bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
X‐Ray Absorption Fingerprints from Cs Atoms in Cs3Sb
Authors: Cocchi Caterina
Published: May 2020

X‐ray absorption spectroscopy represents a valuable characterization tool for complex materials like multialkali antimonides. The interpretation of such experimental results greatly benefits from state‐of‐the‐art theoretical references. In a first‐principles work based on density‐functional theory and many‐body perturbation theory, the fingerprints of X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) of Cs3Sb from the Cs K‐ and L3‐edge are unraveled. From the electronic structure and the orbital character of the conduction bands, the contributions to the XANES spectra from the two inequivalent Cs atoms in the adopted stoichiometric unit cell are analyzed. The predominant weight of Cs s‐ and d‐electrons in the unoccupied region anticipates the relatively high signal yielded by the L3‐edge. Clear atomic signatures, in the form of a pronounced excitonic peak, are visible in the Cs K‐edge spectra. In the XANES from the L3‐edge, both Cs atoms yield similar contributions, which are yet distinguishable in the presented calculations. Quantitative analysis enabled by the adopted methodology reveals that electron–hole correlation effects manifest themselves mainly through a redistribution of the oscillator strength to lower energies, whereas exciton binding energies are on the order of a few hundred meV.
An extended algorithm for autonomous grasping of soft tissues during robotic surgery
Authors: Amirkhani Golchehr , Farahmand Farzam , Yazdian Seied Muhammad , Mirbagheri Alireza
Published: May 2020

Background

Autonomous grasping of soft tissues can facilitate the robotic surgery procedures. The previous attempts for implementing auto‐grasping have been based on a simplistic representation of the actual surgery maneuvers.

Method

A generalized three‐zone grasp model was introduced to consider the effect of the pull force angulation on the grasp mode, that is, damage, slip, or safe grasp. Also, an extended auto‐grasping algorithm was proposed in which the trigger force is automatically controlled against the pull force magnitude and direction, to achieve a safe and secure grasp.

Results

The autonomous grasping experiments against a varying pull force in a phantom study indicated a good agreement between the desired and actual pinch and trigger forces (root mean square errors lower than 0.168 N and 0.280 N, respectively) and no sign of tissue tear or slippage.

Conclusions

The proposed auto‐grasping algorithm can help manipulating the soft tissues safely and effectively during robotic surgery procedures.
Quasi‐time‐dependent asynchronous filtering for discrete time switched systems via the event triggering mechanism
Authors: Zhao Jianrong , Park Ju H. , Xu Shengyuan
Published: May 2020

This article is concerned with the quasi‐time‐dependent asynchronous filter design problem for a class of discrete‐time switched systems via the event‐triggering mechanism. Applying the quasi‐time‐dependent Lyapunov functions and the mode‐dependent average dwell time technique, an asynchronous filter is designed with a weighted performance index; the filter parameter matrices are quasi‐time‐dependent in each event‐triggering‐dependent sampling interval; both cases (Case 1: no more than one switching, Case 2: multiple switchings) are taken into account in this sampling interval, by which the assumption, that the maximal asynchronous period is not larger than the minimal dwell time, is relaxed in this article. Simulation examples are given to show the less conservatism and effectiveness of the proposed results.
Faithful Fabrication of Biocompatible Multicompartmental Memomicrospheres for Digitally Color‐Tunable Barcoding
Authors: Tang Guosheng , Chen Long , Wang Zixuan , Gao Shuting , Qu Qingli , Xiong Ranhua , Braeckmans Kevin , De Smedt Stefaan C. , Zhang Yu Shrike , Huang Chaobo
Published: May 2020

Barcodes have attracted widespread attention, especially for the multiplexed bioassays and anti‐counterfeiting used toward medical and biomedical applications. An enabling gas‐shearing approach is presented for generating 10‐faced microspherical barcodes with precise control over the properties of each compartment. As such, the color of each compartment could be programmatically adjusted in the 10‐faced memomicrospheres by using pregel solutions containing different combinations of fluorescent nanoparticles. During the process, three primary colors (red, green, and blue) are adopted to obtain up to seven merged fluorescent colors for constituting a large amount of coding as well as a magnetic compartment, capable of effective and robust high‐throughput information‐storage. More importantly, by using the biocompatible sodium alginate to construct the multicolor microspherical barcodes, the proposed technology is likely to advance the fields of food and pharmaceutics anti‐counterfeiting. These remarkable properties point to the potential value of gas‐shearing in engineering microspherical barcodes for biomedical applications in the future.
Solid Electrolyte Interphase Evolution on Lithium Metal in Contact with Glyme‐Based Electrolytes
Authors: Nojabaee Maryam , Küster Kathrin , Starke Ulrich , Popovic Jelena , Maier Joachim
Published: May 2020

The formation of a stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is a prerogative for functional lithium metal batteries. Herein, the formation and evolution of such SEI in contact with glyme‐based electrolytes is investigated under open circuit voltage and several constant current cycles. An important conclusion of the study is that LixSy species are nonbeneficial SEI components, compared to the Li3N counterpart. In addition, chemical (X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS) and electrochemical (impedance spectroscopy) evolution of SEI under galvanostatic conditions are comprehensively tracked.
A Highly Aligned Nanowire‐Based Strain Sensor for Ultrasensitive Monitoring of Subtle Human Motion
Authors: Tang Ning , Zhou Cheng , Qu Danyao , Fang Ye , Zheng Youbin , Hu Wenwen , Jin Ke , Wu Weiwei , Duan Xuexin , Haick Hossam
Published: May 2020

Achieving highly accurate responses to external stimuli during human motion is a considerable challenge for wearable devices. The present study leverages the intrinsically high surface‐to‐volume ratio as well as the mechanical robustness of nanostructures for obtaining highly‐sensitive detection of motion. To do so, highly‐aligned nanowires covering a large area were prepared by capillarity‐based mechanism. The nanowires exhibit a strain sensor with excellent gauge factor (≈35.8), capable of high responses to various subtle external stimuli (≤200 µm deformation). The wearable strain sensor exhibits also a rapid response rate (≈230 ms), mechanical stability (1000 cycles) and reproducibility, low hysteresis (<8.1%), and low power consumption (<35 µW). Moreover, it achieves a gauge factor almost five times that of microwire‐based sensors. The nanowire‐based strain sensor can be used to monitor and discriminate subtle movements of fingers, wrist, and throat swallowing accurately, enabling such movements to be integrated further into a miniaturized analyzer to create a wearable motion monitoring system for mobile healthcare.
Nanosized Core–Shell Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks‐Based Membranes for Gas Separation
Authors: Yuan Shao Hsuan , Isfahani Ali Pournaghshband , Yamamoto Takuma , Muchtar Ansori , Wu Chih Yi , Huang Guoji , You Yi Cheng , Sivaniah Easan , Chang Bor Kae , Ghalei Behnam
Published: May 2020

The field of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for separation technology has advanced by using metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with significant gas adsorption. Herein, the nanosized zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) core–shell crystals, i.e., ZIF‐67@ZIF‐8 (ZIF‐67 acting as core and ZIF‐8 as shell) are synthesized using the seed‐mediated growth method. ZIF‐67@ZIF‐8 nanocrystals present higher surface area, gas uptake, and thermal stability in comparison with the ZIF‐8 and ZIF‐67 nanoparticles. Nanosized ZIF‐67@ZIF‐8 fillers are loaded into the synthesized polyimide and Pebax 1657 matrices and the gas separation properties are compared with the pure ZIF‐67 and ZIF‐8 MMMs. The highest H2 permeability of 1150 barrer and H2/CH4 selectivity of 21.5 is observed for 20 wt% of ZIF‐67@ZIF‐8 MMM, which demonstrates 100% improvement compared to the permeability of the pristine polyimide membrane. H2 permeability of ZIF‐67@ZIF‐8 MMMs increases by up to 86% and 50% in comparison to the ZIF‐67 and ZIF‐8 MMMs, respectively. This indicates that the interaction and dispersibility of the particles with the polymer matrices can be tuned through the careful engineering of the double‐layered fillers. At the same time, the internal core would impart higher gas uptake and permeability to the overall system.
Effect of Interfacial Layers on the Device Lifetime of Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Lim Kyung‐Geun , Ji Su Geun , Kim Jin Young , Lee Tae‐Woo
Published: May 2020

Organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites have excellent optical and electronic properties; exploitation of these traits has increased the power conversion efficiency of perovskite photovoltaics (PePVs) to 25.2%. However, perovskites are chemically unstable, and this deficit has critically impeded their commercialization. Device degradation occurs at the interfaces of PePVs with multiple degradation mechanisms: decomposition of organic cations in perovskites; generation of inorganic byproducts in perovskites; superoxide or trap sites at the interface of the charge‐transport layer; excess charge carriers in perovskites; interfacial migration between perovskites and electrodes. This review considers the critical functions of the interfacial materials to overcome the various degradation at the interfaces of the PePVs. The working mechanisms stabilizing the interface of PePVs are categorized: passivation from atmosphere; inactivation of defect states; migration‐blocking. Then, the outstanding interfacial layers made of organic materials (defect passivation, physical robustness, and chemical inactivation) and inorganic materials (chemically passivating metal oxide, physically passivating metal oxide, and low‐temperature processed inorganic materials) are reviewed according to the stabilizing mechanisms. In addition, the influences of inorganic interconnecting layers in tandem PePVs are reviewed, with respect of various effects of interfacial buffer materials at the interface with perovskites.
Low Lattice Mismatch InSe–Se Vertical Van der Waals Heterostructure for High‐performance Transistors via Strong Fermi‐Level Depinning
Authors: Jiang Jianfeng , Meng Fanqi , Cheng Qilin , Wang Aizhu , Chen Yuke , Qiao Jie , Pang Jinbo , Xu Weidong , Ji Hao , Zhang Yu , Zhang Qinghua , Wang Shanpeng , Feng Xianjin , Gu Lin , Liu Hong , Han Lin
Published: May 2020

Contact engineering, especially at the interface between metal and 2D semiconductors, to enable high‐performance devices remains a formidable challenge due to the inevitable chemical disorder and Fermi‐level pinning at the interface. Here, the authors report the InSe–Se vertical van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures to achieve high field‐effect mobility and electrical stability in 30 nm InSe field‐effect transistor (FET), which has a low lattice mismatch of 1.1% and form 2D/2D low‐resistance contacts, creating an InSe contact interface that substantially limits chemical disorder and Fermi‐level pinning. The Se layer forms a vdW contact to prevent the damage induced by direct metallization and acts as a tunneling layer as well as a protective encapsulation layer. Using this approach, heterojunction devices with a high field‐effect mobility of ≈2500 cm2 (V s)−1 and an excellent on‐state current of ≈10−3 A at room temperature is achieved. Furthermore, the device field‐effect mobility degrades by only 3.46% following two months of storage time in open air, which represents the best electrical stability reported to date. In particular, the heterojunction devices exhibit a better photoresponsivity compared with InSe devices in practical application. This study provides a highly valuable strategy to improve the contact condition of metal/2D semiconductors for high‐performance, 2D‐based electronics and optoelectronics.
Impacts of conductive materials on microbial community during syntrophic propionate oxidization for biomethane recovery
Authors: Guo Bing , Zhang Yingdi , Yu Najiaowa , Liu Yang
Published: May 2020

Propionate is one of the most important intermediates in anaerobic digestion, and its degradation requires a syntrophic partnership between propionate‐oxidizing bacteria and hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Anaerobic digestion efficiency can be improved by direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) through conductive materials. This study aimed to investigate the effects of DIET on syntrophic propionate oxidization under room temperature (20°C) and reveal the syntrophic partners. Firstly, conventional anaerobic consortium and conductive material‐enriched consortium were tested for DIET under high H2 partial pressure. The latter supplemented with granular activated carbon (GAC) can mitigate H2 inhibition through DIET. Secondly, a DIET consortium was enriched for testing GAC and magnetite, both showed DIET facilitation. Microbial communities in GAC‐ and magnetite‐supplemented reactors were similar. Syntrophic propionate‐oxidizing bacteria, for example, Smithella (3.9%–9.9%) and a genus from the family Syntrophaceae (1.9%–3.6%) and methanogens Methanobacterium (30.3%–75.2%), Methanolinea (8.5%–25.2%), Methanosaeta (11.4%–36.7%), and Candidatus Methanofastidiosum (3.6%–6.6%), were predominant. Functional genes for cell mobility and membrane transport (3.3% and 9.5% in control reactor) increased with GAC (3.7% and 11.1%, respectively) and magnetite (3.7% and 10.9%, respectively) addition. Syntrophic propionate‐oxidizing bacteria and methanogenesis partners were revealed by co‐occurrence network, for example, Methanobacterium with Smithella, Syntrophobacter, Dechloromonas, and Trichococcus, signifying the importance of the syntrophic partnership in DIET environment.

Practitioner points

DIET improved syntrophic propionate oxidization under room temperature condition (20°C).

Microbial communities were similar for GAC‐ and magnetite‐supplemented reactors, different with control reactor.

Syntrophic propionate‐oxidizing bacteria and methanogenesis partners were revealed by co‐occurrence network.

Methanobacterium and Smithella, Syntrophobacter, Dechloromonas, and Trichococcus were correlated.
Transmetallation of Bis(6‐diphenylphosphinoacenaphth‐5‐yl)‐Mercury and ‐Tributyltin with Precious Metal Chlorides
Authors: Furan Sinas , Lork Enno , Mebs Stefan , Hupf Emanuel , Beckmann Jens
Published: May 2020

The reaction of bis(6‐diphenylphosphinoacenapht‐5yl)mercury, (6‐Ph2P‐Ace‐5‐)2Hg, with [(CO)2RhCl]2and PtCl2proceeded with extrusion of mercury / mercury(I) chloride and provided the octahedral rhodium and platinum complexes (6‐Ph2P‐Ace‐5‐)2Rh(CO)Cl and (6‐Ph2P‐Ace‐5‐)2PtCl2, respectively. The reaction of the (6‐diphenylphosphinoacenapht‐5yl)stannane 6‐Ph2P‐Ace‐5‐SnBu3with PdCl2gave rise to tributyltin chloride and a dimeric arylpalladium chloride [(6‐Ph2P‐Ace‐5‐)PdCl]2with a planar Pd2Cl2core. Together with the previously known gold(III) complexcis‐ andtrans‐[R2Au][Cl], the newly prepared compounds were investigated by DFT calculations. The fully optimized gas‐phase structure of [(6‐Ph2P‐Ace‐5‐)PdCl]2gives rise to a bend Pd2Cl2core featuring a Pd···Pd palladophilic interaction. The bonding situation was studied using a set of real‐space bonding indicators (RSBIs) derived from the methods Atoms‐In‐Molecules (AIM), Electron Localizability Indicator (ELI‐D) and Non‐Covalent Interaction (NCI) index.
On AdS3 solutions of Type IIB
Authors: Passias Achilleas , Prins Daniël
Published: May 2020

Abstract

We study

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 1 supersymmetric AdS3
× M
7 backgrounds of Type IIB supergravity, with non-vanishing axio-dilaton, three-form and five-form fluxes, and a “strict” SU(3)-structure on M
7. We derive the necessary and sufficient conditions for supersymmetry as a set of constraints on the torsion classes of the SU(3)-structure. Given an Ansatz for the three-form fluxes, the problem of also solving the equations of motion involves a “master equation”, which generalizes ones that have previously appeared in the literature.
Vergesellschaftung unter Ansteckenden – für eine Körpergeschichte der Seuche
Authors: Dross Fritz
Published: May 2020

Dieser Beitrag ist Teil des Forums COVID-19: Perspektiven in den Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften. Seuchen sind als „Menschheitstrauma“ seit eh und je Gegenstand der Geschichtswissenschaft für alle Epochen. Auf der Grundlage von Rudolf Schlögls Konzept der „Vergesellschaftung unter Anwesenden“ möchte ich im Folgenden vorschlagen, Seuchengeschichte als Körpergeschichte einer Kommunikation zu fassen, die das Kontagium als Gegenstand der Kommunikation einschließt.
Massage of the Hepatoduodenal Ligament Recovers Portal Vein Flow Immediately After the Pringle Maneuver in Hepatectomy
Authors: Ueda Junji , Mamada Yasuhiro , Taniai Nobuhiko , Yoshioka Masato , Hirakata Atsushi , Kawano Youichi , Shimizu Tetsuya , Kanda Tomohiro , Takata Hideyuki , Kondo Ryota , Kaneya Yohei , Aoki Yuto , Yoshida Hiroshi
Published: May 2020

Background

The Pringle maneuver is often used in liver surgery to minimize bleeding during liver transection. Many authors have demonstrated that intermittent use of the Pringle maneuver is safe and effective when performed appropriately. However, some studies have reported that the Pringle maneuver is a significant risk factor for portal vein thrombosis. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of portal vein flow after the Pringle maneuver and the impact that massaging the hepatoduodenal ligament after the Pringle maneuver has on portal vein flow.

Materials and Methods

Patients treated with the Pringle maneuver for hepatectomies performed to treat hepatic disease at our hospital between August 2014 and March 2019 were included in the study (N = 101). We divided these patients into two groups, a massage group and nonmassage group. We measured portal vein blood flow with ultrasonography before and after clamping of the hepatoduodenal ligament. We also evaluated laboratory data after the hepatectomy.

Results

Portal vein flow was significantly lower after the Pringle maneuver than before clamping of the hepatoduodenal ligament. The portal vein flow after the Pringle maneuver was improved following massage of the hepatoduodenal ligament. After hepatectomy, serum prothrombin time was significantly higher and serum C‐reactive protein was significantly lower in the massage group than in the nonmassage group.

Conclusion

Massaging the hepatoduodenal ligament after the Pringle maneuver is recommended in order to quickly recover portal vein flow during hepatectomy and to improve coagulability.
Prognostic significance of VEGF and components of the plasminogen activator system in endometrial cancer
Authors: Abbink Karin , Zusterzeel Petra L. M. , Geurts-Moespot Anneke , van der Steen Rob , Span Paul. N. , Sweep Fred C. G. J.
Published: May 2020

Objective

The plasminogen activator system (PAS) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are important in the carcinogenesis and play a key role in cancer invasion and mediating metastasis of carcinomas. The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation of serum levels of VEGF and components of the PAS with clinicopathological risk factors and outcome in patients with endometrial cancer (EC).

Methods

Preoperative blood was collected from 173 patients treated for EC between 1999 and 2009. Serum concentrations of VEGF, urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) and -2 (PAI-2) were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).

Results

Serum levels of VEGF and components of the PAS were significantly associated with stage of the disease, tumor histology, tumor grade, myometrial invasion (MI), presence of lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) and lymph node metastases (LNM). Preoperative serum levels of PAI-1 and -2 and tPA were higher in patients who experienced a recurrence than in patients who remained disease free (p < 0.01). PAI-1 and -2 and tPA were significantly independent prognostic factors for DFS with a HR of 3.85 (95% CI 1.84–8.07), 3.90 (95% CI 1.75–8.66) and 2.53 (95% CI 1.16–5.55), respectively. PAI-1 and tPA turned out to be independent prognostic factors for OS, with a HR of 2.09 (95% CI 1.08–4.05) and 2.16 (95% CI 1.06–4.44), respectively.

Conclusion

Serum levels of VEGF and components of the PAS at primary diagnosis were associated with well-known clinicopathological risk factors such as; FIGO stage, tumor histology, tumor grade, MI, LVSI and LNM. High concentrations of PAI-1 and-2 and tPA are independent factors for poor prognosis in patients with endometrial cancer.
Da Vinci Single-Port robot-assisted transanal mesorectal excision: a promising preclinical experience
Authors: Kneist Werner , Stein Hubert , Rheinwald Markus
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Robotic single-port platforms represent a viable option for advanced surgical procedures. This preclinical study investigated the dual-field, single-port, robot-assisted transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME).

Technique

In a male human cadaver, we employed the novel da Vinci® SP™ Surgical System, sequentially, to realize the transanal and abdominal parts of the taTME procedure. We evaluated the feasibility of the one-team approach.

Results

We showed that single-port access for the taTME was technically feasible with the current da Vinci® SP™ Surgical System in both surgical fields. The total console times were 189 min for the juxta-anal purse-string suture placement, partial intersphincteric resection, and bottom-up mesorectal dissection to where it meets the peritoneal reflection and 43 min for the abdominal procedure. A good quality specimen was achieved. The surgeon comfort was high during simulated surgery. The task load was highly acceptable (NASA-TLX global score: 35), even though it was the surgeon’s first use of this platform.

Conclusion

This preclinical study demonstrated that the robotic, single-port taTME was feasible and could be performed with the da Vinci® SP™ Surgical System, beginning at the level of the dentate line. Further simulations are necessary to confirm this promising approach.
A theoretical and experimental exploration of the seismic dynamics of multi-span bridges
Authors: Meibodi A. A. , Alexander N. A. , Norman J. A. , Crewe A. J.
Published: May 2020

A generalized reduced-order model of a multi-span continuous bridge, on flexible discrete supports, that is subjected to multi-support seismic excitation is presented. This model highlights the key non-dimensional system parameters. Real spatiotemporal ground motion time-series (from the SMART-1 array, Taiwan) are used, as an alternative to employing artificial ground motion based on some spatial incoherence kernels. Benchmark experimental test data, using the multiple support excitation rig of a four-span bridge and SMART-1 array excitation, is used to validate/calibrate the proposed reduced-order model. An operational modal analysis is conducted to obtain least-square estimates of these key dynamic parameters using a Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm. The computationally efficient reduced-order model is then employed for a parametric study that explores the effect of spatial incoherence, bridge alignment and archetypal symmetrical and asymmetrical bridge geometries. A comparison of identical and multi-support excitation cases indicate the likely range of beneficial/adverse errors in neglecting the spatiotemporal nature of ground motions in design analyses.
A kinetic and thermodynamic investigation into the removal of methyl orange from wastewater utilizing fly ash in different process configurations
Authors: Potgieter J. H. , Pardesi C. , Pearson S.
Published: May 2020

The removal of methyl orange using coal fly ash, which is a widely available low-cost adsorbent, has been investigated. Adsorption studies for dye removal were conducted using various configurations such as batch, column and heap adsorption at various temperatures and adsorbent dosages at neutral pH. The Langmuir, Freundlich and Tempkin isotherm models were used to describe the process. The Freundlich model best represented the adsorption. Kinetic studies show the adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. Thermodynamic studies show that the process is spontaneous, endothermic and random. Column configuration was found to be the most efficient with a dye removal percentage of 99.95%, followed by heap adsorption at 99.25% removal and lastly batch configuration with 96.68% removal. Economic analysis shows that column operation would be the most effective for practical implementation.
Comparison of pozzolanic activity of ilmenite MUD waste to other pozzolans used as an additive for concrete production
Authors: Bobrowicz Jan , Chyliński Filip
Published: May 2020

The article presents a comparison of pozzolanic activity of R-Mud, which is a by-product of TiO2, with known and long-used additives to cement and concrete. Tests were carried out comparing the amount of heat of the hydration of cement and cement with added R-Mud, silica fume, fly ash and trass. The reaction susceptibility of these additives with calcium hydroxide has also been studied using the thermogravimetric method. Results from this method have shown that the reactivity of R-Mud is high and at a similar level to silica fume, while it is much higher than the reactivity of fly ash or natural trass. The high level of pozzolanic reactivity of R-Mud has been confirmed by both isothermal calorimetry and thermogravimetry.
Coherent electron quantum transport in $$\hbox {In}_{0.53}\hbox {Ga}_{0.47}$$As/GaAs$$_{0.51}\hbox {Sb}_{0.49}$$ double barrier resonant tunnelling structures
Authors: Indjin Milos , Griffiths Jack
Published: May 2020

In this work, we have modelled and computed the transport properties of the double-barrier InGaAs/GaAsSb structure from the resonant tunnelling point of view. Based on the classical Tsu-Esaki formula for the tunnelling current, we have calculated the current density-voltage characteristic of a Al-free type-II $$\hbox {In}_{0.53}\hbox {Ga}_{0.47}\hbox {As/GaAs}_{0.51}\hbox {Sb}_{0.49}$$In0.53Ga0.47As/GaAs0.51Sb0.49 structure at different cryogenic and elevated temperatures. The tunnelling coefficient has been calculated in the framework of effective mass approximation with nonparabolicity included, using the transfer matrix approach. A good qualitative agreement of the position of resonant current peaks with the existing experimental data was achieved. Our calculation shows a very high sensitivity of the tunnelling current peak on monolayer-scale layer structure fluctuation which strongly affects peak to valley ratio in the resonant tunnelling structure.
Detection and occurrence of microplastics in the stomach of commercial fish species from a municipal water supply lake in southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Adeogun Aina O. , Ibor Oju R. , Khan Essa A. , Chukwuka Azubuike V. , Omogbemi Emmanuel D. , Arukwe Augustine
Published: May 2020

Microplastics (MPs) are physical anthropogenic pollutants and their ability to act as contaminant vectors in biological matrices is of serious ecosystem and human health concern. In the present study, we have, for the first time, screened and detected MPs in the stomach of a select group of commonly consumed fish species from a municipal water supply lake (Eleyele) in Nigeria. A total of 109 fish samples consisting of eight (8) species: Coptodon zillii (CZ: n = 38), Oreochromis niloticus (ON: n = 43), Sarotheron melanotheron (SM: n = 19), Chrysicthys nigrodigitatus (CN: n = 3), Lates niloticus (LN: n = 3), Paranchanna obscura (PO: n = 1), Hemichromis fasiatus (HF: n = 1), and Hepsetus odoe (HO: n = 1) were collected between February–April, 2018. Fish stomach content was screened for the presence of MPs using the density gradient separation technique (NaCl hypersaline solution) and examined using a fluorescence microscope. MPs were present in all the species screened (except H. fasciatus) with a frequency of 69.7% positive individuals in the examined species. MP prevalence was highest in ON (34%) > CZ (32%) > SM (13%) > CN (6%) and 5% each, for PO HO, and LN. On average, 1–6 MPs with sizes ranging between 124 μm and 1.53 mm were detected per individual. However, the highest number (34) of MPs was detected in the stomach of SM. Principal coordinate analysis (PCA) identified ecological variables such as habitat, feeding mode, and trophic levels as critical factors that may determine and influence MP uptake in fish population. The PCA showed stronger association between fish habitat, feeding mode, and trophic level with MP size and number in the benthopelagic species (ON CZ and SM), compared to demersal species (PO CN HO and LN). Given that MPs can act as vectors for the transfer of pathogens and environmental contaminants (both legacy and emerging), in addition to direct health risks to aquatic organisms, our findings raise concerns on the potential human/wildlife health effects of MPs in these economically and ecologically important food fishes.
Philosophical Intuition Is the Capacity to Recognize one’s Epistemic Position. An Old-Fashion Approach Based on Russell, Carnap, Wittgenstein, and Husserl
Authors: Werner Konrad
Published: May 2020

Philosophical intuition has become one of the most debated problems in recent years, largely due to the rise of the movement called experimental philosophy which challenged the conviction that philosophers have some special insight into abstract ideas such as being, knowledge, good and evil, intentional action, etc. In response to the challenge, some authors claim that there is a special cognitive faculty called philosophical intuition which delivers justification to philosophical theses, while some others deny it based on experimental results. A relatively smaller group of researchers aim at clarifying what the alleged intuition is. I follow the latter path. In this paper I argue that philosophical intuition is in the first place the capacity enabling one to what I refer to as the recognition of one’s epistemic position. The latter means becoming aware of the seemingly trivial “fact” that the way in which the world manifests itself depends on the cognitive apparatus one has, thereby propelling one to draw a distinction between appearances and reality. The recognition at stake is a very specific capacity to approach the world solely as it is experienced. This capacity, I argue, is the core and the defining feature of philosophical intuition. As part of my argumentation I also distinguish between the intuition in question and its different manifestations; and then introduce a novel notion of erotetic intuition. My argument is called “old-fashion” to emphasize the fact that I draw mostly on four figures who were pivotal in the twentieth- century philosophy and whose influence on the current debate concerning philosophical intuition should be, I believe, stronger than it is; I mean Russell, Carnap, Wittgenstein, and Husserl.
Differentiating criminal networks in the illegal wildlife trade: organized, corporate and disorganized crime
Authors: Wyatt Tanya , van Uhm Daan , Nurse Angus
Published: May 2020

Historically, the poaching of wildlife was portrayed as a small-scale local activity in which only small numbers of wildlife would be smuggled illegally by collectors or opportunists. Nowadays, this image has changed: criminal networks are believed to be highly involved in wildlife trafficking, which has become a significant area of illicit activity. Even though wildlife trafficking has become accepted as a major area of crime and an important topic and criminologists have examined a variety of illegal wildlife markets, research that specifically focusses on the involvement of different criminal networks and their specific nature is lacking. The concept of a ‘criminal network’ or ‘serious organized crime’ is amorphous – getting used interchangeably and describes all crime that is structured rather than solely reflecting crime that fits within normative definitions of ‘organized’ crime. In reality, criminal networks are diverse. As such, we propose categories of criminal networks that are evidenced in the literature and within our own fieldwork: (1) organized crime groups (2) corporate crime groups and (3) disorganized criminal networks. Whereas there are instances when these groups act alone, this article will (also) discuss the overlap and interaction that occurs between our proposed categories and discuss the complicated nature of the involved criminal networks as well as predictions as to the future of these networks.
Complex clinical scenarios with the use of direct oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation: a multidisciplinary expert advisory board
Authors: Mulder B. A. , ten Berg J. , ten Cate H. , van Es N. , Hemels M. E. W. , Kappelle L. J. , Bearda Bakker H. B. , de Borst G. J. , Drenth D. J. , Geersing G. J. , Rienstra M.
Published: May 2020

The risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF) and the risk of stroke both increase with advancing age. As such, many individuals have, or will develop, an indication for oral anticoagulation to reduce the risk of stroke. Currently, a large number of anticoagulants are available, including vitamin K antagonists, direct thrombin or factor Xa inhibitors (the last two also referred to as direct oral anticoagulants or DOACs), and different dosages are available. Of the DOACs, rivaroxaban can be obtained in the most different doses: 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 15 mg and 20 mg. Many patients develop co-morbidities and/or undergo procedures that may require the temporary combination of anticoagulation with antiplatelet therapy. In daily practice, clinicians encounter complex scenarios that are not always described in the treatment guidelines, and clear recommendations are lacking. Here, we report the outcomes of a multidisciplinary advisory board meeting, held in Utrecht (The Netherlands) on 3 June 2019, on decision making in complex clinical situations regarding the use of DOACs. The advisory board consisted of Dutch cardiovascular specialists: (interventional) cardiologist, internist, neurologist, vascular surgeon and general practitioners invited according to personal title and specific field of expertise.
Filmdiskussionen als (Forschungs-)Methode in der Sozialen Arbeit
Authors: Schulze Heidrun , Grendel Tanja
Published: May 2020

Häufig ist es für Jugendliche mit Fluchterfahrung nicht leicht, eigene Ausgrenzungserfahrungen zu thematisieren, was u. a. auf Deutungsmuster zurückzuführen ist, die auf gesellschaftlichen Macht- und Herrschaftsverhältnissen beruhen. Diese Deutungsmuster weisen Geflüchteten – im Gegensatz zu bereits etablierten Mitgliedern der Gesellschaft – eine marginalisierte Position zu, schreiben sich in die alltägliche Lebenspraxis ein und erwarten von den Adressat*innen die Übernahme identitärer Zuweisungen. Für eine emanzipatorische Bildung stellt sich die Herausforderung, wie eine Verständigung über die individuellen Lebensinteressen geflüchteter Jugendlicher und die potenziell verhindernden gesellschaftlichen Lebensverhältnisse, aber auch die Bewältigungsformen der Jugendlichen zur Sprache kommen können, ohne in eine aufklärerische Rekolonisierung abzudriften. Ausgehend von einem rekonstruktiven Praxis-Forschungs-Projekt in der Sozialen Arbeit zeigt der vorliegende Beitrag auf, wie Filmdiskussionen einen Zugang zu Diskriminierungs- bzw. Rassismuserfahrungen von jugendlichen Geflüchteten eröffnen. Am Beispiel einer transkribierten Filmdiskussion wird dokumentiert, wie sich Merkmale der Methode der Filmdiskussion – mit dem Film als Stimulus, einer narrativ orientierten Gesprächsführung und dem Gruppensetting – auf die Thematisierbarkeit subjektiver und kollektiver Erfahrungen von Ausgrenzung auswirken und Bildungsprozesse mit emanzipatorischem Potenzial initiieren können.
LimSt – Ein Fragebogen zur Erhebung von Lernstrategien im mathematikhaltigen Studium
Authors: Liebendörfer Michael , Göller Robin , Biehler Rolf , Hochmuth Reinhard , Kortemeyer Jörg , Ostsieker Laura , Rode Jana , Schaper Niclas
Published: May 2020

Lernstrategien haben für den Lernprozess eine hohe Bedeutung. Ihre Nutzung an der Hochschule ist immer wieder Gegenstand empirischer Untersuchungen. Allerdings existiert kein Instrument, das die Besonderheiten der Mathematik als Lerngegenstand und die dafür üblichen universitären Arbeitsweisen berücksichtigt. Wir wollen diese Lücke schließen und stellen dafür einen neuen Fragebogen vor, der anhand von acht quantitativen Erhebungen und zwei qualitativen Tests entwickelt und validiert wurde. Die Besonderheiten der Hochschulmathematik werden sowohl auf Ebene von Itemformulierungen als auch in neuen Skalen berücksichtigt. Das Instrument ist dennoch so allgemein gehalten, dass es mathematikspezifische Lernstrategien über verschiedene mathematikhaltige Studiengänge wie das Fachstudium, die Lehrerbildung sowie Ingenieurs- oder Wirtschaftswissenschaften abbilden kann.
Customer Orientation: Its Surprising Origins, Tumultuous Development and Place in the Future of Marketing thought and Practice
Authors: Duffy Sarah , Bruce Kyle , Moroko Lara
Published: May 2020

This paper demonstrates that the concept of customer orientation has its genesis not in marketing, but rather in management thought; specifically, within the Scientific Management movement. We trace the concept through its popularisation in the marketing discipline with the work of Theodore Levitt, the subsequent difficulties in translating the concept into practice through the late twentieth century, and its eventual integration and application of into more recent streams of popular marketing thought and practice, such as service-dominant logic and co-creation. We conclude with an exposition of the contribution of customer orientation to the disciplines of marketing and strategy in the guise of design thinking, the business model canvas, disruptive innovation, and lean startup. In this way, we are “righting” two “wrongs” by correcting the received wisdom in both management and marketing. We are also helping researchers, educators and practitioners in these two disciplines avoid falling into the related traps of repeating their mistakes if do not have an adequate grasp of their past or ‘re-inventing-the-wheel’.
OPTIMAL INSURANCE CONTRACTS UNDER DISTORTION RISK MEASURES WITH AMBIGUITY AVERSION
Authors: Jiang Wenjun , Escobar-Anel Marcos , Ren Jiandong
Published: May 2020

This paper presents analytical representations for an optimal insurance contract under distortion risk measure and in the presence of model uncertainty. We incorporate ambiguity aversion and distortion risk measure through the model of Robert and Therond [(2014) ASTIN Bulletin: The Journal of the IAA, 44(2), 277–302.] as per the framework of Klibanoff et al. [(2005) A smooth model of decision making under ambiguity. Econometrica, 73(6), 1849–1892.]. Explicit optimal insurance indemnity functions are derived when the decision maker (DM) applies Value-at-Risk as risk measure and is ambiguous about the loss distribution. Our results show that: (1) under model uncertainty, ambiguity aversion results in a distorted probability distribution over the set of possible models with a bias in favor of the model which yields a larger risk; (2) a more ambiguity-averse DM would demand more insurance coverage; (3) for a given budget, uncertainties about the loss distribution result in higher risk level for the DM.
A diachronic analysis of the adjective intensifierwellfrom Early Modern English to Present Day English
Authors: Stratton James M.
Published: May 2020

While the use ofwellas an intensifier of most adjectives had supposedly died out by Early Modern English (Fettig 1934: 186, Mustanoja 1960: 327, Stenström 2000: 188, Ito and Taglimonte 2003: 278), no studies have empirically examined its frequency diachronically. The present study traces its use from Early Modern English (1560) to Present Day English, (2014) using five speech-related corpora in addition to various dialectal sources and audio/video clips. Results indicate that this use was retained in some dialects of English despite not being attested in theCorpus of English Dialoguesnor theOld Bailey Corpus,which document predominantly the incipient standard variety. A qualitative analysis of its use reveals a potential diachronic shift in its stress pattern and the scale structure of its intensified heads. Moreover, the present study discusses some of the methodological challenges which arise when using historical corpora to investigate linguistic change, drawing particular attention to sample representativeness and data analysis.
WHO Paradoxes in Emergency Operations: The Dilemma of a UN Specialized Agency
Authors: Ali Maher Osama , Bellizzi Saverio
Published: May 2020

The past two decades have witnessed a major shift in humanitarian operations to respond to more internal conflicts instead of the traditional cross-border wars. Over the recent years, two major shifts have taken place within the WHO to orient toward response to emergencies, namely the introduction of the Humanitarian Reform and the Cluster Approach in 2005 and the introduction of the Emergency Response Framework (ERF). The financing of the agency in humanitarian operations is adding emerging elements to the WHO operations, especially because of the constantly higher contribution from non-state- and state- funding agencies. Pending issues include aspects like health strategy, conflict analysis, legal issues of aid delivery, impartiality in delivering services, and other aspects and needs.
Cognition and communication: situational awareness and tie preservation in disrupted task environments
Authors: Fitzhugh Sean M. , Decostanza Arwen H. , Buchler Norbou , Ungvarsky Diane M.
Published: May 2020

Individuals filling specialized, interdependent organizational roles achieve coordinated task execution through effective communication channels. Such channels enable regular access to information, opportunities, and assistance that may enhance one’s understanding of the task environment. However, the time and effort devoted to maintaining those channels may detract from one’s duties by turning attention away from the task environment. Disrupted task environments increase information requirements, thus creating a dilemma in which individuals must sustain benefits offered by important communication channels and relieve burdens imposed by ineffective channels. Using separable temporal exponential random graph models (STERGMs), this paper examines the relationship between situational awareness (SA) and the propensity to sustain or dissolve preexisting communication channels during 10 disruptive events experienced sequentially by a large, multifaceted military organization during a 2-week training exercise. Results provide limited evidence that increased SA detracts from tie preservation; instead SA begins to predict tie preservation during the second week of the exercise. Patterns of organizational adaptation reveal that, over time, improvised coordinative roles increasingly fall upon those with elevated SA. These results suggest that over successive disruptions, the benefits of information provided by communication channels within interdependent, role-specialized organizations begin to outweigh the costs of sustaining those channels.
The conditional nature of publication bias: a meta-regression analysis
Authors: Owen Erica , Li Quan
Published: May 2020

Publication bias is pervasive in social and behavioral sciences because journals and scholars tend to reward and be rewarded for statistically significant findings. However, the determinants of the severity of publication bias are less well understood. We argue that publication bias depends on whether an independent variable is a key variable or statistical control in traditional regression modeling. The bias should be severe only for the key variable that relates to a central question and hypothesis in a study. We offer an empirical strategy to detect the conditional nature of publication bias. As an illustration, we perform a meta-regression of 229 model estimates from 36 articles in the democracy-foreign direct investment literature. We find that publication bias is most severe when democracy is a key variable, but appears weak when democracy is a control. Our research demonstrates that empirical estimates for key and control variables follow different data generation processes and makes a novel contribution to the study of publication bias that affects many research areas.
Political alignment between firms and employees in the United States: evidence from a new dataset
Authors: Stuckatz Jan
Published: May 2020

I present a novel measure of partisan alignment between firms and employees. This measure is constructed using data matching 1,691,790 US federal campaign contribution filings of 85,109 individuals to the donations of 874 Political Action Committees (PACs) of publicly listed US companies between 2003 and 2016. The alignment measure shows that employee and employer contributions are highly correlated. Furthermore, firm- and occupation-level factors are significantly associated with firm–employee alignment. Uniquely, these new data can be easily linked to external data on industries, firms, and occupations and consequently allow for in-depth analysis of precisely how companies can influence employees’ politics.
Standing autoresonant plasma waves
Authors: Friedland L. , Shagalov A. G.
Published: May 2020

The formation and control of strongly nonlinear standing plasma waves (SPWs) from a trivial equilibrium by a chirped frequency drive are discussed. If the drive amplitude exceeds a threshold, after passage through the linear resonance in this system, the excited wave preserves the phase locking with the drive, yielding a controlled growth of the wave amplitude. We illustrate these autoresonant waves via Vlasov–Poisson simulations, showing the formation of sharply peaked excitations with local electron density maxima significantly exceeding the unperturbed plasma density. The Whitham averaged variational approach applied to a simplified water bag model yields the weakly nonlinear evolution of the autoresonant SPWs and the autoresonance threshold. If the chirped driving frequency approaches some constant level, the driven SPW saturates at a target amplitude, avoiding the kinetic wave breaking.
A DRAWING BY FRANCESCO PATRIZI (1826–1905) OF THE EXCAVATION OF THE TOMB OF THE SEMPRONII IN THE VIGNA CASALI 1871–2
Authors: Marshall David R.
Published: May 2020

This paper discusses a drawing in the Lanciani collection representing the excavations of a tomb at the Vigna Casali in 1871–2. This tomb had a rich collection of antiquities, including important sarcophagi now in the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Nelson-Atkins Museum and the Ny Carlsberg Glyptothek. The drawing, which is wrongly catalogued as depicting the Vigna Casati, has not hitherto been connected with these finds. It was made on site by Francesco Patrizi (1826–1905), a supporter of contemporary painting, amateur artist, and owner of the Villa Patrizi not far away. This article correlates the information contained in the drawing with contemporary descriptions of the excavations and a measured drawing made for the Casali family at the time, in order to understand better what the site contained.
Conditional symmetries and exact solutions of a nonlinear three-component reaction-diffusion model
Authors: CHERNIHA R. M. , DAVYDOVYCH V. V.
Published: May 2020

Q-conditional (non-classical) symmetries of the known three-component reaction-diffusion (RD) system [K. Aoki et al. Theor. Popul. Biol. 50, 1–17 (1996)] modelling interaction between farmers and hunter-gatherers are constructed for the first time. A wide variety of Q-conditional symmetries are found, and it is shown that these symmetries are not equivalent to the Lie symmetries. Some operators of Q-conditional (non-classical) symmetry are applied for finding exact solutions of the RD system in question. Properties of the exact solutions (in particular, their asymptotic behaviour) are identified and possible biological interpretation is discussed.