bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complex Formation of Cefazolin with Ca2+ and Mg2+: Synthesis, DFT, Spectral and Antibacterial Determination
Authors: Novikova Galina V. , Krasnov Pavel O. , Samoilo Alexander S. , Shidlovskiy Ivan P. , Kondrasenko Alexander A. , Andreeva Elena A.
Published: September 2021

Mg(II) and Ca(II) complexes with cefazolin were synthesized and investigated using elemental and atomic‐emission analysis, TGA, X‐ray diffraction, FT‐IR spectroscopy, 1H and 13CNMR, DFT calculations, and QTAIM analysis. The thermal behavior of these complexes was also studied. In the magnesium complex, two cefazolin ions are coordinated to the metal ion through the oxygen atoms of the lactam and carboxylate groups as a bidentate ligand. However, cefazolin chelated to the calcium ion through both oxygen atoms of the carboxylate groups and the lactam groups′ oxygen atoms as tridentate ligand. Sodium cefazolin and metal complexes were also screened for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The calcium complex exhibited higher antibacterial effects than the magnesium complex (5.2–7.7 % higher against S. aureus– and 15.4–27.3 % against E. coli), which is related to weaker binding of Ca, compared to Mg, with the oxygen atom of lactam group and, as a result, more free releasing of the lactam group in the solving process.
Wood Ionic Cable
Authors: Kong Weiqing , Chen Chaoji , Chen Gegu , Wang Chengwei , Liu Dapeng , Das Siddhartha , Chen Guang , Li Tian , Li Jianguo , Liu Yang , Li Zhihan , Clifford Bryson Callie , Hu Liangbing
Published: September 2021

The combination of good stability, biocompatibility, and high mechanical strength is attractive for bio‐related material applications, but it remains challenging to simultaneously achieve these properties in a single, ionically conductive material. Here a “wood” ionic cable, made of aligned wood nanofibrils, demonstrating a combination of biocompatibility, high mechanical strength, high ionic conductivity, and excellent stability is reported. The wood ionic cable possesses excellent flexibility and exhibits high tensile strength up to 260 MPa (in the dry state) and ≈80 MPa (in the wet state). The nanochannels within the highly aligned cellulose nanofibrils and the presence of negative charges on the surfaces of these nanochannels, originating from the cellulose hydroxyl groups, provide new opportunities for ion regulation at low salt concentrations. Ion regulation in turn enables the wood ionic cable to have unique nanofluidic ionic behaviors. The Na+ ion conductivity of the wood ionic cable can reach up to ≈1.5 × 10−4 S cm−1 at low Na+ ion concentration (1.0 × 10−5 mol L−1), which is an order of magnitude higher than that of bulk NaCl solution at the same concentration. The scalable, biocompatible wood ionic cable enables novel ionic device designs for potential ion‐regulation applications.
A Perspective on the Commercial Viability of Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Ling JinKiong , Kizhakkedath Pradeep Kumar Koyadan , Watson Trystan M. , Mora-Seró Iván , Schmidt-Mende Lukas , Brown Thomas M. , Jose Rajan
Published: September 2021

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have received a large amount of research funds due to their potential as a frontrunner in a new generation of solar cells; consequently, the desire to commercialize this technology is mounting. In this roadmap, the knowledge and the technological gaps between laboratory and industry are critically analyzed from the perspective of 5S criteria (Stability, Safety, Sustainability, Scalability, and Storage). To avoid any favoritism in the arguments toward commercializing this technology, herein, the average parameters of PSCs (photoconversion efficiency, durability, cost, manufacturability, and sustainability) estimated from previous studies are analyzed and discussed. Unique opportunities for PSCs in their current stage of achievements are identified, where application‐driven, instead of performance‐driven, developments are shown to favor their commercialization. Efforts required to improve the average performance of PSCs to state‐of‐the‐art levels are also identified and discussed.
Spiro‐OMeTAD:Sb2S3 Hole Transport Layer with Triple Functions of Overcoming Lithium Salt Aggregation, Long‐Term High Conductivity, and Defect Passivation for Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Du Qing , Shen Zhitao , Chen Chong , Li Fumin , Jin Mengqi , Li Huilin , Dong Chao , Zheng Jihong , Ji Mingxing , Wang Mingtai
Published: September 2021

The development of a hole transport layer (HTL) with persistent high conductivity, good moisture/oxygen barrier ability, and suitable passivation ability of perovskite defects is very important for achieving high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and long‐term stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the state‐of‐the art HTL, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)‐imide (Li‐TFSI)‐doped 2,2′,7,7′‐tetrakis‐(N,N‐di‐p‐methoxyphenylamine)‐9,9′‐spirobifluorene (spiro‐OMeTAD), does not have these abilities. Herein, the incorporation of antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) nanoparticles as a multifunctional additive into spiro‐OMeTAD is demonstrated. The Sb2S3 effectively improve the compactness of composite spiro‐OMeTAD:Sb2S3 HTL by inhibiting the Li‐TFSI aggregation and effectively prevent the infiltration of moisture and oxygen into the perovskite layer, resulting in its high chemical stability. More importantly, Sb2S3 not only improves the conductivity and hole mobility of the spiro‐OMeTAD:Sb2S3 through the oxidation of spiro‐OMeTAD by Sb2S3, but also makes the high conductivity more durable and stable in the atmospheric environment. In addition, Sb2S3 also effectively passivates the perovskite defects and accelerates the charge transfer from perovskite layer to HTL. As a consequence, the optimized PSCs based on spiro‐OMeTAD:Sb2S3 HTL exhibit a much higher PCE (22.13%) than that (19.29%) of the PSCs without Sb2S3 and show a greatly improved stability.
Achieving 18.14% Efficiency of Ternary Organic Solar Cells with Alloyed Nonfullerene Acceptor
Authors: Yu Kuibao , Song Wei , Li Yafeng , Chen Zhenyu , Ge Jinfeng , Yang Daobin , Zhang Jianqi , Xie Lin , Liu Cuirong , Ge Ziyi
Published: September 2021

The ternary strategy is an effective method to improve the efficiency of organic solar cells (OSCs). Herein, high‐performance OSCs with over 18% efficiency using PM6 as donor and alloy‐like acceptor containing two highly structurally similar acceptors (Y6 and Y6‐1O) is obtained. The spectral overlap of Y6 and Y6‐1O can increase the collection of photons via enhancing the absorption in near infrared region, which is conducive to improve the short‐circuit current density (J
SC). Meanwhile, beneficial electron transport channels are established by the construction of cascaded energy levels of Y6 and Y6‐1O in the ternary films. In addition, compared with Y6‐ and Y6‐1O‐based binary devices, enhanced charge mobility and suppressed charge recombination are observed in the optimal ternary OSCs, contributing to better performance. The improved performance of ternary devices based on the introduction of Y6‐1O is also attributed to the enhancement of photon capture and improved charge extraction as well as optimized blend morphology. A very promising ternary strategy is presented with two highly compatible acceptors to synergize the device performance in the development of high‐efficient OSCs.
Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane and its derivative as organic thermal stabilizers for flexible poly(vinyl chloride)
Authors: Fu Zhimin , Yang Zhanhong , Deng Lie , Rong Yao , Wu Jian
Published: September 2021

The tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (THAM) and its derivative (DHD 2‐([1,3‐dihydroxypropan‐2‐ylidene]amino)‐2‐(hydroxymethyl)propane‐1,3‐diol) have been used as organic thermal stabilizers for flexible poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). According to dehydrochlorination and discoloration tests conducted at 180°C, THAM showed to be an excellent organic thermal stabilizer for flexible PVC, not only THAM stabilizer improved the thermal stability of PVC but also maintained the initial color of the PVC. The induction time and the thermal stability time were 52 and 55.5 min, respectively. DHD can also be used as an organic thermal stabilizer for flexible PVC; however, its thermal stabilizing efficiency was not satisfactory, but it has a good synergistic effect with traditional cadmium–zinc soap stabilizers. Besides, the experiments had been performed to investigate pentaerythritol (PER) and THAM, two substances with similar structure, but such a huge difference in thermal stabilizing efficiency for flexible PVC. THAM did improve the thermal stability of PVC, both in initial whiteness and long‐term thermal stability. But PER has no thermal stabilizing efficiency for PVC when used alone. At the end of the article, the probable mechanism which can give an explanation for the stabilizing efficiency given by the THAM has been proposed.
Rechtserhaltende Gewalt oder rechtserhaltender Zwang – mehr als eine semantische Unterscheidung?
Authors: Werkner Ines-Jacqueline
Published: September 2021

Mit der Konzeptualisierung der rechtserhaltenden Gewalt in Abgrenzung zum gerechten Krieg („‚Rechtserhaltende Gewalt‘ statt ‚gerechter Krieg‘“, EKD 2007, Ziff. 65) liegt der Fokus der friedensethischen Debatten – und das hat das vorherige Kapitel deutlich aufzeigen können – auf Fragen legaler und legitimer Gewalt und damit auf militärische Interventionen.
Hospital volume–outcome relationship in total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis
Authors: Kugler C. M. , Goossen K. , Rombey T. , De Santis K. K. , Mathes T. , Breuing J. , Hess S. , Burchard R. , Pieper D.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis aimed to investigate the relationship between hospital volume and outcomes for total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods

MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL and CINAHL were searched up to February 2020 for randomised controlled trials and cohort studies that reported TKA performed in hospitals with at least two different volumes and any associated patient-relevant outcomes. The adjusted effect estimates (odds ratios, OR) were pooled using a random-effects, linear dose–response meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was quantified using the I2-statistic. ROBINS-I and the GRADE approach were used to assess the risk of bias and the confidence in the cumulative evidence, respectively.

Results

A total of 68 cohort studies with data from 1985 to 2018 were included. The risk of bias for all outcomes ranged from moderate to critical. Higher hospital volume may be associated with a lower rate of early revision ≤ 12 months (narrative synthesis of k = 7 studies, n = 301,378 patients) and is likely associated with lower mortality ≤ 3 months (OR = 0.91 per additional 50 TKAs/year, 95% confidence interval [0.87–0.95], k = 9, n = 2,638,996, I2 = 51%) and readmissions ≤ 3 months (OR = 0.98 [0.97–0.99], k = 3, n = 830,381, I2 = 44%). Hospital volume may not be associated with the rates of deep infections within 1–4 years, late revision (1–10 years) or adverse events ≤ 3 months. The confidence in the cumulative evidence was moderate for mortality and readmission rates; low for early revision rates; and very low for deep infection, late revision and adverse event rates.

Conclusion

An inverse volume–outcome relationship probably exists for some TKA outcomes, including mortality and readmissions, and may exist for early revisions. Small reductions in unfavourable outcomes may be clinically relevant at the population level, supporting centralisation of TKA to high-volume hospitals.

Level of evidence

III.

Registration number

The study was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO CRD42019131209 available at: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=131209).
Multiresidue antibiotic-metabolite quantification method using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry for environmental and public exposure estimation
Authors: Holton Elizabeth , Kasprzyk-Hordern Barbara
Published: September 2021

This manuscript describes a new multiresidue method utilising ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) via multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), for the identification and quantification of 58 antibiotics and their 26 metabolites, in various solid and liquid environmental matrices. The method was designed with a ‘one health’ approach in mind requiring multidisciplinary and multisectoral collaborative efforts. It enables comprehensive evaluation of antibiotic usage in surveyed communities via wastewater-based epidemiology, as well as allowing for the assessment of potential environmental impacts. The instrumental performance was very good, demonstrating linearity up to 3000 μg L−1, and high accuracy and precision. The method accuracy in several compounds was significantly improved by dividing calibration curves into separate ranges. This was accompanied by applying a weighting factor (1/x). Microwave-assisted and/or solid-phase extraction of analytes from liquid and solid matrices provided good recoveries for most compounds, with only a few analytes underperforming. Method quantification limits were determined as low as 0.017 ng L−1 in river water, 0.044 ng L−1 in wastewater, 0.008 ng g−1 in river sediment, and 0.009 ng g−1 in suspended solids. Overall, the method was successfully validated for the quantification of 64 analytes extracted from aqueous samples, and 45 from solids. The analytes that underperformed are considered on a semi-quantitative basis, including aminoglycosides and carbapenems. The method was applied to both solid and liquid environmental matrices, whereby several antibiotics and their metabolites were quantified. The most notable antibiotic-metabolite pairs are three sulfonamides and their N-acetyl metabolites; four macrolides/lincomycins and their N-desmethyl metabolites; and five quinolone metabolites.

Graphical abstract
Current treatment of IgA nephropathy
Authors: Floege Jürgen , Rauen Thomas , Tang Sydney C. W.
Published: September 2021

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common type of glomerulonephritis in Asia and the Western world. In most patients, it follows an asymptomatic to oligosymptomatic course and GFR loss, if any, is slow. The mainstay of therapy therefore is optimized supportive care, i.e., measures that lower blood pressure, reduce proteinuria, minimize lifestyle risk factors, and otherwise help to reduce non-specific insults to the kidneys. The value of immunosuppression has become controversial and if at all, systemic high-dose corticosteroid therapy should be considered for a few months taking into account patient characteristics that would caution against or preclude such therapy. In addition, adverse events related to corticosteroid therapy markedly increase as GFR declines. Beyond corticosteroids, there is little evidence that any additional immunosuppression is helpful, with the exception of mycophenolate mofetil in patients of Asian descent. A considerable number of clinical trials ranging from enteric coated budesonide to blockade of B-cell function to complement inhibitors are currently ongoing and will hopefully allow a more targeted therapy of high-risk patients with progressive IgAN in the future.
Hurricane Matthew in 2100: effects of extreme sea level rise scenarios on a highly valued coastal area (Palm Beach, FL, USA)
Authors: Boyden Patrick , Casella Elisa , Daly Christopher , Rovere Alessio
Published: September 2021

Sea-level rise represents a severe hazard for populations living within low-elevation coastal zones and is already largely affecting coastal communities worldwide. As sea level continues to rise following unabated greenhouse gas emissions, the exposure of coastal communities to inundation and erosion will increase exponentially. These impacts will be further magnified under extreme storm conditions. In this paper, we focus on one of the most valuable coastal real estate markets globally (Palm Beach, FL). We use XBeach, an open-source hydro and morphodynamic model, to assess the impact of a major tropical cyclone (Hurricane Matthew, 2016) under three different sea-level scenarios. The first scenario (modern sea level) serves as a baseline against which other model runs are evaluated. The other two runs use different 2100 sea-level projections, localized to the study site: (i) IPCC RCP 8.5 (0.83 m by 2100) and (ii) same as (i), but including enhanced Antarctic ice loss (1.62 m by 2100). Our results show that the effective doubling of future sea level under heightened Antarctic ice loss amplifies flow velocity and wave height, leading to a 46% increase in eroded beach volume and the overtopping of coastal protection structures. This further exacerbates the vulnerability of coastal properties on the island, leading to significant increases in parcel inundation.
Two Bonebridge bone conduction hearing implant generations: audiological benefit and quality of hearing in children
Authors: Šikolová Soňa , Urík Milan , Hošnová Dagmar , Kruntorád Vít , Bartoš Michal , Motyka Oldřich , Jabandžiev Petr
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The study aimed to evaluate audiological benefits, quality of hearing and safety of two Bonebridge generation: BCI601 and BCI602 (MED-EL, Innsbruck, Austria) in children.

Methods

Twelve children were implanted: five BCI601 and seven BCI602 comprising of ten conductive hearing loss, and two single sided deaf SSD subjects. Audiological outcomes tested were sound field audiometry, functional gain, speech recognition threshold (SRT50), speech recognition in noise (SPRINT) and localisation abilities. Subjective measures were Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ12).

Results

The mean FG with the BCI601 was 25.0 dB and with the BCI602 28.0 dB. The benefit in SRT50 was 23.2 dB and 33.8 dB, respectively. The mean benefit in SPRINT was 15% and 6.7% and the localisation ability improved from 33.3° to 16° and from 26.2° to 17.6°, respectively. The two SSD subjects reported a FG of 17 dB, a benefit in SRT50 of 22.5 and a benefit in SPRINT of 20%. Subjective outcomes improved significantly and even exceeded the values of their age-and sex matched normal hearing peers. One revision was reported: a retroauricular emphysema above the implant occurred 12 months post-OP, it was resolved operatively with the implant still being functional.

Conclusion

The pediatric cohort reports significant audiological benefit, even exceeding that of the age- and sex matched control. The combination of the high safety and audiological benefit makes the Bonebridge a comfortable and effective option in hearing rehabilitation in children.
Das sinnvolle und das würdevolle Leben in der Medizinethik
Authors: Muders Sebastian
Published: September 2021

In der Medizinethik haben sich moralische Gründe, die die Würde des Patienten betreffen, gerade auch in Fragen am Lebensende als wichtige Grundlage praktischen Überlegens neben solchen des Wohlergehens und der Autonomie fest etabliert. Dabei hat es sich eingebürgert, zwischen Gesichtspunkten zu unterscheiden, die die kontingente Würde einer Person in den Blick nehmen, und solchen, die sich auf eine nicht-kontingente Würde ihrer Träger beziehen. In diesem Aufsatz möchte ich auf eine weitere Grundlage aufmerksam machen, die von Überlegungen, die von der Menschenwürde der Betroffenen in beiderlei Art ihren Ausgangspunkt nehmen, verdeckt zu werden drohen: Moralische Gründe, die sich der Bewahrung oder Vermehrung des Sinns verschrieben haben, den Menschen in ihrem Leben sehen oder vermissen. Diese Sinn-Gründe, so mein Argument, weisen einige strukturelle Gemeinsamkeiten zu Würde-Überlegungen auf, die auf eine gemeinsame ontologische Grundlage und überlappende Gehalte beider zurückzuführen sind. Dessen unbeschadet haben beide Arten von Gründen eigenständige Funktionen beim Nachdenken über medizinethische Probleme; tatsächlich haben Gründe des Sinns im Falle moralischer Herausforderungen am Lebensende oftmals sogar den Primat in dem Sinne, dass sie konstitutiv in Würde-Gründe eingehen können und auch unabhängig davon auf moralisch relevante Gesichtspunkte verweisen.
Parkinson’s disease diagnosis using convolutional neural networks and figure-copying tasks
Authors: Alissa Mohamad , Lones Michael A. , Cosgrove Jeremy , Alty Jane E. , Jamieson Stuart , Smith Stephen L. , Vallejo Marta
Published: September 2021

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes abnormal movements and an array of other symptoms. An accurate PD diagnosis can be a challenging task as the signs and symptoms, particularly at an early stage, can be similar to other medical conditions or the physiological changes of normal ageing. This work aims to contribute to the PD diagnosis process by using a convolutional neural network, a type of deep neural network architecture, to differentiate between healthy controls and PD patients. Our approach focuses on discovering deviations in patient’s movements with the use of drawing tasks. In addition, this work explores which of two drawing tasks, wire cube or spiral pentagon, are more effective in the discrimination process. With $$93.5\%$$

93.5
%

accuracy, our convolutional classifier, trained with images of the pentagon drawing task and augmentation techniques, can be used as an objective method to discriminate PD from healthy controls. Our compact model has the potential to be developed into an offline real-time automated single-task diagnostic tool, which can be easily deployed within a clinical setting.
Correlation and Regression Analysis of 2N Scattering Observables
Authors: Volkotrub Yuriy , Golak Jacek , Skibiński Roman , Topolnicki Kacper , Witała Henryk
Published: September 2021

This contribution provides information about correlations among the neutron-proton (np) elastic scattering observables. The most basic prerequisite for this study is existence of models of the nucleon-nucleon (NN) force, for which a covariance matrix of potential parameters is available. Using the covariance matrices for the chiral SMS NN potential from the Bochum-Bonn group and the one for the OPE-Gaussian potential proposed by the Granada group, we performed a systematic analysis of the correlation coefficients between the differential cross section and the depolarization R, as well as between R and the polarization P.
Boon or bane? On productivity and environmental regulation
Authors: Steinbrunner Philipp R.
Published: September 2021

As climate change has gained more attention in the last decade, effects of environmental regulation on productivity are important to design green tax reforms. This study examines the impacts of environmental taxes and spillovers on technical efficiency, using data on Central European manufacturing firms, from 2009 to 2017. The results highlight strong effects of environmental taxation on productivity. Besides, downstream energy taxation does not affect productivity, while upstream taxes decrease technical efficiency. Downstream pollution taxation decreases productivity, whereas upstream taxation spurs technical efficiency. This study contributes to the literature by investigating heterogeneous tax effects across industries, involving tax spillovers and considering endogeneity issues.
About the complexity of two-stage stochastic IPs
Authors: Klein Kim-Manuel
Published: September 2021

We consider so called 2-stage stochastic integer programs (IPs) and their generalized form, so called multi-stage stochastic IPs. A 2-stage stochastic IP is an integer program of the form $$\max \{ c^T x \mid {\mathcal {A}} x = b, \,l \le x \le u,\, x \in {\mathbb {Z}}^{s + nt} \}$$

max
{

c
T

x
∣
A
x
=
b
,

l
≤
x
≤
u
,

x
∈

Z

s
+
n
t

}

where the constraint matrix $${\mathcal {A}} \in {\mathbb {Z}}^{r n \times s +nt}$$

A
∈

Z

r
n
×
s
+
n
t

consists roughly of n repetitions of a matrix $$A \in {\mathbb {Z}}^{r \times s}$$

A
∈

Z

r
×
s

on the vertical line and n repetitions of a matrix $$B \in {\mathbb {Z}}^{r \times t}$$

B
∈

Z

r
×
t

on the diagonal. In this paper we improve upon an algorithmic result by Hemmecke and Schultz from 2003 [Hemmecke and Schultz, Math. Prog. 2003] to solve 2-stage stochastic IPs. The algorithm is based on the Graver augmentation framework where our main contribution is to give an explicit doubly exponential bound on the size of the augmenting steps. The previous bound for the size of the augmenting steps relied on non-constructive finiteness arguments from commutative algebra and therefore only an implicit bound was known that depends on parameters r, s, t and $$\Delta $$
Δ
, where $$\Delta $$
Δ
is the largest entry of the constraint matrix. Our new improved bound however is obtained by a novel theorem which argues about intersections of paths in a vector space. As a result of our new bound we obtain an algorithm to solve 2-stage stochastic IPs in time $$f(r,s,\Delta ) \cdot \mathrm {poly}(n,t)$$

f
(
r
,
s
,
Δ
)
·
poly
(
n
,
t
)

, where f is a doubly exponential function. To complement our result, we also prove a doubly exponential lower bound for the size of the augmenting steps.
International regime complexes and corporate crime: a research agenda based on the Volkswagen diesel fraud case
Authors: Braun Caelesta , Van Erp Judith
Published: September 2021

Criminological literature has often pointed to the absence or weakness of existing international regulation as important explanatory factors of corporate crime in global markets. This paper addresses the presence of multiple parallel, nested and overlapping regulatory regimes, and explores how such international regime complexity creates pathways to corporate crime. We use the Volkswagen diesel fraud case as a plausibility probe to illustrate such pathways to corporate crime. Our tentative analysis suggests that Volkswagen’s fraud in the US cannot be seen as independent of the EU regulatory regime, which was more lenient and offered various opportunities for creative compliance. We conclude that a regime complexity perspective is a promising addition to existing explanations of corporate crime in international settings and suggest a research agenda for future in-depth analyses of the implications of parallel and conflicting regulatory regimes for corporate crime.
An approach for modelling spatial variability in permeability of cement-admixed soil
Authors: Kek Hardy Yide , Pan Yutao , Ng Yannick Choy Hing , Lee Fook Hou
Published: September 2021

This paper presents a framework for modelling the random variation in permeability in cement-admixed soil based on the binder content variation and thereby relating the coefficient of permeability to the unconfined compressive strength of a cement-admixed clay. The strength–permeability relationship was subsequently implemented in random finite element method (RFEM). The effects of spatial variation in both strength and permeability of cement-admixed clays in RFEM is illustrated using two examples concerning one-dimensional consolidation. Parametric studies considering different coefficient of variation and scale of fluctuation configurations were performed. Results show that spatial variability of the cement-admixed clay considering variable permeability can significantly influence the overall consolidation rate, especially when the soil strength variability is high. However, the overall consolidation rates also depend largely on the prescribed scales of fluctuation; in cases where the variation is horizontally layered, stagnation in pore pressure dissipation may occur due to soft parts yielding.
Responses of radial growth, wood density and fiber traits to planting space in poplar plantations at a lowland site
Authors: Zhang Yanhua , Fang Shengzuo , Tian Ye , Wang Linlin , Lv Yi
Published: September 2021

Poplar is raw material for various panel, paper and fiber products. The 12 sample trees of clone Nanlin-895 from four spacings were destructively harvested after thirteen growing seasons to assess the influence of spacing on radial growth and wood properties. Spacing significantly affected tree-ring width and wood basic density (p < 0.05) but not fiber traits. The highest diameter and wood basic density at breast height (1.3 m) was in 6 m × 6 m and 3 m × 8 m spacings, respectively. However, no significant differences in tree-ring width, wood basic density and fiber traits were observed among the four sampling directions in discs taken at 1.3 m for each spacing. Growth rings from the pith and tree heights had significant effects on wood basic density and fiber anatomical characteristics, highlighting obvious temporal-spatial variations. Pearson correlation analysis showed a significantly negative relationship of tree-ring width to wood basic density, fiber length and fiber width, but a significantly positive relationship to hemicellulose. There was no relationship with cellulose and lignin contents. Based on a comprehensive assessment by the TOPSIS method, the 6 m × 6 m spacing is recommended for producing wood fiber at similar sites in the future.
National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights: an Experimentalist Governance Analysis
Authors: O’Brien Claire Methven , Ferguson John , McVey Marisa
Published: September 2021

National Action Plans (NAPs) on business and human rights are a growing phenomenon. Since 2011, 42 such plans have been adopted or are in-development worldwide. By comparison, only 39 general human rights action plans were published between 1993 and 2021. In parallel, NAPs have attracted growing scholarly interest. While some studies highlight their potential to advance national compliance with international norms, others criticise NAPs as cosmetic devices that states use to deflect attention from persisting abuses and needed regulation. In response to wider critiques of international human rights norms, and their failure to exact universal state compliance, experimentalist governance theory highlights the dynamic, dialogic and iterative character of human rights implementation as well as the role of stakeholders. In this article, we apply experimentalist governance theory to evaluate the role and character of business and human rights NAPs. Rather than attempting to evaluate NAPs’ ultimate consequences for rights-holders, which appears premature, we focus on NAPs processes. Specifically, we analyse NAPs processes in twenty-five states against five experimentalist governance criteria relating to (i) stakeholder participation; (ii) agreement on a broad problem definition; (iii) local contextualisation; (iv) monitoring and peer review and (v) periodic revision and learning. According to our findings, NAPs on business and human rights in most states demonstrate resemblance to the traits of experimentalist governance. In particular, our analysis points to the emergence of relatively sophisticated and demanding institutional governance mechanisms within NAPs — including the institutionalisation of complex deliberative processes. Nevertheless, our paper also identifies some significant shortcomings in NAPs, related to the lack of inclusion of vulnerable groups and the lack of explicit indicators and targets.
Factors determining the soil available water during the last two decades (1997–2019) in southern Spain
Authors: Sillero-Medina José A. , Rodrigo-Comino Jesús , Ruiz-Sinoga José D.
Published: September 2021

Assessing soil hydrological conditions can provide essential information for understanding the environmental processes that affect ecosystem services and, particularly in the context of ongoing climate change. This is key in areas affected by water scarcity such as the Mediterranean belt. Therefore, the main goals of this research are (i) to assess the main rainfall dynamics and trends of some representative hotspots along with southern Spain and (ii) to determine the impact on the soil available water content (AWC) over the last two decades. An analysis of daily precipitation and soil hydrological conditions was combined with soil sampling (543) and laboratory analyses to evaluate the properties related to the soil infiltration and retention capacity. The results show that the organic factors control soil properties and their hydrodynamics in southern Spain. Furthermore, a general declining trend in soil water availability is observed over the last two decades. This is more extreme in arid and semi-arid areas, where there have been several years in the last decade with more than 200 days without the available water content. Moreover, in these areas, heavy rainfall during specific moments of the year is the key factor that manifests a greater incidence in areas with steeper slopes, which in turn, also conditions the biological factors and the hydrodynamics of the soil. In short, in the context of climate change, the analysis of soil hydrological dynamics could be used to identify biodiversity thresholds in the Mediterranean area and even to detect phenological changes in specific plant species.
Pigments—the palette of organic colourants in wall paintings
Authors: Aceto Maurizio
Published: September 2021

The present contribution deals with the use of organic colourants in wall paintings, polychrome pottery and painted stone artworks, i.e. painted artworks on inorganic supports. The termorganic colourantsis referred to the chemical nature of these compounds but not to the way of application; therefore, organic colourants can be dyes, lakes or pigments. The use of organic colourants in wall paintings has been given little attention in the past, perhaps on the assumption that they were rarely used by ancient artists. Recent diagnostic studies, however, brought evidence that their use was not fragmentary; on the contrary, there seems to be continuity in the centuries, at least with regard to the most widely used such as madder, Tyrian purple and indigo. Sources, alteration phenomena, identification methods and analytical evidence is given for the main organic colourants with concern to red, yellow, green, purple and blue hues. Drawbacks and issues are discussed with concern to the identification techniques.
Ozonated water electrolytically generated by diamond-coated electrodes controlled phytonematodes in replanted soil
Authors: Kanfra Xorla , Elhady Ahmed , Thiem Hendrik , Pleger Sven , Höfer Markus , Heuer Holger
Published: September 2021

Phytonematodes cause severe yield losses in horticulture, partly because they are difficult to manage. Compact, energy-efficient generators that electrochemically produce ozonated water by utilizing diamond-coated electrodes have become available. In this study, the application of on-site generated ozonated water to inactivate soil nematodes and to mitigate nematode-mediated apple replant disease was tested. Pratylenchus penetrans was highly susceptible to dissolved ozone (LC50 0.6 mg L−1). In one greenhouse experiment, treatment of P. penetrans in soil with ozonated water (0.27 mg ozone L−1 soil) reduced subsequent invasion of the nematodes into roots by 60%. Growth of apple saplings in soil that was affected by apple replant disease (ARD) was significantly improved following a treatment with 1/10 volume ozonated water compared to the control. In a second greenhouse experiment, one-time drenching of ARD soil with ozonated water was followed by improved growth of apple plants similar to that in autoclaved soil. A second application of ozonated water did not further improve plant growth. The number of active nematodes in replanted soil that moved through a Baermann filter was significantly reduced by all tested concentrations of ozone (0.12–0.75 mg L−1 soil). A fraction of 19–36% of the nematodes survived and slightly recovered after four weeks. In conclusion, on-site generated ozonated water has potential to mitigate nematode problems in horticulture and to expand management options.
A Rare Case of Henoch-Schönlein Purpura Following a COVID-19 Vaccine—Case Report
Authors: Naitlho Abdelhamid , Lahlou Wahib , Bourial Abderrahim , Rais Hamza , Ismaili Nabil , Abousahfa Imad , Belyamani Lahcen
Published: September 2021

In the COVID-19 pandemic era, anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is considered to be the most efficient way to overtake the COVID-19 scourge. Like all medicines, vaccines are not devoid of risks and can in rare cases cause some various side effects. The objective of this case report is to highlight this unusual presentation of Henoch-Schönlein purpura following an anti-COVID-19 vaccination in a 62-year-old adult. The 62-year-old patient admitted to the emergency room for a petechial purpuric rash, sloping, occurring within hours, involving both legs and ascending. The clinical signs also included polyarthralgia and hematuria. Reported in the history the notion of an anti-COVID-19 vaccination 8 days prior to the onset of symptomatology. In the case of our patient, we retain the diagnosis of rheumatoid purpura based on the EULAR/PRINTO/PReS diagnostic criteria. Corticosteroid therapy (prednisone) was started, resulting to a rapid regression of clinical and laboratory symptoms, few days after the treatment. Patient was asymptomatic on subsequent visits. The low number of published cases of post-vaccine vasculitis does not question the safety of vaccines, but knowledge of such complications deserves to be known in order to avoid new immunizations that could have more serious consequences, and to avoid aggravating or reactivating a pre-existing vasculitis.
A comparative study of different heat transfer enhancement mechanisms in a partially porous pipe
Authors: Jouybari Nima Fallah , Nimvari Majid Eshagh , Zhang Wennan
Published: September 2021

The effect of porous material position on the heat transfer inside a pipe working in a turbulent regime is studied here to obtain a detailed understanding of the heat transfer enchantment mechanisms in different porous substrate positions. To this end, an in-house Fortran code is developed to solve the governing equations using the finite volume method and SIMPLE algorithm. Turbulent flow in porous media is modeled using a modified version of k–ε model. The flow field and heat transfer inside the partially filled pipe are investigated for the two cases of central and boundary configurations. The porous and flow characteristics including Reynolds number, Darcy number, the conductivity ratios of solid to fluid and the thickness of inserted porous layer are varied and the heat transfer performance is studied in different cases. It is observed that two entirely different phenomena enhance the heat transfer in central and boundary configurations. While the channeling of fluid between the porous media and the pipe wall highly affects the heat transfer performance in the former, the thermal conductivity of porous media plays a highly critical role in the latter configuration. It is shown that, for the same filling ratio, inserting the porous layer at the core of the pipe is more effective than placing it at the wall. Investigating porous materials with different solid conductivities revealed that covering the pipe wall with a porous material is justified only for solid matrixes with high thermal conductivities.
Getting the most from E-commerce in the context of omnichannel strategies
Authors: Belvedere Valeria , Martinelli Elisa Martina , Tunisini Annalisa
Published: September 2021

E-commerce in the context of sales and distribution strategy has become a heavily used channel and companies need to manage it correctly and integrate it with a variety of other online and offline channels. Based on the literature, two factors are recognized as relevant for the elaboration of a conceptual framework able to explain the actions undertaken by leading companies to effectively get the most from an e-commerce strategy integrated within the overall omnichannel strategy. The two factors are: main distribution channel (direct/indirect) and product value density (high/low). Through the analysis of four case studies (Luxottica, Henkel, Ikea, and Ferragamo), we show that these factors produce different benefits and challenges that companies face when embracing e-commerce. We analyze these benefits and challenges from the viewpoint of both Marketing and Supply Chain Management.
Organic Fertilizer Adoption, Household Food Access, and Gender-Based Farm Labor Use: Empirical Insights from Northern Ghana
Authors: Daadi Bunbom Edward , Latacz-Lohmann Uwe
Published: September 2021

This paper examined organic fertilizer adoption and its effects on two household food security indicators and gender-based farm labor use among smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana. An endogenous switching regression analysis shows that observed and unobserved farmer background factors determine farmers’ decision to adopt organic fertilizer as well as the outcomes from adoption. On average, adoption is associated with an 11% increase in per capita food consumption and a 55% reduction in household food gap duration. Adoption is also related to an increased labor use by 5.9 (90%) of female worker days and 1.3 (9%) of male worker days per acre, placing nearly all (82%) of the increased labor burden on female farmhands. We recommend mitigation of factors that hinder farmers from adopting the input and provision of female-user-friendly labor-saving devices for organic fertilizer use tasks.
Subshifts and colorings on ascending HNN-extensions of finitely generated abelian groups
Authors: SILVA EDUARDO
Published: September 2021

For an ascending HNN-extension$G*_{\psi }$of a finitely generated abelian groupG, we study how a synchronization between the geometry of the group and weak periodicity of a configuration in$\mathcal {A}^{G*_{\psi }}$forces global constraints on it, as well as in subshifts containing it. A particular case are Baumslag–Solitar groups$\mathrm {BS}(1,N)$,$N\ge 2$, for which our results imply that a$\mathrm {BS}(1,N)$-subshift of finite type which contains a configuration with period$a^{N^\ell }\!, \ell \ge 0$, must contain a strongly periodic configuration with monochromatic$\mathbb {Z}$-sections. Then we study propern-colorings,$n\ge 3$, of the (right) Cayley graph of$\mathrm {BS}(1,N)$, estimating the entropy of the associated subshift together with its mixing properties. We prove that$\mathrm {BS}(1,N)$admits a frozenn-coloring if and only if$n=3$. We finally suggest generalizations of the latter results ton-colorings of ascending HNN-extensions of finitely generated abelian groups.
Developed liquid film passing a smoothed and wedge-shaped trailing edge: small-scale analysis and the ‘teapot effect’ at large Reynolds numbers
Authors: Scheichl B. , Bowles R.I. , Pasias G.
Published: September 2021

Recently, the authors considered a thin steady developed viscous free-surface flow passing the sharp trailing edge of a horizontally aligned flat plate under surface tension and the weak action of gravity, acting vertically, in the asymptotic slender-layer limit (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 850, 2018, pp. 924–953). We revisit the capillarity-driven short-scale viscous–inviscid interaction, on account of the inherent upstream influence, immediately downstream of the edge and scrutinise flow detachment on all smaller scales. We adhere to the assumption of a Froude number so large that choking at the plate edge is insignificant but envisage the variation of the relevant Weber number of$O(1)$. The main focus, tackled essentially analytically, is the continuation of the structure of the flow towards scales much smaller than the interactive ones and where it no longer can be treated as slender. As a remarkable phenomenon, this analysis predicts harmonic capillary ripples of Rayleigh type, prevalent on the free surface upstream of the trailing edge. They exhibit an increase of both the wavelength and amplitude as the characteristic Weber number decreases. Finally, the theory clarifies the actual detachment process, within a rational description of flow separation. At this stage, the wetting properties of the fluid and the microscopically wedge-shaped edge, viewed as infinitely thin on the larger scales, come into play. As this geometry typically models the exit of a spout, the predicted wetting of the wedge is related to what in the literature is referred to as the teapot effect.
THE ARCHAIC ROOTS OF PATERNALISM: CONTINUITY IN ATTITUDES TOWARDS SLAVES AND SLAVERY IN THE ODYSSEY, XENOPHON'S OECONOMICUS, AND BEYOND
Authors: Porter Jason Douglas
Published: September 2021

This article discusses differences and continuity in responses to issues of slave management in two texts from different periods of Greek history (Xenophon's Oeconomicus and the Odyssey) and compares these responses to those of slave owners in the Antebellum South, ancient Rome, and the ancient Near East. In particular, it examines different expressions of paternalistic attitudes towards slaves (a well-studied feature of slave-owning classes throughout history) that it finds are present in both of these examples. The article explores the possibility that intertextual links were responsible for these similarities but suggests instead that they are reflective of real Greek slaveholding ideology across hundreds of years, which primarily served to justify an exploitative system and disguise the cruelty and violence inherent in maintaining it.
Reception
Authors: Bridges Emma , Stead Henry
Published: September 2021

From Oxford University Press's ‘Classical Presences’ series, Carol Dougherty's Travel and Home in Homer's Odyssey and Contemporary Literature places Homer's Odyssey in dialogue with five twentieth- and twenty-first-century novels which all deal in some way with the ideas of home or travel. The author focuses on novels which, on the whole, do not respond overtly to the Odyssey, but which instead share key themes – such as transience, reunion, nostalgia, or family relationships – with the Homeric poem. The conversations which she initiates between the ancient epic and the modern novels inspire us to rethink previously held assumptions about the Odyssey. For example, Dougherty's exploration of Rebecca West's The Return of the Soldier (1918), in which a veteran returns from the First World War with no memory of his wife, prompts her reader to consider Odysseus’ stay with Calypso as ‘a kind of nostalgic amnesia, a necessary break that enables rather than an obstacle that impedes his return’ (111). As ‘an experiment in improvisatory criticism’ (16), this book yields rich rewards for the reader who is already familiar with the Odyssey, as well as for those whose point of entry is one of the five modern novels. The framework applied – in which each chapter presents a reading of a relevant section of the Odyssey before setting out an analysis of the contemporary novel with which it is paired – is perhaps more familiar from comparative literary studies than from classical reception scholarship, yet Dougherty's approach is one which stimulates fresh thought about how we as readers (re-)interpret and ‘receive’ ancient texts based on the contexts in which we encounter them.