bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The diffusion of climate change adaptation policy
Authors: Schoenefeld Jonas J. , Schulze Kai , Bruch Nils
Published: March 2022

Adapting to some level of climate change has become unavoidable. However, there is surprisingly limited systematic knowledge about whether and how adaptation policies have diffused and could diffuse in the future. Most existing adaptation studies do not explicitly examine policy diffusion, which is a form of interdependent policy‐making among jurisdictions at the same or across different levels of governance. To address this gap, we offer a new interpretation and assessment of the extensive adaptation policy literature through a policy diffusion perspective; we pay specific attention to diffusion drivers and barriers, motivations, mechanisms, outputs, and outcomes. We assess the extent to which four motivations and related mechanisms of policy diffusion—interests (linked with learning and competition), rights and duties (tied to coercion), ideology, and recognition (both connected with emulation)—are conceptually and empirically associated with adaptation. We also engage with adaptation policy characteristics, contextual conditions (e.g., problem severity) and different channels of adaptation policy diffusion (e.g., transnational networks). We demonstrate that adaptation policy diffusion can be associated with different mechanisms, yet many of them remain remarkably understudied. So are the effects of adaptation policy diffusion in terms of changes in vulnerability and resilience. We thus identify manifold avenues for future research, and provide insights for practitioners who may hope to leverage diffusion mechanisms to enhance their adaptation efforts.

This article is categorized under:

Policy and Governance > Multilevel and Transnational Climate Change Governance

Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Institutions for Adaptation
Introduction
Authors: Bigotti Fabrizio , Barry Jonathan
Published: March 2022

The introduction focuses on the career and work of Santorio Santori. It notes the contrast between his great influence before 1800 and his neglect in subsequent scholarship and offers an explanation of this. It then provides a revised account of his life, drawing on many new archival discoveries (including a new portrait) as well as a close reading of his own publications. It shows the importance of his family’s technical background, and his education and ongoing collective work with the innovative and politically progressive circles of the Morisini family and Paolo Sarpi in Venice, whose influence assisted his career as a physician and then professor at Padua, as well as ensuring his loss of position when more conservative forces triumphed there. The key innovations in each of his publications are explored and explained, showing his consistent commitment to quantification of the body through experimentation based on new instruments, but his positioning of this work within a Galenic framework of medical research and practice. His relationship with Galileo is clarified, confirming Santorio’s independence as both a philosopher and an inventor of instruments such as the pulsilogium and thermometer, and a summary is given of the purposes for which Santorio designed his instruments. The corpuscularian philosophy which underpinned this work is explored in the next chapter.
‘Gears of an Inner Clock’: Santorio’s Theory of Matter and Its Applications
Authors: Bigotti Fabrizio
Published: March 2022

This chapter provides the first detailed analysis of Santorio’s theory of matter by looking at its sources, context, development and applications in medical diagnosis, natural philosophy and technology. In the first part, I discuss some problems posed by Santorio’s texts and style of writing, the intellectual background of the theory of matter Santorio proposed and some chronology for its development. In the second, I deal specifically with the architecture of the theory, gathering evidence and instances of it across Santorio’s published and unpublished output. Finally, in the third part, I analyse the various applications the theory was susceptible of, both in medicine and in natural philosophy, and show how Santorio’s programme of quantification was the outcome of a long-running endeavour that eventually culminated in a new vision of medicine and its possibilities.
Working-Class Women Living Religion in Finland at the Turn of the Twentieth Century
Authors: Markkola Pirjo
Published: March 2022

Markkola examines religion as lived and shared by working-class women in an industrial town in Finland. Her chapter explores women’s daily practices as well as various Lutheran and nonconformist revivalist arenas to practice religion at the turn of the twentieth century. These arenas constituted scenes of experience where individual experiences were acquired, interpreted, shared, confirmed, and turned into collective resources. The scenes of experience provided working-class women an institutional setting to give meaning to their religious experiences and taught them how to talk religion. The chapter shows that religious experiences and meanings given to faith by urban working-class women were full of nuances. Lived religion might have brought about obedience to authorities, as the labour movement assumed, but it could also encourage resistance.
Milli-magnetic monopole dark matter and the survival of galactic magnetic fields
Authors: Graesser Michael L. , Shoemaker Ian M. , Arellano Natalia Tapia
Published: March 2022

Abstract

Dark sectors with Abelian gauge symmetries can interact with ordinary matter via kinetic mixing. In such scenarios, magnetic monopoles of a broken dark U(1) will appear in our sector as confined milli-magnetically charged objects under ordinary electromagnetism. Halo ellipticity constraints are shown to significantly bound the strength of dark magnetic Coulomb monopole interactions. The bound magnetic monopole ground state, which in vacuum is stable and has no magnetic charge or moment, is shown to become quantum mechanically unstable in the presence of an external, ordinary magnetic field. If these states contribute sizably to the local dark matter density, they extract significant energy from the galactic magnetic field. We revise and extend this “Parker Bound” on galactic magnetic energy loss to milli-magnetic monopoles which leads to the strongest existing constraints on these states, satisfying our halo ellipticity bounds, over a wide range of magnetic monopole masses.
Patterns of microbial abundance and heterotrophic activity along nitrogen and salinity gradients in coastal wetlands
Authors: Batanero Gema L. , Green Andy J. , Amat Juan A. , Vittecoq Marion , Suttle Curtis A. , Reche Isabel
Published: March 2022

Coastal wetlands are valuable aquatic ecosystems with high biological productivity, which provide services such as a reduction in nitrogen loading into coastal waters and storage of organic carbon acting as carbon dioxide sinks. The predicted rise of sea level or freshwater extractions, particularly in the arid Mediterranean biome, will salinize many coastal wetlands. However, there is considerable uncertainty about how salinization will affect microbial communities and biogeochemical processes. We determined the abundance of total prokaryotes, cyanobacteria, and viruses and quantified the heterotrophic production of prokaryotes sensitive- (predominantly Bacteria) and resistant- (predominantly Archaea) to erythromycin in 112 ponds from nine coastal wetlands. We explored the main drivers of prokaryotic abundance and heterotrophic production using generalized linear models (GLMs). The best GLM, including all the wetlands, indicated that the concentration of total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) positively affected the total abundance of prokaryotes and the heterotrophic erythromycin-resistant (ery-R) production. In contrast, heterotrophic erythromycin-sensitive (ery-S) production was negatively related to TDN. This negative relationship appeared to be mediated by salinity and virus abundance. Heterotrophic ery-S production declined as salinity and virus abundance increased. Consequently, we observed a switch from heterotrophic ery-S production towards ery-R production as salinity and virus abundance increased. Our results imply that microbial activity will change from heterotrophic bacterial-dominated processes to archaeal-dominated processes with anthropogenic nitrogen and salinization increases. However, more studies are required to link the mineralization rates of dissolved nitrogen and organic carbon with specific archaeal taxa to enable more accurate predictions on future scenarios in coastal wetlands.
Psychische Langzeitfolgen von Krebserkrankungen
Authors: Weis Joachim
Published: March 2022

Die Inzidenz von Krebserkrankungen hat in den westlichen Industrienationen in den letzten Jahrzehnten stetig zugenommen. Die Anzahl der Neuerkrankungen liegt in Deutschland aktuellen Schätzungen zufolge bei ca. 500.000 pro Jahr. Aufgrund der verbesserten Früherkennung sowie der Fortschritte in den Behandlungsmöglichkeiten haben sich jedoch die Überlebenszeiten bei den meisten Tumorarten erhöht. In der Folge hat auch die Zahl der Langzeitüberlebenden (≥ 5 Jahre nach Diagnose oder Ende der Behandlung) zugenommen. Trotz der Erfolge der Tumortherapie können Langzeitüberlebende von verschiedenen körperlichen oder seelischen Problemen in der Folge der Erkrankung und/oder Therapie betroffen sein. Dieser Artikel gibt einen Überblick über die psychischen Folgeprobleme, insbesondere Angst, Depression, psychosoziale Aspekte der Lebensqualität, neuropsychologische Defizite sowie Erschöpfungszustände (Fatigue). In einem abschließenden Fazit werden Empfehlungen für psychosoziale Interventionen sowie für die Verbesserung der psychosozialen Versorgung von Langzeitüberlebenden gegeben.
Plastics in stomachs of northern fulmars Fulmarus glacialis collected at sea off east Greenland: latitude, age, sex and season
Authors: van Franeker Jan A. , Jensen Jens-Kjeld , Simonsen Poul Johannes , Bravo Rebolledo Elisa L. , Kühn Susanne
Published: March 2022

A sample of 145 stomachs from fulmars hunted 100 km offshore east Greenland 64° 30′ N in early June 2015 was analysed for abundance of plastic litter. Overall, 86% of the stomachs contained plastics with an average of 13.5 particles, and 0.14 g per stomach. A proportion of 42% of the stomachs exceeded the level of 0.1 g plastic, whereas the international policy target aims at a reduction to less than 10%. The observed quantity of ingested plastic fits a pattern of reduced plastic abundance at higher latitudes, at greater distance from densely populated and industrialised areas. A subsample of 20 fulmars of known age and sex indicated that young birds contained more plastic than adults, and females more than males. Indirect evidence from age and sex composition in the full sample supported these findings. Further confirmation was found in literature and by re-analysis of earlier datasets. Differences in colony attendance could explain the combined effects of age, sex, and possibly season on plastic abundance in the stomachs. With a consistent monitoring sampling regime, such variations do not impair the results, but for evaluation of regional patterns from incidental observations or the planning of new monitoring schemes they are important.
Parvimonas micra is associated with tumour immune profiles in molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer
Authors: Löwenmark Thyra , Li Xingru , Löfgren-Burström Anna , Zingmark Carl , Ling Agnes , Kellgren Therese G. , Larsson Pär , Ljuslinder Ingrid , Wai Sun Nyunt , Edin Sofia , Palmqvist Richard
Published: March 2022

The importance of the tumour microbiome in different aspects of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been increasingly recognised, but many questions remain. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of specific CRC associated microbes on the tumour immune response, which has a considerable prognostic value in CRC. We applied specific qPCR to detect Parvimonas micra and Fusobacterium nucleatum in tumour tissues from an immunologically well-characterised cohort of 69 CRC patients. This cohort included detailed analyses of immune profiles based on flow cytometry and transcriptomics in tumour tissue and blood, along with comprehensive analyses of molecular subtypes. P. micra and F. nucleatum were detected in 24% and 64% of tumour tissues, respectively. We found a significant association of P. micra with high-grade tumours and tumours of CMS1 subtype. F. nucleatum was significantly associated with right-sided tumours, microsatellite instability, and CMS1 tumours. The immunological analyses revealed significant associations of P. micra with activated CD69+ T lymphocytes and increased antigen-presenting HLA-DR+ B lymphocytes. P. micra was also positively associated with M1 and M2 macrophage traits. The impact of P. micra tumour colonisation on the immune response was further assessed using transcriptomics in validation of our findings. No associations were found between F. nucleatum and immune profiles in this study. Our findings support novel associations between P. micra and the immune response in CRC. A better understanding of these interactions might help to identify important predictive and prognostic tools as well as new targets for therapy.
First-in-human, open-label, phase 1/2 study of the monoclonal antibody programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor cetrelimab (JNJ-63723283) in patients with advanced cancers
Authors: Felip Enriqueta , Moreno Victor , Morgensztern Daniel , Curigliano Giuseppe , Rutkowski Piotr , Trigo José Manuel , Calvo Aitana , Kowalski Dariusz , Cortinovis Diego , Plummer Ruth , Maio Michele , Ascierto Paolo A. , Vladimirov Vladimir I. , Cervantes Andres , Zudaire Enrique , Hazra Anasuya , T’jollyn Huybrecht , Bandyopadhyay Nibedita , Greger James G. , Attiyeh Edward , Xie Hong , Calvo Emiliano
Published: March 2022

Purpose

To assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary efficacy of cetrelimab (JNJ-63723283), a monoclonal antibody programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor, in patients with advanced/refractory solid tumors in the phase 1/2 LUC1001 study.

Methods

In phase 1, patients with advanced solid tumors received intravenous cetrelimab 80, 240, 460, or 800 mg every 2 weeks (Q2W) or 480 mg Q4W. In phase 2, patients with melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and microsatellite instability–high (MSI-H)/DNA mismatch repair-deficient colorectal cancer (CRC) received cetrelimab 240 mg Q2W. Response was assessed Q8W until Week 24 and Q12W thereafter.

Results

In phase 1, 58 patients received cetrelimab. Two dose-limiting toxicities were reported and two recommended phase 2 doses (RP2D) were defined (240 mg Q2W or 480 mg Q4W). After a first dose, mean maximum serum concentrations (Cmax) ranged from 24.7 to 227.0 µg/mL; median time to Cmax ranged from 2.0 to 3.2 h. Pharmacodynamic effect was maintained throughout the dosing period across doses. In phase 2, 146 patients received cetrelimab 240 mg Q2W. Grade ≥ 3 adverse events (AEs) occurred in 53.9% of patients. Immune-related AEs (any grade) occurred in 35.3% of patients (grade ≥ 3 in 6.9%). Overall response rate was 18.6% across tumor types, 34.3% in NSCLC, 52.6% in programmed death ligand 1–high (≥ 50% by immunohistochemistry) NSCLC, 28.0% in melanoma, and 23.8% in centrally confirmed MSI-H CRC.

Conclusions

The RP2D for cetrelimab was established. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic characteristics, safety profile, and clinical activity of cetrelimab in immune-sensitive advanced cancers were consistent with known PD-1 inhibitors.

Trial registrations

NCT02908906 at ClinicalTrials.gov, September 21, 2016; EudraCT 2016–002,017-22 at clinicaltrialsregister.eu, Jan 11, 2017.
Not all that looks fractured is broken—multipartite humeral epicondyles in children
Authors: Schmid Andrea , Lois Anna-Maria , Metz Corona , Grunz Jan-Peter , Veldhoen Simon
Published: March 2022

Objective

Multipartite epicondyles may mimic fractures in the setting of pediatric elbow trauma. This study examines the prevalence of multipartite epicondyles during skeletal development and their association with pediatric elbow fractures.

Materials and methods

In this retrospective analysis, 4282 elbow radiographs of 1265 elbows of 1210 patients aged 0–17 years were reviewed. The radiographs were analyzed by two radiologists in consensus reading, and the number of visible portions of the medial and lateral epicondyles was noted. For elbows in which epicondylar ossification was not yet visible, the epicondyles were already fused with the humerus or could not be sufficiently evaluated due to projection issues or because osteosynthesis material was excluded. In total, 187 elbows were included for the lateral and 715 for the medial epicondyle analyses.

Results

No multipartite medial epicondyles were found in patients without history of elbow fracture, whereas 9% of these patients had multipartite lateral epicondyles (p < 0.01). Current or previous elbow fractures increased the prevalence of multipartite epicondyles, with significant lateral predominance (medial epicondyle + 9% vs. lateral + 24%, p < 0.0001). Including all patients regardless of a history of elbow fracture, multipartite medial epicondyles were observed in 3% and multipartite lateral epicondyles in 18% (p < 0.0001). There was no gender difference in the prevalence of multipartition of either epicondyle, regardless of a trauma history.

Conclusion

Multipartite medial epicondyles occur in patients with current or previous elbow fractures only, whereas multipartite lateral epicondyles may be constitutional. Elbow fractures increase the prevalence of multipartite epicondyles on both sides, with significant lateral predominance.

Key Points

• Multipartite medial epicondyles should be considered of traumatic origin.

• Multipartite lateral epicondyles may be constitutional.

• Elbow fractures increase the prevalence of multipartite epicondyles on both sides with lateral predominance.
Impacts of dynamical downscaling on circulation type statistics in the Euro-CORDEX ensemble
Authors: Røste Julie , Landgren Oskar A.
Published: March 2022

Atmospheric circulation type classification methods were applied to an ensemble of 57 regional climate model simulations from Euro-CORDEX, their 11 boundary models from CMIP5 and the ERA5 reanalysis. We applied a field anomaly technique to focus on the departure from the domain-wide daily mean. We then compared frequencies of the different circulation types in the simulations with ERA5 and found that the regional models add value especially in the summer season. We applied three different classification methods (the subjective Grosswettertypes and the two optimisation algorithms SANDRA and distributed k-means clustering) from the cost733class software and found that the results are not particularly sensitive to choice of circulation classification method. There are large differences between models. Simulations based on MIROC-MIROC5 and CNRM-CERFACS-CNRM-CM5 show an over-representation of easterly flow and an under-representation of westerly. The downscaled results retain the large-scale circulation from the global model most days, but especially the regional model IPSL-WRF381P changes the circulation more often, which increases the error relative to ERA5. Simulations based on ICHEC-EC-EARTH and MPI-M-MPI-ESM-LR show consistently smaller errors relative to ERA5 in all seasons. The ensemble spread is largest in summer and smallest in winter. Under the future RCP8.5 scenario, the circulation changes in the summer season, with more than half of the ensemble showing a decrease in frequency of the Central-Eastern European high, the Scandinavian low as well as south-southeasterly flow. There is in general a strong agreement in the sign of the change between the regional simulations and the data from the corresponding global model.
Increased standardised incidence ratio of cardiovascular diseases among colorectal cancer patients
Authors: Hsu Hsin-Yin , Chern Yih-Jong , Hsieh Cheng-Tzu , Yeh Tzu-Lin , Tsai Ming-Chieh , Wang Chia-Chun , Hsiao Bo-Yu , Jhuang Jing-Rong , Chiang Chun-Ju , Lee Wen-Chung , Chien Kuo-Liong
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Evidence regarding the relationship between colorectal cancer and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is limited. Thus, in this study, we aimed to determine the standardised incidence ratio (SIR) of CVDs in colorectal cancer patients in Taiwan.

Methods

A population-based cohort study enrolling the incident colorectal cancer population based on the Cancer Registry Database from 2007 to 2016 was conducted (n = 94,233, mean age: 62.4 years, 43.0% women). New cases of CVD, including coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke, through 31 December 2018 were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database and National Death Registry. Compared with the general population (n = 1,977,659, mean age: 44.3 years, 49.6% women), age- and sex-specific SIRs for CVDs were calculated by the time since diagnosis.

Results

A total of 6852 cardiovascular events occurred in colorectal cancer patients during a median follow-up of 4.4 years. The SIR of CVD was highest in the first year after diagnosis (SIR: 1.45, 95% confidence interval: 1.39–1.50); however, this decreased to the same value as that of the general population in later years. Similar patterns were observed for the SIR of coronary heart disease. However, the SIR of ischemic stroke among colorectal cancer patients was low from the second year following cancer diagnosis.

Conclusions

Colorectal cancer patients are at an increased risk of developing CVD, especially coronary heart disease, during the first 3 years following colorectal cancer diagnosis.
Association between mobile work and work ability: a longitudinal study under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Berling Ines , Jöllenbeck Marlies , Stamer Tjorven , Ochsmann Elke
Published: March 2022

Objective

This study examines the effect of mobile work on work ability as direct predictor and as factor moderating workplace stressors and resources. Originally, the study focused on the effects of mobile work on work ability in a mobile test group compared to office workers. As the study period of 1 year collided with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions, we can now explore the association of mobile work and work ability before and during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

This longitudinal, exploratory study took place in a medium-sized company in the social insurance sector in Germany. We used a mixed-methods design (online survey and focus group interviews) with two survey dates 1 year apart (T0: summer/autumn 2019 (before COVID-19 pandemic), T1: summer 2020 (during COVID-19 pandemic, after first strict lockdown)). Quantitative data, which are reported here, were collected by means of an online questionnaire, which includes questions on mobile work and validated measures for work-related stressors and resources and work ability. Non-parametric tests, regression analysis, and logistic regression models were used for data analysis.

Results

The linked data set of both survey dates includes N = 102 persons (men: 37%, mean age: 41–50 years). Interestingly, we found an improvement in work ability over the course of the study (p = 0.007), although it included the first and most drastic COVID-19 restrictions in Germany. Before the pandemic, correlations between work ability and work-related stressors (e.g., work–privacy conflicts) and resources (e.g., sense of community) were evident. Some of these factors are moderated by mobile work. During the COVID-19 pandemic, mobile work was identified as independent factor for work ability. In addition, technology competence conviction gained importance as a personal resource in our cohort.

Conclusions

Work ability can be influenced by many factors. Our study, which allowed for a comparison of work ability before and during COVID-19 pandemic, suggests that mobile work can be especially helpful to maintain work ability in times of change. Our findings support the notion that—under normal conditions—mobile work can influence work ability via work-related stressors and resources. In times of changes, it can have an independent effect on work ability. It must be assumed that the effects can be highly individual or context-specific.
Six Lines: A Methodological Agenda for Critical Gang Studies
Authors: Fraser Alistair , Van Hellemont Elke
Published: March 2022

In the twenty-first century, the established methodological props for gang research have worn increasingly thin. Place-based definitions involving territorial groups confined to neighbourhood fiefdoms have become increasingly fractured, as shifts in social life increasingly overwhelm and undercut such approaches. This paper seeks to offer a new methodological agenda for transnational gang studies that is premised on the significance ofmobilityandflow. The paper first sets out a review of existing approaches, drawing on three established lines in critical gang studies—vertical, horizontal and parallel—which are rooted in place. Next, we suggest three emergent lines—circular, radial and transversal—which are designed to interrogate dynamics of mobility and technology in global gang studies. We suggest, in conclusion, that methods based on ‘flow’ should not replace those rooted in ‘place’ but must operate in a dialogue between online and terrestrial space, paying close attention to the role technology plays in shaping social interaction.
On the adequacy of static analysis warnings with respect to code smell prediction
Authors: Pecorelli Fabiano , Lujan Savanna , Lenarduzzi Valentina , Palomba Fabio , De Lucia Andrea
Published: March 2022

Code smells are poor implementation choices that developers apply while evolving source code and that affect program maintainability. Multiple automated code smell detectors have been proposed: while most of them relied on heuristics applied over software metrics, a recent trend concerns the definition of machine learning techniques. However, machine learning-based code smell detectors still suffer from low accuracy: one of the causes is the lack of adequate features to feed machine learners. In this paper, we face this issue by investigating the role of static analysis warnings generated by three state-of-the-art tools to be used as features of machine learning models for the detection of seven code smell types. We conduct a three-step study in which we (1) verify the relation between static analysis warnings and code smells and the potential predictive power of these warnings; (2) build code smell prediction models exploiting and combining the most relevant features coming from the first analysis; (3) compare and combine the performance of the best code smell prediction model with the one achieved by a state of the art approach. The results reveal the low performance of the models exploiting static analysis warnings alone, while we observe significant improvements when combining the warnings with additional code metrics. Nonetheless, we still find that the best model does not perform better than a random model, hence leaving open the challenges related to the definition of ad-hoc features for code smell prediction.
A review of the microtremor horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (MHVSR) method
Authors: Molnar S. , Sirohey A. , Assaf J. , Bard P.-Y. , Castellaro S. , Cornou C. , Cox B. , Guillier B. , Hassani B. , Kawase H. , Matsushima S. , Sánchez-Sesma F. J. , Yong A.
Published: March 2022

The single-station microtremor horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (MHVSR) method was initially proposed to retrieve the site amplification function and its resonance frequencies produced by unconsolidated sediments overlying high-velocity bedrock. Presently, MHVSR measurements are predominantly conducted to obtain an estimate of the fundamental site frequency at sites where a strong subsurface impedance contrast exists. Of the earthquake site characterization methods presented in this special issue, the MHVSR method is the furthest behind in terms of consensus towards standardized guidelines and commercial use. The greatest challenges to an international standardization of MHVSR acquisition and analysis are (1) thewhat— the underlying composition of the microtremor wavefield is site-dependent, and thus, the appropriate theoretical (forward) model for inversion is still debated; and (2) thehow— many factors and options are involved in the data acquisition, processing, and interpretation stages. This paper reviews briefly a historical development of the MHVSR technique and the physical basis of an MHVSR (thewhat). We then summarize recommendations for MHVSR acquisition and analysis (thehow). Specific sections address MHVSR interpretation and uncertainty assessment.
Enlarging the divide? Per-Capita Income as a measure of social inequalities in a southern European City
Authors: Rontos Kostas , Ermini Barbara , Salvati Luca
Published: March 2022

Earlier studies relating form and functions of cities address an intriguing and complex research issue, especially for specific urban typologies. Although with inherent differences on a local scale, Mediterranean cities represent diversified settlement morphologies and multifaceted socioeconomic contexts. The present study investigates the socioeconomic structure at the base of rapid development of a large Mediterranean agglomeration (Athens, Greece). Results of a multivariate analysis of the spatial distribution of average (per-capita) declared income and non-parametric correlations of contextual indicators suggest that the characteristic socio-spatial structure of the 1970s and the 1980s in Athens had slightly changed in recent times. A remarkable segregation in wealthy and disadvantaged communities - well beyond the urban-rural divide usually observed in Mediterranean regions - consolidated in recent decades. Despite economic transformations shaping urban design and infrastructural networks, persistent disparities between affluent and economically depressed neighborhoods still characterize the socio-spatial structure of contemporary Athens.
Corrosion processes of silver nanoparticles
Authors: Keast Vicki J.
Published: March 2022

The corrosion of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on exposure to ambient air was studied using imaging and analysis in the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). Secondary particles are formed on exposure to ambient air, and these are more numerous and more widely distributed as the relative humidity increases. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS) confirms that the particles contain Ag and S. Electron energy loss spectra (EELS) in the valence part of the spectrum (< ~ 50 eV) identify the corrosion product as Ag2S on comparison with spectra from reference compounds. The EELS measurements also allow for a direct visualisation of the shift in the energy of the surface plasmon peak that occurs when the corrosion product is in contact with the particle. The experiments confirm that advanced electron microscopy methods have an important role in investigating corrosion of nanoparticulate systems.
Bioethics in an oncological surgery unit during the COVID-19 pandemic: the Verona experience
Authors: Tuveri Massimiliano , Bassi Claudio , Esposito Alessandro , Casetti Luca , Landoni Luca , Malleo Giuseppe , Marchegiani Giovanni , Paiella Salvatore , Fontana Martina , De Pastena Matteo , Antonio Pea , Perri Giampaolo , Balduzzi Alberto , Polati Enrico , Montemezzi Gabriele , Donadello Katia , Milan Beatrice , Simari Salvatore , De Leo Domenico , Personi Beatrice , Marinelli Veronica , Ohnsorge Kathrin , Adda Veronica , Salvia Roberto ,   The Verona Pancreas Institute Bioethics Multidisciplinary Group
Published: March 2022

The spread of COVID-19 has overwhelmed medical facilities across the globe, with patients filling beds in both regular wards and in intensive care units. The repurposing of hospital facilities has resulted in a dramatic decrease in the capacity of hospitals—in terms of available beds, surgical facilities, and medical and nursing staff— to care for oncology patients. The Italian National Board of Bioethics provided precise and homogeneous guidelines for the allocation of the scarce resources available. In our experience, strictly following these general guidelines and not considering the clinical vocation of each single health care center did not allow us to resume usual activities but generated further confusion in resource allocation. To face the scarcity of available resources and guarantee our patients fair access to the health care system we created a surgical triage with four fundamental steps. We took into consideration “ well defined and widely accepted clinical prognostic factors ” as stated by the Italian Society of Anesthesia and Resuscitation. We were able to draw up a list of patients giving priority to those who theoretically should have a greater chance of overcoming their critical situation. The age criterion has also been used in the overall evaluation of different cure options in each case, but it has never been considered on its own or outside the other clinical parameters. Although not considered acceptable by many we had to forcefully adopt the criterion of comparison between patients to give priority to those most in need of immediate care.
Cesàro-like operators acting on spaces of analytic functions
Authors: Galanopoulos Petros , Girela Daniel , Merchán Noel
Published: March 2022

Let $${\mathbb {D}}$$
D
be the unit disc in $${\mathbb {C}}$$
C
. If $$\mu $$
μ
is a finite positive Borel measure on the interval [0, 1) and f is an analytic function in $${\mathbb {D}}$$
D
, $$f(z)=\sum _{n=0}^\infty a_nz^n$$

f

(
z
)

=

∑

n
=
0

∞

a
n

z
n

($$z\in {\mathbb {D}}$$

z
∈
D

), we define $$\begin{aligned} {\mathcal {C}}_\mu (f)(z)= \sum _{n=0}^\infty \mu _n\left( \sum _{k=0}^na_k\right) z^n,\quad z\in {\mathbb {D}}, \end{aligned}$$

C
μ

(
f
)

(
z
)

=

∑

n
=
0

∞

μ
n

∑

k
=
0

n

a
k

z
n

,

z
∈
D
,

where, for $$n\ge 0$$

n
≥
0

, $$\mu _n$$

μ
n

denotes the n-th moment of the measure $$\mu $$
μ
, that is, $$\mu _n=\int _{[0, 1)}t^nd\mu (t).$$

μ
n

=

∫

[
0
,
1
)

t
n

d
μ

(
t
)

.

In this way, $${\mathcal {C}}_\mu $$

C
μ

becomes a linear operator defined on the space $${\mathrm{Hol}}({\mathbb {D}})$$

Hol
(
D
)

of all analytic functions in $${\mathbb {D}}$$
D
. We study the action of the operators $${\mathcal {C}}_\mu $$

C
μ

on distinct spaces of analytic functions in $${\mathbb {D}}$$
D
, such as the Hardy spaces $$H^p$$

H
p

, the weighted Bergman spaces $$A^p_\alpha $$

A
α
p

, BMOA, and the Bloch space $${\mathcal {B}}$$
B
.
Large-scale distributed fiber optic sensing network for short and long-term integrity monitoring of tunnel linings
Authors: Monsberger Christoph M. , Bauer Peter , Buchmayer Fabian , Lienhart Werner
Published: March 2022

Structural integrity assessment is essential in modern tunneling to ensure safe construction works. State-of-the-art monitoring approaches like displacement readings of geodetic prisms are often limited in the spatial as well as the temporal measurement resolution, which is why potential safety hazards might be overlooked. This paper introduces a large-scale distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) network inside the tunnel lining of a highway tunnel currently under construction in Austria. The tunnel construction site faces challenging geological conditions with loose rock excavation near to the surface with minimal covering. Fiber optic sensing cables were installed along both tunnel tubes to autonomously monitor 13 cross-sections of the primary shotcrete lining, about 220 m of the tunnel in longitudinal direction and 10 cross-sections of the secondary inner lining. Measurements are continuously evaluated and autonomously transferred to the geotechnical engineer on-site for further analysis. While the construction works are ongoing, alerts are additionally sent out automatically, if pre-defined thresholds are exceeded. The paper outcomes demonstrate that the innovative DFOS system immediately responds to structural modifications and, indeed, increases safety at the construction site.
Α study on the Gas-bearing Miocene Sediments of MESSARA Basin in Crete (Greece) by Using Seismic Reflection, Geochemical and Petrophysical Data
Authors: Panagopoulos George , Vafidis Antonios , Soupios Pantelis , Manoutsoglou Emmanouil
Published: March 2022

The focus on exploiting natural gas resources has been increased in the recent years since it was characterized as the transitional fuel to a net-zero era. Consequently, a reevaluation of the gas resources under a new perspective seems to be logical. Within this context, the gas-bearing Miocene sediments of the Messara basin in Crete (Greece) are discussed in this paper. The gas shows have been first reported during the 1990’s, without being thoroughly evaluated. This paper presents the interpretation of eight legacy onshore seismic reflection lines, which led to the construction of the 3D subsurface structural model of the Neogene Messara basin. The seismic data reveals the basin depocenter which accommodates approximately 1500 m of the Miocene sediments. The relationship of the Miocene deposits with the existence of shallow gas is also examined and discussed. New organic geochemical results combined with the published geochemical data are used to discuss the gas generation potential of the Miocene sediments. The porosity and permeability measurements on surface samples are also presented to describe the reservoir characteristics. The integration of the data mentioned above suggests that the Miocene sediments of the Messara basin comprise intervals with adequate organic matter to generate the observed gasses and good reservoir sandstones to accumulate the generated gas. The gas might have been trapped by lateral and vertical facies changes which provide efficient stratigraphic trapping mechanisms.
Testosterone does not affect lower urinary tract symptoms while improving markers of prostatitis in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Rastrelli G. , Cipriani S. , Lotti F. , Cellai I. , Comeglio P. , Filippi S. , Boddi V. , Della Camera P. A. , Santi R. , Boni L. , Nesi G. , Serni S. , Gacci M. , Maggi M. , Vignozzi L.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a result of prostate inflammation, frequently occurring in metabolic syndrome (MetS). Low testosterone is common in MetS. A randomized clinical trial was designed to evaluate if 24 weeks of testosterone therapy (TTh) in BPH men with MetS and low testosterone improve urinary symptoms and prostate inflammation.

Methods

One-hundred-twenty men with MetS waitlisted for BPH surgery were enrolled. They were categorized into normal testosterone (TT ≥ 12 nmol/L and cFT ≥ 225 pmol/L; n = 48) and testosterone deficient (TD) (TT < 12 nmol/L and/or cFT < 225 pmol/L; n = 72) then randomized to testosterone gel 2% (5 g/daily) or placebo for 24 weeks. At baseline and follow-up, questionnaires for urinary symptoms and trans-rectal ultrasound were performed. Prostate tissue was collected for molecular and histopathological analyses.

Results

No differences in the improvement of urinary symptoms were found between TTh and placebo (OR [95% CI] 0.96 [0.39; 2.37]). In TD + TTh, increase in prostate but not adenoma volume was observed (2.64 mL [0.07; 5.20] and 1.82 mL [− 0.46; 0.41], respectively). Ultrasound markers of inflammation were improved. In a subset of 61 men, a hyper-expression of several pro-inflammatory genes was found in TD + placebo when compared with normal testosterone. TTh was able to counteract this effect. For 80 men, the inflammatory infiltrate was higher in TD + placebo than in normal testosterone (0.8 points [0.2; 1.4]) and TD + TTh men (0.9 points [0.2; 1.5]).

Conclusions

Twenty-four weeks of TTh in TD men with BPH and MetS improves ultrasound, molecular and histological proxies of prostate inflammation. This does not result in symptom improvement.
Importance of stepwise ionization from the metastable state in electron cyclotron resonance ion thrusters
Authors: Yamashita Yusuke , Tsukizaki Ryudo , Nishiyama Kazutaka
Published: March 2022

In electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) thrusters, the plasma mode transition is a critical phenomenon because it determines the maximum thrust performance. In ECR ion thrusters, ionization generally occurs in the magnetic confinement region, where electrons are continuously heated by ECR and confined by magnetic mirrors. However, as the flow rate increases, ionization is also observed outside the magnetic confinement region, and this induces the plasma mode transition. In our previous work, two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence (TALIF) analysis revealed that the stepwise ionization from the metastable state plays an important role in the ionization process. However, the distribution of the stepwise ionization has not yet been revealed because of the long lifetime of the metastable state. In this study, this distribution was investigated using one experimental and two numerical approaches. First, TALIF was applied to two types of gas injection with clear differences in thrust performance and ground-state neutral density distribution. In the first simulation, the metastable state particle simulation was used to estimate the excitation rate distribution. In the second study, simulations of the electric field of microwaves were used to estimate the contribution of the stepwise ionization to the plasma density. The experimental and numerical results revealed that the stepwise ionization spreads outside the magnetic confinement region because of the diffusion of metastable particles, and this spread induces the plasma mode transition, explaining the difference between the two types of gas injection.
Protection from Refuge
Authors: Ogg Kate
Published: March 2022

The places in which refugees seek sanctuary are often as dangerous and bleak as the conditions they fled. In response, many travel within and across borders in search of safety. As part of these journeys, refugees are increasingly turning to courts to ask for protection, not from persecution in their homeland, but from a place of 'refuge'. This book is the first global and comparative study of 'protection from refuge' litigation, examining whether courts facilitate or hamper refugee journeys with a particular focus on gender. Drawing on jurisprudence from Africa, Europe, North America and Oceania, Kate Ogg shows that courts have transitioned from adopting robust ideas of refuge to rudimentary ones. This trajectory indicates that courts can play a powerful role in creating more just and equitable refugee protection policies, but have, ultimately, compounded the difficulties inherent in finding sanctuary, perpetuating global inequities in refugee responsibility and rendering refuge elusive.
Handbook for Academic Authors
Authors: Luey Beth
Published: March 2022

Whether you are a faculty member, a librarian, an independent scholar, the junior member of a research team, or a writer outside academia, Handbook for Academic Authors will help you select the right publisher, submit a winning proposal, negotiate a favorable contract, and work with your editor to ensure your research reaches the largest possible audience. The book provides advice on writing for different audiences and managing the mechanics of authorship, including manuscript preparation, acquiring illustrations, proofreading, and indexing. To address the major changes in scholarly publishing over the last decade, the sixth edition has been revised and updated to include discussions about open access and digital publishing, the use of social media as a marketing tool, changes within academia, and concerns of new entrants into academia. Written in a personalized, accessible style, Handbook for Academic Authors offers sound advice and encouragement to a wide range of aspiring academic authors.
Our Plastic Problem and How to Solve It
Authors: Morath Sarah J.
Published: March 2022

Plastic pollution is a global problem that defies a singular solution. Our Plastic Problem and How to Solve It considers plastic's harm to the environment, from its production to its disposal, and offers a spectrum of solutions that require action by local and federal governments, businesses and non-profits, and individuals. Using specific examples and case studies, the book describes the history and chemistry of plastic, illustrates its harms, and points toward specific legislation and policies to offer concrete solutions. Plastic pollution is ubiquitous and has impacts on soil, food, air, and water. To solve our plastic problem, collaboration across disciplines will be critical; innovations in science, law, and design will be essential. The book demonstrates the need to approach environmental problems from an interdisciplinary lens, and will benefit anyone interested in learning more about the harms and solutions associated with plastic pollution.
The potential impact of adverse aircraft-pilot couplings on the safety of tilt-rotor operations
Authors: Padfield G. D. , Lu L.
Published: March 2022

This paper addresses the potential impact of adverse aircraft-pilot couplings on tiltrotor safety, when a pilot or autopilot attempts to constrain flight dynamics with strong control. The work builds on previously published research on the theory and application of constrained flight to fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. Tiltrotor aircraft feature characteristics from both types of aircraft and how these determine behaviour in a unique manner is investigated using a FLIGHTLAB simulation model of the XV-15 aircraft. Two different scenarios are explored in detail, using linearised models that reflect the flight-physics of stability for small deviations from trim. First, the control of vertical flight path with longitudinal cyclic pitch and elevator, and the consequences for the stability of the aircraft surge mode and short-period pitch-heave mode. The classical surge-mode instability for flight at speeds below minimum power is shown to apply to the tiltrotor in helicopter mode but alleviated in conversion and airplane modes. The impact on the short–period mode is seen to be a trade-off between the stabilising pitch attitude and destabilising incidence (angle-of-attack) contributions to the flight-path angle. The second example concerns strong control of roll attitude in the presence of adverse aileron-yaw. Here, the yaw-sway motion can be driven unstable, a problem encountered on fixed-wing aircraft with weak weathercock stability, but rare in the rotorcraft world. For both examples, the loss of stability is expressed as the change in sign of effective damping or stiffness stability derivatives. The explanatory theory for these non-oscillatory or low-frequency aircraft-pilot couplings is presented, along with interpretations in terms of handling qualities criteria. The paper also addresses the question of how to translate the findings into a form of aeronautical knowledge useful for the pilot training community.