bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of coconut shell powder on physico‐mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of polyvinyl chloride recovered from waste rigid pipes
Authors: Sahoo Subhaprada , Sahoo Ayesha Baby , Priyadarshee Janmejay , Gohatre Omdeo Kishorrao
Published: September 2021

This research work focuses experimentally study on the utilization of coconut shell powder (CSP) as a strengthening filler in recycled polyvinyl chloride (r‐PVC) retrieve from waste PVC pipes to high mechanical strength composites. Herewith, to improve the interaction within the organic based natural filler and un‐plasticized r‐PVC, the epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) was used as a processing aid. The melt mixing of r‐PVC using CSP as well as ESO was carried out by a two‐roll milling process and further sheets manufacturing process followed by compression molding. The effect of CSP filler content on the physico‐mechanical properties, thermal properties, and morphology of r‐PVC/CPS composites was investigated. The result shows that the incorporation of CSP filler within polymer indicated, the change in physical with enhancement in mechanical properties such as tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, impact strength, and surface hardness properties. Meanwhile, the density and water absorption of composites has been increased as the filler content in the r‐PVC matrix increases. The morphology study of composites indicates poor interfacial interaction as an increase in CSP content in the composites. The marginal improvement in thermal stability of prepared composite also increased with 20 wt% of CSP content and analyzed by performing differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry analysis. This study, therefore, shows the potential of CSP filler in r‐PVC as an alternative particulate material for the development of a new polymer matrix composite.
A theoretical mechanistic study of [K ⊂ [2.2.2]]+ enantiomerization
Authors: Balović Jelena , Ćoćić Dušan , Đorđević Slađana , Radenković Slavko , van Eldik Rudi , Puchta Ralph
Published: September 2021

Density functional calculations at three different levels of theory (B3LYP/LANL2DZp, B3LYP‐GD3/LANL2DZp, and ωB97XD/def2tzvp) were applied to different conformers of the Lehn‐type macrobicyclic polyether cryptate complex [K ⊂ [2.2.2]]+ to construct the enantiomerization pathway and to compute the energy barrier for the change in symmetry. Changes in the conformation of the investigated complex are discussed in terms of energy and geometric criteria, where changes in the structures follow a trend of activation energies prohibiting the achiral pathways. The investigated D3‐symmetric cryptate [K ⊂ [2.2.2]]+ shows enantiomerization through an all chiral five step pathway with two local minima (C2 and C2′) and three C1 transition states ending in the D3′‐symmetric cryptate [K ⊂ [2.2.2]]+, the mirror image of the starting structure. The potential achiral transition states are higher order saddle points with a minimum twice as high in energy as an all‐chiral path. This study unambiguously accounts for Lehn's NMR data showing fluxionality of the studied complex. The obtained results were further rationalized by means of energy decomposition analysis (EDA) and natural bond orbital (NBO) calculations performed for the metal cation and the host in its different conformations.
A class of azocarbazole‐based carboxylates: High‐efficiency ionic unimolecular photobase generators for thiol‐epoxy click polymerization under blue light
Authors: Xu Can , Wu Xiang , Xiong Ying , Li Zhen , Tang Hongding
Published: September 2021

Two new unimolecular azocarbazole‐based visible photobase generators (Ac‐C‐Base) with different strong bases such as 1,5,7‐triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec‐5‐ene (TBD) and 1,1,3,3‐tetramethylguanidine (TMG) as the potential active species were prepared. Their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HR‐MS. According to the photolysis and EPR results, Ac‐C‐Base could generate free radicals and strong bases simultaneously through the photodecarboxylation mechanism under 455 nm LED irradiation. Thus they can effectively catalyze the thiol‐epoxy polymerization without post exposure baking under light exposure. In addition, the Ac‐C‐TBD containing a stronger base shows a faster polymerization rate and higher epoxy conversion.
Quantum Chemical and Spectroscopic Study on Hydrogen Bonds in Hairpin DNA
Authors: Ohki Yoshimichi , Seki Tomofumi , Mizuno Maya
Published: September 2021

Broadband far‐infrared absorption spectra were measured for pellets containing guanine or cytosine and an aqueous solution containing hairpin DNA with the two bases. When the solution was dried at 80 °C, the absorption increased around 540 cm−1. Quantum chemical calculations were conducted by assuming models simulating one, two, and three molecules of each base and another model representing the hydrogen bonding between the two bases. By comparing the spectra acquired experimentally and numerically, it has become clear that almost all absorption peaks appearing in a range from 16.7 to 650 cm−1 are due to skeletal and intermolecular vibrations. Two vibrational levels at 527 cm−1 in guanine and 524 cm−1 in cytosine decrease if hydrogen bonds are formed. Assuming that the two modes are causal vibrations of the 540‐cm−1 absorption, the spectroscopic experiment catches that hydrogen bonds between guanine and cytosine in DNA are dissociated around 80 °C. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Conclusions and Recommendations
Authors: Schrijvers Erik , Prins Corien , Passchier Reijer
Published: September 2021

On 24 June 2019, an hour-long outage hit the Dutch emergency number 112 and 0900–8844, the national police telephone line. It was also impossible to contact hospitals, municipalities, and companies for some time. The primary system of KPN – the telecom provider – was out of action while three back-up systems failed. The incident, which according to KPN was probably due to software error, once again revealed the vulnerability of facilities in the physical world to digital failures. It also underlined the report’s central message: the need to be better prepared for incidents involving a digital dimension. These incidents are all the more critical when they are not limited to the digital domain, but have potentially disruptive consequences in the physical world and for confidence in the core institutions of society.
Universal relations for holographic interfaces
Authors: Karch Andreas , Luo Zhu-Xi , Sun Hao-Yu
Published: September 2021

Abstract

We study the entanglement entropy in 1+1 dimensional conformal field theories in the presence of interfaces from a holographic perspective. Compared with the well-known case of boundary conformal field theories, interfaces allow for several interesting new observables. Depending on how the interface is located within the entangling region, the entanglement entropies differ and exhibit surprising new patterns and universal relations. While our analysis is performed within the framework of holography, we expect our results to hold more generally.
The Classical and Quantum Photon Field for Non-compact Manifolds with Boundary and in Possibly Inhomogeneous Media
Authors: Strohmaier Alexander
Published: September 2021

In this article I give a rigorous construction of the classical and quantum photon field on non-compact manifolds with boundary and in possibly inhomogeneous media. Such a construction is complicated by zero-modes that appear in the presence of non-trivial topology of the manifold or the boundary. An important special case is $${\mathbb {R}}^3$$

R

3

with obstacles. In this case the zero modes have a direct interpretation in terms of the topology of the obstacle. I give a formula for the renormalised stress energy tensor in terms of an integral kernel of an operator defined by spectral calculus of the Laplace Beltrami operator on differential forms with relative boundary conditions.
Using adaptive psychophysics to identify the neural network reset time in subsecond interval timing
Authors: Sadibolova Renata , Sun Stella , Terhune Devin B.
Published: September 2021

State-dependent network models of sub-second interval timing propose that duration is encoded in states of neuronal populations that need to reset prior to a novel timing operation to maintain optimal timing performance. Previous research has shown that the approximate boundary of this reset interval can be inferred by varying the inter-stimulus interval between two to-be-timed intervals. However, the estimated boundary of this reset interval is broad (250–500 ms) and remains under-specified with implications for the characteristics of state-dependent network dynamics sub-serving interval timing. Here, we probed the interval specificity of this reset boundary by manipulating the inter-stimulus interval between standard and comparison intervals in two sub-second auditory duration discrimination tasks (100 and 200 ms) and a control (pitch) discrimination task using adaptive psychophysics. We found that discrimination thresholds improved with the introduction of a 333 ms inter-stimulus interval relative to a 250 ms inter-stimulus interval in both duration discrimination tasks, but not in the control task. This effect corroborates previous findings of a breakpoint in the discrimination performance for sub-second stimulus interval pairs as a function of an incremental inter-stimulus delay but more precisely localizes the minimal inter-stimulus delay range. These results suggest that state-dependent networks sub-serving sub-second timing require approximately 250–333 ms for the network to reset to maintain optimal interval timing.
Ecosystem Functioning Influences Species Fitness at Upper Trophic Levels
Authors: Regos Adrián , Tapia Luis , Arenas-Castro Salvador , Gil-Carrera Alberto , Domínguez Jesús
Published: September 2021

Global change is severely affecting ecosystem functioning and biodiversity globally. Remotely sensed ecosystem functional attributes (EFAs) are integrative descriptors of the environmental change—being closely related to the processes directly affecting food chains via trophic cascades. Here we tested if EFAs can explain the species fitness at upper trophic levels. We took advantage of a long-term time series database of the reproductive success of the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)—an apex predator at the upper trophic level—over a 17-year period across a bioclimatic gradient (NW Spain; c. 29,575 km2). We computed a comprehensive database of EFAs from three MODIS satellite-products related to the carbon cycle, heat dynamics and radiative balance. We also assessed possible time-lag in the response of the Golden Eagle to fire, a critical disruptor of the surface energy budget in our region. We explored the role of EFAs on the fitness of the Golden Eagle with logistic-exposure nest survival models. Our models showed that the reproductive performance of the Golden Eagle is influenced by spatiotemporal variations in land surface temperature, albedo and vegetation productivity (AUC values from 0.71 to 0.8; ΣWiEFAsfrom 0.66 to 1). Fire disturbance also affected ecological fitness of this apex predator—with a limited effect at 3 years after fire (a time-lagged response to surface energy budget disruptions; ΣWiFire = 0.62). Our study provides evidence for the influence of the matter and energy fluxes between land surface and atmosphere on the reproductive success of species at upper trophic levels.
Digital Leg Volume Quantification: Precision Assessment of a Novel Workflow Based on Single Capture Three-dimensional Whole-Body Surface Imaging
Authors: Etzel Lucas , Schenck Thilo L. , Giunta Riccardo E. , Li Zhouxiao , Xu Ya , Koban Konstantin C.
Published: September 2021

Whole-body three-dimensional surface imaging (3DSI) offers the ability to monitor morphologic changes in multiple areas without the need to individually scan every anatomical region of interest. One area of application is the digital quantification of leg volume. Certain types of morphology do not permit complete circumferential scan of the leg surface. A workflow capable of precisely estimating the missing data is therefore required. We thus aimed to describe and apply a novel workflow to collect bilateral leg volume measurements from whole-body 3D surface scans regardless of leg morphology and to assess workflow precision. For each study participant, whole-body 3DSI was conducted twice successively in a single session with subject repositioning between scans. Paired samples of bilateral leg volume were calculated from the 3D surface data, with workflow variations for complete and limited leg surface visibility. Workflow precision was assessed by calculating the relative percent differences between repeated leg volumes. A total of 82 subjects were included in this study. The mean relative differences between paired left and right leg volumes were 0.73 ± 0.62% and 0.82 ± 0.65%. The workflow variations for completely and partially visible leg surfaces yielded similarly low values. The workflow examined in this study provides a precise method to digitally monitor leg volume regardless of leg morphology. It could aid in objectively comparing medical treatment options of the leg in a clinical setting. Whole-body scans acquired using the described 3DSI routine may allow simultaneous assessment of other changes in body morphology after further validation.
An Environmental Scan of Existing Canadian Childcare Resources Targeting Improvements in Health Behaviours
Authors: Carson Valerie , Predy Madison , Hunter Stephen , Storey Kate , Farmer Anna P. , McIsaac Jessie-Lee , Flynn Jenn
Published: September 2021

The objective was to conduct an environmental scan of existing Canadian childcare resources targeting nutrition, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and/or sleep. A comprehensive search plan was conducted that involved four search strategies: (1) grey literature databases, (2) customized Google search engines, (3) targeted websites, and (4) consultation with content experts. A resource (i.e., information, materials) must have been created by government or an organization/agency within Canada, available in English, intended for childcare educators or directors working with children ≤ 5 years of age, and focused on targeting improvements in nutrition, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and/or sleep. The quality of each included resource was assessed using a modified version of the Authority, Accuracy, Coverage, Objectivity, Date, Significance checklist. A total of 192 eligible resources were included. Most resources targeted only nutrition (n = 101) or physical activity (n = 60), and few resources targeted only sedentary behaviour (n = 2) or sleep (n = 1). The remaining 28 resources targeted more than one health behaviour. The 4 most common topics of resources were menu/meal planning (n = 55), healthy nutrition practices/environment (n = 37), physical activities/games (n = 33), and nutrition/food literacy (n = 20). Only 52 included resources cited evidence. One-third of the included resources (n = 64) were rated as high quality, including 55 that received a point for the significance criterion. Therefore, numerous high quality Canadian childcare resources exist for nutrition and physical activity. Future resource development is needed for sedentary behaviour and sleep. Findings can assist future intervention work and the database of resources can be utilized by relevant stakeholders to support other childcare initiatives.
The application of soft systems thinking in SDG interaction studies: a comparison between SDG interactions at national and subnational levels in Colombia
Authors: Hernández-Orozco Efraim , Lobos-Alva Ivonne , Cardenas-Vélez Mario , Purkey David , Nilsson Måns , Martin Piedad
Published: September 2021

Since the approval of the Agenda 2030, researchers and policy makers have pointed out the need to understand interactions among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—suggesting that progress or the lack of progress toward one goal will affect other goals through systemic interactions, producing synergies and trade-offs. However, most of the methods used to account for these interactions rely on hard systems thinking approaches, which are limited by the absence of needed data below national levels. Moreover, a general lack of data also constrains the scope of analysis to the 17 Goals, ignoring their 169 underlying targets. Given these challenges, we report on an experiment using an example of a soft systems thinking methodology: the SDG Synergies approach, which is based not only on available information but also on the elicitation of stakeholder and expert opinions. Thus, the approach allows for analysis of target-to-target interactions at subnational scales. The study, the first of its kind, assessed interactions at two scales: the national level in Colombia and the subnational level in the department of Antioquia. The results reveal profound differences between the two scales, suggesting that national-scale analysis of SDG interlinkages is not certain to capture local-level realities. The findings raise important issues for understanding and managing cross-scale interactions. Our work suggests that soft systems thinking is more appropriate for assessing SDG interactions because such an approach lends itself to conducting target-level analysis at various scales in the face of limited data availability.
The Timing of Research Consent
Authors: Sachs Benjamin
Published: September 2021

This essay is about the timing of research consent, a process that involves (potential) participants being given information about, among other things, upcoming research interventions and then being invited to waive their claims against those interventions being undertaken. The standard practice, as regards timing, is as follows: (potential) participants are invited to waive all their claims at a single moment in time, and that point in time immediately follows the information-provision. I argue that there we’re not justified in keeping to this practice. What we ought to do is disaggregate the claim-waiving part of the process and move it later, such that the (potential) participant is invited to waive her claim against the undertaking of any given intervention only the immediate moment before that intervention is to be undertaken.
Pilot study to investigate the effect of long-term exposure to high pCO2 on adult cod (Gadus morhua) otolith morphology and calcium carbonate deposition
Authors: Coll-Lladó Clara , Mittermayer Felix , Webb Paul Brian , Allison Nicola , Clemmesen Catriona , Stiasny Martina , Bridges Christopher Robert , Göttler Gwendolin , Garcia de la serrana Daniel
Published: September 2021

To date the study of ocean acidification on fish otolith formation has been mainly focused on larval and juvenile stages. In the present pilot study, wild-captured adult Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) were exposed to two different levels ofpCO2,422µatm (ambient, lowpCO2) or 1091µatm (highpCO2), for a period of 30 weeks (from mid-October to early April 2014–2015) in order to study the effects on otolith size, shape and CaCO3crystallization amongst other biological parameters. We found that otoliths from cod exposed to highpCO2were slightly smaller (− 3.4% in length; − 3.3% in perimeter), rounder (− 2.9% circularity and + 4% roundness) but heavier (+ 5%) than the lowpCO2group. Interestingly, there were different effects in males and females; for instance, male cods exposed to highpCO2exhibited significant changes in circularity (− 3%) and roundness (+ 4%) compared to the lowpCO2males, but without significant changes on otolith dimensions, while females exposed to highpCO2had smaller otoliths as shown for length (− 5.6%), width (− 2%), perimeter (− 3.5%) and area (− 4.8%). Furthermore, while the majority of the otoliths analysed showed normal aragonite deposition, 10% of fish exposed to 1091µatm ofpCO2had an abnormal accretion of calcite, suggesting a shift on calcium carbonate polymorph crystallization in some individuals under highpCO2conditions. Our preliminary results indicate that high levels ofpCO2in adult Atlantic cod might affect otolith growth in a gender-specific way. Our findings reveal that otoliths from adult cod are affected by ocean acidification, and we believe that the present study will prompt further research into this currently under-explored area.
Application of sonicated extracts of cyanobacteria and microalgae for the mitigation of bacterial canker in tomato seedlings
Authors: Toribio A. J. , Jurado M. M. , Suárez-Estrella F. , López-González J. A. , Martínez-Gallardo M. R. , López M. J.
Published: September 2021

Microalgae and cyanobacteria could play an important role in crop protection, since they produce bioactive substances that promote plant growth and/or trigger the plant resistance mechanisms. The present study focuses on the control of bacterial canker caused byClavibacter michiganensissubsp.michiganensison tomato plants by using sonicated extracts from cyanobacteria and microalgae of the generaLeptolyngbya,Nostoc,Chlorella, andScenedesmus. For the development of this study, 8 strains were firstly tested for their capacity to inhibit the growth ofC. michiganensissubsp.michiganensisin vitro, as well as to produce cytokinins and salicylic acid. In order to discard those more phytotoxic strains, the germination index was also estimated in watercress seeds.Scenedesmus-677 andLeptolyngbya-1267 strains were selected in this first phase based on their pesticide and phytostimulant capacity in vitro. Subsequent bioassays on tomato seedlings showed that root application ofScenedesmus-677 could be more aimed at controlling the disease caused byC. michiganensissubsp.michiganensis, while foliar and root application ofLeptolyngbya-1267 seems to be more related to the strengthening of the plant through the salicylic acid route. These preliminary results could serve as the basis for a deeper characterization of the biopesticidal and biostimulant effect of both strains, as well as to reveal the benefits derived from the combination of both capacities.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Coronary Artery Disease Patients: Potential Improvements in Mastery and Depressive Symptoms
Authors: Lundgren Oskar , Garvin Peter , Nilsson Lennart , Tornerefelt Viktor , Andersson Gerhard , Kristenson Margareta , Jonasson Lena
Published: September 2021

Depressive symptoms after coronary events are associated with a worse prognosis. When changing the focus from psychopathology towards a resilience framework, treatments such as mindfulness meditation could offer novel ways to address psychological distress among coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. We studied the feasibility of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for CAD patients with depressive symptoms. Seventy-nine CAD patients with elevated depressive symptoms were invited to an 8-week MBSR course. Twenty-four patients (30%) accepted and 16 (20%) completed MBSR. Depressive symptoms decreased immediately after the course (p = .006). After 12 months, this improvement remained, and Mastery scores increased (p = .005). A reference group of 108 CAD patients did not show any significant changes in depressive symptoms or Mastery between 1 and 12 months after a coronary event. MBSR thus appears to be a feasible alternative for CAD patients with elevated depressive symptoms. Future studies are warranted to study if MBSR can improve psychological functioning in CAD patients.

Clinicaltrials.gov (Registration Number: NCT03340948).
An Agent-based Decision Support for a Vaccination Campaign
Authors: Sulis Emilio , Terna Pietro
Published: September 2021

We explore the Covid-19 diffusion with an agent-based model of an Italian region with a population on a scale of 1:1000. We also simulate different vaccination strategies. From a decision support system perspective, we investigate the adoption of artificial intelligence techniques to provide suggestions about more effective policies. We adopt the widely used multi-agent programmable modeling environment NetLogo, adding genetic algorithms to evolve the best vaccination criteria. The results suggest a promising methodology for defining vaccine rates by population types over time. The results are encouraging towards a more extensive application of agent-oriented methods in public healthcare policies.
Factors associated with impaired quality of life three months after being diagnosed with COVID-19
Authors: Rass Verena , Ianosi Bogdan-Andrei , Zamarian Laura , Beer Ronny , Sahanic Sabina , Lindner Anna , Kofler Mario , Schiefecker Alois Josef , Mahlknecht Philipp , Heim Beatrice , Limmert Victoria , Sonnweber Thomas , Pizzini Alex , Tymoszuk Piotr , Scherfler Christoph , Djamshidian Atbin , Kiechl Stefan , Tancevski Ivan , Seppi Klaus , Pfausler Bettina , Loeffler-Ragg Judith , Helbok Raimund
Published: September 2021

Purpose

To assess patient characteristics associated with health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) and its mental and physical subcategories 3 months after diagnosis with COVID-19.

Methods

In this prospective multicentre cohort study, HR-QoL was assessed in 90 patients using the SF-36 questionnaire (36-item Short Form Health Survey), which consists of 8 health domains that can be divided into a mental and physical health component. Mental health symptoms including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorders were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-5 (PCL-5) 3 months after COVID-19. Using descriptive statistics and multivariable regression analysis, we identified factors associated with impaired HR-QoL 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis.

Results

Patients were 55 years of age (IQR, 49–63; 39% women) and were classified as severe (23%), moderate (57%), or mild (20%) according to acute disease severity. HR-QoL was impaired in 28/90 patients (31%). Younger age [per year, adjOR (95%CI) 0.94 (0.88–1.00), p = 0.049], longer hospitalization [per day, adjOR (95%CI) 1.07 (1.01–1.13), p = 0.015], impaired sleep [adjOR (95%CI) 5.54 (1.2–25.61), p = 0.028], and anxiety [adjOR (95%CI) 15.67 (3.03–80.99), p = 0.001) were independently associated with impaired HR-QoL. Twenty-nine percent (n = 26) scored below the normal range on the mental health component of the SF-36 and independent associations emerged for anxiety, depression, and self-reported numbness. Impairments in the physical health component of the SF-36 were reported by 12 (13%) patients and linked to hypogeusia and fatigue.

Conclusion

Every third patient reported a reduction in HR-QoL 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis and impairments were more prominent in mental than physical well-being.
Imaginary carrot or effective fertiliser? A rejoinder on funding and productivity
Authors: Heyard Rachel , Philipp Tobias , Hottenrott Hanna
Published: September 2021

The question of whether and to what extent research funding enables researchers to be more productive is a crucial one. In their recent work, Mariethoz et al. (Scientometrics, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-020-03.855-1) claim that there is no significant relationship between project-based research funding and bibliometric productivity measures and conclude that this is the result of inappropriate allocation mechanisms. In this rejoinder, we argue that such claims are not supported by the data and analyses reported in the article.
The prognostic value of lymph node ratio in comparison to positive lymph node count in penile squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Yu Jiajie , Long Qian , Zhang Zhiqiang , Liao Shufen , Zheng Fufu
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Penile cancer is a rare male neoplasm with a wide variation in its global incidence. In this study, the prognostic value of lymph node ratio (LNR) was compared to that of positive lymph node count (PLNC) in penile squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods

A total of 249 patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled from The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2010 and 2015. The X-tile program was used to calculate the optimal cut-off values of LNR and PLNC that discriminate survival. We used the χ2 or the Fisher exact probability test to assess the association between clinical-pathological characteristics and LNR or PLNC. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify independent prognostic factors for survival. Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation between LNR and PLNC.

Results

We found that patients with high LNR tended to have advanced N stage, the 7th AJCC stage, and higher pathological grade, while patients with high PLNC had advanced N stage and the 7th AJCC stage. Univariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the N stage, M stage, the 7th AJCC stage, lymph-vascular invasion, LNR, and PLNC were significantly associated with prognosis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that LNR rather than PLNC was an independent prognostic factor for cancer-specific survival. Subgroup analysis of node-positive patients showed that LNR was associated with CSS, while PLNC was not.

Conclusion

LNR was a better predictor for long-term prognosis than PLNC in patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma.
Effect of Chelant-Based Soil Washing and Post-Treatment on Pb, Cd, and Zn Bioavailability and Plant Uptake
Authors: Noller Christoph , Friesl-Hanl Wolfgang , Hood-Nowotny Rebecca , Puschenreiter Markus , Watzinger Andrea
Published: September 2021

The remediation of Pb, Cd, and Zn contaminated soil by ex situ EDTA washing was investigated in two pot experiments. We tested the influence of (i) 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%wt zero-valent iron (ZVI) and (ii) a combination of 5%wt vermicompost, 2%wt biochar, and 1%wt ZVI on the metal availability in EDTA-washed soil using different soil extracts (Aqua regia, NH4NO3) and plant concentrations. We found that EDTA soil washing significantly reduced the total concentration of Pb, Cd, and Zn and significantly reduced the Cd and Zn plant uptake. Residual EDTA was detected in water extracts causing the formation of highly available Pb-EDTA complexes. While organic amendments had no significant effect on Pb behavior in washed soils, an amendment of ≥ 1%wt ZVI successfully reduced EDTA concentrations, Pb bioavailability, and plant uptake. Our results suggest that Pb-EDTA complexes adsorb to a Fe oxyhydroxide layer, quickly developing on the ZVI surface. The increase in ZVI application strongly decreases Zn concentrations in plant tissue, whereas the uptake of Cd was not reduced, but even slightly increased. Soil washing did not affect plant productivity and organic amendments improved biomass production.
Fiscal and External Deficits Nexus in GIIPS Countries: Evidence from Parametric and Nonparametric Causality Tests
Authors: Ahmad Ahmad Hassan , Aworinde Olalekan Bashir
Published: September 2021

This paper investigates the relationship between fiscal and external deficits in five European Union countries (Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain) using quarterly data for the period 1980:1–2020:1. Literature on the relationship between these series used linear techniques, but generally reported inconclusive results. Nonlinearity has been overlooked even though fiscal policy is likely to exhibit nonlinearity due to its sensitivity to political decisions. To capture this nonlinearity behaviour, nonlinear causality techniques are applied here in addition to the usual linear techniques used in the extant literature. The results show that there is evidence of unidirectional nonlinear causality from trade balances to government deficits in Greece and Italy, and a nonlinear unidirectional causality from government deficits to trade balance in Portugal. The results also indicate evidence of a nonlinear bi-directional causality between the trade and government balances in Ireland and Spain. The policy implication of these results is that governments of these countries need to address fiscal deficits to manage their trade balances. Policies that will improve the countries’ revenue base, such as tax and labour market reforms as well as capital market reforms to engender productivity and increase competitiveness, would be beneficial.
Geschlechtsangleichende Hormontherapie bei Transidentität: Voraussetzungen und Therapiemanagement
Authors: Meyer Gesine
Published: September 2021

Die Anzahl transidenter Menschen, die sich mit dem Wunsch nach geschlechtsangleichenden Maßnahmen vorstellen, ist, ebenso wie die öffentliche Wahrnehmung des Themas, in den letzten Jahren angestiegen. Trotz einer zunehmenden Akzeptanz verläuft die medizinische Versorgung Betroffener häufig nicht optimal. Aufgrund der weitreichenden und teilweise irreversiblen Konsequenzen sollte eine geschlechtsangleichende Hormontherapie nur bei Erreichen aller notwendigen Voraussetzungen im Konsens mit dem behandelnden Psychiater bzw. Psychotherapeuten und nach ausführlicher Aufklärung durch einen erfahrenen Arzt eingeleitet werden. Vor Therapiebeginn muss ein umfangreiches Screening auf etwaige Risikofaktoren erfolgen und Komorbiditäten sollten adäquat behandelt werden. Die Behandlung erfolgt gemäß der vorliegenden Leitlinienempfehlungen bei Transidentität von Mann zu Frau mit 17β-Estradiol oder 17β-Estradiolvalerat in Kombination mit Cyproteronacetat oder Spironolacton als Antiandrogen, bei Transidentität von Frau zu Mann mit transdermalen oder intramuskulären Testosteronpräparaten. Regelmäßige klinische und laborchemische Verlaufskontrollen auf erwünschte und mögliche unerwünschte Wirkungen der Therapie sind ebenso wie gynäkologische bzw. urologische Früherkennungsuntersuchungen dauerhaft notwendig. Vor Therapiebeginn sollte eine Aufklärung und Beratung zu Fragen der Fertilität und Schwangerschaftsverhütung erfolgen.

Die geschlechtsangleichende Hormontherapie stellt einen wesentlichen Pfeiler der medikamentösen Geschlechtsangleichung dar und mehrere Studien belegen eindeutig ihre positive Auswirkung auf die Lebensqualität der Betroffenen. Bei sorgfältiger Beachtung der notwendigen Vorsichtsmaßnahmen weist die Therapie ein akzeptables Risikoprofil auf.
Using data from collective hunts to estimate the wild boar (Sus scrofa) population density in north-eastern Poland
Authors: Bobek Bogusław , Furtek Jakub , Wojciuch-Płoskonka Marta
Published: September 2021

The spread of the African swine fever through wild boar population has caused major losses in the pig industry. Therefore, to decrease the population density of wild boar in Poland, the culling of these animals has been dramatically increased. However, the effect of depopulation is unknown because there are no methods that could be used throughout the country to estimate the number of wild boar. Thus, during two hunting seasons an attempt was made to estimate the number of wild boar using data from collective hunts. The forested area of 21 hunting districts (351.5 km2) was divided into five sampling inventory blocks (SIBs), which were used for the statistical analysis of the population density, the harvest rate and results of collective hunts. The average population density obtained by a driving census amounted to 8.19 ± 1.12 and 10.09 ± 1.06 (x̅ ± SE), animals/km2, which indicates that 2879 and 3547 wild boar were living in the study area in 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 seasons respectively. The number of wild boars bagged per one hunting plot was adopted as the harvest success index (HBI). In SIBs the HBI value fluctuated in the range of 0.55 to 1.87 individuals/hunting plot and the population density ranged from 6.46 to 12.18 wild boars/km2. The non-linear regression showed a positive relationship between the HBI index and the population density. The discussion covers the possibility of using collective hunts to estimate the number of wild boar in Poland and in the European Union.
Long-Term Outcomes after Pediatric Injury: Results of the Assessment of Functional Outcomes and Health-Related Quality of Life after Pediatric Trauma Study
Authors: Burd Randall S. , Jensen Aaron R. , VanBuren John M. , Alvey Jessica S. , Richards Rachel , Holubkov Richard , Pollack Murray M.
Published: September 2021

Background

Disability and impaired health-related quality of life can persist for months among injured children. Previous studies of long-term outcomes have focused mainly on children with specific injury types rather than those with multiple injured body regions. This study’s objective was to determine the long-term functional status and health-related quality of life after serious pediatric injury, and to evaluate the associations of these outcomes with features available at hospital discharge.

Study Design

We conducted a prospective observational study at 7 Level I pediatric trauma centers of children treated for at least 1 serious (Abbreviated Injury Scale severity 3 or higher) injury. Patients were sampled to increase the representation of less frequently injured body regions and multiple injured body regions. Six-month functional status was measured using the Functional Status Scale (FSS) and health-related quality of life using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory.

Results

Among 323 injured children with complete discharge and follow-up assessments, 6-month FSS score was abnormal in 33 patients (10.2%)—16 with persistent impairments and 17 previously normal at discharge. Increasing levels of impaired discharge FSS score were associated with impaired FSS and lower Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scores at 6-month follow-up. Additional factors on multivariable analysis associated with 6-month FSS impairment included older age, penetrating injury type, severe head injuries, and spine injuries, and included older age for lower 6-month Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scores.

Conclusions

Older age and discharge functional status are associated with long-term impairment of functional status and health-related quality of life. Although most seriously injured children return to normal, ongoing disability and reduced health-related quality of life remained 6 months after injury. Our findings support long-term assessments as standard practice for evaluating the health impacts of serious pediatric injury.

Visual Abstract
Lawyering Peace
Authors: Williams Paul R.
Published: September 2021

In all but the rarest circumstances, the world's deadly conflicts are ended not through outright victory, but through a series of negotiations. Not all of these negotiations, however, yield a durable peace. To successfully mitigate conflict drivers, the parties in conflict must address a number of puzzles, such as whether and how to share and/or re-establish a state's monopoly of force, reallocate the ownership and management of natural resources, modify the state structure, or provide for a path toward external self-determination. Successfully resolving these puzzles requires the parties to navigate a number of conundrums and make choices and design mechanisms that are appropriate to the particular context of the conflict, and which are most likely to lead to a durable peace. Lawyering Peace aims to help future negotiators build better and more durable peace agreements through a rigorous examination of how other parties have resolved these puzzles and associated conundrums.
Human Dignity and Political Criticism
Authors: Bird Colin
Published: September 2021

Many, including Marx, Rawls, and the contemporary 'Black Lives Matter' movement, embrace the ambition to secure terms of co-existence in which the worth of people's lives becomes a lived reality rather than an empty boast. This book asks whether, as some believe, the philosophical idea of human dignity can help achieve that ambition. Offering a new fourfold typology of dignity concepts, Colin Bird argues that human dignity can perform this role only if certain traditional ways of conceiving it are abandoned. Accordingly, Bird rejects the idea that human dignity refers to the inherent worth or status of individuals, and instead reinterprets it as a social relation, constituted by affects of respect and the modes of mutual attention which they generate. What emerges is a new vision of human dignity as a vital political value, and an arresting vindication of its role as an agent of critical reflection on politics.
Bettina von Arnim's Romantic Philosophy inDie Günderode
Authors: Stone Alison
Published: September 2021

This article puts forward a philosophical interpretation of Bettina von Arnim's epistolary bookDie Günderode, in the following stages. First I situate von Arnim's work in relation to women's participation in early German Romanticism and idealism. The ideal ofSymphilosophie, which was integral to Romantic epistemology, created possibilities for women to participate in philosophical discussion, albeit not on equal terms with men. This suggested that perhapsSymphilosophiebetween women could be more equal and reciprocal. However, interpreters have considered theSym-in Günderrode and von Arnim'sSymphilosophiemore than the-philosophie, whereas here I foregroundDie Günderode's rich philosophical content. I trace the stages in the unfolding dialogue between Günderrode and von Arnim and identify von Arnim's philosophical standpoint as it emerges from this dialogue. For Günderrode, finite beings are attracted together and can only fully unite by dying and superseding their boundaries. This feeds into a gigantic cosmic process through which the earth spiritualizes itself, progressively transcending its own materiality. Von Arnim likewise thinks that all finite beings are dynamically interconnected within the earth's creative process. But, unlike Günderrode, von Arnim thinks that finite beings can realize their interconnectedness within life without needing to die, which means in turn that material nature can rise into successive levels of spirit without its materiality having to be superseded. This metaphysical difference orchestrates many other philosophical disagreements between the two women. I then conclude that on balance, and with significant qualifications,Die Günderodeembodies a successfulSymphilosophiebetween women, but that von Arnim is simultaneously pointing out the fragility ofSymphilosophie. The more independence dialogue partners have, the more liable they are to move away in new directions and abandon or outgrow the conversation, just as Günderrode turns away from von Arnim by the end of the book.
Optimal ciliary locomotion of axisymmetric microswimmers
Authors: Guo Hanliang , Zhu Hai , Liu Ruowen , Bonnet Marc , Veerapaneni Shravan
Published: September 2021

Many biological microswimmers locomote by periodically beating the densely packed cilia on their cell surface in a wave-like fashion. While the swimming mechanisms of ciliated microswimmers have been extensively studied both from the analytical and the numerical point of view, optimisation of the ciliary motion of microswimmers has received limited attention, especially for non-spherical shapes. In this paper, using an envelope model for the microswimmer, we numerically optimise the ciliary motion of a ciliate with an arbitrary axisymmetric shape. Forward solutions are found using a fast boundary-integral method, and the efficiency sensitivities are derived using an adjoint-based method. Our results show that a prolate microswimmer with a

$2\,{:}\,1$

aspect ratio shares similar optimal ciliary motion as the spherical microswimmer, yet the swimming efficiency can increase two-fold. More interestingly, the optimal ciliary motion of a concave microswimmer can be qualitatively different from that of the spherical microswimmer, and adding a constraint to the cilia length is found to improve, on average, the efficiency for such swimmers.
Large-scale characteristics of a stably stratified turbulent shear layer
Authors: Watanabe Tomoaki , Nagata Koji
Published: September 2021

Implicit large eddy simulation is performed to investigate large-scale characteristics of a temporally evolving, stably stratified turbulent shear layer arising from the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability. The shear layer at late time has two energy-containing length scales: the scale of the shear layer thickness, which characterizes large-scale motions (LSM) of the shear layer; and the larger streamwise scale of elongated large-scale structures (ELSS), which increases with time. The ELSS forms in the middle of the shear layer when the Richardson number is sufficiently large. The contribution of the ELSS to velocity and density variances becomes relatively important with time although the LSM dominate the momentum and density transport. The ELSS have a highly anisotropic Reynolds stress, to a degree similar to the near-wall region of turbulent boundary layers, while the Reynolds stress of the LSM is as anisotropic as in the outer region. Peaks in the spectral energy density associated with the ELSS emerge because of the slow decay of turbulence at very large scales. A forward interscale energy transfer from large to small scales occurs even at a small buoyancy Reynolds number. However, an inverse transfer also occurs for the energy of spanwise velocity. Negative production of streamwise velocity and density spectra, i.e. counter-gradient transport of momentum and density, is found at small scales. These behaviours are consistent with channel flows, indicating similar flow dynamics in the stratified shear layer and wall-bounded shear flows. The structure function exhibits a logarithmic law at large scales, implying a

$k^{-1}$

scaling of energy spectra.
Competing flow and collision effects in a monodispersed liquid–solid fluidized bed at a moderate Archimedes number
Authors: Yao Yinuo , Criddle Craig S. , Fringer Oliver B.
Published: September 2021

We study the effects of fluid–particle and particle–particle interactions in a three-dimensional monodispersed reactor with unstable fluidization. Simulations were conducted using the immersed boundary method for particle Reynolds numbers of 20–70 with an Archimedes number of 23 600. Two different flow regimes were identified as a function of the particle Reynolds number. For low particle Reynolds numbers (

$20 < Re_p < 40$

), the porosity is relatively low and the particle dynamics are dominated by interparticle collisions that produce anisotropic particle velocity fluctuations. The relative importance of hydrodynamic effects increases with increasing particle Reynolds number, leading to a minimized anisotropy in the particle velocity fluctuations at an intermediate particle Reynolds number. For high particle Reynolds numbers (

$Re_p > 40$

), the particle dynamics are dominated by hydrodynamic effects, leading to decreasing and more anisotropic particle velocity fluctuations. A sharp increase in the anisotropy occurs when the particle Reynolds number increases from 40 to 50, corresponding to a transition from a regime in which collision and hydrodynamic effects are equally important (regime 1) to a hydrodynamic-dominated regime (regime 2). The results imply an optimum particle Reynolds number of roughly 40 for the investigated Archimedes number of 23 600 at which mixing in the reactor is expected to peak, which is consistent with reactor studies showing peak performance at a similar particle Reynolds number and with a similar Archimedes number. Results also show that maximum effective collisions are attained at intermediate particle Reynolds number. Future work is required to relate optimum particle Reynolds number to Archimedes number.
The strategic intersection of HR and CSR: CSR motive and millennial joining intention
Authors: Ikhide Juliet E. , Tarik Timur Ahmet , Ogunmokun Oluwatobi A.
Published: September 2021

The success and competitiveness of an organization recruiting the emerging workforce i.e., millennials can be ascribed in part to the organization's corporate social responsibility (CSR) engagement. This study explores the impact of organizational CSR on Nigerian millennials' joining intention through CSR motive perceptions: CSR-based organizational attractiveness (CSR-based OA) and perceived altruism (PA). To examine the empirical relationship among variables, data were obtained from respondents who were seeking employment or in-between jobs. Results revealed that CSR-based OA and PA significantly mediate the relationship between CSR and millennial joining intention. Findings present a unique perspective that significantly expands the literature. The implications of results are discussed and recommendations to managers are presented.