bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A review of approaches for water depth estimation with multispectral data
Authors: Shah Ankit , Deshmukh Benidhar , Sinha L.K.
Published: July 2020

The purpose of this paper is to give an exhaustive assessment of water depth estimation in shallow inland and coastal water environments with the assistance of optical remote detecting procedures, utilizing satellite/airborne multispectral information. Remote sensing has been used to map bathymetry for several decades. Inaccessibility, large‐scale depth mapping, very shallow areas, and cost constraint are some of the reasons why remote sensing technique is a boon for bathymetry. Researchers have come a long way since the remote sensing‐based bathymetry has been used. Fourfold increase in spatial, spectral, radiometric and temporal resolution of sensors have also increased the accuracy. There are two types of remote sensing techniques; Active and Passive. Active remote sensing includes the use of ground penetrating radar and bathymetric lidar, which are expensive but precise surveys successful up to 70 m depth. On the other hand, passive remote sensing deals with water photogrammetry and radiometric methods done by capturing imagery with space borne/air borne platforms having depth penetration up to 25 m. The latter technique includes finding of a logarithmic relationship between river depth and image values. This technique is most widely used because of its cost effectiveness. In this paper, the emphasis has been given to derive bathymetric techniques using multispectral data as these methods have proved reasonably successful when water quality, bottom reflectance, and atmospheric effects are all invariant. At a specific area, the detection of possible changes in water flow and levels indicates flow path changes which can be used to predict potential surface level flooding for better water management and policy decisions.
Tropospheric Products from High-Level GNSS Processing in Latin America
Authors: Mackern María V. , Mateo María L. , Camisay María F. , Morichetti Paola V.
Published: July 2020

The present geodetic reference frame in Latin America and the Caribbean is given by a network of about 400 continuously operating GNSS stations. These stations are routinely processed by ten Analysis Centres following the guidelines and standards set up by the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) and International GNSS Service (IGS). The Analysis Centres estimate daily and weekly station positions and station zenith tropospheric path delays (ZTD) with an hourly sampling rate. This contribution presents some attempts aiming at combining the individual ZTD estimations to generate consistent troposphere solutions over the entire region and to provide reliable time series of troposphere parameters, to be used as a reference. The study covers ZTD and IWV series for a time-span of 5 years (2014–2018). In addition to the combination of the individual solutions, some advances based on the precise point positioning technique using BNC software (BKG NTRIP Client) and Bernese GNSS Software V.5.2 are presented. Results are validated using the IGS ZTD products and radiosonde IWV data. The agreement was evaluated in terms of mean bias and rms of the ZTD differences w.r.t IGS products (mean bias −1.5 mm and mean rms 6.8 mm) and w.r.t ZTD from radiosonde data (mean bias −2 mm and mean rms 7.5 mm). IWV differences w.r.t radiosonde IWV data (mean bias 0.41 kg/m2 and mean rms 3.5 kg/m2).
“I Treat My Daughters Not Like My Mother Treated Me”: Migrant and Refugee Women’s Constructions and Experiences of Menarche and Menstruation
Authors: Hawkey Alexandra J. , Ussher Jane M. , Perz Janette
Published: July 2020

Hawkey, Ussher, and Perz bring attention to the constructions and experiences of menarche and menstruation from the perspective of migrant and refugee women resettled in Australia and Canada. The authors describe how the positioning of menstruation as shameful, polluting, and something to be concealed has implications for girls’ and women’s embodied experiences, as well as for their level of knowledge about menstruation at menarche. They demonstrate how migrant and refugee women variably adopted, adapted, and questioned cultural practices and how this impacted their engagement with their daughters, showing women’s negotiation or navigation of differing cultural contexts following migration. By identifying the women’s experiences, the authors highlight details that are essential to deliver culturally appropriate medical practice, health promotion, and health education.
Resisting the Mantle of the Monstrous Feminine: Women’s Construction and Experience of Premenstrual Embodiment
Authors: Ussher Jane M. , Perz Janette
Published: July 2020

This chapter uses a feminist material-discursive theoretical framework to examine how women adopt the subject position of ‘monstrous feminine’ via the role of premenstrual embodiment. In this examination, Ussher and Perz draw on interviews they conducted with women who self-diagnose as ‘PMS sufferers.’ They theorize that this self-positioning is subjectification, wherein women take up cultural discourse regarding idealized femininity and the stigmatized fat body; according to the authors, this results in distress, self-objectification, and self-condemnation. However, they argue that women can reduce premenstrual distress and resist negative cultural constructions of premenstrual embodiment and fat bodies through women-centered psychological therapy, which increases awareness of embodied change and leads to greater self-care and acceptance of the premenstrual body.
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and the Myth of the Irrational Female
Authors: King Sally
Published: July 2020

King’s chapter begins by describing the historical context of ‘premenstrual’ symptoms, which were first formally described in 1931. She then questions the prioritization of mood-based symptoms in the diagnostic criteria for Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). King argues that population studies suggest that mood-based symptoms are not the most common nor most disruptive of menstrual changes. She then proposes that the trend of ‘psychologizing’ premenstrual symptoms is influenced by the sexist historical assumption of ‘the myth of the irrational female’—the idea that women, due to their reproductive biology, arepathologicallyemotional and thus have a reduced capacity for reason. The author concludes by calling for a more integrated and rigorous approach to PMS definitions and research to support people who experience cyclical symptoms, without unintentionally pathologizing the menstrual cycle or stigmatizing an entire gender.
Becoming Female: The Role of Menarche Rituals in “Making Women” in Malawi
Authors: Perianes Milena Bacalja , Ndaferankhande Dalitso
Published: July 2020

This chapter uses qualitative research methods to explore the role that menarche rituals play in making women in Malawi—specifically, the role that ritual and practice play in facilitating the integration of girls into social structures and in providing a means of codifying female behavior. Bacalja Perianes and Ndaferankhande read these rituals through an African ontological position to move beyond understanding African women’s subjectivity through the lens of oppression and gender-based hierarchies. By situating menstruation in local epistemologies, Bacalja Perianes and Ndaferankhande demonstrate how gender can be understood at a personal level, through the collective and relational experience of menstruation in Malawi. Findings from the research suggest that within Malawi, to be female is collectively ascribed, and individually understood, through the active and intelligible performance of menarche rituals and consequent menstrual practices. It is through such traditions, Bacalja Perianes and Ndaferankhande show, that women are “made,” with their newly ascribed gender imbuing them with a locus of power within their communities.
Practice Note: Why We Started Talking About Menstruation—Looking Back (and Looking Forward) with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation
Authors: Roaf Virginia , de Albuquerque Catarina
Published: July 2020

In this conversation, Catarina de Albuquerque, former UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, and her former advisor, Virginia Roaf, discuss how menstrual health and menstruation have become critical to understanding the contribution that the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector can make to ensuring gender equality. They look back at country missions and the many conversations with women and girls that led to a closer examination of how stigma around menstruation limits access to education, work, and a life in dignity. WASH provides a strong entry point for addressing taboos relating to menstruation, but the authors identify that one must get past this often technical understanding to address deeply entrenched gender stereotypes.
Addressing Menstruation in the Workplace: The Menstrual Leave Debate
Authors: Levitt Rachel B. , Barnack-Tavlaris Jessica L.
Published: July 2020

Levitt and Barnack-Tavlaris discuss the idea of menstrual leave, a policy option that provides employees with time off during menstruation. They counter the paucity of research surrounding the impacts of such policies on menstruators and the locations offering leave. Levitt and Barnack-Tavlaris argue that without addressing underlying sexist beliefs and attitudes as well as gender discrimination, menstrual leave could have negative effects on menstruators. The authors augment this research with findings from their previous study, which examines attitudes toward and perceptions of menstrual leave. Against this background, the chapter concludes with a discussion of alternative approaches to menstrual leave.
Opinion: Prisons that Withhold Menstrual Pads Humiliate Women and Violate Basic Rights
Authors: Bozelko Chandra
Published: July 2020

In this personal narrative, Bozelko shares her experience of being without adequate menstrual supplies while incarcerated. She describes the atmosphere of privation, including the shame and humiliation of staining her clothes and having to ask for tampons and pads from male guards. Bozelko argues that the issue is not a shortage of materials but the power differential between guards and inmates. Guards preventing women from accessing menstrual materials is both unnecessarily degrading and a human rights violation.
Of Mice and (Wo)Men: Tampons, Menstruation, and Testing
Authors: Vostral Sharra L.
Published: July 2020

Vostral provides much-needed insight into the link between women’s bodily experiences with tampons and twentieth-century developments in material science, corporate research, and gynecological observations about menstrual cycles. She examines how design modifications to tampons, changes in material composition, and the cultivation of women test subjects exposed scientific assumptions, ideas about safety, and attitudes concerning gendered and menstruating bodies. Focusing on the practical work of tampon testing, Vostral examines the impact of broad cultural conditions: prevailing ideas about women’s bodies, gender differences, and the role of science and medicine in optimizing well-being. Finally, she shows how patterns of social power and privilege configured this research, with evidence taking different forms over time.
Monitoring Menses: Design-Based Investigations of Menstrual Tracking Applications
Authors: Fox Sarah , Epstein Daniel A.
Published: July 2020

Fox and Epstein interrogate and reimagine menstrual tracking technology, focusing on mobile applications designed to document and quantify menstrual cycle data. While such technology promises to provide users with new insights and predictions, the authors highlight how these apps are inscribed with particular visions of menstruation and encourage users to extract intimate information about their bodies. Apps regularly assume, for instance, that all possible users are women, heterosexual, and monogamous, have a “normal” cycle, and use tracking techniques exclusively to gauge fertility. Fox and Epstein present two case studies: (1) examining core issues of usability and inclusion in the design of existing applications; and (2) using participatory approaches to highlight the lived experiences of menstruators and introduce alternatives to dominant menstrual app protocols. In offering this two-part analysis, they point to important openings for exploring how these technologies might support the needs of a multiplicity of menstruating bodies.
“Life is Much More Difficult to Manage During Periods”: Autistic Experiences of Menstruation
Authors: Steward Robyn , Crane Laura , Roy Eilish Mairi , Remington Anna , Pellicano Elizabeth
Published: July 2020

Starting from the assumption that menarche and menstruation are overwhelmingly negative events for developmentally disabled women, Steward et al. conduct much-needed research focusing on the experiences of women with autism. This preliminary investigation is a brief online survey on post-menarcheal autistic (n=123) and non-autistic (n=114) respondents. Although autistic respondents report many overlapping issues and experiences with non-autistic respondents, they also highlight distinct—and sometimes distressing—issues relating to menstruation, especially a cyclical amplification of autistic-related challenges, including sensory differences and difficulties with regulating emotion and behavior, which have a significant, negative impact on their lives. These initial findings call for systematic research on the potential causes, correlates, and consequences of menstrual-related problems in autistic individuals—across the spectrum and the lifespan.
The Modern Way to Menstruate in Latin America: Consolidation and Fractures in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Tarzibachi Eugenia
Published: July 2020

The introduction of commercialized disposable pads and tampons during the twentieth century changed the experience of the menstrual body in many (but not all) countries of the world. From a Latin-American perspective, this new way to menstruate was also understood to be a sign of modernization. In this chapter, Tarzibachi describes and analyzes how the dissemination and proliferation of disposable pads and tampons have unfolded first in the United States and later in Latin America, with a particular focus on Argentina. She pays particular attention to how the Femcare industry shaped the meanings of the menstrual body through discourses circulated in advertisements and educational materials. Tarzibachi explores how the contemporary meanings of menstruation are contested globally, as the traditional Femcare industry shifts its rhetoric in response to challenges from new menstrual management technologies, new forms of menstrual activism, and the increasing visibility of menstruation in mainstream culture.
Challenging Menstrual Normativity: Nonessentialist Body Politics and Feminist Epistemologies of Health
Authors: Guilló-Arakistain Miren
Published: July 2020

Guilló-Arakistain examines the ways in which alternative politics of menstruation are challenging the paradigm of sexual dimorphism and heteronormativity. She does this through consideration of discourses which challenge the ideology ofmenstrual normativityand the rigid, hegemonic, medical, and pathological approaches to the western biomedical vision of menstruation. Guilló-Arakistain links these discourses to specific bodies, incorporating experiences of non-menstruating cisgender women as well as transgender menstruators. It is necessary, she asserts, to dispense with the idea that menstruation is determinative of a very specific gender and social identity and the subsequent normative and reductionist take on menstrual experience (and more generally human experience).
Quantum soliton scattering manifolds
Authors: Halcrow Chris
Published: July 2020

Abstract

We consider the quantum multisoliton scattering problem. For BPS theories one truncates the full field theory to the moduli space, a finite dimensional manifold of energy minimising field configurations, and studies the quantum mechanical problem on this. Non-BPS theories — the generic case — have no such obvious truncation. We define a quantum soliton scattering manifold as a configuration space which satisfies asymptotic completeness and respects the underlying classical dynamics of slow moving solitons. Having done this, we present a new method to construct such manifolds. In the BPS case the dimension of the n-soliton moduli space ℳn is n multiplied by the dimension of ℳ1. We show that this scaling is not necessarily valid for scattering manifolds in non-BPS theories, and argue that it is false for the Skyrme and baby-Skyrme models. In these models, we show that a relative phase difference can generate a relative size difference during a soliton collision. Asymptotically, these are zero and non-zero modes respectively and this new mechanism softens the dichotomy between such modes. Using this discovery, we then show that all previous truncations of the 2-Skyrmion configuration space are unsuitable for the quantum scattering problem as they have the wrong dimension. This gives credence to recent numerical work which suggests that the low-energy configuration space is 14- dimensional (rather than 12-dimensional, as previously thought). We suggest some ways to construct a suitable manifold for the 2-Skyrmion problem, and discuss applications of our new definition and construction for general soliton theories.
2D Assignment and quantitative analysis of cellulose and oxidized celluloses using solution-state NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Koso Tetyana , Rico del Cerro Daniel , Heikkinen Sami , Nypelö Tiina , Buffiere Jean , Perea-Buceta Jesus E. , Potthast Antje , Rosenau Thomas , Heikkinen Harri , Maaheimo Hannu , Isogai Akira , Kilpeläinen Ilkka , King Alistair W. T.
Published: July 2020

The limited access to fast and facile general analytical methods for cellulosic and/or biocomposite materials currently stands as one of the main barriers for the progress of these disciplines. To that end, a diverse set of narrow analytical techniques are typically employed that often are time-consuming, costly, and/or not necessarily available on a daily basis for practitioners. Herein, we rigorously demonstrate a general quantitative NMR spectroscopic method for structural determination of crystalline cellulose samples. Our method relies on the use of a readily accessible ionic liquid electrolyte, tetrabutylphosphonium acetate ([P4444][OAc]):DMSO-d6, for the direct dissolution of biopolymeric samples. We utilize a series of model compounds and apply now classical (nitroxyl-radical and periodate) oxidation reactions to cellulose samples, to allow for accurate resonance assignment, using 2D NMR. Quantitative heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC) was applied in the analysis of key samples to assess its applicability as a high-resolution technique for following cellulose surface modification. Quantitation using HSQC was possible, but only after applying T2correction to integral values. The comprehensive signal assignment of the diverse set of cellulosic species in this study constitutes a blueprint for the direct quantitative structural elucidation of crystalline lignocellulosic, in general, readily available solution-state NMR spectroscopy.

Graphic abstract
Zoogeography, ecology, and conservation status of the large freshwater mussels in Sweden
Authors: von Proschwitz Ted , Wengström Niklas
Published: July 2020

The Swedish fauna of native Unionids contains one Margaritiferidae species, six Unionidae species and four non-native species, one Unionidae, two Dreissenidae and one Mactridae. This is the first attempt to describe the Swedish freshwater mussel species in detail and put them in context with zoogeography, ecology, and conservation status. Detailed distribution maps for all species, based on all available material in museum collections, databases and literature are presented. Details in the distributions, and possible causes for the different geographical patterns exhibited, especially the so called limes norrlandicus—an important biogeographical transition zone in Central Sweden—are discussed. Information on the ecology, especially host fish species, and conservation status and projects are also given.
TZmCFI: RTOS-Aware Control-Flow Integrity Using TrustZone for Armv8-M
Authors: Kawada Tomoaki , Honda Shinya , Matsubara Yutaka , Takada Hiroaki
Published: July 2020

Control-Flow Integrity (CFI) is a class of defensive techniques against control-flow attacks such as Return-Oriented Programming. We propose a light-weight CFI scheme for RTOS-based applications, TZmCFI, which utilizes TrustZone for Armv8-M, a hardware-assisted security feature for embedded systems with tight resource constraints. TZmCFI embodies several existing CFI techniques to provide a comprehensive protection. The traditional shadow stack technique is used to ensure stack integrity and validate function returns. To protect exception handlers, TZmCFI extends shadow exception stacks, which are a variant of the traditional shadow stack technique we proposed in our previous work, for RTOS integration and performance improvement. We conducted an experiment on Arm Versatile Express Cortex-M Prototyping System (V2M-MPS2+) to evaluate the run-time overhead of the proposed system.
On a Stochastic Camassa–Holm Type Equation with Higher Order Nonlinearities
Authors: Rohde Christian , Tang Hao
Published: July 2020

The subject of this paper is a generalized Camassa–Holm equation under random perturbation. We first establish local existence and uniqueness results as well as blow-up criteria for pathwise solutions in the Sobolev spaces$$H^s$$Hswith$$s>3/2$$s>3/2. Then we analyze how noise affects the dependence of solutions on initial data. Even though the noise has some already known regularization effects, much less is known concerning the dependence on initial data. As a new concept we introduce the notion of stability of exiting times and construct an example showing that multiplicative noise (in Itô sense) cannot improve the stability of the exiting time, and simultaneously improve the continuity of the dependence on initial data. Finally, we obtain global existence theorems and estimate associated probabilities.
A mesostructured hybrid CTA–silica carrier for curcumin delivery
Authors: Gallo Marta , Giudice Fabio , Banchero Mauro , Ronchetti Silvia , Manna Luigi , Onida Barbara
Published: July 2020

Curcumin is a natural active principle with antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Its use is limited by a low water solubility and fast degradation rate, which hinder its bioavailability. To overcome this problem, curcumin can be delivered through a carrier, which protects the drug molecule and enhances its pharmacological effects. The present work proposes a simple one-pot sol–gel synthesis to obtain a hybrid carrier for curcumin delivery. The hybrid consists of a mesostructured matrix of amorphous silica, which stabilizes the carrier, and hexadecyltrimethylammonium (CTA), a surfactant where curcumin is dissolved to increase its water solubility. The carrier was characterized in terms of morphology (FESEM), physicochemical properties (XRD, FTIR, UV spectroscopy) and release capability in pseudo-physiological solutions. Results show that curcumin molecules were entrapped, for the first time, in a silica-surfactant mesostructured hybrid carrier. The hybrid carrier successfully released curcumin in artificial sweat and in a phosphate buffer saline solution, so confirming its efficacy in increasing curcumin water solubility. The proposed drug release mechanism relies on the degradation of the carrier, which involves the concurrent release of silicon. This suggests strong potentialities for topical administration applications, since curcumin is effective against many dermal diseases while silicon is beneficial to the skin.
Polymer-dispersant-stabilized Ag nanofluids for heat transfer applications
Authors: Pavithra K. S. , Gurumurthy S. C. , Yashoda M. P. , Mateti Tarun , Ramam Koduri , Nayak Roopa , Murari M. S.
Published: July 2020

One-step wet chemical method has been employed for the synthesis of silver (Ag) nanofluids followed by the preparation of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and PVP–PVA mixed-dispersant-stabilized nanofluids by varying the concentration ratio of dispersants for the viscosity and thermal conductivity analysis. The optical absorption studies indicate the presence of nanoparticles in the prepared fluids (or the formation of the silver nanoparticles). The shape and size of the nanoparticles are confirmed by the field emission scanning electron microscopy, and the particle size distribution and zeta potential analysis were carried out by using dynamic light scattering. It is observed that the thermal conductivity of Ag nanofluids increases with an increase in the dispersant concentration with respect to the temperature. The maximum thermal conductivity enhancement of Ag nanofluids was observed in the presence of an equimolar ratio of PVP–PVA (1:1:1) blends as stabilizers.

Graphic abstract
Does Gender Diversity Affect Workplace Happiness for Academics? The Role of Diversity Management and Organizational Inclusion
Authors: Mousa Mohamed
Published: July 2020

The author investigated the relationship between gender diversity and organizational inclusion and moved forward to examine whether gender diversity, diversity management and organizational inclusion predict workplace happiness by collecting 320 questionnaires from academics in three public universities in Egypt. A t-test was used to identify how gender may affect perceptions of diversity management and organizational inclusion. Hierarchical regressions were applied to test whether gender diversity, diversity management, and organizational inclusion can predict workplace happiness. The findings showed no relationship between gender diversity and organizational inclusion, and the authors confirmed that gender diversity, diversity management, and organizational inclusion can effectively predict workplace happiness. Theoretical and empirical implications are discussed at the end of the paper.
Syntactic predictors for text quality in Dutch upper-secondary school students’ L1 argumentative writing
Authors: van Rijt Jimmy H. M. , van den Broek Brenda , De Maeyer Sven
Published: July 2020

Among other things, learning to write entails learning how to use complex sentences effectively in discourse. Some research has therefore focused on relating measures of syntactic complexity to text quality. Apart from the fact that the existing research on this topic appears inconclusive, most of it has been conducted in English L1 contexts. This is potentially problematic, since relevant syntactic indices may not be the same across languages. The current study is the first to explore which syntactic features predict text quality in Dutch secondary school students’ argumentative writing. In order to do so, the quality of 125 argumentative essays written by students was rated and the syntactic features of the texts were analyzed. A multilevel regression analysis was then used to investigate which features contribute to text quality. The resulting model (explaining 14.5% of the variance in text quality) shows that the relative number of finite clauses and the ratio between the number of relative clauses and the number of finite clauses positively predict text quality. Discrepancies between our findings and those of previous studies indicate that the relations between syntactic features and text quality may vary based on factors such as language and genre. Additional (cross-linguistic) research is needed to gain a more complete understanding of the relationships between syntactic constructions and text quality and the potential moderating role of language and genre.
Investigation of the Middle Corona with SWAP and a Data-Driven Non-Potential Coronal Magnetic Field Model
Authors: Meyer Karen A. , Mackay Duncan H. , Talpeanu Dana-Camelia , Upton Lisa A. , West Matthew J.
Published: July 2020

The large field-of-view of the Sun Watcher using Active Pixel System detector and Image Processing (SWAP) instrument onboard the PRoject for Onboard Autonomy 2 (PROBA2) spacecraft provides a unique opportunity to study extended coronal structures observed in the EUV in conjunction with global coronal magnetic field simulations. A global non-potential magnetic field model is used to simulate the evolution of the global corona from 1 September 2014 to 31 March 2015, driven by newly emerging bipolar active regions determined from Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) magnetograms. We compare the large-scale structure of the simulated magnetic field with structures seen off-limb in SWAP EUV observations. In particular, we investigate how successful the model is in reproducing regions of closed and open structures, the scale of structures, and compare the evolution of a coronal fan observed over several rotations. The model is found to accurately reproduce observed large-scale, off-limb structures. When discrepancies do arise they mainly occur off the east solar limb due to active regions emerging on the far side of the Sun, which cannot be incorporated into the model until they are observed on the Earth-facing side. When such “late” active region emergences are incorporated into the model, we find that the simulated corona self-corrects within a few days, so that simulated structures off the west limb more closely match what is observed. Where the model is less successful, we consider how this may be addressed, through model developments or additional observational products.
Metacognitive experience on Raven’s matrices versus insight problems
Authors: Chuderski Adam , Jastrzębski Jan , Kroczek Bartłomiej , Kucwaj Hanna , Ociepka Michał
Published: July 2020

Participants rated Intuition, Suddenness, Pleasure, and Certainty accompanying their solutions to items of a popular fluid intelligence test – Raven’s Advanced Progressive Matrices (RAPM) – that varied from easy (around 80% correct) to difficult (around 20% correct). The same ratings were collected from four insight problems interleaved with RAPM. Suddenness and Certainty substantially decreased from easy to difficult matrices (Pleasure strongly overlapped with Certainty). In easy matrices, subjective experience matched that observed during insight problems, suggesting the highly fluent processing resulting in vivid and univocal solutions. By contrast, processing difficult matrices seemed to involve effortful incremental combination of complex information that yielded uncertain outcomes, resembling full-blown analytic problems. Only Intuition, generally rated low, was unaffected by RAPM difficulty. These results suggest that RAPM constitutes a heterogeneous test, with easy vs. difficult items involving relatively distinct types of processing. This novel knowledge can help in understanding the processes underlying solving Raven’s matrices. The study also contributes to the understanding of the validity of subjective ratings as measures of metacognition.
Die klinisch-forensische Bedeutung des Selbstregulationsmodells sexueller Delinquenz und Rückfälligkeit bei pädosexuellen Straftaten
Authors: Gregório Hertz Priscilla , Rettenberger Martin , Welsch Robin , Turner Daniel
Published: July 2020

Das Selbstregulationsmodell sexueller Rückfälligkeit („self-regulation model of the relapse process“, SRM) stellt eine Theorie zur Ätiologie sexueller Delinquenz und Rückfälligkeit dar, bei der sexuell motivierte Straftaten und Täter unterschiedlichen Rückfallpfaden und Entscheidungswegen zugeordnet werden, von denen aus wiederum auf individuelle Motive, Defizite und Ressourcen geschlossen werden kann. In der vorliegenden Studie wurde eine Stichprobe von N = 68 Männern, die mindestens eine sexuell motivierte Straftat gegen Kinder begangen haben, in Bezug auf die SRM-Typologisierung beurteilt und hinsichtlich verschiedener klinischer, demografischer und kriminologischer Merkmale verglichen. Unter Verwendung des SRM konnten 25 % (n = 17) dem annähernd-expliziten, 25 % (n = 17) dem vermeidend-passiven, 22,1 % (n = 15) dem annähernd-automatischen und 13,2 % (n = 9) dem vermeidend-aktiven Rückfallpfad zugeordnet werden. Männer mit Annäherungszielen wiesen im Vergleich zu denen mit Vermeidungszielen höhere Werte im Static-99 und ein entsprechend höheres Rückfallrisiko auf. Außerdem wurde bei Männern mit Annäherungszielen häufiger die Diagnose einer Pädophilie gestellt. Die Ergebnisse liefern erste Hinweise dafür, dass das SRM ein nützliches theoretisches Modell sein kann, um Gemeinsamkeiten zwischen Männern, die aufgrund eines Kindesmissbrauchsdelikt verurteilt wurden, aufzudecken.
Early silcrete heat treatment in Central Australia: Puritjarra and Kulpi Mara
Authors: Schmidt Patrick , Hiscock Peter
Published: July 2020

Heat treatment of stone for tool making has important implications for our understanding of the early human history of the Australian continent. New data on the antiquity of Australian heat treatment and its evolution through time in different regions have posed questions about the origin and temporal stability of technical practices. In this paper, we present the first evolutionary sequence of the use of heat treatment in Central Australia, with a trend to lower levels of heat treatment over time. Different trends are found in other regions across Australia: on the eastern seaboard, heat treatment became more prevalent over time, while in the inland, semi-arid Willandra lakes region heat treatment gradually disappeared over time. In central Australia, the long-term trend is towards fewer heat-affected specimens over time, but this happens in a single transition from stable high levels in the Pleistocene to stable moderate levels in the Mid- to Late Holocene. These evolutionary trends are consistent with regional diversification, reflecting adaptations to local conditions, and are not consistent with technological uniformity across the continent.
Theoretical prediction, synthesis, and crystal structure determination of new MAX phase compound V2SnC
Authors: Xu Qiang , Zhou Yanchun , Zhang Haiming , Jiang Anna , Tao Quanzheng , Lu Jun , Rosén Johanna , Niu Yunhui , Grasso Salvatore , Hu Chunfeng
Published: July 2020

Guided by the theoretical prediction, a new MAX phase V2SnC was synthesized experimentally for the first time by reaction of V, Sn, and C mixtures at 1000 °C. The chemical composition and crystal structure of this new compound were identified by the cross-check combination of first-principles calculations, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and high resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (HR-STEM). The stacking sequence of V2C and Sn layers results in a crystal structure of space group P63/mmc. The a- and c-lattice parameters, which were determined by the Rietveld analysis of powder XRD pattern, are 0.2981(0) nm and 1.3470(6) nm, respectively. The atomic positions are V at 4f (1/3, 2/3, 0.0776(5)), Sn at 2d (2/3, 1/3, 1/4), and C at 2a (0, 0, 0). A new set of XRD data of V2SnC was also obtained. Theoretical calculations suggest that this new compound is stable with negative formation energy and formation enthalpy, satisfied Born-Huang criteria of mechanical stability, and positive phonon branches over the Brillouin zone. It also has low shear deformation resistance c44 (second-order elastic constant, cij) and shear modulus (G), positive Cauchy pressure, and low Pugh’s ratio (G/B = 0.500 < 0.571), which is regarded as a quasi-ductile MAX phase. The mechanism underpinning the quasi-ductility is associated with the presence of a metallic bond.
Vibration welding of components with angled areas in the direction of vibration
Authors: Vogtschmidt Sascha , Fiebig Isabel , Schoeppner Volker
Published: July 2020

Conventional manufacturing processes for plastic products, such as injection molding or extrusion, often limit the achievable component geometries. Therefore, it is necessary to join components in order to generate highly complex geometries. Vibration welding is one way of joining components. This process is frequently used and is characterized by short cycle times, high energy efficiency, and the possibility of joining large components. In vibration welding, plastic components are heated by an oscillating friction movement of the joining surfaces, then plasticized and subsequently welded together. The joining of three-dimensional seam geometries is therefore a challenge for vibration welding, as the components can be lifted off by the linear movement and the surfaces do not plasticize sufficiently. Previous investigations have shown that angles of up to 20° can be welded in the direction of vibration, but that the deviation from the plane considerably reduces the weld strength. In order to weld three-dimensional weld seam geometries with short cycle times and simultaneously achieve a high weld seam strength, a process is being developed which is intended to extend the design freedom in vibration welding.
Persistence in Livestock Mycoplasmas—a Key Role in Infection and Pathogenesis
Authors: Hoelzle Katharina , Ade Julia , Hoelzle Ludwig E.
Published: July 2020

Purpose of Review

Mycoplasma, economically important pathogens in livestock, often establishes immunologically complex persistent infections that drive their pathogenesis and complicate prophylaxis and therapy of the caused diseases. In this review, we summarize some of the recent findings concerning cellular and molecular persistence mechanisms related to the pathogenesis of mycoplasma infections in livestock.

Recent Findings

Data from recent studies prove several mechanisms including intracellular lifestyle, immune dysregulation, and autoimmunity as well as microcolony and biofilm formation and apoptosis of different host cell types as important persistence mechanisms in several clinically significant Mycoplasma species, i.e., M. bovis, M. gallisepticum, M. hyopneumoniae, and M. suis.

Evasion of the immune system and the establishment of persistent infections are key features in the pathogenesis of livestock mycoplasmas. In-depth knowledge of the underlying mechanisms will provide the basis for the development of therapy and prophylaxis strategies against mycoplasma infections.
A robust zeroing neural network for solving dynamic nonlinear equations and its application to kinematic control of mobile manipulator
Authors: Jin Jie
Published: July 2020

Nonlinear phenomena are often encountered in various practical systems, and most of the nonlinear problems in science and engineering can be simply described by nonlinear equation, effectively solving nonlinear equation (NE) has aroused great interests of the academic and industrial communities. In this paper, a robust zeroing neural network (RZNN) activated by a new power versatile activation function (PVAF) is proposed and analyzed for finding the solutions of dynamic nonlinear equations (DNE) within fixed time in noise polluted environment. As compared with the previous ZNN model activated by other commonly used activation functions (AF), the main improvement of the presented RZNN model is the fixed-time convergence even in the presence of noises. In addition, the convergence time of the proposed RZNN model is irrelevant to its initial states, and it can be computed directly. Both the rigorous mathematical analysis and numerical simulation results are provided for the verification of the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed RZNN model. Moreover, a successful robotic manipulator path tracking example in noise polluted environment further demonstrates the practical application prospects of the proposed RZNN models.
Do negative economic shocks affect cognitive function, adherence to social norms and loss aversion?
Authors: Bogliacino Francesco , Montealegre Felipe
Published: July 2020

Households are frequently subject to income and asset shocks. We performed a lab experiment, inducing losses on a real effort task, after which we measured cognitive performance, loss aversion and cheating behavior. We found that asset losses, but not income losses, act as a cognitive load, by decreasing accuracy and increasing response times. We did not detect any change in dishonesty or loss aversion.
Online and in-Person Delivery of Upper Division Lecture Courses in Undergraduate Life Sciences Degree Programs Leads to Equivalent Post-Graduate Degree Outcomes
Authors: Ardissone Alexandria N. , Drew Jennifer C. , Triplett Eric W.
Published: July 2020

Although many studies demonstrate that online education is as good as face-to-face education with regard to learning gains, course grades, and other near-term metrics, there is a major gap in exploring the long-term outcomes of online vs. face-to-face education, particularly in STEM programs. In this study, the effect of course delivery method on the long-term academic success of B.S. graduates was tested by comparing two similar life sciences undergraduate programs at the University of Florida. The Microbiology and Cell Science program teaches all upper division lecture courses online while the Biology program teaches nearly all of its upper division courses face-to-face. Graduate degree outcomes of 4978 students who completed their B.S. degree from either program (2011–2018) were determined using StudentTracker from the National Student Clearinghouse. The percentage of graduates with any doctoral degree (M.D., D.O., Ph.D., or other) did not differ. However, a significantly higher percentage of Microbiology and Cell Science graduates completed a Ph.D. or master’s degree compared to Biology graduates. Thus, online delivery of upper division undergraduate courses had no adverse effect on the future academic success of these students.
Editorial
Authors: Mansfield-Devine Steve
Published: July 2020

Two months ago, in this column, I predicted that the UK Government's Covid-19 tracing app was doomed to failure. I take no pleasure in having been proved right.
Mexico and the COVID-19 Response
Authors: Ibarra-Nava Ismael , Cardenas-de la Garza Jesús A. , Ruiz-Lozano Raul E. , Salazar-Montalvo Raul G.
Published: July 2020

Mexico has been one of the most affected countries in the world by the COVID-19 pandemic. The true impact of the pandemic has probably been underestimated, and President López Obrador, as well as the Ministry of Health, has struggled to lead the country since the beginning. While cases and deaths continue to rise, stronger leadership and unity are needed to limit the impact of COVID-19 on the health of millions of Mexicans.
COVID-19 in Iran: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Strategies for Preparedness – A Report From the Field
Authors: Arab-Zozani Morteza , Ghoddoosi-Nejad Djavad
Published: July 2020

The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel unknown virus that is challenging whole countries all over the world, has prompted different strategies from various governments. Iran, as one of the first countries to experience the onset of the virus outbreak, made and implemented some policies that should be assessed, so that lessons may be learned for the future. Although some negative actions and policies, such as delays in cancellation of international flights especially from China, not taking the disease seriously and comparing it with seasonal influenza, and the like, are hard to ignore, some impressive actions are also vividly clear. Policies, such as social distancing, dramatically increasing social awareness about preventive actions in terms of public health, and using masks and hand washing, were cost-effective policies that resulted in successful control of the virus in the first onset. While some quite clearly ineffective decisions were made by Iranian authorities, the huge catastrophic effect of sanctions cannot be forgotten. Possibly in level situations with similar countries, Iran will have far better results regarding preparedness for future pandemics like COVID-19.
Escaping from the State? Historical Paths to Public and Private Insurance
Authors: PEARSON ROBIN
Published: July 2020

The history of insurance has been characterized in most countries by the coexistence of a wide range of organizational forms. The reasons for this plethora of vehicles remain unclear, as does the impact of this diversity on the development of insurance around the world. Drawing on the latest research, this paper examines, first, the different functions of the state in relation to insurance in a wide range of national markets from the early modern period to the present century; second, the path-dependent effects that determined the historical distribution of public and private forms of insurance; and third, the relation between public and private insurance and its impact on market development.
Slaves and Peasants in the Era of Emancipation
Authors: Scanlan Padraic X.
Published: July 2020

From the middle of the eighteenth century until the late 1830s, the idea of enslaved people as “peasants” was a commonplace among both antislavery and proslavery writers and activists in Britain. Slaveholders, faced with antislavery attacks, argued that the people they claimed to own were not an exploited labor force but a contented peasantry. Abolitionists expressed the hope that after emancipation, freedpeople would become peasants. Yet the “peasants” invoked in these debates were not smallholders or tenant farmers but plantation laborers, either held in bondage or paid low wages. British abolitionists promoted institutions and ideas invented by slaveholders to defend the plantation system. The idea of a servile and grateful “peasant” plantation labor force became, for British abolitionists, a justification for the “civilization” and subordination of freedpeople.
Can visual nudges reduce smoking tobacco expenditure? Evidence from a clustered randomized controlled trial in rural Bangladesh
Authors: Fakir Adnan M. S. , Karim Afraim , Billah Mubde Mutasim , Aziz Mustahsin , Ahmad Azraf
Published: July 2020

Introduction

A household-level constant visual deterrent advocacy campaign to reduce tobacco intake was conducted in rural Bangladesh.

Aims

To evaluate smoking tobacco expenditure by campaign components.

Methods

We conducted a single-blind clustered randomized controlled trial on 630 adult male household heads from 16 chars (riverine islands) in rural northern Bangladesh, between November 2018 and January 2019. Intervention allotment was randomized at the char level to minimize spillovers, with 8 chars in treatment and control groups each. The intervention provided households in treatment chars (n = 323) with two visual warning posters, detailing the health effects of tobacco on oneself and external actors, to be hung inside the household for 4 weeks. Households in control chars (n = 307) received nothing. Reported daily smoking (log) tobacco expenditure values were the primary outcome of interest.

Results

Final analysis was conducted using 251 and 210 smokers in treatment and control chars respectively. The intervention reduced relative smoking tobacco expenditure by 12.8% (95% CI −31.45 to 5.81) but was not statistically significant (P-value = 0.163). Weak to moderate emotional reactions to the posters was identified as a reason for the statistical insignificance.

Conclusion

For a visual anti-tobacco intervention to have a substantial impact, it must induce strong emotional responses.