bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bone-conduction threshold and air-bone gap may predict frequency-specific air-conduction threshold after tympanoplasty
Authors: Huang Ethan I. , Wu Yu-Chieh , Chuang Hsiu-Mei , Huang Tzu-Chi
Published: March 2021

Postoperative hearing improvement is one of the main expectations for patients receiving tympanoplasty. The capacity to predict postoperative hearing may help to counsel a patient properly and avoid untoward expectations. It is difficult to predict postoperative hearing without knowing the disease process in the middle ear, which can only be assessed intraoperatively. However, the duration and extent of the underlying pathologies may represent in bone-conduction threshold and air-bone gap. Here in patients undergoing tympanoplasty without ossiculoplasty, we sorted and separated the surgery dates into the first group to build the predicting models and the second group to test the predictions. There were 87 and 30 ears, respectively. No specific enrollment or exclusion criteria were based on underlying pathologies such as the perforation size of the tympanic membrane or the middle ear conditions. The results show that bone-conduction threshold and air-bone gap together predicted air-conduction threshold after the surgery, including each frequency of 0.5k, 1k, 2k, and 4k Hz. The discrepancies between the predictions and recordings did not differ among these four frequencies. Of the variance in mean postoperative air-conduction threshold, 56.7% was linearly accounted for by these two preoperative predictors in this sample. The results suggest a trend that, the higher the frequency, the larger the part was accounted for by these two preoperative predictors. These together may help a surgeon to estimate frequency-specific hearing outcome after the surgery, answer patients’ questions with quantitative statistics, and counsel patients with proper expectations.
Association between childhood maltreatment, psychopathology and DNA methylation of genes involved in stress regulation: Evidence from a study in Borderline Personality Disorder
Authors: Flasbeck Vera , Brüne Martin
Published: March 2021

Previous research suggests that childhood maltreatment is associated with epigenetic modification of genes involved in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) functioning, which could cause dysregulation of the stress response system. If pervasive, this may be associated with the development of stress-related disorder in adults, including affective disorders, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or borderline-personality disorder (BPD). The majority of studies have focused on DNA methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) and the FKBP5 encoding gene, which regulates the sensitivity of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). How methylation of NR3C1 and FKBP5 interferes with childhood adversity and psychopathology as well as empathy is an under-researched issue. Here, we sought to investigate the association of childhood maltreatment in a sample of 89 individuals (44 healthy participants and 45 patients diagnosed with BPD) with the methylation of the 1F promoter region of NR3C1 and the intron 7 of FKBP5 as well as with different measures of psychopathology and empathy. Methylation of FKBP5 (bin 2) correlated with anxiety (SCL-90-R) and the global psychopathological symptom load index (GSI), as well as with lower empathic perspective-taking abilities. Psychopathology and empathy impairments correlated with the level of childhood maltreatment. No difference in FKBP5 methylation was observed between the clinical and the non-clinical group. Methylation of NR3C1 was lower in BPD patients compared to controls, yet with small differences. The results are discussed regarding their biological relevance, including possible evolutionary explanations. In short, the regulation of the GR sensitivity by methylation of FKBP5 correlated with psychopathology and empathy scores, while no correlation emerged with the severity of childhood adversity.
Ink art as method: Diagnostics of dipolarity
Authors: Kejun Xia
Published: March 2021

I argue that in China, ink is not only a special material with a historical connection to literati art, but also philosophy-in-practice. It confronts the limitations of expression, and forms the idea of Black (deep and in a state of becoming) and Blank (white and empty). This is a dipolarity or dualism within the disposition of art. I discuss how ink art is a new method, and give it diagnostic value in relation to contemporary practice. China’s contemporary ink artists seek to resolve the paradox of working with both conceptual art and the specialism of painting as an art through letting the natural elements of ink express themselves sufficiently, by letting nature create itself, in order to combine techne and nature. This ‘blank-blank art’ is an example of dipolar thinking, or yinyang thinking, and therefore is distinct from the modern or contemporary art which is predominantly monopolar or binary. Considering ink art as method offers a new direction which opens a space of ‘between-ness’, evoking the forgotten dream of Marcel Duchamp, which he named the ‘infra-mince’.
Melegszik a helyzet? A klímaváltozás hatásai három hazai turisztikai desztináció példáján = Is the situation warming up? The effects of climate change shown by three Hungarian tourist destinations
Authors: Németh Kornél , Czira Tamás , Sütő Attila , Domjánné Nyizsalovszki Rita , Péter Erzsébet
Published: March 2021

A napjaink időjárásában tapasztalható változások érezhető hatással vannak nemcsak a környezetre, hanem az emberi szervezetre, a társadalmi és gazdasági folyamatokra is. Bár a koronavírus járvány okozta helyzet időlegesen felülírta a klímakérdés turizmusra gyakorolt hatásainak tárgyalását, azért a téma egyáltalán nem veszített aktualitásából. A szektor érintettsége vitathatatlan e kérdéskörben, hiszen működésének alapját a földrajzi helyekhez kötött vonzerők adják, melyek zömének látogathatósága bizonyos időjárási körülményhez kötődik. Jelen tanulmányban a hazai turizmus szektor egyes kínálat oldali szereplőinek bevonásával vesszük górcső alá a klímaváltozás érzékelhető és változásokat generáló hatásait, valamint a helyi, térségi szintű klímaalkalmazkodás kérdéskörét. Ahogy vizsgálataink is alátámasztják, a folyamatok vesztesei és nyertesei nehezen határolhatók le, azonban a desztinációs szintű klímaalkalmazkodási kérdések széleskörű elemzése egyre inkább időszerű és elkerülhetetlen a turizmus szektorban is.
„Öreg ember nem vén ember!” – avagy lehetőségeink, esélyeink az élethosszig tartó tanulásra
Authors: Bencsik Andrea , Trunkos Ildikó
Published: March 2021

A társadalmak jólétét, gazdasági erejét jelentős mértékben befolyásolja az a képesség, hogy tudnak-e a már meglévő tudásukra, hagyományaikra építve korszerű, hosszú távon használható tudástartalmakat létrehozni és azt az ott élő emberek minél szélesebb rétege számára elérhetővé tenni. Arra az országra, amely ezt nem ismeri fel, a stagnálás, a leszakadás vár. A fejlett nyugati országokban bárki számára adottak a lehetőségek akár egészen idős korban is a tanulásra, fejlődésre, míg hazánkban a vállalatok (tisztelet a kivételnek) a fiatal, értelmes, a jövő szempontjából meghatározó egyéniségek képzését sem támogatják kellő mértékben. A teendők egyre sürgetőbbek, melyet a munkavállalói oldal sokkal jobban érzékel, ezért próbál tenni is érte. A vállalatok és a kormányzati intézkedések azt mutatják, hogy a gazdálkodó szervezetek, az intézmények kevésbé felkészültek a lifelong learning kihívásaira. Ebben a tanulmányban a szerzők a lehetőségek és a napi valóság nemzetközi-hazai elméletét bemutatva, egy rövid hazai felmérés eredményeivel illusztrálják a helyzetünket.
EVALUATION OF REFLECTANCE FOR BUILDING MATERIALS CLASSIFICATION WITH TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNER RADIATION
Authors: Costantino Domenica , Pepe Massimiliano , Angelini Maria Giuseppa
Published: March 2021

The main purpose of this work is the evaluation of the potential of Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) technology to perform a reflectance analysis of scanned objects. A laser beam, having a coherent beam in the field of visible light (wavelength between 532nm and 680 nm), can lead to optical diffraction phenomena that allow a correlation between the degree of crystallinity of solids (in particular dispersed crystalline materials) and its reflectivity. Different materials with known crystallinity values have been examined and the diffraction value has been analysed for two types of lasers, one pulsed and the other phase measurement, with two different acquisition conditions (nadiral and oblique position). The results demonstrated the correlation by verifying that the incident laser light beam is more refracted by materials with a higher degree of crystallinity than less crystalline or amorphous materials.
ON THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL PAULI EQUATION IN NONCOMMUTATIVE PHASE-SPACE
Authors: Haouam Ilyas
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we obtained the three-dimensional Pauli equation for a spin-1/2 particle in the presence of an electromagnetic field in a noncommutative phase-space as well as the corresponding deformed continuity equation, where the cases of a constant and non-constant magnetic fields are considered. Due to the absence of the current magnetization term in the deformed continuity equation as expected, we had to extract it from the noncommutative Pauli equation itself without modifying the continuity equation. It is shown that the non-constant magnetic field lifts the order of the noncommutativity parameter in both the Pauli equation and the corresponding continuity equation. However, we successfully examined the effect of the noncommutativity on the current density and the magnetization current. By using a classical treatment, we derived the semi-classical noncommutative partition function of the three-dimensional Pauli system of the one-particle and N-particle systems. Then, we employed it for calculating the corresponding Helmholtz free energy followed by the magnetization and the magnetic susceptibility of electrons in both commutative and noncommutative phase-spaces. Knowing that with both the three-dimensional Bopp-Shift transformation and the Moyal-Weyl product, we introduced the phase-space noncommutativity in the problems in question.
Unified modelling of TIG microarcs with evaporation from copper anode
Authors: Baeva Margarita , Methling Ralf , Uhrlandt Dirk
Published: March 2021

A previously developed unified model of a tungsten-inert gas (TIG) microarc has been extended to take into account the melting of the anode made of copper and the release of copper atoms due to its evaporation. The copper atoms enter the plasma to become excited and ionized. The presence of copper atoms and ions can strongly change the plasma parameters. The extended unified model further includes excited states of copper and collisional and radiative processes between them. Predictions of the parameters of the microarc plasma in the presence of copper species are presented and discussed.
Exploring Changing Requirements of Financial Statement Audit Reports via a Morphogenetic Approach
Authors: Deng Ying , Bowrey Graham , Jones Greg
Published: March 2021

There has been an ongoing concern with the quality of financial audit reports issued by registered public accounting firms in relation to financial accountability and transparency of the financial statements. In July 2009 the Public Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) released a concept paper outlining changes to the requirements of financial audit activities such as the inclusion of the engagement partner’s signature on the financial audit reports. The aim of these new requirements was to improve the accountability of engagement partners as well as enhance the perception of transparency of the audit reports. However, the contribution and effectiveness of these requirements to improve accountability and transparency of audit reports for various stakeholders relying on the audited financial information is questionable. This study explores the impact and effectiveness of changes to auditing regulation and processes through the application of Archer’s (1995) morphogenetic approach which is based on social conditioning, social interaction, and social elaboration where the structural influences provides the environment for agents to differentiate themselves. In addition, this study demonstrates how proposed regulation changes mould the qualities of audit regulation, the profession and the auditor whose perspectives deserved to be noticed from the dominant constituencies structured by the propositions of a morphogenetic analysis.
The Role of Internal Audit in Risk Management from the Perspective of Risk Managers in the Banking Sector
Authors: Tamimi Oday
Published: March 2021

The present paper aims to identify the role of internal audit function in risk management from the perspective of risk managers in banks operating in Palestine, with a review of the concept, importance, objectives, and principles of internal audit and its role in risk management for banks. The target population is the risk managers in the banks operating in Palestine. The major findings in the presented paper. First, the main factor in risk management is the risk manager's efficiency, and the internal auditing focuses on evaluating the risk management department and ensuring the efficiency of risk management practices in dealing with these risks. Second, the internal audit departments in the banks operating in Palestine participate in providing advice, suggestions and recommendations for the risk management department. Based on the results, the board of directors and senior management in these banks should continue to pay attention to the risk management department, and the need for coordination between these departments to achieve the best results at the banking and economic levels.
Preferencia de metas relacionadas con ejercicio físico en mujeres con fibromialgia ¿Hacer ejercicio o evitar el dolor?
Authors: León Zarceño Eva , Martínez-Zaragoza Fermin , López-Roig Sofía , Peñacoba Cecilia , Pastor-Mira Maria Ángeles
Published: March 2021

Introducción: La fibromialgia es una enfermedad crónica con dolor musculo-esquelético y otros síntomas. El ejercicio físico es una herramienta óptima para la mejora de los síntomas. Las pacientes asocian empeoramientos a su ejecución, por lo que acaban por evitarlo. Los objetivos fueron: (1) describir la preferencia por metas de logro relacionadas con ejercicio físico frente a metas de evitación del dolor y su perfil sociodemográfico y clínico y (2) establecer la asociación entre esa preferencia de metas y diferentes patrones de actividad física.

Método: se utilizó un diseño correlacional y transversal, entrevistando a 260 mujeres con fibromialgia.

Resultados: Las mujeres con preferencias por metas de ejercicio físico no puntuaron significativamente diferente que las mujeres que mostraron la preferencia contraria en ninguna de las variables sociodemográficas y clínicas estudiadas. La preferencia por evitar el dolor se asoció significativamente a patrones de actividad física de evitación y de menor persistencia.

Conclusiones: Las pacientes prefieren metas relacionadas con la evitación del dolor. Esta preferencia no se asocia a ningún perfil sociodemográfico o clínico, pero sí a diferentes patrones de actividad. Dada la relevancia del ejercicio físico en el tratamiento, intervenir para que sea una meta relevante se configura como una meta terapéutica.
Diversidad sexual: la triste historia de una feliz realidad
Authors: Ballester-Arnal Rafael
Published: March 2021

La diversidad sexual es la norma en el ser humano y lejos de sentir temor y rechazo por ella, deberíamos protegerla y promoverla. En este artículo se realiza una revisión acerca de las posibles causas de ese temor hacia la diversidad sexual. Se conceptualiza las diferentes dimensiones en torno a las cuales la sexualidad puede ser vivenciada de formas muy distintas. Se realiza un recorrido histórico para comprender que la heterogeneidad sexual nos ha acompañado desde los inicios de nuestra existencia, cómo ha sido vista por la sociedad y por la ciencia, señalando los hitos fundamentales, los principales autores que han realizado aportaciones relevantes para acabar con una visión categorial de la orientación sexual y cómo ha evolucionado la consideración de la homosexualidad en los diferentes manuales de clasificación de problemas mentales. También se hace referencia a los estragos que causa la LGTBfobia entra las personas que se apartan del heterocentrismo vigente, los hitos en la lucha social por los derechos sexuales del colectivo LGTBI, las mejoras legislativas en España y el camino que nos queda por recorrer.
Reduced visual contrast suppression during major depressive episodes
Authors: Salmela Viljami , Socada Lumikukka , Söderholm John , Heikkilä Roope , Lahti Jari , Ekelund Jesper , Isometsä Erkki
Published: March 2021

Background: Previous studies have suggested that processing of visual contrast information could be altered in major depressive disorder. To clarify the changes at different levels of the visual hierarchy, we behaviourally measured contrast perception in 2 centre-surround conditions, assessing retinal and cortical processing. Methods: As part of a prospective cohort study, our sample consisted of controls (n = 29; 21 female) and patients with unipolar depression, bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder who had baseline major depressive episodes (n = 111; 74 female). In a brightness induction test that assessed retinal processing, participants compared the perceived luminance of uniform patches (presented on a computer screen) as the luminance of the backgrounds was varied. In a contrast suppression test that assessed cortical processing, participants compared the perceived contrast of gratings, which were presented with collinearly or orthogonally oriented backgrounds. Results: Brightness induction was similar for patients with major depressive episodes and controls (p = 0.60, d = 0.115, Bayes factor = 3.9), but contrast suppression was significantly lower for patients than for controls (p < 0.006, d = 0.663, Bayes factor = 35.2). We observed no statistically significant associations between contrast suppression and age, sex, or medication or diagnostic subgroup. At follow-up (n = 74), we observed some normalization of contrast perception. Limitations: We assessed contrast perception using behavioural tests instead of electrophysiology. Conclusion: The reduced contrast suppression we observed may have been caused by decreased retinal feedforward or cortical feedback signals. Because we observed intact brightness induction, our results suggest normal retinal but altered cortical processing of visual contrast during a major depressive episode. This alteration is likely to be present in multiple types of depression and to partially normalize upon remission.
Content and composition analysis of polysaccharides fromBlaps rynchopeteraand its macrophage phagocytic activity
Authors: Wang Ying , Yang Yin-He , Luo Qing , Hu Yuan , Lu Qian , Yu Wan-Xin , Chen Jin-Hu , Wang Yu-Jia , Wang Mu-Ling , Zhao Yu , Xiao Huai
Published: March 2021

Blaps rynchopeteraFairmaire has a long history of use as a folk medicine in China for treating fever, cough, gastritis, boils, and tumors. In the present study, the content analyses, monosaccharide composition analyses, and the macrophage phagocytic activity ofrynchopeterapolysaccharides (RPS) were reported.B. rhynchopterais rich in polysaccharides (content value 3.97%). Through PMP (1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone) pre-column derivatization and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) testing, the results showed that RPS consist of 8 known monosaccharides, including D-mannose (Man), Rhamnose (Rha), D-glucuronic acid (GlcUA), D-galacturonic acid (GalUA), D-glucose (Glc), D-galactose (Gal), Arabinose (Ara), and Fucose (Fuc), with the total content of 171.70 mg g−1and Glc has the highest content of 45.40 mg g−1. The phagocytic ability of mouse peritoneal macrophages was investigated after RPS stimulating alone and combined with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). RPS played an important role in the engulfment of mouse peritoneal macrophages and can significantly enhance the phagocytic ability of macrophages. However, no synergistic effects were observed when RPS combined with LPS.
Energy Contraction and Optimal Convergence of Adaptive Iterative Linearized Finite Element Methods
Authors: Heid Pascal , Praetorius Dirk , Wihler Thomas P.
Published: March 2021

We revisit a unified methodology for the iterative solution of nonlinear equations in Hilbert spaces. Our key observation is that the general approach from [P. Heid and T. P. Wihler,
Adaptive iterative linearization Galerkin methods for nonlinear problems,
Math. Comp. 89 2020, 326, 2707–2734;
P. Heid and T. P. Wihler,
On the convergence of adaptive iterative linearized Galerkin methods,
Calcolo 57 2020, Paper No. 24]
satisfies an energy contraction property in the context of (abstract) strongly monotone problems. This property, in turn, is the crucial ingredient in the recent convergence analysis in [G. Gantner, A. Haberl, D. Praetorius and S. Schimanko,
Rate optimality of adaptive finite element methods with respect to the overall computational costs,
preprint 2020]. In particular, we deduce that adaptive iterative linearized finite element methods (AILFEMs) lead to full linear convergence with optimal algebraic rates with respect to the degrees of freedom as well as the total computational time.
Stability analysis of a fractional ordered COVID-19 model
Authors: Das Meghadri , Samanta Guruprasad
Published: March 2021

The main purpose of this work is to study transmission dynamics of COVID-19 in Italy 2020, where the first case of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Italy was reported on 31st January 2020. Taking into account the uncertainty due to the limited information about the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we have taken the modified Susceptible-Asymptomatic-Infectious-Recovered (SAIR) compartmental model under fractional order framework. We have formulated our model by subdividing infectious compartment into two sub compartments (reported and unreported) and introduced hospitalized class. In this work, we have studied the local and global stability of the system at different equilibrium points (disease free and endemic) and calculated sensitivity index for Italy scenario. The validity of the model is justified by comparing real data with the results obtained from simulations.
Teaching Linear Algebra in Engineering Courses Using Critical Thinking
Authors: Catarino Paula , Vasco Paulo
Published: March 2021

Nowadays it is important to improve in higher education students the critical thinking skills and dispositions in the different curricular units that are part of their schooling. Since “Linear Algebra” is a curricular unit part of any degree in engineering, we show that it is possible to integrate activities in their classes that enable the development of skills and critical thinking dispositions by students. We present examples of such activities for one item/topic of the syllabus of Linear Algebra as a proposal for future implementation in the teaching process. We will apply principles of instructional design planning and evaluation of those activities that develop critical thinking skills and dispositions in students. We will also apply active learning principles and cooperative learning strategies, including the learning based on problem solving, using questioning.
Gaps in sociolinguistic research in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Djité Paulin G.
Published: March 2021

In the mid-1960s, a catchphrase in academic circles was, « Des chercheurs qui cherchent, on en trouve; mais des chercheurs qui trouvent, on en cherche », pointing out that many researchers were “Chindōgu researchers”, that is to say researchers engaging in “useless” research, rather than coming up with actionable research findings. Along the same lines, this paper sets out to offer an analytical perspective on sociolinguistic research output and focus in sub-Saharan Africa and suggest a number of sociolinguistic research priorities.
Procesos y materialidad en el estudio del lenguaje en sociedad
Authors: Zavala Virginia
Published: March 2021

In this brief essay, and making use of my own research in Peru, I raise two issues that I have been reflecting on throughout my career and that I believe constitute challenges in addressing language in society. The first refers to the importance of studying the processes of meaning production from an ethnographic perspective, and the second, to the centrality of articulating the production of these meanings with the material conditions of existence that make them possible or difficult. These two points are committed to combining ethnographic sociolinguistics and glotopolitics, as critical perspectives that are enhancing sociolinguistics in Latin America.
Publishing policy: toward counterbalancing the inequalities in academia
Authors: Dołowy-Rybińska Nicole
Published: March 2021

This article touches upon the problem of inequalities in academia resulting from neoliberal capitalism and existing publishing policy and discusses its possible consequences. Building on the author’s own experiences as a researcher working on linguistic minorities and as an academic administrator, it explores how power relations work in parts of the scientific world situated on the peripheries of the Western “centre” – via the neoliberal economy, access to funding and international recognition. Publishing in high-status, English-language journals requires “non-centre” academics to adopt Western conventions of publishing, including in the style of reasoning, the structure of the text, and preferring references from the Anglo-American academic tradition. Only by complying can such researchers secure a place in academia and further their careers. However difficult it may be, the author argues, the hegemony of Western-model knowledge construction may only be questioned from inside, by the “centre” academics.
Whose hearing matters? Context and regimes of perception in sociolinguistics
Authors: Lo Adrienne
Published: March 2021

This piece argues for the importance of centering regimes of perception and the dynamics of power in sociolinguistics, drawing upon cases where Chinese and Korean terms have been heard and enregistered as English slurs. It notes how different interlocutors mobilize phenomena at various scales in invocations of context. It calls for greater attention to the range of subject positions that are produced by speakers, perceivers, and institutions and a reconsideration of the moral certainty of our analyses. It challenges us to rethink the ontological status of the linguistic sign as a self-presenting entity and to develop frameworks of analysis that can look across scales.
Chinese Film Studies Online: Technological Innovations, Pedagogical Challenges, and Teaching Chinese-Language Cinema in the Digital Age
Authors: Marchetti Gina
Published: March 2021

Because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education, online initiatives have moved from the periphery to the very heart of teaching and learning across disciplines. However, the profession has just begun to consider the full impact these new technologies have on the way we research and teach Chinese-language cinema. Using the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) and University of Hong Kong Common Core campus-based course, Hong Kong Cinema through a Global Lens, as my principal case study, I explore some of the ways in which the digital revolution has transformed research on and teaching about Hong Kong film. From surveying the types of material available for research to exploring the differences between MOOCs and flipped classrooms, this essay considers the positive implications and potential drawbacks of these new technologies in global, regional, and local educational contexts.
Extensions of automorphisms of self-similar groups
Authors: Matucci Francesco , Silva Pedro V.
Published: March 2021

In this work, we study automorphisms of synchronous self-similar groups and the existence of extensions to continuous automorphisms over the closure of these groups with respect to the depth metric.
We obtain conditions for the continuity of such extensions, but we also construct examples of groups where such extensions do not exist.
We study in detail the case of the lamplighter group

L
k

=

Z
k

≀
Z

\mathcal{L}_{k}=\mathbb{Z}_{k}\wr\mathbb{Z}

.
Stress Testing to Assess Recovery from Extreme Events
Authors: Plodinec M. John
Published: March 2021

Over the last decade, communities have become increasingly aware of the risks they face. They are threatened by natural disasters, which may be exacerbated by climate change and the movement of land masses. Growing globalization has made a pandemic due to the rapid spread of highly infectious diseases ever more likely. Societal discord breeds its own threats, not the least of which is the spread of radical ideologies giving rise to terrorism. The accelerating rate of technological change has bred its own social and economic risks. This widening spectrum of risk poses a difficult question to every community – how resilient will the community be to the extreme events it faces. In this paper, we present a new approach to answering that question. It is based on the stress testing of financial institutions required by regulators in the United States and elsewhere. It generalizes stress testing by expanding the concept of “capital” beyond finance to include the other “capitals” (e.g., human, social) possessed by a community. Through use of this approach, communities can determine which investments of its capitals are most likely to improve its resilience. We provide an example of using the approach, and discuss its potential benefits.
On the Nature of Persons; Persons as Constituted Events
Authors: Tahmasbi Mohammad Reza
Published: March 2021

The diachronic question of persons deals with personal identity over time: “In virtue of what conditions is a person, P
1, at t
1, the same person, P
2, at t
2?” To answer the question, I suggest expanding the constitution theory from a static definition to a dynamic definition. ‘Life’ is an event and the stream of consciousness is an event too. Reflective self-consciousness—which I take to be definitive of persons—is an event. Persons are irreducible constituted events who remain the same through time while they undergo change. This idea faces neither the problem of substance dualism nor the fission problem.
Pure spin current generation with photogalvanic effect in graphene interconnect junctions
Authors: Zhou Yan-Hong , Yu Shaohui , Li Yuejun , Luo Xin , Zheng Xiaohong , Zhang Lei
Published: March 2021

We investigate the photovoltaic behaviors of magnetic graphene interconnect junctions, which are constructed by zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs), with the aim to produce pure spin current by photogalvanic effect (PGE). Two kinds of interconnect junctions are designed by connecting two 6-ZGNR with a carbon hexagon (C6) and a carbon tetragon (C4), respectively. It is found that zero charge current is produced under irradiation of light in both structures due to the presence of spatial inversion symmetry. Nevertheless, behind the zero charge current, net pure spin current is produced in the structure with a C6, but not in the structure with a C4. This difference originates from their different edge state distribution and different spatial inversion symmetry of the spin density. However, interestingly, local edge pure spin current can be obtained in both structures. More importantly, the pure spin current generation is independent of the photon energy, polarization type or polarization angle, suggesting a robust way of generating pure spin current with PGE and new possibility of graphene’s applications in spintronics.
Localizing nanoscale objects using nanophotonic near-field transducers
Authors: Wolterink Tom A. W. , Buijs Robin D. , Gerini Giampiero , Koenderink A. Femius , Verhagen Ewold
Published: March 2021

We study how nanophotonic structures can be used for determining the position of a nearby nanoscale object with subwavelength accuracy. Through perturbing the near-field environment of a metasurface transducer consisting of nano-apertures in a metallic film, the location of the nanoscale object is transduced into the transducer’s far-field optical response. By monitoring the scattering pattern of the nanophotonic near-field transducer and comparing it to measured reference data, we demonstrate the two-dimensional localization of the object accurate to 24 nm across an area of 2 × 2 μm. We find that adding complexity to the nanophotonic transducer allows localization over a larger area while maintaining resolution, as it enables encoding more information on the position of the object in the transducer’s far-field response.
Reflexiones propositivas para la educación universitaria en criminología
Authors: Hikal Carreón Wael Sarwat
Published: March 2021

En el presente artículo se reflexionan y propone sobre cuatro aspectos que se consideran pueden mejorar sobre el estado actual de los estudios universitarios en criminología en México. Se introduce al lector en los orígenes de la Licenciatura en Criminología a nivel universitario por la necesidad de formar a un profesional que atendiera lo inherente a la investigación criminal, penitenciaria, pericial y preventiva, mismas necesidades que dieron principio a sus salidas profesionales en los comienzos de esta profesión. También se repasa brevemente las materias que componen los planes de estudio, dando visión de los alcances que puede tener esta profesión. Visto lo anterior, se realizan cuatro propuestas: 1) Cambios a nivel legislativo para “reconsiderar” salidas laborales; 2) especializar a la criminología general en ramas sobre problemas criminales específicos; 3) fortalecer la investigación generadora de conocimientos en materia criminal para los analistas delictivos y planificadores de políticas públicas, y 4) el fortalecimiento a las prácticas pedagógicas y contenidos formativos.
Emblems and spaces of power during the Argaric Bronze Age at La Almoloya, Murcia
Authors: Lull Vicente , Rihuete-Herrada Cristina , Risch Roberto , Bonora Bárbara , Celdrán-Beltrán Eva , Fregeiro Maria Inés , Molero Claudia , Moreno Adrià , Oliart Camila , Velasco-Felipe Carlos , Andúgar Lourdes , Haak Wolfgang , Villalba-Mouco Vanessa , Micó Rafael
Published: March 2021

The recent discovery of an exceptionally rich grave at La Almoloya in south-eastern Spain illuminates the political context of Early Bronze Age El Argar society. The quantity, variety and opulence of the grave goods emphasise the technological, economic and social dimensions of this unique culture. The assemblage includes politically and ideologically emblematic objects, among which a silver diadem stands out. Of equally exceptional character is the building under which the grave was found—possibly one of the first Bronze Age palaces identified in Western Europe. The architecture and artefacts from La Almoloya provide new insight into emblematic individuals and the exercise of power in societies of marked economic asymmetry.
Photoreceptor Disc Enclosure Is Tightly Controlled by Peripherin-2 Oligomerization
Authors: Lewis Tylor R. , Makia Mustafa S. , Castillo Carson M. , Al-Ubaidi Muayyad R. , Naash Muna I. , Arshavsky Vadim Y.
Published: March 2021

Mutations in thePRPH2gene encoding the photoreceptor-specific protein PRPH2 (also known as peripherin-2 or rds) cause a broad range of autosomal dominant retinal diseases. Most of these mutations affect the structure of the light-sensitive photoreceptor outer segment, which is composed of a stack of flattened “disc” membranes surrounded by the plasma membrane. The outer segment is renewed on a daily basis in a process whereby new discs are added at the outer segment base and old discs are shed at the outer segment tip. New discs are formed as serial membrane evaginations, which eventually enclose through a complex process of membrane remodeling (completely in rods and partially in cones). As disc enclosure proceeds, PRPH2 localizes to the rims of enclosed discs where it forms oligomers which fortify the highly curved membrane structure of these rims. In this study, we analyzed the outer segment phenotypes of mice of both sexes bearing a single copy of either the C150S or the Y141C PRPH2 mutation known to prevent or increase the degree of PRPH2 oligomerization, respectively. Strikingly, both mutations increased the number of newly forming, not-yet-enclosed discs, indicating that the precision of disc enclosure is regulated by PRPH2 oligomerization. Without tightly controlled enclosure, discs occasionally over-elongate and form large membranous “whorls” instead of disc stacks. These data show that the defects in outer segment structure arising from abnormal PRPH2 oligomerization are manifested at the stage of disc enclosure.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe light-sensitive photoreceptor outer segment contains a stack of flattened “disc” membranes that are surrounded, or “enclosed,” by the outer segment membrane. Disc enclosure is an adaptation increasing photoreceptor light sensitivity by facilitating the diffusion of the second messenger along the outer segment axes. However, the molecular mechanisms by which photoreceptor discs enclose within the outer segment membrane remain poorly understood. We now demonstrate that oligomers of the photoreceptor-specific protein peripherin-2, or PRPH2, play an active role in this process. We further propose that defects in disc enclosure because of abnormal PRPH2 oligomerization result in major structural abnormalities of the outer segment, ultimately leading to loss of visual function and cell degeneration in PRPH2 mutant models and human patients.
Terminologia prawna w aspekcie normatywnym
Authors:   Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu, Moroz Andrzej
Published: March 2021

This text deals with the problem of procedures for adjudication on the correctness of terminological expressions used in legal texts. In particular, it argues about the need of distinguishing three types of units – those compatible with general units, motivated by general units, and affecting the form and the meaning of general units. Expressions, that belong to each of the above distinguished types, require separate standardisation procedures. Apart from fundamental considerations, the issue of the status of terminological expressions in legal texts as well as their relation to general units is discussed.
Joachim Lelewel jako onomasta
Authors:   Uniwersytet w Białymstoku, Sokólska Urszula
Published: March 2021

This article is dedicated to linguistic interests of Joachim Lelewel, predominantly to his deliberations on the etymology andmeaning of such names as: Czech, Lech, Wanda, the Geats, Germanic peoples, Lechites, Germans, the Slovaks, the Vandals. Attention was also paid to scholarly references to other texts of strictly linguistic nature and commentaries demonstrating extensive knowledge of linguistics with regard to pseudo-etymological assertions of priest Dębołecki, a seventeenth century preacher.
Glokalizacja. Próba kulturowej definicji zjawiska
Authors:   Uniwersytet w Białymstoku, Strawińska Anetta Bogusława
Published: March 2021

The aim of presented article is to introduce the phenomenon of glocalisation, insufficiently studied, at least in Polish linguistics. This phenomenon belongs to the latest processes of modern entrepreneurship. Glocalisation has been shifted from economic to social studies. Works in the field of economics and broadly defined trade bring a thorough analysis of this issue. The author of this article attempts to systematise the understanding of glocalisation, as developed by scholars representing, apart from linguistics, such fields as: sociology, political science, and cultural anthropology. Including the works of scholars in a variety of disciplines is necessary in this case, due to the special features of the term glocalisation. It is representative of the latest professional vocabulary that has reached the Polish Language with a wave of borrowings associated with the globalisation processes. Some researchers treat glocalisation symbolically as the reverse of globalisation; glocalisation = globalisation + local. Nowadays, linguists increasingly frequently have to refer to the experiences and achievements of scholars from often very distant, seemingly disconnected, fields when describing new varieties of language and new phenomena. This type of extensive cooperation eventually allows achieving a broad research perspective, which is so often postulated in modern science.
Natural fibers derived from Coi (Streblus asper Lour.) and their behavior in pulping and as paper
Authors: Boonpitaksakul Wisanee , Chitbanyong Korawit , Puangsin Buapan , Pisutpiched Sawitree , Khantayanuwong Somwang
Published: March 2021

The Siamese people utilized the bark of the Coi tree (Streblus asper Lour.) to manufacture paper approximately 330 years ago. However, there are no studies yet related to the chemical properties of Coi bark as well as the morphological properties of Coi bark fiber and Coi pulp fiber. This research paper discussed such properties of Coi bark. The results indicated that Coi bark possessed a chemical composition that could potentially be used for pulp production, although it contained a high value of ash content, due to many calcium particles in the bark. Even though Coi pulp fibers were very long and stiff, with small lumens and thick cell walls, they could be felted naturally on a washing screen to make a strong wet sheet. This was due to a high felting power of fibers derived from a high value of fiber length and slenderness ratio. Therefore, the handsheets produced from Coi pulp fiber were obtained without chemical and beating treatments. These observations mean that both the archaeological and industrial applications of Coi bark, i.e., an ancient Samud Coi preservation and a new potential source of pulp fiber, are possible.
Studies on the durability of wood-cement particleboards produced with residues of Pinus spp., silica fume, and rice husk ash
Authors: Miranda de Lima Adauto José , Iwakiri Setsuo , Satyanarayana Kestur G. , Lomelí-Ramírez María Guadalupe
Published: March 2021

Wood-cement composites were considered as substitutes for wood or asbestos cement. This research is focused on the development, characterization, and durability of different wood-cement particle boards composed of wood waste [residual particles of pine species (Pinus spp.)], with silica fume or rice husk ash. The wood-cement panels produced by cold compression were evaluated for their physical and mechanical properties after accelerated and natural weathering for 28 and 91 days of curing, respectively. Results indicate that the performance of wood-cement panels containing the Pinus spp. residue was comparable to that of lignocellulosic aggregate in wood cement panels. Pine residue wood panels exhibited high levels of pozzolanic activity, suggesting that silica fume or rice husk ash could be used as a partial substitute in Portland cement. There was a significant loss of mechanical properties over time with both the reference panel and the panel produced with pozzolana. Although there was no direct correlation between the values of accelerated weathering tests and natural weathering tests, there was a larger degradation of the panels after 20 cycles of the accelerated weathering than that after 12 months of natural weathering. Morphology studies supported the observed results.
Using micro- and nanofibrillated cellulose as a means to reduce weight of paper products: A review
Authors: Zambrano Franklin , Starkey Heather , Wang Yuhan , Abbati de Assis Camilla , Venditti Richard , Pal Lokendra , Jameel Hasan , Hubbe Martin A. , Rojas Orlando J. , Gonzalez Ronalds
Published: March 2021

Based on publications related to the use of micro- and nanofibrillated cellulose (MNFC) in papermaking applications, three sets of parameters (intrinsic and extrinsic variables, furnish composition, and degree of dispersion) were proposed. This holistic approach intends to facilitate understanding and manipulation of the main factors describing the colloidal behavior in systems comprising of MNFC, pulp fibers, and additives, which directly impact paper product performance. A preliminary techno-economic assessment showed that cost reductions driven by the addition of MNFC in paper furnishes could be as high as USD 149 per ton of fiber (up to 20% fiber reduction without adverse effects on paper’s strength) depending on the cost of papermaking fibers. It was also determined that better performance in terms of strength development associated with a higher degree of MNFC fibrillation offset its high manufacturing cost. However, there is a limit from which additional fibrillation does not seem to contribute to further strength gains that can justify the increasing production cost. Further research is needed regarding raw materials, degree of fibrillation, and combination with polyelectrolytes to further explore the potential of MNFC for the reduction of weight of paper products.
Overview of pretreatment methods employed on oil palm biomass in producing value-added products: A review
Authors: Diyanilla Rushan , Hamidon Tuan Sherwyn , Suryanegara Lisman , Hussin M. Hazwan
Published: March 2021

Oil palm biomass is readily available in Malaysia. However, its high lignin content makes it undesirable for further processing. Pretreatment is employed to reduce the amount of lignin. Many resources exist on pretreatment methods for lignocellulosic biomass, but there are few articles specifically on oil palm biomass. Therefore, this review focuses on pretreatment methods for oil palm biomass, comparing their main strengths and limitations. Furthermore, this review tabulates different pretreatment conditions utilized, combinations of pretreatment methods, the resulting yields, and the potential applicability in producing value-added products. Because the main limitation of pretreatment is the formation of toxic compounds such as furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural, this review also discusses chemical detoxification methods for oil palm biomass residues. According to this review, among all types of oil palm biomass, oil palm empty fruit brunch is the most widely studied, and alkaline pretreatment is the most popular of all pretreatment methods. Combination of pretreatment methods is suitable for biomass with greater lignin content, to increase delignification efficiency. Furthermore, a combination of overliming and activated carbon treatment removes the maximum amount of toxic by-products.
Rate-limiting mechanisms of water removal during the formation, vacuum dewatering, and wet-pressing of paper webs: A review
Authors: Hubbe Martin A. , Sjöstrand Björn , Nilsson Lars , Koponen Antti , McDonald J. David
Published: March 2021

Because some of the critical events during the removal of water before the dryer section on a paper machine happen very rapidly within enclosed spaces – such as wet-press nips – there have been persistent challenges in understanding the governing mechanisms. In principle, a fuller understanding of the controlling mechanisms, based on evidence, should permit progress in achieving both higher rates of production of paper and more reliable control of paper attributes. In addition, energy can be saved, reducing environmental impacts. The goal of this article is to review published work dealing both with the concepts involved in water removal and evidence upon which existing and new theories can be based. The scope of this review includes all of the papermaking unit operations between the jet coming from the headbox and the final wet-press nip of an industrial-scale paper machine. Published findings support a hypothesis that dewatering rates can be decreased by densification of surface layers, plugging of drainage channels by fines, sealing effects, flocculation, and rewetting. Ways to overcome such effects are also reviewed.