring efficient photon-molecule interaction. Gallium arsenide (GaAs) is a versatile alternative material vs. commonly used ATR waveguide materials including but not limited to silicon, zinc selenide, and diamond. GaAs-based internal reflection elements (IREs) are a new generation of semiconductor-based waveguides and are herein used for the first time in direct spectroscopic applications combined with conventional Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Next to the characterization of the ATR waveguide, exemplary surface reactions were monitored, and trace-level analyte detection via signal amplification taking advantage of surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) effects was demonstrated. As an example of real-world relevance, the mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was used as a model analyte in food and feed safety analysis.
On the Connectivity and Independence Number of Power Graphs of Groups
Authors: Cameron Peter J. , Jafari Sayyed Heidar
Published: March 2020

Let G be a group. The power graph of G is a graph with vertex set G in which two distinct elements x, y are adjacent if one of them is a power of the other. We characterize all groups whose power graphs have finite independence number, show that they have clique cover number equal to their independence number, and calculate this number. The proper power graph is the induced subgraph of the power graph on the set $$G-\{1\}$$G-{1}. A group whose proper power graph is connected must be either a torsion group or a torsion-free group; we give characterizations of some groups whose proper power graphs are connected.
Left atrial appendage closure in patients with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction: results from the multicenter German LAARGE registry
Authors: Fastner Christian , Brachmann Johannes , Lewalter Thorsten , Zeymer Uwe , Sievert Horst , Borggrefe Martin , Weiß Christian , Geist Volker , Krapivsky Alexander , Käunicke Matthias , Mudra Harald , Hochadel Matthias , Schneider Steffen , Senges Jochen , Akin Ibrahim
Published: March 2020

Background

Interventional left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) effectively prevents thromboembolic events in atrial fibrillation patients. Impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increases not only the thromboembolic risk but also the complication rates of cardiac interventions. The LAAC procedure’s benefit in patients with an impaired LVEF, therefore, has yet to be investigated.

Methods

LAARGE is a prospective, non-randomized registry depicting the clinical reality of LAAC in Germany. Procedure was conducted with different standard commercial devices, and follow-up period was one year. In the sense of an as-treated analysis, patients with started procedure and documented LVEF were selected from the whole database.

Results

619 patients from 37 centers were categorized into one of three groups: LVEF > 55% (56%), 36–55% (36%), and ≤ 35% (8%). Prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidity increased with LVEF reduction (p < 0.001 for trend). CHA2DS2-VASc score was 4.3, 4.8, and 5.1 (p < 0.001), and HAS-BLED score was 3.7, 4.1, and 4.2 (p < 0.001). Implantation success was consistently high (97.9%), rates of intra-hospital MACCE (0.5%), and other major complications (4.2%) were low (each p = NS). Kaplan–Meier estimation showed a decrease in survival free of stroke with LVEF reduction during one-year follow-up (89.3 vs. 87.0 vs. 79.8%; p = 0.067), a trend which was no longer evident after adjustment for relevant confounding factors. Rates of non-fatal strokes (0.4 vs. 1.1 vs. 0%) and severe bleedings (0.7 vs. 0.0 vs. 3.1%) were consistently low across all groups (each p = NS).

Conclusions

LVEF reduction neither influenced the procedural success nor the effectiveness and safety of stroke prevention by LAAC.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02230748

Graphic abstract
Effect of Power Plant Operation on Pore Pressure in Jointed Rock Mass of an Unlined Hydropower Tunnel: An Experimental Study
Authors: Neupane Bibek , Panthi Krishna Kanta , Vereide Kaspar
Published: March 2020

Load changes in hydropower plants result in significant pressure transients and unsteady flow in the waterway. It has been observed that instances of block falls in tunnels have increased in unlined pressure tunnels subjected to frequent load changes. To examine this problem, field instrumentation was conducted in the 3.5 km long unlined headrace tunnel of 50 MW Roskrepp hydropower plant in southern Norway. This article describes the methodology of instrumentation, presents the observations and findings. The monitoring clearly demonstrates that frequent load changes have a considerable effect in the rock mass consisting of system of joints. The observations show that pressure transients can travel deep into the rock mass irrespective of their time period. Moreover, pressure transients with longer time periods, i.e. mass oscillations, are seen to induce a higher hydraulic gradient between the rock mass and the tunnel itself. A delayed response from the rock mass is observed during pressure transients, which is the main cause of development of hydraulic gradient and additional pore pressure acting on the rock blocks. Hence, it is evident that the cumulative impact of small but frequent pressure gradients is significant and is responsible for increased instances of block falls over a long period of operation of the unlined tunnels of hydropower plants with frequent start–stop sequences. The overall impact is governed by pore pressure response of the jointed rock mass which depends on the conditions of joint geometry and joint wall properties.
The impact of semi-automatic versus manually adjusted assessment of global longitudinal strain in post-myocardial infarction patients
Authors: Otterstad Jan Erik , Norum Ingvild Billehaug , Ruddox Vidar , Bendz Bjørn , Haugaa Kristina H. , Edvardsen Thor
Published: March 2020

There are unresolved questions related to the proper use of editing the region of interest (ROI) for measurements of global longitudinal strain (GLS). The purpose of the present study was to compare the semi-automatic default GLS value by the vendor’s software with manually adjusted GLS and test the impact on GLS measures with different ROI widths. We selected 25 patients post myocardial infarction treated with PCI who had excellent echocardiographic recordings after 2–5 days and 3 months. The different GLS values were assessed from these 50 analyses in three steps. The semi-automatically GLS by default ROIs was compared with manually adjusted ROIs widths selected by an expert and then with manual adjustments, but with fixed ROIs being narrow, medium and wide. Their mean age was 64 (± 12) years, 52% had ST elevation MI and mean LVEF was 52 (± 4)%. Mean default GLS was − 15.3 (± 2.5)% with the widest ROI level selected semi-automatically in 78% of all widths. The mean expert GLS with manually adjusted ROI was − 14.7 (± 2.4)%, and the medium ROI level was selected by the expert in 85% of all examinations. The mean adjusted GLS, but with fixed ROIs widths was − 15.0 (± 2.5%)% with narrow ROI, − 14.7 (± 2.6)% with medium and − 13.5 (± 2.3)% with wide ROI width (p < 0.001 vs. default GLS). The Intra Class Coefficient Correlation between default and manually adjusted expert GLS was 0.93 (p < 0.001). The difference between the default and the manually adjusted expert GLS was neglectable. These findings may represent a simplification of the assessment of GLS that might increase its use in clinical practice. The GLS measurements with a fixed wide ROIs were significantly different from the expert measurements and indicate that a wide ROI should be avoided.
Allelopathic properties of Calliandra haematocephala Hassk. extracts and fractions as an alternative for weed management in quinoa and rice crops
Authors: Rueda-Ayala Victor , Ramos-Guerrero Luis , Vargas-Jentzsch Paul , Hernández Betty , Höglind Mats , Toscano Ingrid , Borja Dayana , Goetschel Lorena , Andújar Dionisio
Published: March 2020

In this study, aqueous extracts of Calliandra haematocephala Hassk. leaves and inflorescences were tested on seeds of quinoa (Chenopodium album L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.), and on some of the most noxious-associated weeds, Chenopodium album L. and Holcus lanatus L. in quinoa, and Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv., Echinochloa colona L., Eclipta prostrata L. and Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Lou.) W.D. Clayton in rice. The objectives were to identify extract concentrations at which 50 and 90% of germination (GR$$_{[50,90]}$$[50,90]) and radicle elongation (RR$$_{[50,90]}$$[50,90]) were inhibited, to fractionate inflorescence extracts for facilitating identifying the chemical group causing allelopathic effects, and to evaluate the fraction showing the stronger weed suppression effects and the least crop damage. Increasing extract concentration rates (0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100% crude extract) were applied to seeds of target crops and weeds. Flower extracts at rates $$< 0.30$$<0.30 produced GR$$_{[50]}$$[50] and RR$$_{[50]}$$[50] on H. lanatus, and GR$$_{[90]}$$[90] and RR$$_{[90]}$$[90] in C. album, while quinoa seeds were not affected. Rice and its target weeds were minimally affected by flower extracts, whereas radicle elongation of all species was significantly reduced. A concentration rate $$> 0.52$$>0.52 caused the RR$$_{[50]}$$[50] on rice and all its target weeds. Fractions were quantitatively and qualitatively analysed to detect phytochemical groups, using specific chemical reagents and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The fraction F3 from aqueous flower extract showed a high content of flavonoids, assumed as the potential allelochemical substance. Total flavonoid content in F3 was quantified as 2.7 mg of quercetin per g F3, i.e., 12.8 mg of quercetin per g of inflorescence material. Additionally, field equivalent extract rates obtained from the harvested fresh inflorescence biomass could be determined. These rates ranged between 90 and 143 mL l−1 of F3 aqueous fraction, while for ethanol F3 were 131 mL l−1. Our results are encouraging for finding sustainable and ecologically friendly alternatives for weed management in crops of high nutritional value, contributing also to counteract the growing problem of herbicide resistance.
Running safety assessment of a train traversing a three-tower cable-stayed bridge under spatially varying ground motion
Authors: Gong Wei , Zhu Zhihui , Liu Yu , Liu Ruitao , Tang Yongjiu , Jiang Lizhong
Published: March 2020

To explore the influence of spatially varying ground motion on the dynamic behavior of a train passing through a three-tower cable-stayed bridge, a 3D train–track–bridge coupled model is established for accurately simulating the train–bridge interaction under earthquake excitation, which is made up of a vehicle model built by multi-body dynamics, a track–bridge finite element model, and a 3D rolling wheel–rail contact model. A conditional simulation method, which takes into consideration the wave passage effect, incoherence effect, and site-response effect, is adopted to simulate the spatially varying ground motion under different soil conditions. The multi-time-step method previously proposed by the authors is also adopted to improve computational efficiency. The dynamic responses of the train running on a three-tower cable-stayed bridge are calculated with differing earthquake excitations and train speeds. The results indicate that (1) the earthquake excitation significantly increases the responses of the train–bridge system, but at a design speed, all the running safety indices meet the code requirements; (2) the incoherence and site-response effects should also be considered in the seismic analysis for long-span bridges though there is no fixed pattern for determining their influences; (3) different train speeds that vary the vibration characteristics of the train–bridge system affect the vibration frequencies of the car body and bridge.
(So) Big Data and the transformation of the city
Authors: Andrienko Gennady , Andrienko Natalia , Boldrini Chiara , Caldarelli Guido , Cintia Paolo , Cresci Stefano , Facchini Angelo , Giannotti Fosca , Gionis Aristides , Guidotti Riccardo , Mathioudakis Michael , Muntean Cristina Ioana , Pappalardo Luca , Pedreschi Dino , Pournaras Evangelos , Pratesi Francesca , Tesconi Maurizio , Trasarti Roberto
Published: March 2020

The exponential increase in the availability of large-scale mobility data has fueled the vision of smart cities that will transform our lives. The truth is that we have just scratched the surface of the research challenges that should be tackled in order to make this vision a reality. Consequently, there is an increasing interest among different research communities (ranging from civil engineering to computer science) and industrial stakeholders in building knowledge discovery pipelines over such data sources. At the same time, this widespread data availability also raises privacy issues that must be considered by both industrial and academic stakeholders. In this paper, we provide a wide perspective on the role that big data have in reshaping cities. The paper covers the main aspects of urban data analytics, focusing on privacy issues, algorithms, applications and services, and georeferenced data from social media. In discussing these aspects, we leverage, as concrete examples and case studies of urban data science tools, the results obtained in the “City of Citizens” thematic area of the Horizon 2020 SoBigData initiative, which includes a virtual research environment with mobility datasets and urban analytics methods developed by several institutions around Europe. We conclude the paper outlining the main research challenges that urban data science has yet to address in order to help make the smart city vision a reality.
Monthly Distribution of 1933 Famine Losses in Soviet Ukraine and the Russian Soviet Republic at the Regional Level
Authors: Wolowyna Oleh , Levchuk Nataliia , Kovbasiuk Alla
Published: March 2020

One of the distinct characteristics of the 1932–1933 famine is that between 65 and 80 percent of all famine-related deaths (direct losses) in rural areas of Soviet Ukraine (UkrSSR) and its oblasts and some regions of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) occurred during the first six or seven months of 1933, and that in all oblasts of UkrSSR and some regions of RSFSR the number of famine losses increased by a factor of six to 15 between January and June–July of 1933. The historical explanation of this sudden explosion of deaths is critically examined, and a more comprehensive explanation is proposed. We show that the regional variations in these increases in losses are correlated with four factors: extensive household searches for grain with all food taken away in many instances, closing of inter-republic borders and limitation of internal travel by peasants, resistance to collectivization and grain requisitions and repressions, and the “nationality factor.” Analysis of the monthly dynamics of rural losses during the first half of 1933 suggests a possible independent confirmation of the hypothesis that during the searches for “hidden” or “stolen” grain, all food was taken away in many households.
Building an Unreal City: Reading the Construction of St. Louis in Eliot'sThe Waste Land
Authors: TURNER PATRICK
Published: March 2020

In 1959, T. S. Eliot said of his poetry, “My urban imagery was that of St. Louis.” This paper reads Eliot'sThe Waste Landin light of this comment, investigating the extent to which the construction of his hometown, St. Louis, in the nineteenth century, impinges upon the poem. The paper outlines the cultural conditions of St. Louis's construction as part of a settler colonial project, heavily influenced by certain narratives of quest and conquest. Throughout the construction of St. Louis, geographical and historical realities were continually replaced by an urban landscape which served to reflect these settler narratives. Using three separate case studies – the construction of the Eads Bridge, the destruction of the Cahokia mounds, and the St. Louis fire of 1849 – this paper makes the case that Eliot's characterization of urban space inThe Waste Landas “unreal” is rooted in the construction of his hometown.
From Making the Glory to Facing the Decay
Authors: Dénes Iván Zoltán
Published: March 2020

What were the main characteristics of turn-of-the-twentieth-century Hungarian collective identity and memory political debates? They were no longer determined by the discourse of liberal-rights-extending assimilation, yet public speech was also not entirely determined by the ethnicist–essentialist subject matter of the interwar national characterology discourse; rather, the internal dilemma of the rights-extending assimilation was externalized. There were some who sought to advance the extension of rights in the direction of suffrage. Others held on to rights extension in the hope of assimilation and believed they could promote it through establishing institutions of public education. Others abided by rights-extending assimilation, but interpreted it in terms of individual cultural achievements. Yet others believed that their fears of historical Hungary falling apart and the decay of the national middle class could be counterbalanced by curtailing or revoking nationalities’ rights and exclusionary policies against them. This article focuses on four different types of forging a collective identity: programmes, master narratives, political languages, strategies and regimes of memory.
Precision and personalized assessment, diagnosis and treatment in psychiatry
Authors: Fountoulakis Konstantinos N. , Stahl Stephen M.
Published: March 2020

“Precision medicine” and “personalized medicine” constitute goals of research since antiquity and this was intensified with the arrival of the “evidence-based medicine.” precision and personalized psychiatry (3P) when achieved will constitute a radical shift in our paradigm and it will be even more transformative than in other fields of medicine. The biggest problems so far are the problematic definition of mental disorder, available treatments seem to concern broad categories rather than specific disorders and finally clinical predictors of treatment response or side effects and biological markers do not exist. Precision and personalized psychiatry like all precision medicine will be a laborious and costly task; thus the partnership of scientists with industry and the commercialization of new methods and technologies will be an important element for success. The development of an appropriate legal framework which will both support development and progress but also will protect the rights and the privacy of patients and their families is essential.
The Centrality of Taxation to Social Policy
Authors: Ruane Sally , Collins Micheál L , Sinfield Adrian
Published: March 2020

The article reviews the limited existing social policy literature on taxation and sets out a case for the incorporation of the study of taxation into the accepted remit of social policy. Social policy has historically been concerned with the services and benefits which flow from public expenditure, and people’s experiences of them, rather than with taxation, and the contributions by individual researchers have tended to remain marginal to the main focus of social policy. The article offers a speculative account as to why taxation has remained peripheral to social policy and presents three arguments for the mainstreaming of tax in social policy’s domain of study. These concern the role of taxation in shaping the distribution of resources, a fundamental pre-occupation of social policy; the contribution social policy scholars can make to shaping a new discourse surrounding taxation, foregrounding issues of equity and need; and how social policy’s engagement with taxation can influence the politics of the welfare state.
COVID-19 disease emergency operational instructions for Mental Health Departments issued by the Italian Society of Epidemiological Psychiatry
Authors: Starace Fabrizio , Ferrara Maria
Published: March 2020

During the current COVID-19 disease emergency, it is not only an ethical imperative but also a public health responsibility to keep the network of community psychiatry services operational, particularly for the most vulnerable subjects (those with mental illness, disability, and chronic conditions). At the same time, it is necessary to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 disease within the outpatient and inpatient services affiliated with Mental Health Departments. These instructions, first published online on 16 March 2020 in their original Italian version, provide a detailed description of actions, proposed by the Italian Society of Epidemiological Psychiatry, addressed to Italian Mental Health Departments during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The overall goal of the operational instructions is to guarantee, during the current health emergency, the provision of the best health care possible, taking into account both public health necessities and the safety of procedures. These instructions could represent a useful resource to mental health providers, and stakeholders to face the current pandemic for which most of Mental Health Departments worldwide are not prepared to. These instructions could provide guidance and offer practical tools which can enable professionals and decision makers to foresee challenges, like those already experienced in Italy, which in part can be avoided or minimised if timely planned. These strategies can be shared and adopted, with the appropriate adjustments, by Mental Health Departments in other countries.
Power-Enhanced Funnel Plots for Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kossmeier Michael , Tran Ulrich S. , Voracek Martin
Published: March 2020

Abstract. Currently, dedicated graphical displays to depict study-level statistical power in the context of meta-analysis are unavailable. Here, we introduce the sunset (power-enhanced) funnel plot to visualize this relevant information for assessing the credibility, or evidential value, of a set of studies. The sunset funnel plot highlights the statistical power of primary studies to detect an underlying true effect of interest in the well-known funnel display with color-coded power regions and a second power axis. This graphical display allows meta-analysts to incorporate power considerations into classic funnel plot assessments of small-study effects. Nominally significant, but low-powered, studies might be seen as less credible and as more likely being affected by selective reporting. We exemplify the application of the sunset funnel plot with two published meta-analyses from medicine and psychology. Software to create this variation of the funnel plot is provided via a tailored R function. In conclusion, the sunset (power-enhanced) funnel plot is a novel and useful graphical display to critically examine and to present study-level power in the context of meta-analysis.
Strong Variability of Martian Water Ice Clouds During Dust Storms Revealed From ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter/NOMAD
Authors: Liuzzi Giuliano , Villanueva Geronimo L. , Crismani Matteo M.J. , Smith Michael D. , Mumma Michael J. , Daerden Frank , Aoki Shohei , Vandaele Ann Carine , Clancy R. Todd , Erwin Justin , Thomas Ian , Ristic Bojan , Lopez‐Moreno José‐Juan , Bellucci Giancarlo , Patel Manish R.
Published: March 2020

Observations of water ice clouds and aerosols on Mars can provide important insights into the complexity of the water cycle. Recent observations have indicated an important link between dust activity and the water cycle, as intense dust activity can significantly raise the hygropause, and subsequently increase the escape of water after dissociation in the upper atmosphere. Here present observations from Nadir and Occultation for MArs Discovery/Trace Gas Orbiter that investigate the variation of water ice clouds in the perihelion season of Mars year 34 (April 2018–2019), their diurnal and seasonal behavior, and the vertical structure and microphysical properties of water ice and dust. These observations reveal the recurrent presence of a layer of mesospheric water ice clouds subsequent to the 2018 global dust storm. We show that this layer rose from 45 to 80 km in altitude on a time scale of days from heating in the lower atmosphere due to the storm. In addition, we demonstrate that there is a strong dawn‐dusk asymmetry in water ice abundance, related to nighttime nucleation and subsequent daytime sublimation. Water ice particle sizes are retrieved consistently and exhibit sharp vertical gradients (from 0.1 to 4.0 μm), as well as mesospheric differences between the global dust storm (<0.5 μm) and the 2019 regional dust storm (1.0 μm), which suggests differing water ice nucleation efficiencies. These results form the basis to advance our understanding of mesospheric water ice clouds on Mars, and further constrain the interactions between water ice and dust in the middle atmosphere.
Erin Pettit: Glaciologist, Artist, Mentor
Authors: Kornei Katherine
Published: March 2020

Between research trips to Antarctica and the Arctic, Pettit regularly leads art- and science-focused wilderness expeditions for young women.
Elevated intracellular copper contributes a unique role to kidney fibrosis by lysyl oxidase mediated matrix crosslinking
Authors: Niu Yang-yang , Zhang Ying-ying , Zhu Zhi , Zhang Xiao-qin , Liu Xi , Zhu Sai-ya , Song Ye , Jin Xian , Lindholm Bengt , Yu Chen
Published: March 2020

Copper ions play various roles in mammalian cells, presumably due to their involvement in different enzymatic reactions. Some studies indicated that serum copper correlates with fibrosis in organs, such as liver and lung. However, the mechanism is unknown. Here, we explored the role of copper in kidney fibrosis development and possible underlying mechanisms. We found that copper transporter 1 (CTR1) expression was increased in the kidney tissues in two fibrosis models and in patients with kidney fibrosis. Similar results were also found in renal tubular epithelial cells and fibroblast cells treated with transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β). Mechanistically, the upregulation of CTR1 required Smads-dependent TGF-β signaling pathway and Smad3 directly binded to the promoter of CTR1 in renal fibroblast cells using chromatin immunoprecipitation. Elevated CTR1 induced increase of copper intracellular influx. The elevated intracellular copper ions activated lysyl oxidase (LOX) to enhance the crosslinking of collagen and elastin, which then promoted kidney fibrosis. Reducing intracellular copper accumulation by knocking down CTR1 ameliorated kidney fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstruction induced renal fibrosis model and renal fibroblast cells stimulated by TGF-β. Treatment with copper chelator tetrathiomolybdate (TM) also alleviated renal fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, intracellular copper accumulation plays a unique role to kidney fibrosis by activating LOX mediated collagen and elastin crosslinking. Inhibition of intracellular copper overload may be a potential portal to alleviate kidney fibrosis.
Author Correction: An optochemical tool for light-induced dissociation of adherens junctions to control mechanical coupling between cells
Authors: Ollech Dirk , Pflästerer Tim , Shellard Adam , Zambarda Chiara , Spatz Joachim Pius , Marcq Philippe , Mayor Roberto , Wombacher Richard , Cavalcanti-Adam Elisabetta Ada
Published: March 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Pelagic fish predation is stronger at temperate latitudes than near the equator
Authors: Roesti Marius , Anstett Daniel N. , Freeman Benjamin G. , Lee-Yaw Julie A. , Schluter Dolph , Chavarie Louise , Rolland Jonathan , Holzman Roi
Published: March 2020

Species interactions are widely thought to be strongest in the tropics, potentially contributing to the greater number of species at lower latitudes. Yet, empirical tests of this “biotic interactions” hypothesis remain limited and often provide mixed results. Here, we analyze 55 years of catch per unit effort data from pelagic longline fisheries to estimate the strength of predation exerted by large predatory fish in the world’s oceans. We test two central tenets of the biotic interactions hypothesis: that predation is (1) strongest near the equator, and (2) positively correlated with species richness. Counter to these predictions, we find that predation is (1) strongest in or near the temperate zone and (2) negatively correlated with oceanic fish species richness. These patterns suggest that, at least for pelagic fish predation, common assumptions about the latitudinal distribution of species interactions do not apply, thereby challenging a leading explanation for the latitudinal gradient in species diversity.
Synergistic ultraviolet and visible light photo-activation enables intensified low-temperature methanol synthesis over copper/zinc oxide/alumina
Authors: Xie Bingqiao , Wong Roong Jien , Tan Tze Hao , Higham Michael , Gibson Emma K. , Decarolis Donato , Callison June , Aguey-Zinsou Kondo-Francois , Bowker Michael , Catlow C. Richard A. , Scott Jason , Amal Rose
Published: March 2020

Although photoexcitation has been employed to unlock the low-temperature equilibrium regimes of thermal catalysis, mechanism underlining potential interplay between electron excitations and surface chemical processes remains elusive. Here, we report an associative zinc oxide band-gap excitation and copper plasmonic excitation that can cooperatively promote methanol-production at the copper-zinc oxide interfacial perimeter of copper/zinc oxide/alumina (CZA) catalyst. Conversely, selective excitation of individual components only leads to the promotion of carbon monoxide production. Accompanied by the variation in surface copper oxidation state and local electronic structure of zinc, electrons originating from the zinc oxide excitation and copper plasmonic excitation serve to activate surface adsorbates, catalysing key elementary processes (namely formate conversion and hydrogen molecule activation), thus providing one explanation for the observed photothermal activity. These observations give valuable insights into the key elementary processes occurring on the surface of the CZA catalyst under light-heat dual activation.
Macroscopic conductivity of aqueous electrolyte solutions scales with ultrafast microscopic ion motions
Authors: Balos Vasileios , Imoto Sho , Netz Roland R. , Bonn Mischa , Bonthuis Douwe Jan , Nagata Yuki , Hunger Johannes
Published: March 2020

Despite the widespread use of aqueous electrolytes as conductors, the molecular mechanism of ionic conductivity at moderate to high electrolyte concentrations remains largely unresolved. Using a combination of dielectric spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, we show that the absorption of electrolytes at ~0.3 THz sensitively reports on the local environment of ions. The magnitude of these high-frequency ionic motions scales linearly with conductivity for a wide range of ions and concentrations. This scaling is rationalized within a harmonic oscillator model based on the potential of mean force extracted from simulations. Our results thus suggest that long-ranged ionic transport is intimately related to the local energy landscape and to the friction for short-ranged ion dynamics: a high macroscopic electrolyte conductivity is thereby shown to be related to large-amplitude motions at a molecular scale.
Metagenome-wide association of gut microbiome features for schizophrenia
Authors: Zhu Feng , Ju Yanmei , Wang Wei , Wang Qi , Guo Ruijin , Ma Qingyan , Sun Qiang , Fan Yajuan , Xie Yuying , Yang Zai , Jie Zhuye , Zhao Binbin , Xiao Liang , Yang Lin , Zhang Tao , Feng Junqin , Guo Liyang , He Xiaoyan , Chen Yunchun , Chen Ce , Gao Chengge , Xu Xun , Yang Huanming , Wang Jian , Dang Yonghui , Madsen Lise , Brix Susanne , Kristiansen Karsten , Jia Huijue , Ma Xiancang
Published: March 2020

Evidence is mounting that the gut-brain axis plays an important role in mental diseases fueling mechanistic investigations to provide a basis for future targeted interventions. However, shotgun metagenomic data from treatment-naïve patients are scarce hampering comprehensive analyses of the complex interaction between the gut microbiota and the brain. Here we explore the fecal microbiome based on 90 medication-free schizophrenia patients and 81 controls and identify a microbial species classifier distinguishing patients from controls with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.896, and replicate the microbiome-based disease classifier in 45 patients and 45 controls (AUC = 0.765). Functional potentials associated with schizophrenia include differences in short-chain fatty acids synthesis, tryptophan metabolism, and synthesis/degradation of neurotransmitters. Transplantation of a schizophrenia-enriched bacterium, Streptococcus vestibularis, appear to induces deficits in social behaviors, and alters neurotransmitter levels in peripheral tissues in recipient mice. Our findings provide new leads for further investigations in cohort studies and animal models.
Author Correction: Simulation-based reconstruction of global bird migration over the past 50,000 years
Authors: Somveille Marius , Wikelski Martin , Beyer Robert M. , Rodrigues Ana S. L. , Manica Andrea , Jetz Walter
Published: March 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.