bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with increased cerebral blood flow velocity in acute bacterial meningitis
Authors: Giede-Jeppe Antje , Atay Selim , Koehn Julia , Mrochen Anne , Luecking Hannes , Hoelter Philip , Volbers Bastian , Huttner Hagen B. , Hueske Lena , Bobinger Tobias
Published: May 2021

In community-acquired bacterial meningitis (CABM) intracranial vascular alterations are devastating complications which are triggered by neuroinflammation and result in worse clinical outcome. The Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte ratio (NLR) represents a reliable parameter of the inflammatory response. In this study we analyzed the association between NLR and elevated cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFv) in CABM-patients. This study included all (CABM)-patients admitted to a German tertiary center between 2006 and 2016. Patients’ demographics, in-hospital measures, neuroradiological data and clinical outcome were retrieved from institutional databases. CBFv was assessed by transcranial doppler (TCD). Patients’, radiological and laboratory characteristics were compared between patients with/without elevated CBFv. Multivariate-analysis investigated parameters independently associated with elevated CBFv. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC-)curve analysis was undertaken to identify the best cut-off for NLR to discriminate between increased CBFv. 108 patients with CABM were identified. 27.8% (30/108) showed elevated CBFv. Patients with elevated CBFv and normal CBFv, respectively had a worse clinical status on admission (Glasgow Coma Scale: 12 [9–14] vs. 14 [11–15]; p = 0.005) and required more often intensive care (30/30 [100.0%] vs. 63/78 [80.8%]; p = 0.01).The causative pathogen was S. pneumoniae in 70%. Patients with elevated CBFv developed more often cerebrovascular complications with delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) within hospital stay (p = 0.031). A significantly higher admission-NLR was observed in patients with elevated CBFv (median [IQR]: elevated CBFv:24.0 [20.4–30.2] vs. normal CBFv:13.5 [8.4–19.5]; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis, revealed NLR to be significantly associated with increased CBFv (Odds ratio [95%CI] 1.042 [1.003–1.084]; p = 0.036). ROC-analysis identified a NLR of 20.9 as best cut-off value to discriminate between elevated CBFv (AUC = 0.713, p < 0.0001, Youden's Index = 0.441;elevated CBFv: NLR ≥ 20.9 19/30[63.5%] vs. normal CBFv: NLR > 20.9 15/78[19.2%]; p < 0.001). Intracranial vascular complications are common among CABM-patients and are a risk factor for unfavorable outcome at discharge. Elevated NLR is independently associated with high CBFv and may be useful in predicting patients’ prognosis.
Inflammation-related plasma protein levels and association with adiposity measurements in young adults
Authors: Klevebro Susanna , Björkander Sophia , Ekström Sandra , Merid Simon K. , Gruzieva Olena , Mälarstig Anders , Johansson Åsa , Kull Inger , Bergström Anna , Melén Erik
Published: May 2021

Obesity-related inflammation is associated with cardiovascular, metabolic, and pulmonary diseases. The aim of this study was to demonstrate associations between adiposity measurements and levels of inflammation-related plasma proteins in a population of young adults. Subjects from a population-based birth cohort with a mean age of 22.5 years were included in the study population (n = 2074). Protein levels were analyzed using the Olink Proseek Multiplex Inflammation panel. Percentage body fat (%BF) and visceral fat rating (VFR) measurements were collected using Tanita MC 780 body composition monitor. Linear regression of standardized values was used to investigate associations. Potential effect modifications by sex and BMI category were assessed. Of 71 investigated proteins, 54 were significantly associated with all adiposity measurements [%BF, body mass index (BMI), VFR and waist circumference]. Among proteins associated with %BF, seven showed a larger or unique association in overweight/obese subjects and three showed a significant effect modification by sex. Fourteen proteins more strongly associated with VFR in females compared to males. Adipose-associated systemic inflammation was observed in this young adult population. Sex and adiposity localization influenced some of the associations. Our results highlight specific proteins as suitable biomarkers related to adiposity.
Development of hydrophobic paper substrates using silane and sol–gel based processes and deriving the best coating technique using machine learning strategies
Authors: Manoharan Kapil , Anwar Mohd. Tahir , Bhattacharya Shantanu
Published: May 2021

Low energy surface coatings have found wide range of applications for generating hydrophobic and superhydrophobic surfaces. Most of the studies have been related to use of a single coating material over a single substrate or using a single technique. The degree of hydrophobicity is highly dependent on fabrication processes as well as materials being coated and as such warrants a high-level study using experimental optimization leading to the evaluation of the parametric behavior of coatings and their application techniques. Also, a single platform or system which can predict the required set of parameters for generating hydrophobic surface of required nature for given substrate is of requirement. This work applies the powerful machine learning algorithms (Levenberg Marquardt using Gauss Newton and Gradient methods) to evaluate the various processes affecting the anti-wetting behavior of coated printable paper substrates with the capability to predict the most optimized method of coating and materials that may lead to a desirable surface contact angle. The major application techniques used for this study pertain to dip coating, spray coating, spin coating and inkjet printing and silane and sol–gel base coating materials.
Comparison of sPLA2IIA performance with high-sensitive CRP neutrophil percentage PCT and lactate to identify bacterial infection
Authors: Tan Toh Leong , Kang Christabel Wan-li , Ooi Kai Shen , Tan Swee Thian , Ahmad Nurul Saadah , Nasuruddin Dian Nasriana , Ithnin Azlin , Tajul Arifin Khaizurin , Heng Lee Yook , Hassan Nurul Izzaty , Gan Kok Beng , Neoh Hui-min
Published: May 2021

Early bacterial infection (BI) identification in resource-limiting Emergency Departments (ED) is challenging, especially in low- and middle-income counties (LMIC). Misdiagnosis predisposes to antibiotic overuse and propagates antimicrobial resistance. This study evaluates new emerging biomarkers, secretory phospholipase A2 group IIA (sPLA2-IIA) and compares with other biomarkers on their performance characteristic of BI detection in Malaysia, an LMIC. A prospective cohort study was conducted involving 151 consecutive patients admitted to the ED. A single measurement was taken upon patient arrival in ED and was analysed for serum levels of sPLA2-IIA, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), neutrophil percentage (N%), and lactate. All biomarkers’ performance was compared for the outcomes using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), sensitivity, and specificity. The performance of sPLA2-IIA (AUROC 0.93 [95% CI: 0.89–0.97]; Sn 80% [95% CI: 72–87]; Sp 94% [95% CI: 81–89]) was the highest among all. It was comparable with high-sensitive CRP (AUROC 0.93 [95% CI: 0.88–0.97]; Sn 75% [95% CI: 66–83]; Sp 91 [95% CI: 77–98]) but had a higher Sn and Sp. The sPLA2-IIA was also found superior to N%, PCT, and lactate. This finding suggested sPLA2-IIA was recommended biomarkers for BI detection in LMIC.
The effect of water level in vertical aquaculture systems on production performance, biochemistry, hematology, and histology of Anguilla bicolor bicolor
Authors: Harianto Eko , Supriyono Eddy , Budiardi Tatag , Affandi Ridwan , Hadiroseyani Yani
Published: May 2021

The water level in the cultivation of eel (Anguilla bicolor bicolor) is an important study in order to provide the optimal water level for cultivation. Optimizing the water level will affect the substitution of respiration energy with energy to grow. In addition, the water level information is related to the efficiency of water use for eel production in the future. Information on water level for eel production is still very limited, so this research is necessary to do. A total of 120 eel elver (initial weight 13.66 ± 0.09 g) were collected from eel companies in Bogor City, Indonesia. Fish were reared in vertical aquaculture systems with a stocking density of 10 fish per container for 60 days. The artificial feed containing 55% protein given as much as 3–5% of the biomass. Absorption and water replacement were done 20% per day. The result of this research showed that fish weight increased with an average of 33.45 ± 0.33 g. Different water levels had an impact to KKb, SGOT, ALP, and He. There was erosion of the skin epidermis and necrosis of the gill filaments due to the adaptation process. Water quality was within the optimum range for all treatments and 1.5 cm water level is recommended for maintenance (SGOT, ALP and He values were closest to normal values).
The threshold effect of factors associated with spontaneous abortion in human-assisted reproductive technology
Authors: Li Fei , Niu AiQin , Feng XingMei , Yan Ying , Chen Ying
Published: May 2021

We explored the independent risk factors associated with cases of spontaneous abortion in infertile patients treated with human-assisted reproductive technology (ART) and established a smooth curve fit and perform a threshold effect analysis can provide guidance and a valuable reference for predicting the probability of spontaneous abortion. This was a retrospective cohort study of 16,097 patients successfully conceived with ART in Shangqiu First People's Hospital from June 2013 to December 2018. Overall, 2,378 (14.77%) had an abortion and 13,719 (85.23%) did not have an abortion. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female age (OR 1.050; 95% CI 1.032–1.069; P < 0.001), male age (OR 1.100; 95% CI 1.086–1.115; P < 0.001), follicular-stimulating hormone (OR 1.049; 95% CI 1.022–1.076; P < 0.001), anti-Mullerian hormone (OR 0.893; 95% CI 0.862–0.925; P < 0.001) and the number of fetuses at pregnancy diagnosis were independent factors associated with spontaneous abortion. The threshold effect analysis found that when female age > 32 years (cut-off point) old, age and the risk of spontaneous abortion were positively correlated. When follicular-stimulating hormone > 6.1 IU/L (cut-off point), follicular-stimulating hormone was positively correlated with the occurrence of spontaneous abortion, When anti-Mullerian hormone ≤ 3.1 ng/mL (cut-off point), anti-Mullerian hormone was negatively correlated with the occurrence of spontaneous abortion and there was a linear positive correlation between antral Follicle Counting and live birth. In addition, the older the male age, the higher the incidence of abortion. The smooth curve fit and threshold effect analyses can provide a more detailed estimate of the probability of spontaneous abortion for pregnant couples.
New identification and significance of Early Cretaceous mafic rocks in the interior South China Block
Authors: Su Hui-Min , Jiang Shao-Yong , Shao Jia-Bin , Zhang Dong-Yang , Wu Xiang-Ke , Huang Xi-Qiang
Published: May 2021

Early Cretaceous mafic rocks are first reported in the northern Guangxi region from the western Qin-Hang belt in the interior South China Block. A systematic investigation of zircon U–Pb dating, whole-rock geochemistry, Sm–Nd isotopes and zircon Hf–O isotopes for these mafic rocks reveals their petrogenesis and the mantle composition as well as a new window to reconstruct lithospheric evolution in interior South China Block during Late Mesozoic. Zircon U–Pb dating yielded ages of 131 ± 2 Ma to 136 ± 2 Ma for diabase and gabbro from Baotan area, indicating the first data for Early Cretaceous mafic magmatism in the western Qing-Hang belt. These mafic rocks show calc-alkaline compositions, arc-like trace element distribution patterns, low zircon εHf(t) of − 9.45 to − 6.17 and high δ18O values of + 5.72 to + 8.09‰, as well as low whole-rock εNd(t) values of − 14.27 to − 9.53. These data suggest that the studied mafic rocks are derived from an ancient lithospheric mantle source that was metasomatized during Neoproterozoic subduction. Thus, the occurrence of these mafic rocks indicates a reactivation of Neoproterozoic subducted materials during an extension setting at Late Mesozoic in the western Qin-Hang belt, an old suture zone that amalgamates the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks.
Network clique cover approximation to analyze complex contagions through group interactions
Authors: Burgio Giulio , Arenas Alex , Gómez Sergio , Matamalas Joan T.
Published: May 2021

Contagion processes have been proven to fundamentally depend on the structural properties of the interaction networks conveying them. Many real networked systems are characterized by clustered substructures representing either collections of all-to-all pair-wise interactions (cliques) and/or group interactions, involving many of their members at once. In this work, focusing on interaction structures represented as simplicial complexes, we present a discrete-time microscopic model of complex contagion for a susceptible-infected-susceptible dynamics. Introducing a particular edge clique cover and a heuristic to find it, the model accounts for the higher-order dynamical correlations among the members of the substructures (cliques/simplices). The analytical computation of the critical point reveals that higher-order correlations are responsible for its dependence on the higher-order couplings. While such dependence eludes any mean-field model, the possibility of a bi-stable region is extended to structured populations.
Utilizing cobalt-doped materials as heterogeneous catalysts to activate peroxymonosulfate for organic pollutant degradation: a critical review
Authors: Gao Qiang , Wang Guanshuai , Chen Yiren , Han Bo , Xia Kaisheng , Zhou Chenggang
Published: May 2021

This review highlights recent advances in peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) using cobalt-doped materials as heterogeneous catalysts.
Ruthenium(ii) p-cymene complexes of pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde and 2-amino benzothiazole-based ligands: cytoselective and in vitro live cell imaging agents
Authors: P. K. Anuja , Paira Priyankar
Published: May 2021

A new class of DNA targeting, highly cytoselective, luminescent Ru(ii)–arene complexes was developed.
The preparation of a catalyst doped with Cu and Al on MCM-41 and its catalytic reduction removal of dissolved oxygen in reclaimed water at low temperatures
Authors: Liang Meisheng , Yuan Jie , Li Long , Lai Zhuojun , Sun Xiang , Zhang Hengrui
Published: May 2021

Cu/Al-MCM-41 catalyst: high catalytic activity for removing dissolved oxygen in reclaimed water by carbohydrazide at lower temperature.
Porous chitosan/partially reduced graphene oxide/diatomite composite as an efficient adsorbent for quantitative colorimetric detection of pesticides in a complex matrix
Authors: Ma Guicen , Cao Jianrong , Hu Gaohua , Zhu Li , Chen Hongping , Zhang Xiangchun , Liu Jiahao , Ji Jingjing , Liu Xin , Lu Chengyin
Published: May 2021

An efficient adsorbent (CS/prGO/DM composites) was successfully synthesized. It exhibited high removal ability towards tea interferents. A colorimetric sensing platform based on Au NPs for quantitative detection of pesticides in tea was developed.
Sensitive fluorescence and visual detection of organophosphorus pesticides with a Ru(bpy)32+–ZIF-90–MnO2 sensing platform
Authors: Li Jun , Weng Yingwei , Shen Can , Luo Jiao , Yu Donghong , Cao Zhong
Published: May 2021

By virtue of the high stability of Ru(bpy)32+–ZIF-90 and the outstanding fluorescence quenching and recognition ability of MnO2 NS, the Ru(bpy)32+–ZIF-90–MnO2 sensing platform provided excellent fluorescence and visual detection capability for OPs.
Quantized doping of CdS quantum dots with twelve gold atoms
Authors: Yu Junlai , Zhang Hui , Xu Wenhao , Liu Guangnan , Tang Yun , Zhao Dongyuan
Published: May 2021

Through a bottom-up strategy, CdS quantum dots (QDs) doped with 12 gold atoms in each nanocrystal (NC) were prepared by cation exchange reactions.
Using computational chemistry to design pump–probe schemes for measuring nitrobenzene radical cation dynamics
Authors: López Peña Hugo A. , Ampadu Boateng Derrick , McPherson Shane L. , Tibbetts Katharine Moore
Published: May 2021

Computed potential energy surfaces of the nitrobenzene cation predict suitable excitation conditions for enhancing ion yield oscillations in time-resolved measurements.
Oxygen vacancy mediated room-temperature ferromagnetism and band gap narrowing in DyFe0.5Cr0.5O3 nanoparticles
Authors: Hossain Rana , Billah Areef , Ishizaki Manabu , Kubota Shigeru , Hirose Fumihiko , Ahmmad Bashir
Published: May 2021

Room temperature ferromagnetism with a band gap in the visible range in DyFe0.5Cr0.5O3 nanoparticles.
Resveratrol, a novel inhibitor of GLUT9, ameliorates liver and kidney injuries in a d-galactose-induced ageing mouse model via the regulation of uric acid metabolism
Authors: Li Lu , Li Yongmei , Luo Jian , Jiang Yanqing , Zhao Zean , Chen Yanyu , Huang Qinghua , Zhang Leqi , Wu Ting , Pang Jianxin
Published: May 2021

Resveratrol (RSV) ameliorates oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver and kidneys of aging mice by reducing UA synthesis via XOD inhibition and enhancing UA excretion via GLUT9 blocking.
Robust charge spatial separation and linearly tunable band gap of low-energy tube-edge phosphorene nanoribbon
Authors: Xia Mingyue , Liu Hongsheng , Wang Lu , Li ShiQi , Gao Junfeng , Su Yan , Zhao Jijun
Published: May 2021

Versatile applications have been proposed for phosphorene nanoribbons (PNRs), whose properties depend strongly on the edge structures.
Achiral and chiral NNN-pincer nickel complexes with oxazolinyl backbones: application in transfer hydrogenation of ketones
Authors: Jagtap Rahul A. , Ankade Shidheshwar B. , Gonnade Rajesh G. , Punji Benudhar
Published: May 2021

NNN-based achiral and chiral (oxazolinyl)amido-pincer nickel complexes are developed and employed for the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of ketones.
Understanding the crucial roles of catalyst properties in ethyl acetate and toluene oxidation over Pt catalysts
Authors: Zhang Wenxia , Xia Shuang , Chen Chonglai , He Haihua , Jin Zhunian , Luo Mengfei , Chen Jian
Published: May 2021

The catalytic activities of these Pt catalysts for ethyl acetate mainly depend on the oxygen vacancy density, whereas the synergistic catalysis of Pt0 species and oxygen vacancies play important roles in toluene oxidation.
Controllable design of 3D hierarchical Co/Ni-POM nanoflower compounds supported on Ni foam for the hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Zhang Zhuanfang , Meng Yuanyuan , Su Haolun , Dong GuoHua , Zhao Bing , Zhang Wenzhi , Yin Guangming , Liu Yongzhi
Published: May 2021

The outstanding HER activity of Co/Ni-POM/NF stems from the synergistic effect between the metallic elements of the Co/Ni-POM and its large specific surface area.
Impact of chirality on the aggregation modes of l-phenylalanine- and d-glucose-decorated phenylene–thiophene oligomers
Authors: Hassan Omar Omar , Falcone Marta , Operamolla Alessandra , Albano Gianluigi
Published: May 2021

Three l-phenylalanine- or d-glucose-decorated phenylene–thiophene oligomers have been studied using UV-Vis and ECD spectroscopies in different conditions of solution aggregation and thin films, investigating the impact of chirality on their aggregation modes.
Passive cancer targeting with a viral nanoparticle depends on the stage of tumorigenesis
Authors: Zhang Juan , Zhang Wenjing , Yang Mengsi , Zhu Weiwei , Li Ming , Liang Ao , Zhang Hui , Fang Ti , Zhang Xian-En , Li Feng
Published: May 2021

The tumor targeting efficiency of a viral nanoparticle is negatively correlated with the tumorigenesis stage in mouse models.
Smart luminescent hydrogel with superior mechanical performance based on polymer networks embedded with lanthanide containing clay nanocomposites
Authors: Li Bin , Qin Yan , Li Zhiqiang , Zhang Ying , Li Huanrong
Published: May 2021

A smart luminescent hydrogel with superior mechanical performance was constructed by in situ copolymerization of acrylamide monomers and lanthanide loaded clay nanosheets, which shows reversible luminescence on/off switch behavior in response to pH.
SpyTag/SpyCatcher tether as a fingerprint and force marker in single-molecule force spectroscopy experiments
Authors: Guo Zilong , Hong Haiyan , Sun Hao , Zhang Xiaofeng , Wu Chen-Xu , Li Bing , Cao Yi , Chen Hu
Published: May 2021

A well-designed SpyTag/SpyCatcher complex works as a force marker and fingerprint in single-molecular experiments.
Enzymatically synthesised MnO2 nanoparticles for efficient near-infrared photothermal therapy and dual-responsive magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Liu Jin , Feng Liandong , Wu Yuzhou
Published: May 2021

Manganese dioxide (MnO2) are attractive for biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, stimuli-responsive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) properties and capability to modulate the hypoxic tumour microenvironment (TME).
Introducing a 1,1-diphenylethylene analogue for vinylpyridine: anionic copolymerisation of 3-(1-phenylvinyl)pyridine (m-PyPE)
Authors: Fickenscher Marcel , Reimers Tom , Frey Holger
Published: May 2021

3-(1-Phenylvinyl)pyridine is a structural analogue of 1,1-diphenylethylene, with one phenyl group replaced by pyridine. Its suitability for the random copolymerisation with vinylpyridine is demonstrated and the resulting copolymers are characterized.
An Al–Li alloy/water system for superior and low-temperature hydrogen production
Authors: Liu Mili , Liu Hui , Chen Kang , Sun Jiangyong , Wang Hui , Liu Jiangwen , Ouyang Liuzhang
Published: May 2021

A superior and low-temperature hydrogen supply technology based on the hydrolysis of an Al–Li alloy was developed.
Chemical investigations into the biosynthesis of the gymnastatin and dankastatin alkaloids
Authors: Tong Bingqi , Belcher Bridget P. , Nomura Daniel K. , Maimone Thomas J.
Published: May 2021

Total synthesis sheds light on biosynthetic relationships among the chlorinated gymnastatin and dankastatin alkaloids.
Single-molecule FRET and conformational analysis of beta-arrestin-1 through genetic code expansion and a Se-click reaction
Authors: Han Ming-Jie , He Qing-tao , Yang Mengyi , Chen Chao , Yao Yirong , Liu Xiaohong , Wang Yuchuan , Zhu Zhong-liang , Zhu Kong-kai , Qu Changxiu , Yang Fan , Hu Cheng , Guo Xuzhen , Zhang Dawei , Chen Chunlai , Sun Jin-peng , Wang Jiangyun
Published: May 2021

A facile bioconjugation reaction for site-specific protein modification was developed for smFRET measurement, which detected the subtle but important conformational change of the β-arrestin/GPCR complex for the first time.
Dynamic heterogeneity in homogeneous polymer melts
Authors: Chu Linlin , Xu Kaipin , Graf Robert , Yan Zhi-Chao , Li Junfang , Yao Ye-Feng
Published: May 2021

Unexpected dynamic heterogeneity in “homogeneous” PEO melts was disclosed by combined using 1H Hahn echo nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 1H double-quantum (DQ) NMR.
3D printed nitric oxide-releasing poly(acrylic acid)/F127/cellulose nanocrystal hydrogels
Authors: Santos Murilo I. , da Silva Laura C. E. , Bomediano Mateus P. , Catori Daniele M. , Gonçalves Maria C. , de Oliveira Marcelo G.
Published: May 2021

3D printed semi-IPN hydrogels of poly(acrylic acid), micellar Pluronic F127 and cellulose nanocrystals containing S-nitrosoglutathione are flexible and capable of releasing nitric oxide.
Azobenzene crystal polymorphism enables tunable photoinduced deformations, mechanical behaviors and photoluminescence properties
Authors: Hao Yunhui , Gao Lei , Zhang Xiunan , Wei Rongli , Wang Ting , Wang Na , Huang Xin , Yu Haifeng , Hao Hongxun
Published: May 2021

Tuning polymorphism in azobenzene molecular crystals enables them to exhibit a remarkable difference in photomechanical deformations, mechanical behaviors and luminescence properties.
The Onset–Offset N1–P2 Auditory Evoked Response in Individuals With High-Frequency Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Responses to Broadband Noise
Authors: Gonzalez Jennifer E. , Musiek Frank E.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Clinical use of electrophysiologic measures has been limited to use of brief stimuli to evoke responses. While brief stimuli elicit onset responses in individuals with normal hearing and normal central auditory nervous system (CANS) function, responses represent the integrity of a fraction of the mainly excitatory central auditory neurons. Longer stimuli could provide information regarding excitatory and inhibitory CANS function. Our goal was to measure the onset–offset N1–P2 auditory evoked response in subjects with normal hearing and subjects with moderate high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (HFSNHL) to determine whether the response can be measured in individuals with moderate HFSNHL and, if so, whether waveform components differ between participant groups.

Method

Waveforms were obtained from 10 participants with normal hearing and seven participants with HFSNHL aged 40–67 years using 2,000-ms broadband noise stimuli with 40-ms rise–fall times presented at 50 dB SL referenced to stimulus threshold. Amplitudes and latencies were analyzed via repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). N1 and P2 onset latencies were compared to offset counterparts via repeated-measures ANOVA after subtracting 2,000 ms from the offset latencies to account for stimulus duration. Offset-to-onset trough-to-peak amplitude ratios between groups were compared using a one-way ANOVA.

Results

Responses were evoked from all participants. There were no differences between participant groups for the waveform components measured. Response × Participant Group interactions were not significant. Offset N1–P2 latencies were significantly shorter than onset counterparts after adjusting for stimulus duration (normal hearing: 43 ms shorter; HFSNHL: 47 ms shorter).

Conclusions

Onset–offset N1–P2 responses were resistant to moderate HFSNHL. It is likely that the onset was elicited by the presentation of a sound in silence and the offset by the change in stimulus envelope from plateau to fall, suggesting an excitatory onset response and an inhibitory-influenced offset response. Results indicated this protocol can be used to investigate CANS function in individuals with moderate HFSNHL.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14669007
Exploring conventional enhancement and separation methods for multi‐speech enhancement in indoor environments
Authors: Wei Yangjie , Zhang Ke , Wu Dan , Hu Zhongqi
Published: May 2021

Speech enhancement is an important preprocessing step in a wide diversity of practical fields related to speech signals, and many signal‐processing methods have already been proposed for speech enhancement. However, the lack of a comprehensive and quantitative evaluation of enhancement performance for multi‐speech makes it difficult to choose an appropriate enhancement method for a multi‐speech application. This work aims to study the implementation of several enhancement methods for multi‐speech enhancement in indoor environments of T60 = 0 s and T60 = 0.3 s. Two types of enhancement approaches are proposed and compared. The first type is the basic enhancement methods, including delay‐and‐sum beamforming (DSB), minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR), linearly constrained minimum variance (LCMV), and independent component analysis (ICA). The second type is the robust enhancement methods, including improved MVDR and LCMV realized by eigendecomposition and diagonal loading. In addition, online enhancement performance based on the iteration of single‐frame speech signals is researched, as is the comprehensive performance of various enhancement methods. The experimental results show that the enhancement effects of LCMV and ICA are relatively more stable in the case of basic enhancement methods; in the case of the improved enhancement algorithms, methods that employ diagonal loading iterations show better performance. In terms of online enhancement, DSB with frequency masking (FM) yields the best performance on the signal‐to‐interference ratio (SIR) and can suppress interference. The comprehensive performance test showed that LCMV and ICA yielded the best effects when there was no reverberation, while DSB with FM yielded the best SIR value when reverberation was present.
The stability analysis of stochastic opinion dynamics systems with multiplicative noise and time delays
Authors: Zhou Zhao , Yuan Fanli , Liang Haili , Ding Baogang , Du Wenli
Published: May 2021

This paper studies the stochastic stability of opinion formation systems under both non‐time delay and time delay. Individuals whose opinions are affected by multiplicative noise are considered. Subsequently, a stochastic opinion formation model on coopetitive social networks which take both multiplicative noise and time delay into consideration and give the analysis of stochastic stability is introduced. When the continuous‐time system of opinion evolution is disturbed by stochastic multiplicative noise, the stability of the stochastic opinion formation system is dependent on the noise intensity and the topology structure. When the continuous‐time system of opinion dynamic is disturbed by time delay and multiplicative noise, the bounds of the noise intensity and time delay ensure the stochastic stability of the above system. Finally, numerical simulations are given to illustrate the above theoretical results.
Digital beam forming methods for variable polarimetric monopulse radar
Authors: Zhang Yi , Li Zhangfeng , Zheng Pei , Sun Houjun
Published: May 2021

In variable polarimetric monopulse radars, due to the number and types of data channels, the polarisation and angle information of the target in the receiving signals are non‐linearly coupled, which results in incorrect polarisation measurement and erroneous angle estimation through a linear digital beam forming (DBF) method. Based on a variable polarimetric monopulse radar with four channels, two non‐linear DBF methods are proposed to improve radar ability. Through the angle monopulse estimation principle and the reciprocity theorem, new pairs of summation and difference signals in all polarisation channels are formed to generate the correct polarimetric scattering and angle estimation results. The simulation and experiment results show that the proposed methods achieve a higher precision of polarisation measurement and more consistent angle estimation results compared to the linear DBF method.
The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs
Authors: Amado P. J. , Bauer F. F. , Rodríguez López C. , Rodríguez E. , Cardona Guillén C. , Perger M. , Caballero J. A. , López-González M. J. , Muñoz Rodríguez I. , Pozuelos F. J. , Sánchez-Rivero A. , Schlecker M. , Quirrenbach A. , Ribas I. , Reiners A. , Almenara J. , Astudillo-Defru N. , Azzaro M. , Béjar V. J. S. , Bohemann R. , Bonfils X. , Bouchy F. , Cifuentes C. , Cortés-Contreras M. , Delfosse X. , Dreizler S. , Forveille T. , Hatzes A. P. , Henning Th. , Jeffers S. V. , Kaminski A. , Kürster M. , Lafarga M. , Lodieu N. , Lovis C. , Mayor M. , Montes D. , Morales J. C. , Morales N. , Murgas F. , Ortiz J. L. , Pallé E. , Pepe F. , Perdelwitz V. , Pollaco D. , Santos N. C. , Schöfer P. , Schweitzer A. , Ségransan N. C. , Shan Y. , Stock S. , Tal-Or L. , Udry S. , Zapatero Osorio M. R. , Zechmeister M.
Published: May 2021

We report the discovery of two planetary systems, namely G 264–012, an M 4.0 dwarf with two terrestrial planets (Mb sin i=2.50−0.30+0.29 M⊕ and Mc sin i=3.75−0.47+0.48 M⊕), and Gl 393, a bright M 2.0 dwarf with one terrestrial planet (Mb sini = 1.71 ± 0.24M⊕). Although both stars were proposed to belong to young stellar kinematic groups, we estimate their ages to be older than about 700 Ma. The two planets around G 264–012 were discovered using only radial-velocity (RV) data from the CARMENES exoplanet survey, with estimated orbital periods of 2.30 d and 8.05 d, respectively.Photometric monitoring and analysis of activity indicators reveal a third signal present in the RV measurements, at about 100 d,caused by stellar rotation. The planet Gl 393 b was discovered in the RV data from the HARPS, CARMENES, and HIRES instruments. Its identification was only possible after modelling, with a Gaussian process (GP), the variability produced by the magnetic activity of the star. For the earliest observations, this variability produced a forest of peaks in the periodogram of the RVs at around the 34 d rotation period determined from Kepler data, which disappeared in the latestepochs. After correcting for them with this GP model, a significant signal showed at a period of 7.03 d. No significant signals in any of our spectral activity indicators or contemporaneous photometry were found at any of the planetary periods. Given the orbital and stellar properties, the equilibrium temperatures of the three planets are all higher than that for Earth. Current planet formation theories suggest that these two systems represent a common type of architecture. This is consistent with formation following the core accretion paradigm.
Constitutional law restrictions on the activities of a deputy due to changes in the constitution of the Russian Federation
Authors: Gutorova Alla Nikolaevna , Grokhotov Aleksander Nikolaevich , Korovin Vladimir Viktorovich , Masufranova Elena Aleksandrovna , Yatsenko Vladimir Vladimirovich
Published: May 2021

As a result of constitutional amendments, several ideological provisions which are legally binding by constitutional requirements as a normative legal act of supreme legal force appeared in the Russian Constitution. It is necessary to determine the limits of freedom of parliamentary activity in the current conditions. The objective of the study. To analyze the deputy’s activity through the prism of constitutional amendments, in the correlation of the deputy’s activity as a free expression of his opinion and the established constitutional right restrictions. In this study, the formal-legal method was used to interpret the content of the constitutional amendments and the analysis method to identify the impact of the adopted amendments on the deputy activities. The analyzed constitutional provisions, having an “ideological” character, for the most part, cannot be qualified as a constitutional-legal norm. At best, it is a constitutional and legal principle, but most likely, it should be interpreted as a constitutional principle of a non-legal nature. However, at the same time, they are a legally binding rule of law. Concerning parliamentary activity, the “ideological” norms of the Russian Federation’s Constitution after its amendments from 2020 play a special role. Deputies are forced to take one political position in the presence of several alternatives, which are also devoid of signs of illegality and, therefore, are legitimate and permissible in a democratic society. Therefore, in relation to deputies’ activities, these amendments can be interpreted as a very significant deviation from the freedom of expression in a democratic society. These constitutional innovations significantly change some traditional ideas about the people’s representation, the role of deputies in society, their obligations, and constitutional legal restrictions on their activities.
Trends in the legal labour reform policy in the Kyrgyz Republic
Authors: Ramankulov Kubanychbek Sovetovich , Andashev Ulan Turdubekovich , Kachkyn kyzy Gulnaz
Published: May 2021

The article is concerned with the analysis of the transformations in the labour market taking place in the Kyrgyz Republic (KR), which cause a great resonance in society, but continue to remain unexplored in the legal literature. Consequently, the purpose of the article is to identify the general trend in the legal labour reform policy and to determine the main directions of legal policy to improve the mechanism of legal regulation of labor. In the article, the objectives of classifying the main periods of the implementation of labor reforms (begun in 2005) are solved, analysis and assessment of the means of implementing reforms in terms of their compliance with national and international labor standards are carried out based on dialectical and logical methods, as well as the use of the systemic method. The article reveals serious inconsistencies between the deregulation policy and prohibitions in the labour market with the ILO Conventions No. 81, 87, 150, 155, which were ratified by the Kyrgyz Republic (except for the ILO Convention No. 155). In particular, the negative consequences of the deregulation policy for the field of labor safety and protection were noted, especially in the context of the onset of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Based on the analysis of the problems of the labor regulation reform policy, it is concluded that it is necessary to develop a unified state program for the development of the labour market, containing a system of strategic priorities, conceptual ideas, goals and measures that determine the prospects for improving the labor legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic on the basis of intensifying the processes of monitoring labor legislation and the practice of its enforcement in the Kyrgyz Republic. The provisions and conclusions of this article are of practical importance for the executive authorities implementing state policy in the field of labor.
Private bankruptcy in the Russian Federation: reality and perspectives
Authors: Mironov Anatolii Nikolayevich , Kolesnikova Yulia Pavlovna , Redkous Vladimir Mikhaylovich
Published: May 2021

The research is dedicated to a number of problematic areas in implementing a social function of individual bankruptcy. Crisis events of 2020 required measures from many states intended to support both large and small businesses and individual citizens. Personal bankruptcy as a legal tool provides an opportunity for persons with financial hardships to be legally released from further fulfillment of creditor claims. Along with that, it becomes more and more relevant to overcome bureaucratic, financial and other barriers to exercise rights and legal interests of consumers in this area. The paper is intended to identify a number of problems impeding the implementation of the social function of private bankruptcy and to develop possible solutions during the discussion. These issues were addressed based on regulatory and scientific sources containing relevant information on the institute of private bankruptcy using a number of general scientific (analysis, induction) and particular scientific (formally legal) methods. The research resulted in a list of primary problematic aspects in legal regulation and practice of private bankruptcy in the Russian Federation impeding the implementation of the social function of this institute. Solutions are proposed for discussion, which are related to financing private bankruptcy, abuse of the creditor right, low level of population awareness of the ways, methods and consequences of solving issues connected with overdue debts. This paper presents an overview of primary problematic aspects and their solutions. Each aspect will be considered in more detail in future researches.
Economization of the criminal law branch: problem formulation directions of optimization
Authors: Antonyan Elena Aleksandrovna , Vayankina Elena Gennadyevna , Sheveleva Svetlana Viktorovna , Petrishcheva Natalia Sergeevna
Published: May 2021

The need for legislative clarification, and, in some cases, for the consolidation of those institutions of criminal law in conjunction with criminal executive legislation, which are aimed at optimizing the current financial costs in connection with the implementation of criminal law, becomes obvious against the background of the desire for a general humanization of criminal policy and the economic crisis observed not only in Russia, but at the international level. Currently, a theoretical and methodological substantiation of the economization of the criminal law branch including the development of methods, principles, tools for state costs reduction at all stages of criminal prosecution, including using the organizational and economic mechanism of the penal system is required. The cost of the criminal law mechanism is due to the need, on the one hand, to ensure the rights of persons who have committed a crime, on the other hand, to protect the victims and minimize the consequences of the harm caused. The purpose hereof is to identify the internal reserves of individual institutions of criminal and penal legislation to determine new areas of optimization of savings in the criminal law branch by reducing the costs of criminal prosecution, on the one hand, and increasing budgetary profitability in the implementation of criminal legal institutions of a property nature, on the other hand. The work uses general scientific, specific scientific and special methods traditional for theoretical and applied legal research – the method of comparative jurisprudence, law interpretation method, systemic-structural method, statistical method, correlation method, content analysis of scientific publications, various types of extrapolation, etc. The novelty of the scientific research lies in a fundamentally new approach to the assessment of criminal law in conjunction with criminal executive legislation to find optimal solutions aimed at increasing the profitability of criminal law institutions and finding mechanisms for material support for victims.
Necessary defense in crime prevention: issues of legislation and law enforcement improvement
Authors: Nikulenko Andrey Vyacheslavovich , Smirnov Maksim Andreevich , Muzafarov Sulaymon Zarobidin
Published: May 2021

The article is dedicated to necessary defense as a circumstance preventing a crime in the criminal law of the Russian Federation. Goal: to identify advantages and disadvantages of regulating necessary defense as a circumstance preventing a criminal action as envisaged by Article 37 of the Criminal Code of Russia providing liability for crimes committed through excessive self-defense. Methods: a study of respective norms using a systemic method, general scientific methods (structural-functional analysis, comparison, logical method, content analysis of court practice and mass media). Primary results: the research helped to identify advantages and disadvantages of the legal framework of necessary defense as well as significant qualification mistakes of judicial and investigative practice. Conclusions and novelty of the research: insufficient efficiency of the existing approach to problems of qualifying necessary defense and ways are proposed to solve these problems, namely, by correcting the Decree of the Russian Federation Plenum of Supreme Court dated September 27, 2012, No. 19 On Judicial Use of Legislation on Necessary Defense and Causing Harm in Arrest of Perpetrators. Due to ambiguousness and inconsistent practice of using criminal law norms concerning necessary defense, it is proposed to use, in the further reconstruction of respective norms of Article 37 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, a list-based approach to legislative wording of these norms that allow the defender to inflict any harm to the offender. An easily understandable wording is created, which permits lawfully causing harm to social relations protected by criminal law.
System of criminal legal principles
Authors: Strilets Oleg Valentinovich , Namnyaseva Victoria Vyacheslavovna , Kanubrikov Vitaly Alekseevich , Niftalieva Irina Alisalamovna , Zhmurin Dmitry Vladimirovich
Published: May 2021

Modern globalization processes consisting in transnational integration concern not only politics, economy, and culture but also the sphere of combating crime. In the fight against international criminal manifestations, it is necessary to consolidate powerful stabilising factors. One of these factors is criminal law principles, which are a kind of prism through which national legislation is assessed and the practice of its application is adjusted. In this regard, the question of systematising the principles of criminal law is of great importance. Purpose of the research: formulation of the authors’ approach to the problem of systematisation of criminal law principles. Methods: the research was based on the general philosophical dialectical method of scientific knowledge. Besides, the historical and legal, structured system method and formal and logical methods were used. Results and novelty: resulting from the study, the authors’ approach to the system of criminal law principles based on their interrelation, interdependence, and mutual influence is presented. The proposed separation of principles for the first time in the Russian criminal law doctrine reflects both horizontal and vertical classification. Horizontally, criminal law principles are divided into extraordinary (principle of justice), ordinary (principles of equality, humanism, and guilt), and substantive (principle of legality). The extraordinary principle of justice predetermines the content of other principles of criminal law. The ordinary principles of equality, humanism, and guilt determine the implementation of the principle of justice in criminal law. The substantive principle of legality is a unified basis for consolidating the provisions of the principles of criminal law in criminal legislation. This understanding of the principles of criminal law allows building their hierarchy. Vertically, the first place, due to its importance, is assigned to the principle of justice, the second belongs to the principle of equality, the third focuses on the principle of humanism, the fourth concentrates on the principle of guilt and, finally, the principle of legality completes the system.
Cyber crimes against property in foreign and Russian criminal law
Authors: Tyunin Vladimir Ilyich , Antonov Anton Gennadievich , Ogar Tatyana Andreevna , Shkele Maria Vitalievna , Zorina Elena Andreevna
Published: May 2021

The prerequisite for the study was a significant increase during a pandemic in the number of cyber crimes against property, caused by forced isolation, a reduction in the use of cash and an expansion of the scope of computer technology when concluding civil transactions. Purpose of the study: to identify trends in the criminalization of cyber crimes against property in foreign and Russian criminal law. To achieve the goal, the following methods were used: general scientific – analysis, synthesis, generalization, special scientific – statistical, formal logical, comparative legal, content analysis, the method of expert assessments. The results of the work were the classification of cyber crimes against property, the novelty is the definition of the most common type of these crimes – fraud, the identification of the growth of its individual forms during a pandemic. The issues related to the observed expansion of the scope of application of the liability for fraud, both in international law and in the national legislation of individual states, which are no longer limited to such traditional methods of committing it as deception and breach of trust. Cyber crimes in the Russian criminal legislation are investigated in their relation to crimes against property, recommendations are given for further optimization of the criminal legislation of the Russian Federation. In Russia, as in the rest of the world, during the period of the pandemic, an increase was recorded in crimes against property committed remotely, in relation to non-cash funds, using bank cards. When committing such acts, computer information, electronic data and programs are used as a method or means of committing them, which allows them to be classified as cyber crimes. Previously, cyber crimes were considered separately from traditional socially dangerous encroachments, but the massive use of information technology in the commission of certain types of crimes (in particular, crimes against property) requires a new approach to their description in national legislation.