bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polarization Analysis of Gas Diffusion Electrode with Different Fabrication Parameters in Metal–Air Batteries
Authors: Li Wenqi , Yan Zhao , Li Xiaoke , Liu Qianfeng , Wang Erdong
Published: April 2020

The gas diffusion electrode (GDE) represents the most significant component in metal–air batteries (MABs). It is essential to understand the underlying behaviors of GDE and optimize its performance. Herein, a polarization separation method from total polarization curve to single activation, ohmic, and mass transport polarizations of GDE in MABs is proposed for the first time, which is then applied in the investigation of detailed polarization behaviors of the GDE by changing the fabrication parameters. As the polytetrafluoroethylene contents in the catalyst and gas diffusion layers and pressing pressure are adjusted, hydrophobicity, porosity, coverage, and thickness are changed to influence the performance of GDE. Through this analysis, a detailed understanding of the structure–performance relationship of GDE is achieved to improve the electrode design, architecture, and fabrication.
Preschool Obesity Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Childhood Fracture: A Longitudinal Cohort Study of 466,997 Children and Up to 11 Years of Follow-up in Catalonia, Spain
Authors: Lane Jennifer CE , Butler Katherine L , Poveda-Marina Jose Luis , Martinez-Laguna Daniel , Reyes Carlen , de Bont Jeroen , Javaid Muhammad Kassim , Logue Jennifer , Compston Juliet E , Cooper Cyrus , Duarte-Salles Talita , Furniss Dominic , Prieto-Alhambra Daniel
Published: April 2020

This study aimed to determine if having an overweight or obese range body mass index (BMI) at time of beginning school is associated with increased fracture incidence in childhood. A dynamic cohort was created from children presenting for routine preschool primary care screening, collected in the Information System for Research in Primary Care (SIDIAP) platform in Catalonia, Spain. Data were collected from 296 primary care centers representing 74% of the regional pediatric population. A total of 466,997 children (48.6% female) with a validated weight and height measurement within routine health care screening at age 4 years (±6 months) between 2006 and 2013 were included, and followed up to the age of 15, migration out of region, death, or until December 31, 2016. BMI was calculated at age 4 years and classified using WHO growth tables, and fractures were identified using previously validated ICD10 codes in electronic primary care records, divided by anatomical location. Actuarial lifetables were used to calculate cumulative incidence. Cox regression was used to investigate the association of BMI category and fracture risk with adjustment for socioeconomic status, age, sex, and nationality. Median follow-up was 4.90 years (interquartile range [IQR] 2.50 to 7.61). Cumulative incidence of any fracture during childhood was 9.20% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.79% to 14.61%) for underweight, 10.06% (9.82% to 10.29%) for normal weight, 11.28% (10.22% to 12.35%) for overweight children, and 13.05% (10.69% to 15.41%) for children with obesity. Compared with children of normal range weight, having an overweight and obese range BMI was associated with an excess risk of lower limb fracture (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.42 [1.26 to 1.59]; 1.74 [1.46 to 2.06], respectively) and upper limb fracture (adjusted HR = 1.10 [1.03 to 1.17]; 1.19 [1.07 to 1.31]). Overall, preschool children with an overweight or obese range BMI had increased incidence of upper and lower limb fractures in childhood compared with contemporaries of normal weight. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Exhaustive search of the configurational space of heat‐shock protein 90 with its inhibitor by multicanonical molecular dynamics based dynamic docking
Authors: Bekker Gert‐Jan , Araki Mitsugu , Oshima Kanji , Okuno Yasushi , Kamiya Narutoshi
Published: April 2020

Multicanonical molecular dynamics based dynamic docking was used to exhaustively search the configurational space of an inhibitor binding to the N‐terminal domain of heat‐shock protein 90 (Hsp90). The obtained structures at 300 K cover a wide structural ensemble, with the top two clusters ranked by their free energy coinciding with the native binding site. The representative structure of the most stable cluster reproduced the experimental binding configuration, but an interesting conformational change in Hsp90 could be observed. The combined effects of solvation and ligand binding shift the equilibrium from a preferred loop‐in conformation in the unbound state to an α‐helical one in the bound state for the flexible lid region of Hsp90. Thus, our dynamic docking method is effective at predicting the native binding site while exhaustively sampling a wide configurational space, modulating the protein structure upon binding.
Vein detection with near‐infrared organic photodetectors for biometric authentication
Authors: Tordera Daniel , Peeters Bart , Delvitto Ezequiel , Shanmugam Santhosh , Maas Joris , de Riet Joris , Verbeek Roy , van de Laar Robert , Bel Thijs , Haas Gerard , Ugalde Leslye , van Breemen Albert , Katsouras Ilias , Kronemeijer Auke Jisk , Akkerman Hylke , Meulenkamp Eric , Gelinck Gerwin
Published: April 2020

We combine a low dark current and high‐detectivity near‐infrared (NIR)‐sensitive organic photodetector with a high‐resolution 508 pixels per inch (ppi) oxide thin‐film transistor (TFT) backplane to create a large‐area thin NIR detector, using processes that are compatible with flat‐panel display fabrication. The detector is characterized showing high uniformity and linearity. With the use of a NIR light source, the detector is capable of imaging the (pattern of) veins under the skin in reflection, leading to improved biometric authentication.
Cell populations and muscle fiber morphology associated with acute and chronic muscle degeneration in lumbar spine pathology
Authors: Shahidi Bahar , Gibbons Michael C. , Esparza Mary , Zlomislic Vinko , Allen Richard Todd , Garfin Steven R. , Ward Samuel R.
Published: April 2020

Many chronic musculoskeletal conditions are associated with loss of muscle volume and quality, resulting in functional decline. While atrophy has long been implicated as the mechanism of muscle loss in these conditions, recent evidence has emerged demonstrating a degenerative phenotype of muscle loss consisting of disrupted muscle fiber membranes, infiltration of cells into muscle fibers, and as previously describer, possible replacement of muscle fibers by adipose tissue. Here, we use human lumbar spine pathology as a model system to provide a more comprehensive analysis of the morphological features of this mode of muscle loss between early and late stages of disease, including an analysis of the cell populations found in paraspinal muscle biopsies from humans with acute vs chronic lumbar spine pathology. Using longitudinal sections, we show that degeneration of muscle fibers is localized within a fiber (ie, focal), and is characterized by discontinuous or ragged membrane disruption, cellular infiltration, and apparently vacant space containing limited numbers of nuclei and hyper‐contractile cell debris. Samples from patients with acute and chronic pathology demonstrate similar magnitudes of muscle degeneration, however, larger proportions of PDGFRβ‐positive progenitor cells and leukocytes were observed in the acute group, with no differences in myogenic cells, macrophages, or T‐cells. By better understanding the cell population behaviors over the course of disease, therapies can be optimized to address the appropriate targets and timing of administration to minimize the functional consequences of muscle degeneration in lumbar spine pathology.
Expanded normative data for the balance tracking system modified clinical test of sensory integration and balance protocol
Authors: Goble Daniel J. , Brown Elise C. , Marks Charles R. C. , Baweja Harsimran S.
Published: April 2020

The modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration and Balance (mCTSIB) is a popular protocol used to assess key sources of sensory feedback utilized during upright standing. The present study aimed to expand the age range of a previous normative sample of only young adult mCTSIB reference data collected using the Balance Tracking System (BTrackS). In total, 1,276 adults between ages 20 and 59 years old completed the BTrackS mCTSIB protocol in this study. The protocol consisted of four, 20‐s trials that systematically manipulated the relative contributions of vision, proprioception and vestibular sensory systems. Total Center of Pressure Path Length results showed that females generally outperformed males in all age groups and sensory conditions. Both sexes showed reduced balance with age that started at age 50–59 years in Standard and Proprioception conditions. In the Vestibular condition, both sexes had reduced balance starting at age 30–39 years. In contrast, the pattern of reduction was different between females and males in the Vision condition. In this case, females showed a decline in balance at age 30–39 years compared to 40–49 years in males. These results provide important information demonstrating sensory feedback processing for balance can decline at differential rates based on age and sex characteristics. Percentile ranking look‐up tables were also calculated as a practical tool for researchers and clinicians who regularly perform mCTSIB testing.
An incompatible and unsymmetric four‐node quadrilateral plane element with high numerical performance
Authors: Huang Yingqing , Huan Yakun , Chen Haibo
Published: April 2020

Recent studies show that the unsymmetric finite element method exhibits excellent performance when the discretized meshes are severely distorted. In this article, a new unsymmetric 4‐noded quadrilateral plane element is presented using both incompatible test functions and trial functions. Five internal nodes, one at the elemental central and four at the middle sides, are added to ensure the quadratic completeness of the elemental displacement field. Thereafter, the total nine nodes are applied to form the shape functions of trial function, and the Lagrange interpolation functions are adopted as the incompatible test shape functions of the internal nodes. The incompatible test displacements are then revised to satisfy the patch test. Numerical tests show that the present element can provide very good numerical accuracy with badly distorted meshes. Unlike the existing unsymmetric four‐node plane elements in which the analytical stress fields are employed, the present element can be extended to boundary value problems of any differential equations with no difficulties.
Spatiotemporal variation characteristics and source identification of water pollutants in Shayinghe River basin
Authors: Zhang Yan , Dou Ming , Li Ping , Liang Zhijie , Wang Cai , Dai Pengcheng
Published: April 2020

To understand the spatiotemporal variation characteristics and the sources of water pollutants in the Shayinghe River Basin, water quality monitoring data of the five water quality indexes (biochemical oxygen demand: BOD5, permanganate index: CODMn, ammonium nitrogen: NH3–N, total phosphorus: TP and dissolved oxygen: DO) were collected from 11 monitoring stations and divided into 6 categories (classes I, II, III, IV, V and inferior class V). The spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of the water pollutants were comprehensively identified by the water pollution index method (WPI), Mann‐Kendall trend test, cluster analysis and box‐plot analysis method, and the effects of the pollution source, runoff and sluice regulation were analyzed for water pollutants. The results indicated that the water quality standard of classes mainly belonged to class IV or above in Shayinghe River Basin, accounting for about 70%, but the water quality standard reached class I and class II for less than 15%. The water pollutants presented a significant decreasing trend, and the NH3‐N and TP were the key control indexes for the monitoring stations in the Shayinghe River Basin. The exceeding rates of WPI values showed a significantly decreasing trend at Baidukou, Mawan, Huangqiao, Zhoukou Sluice, Jieshou, Fuyang Sluice and Yingshang Sluice by controlling the NH3‐N and TP. The WPI values showed obvious variations in January 2011, March 2013 and October 2014 at the Baisha Reservoir, Mawan and Chengwan. The WPI values were divided into two major categories with respect to time. The non‐flood season should be used as the key period for water quality management and control; the variability of WPI values was relatively large from January to June, November, and December, and the variability of WPI values was relatively low from July to October. The monitoring sections were spatially divided into three major categories. The WPI values had the greatest variability at Huangqiao and a relatively small variability at Baisha Reservoir, Mawan and Chengwan. The study results could provide the scientific basis for realizing targeted pollution source treatment, improving the effectiveness of water quality management and ecological environment, and a theoretical foundation for pollution control and water quality improvement in the Shayinghe River Basin.
Temperature‐responsive Solid Acid Catalyst for Cellulose Hydrolysis to HMF
Authors: Wang Yong , Zhang Yuan , Li Chunxiao , Wang Ming , Cui Hongyou , Yi Weiming , Song Feng , Sun Xiuyu , Fu Qiang
Published: April 2020

Conversion of cellulose to the platform chemical, 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), is of importance to the manufacture of a variety of bio‐chemicals and biofuels. However, low mass and heat transfer between a solid catalyst and the cellulose particles severely hampers the efficiency of cellulose conversion. In effort to conquer the obstacle, a series of N‐doped mesoporous carbon materials (MCNs) were prepared and employed to catalyze cellulose to HMF by use of the temperature‐responsive HCl‐releasing effect of MCNs. In this way, acid‐base dual catalytic environments can be constructed for efficient conversion of cellulose to HMF. MCN‐2‐DH⋅nHCl is capable of adsorbing chemically 1.07 mmol HCl/g at room temperature and releasing about 1.01 mmol HCl/g when being heated to 220 °C. It is found that MCN‐2‐DH⋅nHCl is an excellent catalyst for cellulose conversion, yielding 52.6% HMF, 27.6% reducing sugars and 4.1% levulinic acid with a cellulose conversion of 96.4% after reacting at 220 °C for 80 min. A total carbon yield of 84.3% can be achieved. Moreover, four times of recycling tests demonstrate that MCN‐2‐DH⋅nHCl possesses good temperature‐responsive stability in aqueous solution.
Solar Induced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue by CdS/Ag2O Nanocomposites
Authors: Sophia P. Joice , Balaji D. , James Caleb Peters T. , Chander D. Sathish , Vishwath Rishaban S. , Vijaya Shanthi P. , Nagavenkatesh K. R. , Kumar M. Rajesh
Published: April 2020

Present investigation reports the synthesis of stable as well as visible‐light active CdS/Ag2O nanocomposite photocatalysts in three varied ratios to be engaged in degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. As‐synthesized photocatalysts have been characterized with the aid of diverse characterization techniques such as X‐ray diffraction (XRD), FT‐Raman, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV‐visible and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD pattern clearly depicts the presence of hexagonal CdS phase and cubic Ag2O phase. Results show a remarkable enhancement of photocatalytic activity for MB degradation especially for CdS/Ag2O nanocomposite with maximum efficiency up to 88.8 %. Moreover, the effective bandgap of CdS/Ag2O (1 : 2) nanocomposite has been significantly reduced to 1.71 eV from pure CdS (2.15 eV). It can be derived that CdS/Ag2O photocatalysis may be envisaged for treatment of diluted waste water containing organic pollutants.
Metal‐organic Framework of [Cu2(BIPA‐TC)(DMA)2]n: A Promising Anode Material for Lithium‐Ion Battery
Authors: Luo Yulin , Wu Mengke , Pang Baocheng , Ge Jiawen , Li Rui , Zhang Pan , Zhou Mingjiong , Han Lei , Okada Shigeto
Published: April 2020

A copper‐based redox‐active metal‐organic framework (Cu–MOF) is solvothermally synthesized from Cu(NO3)2 with the ligand 5,5‐(1,3,6,8‐tetraoxobenzo[Imn][3,8]phenanthroline‐2‐7diyl)‐bis‐1,3‐benzenedicarboxylic acid. The as‐prepared Cu–MOF is characterized by X‐ray diffraction, automatic sphere surface analyzer, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties of Cu–MOF as an anode are investigated for lithium‐ion batteries. The Cu–MOF exhibits superior performance including high reversible capacity and excellent cyclic stability. The Cu–MOF shows high initial charge capacity of 753.7 mAh g−1, and still remains approximately 53% of its capacity after 500 cycles. In addition, it is revealed that the oxidation/reduction of copper ion in Cu–MOF occurred during charge and discharge process.
Synthesis and Herbicidal Activity of Trifluoromethyl‐Substituted Phenyl Alkyl Ketoxime Esters of Bispyribac
Authors: Cai Xinhong , Hu Hang , Gong Shunze , Xu Xiangjian , Wang Bin , Zhou Huan , Xu Defeng
Published: April 2020

A series of new trifluoromethyl‐substituted phenyl alkyl ketoxime esters of Bispyribac were synthesized as potential herbicides. All synthesized compounds were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Sprout method and foliar spray method were used to study the herbicidal activity of the synthesized compounds. Among all synthesized compounds, compound 3 (4‐trifluoromethylphenyl n‐butyl ketoxime ester of Bispyribac) exhibits the highest herbicidal activity against Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv with median effect dose (ED50) of 1.7 μg/mL in pre‐emergence herbicidal activity study. The structure‐activity relationship analysis indicates that trifluoromethyl substitution on the phenyl group exhibits better activity than methoxy and methyl substitution on the phenyl group. The alkyl chain length also affects the activity significantly and the optimal alkyl chain length is four among the tested compounds. However, the substitution position of trifluoromethyl exhibits very limited influence on the activity. In post‐emergence herbicidal activity study, compound 3 (ED90 69.1056 g/hm2) exhibits better herbicidal activity against Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv than Pyribenzoxim (ED90 99.0810 g/hm2). Moreover, compound 3 exhibits better safety to hybrid rice variety II you 084 and rice variety Nanjing 44 than Pyribenzoxim in crop safety study. Compound 3 may serve as a lead compound for future herbicide discovery.
Slepton pair production with aNNLO+NNLL precision
Authors: Fiaschi Juri , Klasen Michael , Sunder Marthijn
Published: April 2020

Abstract

We present a calculation of slepton pair production at the LHC at next-to-next- to-leading logarithmic (NNLL) accuracy, matched to approximate next-to-next-to-leading order (aNNLO) QCD corrections. We collect the relevant analytical formulae, discuss the matching of logarithmically enhanced and fixed-order results and describe the transformation of parton densities and hadronic cross sections to and from Mellin space. Numerically, we find a moderate increase of invariant-mass distributions and total cross sections with respect to our previous results at next-to-leading logarithmic (NLL) accuracy matched to next-to-leading order (NLO), and more importantly a further significant reduction of the factorisation and renormalisation scale dependence that stabilises our predictions to the permil level. The dependence on other supersymmetric parameters like squark and gluino masses and sbottom mixing that enter only at NLO is found to be weak, i.e. less than two percent, as expected.
Exposure of White-throated Dippers to heavy metals in acidified and non-acidified streams in Norway
Authors: Pedersen Hans Christian , Nybø Signe , Sandercock Brett K.
Published: April 2020

We examined the exposure of White-throated Dippers (Cinclus cinclus) to aluminum and mercury in acidified and non-acidified streams in two regions of Norway. Both metals showed significantly higher concentrations in the body tissues of dippers in acidified streams at southern sites compared to non-acidified streams in central Norway. Elevated concentrations of aluminum in acidified areas could not be explained by a corresponding elevated level of aluminum in the invertebrate foods of dippers. During our study period in 1993–1995, deposition rates of mercury by long-range air pollution were higher in southern than central Norway. High levels of mercury in dippers could have been due to higher levels of atmospheric deposition or higher water acidity in southern Norway. We found a high correlation between mercury levels in body tissues of females and their eggs, but not for aluminum. Thus, eggs are suitable for monitoring mercury levels but not for aluminum in female dippers. Our data provide baseline estimates of exposure to heavy metals in freshwater ecosystems in Norway that will be useful for monitoring future trends.
Influence of activator type on reaction kinetics, setting time, and compressive strength of alkali-activated mineral wools
Authors: Yliniemi J. , Walkley B. , Provis J. L. , Kinnunen P. , Illikainen M.
Published: April 2020

Alkali activation is a promising utilisation route for mineral wool wastes, due to suitable chemical composition, high reactivity, and surface area. One key factor in the development of alkali-activated binders is the selection of the suitable alkali activator. Here, the effect of sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate, sodium aluminate, and sodium carbonate solution on the alkali-activation kinetics of two main types of mineral wools, stone wool and glass wool, is investigated. Setting time and compressive strength development results are presented, which are explained and discussed in the context of isothermal calorimeter data obtained at temperature of 40 °C. Sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solutions provided fast reaction with both mineral wools, evidenced by high heat release, high early strength, and fast setting. The reaction with sodium aluminate solution took several days to initiate, but it produced high compressive strength after 28 days of curing with both mineral wools. Glass wool reacted and hardened rapidly with sodium carbonate solution, but stone wool reacted slowly with sodium carbonate and exhibited a low extent of reaction, likely due to lower extent of reaction of stone wool under less alkaline conditions. These results show that mineral wool alkali activation kinetics and binder gel formation are controlled by the activator type and highlight the importance of choosing the most appropriate activator for each desired application.
Bioinspired reorientation strategies for application in micro/nanorobotic control
Authors: Ghanbari Ali
Published: April 2020

Engineers have recently been inspired by swimming methodologies of microorganisms in creating micro-/nanorobots for biomedical applications. Future medicine may be revolutionized by the application of these small machines in diagnosing, monitoring, and treating diseases. Studies over the past decade have often concentrated on propulsion generation. However, there are many other challenges to address before the practical use of robots at the micro-/nanoscale. The control and reorientation ability of such robots remain as some of these challenges. This paper reviews the strategies of swimming microorganisms for reorientation, including tumbling, reverse and flick, direction control of helical-path swimmers, by speed modulation, using complex flagella, and the help of mastigonemes. Then, inspired by direction change in microorganisms, methods for orientation control for microrobots and possible directions for future studies are discussed. Further, the effects of solid boundaries on the swimming trajectories of microorganisms and microrobots are examined. In addition to propulsion systems for artificial microswimmers, swimming microorganisms are promising sources of control methodologies at the micro-/nanoscale.
Quantification/mechanism of interfacial interaction modulated by electric potential in aqueous salt solution
Authors: Li Shaowei , Bai Pengpeng , Li Yuanzhe , Pesika Noshir S. , Meng Yonggang , Ma Liran , Tian Yu
Published: April 2020

With the development of surface and interface science and technology, methods for the online modulation of interfacial performance by external stimuli are in high demand. Switching between ultra-low and high friction states is a particular goal owing to its applicability to the development of precision machines and nano/micro-electromechanical systems. In this study, reversible switching between superlubricity and high friction is realized by controlling the electric potential of a gold surface in aqueous salt solution sliding against a SiO2 microsphere. Applying positive potential results creates an ice-like water layer with high hydrogen bonding and adhesion at the interface, leading to nonlinear high friction. However, applying negative potential results in free water on the gold surface and negligible adhesion at the interface, causing linear ultra-low friction (friction coefficient of about 0.004, superlubricity state). A quantitative description of how the external load and interfacial adhesion affected friction force was developed, which agrees well with the experimental results. Thus, this work quantitatively reveals the mechanism of potential-controlled switching between superlubricity and high-friction states. Controlling the interfacial behavior via the electric potential could inspire novel design strategies for nano/micro-electromechanical and nano/micro-fluidic systems.
The European Convention of Human Rights and Migration at Sea: Reading the “Jurisdictional Threshold” of the Convention Under the Law of the Sea Paradigm
Authors: Papastavridis Efthymios
Published: April 2020

In all the applications before the ECtHR concerning migration at sea, a preliminary, yet seminal, question is whether the applicants were within the jurisdiction of the respondent State, in terms of Article 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This question becomes even more apposite in contemporary situations of remote interception or search and rescue operations. In addressing the matter of jurisdiction in such cases, the law of the sea becomes of significant importance. This Article argues that as the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) has often taken into account human rights considerations, similarly, the European Court of Human Rights should read into the term “jurisdiction” under Article 1 of ECHR law of the sea considerations. Far from resurrecting Banković and the strict “general international law” notion of jurisdiction under ECHR, this Article only intends to shed some light on when a State would be considered as exercising such “authority and control over persons” in the maritime domain. In so doing, this Article will focus only on the potential application of the ECHR to the most common practices of States vis-à-vis migration on the high seas, namely interception and rescue operations.
The Architecture of Functional Jurisdiction: Unpacking Contactless Control—On Public Powers, S.S. and Others v. Italy, and the “Operational Model”
Authors: Moreno-Lax Violeta
Published: April 2020

Available accounts on jurisdiction, effective control, and the reach of human rights protections fail to provide a coherent construction that is principled and applicable across the board, within and beyond territorial borders. The “functional jurisdiction” model posited herein resolves these incongruities by looking at the normative foundation of sovereign authority overall, predicated on an exercise of “public powers” through which State functions are discharged, taking the form of policy delivery and/or operational action, whether inland or offshore, and which translates into “situational” control. Using the pending case of S.S. and Others v. Italy as an illustration, the article focuses on the sovereign-authority nexus that unites a specific state with a specific individual in a specific situation, triggering human rights obligations even through mechanisms of “contactless control” exercised via remote management techniques and/or through a proxy third actor. The role of extraterritorial operations, qua complex mechanisms of governance that implement broader policies with a planning, rollout and post-implementation phase, is central to this re-conceptualization, as is also the understanding that what makes control “effective” is its capacity to determine the material course of events and the resulting position in which those affected find themselves upon execution of the measure(s) concerned.
A Topographical Approach to Accountability for Human Rights Violations in Migration Control
Authors: Tan Nikolas Feith , Gammeltoft-Hansen Thomas
Published: April 2020

This Article develops what we call a “topographical approach” to accountability in migration control. Drawing on different strands of scholarship, including legal geography, “legal black holes,” and work on strategic litigation, we approach accountability by perceiving the site of a violation from a bird's-eye view and mapping different accountability structures across diverse legal regimes and via a broadened geographic lens. Rather than advocating for accountability in regard to particular regimes or jurisdictions, we argue that multi-pronged approaches are likely to remain the best starting point for ensuring accountability for human rights violations in the context of current migration control practices. The topographical approach thus offers a general framework for identifying existing blind spots, critically assessing existing trajectories, as well as exploring the wider grid of potential accountability mechanisms.
EXTENSIONS OF AUTOCORRELATION INEQUALITIES WITH APPLICATIONS TO ADDITIVE COMBINATORICS
Authors: FISH SARA , KING DYLAN , MILLER STEVEN J.
Published: April 2020

Barnard and Steinerberger [‘Three convolution inequalities on the real line with connections to additive combinatorics’, Preprint, 2019, arXiv:1903.08731] established the autocorrelation inequality $$\begin{eqnarray}\min _{0\leq t\leq 1}\int _{\mathbb{R}}f(x)f(x+t)\,dx\leq 0.411||f||_{L^{1}}^{2}\quad \text{for}~f\in L^{1}(\mathbf{R}),\end{eqnarray}$$ where the constant $0.411$ cannot be replaced by $0.37$. In addition to being interesting and important in their own right, inequalities such as these have applications in additive combinatorics. We show that for $f$ to be extremal for this inequality, we must have $$\begin{eqnarray}\max _{x_{1}\in \mathbb{R}}\min _{0\leq t\leq 1}\left[f(x_{1}-t)+f(x_{1}+t)\right]\leq \min _{x_{2}\in \mathbb{R}}\max _{0\leq t\leq 1}\left[f(x_{2}-t)+f(x_{2}+t)\right].\end{eqnarray}$$ Our central technique for deriving this result is local perturbation of $f$ to increase the value of the autocorrelation, while leaving $||f||_{L^{1}}$ unchanged. These perturbation methods can be extended to examine a more general notion of autocorrelation. Let $d,n\in \mathbb{Z}^{+}$, $f\in L^{1}$, $A$ be a $d\times n$ matrix with real entries and columns $a_{i}$ for $1\leq i\leq n$ and $C$ be a constant. For a broad class of matrices $A$, we prove necessary conditions for $f$ to extremise autocorrelation inequalities of the form $$\begin{eqnarray}\min _{\mathbf{t}\in [0,1]^{d}}\int _{\mathbb{R}}\mathop{\prod }_{i=1}^{n}~f(x+\mathbf{t}\cdot a_{i})\,dx\leq C||f||_{L^{1}}^{n}.\end{eqnarray}$$
The KPP Trigger of Rapid AMOC Intensification in the Nonlinear Dansgaard‐Oeschger Relaxation Oscillation
Authors: Peltier W. Richard , Ma Yuchen , Chandan Deepak
Published: April 2020

Millennium time scale Dansgaard‐Oeschger oscillations of glacial climate, clear evidence for the occurrence of which was first provided on the basis of oxygen isotopic data from a Greenland ice core 25 years ago, have recently been shown to arise naturally (without explicit freshwater forcing) in a fully coupled modern climate model description of the interactions between the overturning circulation of the oceans, the atmosphere, and sea ice under maximum glacial conditions. The fast transitions from cold stadial to warm interstadial conditions in a typical D‐O oscillation are characterized by the appearance of an extensive polynya in the stadial sea ice cover of the Irminger Sea south of Denmark Strait that opens due to the onset of intense vertical mixing below the sea ice lid. Through detailed stability analysis of the water column in the region where the polynya first forms, together with analysis of the action of the KPP (Kappa Profile Parameterization) of stratified turbulence employed to represent water column diapycnal diffusivity, the authors show that the opening of the polynya is controlled by this turbulence parameterization. The relative contributions of the different components of the parameterization to polynya opening are investigated in order to better understand the rapid climate change that ensues. The authors furthermore show that the characteristic period of the model predicted Dansgaard‐Oeschger oscillation is also controlled by the detailed nature of this parameterization, a characteristic of the oscillation not previously explained.
DNA punch cards for storing data on native DNA sequences via enzymatic nicking
Authors: Tabatabaei S. Kasra , Wang Boya , Athreya Nagendra Bala Murali , Enghiad Behnam , Hernandez Alvaro Gonzalo , Fields Christopher J. , Leburton Jean-Pierre , Soloveichik David , Zhao Huimin , Milenkovic Olgica
Published: April 2020

Synthetic DNA-based data storage systems have received significant attention due to the promise of ultrahigh storage density and long-term stability. However, all known platforms suffer from high cost, read-write latency and error-rates that render them noncompetitive with modern storage devices. One means to avoid the above problems is using readily available native DNA. As the sequence content of native DNA is fixed, one can modify the topology instead to encode information. Here, we introduce DNA punch cards, a macromolecular storage mechanism in which data is written in the form of nicks at predetermined positions on the backbone of native double-stranded DNA. The platform accommodates parallel nicking on orthogonal DNA fragments and enzymatic toehold creation that enables single-bit random-access and in-memory computations. We use Pyrococcus furiosus Argonaute to punch files into the PCR products of Escherichia coli genomic DNA and accurately reconstruct the encoded data through high-throughput sequencing and read alignment.
Time-dependent density-functional theory molecular-dynamics study on amorphization of Sc-Sb-Te alloy under optical excitation
Authors: Wang Xue-Peng , Li Xian-Bin , Chen Nian-Ke , Bang Junhyeok , Nelson Ryky , Ertural Christina , Dronskowski Richard , Sun Hong-Bo , Zhang Shengbai
Published: April 2020

Recently, all-optical memory and optical-computation properties of phase-change materials are receiving intensive attention. Because writing/erasing information in these devices is usually achieved by laser pulses, the interaction between the laser and the phase-change materials becomes a key issue for such new applications. In this work, by a time-dependent density-functional theory molecular-dynamics study, the physics underlying the optical excitation induced amorphization of Sc-Sb-Te is revealed, which goes back to superatom-like Sc-centered structural motifs. These motifs are found to be still robust under the excitation. A selected occupation of the Sc d-t2g orbitals (as a result of optical excitation) leads to a significant change of Sc-centered bond angles. In addition, the especially weak Sb-Te bonds next to the Sc motifs are further diminished by excitations. Therefore, the Sc-centered motifs can promote breaking, switching, and reforming of the surrounding Sb-Te network and, therefore, facilitate the amorphization of Sc-Sb-Te. The study shows the unique role of Sc-centered motifs in optically induced phase transition, and displays potential applications of Sc-Sb-Te alloys in optical memory/computation.
Sex specific cognitive differences in Parkinson disease
Authors: Reekes Tyler Harrison , Higginson Christopher Ian , Ledbetter Christina Raye , Sathivadivel Niroshan , Zweig Richard Matthew , Disbrow Elizabeth Ann
Published: April 2020

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is 1.5 times more common in males than in females. While motor progression tends to be more aggressive in males, little is known about sex difference in cognitive progression. We tested the hypothesis that there are sex differences in cognitive dysfunction in non-demented PD. We evaluated 84 participants (38 females) with PD and 59 controls (27 females) for demographic variables and cognitive function, including attention, working memory, executive function, and processing speed. Multivariate ANOVA revealed no significant differences between groups for demographic variables, including age, years of education, global cogntition, daytime sleepiness, predicted premorbid IQ, UPDRS score, PD phenotype, or disease duration. For cognitive variables, we found poorer performance in males versus females with PD for measures of executive function and processing speed, but no difference between male and female controls. Specifically, PD males showed greater deficits in Verbal Fluency (category fluency, category switching, and category switching accuracy), Color Word Interference (inhibition), and speed of processing (SDMT). There were no differences in measures of working memory or attention across sex and inconsistent findings for switching. Our data indicate that males with PD have significantly greater executive and processing speed impairments compared to females despite no differences in demographic variables or other measures of disease severity. Our findings are consistent with the steeper slope of disease progression reported in males with PD.
Author Correction: Nanofocusing of hard X-ray free electron laser pulses using diamond based Fresnel zone plates
Authors: David C. , Gorelick S. , Rutishauser S. , Krzywinski J. , Vila-Comamala J. , Guzenko V. A. , Bunk O. , Färm E. , Ritala M. , Cammarata M. , Fritz D. M. , Barrett R. , Samoylova L. , Grünert J. , Sinn H.
Published: April 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Analysis of Clinical and Laboratory Findings of Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Authors: Xie Wen , Dai Qingqing , Liu Jianguo , Liu Yuehui , Hellström Sten , Duan Maoli
Published: April 2020

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is an emergency disease requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment. The incidence of ISSNHL in the Western countries’ population was estimated to 5–20 per 100,000 inhabitants. The etiology of ISSNHL remains unknown. Its pathogenesis is most often suggested to be due to a disturbed microcirculation and infection. Previous studies have reported that comorbidities, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), and hyperfibrinogenemia are risk factors of ISSNHL. This study aimed at investigating the clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters and comorbidities of patients with ISSNHL. Our study suggests that the annual incidence of ISSNHL in China mainland is 19 per 100 000. The clinical characteristics and prevalence of comorbidities of ISSNHL patients are different according to age distribution and hearing results. Moreover, the patients with vertigo, hypertension, DM and high TG suffered more often from severe hearing loss compared with the counterparts. This indicates that the cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (hypertension and hyperlipidemia) appeared to be closely associated with the occurrence and severity of ISSNHL.
Bridging the gap between industry and synchrotron: an operando study at 30 bar over 300 h during Fischer–Tropsch synthesis
Authors: Loewert M. , Serrer M.-A. , Carambia T. , Stehle M. , Zimina A. , Kalz K. F. , Lichtenberg H. , Saraçi E. , Pfeifer P. , Grunwaldt J.-D.
Published: April 2020

Long-term operando spectroscopic study of a Fischer–Tropsch catalyst at a synchrotron radiation facility under realistic conditions with full product analysis.
Effective accommodation and conversion of polysulfides using organic–inorganic hybrid frameworks for long-life lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Jiao Sa , Ding Tianyi , Zhai Rui , Wu Yunping , Chen Sheng , Wei Wei
Published: April 2020

Novel organic–inorganic hybrid frameworks fundamentally restrict LiPS dissolution and enhance their electrochemical transformation.
Layered transition metal dichalcogenide/carbon nanocomposites for electrochemical energy storage and conversion applications
Authors: Kim Yena , Park Teahoon , Na Jongbeom , Yi Jin Woo , Kim Jeonghun , Kim Minjun , Bando Yoshio , Yamauchi Yusuke , Lin Jianjian
Published: April 2020

Recent advances in layered transition metal dichalcogenide/carbon nanocomposites obtained by a rational approach for energy storage and conversion applications
Virtual user pairing based non‐orthogonal multiple access in downlink coordinated multipoint transmissions
Authors: Hendraningrat Denny Kusuma , Shahab Muhammad Basit , Shin Soo Young
Published: April 2020

In this study, joint transmission coordinated multi‐point (JT‐CoMP) is integrated with virtual user pairing based non‐orthogonal multiple access (VP‐NOMA), termed as JT‐CoMP VP‐NOMA. JT‐CoMP is a multi‐cell coordination scheme, where base stations of neighbouring cells coordinate with each other to improve the performance of their common cell edge users (CEUs). On the other hand, VP‐NOMA is a one‐to‐many user pairing scheme in non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), where one cell centre user (CCU) within a cell can be paired/multiplexed with multiple CEUs for better spectrum utilisation. The proposed scheme combines both VP‐NOMA for enhancing ergodic sum capacity (ESC) within a cell and JT‐CoMP for mitigating inter‐cell interference (ICI) between neighbouring cells. To demonstrate the achieved performance gains, ESC of a three‐cell scenario is analysed as a key performance metric, where each cell contains two users; a CCU and a CEU. Closed‐form expressions for ESC of the considered system are derived, and validated through simulations. Furthermore, the analytical and simulation results of JT‐CoMP VP‐NOMA are compared with orthogonal multiple access, NOMA, and VP‐NOMA to show the achieved performance gains. It is shown that the proposed JT‐CoMP VP‐NOMA outperforms the other schemes in the viewpoint of ESC.
Adaptive prescribed performance terminal sliding mode attitude control for quadrotor under input saturation
Authors: Xu Gang , Xia Yuanqing , Zhai Di‐Hua , Ma Dailiang
Published: April 2020

This study investigates the attitude tracking problem of quadrotor in presence of external disturbances and the constraint of input saturation. An adaptive prescribed performance terminal sliding mode control scheme is proposed. Terminal sliding mode control algorithm guarantees all state variables to converge to their desired value in a short time while prescribed performance function limits the convergence speed, maximum overshoot and steady‐state error. Adaptive law is adopted to estimate the unknown upper bound of external disturbances. To further address input saturation problem encountered in practical system, an auxiliary system is designed. Lyapunov stability approach is applied to guarantee the stability of the closed‐loop system. Finally, Numerical simulations with non‐linear model are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed control scheme.
Optimal guidance strategy for the defense of a non‐manoeuvrable target in 3‐dimensions
Authors: Weintraub Isaac , Garcia Eloy , Pachter Meir
Published: April 2020

An engagement scenario involving the defence of a non‐manoeuvrable agent, called the Target, is considered. A pursuing agent, engages the non‐manoeuvrable Target while a defending agent, which aims at intercepting the Pursuer to protect the Target, is considered in 3‐dimensions. A zero‐sum differential game is formulated where the objective of the Defender is to capture the Pursuer and maximise the terminal Pursuer‐Target range at final time; while the Pursuer aims at minimising the terminal Pursuer‐Target range at final time. The terminal time is not fixed and is determined by the interception of the Pursuer by the Defender. The saddle point state‐feedback strategies for the Pursuer and the Defender are obtained using a gradient‐based minimisation routine. A comparison of the saddle point strategy against a heuristic approach, Pure Pursuit, is conducted. The comparison demonstrates that poorer performance is achieved by players who deviate from the optimal saddle point strategy; and, as a result, the saddle point strategies outperform the heuristic method.
Uncertainty propagation for the design study of the PETALE experimental programme in the CROCUS reactor
Authors: Laureau Axel , Lamirand Vincent , Rochman Dimitri , Pautz Andreas
Published: April 2020

The PETALE experimental programme in the CROCUS reactor intends to provide integral measurements to constrain stainless steel nuclear data. This article presents the tools and the methodology developed to design and optimize the experiments, and its operating principle. Two acceleration techniques have been implemented in the Serpent2 code to perform a Total Monte Carlo uncertainty propagation using variance reduction and correlated sampling technique. Their application to the estimation of the expected reaction rates in dosimeters is also discussed, together with the estimation of the impact of the nuisance parameters of aluminium used in the experiment structures.
In Vitro Kinematic Analysis of Single Axis Radius Posterior-Substituting Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Arauz Paul , Peng Yun , Castillo Tiffany , Klemt Christian , Kwon Young-Min
Published: April 2020

This is an experimental study. As current posterior-substituting (PS) total knee arthroplasties have been reported to incompletely restore intrinsic joint biomechanics of the healthy knee, the recently designed single axis radius PS knee system was introduced to increase posterior femoral translation and promote ligament isometry. As there is a paucity of data available regarding its ability to replicate healthy knee biomechanics, this study aimed to assess joint and articular contact kinematics as well as ligament isometry of the contemporary single axis radius PS knee system. Implant kinematics were measured from 11 cadaveric knees using an in vitro robotic testing system. In addition, medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) forces were quantified under simulated functional loads during knee flexion for the contemporary PS knee system. Posterior femoral translation between the intact knee and the single axis radius PS knee system differed significantly (p < 0.05) at 60, 90, and 120 degrees of flexion. The LCL force at 60 degrees (9.06 ± 2.81 N) was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those at 30, 90, and 120 degrees of flexion, while MCL forces did not differ significantly throughout the range of tested flexion angles. The results from this study suggest that although the contemporary single axis radius PS knee system has the potential to mimic the intact knee kinematics under muscle loading during flexion extension due to its design features, single axis radius PS knee system did not fully replicate posterior femoral translation and ligament isometry of the healthy knee during knee flexion.