bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Runoff According to Application of SWMM-LID Element Technology (I): Parameter Sensitivity Analysis
Authors: Kim Eung Seok
Published: January 2021

An increase in the ratio of impermeable area due to urban watersheds and industrial development has led to an increase in nonpoint source pollution and floodplains. In order to solve these problems, development and application of low impact development (LID), which is a rainwater management facility, is actively underway. In this study (I), parameters and ranges applied to the Storm Water Management Model-Low Impact Development (SWMM-LID) model are examined. To this end, 100 scenarios were created through the simulation method within the parameter range, and the sensitivity of peak and total runoff to the influence of the parameters of each element technology dealing with runoff was analyzed. As a result, bio retention cell, green roof, rain garden, rain barrell, in the given order, showed a sensitive response. However, since the LID element technology itself is intended to store low-frequency small-scale rainfall, it is important to understand the degree of rainfall, from low to high frequency. Further, the results of this study can be used as basic data for the design and development of LID element technology and performance verification of LID facilities.
Analysis of Runoff According to Application of SWMM-LID Element Technology (II): Parameter Uncertainty Analysis
Authors: Kim Eung Seok
Published: January 2021

This study quantitatively analyzed the degree of uncertainty associated with runoff based on the sensitivity analysis of runoff parameters using Low Impact Development (LID) element technology of study (I). Uncertainty was analyzed for parameter uncertainty, uncertainty of runoff, and uncertainty about the degree of parameter and runoff. Parameter uncertainty indices showed lower uncertainty indices as a whole and uncertainty indices of peak runoff were higher than that of total runoff in runoff uncertainty. The reason for this is that the LID element technology itself is intended to store low-frequency small-scale rainfall, so that the uncertainty index of peak rainfall seems to be highly uncertain. As a result of the analysis of uncertainty degree associated with runoff, it was found that the uncertainty of storage depth of bio retention cell and rain garden was low, while the heaviness parameters of rain barrel had the highest uncertainty index. In future experiments and research, it is necessary to modify the parameter range suitable for Korea, which will be helpful for urban development, reduction of nonpoint source pollution, and designing of low frequency rainfall storage facilities.
Ultrasound promoted and Kit‐6 mesoporous silica‐supported Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles catalyzed cyclocondensation reaction of 4‐hydroxycoumarin, 3,4‐methylenedioxyphenol, and aromatic aldehydes
Authors: Abdolmohammadi Shahrzad , Shariati Shahab , Mirza Behrooz
Published: January 2021

A new effective approach to synthesize a series of 7‐aryl‐6H,7H‐[1]benzopyrano[4,3‐b][1,3]dioxolo[4,5‐g][1]benzopyran‐6‐ones was reported using Fe3O4@SiO2@Kit‐6 as heterogeneous catalyst at room temperature under ultrasonic irradiation in aqueous media. This procedure is of great value due to its short reaction time, high yields, simple processing, and the use of easily available and magnetically recyclable heterogeneous catalyst.
Synthesis and characterization of boron‐acrylate/Santa Barbara Amorphous‐15 polymer composite
Authors: Aliyeva Nargiz , Canak Tuba Cakir , Serhatlı İbrahim Ersin
Published: January 2021

In the present work, boron‐acrylate/Santa Barbara Amorphous (SBA)‐15 polymer composite was synthesized using free radical polymerization method. Firstly, SBA‐15 was functionalized with 3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate to obtain chemically bonded boron acrylate (BAc) polymer on the SBA‐15 surface. The structural analysis was evaluated via Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance 13C. Samples were also characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray powder diffraction, N2 adsorption/desorption and thermogravimetric analysis. In order to examine the BAc polymers in the mesopores, the silica framework was removed via hydrofluoric acid etching process. The results indicated that the synthesis of boron‐acrylate/SBA‐15 polymer composite was performed successfully. Thermal stabilities of the composites were higher with greater amounts of BAc polymer in mesopores under oxidative conditions.
Changes in Electroencephalogram Coherence in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder After a Social Skills Intervention
Authors: Haendel Angela D. , Barrington Alexander , Magnus Brooke , Arias Alexis A. , McVey Alana , Pleiss Sheryl , Carson Audrey , Vogt Elisabeth M. , Van Hecke Amy Vaughan
Published: January 2021

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects social communication and behavior. There is consensus that neurological differences are present in ASD. Further, theories emphasize the mixture of hypo‐ and hyper‐connectivity as a neuropathologies in ASD [O'Reilly, Lewis, & Elsabbagh, 2017]; however, there is a paucity of studies specifically testing neurological underpinnings as predictors of success on social skills interventions. This study examined functional neural connectivity (electroencephalogram [EEG], coherence) of adolescents with ASD before and after the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) intervention, using a randomized controlled trial of two groups: an Experimental ASD (EXP) Group and a Waitlist Control ASD (WL) Group. The study had two purposes. First, the study aimed to determine whether changes in EEG coherence differed for adolescents that received PEERS® versus those that did not receive PEERS®. Results revealed a significant increase in connectivity in the occipital left to temporal left pair for the EXP group after intervention. Second, the study aimed to determine if changes in EEG coherence related to changes in behavior, friendships, and social skills measured by questionnaires. At post‐intervention, results indicated: (a) positive change in frontal right to parietal right coherence was linked to an increase in social skills scores; and (b) positive changes in occipital right to temporal right coherence and occipital left to parietal left coherence were linked to an increase in the total number of get‐togethers. Results of this study support utilizing neurobehavioral domains as indicators of treatment outcome.

Lay Summary: This study examined how well various areas of the brain communicate in adolescents with ASD before and after a social skills intervention. Results revealed increased connectivity in the adolescents that received the intervention. Secondly, the study aimed to determine if changes in connectivity of brain areas related to changes in behavior, friendships, and social skills. Results indicated that changes in connectivity were also linked to increased social skills. Autism Res 2021, 14: 787–803. © 2021 International Society for Autism Research and Wiley Periodicals LLC
Probing the interactions of novel europium coordination complexes with serum albumin
Authors: Trusova Valeriya M. , Tarabara Uliana K. , Zhytniakivska Olga A. , Vus Kateryna O. , Gorbenko Galyna P.
Published: January 2021

Molecular interactions between novel europium coordination complexes (EC) possessing superior cytotoxic activity and bovine serum albumin (BSA), the most prominent representative of plasma proteins, were assessed using fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular docking techniques. Cumulative results from fluorescent probe binding, fluorescence quenching and Förster resonance energy transfer studies revealed that the europium complexes V4 and V8 do not perturb the BSA structure, while V3, V5, and V7 induce partial unfolding of the polypeptide chain. Molecular docking studies coupled with analysis of the three‐dimensional structure of the BSA–EC complexes showed that V4 and V8 reside in the vicinity of the protein IIA subdomain (Sudlow's site I), while V3, V5 and V5 were localized predominantly in the BSA IIIA subdomain (Sudlow's site II). Due to the intactness of the protein structure upon association with V4 and V8, these compounds may be recommended for further evaluation as potential antineoplastic agents.
Efficient method for constructing optimized long binary spreading sequences
Authors: Boukerma Sabrina , Rouabah Khaled , Mezaache SalahEddine , Atia Salim
Published: January 2021

In this paper, we propose an efficient method for generating two types of novel optimized long binary spreading sequences (OLBSS) with improved autocorrelation function (ACF) properties. The first type is constructed from concatenated short binary subsequences belonging to the same code family, such as Walsh Hadamard and Gold subsequences, provided that their cross‐correlation functions (CCFs) have good properties. The second category uses the same subsequences but which are rather interlaced. Here, the number and size of the subsequences are related to the chosen length of the final constructed long sequence and the desired performances. The realization of the OLBSSs is achieved using two different optimization techniques, namely, the genetic algorithms (GAs) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) method. The simulation results, based on MATLAB tool, have shown that the proposed long sequences, composed of Walsh–Hadamard subsequences and optimized by the GA, have better ACF properties compared to the original Gold, Weil, and random sequences of the same length.
Characterization of low‐acceleration, long‐duration horizontal events using a spring suspension straight delivery box truck
Authors: Dunno Kyle , Ge Changfeng
Published: January 2021

A field measurement study, using a combination of controlled and uncontrolled phases, examined low‐acceleration, long‐duration events occurring during over‐the‐road truck transport. A field data recorder equipped with a DC‐based triaxial accelerometer was employed for this study to capture the steady‐state nature of these event types. The field data recorder was rigidly mounted to the trailer chassis to record lateral and longitudinal events of interest. The controlled phase recorded normal and aggressive braking events and traversing a roundabout to fundamentally quantify the behaviour of the vehicle. For the controlled phase, average decelerations of 0.27 and 0.45 g were reported for normal and aggressive braking events, respectively. Lateral accelerations from traversing a roundabout were on average 0.40 g. The uncontrolled field measurement study, which evaluated the transport vehicle over 13 days, reported average longitudinal decelerations and lateral accelerations of 0.29 and 0.34 g, respectively. The rise times associated with these events were also reported. The jerk was calculated based on the rise times for the controlled and uncontrolled phases and compared to currently available test procedures. For both project phases, composite test profiles were developed based on field‐measured levels. The resulting composite test profiles can be utilized to evaluate the load stability of a unit load system travelling through this distribution channel.
Dual layer barrier functions based adaptive higher order sliding mode control
Authors: Obeid Hussein , Laghrouche Salah , Fridman Leonid
Published: January 2021

This article presents an adaptive discontinuous higher order sliding mode control (HOSMC) strategy for a disturbed chain of integrators of order n. This strategy employs a barrier function‐based dual layer adaptation and it ensures the convergence of the sliding variable and its (n − 1) first derivatives to zero without requiring any information on the bounds of the disturbances or their derivatives. It consists in applying a barrier function‐based adaptive super‐twisting methodology compensating Lipschitz disturbances with some error, and a growing gain‐based adaptive HOSMC which just needs to counteract this error. Real‐time simulation platform is used to test the efficacy of the proposed strategy to control a linear induction motor considering dynamic end effects.
Extending the Mann‐Whitney‐Wilcoxon rank sum test to survey data for comparing mean ranks
Authors: Lin Tuo , Chen Tian , Liu Jinyuan , Tu Xin M.
Published: January 2021

Statistical methods for analysis of survey data have been developed to facilitate research. More recently, Lumley and Scott (2013) developed an approach to extend the Mann‐Whitney‐Wilcoxon (MWW) rank sum test to survey data. Their approach focuses on the null of equal distribution. In many studies, the MWW test is called for when two‐sample t‐tests (with or without equal variance assumed) fail to provide meaningful results, as they are highly sensitive to outliers. In such situations, the null of equal distribution is too restrictive, as interest lies in comparing centers of groups. In this article, we develop an approach to extend the MWW test to survey data to test the null of equal mean rank. Although not as popular as the mean and median, the mean rank is also a meaningful measure of the center of a distribution and is the same as the median for a symmetric distribution. We illustrate the proposed approach and show major differences with Lumley and Scott's alternative using both real and simulated data.
Not on Bread Alone Doth Man Liveth (Deut. 8:3; Mat 4:4): Some Iconoclastic Views on Populism, Democracy, the Rule of Law and the Polish Circumstance
Authors: Weiler Joseph H. H.
Published: January 2021

Polarization in today’s politics, pre- and post COVID, transcends nations, states regions and continents. It’s a feature of politics which, in and on itself, when played to extremes by demonizing one’s opponents, it threatens democracy itself—since it frays the demos some cohesion of which is necessary for the legitimacy of majoritarianism, one of the pillars of national democracies. Its lexical manifestation is to be found with expressions such as ‘traitors’ or ‘not real’ Americans, Italians, Israelis—take your pick and fill in the gap.

It has, lamentably in my view, a spillover effect also into the academic world of scholarship. A word of criticism of, say, the European Court of Justice instantly brands you a ‘Eurosceptic’ and one of ‘them’. To speak of Universal Values, casts you as an enemy of this or that national cause. This is not to say, not at all, that one cannot bring to one’s scholarship a fully engaged normative and ethical commitment, especially in the field of law which has, or should have, at its roots a commitment to justice. But it militates against careful listening, complex reasoning and understanding and more fine grained normative judgments. Justice is oftentimes not black and white.

It is particularly so when it comes to dealing with the phenomenon of Populism which has moved from the fringe to the center of politics. Trying to understand Populism is not akin to justifying it.
History-Taking Skills in Rheumatology
Authors: Alharbi Laila , Almoallim Hani
Published: January 2021

History taking in rheumatology is the most important skill needed for proper handling of a patient with a rheumatological complaint. Obtaining a good history will help you to reach almost 90% of your diagnosis. However, history taking is mostly depending on experience and practice rather than theoretical recall. Here in this section, we provide you with the most important points in history taking you should use while dealing with rheumatological patients. There is an approach to history taking in rheumatology started as with the classical approach in history taking like any other disease. There is much focus on rheumatological aspects related to the onset of joints pains, patterns, symmetry of joints involvement, number of joints involved, and ultimately rheumatology review of systems. We summarized the classic symptomatic correlations with certain rheumatological diseases. We present briefly a suggested approach to your presentation of the entire case.
Pulmonary Manifestations of Connective Tissue Diseases
Authors: Taha Rabab , Feteih Maun
Published: January 2021

Pulmonary manifestations cause a huge burden for connective tissue disease (CTD) patients. It has been associated with higher rates of mortality and morbidity.
Aktuelles zu neurogenen Dysfunktionen des unteren Harntraktes bei Multipler Sklerose
Authors: Domurath Burkhard , Flachenecker Peter , Henze Thomas , Feneberg Wolfgang , Brandt Anna , Kurze Ines , Kirschner-Hermanns Ruth , Kaufmann Albert , Bremer Jörn , Vonthien Manuela , Ratering Kerstin , Schäfer Christoph , Vance Will Nelson , Schmidt Paul
Published: January 2021

Hintergrund

In der Routine steht man vor der Aufgabe, neurogene Störungen des unteren Harntraktes (NLUTD) bei Patienten mit Multipler Sklerose (MS) frühzeitig zu erkennen und adäquat zu therapieren. Verschiedene nationale Leitlinien geben dazu sehr unterschiedliche praktische Empfehlungen.

Ziel der Arbeit

Erarbeitung eines einfachen, studienbasierten Algorithmus zum Nachweis von NLUTD bei Patienten mit MS, aus dem sich therapeutische Konsequenzen ableiten lassen.

Material und Methode

Als direktes Ergebnis zweier multidisziplinärer Konferenzen wurde eine prospektive, multizentrische Studie initiiert. Deren Ziel war es, statistisch relevante Parameter für die Routinediagnostik von NLUTDs zu identifizieren. Als Goldstandard dienten Auffälligkeiten in der Urodynamik. In drei weiteren Konsensuskonferenzen wurden die Ergebnisse der Studie diskutiert, ein diagnostischer Algorithmus entwickelt und eine Erstlinientherapie konsentiert.

Ergebnisse und Diskussion

Der vorgeschlagene Algorithmus ermöglichte das Erkennen einer NLUTD bei Patienten mit MS mithilfe von 4 statistisch signifikanten Prädiktoren: (1) dem Restharnvolumen, (2) der Anzahl der Harnwegsinfektionen (HWI) innerhalb der letzten 6 Monate, (3) der standardisierten Miktionsfrequenz und (4) dem Vorhandensein/Fehlen einer Harninkontinenz. Gestützt auf den Algorithmus benötigen ca. 75 % der Patienten keine urodynamische Untersuchung zur First-line-Therapieentscheidung. In 25 % der Fälle sind urodynamische Untersuchungen unerlässlich. Für die Routine notwendigen Assessments sind: die Anamneseerhebung, eine Restharnbestimmung, ein Miktionstagebuch und eine Uroflowmetrie (optional).
Energy intake during hospital stay predicts all-cause mortality after discharge independently of nutritional status in elderly heart failure patients
Authors: Katano Satoshi , Yano Toshiyuki , Kouzu Hidemichi , Ohori Katsuhiko , Shimomura Kanako , Honma Suguru , Nagaoka Ryohei , Inoue Takuya , Takamura Yuhei , Ishigo Tomoyuki , Watanabe Ayako , Koyama Masayuki , Nagano Nobutaka , Fujito Takefumi , Nishikawa Ryo , Ohwada Wataru , Hashimoto Akiyoshi , Katayose Masaki , Miura Tetsuji
Published: January 2021

Objective

Malnutrition is associated with an increased risk of mortality in heart failure (HF) patients. Here, we examined the hypothesis that assessment of energy intake in addition to nutritional status improves the stratification of mortality risk in elderly HF patients.

Methods

We retrospectively examined 419 HF patients aged ≥ 65 years (median 78 years, 49% female). Nutritional status was assessed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF), and daily energy intake was calculated from intake during 3 consecutive days before discharge.

Results

During a median 1.52-year period (IQR 0.96–2.94 years), 110 patients (26%) died. Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed that patients with low tertile of daily energy intake had a higher mortality rate than did patients with high or middle tertile of daily energy intake. In multivariate Cox regression analyses, low daily energy intake was independently associated with higher mortality after adjustment for the model including age, sex, BNP, Charlson Comorbidity Index, history of HF hospitalization, and cachexia in addition to MNA-SF. Inclusion of both MNA-SF and energy intake into the adjustment model improved the accuracy of prediction of the mortality after discharge (continuous net reclassification improvement, 0.355, p = 0.003; integrated discrimination improvement, 0.029, p = 0.003). Results of a fully adjusted dose-dependent association analysis showed that risk of all-cause mortality was lowest among HF patients who consumed 31.5 kcal/kg/day of energy.

Conclusions

Energy intake during hospital stay is an independent predictor of the mortality in elderly HF patients, and its assessment together with established predictors improves the mortality risk stratification.

Graphic abstract
Care in practice: negotiations regarding care for the elderly in multigenerational Arab Muslim families in Denmark
Authors: Ismail Abir Mohamad
Published: January 2021

Recent studies conclude that ethnic minority families in Denmark tend to be dismissive of senior housing and municipal homecare services for elderly family members. A large proportion of Muslim minority families in Denmark attach great importance to caring for the elderly as a tradition and prefer to take care of their own elderly family members at home. Nevertheless, the fact that morality, incentives, and obligations in relation to care for the elderly may be legitimized and/or contested with reference to cultural traditions and Islam has not received much attention in current research. In this article, drawing on material from ongoing ethnographic fieldwork among Arab Muslim families in Denmark, I discuss how cultural and religious backgrounds may determine and influence perceptions and behavior regarding care for the elderly. By observing and engaging in the everyday life of an Arab Muslim family, I explore how caring for elderly people with health problems at home raises specific questions about obligations and triggers negotiations across genders and generations. I argue that besides kinship and ethnicity, it is equally important to consider religiosity in an attempt to learn more about how Arab Muslims care for their elderly family members.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of an Austenitic Heat-Resistant Steel after Service at 570 °C and 25.4 MPa for 18 Years
Authors: Yang Xu , Yu Chengwei , Yang Xisheng , Yan Kai , Qian Gong , Wang Baochen , Yan Wei , Shi Xianbo
Published: January 2021

Microstructure and mechanical properties of an austenitic heat-resistant steel (12Cr18Ni12Ti) serviced in a supercritical power plant at 570 °C/25.4 MPa for 160,000 h were investigated. The results show that the hardness and the tensile strength did not decrease; however, the impact toughness was remarkably reduced. The TiC precipitate shows excellent thermostability; for example, it hardly grew up, and no big M23C6 carbides were found. However, large Fe, Cr-rich σ-phase was doomed to precipitate along grain boundary, which should be responsible for the reduced toughness. The growth of σ-phase was observed to have an interaction with the preexisted carbides.
European context of the diversity and phylogenetic position of SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Polish COVID-19 patients
Authors: Hryhorowicz Szymon , Ustaszewski Adam , Kaczmarek-Ryś Marta , Lis Emilia , Witt Michał , Pławski Andrzej , Ziętkiewicz Ewa
Published: January 2021

To provide a comprehensive analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 sequence diversity in Poland in the European context. All publicly available (n = 115; GISAID database) whole-genome SARS-Cov-2 sequences from Polish samples, including those obtained during coronavirus testing performed in our COVID-19 Lab, were examined. Multiple sequence alignment of Polish isolates, phylogenetic analysis (ML tree), and multidimensional scaling (based on the pairwise DNA distances) were complemented by the comparison of the coronavirus clades frequency and diversity in the subset of over 5000 European GISAID sequences. Approximately seventy-seven percent of isolates in the European dataset carried frequent and ubiquitously found haplotypes; the remaining haplotype diversity was population-specific and resulted from population-specific mutations, homoplasies, and recombinations. Coronavirus strains circulating in Poland represented the variability found in other European countries. The prevalence of clades circulating in Poland was shifted in favor of GR, both in terms of the diversity (number of distinct haplotypes) and the frequency (number of isolates) of the clade. Polish-specific haplotypes were rare and could be explained by changes affecting common European strains. The analysis of the whole viral genomes allowed detection of several tight clusters of isolates, presumably reflecting local outbreaks. New mutations, homoplasies, and, to a smaller extent, recombinations increase SARS-CoV-2 haplotype diversity, but the majority of these variants do not increase in frequency and remains rare and population-specific. The spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 haplotypes in the Polish dataset reflects many independent transfers from a variety of sources, followed by many local outbreaks. The prevalence of the sequences belonging to the GR clade among Polish isolates is consistent with the European trend of the GR clade frequency increase.
Energy-Efficient Path-Following Control System of Automated Guided Vehicles
Authors: Holovatenko Illia , Pysarenko Andrii
Published: January 2021

The theoretical bases of optimal tracking systems synthesis are considered. The main purpose of such systems is to keep the error between the actual and desired outputs of the system at a low level with minimal energy consumption. This concept is appealing to the fact that the vast majority of control systems solve problems without regard to the expediency of using the internal energy resources of the system itself. The main task of an automated guided vehicle is to move from one point to another. An algorithm for forming the desired trajectory between two points, specified on the map, was developed. With optimal energy consumption, this approach will make a practical contribution to the field of automation, self-driving cars, etc. The concept of optimal, energy-efficient control has been implemented. Several experiments with different regulators have been carried out to verify the concept of the tracking systems and to convince the significant advantage of the optimality among the other systems.
Novel and accurate non-linear index for the automated detection of haemorrhagic brain stroke using CT images
Authors: Raghavendra U. , Pham The-Hanh , Gudigar Anjan , Vidhya V. , Rao B. Nageswara , Sabut Sukanta , Wei Joel Koh En , Ciaccio Edward J. , Acharya U. Rajendra
Published: January 2021

Brain stroke is an emergency medical condition which occurs mainly due to insufficient blood flow to the brain. It results in permanent cellular-level damage. There are two main types of brain stroke, ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic brain stroke is caused by a lack of blood flow, and the haemorrhagic form is due to internal bleeding. The affected part of brain will not function properly after this attack. Hence, early detection is important for more efficacious treatment. Computer-aided diagnosis is a type of non-invasive diagnostic tool which can help in detecting life-threatening disease in its early stage by utilizing image processing and soft computing techniques. In this paper, we have developed one such model to assess intracerebral haemorrhage by employing non-linear features combined with a probabilistic neural network classifier and computed tomography (CT) images. Our model achieved a maximum accuracy of 97.37% in discerning normal versus haemorrhagic subjects. An intracerebral haemorrhage index is also developed using only three significant features. The clinical and statistical validation of the model confirms its suitability in providing for improved treatment planning and in making strategic decisions.
Charge-Transfer Resonance and Electromagnetic Enhancement Synergistically Enabling MXenes with Excellent SERS Sensitivity for SARS-CoV-2 S Protein Detection
Authors: Peng Yusi , Lin Chenglong , Long Li , Masaki Tanemura , Tang Mao , Yang Lili , Liu Jianjun , Huang Zhengren , Li Zhiyuan , Luo Xiaoying , Lombardi John R. , Yang Yong
Published: January 2021

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 has seriously threatened human health. Rapidly and sensitively detecting SARS-CoV-2 viruses can help control the spread of viruses. However, it is an arduous challenge to apply semiconductor-based substrates for virus SERS detection due to their poor sensitivity. Therefore, it is worthwhile to search novel semiconductor-based substrates with excellent SERS sensitivity. Herein we report, for the first time, Nb2C and Ta2C MXenes exhibit a remarkable SERS enhancement, which is synergistically enabled by the charge transfer resonance enhancement and electromagnetic enhancement. Their SERS sensitivity is optimized to 3.0 × 106 and 1.4 × 106 under the optimal resonance excitation wavelength of 532 nm. Additionally, remarkable SERS sensitivity endows Ta2C MXenes with capability to sensitively detect and accurately identify the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Moreover, its detection limit is as low as 5 × 10−9 M, which is beneficial to achieve real-time monitoring and early warning of novel coronavirus. This research not only provides helpful theoretical guidance for exploring other novel SERS-active semiconductor-based materials but also provides a potential candidate for the practical applications of SERS technology.
Naproxen/Layered Double Hydroxide Composites for Tissue-Engineering Applications: Physicochemical Characterization and Biological Evaluation
Authors: Bernardo Marcela P. , Rodrigues Bruna C.S. , de Oliveira Tamires D. , Guedes Adriana P.M. , Batista Alzir A. , Mattoso Luiz H.C.
Published: January 2021

Injured bone tissues can be healed with bone grafts, but this procedure may cause intense pain to the patient. A slow and localized delivery of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) could help to reduce the pain without affecting bone regeneration. The objective of the present study was to use [Mg-Al]-layered double hydroxide (LDH) as a matrix for controlled release of sodium naproxen (NAP). This system could be applied in biomaterial formulations (such as bone grafts) to achieve a local delivery of naproxen. [Mg-Al]-LDH successfully incorporated up to 80% (w/w) of naproxen by the structural reconstruction route, with the [Mg-Al]-LDH interlayer space increasing by 0.55 nm, corresponding to the drug molecule size. The evaluation of the naproxen release kinetics showed that 40% of the drug was delivered over 48 h in aqueous medium (pH 7.4 ± 0.1), indicating the potential of [Mg-Al]-LDH/NAP for local release of naproxen at adequate concentrations. Kinetic modeling showed that the naproxen release process was closely related to the Higuchi model, which considers the drug release as a diffusional process based on Fick’s law. The chemical stability of NAP after the release tests was verified by 1H NMR. The [Mg-Al]-LDH/NAP also exhibited low cytotoxicity toward fibroblast cells (L929 cell line), without modifications in their morphology and adhesion capacity. These results describe a suitable approach for preparing efficient systems for local delivery of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for biomedical applications.
Conservative Innovation: The Ambiguities of the China International Commercial Court
Authors: Chaisse Julien , Qian Xu
Published: January 2021

In the global development of new international commercial dispute resolution centers, the China International Commercial Court (CICC) represents a genuine innovation in China's legal history. The CICC aims to become a dispute resolution “one stop shop” (combining litigation, arbitration, and mediation) for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) related disputes. Despite its name and ambition, however, the CICC operates more like a domestic court. The CICC's stringent jurisdictional requirements and conservative institutional design show that the CICC cannot serve its stated objective of attracting new investment opportunities or foreign parties to the Chinese forum. These defects are not fatal but will have to be addressed for the CICC to reach its full potential of hybridization of litigation and arbitration both in and beyond China.
CURRENT RESEARCH ON GÖDEL’S INCOMPLETENESS THEOREMS
Authors: CHENG YONG
Published: January 2021

We give a survey of current research on Gödel’s incompleteness theorems from the following three aspects: classifications of different proofs of Gödel’s incompleteness theorems, the limit of the applicability of Gödel’s first incompleteness theorem, and the limit of the applicability of Gödel’s second incompleteness theorem.
Improving the quality and quantity of clinical and translational research statewide: An application of group concept mapping
Authors: Fede Jacquelyn , Kogut Stephen J. , Hayward Anthony , Stevenson John F. , Willey-Temkin Cynthia , Fournier Heather , Stranieri Gabrielle , Kimberly Judy A. , Padbury James
Published: January 2021

Introduction:

Advance Clinical and Translational Research (Advance-CTR) serves as a central hub to support and educate clinical and translational researchers in Rhode Island. Understanding barriers to clinical research in the state is the key to setting project aims and priorities.

Methods:

We implemented a Group Concept Mapping exercise to characterize the views of researchers and administrators regarding how to increase the quality and quantity of clinical and translational research in their settings. Participants generated ideas in response to this prompt and rated each unique idea in terms of how important it was and feasible it seemed to them.

Results:

Participants generated 78 unique ideas, from which 9 key themes emerged (e.g., Building connections between researchers). Items rated highest in perceived importance and feasibility included providing seed grants for pilot projects, connecting researchers with common interests and networking opportunities. Implications of results are discussed.

Conclusions:

The Group Concept Mapping exercise enabled our project leadership to better understand stakeholder-perceived priorities and to act on ideas and aims most relevant to researchers in the state. This method is well suited to translational research enterprises beyond Rhode Island when a participatory evaluation stance is desired.
Preliminary study of the impact of elevated circulating plasma levels of catecholamines on opioid requirements for acute surgical pain
Authors: Uribe-Rivera Armando , Rasubala Linda , Machado-Perez Ana C. , Ren Yan-Fang , Malmström Hans , Carinci Adam
Published: January 2021

Introduction:

The objective of this study is to determine whether elevated circulating plasma catecholamine levels significantly impact opioid requirements during the first 24 hours postoperative period in individuals with acute surgical pain.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed 15 electronic medical records (EMRs) from adults 18 years and older, with confirmed elevated plasma catecholamine levels (experimental) and 15 electronic health records (EHRs) from matched-controls for age, gender, race and type of surgery, with a follow up of 24 hours postoperatively.

Results:

The total morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) requirements from the experimental group were not statistically different when compared with controls [44.1 (13 to 163) mg versus 47.5 (13 to 151) mg respectively; p 0.4965]. However, the intraoperative MMEs showed a significant difference, among the two groups; [(experimental) 32.5 (13. to 130) mg, (control) 15 (6.5 to 130) mg; p 0.0734]. The intraoperative dosage of midazolam showed a highly significant positive correlation to the total MMEs (p 0.0005). The subjects with both elevated plasma catecholamines and hypertension used significantly higher intraoperative MMEs compared to controls [34.1 (13 to 130) mg versus 15 (6.5 to 130) mg, respectively; p 0.0292)]. Those 51 years and younger, with elevated circulating levels of catecholamines, required significantly higher levels of both the postoperative MMEs [29.1 (0 to 45) mg versus 12 (0 to 71.5) mg; (p 0.0553)] and total MMEs [544.05 (13 to 81) mg versus 29.42 (13 to 92.5) mg; (p 0.00018), when compared to controls with history of nicotine and alcohol use.

Conclusion:

This preliminary study evaluated a biologic factor, which have promising clinical usefulness for predicting analgesic requirements that can drive clinical decisions on acute surgical pain.
Virtual infection prevention—The next frontier
Authors: Pryor Rachel J. , Vokes Rebecca , Anderson Deverick , Bearman Gonzalo
Published: January 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in the acceleration of telehealth and remote environments as stakeholders and healthcare systems respond to the threat of this disease. How can infectious diseases and healthcare epidemiology expertise be adapted to support safe care for all?
Measuring Ethnic Bias: Can Misattribution-Based Tools from Social Psychology Reveal Group Biases that Economics Games Cannot?
Authors: Blum Ashley , Hazlett Chad , Posner Daniel N.
Published: January 2021

Economics games such as the Dictator and Public Goods Games have been widely used to measure ethnic bias in political science and economics. Yet these tools may fail to measure bias as intended because they are vulnerable to self-presentational concerns and/or fail to capture bias rooted in more automatic associative and affective reactions. We examine a set of misattribution-based approaches, adapted from social psychology, that may sidestep these concerns. Participants in Nairobi, Kenya completed a series of common economics games alongside versions of these misattribution tasks adapted for this setting, each designed to detect bias toward noncoethnics relative to coethnics. Several of the misattribution tasks show clear evidence of (expected) bias, arguably reflecting differences in positive/negative affect and heightened threat perception toward noncoethnics. The Dictator and Public Goods Games, by contrast, are unable to detect any bias in behavior toward noncoethnics versus coethnics. We conclude that researchers of ethnic and other biases may benefit from including misattribution-based procedures in their tool kits to widen the set of biases to which their investigations are sensitive.
In Defence of David Armstrong's Materialist Theory of Perception
Authors: Goldstick D.
Published: January 2021

There are no qualia. The phenomenological difference between seeing and visualizing something is that the propositions which the experient begins to believe in the first case are only entertained in the second. We can know what it's like to be a bat by knowing that their echolocation informs them non-inferentially of the shapes, sizes, and directional distances away of nearby surfaces. The terms for secondary qualities like colours, though, are names of the type-properties they designate, tracing back causally to a verbal ‘baptism,’ and so experients don't know the character of colour experiences until they study brain physiology.
PRICING VARIANCE SWAPS UNDER DOUBLE HESTON STOCHASTIC VOLATILITY MODEL WITH STOCHASTIC INTEREST RATE
Authors: Wu Huojun , Jia Zhaoli , Yang Shuquan , Liu Ce
Published: January 2021

In this paper, we discuss the problem of pricing discretely sampled variance swaps under a hybrid stochastic model. Our modeling framework is a combination with a double Heston stochastic volatility model and a Cox–Ingersoll–Ross stochastic interest rate process. Due to the application of the T-forward measure with the stochastic interest process, we can only obtain an efficient semi-closed form of pricing formula for variance swaps instead of a closed-form solution based on the derivation of characteristic functions. The practicality of this hybrid model is demonstrated by numerical simulations.
TAIL CONDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS FOR GENERALIZED SKEW-ELLIPTICAL DISTRIBUTIONS
Authors: Zuo Baishuai , Yin Chuancun
Published: January 2021

This paper deals with the multivariate tail conditional expectation (MTCE) for generalized skew-elliptical distributions. We present tail conditional expectation for univariate generalized skew-elliptical distributions and MTCE for generalized skew-elliptical distributions. There are many special cases for generalized skew-elliptical distributions, such as generalized skew-normal, generalized skew Student-t, generalized skew-logistic and generalized skew-Laplace distributions.
Medicaid & Medicare: D.C. Appellate Court Denies Claim for Medicare Reimbursement of GME Cost
Authors: Amy choeffel
Published: January 2021

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld, in Presbyterian Medical Center of the University of Pennsylvania Health System v. Shalala, 170 F.3d 1146 (D.C. Cir. 1999), a federal district court ruling granting summary judgment to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in a case in which Presbyterian Medical Center (PMC) challenged Medicare's requirement of contemporaneous documentation of $828,000 in graduate medical education (GME) expenses prior to increasing reimbursement amounts. DHHS Secretary Donna Shalala denied PMC's request for reimbursement for increased GME costs. The appellants then brought suit in federal court challenging the legality of an interpretative rule that requires requested increases in reimbursement to be supported by contemporaneous documentation. PMC also alleged that an error was made in the administrative proceedings to prejudice its claims because Aetna, the hospital's fiscal intermediary, failed to provide the hospital with a written report explaining why it was denied the GME reimbursement.
The Belt and Road Initiative Agreements: Characteristics, Rationale, and Challenges
Authors: Wang Heng
Published: January 2021

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has brought with it an unprecedented number of agreements. BRI agreements consist of primary agreements (particularly MOUs) and secondary agreements (like performance agreements). They are a distinct, landmark feature of the BRI. Focusing on primary agreements and their close link with secondary agreements, this paper explores the following questions: What are the legal status and characteristics of primary agreements? Why are they adopted by China? What challenges do they face? BRI primary agreements can be regarded as a form of soft law, but that repurposes soft law characteristics for project development rather than rule development. BRI primary agreements have the following unique characteristics: (i) minimal legalization, (ii) a coordinated, project-based nature, and (iii) a hub-and-spoke network structure. While BRI primary agreements benefit from the advantages of soft law (e.g., reduced contracting costs, flexibility), they face challenges including those concerning underlying interests and their effectiveness.
Ammonium sulfate improves the efficacy of glyphosate on South African lovegrass (Eragrostis plana) under water stress
Authors: Bastiani Marlon O. , Roma-Burgos Nilda , Langaro Ana C. , Salas-Perez Reiofeli A. , Rouse Christopher E. , Fipke Marcus V. , Lamego Fabiane P.
Published: January 2021

South African lovegrass (Eragrostis planaNees) is the most important weed of native pastures in southern Brazil. Management options are limited under water-stress conditions, and glyphosate has been the main tool for control. This study compared four salts of glyphosate applied at three growth stages and determined the glyphosate tolerance level. In addition, the performance of ammonium sulfate (AMS) under two soil moisture conditions (50% and 100% of water-holding capacity) and the effect of AMS on absorption and translocation of radiolabeled [14C]glyphosate were evaluated. The potassium salt of glyphosate had the fastest activity across growth stages ofE. plana, which is more vulnerable to glyphosate at the panicle initiation stage. Isopropylamine salt was the slowest-acting glyphosate formulation. Younger plants were typically more easily controlled than older plants at the full tillering stage. The addition of AMS increased the level of control of drought-stressedE. planacompared with glyphosate alone by increasing translocation out of the treated leaf and consequently increasing the concentration of glyphosate in the primary culm. These data can be used to plan an effective management program forE. planathat takes into account the developmental stage of desired pasture grass species.
Crystallization-induced mechanofluorescence for visualization of polymer crystallization
Authors: Kato Sota , Furukawa Shigeki , Aoki Daisuke , Goseki Raita , Oikawa Kazusato , Tsuchiya Kousuke , Shimada Naohiko , Maruyama Atsushi , Numata Keiji , Otsuka Hideyuki
Published: January 2021

The growth of lamellar crystals has been studied in particular for spherulites in polymeric materials. Even though such spherulitic structures and their growth are of crucial importance for the mechanical and optical properties of the resulting polymeric materials, several issues regarding the residual stress remain unresolved in the wider context of crystal growth. To gain further insight into micro-mechanical forces during the crystallization process of lamellar crystals in polymeric materials, herein, we introduce tetraarylsuccinonitrile (TASN), which generates relatively stable radicals with yellow fluorescence upon homolytic cleavage at the central C–C bond in response to mechanical stress, into crystalline polymers. The obtained crystalline polymers with TASN at the center of the polymer chain allow not only to visualize the stress arising from micro-mechanical forces during polymer crystallization via fluorescence microscopy but also to evaluate the micro-mechanical forces upon growing polymer lamellar crystals by electron paramagnetic resonance, which is able to detect the radicals generated during polymer crystallization.
Climate warming from managed grasslands cancels the cooling effect of carbon sinks in sparsely grazed and natural grasslands
Authors: Chang Jinfeng , Ciais Philippe , Gasser Thomas , Smith Pete , Herrero Mario , Havlík Petr , Obersteiner Michael , Guenet Bertrand , Goll Daniel S. , Li Wei , Naipal Victoria , Peng Shushi , Qiu Chunjing , Tian Hanqin , Viovy Nicolas , Yue Chao , Zhu Dan
Published: January 2021

Grasslands absorb and release carbon dioxide (CO2), emit methane (CH4) from grazing livestock, and emit nitrous oxide (N2O) from soils. Little is known about how the fluxes of these three greenhouse gases, from managed and natural grasslands worldwide, have contributed to past climate change, or the roles of managed pastures versus natural grasslands. Here, global trends and regional patterns of the full greenhouse gas balance of grasslands are estimated for the period 1750 to 2012. A new spatially explicit land surface model is applied, to separate the direct effects of human activities from land management and the indirect effects from climate change, increasing CO2 and regional changes in nitrogen deposition. Direct human management activities are simulated to have caused grasslands to switch from a sink to a source of greenhouse gas, because of increased livestock numbers and accelerated conversion of natural lands to pasture. However, climate change drivers contributed a net carbon sink in soil organic matter, mainly from the increased productivity of grasslands due to increased CO2 and nitrogen deposition. The net radiative forcing of all grasslands is currently close to neutral, but has been increasing since the 1960s. Here, we show that the net global climate warming caused by managed grassland cancels the net climate cooling from carbon sinks in sparsely grazed and natural grasslands. In the face of future climate change and increased demand for livestock products, these findings highlight the need to use sustainable management to preserve and enhance soil carbon storage in grasslands and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from managed grasslands.