bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative study of the interannual variability of South Asian summer monsoon rainfall regulated by SST
Authors: Cai Fenying , Yang Song , Wang Ziqian , Hua Wei
Published: February 2021

Most of the rainfall over South Asia occurs from June to September, and its variation is strongly related to the fluctuation of sea surface temperature (SST) on a global scale. In this study, we investigate how and to what degree the interannual variance (IAV) of South Asian summer monsoon (SASM) rainfall is regulated by SST anomalies through comparing the multi‐model simulations forced by observed interannual SST variation and climatological SST just with annual cycle. Results indicate that the interannual change in global SST can explain nearly 50% of the IAV of SASM rainfall, in which dynamic process (via atmospheric circulation), instead of thermodynamic process (via water‐vapour effect), plays a dominated role. SST influences the IAV of SASM rainfall mainly through changing the lower‐ and upper‐level atmospheric circulations, namely, the large‐scale vertical wind shears. Additional sensitivity experiments with the NCAR Community Atmosphere Model show that the effect of tropical Pacific SST (~24.0%) is more important than that of tropical Indian Ocean SST (~15.3%) on regulating the IAV of SASM rainfall.
Laser‐induced phonon and magnon properties of NiO nanoparticles: A Raman study
Authors: Sunny Anoop , Balasubramanian Karthikeyan
Published: February 2021

In the present study, the influence of laser intensity on phonon and magnon properties of nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles were extensively studied using room temperature Raman spectroscopy. The required NiO nanoparticles were synthesized using a simple sol–gel method. The structural and morphological properties were characterized using powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The rarely reported surface optical (SO) phonon modes of NiO nanoparticles were observed and well‐studied using the dielectric continuum (DC) model. A mismatch between the experimental and DC model SO phonon wavenumbers were observed and is attributed to one magnon‐induced first order phonon shift. The difference between the experimental and DC model SO phonon wavenumbers were reduced with increase in laser power, which indicates the diminishing behavior of magnon excitations. The laser power dependency of highly distinguishable two magnon (2 M) excitation of NiO nanoparticles were well studied. The 2 M modes were experienced a red shift and decrease in intensity with increase in laser power.
Preliminary study on the identification of synthetic cathinones in street seized samples by Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics
Authors: Braz André , Santos Silva Carolina , Peixoto Ana Christina , Pimentel Maria Fernanda , Pereira Goreti , Caixeta Castro Souza Braga Patrícia , Martini André Luiz , Lino Fernandes Alcântara Thaynara
Published: February 2021

Synthetic cathinones are new psychoactive substances that are a menace to public health worldwide and a real forensic challenge. Given the recent changes in the Brazilian legislation that bans the generic structure of these substances, the forensic workflow of drug analysis has the opportunity to speed up the arrests by in loco screening analysis. This preliminary study investigated the use of portable Raman spectrometer and chemometrics for fast, direct, and non‐destructive presumptive identification of three synthetic cathinones in seized packages and confirmatory analysis using FTIR. The 40 samples were analyzed directly and included three 3,4‐methylenodioxy substituted cathinones and other legal and illegal substances that were identified by two police forces in Brazil. Due to lack of reference Raman spectra, a purification step of the cathinone samples was performed. PCA showed that the spectral region 1,560–1750 cm−1 was the most important region for differentiating these types of cathinones from the other substances. MCR‐ALS was used to resolve the spectral mixture of signals from adulterants and identify the presence of cathinones in the seizures. The purified spectra were used as initial estimates. The concentration profiles for each component indicated significant contributions of two characteristic bands around 1,606 and 1,680 cm−1. Additionally, analysis of the optimized spectral profiles showed Raman shifts and differences in the relative intensity of those bands which allowed discrimination among the samples. Band attribution of infrared spectra confirmed the results obtained with screening method. The method proposed has potential for objective and contactless identification of seized synthetic cathinones.
Combining137Cs,210Pband dendrochronology for improved reconstruction of erosion–sedimentation events in a loess gully system (southern Poland)
Authors: Malik Ireneusz , Poręba Grzegorz , Wistuba Małgorzata , Woskowicz‐Ślęzak Beata
Published: February 2021

Detailed knowledge on the past events of erosion and redeposition is necessary to assess the frequency and magnitude of soil degradation and to provide more complete data, among all, to calculate rainfall thresholds and to develop strategies for controlling erosion. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to obtain a more comprehensive and accurate reconstruction of erosion–sedimentation events in a gully system by combining analyses of137Cs and210Pb with dendrochronological dating in the same sediment profiles. We aimed to precisely determine the number and the age of erosion–sedimentation events, which led to the development of study deposits and to determine the type of erosion providing material for deposition in particular events. To this purpose, 136 soil samples and 62 roots and tree stems samples were collected in eight research profiles at the gully bottom. We compared the results obtained with the two methods. Isotope analysis allowed us to estimate more general age of sediments and the type of erosion that provided material for individual layers. Dendrochronology provided a more precise reconstruction of the age of soil degradation events. By combining both techniques, we determined rainfall events responsible for erosion and sedimentation in the studied gully since 1980s and a rainfall threshold of 60 mm day−1for soil erosion and redeposition in the study area.
Dynamic links among tourism, energy consumption, and economic growth: Empirical evidences from top tourist destination countries in Asia
Authors: Azam Muhammad , Abdullah Hussin
Published: February 2021

Achieving sustainable development is the prime objective of every government. Based on Solow's theoretical proposition, this study attempts to explore empirically the linkages between tourism, energy consumption, and economic growth, for the top nine Asian travel and tourism countries including Indonesia between 1995 and 2018. The fully modified ordinary least squares method and Granger's causality approaches are implemented for empirical analysis. The empirical result reveals that tourism has a statistically positive impact on economic growth in Asia's top nine travel and tourist countries. Moreover, energy consumption, exports, and savings have also a positive and statistically significant impact on economic growth. The results of panel Granger causality tests demonstrate that there is a mutual interdependence between tourism, energy consumption, and economic growth in the selected panel country group. The empirical finding indicates the positive influences of tourism on economic growth; therefore, the government must strive to formulate a policy that would help to build infrastructural adequacy and promote tourism development in Asian countries.
Family accommodation in Chinese individuals with obsessive‐compulsive disorder
Authors: Lee Eric B. , Rufino Katrina A. , Cuenod Morgan M. , Zhang Chen C. , Gong Hengfen , Zhang Yingying , Jin Haiyan , Yang Yong , Li Bin , Luo Xiao , Liu Wenjuan , Fang Fang , Li Bin , Sun Xirong , Schneider Sophie C. , McIngvale Elizabeth , Goodman Wayne K. , Storch Eric A.
Published: February 2021

Family accommodation is a common, treatment‐relevant construct related to obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) severity and treatment outcome. This initial study examined the nature, incidence, and clinical correlates of family accommodation in Chinese adults with OCD and their relative or person in a close relationship. One hundred four outpatients diagnosed with OCD completed self‐report measures of obsessive‐compulsive, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Additionally, the individuals with OCD and a relative completed a measure of family accommodation and impairment. Patient‐reports of family accommodation were significantly correlated with OCD symptomology and severity. A multiple linear regression indicated that OCD symptomology was a significant predictor of family accommodation, but anxiety, stress, and depression were not. In addition, the current Chinese sample demonstrated greater levels of family accommodation than previous English‐speaking samples. Potential explanations and implications of the high levels of reported family accommodation are discussed. Family accommodation could play a significant role in OCD development and/or maintenance in China. Future research considerations are discussed.
Preserved and variable spatial‐chemical changes of lipids across tomato leaves in response to central vein wounding reveals potential origin of linolenic acid in signal transduction cascade
Authors: Veličković Dušan , Chu Rosalie K. , Henkel Corinna , Nyhuis Annika , Tao Nannan , Kyle Jennifer E. , Adkins Joshua N. , Anderton Christopher R. , Paurus Vanessa , Bloodsworth Kent , Bramer Lisa M. , Cornett Dale S. , Curtis Wayne R. , Burnum‐Johnson Kristin E.
Published: February 2021

Membrane lipids serve as substrates for the generation of numerous signaling lipids when plants are exposed to environmental stresses, and jasmonic acid, an oxidized product of 18‐carbon unsaturated fatty acids (e.g., linolenic acid), has been recognized as the essential signal in wound‐induced gene expression. Yet, the contribution of individual membrane lipids in linolenic acid generation is ill‐defined. In this work, we performed spatial lipidomic experiments to track lipid changes that occur locally at the sight of leaf injury to better understand the potential origin of linolenic and linoleic acids from individual membrane lipids. The central veins of tomato leaflets were crushed using surgical forceps, leaves were cryosectioned and analyzed by two orthogonal matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging platforms for insight into lipid spatial distribution. Significant changes in lipid composition are only observed 30 min after wounding, while after 60 min lipidome homeostasis has been re‐established. Phosphatidylcholines exhibit a variable pattern of spatial behavior in individual plants. Among lysolipids, lysophosphatidylcholines strongly co‐localize with the injured zone of wounded leaflets, while, for example, lysophosphatidylglycerol (LPG) (16:1) accumulated preferentially toward the apex in the injured zone of wounded leaflets. In contrast, two other LPGs (LPG [18:3] and LPG [18:2]) are depleted in the injured zone. Our high‐resolution co‐localization imaging analyses suggest that linolenic acids are predominantly released from PCs with 16_18 fatty acid composition along the entire leaf, while it seems that in the apex zone PG (16:1_18:3) significantly contributes to the linolenic acid pool. These results also indicate distinct localization and/or substrate preferences of phospholipase isoforms in leaf tissue.
Anemia, nutrition, and ambulatory oxygen weaning in a cohort of oxygen‐dependent premature infants
Authors: Montealegre‐Pomar Adriana del Pilar , Charpak Nathalie
Published: February 2021

Background

In Bogotá, Colombia, oxygen‐dependent (OD) preterm infants are home discharged in Kangaroo Position, to a Kangaroo Mother Care Program (KMCP) with ambulatory oxygen, strict follow‐up, and oxygen weaning protocols.

Objectives

(1) To describe growth, morbimortality, and oxygen monitoring up to 6 months in OD preterm infants. (2) To explore associations between oxygen weaning, perinatal history, Hb levels, transfusions, feeding patterns, and growth.

Methods

A prospective cohort study. Descriptive and multivariate analysis.

Results

Recruited patients were 407 with 33 weeks median gestational age (GA). Mothers presented infections >28%, pre‐eclampsia in 22%, and 80% received antenatal corticosteroids. Upon KMCP admission, median GA, chronological age, and hospital stay were 36 weeks, 21 and 17 days, respectively; 56.8% of patients had neonatal sepsis and 67.8% were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. At oxygen weaning, patients had a median of 54 days with oxygen, median weight 3240 g and GA 41 weeks. Median follow‐up oxygen saturation was 94% with 1/64–1/2 L/min of oxygen. One‐year mortality was 0.2% and attrition 20%. At 6 months, all patients had appropriate growth and 67% were breastfeeding. Multiple regression analysis showed that higher GA, Hb levels, weight gain, and exclusive breastfeeding decreased oxygen requirement while invasive ventilation and transfusions had the opposite effect (R2 = .49).

Conclusions

In OD preterm infants, there is a close relationship between days of oxygen requirement and GA, mechanical ventilation, Hb levels at discharge, transfusions, exclusive breastfeeding, and weight gain. Strict monitoring with established protocols in an ambulatory KMCP allows adequate growth and safe oxygen weaning.
Hafnium Oxide‐Based Ferroelectric Devices for Computing‐in‐Memory Applications
Authors: Chen Pei-Yao , He Zheng-Yu , Cha Ming-Yang , Liu Hao , Zhu Hao , Chen Lin , Sun Qing-Qing , Ding Shi-Jin , Zhang David Wei
Published: February 2021

Herein, a layer of 10 nm ferroelectric Al‐doped HfO2 (HAO) film is fabricated and optimized and is further integrated in a nonvolatile memory device with TiN/HAO/Pt/Ti capacitor structure. Long retention, high endurance, and stable storage characteristics, as well as a competitive residual polarization of 2Pr = 24–30 μC cm−2 are achieved. Furthermore, computing‐in‐memory applications are implemented utilizing the HAO‐based ferroelectric memory devices. Typical NOR and NOT logic gates are obtained based on the memristor‐aided logic (MAGIC) operations by exploiting the polarization inversion characteristics of the device, which show great potential in realizing other basic Boolean logic operations. The results show that the HAO‐based ferroelectric memory device is a strong candidate in the pursuit of next‐generation parallel storage and computing systems.
Assessment of convection‐permitting versions of the Unified Model over the Lake Victoria basin region
Authors: Hanley Kirsty E. , Pirret Jennifer S. R. , Bain Caroline L. , Hartley Andrew J. , Lean Humphrey W. , Webster Stuart , Woodhams Beth J.
Published: February 2021

The Met Office runs an operational high‐resolution convection‐permitting model over Tropical Africa to support National Meteorological Services across the continent. This article evaluates the prediction of convective storms in two convection‐permitting versions of the Met Office Unified Model over the Lake Victoria basin region in East Africa. Two model configurations are compared for a case of severe convection: the first was tuned for tropical regions and the second was based on the operational UK model configuration. The tropical configuration compares better with satellite‐derived rainfall observations in terms of domain‐average rain‐rate and the distribution of rain‐rates is better, particularly for the more intense rain‐rates. However, both configurations generally produce too much rain, too many small storms, and a lack of light rain, which is compensated for by heavy rain in the cores of the storms. The tropical configuration was then assessed over two rainy seasons. In both seasons, the onset time of night‐time precipitation over Lake Victoria is delayed and the amount of precipitation is underestimated, which suggests the model may miss night‐time storms that occur over the lake. During the first 12–24 hr of the simulations, the precipitation field is still spinning up from the lower‐resolution global model fields used to initialise the convection‐permitting model. This leads to large overestimates in the domain‐average precipitation during this period and highlights the need to run convection‐permitting models for at least two days to reduce the impact of cold‐starting from a non‐convective‐permitting analysis. Despite the spin‐up issues, fractions skill score analysis shows that forecast skill decreases with increasing lead time. This implies that there is inherent skill in the early stages of the model forecast and underlines that short‐term forecast (0–48 hr) improvements in the model are likely to be achieved when using an improved analysis for initialisation.
Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution study of 18 bioactive components in healthy and chronic heart failure rats after oral administration of Qi‐Shen‐Ke‐Li formula using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhou Hui , He Yang , Zheng Zhong , Xing Junpeng , Liu Zhiqiang , Pi Zifeng , Liu Shu
Published: February 2021

Rationale

Qi‐Shen‐Ke‐Li (QSKL) is a traditional Chinese formula used in clinical practice to treat chronic heart failure (CHF) in humans. To rationalize the use of this formula in clinical practice, the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution in rats after oral administration of QSKL were investigated using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC/TQ‐MS).

Methods

The CHF model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of isoprenaline (ISO; also known as isoproterenol) and evaluated by HE staining and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurement. The UHPLC/TQ‐MS method was then applied to determine the concentrations of 18 bioactive components in rat plasma and tissues of heathy and CHF rats after oral administration of QSKL. This was followed by investigating the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution profiles of these bioactive compounds in the heathy and CHF rats.

Results

The pharmacokinetics results showed that the duration time of two compounds was prolonged, the absorption rate of four compounds was accelerated, and the bioavailability of four compounds was increased in the CHF rats compared with the healthy rats. Meanwhile, the tissue distribution results showed that the QSKL formula could be distributed rapidly and widely in different rat tissues. The bioavailability of eight compounds in the liver was enhanced in CHF rats. This suggested that the drug/toxic effects should be considered in clinical practice, as drug–drug interactions might occur in liver metabolism during the drug combination.

Conclusions

The pharmacokinetic profiles and tissue distribution of 18 bioactive compounds in QSKL are altered by the CHF status. This study provides insight for better clinical applications of this formula in the future and lays the foundation for the development of a new drug for chronic heart failure based on the QSKL formula.
Mesenchymal stromal cell delivery via an ex vivo bioreactor preclinical test system attenuates clot formation for intravascular application
Authors: O'Rourke Brian , Nguyen Sunny , Tilles Arno W. , Bynum James A. , Cap Andrew P. , Parekkadan Biju , Barcia Rita N.
Published: February 2021

While mesenchymal stromal cells are an appealing therapeutic option for a range of clinical applications, their potential to induce clotting when used systemically remains a safety concern, particularly in hypercoagulable conditions, such as in patients with severe COVID-19, trauma, or cancers. Here, we tested a novel preclinical approach aimed at improving the safety of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) systemic administration by use of a bioreactor. In this system, MSCs are seeded on the exterior of a hollow-fiber filter, sequestering them behind a hemocompatible semipermeable membrane with defined pore-size and permeability to allow for a molecularly defined cross talk between the therapeutic cells and the whole blood environment, including blood cells and signaling molecules. The potential for these bioreactor MSCs to induce clots in coagulable plasma was compared against directly injected “free” MSCs, a model of systemic administration. Our results showed that restricting MSCs exposure to plasma via a bioreactor extends the time necessary for clot formation to occur when compared with “free” MSCs. Measurement of cell surface data indicates the presence of known clot inducing factors, namely tissue factor and phosphatidylserine. Results also showed that recovering cells and flushing the bioreactor prior to use further prolonged clot formation time. Furthermore, application of this technology in two in vivo models did not require additional heparin in fully anticoagulated experimental animals to maintain target activated clotting time levels relative to heparin anticoagulated controls. Taken together the clinical use of bioreactor housed MSCs could offer a novel method to control systemic MSC exposure and prolong clot formation time.
Heat Transfer Mechanism for Roller Quenching with an Ultrathick Plate
Authors: Tian Xiu-Hua , Wang Qing-Hai , Fu Tian-Liang , Wang Zhao-Dong , Wang Guo-Dong
Published: February 2021

The complexity of roller quenching equipment restricts research on the heat transfer mechanism of ultrathick plates, and the cooling law requires further clarification. In this study, the distributions of temperature gradient, average cooling speed, and heat loss during quenching are analyzed using a 220 mm thick steel plate, and inverse heat conduction is used to determine the surface heat transfer conditions. An ultrathick steel plate is subjected to high‐pressure and low‐pressure water in turn for strong and lasting cooling. Due to the different flow regions on the upper and lower surfaces, the flow from the lower nozzle is slightly higher than that from the upper nozzle, thereby resulting in a good cooling symmetry between the upper and lower surfaces. The results provide an important basis for the optimization of roller quenching technology for ultrathick steel plates.
Inflammatory bowel disease and risk of severe COVID‐19: A nationwide population‐based cohort study in Sweden
Authors: Ludvigsson Jonas F. , Axelrad Jordan , Halfvarson Jonas , Khalili Hamed , Larsson Emma , Lochhead Paul , Roelstraete Bjorn , Simon Tracey G. , Söderling Jonas , Olén Ola
Published: February 2021

Background

There are concerns that individuals with chronic immune‐mediated diseases are at increased risk of COVID‐19 and related severe adverse outcome, including intensive care admission or death. We aimed to explore the absolute and relative risk of severe COVID‐19 in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods

This population‐based cohort study used nationwide registers in Sweden, with 67,292 individuals with a diagnosis of IBD 1969–2017 (Crohn's disease, n = 21,599; ulcerative colitis: n = 43,622; IBD‐unclassified: n = 2071) and alive on 1 February 2020. Patients with IBD were matched to up to five controls from the general population (n = 297,910). Cox regression estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for (i) hospital admission with laboratory‐confirmed COVID‐19 as the primary diagnosis, and (ii) severe COVID‐19 (composite outcome consisting of (a) COVID‐19 intensive care admission, or (b) death from COVID‐19 or (c) death within 30 days of COVID‐19 hospital admission), were calculated. Analyses were conditioned on age, sex, calendar period, and county and adjusted for other comorbidities.

Results

Between 1 February and 31 July 2020, 179 (0.27%) IBD patients and 500 (0.17%) general population controls were admitted to hospital with COVID‐19 (adjusted HR [aHR] = 1.43; 95% CI = 1.19–1.72). The corresponding numbers for severe COVID‐19 was 65 (0.10%) and 183 (0.06%; aHR = 1.11; 95% CI = 0.81–1.52). Adjusted HRs were similar in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In a propensity score‐matched model taking comorbidity into account until 2016, the increased risk for COVID‐19 hospital admission remained (aHR = 1.32; 1.12–1.56), but there was no increased risk of severe COVID‐19 (aHR = 1.12; 0.85–1.47).

Conclusions

While individuals with IBD were more likely to be admitted to hospital for COVID‐19 than the general population, the risk of severe COVID‐19 was not higher.
Introduction: From the Emergence to the Dynamics of Welfare Markets
Authors: Ledoux Clémence , Shire Karen , van Hooren Franca
Published: February 2021

This chapter presents the landscape of welfare markets in Europe and provides tools for the analysis and explanation of their dynamics. It shows how the new sociology of markets helps to better understand the dynamics of welfare markets, which we define as markets that provide social goods and services through the competitive activities of non-state actors. Welfare markets can have different relations to the welfare state. Different types of policy instruments (financial, regulatory, or informational) shape the dynamics of welfare markets, and this chapter identifies the potential variation in outcomes these markets can produce on the productive, allocative, and discursive dimension of market orders. Subsequently, the chapter emphasizes the role of actors in welfare market dynamics and compares the similarities and differences in dynamics of private pensions and domestic/care services.
Correction to: Setting up the Scene: Lessons Learned from PISA 2018 Statistics and Other International Student Assessments
Authors: Crato Nuno
Published: February 2021

In the original version of this book, belated corrections has been incorporated in the chapter “Setting up the Scene: Lessons Learned from PISA 2018 Statistics and Other International Student Assessments” . The correction chapter and the book has been updated with the changes.
Island in the presence of higher derivative terms
Authors: Alishahiha Mohsen , Astaneh Amin Faraji , Naseh Ali
Published: February 2021

Abstract

Using extended island formula we compute entanglement entropy of Hawking radiation for black hole solutions of certain gravitational models containing higher derivative terms. To be concrete we consider two different four dimensional models to compute entropy for both asymptotically flat and AdS black holes. One observes that the resultant entropy follows the Page curve, thanks to the contribution of the island, despite the fact that the corresponding gravitational models might be non-unitary.
Bundesweites Belastungsmodell für Intensivstationen durch COVID-19
Authors: Schuppert A. , Theisen S. , Fränkel P. , Weber-Carstens S. , Karagiannidis C.
Published: February 2021

Hintergrund

Prognosemodelle zur Intensivbelegung mit COVID-19-Patienten sind in der aktuellen Pandemie wichtig zur strategischen Planung der Patientenallokation und Vermeidung regionaler Überlastung. Sie werden oft vollständig an retrospektiven Infektions- und Belegungsdaten trainiert, wodurch die Prognoseunsicherheit exponentiell mit dem Prognosehorizont anwachsen kann.

Methodik

Wir schlagen einen alternativen Modellansatz vor, bei dem das Modell weitgehend unabhängig von den zu simulierenden Belegungsdaten erstellt wird. Die Verteilung der Bettenbelegungen für Patientenkohorten wird direkt aus Belegungsdaten aus „Sentinel-Kliniken“ berechnet. Durch Kopplung mit Infektionsszenarien wird der Prognosefehler durch den Fehler der Infektionsdynamikszenarien beschränkt. Das Modell erlaubt eine systematische Simulation von beliebigen Infektionsszenarien, die Berechnung von Korridoren für die Bettenauslastung sowie Sensitivitätsanalysen im Hinblick auf Schutzmaßnahmen.

Ergebnisse

Das Modell wurde anhand von Klinikdaten und durch Anpassung von nur 2 Parametern an die Daten in der Städteregion Aachen und Deutschland gesamt vorgenommen.

Am Beispiel der Simulation der jeweiligen Bettenbelegungen für das Bundesgebiet wird das Belastungsmodell zur Berechnung von Belegungskorridoren demonstriert. Die Belegungskorridore bilden Schranken für die Bettenbelegungen für den Fall, dass die Infektionszahlen spezifische Grenzwerte nicht überschreiten. Darüber hinaus werden Lockdownszenarien simuliert, die sich an retrospektiven Ereignissen orientieren.

Diskussion

Unser Modell zeigt, dass eine deutliche Reduktion der Prognoseunsicherheit in Auslastungsprognosen durch gezielte Kombination von Daten aus unterschiedlichen Quellen möglich ist. Es erlaubt eine beliebige Kombination mit Modellen und Szenarien zur Infektionsdynamik und kann damit sowohl zur Belastungsprognose als auch für Sensitivitätsanalysen für zu erwartende neuartige Spreading- und Lockdownszenarien eingesetzt werden.
Object surface reconstruction from flow tracers
Authors: Jux Constantin , Sciacchitano Andrea , Scarano Fulvio
Published: February 2021

A method to identify the surface of solid models immersed in fluid flows is devised that examines the spatial distribution of flow tracers. The fluid–solid interface is associated with the distance from the center of a circle to the centroid of the tracers ensemble captured within it. The theoretical foundation of the method is presented for 2D planar interfaces in the limit of a continuous tracer distribution. The discrete regime is analyzed, yielding the uncertainty of this estimator. Also the errors resulting from curved interfaces are discussed. The method's working principle is illustrated using synthetic data of a 2D cambered airfoil, showing that one of the limitations is the treatment of an object thinner than the search circle diameter. The method is readily adapted to 3D and applied to the 3D PTV data of the flow around a juncture. The surface is reconstructed within the expected uncertainty, and specific limitations, such as the smoothing of sharp edges is observed.

Graphic abstract
Diversity matters: the influence of gender diversity on the environmental orientation of entrepreneurial ventures
Authors: Tenner Isabell , Hörisch Jacob
Published: February 2021

Environmental entrepreneurship bears great potential to promote sustainable development. Several influencing factors on the level of environmental orientation have been identified by past literature. In this respect, mixed results occur with regard to the influence of gender on environmental entrepreneurship. However, these studies simply investigated the level of a single entrepreneur by distinguishing between male and female individuals, although ventures are increasingly founded by entrepreneurial teams. Consequently, this study quantitatively addresses the research question how the gender of founding teams influences the environmental orientation of entrepreneurial ventures. Based on a dataset of entrepreneurial ventures from the US and Germany, our results indicate that the level of environmental orientation is not dependent on the share of female members, but rather on the gender diversity of the founding team. We conclude that gender diversity within the entrepreneurial team is necessary to address both ecological and economic goals of environmental entrepreneurship. Based on this finding, theoretical and practical implications are drawn, in particular for policy, entrepreneurial teams and entrepreneurship training.
Early N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide is associated with cardiac complications and function during pregnancy in congenital heart disease
Authors: Siegmund A. S. , Pieper P. G. , Bouma B. J. , Rosenberg F. M. , Groen H. , Bilardo C. M. , van Veldhuisen D. J. , Dickinson M. G.
Published: February 2021

Background

Elevated N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels at 20 weeks’ gestation predict adverse cardiovascular (CV) complications during pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease (CHD). To improve early risk assessment in these women, we investigated the predictive value of first-trimester NT-proBNP for CV complications and its association with ventricular function during pregnancy.

Methods

Pregnant women with CHD, previously enrolled in a prospective national study or evaluated by an identical protocol, were included. Clinical data, echocardiographic evaluation and NT-proBNP measurements were obtained at 12, 20 and 32 weeks’ gestation. Elevated NT-proBNP was defined as > 235 pg/ml (95th percentile reference value of healthy pregnant women in the literature).

Results

We examined 126 females (mean age 29 years). Elevated NT-proBNP at 12 weeks was associated with CV complications (n = 7, 5.6%, odds ratio 10.9, p = 0.004). Arrhythmias were the most common complication (71%). The negative predictive value of low NT-proBNP to exclude CV complications was 97.2%. In women with CV complications, NT-proBNP levels remained high throughout pregnancy, while a decrease was seen in women without CV complications (p < 0.001 for interaction between group and time). At 12 weeks, higher NT-proBNP levels were associated with impaired subpulmonary ventricular function (p < 0.001) and also with a decline in subpulmonary ventricular function later in pregnancy (p = 0.012).

Conclusions

In this study, first-trimester NT-proBNP levels were associated with adverse CV complications and a decline in subpulmonary ventricular function later in pregnancy in women with CHD. Early NT-proBNP evaluation is useful for tailored care in pregnant women with CHD.
Torque Teno Virus plasma level as novel biomarker of retained immunocompetence in HIV-infected patients
Authors: Schmidt L. , Jensen B.-E. O. , Walker A. , Keitel-Anselmino V. , di Cristanziano V. , Böhm M. , Knops E. , Heger E. , Kaiser R. , de Luca A. , Oette M. , Häussinger D. , Timm J. , Fuchs A. , Lübke N.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

To predict the course of immune recovery (IR) in HIV-1-infected patients after initiation of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) by determination of the plasma concentration of Torque Teno Virus (TTV).

TTV has been identified as marker for risk assessment in immunosuppressed patients after transplantation procedures. Here, TTV was analyzed in HIV-1-infected therapy-naïve patients to evaluate its use as predictor of the course of IR for guidance of individualized treatment.

Methods

TTV DNA was quantified in plasma samples of 301 therapy-naïve HIV-1-infected patients and correlated to CD4+ cell count, HIV viral load, presence of the herpes viruses CMV, EBV and HHV-8, age and sex. Patients were classified according to their initial CD4+ cell count and to the extent of CD4+ T-cell increase within the first year of cART.

Results

TTV DNA was detectable in 96% of the patients’ plasma samples with a median TTV plasma concentration of 5.37 log10 cop/ml. The baseline CD4+ cell count was negatively correlated with TTV plasma concentration (p = 0.003). In patients with a CD4+ cell recovery < 50 cells/µl, the median TTV plasma concentration was significantly higher compared to patients with a CD4+ cell recovery of > 200 CD4+ cells/µl (5.68 log10 cop/ml versus 4.99 log10 cop/ml; p = 0.011). TTV plasma concentration in combination with baseline CD4+ cell count were significantly correlated to CD4+ cell recovery (p = 0.004). For all other parameters considered, no significant correlation for CD4+ cell recovery was found.

Conclusion

Within the cohort, the significantly elevated TTV plasma concentration in patients with diminished CD4+ cell recovery indicates a more profound immune defect. Baseline TTV plasma concentrations and CD4+ cell count are predictive for the course of immune recovery in HIV-1-infected patients with severe immunodeficiency.
Transmission congestion management considering voltage stability margin
Authors: Patel Nilesh K. , Suthar Bhavik N. , Thakkar Jalpa
Published: February 2021

This paper presents a solution for the transmission congestion management considering voltage stability issues using optimal generation rescheduling. While practicing congestion management using optimization techniques, the control variables remain under their upper or lower limits but it may lead to the lowered level of voltage security after optimization. To counterbalance this adverse effect, a modified objective function has been used. The reactive power generation rescheduling and reactive support from capacitors have been incorporated along with active power generation rescheduling to manage congestion as well as to improve the network voltage stability margin. The Random Inertia Weight Particle Swarm Optimization (RANDIW-PSO) algorithm has been employed in this paper to obtain optimized solutions. The proposed methodology is tested on the New-England test system for different realistic scenarios. The results confirm a noteworthy decline in congestion cost along with the improvement in network voltage stability margin. Moreover, system performance has been improved in terms of system power losses, increased reactive power reserve at generators and voltage profile.
Oxygen reduction on silver catalysts electrodeposited on various nanocarbon supports
Authors: Linge Jonas Mart , Erikson Heiki , Merisalu Maido , Sammelselg Väino , Tammeveski Kaido
Published: February 2021

In this work, Ag particles were electrodeposited onto nitrogen-doped graphene oxide, graphene, multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), and Vulcan carbon XC-72R supports by varying the upper potential limit. The surface morphology of the resulting Ag-based catalysts was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was tested in alkaline media employing the rotating disk electrode method. The variation of the upper potential limit influenced the size of silver nanoparticles and their number density on the substrate surface. All the Ag-based electrocatalysts studied in this work showed remarkable ORR activity in terms of half-wave potentials. The ORR results combined with hydrogen peroxide reduction results prove that all Ag catalysts tested are suitable for both reactions. Ag/NGO2 catalyst possesses the highest mass activity for ORR, which indicates a relationship between the Ag loading and electrocatalytic activity. The electroreduction of oxygen on all the electrodeposited silver catalysts follows a four-electron pathway in alkaline environment. These materials are promising alternatives for Pt/C catalyst to be used as alkaline membrane fuel cell cathodes.
Male Circumcision Due to Phimosis as the Procedure That Is Not Only Relieving Clinical Symptoms of Phimosis But Also Improves the Quality of Sexual Life
Authors: Czajkowski Mateusz , Czajkowska Katarzyna , Zarańska Karolina , Giemza Alicja , Kłącz Jakub , Sokołowska-Wojdyło Małgorzata , Matuszewski Marcin
Published: February 2021

Introduction

Male circumcision is recognized as the most effective method of phimosis treatment. Analyzing the literature, the information about the influence of male circumcision due to phimosis for patients' subjective symptoms such as itching, burning, penile pain, pain during intercourse, and quality of sexual life is insufficient.

Aim

To investigate the effect of male circumcision due to phimosis to patients' subjective symptoms, including erectile function and satisfaction with their genitals.

Methods

The single-center prospective study began in January 2018 and ended in January 2020. Sixty-nine male, adult patients, who were qualified for circumcision due to phimosis, were included in the study.

Main Outcomes Measures

The study outcomes were obtained using questionnaires such as visual analog scale 0-10 for itching, burning, penile pain, and penile pain during intercourse; International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) and Male Genital Self Image Scale 7 (MGSIS-7) to assess the changes in patients sexual functioning.

Results

Before the circumcision of the 69 patients included in the study, 59 patients (86%) reported some subjective symptoms of phimosis. The most frequent and most severe complaint was pain during intercourse, then itching and burning of the penis. Penile pain at rest was the least frequent. After 3 months from circumcision, subjective symptoms almost completely disappeared. All of 69 patients declared to have a sexual partner. 3 months after circumcision, all patients achieved significant improvement in both obtaining and maintaining an erection based on IIEF-5 score. Their sexual intercourse was more satisfying for them.

All patients suffering from phimosis were embarrassed about their genitals before surgery. 3 months after circumcision, satisfaction with genital self-image increased significantly.

Conclusion

Male circumcision due to phimosis is not only relieving the clinical symptoms of phimosis, but it also improves the quality of sexual life.
“Hell Is Popping Here in South Carolina”: Orangeburg County Black Teachers and Their Community in the Immediate Post-Brown Era
Authors: Cunningham Candace
Published: February 2021

When the South Carolina legislature created the anti-NAACP oath in 1956, teachers across the state lost their positions. But it was the dismissal of twenty-one teachers at the Elloree Training School that captured the attention of the NAACP and Black media outlets. In the years following Brown v. Board of Education, South Carolina's Black and White communities went head-to-head in the battle over White supremacy versus expanded civil rights. The desegregation movement in 1955 and 1956 placed Black teachers’ activism in the spotlight—activism that mirrored what was happening in their community. This largely unknown episode of civil rights activism demonstrates that Black teachers were willing to serve not only as behind-the-scenes supporters in the equal education struggle but as frontline activists. Furthermore, it shows that South Carolina was an integral site of the long civil rights movement.
Crystallex Int'l Corp. v. Bolivarian Rep. Venez. (3D Cir.)
Authors: Benish Kevin D.
Published: February 2021

On May 18, 2020, the United States Supreme Court denied a request by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and its state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), to review the merits of Crystallex Int'l Corp. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. In Crystallex, the Third Circuit affirmed a trial court's determination that PDVSA is the “alter ego” of Venezuela itself, thus permitting Crystallex to enforce a $1.4 billion judgment against Venezuela by attaching property held in PDVSA's name. Given the Supreme Court's decision to leave the Third Circuit's opinion undisturbed, Crystallex is a significant decision that may affect parties involved in transnational litigation for years to come—especially those pursuing or defending against U.S. enforcement proceedings involving the property of foreign states.
South African Afrophobia in local and continental contexts
Authors: Ochonu Moses E.
Published: February 2021

South Africa is the intellectual epicentre of the ideology of African renaissance and of the growing scholarly attention to decoloniality as an epistemological and aesthetic agenda of decolonisation. Paradoxically, the country is also a xenophobic crime scene: the continental state associated with endemic Afrophobic violence. This is a contradiction with both contemporary and historical significance. Positing this framing of a contradictory impulse should come with a caveat: Black South African intellectual investments in pan-Africanist projects were part of a broader cosmopolitan imaginary necessitated by South African colonial history and were thus partly projects of necessity. The origins of this politics of self-fashioning were not exclusively pan-Africanist.
Big Man or Boogey Man? The concept of the Big Man in political science
Authors: Driscoll Barry
Published: February 2021

The Big Man has attracted considerable attention from social scientists, both as an explanatory force as well as a phenomenon to be explained. But the concept has become unmoored from its original meaning. Once used to refer to an apex figure within a patrimonial regime, today Big Men are often described as dictators or thieves. I show this using an original dataset covering discussions of Big Men in leading African Studies journals since 1980. I find that authors, especially political scientists, overemphasise theft and underemphasise accountability of Big Men. Then, drawing on my research with Ghanaian local politicians, I show how Big Men are constantly under pressure from their supporters. The paper concludes with a modest call to put the Big Man back in his place as powerful but also empowered, and thus indebted, to those beneath him.
Border Governance in Kachin State, Myanmar: Un/caring states and aspirant state building during humanitarian crises
Authors: HO ELAINE LYNN-EE
Published: February 2021

Since 2011 renewed fighting between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has triggered the internal displacement of more than 100,000 people in Kachin state. This article examines how care practices and care ethics influence border governance in the context of humanitarian concerns in Kachin state in northern Myanmar, which shares a border with China. The situation in Kachin state at the China-Myanmar border reveals the contrasting territorial logics at stake, the contingency of governance at a time of political transition, and distinct ‘regimes of care’, as manifested through humanitarian relief, which all contribute towards border governance. Drawing on ethnographic research and interviews, the article highlights how care deficits are met by a separatist government, community organizations (both faith-based and secular), and diaspora populations which mobilize a range of networks and resources—forming webs of connections and interfacing with one another—to provide humanitarian relief. However, their actions and the ensuing flows of care could produce or deepen political subjectivities that are geared towards territorial contestation and separatism, thus changing expressions of border governance. The article further observes that the Kachin situation has wider implications for the peace negotiations taking place at the national level in Myanmar.
Lexical and Prosodic Pitch Modifications in Cantonese Infant-directed Speech
Authors: WANG Luchang , KALASHNIKOVA Marina , KAGER René , LAI Regine , WONG Patrick C.M.
Published: February 2021

The functions of acoustic-phonetic modifications in infant-directed speech (IDS) remain a question: do they specifically serve to facilitate language learning via enhanced phonemic contrasts (the hyperarticulation hypothesis) or primarily to improve communication via prosodic exaggeration (the prosodic hypothesis)? The study of lexical tones provides a unique opportunity to shed light on this, as lexical tones are phonemically contrastive, yet their primary cue, pitch, is also a prosodic cue. This study investigated Cantonese IDS and found increased intra-talker variation of lexical tones, which more likely posed a challenge to rather than facilitated phonetic learning. Although tonal space was expanded which could facilitate phonetic learning, its expansion was a function of overall intonational modifications. Similar findings were observed in speech to pets who should not benefit from larger phonemic distinction. We conclude that lexical-tone adjustments in IDS mainly serve to broadly enhance communication rather than specifically increase phonemic contrast for learners.
Submesoscale Eddies in the South China Sea
Authors: Ni Qinbiao , Zhai Xiaoming , Wilson Chris , Chen Changlin , Chen Dake
Published: February 2021

Submesoscale eddies are often seen in high‐resolution satellite‐derived ocean color images. To efficiently identify these eddies from surface chlorophyll data, here, we develop an automatic submesoscale eddy detection method and apply it to the South China Sea. The detected submesoscale eddies are found to have a radius of 13 ± 5 km and an aspect ratio of 0.5 ± 0.2, with a notable predominance of cyclones. Further investigation reveals that the surface structure of these eddies displays a unique “cat's‐eye” pattern, and the eddies become more circular with increasing eddy radius. Submesoscale eddies can strongly regulate surface chlorophyll via horizontal advection while they have less coherent signatures in sea surface temperature. These findings may help to improve submesoscale parameterizations in Earth system models.