bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanical and acoustical properties of Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) fiber‐reinforced styrene butadiene rubber
Authors: El‐Wakil Abd El‐Aziz , Abd‐Elbasseer Mohammed , M.El‐Basheer Tarek
Published: May 2021

The essential target of this investigation is to valorize an Eichhornia crassipes fiber (ECF) and maleates of Eichhornia crassipes fiber (MoECF) as reinforcing fillers in styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR) composites in terms of the mechanical, acoustical, thermal, and morphological properties. Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy characterizes the esterification of ECF with maleic anhydride (MA) and the graft of MoECF onto SBR. SBR composites manufactured with different loadings of ECF and MoECF (1, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 phr). Scanning electron microscope illustrates the MoECF upgrade interfacial adhesion with the SBR matrix. It is observed that 5 and 20 phr of MoECF enhance the tensile strength and elongation at break of SBR composites by 8% and 310%, respectively. 10 phr of MoECF maintains the tensile strength of SBR composite during the accelerated thermal aging course. While 20 phr of MoECF improves the tensile strength of SBR composite by 19% with increment‐accelerated thermal aging time to 7 days. The higher loading (10 and 20 phr) of MoECF ameliorates the thermal stability of SBR composites. SBR composite containing 10 phr of MoECF has sound absorption amplitude equal to 0.9 at the frequency of 400 Hz. The sound absorption performance improved within low‐frequency regions below 500 Hz with increasing thickness to 2.3 mm.
Experimental characterization of polydisperse particle‐loaded flow for linear resin transfer molding injections
Authors: Siddig Nihad A. , Bizet Laurent , El Moumen Ahmed , Saouab Abdelghani
Published: May 2021

This study investigates the experimental filtration of micron‐scale particles of a wide granulometry through fibrous media. The method used examines a key parameter in the resin transfer molding process which is the spatial evolution of particulate filler concentration. Tests were carried out with three grades of ceramic microparticle suspensions dispersed in glycerol/water blends, injected into a quasi‐unidirectional fibrous medium. The influence of process parameters was extensively studied through a series of experiments by varying initial concentrations of suspension, injection pressures, pure liquid viscosities, fiber volume fractions, and particle size distributions. A non‐destructive, simple, economical, and rapid characterization method was used, which consisted of taking samples of suspensions at different points through the preform length and obtaining concentrations through density measurements. The evolution of granulometry from the inlet to the outlet was studied and the size range of retained particles was deduced. Tests revealed that the particle concentration decreased with increased sampling distance. Fiber content and particle size distribution were the most influential factors on filtration behavior. The analysis showed that the smaller‐sized particles are largely deposited at the fiber's surface, while the average‐ to large‐sized ones were either blocked at the inlet, transported to the outlet, or settled under gravitational forces.
Diversity and biotechnological potential of rhizobia isolated from lima bean nodules collected at a semiarid region
Authors: Louzada Rodrigues Tainara , Martins da Costa Elaine , de Almeida Ribeiro Paula Rose , de Carvalho Fernanda , Rufini Márcia , Oliveira Silva Aline , dos Santos Teixeira Anita Fernanda , de Assis Pereira Thiago , Reis Sales Flávia , de Souza Moreira Fatima Maria
Published: May 2021

Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatusL.) is the second most important species of thePhaseolusgenus worldwide. In Brazil, it is grown primarily in the semiarid Northeast region. Although lima bean establishes symbiosis with N2‐fixing bacteria (rhizobia), there is not yet a recommended inoculant. The aim of this study was to phenotypically and genotypically characterize rhizobia strains isolated from root nodules of lima bean collected in a Northeast region, and to evaluate their efficiency in supplying N nutrition to the crop under axenic conditions and in a Humic Rhodic Hapludox with and without correction of acidity. The symbiotic efficiencies were evaluated in a greenhouse under axenic conditions and, afterward, in pots with nonautoclaved soil with and without liming. Treatments consisted of the strains under evaluation, controls without inoculation (with low or high concentration or without mineral N), and a strain efficient for the crop. In all, 66 strains were isolated from the root nodules with predominance of strains belonging to theBradyrhizobiumgenus. Liming brought about increases in lima bean development as it interacted with some strains. Six strains of theBradyrhizobiumgenus, belonging to groups of type strains that includeB. elkaniiandB. japonicum, stood out for their biotechnological potential as inoculants for lima bean, and they should be tested in the field with the aim of validating their recommendation as inoculants for that crop.
Free Radical Polymerization of o‐Carborane Functionalized Styrene: Effect of Substitution Position at Carbon and Boron
Authors: Wen Xin‐Yu , Cao Ke , Wu Ji , Zhang Cai‐Yan , Li Xia , Jiang Linhai , Yang Junxiao
Published: May 2021

The AIBN initiated radical polymerization of o‐carborane functionalized styrenes has been developed. The styrene decorated on the cage boron or cage carbon vertex of o‐carboranes were all compatible with this polymerization. The Mw of the desired P[4‐(B3‐o‐carborane)‐styrene] and P[C1‐methylene‐o‐carborane‐4‐vinylbenzene] could up to 3.5×105 and 1.7×105, respectively. This work offers an efficient method for synthesis of o‐carborane functionalized polystyrenes, which has important reference for synthesis of o‐carborane containing polymers.
Imperceptible Supercapacitors with High Area‐Specific Capacitance
Authors: Ge Jin , Zhu Minshen , Eisner Eric , Yin Yin , Dong Haiyun , Karnaushenko Dmitriy D. , Karnaushenko Daniil , Zhu Feng , Ma Libo , Schmidt Oliver G
Published: May 2021

Imperceptible electronics will make next‐generation healthcare and biomedical systems thinner, lighter, and more flexible. While other components are thoroughly investigated, imperceptible energy storage devices lag behind because the decrease of thickness impairs the area‐specific energy density. Imperceptible supercapacitors with high area‐specific capacitance based on reduced graphene oxide/polyaniline (RGO/PANI) composite electrodes and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/H2SO4 gel electrolyte are reported. Two strategies to realize a supercapacitor with a total device thickness of 5 µm—including substrate, electrode, and electrolyte—and an area‐specific capacitance of 36 mF cm−2 simultaneously are implemented. First, the void volume of the RGO/PANI electrodes through mechanical compression is reduced, which decreases the thickness by 83% while retaining 89% of the capacitance. Second, the PVA‐to‐H2SO4 mass ratio is decreased to 1:4.5, which improves the ion conductivity by 5000% compared to the commonly used PVA/H2SO4 gel. Both advantages enable a 2 µm‐thick gel electrolyte for planar interdigital supercapacitors. The impressive electromechanical stability of the imperceptible supercapacitors by wrinkling the substrate to produce folds with radii of 6 µm or less is demonstrated. The supercapacitors will be meaningful energy storage modules for future self‐powered imperceptible electronics.
Effect of prenatal exposure to Benzo[a]pyrene on ovarian toxicity and reproductive dysfunction: Protective effect of atorvastatin in the embryonic period
Authors: Rahmani Zahra , Karimpour Malekshah Abbasali , Zargari Mehryar , Talebpour Amiri Fereshteh
Published: May 2021

As an environmental contaminant, Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P; BaP) disrupts the antioxidant signaling and thus leads to the induction of oxidative stress and the damage of DNA in the ovary. low‐dose atorvastatin (ATV) has antioxidant and anti‐apoptotic properties. The present study aimed to survey the effects of prenatal exposure to BaP on ovarian toxicity and also to investigate the protective role of ATV in reducing ovarian toxicity. In this study, rats were divided into seven groups: control, ATV (10 mg/kg), oil, BaP (10 and 20 mg/kg), and ATV + BaP (10 and 20 mg/kg). BaP and ATV were administrated from gestation day 7–16 (GD7 to GD16), orally. 10 weeks after the birth, female offsprings were examined for oxidative stress markers, sex hormones, ovarian and tubular tissue structure, and the apoptosis markers. Data showed that BaP significantly reduced glutathione, increased malondialdehyde level, and disrupted the tissue structure of the ovary. Moreover, estrogen and progesterone levels significantly decreased in the offsprings rats. Also, BaP increased caspase‐3 immunoreactivity. Atorvastatin treatment along with BaP in the embryonic period were able to bring the antioxidant status and sex hormones levels relatively close to normal. Besides, histological findings showed that atorvastatin was able to improve ovarian and oviduct abnormalities caused by BaP. Based on the above studies be concluded that atorvastatin in the embryonic during was able to reduce ovarian damage caused by BaP with antioxidant and anti‐apoptotic properties.
A mixture theory for the moisture transport in polyamide
Authors: Sharma Prateek , Diebels Stefan
Published: May 2021

Polyamide exhibits hygroscopic nature and can absorb up to 10% of moisture relative to its dry weight. The absorbed moisture increases the mobility of the molecular chains and causes a reduction in the glass transition temperature. Thus, depending on the moisture distribution, a polyamide component can show different stiffness and relaxation times. Moreover, the moisture distribution also depends on the mechanical loading of the material as the volumetric deformation results in a change of the available free volume for the moisture. Thus, a strongly coupled model is required to describe the material behaviour. In this work, a thermodynamically consistent coupled model within the framework of mixture theory is developed. The mechanical deformation of polyamide 6 (PA6) is based on a linear viscoelastic material model, and the moisture transport is based on a nonlinear diffusion model. The stiffness and the relaxation time of the viscoelastic model change with the moisture concentration. Furthermore, the moisture transport is affected by the pressure gradient generated by the mechanical loading of the material. This strongly coupled model has been implemented using the finite element method, and simulation results are presented for a three-point bending experiment.
Kähler–Einstein metrics on symmetric general arrangement varieties
Authors: Cable Jacob
Published: May 2021

We calculate Chow quotients of some families of symmetric T-varieties. In complexity two we obtain new examples of Kähler–Einstein metrics by bounding the symmetric alpha invariant of their orbifold quotients. As an additional application we determine the homeomorphism class of the orbit space of the compact torus action.
Incorporating Ecosystem Services in the Assessment of Water Framework Directive Programmes of Measures
Authors: Souliotis Ioannis , Voulvoulis Nikolaos
Published: May 2021

The EU Water Framework Directive requires the development of management responses aimed towards improving water quality as a result of improving ecosystem health (system state). Ecosystems have potential to supply a range of services that are of fundamental importance to human well-being, health, livelihoods and survival, and their capacity to supply these services depends on the ecosystem condition (its structure and processes). According to the WFD, Programmes of Measures should be developed to improve overall water status by reducing anthropogenic catchment pressures to levels compatible with the achievement of the ecological objectives of the directive, and when designed and implemented properly should improve the ecological condition of aquatic ecosystems that the delivery of ecosystem services depends on. Monitoring and evaluation of implemented measures are crucial for assessing their effectiveness and creating the agenda for consecutive planning cycles. Considering the challenges of achieving water status improvements, and the difficulties of communicating these to the wider public, we develop a framework for the evaluation of measures cost-effectiveness that considers ecosystem services as the benefits from the reduction of pressures on water bodies. We demonstrate its application through a case study and discuss its potential to facilitate the economic analysis required by the directive, and that most European water authorities had problems with. Findings demonstrate the potential of the methodology to effectively incorporate ecosystem services in the assessment of costs and benefits of proposed actions, as well as its potential to engage stakeholders.
Fundamentals of electro-mechanically coupled cohesive zone formulations for electrical conductors
Authors: Kaiser T. , Menzel A.
Published: May 2021

Motivated by the influence of (micro-)cracks on the effective electrical properties of material systems and components, this contribution deals with fundamental developments on electro-mechanically coupled cohesive zone formulations for electrical conductors. For the quasi-stationary problems considered, Maxwell’s equations of electromagnetism reduce to the continuity equation for the electric current and to Faraday’s law of induction, for which non-standard jump conditions at the interface are derived. In addition, electrical interface contributions to the balance equation of energy are discussed and the restrictions posed by the dissipation inequality are studied. Together with well-established cohesive zone formulations for purely mechanical problems, the present developments provide the basis to study the influence of mechanically-induced interface damage processes on effective electrical properties of conductors. This is further illustrated by a study of representative boundary value problems based on a multi-field finite element implementation.
CNN-based and DTW features for human activity recognition on depth maps
Authors: Trelinski Jacek , Kwolek Bogdan
Published: May 2021

In this work, we present a new algorithm for human action recognition on raw depth maps. At the beginning, for each class we train a separate one-against-all convolutional neural network (CNN) to extract class-specific features representing person shape. Each class-specific, multivariate time-series is processed by a Siamese multichannel 1D CNN or a multichannel 1D CNN to determine features representing actions. Afterwards, for the nonzero pixels representing the person shape in each depth map we calculate statistical features. On multivariate time-series of such features we determine Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) features. They are determined on the basis of DTW distances between all training time-series. Finally, each class-specific feature vector is concatenated with the DTW feature vector. For each action category we train a multiclass classifier, which predicts probability distribution of class labels. From pool of such classifiers we select a number of classifiers such that an ensemble built on them achieves the best classification accuracy. Action recognition is performed by a soft voting ensemble that averages distributions calculated by such classifiers with the largest discriminative power. We demonstrate experimentally that on MSR-Action3D and UTD-MHAD datasets the proposed algorithm attains promising results and outperforms several state-of-the-art depth-based algorithms.
Japanese medical learners’ achievement emotions: Accounting for culture in translating Western medical educational theories and instruments into an asian context
Authors: Nomura Osamu , Wiseman Jeffrey , Sunohara Momoka , Akatsu Haruko , Lajoie Susanne P.
Published: May 2021

Medical learners’ achievement emotions during educational activities have remained unexamined in Asian cultural contexts. The Medical Emotion Scale (MES) was previously developed to assess achievement emotions experienced by North American medical learners during learning activities. The goal of this study was to create and validate a Japanese version of the Medical Emotion Scale (J-MES). We translated the MES into Japanese and conducted two initial validation studies of the J-MES. In the first pilot study, we asked five, native-Japanese, second-year medical students to assess their emotions with the J-MES during a computer-based clinical reasoning activity. Each participant was then interviewed to assess the clarity and suitability of the items. In a second, larger study, 41 Japanese medical students were recruited to assess the psychometric properties of the J-MES. We also conducted individual, semi-structured interviews with ten of these participants to explore potential cultural features in the achievement emotions of Japanese students. The first pilot study demonstrated that the J-MES descriptions were clear, and that the scale captured an appropriate range of emotions. The second study revealed that the J-MES scale’s profiles and internal structure were largely consistent with control-value theory. The achievement emotions of pride, compassion, and surprise in the J-MES were found to be susceptible to cultural differences between North American and Japanese contexts. Our findings clearly demonstrated the scoring capacity, generalizability, and extrapolability of the J-MES.
The Nature of the Self, Self-regulation and Moral Action: Implications from the Confucian Relational Self and Buddhist Non-self
Authors: Chu Irene , Vu Mai Chi
Published: May 2021

The concept of the self and its relation to moral action is complex and subject to varying interpretations, not only between different academic disciplines but also across time and space. This paper presents empirical evidence from a cross-cultural study on the Buddhist and Confucian notions of self in SMEs in Vietnam and Taiwan. The study employs Hwang’s Mandala Model of the Self, and its extension into Shiah’s non-self-model, to interpret how these two Eastern philosophical representations of the self, the Confucian relational self and Buddhist non-self, can lead to moral action. By demonstrating the strengths of the model, emphasizing how social and cultural influences constrain the individual self and promote the social person leading to moral action, the paper extends understanding of the self with empirical evidence of the mechanisms involved in organizational contexts.
The Acceptability of Accountability
Authors: Bone John , Crosetto Paolo , Hey John , Pasca Carmen
Published: May 2021

This paper reports on an experimental test of the acceptability of the Principle of Accountability. This is a principle of social justice, and states, “individuals should be rewarded for factors under their control […], but not for factors outside their control” (Cappelen and Tungodden (2009)). We specifically ask for acceptability of theprincipleunderlying it, rather than for particular rewards in particular instances. We carry out the test with both an Internal and an External Dictator, conducting a laboratory experiment with a total of 240 subjects. We find that there is broad, but not overwhelming support for the Principle. When the Principle is internally inconsistent no clear preference emerges, which is not surprising.
Identifying Return to Work Self-Efficacy Trajectories in Employees with Mental Health Problems
Authors: Horn Lena , Spronken Maitta , Brouwers Evelien P. M. , de Reuver Renée S. M. , Joosen Margot C. W.
Published: May 2021

Purpose Return to work self-efficacy (RTW-SE) is a strong predictor of return to work (RTW) in employees with mental health problems (MHPs). However, little is known about the development of RTW-SE during the RTW process. In this study, we aimed to identify RTW-SE trajectories in the year following sick leave in employees with MHPs and provided a description of the trajectories in terms of personal and work characteristics, and RTW status. Methods This multi-wave study included 111 employees with MHPs. RTW-SE was measured at baseline, and at 3, 6, and 12 months follow-up with the RTW-SE scale for employees with MHPs. Results Latent class growth analysis revealed six trajectories. In three trajectories employees had increasing RTW-SE scores, namely (class 1) low start, moderate increase, (class 3) moderate start, small increase and (class 5) moderate start, steep increase. The other trajectories were defined by (class 2) persistently high, (class 6) persistently low, and (class 4) decreasing RTW-SE scores over time. Employees across the various trajectories differed significantly with respect to RTW status, and personal and work characteristics measured at baseline, including age, gender, and type of MHP. Less favorable trajectories (class 4 and 6) were characterized by higher age, a higher prevalence of anxiety disorder and lower RTW rates. The most favorable trajectory (class 2) was characterized by a higher proportion of stress-related disorders and less major depression diagnoses. Conclusions Large heterogeneity exists in terms of RTW-SE trajectories in employees with MHPs and significant differences were found across the trajectories regarding personal and work characteristics, and RTW status. Insights into RTW-SE trajectories and their attributes are important to advance more effective and personalized RTW treatment for employees with MHPs.
The Benefits of Spiritual Diaries: A Mixed-Method Study in Korea
Authors: Kim Suk-Sun , Kim-Godwin Yeounsoo , Gil Minji , Kim DaEun , Cheon Yeon Kum
Published: May 2021

This mixed study examined the benefits of spiritual diaries in Korea. Quantitatively, differences in spiritual growth and psychological well-being were examined in relation to the frequency of writing spiritual diaries among 385 participating adults. The group who wrote spiritual diaries ‘5–7 times a week’ had significantly higher scores relating to spiritual growth and psychological wellbeing than other groups across the outcome variables. Qualitatively, the study also explored the benefits of writing spiritual diaries among 37 adults. Three major themes using four focus group interviews, were identified: (a) the acquisition of godly habits, (b) a closer walk with Jesus, and (c) the fullness of God’s presence. These findings are particularly important for healthcare providers who want to facilitate patient self-care.
Obey validity limits of data-driven models through topological data analysis and one-class classification
Authors: Schweidtmann Artur M. , Weber Jana M. , Wende Christian , Netze Linus , Mitsos Alexander
Published: May 2021

Data-driven models are becoming increasingly popular in engineering, on their own or in combination with mechanistic models. Commonly, the trained models are subsequently used in model-based optimization of design and/or operation of processes. Thus, it is critical to ensure that data-driven models are not evaluated outside their validity domain during process optimization. We propose a method to learn this validity domain and encode it as constraints in process optimization. We first perform a topological data analysis using persistent homology identifying potential holes or separated clusters in the training data. In case clusters or holes are identified, we train a one-class classifier, i.e., a one-class support vector machine, on the training data domain and encode it as constraints in the subsequent process optimization. Otherwise, we construct the convex hull of the data and encode it as constraints. We finally perform deterministic global process optimization with the data-driven models subject to their respective validity constraints. To ensure computational tractability, we develop a reduced-space formulation for trained one-class support vector machines and show that our formulation outperforms common full-space formulations by a factor of over 3000, making it a viable tool for engineering applications. The method is ready-to-use and available open-source as part of our MeLOn toolbox (https://git.rwth-aachen.de/avt.svt/public/MeLOn).
Does model complexity improve pricing accuracy? The case of CoCos
Authors: Koziol Christian , Weitz Sebastian
Published: May 2021

In this study, we analyze whether model complexity improves accuracy of CoCo pricing models. We compare the out-of-sample pricing ability of four models using a broad dataset that contains all CoCos which were issued between January 1, 2013 and May 31, 2016 in euros. The regarded models include the standard model from De Spiegeleer and Schoutens (J Deriv 20:27–36, 2012), a modified version enriched by credit risk, an extended model that accounts for the effective lifetime of the CoCo, and a trading model, solely based on historic market prices but no pricing theory at all. For a normal market environment, the simple trading model provides a higher pricing accuracy than the theory-based models. Under distress, however, a theory-based model with a sufficiently high complexity is required.
Synthetic Humans for Action Recognition from Unseen Viewpoints
Authors: Varol Gül , Laptev Ivan , Schmid Cordelia , Zisserman Andrew
Published: May 2021

Although synthetic training data has been shown to be beneficial for tasks such as human pose estimation, its use for RGB human action recognition is relatively unexplored. Our goal in this work is to answer the question whether synthetic humans can improve the performance of human action recognition, with a particular focus on generalization to unseen viewpoints. We make use of the recent advances in monocular 3D human body reconstruction from real action sequences to automatically render synthetic training videos for the action labels. We make the following contributions: (1) we investigate the extent of variations and augmentations that are beneficial to improving performance at new viewpoints. We consider changes in body shape and clothing for individuals, as well as more action relevant augmentations such as non-uniform frame sampling, and interpolating between the motion of individuals performing the same action; (2) We introduce a new data generation methodology, SURREACT, that allows training of spatio-temporal CNNs for action classification; (3) We substantially improve the state-of-the-art action recognition performance on the NTU RGB+D and UESTC standard human action multi-view benchmarks; Finally, (4) we extend the augmentation approach to in-the-wild videos from a subset of the Kinetics dataset to investigate the case when only one-shot training data is available, and demonstrate improvements in this case as well.
The formation conditions of birch tar in oxygen-depleted environments
Authors: Koch Tabea J. , Schmidt Patrick
Published: May 2021

Birch tar is the oldest manmade adhesive dating back to the European Middle Palaeolithic. Its study is of importance for understanding the cognitive capacities and technical skills of Neanderthals and the aceramic production systems employed in the European Palaeolithic and Mesolithic. Several methods may have been used to make birch tar, the most common proposition being dry distillation in oxygen-depleted atmospheres. One of the major impediments for our understanding of the conditions employed to make Neanderthal birch tar, and ultimately the technique used, is that it remains unknown at which temperatures exactly birch tar forms. The relationship between heating duration and tar formation is also unknown. To address these questions, we conduct a laboratory heating experiment, using sealed glass tubes and an electric furnace. We found that birch tar is only produced at a narrow temperature interval (350 °C and 400 °C). Heating times longer than 15 min have no effect on the quantity of tar produced. These findings, notwithstanding previous propositions of necessarily long heating times and larger tolerances for temperature, have important implications for our understanding of the investment in time needed for Palaeolithic birch tar making.
Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Police Officers
Authors: Hoeve Machteld , de Bruin Esther I. , van Rooij Floor , Bögels Susan M.
Published: May 2021

Objectives

Although the effectiveness of mindfulness-based intervention for various populations is well-documented, research examining these effects for police officers is limited. This study aimed to increase knowledge on (1) the effects of a mindfulness-based intervention in police officers and (2) potential mechanisms of change by relating changes in facets of mindful awareness to changes in stress.

Methods

In the present study, we investigated the effects of a 6-session group-based mindfulness-based intervention in police officers (n = 82) on self-report measures, using a quasi-experimental design consisting of a within-group 6-week baseline period; pre-test, 6-week intervention; and post-test, 6-week follow-up. Multilevel analyses were used to test intervention effects. Using structural equation modeling, we analyzed whether changes in facets of mindfulness were associated with changes in various types of stress.

Results

After the intervention, police officers significantly and substantially improved on stress (primary outcome), facets of mindful awareness (explanatory variables), and related secondary outcomes including somatic complaints, sleep disturbances, positive affect, happiness, and work ability, while in baseline period, outcome measures did not change. Effects remained significant or improved further during the follow-up period. Further, we found that increases in particularly the facets of mindful awareness of acting with awareness and non-judging were associated with reductions in stress.

Conclusions

Mindfulness-based intervention appears beneficial for police officers. Further, increases in both attention and acceptance skills such as acting with awareness and non-judging seem to be most important in explaining reductions of stress in police officers.
Constructing Damage Indices Based on Publicly Available Spatial Data: Exemplified by Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions in Indonesia
Authors: Skoufias Emmanuel , Strobl Eric , Tveit Thomas
Published: May 2021

This article demonstrates the construction of earthquake and volcano damage indices using publicly available remote sensing sources and data on the physical characteristics of events. For earthquakes we use peak ground motion maps in conjunction with building type fragility curves to construct a local damage indicator. For volcanoes we employ volcanic ash data as a proxy for local damages. Both indices are then spatially aggregated by taking local economic exposure into account by assessing nightlight intensity derived from satellite images. We demonstrate the use of these indices with a case study of Indonesia, a country frequently exposed to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The results show that the indices capture the areas with the highest damage, and we provide overviews of the modeled aggregated damage for all provinces and districts in Indonesia for the time period 2004 to 2014. The indices were constructed using a combination of software programs—ArcGIS/Python, Matlab, and Stata. We also outline what potential freeware alternatives exist. Finally, for each index we highlight the assumptions and limitations that a potential practitioner needs to be aware of.
Trunk Flexion to Extension Strength Ratio of 11- to 18- Year Old Youth Ski Racers: Data from 15 Years of Talent Development in Austria
Authors: Steidl-Müller Lisa , Patterson Carson , Luchner Roland , Ebenbichler Christoph , Hildebrandt Carolin , Raschner Christian
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the trunk strength capacity of alpine ski racers aged 10–18 years, who were tested during the last 15 years, to identify reference values for trunk flexor to extensor strength ratios according to age and sex.

Methods

In total, 2841 participants (1605 males, 1236 females; 10–18 years) were included, who were pupils of a famous skiing-specific secondary modern school or members of the provincial ski team between 2006 and 2020. The maximum isometric trunk flexion and extension strength was measured using the slightly modified Back Check. Sex-specific differences were assessed with Student’s t test or Mann–Whitney-U test. Univariate analyses of variance or Kruskal–Wallis-H tests were used to assess differences between age groups. Descriptive sex- and age-specific reference values were calculated (norm area: mean ± ½ standard deviation).

Results

Sex-specific differences were found for both flexion (starting at 11 years) and extension strength (starting at 12 years) (P < 0.001). Lower flexion to extension strength ratios were identified for males (0.89 ± 0.18) compared with females (0.82 ± 0.15), but the ratios remained constant across age groups for both sexes.

Conclusion

The present study provides age- and sex-specific reference values for trunk flexion to extension strength ratios for 10- to 18-year old youth and adolescent ski racers. The data of the present study represent a large data pool of youth ski racers at a high-performance level; thus, coaches can use the reference values for comparing the ratios of their athletes.
Thermal refraction: implications for subglacial heat flux
Authors: Willcocks Simon , Hasterok Derrick , Jennings Samuel
Published: May 2021

In this study, we explore small-scale (~1 to 20 km) thermal-refractive effects on basal geothermal heat flux (BGHF) at subglacial boundaries resulting from lateral thermal conductivity contrasts associated with subglacial topography and geologic contacts. We construct a series of two-dimensional, conductive, steady-state models that exclude many of the complexities of ice sheets in order to demonstrate the effect of thermal refraction. We show that heat can preferentially flow into or around a subglacial valley depending on the thermal conductivity contrast with underlying bedrock, with anomalies of local BGHF at the ice–bedrock interface between 80 and 120% of regional BGHF and temperature anomalies on the order of ±15% for the typical range of bedrock conductivities. In the absence of bed topography, subglacial contacts can produce significant heat flux and temperature anomalies that are locally extensive (>10 km). Thermal refraction can result in either an increase or decrease in the likelihood of melting and ice-sheet stability depending on the conductivity contrast and bed topography. While our models exclude many of the physical complexities of ice behavior, they illustrate the need to include refractive effects created by realistic geology into future glacial models to improve the prediction of subglacial melting and ice viscosity.
A continental perspective on the timing of environmental change during the last glacial stage in Australia
Authors: Cadd Haidee , Petherick Lynda , Tyler Jonathan , Herbert Annika , Cohen Tim J , Sniderman Kale , Barrows Timothy T. , Fulop Reka H. , Knight Jasper , Kershaw A. Peter , Colhoun Eric A. , Harris Mathew R.P.
Published: May 2021

The timing and duration of the coldest period in the last glacial stage, often referred to as the last glacial maximum (LGM), has been observed to vary spatially and temporally. In Australia, this period is characterised by colder, and in some places more arid, climates than today. We applied Monte-Carlo change point analysis to all available continuous proxy records covering this period, primarily pollen records, from across Australia (n = 37) to assess this change. We find a significant change point occurred (within uncertainty) at 28.6 ± 2.8 ka in 25 records. We interpret this change as a shift to cooler climates, associated with a widespread decline in biological productivity. An additional change point occurred at 17.7 ± 2.2 ka in 24 records. We interpret this change as a shift towards warmer climates, associated with increased biological productivity. We broadly characterise the period between 28.6 (± 2.8) – 17.7 (± 2.2) ka as an extended period of maximum cooling, with low productivity vegetation that may have occurred as a combined response to reduced temperatures, lower moisture availability and atmospheric CO2. These results have implications for how the spatial and temporal coherence of climate change, in this case during the LGM, can be best interrogated and interpreted.
Emboldening and Contesting Gender and Skin Color Stereotypes in the Film Industry in India, 1947–1991
Authors: Sheth Sudev , Jones Geoffrey , Spencer Morgan
Published: May 2021

This article examines how the film industry influenced prevailing gender and skin color stereotypes in India during the first four decades after Independence in 1947. It shows that Bollywood, the mainstream cinema in India, shared Hollywood's privileging of paler skin over darker skin, and its preference for presenting women in stereotypical ways lacking agency. The influence of film content was especially significant in India as audiences often lacked alternative sources of entertainment and information. It was left to parallel, and often regional, cinemas in India to contest skin color and gender stereotypes entrenched in mainstream media. As conventional archival sources for this history are lacking, the article employs new evidence from oral histories of producers and actors.
Petrogenesis of (meta-) basalts from the North Qilian Orogenic Belt, NW China: implications for the Palaeoproterozoic–Mesoproterozoic tectonic evolution of the North Qilian Block
Authors: Miao Xiu-Quan , Liu Yi-Xin , Liu Yi-Wei , Wang Jin-Rong , Chen Jian-Lin
Published: May 2021

The North Qilian Orogenic Belt is surrounded by the Tarim Craton to the NW and the North China Craton to the NE. The Precambrian continental crust remnants that are distributed in the North Qilian Orogenic Belt are termed the North Qilian Block (NQB), and their tectonic evolution has profound implications for the evolution of the Columbia Supercontinent. Here we present major- and trace-element and Sr–Nd–Hf isotope data for (meta-) basalts from the Beidahe Group (BDHG) and Zhulongguan Group (ZLGG) in the western North Qilian Orogenic Belt, to investigate the tectonic evolution of the NQB during the Proterozoic Eon. The protoliths of Palaeoproterozoic amphibole gneisses and plagioclase amphibolites from the BDHG are calc-alkaline series basalts. These metabasalts show island-arc-basalt affinities with variable Nd and Hf isotopes (ϵNd(t) = −5.0–0.6 and 2.7–4.3;ϵHf(t) = −14.2–2.0 and 6.9–8.8) and were generated by partial melting of the asthenospheric mantle that was metasomatized by aqueous fluid and sediment melt in a continental-arc setting. The early Mesoproterozoic ZLGG basalts show features of shoshonite-series basalts and are geochemically similar to ocean-island basalts. These basalts show variable (87Sr/86Sr)i,ϵNd(t) andϵHf(t) values of 0.70464–0.70699, −1–2.6 and −1.5–5.7, and are products of mantle plume magmatism that participated with subducted oceanic crust in an intracontinental rift setting. This study suggests that the NQB underwent tectonic evolution from palaeo-oceanic subduction to intracontinental rifting during the Palaeoproterozoic–Mesoproterozoic eras. Furthermore, the above tectonomagmatic events were in response to convergence–splitting events of the Columbia Supercontinent during the Palaeoproterozoic–Mesoproterozoic eras.
NINA BERMAN, Orientalismus, Kolonialismus und Moderne: Zum Bild des Orients in der deutschsprachigen Kultur um 1900 (Stuttgart: M und P, Verlag für Wissenschaft und Forschung, 1996). Pp. 378. DM60.
Authors: ZIMMERMAN ANDREW
Published: May 2021

Nina Berman's Orientalismus, Kolonialismus und Moderne consists of a theoretical Introduction and a chapter each on three modern German-language authors who visited, and wrote extensively about, the Middle East: Karl May, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, and Else Lasker-Schüler. The argument is based on the analysis of literary texts, but Berman also weaves in discussions of the authors' own travels in the Near East, a wide range of contemporary Orientalist texts, and post-colonial theory. Thus, although her book primarily addresses specialists in German literature, it will also be of interest to anyone concerned with Orientalism and the functioning of imperialist and colonialist ideology.
Nitrogen use and agronomic efficiency of rainfed wheat in permanent beds as affected by N fertilizer, precipitation and soil nitrate
Authors: Limon-Ortega Agustin
Published: May 2021

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is an input that has played an important role in grain yield, N use efficiency (NUE), and agronomic efficiency (AE) that needs to be studied on rainfed wheat grown in permanent beds as a planting system. The objective of this study was to test the effect of N treatments on yield, NUE and AE from 2005 to 2009. The experimental design consisted of three N rates (25, 50 and 75 kg/ha) and four N timing treatments (two single basal applications and two splits), plus a control plot (0 N). Results showed that N rate and N timing treatments had no effect on grain yield, but years, meanwhile Year–N rate interaction affected NUE and AE. Precipitation and post-harvest soil N-NO3 were identified as factors to test the years' effect on yield, NUE and AE. Regression procedures showed that the effect was greater for 25 kg N/ha treatment. The relationships between these variables and precipitation were positive, whereas the opposite occurred with soil N-NO3. NUE and AE, however, showed negative values in crop seasons with moisture constraints from precipitation (<335 mm) and soil N-NO3 (>90 kg N-NO3/ha). This result indicated that N removal and yield in these years were larger in control plots (0 N) than fertilizer application. Precipitation and soil N-NO3, rather than N treatments, explained most of the yield, NUE and AE variation over years. Therefore, to enhance that effect of weather and soil, further research on alternate N sources is needed.
The sraōšāuuarəza-priest and the usage of the srōš-barišnīh in the greater Long Liturgy
Authors: CANTERA ALBERTO
Published: May 2021

In this paper I postulate that the original function of thesrāošāuuarəza- is the recitation of the formulasraōšō astu (srōš barišnīh),and provide an analysis of the function of this formula in the Long Liturgy. It has an Indo-Iranian background and plays an important role in the Long Liturgy. Because of the dependence of previous editions on the exegetical manuscripts, the formula has never been recorded in the different variations it displays in the liturgy. Some instances have never been edited at all, and others only partially, leading to an incorrect understanding of several texts included in this formula. Furthermore, I present some thoughts about the materials, problems, and methods for the study of the Avestan priestly college and its evolution.
Psychometric properties of the Food Environment Assessment Survey Tool (FEAST) in people with mobility impairment
Authors: Lee Rebecca E , Suh Bin C , Cameron Chelsea , O’Neal Alicia , Jarrett Sasha , O’Connor Daniel P , Ohri-Vachaspati Punam , Todd Michael , Hughes Rosemary B
Published: May 2021

Objective:

Approximately one in ten adults under the age of 65 in the USA has a mobility impairing disability. People with mobility impairment generally have poorer dietary habits contributing to obesity and related negative health outcomes. This article presents the psychometric properties of the Food Environment Assessment Survey Tool (FEAST) instrument that measures barriers to accessing healthy food from the perspective of people with mobility impairment (PMI).

Design:

The current study presents cross-sectional data from two sequential independent surveys.

Setting:

Surveys were administered online to a national sample of PMI.

Participants:

Participants represented PMI living throughout the USA. The pilot FEAST survey involved 681 participants and was used to shape the final instrument; 25 % completed a retest survey. After following empirically and theoretically guided item reduction strategies, the final FEAST instrument was administered to a separate sample of 304 PMI.

Results:

The final twenty-seven-item FEAST instrument includes items measuring Neighbourhood Environment, Home Environment, Personal Control and Access to Support (Having Help, Food Delivery Services, Parking/Transportation). The final four scales had acceptable intra-class correlations, indicating that the scales could be used as reliable measures of the hypothesised constructs in future studies.

Conclusions:

The FEAST instrument is the first of its kind developed to assess the food environment from the perspective of PMI themselves. Future studies would benefit from using this measure in research and practice to help guide the development of policy aimed at improving access to healthy food and promoting healthy eating in community-dwelling PMI.
ON THE RANK OF A VERBAL SUBGROUP OF A FINITE GROUP
Authors: DETOMI ELOISA , MORIGI MARTA , SHUMYATSKY PAVEL
Published: May 2021

We show that if w is a multilinear commutator word and G a finite group in which every metanilpotent subgroup generated by w-values is of rank at most r, then the rank of the verbal subgroup
$w(G)$
is bounded in terms of r and w only. In the case where G is soluble, we obtain a better result: if G is a finite soluble group in which every nilpotent subgroup generated by w-values is of rank at most r, then the rank of
$w(G)$
is at most
$r+1$
.
Jacob Gordin and the Anti-Spinozist Legacy of Hermann Cohen in France
Authors: Werdiger Ori
Published: May 2021

Hermann Cohen is often described as the last in a line of German idealist, or Jewish rationalist, thinkers. This article, instead, takes Cohen as a point of departure, tracing his distinct form of anti-Spinozism which was transmitted to France by the Russian émigré philosopher of religion Jacob Gordin. It considers the engagements by Cohen, Leo Strauss, and Gordin with Spinoza's Theological-Political Treatise, and examines the role an essay by Gordin played in bringing Cohen's view to francophone Jewish audiences and in defending Cohen's reading of Spinoza against Strauss's critique. The article then treats the postwar redeployments of Gordin's essay by Emmanuel Levinas and the historian of anti-Semitism Léon Poliakov against the Zionist and Spinozist views promoted by David Ben-Gurion. Attention to the overlooked centrality of Gordin demonstrates the importance of Russian intelligentsia as carriers of Cohen's legacy, highlights the presence of Cohen's anti-Spinozist views in postwar French and French Jewish thought, and introduces another site within the reception history of Spinoza in the twentieth century.