bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ICO Crowdfunding: Incentives, Pricing Strategy, Token Strategy and Crowd Involvement
Authors: Laatikainen Gabriella , Semenov Alexander , Zhang Yixin , Abrahamsson Pekka
Published: September 2020

Blockchain technologies provide means to develop services that are secure, transparent and efficient by nature. Unsurprisingly, the emerging business opportunities has gained a lot of interest that is realized in form of successful Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) that are able to raise billions of USD through crowdfunding campaign. In this exploratory research we study 91 ICOs through content analysis in order to investigate the special characteristics of ICO crowdfunding as business models towards the possible investors. We found that ICOs can be described through (1) the model for providing incentives for investment, (2) the pricing strategy, (3) the token strategy and (4) the activities for crowd involvement in value co-creation.
Wilson loops in 5d long quiver gauge theories
Authors: Uhlemann Christoph F.
Published: September 2020

Abstract

Quiver gauge theories with a large number of nodes host a wealth of Wilson loop operators. Expectation values are obtained, using supersymmetric localization, for Wilson loops in the antisymmetric representations associated with each individual gauge node, for a sample of 5d long quiver gauge theories whose UV fixed points have holographic duals in Type IIB. The sample includes the TN theories and the results are uniformly given in terms of Bloch-Wigner functions. The holographic representation of the Wilson loops is identified. It comprises, for each supergravity solution, a two-parameter family of D3-branes which exactly reproduce the field theory results and identify points in the internal space with the faces of the associated 5-brane web. The expectation values of (anti)fundamental Wilson loops exhibit an enhanced scaling for many operators, which matches between field theory and supergravity.
Handling deviating control values in concentration-response curves
Authors: Kappenberg Franziska , Brecklinghaus Tim , Albrecht Wiebke , Blum Jonathan , van der Wurp Carola , Leist Marcel , Hengstler Jan G. , Rahnenführer Jörg
Published: September 2020

In cell biology, pharmacology and toxicology dose-response and concentration-response curves are frequently fitted to data with statistical methods. Such fits are used to derive quantitative measures (e.g. EC$$_{20}$$

20

values) describing the relationship between the concentration of a compound or the strength of an intervention applied to cells and its effect on viability or function of these cells. Often, a reference, called negative control (or solvent control), is used to normalize the data. The negative control data sometimes deviate from the values measured for low (ineffective) test compound concentrations. In such cases, normalization of the data with respect to control values leads to biased estimates of the parameters of the concentration-response curve. Low quality estimates of effective concentrations can be the consequence. In a literature study, we found that this problem occurs in a large percentage of toxicological publications. We propose different strategies to tackle the problem, including complete omission of the controls. Data from a controlled simulation study indicate the best-suited problem solution for different data structure scenarios. This was further exemplified by a real concentration-response study. We provide the following recommendations how to handle deviating controls: (1) The log-logistic 4pLL model is a good default option. (2) When there are at least two concentrations in the no-effect range, low variances of the replicate measurements, and deviating controls, control values should be omitted before fitting the model. (3) When data are missing in the no-effect range, the Brain-Cousens model sometimes leads to better results than the default model.
A blow-up dichotomy for semilinear fractional heat equations
Authors: Laister Robert , Sierżęga Mikołaj
Published: September 2020

We derive a blow-up dichotomy for positive solutions of fractional semilinear heat equations on the whole space. That is, within a certain class of convex source terms, we establish a necessary and sufficient condition on the source for all positive solutions to become unbounded in finite time. Moreover, we show that this condition is equivalent to blow-up of all positive solutions of a closely-related scalar ordinary differential equation.
A CE-ICP-MS/MS method for the determination of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles under simulated physiological conditions
Authors: Kruszewska Joanna , Sikorski Jacek , Samsonowicz-Górski Jan , Matczuk Magdalena
Published: September 2020

Over the past few years, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have attracted much attention due to their medicinally attractive properties and their possible application in cancer diagnosis and therapy. However, there is still a lack of appropriate methods to enable quantitative monitoring of the particle changes in a physiological environment, which could be beneficial for evaluating their in vitro and in vivo behavior. For this reason, the main goal of this study was the development of a novel capillary electrophoresis-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS/MS) method for the determination of SPIONs suitable for the future examination of their changes upon incubation with proteins under simulated physiological conditions. The type and flow rate of the collision/reaction gas were chosen with the aim of simultaneous monitoring of Fe and S. The type and concentration of the background electrolyte, applied voltage, and sample loading were optimized to obtain SPION signals of the highest intensity and minimum half-width of the peak. Analytical parameters were at a satisfactory level: reproducibility (intra- and inter-day) of migration times and peak areas (presented as RSD) in the range of 0.23–4.98%, recovery: 96.7% and 93.3%, the limit of detection (for monitoring 56Fe16O+ by mass-shift approach) 54 ng mL−1 Fe (0.97 μM) and 101 ng mL−1 Fe (1.82 μM) for SPIONs with carboxyl and amino terminal groups, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported use of CE-ICP-MS/MS for the quantification of SPIONs and monitoring of interactions with proteins.
Green coffee derived supplements and infusions as a source of polyamines and free amino acids
Authors: Macheiner Lukas , Schmidt Anatol , Mayer Helmut K.
Published: September 2020

This work reports on monoamines (MA), diamines (DA) and polyamines (PA) as well as free amino acids (fAA) in nutritional supplements and infusions derived from green coffee beans. Samples were investigated using a ultra-high performance liquid chromatography UV/FLR method, which was validated regarding specificity, linearity, range, precision, accuracy and limits of detection and quantification. Nutritional supplements based on green coffee beans showed large amounts of total amines ranging from 1090 to 2593 mg/kg, with exceptional high levels of spermidine up to 724 mg/kg, and a content of fAA from 4004 to 12,389 mg/kg. Infusions brewed from green coffee beans showed much lower contents of amines (14–17 mg/L) and fAA (78–100 mg/L). However, if the customary edible portion was considered, infusions from green coffee were a mainly better source for MA and PA as well for fAA, compared to nutritional supplements. Tryptamine and tyramine were predominant as MA putrescine as DA, and spermidine as PA, respectively.

Graphic abstract
A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized study of recombinant thrombomodulin (ART-123) to prevent oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy
Authors: Kotaka Masahito , Saito Yoji , Kato Takeshi , Satake Hironaga , Makiyama Akitaka , Tsuji Yasushi , Shinozaki Katsunori , Fujiwara Toshiyoshi , Mizushima Tsunekazu , Harihara Yasushi , Nagata Naoki , Kurihara Naoto , Ando Masahiko , Kusakawa Genichi , Sakai Takumi , Uchida Yugo , Takamoto Mikihiro , Kimoto Saki , Hyodo Ichinosuke
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this clinical study was to be the first to explore whether ART-123, a recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin, prevents oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN).

Methods

This randomized, phase IIa trial enrolled stage II/III colon cancer patients who received adjuvant mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy. Participants were randomly allocated to 3 arms in a double-blind manner: placebo (placebo: days 1–3); 1-day ART (ART-123: day 1, placebo: days 2–3); and 3-day ART (ART-123: days 1–3). ART-123 (380 U/kg/day) or placebo was infused intravenously before each 2-week cycle of mFOLFOX6. OIPN was assessed with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecological Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity-12 (FACT/GOG-Ntx-12) score by participants and the NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) by investigators.

Results

Seventy-nine participants (placebo n = 28, 1-day ART n = 27, 3-day ART n = 24) received study drugs. The least-squares mean FACT/GOG-Ntx-12 scores at cycle 12 from the mixed effect model for repeated measures were 28.9 with placebo, 36.3 with 1-day ART (vs. placebo: 7.3 [95% CI 1.9 to12.8, p = 0.009]), and 32.3 with 3-day ART (vs. placebo: 3.4 [95% CI −.1 to 9.0, p = 0.222]). The cumulative incidence of NCI-CTCAE grade ≥ 2 sensory neuropathy at cycle 12 was 64.3% with placebo, 40.7% with 1-day ART (vs. placebo: −23.5 [95% CI −48.4 to 4.0], p = 0.108), and 45.8% with 3-day ART (vs. placebo: −18.5 [95% CI −44.2 to 9.4], p = 0.264). Common adverse events were consistent with those reported with mFOLFOX6; no severe bleeding adverse events occurred.

Conclusion

ART-123 showed a potential preventive effect against OIPN with good tolerability. A larger study with 1-day ART is warranted.

NCT02792842, registration date: June 8, 2016
Cooperativity, absolute interaction, and algebraic optimization
Authors: Kaihnsa Nidhi , Ren Yue , Safey El Din Mohab , Martini Johannes W. R.
Published: September 2020

We consider a measure of cooperativity based on the minimal interaction required to generate an observed titration behavior. We describe the corresponding algebraic optimization problem and show how it can be solved using the nonlinear algebra tool . Moreover, we compute the minimal interactions and minimal molecules for several binding polynomials that describe the oxygen binding of various hemoglobins under different conditions. We compare their minimal interaction with the maximal slope of the Hill plot, and discuss similarities and discrepancies with a view towards the shapes of the binding curves.
Peaks in online inquiries into pharyngitis-related symptoms correspond with annual incidence rates
Authors: Brkic Faris F. , Besser Gerold , Janik Stefan , Gadenstaetter Anselm J. , Parzefall Thomas , Riss Dominik , Liu David T.
Published: September 2020

Objective

To assess whether web-based public inquiries into pharyngitis-related search terms follow annual incidence peaks of acute pharyngitis in various countries from both hemispheres.

Methods

Google Trends (GT) was utilized for systematic acquisition of pharyngitis-related search terms (sore throat, cough, fever, cold). Six countries from both hemispheres including four English (United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia) and two non-English speaking countries (Austria and Germany) were selected for further analysis. Time series data on relative search interest for pharyngitis-related search terms, covering a timeframe between 2004 and 2019 were extracted. Following reliability analysis using the intra-class correlation coefficient, the cosinor time series analysis was utilized to determine annual peaks in public-inquiries.

Results

The extracted datasets of GT proved to be highly reliable with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.83 to 1.0. Graphical visualization showed annual seasonal peaks for pharyngitis-related search terms in all included countries. The cosinor time series analysis revealed these peaks to be statistically significant during winter months (all p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our study revealed seasonal variations for pharyngitis-related terms which corresponded to winter incidence peaks of acute pharyngitis. These results highlight the need for easily accessible information on diagnosis, therapy, and red-flag symptoms for this common disease. Accurately informed patients might contribute to a reduction of unnecessary clinic visits and potentially cutback the futile antibiotic overuse.
Simultaneous identification to monitor consortia strain dynamics of four biofuel yeast species during fermentation
Authors: Perez Gabriel , Debernardis Florencia , Boido Eduardo , Carrau Francisco
Published: September 2020

Mixed strain dynamics are still not well or easily monitored although recently molecular identification methods have improved our knowledge. This study used a chromogenic differential plating medium that allows the discrimination of four of the main selected biofuel strains that are currently under development for ethanol production from cellulosic hydrolysates. Complete fermentation of hexoses and xylose was obtained with a yeast consortium composed of Spathaspora passalidarum, Scheffersomyces stipitis, Candida akabanensis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The results showed that C.akabanensis excessively dominated consortium balance. Reducing its inoculum from 33 to 4.8% improved population strain balance and fermentation efficiency. Comparison of the consortia with single strain fermentations showed that it optimize sugar consumption and ethanol yields. This simple and cheap method also has advantages compared with molecular methods, as the yeast strains do not need to be genetically marked and identified cell proportions are probably active in the fermentation system as compared to DNA determination methods.
A framework for temporal and spatial rockfall early warning using micro-seismic monitoring
Authors: Feng Liang , Intrieri Emanuele , Pazzi Veronica , Gigli Giovanni , Tucci Grazia
Published: September 2020

Rockfall risk is usually characterized by a high frequency of occurrence, difficulty in prediction (given high velocity, lack of noticeable forerunners, abrupt collapse, and complex mechanism), and a relatively high potential vulnerability, especially against people and communication routes. Considering that larger rockfalls and rockslides are generally anticipated by an increased occurrence of events, in this study, a framework based on microseismic monitoring is introduced for a temporal and spatial rockfall early warning. This approach is realized through the detection, classification, and localization of all the rockfalls recorded during a 6-month-long microseismic monitoring performed in a limestone quarry in central Italy. Then, in order to provide a temporal warning, an observable quantity of accumulated energy, associated to the rockfall rolling and bouncing and function of the number and volume of events in a certain time window, has been defined. This concept is based on the material failure method developed by Fukuzono-Voight. As soon as the first predicted time of failure and relative warning time are declared, all the rockfalls occurred in a previous time window can be located in a topographic map to find the rockfall susceptible area and thus to complement the warning with spatial information. This methodology has been successfully validated in an ex post analysis performed in the aforementioned quarry, where a large rockfall was forecasted with a lead time of 3 min. This framework provides a novel way for rockfall spatiotemporal early warning, and it could be helpful for activating traffic lights and closing mountain roads or other transportation lines using the knowledge of the time and location of a failure. Since this approach is not based on the detection of the triggering events (like for early warnings based on rainfall thresholds), it can be used also for earthquake-induced failures.
The duty to take appropriate measures to prevent significant transboundary harm and private companies: insights from transboundary hydropower projects
Authors: Rieu-Clarke Alistair
Published: September 2020

Recognition that hydropower plays a role in fostering sustainable development and helping countries move away from fossil fuels has led to a resurgence of planned projects on transboundary rivers around the world. Whilst these projects offer clear benefits, they are not without their socio-ecological impacts. An added feature of hydropower projects is that they tend to involve a wide range of actors that are responsible for their financing, planning, construction and operation (international and domestic; private and State). This begs the question, if it is ultimately the responsibility of States to ensure that these projects are in accordance with international law obligations, what does that responsibility entail when much of the activity is conducted by private companies? International law has a long tradition of placing States under an obligation to regulate the conduct of non-State activities so as to prevent transboundary harm. However, a closer review of the law relating to transboundary hydropower projects reveals that more could be done to guide States as to the appropriate measures that they might put in place to ensure that any hydropower projects involving private actors are implemented in an equitable and sustainable manner.
Fast eyes detection in thermal images
Authors: Knapik Mateusz , Cyganek Bogusław
Published: September 2020

In recent years many methods have been proposed for eye detection. In some cases however, such as driver drowsiness detection, lighting conditions are so challenging that only the thermal imaging is a robust alternative to the visible light sensors. However, thermal images suffer from poor contrast and high noise, which arise due to the physical properties of the long waves processing. In this paper we propose an efficient method for eyes detection based on thermal image processing which can be successfully used in challenging environments. Image pre-processing with novel virtual high dynamic range procedure is proposed, which greatly enhances thermal image contrast and allows for more reliable computation of sparse image descriptors. The bag-of-visual-words approach with clustering was selected for final detections. We compare our method with the YOLOv3 deep learning model. Our method attains high accuracy and fast response in real conditions without computational complexity and requirement of a big dataset associated with the deep neural networks. For quantitative analysis a series of thermal video sequences were recorded in which eye locations were manually annotated. Created dataset was made publicly available on our website.
Alternatives to the EM algorithm for ML estimation of location, scatter matrix, and degree of freedom of the Student t distribution
Authors: Hasannasab Marzieh , Hertrich Johannes , Laus Friederike , Steidl Gabriele
Published: September 2020

In this paper, we consider maximum likelihood estimations of the degree of freedom parameterν, the location parameterμand the scatter matrixΣof the multivariate Studenttdistribution. In particular, we are interested in estimating the degree of freedom parameterνthat determines the tails of the corresponding probability density function and was rarely considered in detail in the literature so far. We prove that under certain assumptions a minimizer of the negative log-likelihood function exists, where we have to take special care of the case$\nu \rightarrow \infty $ν→∞, for which the Studenttdistribution approaches the Gaussian distribution. As alternatives to the classical EM algorithm we propose three other algorithms which cannot be interpreted as EM algorithm. For fixedν, the first algorithm is an accelerated EM algorithm known from the literature. However, since we do not fixν, we cannot apply standard convergence results for the EM algorithm. The other two algorithms differ from this algorithm in the iteration step forν. We show how the objective function behaves for the different updates ofνand prove for all three algorithms that it decreases in each iteration step. We compare the algorithms as well as some accelerated versions by numerical simulation and apply one of them for estimating the degree of freedom parameter in images corrupted by Studenttnoise.
Snowpack-stored atmospheric surface-active contaminants traced with snowmelt water surface film rheology
Authors: Pogorzelski Stanisław J. , Rochowski Paweł , Grzegorczyk Maciej , Boniewicz-Szmyt Katarzyna
Published: September 2020

The aim of the study was to quantify the adsorptive and thermo-elastic properties of snowmelt water surface films and their spatial-temporal evolution with snowpack structure characteristics and the entrapped surface-active organic composition. Surface pressure–area (π-A)T isotherms, surface pressure-temperature (π-T)A isochors, and stress–relaxation (π-t) measurements were performed using a Langmuir trough system on snowmelt water samples collected in a large-scale field studies performed at several industrialized and rural Tricity (Gdansk, Poland) areas at various environmental conditions and subsequent stages of the snowpack melting progress. Since the snow-melted water composition and concentrations of surface active organic matter fractions therein are largely undetermined, the force-area isotherm scaling formalisms (2D virial equation and 2D film scaling theory of polymeric films) were adapted to the complex mixture of surfactants. The surface film parameters and their spatial and temporal evolution turned out to be unequivocally related to principal signatures of the film-forming materials: surfactant concentrations (π, Alim), surface activity (Eisoth, |E|), film material solubility (R), surface material miscibility and 2D architecture complexity (y, βs), molecular thermal mobility (πk), and a timescale of the relaxation processes within the film (τi, |E|). Moreover, the parameters appeared to be correlated with snowpack structure characteristics (snow density ρ, specific snow area SSA, snow cover thickness), sample age time, and anthropogenic atmospheric contamination pressure source locations. In particular, Eisoth was found to be related to ρ and SSA, while R correlated with the solubility of film-forming organics which turned out to be long-chain fatty acids; similarly, spatial profiles of Eisoth revealed the peak values next to the areas being under a severe anthropogenic air pollution pressure. Snowmelt water films stand for a structurally heterogeneous (y > 10) interfacial system where several transition processes of differentiated time-scales (relaxation times from 7 to 63 s) took place leading to the apparent surface viscoelasticity. To sum up, the established surface rheological parameters could serve as novel indicators, based solely on physical attributes, allowing to follow the snowpack evolution, and its melting polymorphism in order to test or improve the existing snow-entrapped organics release models based on chemical analyses. The cross-correlation functional dependences of practical value remain to be established on the larger data set.
Wie viel Religion und Nation braucht der Staat? Administrativ-rechtsförmige Solidaritäten und ihre identitätsbasierten Grundlagen in Europa
Authors: Schnabel Annette
Published: September 2020

Der Beitrag untersucht das Verhältnis zwischen administrativer wohlfahrtsstaatlicher und identitär-partikularer Solidarität. Zunächst wird der Solidaritätsbegriff theoretisch in seiner Mehrdimensionalität entfaltet und dann die beiden Modi der administrativen und der identitär-partikularen Solidarität unterschieden. Diese theoriegeleitete Differenzierung wird im empirischen Teil mit den Daten aus der fünften Welle der European Values Study verknüpft. In einer Mehrebenenanalyse wird für die Mitgliedsländer der Europäischen Union untersucht, wie sich Religiosität und nationenbezogene Zugehörigkeit auf Einstellungen zur administrativen Solidarität in unterschiedlichen staatlichen Kontexten auswirken. Die Studie kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass eine mehrdimensionale Untersuchung von Solidarität das komplexe Verhältnis von administrativer und identitär-partikularer Solidarität näher aufschlüsseln kann und Religiosität und nationenbezogene Zugehörigkeit die Dimensionen der administrativen Solidarität je unterschiedlich beeinflussen: Während Religion teils konkurrierende Einflüsse aufweist, scheint Nation eher unterstützend zu wirken.
Synthesis and antibacterial activity of novel myricetin derivatives containing sulfonylpiperazine
Authors: He Jun , Tang Xue-Mei , Liu Ting-Ting , Peng Feng , Zhou Qing , Liu Li-Wei , He Ming , Xue Wei
Published: September 2020

Myricetin derivatives containing sulfonylpiperazine were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by NMR and HRMS. The antibacterial activity results indicated that some compounds showed good antibacterial activity against Xanthomonas oryzaepv. oryzae (Xoo), Xanthomonas axonopodispv. citri (Xac) and Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs). Among them, compounds 4m and 4p revealed excellent antibacterial activities against Rs with a concentration for 50% of maximal effect (EC50) value of 4 and 4 μg/mL, which were better than the control drugs bismerthiazol (13 μg/mL) and thiodiazole-copper (185 μg/mL). As observed using scanning electron microscope (SEM), these compounds act by causing folding and deformation of the bacterial surface, resulting in incomplete bacterial structure, so as to achieve the goal of bacteriostasis. The myricetin derivatives synthesized are expected to guide the research direction of new antibacterial agents.
Slice Dirac operator over octonions
Authors: Jin Ming , Ren Guangbin , Sabadini Irene
Published: September 2020

The slice Dirac operator over octonions is a slice counterpart of the Dirac operator over quaternions. It involves a new theory of stem functions, which is the extension from the commutative O(1) case to the non-commutative O(3) case. For functions in the kernel of the slice Dirac operator over octonions, we establish the representation formula, the Cauchy integral formula (and, more in general, the Cauchy-Pompeiu formula), and the Taylor as well as the Laurent series expansion formulas.
Anthracycline-Related Heart Failure: Certain Knowledge and Open Questions
Authors: Robinson Emma Louise , Azodi Maral , Heymans Stephane , Heggermont Ward
Published: September 2020

In the last decade, cardio-oncology has become a discipline on its own, with tremendous research going on to unravel the mechanisms underpinning different manifestations of cardiotoxicity caused by anticancer drugs. Although this domain is much broader than the effect of chemotherapy alone, a lot of questions about anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity remain unknown. In this invited review, we provide insights in molecular mechanisms behind anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity and put it in a clinical framework emphasizing the need for patients to understand, detect, and treat this detrimental condition.
Singular ideals of skew Hurwitz polynomial rings
Authors: Ahmadi Morteza
Published: September 2020

For a ring R and an endomorphism $$\alpha $$
α
of R, we provide a full description of left and right singular ideals of the skew Hurwitz polynomial ring $$(hR,\alpha )$$

(
h
R
,
α
)

. We obtain that if $$\alpha $$
α
is an automorphism of R, then R is right (resp., left) nonsingular if and only if $$ (hR,\alpha ) $$

(
h
R
,
α
)

is right (resp., left) nonsingular. We give an example of a ring R and an endomorphism $$\alpha $$
α
of R such that the skew Hurwitz polynomial ring $$(hR,\alpha )$$

(
h
R
,
α
)

is left nonsingular, but not right nonsingular.
Sobolev regular solutions for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations in higher dimensions: asymptotics and representation formulae
Authors: Yan Weiping , Rădulescu Vicenţiu D.
Published: September 2020

In this paper, we consider the steady incompressible Navier–Stokes equations in a smooth bounded domain $$\Omega \subset \mathbb R^n$$

Ω
⊂

R
n

with the dimension $$n\ge 3$$

n
≥
3

. We first establish asymptotic expansion formulae of Sobolev regular finite energy solutions in $$\Omega$$
Ω
. In the second part of this paper, explicit representation formulae of Sobolev regular solutions are showed in the regular polyhedron $$\Omega :=[0,T]^n$$

Ω
:
=

[
0
,
T
]

n

.
On a Durrmeyer-type modification of the Exponential sampling series
Authors: Bardaro Carlo , Mantellini Ilaria
Published: September 2020

In this paper we introduce the exponential sampling Durrmeyer series. We discuss pointwise and uniform convergence properties and an asymptotic formula of Voronovskaja type. Quantitative results are given, using the usual modulus of continuity for uniformly continuous functions. Some examples are also described.
Quantifying the impacts of land use/land cover change on the water balance in the afforested River Basin, Pakistan
Authors: Saddique Naeem , Mahmood Talha , Bernhofer Christian
Published: September 2020

Land use and land cover (LULC) change is one of the key driving elements responsible for altering the hydrology of a watershed. In this study, we investigated the spatio-temporal LULC changes between 2001 and 2018 and their impacts on the water balance of the Jhelum River Basin. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to analyze the impacts on water yield (WY) and evapotranspiration (ET). The model was calibrated and validated with discharge data between 1995 and 2005 and then simulated with different land use. The increase was observed in forest, settlement and water areas during the study period. At the catchment scale, we found that afforestation has reduced the WY and surface runoff, while enhanced the ET. Moreover, this change was more pronounced at the sub-basin scale. Some sub-basins, especially in the northern part of the study area, exhibited an increase in WY due to an increase in the snow cover area. Similarly, extremes land use scenarios also showed significant impact on water balance components. The basin WY has decreased by 38 mm/year and ET has increased about 36 mm/year. The findings of this study could guide the watershed manager in the development of sustainable LULC planning and water resources management.
Dalbavancin as long-term suppressive therapy for patients with Gram-positive bacteremia due to an intravascular source—a series of four cases
Authors: Hitzenbichler Florian , Mohr Arno , Camboni Daniele , Simon Michaela , Salzberger Bernd , Hanses Frank
Published: September 2020

We present four cases with Gram-positive bacteremia (pathogens: MRSA n = 1, Enterococcus spp. n = 3) due to an intravascular source (left ventricular assist device: n = 2, transfemoral aortic valve implantation n = 1, prosthetic aortic valve: n = 1) where no curative treatment was available. These patients received indefinite, chronic suppressive (palliative) therapy with dalbavancin (500 mg weekly or 1000 mg biweekly regimens). Outcomes and clinical characteristics are described; treatment was effective in suppression of bacteremia in all patients over several months (range: 1 to more than 12 months), we observed no relevant side effects.
Sequential lidar sensor system simulation: a modular approach for simulation-based safety validation of automated driving
Authors: Rosenberger Philipp , Holder Martin Friedrich , Cianciaruso Nicodemo , Aust Philip , Tamm-Morschel Jonas Franz , Linnhoff Clemens , Winner Hermann
Published: September 2020

Validating safety is an unsolved challenge before autonomous driving on public roads is possible. Since only the use of simulation-based test procedures can lead to an economically viable solution for safety validation, computationally efficient simulation models with validated fidelity are demanded. A central part of the overall simulation tool chain is the simulation of the perception components. In this work, a sequential modular approach for simulation of active perception sensor systems is presented on the example of lidar. It enables the required level of fidelity of synthetic object list data for safety validation using beforehand simulated point clouds. The elaborated framework around the sequential modules provides standardized interfaces packaging for co-simulation such as Open Simulation Interface (OSI) and Functional Mockup Interface (FMI), while providing a new level of modularity, testability, interchangeability, and distributability. The fidelity of the sequential approach is demonstrated on an everyday scenario at an intersection that is performed in reality at first and reproduced in simulation afterwards. The synthetic point cloud is generated by a sensor model with high fidelity and processed by a tracking model afterwards, which, therefore, outputs bounding boxes and trajectories that are close to reality.
Health risk assessment of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, and Mn) in wild oat grown in soils amended with sediment dredged from the Joumine Dam in Bizerte, Tunisia
Authors: Ben Chabchoubi Imen , Mtibaa Slim , Ksibi Mohamed , Hentati Olfa
Published: September 2020

The Joumine Dam located in northern Tunisia has lost more than 20% of its initial storage capacity due to sedimentation, meaning that sediment management is necessary. The sediments at the reservoir bottom act as a sink for nutrients and chemicals originating from the upper agricultural lands and take the form of suspended particles. We proposed that the dredged sediments could be used to amend arid to semiarid soils, as this would partially cover the financial burden of dredging works and reduce the volume of these deposits. However, to check the feasibility of using the sediments as a fertilizer, it was necessary to assess the potential health risks from contaminants in the sediments. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the human health risk (i.e., the hazard quotient, HQ) from heavy metals consumed due to the ingestion of Bromus ramosus (wild oat) grown in soil amended with the Joumine Dam sediments. Plant growth was monitored in macrocosm (amendment rate of 1.17%) and microcosm (amendment rate ≤ 10%) bioassays to elucidate the metal concentrations in roots, stems, leaves, and seeds. Zn, Cu, and Mn concentrations were analyzed in the plants grown in the macrocosm experiments, while the follow-up was only performed for Zn in the plants grown in the microcosm experiments. The human exposure to soil pollutants (HESP) evaluation model was adopted to evaluate the health risk (HQ) to humans through direct and indirect oral exposure to heavy metals in wild oat. At the macrocosm scale, Cu was found to be the main source of risk (HQ = 1.86) to children. At the microcosm scale, utilization of the sediment reduced the mobility and bioavailability of copper in the soil, thus decreasing the potential health risk from this metal.

Graphic abstract
Thermodynamic and Kinetic Studies of Dissolution of Hematite in Mixtures of Oxalic and Sulfuric Acid
Authors: Vehmaanperä Paula , Salmimies Riina , Häkkinen Antti
Published: September 2020

The dissolution of iron oxides in mixtures of acids is fairly uncommon but can result in a more efficient dissolution process. The objective in this work was to investigate the dissolution of synthetic hematite powder in mixtures of oxalic and sulfuric acid. Experiments were done at different acid ratios and temperatures. An increase in temperature from 15 to 35 °C increased solubility, whereas an increase from 35 to 50 °C did not change the solubility but had a profound effect on the kinetics. An important finding was that oxalic acid advanced the dissolution process since increasing the amount of oxalic acid in the system resulted in faster kinetics and higher solubilities. The dissolution kinetics were well described with the Kabai model, which was the only studied model able to describe the whole reaction time. However, the solid specific constant a varied for the different acid ratios and this is argued to be a result of changes in the solid phase. The changes in the constant a were not in line with the original study of Kabai, which indicates that a cannot be the solid specific constant but it can be the constant connected to dissolving media describing the changes in the dissolution mechanism.
Motorische Leistungsfähigkeit, physisches Selbstkonzept und deren reziproke Zusammenhänge mit dem Body-Mass-Index (BMI) vom Kindergarten bis zur Grundschule
Authors: Dreiskämper Dennis , Utesch Till , Henning Lena , Ferrari Nina , Graf Christine , Tietjens Maike , Naul Roland
Published: September 2020

Sowohl die Motorische Leistungsfähigkeit (MLF) als auch das physische Selbstkonzept (PSK) sind bereits im frühen Kindesalter mit verschiedenen Faktoren gelingender Entwicklung wie beispielsweise der körperlichen Aktivität und dem globalen Selbstwert verbunden. Die Frage nach altersabhängigen wechselseitigen Effekten zwischen der MLF, dem PSK und der physischen Gesundheit, zum Beispiel dem BMI, ist im Kindesalter jedoch bislang unzureichend untersucht. Ziel dieser Studie ist es, zunächst die Stabilität der MLF, des PSK und des BMI sowie das Realitätsmaß zwischen der tatsächlichen motorischen Leistung und der subjektiven Selbsteinschätzung zu untersuchen und anschließend zu prüfen, ob über die Spanne des Kindesalters reziproke Effekte zwischen diesen Faktoren bestehen. In dem BMBF-geförderten Projekt „Gesund aufwachsen“ wurden die motorische Leistung, das PSK sowie der BMI als Faktor der physischen Gesundheit von insgesamt 1378 Kindern aus neun Kindergärten (n = 403) sowie der ersten (n = 456) und dritten Klasse (n = 519, insgesamt acht Grundschulen) am Anfang und Ende eines Schuljahres erfasst. Die Ergebnisse zeigen bereits im frühen bis mittleren Kindesalter erhöhte Prävalenzraten für Übergewicht und Schwächen in der MLF. Der BMI erweist sich in allen drei Altersklassen als sehr stabil (β = 0,81–0,88). Zudem zeigt sich, dass sowohl das Stabilitätsmaß der motorischen Leistung und des PSK als auch das Realitätsmaß im Vergleich verschiedener Altersklassen im Kindergarten geringer ist als in Klasse 1 und Klasse 3 (Kindergarten: β = 0,36–0,82; p < 0,001; Klasse 1: β = 0,44–0,88; p < 0,001; Klasse 3: β = 0,61–0,85; p < 0,001). Die Ergebnisse deuten auf das Potenzial und die Notwendigkeit hin, das physische Selbstkonzept von Kindern im Grundschulalter zu fördern.
Inpatient fluoroquinolone use in Veterans’ Affairs hospitals is a predictor of Clostridioides difficile infection due to fluoroquinolone-resistant ribotype 027 strains
Authors: Silva Sandra Y. , Wilson Brigid M. , Redmond Sarah N. , Donskey Curtis J.
Published: September 2020

Background:

Reduction in the use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics has been associated with reductions in Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) due to fluoroquinolone-resistant strains.

Objective:

To determine whether facility-level fluoroquinolone use predicts healthcare facility-associated (HCFA) CDI due to fluoroquinolone-resistant 027 strains.

Methods:

Using a nationwide cohort of hospitalized patients in the Veterans’ Affairs Healthcare System, we identified hospitals that categorized >80% of CDI cases as positive or negative for the 027 strain for at least one-quarter of fiscal years 2011–2018. Within these facilities, we used visual summaries and multilevel logistic regression models to assess the association between facility-level fluoroquinolone use and rates of HCFA-CDI due to 027 strains, controlling for time and facility complexity level, and adjusting for correlated outcomes within facilities.

Results:

Between 2011 and 2018, 55 hospitals met criteria for reporting 027 results, including a total of 5,091 HCFA-CDI cases, with 1,017 infections (20.0%) due to 027 strains. Across these facilities, the use of fluoroquinolones decreased by 52% from 2011 to 2018, with concurrent reductions in the overall HCFA-CDI rate and the proportion of HCFA-CDI cases due to the 027 strain of 13% and 55%, respectively. A multilevel logistic model demonstrated a significant effect of facility-level fluoroquinolone use on the proportion of infections in the facility due to the 027 strain, most noticeably in low-complexity facilities.

Conclusions:

Our findings provide support for interventions to reduce use of fluroquinolones as a control measure for CDI, particularly in settings where fluoroquinolone use is high and fluoroquinolone-resistant strains are common causes of infection.
Purezza e meticciato: the Italian colonial novel and the (re)production of Italian whiteness
Authors: Casales Francesco
Published: September 2020

This essay focuses on the racialising devices that characterise some Italian colonial novels. Specifically, it looks at two novels of the late 1920s – Enrico Cappellina's Un canto nella notte. Romanzo coloniale and Guido Milanesi's La sperduta di Allah – with the aim of highlighting the continuities and discontinuities between the racist models they endorse. A critical close reading of the texts reveals the degree of interconnection between segregationist and inclusivist interpretations of the cross-racial colonial encounter in the first half of the ventennio. With this perspective, the 1936 imperial turning point, even though critical on the institutional level, appears less so in the cultural field of racist production.
SPECTRAL CONDITIONS FOR UNIFORM P-ERGODICITIES OF MARKOV OPERATORS ON ABSTRACT STATES SPACES
Authors: ERKURŞUN-ÖZCAN NAZIFE , MUKHAMEDOV FARRUKH
Published: September 2020

In the present paper, we deal with asymptotical stability of Markov operators acting on abstract state spaces (i.e. an ordered Banach space, where the norm has an additivity property on the cone of positive elements). Basically, we are interested in the rate of convergence when a Markov operator T satisfies the uniform P-ergodicity, i.e.
$\|T^n-P\|\to 0$
, here P is a projection. We have showed that T is uniformly P-ergodic if and only if
$\|T^n-P\|\leq C\beta^n$
,
$0<\beta<1$
. In this paper, we prove that such a β is characterized by the spectral radius of T − P. Moreover, we give Deoblin’s kind of conditions for the uniform P-ergodicity of Markov operators.
Performative Governance
Authors: Ding Iza
Published: September 2020

The state often struggles to meet citizens’ demands but confronts strong public pressure to do so. What does the state do when public expectations exceed its actual governing capacity? This article shows that the state can respond by engaging in performative governance—the theatrical deployment of language, symbols, and gestures to foster an impression of good governance among citizens. Performative governance should be distinguished from other types of state behavior, such as inertia, paternalism, and the substantive satisfaction of citizens’ demands. The author illustrates this concept in the realm of environmental governance in China. Given the severity of China’s environmental pollution, the resulting public outcry, and the logistical and political challenges involved in solving the problem, how can the state redeem itself? Ethnographic evidence from participant observation at a municipal environmental protection bureau reveals that when bureaucrats are confronted with the dual burdens of low state capacity and high public scrutiny, they engage in performative governance to assuage citizens’ complaints. This study draws attention to the double meaning of “performance” in political contexts, and the essential distinction between the substantive and the theatrical.
Global solution to a three-dimensional spherical piston problem for the relativistic Euler equations
Authors: LAI GENG
Published: September 2020

The study of spherically symmetric motion is important for the theory of explosion waves. In this paper, we consider a ‘spherical piston’ problem for the relativistic Euler equations, which describes the wave motion produced by a sphere expanding into an infinite surrounding medium. We use the reflected characteristics method to construct a global piecewise smooth solution with a single shock of this spherical piston problem, provided that the speed of the sphere is a small perturbation of a constant speed.
Improving health and carbon footprints of European diets using a benchmarking approach
Authors: Mertens Elly , Kuijsten Anneleen , Kanellopoulos Argyris , Dofková Marcela , Mistura Lorenza , D’Addezio Laura , Turrini Aida , Dubuisson Carine , Havard Sabrina , Trolle Ellen , Eckl Marion , Biesbroek Sander , Bloemhof Jacqueline , Geleijnse Johanna M , van ’t Veer Pieter
Published: September 2020

Objective:

This study aimed to identify diets with improved nutrient quality and environmental impact within the boundaries of dietary practices.

Design:

We used Data Envelopment Analysis to benchmark diets for improved adherence to food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG). We then optimised these diets for dietary preferences, nutrient quality and environmental impact. Diets were evaluated using the Nutrient Rich Diet score (NRD15.3), diet-related greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) and a diet similarity index that quantified the proportion of food intake that remained similar as compared with the observed diet.

Setting:

National dietary surveys of four European countries (Denmark, Czech Republic, Italy and France).

Subjects:

Approximately 6500 adults, aged 18–64 years.

Results:

When dietary preferences were prioritised, NRD15·3 was ~6 % higher, GHGE was ~4 % lower and ~85 % of food intake remained similar. This diet had higher amounts of fruit, vegetables and whole grains than the observed diet. When nutrient quality was prioritised, NRD15·3 was ~16 % higher, GHGE was ~3 % lower and ~72 % of food intake remained similar. This diet had higher amounts of legumes and fish and lower amounts of sweetened and alcoholic beverages. Finally, when environmental impact was prioritised, NRD15·3 was ~9 % higher, GHGE was ~21 % lower and ~73 % of food intake remained similar. In this diet, red and processed meat partly shifted to either eggs, poultry, fish or dairy.

Conclusions:

Benchmark modelling can generate diets with improved adherence to FBDG within the boundaries of dietary practices, but fully maximising health and minimising GHGE cannot be achieved simultaneously.
Multiscale Changes in Snow Over the Tibetan Plateau During 1980–2018 Represented by Reanalysis Data Sets and Satellite Observations
Authors: Bian Qingyun , Xu Zhongfeng , Zheng Hui , Li Kai , Liang Jingjing , Fei Wenli , Shi Chunxiang , Zhang Shuai , Yang Zong‐Liang
Published: September 2020

The Tibetan Plateau has experienced substantial warming during the last few decades. As a result, the cryosphere of the Tibetan Plateau, including the snow cover, has shown significant changes. We characterized the changes in snow over the Tibetan Plateau using several snow‐related indices, including snow depth and snow‐covered days based on the MERRA‐2 and JRA‐55 reanalysis data set and passive microwave (MW) satellite observations. The analyses were performed over different time periods—including the last 38, 30, 20, and 10 snow seasons—from 1980 to 2018. The results show that the significant trends in snow depth and snow‐covered days are dependent on both the season and region and vary with the data set and snow‐related index used. There was a clear decrease in the annual maximum consecutive snow‐covered days (CSCDMax), and this was characterized by a later begin time and an earlier end time for both MERRA‐2 and JRA‐55, but only a later begin time for MW during the time period 1980–2018. The changes in CSCDMax were generally dominated by changes in the begin time, which were mainly caused by the increase in the average 2‐m air temperature for November–December. The relatively weak trends in the end time were a result of the combined impact of warmer temperatures and more precipitation in March–April. The CSCDMax averaged over the Tibetan Plateau showed decreasing trends in all studied time periods for JRA‐55 and MW and in the last 38 and 10 snow seasons for MERRA‐2 during the time period 1980–2018.