bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CEO gender and corporate labor cost
Authors: Fan Xiaohong , Li Sailu , Villatoro Natalia
Published: July 2021

We examine the impact of CEO gender on firm‐level average labor cost. In a sample of U.S. public firms with voluntary labor cost disclosure, we find that firms with female CEOs have significantly lower average labor cost than firms with male CEOs. This effect is robust to the use of propensity score matching approach to alleviate the impact of possible selection bias and endogeneity concerns. The results are stronger in a subsample of firms where CEO turnover introduces CEO gender change. We hypothesize that female CEOs may be more risk averse and tend to pursue less risky corporate policies, leading to a lower equilibrium employee wage. Alternatively, female CEOs may offer higher non‐monetary employee benefits in lieu of monetary compensation. Our empirical results do not support the risk aversion hypothesis, whereas we find robust evidence that firms with female CEOs offer higher non‐monetary employee benefits than firms with male CEOs, especially in human capital‐intensive firms.
The Use of Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Patients with Muscular Dystrophies: Results from Compassionate Use in Real-Life Settings
Authors: Świątkowska-Flis Beata , Zdolińska-Malinowska Izabela , Sługocka Dominika , Boruczkowski Dariusz
Published: July 2021

Muscular dystrophies are genetically determined progressive diseases with no cause-related treatment and limited supportive treatment. Although stem cells cannot resolve the underlying genetic conditions, their wide-ranging therapeutic properties may ameliorate the consequences of the involved mutations (oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, necrosis). In this study, we administered advanced therapy medicinal product containing umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) to 22 patients with muscular dystrophies. Patients received one to five intravenous and/or intrathecal injections per treatment course in up to two courses every 2 months. Four standard doses of 10, 20, 30, or 40 × 106 UC-MSCs per injection were used; the approximate dose per kilogram was 1 × 106 UC-MSCs. Muscle strength was measured with a set of CQ Dynamometer computerized force meters (CQ Elektronik System, Czernica, Poland). Statistical analysis of muscle strength in the whole group showed significant improvement in the right upper limb (+4.0 N); left hip straightening (+4.5 N) and adduction (+0.5 N); right hip straightening (+1.0 N), bending (+7.5 N), and adduction (+2.5 N); right knee straightening (+8.5 N); left shoulder revocation (+13.0 N), straightening (+5.5 N), and bending (+6.5 N); right shoulder adduction (+3.0 N), revocation (+10.5 N), and bending (+5 N); and right elbow straightening (+9.5 N); all these differences were statistically significant. In six patients (27.3%) these changes led to improvement in gait analysis or movement scale result. Only one patient experienced transient headache and lower back pain after the last administration. In conclusion, UC-MSC therapy may be considered as a therapeutic option for these patients.
Up‐Conversion Luminescence Enhancement and Temperature Sensitivity Properties of La2O3: Yb3+/Er3+ Nanoparticles Induced via Tri‐Doping Li+ Ions
Authors: Lin Na , Wang Rui , Yu Wenhao , Wang Ming , Xu Yanling
Published: July 2021

Due to the lower up‐conversion (UC) luminescence intensity and efficiency, up‐conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) still have many obstacles when they are applied, especially in biology. In this paper, La2O3: Yb3+/Er3+/Li+ nanoparticles were prepared by hydrothermal method firstly and were tested by multiple methods. The green emission and red emission of La2O3: Yb3+/Er3+/Li+ (7/1/10 mol%) nanoparticles were enhanced 63 and 56 folds respectively than the Li+‐free counterpart under 980 nm excitation. The reason for the UC luminescence enhancement has been investigated in detail, which can be illustrated by the increase of the crystallinity of La2O3, the increase of the local asymmetry near the Er3+ ions, the increase of the surface charge, and the decrease of the quenching centers by doping Li+ ions. Additionally, the possible mechanisms of UC luminescence and UC enhancement were discussed briefly. The absolute sensitivity SA of La2O3: Yb3+/Er3+/Li+ (7/1/10 mol%) with temperature from 303 K to 543 K was 1561.58/T2, which indicated the material was an excellent candidate for temperature detection.
Cu0/TiO2 Nanoparticles as Active Catalyst for H2 Production from Dimethylamine Borane
Authors: Karacan Yesim Öztürk , Karaboga Seda , Morkan İzzet
Published: July 2021

The study reports the preparation and characterization of low cost Cu0 nanoparticles obtained from reduction of impregnated Cu2+ ions on the surface of titanium(IV) oxide (TiO2) during hydrogen releasing from dimethylamine borane (DMAB). Cu0/TiO2 nanoparticles act as active catalyst with a turnover frequency 59.9 h−1 in H2 releasing of dimethylamine borane at 60.0±0.5 °C. The obtained catalysts, Cu0/TiO2 NPs, were isolated from reaction medium and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy (UV vis.) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. Cu0/TiO2 nanoparticles with different metal loadings (4.0–8.0 % Cu wt.) were prepared and tested as catalyst in dehydrogenation of dimethylamine borane at 60.0±0.5 °C. All results reveal that Cu0 NPs dispersed on the surface of titania were found as 2.96±0.83 nm. The highest catalytic activity was achieved for Cu0/TiO2 NPs, 0.6 % Cu wt. with a turnover frequency 59.9 h−1 in H2 releasing of dimethylamine borane at 60.0±0.5 °C. The work reported here also includes the kinetic study depending on the temperature.
Bacteria‐driven Single‐inlet Microfluidic Fuel Cell with Spiral Channel Configuration
Authors: Arun Ravi Kumar , Sikdar Nirupam , Roy Debolina , Chaudhuri Surabhi , Chanda Nripen
Published: July 2021

We present a single inlet, spiral‐shaped microfluidic microbial fuel cell (MFC) with porous Paper@Ni anode and Paper@C cathode for energy generation. In the MFC, the anode with a bacterial component is placed along the microchannel side to provide a larger electrode surface area, reduced internal resistance, and enhances mass transport of the 2 % glucose as a substrate for microbial redox reaction. The large electrode area induced by the spiral channel configuration and passive control of the boundary layer enhances the energy output from the fuel cell and eliminates the need for a two‐chambered system. The fuel cell utilizes bacteria Bacillus stratosphericus isolated from mangrove soil to generate bioenergy with an open‐circuit voltage of 0.3 V within 10 seconds. The fuel cell generates a maximum current density of 7 A m−2 and a power density of ∼ 150 mW m−2.
Multifunctional FeP/Spongy Carbon Modified Separator with Enhanced Polysulfide Immobilization and Conversion for Flame‐Retardant Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Zhao Zhenxin , Li Huijun , Cheng Xiaoqin , Ren Ruina , Meng Zhirong , Wang Xiaomin
Published: July 2021

Lithium‐sulfur batteries have been deemed as one of the most promising energy storage systems for the next‐generation batteries. However, some serious challenges hinder the commercialization, such as the shuttle effect of polysulfides and sluggish redox kinetics. Herein, novel FeP/spongy carbon (SC) composites with multiple adsorptions and catalytic sites are prepared as a modified separator. Specifically, the SC proves the structural stability and long ions/electron transmission channel. The adding of FeP can spontaneously react with polysulfides to block the shuttling and catalyze the conversion of sulfur chemistry. The formed adsorption‐diffusion‐conversion surface is beneficial to reduce the polarization and accelerate the redox kinetics. Furthermore, the FeP/SC modified separator can bring down the flammability to prove high‐safety LSBs. Benefiting from these features, the assembled cells with FeP/SC exhibits extraordinary cycling stability (526 mAh g−1 over 400 cycles at 1 C), a superior rate property with 619 mAh g−1 at 2 C. Moreover, the cells with a high areal sulfur loading of 4 mg cm−2 can maintain a capacity of 618 mAh g−1 after 150 cycles. Such a FeP/SC modified separator provides a potential commercial application for high‐safety and advanced Lithium‐sulfur batteries.
A Critical Review on Black Phosphorus‐Based Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction Application
Authors: Zhao Guo‐Qing , Hu Jun , Long Xuan , Zou Jiao , Yu Jin‐Gang , Jiao Fei‐Peng
Published: July 2021

Energy shortages and greenhouse effects are two unavoidable problems that need to be solved. Photocatalytically converting CO2 into a series of valuable chemicals is considered to be an effective means of solving the above dilemmas. Among these photocatalysts, the utilization of black phosphorus for CO2 photocatalytic reduction deserves a lightspot not only for its excellent catalytic activity through different reaction routes, but also on account of the great preponderance of this relatively cheap catalyst. Herein, this review offers a summary of the recent advances in synthesis, structure, properties, and application for CO2 photocatalytic reduction. In detail, the review starts from the basic principle of CO2 photocatalytic reduction. In the following section, the synthesis, structure, and properties, as well as CO2 photocatalytic reduction process of black phosphorus‐based photocatalyst are discussed. In addition, some possible influencing factors and reaction mechanism are also summarized. Finally, a summary and the possible future perspectives of black phosphorus‐based photocatalyst for CO2 reduction are established.
Photothermocatalytic Removal of CO and Formaldehyde with Excellent Water Vapor Stability over Dual‐Functional Copper Loading on TiO2 Synthesized via Flame Spray Pyrolysis
Authors: Yuan Xing , Zheng Chaohe , Zhao Haibo
Published: July 2021

Photothermocatalytic (PTC) oxidation is a high‐efficient, low‐temperature, and green approach to eliminate the air pollutant, but its application is drastically restricted by lack of low‐cost, active, and superior water‐resistance catalysts. Herein, the influence of bifunctional copper components on TiO2 is experimentally and theoretically investigated to optimize PTC efficiency for the CO and HCHO oxidation via flame spray pyrolysis. Both the abundant lattice doping and highly dispersed nanocluster modification of hybrid CuO
x
remarkably enhance charge separation, maintain a dynamic Cu+/Cu2+ balance, and decrease oxygen vacancy formation energy. The satisfactory PTC CO and HCHO oxidation on the CuO
x
−TiO2 samples is mainly attributed to higher lattice oxygen activity and less reaction intermediates under irradiation. In addition, the essential synthesis parameters, such as the increasing precursor flux, are assessed to further enhance the PTC performance. Interestingly, photocatalysis effectively removes the surface H2O or hydroxyl group of catalysts, which is responsible for the excellent water vapor stability in the lean CO PTC oxidation.
Global mortality from dementia: Application of a new method and results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Authors:   GBD 2019 Collaborators
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Dementia is currently one of the leading causes of mortality globally, and mortality due to dementia will likely increase in the future along with corresponding increases in population growth and population aging. However, large inconsistencies in coding practices in vital registration systems over time and between countries complicate the estimation of global dementia mortality.

Methods

We meta‐analyzed the excess risk of death in those with dementia and multiplied these estimates by the proportion of dementia deaths occurring in those with severe, end‐stage disease to calculate the total number of deaths that could be attributed to dementia.

Results

We estimated that there were 1.62 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 0.41–4.21) deaths globally due to dementia in 2019. More dementia deaths occurred in women (1.06 million [0.27–2.71]) than men (0.56 million [0.14–1.51]), largely but not entirely due to the higher life expectancy in women (age‐standardized female‐to‐male ratio 1.19 [1.10–1.26]). Due to population aging, there was a large increase in all‐age mortality rates from dementia between 1990 and 2019 (100.1% [89.1–117.5]). In 2019, deaths due to dementia ranked seventh globally in all ages and fourth among individuals 70 and older compared to deaths from other diseases estimated in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study.

Discussion

Mortality due to dementia represents a substantial global burden, and is expected to continue to grow into the future as an older, aging population expands globally.
The role of metal ions in G protein‐coupled receptor signalling and drug discovery
Authors: Zou Rongfeng , Wang Xueying , Li Shu , Chan H. C. Stephen , Vogel Horst , Yuan Shuguang
Published: July 2021

Metal ions, such as Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and Zn2+, are highly abundant in biological systems. For many G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs), metal ions, especially Na+, have been found to stabilize the receptors' inactivate state preventing receptor activation. Besides this role, recent studies indicated that metal ions can modulate ligand–GPCR interactions allosterically. These findings on ion‐mediated GPCR signaling open new vistas for understanding the functioning of GPCRs and further could help in designing potent therapeutic compounds targeting GPCRs. Here we report on recent findings about role of orthosteric and allosteric metal ions in GPCR signaling and drug discovery.

This article is categorized under:

Structure and Mechanism > Molecular Structures

Molecular and Statistical Mechanics > Molecular Mechanics

Molecular and Statistical Mechanics > Molecular Interactions
In search of the optimal enrichment program for zoo‐housed animals
Authors: Podturkin Aleksei A.
Published: July 2021

Zoo‐housed animals are regularly exposed to new forms of environmental enrichment to make their lives less predictable. However, providing new enrichment can have unpredictable effects. We evaluated the effectiveness of two enrichment regimes: (1) providing only new enrichments – “Novelty” and (2) only familiar enrichments – “Familiar.” In this case study, enrichment efficacy was assessed using activity budget analysis and novel object tests. The subjects were two focal animals: the golden jackal (Canis aureus) and the European badger (Meles meles). Our results suggest that both assessment methods provided similar conclusions about the animal's welfare. The “Familiar” treatment significantly increased activity and decreased abnormal behavior in the jackal's activity budget, who avoided novel objects in her baseline novel object test. The Novelty treatment resulted in the growth of time the jackal spent in the moat instead of the main enclosure, and an increase in avoidance and abnormal behaviors. In contrast, the badger demonstrated a high intensity of exploratory behavior in the baseline novel object test, and both regimes led to an increase in the activity budget of the badger. We propose that a stable, but complex enrichment can be an effective robust tool to increase animal welfare, but its efficacy depends on the novelty preference of individual animals. A novel object test can be a rapid tool to assess individual animals' novelty preferences, and this information may help to choose optimal enrichment regimes for individual animals.
How the Science of HIV Treatment-as-Prevention Restructured PEPFAR’s Strategy: The Case for Scaling up ART in ‘Epidemic Control’ Countries
Authors: Whitacre Ryan
Published: July 2021

The clinical logics of TasP shaped PEPFAR’s latest strategic initiative to achieve ‘epidemic control’ including the organisation’s use of metrics for evaluating performance, and decisions for allocating funds to specific programs and countries. TasP was conceptualised as an ‘evidence-based’ solution for effectively treating and preventing HIV, which could be consistently measured and reported on, however its ability to produce the right kinds of evidence remained abstract and hypothetical. The effects of TasP have also been evident in the budget since PEPFAR launched the strategy to achieve ‘epidemic control’. Whereas under previous initiatives to ‘lead to the global response’ to the epidemic, PEPFAR supported a wider variety of program areas, including by strengthening health systems, under the strategy of epidemic control PEPFAR has prioritised treatment programs over and above all others. TasP also justified disproportionate spending on a subset of countries. By adopting the clinical logics of TasP, PEPFAR justified spending on a limited number of programmes in a small set of countries that could produce what it defined as the right kinds of outcomes, and laid the groundwork for the retreat of US foreign aid.
Key Technologies of Sovereignty Network
Authors: Li Hui , Yang Xin
Published: July 2021

In order to realize all functions of the sovereignty network while guarantee the security at the same time, what key technologies should be used in the architecture? This chapter will elaborate on the key technologies of the sovereignty network. Firstly, on application layer, we proposed a large-scale multilateral managed consortium blockchain technology named as Proof of Vote to construct the multi-identifier system (MIS) for all nations in the world to jointly and equally co-manage the top-level identifiers, which assures the intercommunication between different nations. Meanwhile, each nation owns autonomy on low-level identifiers of its corresponding top-level identifiers, which reflects independent of cyberspace sovereignty. Then, we proposed some efficient algorithms to support inter-translating and addressing for multi-identifier and huge size of hundred billion identifiers, together with the hyperbolic routing scheme forming the core technologies of network layer in MIN Architecture. Technologies for guaranteeing privacy, security, and transmission control, etc. were also presented.
Coronagraben in Switzerland: culture and social distancing in times of COVID-19
Authors: Deopa Neha , Fortunato Piergiuseppe
Published: July 2021

Social distancing measures help contain the spread of COVID-19, but actual compliance has varied substantially across space and time. We ask whether cultural differences underlie this heterogeneity using mobility data across Switzerland between February and December 2020. We find that German-speaking cantons decreased their mobility for non-essential activities significantly less than French-speaking cantons. However, we find no such significant differences for bilingual cantons. Contrary to the evidence in the literature, we find that within the Swiss context, high trusting areas exhibited a smaller decline in mobility. Additionally, cantons supporting a limited role of the state in matters of welfare also experienced a smaller reduction in mobility.
Semigroups and evolutionary equations
Authors: Trostorff Sascha
Published: July 2021

We show how strongly continuous semigroups can be associated with evolutionary equations. For doing so, we need to define the space of admissible history functions and initial states. Moreover, the initial value problem has to be formulated within the framework of evolutionary equations, which is done by using the theory of extrapolation spaces. The results are applied to two examples. First, differential-algebraic equations in infinite dimensions are treated and it is shown, how a $$C_{0}$$

C
0

-semigroup can be associated with such problems. In the second example we treat a concrete hyperbolic delay equation.
Higher Socioeconomic Status is Associated with Improved Outcomes After Obesity Surgery Among Women in Germany
Authors: Wagner Jonas , Zanker Nicola , Duprée Anna , Mann Oliver , Izbicki Jakob , Wolter Stefan
Published: July 2021

Background

Low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with an increased prevalence of obesity. It is unknown whether SES influences the outcome after bariatric surgery in Germany. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate whether the SES is linked with an inferior outcome after bariatric surgery.

Methods

We included all patients who underwent bariatric surgery in our university hospital from 2012–2014. Net income was estimated by matching the zip codes of patient residency with the region‐specific purchasing power index. We analyzed the relationship between SES, weight loss and remission of comorbidities.

Results

We included 559 patients in this study and detected a mean 5‐year percentage excess weight loss (%EWL) of 52.3%. We detected a significantly lower initial body mass index (BMI) and weight in patients with a higher income. One year after surgery, we did not find a significant difference. Further analysis revealed that only women with a higher income had a significantly lower BMI and weight 3 and 5 years after surgery.

Conclusions

Bariatric surgery is beneficial for all patients regardless of income. Furthermore, we demonstrated that women with high SES have a better outcome after bariatric surgery.
Romiplostim in children with newly diagnosed or persistent primary immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Grainger John D. , Kühne Thomas , Hippenmeyer Jane , Cooper Nichola
Published: July 2021

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a disease of heterogenous origin characterized by low platelet counts and an increased bleeding tendency. Three disease phases have been described: newly diagnosed (≤ 3 months after diagnosis), persistent (> 3–12 months after diagnosis), and chronic (> 12 months after diagnosis). The majority of children with ITP have short-lived disease and will not need treatment. For children with newly diagnosed ITP, who have increased bleeding symptoms, short courses of steroids are recommended. In children who do not respond to first-line treatment or who become steroid dependent, thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) are recommended because of their efficacy and safety profiles. In this narrative review, we evaluate the available evidence on the use of the TPO-RA romiplostim to treat children with newly diagnosed or persistent ITP and identify data from five clinical trials, five real-world studies, and a case report. While the data are more limited for children with newly diagnosed ITP than for persistent ITP, the collective body of evidence suggests that romiplostim is efficacious in increasing platelet counts in children with newly diagnosed or persistent ITP and may result in long-lasting treatment-free responses in some patients. Furthermore, romiplostim was found to be well tolerated in the identified studies. Collectively, the data suggest that earlier treatment with romiplostim may help children to avoid the side effects associated with corticosteroid use and reduce the need for subsequent treatment.
Swirl–nozzle interaction experiment: quasi-steady model-based analysis
Authors: Hirschberg Lionel , Bake Friedrich , Knobloch Karsten , Rudolphi Angelo , Kruck Sebastian , Klose Oliver , Hulshoff Steven J.
Published: July 2021

Measurements of sound due to swirl–nozzle interaction are presented. In the experiment a swirl structure was generated by means of unsteady tangential injection into a steady swirl-free flow upstream from a choked convergent–divergent nozzle. Ingestion of swirl by the choked nozzle caused a mass-flow rate change, which resulted in a downstream-measured acoustic response. The downstream acoustic pressure was found to remain negative as long as the swirl is maintained and reflections from the open downstream pipe termination do not interfere. The amplitude of this initial acoustic response was found to be proportional to the square of the tangential mass-flow rate used to generate swirl. When the tangential injection valve was closed, the mass-flow rate through the nozzle increased, resulting in an increase of the downstream acoustic pressure. This increase in signal was compared to the prediction of an empirical quasi-steady model, constructed from steady-state flow measurements. As the opening time of the valve was varied, the signal due to swirl evacuation showed an initial overshoot with respect to quasi-steady behavior, after which it gradually decayed to quasi-steady behavior for tangential injection times long compared to the convection time in the pipe upstream of the nozzle. This demonstrates that the acoustic signal can be used to obtain quantitative information concerning the time dependence of the swirl in the system. This could be useful for understanding the dynamics of flow in engines with swirl-stabilized combustion.

Graphic abstract
Patient assessment and feasibility of treatment in older patients with cancer: results from the IN-GHO® Registry
Authors: Honecker Friedemann , Huschens Susanne , Angermund Ralf , Kallischnigg Gerd , Freier Werner , Friedrich Christoph , Hartung Gerold , Lutz† Arnulf , Otremba Burkhard , Pientka Ludger , Späth-Schwalbe Ernst , Kolb Gerald , Bokemeyer Carsten , Wedding Ulrich ,   the Initiative Geriatrische Hämatologie und Onkologie (IN-GHO®).
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Predicting feasibility of treatment in older patients with cancer is a major clinical task. The Initiative Geriatrische Hämatologie und Onkologie (IN-GHO®) registry prospectively collected data on the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), physician’s and patient’s-self assessment of fitness for treatment, and the course of treatment in patients within a treatment decision aged ≥ 70 years.

Patients and methods

The registry included 3169 patients from 93 centres and evaluated clinical course and treatment outcomes 2–3 and 6 months after initial assessment. Fitness for treatment was classified as fit, compromised and frail according to results of a CGA, and in addition by an experienced physician’s and by patient’s itself. Feasibility of treatment (termed IN-GHO®-FIT) was defined as a composite endpoint, including willingness to undergo the same treatment again in retrospect, no modification or unplanned termination of treatment, and no early mortality (within 90 days).

Results

CGA classified 30.0% as fit, 35.8% as compromised, and 34.2% as frail. Physician’s and patient’s-self assessment classified 61.8%/52.3% as fit, 34.2%/42.4% as compromised, and 3.9%/5.3%, as frail, respectively. Survival status at day 180 was available in 2072 patients, of which 625 (30.2%) had died. After 2–3 months, feasibility of treatment could be assessed in 1984 patients. 62.8% fulfilled IN-GHO®-FIT criteria. Multivariable analysis identified physician’s assessment as the single most important item regarding feasibility of treatment.

Conclusion

Geriatricians were involved in 2% of patients only. Classification of fitness for treatment by CGA, and physician’s or patient’s-self assessment showed marked discrepancies. For the prediction of feasibility of treatment no single item was superior to physician’s assessment. However CGA was not performed by trained geriatricians.
Encoding Two-Dimensional Range Top-k Queries
Authors: Jo Seungbum , Lingala Rahul , Satti Srinivasa Rao
Published: July 2021

We consider the problem of encoding two-dimensional arrays, whose elements come from a total order, for answering $${\text{Top-}}{k}$$

Top-
k

queries. The aim is to obtain encodings that use space close to the information-theoretic lower bound, which can be constructed efficiently. For an $$m \times n$$

m
×
n

array, with $$m \le n$$

m
≤
n

, we first propose an encoding for answering 1-sided $${\textsf {Top}}{\text {-}}k{}$$

Top
-
k

queries, whose query range is restricted to $$[1 \dots m][1 \dots a]$$

[
1
⋯
m
]
[
1
⋯
a
]

, for $$1 \le a \le n$$

1
≤
a
≤
n

. Next, we propose an encoding for answering for the general (4-sided) $${\textsf {Top}}{\text {-}}k{}$$

Top
-
k

queries that takes $$(m\lg {{(k+1)n \atopwithdelims ()n}}+2nm(m-1)+o(n))$$

(
m
lg

(
k
+
1
)
n

n

+
2
n
m

(
m
-
1
)

+
o

(
n
)

)

bits, which generalizes the joint Cartesian tree of Golin et al. [TCS 2016]. Compared with trivial $$O(nm\lg {n})$$

O
(
n
m
lg
n
)

-bit encoding, our encoding takes less space when $$m = o(\lg {n})$$

m
=
o
(
lg
n
)

. In addition to the upper bound results for the encodings, we also give lower bounds on encodings for answering 1 and 4-sided $${\textsf {Top}}{\text {-}}k{}$$

Top
-
k

queries, which show that our upper bound results are almost optimal.
Profitability of farm-scale management strategies against the boll weevil in the tropics: case study from the Colombian Caribbean
Authors: Burbano-Figueroa Oscar , Sierra-Monroy Alexandra , Whitney Cory , Borgemeister Christian , Luedeling Eike
Published: July 2021

Decision making in pest management is a challenging task. While pest dynamics are often quite uncertain, such decisions are often based on tenuous assumptions of certainty (economic injury levels and marginal utility approximations). To overcome such assumptions and adequately consider uncertainty, we apply decision analysis to evaluate management strategies used by farmers in the Colombian Caribbean against the boll weevil (BW). We represent the decision to protect the crop using partial budget analysis. This allows us to capture key properties of BW control strategies, while accounting for uncertainty about pest infestation pressure, control effectiveness and cotton yield and price. Our results indicate that proactive pest management is more efficient than reactive control given the current BW infestation pressure. However, farmers may prefer the reactive strategy, since they have experienced seasons with low infestation pressure where no insecticide applications were required. The proactive strategy, in contrast, requires scheduled pesticide applications in all years. Results show that in seasons with high infestation pressure the expected revenues of the reactive strategy tend to decrease, mainly because more spray applications are required when fields are heavily infested by the weevil. Value of information analysis revealed that uncertainties related to the start of the infestation, loss damage rate and attainable yield have the greatest influence on the decision recommendation for crop protection. Narrowing these key knowledge gaps may offer additional clarity on the performance of the current management strategies and provide guidance for the development of strategies to reduce insecticide use. This is particularly important for the promotion of the proactive strategy, which, under the current infestation pressure, has potential to reduce insecticide use. While economic injury levels can only be applied to responsive measures, our approach of partial budget analysis under uncertainty allows us to assess and compare both responsive and preventive measures in the same methodological framework. This framework can be extended to non-pesticide control measures.
The Influence of Slopes of Isolated Three-Dimensional Valleys on Near-Surface Turbulence
Authors: Freitas Sylvio , Harms Frank , Leitl Bernd
Published: July 2021

Motivated by a limited understanding of how valleys affect near-surface turbulence, characterizations of neutrally stable atmospheric-boundary-layer flows over isolated valleys are presented. In particular, the influence of the slopes of the three-dimensional ridges that form the idealized valleys are investigated. Flows over three distinct symmetric valley geometries were modelled in a large boundary-layer wind tunnel. For each valley geometry, the high-resolution measurements from the crests of each of the ridges and the midpoint between them are compared with an undisturbed moderately rough classed boundary-layer flow over flat terrain with homogeneous surface roughness. Flow separation originates above the crests of the first ridges of all geometries and generates recirculation zones. These are characterized by slope-dependent increases in three-dimensional near-surface turbulence when compared with the attached flows further upstream. The recirculation zones longitudinally extend to roughly half the valley width. Above the crests of the second ridges, the longitudinal velocity component decreases and turbulence intensity increases when compared with the flows above the crests of the first ridges. Results also exhibit significant increases of turbulence above the inner-valley regions of all geometries.
Breast cancer incidence and early diagnosis in a family history risk and prevention clinic: 33-year experience in 14,311 women
Authors: Evans D. Gareth , Howell Sacha J. , Gandhi Ashu , van Veen Elke M. , Woodward Emma R. , Harvey James , Barr Lester , Wallace Andrew , Lalloo Fiona , Wilson Mary , Hurley Emma , Lim Yit , Maxwell Anthony J. , Harkness Elaine F. , Howell Anthony
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Women at increased familial breast cancer risk have been offered screening starting at an earlier age and increased frequency than national Screening Programmes for over 30 years. There are limited data on longer-term largescale implementation of this approach on cancer diagnosis.

Methods

Women at our institution at ≥ 17% lifetime breast cancer risk have been offered enhanced screening with annual mammography starting at age 35 or 5-years younger than youngest affected relative, with upper age limit 50 for moderate and 60 for high-risk. Breast cancer pathology, stage and receptor status were assessed as well as survival from cancer diagnosis by Kaplan–Meier analysis.

Results

Overall 14,311 women were seen and assessed for breast cancer risk, with 649 breast cancers occurring in 129,119 years follow up (post-prevalent annual incidence = 4.55/1000). Of 323/394 invasive breast cancers occurring whilst on enhanced screening, most were lymph-node negative (72.9%), T1 (≤ 20 mm, 73.2%) and stage-1 (61.4%), 126/394 stage2–4 (32%). 10-year breast cancer specific survival was 91.3% (95% CI 87.4–94.0) better than the 75.9% (95% CI 74.9–77.0) published for England in 2013–2017. As expected, survival was significantly better for women with screen detected cancers (p < 0.001). Ten-year survival was particularly good for those diagnosed ≤ 40 at 93.8% (n = 75; 95% CI 84.2–97.6). Women with lobular breast cancers had worse 10-year survival at 85.9% (95% CI 66.7–94.5). Breast cancer specific survival was good for 119 BRCA1/2 carriers with 20-year survival in BRCA1:91.2% (95% CI 77.8–96.6) and 83.8% (62.6–93.5) for BRCA2.

Conclusions

Targeted breast screening in women aged 30–60 years at increased familial risk is associated with good long-term survival that is substantially better than expected from population data.
Market Structure and Financial Stability: the Interaction between Profit-Oriented and Mutual Cooperative Banks in Italy
Authors: Amendola Adalgiso , Barra Cristian , Boccia Marinella , Papaccio Anna
Published: July 2021

In this study, we analyze the relation between market structure and financial stability both theoretically and empirically by considering two types of agents: profit-oriented banks and mutual cooperative banks in the context of Italy. The main findings show that under the condition that mutual cooperative banks are not dominated by borrowers, there is an inverted U-shaped relation in which a less concentrated market structure increases stability for both types of banks but a more concentrated market structure reduces it.
Factors shaping economics of land use change in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan
Authors: Ali Amjad , Ali Ghulam , Shah Ghulam Muhammad , Shah Attaullah , Karim Rehmat , Joshi Srijana , Ali Karamat , Khan Babar
Published: July 2021

Sustainable land use is one of the emergent mountain concerns which requires immediate policy and regulatory attention. This study examines land use change and land prices at three different 5-yearly intervals: 2019, 2014 and 2009 respectively in three urbanizing districts of Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan. Empirical evidences are gathered by using mixed-method approaches. Findings of the study suggest that households’ land holdings of cultivated and uncultivated patches have declined significantly whereas, built-up area continued to rise over the years. Simultaneously, value of land in the urban centers has increased exponentially. As a result, sustainability of future economic benefits and ecosystem health becomes a major challenge for local community and policy makers. Therefore, this study recommends effective and sustainable land use planning with the emphasis on legislation, policy making, judicious and healthy use of ecosystem services and local ownership synced with customary laws and traditional knowledge.
Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Akremi Haifa , Hamel Raphaël , Dumas Anne , Camden Chantal , Corriveau Hélène , Lepage Jean-Francois
Published: July 2021

Evidence-based therapeutic options for children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) are scarce. This work explored the effects of cerebellar anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS) on three 48 h-apart motor sequence learning and upper limb coordination sessions in children with DCD. The results revealed that, as compared to a Sham intervention (n = 10), cerebellar atDCS (n = 10) did not meaningfully improve execution speed but tended to reduce the number of execution errors during motor sequence learning. However, cerebellar atDCS did neither meaningfully influence offline learning nor upper limb coordination, suggesting that atDCS’ effects are circumscribed to its application duration. These results suggest that cerebellar atDCS could have beneficial effects as a complementary therapeutic tool for children with DCD.
Radiological impact assessment of different building material additives
Authors: Kocsis E. , Tóth-Bodrogi E. , Peka A. , Adelikhah M. , Kovács T.
Published: July 2021

In this study, samples of building material additives were analyzed for naturally occurring radioisotope activity such as uranium, radium, and radon. The radon exhalation and the annual effective doses, were also calculated. The activities of the samples, were determined using HPGe gamma spectrometry and ionization detector. The results were used to calculate dose values by using RESRAD BUILD code. The activity concentration of the samples ranges between 9–494 Bq/kg Ra-226, 1–119 Bq/kg Th-232 and 24–730 Bq/kg K-40. In conclusion the investigated samples can be used safely as building material additives as they do not pose a major risk to humans.
Modelling cassava production and pest management under biotic and abiotic constraints
Authors: Alonso Chavez Vasthi , Milne Alice E. , van den Bosch Frank , Pita Justin , McQuaid C. Finn
Published: July 2021

Key message

We summarise modelling studies of the most economically important cassava diseases and arthropods, highlighting research gaps where modelling can contribute to the better management of these in the areas of surveillance, control, and host-pest dynamics understanding the effects of climate change and future challenges in modelling.

For over 30 years, experimental and theoretical studies have sought to better understand the epidemiology of cassava diseases and arthropods that affect production and lead to considerable yield loss, to detect and control them more effectively. In this review, we consider the contribution of modelling studies to that understanding. We summarise studies of the most economically important cassava pests, including cassava mosaic disease, cassava brown streak disease, the cassava mealybug, and the cassava green mite. We focus on conceptual models of system dynamics rather than statistical methods. Through our analysis we identified areas where modelling has contributed and areas where modelling can improve and further contribute. Firstly, we identify research challenges in the modelling developed for the surveillance, detection and control of cassava pests, and propose approaches to overcome these. We then look at the contributions that modelling has accomplished in the understanding of the interaction and dynamics of cassava and its’ pests, highlighting success stories and areas where improvement is needed. Thirdly, we look at the possibility that novel modelling applications can achieve to provide insights into the impacts and uncertainties of climate change. Finally, we identify research gaps, challenges, and opportunities where modelling can develop and contribute for the management of cassava pests, highlighting the recent advances in understanding molecular mechanisms of plant defence.
Direct prediction of site-specific lime requirement of arable fields using the base neutralizing capacity and a multi-sensor platform for on-the-go soil mapping
Authors: Vogel Sebastian , Bönecke Eric , Kling Charlotte , Kramer Eckart , Lück Katrin , Philipp Golo , Rühlmann Jörg , Schröter Ingmar , Gebbers Robin
Published: July 2021

Liming agricultural fields is necessary for counteracting soil acidity and is one of the oldest operations in soil fertility management. However, the best management practice for liming in Germany only insufficiently considers within-field soil variability. Thus, a site-specific variable rate liming strategy was developed and tested on nine agricultural fields in a quaternary landscape of north-east Germany. It is based on the use of a proximal soil sensing module using potentiometric, geoelectric and optical sensors that have been found to be proxies for soil pH, texture and soil organic matter (SOM), which are the most relevant lime requirement (LR) affecting soil parameters. These were compared to laboratory LR analysis of reference soil samples using the soil’s base neutralizing capacity (BNC). Sensor data fusion utilizing stepwise multi-variate linear regression (MLR) analysis was used to predict BNC-based LR (LRBNC) for each field. The MLR models achieved high adjusted R2values between 0.70 and 0.91 and low RMSE values from 65 to 204 kg CaCO3ha−1. In comparison to univariate modeling, MLR models improved prediction by 3 to 27% with 9% improvement on average. The relative importance of covariates in the field-specific prediction models were quantified by computing standardized regression coefficients (SRC). The importance of covariates varied between fields, which emphasizes the necessity of a field-specific calibration of proximal sensor data. However, soil pH was the most important parameter for LR determination of the soils studied. Geostatistical semivariance analysis revealed differences between fields in the spatial variability of LRBNC. The sill-to-range ratio (SRR) was used to quantify and compare spatial LRBNCvariability of the nine test fields. Finally, high resolution LR maps were generated. The BNC-based LR method also produces negative LR values for soil samples with pH values above which lime is required. Hence, the LR maps additionally provide an estimate on the quantity of chemically acidifying fertilizers that can be applied to obtain an optimal soil pH value.
Religious change in Orthodox-majority Eastern Europe: from Nation-State to Global-Market
Authors: Gauthier François
Published: July 2021

This article mobilises an analytical framework developed by the author in a series of solo and joint publications according to which religion has shifted from a Nation-State to a Global-Market regime, which it applies to the case of Eastern European Orthodox majority countries, including Russia, in modern times. Bringing together a large amount of research in a synthetic objective, it first examines how religion in Eastern Europe was nationalised and statised from the end of the eighteenth to the twentieth century. It looks at the particularities of the communist experience, and shows how it is best understood as a form of radicalisation of National-Statist trends. It then shows how neoliberal reforms have integrated these countries in wider global flows. The remainder of the article looks at different trends from the perspective of marketisation: the coextensive rise of Orthodoxy affiliation and nationalism, the qualitative changes within Orthodoxy, as well as the parallel developments of New Age derived spirituality and Pentecostalism, the two ideal-typical religious forms in the Global-Market regime, and by linking them to specific experiences of globalisation and social determinants. The conclusion argues that the rise of nationalism and authoritarianism as well as the religious trends that are developing today are the consequences of neoliberal reforms, the penetration of consumerism as a dominant ethos, and thus generalised marketisation.
Stable and Metastable Phase Equilibria Involving the Cu6Sn5 Intermetallic
Authors: Leineweber A. , Löffler M. , Martin S.
Published: July 2021

Cu6Sn5 intermetallic occurs in the form of differently ordered phases η, η′ and η′′. In solder joints, this intermetallic can undergo changes in composition and the state of order without or while interacting with excess Cu and excess Sn in the system, potentially giving rise to detrimental changes in the mechanical properties of the solder. In order to study such processes in fundamental detail and to get more detailed information about the metastable and stable phase equilibria, model alloys consisting of Cu3Sn + Cu6Sn5 as well as Cu6Sn5 + Sn-rich melt were heat treated. Powder x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy supplemented by electron backscatter diffraction were used to investigate the structural and microstructural changes. It was shown that Sn-poor η can increase its Sn content by Cu3Sn precipitation at grain boundaries or by uptake of Sn from the Sn-rich melt. From the kinetics of the former process at 513 K and the grain size of the η phase, we obtained an interdiffusion coefficient in η of (3 ± 1) × 10−16 m2 s−1. Comparison of this value with literature data implies that this value reflects pure volume (inter)diffusion, while Cu6Sn5 growth at low temperature is typically strongly influenced by grain-boundary diffusion. These investigations also confirm that η′′ forming below a composition-dependent transus temperature gradually enriches in Sn content, confirming that Sn-poor η′′ is metastable against decomposition into Cu3Sn and more Sn-rich η or (at lower temperatures) η′.

Graphic Abstract
Detection of functional and structural brain alterations in female schizophrenia using elastic net logistic regression
Authors: Wu Ying , Ren Ping , Chen Rong , Xu Hong , Xu Jianxing , Zeng Lin , Wu Donghui , Jiang Wentao , Tang NianSheng , Liu Xia
Published: July 2021

Neuroimaging technique is a powerful tool to characterize the abnormality of brain networks in schizophrenia. However, the neurophysiological substrate of schizophrenia is still unclear. Here we investigated the patterns of brain functional and structural changes in female patients with schizophrenia using elastic net logistic regression analysis of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data. Data from 52 participants (25 female schizophrenia patients and 27 healthy controls) were obtained. Using an elastic net penalty, the brain regions most relevant to schizophrenia pathology were defined in the models using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and gray matter, respectively. The receiver operating characteristic analysis showed reliable classification accuracy with 85.7% in ALFF analysis, and 77.1% in gray matter analysis. Notably, our results showed eight common regions between the ALFF and gray matter analyses, including the Frontal-Inf-Orb-R, Rolandic-Oper-R, Olfactory-R, Angular-L, Precuneus-L, Precuenus-R, Heschl-L, and Temporal-Pole-Mid-R. In addition, the severity of symptoms was found positively associated with the ALFF within the Rolandic-Oper-R and Frontal-Inf-Orb-R. Our findings indicated that elastic net logistic regression could be a useful tool to identify the characteristics of schizophrenia -related brain deterioration, which provides novel insights into schizophrenia diagnosis and prediction.