bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of the microwave attenuation performance and structure‐property relationship for graphite‐filled cyclo‐olefin copolymer composites
Authors: Kurt Gökçe , Kasgoz Alper
Published: June 2020

This study examined the morphological, rheological, viscoelastic, electrical, and microwave attenuation properties (RADAR absorbent and EMI shielding) of cyclo‐olefin copolymer (COC) composites prepared with the melt mixing method by using different amounts of graphite (0‐75 phr). Rheological percolation threshold of the graphite was determined as ∼38 phr. The RL analyses of the composites showed that the composites containing a moderate filler content (45 phr) exhibited the best radar absorption performance. Absorption bandwidth and minimum reflection loss (RL)value for the sample containing 45 phr of graphite were determined as 2.335 GHz (10.165‐12.5 GHz) and −39.89 dB, respectively. Total shielding effectiveness (SET) values of the sample including 75 phr of graphite varied in the ranges of 30 to 47.5 dB for the sample thicknesses of 7 mm. The correlation of the microstructural parameters and microwave attenuation properties of the composites indicated that the minimum RL value could be obtained at a filler concentration close to the rheological and electrical percolation thresholds. However, it was also revealed that acceptable shielding effectiveness values for commercial applications could be obtained by the samples with higher filler concentrations than the electrical percolation threshold.
The role of heterointerfaces and subgap energy states on transport mechanisms in silicon heterojunction solar cells
Authors: Procel Paul , Xu Haiyuan , Saez Aurora , Ruiz‐Tobon Carlos , Mazzarella Luana , Zhao Yifeng , Han Can , Yang Guangtao , Zeman Miro , Isabella Olindo
Published: June 2020

The contact resistivity is a key parameter to reach high conversion efficiency in solar cells, especially in architectures based on the so‐called carrier‐selective contacts. The importance of contact resistivity relies on the evaluation of the quality of charge collection from the absorber bulk through adjacent electrodes. The electrode usually consists of a stack of layers entailing complex charge transport processes. This is especially the case of silicon heterojunction (SHJ) contacts. Although it is known that in thin‐film silicon, the transport is based on subgap energy states, the mechanisms of charge collection in SHJ systems is not fully understood yet. Here, we analyse the physical mechanisms driving the exchange of charge among SHJ layers with the support of rigorous numerical simulations that reasonably replicate experimental results. We observe a connection between recombination and collection of carriers. Simulation results reveal that charge transport depends on the alignment and the nature of energy states at heterointerfaces. Our results demonstrate that transport based on direct energy transitions is more efficient than transport based on subgap energy states. Particularly, for positive charge collection, energy states associated to dangling bonds support the charge exchange more efficiently than tail states. The conditions for optimal carrier collection rely on the Fermi energy of the layers, in terms of activation energy of doped layers and carrier concentration of transparent conductive oxide. We observe that fill factor (FF) above 86% concurrently with 750‐mV open circuit voltage can be attained in SHJ solar cells with ρc lower than 45 mΩ·cm2 for p‐contact and 20 mΩ·cm2 for the n‐contact. Furthermore, for achieving optimal contact resistivity, we provide engineering guidelines that are valid for a wide range of silicon materials from amorphous to nanocrystalline layers.
Treatment of Lower Extremity Fractures in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Huang Donna , Weaver Frances , Obremskey William T. , Ahn Jaimo , Peterson Kimberly , Anderson Johanna , Veazie Stephanie , Carbone Laura D.
Published: June 2020

Objective

To review the literature regarding outcomes of surgical and nonsurgical management of lower extremity (LE) fractures in chronic spinal cord injury (SCI).

Type

Systematic review.

Literature Survey

Medline (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews, Cochrane Central, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, ClinicalTrials.gov, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and International Standard Randomized Controlled Trials were searched from January 1, 1966, to March 1, 2019.

Methodology

Search was restricted to English language and adults (age ≥ 18 yr). Titles and abstracts were reviewed for relevance to study topics for inclusion. Case reports, reviews, non‐SCI population studies, and studies examining fractures at the time of acute SCI were excluded. References of included articles from the original search and task force and external submissions yielded two additional articles that were included in the review after voting by task force members. Data extraction was performed by four task force members using a data extraction form, glossary, and instructions created in Microsoft Excel. Quality assessment was performed by three methodologists using prespecified criteria.

Synthesis

Twenty‐three articles were included. Use of surgery to treat LE fractures in chronic SCI has increased, though nonoperative management was still more frequently reported. Regardless of type of management, amputations, nonunion/malunion, and pressure injuries were among the most commonly reported complications. Functional and quality of life outcomes were less frequently reported.

Conclusions

There is insufficient evidence to support operative versus nonoperative management as best practice for management of LE fracture of SCI. Existing literature was limited by small sample sizes, lack of randomization or matched study designs, significant heterogeneity in populations and treatment strategies studied, and variability in defining and reporting outcomes of interest. The field would benefit from future research to address study design issues and standardization of outcome reporting to facilitate comparison of outcomes of operative versus nonoperative management.
Cellular and Clinical Analyses of Autologous Bone Marrow Aspirate Injectate for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Wells Kristina , Klein Michael , Hurwitz Nicole , Santiago Kristen , Cheng Jennifer , Abutalib Zafir , Beatty Nicholas , Lutz Gregory
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by pain and functional deficits. Common conservative strategies include medications, physical therapy, and intra‐articular injections. Recently, treatment using autologous cell injections has increased.

Objective

To characterize the cellular content of bone marrow aspirate (BMA) and to evaluate the effect of intra‐articular autologous BMA injections in patients with mild knee OA.

Design

Prospective pilot observational study.

Setting

Academic institution.

Patients

Eleven patients with unilateral or bilateral mild knee OA (15 knees) were included in the cellular analysis. Ten patients (13 knees) were included in the overall (cellular and clinical) analysis.

Interventions

BMA was aspirated from patients’ iliac crests and then injected intra‐articularly under fluoroscopic and/or ultrasound guidance. BMA samples were analyzed using flow cytometry, colony forming unit (CFU) assays, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Questionnaires assessing pain and function were administered preinjection and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postinjection. Side effects and satisfaction were assessed.

Main Outcome Measures

Total nucleated cell (TNC) concentration, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) concentration, CFU count, and interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1Ra) concentration.

Results

BMA sample analyses revealed wide ranges in TNC concentration (173300‐4 491 050 cells/mL), MSC concentration (0‐500 cells/mL), CFUs (0‐19), and IL‐1Ra concentration (2806‐29 394 pg/mL). Improvements in Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score for Joint Replacement were observed throughout the 12‐month follow‐up period (F[4,12] = 12.29, P < .001). Additionally, current, usual, best, and worst numerical rating scale pain scores significantly decreased over time (P < .001). Patient satisfaction was high (range: 8.1 ± 2.1‐8.8 ± 1.9), and side effects were uncommon.

Conclusions

The cellular content of BMA samples varied widely between patients and was lower than the anticipated yield reported by the device's manufacturer. However, intra‐articular BMA injections for knee OA in a small pilot cohort appeared to be safe with potential therapeutic value. Larger, prospective, double‐blinded studies are warranted.
Atmospheric pressure plasma treatments protect neural cells from ischemic stroke‐relevant injuries by targeting mitochondria
Authors: Yan Xu , Zhang Chenyang , Ouyang Jiting , Shi Zhongfang , Chen Ye , Han Ruoyu , Zhang Wei , Yuan Fang , Ostrikov Kostya (Ken)
Published: June 2020

Most studies regarding plasma biomedicine applications mainly focus on the oxidative and/or nitrative stress on bacteria, cancer cells, and other treatment objects. In this study, we evaluate the protective effect of appropriate atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) treatments on oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD)‐induced neural cell apoptosis, which is a major pathological process during ischemic stroke, based on the physiological functions of NO. Results show that APPJ treatment reduces the OGD‐induced apoptosis by weakening typical OGD injury consequences including loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm, lower antiapoptotic Bcl‐2 expression, and upregulating the proapoptotic protein Bax. Furthermore, APPJ increased intracellular NO production, which is closely related to the cytoprotective effect of APPJ.
Porous Magnetic Nanoparticles‐Based Electrochemical Biosensor for Determination of Mercury in the Aquatic Environment
Authors: Cui Jinjiang , Dong Ningning , Wang Mingyuan , Jiang Yu , Miao Peng
Published: June 2020

Fabrication of sensitive and convenient methods for the detection of heavy metal ions is an important task due to their high toxicity to environment and human health. Divalent mercury ions (Hg2+) are a kind of significant public health hazard, which generate harmful toxic effects. In this work, a novel self‐powered biosensor for the quantification of Hg2+ in aqueous solutions is developed. Porous magnetic nanoparticles are synthesized to load electrochemical species and a Hg2+ responsive single‐stranded DNA probe is used to seal them. After specific interaction with target ions, the DNA probe forms a rigid duplex, which can no longer block the pores of the magnetic nanoparticles. The leakage of electrochemical species can then increase the electrochemical response, which is used to indicate the initial concentration of Hg2+. This method shows high sensitivity and selectivity, and can be applied in real water samples with excellent recoveries. Therefore, a novel approach is provided for ultrasensitive and reliable detection of Hg2+ in practical applications.
Tolvaptan add‐on therapy in patients with acute heart failure: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Luo Xiandu , Jin Qi , Wu Yanqing
Published: June 2020

This study aimed to investigate the short‐term efficacy and safety of tolvaptan as an add‐on to traditional diuretics in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). The PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were comprehensively searched for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined AHF patients treated with tolvaptan as a combination therapy with traditional diuretics published on or before December 2, 2019. Efficacy indicators such as improved dyspnea, reduced edema, and changes in urine output and body weight were evaluated. In‐hospital mortality and worsening renal function (WRF) were measured as safety indicators. Data from the published literature included in this study were independently extracted by two reviewers. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included RCTs. Twelve RCTs involving 5577 patients admitted for AHF were included. Compared with traditional diuretics alone, add‐on tolvaptan significantly relieved dyspnea, reduced weight, increased total urine volume and changes in urine volume from baseline, reduced edema, and increased serum sodium concentration in the short term without increasing the mortality. Most importantly, a low dose of tolvaptan (7.5‐15 mg/d) significantly reduced the incidence of WRF, while a high dose (30 mg/d) had the opposite effect. Short‐term add‐on tolvaptan in hospitalized AHF patients could significantly relieve shortness of breath, reduce body weight, improve edema, and increase urine output and serum sodium concentrations without increasing mortality. The protective effects of add‐on tolvaptan against WRF, however, were observed at low doses, but not at high doses.
Evaluating buffer methods for determining lime requirement on acidified agricultural soils of the Palouse
Authors: McFarland Carol , Shiwakoti Santosh , Carpenter‐Boggs Lynne , Schroeder Kurt , Brown Tabitha , Huggins David R.
Published: June 2020

Acidification of agricultural soils under intense management in the Palouse region of eastern Washington and northern Idaho is of increasing concern. Buffer methods can provide lime requirement estimates (LREs); however, locally calibrated methods are lacking. Our objective was to evaluate buffer methods and to determine which can produce optimal LREs for Palouse agricultural soils. Samples from 10 regionally dominant agricultural soils (initial pH ≤5.3) were assessed for pH changes after incubation with nine levels of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) for 90 d under laboratory conditions. Achieving a target pH of 6 in the top 15 cm of the soil profile required 3.36–8.36 Mg ha−1 of CaCO3. Laboratory incubation results were compared with LREs calculated from 10 established calibrations using data from seven buffer methods: Shoemaker–McLean–Pratt (SMP), Adams and Evans (AE), Woodruff 6, Woodruff 7, Western Region Woodruff 7, Sikora, and Modified Mehlich (MM). The SMP (R2 = .47) and AE (R2 = .56) calibrations demonstrated the lowest correlation with observed incubation lime requirement (LR) and are not recommended for use on Palouse soils. The MM (R2 = .90), Woodruff 6 (R2 = .78), and Woodruff 7 (R2 = .75) buffer calibrations produced the strongest correlation between LREs and the LRs determined by laboratory incubation. Combining organic matter (OM) with KCl‐extractable aluminum (KCl‐Al) or soil pH was also predictive of LR (R2 = .72) in a stepwise multivariate analysis. The recommendation from this study is to assess LR on Palouse soils using the MM buffer or to use soil analytical results and compute LR from OM and KCl‐Al or pH.
Computational Insight into the Mechanism of Mannich Reaction between Glycinate and Aryl N‐Diphenylphosphinyl Imine Catalyzed by N‐Quaternized Pyridoxal
Authors: Yang Yongsheng , Zhang Yan , Yang Junxia , Xue Ying
Published: June 2020

Recently, Chen et al. reported an asymmetric biomimetic Mannich reaction of tert‐butyl glycinate (sub‐1) with aryl N‐diphenylphosphinyl imine (sub‐2) catalyzed by N‐quaternized pyridoxal analogue (cat) (Chen et al., Science, 2018, 360, 1438–1442). By utilizing Gaussian 09 program, we provide the detailed density functional theory (DFT, including B3LYP−D3 and M06‐2X) investigations on the mechanisms of each section of the reaction with CHCl3 as implicit solvent. These cat, sub‐1 and OH− if it exists can act as catalytic base and need to overcome relative free energy barrier of ∼12, 13.5 and 4.2 kcal/mol, respectively, to achieve α‐carbon deprotonation. During the addition reaction, the most favorable transition structure was calculated to overcome a relative free energy barrier of 6.3 kcal/mol, verifying the bifunctional activation mode of cat. The final hydrolysis reaction starts with hydration to achieve protonation at the N atom of sub‐2 portion and generates a carbinolamine. These computational results help one obtain deep understanding of the reaction mechanism and benefit future design of pyridoxal catalyst and similar biomimetic reaction.
Engineering Supramolecular Polymer Conformation for Efficient Carbon Nanotube Sorting
Authors: Gao Theodore Z. , Sun Zehao , Yan Xuzhou , Wu Hung‐Chin , Yan Hongping , Bao Zhenan
Published: June 2020

Supramolecular polymer sorting is a promising approach to separating single‐walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by electronic type. Unlike conjugated polymers, they can be easily removed from the CNTs after sorting by breaking the supramolecular bonds, allowing for isolation of electronically pristine CNTs as well as facile recycling of the sorting polymer. However, little is understood about how supramolecular polymer properties affect CNT sorting. Herein, chain stoppers are used to engineer the conformation of a supramolecular sorting polymer, thereby elucidating the relationship between sorting efficacy and polymer conformation. Through NMR and UV–vis spectroscopy, small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), and thermodynamic modeling, it is shown that this supramolecular polymer exhibits ring–chain equilibrium, and that this equilibrium can be skewed toward chains by the addition of chain stoppers. Furthermore, by controlling the stopper–monomer ratio, the sorting yield can be doubled from 7% to 14% without compromising the semiconducting purity (>99%) or properties of sorted CNTs.
Influence of impressed current cathodic protection systems on chemical characteristics of underground water
Authors: Esfandiari Kourosh , Banihashemi Morteza , Soleimani Parinaz
Published: June 2020

Despite well‐known corrosion inhibition behavior of cathodic protection (CP) system, this process might be a potential hazard to surrounding ecosystem resulted mostly from continuous electrical current which is applied to the adjacent environment and metallic anode dissolution as well. In this research, deepwater CP wells at different locations of Golestan province, Iran, were taken into consideration to evaluate the impact of these protective systems on underground waters from viewpoint of chemical and physicochemical characteristics resulted from anode dissolution. For this purpose, concentration of metallic constituents of the anode as well as the amount of pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), and total hardness were determined. On the basis of obtained results, the concentration of Mn, Cr, and Fe in CP well located nearby an industrial district (i.e., 0.087, 0.475, and 8.5 mg/L, respectively) was higher than both WHO and USEPA standards. This fact can be resulted from the position where the well was dug as well as the CP anode dissolution within the deep CP water wells.

Practitioner points

The impact of impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system on chemical and physicochemical characteristics of underground water has been evaluated.

Anode dissolution of ICCP systems influences the water characteristics nearby the anodes.

Despite low dissolution rate of high silicon cast iron anodes, their long‐term utilization might be harmful for adjacent ecosystem.

The amount of heavy metals in underground waters was demonstrated to be influenced by the employment of ICCP system.

Both anode dissolution and the geological properties of the Earth`s crust surrounding the wellbore might be responsible for significant increase of heavy metals concentration.
Natural convection of Al2O3‐water nanofluid filled annulus between a wavy rectangle and a square cavity using Buongiorno's two‐phase model
Authors: Aly Abdelraheem M.
Published: June 2020

In this work, an incompressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics (ISPH) method is used to simulate the natural convection of Al2O3‐water nanofluid filled annulus between a wavy rectangle and a square cavity using non‐homogenous Buongiorno's two‐phase model. In the physical model, the left cavity wall is kept at a high temperature , the right wall has a lower temperature , and the horizontal walls are adiabatic. The Lagrangian description of the partial governing equations is discretized using ISPH method. Simulations were carried out for variable wave amplitude , variable wave length of wavy rectangle , and variable average of nanoparticle volume fraction . Moreover, two cases of thermal conductions including adiabatic and cooling conditions for the inner wavy blockage were considered. The length of the inner wavy rectangle plays an important role on controlling the convective heat transfer and fluid intensity through the annulus. An increase on the length and amplitude of the wavy rectangle reduces the convection flow, maximum values of the stream function and strength of the velocity field. A growing on the average of nanoparticle volume fraction reduces the maximum of the stream function, normalized nanoparticle volume fractions , and average Nusselt number.
On junction problem with damage parameter for Timoshenko and rigid inclusions inside elastic body
Authors: Khludnev A.M. , Popova T.S.
Published: June 2020

The paper is concerned with an equilibrium problem for 2D elastic body with a thin elastic Timoshenko inclusion and a thin rigid inclusion. The elastic inclusion is assumed to be delaminated from the elastic body thus forming an interfacial crack with the matrix. Inequality type boundary conditions are imposed at the crack faces to prevent a mutual penetration. A connection between two inclusions at a given point is characterized by a positive damage parameter. Existence of solutions of the problem considered is proved, and different equivalent formulations of the problem are analyzed; junction conditions at the connection point are found. A convergence of solutions as the damage parameter tends to zero and to infinity as well as the rigidity parameter of the elastic inclusion tends to infinity is analyzed. An analysis of the limit models is performed. A solution existence of an inverse problem for finding the damage and rigidity parameters is proved provided that an additional information concerning the derivative of the energy functional with respect to the delamination length is given.
Sequentially loop suppressed fermion masses from a single discrete symmetry
Authors: Arbeláez Carolina , Hernández A.E. Cárcamo , Cepedello Ricardo , Kovalenko Sergey , Schmidt Ivan
Published: June 2020

Abstract

We propose a systematic and renormalizable sequential loop suppression mechanism to generate the hierarchy of the Standard Model fermion masses from one discrete symmetry. The discrete symmetry is sequentially softly broken in order to generate one-loop level masses for the bottom, charm, tau and muon leptons and two-loop level masses for the lightest Standard Model charged fermions. The tiny masses for the light active neutrinos are produced from radiative type-I seesaw mechanism, where the Dirac mass terms are effectively generated at two-loop level.
Non-standard neutrino interactions in U(1)′ model after COHERENT data
Authors: Flores L. J. , Nath Newton , Peinado Eduardo
Published: June 2020

Abstract

We explore the potential to prove light extra gauge Z′ boson inducing nonstandard neutrino interactions (NSIs) in the coherent-elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS) experiments. We intend to examine how the latest COHERENT-CsI and CENNS-10 data can constrain this model. A detailed investigation for the upcoming Ge, LAr-1t, and NaI detectors of COHERENT collaboration has also been made. Depending on numerous other constraints coming from oscillation experiments, muon (g −2), beam-dump experiments, LHCb, and reactor experiment CONUS, we explore the parameter space in Z′ boson mass vs coupling constant plane. Moreover, we study the predictions of two-zero textures that are allowed in the concerned model in light of the latest global-fit data.
Molecular basis of mood and cognitive adverse events elucidated via a combination of pharmacovigilance data mining and functional enrichment analysis
Authors: Andronis Christos , Silva João Pedro , Lekka Eftychia , Virvilis Vassilis , Carmo Helena , Bampali Konstantina , Ernst Margot , Hu Yang , Loryan Irena , Richard Jacques , Carvalho Félix , Savić Miroslav M.
Published: June 2020

Drug-induced Mood- and Cognition-related adverse events (MCAEs) are often only detected during the clinical trial phases of drug development, or even after marketing, thus posing a major safety concern and a challenge for both pharmaceutical companies and clinicians. To fill some gaps in the understanding and elucidate potential biological mechanisms of action frequently associated with MCAEs, we present a unique workflow linking observational population data with the available knowledge at molecular, cellular, and psychopharmacology levels. It is based on statistical analysis of pharmacovigilance reports and subsequent signaling pathway analyses, followed by evidence-based expert manual curation of the outcomes. Our analysis: (a) ranked pharmaceuticals with high occurrence of such adverse events (AEs), based on disproportionality analysis of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database, and (b) identified 120 associated genes and common pathway nodes possibly underlying MCAEs. Nearly two-thirds of the identified genes were related to immune modulation, which supports the critical involvement of immune cells and their responses in the regulation of the central nervous system function. This finding also means that pharmaceuticals with a negligible central nervous system exposure may induce MCAEs through dysregulation of the peripheral immune system. Knowledge gained through this workflow unravels putative hallmark biological targets and mediators of drug-induced mood and cognitive disorders that need to be further assessed and validated in experimental models. Thereafter, they can be used to substantially improve in silico/in vitro/in vivo tools for predicting these adversities at a preclinical stage.
Cyclotomic torsion points in elliptic schemes
Authors: Giacomini Michele
Published: June 2020

An elliptic curve defined over a number field possesses only a finite number of torsion points defined over the cyclotomic closure of its field of definition. In analogy to the relative version of the Manin–Mumford conjecture stated by Masser and Zannier, we propose a family version of the above statement and prove it under a suitable integrality condition.
Cell composition and expansion strategy can reduce the beneficial effect of AKT-inhibition on functionality of CD8+ T cells
Authors: Mousset Charlotte M. , Hobo Willemijn , de Ligt Aafke , Baardman Sjoerd , Schaap Nicolaas P. M. , Jansen Joop H. , van der Waart Anniek B. , Dolstra Harry
Published: June 2020

AKT-inhibition is a promising approach to improve T cell therapies; however, its effect on CD4+ T cells is insufficiently explored. Previously, we and others showed that AKT-inhibition during ex vivo CD8+ T cell expansion facilitates the generation of polyfunctional T cells with stem cell memory-like traits. However, most therapeutic T cell products are generated from lymphocytes, containing CD4+ T cells that can affect CD8+ T cells dependent on the Th-subset. Here, we investigated the effect of AKT-inhibition on CD4+ T cells, during separate as well as total T cell expansions. Interestingly, ex vivo AKT-inhibition preserved the early memory phenotype of CD4+ T cells based on higher CD62L, CXCR4 and CCR7 expression. However, in the presence of AKT-inhibition, Th-differentiation was skewed toward more Th2-associated at the expense of Th1-associated cells. Importantly, the favorable effect of AKT-inhibition on the functionality of CD8+ T cells drastically diminished in the presence of CD4+ T cells. Moreover, also the expansion method influenced the effect of AKT-inhibition on CD8+ T cells. These findings indicate that the effect of AKT-inhibition on CD8+ T cells is dependent on cell composition and expansion strategy, where presence of CD4+ T cells as well as polyclonal stimulation impede the favorable effect of AKT-inhibition.
Calling amplitude flexibility and acoustic spacing in the territorial frog Allobates femoralis
Authors: Rodríguez Camilo , Amézquita Adolfo , Ringler Max , Pašukonis Andrius , Hödl Walter
Published: June 2020

Most male frogs produce calls to attract females and repel rivals. The transmission of these calls can be affected by many acoustic and environmental characteristics, which can influence the detection and decoding of the signal by the receiver. Calling-perch height has a strong influence on sound propagation and acoustic spacing with neighboring males, but how frogs optimize their calling behavior in this context is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated if and how frogs can adjust the calling energy in the context of acoustic spacing. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between calling-perch height, nearest-neighbor distance, and sound-pressure level in the brilliant-thighed poison frogAllobates femoralis. We found that frogs flexibly adjust the calling amplitude according to the calling-perch height without affecting the effectiveness signal propagation. Accompanying signal propagation experiments demonstrated that calls produced with lower amplitude from higher perches propagate similar to louder calls from the ground. Our results suggest an adjustment to the hypothesis of a general positive effect of calling-perch height on signal effectiveness, where highly territorial frogs adjust their calling behavior to reduce energy expenditure and optimize acoustic communication with conspecifics.

Significance statement

In acoustically communicating species, sound propagates better when broadcasted from elevated positions. However, callers may adjust their calling behavior to optimize the sound transmission under ecological constraints. By using a correlative and manipulative approach, we show in a poison frog model that males can adjust their calling amplitude according to the calling-perch height. We then discuss that this calling adjustment optimizes the acoustic spacing between conspecific males and reduces energy consumption.
Health behavior among Polish institutionalized older adults: the effect of resiliency mediated by satisfaction with life
Authors: Zadworna Magdalena , Kossakowska Karolina
Published: June 2020

Aim

Resiliency and satisfaction with life are identified as factors related to health behavior in the general population. However, little is known about health behavior and its predictors in public nursing home residents. The purpose of the study was to establish the nature of the relationship between resiliency, satisfaction with life, and health behavior in institutionalized older adults in Poland.

Subject and methods

A cross-sectional study with purposive sampling was performed in public nursing homes in Poland. A total of 161 male and female senior residents aged 60 to 99 (Mean = 76.65, SD = 9.23) were examined. Mediation analysis was performed with the Hayes’ PROCESS macro.

Results

This study revealed that resiliency, satisfaction with life, and health behavior are positively associated with each other in older persons. Satisfaction with life plays a mediating role in the relationship between resiliency and health behavior in residents of long-term care institutions.

Conclusion

Our findings underscore the important role played by personal resources in strengthening interventions and supporting the efforts of nursing home residents to engage in health behavior.
Sources of evolutionary contingency: chance variation and genetic drift
Authors: Wong T. Y. William
Published: June 2020

Contingency-theorists have gestured to a series of phenomena such as random mutations or rare Armageddon-like events as that which accounts for evolutionary contingency. These phenomena constitute a class, which may be aptly called the ‘sources of contingency’. In this paper, I offer a probabilistic conception of what it is to be a source of contingency and then examine two major candidates: chance variation and genetic drift, both of which have historically been taken to be ‘chancy’ in a number of different senses. However,contrathe gesturing of contingency-theorists, chance variation and genetic drift are not always strong sources of contingency, as they can be non-chancy (and hence, directional) in at least one sense that opposes evolutionary contingency. The probabilistic conception offered herein allows for sources of contingency to appropriately vary in strength. To this end, I import Shannon’sinformation entropyas a statistical measure for systematically assessing the strength of a source of contingency, which is part and parcel of identifying sources of contingency. In brief, the higher the entropy, the greater the strength. This is also empirically significant because molecular, mutational, and replicative studies often contain sufficient frequency or probability data to allow for entropies to be calculated. In this way, contingency-theorists can evaluate the strength of a source of contingency in real-world cases. Moreover, the probabilistic conception also makes conceptual room for the converse of sources of contingency: ‘sources of directionality’, which ought to be recognised, as they can interact with genuine sources of contingency in undermining evolutionary contingency.
Antifungal Activity of Synthetic Scorpion Venom-Derived Peptide Analogues Against Candida albicans
Authors: Snyder Sabrina S. , Gleaton Jeremy W. , Kirui Dickson , Chen Wen , Millenbaugh Nancy J.
Published: June 2020

Fungal infections are becoming a serious problem due to their high morbidity and mortality combined with the rise in drug resistance and dearth of new antimycotic drugs. The scorpion venom-derived peptide BmKn2, and its synthetic analogue Kn2–7, were previously observed to have antibacterial activity. These peptides and their d-amino acid analogues (dBmKn2 and dKn2–7) were tested for antifungal activity against drug resistant and clinical isolates of Candida albicans. In planktonic susceptibility studies, dKn2–7 had greater activity than the other three peptides against 6 out of 7 fungal strains, with no apparent correlation between drug resistance and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs). Time kill experiments demonstrated that the fungicidal activity of dKn2–7 began within the first hour and killing rates were dose dependent at ≥ 1 × MFC. Against biofilms, the d-analogues were the most effective, while the l-analogues had low efficacy in most strains even at 10 times the planktonic MFC. Stability testing suggests that this increased efficacy of the d-analogues may be due to increased resistance to protease degradation compared to the l-analogues. Peptides were also assessed for mammalian cell toxicity. BmKn2 and dBmKn2 induced significant hemolysis at levels similar to their MFCs, whereas Kn2–7 and dKn2–7 caused hemolysis at 4–16 times their MFCs. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) for dKn2–7 against murine fibroblasts was greater than or equal to the planktonic MFCs and biofilm IC50s for dKn2–7 in all C. albicans strains tested. These results support the potential for dKn2–7 to be further investigated as a novel antifungal therapeutic.
‘Making Our Country Great Again’: The Politics of Subjectivity in an Age of National-Populism
Authors: Mandelbaum Moran
Published: June 2020

How could we understand the emotive power of national-populist discourses, indeed the calls to ‘make our country great again’? This paper directly tackles the recent Brexit discourse, within the broader context of rising national-populist sentiments. I offer a novel way of reading national-populism and the politics of subjectivity as I put forth a Lacanian-psychoanalytical framework, namely the void at the heart of national-populism narratives and thus their ability to produce and hail national-populist subjectivities, particularly through ‘fantasy’, ‘jouissance’ and the promise to recapture loss. I suggest that national-populism discourses appeal emotively and thus interpellate, at least partially, their subjects by offering unity and a ‘fullness to come’, the promise of filling the void, the promise of full jouissance. Since such national closure and unity are unattainable national-populism discourses must appeal to lost golden eras of greatness and by rendering the Other the cause of their failure.
Allocation in life cycle assessment of lignin
Authors: Hermansson Frida , Janssen Matty , Svanström Magdalena
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Lignin extraction in pulp mills and biorefineries are emerging technologies. Lignin is always the product of a multi-output process. Assessing such processes using life cycle assessment (LCA) requires the environmental impacts to be divided between the co-products of the system, referred to as allocation. This article explores different allocation approaches for lignin and illustrates the influence of the choice of allocation approach on the climate impact in a case study.

Method

Ten different applicable allocation methods were found in literature and two more were developed. Lignin production in a Kraft pulp mill using the LignoBoost process for lignin extraction was selected as a study object for the case study, and due to limited data availability only climate impact was considered. A cradle-to-gate LCA was done for the study object, and all of the twelve allocation approaches were applied; for eight of the methods, factors that strongly influence the results were identified and varied. Finally, the results were put in the context of cradle-to-grave LCAs from literature for different possible uses of lignin to give an indication of how important the choice of allocation approach can be when assessing lignin as a substitute for other raw materials.

Results and discussion

Results show that all allocation approaches tested were applicable to the special case of lignin, but each one of them comes with inherent challenges. Factors that often have a large impact on the results are (1) market and price of different outputs; (2) what is seen as the main product or the driver of the system or system changes; (3) what the surrounding system looks like and hence what other products will be displaced by outputs. These factors can be particularly challenging in prospective studies as such studies are future-oriented and consider systems that do not yet exist. Finally, the results show that the choice of allocation could have a significant influence on the climate impact on the cradle-to-grave climate impact of the final product.

Conclusions

We recommend for LCAs of lignin-based technologies that allocation methods are very carefully selected based on the goal and scope of the study and that when relevant, several methods are applied and factors are varied within them in a sensitivity analysis. In particular, the driver(s) of the system’s existence or of changes to it, sometimes reflected in market prices of outputs, should be carefully considered.
The contextual effect of completion on the effectiveness of performance feedback
Authors: Nikiforow Nicole , Wagener Sebastian
Published: June 2020

This study investigates the varying effect of performance feedback on performance, depending on the task context. Specifically, we analyze the state of completion (of a product or process) as an essential dimension of the task context. Using a laboratory experiment, we predict and find that performance is lower under completion than under non-completion. Further, we predict and find that the effect of performance feedback on performance differs depending on the state of completion. Specifically, performance feedback increases performance under completion. However, on average, performance feedback is ineffective for non-completion. Our results extend research on the interplay between feedback and contextual factors within firms by providing initial evidence of the impact of the state of completion. In addition, our study has important implications for performance feedback design choices.
Individual social capital and subjective well-being in urban- and rural Austrian areas
Authors: Glatz Christoph , Bodi-Fernandez Otto
Published: June 2020

In this study we investigated the amount of social capital as well as its effect on subjective well-being for the whole Austrian population and separately for rural- and urban areas. By using the Austrian Social Survey 2018, we were able to analyze various social capital dimensions based on a conceptual model developed by Kawachi (2008), namely informal and formal social capital, social support as well as social and institutional trust. We observed differences between rural and urban areas in the social-capital dimension of informal social capital: Individuals in rural areas report more contacts with lower-skilled vocations and more family contacts while individuals from urban areas report more social participation and more contact with a close friend. For the Austrian population as a whole, more contacts with highly educated professions, frequent contact (at least several times a week) with a close friend, as well as social and institutional trust, foster subjective well-being. Frequent contact with up to three distinct family members fosters subjective well-being for the entire Austrian sample as well as for individuals living in rural-, but not in urban areas. This study extends previous research by showing different amounts of informal social capital between urban and rural areas as well as different effects on subjective well-being. To summarize, our results confirm the beneficial influence of certain social capital dimensions on subjective well-being in Austria taking into account control variables based on previous research, while showing different patterns and effects of informal social capital between urban and rural areas.
The impact of religiousness on attitudes towards religious others
Authors: Höllinger Franz
Published: June 2020

Based on data from the Austrian Social Survey 2018, this article analyzes to what extent attitudes towards religious others are influenced by one’s relationship with religion. Five aspects of religiosity and attitudes to religion are taken into account: church-related religiosity (religious belief and practice), spirituality (engagement with alternative spiritual methods), religious fundamentalism, positive or negative perceptions of the role of religion in society, and religious denomination. The key findings are: engagement with spiritual methods and viewing religion as beneficial for society correlate with positive ratings of religious others. People with fundamentalist religious convictions are less open to religious others. Members of religious minorities in Austria (Protestants, Orthodox Christians and Muslims) have more positive attitudes to religious others than members of the dominant Catholic Church. How members of different world religions are rated depends on whether the religion in question is perceived as undogmatic and peaceful or as fundamentalist and intolerant in the public discourse.
The structure of social capital in Austria: Subjective and objective determinants
Authors: Liedl Bernd , Fritsch Nina-Sophie , Wiesböck Laura , Verwiebe Roland
Published: June 2020

This paper seeks to address the relationship between social capital and perceived social origin in contemporary Austria. While the concept of social capital has been widely adopted in social sciences, so far research on the (pre)structured shape of social capital by social origin is scarce. Our aim is to close this gap. Therefore, we use the network-as-capital approach by following the “position generator” and apply latent class analysis (LCA) and path modelling on the basis of the 2018 Austrian Social Survey. The dataset comprises a representative sample of the Austrian residential population aged 18 and older. Our findings show that the diversity of social capital, and access to networks of people in more highly ranked positions is strongly influenced by one’s social background. The higher respondents assess their social origin, the greater the probability of being in this type of network. Furthermore, education and occupation have effects on membership in a class-specific network.
An enquiry into the importance of the perceived positional, moral and emotional recognition for social integration in Austria
Authors: Eder Anja , Hadler Markus , Moosbrugger Robert
Published: June 2020

Considering the social disintegration approach of Wilhelm Heitmeyer and colleagues, this contribution explores three different dimensions of perceived recognition—positional, moral, and emotional recognition—among the Austrian population. The main purpose is to identify social groups that do not feel recognized and thus could be affected by social disintegration. The analysis is based on data from the Austrian Social Survey (SSÖ), a random 2018 sample of 1200 respondents that is representative of the population aged 18 and above. Based on an explorative latent class analysis, we are able to identify four distinct groups: poorly recognized, emotionally unrecognized, positionally unrecognized, and entirely recognized. Our contribution shows that the latter is the largest group in Austria, even though this group of almost entirely recognized respondents is not convinced that they have an impact on Austrian politics.
Wie wirkt kongruente Text-Bild-Sprache auf Glaubwürdigkeit und Handlungsabsichten in der Integrationsdebatte?
Authors: Lock Irina
Published: June 2020

Bilder gewinnen in der Online-Kommunikation von Organisationen an Bedeutung, werden jedoch in ihrem Kontext rezipiert. In einem Online-Experiment wurde daher getestet, inwieweit inhaltlich passende multimodale Organisationskommunikation die wahrgenommene Glaubwürdigkeit erhöht und Täuschung mindert und ob sie dadurch die Absicht, sich zivilgesellschaftlich zu engagieren, beeinflusst. In einem 2 (Regierungsorganisation vs. zivilgesellschaftliche Organisation) × 3 (kongruent vs. inkongruent vs. textbasiert)-Between-Subjects-Experiment mit Teilnehmern des SoSci-Panels (N = 406) wurden die Internetseiten der Bertelsmann Stiftung und des Bundesinnenministeriums zu Migration und Integration manipuliert und dabei der Einfluss von Bedrohungswahrnehmungen durch Migration einbezogen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass kongruente Text-Bild-Sprache positiv auf Handlungsabsichten wirkt, weil sie als glaubwürdig wahrgenommen wird. Wenn die gefühlte Bedrohung durch Zuwanderung hoch ist, fällt der positive Wahrnehmungseffekt geringer aus. Personen sind eher geneigt zu handeln, wenn die Kommunikation von einer zivilgesellschaftlichen Organisation stammt. Dieser Effekt hängt mit der unterschiedlichen Daseinsberechtigung von Regierungs- und zivilgesellschaftlichen Organisationen zusammen. Die Ergebnisse unterstreichen die Bedeutung glaubwürdiger Kommunikation für eine funktionierende Demokratie.
Moisture content thresholds for ignition and rate of fire spread for various dead fuels in northeast forest ecosystems of China
Authors: Masinda Maombi Mbusa , Sun Long , Wang Guangyu , Hu Tongxin
Published: June 2020

Fuel moisture content is one of the important factors that determine ignition probability and fire behaviour in forest ecosystems. In this study, ignition and fire spread moisture content thresholds of 40 dead fuel were performed in laboratory experiments, with a focus on the source of ignition and wind speed. Variability in fuel moisture content at time of ignition and during fire spread was observed for different fuels. Matches were more efficient to result in ignition and spread fire with high values of fuel moisture content compared to the use of cigarette butts. Some fuels did not ignite at 15% moisture content, whereas others ignited at 40% moisture content and fire spread at 38% moisture content in the case of matches, or ignited at 27% moisture content and spread fire at 25% moisture content using cigarette butts. A two-way ANOVA showed that both the source of ignition and the wind speed affected ignition and fire spread threshold significantly, but there was no interaction between these factors. The relationship between ignition and fire spread was strong, with R2 = 98% for cigarette butts, and 92% for matches. Further information is needed, especially on the density of fuels, fuel proportion (case of mixed fuels), fuel age, and fuel combustibility.