bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dyadic bilinear estimates and applications to the well-posedness for the 2D Zakharov–Kuznetsov equation in the endpoint space 𝐻−1/4
Authors: Huo Zhaohui , Jia Yueling
Published: August 2020

The Cauchy problem of the 2D Zakharov–Kuznetsov equation

∂
t

⁡
u

+

∂
x

⁡

(

∂

x
⁢
x

+

∂

y
⁢
y

)

⁡
u

+

u
⁢

u
x

=
0

{\partial_{t}u+\partial_{x}(\partial_{xx}+\partial_{yy})u+uu_{x}=0}

is considered.
It is shown that the 2D Z-K equation is locally well-posed in the endpoint Sobolev space

H

-

1
/
4

{H^{-1/4}}

, and it is globally well-posed in

H

-

1
/
4

{H^{-1/4}}

with small initial data.
In this paper, we mainly establish some new dyadic bilinear estimates to obtain the results, where the main novelty is to parametrize the singularity of the resonance function in terms of a univariate polynomial.
Multiband planar antenna with CSRR loaded ground plane for WLAN and fixed satellite service applications
Authors: Pal Debasish , Singhal Rahul , Joshi Abhishek , Bandyopadhyay Ayan Kumar
Published: August 2020

In this paper, a novel approach to achieve multiband antenna operation using metamaterial based resonant structures is presented. Multiband antenna operation is achieved by employment of complementary split ring resonators (CSRR) printed in the ground plane. The CSRRs resonate at different frequencies according to their optimized dimensions. Proposed approach features simple design and fabrication possibility compared to other methods of achieving multiband antenna operation such as usage of composite right/left-handed (CRLH) transmission line or split ring resonators (SRR) or CSRR around the patch surface. The proposed method is demonstrated through simulation and experimental measurements using three CSRRs with different resonant frequencies together with a tuning CSRR and a radiating patch. Contribution of different CSRRs to obtain multiple resonances have been shown by surface current plots. Measured antenna gain of 2.78, 1.27 and 3.45 dB has been obtained at frequencies of 5.25, 6.28 and 7.29 GHz respectively. The measurements done on developed antenna exhibits close agreement with the simulation results. In context with the current communication application trends involving multiple operating bands like 5G, this approach may have immense application potential since the same can be adopted to achieve compact multiband antennae operation in other frequency bands of interest.
Silver electrochemical treatment of bamboo and its effect on decay fungi
Authors: Ju Zehui , He Qian , Zhan Tianyi , Zhang Haiyang , Hong Lu , Li Suxia , Chen Liangsong , Lu Xiaoning
Published: August 2020

In this study, a simple and effective method for preparing bamboo with high fungal resistance was first proposed. Flattened moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens), which is a perishable species, was connected to a silver plate and exposed to a high-voltage electrostatic field (HEVF). The method was based on HEVF excitation of a silver plate to produce silver ions and facilitate in situ impregnation of bamboo. Silver ions were present in the forms of Ag(0), Ag(I) and Ag(III) and reacted with bamboo functional groups under HVEF treatment. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that compared to those of untreated bamboo, the O/C ratio and OH content of treated bamboo were lower, the number of CHO groups decreased, the number of CO groups increased, and silver interacted with the hemicellulose and lignin of bamboo. The concentration of silver ions increased with increasing treatment time and voltage. The silver ions were nanocrystalline, and the average particle size was 50 nm. The mass loss and moisture content of the treated bamboo decreased significantly after exposure to decay fungi. Therefore, in situ impregnation of silver with HVEF was a simple and effective method to improve the durability of bamboo materials.
Wettability of welded wood-joints investigated by the Wilhelmy method: part 1. Determination of apparent contact angles, swelling, and water sorption
Authors: Vaziri Mojgan , Karlsson Olov , Abrahamsson Lars , Lin Chia-Feng , Sandberg Dick
Published: August 2020

This study presents a novel application of the Wilhelmy plate method on welded joints of Scots pine sapwood and beech. Welding resulted in an increase in the contact angle (increased hydrophobicity) as well as a decrease in the water uptake and swelling of the welded pine-joint compared to non-welded pine. When the welding time was extended from 4 to 5 s, these properties were further pronounced. Welding of beech, on the other hand, led to an increase in the contact angle and a decrease in the water uptake, but an increase in the swelling.

Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy showed that welding increased the aliphatic C–H and unsaturated C=C stretching absorption bands in pine and beech. Scanning electron microscopy showed a dense structure at the welded joints of the both species, giving evidence of a lower porosity that leads to a lower permeability as a result of the welding.
Use of LA-ICP-MS for determination of elemental concentrations of boron in preservative treated solid wood and engineered wood panels
Authors: Currie Robert B. , Kanji Bobby , Bruce Alexander , Schmidt Robert G.
Published: August 2020

This study has been completed to review the applicability and benefits of using laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) as an analytical tool for analysis of preservative concentration and penetration across boron treated solid wood and engineered wood products. LA-ICP-MS is shown to be effective at evaluating the penetration while simultaneously measuring the elemental boron concentration profile continuously across a sample.
Influence of thermal modification and extraction techniques on yield, antioxidant capacity and phytochemical profile of chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) wood
Authors: Faraone Immacolata , Russo Daniela , D’Auria Maurizio , Bruno Maria Roberta , Cetera Paola , Todaro Luigi , Milella Luigi
Published: August 2020

Numerous investigations on the antioxidant properties of different plant tissue extracts are available in literature, but few studies on the effect of thermally modified wood on secondary metabolites were carried out up to now. This study highlights the influence of the thermal modification of Castanea sativa Mill. wood on total content of antioxidant compounds and consequently on its antioxidant activity. In addition, a chemical profile by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) of the extractives was carried out. Wood of chestnut, thermally modified at 180 °C for 3 h, was used to obtain wood meal which was subjected to different extraction techniques, as maceration extraction (ME), ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). The total content of principal antioxidant compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins, as well as the evaluation of antioxidant capacity by using different in vitro assays were determined. Relative Antioxidant Capacity Index (RACI), which is used to compare all antioxidant parameters, has also been applied. The study demonstrated a positive influence on chemical compounds present in C. sativa Mill wood originating from the thermal modification process. Thus, is possible to consider thermal modification as a promising strategy to improve the antioxidant activity of chestnut wood extractives.
Heuristic study on the interaction between heat exchange and slow relaxation processes during wood moisture content changes
Authors: Willems Wim
Published: August 2020

“Non-Fickian” diffusion of wood moisture refers to the unexplained anomalous behaviour of water vapour sorption in wood. The depression of moisture diffusion rates in thin sections of wood tissue during moisture content change at high relative humidity is one of the least-understood aspects of “non-Fickian” diffusion. In a previous work, a rate-limiting effect by two cooperative couplings of moisture and heat transfer, was shown to generate some signature features of “non-Fickian” diffusion. The present work aims to heuristically study the simultaneous action of this thermal rate-limiting effect and intrinsic slow relaxation processes in wood. Using an analytical non-geometrical model, exact solutions are obtained which show that the thermal rate-limiting effect acts directly and equally on diffusion and all relaxation processes, effectively time-stretching the entire dynamic wood moisture response. The magnitude of the time-scaling effect is proportional to the coupling strength between heat and mass transfer, which increases progressively with the relative humidity.
A review on life cycle assessments of thermally modified wood
Authors: Candelier Kévin , Dibdiakova Janka
Published: August 2020

This review compiles various literature studies on the environmental impacts associated with the processes of thermal modification of wood. In wood preservation field, the wood modification by heat is considered as an ecofriendly process due to the absence of any additional chemicals. However, it is challenging to find proper scientific and industrial data that support this aspect. There are still very few complete studies on the life cycle assessment (LCA) and even less studies on the environmental impacts related to wood heat treatment processes whether on a laboratory or on an industrial scales. This comprehensive review on environmental impact assessment emphasizes environmental categories such as dwindling of natural resources, cumulative energy intake, gaseous, solid and liquid emissions occurred by the thermal-treated wood industry. All literature-based data were collected for every single step of the process of wood thermal modification like resources, treatment process, transport and distribution, uses and end of life of treated wood products.
Effect of high-frequency electromagnetic field on microstructure of mold flux
Authors: Wang Xingjuan , Jin Hebin , Zhu Liguang , Liu Ran , Song Tushun
Published: August 2020

Soft-contact of molten steel can be achieved by applying a high-frequency electromagnetic field above the mold of continuous casting, which can effectively eliminate surface defects and achieve billets with no cracks and no oscillation marks. It also has some influence on the mold flux. In this study, the effect of a high-frequency electromagnetic field (20 kHz) on a mold flux flow field was simulated using a finite element software, and the slag film was extracted using a slag film simulator. The effect of the high-frequency magnetic field on the microstructure of the mold flux was analyzed using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and mineral phase testing. The results show that the high-frequency electromagnetic field disrupts the orderly movement and increases the movement rate of the liquid flux. The precipitate phase of the slag film did not change, but the silicate dimer Q1 decreased, the chain Q2 increased, and the network degree was increased. The slag film structure changed from the original two-layer form of crystalline layer–glass layer into a three-layer form of crystal layer–glass layer–crystal, and the crystallization ratio increased by 35% on average. The grain-size melilite granularity was reduced from the original 0.12 to 0.005 mm.
Georg Misch’s A History of Autobiography and the problem of self-esteem
Authors: Soboleva Maja
Published: August 2020

The paper focuses on the rediscovery of Misch’s A History of Autobiography and its relevance to the problem of self-knowledge and self-esteem. Misch’s work is used to reconstruct a new aspect of self-esteem and to demonstrate that self-esteem can be interpreted as an early historical form of self-knowledge. In particular, self-esteem is characterized as a kind of self-knowledge in the category of the Other, that is, self-esteem appears to be self-knowledge derived from the social perspective regarding the individual.
Esteem and self-esteem as an interweaving polarity. Max Weber´s analysis from the Protestant ethic to the ideal-type of politician
Authors: Senigaglia Cristiana
Published: August 2020

Although Max Weber does not specifically analyze the topic of esteem, his investigation of the Protestant ethic offers interesting insights into it. The change in mentality it engendered essentially contributed to enhancing the meaning and importance of esteem in modern society. In his analysis, Weber ascertains that esteem was fundamental to being accepted and integrated into the social life of congregations. Nevertheless, he also highlights that esteem was supported by a form of self-esteem which was not simply derived from a good social reputation, but also achieved through a deep and continual self-analysis as well as a strict discipline in the ethical conduct of life. The present analysis reconstructs the different aspects of the relationship between social and self-esteem and analyzes the consequences of that relationship by focusing on the exemplary case of the politician’s personality and ethic.
Posttraumatic growth after the loss of a loved one in relation to ruminations and core beliefs
Authors: Záhorcová Lucia , Prielomková Andrea
Published: August 2020

The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between posttraumatic growth, ruminations, and core beliefs in grieving individuals after the loss of a loved one. The participants were 140 bereaved individuals (122 women, 18 men; M = 38.40; SD = 13.96). The results showed that posttraumatic growth was positively related to intrusive and deliberate ruminations; however, it was positively predicted only by deliberate ruminations. Core beliefs disruption was also positively related to deliberate and intrusive ruminations, but only deliberate ruminations positively predicted core beliefs. Moreover, posttraumatic growth is positively related to grief after the loss but unrelated to the time elapsed since loss. Higher posttraumatic growth was found in individuals who had experienced a sudden loss and loss of a close family member. Overall, the study shows that deliberate ruminations, for example about the meaning of the loss and its consequences, can stimulate posttraumatic growth in bereaved individuals.
Phenomenology in Central Europe: Philosophy from the margins
Authors: Vydrová Jaroslava
Published: August 2020

The aim of the paper is twofold: first, to enrich the factual historical record of the phenomenological movement in the second half of the 20th century in a Central European context by presenting two representatives of this movement who are now relatively unknown in the Czechoslovak philosophical milieu (Marie Bayerová and Josef Cibulka). The genealogy of this stream of phenomenology has been shaped by the difficult conditions under which philosophy was conducted. The second aim is to use the genealogy to describe the type of phenomenology that developed in this milieu. The article considers minor figures in the phenomenological movement, by exploring philosophy, both “in margine” and from the centre. It also consider the concept of “state of emergency”. Taking these pointers of philosophical analysis (elaborated by Jan Patočka and Milan Šimečka in their time) we reveal the anthropological conditions of philosophizing and the type of phenomenology.
The anthropological foundations of Buber’s cosmic vision of dialogical life
Authors: Bizoň Michal
Published: August 2020

This paper provides an analysis of Martin Buber’s not very well-known essay “Distance and Relation”, which is his most relevant contribution to philosophical anthropology. In the essay, which was published almost thirty years after the publication of his most famous book, I and Thou, Buber elaborated on the anthropological foundations of his cosmic vision of dialogical life. The central question is “How is man possible?” Buber’s answer is very important to the further development of his principle of dialogue in psychology (primarily his notion of confirmation) and philosophy of art, but it is not quite clear how compatible it is with some of his earlier theses from I and Thou. In particular, the relation between “distance” and the I-It relation is unclear. There are two seemingly contradictory statements: “In the beginning is the relation” and “The primal distance is a presupposition of the relation”. The aim of this paper is to examine these anthropological foundations and to elucidate this apparent contradiction.
The Shared View Paradigm in Asymmetric Virtual Reality Setups
Authors: Horst Robin , Klonowski Fabio , Rau Linda , Dörner Ralf
Published: August 2020

Asymmetric Virtual Reality (VR) applications are a substantial subclass of multi-user VR that offers not all participants the same interaction possibilities with the virtual scene. While one user might be immersed using a VR head-mounted display (HMD), another user might experience the VR through a common desktop PC. In an educational scenario, for example, learners can use immersive VR technology to inform themselves at different exhibits within a virtual scene. Educators can use a desktop PC setup for following and guiding learners through virtual exhibits and still being able to pay attention to safety aspects in the real world (e. g., avoid learners bumping against a wall). In such scenarios, educators must ensure that learners have explored the entire scene and have been informed about all virtual exhibits in it. According visualization techniques can support educators and facilitate conducting such VR-enhanced lessons. One common technique is to render the view of the learners on the 2D screen available to the educators. We refer to this solution as the shared view paradigm. However, this straightforward visualization involves challenges. For example, educators have no control over the scene and the collaboration of the learning scenario can be tedious. In this paper, we differentiate between two classes of visualizations that can help educators in asymmetric VR setups. First, we investigate five techniques that visualize the view direction or field of view of users (view visualizations) within virtual environments. Second, we propose three techniques that can support educators to understand what parts of the scene learners already have explored (exploration visualization). In a user study, we show that our participants preferred a volume-based rendering and a view-in-view overlay solution for view visualizations. Furthermore, we show that our participants tended to use combinations of different view visualizations.
Temperature effects on VO2 thin films deposited by RF sputtering for the degradation by photocatalysis of methylene blue and naproxen
Authors: Acosta Dwight , Magaña Carlos , Hernández Francisco , Chavez-Esquivel Gerardo , Cortes-Cordova Daniel Eduardo , Huerta Lázaro , Valdés-Martínez Omar Uriel
Published: August 2020

The temperature effect on VO2 thin films synthesized by RF sputtering on their morphological, optical, electrical properties and their activity in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and naproxen was studied. Characterization results presented microcrystallinity for VO2 films treated at 50 and 100 °C. Nevertheless, the untreated films and films treated at 200 °C revealed characteristic peaks of monoclinic and tetragonal phases. SEM micrographs with elemental mapping of VO2 films showed granular morphology and a good oxygen dispersion along the film surface, possibly due to a restructuring on the film occasioned by particle coalescence and vanadium oxide island conformation. The electronic transmittance spectra showed the d–d transition characteristic for the square-pyramidal stereochemistry of vanadium (IV) ion, where the optical band interval was high for films treated at 50 °C. Raman spectroscopy results presented an increment in the V = O/V–O ratio as a function of temperature, probably related to superficial vanadium species formation. X-ray spectroscopy results showed the Onon-lattice/Olattice ratio values higher for films treated at 50 °C than the other films, related to an oxide character. The V 2p fit results presented V4+, V5+ regions and satellites for VO2 films thermal treated at 50 °C. The electrical resistivity on the VO2 films decreased as a function of temperature. Finally, the VO2 films thermal treated at 50 °C had higher photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue and naproxen compared to the other VO2 films, possibly associated with high electron mobility between the surface and the bulk, where the oxygen vacancies act as recombination sites for the e−/h+ pairs during photocatalytic degradation.
Effect of maltodextrin and arabic gum ratio on physicochemical characteristic of spray dried propolis microcapsules
Authors: Sukri Nandi , Multisona Ribi Ramadanti , Zaida  , Saputra Rudy Adi , Mahani  , Nurhadi Bambang
Published: August 2020

Propolis has known as an aromatic resin which possesses several health beneficial properties such as antimicrobial and antioxidant due to bioactive and its complex composition. Propolis has been utilized in the form of extract; however, the application in food is limited due to its insolubility in water and undesirable sensory characteristics. Encapsulation of propolis using spray drying method with addition maltodextrin with or without arabic gum could reduce the undesirable sensory characteristic, protect bioactive compounds, and increase its availability in water-soluble matrices. The total bioactive compounds were evaluated before and after the drying process in order to know the ability of matrices wall to protect it. Physical properties such as hygroscopicity and surface structure were evaluated. Maltodextrin and arabic gum ratio affect phenolic content which is in a range of 0.0425–0.0445%, and also flavonoid content in a range of 0.00273–0.00415%. The coating agent ratio also affects the hygroscopicity which is in a range of 12.01–14.06% and moisture content which is in a range of 4.65–7.71%. The SEM images show that the cracks and hollows are often on the microcapsule surface, but the particle size is more homogeneous.
Energy consumption evaluation of liquid food ultrasonic evaporation process
Authors: Song Jitian , Su Hang , Tian Wei , Feng Yongxia , Wang Wenchao
Published: August 2020

Ultrasonic evaporator is a new type of evaporation equipment using ultrasonic technology to assist evaporation and concentration. It is especially suitable for the materials which are easy to scale and foam. Due to the complexity of heat and mass transfer during ultrasonic technology to assist liquid evaporation process, there are few reports on the energy consumption of ultrasonic evaporation. In this paper, the effects of ultrasonic density, evaporation temperature, and feed flow rate on the total energy consumption of ultrasonic evaporation were studied and tap water was selected as experimental material. It was found that the optimal condition for this ultrasonic evaporator were the ultrasonic power density of 4 × 10−5 W/m2, the evaporation temperature of 65 °C, and the feed rate of 1.389 × 10−5 m3/s. According to the orthogonal test and analysis of variance, it can be obtained that the influence of evaporation temperature on total energy consumption is the largest, the second is feed flow rate, and ultrasonic power density has the least influence.
Enzymatic preparation of structured TAG containing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) at solvent-free
Authors: Yu Dianyu , Chen Jun , Cheng Jie , Chen Yan , Jiang Lianzhou , Qin Lanxia , Wang Liqi
Published: August 2020

Rice bran oil extracted by the water-enzymatic method was placed at a temperature of −5 °C for 8 h. Light-phase rice bran oil with an iodine value of 112.13 ± 0.21 g I2/100 g oil was separated by cryogenic freezing centrifugation. Lipozyme RM IM transesterified light-phase rice bran oil and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) under supercritical system CO2 (SC-CO2). The optimal reaction conditions for transesterification of CLA and rice bran oil in SC-CO2 were determined as follows: the Lipozyme RM IM dosage was 9%, and the RBO/CLA molar ratio was 1:3, the reaction temperature was 55 °C, stirring speed was 300 rpm, and transesterification time was 20 h, the CLA conversion rate can reach 42.1%.
Unpacking the hidden curriculum in nursing education: clinical placements abroad
Authors: St-Amant Oona , Sutherland Nisha
Published: August 2020

Many Canadian nursing programs endorse clinical placements abroad. We critically examined the hidden curriculum embedded in clinical placements seeking to provide a ‘global’ experience. Using purposeful sampling, we interviewed a total of 18 participants, including eight faculty, eight students and two placement coordinators. Data were analyzed using initial and focused coding, supported by NVivo. After generating themes from the coded data, we adapted Hafferty’s (1998) framework to further analyze the theme of the hidden curriculum. The findings illuminate how policies sustained international experience as a privileged endeavour, with restricted access based on grades. Placements incorporated little evaluation of benefits for local communities. Few resources were allocated to students for such placements, as many students paid for their placement. The institutional terms ‘international and global experience’ denoted interactions with cultural “Others”. We recommend that nursing programs attend to hidden practices that sustain clinical placements abroad as prestigious, commodified experiences.
Bright and dark optical solitons for the generalized variable coefficients nonlinear Schrödinger equation
Authors: El-Shiekh Rehab M. , Gaballah Mahmoud
Published: August 2020

In this paper, the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation with variable coefficients (gvcNLSE) arising in optical fiber is solved by using two different techniques the trail equation method and direct integration method. Many different new types of wave solutions like Jacobi, periodic and soliton wave solutions are obtained. From this study we have concluded that the direct integration method is more easy and straightforward than the trail equation method. As an application in optic fibers the propagation of the frequency modulated optical soliton is discussed and we have deduced that it's propagation shape is affected with the different values of both the amplification increment and the group velocity (GVD).
Orlicz lacunary sequence spaces of 𝑙-fractional difference operators
Authors: Raj Kuldip , Saini Kavita , Choudhary Anu
Published: August 2020

Recently, S. K. Mahato and P. D. Srivastava [A class of sequence spaces defined by 𝑙-fractional difference operator, preprint 2018, http://arxiv.org/abs/1806.10383] studied 𝑙-fractional difference sequence spaces.
In this article, we intend to make a new approach to introduce and study some lambda 𝑙-fractional convergent, lambda 𝑙-fractional null and lambda 𝑙-fractional bounded sequences over 𝑛-normed spaces.
Various algebraic and topological properties of these newly formed sequence spaces have been explored, and some inclusion relations concerning these spaces are also established.
Finally, some characterizations of the newly formed sequence spaces are given.
Biosurveillance: A Modern Look
Authors: Brooks James Lee
Published: August 2020

The early part of the twenty-first century saw a revolution in the field of Homeland Security. The 9/11 attacks, shortly followed thereafter by the Anthrax Attacks, served as a wakeup call to the United States and showed the inadequacy of the current state of the nation’s Homeland Security operations. Biodefense, and as a direct result Biosurveillance, changed dramatically after these tragedies, planting the seeds of fear in the minds of Americans. They were shown that not only could the United States be attacked at any time, but the weapon could be an invisible disease-causing agent.
From Intuitions to Anarchism?
Authors: Gordon David
Published: August 2020

When libertarian political philosophy attracted wide public notice in the 1970s, a common view was that the distinctive individual rights advocated in libertarian theory required grounding in a theory of ethics. Recently, this view has come under challenge. It has been argued that resort to such grounding in ethical theory is unneeded. An appeal to common sense intuitions suffices to justify libertarianism. First, a brief account of libertarianism will be presented. Then, some examples of the older, pro-grounding position will be discussed. Then, the principal defense of the newer view, Michael Huemer’sThe Problem of Political Authority,will be examined. This discussion constitutes the substance of the present paper. The principal contention of the present article will be that the argument to libertarianism from intuitions does not succeed. In conclusion, it will be suggested that a return to the earlier, grounding view is indicated for philosophers who wish to defend libertarianism.
Is the Infringement of a Treaty a Fault?
Authors: Auvray Françoise
Published: August 2020

This contribution deals with the wrongful behaviour of public authorities, in this case in particular the Belgian State, and delves into a challenge that the multi-levelled legal order poses for the national tort system. It inquires how the violation of an international treaty relates to liability in the national legal system. More specifically, the author examines if it is necessary, when dealing with state liability, to limit the concept of fault to the infringements of international treaties with direct effect, excluding the violation of those without such effect.
Managing Mass Damages Liability via Tort Law and Tort Alternatives, with Ireland as a Case Study
Authors: Watts Kim
Published: August 2020

Mass harm events pose liability challenges for public authorities that may be difficult to resolve via tort. A State can use statutory and non-statutory compensation funds to manage and avert its liability to pay damages to individual citizen victims. Compensation funds eliminate or minimise the traditional concept of fault and often replace it with a no-fault structure, ideally enabling swift payment of compensation to individual victims via an administrative scheme. The Irish government has repeatedly used this kind of solution for groups including victims of contaminated blood products, individuals who suffered abuse as children in State-sanctioned institutions, victims of unnecessary obstetric procedures and other public health failings. This approach has been necessary because multi-party actions are generally unavailable in Ireland, and because of entrenched access to justice problems. The evidence of their use reveals a haphazard pattern and inconsistent treatment of victims. Irish funds have aimed to compensate both the pecuniary and non-pecuniary losses of victims, often in a mixed way. The Irish approach is unsatisfactory because of the trend towards low and homogenised levels of compensation, poor procedure and the lack of other realistic redress alternatives. Overall, these compensation funds have been predominantly advantageous for the State from a cost and liability minimisation perspective. The situation could be improved if future compensation funds were properly designed and supervised, supported by appropriate legislation, and cognisant of the surrounding legal landscape and compensation fund jurisprudence from other European jurisdictions.
Policy Orientation in Public Authority Liability: a Comparative Law Perspective
Authors: Keirse Anne LM
Published: August 2020

Turning the spotlight on the historical evolution of public authority liability in Europe shows us a movement from immunity to liability of increasing extent but, at the same time, opposite tendencies can be observed as well. Public authority liability evolves in waves, not always going in the same direction and, more than once, recurring to old solutions. These motions are partway prompted by policy considerations, interrelated with the special position of the state. This paper aims to set the right tone for answering the main question of the Ius Commune Workshop, entitled ‘Public Authorities and Tort Law: a Difficult Marriage?’. Using a comparative perspective, this paper sets out to illustrate how policy orientation has an impact on public authority liability in Europe without giving a constant and lasting direction towards either expanding or limiting this liability.
Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML) Level 3 Package: Distributions, Version 1, Release 1
Authors: Smith Lucian P. , Moodie Stuart L. , Bergmann Frank T. , Gillespie Colin , Keating Sarah M. , König Matthias , Myers Chris J. , Swat Maciek J. , Wilkinson Darren J. , Hucka Michael
Published: August 2020

Biological models often contain elements that have inexact numerical values, since they are based on values that are stochastic in nature or data that contains uncertainty. The Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML) Level 3 Core specification does not include an explicit mechanism to include inexact or stochastic values in a model, but it does provide a mechanism for SBML packages to extend the Core specification and add additional syntactic constructs. The SBML Distributions package for SBML Level 3 adds the necessary features to allow models to encode information about the distribution and uncertainty of values underlying a quantity.
CellML 2.0
Authors: Clerx Michael , Cooling Michael T. , Cooper Jonathan , Garny Alan , Moyle Keri , Nickerson David P. , Nielsen Poul M. F. , Sorby Hugh
Published: August 2020

We present here CellML 2.0, an XML-based language for describing and exchanging mathematical models of physiological systems. MathML embedded in CellML documents is used to define the underlying mathematics of models. Models consist of a network of reusable components, each with variables and equations giving relationships between those variables. Models may import other models to create systems of increasing complexity. CellML 2.0 is defined by the normative specification presented here, prescribing the CellML syntax and the rules by which it should be used. The normative specification is intended primarily for the developers of software tools which directly consume CellML syntax. Users of CellML models may prefer to browse the informative rendering of the specification (https://cellml.org/specifications/cellml_2.0/) which extends the normative specification with explanations of the rules combined with examples of their usage.
Beam divergence and operating wavelength bands effects on free space optics communication channels in local access networks
Authors: Alatwi Aadel M. , Zaki Rashed Ahmed Nabih , Parvez AHM Shahriar , Paul Bikash Kumar , Ahmed Kawsar
Published: August 2020

The paper outlines the divergence of beam and operating wavelength bands effects on free-space optics communication channels in local access networks. The max Q factor and min bit error rate are measured based on the divergence of beam and operating wavelength bands variations. The signal is tested also at the receiver side by using an optical power meter visualizer at various operating signal wavelength bands and under the optimum values of the divergence of the beam. The study has presented the optimum operating conditions for upgrading network operation efficiency.
Effect of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor 1 therapy in a child with 3-M syndrome-1 with CUL7 gene mutation
Authors: Yang Ming , Patni Nivedita
Published: August 2020

Objective

3-M syndrome is characterized by severe short stature, syndromic features, and characteristic radiographic findings. Growth hormone (GH) has been used with variable success. Recombinant human insulin like growth factor-1 (rhIGF-1) has never been utilized.

Case presentation

We describe a child with severe growth retardation, macrocephaly, and skeletal abnormalities with evidence of GH insensitivity subsequently treated with rhIGF-1. He developed morbid obesity and comorbidities including voracious appetite, acanthosis nigricans, tonsillar hypertrophy, and severe obstructive sleep apnea with minimal height improvement. Genetic testing done at 11.5 years revealed a compound heterozygous mutation (c.2112G>A(p.W704X) and c.2559delC) in the CUL7 gene consistent with 3-M syndrome-1. rhIGF-1 therapy was discontinued.

Conclusions

This case highlights the novel use of rhIGF-1 therapy on a child with 3-M syndrome-1 with minimal height benefit but accelerated weight gain and serves as a reminder of the importance of re-evaluating therapy efficacy and side effect profile.
Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and placental abnormalities
Authors: Cochrane Elizabeth , Pando Christine , Kirschen Gregory W. , Soucier Devon , Fuchs Anna , Garry David J.
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) may be associated with placental abnormalities including placenta previa, umbilical cord abnormalities, and placental abruption. Our study evaluates the relationship between ART and placental abnormalities compared with spontaneously conceived controls.

Methods

An IRB-approved cohort study was conducted including women who delivered between January 2013 and December 2018. We excluded delivery prior to 23 weeks and known fetal anomalies. Patients were matched with controls (2:1) for parity, age, and mode of delivery. Controls were women who had spontaneously conceived and delivered immediately preceding and following the index delivery. The primary outcome was placental abnormalities found on both antenatal ultrasound and pathology in ART gestations compared with spontaneously conceived gestations.

Results

There were 120 ART pregnancies and 240 matched control pregnancies identified. The groups were similar for parity, BMI, comorbidities, number of multiples, mode of delivery, and female newborns. The ART group had a higher maternal age (37.1±5 y vs. 30.0±5 y; p<0.001), greater preterm birth (29 vs. 6%; p<0.001), and lower BW (2,928±803 g vs. 3,273±586 g; p<0.001). The ART group had a higher incidence of placenta previa on ultrasound (4.0 vs. 0.4%, p=0.01), adherent placentas at delivery (3 vs. 0% p=0.014), placental abruption (2 vs. 0%; p=0.04), as well as an increased rate of velamentous cord insertion (12 vs. 3%, p<0.001) and marginal cord insertion (28 vs. 15%, p=0.002). ART demonstrated a two-fold likelihood of abnormal placental pathology.

Conclusions

ART is associated with increased rate of placental abnormalities, including abnormal umbilical cord insertion and increased rates of adherent placentation. This information may be beneficial in planning and surveillance in patients with ART pregnancies.
Obstetric hospital preparedness for a pandemic: an obstetric critical care perspective in response to COVID-19
Authors: Harvey Scott , Zalud Ivica
Published: August 2020

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has had a rapid and deadly onset, spreading quickly throughout the world. Pregnant patients have had high mortality rates, perinatal losses, and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions from acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the past. Potentially, a surge of patients may require hospitalization and ICU care beyond the capacity of the health care system. This article is to provide institutional guidance on how to prepare an obstetric hospital service for a pandemic, mass casualty, or natural disaster by identifying a care model and resources for a large surge of critically ill pregnant patients over a short time. We recommend a series of protocols, education, and simulation training, with a structured and tiered approach to match the needs for the patients, for hospitals specialized in obstetrics.
Reference values of plasma homocysteine in Cuban children and adults
Authors: Concepción Alvarez Alina , Camayd Viera Ivette , Vento Buigues Lisy , Fernández Martínez Yanet , Hernández Eraida , Marín Padrón Lilia Caridad , Pérez Rodríguez Jacqueline , Gámez Torres Giselle
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Homocysteine (Hcy) is a nonessential amino acid, produced by the demethylation of methionine. High Hcy levels, or hyperhomocysteinemia, have been associated with genetic and multifactorial diseases. Hcy reference values may vary between different populations, as Hcy levels are affected by factors such as sex, age, diet, smoking, and coffee consumption. The estimation reference interval (RI) allows to establish the normal values of this marker in population. At present, these levels are unknown in Cuba. The aim of this work is to estimate the Hcy reference intervals in Cuban children and adults.

Methods

Total Hcy concentration was quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in plasma. Hcy levels were evaluated in samples from 507 healthy individuals (260 children, 247 adults).

Results

RIs were estimated by nonparametric methods. We found significant differences between both age groups, but we did not find significant differences between sexes, within these groups. The established ranges were 2.56–14.55 µM and 3.63–17.19 µM for children and adults, respectively. Also, we observed a weak association between Hcy levels and age in both sex groups.

Conclusions

This is the first study that assesses Hcy reference values in Cuban population. Our results will allow the introduction of Hcy as a biochemical marker in laboratory testing.
Molecular relationships of the Israeli shrews (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae) based on cytochromebsequences
Authors: Shpirer Erez , Haddas-Sasson Michal , Spivak-Glater Maya , Feldstein Tamar , Meiri Shai , Huchon Dorothée
Published: August 2020

The number of shrew species in Israel has been and still is the subject of debate. In this work we used for the first time a molecular marker, the cytochromebgene, to investigate the number and identity of shrew species in Israel. Our molecular results confirmed the presence of four species:Crocidura leucodon,Crocidura suaveolens gueldenstaedtii,Crocidura ramona, andSuncus etruscus. TheC. ramonasequences were found to differ from all otherCrociduraspecies sequenced to date, supporting its status as a distinct species. Whether it is conspecific withCrocidura portali(described in 1920 from Israel and usually synonymized withC. suaveolens), will require additional study. The sequences of IsraeliC. suaveolenswere found to be very similar to those of Iran, Turkey, and Georgia (i.e., C. suaveolens gueldenstaedtii), in agreement with previous studies. The IsraeliC. leucodonsequences, however, formed a distinct clade amongC. leucodon. Finally, theS. etruscussequences clustered with sequences from France, Italy, and Iran.
The spectrum generated by s-numbers and pre-quasi normed Orlicz-Cesáro mean sequence spaces
Authors: Bakery Awad A.
Published: August 2020

In this article, we study some topological properties of the multiplication operator on Orlicz-Cesáro mean sequence spaces equipped with the pre-quasi norm and the pre-quasi operator ideal constructed by this sequence space and s-numbers.
Prognostic factors in stage I gastric cancer: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Zheng Dingcheng , Chen Bangsheng , Shen Zefeng , Gu Lihu , Wang Xianfa , Ma Xueqiang , Chen Ping , Mao Feiyan , Wang Zhiyan
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate the prognostic factors of patients with stage I gastric cancer (GC) and to determine whether adjuvant chemotherapy improves the prognosis for high-risk patients.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, and HwaMei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences from January 2001 to December 2015. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier were used to evaluate the relationship between the patients’ clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis.

Results

A total of 1,550 patients were eligible for the study. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate of all enrolled patients was 96.5%. The pT and pN stages were significantly associated with the prognosis. The 5-year DFS rates of the three subgroups (T1N0, T2N0, and T1N1) were 97.8%, 95.7%, and 90.5%, respectively (p < 0.001). In the T1N1 subgroup, patients not undergoing chemotherapy showed a lower 5-year DFS rate compared to those undergoing chemotherapy, although the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Both the pT and pN stages were closely associated with the prognosis of patients with stage I GC. We also found that the danger coefficient of the pN stage was higher than that of the pT stage, and that postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy might be a reasonable approach to improve outcomes of high-risk patients, particularly in the T1N1 group.
Abnormally aggregation-induced emissions observed from hydrogen- and silyl-substituted siloles
Authors: Han Zhengang , Xie Kefeng
Published: August 2020

Silacyclopentadienes (siloles) are currently of great interest because of their intriguing aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics. In this work, abnormally AIE phenomena were observed from silyl- and hydrogen-substituted siloles respectively. We propose silyl-substituent and hydrogen atom effects to explain this via both experiments and theoretical calculations. It was discovered that trimethylsilyl substituents destroyed the p-interactions with the silole core and resulted in the non-fluorescence. Additionally, 1-chloro-1-H-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylsilole featuring strong fluorescences in both solid and solution states with high fluorescence quantum yields represents a new potential photoelectric material. This work not only reports the silole with strong fluorescences in both solid and solution states for the first time but also contributs to enrich the AIE research of siloles.
Pseudo almost automorphic solutions of classrin α-norm under the light of measure theory
Authors: Zabsonre Issa , Mbainadji Djendode
Published: August 2020

Using the spectral decomposition of the phase space developed in Adimy and co-authors, we present a new approach to study weighted pseudo almost automorphic functions in the α-norm using the measure theory.
Palestinian dialects and identities shifting across physical and virtual borders
Authors: Horesh Uri
Published: August 2020

The 1948 war created a new situation in Palestine. Palestinians became dispersed across political borders that had not existed before, and these borders continued to change in different ways into the 21st century. In many respects, these political borders have had notable linguistic effects, introducing bilingualism and multilingualism for some Palestinians but not all, and subsequently affecting varieties of Palestinian Arabic in terms of their lexica, their grammars, and their speakers’ sense of identity and belonging. Newcomers to Palestine, particularly Jewish immigrants from Arabic-speaking countries, were also compelled to adapt their linguistic practices to the new reality into which they implanted themselves. Finally, traditional dialectological boundaries, delineating Palestinian dialects according to regional and local linguistic features, have been affected by population shifts, redrawing of political borders and the catastrophic consequences of the wars the region has endured. This paper attempts to tackle the complex web of borders and boundaries that have shaped much of the sociolinguistics of Palestinians throughout most of the 20th century and into the first two decades of the 21st century.
Crystal structure of [2-carboxybenzene-1-thiolato-S]-(triethylphosphane-P)-gold(I), C13H20AuO2PS
Authors: Yeo Chien Ing , Tiekink Edward R.T.
Published: August 2020

C13H20AuO2PS, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 7.7509(2) Å, b = 12.7840(3) Å, c = 15.8689(4) Å, α = 89.087(2)°, β = 87.065(2)°, γ = 84.797(2)°, V = 1563.78(7) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0282, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0795, T = 100 K.