bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel sulfone derivatives containing a 1,3,4‐oxadiazole moiety: design and synthesis based on the 3D‐QSAR model as potential antibacterial agent
Authors: Chen Jixiang , Luo Yuqin , Wei Chengqian , Wu Sikai , Wu Rong , Wang Shaobo , Hu Deyu , Song Baoan
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND

The rice bacterial leaf blight (BLB) is one of the most serious bacterial diseases caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), which can cause yield loss of rice up to 50%. The three‐dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationship (3D‐QSAR) is an important auxiliary method to find potential high‐efficient pesticides active structures.

RESULTS

A series of novel 1,3,4‐oxadiazole compounds were designed and synthesized based on the 3D‐QSAR model, and their antibacterial activities in vitro against Xoo were evaluated. The results indicated that all the target compounds showed excellent in vitro antibacterial activities. For example, the compounds 6, 12, 13, 20, 21, and 23 exhibited excellent antibacterial activities against Xoo, with half‐maximal effective concentration (EC50) values of 0.24, 0.31, 0.36, 0.29, 0.19, and 0.31 mg/L, respectively, which were superior to the antibacterial agents thiodiazole copper (127.44 mg/L) and bismerthiazol (91.08 mg/L). Meanwhile, compound 21 showed good antibacterial activity in vivo against BLB, with curative and protective activities of 46.7% and 56.4%, respectively, which were superior to thiodiazole copper (28.5% and 32.5%) and bismerthiazol (37.6% and 38.4%). Compound 21 can significantly reduce the extracellular polysaccharides production of Xoo, increase the permeability of the cell membranes, and also can cause cell surface wrinkles, deformation and dryness.

CONCLUSION

The 3D‐QSAR model can be used to find sulfone compounds containing a 1,3,4‐oxadiazole moiety with higher antibacterial activity, and compound 21 can be used as a potential antibacterial agent in the future. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Conceptual Implementation of a Photonic–Plasmonic Transistor onto a Structured Nano‐Guided Hybrid System
Authors: Lio Giuseppe Emanuele , Madrigal Josslyn Beltran , Couteau Christophe , Blaize Sylvain , Caputo Roberto
Published: April 2020

The interplay between quantum emitters and plasmonic nanostructures can unlock unprecedented functionalities, potentially useful for novel‐concept photonics. Herein, the design and conceptual implementation of an integrated photonic–plasmonic transistor is reported. A mixed top‐down and bottom‐up nanofabrication approach is used to realize a prototype based on a nano‐guided hybrid system enabling the interaction between gold nanostructures and emitters and thus resulting in a plasmon–exciton exchange. In analogy with a classical transistor (MOSFET), gold nanotapers (NTs) are fabricated in specific positions on a TiO2 waveguide to behave as drain, source, and gate for highly localized electric near‐fields. Photopolymerization by evanescent waves is then exploited to grow a polymeric ridge containing quantum dots directly on top of the NTs. The fluorescent spectroscopy of the prototype evidences a sensitive Purcell enhancement of the emission of the quantum dots located in proximity of the apices of gold NTs. The numerical study of the hybrid system demonstrates how this enhancement is controlled to efficiently route and modulate high‐frequency optical signals in the novel photonic device.
Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties in p‐Type Double Half‐Heusler Ti2−yHfyFeNiSb2−xSnx Compounds
Authors: Wang Qingmei , Li Xiaofang , Chen Chen , Xue Wenhua , Xie Xiaodong , Cao Feng , Sui Jiehe , Wang Yumei , Liu Xingjun , Zhang Qian
Published: April 2020

Double half‐Heusler Ti2FeNiSb2‐based compounds, which can be regarded as a combination of 17‐electron TiFeSb and 19‐electron TiNiSb, have a lower intrinsic thermal conductivity due to the smaller group velocity phonons and the disordered scattering by Fe/Ni. An enhanced room‐temperature Hall carrier concentration of ≈4.8 × 1021 cm−3 is achieved by doping Sn on the Sb site in a series of Ti2FeNiSb2−xSnx (x = 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5) samples. Combined with the further decreased lattice thermal conductivity by alloying with Hf2FeNiSb2, a low lattice thermal conductivity of ≈1.95 W m−1 K−1 and a peak thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of ≈0.52 at 923 K are obtained in Ti1.6Hf0.4FeNiSb1.7Sn0.3, indicating the promising applications of double half‐Heusler compounds.
Influence of Interface Layer on the Properties of Exploding Foil Flyer Generator by Integrating Al/Ni Multilayers
Authors: Wang Yao , Zhou Qin , Jiang Hongchuan , Xing Zongren , Li Yong , Tang Duo , Qin Wenzhi , Wang Liang , Guo Fei
Published: April 2020

Reactive multilayer films (RMFs) are a type of a thermite nanoenergetic multilayer film, which can be potentially applied to an exploding foil flyer generator (EFFG). Herein, Al/Ni RMFs with a bilayer thickness of 500 nm are integrated into an exploding foil layer by a magnetron sputtering method. The effects of interface layer on the properties of the EFFG are systematically investigated in terms of the electrical behavior and flyer velocity. The interface layer is controlled by annealing, whose structure and chemical composition are confirmed by X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The periodic multilayer structure can be clearly visible, and the thickness of interface layer increases with increasing annealing temperatures from room temperature to 573 K. The EFFG integrating as‐deposited Al/Ni RMFs exhibits improved exploding properties with a short exploding time, violent explosion region, and high flyer velocity phenomenon in comparison with generator at 573 K. Overall, the EFFGs integrated Al/Ni RMFs with larger interface layers can decrease the electrical plasma performances, which are significant for investigating the applicability in various engineering fields.
Effects of food container depth on the quality and yield of superchilled and iced Atlantic salmon
Authors: Tryggvason Rúnar Ingi , Margeirsson Björn , Karlsdóttir Magnea , Ólafsdóttir Adalheidur , Gudjónsdóttir María , Arason Sigurjón
Published: April 2020

Insulated food containers of different sizes are commonly used to preserve the quality of perishable fresh fish products during transport and storage. The aim of the study was to explore the effects of packaging solutions with various depths on the quality of iced and superchilled farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Insulated containers of different depths (32, 42, and 60 cm) and 17‐cm deep expanded polystyrene (EPS) boxes were used to simulate transport and storage of the fish. The fish quality was evaluated after 4, 10, and 14 days of storage, where measurements on drip loss, texture, cooking yield, sensory evaluation, water and lipid distribution, and characteristics analysis in the fish muscle by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were performed. Increased container depth from 32 to 42 cm increased the drip loss of superchilled salmon from 2.4% to 3.1% after 10 days of storage at −1°C. Iced storage of salmon for 10 days in EPS boxes resulted in less drip loss (0.5%) compared with superchilled salmon (1.5%) stored in EPS. The NMR analysis, sensory evaluation, texture analysis, and cooking yield did not reveal any major differences between salmon stored in containers of different depths. Iced storage increased pressure marks as compared with non‐iced, superchilled storage in insulated containers. The results indicate that transport of whole salmon in reusable insulated plastic containers with a depth of 60 cm is possible without major quality changes observed for up to 10 days.
Stability analysis of a control system with nonlinear input uncertainty based on disturbance observer
Authors: Umemoto Kazuki , Endo Takahiro , Matsuno Fumitoshi , Egami Tadashi
Published: April 2020

In disturbance observer (DO)‐based control, control input attenuates a disturbance using observer output. Thus, the input may not achieve the attenuation if the input term includes uncertainty. Therefore, in order to correctly suppress the disturbance, it is essential to consider the uncertainty existing in the input term, and thus this article focuses on a nonlinear uncertainty in the input term. This article analyzes the stability and robustness of a DO‐based nonlinear control system with both the disturbance and the input uncertainty. We address the case that the disturbance and the uncertainty depend on time and states of a controlled system. The disturbance and the uncertainty are gathered in an integrated disturbance, and the integrated disturbance depends on many variables: the states, the control input, and the time. Therefore, a norm estimations for the disturbance and a time variation of the disturbance is difficult without knowledge of the state trajectory. Hence, a slope‐restriction for the disturbance is used for the stability analysis. Based on the mathematical analysis, we show input‐to‐state stability conditions due to extend the application class of the DO‐based controller to a control system with the disturbance and the nonlinear input uncertainty. The analytical results are verified by numerical simulations.
High energy Au+ ion implantation of polar and nonpolar ZnO—Structure modification and optical properties
Authors: Jagerová Adéla , Malinský Petr , Mikšová Romana , Nekvindová Pavla , Cajzl Jakub , Ryšánek Petr , Macková Anna
Published: April 2020

The paper presents a study of 5‐MeV energy Au+ ion implantation in polar c‐plane (0001), nonpolar a‐plane (11‐20) and m‐plane (10–10) ZnO crystallographic cuts using fluences of 5 × 1014 and 1 × 1015 cm−2. The implanted samples were subsequently annealed in O2 atmosphere at 600°C. It was shown that a‐plane ZnO exhibited a lowest level of Zn sublattice disorder evidenced by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy in channelling mode (RBS‐C); in contrast, m‐plane ZnO showed the highest disorder. The disorder in the Zn sublattice grew progressively in the subsurface as well as in the implanted layer in c‐plane and m‐plane ZnO, while a‐plane has shown slight increase of disorder just in the implanted layer. Angular scans provided using RBS‐C have shown the preservation of channelling effect in the subsurface layer in a‐plane ZnO. On the contrary, the narrowed and shallow angular scan dips were seen in m‐plane ZnO. Raman spectroscopy has shown significant O‐sublattice disorder and O rearrangement mainly in a‐plane and m‐plane ZnO compared to c‐plane. After ion implantation, the exciton‐related luminescence band at 375 nm vanished almost completely, and the defect‐related band ‘shifted’ to shorter wavelengths. Annealing has beneficial influence on near‐band‐edge (NBE) luminescence recovery, whereas deep‐level‐emission (DLE) luminesce has been shifted to lower wavelengths than appeared after implantation.
Electrochemical Performance of BiF3‐BaF2 Solid Solution with Three Different Phases on a Fluoride Shuttle Battery System
Authors: Konishi Hiroaki , Minato Taketoshi , Abe Takeshi , Ogumi Zempachi
Published: April 2020

Solid solution of bismuth(III) fluoride (BiF3) and barium(II) fluoride (BaF2) with a variety of crystal structures was prepared, and their electrochemical performances were evaluated on a fluoride shuttle battery (FSB) system. BiF3‐BaF2 based solid solution (Bi1‐xBaxF3‐x (x=0) with orthorhombic phase, x=0.2 with hexagonal phase, and x=0.4 with cubic phase) were successfully obtained with the mechanical alloy method. The change from Bi1‐xBaxF3‐x (x=0) (orthorhombic) to x=0.2 (hexagonal) improved the initial reversible capacity and the capacity retention during cycling. The change from x=0.2 (hexagonal) to 0.4 (cubic) led to further improvement in capacity retention during cycling; however, the initial reversible capacity decreased due to the substitution of excess amount of barium that did not contribute to the redox reaction. For the BiF3‐based compound, controlling the crystal structure and substitution of inactive element affected the FSB performance.
Extraction of Alkaloids from Coptidis Rhizoma via Betaine‐Based Deep Eutectic Solvents
Authors: Li Yuanbin , Hsieh Yun‐Hao , Pan Zuchen , Zhang Ling , Yu Wen , Wang Binshen , Zhang Jiaheng
Published: April 2020

To avoid the use of volatile organic compounds, a series of betaine‐based deep eutectic solvents (DESs), which are considered as green solvents, were prepared for the efficient extraction of alkaloids from coptidis rhizome. The extraction conditions were optimized via response surface methodology (RSM) to achieve the maximum recovery of total alkaloids. A central composite design with three independent variables which included the concentration of the selected DES, extraction time, and solvent/solid ratio at five levels, was applied while response surface plots were produced with a second order polynomial model. A one‐off experiment was performed to examine the reliability of the simulated results obtained from RSM. An optimized yield of 128.43 mg/g was obtained at an extraction time of 29.5 min and a solvent/solid ratio of 35 : 1 with the extraction solvent as 0.6 M betaine‐tartaric acid‐ water DES.
The effects of synthetic wollastonite developed with calcite and quartz on high performance mortars
Authors: Öz Hatice Öznur , Güneş Muhammet
Published: April 2020

In this study, the effects on high performance mortar (HPM) of synthetic wollastonite (SW) mineral were researched. Through this work, firstly, wollastonite was synthetically obtained by a particular production method. Secondly, SW was utilized as cement replacement material from 0 to 12% by 3% steps of increment in the production of HPM. After determination of slump flow diameters of HPMs, mechanical and durability properties were observed at 28 and 90 days. Additionally, microstructural performance properties of HPMs designed with SW in the ratios 0, 9, and 12% was specified with TGA/DTA and FTIR analysis as well as SEM/EDX and XRD analysis. The test and analysis results showed that SW decreased the workability of HPMs. The improvement of the mechanical and durability properties of HPMs proceeded up to 9% of SW. Microstructural analysis showed that development effect of SW on the HPM can be attributed to its needle‐shaped structure.
Evaluation of Systematic Errors in the Compact Absolute Gravimeter TAG-1 for Network Monitoring of Volcanic Activities
Authors: Araya Akito , Kasai Keisuke , Yoshida Masato , Nakazawa Masataka , Tsubokawa Tsuneya
Published: April 2020

Volcanic activities sometimes involve gravity changes, and this research is intended to establish an observation network surrounding an active volcano using compact absolute gravimeters. To simplify the configuration of absolute gravimeters, they are preferably operated with a light source distributed from a telecom band (wavelength of 1.5 μm) laser through optical fibers. To evaluate the accuracy of the absolute gravimeter with the telecom band laser, we conducted observations using a prototype gravimeter (TAG-1) with frequency-stabilized lasers at both 1.5 μm and 633 nm, and compared these results with the expected gravity at the site. Initially, both results showed offsets −187 μGal and −9.6 μGal for the 1.5-μm laser and the 633-nm laser, respectively (1 Gal = 10−8 m/s2). By correcting the systematic errors of the photo detectors measured by the synthetic chirp signal, the obtained absolute gravity was consistent with the expected value for both wavelengths; offsets from the expected gravity were reduced to 6.6 μGal and 5.4 μGal for 1.5 μm and 633 nm, respectively. We also evaluated the errors associated with long-distance transmission of the 1.5-μm laser using a reeled optical fiber (26 km) and an optical amplifier and found no degradation in the gravity data from the case of short transmission (10 m). These results allow networking of compact absolute gravimeters connected by telecom optical fibers that are operated using a common laser and expansion to volcanic areas to monitor the gravity change associated with volcanic activities.
Higgs-pair production via gluon fusion at hadron colliders: NLO QCD corrections
Authors: Baglio Julien , Campanario Francisco , Glaus Seraina , Mühlleitner Margarete , Ronca Jonathan , Spira Michael , Streicher Juraj
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Higgs-pair production via gluon fusion is the dominant production mechanism of Higgs-boson pairs at hadron colliders. In this work, we present details of our numerical determination of the full next-to-leading-order (NLO) QCD corrections to the leading top-quark loops. Since gluon fusion is a loop-induced process at leading order, the NLO calculation requires the calculation of massive two-loop diagrams with up to four different mass/energy scales involved. With the current methods, this can only be done numerically, if no approximations are used. We discuss the setup and details of our numerical integration. This will be followed by a phenomenological analysis of the NLO corrections and their impact on the total cross section and the invariant Higgs-pair mass distribution. The last part of our work will be devoted to the determination of the residual theoretical uncertainties with special emphasis on the uncertainties originating from the scheme and scale dependence of the (virtual) top mass. The impact of the trilinear Higgs-coupling variation on the total cross section will be discussed.
The Odderon in QCD with running coupling
Authors: Bartels Jochen , Contreras Carlos , Vacca Gian Paolo
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Starting from the leading Odderon solution of the three gluon system in perturbative QCD we introduce, as a first step towards the transition to the non-perturbative region, an infrared cutoff and use the running QCD coupling constant. In our numerical analysis we find that the fixed cut solution with intercept one persists, hinting at a physical Odderon with intercept one and a small t-slope.
Magnetogenesis from a rotating scalar: à la scalar chiral magnetic effect
Authors: Kamada Kohei , Shin Chang Sub
Published: April 2020

Abstract

The chiral magnetic effect (CME) is a phenomenon in which an electric current is induced parallel to an external magnetic field in the presence of chiral asymmetry in a fermionic system. In this paper, we show that the electric current induced by the dynamics of a pseudo-scalar field which anomalously couples to electromagnetic fields can be interpreted as closely analogous to the CME. In particular, the velocity of the pseudo-scalar field, which is the phase of a complex scalar, indicates that the system carries a global U(1) number asymmetry as the source of the induced current. We demonstrate that an initial kick to the phase-field velocity and an anomalous coupling between the phase-field and gauge fields are naturally provided, in a set-up such as the Affleck-Dine mechanism. The resulting asymmetry carried by the Affleck-Dine field can give rise to instability in the (electro)magnetic field. Cosmological consequences of this mechanism are also investigated.
Connected Floer homology of covering involutions
Authors: Alfieri Antonio , Kang Sungkyung , Stipsicz András I.
Published: April 2020

Using the covering involution on the double branched cover of $$S^3$$

S
3

branched along a knot, and adapting ideas of Hendricks–Manolescu and Hendricks–Hom–Lidman, we define new knot (concordance) invariants and apply them to deduce novel linear independence results in the smooth concordance group of knots.
Nationwide Analysis of Urinary Retention Following Inguinal Hernia Repair: Results from the National Prospective Hernia Registry
Authors: Drissi Farouk , Gillion Jean‐François , Roquilly Antoine , Luyckx François , Duchalais Emilie ,   For Club Hernie
Published: April 2020

Background

Urinary retention is one of the most common early postoperative complications following inguinal hernia repair (IHR). The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of postoperative urinary retention (POUR) and to identify associated risk factors.

Method

Data of consecutive patients undergoing IHR from 2011 to 2017 were collected from a national multicenter cohort. POUR was defined as the inability to void requiring urinary catheterization. A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify independent risk factors for POUR.

Results

Of 13,736 patients, 109 (0.8%) developed POUR. Patients with POUR had longer hospital length of stay (p < 0.001). IHR was performed by a laparoscopic or an open approach in 7012 (51.3%) and 6655 (48.7%) patients, respectively, and spinal anesthesia was realized in 591 (4.3%) patients. Ambulatory surgery was performed in 10,466 (76.6%) patients. Multivariate analysis identified preoperative dysuria (0R 3.73, p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (OR 1.98, p = 0.029) and spinal anesthesia (OR 7.56, p < 0.001) as independent preoperative risk factors associated with POUR. POUR was the cause of ambulatory failure in 35 (10.2%) patients who required unanticipated admission.

Conclusion

The incidence of POUR following IHR remains low but impacts hospitalization settings. Preoperative risk factors for POUR should be considered for the choice of the anesthetic technique.
Application of PECARN rules would significantly decrease CT rates in a Dutch cohort of children with minor traumatic head injuries
Authors: Niele Nicky , van Houten Marlies , Tromp Ellen , van Goudoever J.B. , Plötz Frans B.
Published: April 2020

The aim of this study was to determine the potential impact of the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) rules on the CT rate in a large paediatric minor traumatic head injury (MTHI) cohort and compare this with current national Dutch guidelines. This was a planned sub-study of a prospective multicentre observational study that enrolled 1006 children younger than 18 years with MTHI. We calculated the number of recommended CT scans and described trauma-related CT scan abnormalities. The PECARN rules recommended a significantly lower percentage of CT scans in all age categories, namely 101/357 (28.3%) versus 164/357 (45.9%) (p < 0.001) in patients under 2 years of age and 148/623 (23.8%) versus 394/623 (63.2%) (p < 0,001) versus in patients 2 years and older.

Conclusion: The projected CT rate can significantly be reduced if the PECARN rules are applied. We therefore advocate that the PECARN guidelines are also implemented in The Netherlands.

What is Known:• To guide clinicians whether to perform a CT scan in children with a minor traumatic head injury (MTHI) clinical decision rules has been developed.• The overall CT scan rate in adherence with the Dutch MTHI guidelines is 44%.

What is New:• The projected CT rate can significantly be reduced in a Dutch cohort of MTHI if the PECARN rules are applied.• The Dutch national guidelines for MTHI can safely be replaced by the PECARN rules.
Belief Changes and Cognitive Development: Doxastic Logic $${\mathsf {LCB}}$$
Authors: Łyczak Marcin
Published: April 2020

We present the logic$${\mathsf {LCB}}$$LCBwhich is expressed in a propositional language constantly enriched by new atomic expressions. Our formal framework is the propositional doxastic logic$${\mathsf {KD45}}$$KD45with the belief operator$${\mathcal {B}}$$B, extended by the$${\mathcal {C}}$$Coperator, to be readit changes that .... We describe the changing beliefs of an agent who uses progressively expanding language. The approach presented here allows us to weaken pragmatic objections to the so-called principle ofnegative retrospectionaccepted in$${\mathsf {KD45}}$$KD45and the problem oflogical omniscience. In what follows, we present the expanding propositional language used in our formalism, interpreted using an epistemic version of Kripke semantics. Next, we give a syntactic characterization of logic$${\mathsf {LCB}}$$LCBand prove the soundness and completeness of$${\mathsf {LCB}}$$LCBin respect to our semantics. Finally, we compare the idea of expanding language with the notion ofagent awarenessand we relate our formalism to two epistemic temporal logics.
Reconceptualizing Moral Disengagement as a Process: Transcending Overly Liberal and Overly Conservative Practice in the Field
Authors: Schaefer Ulf , Bouwmeester Onno
Published: April 2020

Moral disengagement was initially conceptualized as a process through which people reconstrue unethical behaviors, with the effect of deactivating self-sanctions and thereby clearing the way for ethical transgressions. Our article challenges how researchers now conceptualize moral disengagement. The current literature is overly liberal, in that it mixes two related but distinct constructs—process moral disengagement and the propensity to morally disengage—creating ambiguity in the findings. It is overly conservative, as it adopts a challengeable classification scheme of “four points in moral self-regulation” and perpetuates defining moral disengagement via a set of eight psychological mechanisms, narrowing our understanding of the phenomenon. To address these problems, we propose to define process moral disengagement intensionally (specifying the necessary and sufficient conditions for correct application of the term) as intrapsychic cognitive reasoning processes through which people selectively reconstrue a moral judgment “behavior B by actor A is morally wrong” and shift it toward becoming “behavior B is not morally wrong” or “actor A is not responsible for behavior B.” This definition achieves disambiguation and increased concept clarity. We leverage the definition to motivate a classification scheme for psychological mechanisms of moral disengagement along two dimensions—reconstruing morality and reconstruing agency—and to initiate an open inventory of psychological mechanisms that specify how process moral disengagement operates.
Intertemporal Similarity of Economic Time Series: An Application of Dynamic Time Warping
Authors: Franses Philip Hans , Wiemann Thomas
Published: April 2020

This paper adapts the non-parametric dynamic time warping (DTW) technique in an application to examine the temporal alignment and similarity across economic time series. DTW has important advantages over existing measures in economics as it alleviates concerns regarding a pre-defined fixed temporal alignment of series. For example, in contrast to current methods, DTW can capture alternations between leading and lagging relationships of series. We illustrate DTW in a study of US states’ business cycles around the Great Recession, and find considerable evidence that temporal alignments across states dynamic. Trough cluster analysis, we further document state-varying recoveries from the recession.
Relationship Between Chinese Mathematics Teachers’ Knowledge and Their Professional Noticing
Authors: Yang Xinrong , Kaiser Gabriele , König Johannes , Blömeke Sigrid
Published: April 2020

Although research on teachers’ noticing in mathematics education has significantly increased over the last decade, little is known about the relationship between teachers’ noticing and teachers’ knowledge as an influential basis of their professional noticing. This paper examines this relationship based on a study involving 203 in-service Chinese mathematics teachers. The results suggest that the different components of teacher knowledge influence teacher noticing differently. Among others, the sub-facets of teachers’ noticing, “interpretation and decision-making,” have a stronger correlation with teachers’ knowledge than the sub-facet “perception.” However, due to social and cultural differences between Eastern and Western countries, the study did not identify strong connections, as expected from the results of studies carried out in Western countries. Instead, rather weak overall connections between mathematics teachers’ knowledge and their noticing could be identified reflecting specific features of Chinese culture.
Assessing Community Health Information Systems: Evidence from Child Health Records in Food Insecure Areas of the Ethiopian Highlands
Authors: Hirvonen Kalle , Berhane Guush , Assefa Thomas Woldu
Published: April 2020

Objectives

This study assessed the completeness of child health records maintained and collected within community health information system in Ethiopia.

Methods

A household listing was carried out in 221 enumeration areas in food insecure areas of Ethiopia to determine the presence of a child less than 24-months. This list of children was then compared against the information stored at the local health posts. A household survey was administered to a sample of 2155 households that had a child less than 24-months of age to assess determinants and consequences of exclusion from the health post registers.

Results

Out of the 10,318 children identified during the listing, 36% were found from the health post records. Further analysis based on the household survey data indicated that health posts that had adopted nationally recommended recordkeeping practices had more complete records (p < 0.01) and that children residing farther from health posts were less likely to be found from the registers (p < 0.05). Mothers whose child was found from the registers were more likely to know a health extension worker (p < 0.01), had a contact with one (p < 0.01), and their child was more likely to have received growth monitoring (p < 0.05).

Conclusions for Practice

The incompleteness of the data collected at the health posts poses a challenge for effective implementation of the national health extension program and various complementary programs in Ethiopia.
Counselled Patients with Stroke Still Experience Sexual and Relational Problems 1–5 Years After Stroke Rehabilitation
Authors: Meesters J. J. L. , van de Ven D. P. H. W. , Kruijver E. , Bender J. , Volker W. G. , Vliet Vlieland T. P. M. , Goossens P. H.
Published: April 2020

To describe sexual functioning/satisfaction and relational satisfaction of patients with stroke who received sexual counselling during their rehabilitation 1–5 years thereafter. All adult patients with stroke admitted to one Dutch Rehabilitation Centre between January 2010 and January 2014 with at least two consultations with a sexologist were invited to participate in this cross-sectional survey study. Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire on sexual functioning, relational satisfaction (Maudsley Marital Questionnaire, 0–80; low–high dissatisfaction), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) short-form12 (SF-12) mental and physical component scale (MCS and PCS; 0–100, low–high HRQoL) and mood Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS, 0–21 low–high depression/anxiety). Descriptive statistics were used for sexual functioning/satisfaction and relational satisfaction. Spearmans’s correlation analysis (rs) analyzed the relationships between sexual satisfaction, relational satisfaction, PCS, MCS, depression and anxiety. Of 296 eligible patients, 62 (21%) completed the questionnaires. Mean age 55.4 (SD11.0) years, time-since-stroke 3.5 (SD3.6) years, 33 (53%) were male and 18 (29%) were single. Being sexually (very) unsatisfied was reported by 31 (54%) responders, with 63% being male and 44% female. Median MMQ-score relational satisfaction was 12.0 (IQR 4.25–23.25). A moderate correlation was present between sexual and relational satisfaction (rs = 0.35, p = 0.02). In male respondents relational satisfaction was highly correlated with lower levels of anxiety (rs = 0.54, p = 0.01) and depressive symptoms (rs = 0.71, p = 0.00). Patients with stroke who received sexual counselling during their rehabilitation treatment experience high relational satisfaction in the long term after stroke, despite their problems in sexual functioning.
Objectivity, trust and social responsibility
Authors: Rolin Kristina H.
Published: April 2020

I examine ramifications of the widespread view that scientific objectivity gives us a permission to trust scientific knowledge claims. According to a widely accepted account of trust and trustworthiness, trust in scientific knowledge claims involves both reliance on the claims and trust in scientists who present the claims, and trustworthiness depends on expertise, honesty, and social responsibility. Given this account, scientific objectivity turns out to be a hybrid concept with both an epistemic and a moral-political dimension. The epistemic dimension tells us when scientific knowledge claims are reliable, and the moral-political dimension tells us when we can trust scientists to be socially responsible. While the former dimension has received a fair amount of attention, the latter is in need of analysis. I examine what it means for scientists to be socially responsible, that is, to follow “sound” moral and social values in different stages of scientific inquiry (Kourany in Philosophy of science after feminism, Oxford University Press, New York, 2010). Social responsibility is especially important when scientists function as experts in society. Members of the public and policymakers do not want to rely on scientific research shaped by moral and social values they have good reasons to reject. Moreover, social responsibility is important in social research in which moral and social values can legitimately play many roles. I discuss the strengths and weaknesses of different answers to the question of how social scientists can identify appropriate moral and social values to inform their research. I argue that procedural accounts of social responsibility, such as well-ordered science and deliberative polling, have limitations.
Relative vibration identification of cutter and workpiece based on improved bidimensional empirical mode decomposition
Authors: Li Jiasheng , Li Xingzhan , Wei Wei , Liu Pinkuan
Published: April 2020

In the process of cutting, the relative vibration between the cutter and the workpiece has an important effect on the surface topography. In this study, the bidimensional empirical mode decomposition (BEMD) method is used to identify such effect. According to Riesz transform theory, a type of isotropic monogenic signal is proposed. The boundary data is extended on the basis of a similarity principle that deals with serious boundary effect problem. The decomposition examples show that the improved BEMD can effectively solve the problem of boundary effect and decompose the original machined surface topography at multiple scales. The characteristic surface topography representing the relative vibration between the cutter and the workpiece through feature identification is selected. In addition, the spatial spectrum analysis of the extracted profile is carried out. The decimal part of the frequency ratio that has an important effect on the shape of the contour can be accurately identified through contour extraction and spatial spectrum analysis. The decomposition results of simulation and experimental surface morphology demonstrate the validity of the improved BEMD algorithm in realizing the relative vibration identification between the cutter and the workpiece.
Beyond Income: Why We Want to Keep on Working Even if We Don’t Need the Money
Authors: Wielers Rudi , van der Meer Peter H.
Published: April 2020

This research focuses upon non-financial work motivation against the background of the debate about the introduction of a basic income. We focus on work commitment; that is the question what binds workers to the employment system except for the wage. We argue that work commitment measures intrinsic work motivation, and that intrinsic work motivation is dependent on the extent to which paid work satisfies the human needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness. Empirical analyses on ESS 2010 for 26 countries show that 55% of the European employees would go on working if means would allow not to and about 25% not. Workers who answer affirmatively work in jobs with high levels of autonomy, good development opportunities, and have co-worker support. Greater autonomy, not only in the job, but also in decisions about work times and the number of work hours, is associated with greater work commitment. Workers in temporary jobs and workers in financial problems have low work commitment. We conclude by arguing that the introduction of a basic income will increase work commitment, because it will relieve workers’ strains and stresses, and will be an incentive for employers to improve the quality of work.
Estimation of Particle Mass Flow Rate in Free Jet Using In-Flight Particle Diagnostics in Plasma Spraying
Authors: Bobzin K. , Wietheger W. , Knoch M. A. , Dokhanchi S. R.
Published: April 2020

In-flight particle diagnostics have enhanced our understanding of thermal spraying and improved coating reproducibility. However, no methodology to verify the measured in-flight particle properties has been proposed in the literature yet. This methodology requires describing the entire free jet from accurate measured values. This study deals with a novel method to verify the measured in-flight particle sizes and velocities by estimating the particle mass flow rate (PMFR) in the free jet. To this end, the entire free jet cross section was divided into several non-overlapping focal planes, and the size and velocity of the in-flight particles were measured by optical diagnostics at these focal planes. The PMFR of the powder feeder was used as a reference to validate the determined PMFR in the free jet. The results showed a good agreement with the PMFR of the powder feeder and could be replicated with different feedstock powders, demonstrating the capability of the developed method. Furthermore, the determined PMFR distribution in the entire free jet, referred to as digital footprint, agreed well with the height of the experimental footprints of the spray jet on a substrate. Consequently, it can be concluded that the spatial PMFR distribution was also properly measured.
Utility of Inflammatory Markers in Detection of Perioperative Morbidity After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, and One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass—Multicenter Study
Authors: Wysocki Michał , Małczak Piotr , Wierdak Mateusz , Walędziak Maciej , Hady Hady Razak , Diemieszczyk Inna , Proczko-Stepaniak Monika , Szymański Michał , Dowgiałło-Wnukiewicz Natalia , Szeliga Jacek , Pędziwiatr Michał , Major Piotr
Published: April 2020

Background

The most commonly performed bariatric operations are laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and bypass surgeries (laparoscopic one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB)), and predicting perioperative morbidity is crucial for early, safe patient discharge. We aimed to determine whether C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood count (WBC) measured on the first postoperative day predicts perioperative morbidity in the first 30-days after LSG and bypass surgeries.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data for 1400 patients who underwent bariatric surgery in seven bariatric centers from 2014 to 2018. Patients were divided into a complicated group (patients with postoperative complications) and a non-complicated group. We also performed separate analyses for LSG and bypass surgeries.

Results

Patients were 929 women (66%) and 471 men (34%) with a median age of 42 years (range, 35–51 years); 1192 patients underwent LSG (85%), 120 underwent LRYGB (9%), and 80 underwent OAGB (6%). We performed ROC analyses to set cut-off points, followed by multivariate logistic regressions. CRP > 33.32 mg/L increased the odds ratio (OR) of perioperative complications after LSG 2.27 times, while WBC > 12.15 × 103/μL on postoperative day 1 was associated with a 3.34-times greater or of developing complications. WBC > 13.78 × 103/μL was associated with a 13.34-times higher or of perioperative morbidity in patients undergoing bypass surgeries.

Conclusion

Even slightly elevated CRP and WBC on postoperative day 1 should alert surgeons to the potential risk of perioperative morbidity.
It’s the thought that counts: Trait self-control is positively associated with well-being and coping via thought control ability
Authors: Massar Karlijn , Bělostíková Pavla , Sui Xincheng
Published: April 2020

In the present study, we reason that the ability to keep unwanted thoughts and intrusions at bay – thought control ability – might explain part of the relationship between trait self-control and positive psychological outcomes. We predict that the ability to keep unwanted thoughts at bay causes people high in trait self-control to report higher subjective well-being (Study 1), and makes them to be more likely to cope with stressful life events in an adaptive rather than maladaptive manner (Study 2). Two cross-sectional studies among healthy individuals were conducted (Study 1 n = 284; 70% female; Mage = 22.15 years; Study 2 n = 210, 65.7% female, Mage = 28.07) in which trait self-control, thought control ability, subjective well-being (study 1), and coping styles (study 2) were measured. Additionally, we investigated the mediating role of thought control ability and the conditional effect of gender on this mediation. The results of Study 1 indicate that trait self-control is positively related to subjective well-being. Moreover, thought control ability fully mediated the relationship between trait self-control and subjective well-being, and this effect was particularly strong for women. In Study 2, trait self-control was positively associated with adaptive forms of coping, but negatively with maladaptive coping. Moreover, thought control ability partially mediated the relationship between trait self-control and both types of coping, with stronger results for women than for men. These results suggest that trait self-control affects positive life outcomes in part through an ability to keep unwanted thoughts at bay, thereby facilitating a focus on goal pursuit.
Autism Spectrum Condition, Good and Bad Motives of Offending, and Sentencing
Authors: Varelius Jukka
Published: April 2020

It has been proposed that the ways in which the criminal justice system treats offenders with Autism spectrum condition (ASC) should duly account for how the condition influences the offenders’ behavior. While the recommendation appears plausible, what adhering to it means in practice remains unclear. A central feature of ASC is seen to be that people with the condition have difficulties with understanding and reacting to the mental states of others in what are commonly considered as adequate ways. This article aims to clarify how the difficulties affect the moral weight to be given to the good and bad motives of offending in sentencing offenders with ASC. I start by explicating the main points of departure of the endeavor. After that I assess the moral significance of the good and bad motives of offenders with ASC in view of four cases and a comparison with how we commonly treat people who are not as able to understand and react to the mental states of others as neurotypical adults. I suggest that considerations pertaining to what has been called the primary orientation of morality provide grounds for deeming the good motives of offenders with ASC as morally significant as those of otherwise similar neurotypical offenders and the bad motives of offenders with ASC as less morally significant than those of otherwise similar neurotypical offenders. After considering three possible objections to the suggestion, I conclude by briefly elucidating its purported import.
The heterogeneous influence of economic growth on environmental pollution: evidence from municipal data of China
Authors: Huangfu Zhen , Hu Hui , Xie Nan , Zhu Yu-Qi , Chen Hao , Wang Yang
Published: April 2020

This study aims to investigate the influence of rapid economic development on pollution at the municipal level in China. It constructs a Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology model (STIRPAT model) and uses comprehensive municipal data on industrial pollution and economic performance. The dataset contains 290 cities from 2003 to 2016 as a sample for the panel data analysis. The study further separates the cities into two groups by their levels of economic development for heterogeneity analysis. It reveals that a low level of economic development would aggravate environmental pollution, and when the economy reaches a high level, this economic development will improve environmental quality. We also find that the relationships between foreign direct investment and industrial dust and sulfur dioxide (SO2) discharge are significant, while the relationship between economic growth and effluent emission is not. The more developed subsample cities present an inverted U-shaped curve between industrial pollutant emission, GDP per capita, and foreign direct investment, while the less developed subsamples show no such relationship. Since the shape of these curves differs among regions, their turning points vary accordingly. Based on this finding, this study suggests that the governments of more developed cities should balance environmental pollution and economic development by enhancing environmental regulations and adjusting industrial structure.
Does Compassion Predict Blood Pressure and Hypertension? The Modifying Role of Familial Risk for Hypertension
Authors: Saarinen Aino I. L. , Keltikangas-Järvinen Liisa , Hintsa Taina , Pulkki-Råback Laura , Ravaja Niklas , Lehtimäki Terho , Raitakari Olli , Hintsanen Mirka
Published: April 2020

Background

This study investigated (i) whether compassion is associated with blood pressure or hypertension in adulthood and (ii) whether familial risk for hypertension modifies these associations.

Method

The participants (N = 1112–1293) came from the prospective Young Finns Study. Parental hypertension was assessed in 1983–2007; participants’ blood pressure in 2001, 2007, and 2011; hypertension in 2007 and 2011 (participants were aged 30–49 years in 2007–2011); and compassion in 2001.

Results

High compassion predicted lower levels of diastolic and systolic blood pressure in adulthood. Additionally, high compassion was related to lower risk for hypertension in adulthood among individuals with no familial risk for hypertension (independently of age, sex, participants’ and their parents’ socioeconomic factors, and participants’ health behaviors). Compassion was not related to hypertension in adulthood among individuals with familial risk for hypertension.

Conclusion

High compassion predicts lower diastolic and systolic blood pressure in adulthood. Moreover, high compassion may protect against hypertension among individuals without familial risk for hypertension. As our sample consisted of comparatively young participants, our findings provide novel implications for especially early-onset hypertension.
Estimates of genetic parameters for production, behaviour, and health traits in two Swiss honey bee populations
Authors: Guichard Matthieu , Neuditschko Markus , Soland Gabriele , Fried Padruot , Grandjean Mélanie , Gerster Sarah , Dainat Benjamin , Bijma Piter , Brascamp Evert W.
Published: April 2020

Successful honey bee breeding programmes require traits that can be genetically improved by selection. Heritabilities for production, behaviour, and health traits, as well as their phenotypic correlations, were estimated in two distinct Swiss Apis mellifera mellifera and Apis mellifera carnica populations based on 9 years of performance records and more than two decades of pedigree information. Breeding values were estimated by a best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) approach, taking either queen or worker effects into account. In A. m. mellifera, the highest heritabilities were obtained for defensive behaviour, calmness during inspection, and hygienic behaviour, while in A. m. carnica, honey yield and hygienic behaviour were the most heritable traits. In contrast, estimates for infestation rates by Varroa destructor suggest that the phenotypic variation cannot be attributed to an additive genetic origin in either population. The highest phenotypic correlations were determined between defensive behaviour and calmness during inspection. The implications of these findings for testing methods and the management of the breeding programme are discussed.