bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Vision in the Emergence of Mate Preferences
Authors: Scheller Meike , Matorres Francine , Little Anthony C. , Tompkins Lucy , de Sousa Alexandra A.
Published: April 2021

Cross-cultural research has repeatedly demonstrated sex differences in the importance of partner characteristics when choosing a mate. Men typically report higher preferences for younger, more physically attractive women, while women typically place more importance on a partner’s status and wealth. As the assessment of such partner characteristics often relies on visual cues, this raises the question whether visual experience is necessary for sex-specific mate preferences to develop. To shed more light onto the emergence of sex differences in mate choice, the current study assessed how preferences for attractiveness, resources, and personality factors differ between sighted and blind individuals using an online questionnaire. We further investigate the role of social factors and sensory cue selection in these sex differences. Our sample consisted of 94 sighted and blind participants with different ages of blindness onset: 19 blind/28 sighted males and 19 blind/28 sighted females. Results replicated well-documented findings in the sighted, with men placing more importance on physical attractiveness and women placing more importance on status and resources. However, while physical attractiveness was less important to blind men, blind women considered physical attractiveness as important as sighted women. The importance of a high status and likeable personality was not influenced by sightedness. Blind individuals considered auditory cues more important than visual cues, while sighted males showed the opposite pattern. Further, relationship status and indirect, social influences were related to preferences. Overall, our findings shed light on the availability of visual information for the emergence of sex differences in mate preference.
DART mass spectrometry as a potential tool for the differentiation of captive-bred and wild lion bones
Authors: Coals Peter , Loveridge Andrew , Kurian Dominic , Williams Vivienne L. , Macdonald David W. , Ogden Rob
Published: April 2021

In recent years lion bones have been legally traded internationally to Asian markets from captive-bred sources in South Africa. There are also indications of increasing instances of illegal international trade in wild lion bones. The existence of parallel captive and wild supplies of lion bone are a cause of law enforcement concern regarding the potential for the laundering of illegally sourced bones through legal trade, and present a problem for the assessment of the conservation impact of wild lion bone trade due to the difficulty of determining what market-share wild and captive-bred lion bones account for. Captive-bred and wild lion bone are visually indistinguishable and no reliable method currently exists for distinguishing them. We present a preliminary study that explores the use of DART mass spectrometry as a method to differentiate between captive-bred and wild lion bones. We find that DART is able to differentiate between a batch of captive-bred South African lion bone and a batch of wild lion bone and suggest that DART mass spectrometry shows strong potential as a tool for the regulation and investigation of lion bone trade. Further testing is needed to prove the suitability of this technique. Therefore, we suggest that further research focuses on testing the capability of DART to differentiate between contemporary wild and captive-bred lion bone originating from South Africa, and attempts to identify chemical markers in bone that can be used as indicators of captive-bred origin.
Political Realism as Methods not Metaethics
Authors: Leader Maynard Jonathan
Published: April 2021

This paper makes the case for a revision of contemporary forms of political realism in political theory. I argue that contemporary realists have gone awry in increasingly centring their approach around a metaethical claim: that political theory should be rooted in a political form of normativity that is distinct from moral normativity. Several critics of realism have argued that this claim is unconvincing. But I suggest that it is also a counterintuitive starting point for realism, and one unnecessary to avoid the ‘applied morality’ approach to political theory that realists oppose. Instead, realism should be methodologically orientated around what I term ‘empirically constitutive political realities’ - enduring features of real political contexts that are systematically consequential in their normative implications. Realists can persuasively argue that such empirically constitutive political realities must be attended to in political theory-building, and not merely treated as a context in which independently formulated moral theories are simply applied. This framing of realism accords real politics a genuinely foundational theoretical role, but without requiring any contentious metaethical stance about a non-moral political normativity. I explain some methodological implications that follow for realism – in particular the need to prioritise empirically grounded theorisation of real political contexts over abstract and rather essentialist claims about ‘the political’. I also argue that such a framing of realism helps engender a more accurate, less divisive, and more pluralist conception of methodological debates within political theory.
The Numerov process over a non-uniform grid
Authors: Brunetti R. , Speciale N. , Rudan M.
Published: April 2021

The Numerov process is a solution method applicable to some classes of differential equations, that provides an error term of the fifth order in the grid size with a computational cost comparable to that of the finite-difference scheme. In the original formulation of the method, a uniform grid size is required; the paper shows a procedure for extending its applicability to a non-uniform grid in one dimension. The effectiveness of the procedure is tested on a model problem, and comparisons with other methods are carried out. Finally, it is shown how to extend the applicability of the method to a larger class of equations; among these, the mathematical model of semiconductor devices is important in view of its applications to the integrated-circuit technology.
Fabrication and evaluation of porous and conductive nanofibrous scaffolds for nerve tissue engineering
Authors: Pooshidani Yasaman , Zoghi Nastaran , Rajabi Mina , Haghbin Nazarpak Masoumeh , Hassannejad Zahra
Published: April 2021

Peripheral nerve repair is still one of the major clinical challenges which has received a great deal of attention. Nerve tissue engineering is a novel treatment approach that provides a permissive environment for neural cells to overcome the constraints of repair. Conductivity and interconnected porosity are two required characteristics for a scaffold to be effective in nerve regeneration. In this study, we aimed to fabricate a conductive scaffold with controlled porosity using polycaprolactone (PCL) and chitosan (Chit), FDA approved materials for the use in implantable medical devices. A novel method of using tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride (THPC) and formaldehyde was applied for in situ synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the scaffolds. In order to achieve desirable porosity, different percentage of polyethylene oxide (PEO) was used as sacrificial fiber. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) results demonstrated the complete removing of PEO from the scaffolds after washing and construction of interconnected porosities, respectively. Elemental and electrical analysis revealed the successful synthesis of AuNPs with uniform distribution and small average diameter on the PCL/Chit scaffold. Contact angle measurements showed the effect of porosity on hydrophilic properties of the scaffolds, where the porosity of 75–80% remarkably improved surface hydrophilicity. Finally, the effect of conductive nanofibrous scaffold on Schwann cells morphology and vaibility was investigated using FE-SEM and MTT assay, respectively. The results showed that these conductive scaffolds had no cytotoxic effect and support the spindle-shaped morphology of cells with elongated process which are typical of Schwann cell cultures.
Relative-perfectness of discrete gradient vector fields and multi-parameter persistent homology
Authors: Landi Claudia , Scaramuccia Sara
Published: April 2021

The combination of persistent homology and discrete Morse theory has proven very effective in visualizing and analyzing big and heterogeneous data. Indeed, topology provides computable and coarse summaries of data independently from specific coordinate systems and does so robustly to noise. Moreover, the geometric content of a discrete gradient vector field is very useful for visualization purposes. The specific case of multivariate data still demands for further investigations, on the one hand, for computational reasons, it is important to reduce the necessary amount of data to be processed. On the other hand, for analysis reasons, the multivariate case requires the detection and interpretation of the possible interdepedance among data components. To this end, in this paper we introduce and study a notion of perfectness for discrete gradient vector fields with respect to multi-parameter persistent homology, called relative-perfectness. As a natural generalization of usual perfectness in Morse theory for homology, relative-perfectness entails having the least number of critical cells relevant for multi-parameter persistence. As a first contribution, we support our definition of relative-perfectness by generalizing Morse inequalities to the filtration structure where homology groups involved are relative with respect to subsequent sublevel sets. In order to allow for an interpretation of critical cells in 2-parameter persistence, our second contribution consists of two inequalities bounding Betti tables of persistence modules from above and below, via the number of critical cells. Our last result is the proof that existing algorithms based on local homotopy expansions allow for efficient computability over simplicial complexes up to dimension 2.
Perturbation Analysis of Quantum Reset Models
Authors: Haack Géraldine , Joye Alain
Published: April 2021

This paper is devoted to the analysis of Lindblad operators of Quantum Reset Models, describing the effective dynamics of tri-partite quantum systems subject to stochastic resets. We consider a chain of three independent subsystems, coupled by a Hamiltonian term. The two subsystems at each end of the chain are driven, independently from each other, by a reset Lindbladian, while the center system is driven by a Hamiltonian. Under generic assumptions on the coupling term, we prove the existence of a unique steady state for the perturbed reset Lindbladian, analytic in the coupling constant. We further analyze the large times dynamics of the corresponding CPTP Markov semigroup that describes the approach to the steady state. We illustrate these results with concrete examples corresponding to realistic open quantum systems.
Functionalization of polyhydromethylsiloxane with nitrogen-containing organic compounds
Authors: Owińska Maria , Chechelska-Noworyta Aleksandra , Olejniczak Zbigniew , Hasik Magdalena
Published: April 2021

Linear polyhydromethylsiloxane (PHMS) was functionalized with nitrogen-containing organic compounds:N-allylaniline (Naa),N-allylcyclohexylamine (Nach),N-allylpiperidine (Nap) and 4-vinylpyridine (4VP) via hydrosilylation reaction in the presence of Pt0complex (Karstedt’s catalyst) under mild conditions. Reaction course was followed by FTIR spectroscopy and final hydrosilylation products were characterized by FTIR,1H,29Si NMR and29Si MAS-NMR spectroscopies as well as by elemental analysis. Results showed that functionalization of PHMS withN-allyl amines took place but in none of the systems it was complete. Hydrosilylation of Naa, Nach and Nap with PHMS led both, to the β and α addition products.29Si NMR spectroscopy showed unequivocally that the reaction of PHMS with 4VP did not occur and the only reactions in the systems were hydrolysis of Si–H groups of PHMS followed by condensation of the silanol groups resulting in cross-linking of the polymer. All the functionalized polymers studied in the work contained reactive amine moieties prone to further modifications, therefore exhibit a great potential for various applications.
Protect privacy of deep classification networks by exploiting their generative power
Authors: Chen Jiyu , Guo Yiwen , Zheng Qianjun , Chen Hao
Published: April 2021

Research showed that deep learning models are vulnerable to membership inference attacks, which aim to determine if an example is in the training set of the model. We propose a new framework to defend against this sort of attack. Our key insight is that if we retrain the original classifier with a new dataset that is independent of the original training set while their elements are sampled from the same distribution, the retrained classifier will leak no information that cannot be inferred from the distribution about the original training set. Our framework consists of three phases. First, we transferred the original classifier to a Joint Energy-based Model (JEM) to exploit the model’s implicit generative power. Then, we sampled from the JEM to create a new dataset. Finally, we used the new dataset to retrain or fine-tune the original classifier. We empirically studied different transfer learning schemes for the JEM and fine-tuning/retraining strategies for the classifier against shadow-model attacks. Our evaluation shows that our framework can suppress the attacker’s membership advantage to a negligible level while keeping the classifier’s accuracy acceptable. We compared it with other state-of-the-art defenses considering adaptive attackers and showed our defense is effective even under the worst-case scenario. Besides, we also found that combining other defenses with our framework often achieves better robustness. Our code will be made available at https://github.com/ChenJiyu/meminf-defense.git.
Compassion protects against vital exhaustion and negative emotionality
Authors: Saarinen Aino , Keltikangas-Järvinen Liisa , Viding Essi , Dobewall Henrik , Kaseva Kaisa , Lehtimäki Terho , Raitakari Olli , Hintsanen Mirka
Published: April 2021

We investigated (i) the predictive relationships of compassion with negative emotionality (a marker of susceptibility to stress) and vital exhaustion (a marker of chronic stress response) and (ii) the effect of compassion on the developmental courses of negative emotionality and vital exhaustion over a follow-up from early adulthood to middle age. We used the prospective Young Finns data (n = 1031–1495, aged 20–50). Compassion was evaluated in 1997, 2001, and 2012; and vital exhaustion and negative emotionality in 2001, 2007, and 2012. The predictive paths from compassion to vital exhaustion and negative emotionality were stronger than vice versa: high compassion predicted lower vital exhaustion and lower negative emotionality. The effect of high compassion on lower vital exhaustion and lower negative emotionality was evident from early adulthood to middle age. Overall, high compassion appears to protect against dimensions of stress from early adulthood to middle age, whereas this study found no evidence that dimensions of stress could reduce disposition to feel compassion for others’ distress over a long-term follow-up.
The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer, MEDA. A Suite of Environmental Sensors for the Mars 2020 Mission
Authors: Rodriguez-Manfredi J. A. , de la Torre Juárez M. , Alonso A. , Apéstigue V. , Arruego I. , Atienza T. , Banfield D. , Boland J. , Carrera M. A. , Castañer L. , Ceballos J. , Chen-Chen H. , Cobos A. , Conrad P. G. , Cordoba E. , del Río-Gaztelurrutia T. , de Vicente-Retortillo A. , Domínguez-Pumar M. , Espejo S. , Fairen A. G. , Fernández-Palma A. , Ferrándiz R. , Ferri F. , Fischer E. , García-Manchado A. , García-Villadangos M. , Genzer M. , Giménez S. , Gómez-Elvira J. , Gómez F. , Guzewich S. D. , Harri A.-M. , Hernández C. D. , Hieta M. , Hueso R. , Jaakonaho I. , Jiménez J. J. , Jiménez V. , Larman A. , Leiter R. , Lepinette A. , Lemmon M. T. , López G. , Madsen S. N. , Mäkinen T. , Marín M. , Martín-Soler J. , Martínez G. , Molina A. , Mora-Sotomayor L. , Moreno-Álvarez J. F. , Navarro S. , Newman C. E. , Ortega C. , Parrondo M. C. , Peinado V. , Peña A. , Pérez-Grande I. , Pérez-Hoyos S. , Pla-García J. , Polkko J. , Postigo M. , Prieto-Ballesteros O. , Rafkin S. C. R. , Ramos M. , Richardson M. I. , Romeral J. , Romero C. , Runyon K. D. , Saiz-Lopez A. , Sánchez-Lavega A. , Sard I. , Schofield J. T. , Sebastian E. , Smith M. D. , Sullivan R. J. , Tamppari L. K. , Thompson A. D. , Toledo D. , Torrero F. , Torres J. , Urquí R. , Velasco T. , Viúdez-Moreiras D. , Zurita S. ,   The MEDA team
Published: April 2021

NASA’s Mars 2020 (M2020) rover mission includes a suite of sensors to monitor current environmental conditions near the surface of Mars and to constrain bulk aerosol properties from changes in atmospheric radiation at the surface. The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) consists of a set of meteorological sensors including wind sensor, a barometer, a relative humidity sensor, a set of 5 thermocouples to measure atmospheric temperature at ∼1.5 m and ∼0.5 m above the surface, a set of thermopiles to characterize the thermal IR brightness temperatures of the surface and the lower atmosphere. MEDA adds a radiation and dust sensor to monitor the optical atmospheric properties that can be used to infer bulk aerosol physical properties such as particle size distribution, non-sphericity, and concentration. The MEDA package and its scientific purpose are described in this document as well as how it responded to the calibration tests and how it helps prepare for the human exploration of Mars. A comparison is also presented to previous environmental monitoring payloads landed on Mars on the Viking, Pathfinder, Phoenix, MSL, and InSight spacecraft.
Continuous matching of evolving patterns over dynamic graph data
Authors: Zhang Qianzhen , Guo Deke , Zhao Xiang , Wang Xi
Published: April 2021

Nowadays, the scale of various graphs soars rapidly, which imposes a serious challenge to develop processing and analytic algorithms. Among them, graph pattern matching is the one of the most primitive tasks that find a wide spectrum of applications, the performance of which is yet often affected by the size and dynamicity of graphs. In order to handle large dynamic graphs, incremental pattern matching is proposed to avoid re-computing matches of patterns over the entire data graph, hence reducing the matching time and improving the overall execution performance. Due to the complexity of the problem, little work has been reported so far to solve the problem, and most of them only solve the graph pattern matching problem under the scenario of the data graph varying alone. In this article, we are devoted to a more complicated but very practical graph pattern matching problem, continuous matching of evolving patterns over dynamic graph data, and the investigation presents a novel algorithm for continuously pattern matching along with changes of both pattern graph and data graph. Specifically, we propose a concise representation of partial matching solutions, which can help to avoid re-computing matches of the pattern and speed up subsequent matching process. In order to enable the updates of data graph and pattern graph, we propose an incremental maintenance strategy, to efficiently maintain the intermediate results. Moreover, we conceive an effective model for estimating step-wise cost of pattern evaluation to drive the matching process. Extensive experiments verify the superiority of .
Omnipresent distribution of herbicides and their transformation products in all water body types of an agricultural landscape in the North German Lowland
Authors: Ulrich Uta , Pfannerstill Matthias , Ostendorp Guido , Fohrer Nicola
Published: April 2021

The research of the environmental fate of pesticides has demonstrated that applied compounds are altered in their molecular structure over time and are distributed within the environment. To assess the risk for contamination by transformation products (TP) of the herbicides flufenacet and metazachlor, the following four water body types were sampled in a small-scale catchment of 50 km2in 2015/2016: tile drainage water, stream water, shallow groundwater, and drinking water of private wells. The TP were omnipresent in every type of water body, more frequently and in concentrations up to 10 times higher than their parent compounds. Especially metazachlor sulfonic acid, metazachlor oxalic acid, and flufenacet oxalic acid were detected in almost every drainage and stream sample. The transformation process leads to more mobile and more persistent molecules resulting in higher detection frequencies and concentrations, which can even occur a year or more after the application of the parent compound. The vulnerability of shallow groundwater and private drinking water wells to leaching compounds is proved by numerous positives of metazachlor-TP with maximum concentrations of 0.7 μg L−1(drinking water) and 20 μg L−1(shallow groundwater) of metazachlor sulfonic acid. Rainfall events during the application period cause high discharge of the parent compound and lower release of TP. Later rainfall events lead to high displacement of TP. For an integrated risk assessment of water bodies, the environmental behavior of pesticide-TP has to be included into regular state-of-the-art water quality monitoring.
Mosquito Control Based on Pesticides and Endosymbiotic Bacterium Wolbachia
Authors: Hu Linchao , Yang Cui , Hui Yuanxian , Yu Jianshe
Published: April 2021

Mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue fever and Zika, have posed a serious threat to human health around the world. Controlling vector mosquitoes is an effective method to prevent these diseases. Spraying pesticides has been the main approach of reducing mosquito population, but it is not a sustainable solution due to the growing insecticide resistance. One promising complementary method is the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes into wild mosquito populations, which has been proven to be a novel and environment-friendly way for mosquito control. In this paper, we incorporate consideration of releasing infected sterile mosquitoes and spraying pesticides to aim to reduce wild mosquito populations based on the population replacement model. We present the estimations for the number of wild mosquitoes or infection density in a normal environment and then discuss how to offset the effect of the heatwave, which can cause infected mosquitoes to lose Wolbachia infection. Finally, we give the waiting time to suppress wild mosquito population to a given threshold size by numerical simulations.
Dielectric relaxations and ion transport study of NaCMC:NaNO3 solid polymer electrolyte films
Authors: Shetty Supriya K , Ismayil  , Hegde Shreedatta , Ravindrachary V , Sanjeev Ganesh , Bhajantri Rajashekhar F , Masti Saraswati P
Published: April 2021

Na+ ion-conducting solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) of sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) doped with sodium nitrate (NaNO3) was developed by solution casting method. FTIR technique confirmed the formation of hydrogen bonding between $$ {NO}_3^{-} $$

NO
3
−

anion and functional groups of NaCMC. XRD study revealed the low degree of crystallinity that reduced upon doping. Impedance spectroscopy was adapted in order to analyze the conductivity and dielectric relaxation phenomena of the polymer-salt complex. FTIR deconvolution technique was employed to understand the factor that influences the ionic conductivity in SPE; concentration of mobile ions and ionic mobility both play a vital role. Ion transference number has been found out to be > 0.97 for all samples indicating that the conducting species are primarily ions. The highest ionic conductivity of ̴ 3 × 10−3 Scm−1 with the mechanical strength of 30.12 MPa was achieved for a host containing 30 wt.% NaNO3 at ambient temperature.
Zum Forschungsstand über Ansätze des Dual Career Coachings
Authors: Ziegler-Rehak Philipp
Published: April 2021

Der vorliegende Artikel zeigt den Forschungsstand zur Beratung von Dual Career Couples (DCCs) anhand von zehn theoretisch, empirisch und praxeologisch entwickelten Ansätzen auf. Zunächst wird die Bedeutung des Phänomens DCCs für die Karriereberatung konturiert und anschließend vor dem Hintergrund gesellschaftlicher Transformationsprozesse eingeordnet. Die Einführung eines triadisch konzeptualisierten Beratungsraums schafft einen Rahmen, der eine vergleichende Darstellung und Einordnung der zehn Ansätze ermöglicht. Abschließend werden Perspektiven zur Weiterentwicklung des Dual Career Coachings aufgezeigt und eine Standortbestimmung vorgenommen.
Effect of Surface Layer on the Fatigue Strength of Selectively Laser Melted 17-4 PH Steel
Authors: Leitner Martin , Schneller Wolfgang , Springer Sebastian , Grün Florian
Published: April 2021

The effect of surface layer properties on the fatigue strength of selectively laser melted 17-4 PH stainless steel flat specimens is presented within this work. X-ray surface residual stress measurements in loading direction show that the residual stresses are negligible if a final heat-treatment is applied, whereas values of only about 3% of the nominal yield strength of the base material are evaluated. The presented additively manufactured surfaces highlight irregular surface topographies, at which an area-based assessment of the surface roughness parameters should be applied instead of a line-based evaluation using defined profiles which may lead to an underestimation. Fatigue tests under cantilever bending at a load stress ratio of R = −1 demonstrate a fundamental impact of the surface layer on the fatigue strength especially within the high-cycle fatigue region. A comparison to the test results of machined specimens reveals a significant increase in the fatigue strength by 29% at ten million load-cycles due to the machining process. Finally, a fracture surface analysis highlights that not only the surface topography itself, but also the surface layer is of great importance in terms of fatigue. Thereby, surface-near imperfections or lack of fusion of the contour layer to the bulk material can act as origin for fatigue crack initiation, which illustrates the necessity to consider the surface layer properties in the fatigue design of additively manufactured 17-4 PH steel structures.
Application of an enzymatic cascade reaction for the synthesis of the emeraldine salt form of polyaniline
Authors: Kurisu Minoru , Kissner Reinhard , Imai Masayuki , Walde Peter
Published: April 2021

The synthesis of the emeraldine salt form of polyaniline (PANI-ES) from aniline with Aspergillus sp. glucose oxidase (GOD), d-glucose, dissolved O2, and horseradish peroxidase isoenzyme C (HRPC) in the presence of large unilamellar vesicles of AOT (sodium bis-(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate) as templates at pH = 4.3 and T ~ 25 °C was investigated in a systematic way. In this cascade reaction mixture, the oxidation of aniline is catalyzed by HRPC with H2O2 that is formed in situ as byproduct of the GOD-catalyzed oxidation of d-glucose with O2. Under the elaborated experimental conditions which we considered ideal, the formation of PANI-ES products is evident, as judged by UV/Vis/NIR and EPR measurements. Comparison was made with a reference reaction, which was run under similar conditions with added H2O2 instead of GOD and d-glucose. Although the reference reaction was found to be superior, with the cascade reaction, PANI-ES products can still be obtained with high aniline conversion (> 90%) within 24 h as stable dark green PANI-ES/AOT vesicle dispersion. Our results show that the in situ formation of H2O2 does not prevent the inactivation of HRPC known to occur in the reference reaction. Moreover, the GOD used in the cascade reaction is inactivated as well by polymerization intermediates.
When Rights Enter the CSR Field: British Firms’ Engagement with Human Rights and the UN Guiding Principles
Authors: Favotto Alvise , Kollman Kelly
Published: April 2021

The adoption of the Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights by the United Nations (UNGPs) in 2011 created a new governance instrument aimed at improving the promotion of human rights by business enterprises. While reaffirming states duties to uphold human rights in law, the UNGPs called on firms to promote the realization of human rights within global markets. The UNGPs thus have sought to embed human rights more firmly within the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and to use CSR practices to improve corporate human rights accountability. In this paper, we explore how this incorporation of human rights into the CSR field has affected the business practices and public commitments British firms have made to promote human rights. We analyse the CSR reports published by the 50 largest British firms over a 20-year period starting in the late 1990s and interview senior CSR managers of these firms. We find that these firms have expanded how they articulate their responsibility for human rights over time. These commitments however remain largely focused on improving management practices such as due diligence and remediation procedures. Firms are often both vague and selective about which substantive human rights they engage with in light of their concerns about their market competitiveness and broader legitimacy. These outcomes suggest that, while firms cannot completely resist the normative pressures exerted by the CSR field, they retain significant resources and agency in translating such pressure into concrete practices.
Normative View of Natural Resources—Global Redistribution or Human Rights–Based Approach?
Authors: Gümplová Petra
Published: April 2021

This paper contrasts conceptions of global distributive justice focused on natural resources with human rights–based approach. To emphasize the advantages of the latter, the paper analyzes three areas: (1) the methodology of normative theorizing about natural resources, (2) the category of natural resources, and (3) the view of the system of sovereignty over natural resources. Concerning the first, I argue that global justice conceptions misconstrue the claims made to natural resources and offer conceptions which are practically unfeasible. Concerning the second, I show that contemporary philosophy of justice downplays the plurality of meanings resources have for collectives and argue that conflicts over natural resources can best be accounted for using human rights. Finally, the paper looks at sovereignty over natural resources and argues that rather than dismissing it as unjustifiable on moral grounds, it should be reformed in line with valid principles of international law, most importantly with human rights.
Revisiting Chlor-Alkali Electrolyzers: from Materials to Devices
Authors: Li Kai , Fan Qun , Chuai Hongyuan , Liu Hai , Zhang Sheng , Ma Xinbin
Published: April 2021

As an energy-intensive industry, the chlor-alkali process has caused numerous environmental issues due to heavy electricity consumption and pollution. Chlor-alkali industry has been upgraded from mercury, diaphragm electrolytic cell, to ion exchange membrane (IEM) electrolytic cells. However, several challenges, such as the selectivity of the anodic reaction, sluggish kinetics of alkaline hydrogen evolution, degradation of membranes, the reasonable design of electrolytic cell structure, remain to be addressed. For these reasons, this paper mainly reviews the research progress of the chlor-alkali industry from materials to devices, including hydrogen evolution anode, chlorine evolution cathode, IEM, and electrolytic cell system. Finally, the research directions and prospects in the chlor-alkali industry are proposed for its further improvement.
Treatment of a giant hepatic echinococcal cyst with percutaneous drainage and in vivo assessment of the protoscolicidal effect of praziquantel
Authors: Richter Joachim , Lindner Andreas Karl , Geisel Dominik , Torsello Giovanni Federico , Martinez Gabriela Equihua , Isner Caroline , Schürmann Dirk , Pfäfflin Frieder , Orhun Arzu , Manciulli Tommaso , Brunetti Enrico
Published: April 2021

Therapy choices for cystic echinococcisis (CE) are stage-specific: surgical, minimally invasive, medical or observation without intervention. PAIR (percutaneous aspiration, instillation of a scolicide, and re-aspiration) has been considered the treatment of choice for uncomplicated echinococcal liver cysts. However, PAIR carries the risk of toxic cholangitis or hypernatremia and that the cyst frequently refills with bile after withdrawing the catheter. We treated a patient with a giant CE 1 liver cyst with puncture drainage (PD) under albendazole coverage. Drainage enabled us to monitor the morphology of protoscolices under praziquantel (PZQ) co-medication. Protoscolices degenerated within 5 days of PZQ 50 mg/kg/d. The cyst cavity solidified with no evidence of reactivation or secondary spread. Percutaneous treatments can replace surgery in a significant number or cases with hepatic CE. PD allows to assess microscopically the viability of protoscolices under co-medication with PZQ–albendazole and to avoid the instillation of topical scolicides.
South African Jewish Responses to COVID-19
Authors: Gilbert Shirli , Gilbert Leah
Published: April 2021

Although the death rate caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa has thus far been much lower than initially feared, the economic and social impact has been severe. The country’s Jewish community, constituting 0.1% of the population with a median age of 45 years, has not escaped its effects. Organizations and individuals have nonetheless been able to mobilize a rapid and wide-reaching series of responses directed towards those most in need both inside and outside the community. The uniquely coordinated, energetic, and multipronged nature of these responses are attributed to robust communal infrastructure, strong community social capital, and the history of the Jewish community’s positioning in post-apartheid South Africa, alongside the perceived importance of health to collective well-being.
Determining the optimal interval for imaging surveillance of ascending aortic aneurysms
Authors: Adriaans B. P. , Ramaekers M. J. F. G. , Heuts S. , Crijns H. J. G. M. , Bekkers S. C. A. M. , Westenberg J. J. M. , Lamb H. J. , Wildberger J. E. , Schalla S.
Published: April 2021

Background

Cardiovascular guidelines recommend (bi-)annual computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for surveillance of the diameter of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs). However, no previous study has demonstrated the necessity for this approach. The current study aims to provide patient-specific intervals for imaging follow-up of non-syndromic TAAs.

Methods

A total of 332 patients with non-syndromic ascending aortic aneurysms were followed over a median period of 6.7 years. Diameters were assessed using all available imaging techniques (echocardiography, CT and MRI). Growth rates were calculated from the differences between the first and last examinations. The diagnostic accuracy of follow-up protocols was calculated as the percentage of subjects requiring pre-emptive surgery in whom timely identification would have occurred.

Results

The mean growth rate in our population was 0.2 ± 0.4 mm/year. The highest recorded growth rate was 2.0 mm/year, while 40.6% of patients showed no diameter expansion during follow-up. Females exhibited significantly higher growth rates than men (0.3 ± 0.5 vs 0.2 ± 0.4 mm/year, p = 0.007). Conversely, a bicuspid aortic valve was not associated with more rapid aortic growth. The optimal imaging protocol comprises triennial imaging of aneurysms 40–49 mm in diameter and yearly imaging of those measuring 50–54 mm. This strategy is as accurate as annual follow-up, but reduces the number of imaging examinations by 29.9%.

Conclusions

In our population of patients with non-syndromic TAAs, we found aneurysm growth rates to be lower than those previously reported. Yearly imaging does not lead to changes in the management of small aneurysms. Thus, lower imaging frequencies might be a good alternative approach.
Fault identification approach and its application for predicting coal and gas outbursts
Authors: Chen Ying , Xie Fenghua , Zhang Xiufeng , Wang Cunwen , Xu Xiaotian , Wang Xiudong , Wang Yu
Published: April 2021

The formation and development of faults are a manifestation of stress concentrations and energy release in crustal rocks, and faults have a great influence on the occurrence of dynamic mine disasters. This study proposed mapping technology as a fault identification method. The mapping procedure included four steps: (1) Drawing points on topographic maps. The information of topographic maps, such as elevation, rivers, and lakes was copied onto sulfuric acid paper. (2) Classifying the landform. Based on the highest and lowest points in the studied area, the minimum elevation difference was calculated and the elevation points were graded according to the minimum elevation difference. (3) Determining the block boundaries. The elevation points in the same grade were categorized into the same blocks. (4) Mapping the fault distribution. The boundaries between different blocks were considered as faults. In this regard, numbers were assigned to the faults, and a graphic scale, coordinate grid, and legends were added to the map. Fault identification for classes I–V was conducted at different scales. Fault identification for the next class always retained the previous results. Using this method, the faults in the Pingdingshan coal mining zone were divided into classes I–V. By comparing the classes with historical coal and gas outbursts, it was indicated that more than 90% of the coal and gas outbursts occurred in the vicinity of faults, especially at the intersections of multiple faults and in areas with concentrated faults. This study provided a scientific basis for predicting coal and gas outbursts.
Plant-based fructans for increased animal welfare: provision processes and remaining challenges
Authors: Zimmermann A. , Visscher C. , Kaltschmitt M.
Published: April 2021

Fructans are carbohydrates consisting of fructose monomers linked by β-2,1- and/or β-2,6-glycosidic bonds with linear or branched structure. These carbohydrates belong to the group of prebiotic dietary fibre with health-promoting potential for humans and mammals due to their indigestibility and selective stimulation of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract. This makes fructans interesting mainly for healthy food as well as animal feed applications. As a consequence of a growing public awareness for animal welfare, dietary fibre and thus fructans move into the focus as a fibre-rich feeding improving not only animals’ health but also their well-being. Against this background, this paper summarises the known effects of fructans focusing on pigs and highlights the state of the art in fructan production processes from plant material as well as selected current research lines. Additionally, an attempt is made to assess the potential of European fructan production for an application as animal feed. Based on this, challenges in the field of fructan production are addressed and alternative substrates for fructans are discussed and pointed out.
The road to societal trust: implementation of Towards Sustainable Mining in Finland and Spain
Authors: Lesser Pamela
Published: April 2021

In government, industry and academia, there is a convergence of three trends: (1) the belief that responsible exploration and mining should increase across Europe, (2) industry should follow and ‘Europeanise’ international good practices and (3) a social licence to operate exists not only between a community and a company but also between society and industry. There are two examples in Europe where these trends are converging—Finland and Spain have both adopted the Canadian Toward Sustainable Mining (TSM) program, but the method of implementation is very different. As a result of Talvivaara, Finland took a network governance approach incorporating trust-building measures from the beginning by bringing diverse stakeholders together to create the Finnish Network for Sustainable Mining. Spain chose to integrate the TSM into their national standards, a more traditional and hierarchical approach but one that also relies on a trustworthy entity with clear longevity. Although implementation is in the early stages in both countries, and therefore this paper provides insights only on preliminary outcomes, results indicate that the network approach may not be better at achieving societal SLO suggesting that other factors such as narrative, dialoguing directly with society, implementing trust-building measures in a timely fashion and proven longevity may have more influence than early trust-building measures between network participants.
Chinese Built-up Land in Floodplains Moving Closer to Freshwaters
Authors: Fang Yongqiang , Du Shiqiang , Wen Jiahong , Zhang Min , Fang Jiayi , Liu Min
Published: April 2021

Human proximity to water and its dynamics are important to understanding the socio-hydrological dilemma between using floodplains and avoiding flood risk. However, previous studies have not distinguished between the water proximity of built-up land in floodplains (BLF) and the water proximity of built-up land outside floodplains (BLOF). This article provides a new and spatiotemporal perspective of the BLF water proximities for understanding the changing flood risk in China. The results show that China’s BLFs had an average water proximity of 5.41 km in 2014. Most of the BLFs (62%, 25.88×103 km2) were located within 3 km of waterbodies. From 1990 to 2014, China’s BLFs increased rapidly by 81% from 23.06×103 km2 to 41.74×103 km2, of which a large portion (57%) was concentrated in water surroundings (≤3 km), shortening the distance between BLFs and waterbodies by 169 m. The BLF growth concentrated in water surroundings even in areas where BLFs have an overall increasing distance from waterbodies. Both the increases in the BLFs and their proximity to waterbodies can increase flood exposure and exacerbate flood risk. The scientific community and policymakers should pay attention not only to the volume of BLF growth, but also its spatial relationship with waterbodies.
Contact tracing apps for the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic literature review of challenges and future directions for neo-liberal societies
Authors: Akinbi Alex , Forshaw Mark , Blinkhorn Victoria
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread with increased fatalities around the world and has become an international public health crisis. Public health authorities in many countries have introduced contact tracing apps to track and trace infected persons as part of measures to contain the spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2. However, there are major concerns about its efficacy and privacy which affects mass acceptance amongst a population. This systematic literature review encompasses the current challenges facing this technology and recommendations to address such challenges in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in neo-liberal societies.

Methods

The systematic literature review was conducted by searching databases of Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, PsycInfo and ScienceDirect using the search terms (“Contact Tracing” OR “Contact Tracing apps”) AND (“COVID-19” OR “Coronavirus”) to identify relevant literature. The searches were run against the title, keywords, or abstract, depending on the search platforms. The searches were conducted between January 1, 2020, through 31st January 2021. Further inputs were also taken from preprints, published government and technical reports. We explore and discuss from the selected literature, the key challenges and issues that influence unwillingness to use these contact tracing apps in neo-liberal societies which include the plausibility of abuse of user privacy rights and lack of trust in the government and public health authorities by their citizens. Other challenges identified and discussed include ethical issues, security vulnerabilities, user behaviour and participation, and technical constraints.

Results and conclusion

Finally, in the analysis of this systematic literature review, recommendations to address these challenges, future directions, and considerations in the use of digital contact tracing apps and related technologies to contain the spread of future pandemic outbreaks are presented. For policy makers in neo-liberal societies, this study provides an in-depth review of issues that must be addressed. We highlight recommendations to improve the willingness to use such digital technologies and could facilitate mass acceptance amongst users.
Clinical course and predictive risk factors for fatal outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors:   the LEOSS Study group, Pilgram Lisa , Eberwein Lukas , Wille Kai , Koehler Felix C. , Stecher Melanie , Rieg Siegbert , Kielstein Jan T. , Jakob Carolin E. M. , Rüthrich Maria , Burst Volker , Prasser Fabian , Borgmann Stefan , Müller Roman-Ulrich , Lanznaster Julia , Isberner Nora , Tometten Lukas , Dolff Sebastian
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The ongoing pandemic caused by the novel severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has stressed health systems worldwide. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) seem to be more prone to a severe course of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) due to comorbidities and an altered immune system. The study’s aim was to identify factors predicting mortality among SARS-CoV-2-infected patients with CKD.

Methods

We analyzed 2817 SARS-CoV-2-infected patients enrolled in the Lean European Open Survey on SARS-CoV-2-infected patients and identified 426 patients with pre-existing CKD. Group comparisons were performed via Chi-squared test. Using univariate and multivariable logistic regression, predictive factors for mortality were identified.

Results

Comparative analyses to patients without CKD revealed a higher mortality (140/426, 32.9% versus 354/2391, 14.8%). Higher age could be confirmed as a demographic predictor for mortality in CKD patients (> 85 years compared to 15–65 years, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 6.49, 95% CI 1.27–33.20, p = 0.025). We further identified markedly elevated lactate dehydrogenase (> 2 × upper limit of normal, aOR 23.21, 95% CI 3.66–147.11, p < 0.001), thrombocytopenia (< 120,000/µl, aOR 11.66, 95% CI 2.49–54.70, p = 0.002), anemia (Hb < 10 g/dl, aOR 3.21, 95% CI 1.17–8.82, p = 0.024), and C-reactive protein (≥ 30 mg/l, aOR 3.44, 95% CI 1.13–10.45, p = 0.029) as predictors, while renal replacement therapy was not related to mortality (aOR 1.15, 95% CI 0.68–1.93, p = 0.611).

Conclusion

The identified predictors include routinely measured and universally available parameters. Their assessment might facilitate risk stratification in this highly vulnerable cohort as early as at initial medical evaluation for SARS-CoV-2.