bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent Advances on Quantum Key Distribution Overcoming the Linear Secret Key Capacity Bound
Authors: Mao Yingqiu , Zeng Pei , Chen Teng‐Yun
Published: November 2020

A crucial goal for quantum key distribution (QKD) is to transmit unconditionally secure keys over long distances. Previous studies show that the key rate of point‐to‐point QKD is limited by a secret key rate capacity bound, and higher key rates would require quantum repeaters. In 2018, the seminal twin‐field (TF) QKD protocol is proposed to provide a remarkable solution to overcoming the linear secret key capacity bound. This article presents an up‐to‐date survey on recent developments in this area, including the security proofs of phase‐matching QKD and other TF‐QKD type protocols, the theoretical examinations of these protocols under realistic conditions, and the recent experimental demonstrations.
Identification of C‐glycosyl flavones and quality assessment inDendrobium nobile
Authors: Wang Yawen , Liao Xian , Zhou Chujuan , Hu Li , Wei Gang , Huang Yuechun , Lei Zhouxi , Ren Zhiyao , Liu Zhixia , Liu Zhihua
Published: November 2020

Rationale

Flavones are significant indicators of quality in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) and thus play a significant role in the quality control of TCMs in the pharmaceutical industry. Most flavones inDendrobium nobileLindl, a TCM with a long cultivation history and rich sources, have not been identified. This study was aimed at identifying the flavones inD. nobilefrom various habitats.

Methods

High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with diode‐array detection and HPLC multiple‐stage tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify the chemical constituents ofD. nobilefrom various habitats, and a method was established to determine the content of vicenin II, violanthin and isoviolanthin. Hierarchical cluster analysis, principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least‐squares discriminant analysis were used to analyze the variations among 26 batches from different habitats.

Results

A total of 33 flavones were tentatively identified. Twenty‐five flavones, previously undescribed inD. nobile, were acylated byp‐coumaroyl, feruloyl, sinapoyl or 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl. TheD. nobilehabitats were distinguished by significant differences in their flavone content. The C‐glycosyl flavones were demonstrated to be characteristic compounds for evaluatingD. nobilefrom various habitats. In particular, flavones acylated with 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl were specific compounds that were only detected in samples from Yunnan.

Conclusions

The results of this study could be used to improve the quality control ofD. nobileand could provide references for the identification of acylated C‐glycosyl flavones in other natural products.
School‐to‐school collaboration in England: A configurative review of the empirical evidence
Authors: Armstrong Paul Wilfred , Brown Chris , Chapman Christopher James
Published: November 2020

In recent years school‐to‐school collaboration in the English context has been promoted by a myriad of policy initiatives. Many of these initiatives have been directed at structural reforms seeking to facilitate a 'self‐improving system' in which schools support one another to raise standards of teaching and learning and address educational inequality. Yet, at the same time, the English school system remains a deeply marketised and competitive arena while there are debates concerning the extent to which collaboration between schools can meaningfully facilitate educational improvement and equity. Taking these issues as a starting point, this paper reports on findings from a configurative review of the empirical evidence on school‐to‐school collaboration in England. Drawing on 46 peer‐reviewed empirical studies from 2000 onwards, the paper provides insight into the reasons why schools enter into collaborative arrangements and the conditions and factors that can facilitate and hinder such activity, as well as the possible benefits that can result from collaboration between schools. A number of weaknesses within the field are also identified. For example, there is a need for more conceptual and terminological clarity and a stronger theoretical basis for research in this area. We also argue that the field is deficient in respect of critical perspective and interpretation (of collaborative practice). Furthermore, research into school‐to‐school collaboration is lagging behind policy and practice, presenting a formidable challenge for a system increasingly underpinned by an expectation that schools will work in partnership with one another.
Risk Personalization: Governing Uncertain Collective Risk Through Individual Decisions
Authors: Spruit Shannon , de Bruijne Mark , Pieters Wolter
Published: November 2020

Individuals are regularly made responsible for risks they wish to take: one can consent to processing of personal data, and decide what to buy based on risk information on product labels. However, both large‐scale processing of personal data and aggregated product choices may carry collective risks for society. In such situations, governance arrangements implying individual responsibility are at odds with uncertain collective risks from new technologies. We, therefore, investigate the governance challenges of what we call risk personalization: a form of governance for dealing with uncertain collective risks that allocates responsibility for governing those risks to individuals.

We situate risk personalization at the intersection of two trends: governance of uncertain risk, and emphasis on individual responsibility. We then analyze three cases selected based on diversity: social media, nanomaterials, and Uber. Cross‐case comparison highlights issues of risk personalization pertaining to (i) the nature of the risk, (ii) governance arrangements in place, and (iii) mechanisms for allocating responsibility to individuals. We identify governance challenges in terms of (i) meaningful choice, (ii) effectiveness in mitigating risk, and (iii) collective decision making capacity. We conclude that the risk personalization lens stimulates reflection on the effectiveness and legitimacy of risk governance in light of individual agency.
Ultrafast and Scalable Laser‐Induced Crystallization of Titanium Dioxide Films for Planar Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Chen Qian , Guo Wei , Ke Jack Chun‐Ren , Mokhtar Muhamad Z. , Wang Dong , Jacobs Janet , Thomas Andrew G. , Curry Richard J. , Liu Zhu
Published: November 2020

A conventional annealing method to fabricate metal oxide films used for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is a time‐consuming batch process. Herein, a near‐IR fiber laser process with a unique design of power ramping program and beam configuration is developed to achieve ultrafast and scalable processing of TiO2 films for PSCs. Highly crystalline anatase TiO2 films can be synthesized in only 18.5 s by the laser process with a peak annealing temperature up to 800–850 °C, compared with that of the furnace‐annealing at 500 °C for 30 min and an overall processing time of 3 h. Then, a unique capability of using this laser process is presented to anneal stacked layers of substrates coated with the TiO2 films simultaneously, with a uniform annealing area up to 15.2 cm2, thereby potentially achieving an in‐line production rate of over 43 cm2 min−1 (1 cm2 in ≈1.4 s). Planar PSCs fabricated under a high relative humidity of 60–70% based on the TiO2 films annealed under optimal laser conditions show enhanced photovoltaic performance than the furnace‐annealed samples. This laser process potentially opens a new avenue for scalable annealing and rapid production of thin films.
Molecular Design of Efficient Chlorine‐ and Carboxylate‐Functionalized Donor Polymers for Nonfullerene Organic Solar Cells Enabling Processing with Eco‐Friendly Solvent in Air
Authors: Jeon Sung Jae , Kim Young Hoon , Hong Dong Hyun , Yang Nam Gyu , Han Yong Woon , Moon Doo Kyung
Published: November 2020

Realizing the commercial applications of nonfullerene organic solar cells (NFOSCs) require a balanced of power conversion efficiency (PCE), production cost, and stability. However, because most high‐performance NFOSC devices contain air‐sensitive donor polymers that have low solubility in eco‐friendly solvents, their fabrication requires halogenated solvents and an inert atmosphere. Herein, an air‐processed inverted NFOSC device is developed using a relatively cost‐effective chlorine‐ and carboxylate‐functionalized bithiophene‐based donor polymer, P(F‐BiT)‐COOBOCl(out). When blended with 3,9‐bis(2‐methylene‐((3‐(1,1‐dicyanomethylene)‐6,7‐difluoro)‐indanone))‐5,5,11,11‐tetrakis(4‐hexylphenyl)‐dithieno[2,3‐d:2′,3′‐d′]‐s‐indaceno[1,2‐b:5,6‐b′]dithiophene (IT‐4F), the resultant device yields a high PCE of 11.91%, with good shelf‐life stability and photostability under ambient conditions without encapsulation, and less performance degradation than most reported NFOSCs. Importantly, when the polymer blend is processed in air with an eco‐friendly solvent, 1,2,4‐trimethylbenzene, the resultant device exhibits a reasonably high PCE of 10.60% (certified PCE: 10.467%) without encapsulation, which is the highest value reported to date for NFOSCs fabricated under such conditions. The potential of this high‐performance and eco‐friendly processable polymer is further demonstrated in the excellent PCE of 14.22% of a device with a P(F‐BiT)‐COOBOCl(out):Y6‐BO‐4Cl blend prepared in o‐xylene solvent. This study provides perspectives and opportunities for designing and developing efficient photoactive materials as a new strategy for the commercialization of NFOSCs.
Data analysis and simulation of the Lillgrund wind farm
Authors: Sebastiani Alessandro , Castellani Francesco , Crasto Giorgio , Segalini Antonio
Published: November 2020

The power production of the Lillgrund wind farm has been investigated by means of SCADA data covering almost 10 years of operation, wake models and numerical simulation tools, such as WindSim, OpenFOAM and ORFEUS. The analysis of the SCADA data provided the quantification of wake losses and of blockage effects, results that enable a benchmark to assess the uncertainty of other numerical methods of industrial use. The results have been analysed in terms of global array efficiency for different wind directions, wind velocity and stratification conditions. A comparison of the present results with the Jensen and Ainsle models indicated that the two used wake models are affected by an error of about 8–10% in the estimation of the array efficiency, while the error does not vary significantly when using numerical tools such as ORFEUS, WindSim and OpenFOAM. By comparing wind statistics available before the park construction, an assessment of the blockage of the Lillgrund farm was performed with contrasting results from the other numerical tools, highlighting how challenging is to assess farm blockage with current industrial settings.
Use and Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Climate Change Adaptation in Africa
Authors: Rutenberg Isaac , Gwagwa Arthur , Omino Melissa
Published: November 2020

Although Climate Change is a global phenomenon, the impact in Africa is anticipated to be greater than in many other parts of the world. This expectation is supported by many factors, including the relatively low shock tolerance of many African countries and the relatively high percentage of African workers engaged in the agricultural sector. High-income countries are increasingly turning their focus to climate change adaptation, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a critical tool in those efforts. Algorithms using AI are making better predictions on the short- and long-term effects of climate change, including predictions related to weather patterns, floods and droughts, and human migration patterns. It is not clear, however, that Africa is (or will be) maximally benefitting from those AI tools, particularly since they are largely developed by highly developed countries using data sets that are specific to those same countries. It is therefore important to characterize the efforts underway to use AI in a way that specifically benefits Africa in climate change adaptation. These efforts include projects undertaken physically in Africa as well as those that have Africa as their focus. In exploring AI projects in or about Africa, this chapter also looks at the sufficiency of such efforts and the variety of approaches taken by researchers working with AI to address climate change in Africa.
Indirect $$ \mathcal{CP} $$ probes of the Higgs-top-quark interaction: current LHC constraints and future opportunities
Authors: Bahl Henning , Bechtle Philip , Heinemeyer Sven , Katzy Judith , Klingl Tobias , Peters Krisztian , Saimpert Matthias , Stefaniak Tim , Weiglein Georg
Published: November 2020

Abstract

The$$ \mathcal{CP} $$CPstructure of the Higgs boson in its coupling to the particles of the Standard Model is amongst the most important Higgs boson properties which have not yet been constrained with high precision. In this study, all relevant inclusive and differential Higgs boson measurements from the ATLAS and CMS experiments are used to constrain the$$ \mathcal{CP} $$CP-nature of the top-Yukawa interaction. The model dependence of the constraints is studied by successively allowing for new physics contributions to the couplings of the Higgs boson to massive vector bosons, to photons, and to gluons. In the most general case, we find that the current data still permits a significant$$ \mathcal{CP} $$CP-odd component in the top-Yukawa coupling. Furthermore, we explore the prospects to further constrain the$$ \mathcal{CP} $$CPproperties of this coupling with future LHC data by determiningtHproduction rates independently from possible accompanying variations of the$$ t\overline{t}H $$tt¯Hrate. This is achieved via a careful selection of discriminating observables. At the HL-LHC, we find that evidence fortHproduction at the Standard Model rate can be achieved in the Higgs to diphoton decay channel alone.
SL(2, ℤ) action on QFTs with ℤ2 symmetry and the Brown-Kervaire invariants
Authors: Bhardwaj Lakshya , Lee Yasunori , Tachikawa Yuji
Published: November 2020

Abstract

We consider an analogue of Witten’s SL(2,ℤ) action on three-dimensional QFTs with U(1) symmetry for 2k-dimensional QFTs with ℤ2(k −1)-form symmetry. We show that the SL(2,ℤ) action only closes up to a multiplication by an invertible topological phase whose partition function is the Brown-Kervaire invariant of the spacetime manifold. We interpret it as part of the SL(2,ℤ) anomaly of the bulk (2k+ 1)-dimensional ℤ2gauge theory.
Shared extracellular vesicle miRNA profiles of matched ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma organoids and blood plasma samples show the power of organoid technology
Authors: Zeöld Anikó , Sándor Gyöngyvér Orsolya , Kiss Anna , Soós András Áron , Tölgyes Tamás , Bursics Attila , Szűcs Ákos , Harsányi László , Kittel Ágnes , Gézsi András , Buzás Edit I. , Wiener Zoltán
Published: November 2020

Extracellular vesicles (EV) are considered as a promising diagnostic tool for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a disease with a poor 5-year survival that has not improved in the past years. PDAC patient-derived 3D organoids maintain the intratumoral cellular heterogeneity, characteristic for the tumor in vivo.Thus, they represent an ideal in vitro model system to study human cancers. Here we show that the miRNA cargo of EVs from PDAC organoids largely differs among patients. However, we detected a common set of EV miRNAs that were present in matched organoids and blood plasma samples of individual patients. Importantly, the levels of EV miR-21 and miR-195 were higher in PDAC blood EV preparations than in healthy controls, albeit we found no difference compared to chronic pancreatitis (CP) samples. In addition, here we report that the accumulation of collagen I, a characteristic change in the extracellular matrix (ECM) in both CP and PDAC, largely increases EV release from pancreatic ductal organoids. This provides a possible explanation why both CP and PDAC patient-derived plasma samples have an elevated amount of CD63 + EVs. Collectively, we show that PDAC patient-derived organoids represent a highly relevant model to analyze the cargo of tumor cell-derived EVs. Furthermore, we provide evidence that not only driver mutations, but also changes in the ECM may critically modify EV release from pancreatic ductal cells.
Postorthodontic lower incisor and canine inclination and labial gingival recession in adult patients
Authors: Kalina Edyta , Zadurska Małgorzata , Górski Bartłomiej
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The goal was to determine whether changes in the inclination of lower incisors and canines upon orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances poses a threat for labial gingival recession in adult patients.

Methods

The sample of this prospective clinical trial consisted of 32 adult patients (mean age 25.08 ±6.50 years) treated with fixed appliances. Plaque and bleeding indices, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, gingival recession height (GR) and width (GRW), gingival thickness (GT), and keratinized tissue width were clinically recorded, while cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was used to evaluate teeth inclination before (T1) and after treatment (T2). Oral hygiene, brushing habits, and smoking were controlled.

Results

During orthodontic treatment on 15 (8.33%) teeth (10 incisors and 5 canines), spontaneous complete improvement of pre-existing GR was observed. On 2 incisors, GR decreased and on 3 teeth GR did not change. Moreover, 1 incisor presented an increased GR, while 2 teeth developed new defects. Mean GR, GRW, and GT decreased significantly only on the incisors. Proclination of incisors and canines during treatment (compared with retroclination of the teeth) implicated a lower reduction in GR at T2: 0.19 mm (p = 0.034) and 0.18 mm (p = 0.037), respectively. Multiple regression analysis confirmed that more tooth proclination was associated with a higher risk for an increase in GR (p < 0.00).

Conclusion

Properly planned changes in lower incisor and canine inclination can be carried out in adult patients without posing a high risk to labial gingival recessions if the individual periodontal biotype is respected. The reported outcomes underscore the orthodontic principle to keep tooth roots inside the alveolar bone.
A thermodynamic approach to rate-type models in deformable ferroelectrics
Authors: Giorgi Claudio , Morro Angelo
Published: November 2020

The purpose of the paper is to establish vector-valued rate-type models for the hysteretic properties in deformable ferroelectrics within the framework of continuum thermodynamics. Unlike electroelasticity and piezoelectricity, in ferroelectricity both the polarization and the electric field are simultaneously independent variables so that the constitutive functions depend on both. This viewpoint is naturally related to the fact that an hysteresis loop is a closed curve in the polarization–electric field plane. For the sake of generality, the deformation of the material and the dependence on the temperature are allowed to occur. The constitutive functions are required to be consistent with the principle of objectivity and the second law of thermodynamics. Objectivity implies that the constitutive equations are form invariant within the set of Euclidean frames. Among other results, the second law requires a general property on the relation between the polarization and the electric field via a differential equation. This equation shows a dependence fully characterized by two quantities: the free energy and a function which is related to the dissipative character of the hysteresis. As a consequence, different hysteresis models may have the same free energy. Models compatible with thermodynamics are then determined by appropriate selections of the free energy and of the dissipative part. Correspondingly, major and minor hysteretic loops are plotted.
A model identifying characteristics predictive of successful pelvic floor muscle training outcomes among women with stress urinary incontinence
Authors: Brooks Kaylee C. L. , Varette Kevin , Harvey Marie-Andrée , Robert Magali , Brison Robert J. , Day Andrew , Baker Kevin , Della Zazzera Vincent , Sauerbrei Eric , McLean Linda
Published: November 2020

Introduction and hypothesis

The aim of this study was to prospectively identify aspects of baseline demographic, clinical, and pelvic morphology of women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) that are predictive of cure with physiotherapist-supervised pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT).

Methods

Women ≥18 years old with SUI were recruited from urogynecology and pelvic health physiotherapy clinics. Participants completed a 3-day bladder diary, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF), a standardized pad test, manual assessment of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength and tone, and transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) assessment of their urogenital structures at rest while in a supine position and standing, and during contraction, straining, and coughing. Participants attended six physiotherapy sessions over 12 weeks and performed a home PFMT program. The assessment was repeated after the intervention; cure was defined as a dry (≤2 g) pad test.

Results

Seventy-seven women aged 50 (±10) years completed the protocol; 38 (49%) were deemed cured. Based on univariate testing, four predictors were entered into a binary logistic regression model: ICIQ-UI-SF, PFM tone, bladder neck (BN) height in a quiet standing position, and BN height during a cough in a standing position. The model was significant (p < 0.001), accurately classifying outcome in 74% of participants. The model, validated through bootstrapping, performed moderately, with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.80 (95% CI: 0.69–0.90; p = 0.00), and with 70% sensitivity and 75% specificity.

Conclusions

Women with better bladder support in a standing position and less severe symptoms were most likely to be cured with PFMT.

Clinical trial registration

#NCT01602107.
Fluorescence polarization immunoassay for the determination of diclofenac in wastewater
Authors: Raysyan Anna , Moerer Robin , Coesfeld Bianca , Eremin Sergei A. , Schneider Rudolf J.
Published: November 2020

Pharmacologically active compounds are often detected in wastewater and surface waters. The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac (DCF) was included in the European watch list of substances that requires its environmental monitoring in the member states. DCF may harmfully influence the ecosystem already at concentrations ≤ 1 μg L−1. The fast and easy quantification of DCF is becoming a subject of global importance. Fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) is a homogeneous mix-and-read method which does not require the immobilization of reagents. FPIA can be performed in one phase within 20–30 min, making it possible to analyse wastewater without any complicated pre-treatment. In this study, new tracer molecules with different structures, linking fluorophores to derivatives of the analyte, were synthesized, three homologous tracers based on DCF, two including a C6 spacer, and one heterologous tracer derived from 5-hydroxy-DCF. The tracer molecules were thoroughly assessed for performance. Regarding sensitivity of the FPIA, the lowest limit of detection reached was 2.0 μg L−1 with a working range up to 870 μg L−1. The method was validated for real wastewater samples against LC-MS/MS as reference method with good agreement of both methods.
Impact of processing degree on fermentation profile and chemopreventive effects of oat and waxy barley in LT97 colon adenoma cells
Authors: Schlörmann W. , Keller F. , Zetzmann S. , Lorkowski S. , Dawczynski C. , Glei M.
Published: November 2020

The chemopreventive effects of β-glucan-rich cereals such as oat and barley (beta®barley) have been examined previously, but studies comparing fermentation characteristics and chemopreventive effects of oat and barley of different processing stages are rare. Therefore, the present study aims at investigating the fermentation end points (pH values, concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and ammonia) in fermentation supernatants (FS) obtained from differently processed oat and barley samples (kernels, thick and thin flakes). Chemopreventive effects of FS, such as growth inhibition, apoptosis, and induction of cell cycle- and redox-relevant genes (p21, SOD2), were analysed in LT97 colon adenoma cells. After fermentation, pH values were reduced (∆ pH − 1.3, on average) and SCFA concentrations were increased (∆ + 59 mmol/L, on average) with a shift towards butyrate formation in FS obtained from oat and barley samples compared to the fermentation negative control (FS blank). Ammonia was reduced more effectively in FS obtained from barley (∆ − 4.6 mmol/L, on average) than from oat samples (∆ − 1.0 mmol/L, on average). Treatment of LT97 cells with FS resulted in a time- and dose-dependent reduction of cell number, an increase in caspase-3 activity (up to 9.0-fold after 24 h, on average) and an induction of p21 (2.1-fold, on average) and SOD2 (2.3-fold, on average) mRNA expression, while no genotoxic effects were observed. In general, the results indicate no concrete effect of the type of cereal or processing stage on fermentation and chemopreventive effects of oat and barley.
Properties and structure of high temperature resistant cyanate ester/polyethersulfone blends using solvent-free toughening approach
Authors: Amirova Lyaysan , Schadt Fabian , Grob Markus , Brauner Christian , Ricard Thomas , Wille Tobias
Published: November 2020

A high temperature resistant novolac cyanate ester was blended with polyethersulfone (PES) with different molecular weights using the solvent-free approach. The phase separation, curing behavior and thermal properties were studied using hot stage microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis. Results showed the difference in the morphology for blends with different molecular weight PES explained by possible network formation. The influence of PES content on the glass transition temperature and mechanical properties was investigated. The most significant toughening effect (increase of 132% in fracture toughness) was achieved on a functionalized low molecular weight PES (20 parts per hundred of resin, phr). Rheology investigation allowed to estimate the optimal content of PES (15 phr) for further prepreg manufacturing.
Evaluating anemia using contrast-enhanced spectral detector CT of the chest in a large cohort of 522 patients
Authors: Zopfs D. , Rinneburger M. , Pinto dos Santos D. , Reimer R. P. , Laukamp K. R. , Maintz D. , Lennartz S. , Große Hokamp N.
Published: November 2020

Objectives

The blood of patients with anemia demonstrates distinctly lower attenuation in unenhanced CT images. However, the frequent usage of intravenous contrast hampers evaluation of anemia. Spectral detector computed tomography (SDCT) allows for reconstruction of virtual non-contrast images (VNC) from contrast-enhanced data (CE). The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether VNC allow for prediction of anemia.

Methods

Five hundred twenty-two patients with CE-SDCT of the chest and accessible serum hemoglobin (HbS) were retrospectively included. Patients were assigned to three groups (severe anemia, moderate/mild anemia, and healthy) based on recent lab tests (≤ 7 days) for HbS following gender and the WHO definition of anemia. CT attenuation was determined using two ROI in the left ventricular lumen and one ROI in the descending thoracic aorta. ROI were placed on CE and copied to VNC. ANOVA, linear regression, and receiver operating characteristics were used for statistic evaluation.

Results

Average HbS was 11.6 ± 2.4 g/dl. Attenuation on VNC showed significant differences between healthy patients, patients with mild/moderate anemia, and severely anemic patients (all p ≤ 0.05). Applying cutoffs of 39.2/37.6 HU and 33.6/32.7 HU allowed to differentiate between healthy, mild/moderately, and severely anemic men/women (AUC 0.857/0.833 and 0.879/0.932). A linear relationship between HbS and attenuation on VNC was established (r2 = 0.54, HbS = − 0.875 + 0.329 × HU).

Conclusions

An approximation of HbS and presence of anemia can be conducted based on simple attenuation measurements in contrast-enhanced SDCT examinations enabled by VNC imaging.

Key Points

• While the attenuation of blood is a previously described biomarker for anemia in non-contrast images, virtual non-contrast images from spectral detector CT circumvent this limitation and allow for diagnosis of anemia in contrast-enhanced scans.

• Attenuation of blood in virtual non-contrast images derived from spectral detector CT shows a moderate correlation to serum hemoglobin levels.

• Presence of anemia be estimated in virtual non-contrast images using proposed cutoffs of 39.2 HU and 37.6 HU for men and women, respectively, to differentiate between healthy and anemic patients.
Dynamics and buckling loads for a vibrating damped Euler–Bernoulli beam connected to an inhomogeneous foundation
Authors: Abramian Andrei K. , Vakulenko Sergei A. , van Horssen Wim T. , Lukichev Dmitry V.
Published: November 2020

In this paper, the dynamics and the buckling loads for an Euler–Bernoulli beam resting on an inhomogeneous elastic, Winkler foundation are studied. An analytical, asymptotic method is proposed to determine the stability of the Euler–Bernoulli beam for various types of inhomogeneities in the elastic foundation taking into account different types of damping models. Based on the Rayleigh variation principle, beam buckling loads are computed for cases of harmonically perturbed types of inhomogeneities in the elastic foundation, for cases of point inhomogeneities in the form of concentrated springs in the elastic foundation, and for cases with rectangular inclusions in the elastic foundation. The investigation of the beam dynamics shows the possibility of internal resonances for particular values of the beam rigidity and longitudinal force. Such types of resonances, which are usually typical for nonlinear systems, are only possible for the beam due to its inhomogeneous foundation. The occurrence of so-called added mass effects near buckling instabilities under the influence of damping have been found. The analytical expressions for this “added mass” effect have been obtained for different damping models including space hysteresis types. This effect arises as a result of an interaction between the main mode, which is close to instability, and all the other stable modes of vibration.
Compactness and convergence rates in the combinatorial integral approximation decomposition
Authors: Kirches Christian , Manns Paul , Ulbrich Stefan
Published: November 2020

The combinatorial integral approximation decomposition splits the optimization of a discrete-valued control into two steps: solving a continuous relaxation of the discrete control problem, and computing a discrete-valued approximation of the relaxed control. Different algorithms exist for the second step to construct piecewise constant discrete-valued approximants that are defined on given decompositions of the domain. It is known that the resulting discrete controls can be constructed such that they converge to a relaxed control in the $$\hbox {weak}^*$$

weak
∗

topology of $$L^\infty $$

L
∞

if the grid constant of this decomposition is driven to zero. We exploit this insight to formulate a general approximation result for optimization problems, which feature discrete and distributed optimization variables, and which are governed by a compact control-to-state operator. We analyze the topology induced by the grid refinements and prove convergence rates of the control vectors for two problem classes. We use a reconstruction problem from signal processing to demonstrate both the applicability of the method outside the scope of differential equations, the predominant case in the literature, and the effectiveness of the approach.
A novel identification procedure from ambient vibration data
Authors: Di. Matteo A. , Masnata C. , Russotto S. , Bilello C. , Pirrotta A.
Published: November 2020

Ambient vibration modal identification, also known as Operational Modal Analysis, aims to identify the modal properties of a structure based on vibration data collected when the structure is under its operating conditions, i.e., no initial excitation or known artificial excitation. This procedure for testing and/or monitoring historic buildings, is particularly attractive for civil engineers concerned with the safety of complex historic structures.
However, since the external force is not recorded, the identification methods have to be more sophisticated and based on stochastic mechanics. In this context, this contribution will introduce an innovative ambient identification method based on applying the Hilbert Transform, to obtain the analytical representation of the system response in terms of the correlation function. In particular, it is worth stressing that the analytical signal is a complex representation of a time domain signal: the real part is the time domain signal itself, while the imaginary part is its Hilbert transform. A 3DOF numerical example will be presented to show the accuracy of the proposed procedure, and comparisons with data from other methods assess the reliability of the approach. Finally, the identification method will be extended to the real case study of the Chiaramonte Palace, a historic building located in Palermo and known as “Steri”.
How Rich is Too Rich? Measuring the Riches Line
Authors: Robeyns Ingrid , Buskens Vincent , van de Rijt Arnout , Vergeldt Nina , van der Lippe Tanja
Published: November 2020

Is it possible to identify a ‘riches line’, distinguishing the ‘rich’ from the ‘super-rich’? Recent work in political philosophy suggests that this istheoreticallypossible. This study examines for the first time theempiricalplausibility of a riches line, based on novel data collected from a representative sample of the Dutch population. The data reveal that the Dutch indeed draw such a line, namely between 1 and 3 million euros. Strikingly, respondents agree on its approximate location irrespective of their own income and education. Although most do not consider extreme wealth itself a severe problem and object to the government’s enforcement of limits to wealth and income, widespread support exists for increased taxation of the super-rich if that would improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable members of society.
Urban open spaces from a dispersal perspective: lessons from an individual-based model approach to assess the effects of landscape patterns on the viability of wildlife populations
Authors: Penteado Homero Marconi
Published: November 2020

Green areas drawn on a city plan represent open spaces that have different meanings for humans and wildlife. Diverse kinds of green may influence species viability in urban environments. It is necessary to understand what those areas mean for wildlife populations and how land-use changes affect habitats and movements for making scientifically defensible planning and design decisions. My objective was to demonstrate how open space and urban development patterns affect the viability of wildlife populations in urbanizing landscapes from a movements perspective. Eight scenarios for 2060 for an urbanizing area near Portland, Oregon combined four open space (none, corridors, parks, and network) with two urban development patterns (compact and dispersed). Dispersal model HexSim simulated three target species – Red-legged frog (Rana aurora aurora), Western meadowlark (Sturnella neclecta) and Douglas squirrel (Tamasciurus douglasii) – movements on those scenarios to compare and contrast sustained populations to the ca. 2010 baseline landscape. Network scenarios presented the largest number of frog breeders. Greenway scenarios showed the largest populations of squirrels. Park and network scenarios sustained viable populations of meadowlarks, but park scenarios performed best. Compact development scenarios performed best for most indicators, while dispersed development scenarios performed better for meadowlarks. Network scenarios performed best when considering the collective of species. Networks presented more diverse habitats, sustaining higher diversity of species. For plans to sustain more species, more comprehensive and diverse habitats must be promoted, otherwise trade-offs should be expected – like the extinction of meadowlarks in greenway scenarios.
A dynamical model for the basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical oscillatory activity and its implications in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Navarro-López Eva M. , Çelikok Utku , Şengör Neslihan S.
Published: November 2020

We propose to investigate brain electrophysiological alterations associated with Parkinson’s disease through a novel adaptive dynamical model of the network of the basal ganglia, the cortex and the thalamus. The model uniquely unifies the influence of dopamine in the regulation of the activity of all basal ganglia nuclei, the self-organised neuronal interdependent activity of basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical circuits and the generation of subcortical background oscillations. Variations in the amount of dopamine produced in the neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta are key both in the onset of Parkinson’s disease and in the basal ganglia action selection. We model these dopamine-induced relationships, and Parkinsonian states are interpreted as spontaneous emergent behaviours associated with different rhythms of oscillatory activity patterns of the basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical network. These results are significant because: (1) the neural populations are built upon single-neuron models that have been robustly designed to have eletrophysiologically-realistic responses, and (2) our model distinctively links changes in the oscillatory activity in subcortical structures, dopamine levels in the basal ganglia and pathological synchronisation neuronal patterns compatible with Parkinsonian states, this still remains an open problem and is crucial to better understand the progression of the disease.
A financial market with singular drift and no arbitrage
Authors: Agram Nacira , Øksendal Bernt
Published: November 2020

We study a financial market where the risky asset is modelled by a geometric Itô-Lévy process, with a singular drift term. This can for example model a situation where the asset price is partially controlled by a company which intervenes when the price is reaching a certain lower barrier. See e.g. Jarrow and Protter (J Bank Finan 29:2803–2820, 2005) for an explanation and discussion of this model in the Brownian motion case. As already pointed out by Karatzas and Shreve (Methods of Mathematical Finance, Springer, Berlin, 1998) (in the continuous setting), this allows for arbitrages in the market. However, the situation in the case of jumps is not clear. Moreover, it is not clear what happens if there is a delay in the system. In this paper we consider a jump diffusion market model with a singular drift term modelled as the local time of a given process, and with a delay $$\theta > 0$$

θ
>
0

in the information flow available for the trader. We allow the stock price dynamics to depend on both a continuous process (Brownian motion) and a jump process (Poisson random measure). We believe that jumps and delays are essential in order to get more realistic financial market models. Using white noise calculus we compute explicitly the optimal consumption rate and portfolio in this case and we show that the maximal value is finite as long as $$\theta > 0$$

θ
>
0

. This implies that there is no arbitrage in the market in that case. However, when $$\theta $$
θ
goes to 0, the value goes to infinity. This is in agreement with the above result that is an arbitrage when there is no delay. Our model is also relevant for high frequency trading issues. This is because high frequency trading often leads to intensive trading taking place on close to infinitesimal lengths of time, which in the limit corresponds to trading on time sets of measure 0. This may in turn lead to a singular drift in the pricing dynamics. See e.g. Lachapelle et al. (Math Finan Econom 10(3):223–262, 2016) and the references therein.
Thermodynamic Assessment of Liquid Fe-Ni-C Alloy Using Modified Quasichemical Model
Authors: Paek Min-Kyu , Jeon Junmo , Paliwal Manas , Biswas Arijit , Lindberg Daniel , Pak Jong-Jin
Published: November 2020

The liquid solution properties in the Fe-Ni and Fe-Ni-C systems have been thermodynamically assessed using the modified quasichemical model in the pair approximation. The asymmetry of the Fe-Ni and Fe-Ni-C alloy melts was verified by measuring the melting points of Fe-Ni binary alloys on the Ni-rich side, and the C solubility limit in Fe-Ni melt over the entire concentration range at 1500°C and 1600°C.
The solubility minimum of C and the maximum partial enthalpy of mixing of C in the ternary Fe-Ni-C system occurred at near the maximum short-range ordering composition of the binary Fe-Ni liquid solution. The extrema of the partial properties of C in the ternary Fe-Ni-C system were successfully reproduced with only one constant adjustable ternary parameter.
Fatal poisoning by ingestion of a self-prepared oleander leaf infusion
Authors: Carfora Anna , Petrella Raffaella , Borriello Renata , Aventaggiato Lucia , Gagliano-Candela Roberto , Campobasso Carlo Pietro
Published: November 2020

An unusual case of poisoning by the ingestion of oleander leaves is reported. A 71 year old male laboratory technician committed suicide at home in this unusual manner. At the death scene a steel pan and other paraphernalia, used for the extraction of oleandrin and other cardiac glycosides from the leaves of the Nerium oleander plant were found.

Toxicological investigations for oleandrin, oleandrigenin, neritaloside, and odoroside were performed by LC–MS/MS on all biological samples (peripheral blood, vitreous humor, urine, liver, gastric contents) and on the yellow infusion found at the death scene.

In all samples, toxic levels of oleandrin were detected (blood 37.5 ng/mL, vitreous humor 12.6 ng/mL, urine 83.8 ng/mL, liver 205 ng/mg, gastric content 31.2 µg/mL, infusion 38.5 µg/mL). Qualitative results for oleandrigenin, neritaloside, and odoroside were obtained. Oleandrigenin was present in all tissue samples whereas neritaloside and odoroside were absent in the blood and vitreous humor but present in urine, liver, gastric content, and in the leaf brew.

The purpose of this study was the identification of oleandrin and its congener oleandrigenin, detected in the vitreous humor. The blood/vitreous humor ratio was also calculated in order to assess of the likely time interval from ingestion to death. According to the toxicological results death was attributed to fatal arrhythmia due to oleander intoxication. The manner of death was classified as suicide through the ingestion of the infusion.
RNA-basierte Kontrollmechanismen der Yersinia-Virulenz
Authors: Stolle Anne-Sophie , Volk Marcel , Benz Inga , Salto Ileana , Dersch Petra
Published: November 2020

Enteropathogenic Yersiniae evolved a plethora of virulence traits which allow them to colonize the intestine and gut-associated lymphatic tissues of mammals. In these host niches they have to tightly adjust the expression of required pathogenicity factors to resist attacks by the host immune system. Here, we present how enteric Yersiniae use intricate control networks which include numerous regulatory and sensory RNAs, RNA-binding proteins and RNases to control their virulence attributes.
Hochaufgelöste Visualisierung einzelner Moleküle auf ganzen Zellen
Authors: Schlegel Jan , Sauer Markus
Published: November 2020

Biological systems are dynamic and three-dimensional but many techniques allow only static and two-dimensional observation of cells. We used three-dimensional (3D) lattice light-sheet single-molecule localization microscopy (dSTORM) to investigate the complex interactions and distribution of single molecules in the plasma membrane of whole cells. Different receptor densities of the adhesion receptor CD56 at different parts of the cell highlight the importance and need of three-dimensional observation and analysis techniques.
The mysterious feeding ecology of leptocephali: a unique strategy of consuming marine snow materials
Authors: Tsukamoto Katsumi , Miller Michael J.
Published: November 2020

Leptocephalus larvae have transparent bodies with tubular intestines that usually lack identifiable food items when they are collected, so mystery has surrounded efforts to determine what they feed on. Artificially spawned and reared first-feeding larvae were found to be highly selective in what they would eat, but they would consume rotifers and eventually ate specially formulated diets that contained shark egg yolk. Gut content studies on wild-caught leptocephali in the Atlantic and Pacific observed marine snow-associated materials such as discarded appendicularian houses, zooplankton fecal pellets, protists, and amorphous materials, and DNA sequencing indicated that the gut contents contain materials originating from a wide range of microorganisms and food web zooplankton species that were likely consumed in marine snow. Isotopic studies found a low trophic position of leptocephali and inter-taxa and geographic signature differences. Behavioral studies with leptocephali and the characteristics and size-scaling of the teeth are also consistent with feeding on marine snow-related particles. The feeding strategy of leptocephali appears to be based on consuming types of marine snow that contain nutritious and easily assimilated carbohydrates, fatty acids, and other materials that facilitate rapid conversion to glycosaminoglycans and tissues for energy storage and growth.
Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF) in a patient with HIV infection
Authors: Kanaki T. , Hadaschik E. , Esser S. , Sammet Stefanie
Published: November 2020

Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis is a chronic, recurrent dermatosis, of unknown etiology, which is histologically characterized by folliculotropic inflammatory infiltrates with admixed eosinophils in the dermis. It has often presented with immunosuppression and especially with HIV-Infection. In the HAART-era, eosinophilic pustular folliculitis has become a rarity. It is often being misdiagnosed as acne vulgaris, rosacea, bacterial folliculitis, dermatomycosis and seborrheic dermatitis. The treatment of this disease may be difficult.
A low-firing melilite ceramic Ba2CuGe2O7 and compositional modulation on microwave dielectric properties through Mg substitution
Authors: Yin Changzhi , Yu Zezong , Shu Longlong , Liu Laijun , Chen Yan , Li Chunchun
Published: November 2020

A melilite Ba2CuGe2O7 ceramic was characterized by low sintering temperature and moderate microwave dielectric properties. Sintered at 960 °C, the Ba2CuGe2O7 ceramic had a high relative density 97%, a low relative permittivity (εr) 9.43, a quality factor (Q×f) of 20,000 GHz, and a temperature coefficient of resonance frequency (τf) −76 ppm/°C. To get a deep understanding of the relationship between composition, structure, and dielectric performances, magnesium substitution for copper in Ba2CuGe2O7 was conducted. Influences of magnesium doping on the sintering behavior, crystal structure, and microwave dielectric properties were studied. Mg doping in Ba2CuGe2O7 caused negligible changes in the macroscopic crystal structure, grain morphology, and size distribution, while induced visible variation in the local structure as revealed by Raman analysis. Microwave dielectric properties exhibit a remarkable dependence on composition. On increasing the magnesium content, the relative permittivity featured a continuous decrease, while both the quality factor and the temperature coefficient of resonance frequency increased monotonously. Such variations in dielectric performances were clarified in terms of the polarizability, packing fraction, and band valence theory.