bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Numerical constraints and non-spatial open boundary conditions for the Wigner equation
Authors: Kosik Robert , Cervenka Johann , Kosina Hans 
Published: November 2021

AbstractWe discuss boundary value problems for the characteristic stationary von Neumann equation (stationary sigma equation) and the stationary Wigner equation in a single spatial dimension. The two equations are related by a Fourier transform in the non-spatial coordinate. In general, a solution to the characteristic equation does not produce a corresponding Wigner solution as the Fourier transform will not exist. Solution of the stationary Wigner equation on a shifted k-grid gives unphysical results. Results showing a negative differential resistance in IV-curves of resonant tunneling diodes using Frensley’s method are a numerical artefact from using upwinding on a coarse grid. We introduce the integro-differential sigma equation which avoids distributional parts at $$k=0$$

k
=
0

in the Wigner transform. The Wigner equation for $$k=0$$

k
=
0

represents an algebraic constraint needed to avoid poles in the solution at $$k=0$$

k
=
0

. We impose the inverse Fourier transform of the integrability constraint in the integro-differential sigma equation. After a cutoff, we find that this gives fully homogeneous boundary conditions in the non-spatial coordinate which is overdetermined. Employing an absorbing potential layer double homogeneous boundary conditions are naturally fulfilled. Simulation results for resonant tunneling diodes from solving the constrained sigma equation in the least squares sense with an absorbing potential reproduce results from the quantum transmitting boundary with high accuracy. We discuss the zero bias case where also good agreement is found. In conclusion, we argue that properly formulated open boundary conditions have to be imposed on non-spatial boundaries in the sigma equation both in the stationary and the transient case. When solving the Wigner equation, an absorbing potential layer has to be employed.
Trajectories of Posttraumatic Growth Following HIV Infection: Does One PTG Pattern Exist?
Authors: Rzeszutek Marcin , Gruszczyńska Ewa 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe aim of this study was to examine the heterogeneity of change of posttraumatic growth (PTG) among people living with HIV (PLWH) in a 1-year prospective study. The goal was also to identify sociodemographic and clinical covariates and differences in baseline coping strategies. Particularly, time since diagnosis and positive reframing coping were of special interest. The sample consisted of 115 people with medically confirmed diagnosis of HIV infection. The participants filled out paper-and-pencil questionnaires three times with an interval of 6 months, including also sociodemographic and clinical data. Four trajectories of PTG were identified: curvilinear, low stable, high stable, and rapid change. Participants’ gender, education level, CD4 count and time since HIV diagnosis occurred to be significant covariates of class membership. Positive reframing and self-distraction differentiated only between the high stable and the rapid change trajectory, with lower values in the latter. The study results call for attention to the complexity of PTG patterns in a face of struggling with HIV infection. Specifically, interventions in clinical practice should take into account the fact that there is no single pattern of PTG that fits all PLWH and that these differences may be related to the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics as well as to coping strategies representing meaning-making mechanism.
High-resolution images and drone-based LiDAR reveal striking patterns of vegetation gaps in a wooded spinifex grassland of Western Australia
Authors: Getzin Stephan , Löns Christian , Yizhaq Hezi , Erickson Todd E. , Muñoz-Rojas Miriam , Huth Andreas , Wiegand Kerstin 
Published: November 2021

AbstractContextVegetation patterns in hummock grasslands of Australia’s arid interior can be very complex. Additionally, the grasslands are interspersed with variable amounts of trees and shrubs.ObjectivesTo better understand the spatial arrangement of this vegetation structure, and in particular the unvegetated bare-soil gaps, we analyzed the scale-dependent patterns of gaps, trees, and shrubs.MethodsWe focused on two size categories of grassland gaps, large gaps ≥ 4 m2known as fairy circles (FCs) and small gaps 1 to < 4 m2, and on trees and shrubs. We mapped four 200 m × 200 m study plots located east of the town of Newman in Western Australia, using drone-based aerial images and LiDAR. The RGB images were converted into binary images and the gaps and woody plants were automatically segmented. The spatial patterns of the four vegetation components were analyzed, as well as the shape properties of the vegetation gaps.ResultsThe most striking result was that small gaps appeared consistently at about 5 m distance away from the FCs, which are known as the most water-depleted locations in the grassland. The FCs were also rounder than the small gaps and this symmetry underlines their function as an extra source of water for the surrounding matrix vegetation. Trees and shrubs had spatial patterns that were unrelated to FCs, which likely results from their water uptake in deeper sub-soil layers.ConclusionsThe consistent distance of small gaps to FCs is further support that the Australian fairy circles are a self-organized vegetation pattern that results from ecohydrological feedbacks.
Magic as Technological Dominion: John Dee’s Hydragogy and the Draining of the Fens in Ben Jonson’s The Devil is an Ass
Authors: Borlik Todd Andrew 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThis paper explores the ambiguous role of magic in the controversy over the draining of the fens, the last bastion of wilderness in seventeenth-century England. In what now looks like an early form of environmentalist resistance to the destruction of these wetlands, opponents of the drainage accused the undertakers of invoking diabolical aid in their audacious efforts to tamper with God’s creation. Evidence of this mentality can be found in both William Shakespeare’sThe Tempestand Ben Jonson’sThe Devil is an Ass. Via a close reading of Jonson’s comedy, this paper navigates the confluence of magic, technology, and “projection” in the ideological debate surrounding the fens. Just as the traditional Vice figures (Iniquity and Pug) find themselves out-devilled by Jacobean Londoners, the play dramatizes the appropriation and displacement of a residual poetics of enchantment by the emergent discourses of economics and applied engineering. A tendency to equate magic with hydro-engineering technology may have been encouraged by John Dee’s involvement in the project. Drawing on an unpublished manuscript in the Ashmole collection at the Bodleian Library, this paper seeks to uncover the extent and impact of Dee’s role in the drainage. Advocates of the drainage, however, not only denied any supernatural involvement but also counterattacked by accusing their opponents of credulity and magical thinking. They characterized the native fen-dwellers as superstitious heathens and cast a scathing eye on local folklore depicting the fens as a demon-haunted wasteland. In pro-drainage documents, the proposed draining of the fenlands becomes tantamount to an exorcism, purging the rural backwaters of paganism and witchcraft. Wetlands management will now be conducted through applied engineering rather than magical incantations. A little known Jacobean ballad, “The Powte’s Complaint” (c. 1619) revives these animistic tropes to protest the fen’s destruction. Jonson’s play may explain why this tactic was doomed to fail and why this poem has been forgotten. As the credibility of magic eroded in the mid-seventeenth century, opponents of the drainage instead sought to stir up public resentment against the foreignness of the Dutch under-takers rather than their supposed collusion with supernatural forces. Jonson’s own projection that the drainage was an impossible con (like alchemy) would prove inaccurate. Nevertheless,The Devil is an Assstands as the one of the most ecologically-engaged texts in the canon of early modern English drama.
Barriers to the digital transformation of infrastructure sectors
Authors: Manny Liliane , Duygan Mert , Fischer Manuel , Rieckermann Jörg 
Published: November 2021

AbstractDigital technologies can be important to policy-makers and public servants, as these technologies can increase infrastructure performance and reduce environmental impacts. For example, utilizing data from sensors in sewer systems can improve their management, which in turn may result in better surface water quality. Whether suchbig datafrom sensors is utilized is, however, not only a technical issue, but also depends on different types of social and institutional conditions. Our article identifies individual, organizational, and institutional barriers at the level of sub-states that hinder the evaluation of data from sewer systems. We employ fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to compare 23 Swiss sub-states and find that two barriers at different levels can each hinder data evaluation on their own. More specifically, either a lack of vision at the individual level or a lack of resources at the organizational level hinder the evaluation of data. Findings suggest that taking into account different levels is crucial for understanding digital transformation in public organizations.
Mindfulness-Based Approaches for COVID-19 Mental Health in Working from Home
Authors: Vione Katia C. , Kotera Yasuhiro 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic spread rapidly since it was first identified in December 2019. A nation-level lockdown has been implemented in many countries, affecting workers of all sectors and forcing many to work from home. In this commentary, we discuss mental health difficulties that working from home might cause on non-key workers, based on research in New Ways of Working (NWW) and telecommuting. Moreover, we propose the use of mindfulness-based approaches to protect workforce from the potential negative impacts of working from home.
Opto-thermal technologies for microscopic analysis of cellular temperature-sensing systems
Authors: Oyama Kotaro , Ishii Shuya , Suzuki Madoka 
Published: November 2021

AbstractCould enzymatic activities and their cooperative functions act as cellular temperature-sensing systems? This review introduces recent opto-thermal technologies for microscopic analyses of various types of cellular temperature-sensing system. Optical microheating technologies have been developed for local and rapid temperature manipulations at the cellular level. Advanced luminescent thermometers visualize the dynamics of cellular local temperature in space and time during microheating. An optical heater and thermometer can be combined into one smart nanomaterial that demonstrates hybrid function. These technologies have revealed a variety of cellular responses to spatial and temporal changes in temperature. Spatial temperature gradients cause asymmetric deformations during mitosis and neurite outgrowth. Rapid changes in temperature causes imbalance of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and membrane potential. Among those responses, heat-induced muscle contractions are highlighted. It is also demonstrated that the short-term heating hyperactivates molecular motors to exceed their maximal activities at optimal temperatures. We discuss future prospects for opto-thermal manipulation of cellular functions and contributions to obtain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of cellular temperature-sensing systems.
Bend family proteins mark chromatin boundaries and synergistically promote early germ cell differentiation
Authors: Shi Guang , Bai Yaofu , Zhang Xiya , Su Junfeng , Pang Junjie , He Quanyuan , Zeng Pengguihang , Ding Junjun , Xiong Yuanyan , Zhang Jingran , Wang Jingwen , Liu Dan , Ma Wenbin , Huang Junjiu , Songyang Zhou 
Published: November 2021

AbstractUnderstanding the regulatory networks for germ cell fate specification is necessary to developing strategies for improving the efficiency of germ cell production in vitro. In this study, we developed a coupled screening strategy that took advantage of an arrayed bi-molecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) platform for protein-protein interaction screens and epiblast-like cell (EpiLC)-induction assays using reporter mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Investigation of candidate interaction partners of core human pluripotent factors OCT4, NANOG, KLF4 and SOX2 in EpiLC differentiation assays identified novel primordial germ cell (PGC)-inducing factors including BEN-domain (BEND/Bend) family members. Through RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, and ATAC-seq analyses, we showed that Bend5 worked together with Bend4 and helped mark chromatin boundaries to promote EpiLC induction in vitro. Our findings suggest that BEND/Bend proteins represent a new family of transcriptional modulators and chromatin boundary factors that participate in gene expression regulation during early germline development.
Environmental life cycle assessment and operating cost analysis of a conceptual battery hybrid-electric transport aircraft
Authors: Scholz Anna Elena , Trifonov Dimitar , Hornung Mirko 
Published: November 2021

AbstractNoise and greenhouse gas emission targets set by e.g., the EU commission, NASA, and ICAO oblige the aviation industry to reduce its environmental footprint. Battery-powered hybrid-electric aircraft are currently being investigated in this regard as they can potentially reduce in-flight greenhouse gas emissions and noise. However, most studies to date have focused on the CO2 emission reduction potential instead of considering the total life cycle environmental impact. Hence, within this study an environmental life cycle assessment method for a hybrid-electric aircraft is developed and applied, supplemented by a direct operating costs analysis. This allows the simultaneous evaluation of the environmental impact reduction potential and the economic consequences for aircraft operators. This demonstrates the faced trade-off and contributes to a meaningful review process. A single-aisle transport aircraft (A320 class) serves as a use case for the established methodology. It consists of the conceptual aircraft design, the environmental life cycle assessment, and the direct operating costs analysis for a conventional reference aircraft and a hybrid-electric aircraft with a discrete parallel powertrain architecture. It should be noticed that the focus of this study is the comparison of conceptual aircraft designs of the same fidelity on system level, in lieu of the detailed modeling of a hybrid-electric aircraft. Results show that for a degree of hybridization of 0.3, the environmental impact of the hybrid-electric configuration increased by $$15.1\%$$

15.1
%

, while the operating costs increased by $$41.0\%$$

41.0
%

compared to a conventional reference aircraft. For a future scenario, favourable for hybrid-electric aircraft with i.a. renewable electricity production, the environmental impact could be reduced by $$7.0\%$$

7.0
%

compared to the reference aircraft. At the same time, the operating costs gap between both configurations decreases to $$+ 26.8\%$$

+
26.8
%

. Hybrid-electric aircraft should therefore be investigated further as a potential solution to reduce the environmental impact of aviation, if simultaneously to developing them the expansion of renewable energies is fostered. Nevertheless, this reduction in environmental impact involves a high direct operating costs penalty.
Does financialization of non-financial corporations promote the persistence of innovation: evidence from A-share listed manufacturing corporations in China
Authors: Xie Zhengjuan , Du Jiang , Wu Yongchao 
Published: November 2021

AbstractFinancialization of non-financial corporations is an important factor affecting innovation activities. This paper calculates the optimal financialization of enterprises and the deviation of optimal financialization, divides amples into moderate and excessive financialization, then investigates the relationship between financialization and sustainable innovation in different research samples using the data of A-share manufacturing enterprises in China from 2012 to 2018. The results indicate that the deviation of optimal financialization is negatively related to the persistent innovation of enterprises. However, financialization had significantly different effects on persistent innovation in different research sample. More specifically, excessive financialization could crowd out the persistent innovation, but moderate financialization may promote the persistent innovation. This study provides a new perspective for understanding the relationship between financialization and innovation, and helps finance better serve the real economy.
Uniform error estimates for nonequispaced fast Fourier transforms
Authors: Potts Daniel , Tasche Manfred 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn this paper, we study the error behavior of the nonequispaced fast Fourier transform (NFFT). This approximate algorithm is mainly based on the convenient choice of a compactly supported window function. So far, various window functions have been used and new window functions have recently been proposed. We present novel error estimates for NFFT with compactly supported, continuous window functions and derive rules for convenient choice from the parameters involved in NFFT. The error constant of a window function depends mainly on the oversampling factor and the truncation parameter.
Disentangling between‐ and within‐person associations between empathy and prosocial behaviours during early adolescence
Authors: Carrizales Alexia , Branje Susan , Lannegrand Lyda 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIntroductionAlthough empathy has been found to be related to prosocial behaviour, little is known about the longitudinal links between these two concepts during early adolescence, a unique window into developmental changes on empathy and prosocial behaviour considering the physical, cognitive, socio‐emotional and contextual changes occurring during this period. Even though changes in adolescent empathy have been associated to changes in adolescent prosocial behaviour, studies examining this link on the within‐person level are lacking. The present study investigated the within‐adolescents longitudinal relations among empathy and prosocial behaviour.Methods383 French adolescents (MageT1 = 12.15, 50.4% male) reported on their empathy and prosocial behaviour each year across three years. In order to disentangle between‐adolescent differences from within‐adolescent processes, Random‐Intercept Cross‐Lagged Panel Models were applied.ResultsAt the between‐person level, there was a strong positive association between empathy and prosocial behaviour. At the within‐person level, adolescents who reported more empathy than usual reported higher than usual prosocial behaviour one year later.ConclusionsAdolescents with higher empathy compared to their peers tended to be those who reported higher prosocial behaviour. Changes in empathy within‐adolescents were related to later within‐adolescents’ change in prosocial behaviour.
Experiences in outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT): Barriers and challenges from the front lines
Authors: Ng Nicole , Bailey Pamela , Pryor Rachel , Fung Lillian , Veals Christine , Sabouri Kenneth , Reznicek Julie 
Published: November 2021

Abstract

Background:
Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is now the standard of care for managing patients who no longer need inpatient care but require prolonged intravenous antimicrobial therapy. OPAT increases patient satisfaction, reduces the lengths of hospital stay, lowers emergency department readmission rates, and decreases total healthcare spending.

Objective:
To investigate Virginia Commonwealth University Health System’s experience with OPAT and to highlight the obstacles patients and clinicians face when navigating and utilizing this program.

Design:
We conducted this descriptive study at a large, academic, tertiary-care hospital in Central Virginia.

Methods:
We performed manual reviews of electronic medical records of 602 patient, and we evaluated the records of those receiving OPAT between 2017 and 2020. Reviews included antimicrobial agents, diagnoses requiring OPAT, adverse effects related to antimicrobials, adverse effects related to peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC), readmission rate, discharge destination, and death. We evaluated our program with descriptive statistics.

Results:
Among 602 patients who received OPAT, most were diagnosed with bacteremia or musculoskeletal infections. Patients were either discharged home or to another healthcare facility, with the former comprising most of the rehospitalizations. Ertapenem and vancomycin were associated with the most adverse drug events among our cohort. Elevated transaminase levels were noted in 23% of patients. The rate of PICC-line adverse events in this study population was 0.05%.

Conclusions:
Our findings highlight the barriers and challenges that patients and providers face when receiving OPAT, and they can inform efforts to improve patient clinical outcomes.
Impact of a vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) screening result on appropriateness of antibiotic therapy
Authors: Reynolds Jenna L. , Trudeau Raelene E. , Seville Maria Teresa , Chan Lynn 
Published: November 2021

Abstract

Objective:
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infections have been associated with increased mortality and poor outcomes. VRE screening has been used to identify colonized patients to prevent transmission; however, little is known about the utility of screening results to guide antibiotic therapy.

Design and setting:
A retrospective review was performed at a tertiary-care center between June 1, 2015, and May 31, 2018.

Patients:
All patients who underwent VRE polymerase chain reaction assay (PCR) screening and had a bacterial culture from 7 days before to 90 days after the screening test were included. In total, 1,374 patients who had a VRE screening test met inclusion criteria.

Methods:
Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of VRE screening for VRE infection were calculated. The appropriateness of the antibiotic therapy for each patient based on screening results was also assessed.

Results:
We detected no difference in the appropriateness of antibiotic therapy between patients with a positive screen and those with a negative screen (59.3% vs 61.0%; P = .8657). The VRE PCR demonstrated 54% sensitivity, 89% specificity, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 13% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 98%.

Conclusions:
The high NPV and specificity indicate that patients with a negative VRE screening results may not require empiric antibiotic coverage for VRE. Although VRE screening may have utility to detect colonization in high-risk patients, a positive VRE screen is of limited value in determining the need for an antibiotic with VRE culture-directed coverage.