bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Introduction: The Case for Discrimination Research
Authors: Fibbi Rosita , Midtbøen Arnfinn H. , Simon Patrick
Published: April 2021

Increasing migration-related diversity in Europe has fostered dramatic changes since the 1950s, among them the rise of striking ethno-racial inequalities in employment, housing, health, and a range of other social domains. These ethno-racial disadvantages can be understood as evidence of widespread discrimination; however, scholarly debates reflect striking differences in the conceptualization and measurement of discrimination in the social sciences. Indeed, what discrimination is, as well as how and why it operates, are differently understood and studied by the various scholarships and scientific fields. It is the ambition of this book to summarize how we frame, study, theorize, and aim at combatting ethno-racial discrimination in Europe.
Concepts of Discrimination
Authors: Fibbi Rosita , Midtbøen Arnfinn H. , Simon Patrick
Published: April 2021

This chapter gives an overview of some of the key concepts in the field of discrimination. It starts by distinguishing between direct and indirect discrimination in legal definitions. Next, we define the interrelated concepts of multiple discrimination and intersectionality, which increasingly are used in both legal studies and the social sciences, before giving an account of the interrelated concepts of organizational, institutional, and systemic discrimination. The chapter ends by reflecting on the complex relationship between discrimination and the endurance of categorical inequalities in societies where all members formally enjoy the principle of equality.
Combatting Discrimination
Authors: Fibbi Rosita , Midtbøen Arnfinn H. , Simon Patrick
Published: April 2021

There is a large variety of policies and actions contributing to tackling discrimination against immigrants and ethno-racial minorities, and countries vary greatly in their strategies to tackle ethnic and racial discrimination. This chapter distinguishes between three main types of measures – antidiscrimination legislation, affirmative action and other equal opportunity policies, and tools for promoting diversity – and describe their origins as well as whether they are implemented in different contexts. The chapter also reviews studies that have aimed at assessing the effectiveness of measures to combat discrimination and concludes by pointing out the necessity of statistics broken down by ethnicity or race to uncover unfair treatment and disadvantage faced by minorities.
Conclusion
Authors: Fibbi Rosita , Midtbøen Arnfinn H. , Simon Patrick
Published: April 2021

This chapter briefly summarizes the content of the book, emphasizing how the impressive breadth of research reveal a worrying picture of enduring discrimination in immigrant-receiving societies across space and time, suggesting the contour of troubling “three P’s” in contemporary European societies: that ethno-racial discrimination appears to be pervasive, perpetuating, and persistent. The chapter also revisits the relationship between theories of integration and discrimination, and it concludes by pointing out promising for future research on discrimination.
Welfare and Mobility: Migrants’ Experiences of Social Welfare Protection in Transnational and Translocal Spaces
Authors: Ryndyk Oleksandr , Suter Brigitte , Odden Gunhild
Published: April 2021

As migrants throughout the world make important contributions to their families’ social welfare, migration often implies changes in the ways in which individual’s and families’ needs for economic and social-welfare protection are met. This book contributes to the existing literature on transnational mobility and social protection by bringing in empirical evidence from across the globe which illustrates the multitude of mechanisms in which welfare concerns shape individual and family decisions about mobility and vice versa. By focusing on individuals, households and families rather than on nation states, the book’s contributors distance themselves from the macro and nation-state level of analysis in the field of migration and welfare research. Despite the emphasis on migrants’ subjective rationalities, the book’s chapters often highlight the political nature of many dilemmas faced by migrants and their families and expose national-welfare systems’ inherent sedentary bias. This book is designed for a broad range of audiences, from established scholars and policy-makers to graduate students of Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology and Human Geography who are interested in transnational mobility and social protection. We hope that the readers will find the contributions to this book insightful and valuable for their understanding of migrants’ experiences of social-welfare protection in a globalised world.
Securing Old-Age Pensions Across Borders: Sudanese Transnational Families Across the Netherlands, the UK and Sudan
Authors: Serra Mingot Ester
Published: April 2021

This chapter explores the social-protection domain of old-age pensions for Sudanese transnational families. The chapter is based on data collected during 14 months of multi-sited and partly matched-sample ethnographic fieldwork (2015–2017) with 21 Sudanese migrants in the Netherlands, 22 in the UK and 19 of their families in Sudan. Drawing on the life stories of members of different Sudanese families, this contribution addresses the question of what kinds of consideration underlie the decisions of Sudanese migrants when moving to certain places to secure their old-age pension. The chapter shows that the different mobilities in which Sudanese migrants engage have the double aim of both providing for their elderly parents back home now and securing their own pension in the future. The findings question the idea of ‘welfare shopping’ and show that migrants’ decision to move is not based so much on more or less generous welfare states but on the possibilities to arrange their own and their families’ social protection in a manner that is deemed better in the family’s understanding of social protection, which is strongly embedded in practices of generalised reciprocity.
Settling for Welfare? Shifting Access to Welfare, Migration and Settlement Aspirations of Filipina Single Mothers in Japan
Authors: Celero Jocelyn O.
Published: April 2021

This chapter is concerned with Filipina single mothers’ access to diverse forms of welfare assistance in Japan and its impact on their decisions, aspirations and capabilities for migration and settlement. It fundamentally asks: Does access to the welfare system make Filipina migrant mothers settle in or move away from Japan? I argue that welfare arrangements significantly affect Filipina single mothers and the ways in which they raise their children and manage a transnational household. Access to child-rearing, subsidised living and housing benefits in Japan, combined with private welfare arrangements in the Philippines, have enabled them to navigate various life-course events. Analysis of their welfare access across time and space suggests that Filipina immigrants’ migration and settlement aspirations are contingent upon macro-level factors such as the restrictive nature of Japan’s immigration, welfare and labour policies, the ambivalent attitudes of Japanese society towards immigrants and individual factors such as legal status, residency and social networks that influence their socio-economic roles and family-related activities in Japan and the Philippines. Attaining permanent residency in Japan is a utilitarian choice which gives them flexible options for the future. Their aspirations to eventually either return to the Philippines or to settle in Japan are influenced less by the ‘adequate’ social protection available in Japan than by the age of their children, their investments and their dreams of a desirable retirement.
Sentenza 238/2014: EU Law and EU Values
Authors: Mattarella Bernardo Giorgio
Published: April 2021

The relationship between Judgment 238/2014 of the Italian Constitutional Court and EU law is, at first glance, apparently weak, as the subject matter of the former is not governed by the latter, nor there have been any judgments from EU courts regarding the case. However, if one considers the origin and purpose of the EU itself and the state of relations between Italy and Germany, one cannot help but examine the case from a European law perspective. Judgment 238/2014 is relevant to European law in several ways, all of which concern not only military cooperation in the EU but also the protection of human rights, the risk of forum shopping and, above all, how reliable member states are in their mutual relations. European law in turn is relevant to the present case not so much because it offers solutions but because it shows a method for settling clashes between legal systems and illustrates its inherent difficulties. Sentenza 238/2014 is an unpersuasive judgment and can be criticized from different angles: the legal one (international and constitutional law), the factual reconstruction and the judgment’s likely effects. There are, however, two possibilities of resolving the situation that Sentenza has produced: firstly the legal one, which involves the use of all possible tools to limit its effects; and secondly the diplomatic one, which implies further negotiations. European law does not provide a ground for a preference between these two options, but it suggests that none of these ways is neglected.
Between Cynicism and Idealism: Is the Italian Constitutional Court Passing the Buck to the Italian Judiciary?
Authors: Boggero Giovanni , Oellers-Frahm Karin
Published: April 2021

In this chapter we focus on the consequences ofSentenza238/2014 for the Italian judiciary. The judgment of theCorte Costituzionaleobliges the Italian tribunals to admit claims for the reparation of victims or the heirs of victims and to decide on the merits. In this context, a series of difficult legal questions arise that require consistent answers. The practice shows, however, that consistent answers cannot be taken for granted as long as the decision is in the hands of lower-level tribunals. The questions to be solved concern, firstly, who can bring a claim: the victims only or—in cases where they are no longer alive—also their spouses, children, or even grandchildren and other family members? This raises a second question namely whether there is any time limit for bringing claims, which of course touches upon more general concerns, such as intertemporal law, statutory limitations, prescriptions, forfeiture and inadmissibility due to reparation agreements. Thirdly, there is the question as to the specific nature of the reparations: for example, financial reparations and their calculation standards, or satisfaction only? A further question arising from all decisions granting reparation relates to the execution of the judgments, as it seems rather illusory that Germany will comply voluntarily with such judgments. An additional aspect the chapter addresses is the broader impact of the decisions of the Italian judiciary: the non-recognition of state immunity before Italian tribunals will make Italy an attractive forum for similar claims, evidence of which has already emerged. Furthermore, the decisions of the tribunals will serve—although certainly involuntarily—as precedents in similar cases not only in Italy. Such effects will concern issues such as (a) the reparation of war-related claims on an individual basis and (b) their consequences for the readiness of states to terminate armed activities by concluding peace treaties and reparation agreements on a lump sum basis. With a view to actual armed conflicts that are mostly not international armed conflicts the question has then to be asked (c) whether individual reparation claims will lead to discriminatory consequences as reparation will probably only be realizable for victims of war crimes committed by state organs and not those committed by non-state actors. The chapter will then conclude by trying to assess more in general the task of constitutional and/or supreme courts to balance the consequences flowing from their decisions against their power or intent to enhance the development of (international) law.
Moving Beyond Judicial Conflict in the Name of the Pre-Eminence of Fundamental Human Rights
Authors: Onida Valerio
Published: April 2021

Sentenza 238/2014 can be criticized insofar as it seems to ground Italy’s refusal to comply with the Jurisdictional Immunities Judgment of the International Court of Justice on the basis of the right of access to a judge for the victims of the conduct of German armed forces during World War II. Indeed, the principle of state’s immunity to the civil jurisdiction of other states regarding the conduct of their own armed forces does not in itself breach a victim’s right of access to a judge, which theoretically in this case might also be granted by a German court. However, Sentenza 238/2014 has the merit of highlighting, in the specific case of the Italian Military Internees (IMIs), the violation of the victims’ right to an effective judicial protection of their fundamental rights, given that German jurisdictions excluded every reparation that favoured IMIs. Such fundamental rights must prevail over the international rules relating to state immunity because, according to the supreme principles of the Italian constitutional order and to international law itself, fundamental human rights violations related to crimes against humanity must benefit from an effective protection. The impasse between Italy and Germany should be solved through a new joint initiative between the two governments (carried out ideally under a common understanding of the two Presidents of the Republic), which should examine the applicants’ cases in order to grant them reparation. Though symbolic, such reparation will have an important moral dimension.
Recollections of a Judge
Authors: Cassese Sabino
Published: April 2021

As a former justice of the Italian Constitutional Court serving at the time of Sentenza 238/2014, this chapter illustrates my major concerns towards this Judgement. I outline several reasons for a possible ‘dissent’ (procedural, factual, constitutional, theoretical and strategic). With ex post remarks, the chapter elaborates some additional thoughts on the unnecessary opposition between national and international law and on certain Italian ambiguities towards its past.
The Illusion of Perfect Justice
Authors: Tomuschat Christian
Published: April 2021

The judgment of the Italian Constitutional Court (ItCC) of 22 October 2014 has set a bad precedent for international law by denying the implementation, within Italy, of the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of 3 February 2012. The ICJ found that Italian courts and tribunals had violated German jurisdictional immunity by entertaining suits brought by Italian citizens against Germany on account of damages caused by war crimes committed during World War II by German occupation forces. According to a well-consolidated rule of general international law, no state may be sued before the courts of another state with regard to acts performed in the exercise of its sovereign power. In contravention of Article 94 of the UN Charter, the ItCC deemed it legitimate to discard that ruling because of the particularly grave character of many of the violations in question. It proceeded from the assumption that the right to a remedy established under the Italian Constitution was absolute and must apply even where the financial settlement of the consequences of armed conflict is at issue. However, it has failed to show the existence of any individual reparation claims and has omitted to assess the issue of war reparations owed by Germany in their broader complexity. The judgment of the ItCC might be used in the future as a pretext to ignore decisions of the World Court.
A Story of ‘Trials and Errors’ That Might Have No Happy End
Authors: Luther† Jörg
Published: April 2021

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) and Italian Constitutional Court (ItCC) have created a deadlock between two diverging res iudicatae on state immunities and judicial remedies as well as a tension between two republics that do not share the same constitutional and international identities. In order to avoid a further spiralling of decisions, judges tried to promote the negotiation of ‘a happy outcome’ for a category of victims of war crimes that risk dying without being entitled to any compensation. This chapter analyses the general cultural context of ‘academic diplomacy’. Both state sovereignty and human solidarity could be maintained through a voluntary compensation for moral damages to the victims of massacres, deportation, and forced labour during World War II. The moral-responsibility approach suggested by the ICJ could be stronger than the legal-liability threat backed by the ItCC. A belated common solidarity funded by both German and Italian citizens and employers could be the best way out, but considering that many of the now elderly victims are approaching the end of their lifespans, it might be cynically too late. This could, paradoxically, help to remind the world of the injustices they suffered. Yet, on grounds of this tragic end, state immunity and fundamental rights might further be delegitimized in possible wars to come.
Waiting for Negotiations: An Italian Way to Get Out of the Deadlock
Authors: Bufalini Alessandro
Published: April 2021

The outcome of Judgment 238/2014 does not directly rely on the fact that the international dispute on state immunity involves two member states of the EU. Also, it is difficult to envisage at the European level any normative development on the international rules on state immunity. It seems, however, that some useful lessons can be learnt from the judicial dialogue between the European Court of Justice, the European Court of Human Rights, and constitutional courts. In very general terms and for many reasons, the relationship between constitutional courts and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) cannot rely on particularly sophisticated techniques of judicial dialogue.

This encourages us to consider the importance of involving state-level political organs as one of the counterparts to the dialogue. The potential power of judges to address these political organs in order to find a diplomatic solution raises the thorny question of whether this availability of alternative means of dispute settlement at the international level might impact on (or somehow restrict) the right of access to justice for Italian victims. Since both ICJ and the Italian Constitutional Court (ItCC) seem to agree that negotiation is the alternative dispute settlement par excellence (and the only means available to settle the present dispute at the international level), the ItCC might have given more importance to the availability of alternative means of redress—in the form of negotiations between the two states—in order to wear down the absolute character of the principle of judicial protection enshrined in Article 24 of the Italian Constitution.

Of course, a negotiated solution depends upon the willingness of both parties, whereas an Italian political initiative aimed at unilaterally granting reparation to the victims is always possible. Moreover, the latter solution may stop the enforcement of Judgment 238/2014 and reduce Italy’s exposure to international responsibility for non-compliance with the 2012 ICJ Judgment. So long as Italian victims and their heirs are compensated, the restriction on their right to seek justice through the courts might become more tolerable for the Italian tribunals.
Perimeter Approximation of Convex Discs in the Hyperbolic Plane and on the Sphere
Authors: Fodor Ferenc
Published: April 2021

Eggleston (Approximation to plane convex curves. I. Dowker-type theorems. Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. 7, 351–377 (1957)) proved that in the Euclidean plane the best approximating convex n-gon to a convex disc K is always inscribed in K if we measure the distance by perimeter deviation. We prove that the analogue of Eggleston’s statement holds in the hyperbolic plane, and we give an example showing that it fails on the sphere.
Not Just Dyspnoea: Swallowing as a Concern for Adults with Laryngotracheal Stenosis Undergoing Airway Reconstruction
Authors: Clunie Gemma M. , Belsi Athina , Roe Justin W. G. , Alexander Caroline M. , Sandhu Gurpreet , McGregor Alison
Published: April 2021

Acquired laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) is a rare condition causing dyspnea and stridor. Patients often require multiple surgical procedures with no guarantee of a definitive outcome. Difficulty swallowing is a recognised problem associated with LTS and the reconstructive surgeries required to manage the condition. The breathlessness patient’s experience impacts on swallowing, and the vulnerable structures of the larynx are implicated during complex surgeries. This leads to dysphagia post-surgery, with some patients experiencing more chronic symptoms depending on the biomechanical impact of the surgery, or a pre-existing dysphagia. Despite this there is limited observational research about the dysphagia associated with LTS, with no exploration of the patient experience. Our aim was to investigate patient experience of living with LTS focussing on dysphagia in order to guide clinical practice. A qualitative study was completed using focus groups and semi-structured interviews with 24 patients who have had reconstructive surgery for LTS. Thematic analysis was used to identify three over-arching themes: The Physical Journey, The Emotional Journey and The Medical Journey. Key sub-themes included the importance of self-management and control, presence of symptoms, benefits of therapy, living with a life-long condition, fear and anxiety, autonomy, medicalisation of normal processes and the dichotomy between staff expertise and complacency. Swallowing was connected to all themes. The results are reviewed with consideration of the wider literature of lived experience particularly in relation to other chronic conditions and those that carry a high symptom burden such as head and neck cancer. Future clinical and research recommendations have been made. Akin to other clinical groups, adults with LTS are keen that management of their swallowing is person-centred and holistic.
Effect of the Preparation Method of LaSrCoFeOx Perovskites on the Activity of N2O Decomposition
Authors: Richards Nia , Parker Luke A. , Carter James H. , Pattisson Samuel , Morgan David J. , Dummer Nicholas F. , Golunski Stanislaw E. , Hutchings Graham J.
Published: April 2021

N2O remains a major greenhouse gas and contributor to global warming, therefore developing a catalyst that can decompose N2O at low temperatures is of global importance. We have investigated the use of LaSrCoFeOx perovskites for N2O decomposition and the effect of surface area, A and B site elements, Co–O bond strength, redox capabilities and oxygen mobility have been studied. It was found that by using a citric acid preparation method, perovskites with strong redox capabilities and weak Co–O bonds can be formed at relatively low calcination temperatures (550 °C) resulting in highly active catalysts. The enhanced activity is related to the presence of highly mobile oxygen species. Oxygen recombination on the catalyst surface is understood to be a prominent rate limiting step for N2O decomposition. Here the reduced strength of Co–O bonds and mobile lattice oxygen species suggest that the surface oxygen species have enhanced mobility, aiding recombination, and subsequent regeneration of the active sites. La0.75Sr0.25Co0.81Fe0.19Ox prepared by citric acid method converted 50% of the N2O in the feed (T50) at 448 °C.

Graphic Abstract
Vaginal Examinations During Childbirth: Consent, Coercion and COVID-19
Authors: Nelson Anna
Published: April 2021

In this paper I assess the labour ward admission policies introduced by some National Health Service (NHS) trusts during the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that these intersected with other policies in a manner which may have coerced birthing people into consenting to vaginal examinations they might have otherwise refused. In order to fully understand the potential severity of these policies, I situate this critique in the historical and contemporary context of the problematic relationship between consent and vaginal examinations. Identifying the legal wrongs associated with performing coerced vaginal examinations, I highlight that the law is inadequately equipped to provide appropriate redress. Further, I illustrate that the issue explored in this paper reflects broader problems which exist with regard to the focus of, and the (under)investment in, the maternity services.
Empiricism Must, but Cannot, Presuppose Real Causation
Authors: Radder Hans
Published: April 2021

In this article, I put forward a basic philosophical claim: empirical scientific knowledge, that is, knowledge generated in experimental and observational practices, presupposes real causation. My discussion exploits two core notions from the philosophical analysis of scientific experimentation and observation: the aim of realizing object-apparatus correlations and the required control of the relevant interactions between environment and experimental or observational system. The conclusion is that, without the notion of real causation, acquiring epistemically sound empirical knowledge is impossible. Several empiricist objections to this conclusion are discussed and refuted. As a consequence, empiricism faces an unsolvable dilemma: either it cannot account for empirical knowledge or it should accept the existence of unobservable but real causal interactions.
The Effects of Caring for Young Children with Developmental Disabilities on Mothers’ Health and Healthcare Use: Analysis of Primary Care Data in the Born in Bradford Cohort
Authors: Masefield Sarah C. , Prady Stephanie L. , Sheldon Trevor A. , Small Neil , Jarvis Stuart , Pickett Kate E.
Published: April 2021

We explored the association between caregiving for preschool children with developmental disabilities and maternal health and healthcare use using linked primary care and Born in Bradford birth cohort data. Adjusting for prenatal health, healthcare use and socioeconomic status, mothers who were caregivers were more likely than other mothers to have symptoms of psychological distress (odds ratio 1.24; 95% CI 1.01, 1.53), exhaustion (1.42; 1.12, 1.80) and possibly head and musculoskeletal pain (1.18; 0.97, 1.43). Despite the higher prevalence of symptoms, they did not access healthcare services more and may seek healthcare for psychological distress less often (0.64; 0.40, 1.02). In general, socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with worse health. Pakistani ethnicity (versus white British) and prenatal consultation were strongly associated with higher postnatal consultation rates. Prenatal ill health, healthcare use and socioeconomic status are important factors in the detection of postnatal ill health via primary care services. If caregiver burden and the risk of under-detecting (and thus under treating) caregiver ill health is not addressed during the preschool period health inequalities between caregivers and other mothers and their families may persist and grow. The health of mothers of young disabled children, in particular their unmet health needs, warrants attention in research and clinical practice.
Drought-related vulnerability and its policy implications in Hungary
Authors: Buzási Attila , Pálvölgyi Tamás , Esses Diána
Published: April 2021

Drought phenomena have been frequent in Hungarian history. One of the most important sectors in Hungary is agriculture, so the agricultural drought is a particularly important area to be examined. The purpose of the study is to determine how vulnerable each county (NUTS-3 regions) is to the expected effects of drought. The study provides an assessment framework of drought-related vulnerabilities and the preparedness of drought policies at the NUTS-3 level in Hungary. The drought-related vulnerability of NUTS-3 regions was determined by selected exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity indicators. The calculation of drought vulnerability is based on the IPCC 2007 methodology, while the input data were derived from the National Adaptation Geo-information System online data platform and Hungarian agro-statistical data sources. An assessment framework of drought-related policy performance of NUTS-3-level climate change strategies was developed. The evaluation methodology is based on a specific scorecard of evaluation criteria related to the performance of the county’s drought-related objectives and measures. According to the relationship between the county’s drought-related vulnerability and policy performance, the counties were classified into four types. The main results show that several counties fail the target by overestimating the role of drought prevention, with little vulnerability index. In contrast, many counties are not adequately prepared for the impacts of drought, despite their high vulnerability index.
Presuppositions, implicatures, and contextual equivalence
Authors: Marty Paul , Romoli Jacopo
Published: April 2021

Maximize Presupposition!(MP), as originally proposed in Heim (Semantik: Ein internationales Handbuch der zeitgenössischen Forschung, pp. 487–535, 1991) and developed in subsequent works, offers an account of the otherwise mysterious unassertability of a variety of sentences. At the core of MP is the idea that speakers are urged to use a sentenceψover a sentenceϕifψcontributes the same new information asϕ, yet carries a stronger presupposition. While MP has been refined in many ways throughout the years, most (if not all) of its formulations have retained this characterisation of the MP-competition. Recently, however, the empirical adequacy of this characterisation has been questioned in light of certain newly discovered cases that are infelicitous, despite meeting MP-competition conditions. This has led some researchers to broaden the scope of MP, extending it to competition between sentences which are not contextually equivalent (Spector and Sudo in Linguistics and Philosophy 40(5):473–517, 2017) and whose presuppositions are not satisfied in the context (Anvari in Proceedings of Semantics and Linguistic Theory 28, pp. 711–726, 2018; Manuscript, IJN-ENS, 2019). In this paper, we present a body of evidence showing that these formulations of MP are sometimes too liberal, sometimes too restrictive: they overgenerate infelicity for a variety of felicitous cases while leaving the infelicity of minimally different cases unaccounted for. We propose an alternative, implicature-based approach stemming from Magri (PhD dissertation, MIT, 2009), Meyer (PhD dissertation, MIT, 2013), and Marty (PhD dissertation, MIT, 2017), which reintroduces contextual equivalence and presupposition satisfaction in some form through the notion of relevance. This approach is shown to account for the classical and most of the novel cases. Yet some of the latter remain problematic for this approach as well. We end the paper with a systematic comparison of the different approaches to MP and MP-like phenomena, covering both the classical and the novel cases. All in all, the issue of how to properly restrict the competition for MP-like phenomena remains an important challenge for all accounts in the literature.
Eisenstein series and an asymptotic for the K-Bessel function
Authors: Tseng Jimmy
Published: April 2021

We produce an estimate for theK-Bessel function$$K_{r + i t}(y)$$Kr+it(y)with positive, real argumentyand of large complex order$$r+it$$r+itwhereris bounded and$$t = y \sin \theta $$t=ysinθfor a fixed parameter$$0\le \theta \le \pi /2$$0≤θ≤π/2or$$t= y \cosh \mu $$t=ycoshμfor a fixed parameter$$\mu >0$$μ>0. In particular, we compute the dominant term of the asymptotic expansion of$$K_{r + i t}(y)$$Kr+it(y)as$$y \rightarrow \infty $$y→∞. Whentandyare close (or equal), we also give a uniform estimate. As an application of these estimates, we give bounds on the weight-zero (real-analytic) Eisenstein series$$E_0^{(j)}(z, r+it)$$E0(j)(z,r+it)for each inequivalent cusp$$\kappa _j$$κjwhen$$1/2 \le r \le 3/2$$1/2≤r≤3/2.
Anticoagulant treatment satisfaction with warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants for venous thromboembolism
Authors: Fang Margaret C. , Go Alan S. , Prasad Priya A. , Hsu Jin-Wen , Fan Dongjie , Portugal Cecilia , Sung Sue Hee , Reynolds Kristi
Published: April 2021

Treatment options for patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) include warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Although DOACs are easier to administer than warfarin and do not require routine laboratory monitoring, few studies have directly assessed whether patients are more satisfied with DOACs. We surveyed adults from two large integrated health systems taking DOACs or warfarin for incident VTE occurring between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2018. Treatment satisfaction was assessed using the validated Anti-Clot Treatment Scale (ACTS), divided into the ACTS Burdens and ACTS Benefits scores; higher scores indicate greater satisfaction. Mean treatment satisfaction was compared using multivariable linear regression, adjusting for patient demographic and clinical characteristics. The effect size of the difference in means was calculated using a Cohen’s d (0.20 is considered a small effect and ≥ 0.80 is considered large). We surveyed 2217 patients, 969 taking DOACs and 1248 taking warfarin at the time of survey. Thirty-one point five percent of the cohort was aged ≥ 75 years and 43.1% were women. DOAC users were on average more satisfied with anticoagulant treatment, with higher adjusted mean ACTS Burdens (50.18 v. 48.01, p < 0.0001) and ACTS Benefits scores (10.21 v. 9.84, p = 0.046) for DOACs vs. warfarin, respectively. The magnitude of the difference was small (Cohen’s d of 0.29 for ACTS Burdens and 0.12 for ACTS Benefits). Patients taking DOACs for venous thromboembolism were on average more satisfied with anticoagulant treatment than were warfarin users, although the magnitude of the difference was small.
Sharing is caring - the importance of capital goods when assessing environmental impacts from private and shared laundry systems in Sweden
Authors: Klint Erik , Peters Gregory
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Previous studies on environmental impacts from domestic laundry have tended to focus solely on private washing machines and detergent. However, public procurement guidelines about the construction of laundry spaces may also be important. This article aims to expand the scope of previous work so that it also includes tumble drying and the building space. By doing this, we examine the potential for shared systems (which are common in Sweden) to reduce the environmental impacts of laundry activities, in comparison with consumer choices associated with machine operation (i.e., wash temperature and amount of detergent).

Methods

An LCA model was created using product information data from the European Union. Emissions from building use were taken from Swedish cradle-to-grave reports on energy-efficient buildings. The resulting model was run with additional sensitivity analysis of the variables, and the associated emissions from each of the scenarios were calculated.

Results and discussion

On average, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for private laundries in Sweden were estimated to be 190 g CO2eq./kg laundry (washed and dried). If a shared laundry was used instead, the resulting emissions decreased by approximately 26%. The greatest contribution to GHG emissions was the use of detergent (22–33% of total emissions), followed by capital goods (11–38% of total emissions).

Conclusion

Deciding to construct shared laundries in newly built apartment buildings in Sweden, rather than in-unit machines, would reduce the emissions from domestic laundry for these tenants by approximately 26%. This is because materials used for manufacturing whitegoods, as well as the emissions associated with the building itself, play a much bigger role than previously thought. Additionally, since the cleaning efficiency of warm water and some of the components used in detergents rises with temperature, emissions from domestic laundering could for some consumers be reduced further by washing athighertemperature but with less detergent. This pattern could be seen in Sweden within regions with hard water, where the emissions from domestic laundry could be reduced by 6–12%.
Grounding, Essence, and Contingentism
Authors: Lenart Karol
Published: April 2021

According to grounding necessitarianism if some facts ground another fact, then the obtaining of the former necessitates the latter. Proponents of grounding contingentism argue against this claim, stating that it is possible for the former facts to obtain without necessitating the latter. In this article I discuss a recent argument from restricted accidental generalisations provided by contingentists that advances such possibility. I argue that grounding necessitarianism can be defended against it. To achieve this aim, I postulate a relationship between grounding and essence by introducing a notion of individual essences understood as a set of essential properties that individuate its bearer. According to a proposed view grounding holds in virtue of identities of its relata, which are in turn determined by their respective individual essences. From there I claim that if grounding holds in virtue of the individual essences of its relata, then it is possible to resist the objection from restricted accidental generalisations and maintain a view that grounds necessitates what is grounded.
Correction to: Discovery and investigation of natural Diels–Alderases
Authors: Watanabe Kenji
Published: April 2021

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-021-01511-3
Visual display for surgical targeting: concepts and usability study
Authors: Regodić Milovan , Bárdosi Zoltán , Diakov Georgi , Galijašević Malik , Freyschlag Christian F. , Freysinger Wolfgang
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Interactive image-guided surgery technologies enable accurate target localization while preserving critical nearby structures in many surgical interventions. Current state-of-the-art interfaces largely employ traditional anatomical cross-sectional views or augmented reality environments to present the actual spatial location of the surgical instrument in preoperatively acquired images. This work proposes an alternative, simple, minimalistic visual interface intended to assist during real-time surgical target localization.

Methods

The estimated 3D pose of the interventional instruments and their positional uncertainty are intuitively presented in a visual interface with respect to the target point. A usability study with multidisciplinary participants evaluates the proposed interface projected in surgical microscope oculars against cross-sectional views. The latter was presented on a screen both stand-alone and combined with the proposed interface. The instruments were electromagnetically navigated in phantoms.

Results

The usability study demonstrated that the participants were able to detect invisible targets marked in phantom imagery with significant enhancements for localization accuracy and duration time. Clinically experienced users reached the targets with shorter trajectories. The stand-alone and multi-modal versions of the proposed interface outperformed cross-sectional views-only navigation in both quantitative and qualitative evaluations.

Conclusion

The results and participants’ feedback indicate potential to accurately navigate users toward the target with less distraction and workload. An ongoing study evaluates the proposed system in a preclinical setting for auditory brainstem implantation.
Predicting regenerative chatter in milling with hardware-in-the-loop simulation using a dexel-based cutting model
Authors: Röck Sascha
Published: April 2021

This article proposes a new model for simulating the interaction between cutting process and machine tool in real-time. The purpose of the model is to be coupled with a real CNC (by using hardware-in-the-loop simulation) in order to consider process forces and to predict regenerative chatter vibrations during virtual commissioning. Therefore a dexel-based workpiece model with adaptive resolution is used for the computation of the chip thickness respectively the cutting forces based on the actual machine tool position and the machining progress on the workpiece. Several simulation experiments are performed to validate the model and to analyze its numerical limits, such as computational accuracy and efficiency. The capability of the model to predict chatter is proven by comparing the simulated critical depth of cut with an analytical solution of the stability lobes. Therefore the dynamics of the machine tool were approximated as a single degree of freedom (SDOF) oscillator. A concluding analysis of the real-time factor confirms the model’s ability to be integrated under hard real-time requirements and with cycle times of just a few milliseconds which are typical of CNCs.
Machine learning and deep learning
Authors: Janiesch Christian , Zschech Patrick , Heinrich Kai
Published: April 2021

Today, intelligent systems that offer artificial intelligence capabilities often rely on machine learning. Machine learning describes the capacity of systems to learn from problem-specific training data to automate the process of analytical model building and solve associated tasks. Deep learning is a machine learning concept based on artificial neural networks. For many applications, deep learning models outperform shallow machine learning models and traditional data analysis approaches. In this article, we summarize the fundamentals of machine learning and deep learning to generate a broader understanding of the methodical underpinning of current intelligent systems. In particular, we provide a conceptual distinction between relevant terms and concepts, explain the process of automated analytical model building through machine learning and deep learning, and discuss the challenges that arise when implementing such intelligent systems in the field of electronic markets and networked business. These naturally go beyond technological aspects and highlight issues in human-machine interaction and artificial intelligence servitization.
LINGO-1 shRNA protects the brain against ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and JAK2/STAT3
Authors: Zhu Jiaying , Zhu Zhu , Ren Yipin , Dong Yukang , Li Yaqi , Yang Xiulin
Published: April 2021

LINGO-1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia. However, its biological function and underlying molecular mechanism in cerebral ischemia remain to be further defined. In our study, middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MACO/R) mice model and HT22 cell oxygen–glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) were established to simulate the pathological process of cerebral ischemia in vivo and in vitro and to detect the relevant mechanism. We found that LINGO-1 mRNA and protein were upregulated in mice and cell models. Down-regulation LINGO-1 improved the neurological symptoms and reduced pathological changes and the infarct size of the mice after MACO/R. In addition, LINGO-1 interference alleviated apoptosis and promoted cell proliferation in HT22 of OGD/R. Moreover, down-regulation of LINGO-1 proved to inhibit nuclear translocation of p-NF-κB and reduce the expression level of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3. In conclusion, our data suggest that shLINGO-1 attenuated ischemic injury by negatively regulating NF-KB and JAK2/STAT3 pathways, highlighting a novel therapeutic target for ischemic stroke.
Identification of robust retailing location patterns with complex network approaches
Authors: Sánchez-Saiz Rosa María , Ahedo Virginia , Santos José Ignacio , Gómez Sergio , Galán José Manuel
Published: April 2021

The problem of location is the cornerstone of strategic decisions in retail management. This decision is usually complex and multidimensional. One of the most relevant success factors is an adequate balanced tenancy, i.e., a complementary ecosystem of retail stores in the surroundings, both in planned and unplanned areas. In this paper, we use network theory to analyze the commercial spatial interactions in all the cities of Castile and Leon (an autonomous community in north-western Spain), Madrid, and Barcelona. Our approach encompasses different proposals both for the definition of the interaction networks and for their subsequent analyses. These methodologies can be used as pre-processing tools to capture features that formalize the relational dimension for location recommendation systems. Our results unveil the retail structure of different urban areas and enable a meaningful comparison between cities and methodologies. In addition, by means of consensus techniques, we identify a robust core of commercial relationships, independent of the particularities of each city, and thus help to distinguish transferable knowledge between cities. The results also suggest greater specialization of commercial space with city size.
Nitration of Jharia basin coals, India: a study of structural modifications by XRD and FTIR techniques
Authors: Boral Prabal , Varma Atul K. , Maity Sudip
Published: April 2021

Four coal samples from Jharia basin, India are treated with nitric acid in glacial acetic acid and aqueous media to find out the chemical, petrographic and spatial structure of the organic mass by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. X-ray parameters of coal like interlayer spacing (d002), crystallite size (Lc), aroamticity (fa), average number of aromatic layers (Nc), and coal rank (I26/I20) have been determined using profile-fitting software. Considerable variation is observed in treated coals in comparison to the demineralized coals. Thed002values of treated coals have increased in both the media showing increase in disordering of organic moieties. A linear relationship has been observed betweend002values with the volatile matter of the coals. Similarly, thed002values show linear relationship with Cdmfcontents for demineralized as well as for the treated coals in both the media. TheLcandNcvalues have decreased in treated coals corresponding to demineralized coals. The present study shows that nitration in both the media is capable of removing the aliphatic side chains from the coals and aromaticity (fa) increases with increase in rank and shows a linear relationship with the vitrinite reflectance. The correspondingI26/I20values are least for treated coals in glacial acetic acid medium followed by raw and then to treated coals in aqueous medium. FTIR studies show that coal arenes of the raw coals are converted into nitro-arenes in structurally modified coals (SMCs) in both the media, the corresponding bands at 1550–1490 and 1355–1315 cm−1respectively. FTIR study confirms that nitration is the predominant phenomenon, though, oxidation and nitration phenomena takes place simultaneously during treatment with nitric acid to form SMCs. In comparison to raw coals, the SMCs show higher aromaticity and may be easily converted to coal derived products like activated carbon and specialty carbon materials.