bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heterogeneous Cubic Multidimensional Integrated Circuit for Water and Food Security in Fish Farming Ponds
Authors: El‐Atab Nazek , Almansour Reema , Alhazzany Alhanouf , Suwaidan Reema , Alghamdi Yara , Babatain Wedyan , Shaikh Sohail F. , Khan Sherjeel M. , Qaiser Nadeem , Hussain Muhammad Mustafa
Published: December 2019

Among major food production sectors, world aquaculture shows the highest growth rate, providing more than 50% of the global seafood market. However, water pollution in fish farming ponds is regarded as the leading cause of fish death and financial losses in the market. Here, an Internet of Things system based on a cubic multidimensional integration of circuit (MD‐IC) is demonstrated for water and food security applications in fish farming ponds. Both faces of the silicon substrate are used for thin‐film‐based device fabrication. The devices are interconnected via through‐silicon‐vias, resulting in a bifacial complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor‐compatible electronics system. The demonstrated cubic MD‐IC is a complete, small, and lightweight system that can be easily deployed by farmers with no need for specialists. The system integrates on its outer sides simultaneous air and water quality monitoring devices (temperature, electrical conductivity, ammonia, and pH sensors), solar cells for energy‐harvesting, and antenna for real‐time data‐transfer, while data‐management circuitry and a solid‐state battery are integrated on its internal faces. Microfluidic cooling technology is used for thermal management in the MD‐IC. Finally, a biofriendly polymeric encapsulation is used to waterproof the embedded electronics, improve the mechanical robustness, and allow the system to float on the surface of the water.
Microsphere‐Like SiO2/MXene Hybrid Material Enabling High Performance Anode for Lithium Ion Batteries
Authors: Mu Ge , Mu Daobin , Wu Borong , Ma Chengwei , Bi Jiaying , Zhang Ling , Yang Hao , Wu Feng
Published: December 2019

To address the non‐negligible volume expansion and the inherent poor electronic conductivity of silica (SiO2) material, microsphere‐like SiO2/MXene hybrid material is designed and successfully synthesized through the combination of the Stöber method and spray drying. The SiO2 nanoparticles are firmly anchored on the laminated MXene by the bonding effect, which boosts the structural stability during the long‐term cycling process. The MXene matrix not only possesses high elasticity to buffer the volume variation of SiO2 nanoparticles, but also promotes the transfer of electrons and lithium ions. Moreover, the microsphere wrapped with ductile MXene film reduces the specific surface area, relieves the side reactions, and enhances the coulombic efficiency. Therefore, superior electrochemical performance including high reversible capacity, outstanding cycle stability, high coulombic efficiency, especially in the first cycle, excellent rate capability as well as high areal capacity are acquired for SiO2/MXene microspheres anode.
Collaborative Design of Hollow Nanocubes, In Situ Cross‐Linked Binder, and Amorphous Void@SiOx@C as a Three‐Pronged Strategy for Ultrastable Lithium Storage
Authors: He Donglin , Li Ping , Wang Wei (Alex) , Wan Qi , Zhang Jian , Xi Kai , Ma Xiumei , Liu Zhiwei , Zhang Lin , Qu Xuanhui
Published: December 2019

Although silicon‐based materials are ideal candidate anodes for high energy density lithium‐ion batteries, the large volumetric expansion seriously damages the integrity of the electrodes and impedes commercial processes. Reasonable electrode design based on adjustable structures of silicon and strong binders prepared by a facile method is still a great challenge. Herein, a three‐pronged collaborative strategy via hollow nanocubes, amorphous Void@SiOx@C, and in situ cross‐linked polyacrylic acid and d‐sorbitol 3D network binder (c‐PAA‐DS) is adopted to maintain structural/electrode integrality and stability. The all‐integrated c‐PAA‐DS/Void@SiOx@C electrode delivers excellent mechanical property, which is attributed to ductility of the c‐PAA‐DS binder and high adhesion energy between Void@SiOx@C and c‐PAA‐DS calculated by density functional theory. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of accommodation of the hollow structure, protection of outer carbon shell, amorphous Void@SiOx@C, and strong adhesive c‐PAA‐DS binder, c‐PAA‐DS/Void@SiOx@C shows excellent electrochemical performance. Long cycling stability with a reversible capacity of 696 mAh g−1 is obtained, as well as tiny capacity decay after 500 cycles at 0.5 A g−1 and high‐rate performance. The prelithiated Void@SiOx@C||LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 (NCM523) full cell is also assembled and shows a reversible capacity of 157 mAh g−1 at 0.5 C, delivering an excellent capacity retention of 94% after 160 cycles.
Edge‐Epitaxial Growth of InSe Nanowires toward High‐Performance Photodetectors
Authors: Hao Song , Yan Shengnan , Wang Yang , Xu Tao , Zhang Hui , Cong Xin , Li Lingfei , Liu Xiaowei , Cao Tianjun , Gao Anyuan , Zhang Lili , Jia Lanxin , Long Mingsheng , Hu Weida , Wang Xiaomu , Tan Pingheng , Sun Litao , Cui Xinyi , Liang Shi‐Jun , Miao Feng
Published: December 2019

Semiconducting nanowires offer many opportunities for electronic and optoelectronic device applications due to their unique geometries and physical properties. However, it is challenging to synthesize semiconducting nanowires directly on a SiO2/Si substrate due to lattice mismatch. Here, a catalysis‐free approach is developed to achieve direct synthesis of long and straight InSe nanowires on SiO2/Si substrates through edge‐homoepitaxial growth. Parallel InSe nanowires are achieved further on SiO2/Si substrates through controlling growth conditions. The underlying growth mechanism is attributed to a selenium self‐driven vapor–liquid–solid process, which is distinct from the conventional metal‐catalytic vapor–liquid–solid method widely used for growing Si and III–V nanowires. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the as‐grown InSe nanowire‐based visible light photodetector simultaneously possesses an extraordinary photoresponsivity of 271 A W−1, ultrahigh detectivity of 1.57 × 1014 Jones, and a fast response speed of microsecond scale. The excellent performance of the photodetector indicates that as‐grown InSe nanowires are promising in future optoelectronic applications. More importantly, the proposed edge‐homoepitaxial approach may open up a novel avenue for direct synthesis of semiconducting nanowire arrays on SiO2/Si substrates.
A systematic mapping of test case generation techniques using UML interaction diagrams
Authors: Minhas Nasir Mehmood , Masood Sohaib , Petersen Kai , Nadeem Aamer
Published: December 2019

Model‐based test case generation techniques provide a mechanism to derive tests systematically. This study provides a systematic mapping of test case generation techniques based on UML interaction diagrams. The study compares the test case generation techniques regarding their capabilities and limitations, and it also assesses the reporting quality of the primary studies. We can conclude that the studies presenting test case generation techniques using UML interaction diagrams were not following the guidelines for research methods (eg, case studies or experiments). Solutions were not empirically evaluated in industrial contexts. Our study revealed that better tool support is needed to introduce the UML interaction diagram–based test case generation techniques in the industry.
Combinational Design of Electronic Structure and Nanoarray Architecture Achieves a Low‐Overpotential Oxygen Electrode for Aprotic Lithium–Oxygen Batteries
Authors: Xiao Liang , Yi Jingyu , Kou Zongkui , Li Erwei , Deng Bohua , Wang John , Liu Jinping
Published: December 2019

Transition metal nitrides (TMNs) are generally recognized as excellent electrocatalysts in aqueous solution because of their distinct electronic structures and high electrical conductivity. However, their potential catalytic activities are rarely studied in the oxygen electrodes of aprotic lithium–oxygen batteries and the intrinsic electroactivities are quite difficult to be manifested in binder‐involved electrodes. Herein, a novel combinational design of electronic structure and nanoarray architecture is proposed to eliminate the influences of binders and additives and achieve high performance of TMNs as oxygen electrodes for aprotic lithium–oxygen batteries. In the case study of CoN nanowire arrays (NAs), experimental coupled with theoretical studies demonstrate that the distinct electronic structure of CoN enables the appropriate adsorption and facile charge transfer between the discharge product Li2O2 and CoN. Results also show that the nanoarray architecture of CoN enables the full utilization of catalytic active sites, efficient mass transportation, and sufficient inner spaces for accommodating the insoluble discharge product. Thus, the CoN NA cathode achieves both a low overall overpotential of 1.01 V and a high areal capacity of 3.35 mA h cm−2. The combinational design principle of electronic structure and electrode architecture provides a promising way to develop advanced oxygen electrode for metal–air batteries.
Phylogenetics of Mazaceae (Lamiales), with special reference to intrageneric relationships within Mazus
Authors: Deng Tao , Lin Nan , Huang Xianhan , Wang Hengchang , Kim Changkyun , Zhang Daigui , Zhu Weidong , Yusupov Ziyoviddin , Tojibaev Komiljon Sh. , Sun Hang
Published: December 2019

Mazaceae, a recently proposed family in the Lamiales, contains three genera; Mazus, Lancea and Dodartia, yet the systematic position and the circumscription of the family have not been fully confirmed. This paper reports on an expanded analysis of the family that included most species of all three genera using five chloroplast DNA regions (matK, psbA‐trnH intergenic spacer, rbcL, rps16, trnL‐F intergenic spacer) and ITS of nrDNA to determine the phylogenetic placement of Mazaceae as well as the intrageneric relationships within the relatively large genus Mazus. The results support the recognition of the three genera (Mazus, Lancea, Dodartia), confirm the well‐supported monophyly of Mazaceae and show Lancea and Dodartia to be clustered together and sister to Mazus. The phylogenetic relationships within the Lamiales is highly congruent with previous molecular studies, with Mazaceae sister to a clade comprising Orobanchaceae, Phrymaceae and Paulowniaceae. Together they are sister to the rest of the families in the order. In Mazus, two major lineages were recognized, corresponding to the distribution ranges in Australia and Asia. Previous sectional treatments of Mazus are discussed in light of our molecular phylogenetic results. This study confirms the systematic position of Mazaceae within the Lamiales. The intrageneric relationships revealed in Mazus will provide evidence for further taxonomic studies of the genus.
Physical and policy pathways to net‐zero emissions industry
Authors: Bataille Christopher G. F.
Published: December 2019

Several recent studies have identified emerging and near‐commercial process and technological options to transition heavy industry to global net‐zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by mid‐century, as required by the Paris Agreement. To reduce industrial emissions with sufficient speed to meet the Paris goals, this review article argues for the rapid formation of regional and sectoral transition plans, implemented through comprehensive policy packages. These policy packages, which will differ by country, sector, and level of development, must reflect regional capacities, politics, resources, and other key circumstances, and be informed and accepted by the stakeholders who must implement the transition. These packages will likely include a mix of the following mutually reinforcing strategies: reducing and substituting the demand for GHG intense materials (i.e., material efficiency) while raising the quantity and quality of recycling through intentional design and regulation; removal of energy subsidies combined with carbon pricing with competitiveness protection; research and development support for decarbonized production technologies followed by lead markets and subsidized prices during early stage commercialization; sunset policies for older high carbon facilities; electricity, hydrogen and carbon capture, and storage infrastructure planning and support; and finally, supporting institutions, including for a “just workforce & community transition” and monitoring and adjustment of policy effectiveness. Given the paucity of industrial decarbonization perspectives available for in‐transition and less‐developed countries, the review finishes with a discussion of priorities and responsibilities for developed, in‐transition and less developed countries.

This article is categorized under:

Climate Economics > Economics of Mitigation

Climate and Development > Decoupling Emissions from Development
Effects of development interventions on biocultural diversity: a case study from the Pamir Mountains
Authors: Haider L. Jamila , Boonstra Wiebren J. , Akobirshoeva Anzurat , Schlüter Maja
Published: December 2019

The relationship between nature and culture in biocultural landscapes runs deep, where everyday practices and rituals have coevolved with the environment over millennia. Such tightly intertwined social–ecological systems are, however, often in the world’s poorest regions and commonly subject to development interventions which effect biocultural diversity. This paper investigates the social and ecological implications of an introduced wheat seed in the Pamir Mountains. We examine contrasting responses to the intervention through participatory observation of food practices around a New Year ritual, and interviews in two communities. Our results show how one community fostered biocultural diversity, while the other did not, resulting in divergent processes of social and cultural change. In the former, ritual is practiced with traditional seed varieties, involving reciprocal exchange and is characterised by little outmigration of youth. In contrast, the second community celebrates the ritual with replaced store-bought ingredients, no longer cultivates any grain crops and where circular migration to Russia is the main livelihood strategy. Coevolution as an analytical lens enables us to understand these divergent pathways as processes of dynamically changing social–ecological relations. The paper suggests that a deeper understanding of social–ecological relationships in landscapes offers a dynamic and process-oriented understanding of development interventions and can help identify endogenous responses to local, regional and global change—thereby empowering more appropriate and effective development pathways.
Sonochemical Deposition of Palladium Nanoparticles Onto the Surface of N-Doped Carbon Nanotubes: A Simplified One-Step Catalyst Production Method
Authors: Prekob Ádám , Muránszky Gábor , Kocserha István , Fiser Béla , Kristály Ferenc , Halasi Gyula , Kónya Zoltán , Viskolcz Béla , Vanyorek László
Published: December 2019

This work presents an easy, one-step procedure for catalyst preparation. A small fraction of palladium ions was reduced to Pd nanoparticles and deposited onto the surface of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-BCNT) by acoustic cavitation using high-intensity ultrasound in aqueous phase, where N-BCNT served as a reducing agent. The formation of elemental palladium and palladium oxides were confirmed and the particle size is < 5 nm. The catalytic activity of the synthesized Pd/N-BCNT catalyst was tested in nitrobenzene hydrogenation at four different temperature (273–323 K) and 20 bar pressure. The catalyst showed high activity despite the presence of palladium oxide forms, the conversion of nitrobenzene to aniline was 98% at 323 K temperature after 40 min. The activation energy was 35.81 kJ/mol. At 303 K and 323 K temperature, N-methylaniline was formed as by-product in a small quantity (8 mmol/dm3). By decreasing the reaction temperature (at 273 K and 283 K), the reaction rate was also lower, but it was favourable for aniline selectivity, and not formed n-methylaniline. All in all, Pd/N-BCNT catalyst was successfully produced by using a one-step sonochemical method, where further activation was not necessary as the catalytic system was applicable in nitrobenzene hydrogenation.

Graphic Abstract
Genomic analysis of powdery mildew resistance in a hop (Humulus lupulus L.) bi-parental population segregating for “R6-locus”
Authors: Padgitt-Cobb Lillian K. , Kingan Sarah B. , Henning John A.
Published: December 2019

Genetic response in hop to fungal pathogen infection has been evaluated at the chromosomal level through QTL analyses but very little information exists on the expression of genes during infection periods. Raw GBS reads and phenotypic data from a previously published QTL analysis along with a newly assembled PacBio-derived hop reference genome were used to re-evaluate resistance to races v4/v6 of powdery mildew (PM; Podosphaera humuli). QTL analyses revealed two tightly linked regions of association on a single linkage group. The three SNP markers most tightly linked to PM resistance (found on contig 000559F) were observed downstream from a putative R-gene locus for powdery mildew resistance. This 230 kb region contained a series of seven putative R-genes surrounded by seven putative peroxidase-3 genes downstream and seven putative glucan endo-1,3-beta-glucosidase upstream and an expressed F-box domain protein. RNAseq data showed all putative R-genes along with all putative glucan endo-1,3-beta-glucosidase genes were expressed under diseased conditions, while none of the peroxidase genes were expressed. The second region contained three SNPs found on contig 002916F next to two putative R-genes. RNAseq data showed complex expression of exons contained in putative isoforms of R-genes. This preliminary information will prove valuable information for development of precise markers located either within or next to genes responsible for race v4/v6 PM resistance.
A Flow Cytometric Method to Quantify the Endosomal Escape of a Protein Toxin to the Cytosol of Target Cells
Authors: Wensley Harrison J. , Johnston David A. , Smith Wendy S. , Holmes Suzanne E. , Flavell Sopsamorn U. , Flavell David J.
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The aim of this work was to develop a quantitative, flow cytometric method for tracking the endolysosomal escape of a fluorescently labelled saporin toxin.

Methods

Flow cytometric measurements of fluorescent pulse width and height were used to track the endocytic uptake into Daudi cells of a fluorescently labelled saporin toxin and the saporin based immunotoxin, OKT10-SAP. Subsequently, measurement of changes in pulse width were used to investigate the effect of a triterpenoid saponin on the endolysosomal escape of internalised toxin into the cytosol. Live cell confocal microscopy was used to validate the flow cytometry data.

Results

Increased endolysosomal escape of saporin and OKT10-SAP was observed by confocal microscopy in cells treated with saponin. Fluorescent pulse width measurements were also able to detect and quantify escape more sensitively than confocal microscopy. Saponin induced endolysosomal escape could be abrogated by treatment with chloroquine, an inhibitor of endolysosomal acidification. Chloroquine abrogation of escape was also mirrored by a concomitant abrogation of cytotoxicity.

Conclusions

Poor endolysosomal escape is often a rate limiting step for the cytosolic delivery of protein toxins and other macromolecules. Pulse width analysis offers a simple method to semi-quantify the endolysosomal escape of this and similar molecules into the cytosol.
Establishment and validation of cell pools using primary muscle cells derived from satellite cells of pig skeletal muscle
Authors: Metzger Katharina , Tuchscherer Armin , Palin Marie-France , Ponsuksili Siriluck , Kalbe Claudia
Published: December 2019

Primary cell cultures derived from satellite cells of skeletal muscle provide an appropriate in vitro model for proliferating myoblasts and differentiating myotubes for muscle biological research. These cell cultures may consist of harvested cells per animal or of a cell pool made of cells from several animals. However, cell pooling reduces the biological variability of the different cell donors. On the other hand, the use of cell pools offers an opportunity to use less donor tissue and to perform long-term projects with a broad spectrum of analysis and replications. In the literature, information about the donors of cell pools, the procedure used for pooling, and the characterization/validation of cell pools is often lacking. In this study, we established three cell pools consisting of M. rhomboideus or M. longissimus from ten or six piglets, each with one gender and medium birth weight. Real-time impedimetric monitoring was used to evaluate the proliferative growth behavior of myoblasts for the cell pools in comparison to their corresponding unpooled cells over a period of 72 h, with a measurement being taken every 30 min. For each of the tested cell pools, cell index, slope, and doubling time did not differ between the cell pool and the unpooled cells of the donor animals. Differentiation capacity and mRNA expression of PAX7, MYOD and MYOG remained unchanged between the cell pool and the unpooled cells. Current results support that the use of cell pools is an appropriate method to reflect the average proliferative growth behavior of unpooled cells.
Modeling Solid-State Phase Transformations of 13Cr-4Ni Steels in Welding Heat-Affected Zone
Authors: Lévesque J. B. , Lanteigne J. , Champliaud H. , Paquet D.
Published: December 2019

Fatigue damage is commonly encountered by operators of Francis type hydraulic turbine runners made of 13Cr-4Ni soft martensitic stainless steel. These large and complex welded casting assemblies are subjected to fatigue crack initiation and growth in the vicinity of their welded regions. It is well known that fatigue behavior is influenced by residual stresses and the microstructure. By including solid-state phase transformation models in welding simulations, phase distribution can be evaluated along with their respective volumetric change and their effect on residual stresses. Thus, it enables the assessment of welding process on fatigue crack behavior by numerical methods. This paper focuses on modeling solid-state phase transformations of 13Cr-4Ni soft martensitic stainless steel, used for manufacturing hydraulic turbine runners, occurring upon welding. It proposes to determine the material parameters of the models for both the austenitic and the martensitic transformation by nonisothermal dilatometry tests. The experiments are conducted in a quenching dilatometer with applied thermal conditions as experienced in the heat-affected zone of homogeneous welds. The activation energy and the kinetic parameters of the austenitic transformation from fully martensitic state are measured from the experimental results. The martensitic transformation modeling from a fully austenitic domain is also presented.
Neuroenhancement, the Criminal Justice System, and the Problem of Alienation
Authors: Varelius Jukka
Published: December 2019

It has been suggested that neuroenhancements could be used to improve the abilities of criminal justice authorities. Judges could be made more able to make adequately informed and unbiased decisions, for example. Yet, while such a prospect appears appealing, the views of neuroenhanced criminal justice authorities could also be alien to the unenhanced public. This could compromise the legitimacy and functioning of the criminal justice system. In this article, I assess possible solutions to this problem. I maintain that none of them qualifies as a satisfactory general solution to it, a solution that could reasonably be taken to solve the problem or to suffice for dealing with it in at least most cases. Yet I also suggest that, depending on contingent empirical circumstances, the responses – either singly or together – can sometimes amount to a sufficient answer to it.
Engineering of Exosomes to Target Cancer Metastasis
Authors: Zhang Zhenjiang , Dombroski Jenna A. , King Michael R.
Published: December 2019

As a nanoscale subset of extracellular vehicles, exosomes represent a new pathway of intercellular communication by delivering cargos such as proteins and nucleic acids to recipient cells. Importantly, it has been well documented that exosome-mediated delivery of such cargo is involved in many pathological processes such as tumor progression, cancer metastasis, and development of drug resistance. Innately biocompatible and possessing ideal structural properties, exosomes offer distinct advantages for drug delivery over artificial nanoscale drug carriers. In this review, we summarize recent progress in methods for engineering exosomes including isolation techniques and exogenous cargo encapsulation, with a focus on applications of engineered exosomes to target cancer metastasis.
The impact of blockchain technology on business models – a taxonomy and archetypal patterns
Authors: Weking Jörg , Mandalenakis Michael , Hein Andreas , Hermes Sebastian , Böhm Markus , Krcmar Helmut
Published: December 2019

Blockchain technology enables new ways of organizing economic activities, reduces costs and time associated with intermediaries, and strengthens the trust in an ecosystem of actors. The impact of this seminal technology is reflected by an upcoming research stream and various firms that examine the potential uses of blockchain technology. While there are promising use cases of this new technology, research and practice are still in their infancy about altering existing and creating new business models. We develop a taxonomy of blockchain business models based on 99 blockchain ventures to explore the impact of blockchain technology on business models. As a result, we identify five archetypal patterns, which enhance our understanding of how blockchain technology affects existing and creates new business models. We propose to use these results to discover further patterns fueled by blockchain technology and illustrate how firms can use blockchain technology to innovate their business models.
Shifts in microbial community composition in tannery-contaminated soil in response to increased gamma radiation
Authors: Al-Najjar Mohammad A. A. , Albokari Majed M.
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Contaminated sites from man-made activities such as old-fashioned tanneries are inhabited by virulent microorganisms that exhibit more resistance against extreme and toxic environmental conditions. We investigated the effect of different Gamma radiation doses on microbial community composition in the sediment of an old-fashioned tannery.

Methods

Seven samples collected from the contaminated sites received different gamma radiation doses (I = 0.0, II = 5, III = 10, VI = 15, V = 20, VI = 25, and VII = 30 kGy) as an acute exposure. The shift in microbial community structure was assessed using the high throughput 454 pyrosequencing. Variations in diversity, richness, and the shift in operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were investigated using statistical analysis.

Result

Our results showed that the control sample (I) had the highest diversity, richness, and OTUs when compared with the irradiated samples. Species of Halocella, Parasporobacterium, and Anaerosporobacter had the highest relative abundance at the highest radiation dose of 30 kGy. Members of the Firmicutes also increased by 20% at the highest radiation dose when compared with the control sample (0.0 kGy). Representatives of Synergistetes decreased by 25% while Bacteroidetes retained a steady distribution across the range of gamma radiation intensities.

Conclusion

This study provides information about potential “radioresistant” and/or “radiotolerant” microbial species that are adapted to elevated level of chemical toxicity such as Cr and Sr in tannery. These species can be of a high biotechnological and environmental importance.
Evaluation of Early Action Mechanisms in Peru Regarding Preparedness for El Niño
Authors: Aguirre Julio , De La Torre Ugarte Daniel , Bazo Juan , Quequezana Paulo , Collado Mauricio
Published: December 2019

In this article, we provide an impact evaluation of an intervention in Peru regarding preparedness for El Niño impacts in Picsi District of Chiclayo Province in Peru’s northwestern coastal Lambayeque region. This effort involved the provision of special kits that reduce the potential damage to homes as a consequence of rainfall and floods associated with an El Niño-Southern Oscillation event. Information was collected in 2016 when this Forecast-based Financing early action was activated by an El Niño forecast, and after a coastal El Niño actually struck in 2017. This dual database permits us to estimate the impact of the intervention on the damage level of homes by comparing those homes supported by the program with those homes not receiving pilot-program support. This comparison is achieved by using propensity score matching techniques, which identify the most comparable homes to the ones that were supported by the intervention. The main findings of the study suggest a positive impact of the program in terms of its effectiveness in mitigating the damage caused by the 2017 El Niño. These results suggest a drop in the scale of house damage (less damage) by around 63% for a home that received the modular kit treatment. When considering other specifications of the model, the decrease in the scale of house damage improves up to approximately 66%.
Convolutional neural networks based efficient approach for classification of lung diseases
Authors: Demir Fatih , Sengur Abdulkadir , Bajaj Varun
Published: December 2019

Treatment of lung diseases, which are the third most common cause of death in the world, is of great importance in the medical field. Many studies using lung sounds recorded with stethoscope have been conducted in the literature in order to diagnose the lung diseases with artificial intelligence-compatible devices and to assist the experts in their diagnosis. In this paper, ICBHI 2017 database which includes different sample frequencies, noise and background sounds was used for the classification of lung sounds. The lung sound signals were initially converted to spectrogram images by using time–frequency method. The short time Fourier transform (STFT) method was considered as time–frequency transformation. Two deep learning based approaches were used for lung sound classification. In the first approach, a pre-trained deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) model was used for feature extraction and a support vector machine (SVM) classifier was used in classification of the lung sounds. In the second approach, the pre-trained deep CNN model was fine-tuned (transfer learning) via spectrogram images for lung sound classification. The accuracies of the proposed methods were tested by using the ten-fold cross validation. The accuracies for the first and second proposed methods were 65.5% and 63.09%, respectively. The obtained accuracies were then compared with some of the existing results and it was seen that obtained scores were better than the other results.
Parity generator and digital code converter in QCA nanotechnology
Authors: Khakpour Mahdi , Gholami Mohammad , Naghizadeh Shokoufeh
Published: December 2019

In this paper, new structures for digital code converter circuits in quantum dot cellular automata (QCA) technology are presented. The basic structure of most of these circuits is the XOR gate, which is widely used in digital design. Therefore, in the proposed, the XOR gate will be presented which will be better than previous circuits in terms of cell number and delay. Then, using the proposed circuits for the XOR gate, new circuits for generating parity bit, Binary to Gray, Gray to binary and BCD to gray code converter are introduced. Proposal designs have an efficient implementation in terms of complexity. The proposed structures are simulated using the QCAdesigner tool to evaluate the correct performance. The proposed final circuit as a digital code converter has improved by 37% in terms of cell consumption and 25% in speed.
Co-producing Psychiatric Education with Service User Educators: a Collective Autobiographical Case Study of the Meaning, Ethics, and Importance of Payment
Authors: Soklaridis Sophie , de Bie Alise , Cooper Rachel Beth , McCullough Kim , McGovern Brenda , Beder Michaela , Bellissimo Gail , Gordon Tucker , Berkhout Suze , Fefergrad Mark , Johnson Andrew , Kalocsai Csilla , Kidd Sean , McNaughton Nancy , Ringsted Charlotte , Wiljer David , Agrawal Sacha
Published: December 2019

Objective

Co-production involves service providers and service users collaborating to design and deliver services together and is gaining attention as a means to improve provision of care. Aiming to extend this model to an educational context, the authors assembled a diverse group to develop co-produced education for psychiatry residents and medical students at the University of Toronto over several years. The authors describe the dynamics involved in co-producing psychiatric education as experienced in their work.

Methods

A collaborative autobiographical case study approach provides a snapshot of the collective experiences of working to write a manuscript about paying service users for their contributions to co-produced education. Data were collected from two in-person meetings, personal communications, emails, and online comments to capture the fullest possible range of perspectives from the group about payment.

Results

The juxtaposition of the vision for an inclusive process against the budgetary constraints that the authors faced led them to reflect deeply on the many meanings of paying service user educators for their contributions to academic initiatives. These reflections revealed that payment had implications at personal, organizational, and social levels.

Conclusion

Paying mental health service user educators for their contributions is an ethical imperative for the authors. However, unless payment is accompanied by other forms of demonstrating respect, it aligns with organizational structures and practices, and it is connected to a larger goal of achieving social justice, the role of service users as legitimate knowers and educators and ultimately their impact on learners will be limited.
Movienet: a movie multilayer network model using visual and textual semantic cues
Authors: Mourchid Youssef , Renoust Benjamin , Roupin Olivier , Văn Lê , Cherifi Hocine , Hassouni Mohammed El
Published: December 2019

Discovering content and stories in movies is one of the most important concepts in multimedia content research studies. Network models have proven to be an efficient choice for this purpose. When an audience watches a movie, they usually compare the characters and the relationships between them. For this reason, most of the modelsdeveloped so far are based on social networks analysis. They focus essentially on the characters at play. By analyzing characters interactions, we can obtain a broad picture of the narration’s content. Other works have proposed to exploit semantic elements such as scenes, dialogues,etc.. However, they are always captured from a single facet. Motivated by these limitations, we introduce in this work a multilayer network model to capture the narration of a movie based on its script, its subtitles, and the movie content. After introducing the model and the extraction process from the raw data, weperform a comparative analysis of the whole 6-movie cycle of the Star Wars saga. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework for video content representation and analysis.
A generalized configuration model with degree correlations and its percolation analysis
Authors: Lee Duan-Shin , Chang Cheng-Shang , Zhu Miao , Li Hung-Chih
Published: December 2019

In this paper we present a generalization of the classical configuration model. Like the classical configuration model, the generalized configuration model allows users to specify an arbitrary degree distribution. In our generalized configuration model, we partition the stubs in the configuration model intobblocks of equal sizes and choose a permutation functionhfor these blocks. In each block, we randomly designate a number proportional toqof stubs as type 1 stubs, whereqis a parameter in the range [0,1]. Other stubs are designated as type 2 stubs. To construct a network, randomly select an unconnected stub. Suppose that this stub is in blocki. If it is a type 1 stub, connect this stub to a randomly selected unconnected type 1 stub in blockh(i). If it is a type 2 stub, connect it to a randomly selected unconnected type 2 stub. We repeat this process until all stubs are connected. Under an assumption, we derive a closed form for the joint degree distribution of two random neighboring vertices in the constructed graph. Based on this joint degree distribution, we show that the Pearson degree correlation function is linear inqfor any fixedb. By properly choosingh, we show that our construction algorithm can create assortative networks as well as disassortative networks. We present a percolation analysis of this model. We verify our results by extensive computer simulations.
Circulating level of 25(OH)D3 with risk factors of asymptomatic adenoma and proximal non-adenoma colorectal polyps
Authors: Albertus Jacobus , Riwanto Ignatius , Simadibrata Marcellus , Purnomo Hery D.
Published: December 2019

Background An inverse association between circulating vitamin D and adenoma risk has been reported, but less is known about proximal inflammatory-hyperplastic polyps.

Purpose To investigate circulating 25(OH)D3 and risk factors of proximal inflammatory-hyperplastic and adenoma colorectal polyps.

Methods From January 2017 to June 2019, consecutive asymptomatic average-risk participants undergoing initial screening colonoscopy. Questionnaires provided information on colorectal polyp risk factors, and plasma samples were assayed for 25-Hydroxyvitamin-D – 25(OH)D3. The colorectal polyps were assessed, and medical history and demographic data were obtained from each patient.

Results Of the 220 asymptomatic subjects, the prevalence of proximal inflammatory-hyperplastic polyps and adenoma polyps were 16.8%; 18.1% and 22.2%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that low vitamin D (25(OH)D3 < 18 ng/mL, OR = 3.94; 95% CI: 1.81–9.51) and current/former smoking (OR = 6.85; 95% CI: 2.98–15.70), high body mass index (BMI > 24, OR = 5.32, 95% CI: 2.62–4.71) were independent predictors for proximal inflammatory-hyperplastic colorectal polyps (non-adenoma). Low vitamin D (25(OH)D3 < 18 ng/mL, OR = 7.75; 95% CI: 3.19–18.80) and current/former smoking (OR = 3.75; 95% CI: 1.30–10.81), age over 60 years old (OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.02–5.57), were independent predictors for adenoma colorectal polyps.

Conclusion Low vitamin D and smoking are common risk factors for both adenomatous and proximal inflammatory hyperplastic polyps. Old age and BMI are additional risk factors for the development of adenomatous and non-adenomatous colorectal polyps.
Editorial
Authors: Barrett Steve
Published: December 2019

Record-breaking is popular with many people and organisations around the world – there's something very appealing about doing better than anyone has ever done before. And it provides excellent publicity.
Thinking differently: An education for the Anthropocene from Uttarakhand, India
Authors: Germein Susan , Vaishnava Neema
Published: December 2019

Theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of education and activism in the Anthropocene will be enriched by an embrace of non-hegemonic thinking. Lakshmi Ashram, a small girls’ school in the Himalayan mountains of Uttarakhand, India, provides an object lesson in thinking differently: in an imbrication of education/research/activism. This article acknowledges a continuing lack of attention in the literature to local, cultural and place-based diversity in transformative learning for sustainable community. However, the central story in this article is not one of critique, but rather one of a Himalayan approach to creating the pedagogical conditions for transformation in thinking and behaviour, in a connectedsocio-ecologicalcommunity. Writing across an intercultural space, the two authors describe their ethnographic methodologies, exploring the long-term impact of a Lakshmi Ashram education on students and inhabiting the pedagogical experience of the school. A seamless flow of socio-material practice between pedagogy, research and activism in the school’s educational approach speaks to a Gandhian philosophy-in-action that is worth considering as a contribution to global educational praxis in the Anthropocene. In telling this tale of one small school’s pedagogical philosophy, the authors aim not towards ideological posturing, but towards creating further openings in thinking differently in education.
Violence, Autochthony, and Identity Politics in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa): A Processual Perspective on Local Political Dynamics
Authors: Krämer Mario
Published: December 2019

“Political violence” is seemingly on the rise again in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The violence that began in the 1980s and reached a peak in the transition period resurfaced before the local government elections in August 2016. Krämer provides a processual understanding of local dynamics of violence in the eThekwini Municipality and situates the current episode within the historical trajectory of violent conflict. He examines how exclusionary identities get activated in local elections and argues that underlying the violence between supporters of hostile political parties are conflicting forms of autochthonous belonging and contradictory ideas about what constitutes membership in a community.
Three methods for examining trajectories in neuropsychological performance across the first 4 years after mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Barker-Collo Suzanne , Theadom Alice , Jones Kelly , Starkey Nicola , Fernando Kris , Kahan Michael , Prah Philip , Feigin Valery
Published: December 2019

Background:

Emerging data suggest that recovery from mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) takes longer than previously thought. This paper examines trajectories for cognitive recovery up to 48 months post-mTBI, presenting these visually using a Sankey diagram and growth curve analysis.

Methods:

This sample (n= 301) represents adults (≥16 years) from a population-based Brain Injury Outcomes in the New Zealand Community study over a 4-year follow-up on the CNS-Vital Signs neuropsychological test. Data were collected within 2 weeks of injury, and then at 1, 6, 12 and 48 months post-injury.

Results:

Significant improvement in cognitive functioning was seen up to 6 months post-injury. Using growth curve modelling, we found significant improvements in overall neurocognition from baseline to 6 months, on average participants improved one point per month (0.9; 95% CI 0.42–1.39)p< 0.001. No change in neurocognition was found within the time periods 6–12 months or 12–48 months. The Sankey highlighted that at each time point, a small proportion of participants remained unchanged or declined. Proportionally, few show any improvement after the first 6 months.

Conclusion:

Most individuals remained stable or improved over time to 6 months post-injury. Summary statistics are informative regarding overall trends, but can mask differing trajectories for recovery. The Sankey diagram indicates that not all improve, as well as the potential impact of individuals moving in and out of the study. The Sankey diagram also indicated the level of functioning of those most likely to withdraw, allowing targeting of retention strategies.
DERIVED HECKE ALGEBRA AND COHOMOLOGY OF ARITHMETIC GROUPS
Authors: VENKATESH AKSHAY
Published: December 2019

We describe a graded extension of the usual Hecke algebra: it acts in a graded fashion on the cohomology of an arithmetic group

$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}$

. Under favorable conditions, the cohomology is freely generated in a single degree over this graded Hecke algebra.

From this construction we extract an action of certain

$p$

-adic Galois cohomology groups on

$H^{\ast }(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4},\mathbf{Q}_{p})$

, and formulate the central conjecture: the motivic

$\mathbf{Q}$

-lattice inside these Galois cohomology groups preserves

$H^{\ast }(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4},\mathbf{Q})$

.
Regulating Off-Road: The California Desert and Collaborative Environmentalism
Authors: Woodhouse Keith Makoto
Published: December 2019

Historians often understand the 1970s and 1980s in terms of a declining New Deal order, in which an antistatist right as well as a conflicted relationship between public interest movements and administrative authorities undermined the notion of an effective federal government. Nowhere was the erosion of federal administration seemingly more apparent than in the West. An examination of the regulation of off-road racing in the California desert, focusing on everyday administration rather than on elections and lawsuits, reveals how federal agencies actually worked more collaboratively and productively with different interest groups than familiar narratives about these polarized decades would suggest. Contrary to depictions of federal agencies as administrating from afar, and of environmental organizations as overly litigious and out of touch, regulatory work in the California desert happened locally and through relationships shaped by new laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act.
Multiple engagement: the relationship between informal care-giving and formal volunteering among Europe's 50+ population
Authors: Strauss Susanne
Published: December 2019

The article investigates the conditions of multiple engagement in the private and public realm in the second half of life. More specifically, I look at the relationship between informal care-giving and formal volunteering in a country-comparative way. Based on longitudinal data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement, 2004–2015, I investigate the 50+ population in 13 European countries. Controlling for unobserved heterogeneity by using conditional fixed-effect logistic regression models, I confirm earlier findings that care-givers are more likely to volunteer than non-care-givers; this effect is independent of care-giving intensity but only true for those who care outside their own household. As to macro-level influences, I find that both care-in-kind and cash-for-care expenditures increase the likelihood of volunteering among the 50+ population. The effect of cash-for-care expenditure is even stronger for the group of those who give intensive care outside their own households than for non-care-givers. Moreover, I find effects related to family's and women's role in society. First, I show a negative effect of a country's societal norm of family orientation on volunteering participation for those giving sporadic care outside their household but also among non-care-givers. Second, in countries with higher female labour market participation among the middle-aged, the volunteering likelihood is higher for sporadic female care-givers outside their own household but also among female non-care-givers.
SUPERPOSITIONED STATIONARY COUNT TIME SERIES
Authors: Jia Yisu , Lund Robert , Livsey James
Published: December 2019

This paper probabilistically explores a class of stationary count time series models built by superpositioning (or otherwise combining) independent copies of a binary stationary sequence of zeroes and ones. Superpositioning methods have proven useful in devising stationary count time series having prespecified marginal distributions. Here, basic properties of this model class are established and the idea is further developed. Specifically, stationary series with binomial, Poisson, negative binomial, discrete uniform, and multinomial marginal distributions are constructed; other marginal distributions are possible. Our primary goal is to derive the autocovariance function of the resulting series.