bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Copper‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Mukaiyama Aldol Reaction of Silyl Enol Ethers with Isatin‐Derived Oxindolyl β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Keto Esters
Authors: Lu Wenjing , Li Jindong , Lu Yangmian , Zha Zhenggen , Wang Zhiyong
Published: January 2021

Enantioselective Mukaiyama 1,2 addition of silyl enol ethers with oxindolyl β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters was developed under catalysis of a chiral L−Cu complex. The reaction was carried out rapidly under mild conditions, to give rise to a series of chiral β‐hydroxyl carbonyl compounds bearing oxindolyl backbone skeleton with high yields and excellent enantioselectivities, up to 99 %, as well as moderate to great diastereoselectivities, up to >20 : 1. This method provided an elegant synthesis route for the synthesis of such compounds.
A Photoresponsive Nanozyme for Synergistic Catalytic Therapy and Dual Phototherapy
Authors: Yang Hailong , Xu Bolong , Li Shanshan , Wu Qingyuan , Lu Mingzhu , Han Along , Liu Huiyu
Published: January 2021

Dual phototherapy, including photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), has shown a great prospect in cancer treatment. However, its therapeutic effect is restricted by the depth of light penetration in tissue and tumor hypoxia environment. Herein, inspired by the specific response of nanozymes to the tumor microenvironment (TME), a simple and versatile nanozyme‐mediated synergistic dual phototherapy nanoplatform (denoted as FePc/HNCSs) is constructed using hollow nitrogen‐doped carbon nanospheres (HNCSs) and iron phthalocyanine (FePc). FePc/HNCSs simultaneously exhibit peroxidase (POD)‐ and catalase (CAT)‐like activities, which not only can convert endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into highly toxic hydroxyl radicals (•OH) for catalytic therapy, but also decompose H2O2 to oxygen (O2) to enhance O2‐dependent PDT. In addition, their enzyme‐like activities are significantly enhanced under light irradiation. Combining with the excellent photothermal effect, FePc/HNCSs realize a high tumor inhibition rate of 96.3%. This strategy opens a new horizon for exploring a more powerful tumor treatment nanoplatform.
Highly Sensitive Strain Sensors Based on Molecules–Gold Nanoparticles Networks for High‐Resolution Human Pulse Analysis
Authors: Huang Chang‐Bo , Yao Yifan , Montes‐García Verónica , Stoeckel Marc‐Antoine , Von Holst Miriam , Ciesielski Artur , Samorì Paolo
Published: January 2021

High‐performance flexible strain sensors are key components for the next generation of wearable health monitoring devices. Here, the authors have fabricated a novel strain sensor based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) interconnected by flexible and responsive molecular linkers. The combination of conductive AuNPs (25 nm in diameter) with tetra(ethylene glycol) dithiol (SH‐TEG‐SH) linkers yields a covalent 3D network which can be directly deposited onto prepatterned flexible supports exposing interdigitated Au electrodes. The electrically insulating nature of the linkers effectively defines the tunneling modulated charge transfer through the AuNPs network. When compressive/tensile strain is applied, the molecular linkers adopt a compressed/stretched conformation thus decreasing/increasing the interparticle distance, ultimately yielding an exponential increase/decrease of the tunneling current when voltage is applied. The strain sensor displays state‐of‐the‐art performances including a highly sensitive response to both tensile and compressive strain, as quantified by a high gauge factor (GF≈126) combined with other superior sensing properties like high flexibility, short response time (16.1 ms), and good robustness (>2000 cycles). Finally, the applicability of the device for health monitoring is demonstrated: high‐resolution artery pulse waves are acquired by placing the strain sensor onto the skin allowing the extraction of important physical parameters for human‐health assessment.
Tissue tolerance to cyanoacrylate adhesives for closure of surgical wounds in Trachemys scripta skin
Authors: Pérez‐Delgado Sayda , Mozos Elena , Guerra Rafael , Lucena Rosario , Molina Verónica , Ginel Pedro J.
Published: January 2021

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the histological tolerance of medical cyanoacrylate adhesives (CAs), butyl‐CA and octyl‐CA, applied by two different methods in surgical skin incisions of T. scripta.

Methods: A two‐trial controlled blind study each one including 12 female adult T. scripta turtles. Two 1‐cm long full‐thickness surgical skin incisions were made on the dorsal aspect of each hind limb. In trial 1 CAs were applied superficially over the apposed wound edges; each animal's four wounds were closed using butyl‐CA, octyl‐CA and ethyl‐CA or absorbable suture as controls. In trial 2 adhesives were applied holding wound edges everted, and octyl‐CA was replaced by a non‐sutured control wound. At each time point (2, 7, 14 and 21 days) all wounds from three randomly chosen animals were biopsied.

Results: Medical grade CAs did not induce any sign of tissue damage and/or inflammatory reaction attributable to histotoxicity independently of the method of application. Wound dehiscence rate was higher when CAs were applied superficially over the apposed wound edges.

Conclusions: Octyl and butyl‐CA are well tolerated by turtles' soft skin but because of their high rate of dehiscence they are not recommended in high tension wounds; use in low tension wounds needs further investigation.
Targeting cancer metastasis with antibody therapeutics
Authors: Yang Huilin , Kuo Yun‐Huai , Smith Zion I. , Spangler Jamie
Published: January 2021

Cancer metastasis, the spread of disease from a primary to a distal site through the circulatory or lymphatic systems, accounts for over 90% of all cancer related deaths. Despite significant progress in the field of cancer therapy in recent years, mortality rates remain dramatically higher for patients with metastatic disease versus those with local or regional disease. Although there is clearly an urgent need to develop drugs that inhibit cancer spread, the overwhelming majority of anticancer therapies that have been developed to date are designed to inhibit tumor growth but fail to address the key stages of the metastatic process: invasion, intravasation, circulation, extravasation, and colonization. There is growing interest in engineering targeted therapeutics, such as antibody drugs, that inhibit various steps in the metastatic cascade. We present an overview of antibody therapeutic approaches, both in the pipeline and in the clinic, that disrupt the essential mechanisms that underlie cancer metastasis. These therapies include classes of antibodies that indirectly target metastasis, including anti‐integrin, anticadherin, and immune checkpoint blocking antibodies, as well as monoclonal and bispecific antibodies that are specifically designed to interrupt disease dissemination. Although few antimetastatic antibodies have achieved clinical success to date, there are many promising candidates in various stages of development, and novel targets and approaches are constantly emerging. Collectively, these efforts will enrich our understanding of the molecular drivers of metastasis, and the new strategies that arise promise to have a profound impact on the future of cancer therapeutic development.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease
Climate Information: Towards Transparent Distillation
Authors: Jack Christopher D. , Marsham John , Rowell David P. , Jones Richard G.
Published: January 2021

Constructing climate information to inform climate change risk-related decision-making is challenging and requires a rigorous interrogation and understanding of multiple lines of evidence and an assessment of the values, limits and uncertainties involved. Critically, there is no definitive approach agreed on by all climate scientists. Rather, a range of approaches and assumptions are used, with implications for robustness, reliability and uncertainty. Often these choices and assumptions are informed by the values and objectives of climate science rather than the decision context. We propose an approach, information distillation, that makes explicit and open for deliberation many of the implicit decisions and value judgements that occur throughout the process of constructing information. We argue that this approach must engage substantively with the decision context and open up choices and assumptions in a transparent manner to deliberation across climate scientists and context experts. This should ensure relevance and usability, and build understanding and trust to form an important basis for effective uptake of information. Two case studies are described demonstrating the effectiveness of these approaches and illustrating several important principles for transparent information distillation.
Creating Useful and Usable Weather and Climate Information: Insights from Participatory Scenario Planning in Malawi
Authors: Tembo-Nhlema Dorothy , Vincent Katharine , Henriksson Rebecka
Published: January 2021

For climate information to be used at the grassroots level, it needs to be understood, collectively interpreted and effectively communicated. Participatory Scenario Planning (PSP) is one method of co-producing useful and usable sectoral and livelihood advisories for decision-makers, based on locally downscaled weather (typically seasonal forecasts). The chapter outlines an initial investigation into the history and application of PSP in Malawi, finding that it can generate useful and usable information that is deemed credible, legitimate and salient by its intended users. Its usability is reinforced through the demonstration effect which leads to even sceptical farmers adopting it after they have witnessed proof of its effectiveness from early adopters. In Malawi, the sustainability of PSP is threatened due to limited integration in planning frameworks and reliance on projects, hence need for a mechanism to ensure its regular occurrence and embeddedness in formal governance structures.
Elastic positivity vs extremal positivity bounds in SMEFT: a case study in transversal electroweak gauge-boson scatterings
Authors: Yamashita Kimiko , Zhang Cen , Zhou Shuang-Yong
Published: January 2021

Abstract

The positivity bounds, derived from the axiomatic principles of quantum field theory (QFT), constrain the signs of Wilson coefficients and their linear combinations in the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT). The precise determination of these bounds, however, can become increasingly difficult as more and more SM modes and oper- ators are taken into account. We study two approaches that aim at obtaining the full set of bounds for a given set of SM fields: 1) the traditional elastic positivity approach, which exploits the elastic scattering amplitudes of states with arbitrarily superposed helicities as well as other quantum numbers, and 2) the newly proposed extremal positivity approach, which constructs the allowed coefficient space directly by using the extremal representation of convex cones. Considering the electroweak gauge-bosons as an example, we demonstrate how the best analytical and numerical positivity bounds can be obtained in several ways. We further compare the constraining power and the efficiency of various approaches, as well as their applicability to more complex problems. While the new extremal approach is more constraining by construction, we also find that it is analytically easier to use, nu- merically much faster than the elastic approach, and much more applicable when more SM particle states and operators are taken into account. As a byproduct, we provide the best positivity bounds on the transversal quartic-gauge-boson couplings, required by the axiomatic principles of QFT, and show that they exclude ≈ 99.3% of the parameter space currently being searched at the LHC.
Lepton flavor violations in SUSY models for muon g − 2 with right-handed neutrinos
Authors: Nagai Ryo , Yokozaki Norimi
Published: January 2021

Abstract

We consider supersymmetric (SUSY) models for the muon g − 2 anomaly without flavor violating masses at the tree-level. The models can avoid LHC constraints and the vacuum stability constraint in the stau-Higgs potential. Although large flavor violating processes are not induced within the framework of minimal SUSY standard model, once we adopt a seesaw model, sizable lepton flavor violating (LFV) processes such as μ → eγ and μ → e conversion are induced. These LFV processes will be observed at future experiments such as MEG-II, COMET and Mu2e if right-handed neutrinos are heavier than 109 GeV motivated by the successful leptogenesis. This conclusion is somewhat model independent since Higgs doublets are required to have large soft SUSY breaking masses, leading to flavor violations in a slepton sector via neutrino Yukawa interactions.
Classification of four-point local gluon S-matrices
Authors: Chowdhury Subham Dutta , Gadde Abhijit
Published: January 2021

Abstract

In this paper, we classify four-point local gluon S-matrices in arbitrary dimensions. This is along the same lines as [1] where four-point local photon S-matrices and graviton S-matrices were classified. We do the classification explicitly for gauge groups SO(N) and SU(N) for all N but our method is easily generalizable to other Lie groups. The construction involves combining not-necessarily-permutation-symmetric four-point S-matrices of photons and those of adjoint scalars into permutation symmetric four-point gluon S-matrix. We explicitly list both the components of the construction, i.e permutation symmetric as well as non-symmetric four point S-matrices, for both the photons as well as the adjoint scalars for arbitrary dimensions and for gauge groups SO(N) and SU(N) for all N. In this paper, we explicitly list the local Lagrangians that generate the local gluon S-matrices for D ≥ 9 and present the relevant counting for lower dimensions. Local Lagrangians for gluon S-matrices in lower dimensions can be written down following the same method. We also express the Yang-Mills four gluon S-matrix with gluon exchange in terms of our basis structures.
Equality and responsibility: ex ante and ex post redistribution mechanisms
Authors: Bosmans Kristof , Öztürk Z. Emel
Published: January 2021

We study redistribution in a setting where individual responsibility and circumstance characteristics determine pre-tax income. We distinguish between ex ante and ex post versions of the key principles of compensation and reward. Furthermore, we distinguish between absolute and relative versions of reward. On the basis of these axioms, we provide characterizations of five familiar and two new redistribution mechanisms.
Pharmacological inhibition of thioredoxin reductase increases insulin secretion and diminishes beta cell viability
Authors: Brüning Dennis , Hatlapatka Kathrin , Lier-Glaubitz Verena , Andermark Vincent , Scherneck Stephan , Ott Ingo , Rustenbeck Ingo
Published: January 2021

Apparently, both a decrease in beta cell function and in beta cell mass contribute to the progressive worsening of type 2 diabetes. So, it is of particular interest to define factors which are relevant for the regulation of insulin secretion and at the same time for the maintenance of beta cell mass. The NADPH-thioredoxin system has a candidate role for such a dual function. Here, we have characterized the effects of a highly specific inhibitor of thioredoxin reductase, AM12, on the viability and function of insulin-secreting MIN6 cells and isolated NMRI mouse islets. Viability was checked by MTT testing and the fluorescent live-dead assay. Apoptosis was assessed by annexin V assay. Insulin secretion of perifused islets was measured by ELISA. The cytosolic Ca2+concentration was measured by the Fura technique. Acute exposure of perifused pancreatic islets to 5 μM AM12 was without significant effect on insulin secretion. Islets cultured for 24 h in 0.5 or 5 μM AM12 showed unchanged basal secretion during perifusion, but the response to 30 mM glucose was significantly enhanced by 5 μM. Twenty-four-hour exposure to 5 μM AM12 proved to be without effect on the viability of MIN6 cells, whereas longer exposure was clearly toxic. Islets were more susceptible, showing initial signs of apoptosis after 24-h exposure to 5 μM AM12. The activity of the NADPH-thioredoxin system is indispensable for beta cell viability but may have a limiting effect on glucose-induced insulin secretion.
Sensorimotor impairment and haptic support in microgravity
Authors: Weber Bernhard , Riecke Cornelia , Stulp Freek
Published: January 2021

Future space missions envisage human operators teleoperating robotic systems from orbital spacecraft. A potential risk for such missions is the observation that sensorimotor performance deteriorates during spaceflight. This article describes an experiment on sensorimotor performance in two-dimensional manual tracking during different stages of a space mission. We investigated whether there are optimal haptic settings of the human-machine interface for microgravity conditions. Two empirical studies using the same task paradigm with a force feedback joystick with different haptic settings (no haptics, four spring stiffnesses, two motion dampings, three masses) are presented in this paper. (1) A terrestrial control study ($$N=20$$N=20subjects) with five experimental sessions to explore potential learning effects and interactions with haptic settings. (2) A space experiment ($$N=3$$N=3cosmonauts) with a pre-mission, three mission sessions on board the ISS (2, 4, and 6 weeks in space), and a post-mission session. Results provide evidence that distorted proprioception significantly affects motion smoothness in the early phase of adaptation to microgravity, while the magnitude of this effect was moderated by cosmonauts’ sensorimotor capabilities. Moreover, this sensorimotor impairment can be compensated by providing subtle haptic cues. Specifically, low damping improved tracking smoothness for both motion directions (sagittal and transverse motion plane) and low stiffness improved performance in the transverse motion plane.
Optimal Control of the FitzHugh–Nagumo Stochastic Model with Nonlinear Diffusion
Authors: Cordoni Francesco , Persio Luca Di
Published: January 2021

We consider the existence and first order conditions of optimality for a stochastic optimal control problem inspired by the celebrated FitzHugh–Nagumo model, with nonlinear diffusion term, perturbed by a linear multiplicative Brownian-type noise. The main novelty of the present paper relies on the application of therescaling methodwhich allows us to reduce the original problem to a random optimal one.
Relevance of fructose intake in adolescence for fatty liver indices in young adulthood
Authors: Perrar Ines , Buyken Anette E. , Penczynski Katharina J. , Remer Thomas , Kuhnle Gunter G. , Herder Christian , Roden Michael , Della Corte Karen , Nöthlings Ute , Alexy Ute
Published: January 2021

Purpose

To examine the association between fructose intake in adolescence and fatty liver indices (hepatic steatosis index (HSI), fatty liver index (FLI)) in young adulthood.

Methods

Overall, 246 participants of the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) study who had a fasting blood sample in adulthood (18–36 years), at least two 3-day weighed dietary records for calculating fructose intakes and other fructose-containing sugars (total (TS), free (FS), added sugar (AS)) as well as two complete 24-h urine samples for calculating sugar excretion (fructose excretion (FE), fructose + sucrose excretion (FE + SE)) in adolescence (males: 9.5–16.5 years; females: 8.5–15.5 years) were analysed using multivariable linear regression analyses.

Results

On the level of dietary intake, no prospective associations were observed between adolescent fructose intake and both adult fatty liver indices, whereas higher FS intakes were associated with lower levels of HSI (Ptrend = 0.02) and FLI (Ptrend = 0.03). On the urinary excretion level, however, a higher FE (Ptrend = 0.03) and FE + SE (Ptrend = 0.01) in adolescence were prospectively related to higher adult FLI values. No associations were observed between adolescent sugar excretion and adult HSI.

Conclusion

The present study does not provide unambiguous support for a detrimental impact of adolescent fructose intake on adult liver health. Nonetheless, further examinations estimating exposure by means of urinary excretion as well as dietary intake levels appear warranted.
Phase behavior of solvent-rich compositions of the polymer/drug system poly(butylene succinate) and N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET)
Authors: Yener Hande Ece , Hillrichs Georg , Androsch René
Published: January 2021

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) is used to produce micro-/nanoporous biodegradable scaffolds, suitable for the release of the mosquito repellent N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET), based on thermally induced phase separation. For solvent-rich compositions up to 30 m% PBS, it was found that PBS dissolves in DEET at elevated temperatures. During cooling, spherulitic crystallization of PBS occurs, with the crystallization temperature decreasing with the content of DEET and the cooling rate, as determined by cloud-point measurements, differential scanning calorimetry, and polarized-light optical microscopy. Scaffold morphologies of quenched solutions were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy as a function of the polymer concentration and the quenching temperature. These two parameters control the nucleus density/spherulite size, the degree of intermeshing of spherulites, and the intra- and interspherulitic pore size, with the latter typically being of the order of magnitude of few micrometers.
Effect of reading with a mobile phone and text on accommodation in young adults
Authors: Liang Xintong , Wei Shifei , Li Shi-Ming , An Wenzai , Du Jialing , Wang Ningli
Published: January 2021

Purpose

To investigate the effects of reading with mobile phone versus text on accommodation accuracy and near work-induced transient myopia (NITM) and its subsequent decay during near reading in young adults with mild to moderate myopia.

Methods

The refractions of 31 young adults were measured with an open-field autorefractor (WAM-5500, Grand Seiko) for two reading tasks with a mobile phone and text at 33 cm. The mean age of the young adults was 24.35 ± 1.80 years. The baseline refractive aspects were determined clinically with full distance refractive correction in place. The initial NITM and its decay time and accommodative lag were assessed objectively immediately after binocularly viewing a mobile phone or text for 40 min.

Results

The mean ± standard deviation (SD) initial NITM magnitude was greater for reading with text (0.23 ± 0.26 D) than for reading with mobile phone (0.12 ± 0.17 D), but there was no significant difference between the two reading tasks (p = 0.082). The decay time (median, first quartile, and third quartile) was 60 s (16, 154) and 70 s (32, 180) in the phone task and text task groups, respectively. There was also no significant difference in the decay time between the two reading types in general (p = 0.294). The accommodative lags of text tasks and mobile phones tasks were equivalent (1.27 ± 0.52 D vs 1.31 ± 0.64 D, p = 0.792).

Conclusion

There were no significant differences in accommodative lags and the initial NITM and its decay time between reading with a mobile phone and text in young adults.
Naphthalene: irritative and inflammatory effects on the airways
Authors: Sucker Kirsten , Zschiesche Wolfgang , Aziz Mohammed , Drews Tanja , Hummel Thomas , Raulf Monika , Weiss Tobias , Bury Daniel , Breuer Dietmar , Werner Silke , Friedrich Claudia , Bünger Jürgen , Pallapies Dirk , Brüning Thomas
Published: January 2021

Objective

This cross-sectional study determined whether acute sensory irritative or (sub)chronic inflammatory effects of the eyes, nose or respiratory tract are observed in employees who are exposed to naphthalene at the workplace.

Methods

Thirtynine healthy and non-smoking male employees with either moderate (n = 22) or high (n = 17) exposure to naphthalene were compared to 22 male employees from the same plants with no or only rare exposure to naphthalene. (Sub)clinical endpoint measures included nasal endoscopy, smell sensitivity, self-reported work-related complaints and the intensity of naphthalene odor and irritation. In addition, cellular and soluble mediators in blood, nasal lavage fluid (NALF) and induced sputum (IS) were analysed. All measurements were carried out pre-shift on Monday and post-shift on Thursday. Personal air monitoring revealed naphthalene shift concentrations up to 11.6 mg/m3 with short-term peak concentrations up to 145.8 mg/m3 and 1- and 2-naphthol levels (sum) in post-shift urine up to 10.1 mg/L.

Results

Acute sensory irritating effects at the eyes and upper airways were reported to occur when directly handling naphthalene (e.g., sieving pure naphthalene). Generally, naphthalene odor was described as intense and unpleasant. Habituation effects or olfactory fatigue were not observed. Endoscopic examination revealed mild inflammatory effects at the nasal mucosa of exposed employees in terms of reddening and swelling and abnormal mucus production. No consistent pattern of cellular and soluble mediators in blood, NALF or IS was observed which would indicate a chronic or acute inflammatory effect of naphthalene in exposed workers.

Conclusions

The results suggest that exposure to naphthalene induces acute sensory irritative effects in exposed workers. No (sub)chronic inflammatory effects on the nasal epithelium or the respiratory tract could be observed under the study conditions described here.
Assessing urban climate effects on Pinus sylvestris with point dendrometers: a case study from Stockholm, Sweden
Authors: Rocha Eva , Holzkämper Steffen
Published: January 2021

Key message

Extreme drought conditions, in addition to the urban heat island effect, modify the growth response and water storage dynamics of urban Scots pine trees in the Stockholm region.

Changes in surface properties of the urban environments significantly impact the local microclimate. While urban trees are known for providing important thermal regulation, the impact of urban climate on tree growth remains relatively unexplored. The present study focuses on the climate response and growth dynamics of urban Scots pine trees (P. sylvestris) in comparison to their rural counterparts. High-resolution monitoring of stem-radius variations using automatic point dendrometers was performed during the growing seasons (April–October) of 2017 and 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2018, the region experienced a severe and long-lasting summer drought. In May and July, temperatures were up to 5 °C higher relative to the reference period (1981–2010), and precipitation sums were below the reference period for the entire growing season. Our results show that the urban climate primarily impacts the daily water storage dynamics by decreasing the radius change amplitudes and delaying the time of maximum stem-water replenishment and depletion. Under standard climatic conditions, the warmer climate (1.3 °C) at the urban sites had a positive impact on radial growth increment. Drought periods significantly impact the climate–growth relationships. Stem shrinkage intensifies during the day, and lower growth rates were registered, resulting in reduced annual growth. The high-resolution monitoring provided valuable insights into daily and seasonal patterns of Scots pine stem-radius variations, showing that growth responses to increasing temperature are mainly controlled by moisture availability and site-specific conditions.
Considerations for a power line communication system for traction batteries
Authors: Pake Talei Arash , Pribyl Wolfgang A. , Hofer Günter
Published: January 2021

Electric vehicles (EVs) are without a doubt one of the hottest topics of our time because of their advantages over combustion engine vehicles. This has persuaded many developers to try improving EVs so they will be more reliable and cheaper and as a result suitable for a broader range of consumers.

In this paper we dive into the proper way of measuring and understanding the impedance of one prismatic cell from 100 kHz up to 1 GHz. Some common measurement mistakes and important points to notice are also explained. The effect of a power bar is shown as well. In order to make sure of the accuracy and the consistency of the measurements, they are compared with finite element simulations as well as with mathematical calculations.

Investigations of conducted emissions are also of key importance since it has a direct influence on selecting a suitable frequency range. Accordingly, a thorough lab measurement is conducted to see the distortion harmonics and their influence on the carrier frequency. This knowledge can then be used to implement the power line communication (PLC) method.

The PLC technique helps us to reduce the wire harness of a battery pack by using the existing high-voltage lines of the vehicle as the main transmission channel. This leads to cheaper battery packs by reducing the amount of used material for the wire harness and production time as well as assembly complexity.
Verteilungspolitische Herausforderungen der Corona-Krise
Authors:   Überblick
Published: January 2021

Die Corona-Krise hat sich insbesondere auch auf den Arbeitsmarkt ausgewirkt. Der Lockdown hat zu Arbeitsplatzverlusten geführt - allen voran in der Hotel-, Gastronomie- und Tourismusbranche. Ebenso sind bestimmte Branchen von Kurzarbeit betroffen. Das hat Folgen für die Einkommenssituation der betroffenen Haushalte. Es lässt sich zeigen, dass Haushalte mit bereits vor der Krise niedrigeren Einkommen in der Krise stärkere Einkommensverluste erleiden. Allerdings entfaltet das Konjunktur- und Krisenbewältigungspaket der Bundesregierung mit Hilfsmaßnahmen durchaus seine Wirkung, um Arbeitsplätze zu stabilisieren und soziale Härten abzufedern. Davon profi tieren Männer jedoch vergleichsweise stärker als Frauen.
Die Frage der Qualifizierung in einer digitalisierten Gesellschaft
Authors: Kornwachs Klaus , Stehr Nico
Published: January 2021

Die Digitalisierung treibt den Wandel der Welt der Arbeit voran. Dieser Wandel könnte durch die wissenschaftlich-technische Dynamik, die von Unternehmen kontrollierte Nachfrage nach qualifizierten Arbeitskräften oder vielmehr durch das Qualifikationsangebot der Arbeitnehmenden determiniert sein. Dabei ist fraglich, welcher kognitiven und sozialen Fertigkeiten es in der Vierten Industriellen Revolution bedarf.
Kommunalfinanzierung in der Corona-Krise — Einschnitte, aber keine Zeitenwende
Authors: Brand Stephan , Steinbrecher Johannes
Published: January 2021

Über die vergangenen Jahre stellte sich der Status quo der Kommunalfinanzierung in Deutschland als recht stabil dar. Der Kommunalkredit ist dabei insbesondere für die Investitionen eine zentrale Säule der Finanzierung. Größere Veränderungen waren in den letzten Jahren sowohl auf der Nachfrage- wie auf der Angebotsseite nicht zu beobachten. Die wirtschaftlichen Folgen der Corona-Pandemie könnten für beide Marktseiten nun eine ungewohnte Dynamik mit sich bringen. Positiv ist in diesem Zusammenhang hervorzuheben, dass sich die Schuldentragfähigkeit der Kommunen im Vorkrisenzeitraum spürbar verbessert hat. Auch wenn die Folgen der Krise noch nicht abschließend beurteilt werden können, dürfte der Kommunalkredit somit auch in den nächsten Jahren eine wichtige Rolle bei der Finanzierung kommunaler Investitionen spielen.
Erweiterte Hersteller- und Produktverantwortung im Abwasserrecht
Authors: Reinhardt Michael
Published: January 2021

Der Beitrag befasst sich mit der im geltenden Recht bislang allenfalls randständig aufgegriffenen
Problematik der zunehmenden Belastung der Gewässer mit sog. Spurenstoffen. Er diskutiert einen Regelungsansatz
de lege ferenda, der sich an der abfallrechtlichen Konstruktion der Hersteller- und Produktverantwortung
orientiert.
Adventurous Play as a Mechanism for Reducing Risk for Childhood Anxiety: A Conceptual Model
Authors: Dodd Helen F. , Lester Kathryn J.
Published: January 2021

In this conceptual article, we draw upon the literature regarding cognitive and behavioural factors that underpin childhood anxiety to outline how a range of these risk markers might be targeted through adventurous play. When children play in an adventurous way, climbing trees, riding their bikes fast downhill and jumping from rocks, they experience feelings of fear and excitement, thrill and adrenaline. We propose that the positive, thrilling and playful emotions associated with this type of child-led play facilitate exposure to fear-provoking situations and, in doing so, provide opportunities for children to learn about physiological arousal, uncertainty and coping. We hypothesise that these learning opportunities will, over time, reduce children’s risk for elevated anxiety by increasing children’s expectations and ability to cope with anxiety, decreasing intolerance of uncertainty and preventing catastrophic misinterpretations of physiological arousal. If our conceptual model is correct, then ensuring that children have the physical and psychological space required to play in an adventurous way may help to decrease their risk for elevated or clinical anxiety.
Choice, quality and patients’ experience: evidence from a Finnish physiotherapy service
Authors: Pitkänen Visa , Linnosmaa Ismo
Published: January 2021

We study the relationship between patient choices and provider quality in a rehabilitation service for disabled patients who receive the service frequently but do not have access to quality information. Previous research has found a positive relationship between patient choices and provider quality in health services that patients typically do not have previous experience or use frequently. We contribute by examining choices of new patients and experienced patients who were either forced to switch or actively switched their provider. In the analysis, we combine register data on patients’ choices and switches with provider quality data from a competitive bidding, and estimate conditional logit choice models. The results show that all patients prefer high-quality providers within short distances. We find that the willingness to travel for quality is highest among new patients and active switchers. These results suggest that new patients and active switchers compare different alternatives more thoroughly, whereas forced switchers choose their new provider in limited time leading into poorer choices.
Systemic optimal risk transfer equilibrium
Authors: Biagini Francesca , Doldi Alessandro , Fouque Jean-Pierre , Frittelli Marco , Meyer-Brandis Thilo
Published: January 2021

We propose a novel concept of a Systemic Optimal Risk Transfer Equilibrium (SORTE), which is inspired by the Bühlmann’s classical notion of an Equilibrium Risk Exchange. We provide sufficient general assumptions that guarantee existence, uniqueness, and Pareto optimality of such a SORTE. In both the Bühlmann and the SORTE definition, each agent is behaving rationally by maximizing his/her expected utility given a budget constraint. The two approaches differ by the budget constraints. In Bühlmann’s definition the vector that assigns the budget constraint is given a priori. On the contrary, in the SORTE approach, the vector that assigns the budget constraint is endogenously determined by solving a systemic utility maximization. SORTE gives priority to the systemic aspects of the problem, in order to optimize the overall systemic performance, rather than to individual rationality.
Location of agate geodes in Permian deposits of Simota gully using the GPR
Authors: Mierczak Michał , Karczewski Jerzy
Published: January 2021

The article describes the establishment of the location of agate geodes using the GPR method in the area of the Simota gully (Lesser Poland Voivodeship). Agates (a multicolored variety of gemstone of chalcedony group) have multifaceted values that informed their study. Traditional methods of geode location are less reliable, hence the attempt to use the GPR method. Measurements were taken at two study test sites with subsurface geology of weathered melaphyre and pyroclastic deposits using a GPR system (ProEx). A high-frequency antenna (1.6 GHz) was used along with the pre-established profiles of lengths of 6-m and 10-cm intervals. Furthermore, simple soil tests using the soil sampler tool were made prior to the GPR measurement. The GPR results show significant high attenuation of the electromagnetic energy interpreted to be due to clay components of the regolith. Advanced signal processing procedures (such as the attribute of the signal) were used on the data for better enhancement that aided interpretation. Other anomalies depicted on the radargrams were thought to be the presence of roots, pieces of melaphyres-targeted agates. Furtherance to ascertain the reflection coefficients as recorded on the GPR data, in situ samples (root pieces, melaphyres, agates) taken were tested in the laboratory for electric permittivity property. Based on the interpretation results, several agate geodes were dug out from the ground.
With grit to innovative teams?
Authors: Bernardy Valeria , Antoni Conny H.
Published: January 2021

This article in the Journal Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. (GIO) develops a theoretical model for the emergence of team grit, i.e. the competence to pursue long-term goals with passion and perseverance. We examine the role of team grit for today’s dynamic innovation processes, building on findings from research on individual grit. Our model shows how team inputs as well as the dynamic interaction of team processes and affective and cognitive emergent states lead to the emergence of team grit and thus promote team innovation. We explore contagion and crossover processes as mechanisms for team grit to emerge, and examine team processes that we assume to affect team grit. Our model not only provides a starting point for further research on team grit, but also provides practitioners with recommendations to foster team grit in order to improve their innovative performance in the team.
Geocoding cryptosporidiosis cases in Ireland (2008–2017)—development of a reliable, reproducible, multiphase geocoding methodology
Authors: Domegan Lisa , Garvey Patricia , McKeown Paul , Johnson Howard , Hynds Paul , O’Dwyer Jean , ÓhAiseadha Coilín
Published: January 2021

Background

Geocoding (the process of converting a text address into spatial data) quality may affect geospatial epidemiological study findings. No national standards for best geocoding practice exist in Ireland. Irish postcodes (Eircodes) are not routinely recorded for infectious disease notifications and > 35% of dwellings have non-unique addresses. This may result in incomplete geocoding and introduce systematic errors into studies.

Aims

This study aimed to develop a reliable and reproducible methodology to geocode cryptosporidiosis notifications to fine-resolution spatial units (Census 2016 Small Areas), to enhance data validity and completeness, thus improving geospatial epidemiological studies.

Methods

A protocol was devised to utilise geocoding tools developed by the Health Service Executive’s Health Intelligence Unit. Geocoding employed finite-string automated and manual matching, undertaken sequentially in three additive phases. The protocol was applied to a cryptosporidiosis notification dataset (2008–2017) from Ireland’s Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting System. Outputs were validated against devised criteria.

Results

Overall, 92.1% (4266/4633) of cases were successfully geocoded to one Small Area, and 95.5% (n = 4425) to larger spatial units. The proportion of records geocoded increased by 14% using the multiphase approach, with 5% of records re-assigned to a different spatial unit.

Conclusions

The developed multiphase protocol improved the completeness and validity of geocoding, thus increasing the power of subsequent studies. The authors recommend capturing Eircodes ideally using application programming interface for infectious disease or other health-related datasets, for more efficient and reliable geocoding. Where Eircodes are not recorded/available, for best geocoding practice, we recommend this (or a similar) quality driven protocol.
Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease: What Is Missing in Research?
Authors: Ayodele Temitope , Rogaeva Ekaterina , Kurup Jiji T. , Beecham Gary , Reitz Christiane
Published: January 2021

Purpose of Review

Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD), defined as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) occurring before age 65, is significantly less well studied than the late-onset form (LOAD) despite EOAD often presenting with a more aggressive disease progression. The aim of this review is to summarize the current understanding of the etiology of EOAD, their translation into clinical practice, and to suggest steps to be taken to move our understanding forward.

Recent Findings

EOAD cases make up 5–10% of AD cases but only 10–15% of these cases show known mutations in the APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are linked to EOAD. New data suggests that these unexplained cases following a non-Mendelian pattern of inheritance is potentially caused by a mix of common and newly discovered rare variants. However, only a fraction of this genetic variation has been identified to date leaving the molecular mechanisms underlying this type of AD and their association with clinical, biomarker, and neuropathological changes unclear.

While great advancements have been made in characterizing EOAD, much work is needed to disentangle the molecular mechanisms underlying this type of AD and to identify putative targets for more precise disease screening, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
CADASIL from Bench to Bedside: Disease Models and Novel Therapeutic Approaches
Authors: Manini Arianna , Pantoni Leonardo
Published: January 2021

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a monogenic disease caused by NOTCH3 mutations and characterized by typical clinical, neuroradiological, and pathological features. NOTCH3 belongs to a family of highly conserved transmembrane receptors rich of epidermal growth factor repeats, mostly expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells and pericytes, which perform essential developmental functions and are involved in tissues maintenance and renewal. To date, no therapeutic option for CADASIL is available except for few symptomatic treatments. Novel in vitro and in vivo models are continuously explored with the aim to investigate underlying pathogenic mechanisms and to test novel therapeutic approaches. In this scenario, knock-out, knock-in, and transgenic mice studies have generated a large amount of information on molecular and biological aspects of CADASIL, despite that they incompletely reproduce the human phenotype. Moreover, the field of in vitro models has been revolutionized in the last two decades by the introduction of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) technology. As a consequence, novel therapeutic approaches, including immunotherapy, growth factors administration, and antisense oligonucleotides, are currently under investigation. While waiting that further studies confirm the promising results obtained, the data reviewed suggest that our therapeutic approach to the disease could be transformed, generating new hope for the future.
The affirmation of image and maps in the modern age: cartographic secularization and Protestant Reformation
Authors: Ricci Alessandro
Published: January 2021

The contribution aims to focus the attention on the consequences on the use of images and in particular on the cartographic ones deriving from the Protestant Reformation. Analysing the debate around images which originated during the sixteenth century from Luther’s revolution, the article tries to answer how much the Reformation contributed to change the main aspects of mapmaking in a more realistic and secularized way. Three main questions will be posed: how much did the Protestant Reformation contribute to the affirmation of the cartographic images, to the pushes towards realism and to reality? How much did the way of representing the world change, standing on the innovations promoted by the European Protestants? Did the Reformation have also consequences on the Counter-Reformation way of depicting maps? Starting from the main literature, which focused the attention on the effects of that debate about the artistic images, a parallelism with the use of new cartographic models will be proposed, wondering if the Reformation contributed to the modern way of mapmaking, overpassing the religious, metaphorical of the medieval models.
Intrinsic Directions, Orthogonality, and Distinguished Geodesics in the Symmetrized Bidisc
Authors: Agler Jim , Lykova Zinaida , Young N. J.
Published: January 2021

The symmetrized bidisc $$\begin{aligned} G {\mathop {=}\limits ^\mathrm{{def}}}\{(z+w,zw):|z|<1,\quad |w|<1\}, \end{aligned}$$

G

=
def

{

(
z
+
w
,
z
w
)

:
|
z
|
<
1
,

|
w
|
<
1
}

,

under the Carathéodory metric, is a complex Finsler space of cohomogeneity 1 in which the geodesics, both real and complex, enjoy a rich geometry. As a Finsler manifold, G does not admit a natural notion of angle, but we nevertheless show that there is a notion of orthogonality. The complex tangent bundle TG splits naturally into the direct sum of two line bundles, which we call the sharp and flat bundles, and which are geometrically defined and therefore covariant under automorphisms of G. Through every point of G, there is a unique complex geodesic of G in the flat direction, having the form $$\begin{aligned} F^\beta {\mathop {=}\limits ^\mathrm{{def}}}\{(\beta +{\bar{\beta }} z,z)\ : z\in \mathbb {D}\} \end{aligned}$$

F
β

=
def

{

(
β
+

β

¯

z
,
z
)

:
z
∈
D
}

for some $$\beta \in \mathbb {D}$$

β
∈
D

, and called a flat geodesic. We say that a complex geodesic Dis orthogonal to a flat geodesic F if D meets F at a point $$\lambda $$
λ
and the complex tangent space $$T_\lambda D$$

T
λ

D

at $$\lambda $$
λ
is in the sharp direction at $$\lambda $$
λ
. We prove that a geodesic D has the closest point property with respect to a flat geodesic F if and only if D is orthogonal to F in the above sense. Moreover, G is foliated by the geodesics in G that are orthogonal to a fixed flat geodesic F.
Revisiting old lessons from classic literature on persistent global pollutants
Authors: Martin Jonathan W.
Published: January 2021

Looking back 50 years at classic literature was a reminder of inspiring discoveries and clever theories that were formative to the field of environmental chemistry, but also of the irreparable costs that persistent global pollutants have had on ecosystems and human society. In my view, these three papers have greatly impacted contemporary science and influenced development of policies that have limited the spread of hazardous contaminants. At the same time, a sobering reality is that reversing decades of past pollution has proven impossible in our lifetime, and global trends are dire for both legacy and emerging contaminants. Lessons in these papers are clear to most environmental scientists, but I argue have not resulted in adequate investment in infrastructure or manpower to enable systematic unbiased searching for pollutants as proposed by Sören Jensen in 1972. Acknowledging that the costs of new global contaminants will be too high, we must incentivize safer chemicals and their sustainable use, increase international exchange of lists of chemicals in commerce, and coordinate international efforts in nontarget screening to identify new contaminants before they circulate the world.