bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the method for abrasion resistance determination of sandstones on Böhme abrasion test apparatus
Authors: Strzałkowski Paweł , Kaźmierczak Urszula , Wolny Michał
Published: June 2020

The article analyses the method of testing the abrasion resistance of sandstones on Böhme abrasion test apparatus and describes the problems related to the implementation of this test, as well as the interpretation of the results. The tests were conducted in accordance with the requirements of the EN14157 standard on 14 samples of dry and water-saturated sandstones. The analysis of the results showed that the correlation coefficient for the results obtained in the case of dry samples tests in relation to water saturation was 0.944. It was also observed that the loss of volume during the abrasion process in the individual stages of the test is smaller with the increase of rotation on the disc. In the case of dry samples abrasion, the reason for this is the mixing of abrasive grain and worn stone. In the case of samples tested under conditions of water saturation, the sample is covered with the abrasive grain, which in further phases is liquefied and mixed with the worn stone mass. In this case, however, the abrasion is worse in comparison with the samples tested in the dry condition, because the liquid and mixed abrasive grain with the worn rock mass causes the sample to slide, which in turn results in the abrasion volume loss. The control of the abrasion resistance results obtained from the stone abrasion according to the EN14157 standard should be a comparison with the abrasion resistance results obtained in the process of calculating the abrasion volume loss of sample determined from height.
Using Spectral Blurring to Assess Effects of Channel Interaction on Speech-in-Noise Perception with Cochlear Implants
Authors: Goehring Tobias , Arenberg Julie G. , Carlyon Robert P.
Published: June 2020

Cochlear implant (CI) listeners struggle to understand speech in background noise. Interactions between electrode channels due to current spread increase the masking of speech by noise and lead to difficulties with speech perception. Strategies that reduce channel interaction therefore have the potential to improve speech-in-noise perception by CI listeners, but previous results have been mixed. We investigated the effects of channel interaction on speech-in-noise perception and its association with spectro-temporal acuity in a listening study with 12 experienced CI users. Instead of attempting to reduce channel interaction, we introduced spectral blurring to simulate some of the effects of channel interaction by adjusting the overlap between electrode channels at the input level of the analysis filters or at the output by using several simultaneously stimulated electrodes per channel. We measured speech reception thresholds in noise as a function of the amount of blurring applied to either all 15 electrode channels or to 5 evenly spaced channels. Performance remained roughly constant as the amount of blurring applied to all channels increased up to some knee point, above which it deteriorated. This knee point differed across listeners in a way that correlated with performance on a non-speech spectro-temporal task, and is proposed here as an individual measure of channel interaction. Surprisingly, even extreme amounts of blurring applied to 5 channels did not affect performance. The effects on speech perception in noise were similar for blurring at the input and at the output of the CI. The results are in line with the assumption that experienced CI users can make use of a limited number of effective channels of information and tolerate some deviations from their everyday settings when identifying speech in the presence of a masker. Furthermore, these findings may explain the mixed results by strategies that optimized or deactivated a small number of electrodes evenly distributed along the array by showing that blurring or deactivating one-third of the electrodes did not harm speech-in-noise performance.
A Nozickian Case for Compulsory Employment Injury Insurance: The Example of Sweatshops
Authors: Bäumlisberger Damian
Published: June 2020

Production in sweatshops entails an elevated risk of occupational injury and sickness due to accidents and exposure to dangerous working conditions. As most sweatshop locations lack basic social security systems, health problems have severe consequences for affected workers. Against this background, this article considers what obligations employers of sweatshop labor have to their workers, and how they should meet them. Based on core libertarian concepts, it shows that they are morally responsible for health problems caused by their management decisions, that they should compensate affected workers, and that they must prevent potentially irreversible health problems. In line with Nozick’s contractarian method, the article further argues that these obligations should be implemented through a compulsory employment injury insurance system. Such a system would impose industry-wide health and safety standards, in contrast to the view that libertarianism excludes any labor regulation for the protection of workers, as an illegitimate interference in voluntary labor contracts.
An empirical investigation of performance overhead in cross-platform mobile development frameworks
Authors: Biørn-Hansen Andreas , Rieger Christoph , Grønli Tor-Morten , Majchrzak Tim A. , Ghinea Gheorghita
Published: June 2020

The heterogeneity of the leading mobile platforms in terms of user interfaces, user experience, programming language, and ecosystem have made cross-platform development frameworks popular. These aid the creation of mobile applications – apps – that can be executed across the target platforms (typically Android and iOS) with minimal to no platform-specific code. Due to the cost- and time-saving possibilities introduced through adopting such a framework, researchers and practitioners alike have taken an interest in the underlying technologies. Examining the body of knowledge, we, nonetheless, frequently encounter discussions on the drawbacks of these frameworks, especially with regard to the performance of the apps they generate. Motivated by the ongoing discourse and a lack of empirical evidence, we scrutinised the essential piece of the cross-platform frameworks: the bridge enabling cross-platform code to communicate with the underlying operating system and device hardware APIs. The study we present in the article benchmarks and measures the performance of this bridge to reveal its associated overhead in Android apps. The development of the artifacts for this experiment was conducted using five cross-platform development frameworks to generate Android apps, in addition to a baseline native Android app implementation. Our results indicate that – for Android apps – the use of cross-platform frameworks for the development of mobile apps may lead to decreased performance compared to the native development approach. Nevertheless, certain cross-platform frameworks can perform equally well or even better than native on certain metrics which highlights the importance of well-defined technical requirements and specifications for deliberate selection of a cross-platform framework or overall development approach.
Diminished verbal ability among children conceived through ART with exposure to high serum estradiol in utero
Authors: Zhou Cheng-Liang , Xu Gu-Feng , Yang Qian , Wang Hui-Hui , Guo Meng-Xi , Xiong Yi-Meng , Guo Xiao-Yan , Hou Min , Jin Lu-Yang , Sheng Jian-Zhong , He Lin , Jin Li , Huang He-Feng
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Higher serum estradiol levels occur in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) owing to ovarian stimulation. Here, we investigated the association between maternal serum estradiol levels and the intellectual development of offspring conceived with ART.

Methods

A total of 204 singletons born after fresh embryo transfer were recruited for this cohort study. Among them, 102 children were born from mothers with high serum estradiol levels (> 12,000 pmol/L) on the day that human chorionic gonadotropin was administered. Another 102 children, matched by gestational age and age of the children, were recruited as controls from mothers with low serum estradiol (≤ 12,000 pmol/L). The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence was used to evaluate the intellectual development of the children.

Results

Children from mothers with higher serum estradiol levels scored lower in the verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) tests and verbal comprehension than children whose mothers had lower estradiol levels. The main difference between the two groups was in verbal subtests including information, vocabulary, and sorting. Partial correlation analysis revealed that the logarithm of maternal serum estradiol level negatively correlated with verbal IQ, performance IQ, and full scale IQ.

Conclusion

Our data demonstrate that a high maternal serum estradiol level may negatively associate the verbal ability of children conceived via ART.
Formalizing the LLL Basis Reduction Algorithm and the LLL Factorization Algorithm in Isabelle/HOL
Authors: Thiemann René , Bottesch Ralph , Divasón Jose , Haslbeck Max W. , Joosten Sebastiaan J. C. , Yamada Akihisa
Published: June 2020

The LLL basis reduction algorithm was the first polynomial-time algorithm to compute a reduced basis of a given lattice, and hence also a short vector in the lattice. It approximates an NP-hard problem where the approximation quality solely depends on the dimension of the lattice, but not the lattice itself. The algorithm has applications in number theory, computer algebra and cryptography. In this paper, we provide an implementation of the LLL algorithm. Both its soundness and its polynomial running-time have been verified using Isabelle/HOL. Our implementation is nearly as fast as an implementation in a commercial computer algebra system, and its efficiency can be further increased by connecting it with fast untrusted lattice reduction algorithms and certifying their output. We additionally integrate one application of LLL, namely a verified factorization algorithm for univariate integer polynomials which runs in polynomial time.
An Equilibrated a Posteriori Error Estimator for Arbitrary-Order Nédélec Elements for Magnetostatic Problems
Authors: Gedicke Joscha , Geevers Sjoerd , Perugia Ilaria
Published: June 2020

We present a novel a posteriori error estimator for Nédélec elements for magnetostatic problems that is constant-free, i.e. it provides an upper bound on the error that does not involve a generic constant. The estimator is based on equilibration of the magnetic field and only involves small local problems that can be solved in parallel. Such an error estimator is already available for the lowest-degree Nédélec element (Braess and Schöberl in Math Comput 77(262):651-672, 2008) and requires solving local problems on vertex patches. The novelty of our estimator is that it can be applied to Nédélec elements of arbitrary degree. Furthermore, our estimator does not require solving problems on vertex patches, but instead requires solving problems on only single elements, single faces, and very small sets of nodes. We prove reliability and efficiency of the estimator and present several numerical examples that confirm this.
Molecular and nanoscale evaluation of N-cadherin expression in invasive bladder cancer cells under control conditions or GW501516 exposure
Authors: Elie-Caille Céline , Lascombe Isabelle , Péchery Adeline , Bittard Hugues , Fauconnet Sylvie
Published: June 2020

N-cadherin is a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed by mesenchymal origin cells and is located at the adherens junctions. It regulates also cell motility and contributes to cell signaling. In previous studies, we identified that its anomalous expression in bladder carcinoma was a tumor progression marker. A pharmacological approach to inhibit N-cadherin expression or to block its function could be relevant to prevent disease progression and metastasis development. The morphological exploration of T24 invasive bladder cancer cells by atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed a spindle-like shape with fibrous structures. By engaging force spectroscopy with AFM tip functionalized with anti-E or anti-N-cadherin antibodies, results showed that T24 cells expressed only N-cadherin as also demonstrated by Western blotting and confocal microscopy. For the first time, we demonstrated by RTqPCR and Western blotting analyses that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β/δ (PPARβ/δ) agonist GW501516 significantly decreased N-cadherin expression in T24 cells. Moreover, high non-cytotoxic doses of GW501516 inhibited confluent T24 cell wound healing closure. By using AFM, a more sensitive nanoanalytical method, we showed that the treatment modified the cellular morphology and diminished N-cadherin cell surface coverage through the decreasing of these adhesion molecule-mediated interaction forces. We observed a greater decrease of N-cadherin upon GW501516 exposure with AFM than that detected with molecular biology techniques. AFM was a complementary tool to biochemical techniques to perform measurements on living cells at the nanometer resolution level. Taken together, our data suggest that GW501516 could be an interesting therapeutic strategy to avoid bladder cancer cell spreading through N-cadherin decrease.
Assessment of Psychosocial Functioning in a Large Cohort of Patients with Schizophrenia
Authors: Kossmann C. , Heller J. , Brüne M. , Schulz C. , Heinze M. , Cordes J. , Mühlbauer B. , Rüther E. , Timm J. , Gründer G. , Juckel G.
Published: June 2020

Background

This study addresses the question of whether psychosocial functioning measured by the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) Scale is related to various psychopathological measures in a cohort of patients with schizophrenia.

Methods

The ‘Neuroleptic Strategy Study’ (NeSSy) performed at 14 German hospitals between 2010 and 2013 compared two treatment strategies instead of individual drugs. Secondary end-points were the two PSP scales as well as measures of quality of life (SF-36) and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).

Results

149 patients were randomised. There was no difference between the two treatment strategies (first-generation versus second-generation antipsychotics) with regard to the PSP. There were differences in doctors’ assessments regarding psychosocial functioning compared with patients’ own assessments. Furthermore, there were relationships between the PSP and quality of life, level of skills (ICF), and severity of disease (PANSS), level of sexual activities and poor well-being under antipsychotic medication but not with cognitive changes.

Conclusions

The findings on psychosocial functioning of patients with schizophrenia related to severity and skill level could be confirmed. Further findings were the correlation between psychosocial functioning and quality of life, well-being under treatment, and sexuality what emphasizes the substantial importance of a reduced psychosocial functioning.
Math-word embedding in math search and semantic extraction
Authors: Greiner-Petter André , Youssef Abdou , Ruas Terry , Miller Bruce R. , Schubotz Moritz , Aizawa Akiko , Gipp Bela
Published: June 2020

Word embedding, which represents individual words with semantically fixed-length vectors, has made it possible to successfully apply deep learning to natural language processing tasks such as semantic role-modeling, question answering, and machine translation. As math text consists of natural text, as well as math expressions that similarly exhibit linear correlation and contextual characteristics, word embedding techniques can also be applied to math documents. However, while mathematics is a precise and accurate science, it is usually expressed through imprecise and less accurate descriptions, contributing to the relative dearth of machine learning applications for information retrieval in this domain. Generally, mathematical documents communicate their knowledge with an ambiguous, context-dependent, and non-formal language. Given recent advances in word embedding, it is worthwhile to explore their use and effectiveness in math information retrieval tasks, such as math language processing and semantic knowledge extraction. In this paper, we explore math embedding by testing it on several different scenarios, namely, (1) math-term similarity, (2) analogy, (3) numerical concept-modeling based on the centroid of the keywords that characterize a concept, (4) math search using query expansions, and (5) semantic extraction, i.e., extracting descriptive phrases for math expressions. Due to the lack of benchmarks, our investigations were performed using the arXiv collection of STEM documents and carefully selected illustrations on the Digital Library of Mathematical Functions (DLMF: NIST digital library of mathematical functions. Release 1.0.20 of 2018-09-1, 2018). Our results show that math embedding holds much promise for similarity, analogy, and search tasks. However, we also observed the need for more robust math embedding approaches. Moreover, we explore and discuss fundamental issues that we believe thwart the progress in mathematical information retrieval in the direction of machine learning.
Integrating supercomputing clusters into education: a case study in biotechnology
Authors: Fernández Álvaro , Fernández Camino , Miguel-Dávila José-Ángel , Conde Miguel Á.
Published: June 2020

The integration of a Supercomputer in the educational process improves student’s technological skills. The aim of the paper is to study the interaction between science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and non-STEM subjects for developing a course of study related to Supercomputing training. We propose a flowchart of the process to improve the performance of students attending courses related to Supercomputing. As a final result, this study highlights the analysis of the information obtained by the use of HPC infrastructures in courses implemented in higher education through a questionnaire that provides useful information about their attitudes, beliefs and evaluations. The results help us to understand how the collaboration between institutions enhances outcomes in the education context. The conclusion provides a description of the resources needed for the improvement of Supercomputing Education (SE), proposing future research directions.
Longitudinal evaluation of friendship project: A multicultural – antiracist program for elementary school children
Authors: Spyropoulou Elli , Sourlantzi Angeliki , Karakosta Aspasia , Kotsampasoglou Maria , Giovazolias Theodoros
Published: June 2020

This study presents the results of the evaluation of Friendship Project-Greek version (FP-GR), a school based multicultural and anti-racist program aiming to develop intercultural skills and positive intergroup relationships, as well as familiarize and sensitize children with refugees’ life circumstances and difficulties. The aim of the study was to adapt FP in the Greek context and evaluate its longitudinal effectiveness in Greek students. The sample of the present research consisted of 314 children aged 9–12 years from six elementary schools in Athens and Crete, Greece. Students were randomly assigned to condition (intervention or control group) and the effectiveness of the program was examined through three measurements (before, at the end of the intervention and 3 months later). Data analyses (Repeated measures ANCOVA’s, Confirmatory Factor Analyses) were conducted using SPSS 25 and Mplusv.8.0. Results showed that FP-GR influenced participants’ general attitudes towards refugees, affected their xenophobic and intolerant attitudes but did not seem to have any significant impact on participants’ altruism. These results provide initial evidence that the FP-GR is an effective school-based prejudice-reduction program that promotes inclusive education for refugee-background elementary school children. Suggestions for the improvement of specific elements of FP-GR are also provided.
Seabed Resuspension in the Chesapeake Bay: Implications for Biogeochemical Cycling and Hypoxia
Authors: Moriarty Julia M. , Friedrichs Marjorie A. M. , Harris Courtney K.
Published: June 2020

Sediment processes, including resuspension and transport, affect water quality in estuaries by altering light attenuation, primary productivity, and organic matter remineralization, which then influence oxygen and nitrogen dynamics. The relative importance of these processes on oxygen and nitrogen dynamics varies in space and time due to multiple factors and is difficult to measure, however, motivating a modeling approach to quantify how sediment resuspension and transport affect estuarine biogeochemistry. Results from a coupled hydrodynamic–sediment transport–biogeochemical model of the Chesapeake Bay for the summers of 2002 and 2003 showed that resuspension increased light attenuation, especially in the northernmost portion of the Bay, shifting primary production downstream. Resuspension also increased remineralization in the central Bay, which experienced larger organic matter concentrations due to the downstream shift in primary productivity and estuarine circulation. As a result, oxygen decreased and ammonium increased throughout the Bay in the bottom portion of the water column, due to reduced photosynthesis in the northernmost portion of the Bay and increased remineralization in the central Bay. Averaged over the channel, resuspension decreased oxygen by ~ 25% and increased ammonium by ~ 50% for the bottom water column. Changes due to resuspension were of the same order of magnitude as, and generally exceeded, short-term variations within individual summers, as well as interannual variability between 2002 and 2003, which were wet and dry years, respectively. Our results quantify the degree to which sediment resuspension and transport affect biogeochemistry, and provide insight into how coastal systems may respond to management efforts and environmental changes.
Homologous recombination deficiency in breast cancer
Authors: Bartl Thomas , Farr Alex
Published: June 2020

BRCAmutation-related DNA repair deficiencies increase the individual sensitivity to DNA-targeting agents. Therefore, the patient’sBRCAmutational status is evaluated in clinical practice as a predictive marker in response to platinum salts and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors for breast cancer treatment. A substantial subset ofBRCAwild-type breast cancer lesions, however, share both prominent molecular characteristics and clinical behavior patterns with cancer that harborsBRCAmutations, including DNA repair deficiencies. Also referred to as “BRCAness”, this observation is related to aberrations of the homologous recombination (HR) repair pathway, which deprive cancer cells of the ability to adequately mend potentially lethal double-strand breaks and result in a BRCA-like genomic instability. Hence, HR deficiency is a promising target for related therapeutic options and the predictive potential of HR testing for treatment response has been increasingly studied. Several HR deficiency-testing assays have been proposed and prospectively validated for various cancer types; however, preliminary results in early breast cancer are inconsistent. As scientific evidence for a potential therapeutic benefit in breast cancer is scarce, HR testing remains highly experimental and should be limited to the boundaries of clinical studies until results of ongoing phase 3 trials are available.
Punctuality development and delay explanation factors on Norwegian railways in the period 2005–2014
Authors: Økland Andreas , Olsson Nils O. E.
Published: June 2020

The paper revisits an investigation of delays and punctuality on Norwegian railroads from 2010, re-evaluating its findings and studying the effects of later measures put in place between 2010 and 2014. Norwegian railways saw a steady decline in punctuality from 2005–2010, prompting the establishment of a task force to understand the trends and patterns behind the delays on the network. Data was collected on punctuality and delays, as well as on factors that were likely causes of delays. The original study pointed to three main areas that cause delays during the period 2005–2009: (1) an increased error rate in infrastructure and rolling stock, (2) extensive work close to the tracks due to increased maintenance and renewals and (3) an inability to perform consistently even under normal weather conditions. Measures were put in place to turn around the overall performance. Appending data for 2010–2014, new regression models indicate that although their influence on delays and low punctuality changed as these measures have been put in place, some factors remained influential: low temperature (< − 10 °C and < − 15 °C) and snowfall (> 10 cm), reduced train lengths and increased volume of train services (both freight and passenger trains) still contribute to delays and low punctuality. The paper contributes to the literature on empirical analyses of delay causes. However, it can also be read as an illustration of an approach for an ex post evaluation of effects from punctuality improvement initiatives.
DESERV IT: A Method for Devolving Service Tasks in IT Services
Authors: Baer Florian , Sandkuhl Kurt , Leyer Michael , Lantow Birger
Published: June 2020

Nowadays, IT operations devolve many tasks in IT services to internal customers (i.e., IT self-service). The rationale for this service task devolvement is often to reduce the IT personnel’s workload. However, prior research has shown that IT operations often fail to achieve this goal. Existing methods for modeling and analyzing services fall short of supporting service providers in identifying and specifying service tasks suitable to be devolved to (internal) customers. This paper presents, therefore, the first method for devolving service tasks in IT services (DESERV IT). DESERV IT is a compound of four method components encompassing a joint meta-model, a visual notation for modeling IT services, and procedural recommendations. The DESERV IT meta-model extends the meta-model of service blueprinting by means of concepts required to analyze service task devolvement. DESERV IT is evaluated in four evaluation episodes. The results of the evaluation episodes show that DESERV IT is perceived as effective, useful, complete, and generalizable by experts in the IT service management and enterprise architecture discipline. This paper contributes to enterprise modeling by demonstrating the feasibility of DESERV IT in an example case and describing DESERV IT’s evolution during the evaluation episodes. DESERV IT supports practitioners (e.g., request fulfillment managers) in modeling and analyzing IT services.
Decision analysis of agroforestry options reveals adoption risks for resource-poor farmers
Authors: Do Hoa , Luedeling Eike , Whitney Cory
Published: June 2020

Agroforestry interventions have the potential to benefit the livelihoods of farmers and communities worldwide. However, given the high system complexity, the long-term benefits of agroforestry are difficult to anticipate. This study aimed to integrate uncertainty into long-term performance projections for agroforestry interventions in the highlands of Northwest Vietnam. We applied decision analysis and probabilistic modeling approaches to produce economic ex-ante assessments for seven agroforestry options (intercropping of maize, forage grass, or coffee with tea, nut, fruit, and timber trees) promoted in the region. Our results indicate that farmers likely prefer annual monocultures due to the relatively early incomes and short time-lag on returns. However, the results also show that annual profits from monocrops can be expected to decrease over time, due mainly to unsustainable soil use. Agroforestry systems, on the other hand, return substantial profits in the long term, but they also incur high establishment and maintenance costs and can generate net losses in the first few years. Initial financial incentives to compensate for these losses may help in promoting agroforestry adoption in the region. Uncertainties related to farmers’ time preference, crop yields, and crop prices appeared to have the greatest influence on whether monocropping or agroforestry emerged as the preferable option. Narrowing these key knowledge gaps may offer additional clarity on farmers’ optimal course of action and provide guidance for agencies promoting agroforestry interventions in Vietnam and elsewhere. Our model produced a set of plausible ranges for net present values and highlighted critical variables, more clarity on which would support decision-making under uncertainty. Our innovative research approach proved effective in providing forecasts of uncertain outcomes and can be useful for informing similar development interventions in other contexts.
A Baseline Analysis of Regulatory Review Timelines for ANVISA: 2013–2016
Authors: Patel Prisha , Cerqueira Daniela Marreco , Santos Gustavo Mendes Lima , de Lima Soares Renata , Sousa Varley Dias , Liberti Lawrence , McAuslane Neil
Published: June 2020

Background

The Brazilian health regulatory agency (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, ANVISA) has embarked on transformational initiatives to fulfill its mandate to provide timely access to safe, effective, and quality therapeutics. A new Brazilian law was enacted to provide the agency with greater flexibility. Optimizing Efficiencies in Regulatory Agencies (OpERA) is a regulatory-strengthening program that seeks to provide benchmarking data that can be used to define performance targets and focus performance improvement. The objective of this study was to use OpERA methodology to undertake a retrospective analysis of the timelines associated with important components of the ANVISA regulatory review process to establish a baseline against which the influence of the new law could be measured.

Methods

The OpERA tool was used to collect specific milestone data that identify time periods, review stages, and data points for products approved by ANVISA 2013–2016.

Results

For the 138 products approved in this cohort, the overall median approval time was 795 days. ANVISA and submitting companies will need to reduce their review and response times by approximately half in order to meet the total time goal of 365 days.

Conclusions

The observations from this baseline study have identified opportunities for ANVISA and sponsor companies to collaborate to reduce regulatory assessment times while assuring the timely approval of safe and effective, quality medicines. These analyses will be repeated to determine how the provisions of the new Law will impact the activities of ANVISA and the extent of sponsors' contributions to this effort.
Laser produced electromagnetic pulses: generation, detection and mitigation
Authors: Consoli Fabrizio , Tikhonchuk Vladimir T. , Bardon Matthieu , Bradford Philip , Carroll David C. , Cikhardt Jakub , Cipriani Mattia , Clarke Robert J. , Cowan Thomas E. , Danson Colin N. , De Angelis Riccardo , De Marco Massimo , Dubois Jean-Luc , Etchessahar Bertrand , Garcia Alejandro Laso , Hillier David I. , Honsa Ales , Jiang Weiman , Kmetik Viliam , Krása Josef , Li Yutong , Lubrano Frédéric , McKenna Paul , Metzkes-Ng Josefine , Poyé Alexandre , Prencipe Irene , Ra̧czka Piotr , Smith Roland A. , Vrana Roman , Woolsey Nigel C. , Zemaityte Egle , Zhang Yihang , Zhang Zhe , Zielbauer Bernhard , Neely David
Published: June 2020

This paper provides an up-to-date review of the problems related to the generation, detection and mitigation of strong electromagnetic pulses created in the interaction of high-power, high-energy laser pulses with different types of solid targets. It includes new experimental data obtained independently at several international laboratories. The mechanisms of electromagnetic field generation are analyzed and considered as a function of the intensity and the spectral range of emissions they produce. The major emphasis is put on the GHz frequency domain, which is the most damaging for electronics and may have important applications. The physics of electromagnetic emissions in other spectral domains, in particular THz and MHz, is also discussed. The theoretical models and numerical simulations are compared with the results of experimental measurements, with special attention to the methodology of measurements and complementary diagnostics. Understanding the underlying physical processes is the basis for developing techniques to mitigate the electromagnetic threat and to harness electromagnetic emissions, which may have promising applications.
Simultaneous observation of ultrafast electron and proton beams in TNSA
Authors: Bisesto Fabrizio , Galletti Mario , Anania Maria Pia , Costa Gemma , Ferrario Massimo , Pompili Riccardo , Zigler Arie , Consoli Fabrizio , Cipriani Mattia , Salvadori Martina , Verona Claudio
Published: June 2020

The interaction of ultra-intense high-power lasers with solid-state targets has been largely studied for the past 20 years as a future compact proton and ion source. Indeed, the huge potential established on the target surface by the escaping electrons provides accelerating gradients of TV/m. This process, called target normal sheath acceleration, involves a large number of phenomena and is very difficult to study because of the picosecond scale dynamics. At the SPARC_LAB Test Facility, the high-power laser FLAME is employed in experiments with solid targets, aiming to study possible correlations between ballistic fast electrons and accelerated protons. In detail, we have installed in the interaction chamber two different diagnostics, each one devoted to characterizing one beam. The first relies on electro-optic sampling, and it has been adopted to completely characterize the ultrafast electron components. On the other hand, a time-of-flight detector, based on chemical-vapour-deposited diamond, has allowed us to retrieve the proton energy spectrum. In this work, we report preliminary studies about simultaneous temporal resolved measurements of both the first forerunner escaping electrons and the accelerated protons for different laser parameters.
Arqueología distribucional y biogeografía humana en un paisaje andino-patagónico
Authors: Rughini Agustina A. , Romero Villanueva Guadalupe , Lucero Gustavo , Cardillo Marcelo , Borrazzo Karen , Fernández M. Victoria , Brera Agustina , Frigolé Cecilia , Castillo Agustín , Vitores Marcelo , Llano Carina , Garvey Raven , Barberena Ramiro
Published: June 2020

Nuestro objetivo es estudiar las estrategias de uso del espacio por parte de sociedades humanas móviles en un paisaje andino de Patagonia caracterizado por una marcada heterogeneidad topográfica, climática y ecológica (localidad de Barrancas-Buta Ranquil, provincia del Neuquén, Argentina). Inicialmente, se analiza la estructura del paisaje desde una perspectiva biogeográfica, desarrollando un modelo de estacionalidad mediante sistemas de información geográfica. Nuestro enfoque distribucional combina una prospección sistemática para caracterizar la estructura espacial del registro en superficie y evidencias que han sido obtenidas bajo otras estrategias de muestreo. Sobre la base de la distribución de artefactos líticos y cerámicos y de motivos rupestres, se evalúan patrones de intensidad ocupacional, diversidad funcional y circulación de información en sectores del espacio con propiedades biogeográficas diferentes. Los resultados sugieren una delimitación funcional del espacio en escala temporal promediada, en la cual los espacios intermedios habrían funcionado como lugares centrales desde donde se articulan movimientos logísticos hacia otros sectores del paisaje. Dado que la unidad de muestreo captura variación biogeográfica que se expresa en forma regional más amplia, el modelo de uso del espacio propuesto es relevante para la comprensión de la arqueología del noroeste de Patagonia en general.
Consumption of flavonoid-rich fruits and risk of CHD: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Yang Yiyi , Dong Jia-Yi , Cui Renzhe , Muraki Isao , Yamagishi Kazumasa , Sawada Norie , Iso Hiroyasu , Tsugane Shoichiro ,   for the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study Group
Published: June 2020

Although the association between fruit consumption and CHD risk has been well studied, few studies have focused on flavonoid-rich fruits (FRF), in particular strawberries and grapes. We aimed to verify the association of total and specific FRF consumption with risk of CHD by a large prospective cohort study. A total of 87 177 men and women aged 44–75 years who were free of CVD and cancer at study baseline were eligible for the present analysis. FRF consumption was assessed using a FFQ. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) of CHD in relation to FRF consumption with adjustment for potential risk factors and confounders. During a mean follow-up of 13·2 years, we identified 1156 incident CHD cases. After full adjustment for covariates including demographics, lifestyles and dietary factors, the HR were 0·93 (95 % CI 0·77, 1·11), 0·91 (95 % CI 0·75, 1·11), 0·84 (95 % CI 0·67, 1·04) and 0·78 (95 % CI 0·62, 0·99) for the second, third, fourth and fifth quintiles compared with the lowest quintile of FRF consumption. Regarding specific fruits, we observed a significant inverse association for citrus fruit consumption and a borderline inverse association for strawberry consumption, while no association was observed for apple/pear or grape consumption. Although the associations appeared to be stronger in women, they were not significantly modified by sex. Higher consumption of FRF, in particular, citrus fruits, may be associated with a lower risk of developing CHD.
Street food in Eastern Europe: a perspective from an urban environment in Moldova
Authors: Albuquerque Gabriela , Gelormini Marcello , de Morais Inês Lança , Sousa Sofia , Casal Susana , Pinho Olívia , Moreira Pedro , Breda João , Lunet Nuno , Padrão Patrícia
Published: June 2020

Street food is popular in Eastern Europe, but its diversity and nutritional value are unknown. This study aimed to characterise the street food environment in Chişinău, Moldova, including the vending sites and vendors, food availability and nutritional composition of foods and beverages. All street food vending sites (single point of sale) located in a 1-km buffer centred on the main public market were systematically selected (n 439; n 328 participants). Data on vending sites’ characteristics (mobility, type of physical set-up and access to electricity), operating periods and food availability were collected. Samples of the most commonly available foods of unknown composition were collected (twenty-eight home-made and twenty-four industrial). Macronutrients, Na and K were quantified through chemical analysis. Fruits, beverages and food other than fruits were available in 2·5, 74·3 and 80·8 % of the vending sites, respectively. Among the latter, 66·4 % sold only industrial foods (e.g. pretzels, biscuits, wafers, chocolate and ice cream), 21·5 % only home-made (e.g. savoury and sweet pastries) and 12·1 % both. Home-made foods presented larger serving sizes and energy/serving (median kJ/serving: 1312·5 v. 670·3, P = 0·022); industrial foods were more energy-dense (median kJ/100 g: 1797·0 v. 1269·8, P = 0·002). High SFA, trans-fat and Na contents were found, reaching 10·9 g/serving, 1·4 g/serving and 773·7 mg/serving, respectively. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages were available in 80·7 and 42·0 % of the vending sites selling beverages, respectively. Concluding, industrial snacks and home-made pastries high in Na and unhealthy fat were frequent in Chişinău. Prevention of diet-related diseases in Moldova may benefit from the improvement of the nutritional profile of street food.
Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Affected MPs’ Representational Activities?
Authors: Koop Royce , Blidook Kelly , Fuga Lesley Anne
Published: June 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessarily affected the operation of Canada's Parliament and, thus, the activities of Members of Parliament (MPs) (Malloy, 2020; Rayment and VandenBeukel, 2020). Here, we explore how the pandemic has affected the representational activities of individual MPs.
Political Mysticism: Augustine Baker, the Spiritual Formation of Missionaries and the Catholic Reformation in England
Authors: KELLY JAMES E.
Published: June 2020

Augustine Baker, the seventeenth-century Benedictine monk, is primarily remembered as an advocate of mystical spiritual contemplation. This reputation was shaped by a contemporary supporter, whose synopsis of Baker's works is the source most commonly consulted by historians. However, by reading Baker's complete ‘Treatise of the English mission’ and recontextualising this manuscript, it is evident that he was addressing problems of his day. His treatise is a polemical response to debates about the implementation of the Catholic Reformation in England, advocating a vision of clerical formation and personal spiritual reformation for all those active in the English Catholic mission.
Ultrastructure of male Centrorhynchus globocaudatus (Acanthocephala) cement apparatus and function of cement gland secretion
Authors: Sayyaf Dezfuli B. , Rubini S. , DePasquale J.A. , Pironi F.
Published: June 2020

Cement glands are one of the most conspicuous and distinctive elements of taxonomic interest in male Acanthocephala. Cement glands vary in shape, number and arrangement in different classes of the taxon. The glands and their products have a fundamental role in the reproductive process. Light and electron microscopy were used to investigate the ultrastructure of the cement apparatus, which includes both cement glands and the cement reservoir, in mature males of Centrorhynchus globocaudatus (Zeder, 1800). Centrorhynchus globocaudatus is an enteric parasite of birds of prey, including Falco tinnunculus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) from the province of Ferrara (northern Italy). The four elongated cement glands of C. globocaudatus are situated posterior to the testes. Sections through the cement glands show each gland is surrounded by a fibrous envelope with an approximate thickness of 0.6 μm. Beneath this envelope is an outer cytoplasmic layer thickness ranging from 22 to 26 μm, which contains a number of nuclei with diameters variable from 20 to 22 μm. The cytoplasmic layer is filled with prominent free ribosomes and many mitochondria with lamellar cristae. Secretory granules, measuring from 1 to 1.3 μm in diameter, are formed within the cytoplasmic layer. The cytoplasmic layer surrounds the luminal area for storage of the cement material in each gland. Cement gland ducts arise from the gland and extend towards a common cement reservoir in close contact with the seminal vesicle and Saefftigen's pouch. Microtubules, large secretory granules and rest of undefined organelles were also observed within the cement reservoir.
Falling Inequality in Latin America: The Role of Fiscal Policy
Authors: Clifton Judith , Díaz-Fuentes Daniel , Revuelta Julio
Published: June 2020

Latin America is one of the world's only regions to have witnessed a fall in income inequality during the 2000s. This paper evaluates the role fiscal policy played in this change. Recent scholarship has examined this in individual countries; lacking is a regional perspective. We examine the effects of nine fiscal instruments on income inequality in 17 countries between 1990 and 2014. Fiscal policy had a positive – albeit small – effect in reducing income inequality, especially from 2003, working best at the urban level. Public spending on education, personal income taxes and social contributions were especially instrumental in reducing income inequality.
TEduChain: a blockchain-based platform for crowdfunding tertiary education
Authors: Rashid Mahmood A. , Deo Krishneel , Prasad Divnesh , Singh Kunal , Chand Sarvesh , Assaf Mansour
Published: June 2020

Blockchain is an emerging technology framework for creating and storing transaction in distributed ledgers with a high degree of security and reliability. In this paper, we present a blockchain-based platform to create and store contracts in between students and their higher education sponsors facilitated by intermediary brokers denoted as fundraisers. The sponsorship might be in any form, such as scholarship, donation, or loan. The fund will be arranged and managed by a group of competitive fundraisers who will hold the distributed ledgers and act as the miners in the blockchain network.
N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide serum levels reflect attrition of the Fontan circulation
Authors: Wolff Djoeke , van Melle Joost P. , Willems Tineke P. , Bartelds Beatrijs , Ploegstra Mark-Jan , Hillege Hans , Ebels Tjark , Berger Rolf M. F.
Published: June 2020

Objective:

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide has an established role in the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure. In Fontan patients, this peptide is often increased, but its diagnostic value in this particular non-physiologic, univentricular circulation is unclear. We investigated whether N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide represents ventricular function or other key variables in Fontan patients.

Methods and results:

Ninety-five consecutive Fontan patients ≥10 years old who attended the outpatient clinic of the Center for Congenital Heart Diseases in 2012–2013 were included. Time since Fontan completion was 16 ± 9 years. Median N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide was 114 (61–264) ng/l and was higher than gender-and age-dependent normal values in 54% of the patients. Peptide Z-scores were higher in patients in NYHA class III/IV compared to those in class I/II, but did not correlate with ventricular function assessed by MRI and echocardiography, nor with peak exercise capacity. Instead, peptide Z-scores significantly correlated with follow-up duration after Fontan completion (p < 0.001), right ventricular morphology (p = 0.004), indexed ventricular mass (p = 0.001), and inferior caval vein diameter (p < 0.001) (adjustedR2= 0.615).

Conclusions:

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels in Fontan patients correlate with functional class, but do not necessarily indicate ventricular dysfunction. Increased peptide levels were associated with a longer existence of the Fontan circulation, morphologic ventricular characteristics, and signs of increased systemic venous congestion. Since the latter are known to be key determinants of the performance of the Fontan circulation, these findings suggest increase in N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels to indicate attrition of the Fontan circulation, independent of ventricular function.
MACRO-ECONOMIC MEASURES FOR A GLOBALIZED WORLD: GLOBAL GROWTH AND INFLATION
Authors: Balk Bert M. , Rambaldi Alicia N. , Rao D. S. Prasada
Published: June 2020

This paper offers a framework for measuring global growth and inflation, built on standard index number theory, national accounts principles, and the concepts and methods for international macro-economic comparisons. Our approach provides a sound basis for purchasing power parity (PPP)- and exchange rate (XR)-based global growth and inflation measures. The Sato–Vartia index number system advocated here offers very similar results to a Fisher system but has the added advantage of allowing a complete decomposition with PPP or XR effects. For illustrative purposes, we present estimates of global growth and inflation for 141 countries over the years 2005 and 2011. The contribution of movements in XRs and PPPs to global inflation are presented. The aggregation properties of the method are also discussed.