bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impression management tactics in the CEO statements of Turkish sustainability reports
Authors: Ozsozgun Caliskan Arzu , Esen Emel , Barkemeyer Ralf
Published: July 2021

In this study, we construct a classificatory scheme of impression management tactics and apply it to a sample of sustainability report and annual report CEO statements issued by large Turkish companies. We find a wide range of impression management tactics applied in both types of CEO statements. However, impression management in sustainability report CEO statements emerges as more limited and uniform, revealing clearer prioritizations of impression management tactics when compared to annual report CEO statements. Sustainability report CEO statements emphasize tactics that allow the company to highlight carefully selected, isolated aspects of their sustainability engagement. At the same time, they rarely employ tactics that are geared towards more systematic (quantitative) performance evaluation. We attribute these differences to the way in which corporate sustainability performance is commonly conceptualized and evaluated, emphasising qualitative performance dimensions rather than the reporting of quantitative performance metrics. This results in the application of a different impression management tactics mix and limits the usefulness of sustainability reports as an accountability mechanism when compared to corporate annual reports. In addition, we provide tentative evidence for the context‐specific nature of impression management, with the choice of impression management tactics reflecting the institutional environment a company is based in.
Appropriation of adaptive literacy games into the German elementary school classroom
Authors: Pflaumer Nadine , Knorr Nancy , Berkling Kay
Published: July 2021

The study presented here was aimed at understanding how teachers go about appropriating technology from the iRead EU Horizon 2020 Project into the classroom. iRead provides an adaptive personalised literacy game called Navigo that is deployed in tablets and intended for regular usage in the elementary school classroom. In our case, the game was provided for beginning readers of German. The goal of iRead was to develop these games and then understand how these can be deployed successfully into the classroom. The adaptation of technology by teachers has been a well‐studied phenomenon for decades in some countries. However, in Germany, elementary schools lag behind in digitalisation, making such studies more difficult, resulting in a knowledge gap this study seeks to fill. Appropriation of the Navigo game by the teachers was studied through a series of semi‐formal interviews with 21 teachers from 9 schools, scheduled at the beginning, middle and end of the project, resulting in a total of 55 interviews. Results show that teachers had similar experiences within the project, and faced common stumbling blocks, such as (a) technology, (b) digital literacy and (c) understanding the pedagogical use of adaptive learning games. While teachers generally accepted that interacting with tablets taught pupils the important skill of digital literacy, most teachers did not fully understand how pupils acquired language skills through Navigo. Those teachers who understood the academic benefit of the learning game appropriated Navigo fully by purposefully leveraging the adaptivity of the games to support pupils in a personalised manner. Using thematic analysis and automatic clustering of keyword occurrences in the interviews, we were able to identify four ‘personas’ on the continuum of teacher characteristics. Mapping teachers to these ‘personas’ determined the level of support required during the appropriation process. It was shown that the ‘personas’ are relatively stable and can be identified within the first weeks of appropriation to ensure a successful process as soon as possible.

Practitioner notes

What is already known about this topic

Appropriation of technology models.

Technology use in school for older pupils.

Educational games outside of school.

What this paper adds

A view on technology usage in elementary schools particular to the German context with large amount of teacher interviews from diverse schools.

Personas that can be identified early on in the process of appropriation based on simple interviews.

Particular challenges of using adaptive technology in the classroom.

Implications for practice and/or policy

A simple model for picking appropriate teacher support in appropriation.

Results show a clear need for improving technology support in the schools.

Teacher training must include digital competence and openness to the idea of independent learning paths.
Positive and negative aspects of mental health after unspecified living kidney donation: A cohort study
Authors: Massey Emma K. , Pronk Mathilde C. , Zuidema Willij C. , Weimar Willem , van de Wetering Jacqueline , Ismail Sohal Y.
Published: July 2021

Objectives

Unspecified donors give a kidney to a stranger with end‐stage kidney failure. There has been little research on the long‐term impact of unspecified donation on mental health outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the positive and negative aspects of mental health among unspecified donors.

Design

We invited all unspecified donors who donated a kidney between 2000 and 2016 at our centre to participate in an interview and to complete validated questionnaires.

Methods

We measured positive mental health using the Dutch Mental Health Continuum‐Short Form (MHC‐SF), psychological complaints using the Symptoms Checklist‐90 (SCL‐90) and psychiatric diagnoses using the Mini‐International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) Screen for all donors and the M.I.N.I. Plus on indication.

Results

Of the 134 eligible donors, 114 participated (54% female; median age 66 years), a median of 6 years post‐donation. Scores on emotional and social well‐being subscales of the MHC‐SF were significantly higher than in the general population. Psychological symptoms were comparable to the general population. Thirty‐two per cent of donors had a current or lifetime psychiatric diagnosis. Psychological symptoms did not significantly change between the pre‐donation screening and the post‐donation study.

Conclusions

We concluded that, with the appropriate screening, unspecified donation is a safe procedure from a psychological perspective.
On some relations between a continuous time Luenberger productivity indicator and the Solow model
Authors: Briec Walter , Lasselle Laurence
Published: July 2021

We introduce well‐known microeconomics productivity measures in Solow models in discrete time or continuous time by adopting a Luenberger‐type approach. In each framework, we derive the productivity indicators and the dynamical paths. First, we show that the expression of the productivity indicators are similar to the well‐known Solow residuals, allowing us to make an analogy between a firm's behavior in a microeconomic setting and a country's behavior in a macroeconomic setting. Second, we demonstrate that the properties of the paths are similar in both frameworks.
Molecular imaging of arterial and venous thrombosis
Authors: Wang Xiaowei , Ziegler Melanie , McFadyen James D. , Peter Karlheinz
Published: July 2021

Thrombosis contributes to one in four deaths worldwide and is the cause of a large proportion of mortality and morbidity. A reliable and rapid diagnosis of thrombosis will allow for immediate therapy, thereby providing significant benefits to patients. Molecular imaging is a fast‐growing and captivating area of research, in both preclinical and clinical applications. Major advances have been achieved by improvements in three central areas of molecular imaging: ‐ (1) better markers for diseases, with increased sensitivity and selectivity, (2) optimised contrast agents with improved signal to noise ratio and (3), progress in scanner technologies with higher sensitivity and resolution. Clinically available imaging modalities used for molecular imaging include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X‐ray computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, as well as nuclear imaging, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). In the preclinical imaging field, optical (fluorescence and bioluminescent) molecular imaging has provided new mechanistic insights in the pathology of thromboembolic diseases. Overall, the advances in molecular imaging, driven by the collaboration of various scientific disciplines, have substantially contributed to an improved understanding of thrombotic disease and raise the exciting prospect of earlier diagnosis and individualised therapy for cardiovascular diseases. As such, these advances hold significant promise to be translated to clinical practice and ultimately to reduce mortality and morbidity in patients with thromboembolic diseases.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed issue on Molecular imaging ‐ visual themed issue. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v178.21/issuetoc
Operational challenges in the COVID‐19 era: Asymptomatic infections and vaccination timing
Authors: Axelrod David A. , Ince Dilek , Harhay Meera N. , Mannon Roslyn B. , Alhamad Tarek , Cooper Matthew , Josephson Michelle A. , Caliskan Yasar , Sharfuddin Asif , Kumar Vineeta , Guenette Alexis , Schnitzler Mark A. , Ainapurapu Sruthi , Lentine Krista L.
Published: July 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for solid organ transplant programs. While transplant activity has largely recovered, appropriate management of deceased donor candidates who are asymptomatic but have positive nucleic acid testing (NAT) for SARS‐CoV‐2 is unclear, as this result may reflect active infection or prolonged viral shedding. Furthermore, candidates who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated continue to receive donor offers. In the absence of robust outcomes data, transplant professionals at US adult kidney transplant centers were surveyed (February 13, 2021 to April 29, 2021) to determine community practice (N: 92 centers, capturing 41% of centers and 57% of transplants performed). The majority (97%) of responding centers declined organs for asymptomatic NAT+ patients without documented prior infection. However, 32% of centers proceed with kidney transplant in NAT+ patients who were at least 30 days from initial diagnosis with negative chest imaging. Less than 7% of programs reported inactivating patients who were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. In conclusion, despite national recommendations to wait for negative testing, many centers are proceeding with kidney transplant in patients with positive SARS‐CoV‐2 NAT results due to presumed viral shedding. Furthermore, few centers are requiring COVID‐19 vaccination prior to transplantation at this time.
Impact of induction therapy on outcomes after heart transplantation
Authors: Tzani Aspasia , Van den Eynde Jef , Doulamis Ilias P. , Kuno Toshiki , Kampaktsis Polydoros N. , Alvarez Paulino , Briasoulis Alexandros
Published: July 2021

Background

Approximately 50% of heart transplant (HT) programs utilize induction therapy (IT) with interleukin‐2 receptor antagonists (IL2RA) or polyclonal anti‐thymocyte antibodies (ATG).

Methods

Adult HT recipients were identified in the UNOS Registry between 2010 and 2020. We compared mortality between IT strategies with competing risk analysis.

Results

A total of 28 634 HT recipients were included in the study (50.1% no IT, 21.3% ATG, 27.9% IL2RA, .7% alemtuzumab, .01% OKT3). Adjusted all‐cause, 30 day and 1 year mortality were lower among those treated with IT than no IT (sub‐hazard ratio [SHR] .87, 95% CI .79–.96, SHR .86, .76–.97, SHR .76, .63–.93, P = .007, respectively). In propensity score matching analysis IT was associated with lower 30‐day and 1‐year mortality. IL2RA had higher all‐cause and 1‐year mortality than ATG (SHR 1.41, 95% CI 1.23–1.69 and 1.55, 95% CI 1.29–1.88, respectively). Utilization of IT was associated with significantly lower risk of treated rejection at 1 year after HT compared with no IT (relative risk ratio [RRR] .79) and similarly ATG compared with IL2RA (RRR .51).

Conclusion

IT was associated with lower mortality and treated rejection episodes than no IT. IL2RA is the most used IT approach but ATG has lower risk of treated rejection and mortality.
Measuring the impact of dyskinesia on function in children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy
Authors: Himmelmann Kate
Published: July 2021

This commentary is on the original article by Stewart et al. on pages 1469–1475 of this issue.
Health‐related quality of life and caregiver burden after hip reconstruction and spinal fusion in children with spastic cerebral palsy
Authors: DiFazio Rachel L , Vessey Judith A , Miller Patricia E , Snyder Brian D , Shore Benjamin J
Published: July 2021

Aim

To evaluate the effect of hip reconstruction or spinal fusion on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in non‐ambulatory children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) and caregiver burden.

Method

This was a prospective, longitudinal study of changes in HRQoL and caregiver burden over the 5 years after surgical correction of hip instability or scoliosis in children with bilateral spastic CP classified in Gross Motor Function Classification levels IV or V. Serial parent proxy measures of HRQoL and caregiver burden were obtained before and 6 weeks, and 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, and 60 months after surgery using the Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities and the Assessment of Caregiver Experience with Neuromuscular Disease. Scores 5 years or more after surgery were compared to pre‐surgery scores using paired Student’s t‐tests. Serial outcome trajectories were estimated by linear mixed modeling.

Results

Of 69 participants (40 males, 29 females; mean age 11y 6mo, SD 4y 1mo, range 3y 10mo–20y 7mo), 43 had hip reconstruction and 26 had spinal fusion. Clinically significant improvements in HRQoL were detected (average increase 7.6 points) 5 years or more postoperatively, with hip reconstruction providing greater benefit. Domains improved by surgery included positioning, transferring/mobility, comfort/emotions, and health. Caregiver burden did not change as these children remain maximally dependent.

Interpretation

Surgical treatment of hip and spine deformity improves HRQoL, especially for painful hip instability, but does not change caregiver burden.
Learning management system‐integrated spreadsheet exercises for facility location modeling
Authors: Strakos Joshua K. , Brazhkin Vitaly
Published: July 2021

Supply chain management students are introduced to a variety of modeling concepts. Yet learning facility location and capacity allocation modeling to the level of application and mastery proves difficult for the typical undergraduate business student. Spreadsheets facilitate the teaching of optimization modeling; however, providing feedback to students on spreadsheet assignments is an onerous and time‐consuming task for instructors. In this teaching brief, a set of learning management system (LMS)‐integrated spreadsheet exercises is presented which helps students learn spreadsheet modeling for the capacitated plant location problem. These exercises are also designed to reduce the instructor's grading burden while providing timely feedback and assessment of student performance. The effectiveness of the exercises is demonstrated by assessment data gathered from the LMS as well as postmodule student survey results.
Background substrate and nest semiochemicals mediate ant aggression towards a parasitic beetle
Authors: Parmentier Thomas
Published: July 2021

1. Background cues may affect the perception and processing of sensory stimuli used by species to detect other organisms. These additional environmental cues change the effectiveness of behavioural responses and eventually influence species interactions. Ants make use of an advanced sensing system to detect intruders, but little is known how cues of the heterogeneous soil substrate influence their behavioural response.

2. Here, the aggressive response of red wood ants towards the beetle Notothecta flavipes, a parasitic nest associate, was tested against a background of two types of nest material present in the heterogeneous nests of wood ants, organic thatch (upper part of the nest) and sand (lower part of the nest). I used plaster as control. In addition, the three types of substrate were conditioned with or without chemical nest recognition cues of the host ant.

3. Ant aggression was strongly affected by the type of background substrate. Compared to a control background of plaster, the likelihood of ant aggression was 2.8 times and 1.7 times lower against a background of organic thatch and sand, respectively. As visual cues were eliminated in the aggression tests, the reduced aggression levels may be caused by the interference of olfactory scents emitted by the substrate. By contrast, an increase of biting attempts was recorded when the background substrate was conditioned with chemical cues of the ants, suggesting that ants defend familiar smelling terrain more fiercely.

4. Overall, these results suggest that the soil background may have complex and spatially variable effects on species interactions in heterogeneous patches.
Pre‐transplant minimal residual disease assessment and transplant‐related factors predict the outcome of acute myeloid leukemia patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Guolo Fabio , Di Grazia Carmen , Minetto Paola , Raiola Anna Maria , Clavio Marino , Miglino Maurizio , Tedone Elisabetta , Contini Paola , Mangerini Rosa , Kunkl Annalisa , Colombo Nicoletta , Pugliese Girolamo , Carminati Enrico , Marcolin Riccardo , Passannante Monica , Bagnasco Samuele , Galaverna Federica , Lamparelli Teresa , Ballerini Filippo , Cagnetta Antonia , Cea Michele , Gobbi Marco , Bacigalupo Andrea , Lemoli Roberto Massimo , Angelucci Emanuele
Published: July 2021

We studied pretransplant minimal residual disease (MRD) in 224 patients (median age 44 years; range 17‐65) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in complete remission. MRD was evaluated on marrow samples using multicolor flow cytometry and assessment of WT1 gene expression. Both methods showed a strong prognostic value and their combination allowed the identification of three groups of patients with different risk of relapse. In multivariate analysis, combined MRD was the only predictor of cumulative incidence of relapse, regardless of donor type, conditioning regimen, first or second CR at HSCT, HSCT year, and ELN risk group. Multivariate regression model showed that only negative combined MRD status (P < .001) and myeloablative conditioning (P = .004) were independently associated with better OS. Among MRD‐positive patients, a reduced incidence of relapse was observed in patients receiving haplo transplant (P < .05) and in patients who showed grade II‐IV aGVHD (P < .03). In patients with negative combined MRD, the intensity of conditioning regimen did not affect the overall favorable outcome. We suggest that pretransplant MRD evaluation combined with transplant‐related factors can identify AML patients at higher risk for relapse and might help in defining the overall transplant strategy.
Application of calcium nitrate with phosphorus promotes rhizosphere alkalization in acid subsoil
Authors: Weng Zhe (Han) , Li Guangdi , Sale Peter , Tang Caixian
Published: July 2021

Combatting subsoil acidity is a challenge as the incorporation of lime in subsurface layers may not be economically feasible. The use of nitrate to facilitate plant excess anion uptake has shown the potential to increase soil pH. A column experiment was carried out to demonstrate this root‐induced alkalization in various depths in an acid soil with pH 4.28 (0.01 M CaCl2). It consisted of two types of nitrogen (N) fertilizers (urea and Ca(NO3)2, both at 5 atom% 15N enrichment) banded at a depth of 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm or 20–30 cm, with phosphorus (P) fertilizer (NaH2PO4) at 150 mg P per column either applied to the N layers (N+P) or evenly mixed into the remaining layers without N addition (N‐P). Aluminium‐tolerant wheat (ET8) was used as test plants, receiving an initial N dose of 60 mg kg−1 soil at sowing and an additional dose of 30 mg kg−1 every 10 days from 40 days after sowing. Plants had a total N supply of 90 mg N kg−1 at 50 days and 180 mg N kg−1 at 80 days after sowing. The N+P treatments increased plant N uptake and increased rhizosphere and bulk soil pH. Nitrate placement increased pH of treated layers by up to 0.4 and 0.2 units in the rhizosphere and bulk soils, respectively, compared with the control at Day 80. Rhizosphere alkalization was greater with deeper N+P treatments as these encouraged the proliferation of deeper roots in the treated layer. The form of N and the application method of P fertilizer had no effect on shoot biomass over 80 days of growth. The N+P treatments had 7% higher 15N recovery of fertilizer in plants than the N‐P treatments. The current study also showed that P fertilizer enhanced rhizosphere alkalization induced by calcium nitrate. The results suggest that the use of nitrate fertilizer with P treatments can facilitate alkalization of acid subsoils.

Highlights

Phosphorus facilitates amelioration of subsurface soil acidity with nitrate fertilizer

Placement of nitrate induces alkalization of acid soil at various depths

Combined addition of nitrate and P at depth enhances nitrate uptake by wheat

Balanced nutrient supply enhances excess anion uptake and rhizosphere alkalization
Phylogenetic reconstruction of ancestral ecological networks through time for pierid butterflies and their host plants
Authors: Braga Mariana P. , Janz Niklas , Nylin Sören , Ronquist Fredrik , Landis Michael J.
Published: July 2021

The study of herbivorous insects underpins much of the theory that concerns the evolution of species interactions. In particular, Pieridae butterflies and their host plants have served as a model system for studying evolutionary arms races. To learn more about the coevolution of these two clades, we reconstructed ancestral ecological networks using stochastic mappings that were generated by a phylogenetic model of host‐repertoire evolution. We then measured if, when, and how two ecologically important structural features of the ancestral networks (modularity and nestedness) evolved over time. Our study shows that as pierids gained new hosts and formed new modules, a subset of them retained or recolonised the ancestral host(s), preserving connectivity to the original modules. Together, host‐range expansions and recolonisations promoted a phase transition in network structure. Our results demonstrate the power of combining network analysis with Bayesian inference of host‐repertoire evolution to understand changes in complex species interactions over time.
Importance of vision in tandem running during colony relocation in an Indian ant
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Snigdha , Annagiri Sumana
Published: July 2021

Visual inputs are important for navigation, and several studies have investigated its importance in ants in the context of foraging. Little is known about the importance of visual cues when the whole colony engages in the goal‐oriented task of colony relocation. In this study, we investigated the role of vision for a tandem‐running tropical ant Diacamma indicum during colony relocation by impairing the vision in both eyes of all colony members and comparing our findings with ants having unimpaired vision. Colonies relocated successfully under zero‐lux conditions and when all colony mates were visually impaired, without compromising their colony cohesion. On examining 265 tandem runs performed by visually impaired ants, we found that they had lower efficiency as compared to ants with normal vision. They traveled along longer routes at lower speeds and often lost their followers, leading to significant increase in transportation time. The absence of visual inputs did not influence the number of tandem leaders that participated nor did it negatively impact their ability to recruit their visually impaired followers from becoming tandem leaders. Visually impaired tandem leaders were not able to minimize their relocation path in an open arena but were capable of doing so in defined paths. Our results suggest that these ants use thigmotactic or proprioceptive cues in order to navigate to their new nest in the absence of visual inputs. Our understanding of tandem‐running recruitment would be incomplete until we delineate the role of multiple sensory inputs involved in conducting this mode of recruitment successfully.
Multi‐swarm and chaotic whale‐particle swarm optimization algorithm with a selection method based on roulette wheel
Authors: Asghari Kayvan , Masdari Mohammad , Gharehchopogh Farhad Soleimanian , Saneifard Rahim
Published: July 2021

The particle swarm optimization (PSO) and the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) are two admired optimization methods that have drawn various researchers' attention. The PSO implements some particles' intelligent movements in a search space, and the WOA is originated based on the hunting mechanism of humpback whales. The PSO and WOA have different strategies for moving towards the optimum solution. Nevertheless, both algorithms' performances encounter several problems, such as premature convergence and falling in local optimums. Several approaches have been proposed to enhance meta‐heuristic algorithms' performance, such as applying the chaotic maps, adding mathematical or stochastic operators or local searches, and hybridizing the algorithms. In this article, a new hybrid algorithm denoted as chaotic‐based hybrid whale and PSO has been presented by improving the WOA, combining it with PSO, and using the chaotic maps. The hybrid algorithm has significantly more diverse movements than both of the mentioned algorithms. Therefore, it explores different regions of a problem's search space more precisely and avoids local optima. The roulette wheel selection operator has also been applied based on their fitness value to select the proposed algorithm's search agents and exploit promising regions of the search space. In the hybrid algorithm, the chaotic maps have been applied to initialize the whales' population, particles of the particle swarm, and adjust motion parameters to increase population diversity. The multi‐swarm version of the proposed algorithm with higher performance than the single‐swarm version and other methods has been introduced in this article too. The proposed algorithms have been evaluated using 23 mathematical benchmark functions, including unimodal, multimodal, and composite functions and four engineering optimization problems. The obtained results and statistical tests prove that the proposed algorithms provide competitive solutions for most of the experiments, compared to the state‐of‐the‐art and well‐known optimization meta‐heuristic methods in terms of convergence towards the global optimum, local optima avoidance, exploration, and exploitation.
On the relationship between mechanical energy rate and heat dissipated rate during fatigue for a C45 steel depending on stress ratio
Authors: De Finis Rosa , Palumbo Davide , Galietti Umberto
Published: July 2021

This work deals with the analysis in the frequency domain of the temperature signal and mechanical energy rate of C45 steel under two different fatigue stepwise loading series at stress ratios of 0.1 and −1. It was first investigated the energy distribution among the harmonic components of the signals to understand possible variations caused by a different stress ratio. In addition, the second amplitude harmonic (SAH) of heat dissipated and mechanical energy rates have been considered in the analysis, and their relationship was investigated. It has been shown as it depends only on the material, and hence, it is valid whatever the kind of the test is without any assumption on the energy supplied to the material or material hysteresis loop stabilization. The adopted approach allows the analysis of intrinsic dissipations by means of rapid, full‐field, and contactless techniques without any specific requirement on loading condition or temperature signal stabilization.
Aquatic biota responses to temperature in a high Andean geothermal stream
Authors: Quenta‐Herrera Estefania , Daza Antonio , Lazzaro Xavier , Jacobsen Dean , Dangles Olivier , Cauvy‐Fraunié Sophie
Published: July 2021

The impact of global warming on mountain ecosystems is predicted to be high, and particularly in the tropical region. Geothermal streams have provided comprehensive evidence about how aquatic biodiversity changes across natural thermal gradients, but current knowledge is restricted to arctic and temperate zones. Thermal tolerances are different in tropical biological communities, resulting in high thermal sensitivity and low capacity to endure change in their thermal environments. This feature can change the response of aquatic organisms to warming, yet there is little empirical evidence to support this assumption.

In this study, we address this issue by evaluating how water temperature affects biodiversity, and the structure of primary and secondary producers of a high‐elevation geothermal stream system (4,500 m above sea level) in the Bolivian Andes. We analysed multi‐taxa responses to increased water temperature using benthic macroinvertebrate families, benthic algae and cyanobacteria, fishes, and macrophytes as study organisms. Different models were run to assess the response of aquatic biota to temperature. In addition, threshold indicator taxa analysis (TITAN) was used to identify changes in macroinvertebrate taxa distributions along the thermal gradient.

We found that macroinvertebrate richness decreased at 24–25°C due to the different taxon‐specific responses to temperature. Threshold indicator taxa analysis identified 17 temperature thresholds for each family of macroinvertebrates. Changes in macroinvertebrate community composition were significantly associated with changes in water temperature. Similarly, changes in macrophytes were associated with temperature differences, and high macrophyte richness was found at 19–20°C. Chlorophyll‐a concentration of green algae and diatoms was higher at intermediate temperatures 20–22°C, macroinvertebrates density peaked at 27°C, and fish body size reduced linearly with temperature.

Temperature increase in the geothermal stream resulted in a reduction of aquatic diversity and primary and secondary producers by simplifying the community structure to a few warm‐adapted taxa and reduced body size. These patterns differed from those obtained in temperate/arctic geothermal streams, but are similar to other studies at high‐elevation. In a context of increasing warming, the ecological structure of high‐elevation streams might lose cold‐adapted taxa, and change to smaller populations. Additional studies based on ecosystem functioning of geothermal streams could lead to a better understanding on how warming affects high‐elevation streams.
Messinian bottom‐grown selenitic gypsum: An archive of microbial life
Authors: Natalicchio Marcello , Birgel Daniel , Dela Pierre Francesco , Ziegenbalg Simone , Hoffmann‐Sell Lars , Gier Susanne , Peckmann Jörn
Published: July 2021

Primary gypsum deposits, which accumulated in the Mediterranean Basin during the so‐called Messinian salinity crisis (5.97–5.33 Ma), represent an excellent archive of microbial life. We investigated the molecular fossil inventory and the corresponding compound‐specific δ13C values of bottom‐grown gypsum formed during the first stage of the crisis in four marginal basins across the Mediterranean (Nijar, Spain; Vena del Gesso, Italy; Heraklion, Crete; and Psematismenos, Cyprus). All studied gypsum samples contain intricate networks of filamentous microfossils, whose phylogenetic affiliation has been debated for a long time. Petrographic analysis, molecular fossil inventories (hydrocarbons, alcohols, and carboxylic acids), and carbon stable isotope patterns suggest that the mazes of filamentous fossils represent benthic microbial assemblages dominated by chemotrophic sulfide‐oxidizing bacteria; in some of the samples, the body fossils are accompanied by lipids produced by sulfate‐reducing bacteria. Abundant isoprenoid alcohols including diphytanyl glycerol diethers (DGDs) and glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs), typified by highly variable carbon stable isotope composition with δ13C values spanning from −40 to −14‰, reveal the presence of planktic and benthic archaeal communities dwelling in Messinian paleoenvironments. The compound inventory of archaeal lipids indicates the existence of a stratified water column, with a normal marine to diluted upper water column and more saline deeper waters. This study documents the lipid biomarker inventory of microbial life preserved in ancient gypsum deposits, helping to reconstruct the widely debated conditions under which Messinian gypsum formed.
Comparison of the distribution and phenology of Arctic Mountain plants between the early 20th and 21st centuries
Authors: MacDougall Andrew S. , Caplat Paul , Olofsson Johan , Siewert Matthias B. , Bonner Colin , Esch Ellen , Lessard‐Therrien Malie , Rosenzweig Hannah , Schäfer Anne‐Kathrin , Raker Pia , Ridha Hassan , Bolmgren Kjell , Fries Thore C. E. , Larson Keith
Published: July 2021

Arctic plants are adapted to climatic variability, but their long‐term responses to warming remain unclear. Responses may occur by range shifts, phenological adjustments in growth and reproduction, or both. Here, we compare distribution and phenology of 83 arctic and boreal mountain species, sampled identically in the early 20th (1917–1919) and 21st centuries (2017–2018) from a region of northern Sweden that has warmed significantly. We test two compensatory hypotheses to high‐latitude warming—upward shifts in distribution, and earlier or extended growth and reproduction. For distribution, we show dramatic upward migration by 69% of species, averaging 6.1 m per decade, especially boreal woodland taxa whose upward expansion has reduced arctic montane habitat by 30%. Twenty percent of summit species showed distributional shifts but downward, especially moisture‐associated snowbed flora. For phenology, we detected wide inter‐annual variability in the onset of leafing and flowering in both eras. However, there was no detectable change in growing‐season length, relating to two mechanisms. First, plot‐level snow melt data starting in 1917 demonstrated that melt date, rather than vernal temperatures, better predicts plant emergence, with snow melt influenced by warmer years having greater snowfall—warmer springs did not always result in earlier emergence because snowbeds can persist longer. Second, the onset of reproductive senescence between eras was similar, even when plant emergence was earlier by a month, possibly due to intensified summer heat stress or hard‐wired ‘canalization’ where senescence occurs regardless of summer temperature. Migrations in this system have possibly buffered arctic species against displacement by boreal expansion and warming, but ongoing temperature increases, woody plant invasion, and a potential lack of flexibility in timing of senescence may foreshadow challenges.
‘All‐natural’ anti‐wrinkle emulsion serum with Acmella oleracea extract: A design of experiments (DoE) formulation approach, rheology and in vivo skin performance/efficacy evaluation
Authors: Savic Sanela M. , Cekic Nebojsa D. , Savic Sasa R. , Ilic Tanja M. , Savic Snezana D.
Published: July 2021

Objective

The growing consumers’ preferences and concerns regarding healthy ageing, youthful skin appearance, environmental protection and sustainability have triggered an ever‐increasing trend towards natural, eco‐friendly and ethically sourced anti‐ageing products. Accordingly, this paper describes design and evaluation of novel, safe, effective and high‐quality emulsion serums, completely based on ingredients of natural origin, intended for improving facial fine lines and wrinkles.

Methods

Model formulations, stabilized by an innovative glycolipid mixed emulsifier (lauryl glucoside/myristyl glucoside/polyglyceryl‐6 laurate) and containing Acmella oleracea extract as a model anti‐ageing active, were prepared by cold process and fully assessed regarding their rheological behaviour (continuous rotational and oscillatory tests) and physical stability (dynamic‐mechanical thermoanalysis – DMTA test). To study and optimize the simultaneous influence of varied formulation factors (emollients and emulsifier concentrations) on critical rheological attributes of the developed serums, a central composite design within ‘design of experiments’ approach was employed. The general skin performance – preliminary safety and anti‐wrinkle efficacy of selected model serum, was evaluated in human volunteers, by employing several objective, non‐invasive bioengineering techniques.

Results

Rheological characterization revealed favourable shear‐thinning flow behaviour with yield point, and dominating elastic character (storage modulus G’ > loss modulus G") in both amplitude and frequency sweeps, which together with relatively small structural change obtained in DMTA test indicated overall satisfying rheological and stability properties of formulated serums. From the established design space, and taking into account formulation cost and carbon footprint, promising model serum (desired/optimal apparent viscosity, yield point and loss factor, rather small and constant structural change), containing 15% of emollients and 1% of emulsifier, was chosen for in vivo evaluations. Screening of skin irritation effects revealed the absence of potential irritancy of investigated serum, suggesting overall satisfying skin tolerability/preliminary safety. Silicone skin replica image analysis demonstrated noticeable reduction/improvement in all measured skin wrinkle parameters after only 2 weeks of test serum application in periorbital and perioral areas, indicating its rapid and beneficial effects on the facial expression lines and wrinkles.

Conclusion

Altogether, the results corroborate the promising potential of the developed Acmella oleracea extract‐loaded emulsion serum as safe, effective and non‐invasive natural anti‐wrinkle product.
Personalized approach to childhood obesity: Lessons from gut microbiota and omics studies. Narrative review and insights from the 29th European childhood obesity congress
Authors: Gawlik Aneta , Salonen Anne , Jian Ching , Yanover Chen , Antosz Aleksandra , Shmoish Michael , Wasniewska Malgorzata , Bereket Abdullah , Wudy Stefan A. , Hartmann Michaela F. , Thivel David , Matusik Pawel , Weghuber Daniel , Hochberg Ze'ev
Published: July 2021

The traditional approach to childhood obesity prevention and treatment should fit most patients, but misdiagnosis and treatment failure could be observed in some cases that lie away from average as part of individual variation or misclassification. Here, we reflect on the contributions that high‐throughput technologies such as next‐generation sequencing, mass spectrometry–based metabolomics and microbiome analysis make towards a personalized medicine approach to childhood obesity. We hypothesize that diagnosing a child as someone with obesity captures only part of the phenotype; and that metabolomics, genomics, transcriptomics and analyses of the gut microbiome, could add precision to the term “obese,” providing novel corresponding biomarkers. Identifying a cluster –omic signature in a given child can thus facilitate the development of personalized prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches. It can also be applied to the monitoring of symptoms/signs evolution, treatment choices and efficacy, predisposition to drug‐related side effects and potential relapse. This article is a narrative review of the literature and summary of the main observations, conclusions and perspectives raised during the annual meeting of the European Childhood Obesity Group. Authors discuss some recent advances and future perspectives on utilizing a systems approach to understanding and managing childhood obesity in the context of the existing omics data.
Symbolic play provides a fertile context for language development
Authors: Creaghe Noëlie , Quinn Sara , Kidd Evan
Published: July 2021

In this study, we test the hypothesis that symbolic play represents a fertile context for language acquisition because its inherent ambiguity elicits communicative behaviors that positively influence development. Infant–caregiver dyads (N = 54) participated in two 20‐minute play sessions six months apart (Time 1 = 18 months, Time 2 = 24 months). During each session, the dyads played with two sets of toys that elicited either symbolic or functional play. The sessions were transcribed and coded for several features of dyadic interaction and language; infants’ linguistic proficiency was measured via parental report. The two contexts elicited different communicative and linguistic behaviors. Notably, the symbolic play condition resulted in significantly greater conversational turn‐taking than functional play, and also resulted in the greater use of questions and mimetics in infant‐directed speech (IDS). In contrast, caregivers used more imperative clauses in functional play. Correlational and regression analyses showed that frequent properties of symbolic play (i.e., turn‐taking, yes–no questions, mimetics) were positively related to infants’ language proficiency, whereas frequent features of functional play (i.e., imperatives in IDS) were negatively related. The results provide evidence supporting the hypothesis that symbolic play is a fertile context for language development, driven by the need to negotiate meaning.
Boosting the input: 9‐month‐olds’ sensitivity to low‐frequency phonotactic patterns in novel wordforms
Authors: Archer Stephanie L. , Czarnecki Natalia , Curtin Suzanne
Published: July 2021

To learn their first words, infants must attend to a variety of cues that signal word boundaries. One such cue infants might use is the language‐specific phonotactics to track legal combinations and positions of segments within a word. Studies have demonstrated that, when tested across statistically high and low phonotactics, infants repeatedly reject the low‐frequency wordforms. We explore whether the capacity to access low‐frequency phonotactic combinations is available at 9 months when pre‐exposed to wordforms containing statistically low combinations of segments. Using a modified head‐turn procedure, one group of infants was presented with nonwords with low‐frequency complex onsets (dr‐), and another group was presented with zero‐frequency onset nonwords (dl‐). Following pre‐exposure and familiarization, infants were then tested on their ability to segment nonwords that contained either the low‐ or the zero‐frequency onsets. Only infants in the low‐frequency condition were successful at the task, suggesting some experience with these onsets supports segmentation.
Cohort profile: A Prospective Household cohort study of Influenza, Respiratory syncytial virus and other respiratory pathogens community burden and Transmission dynamics in South Africa, 2016–2018
Authors: Cohen Cheryl , McMorrow Meredith L. , Martinson Neil A. , Kahn Kathleen , Treurnicht Florette K. , Moyes Jocelyn , Mkhencele Thulisa , Hellferscee Orienka , Lebina Limakatso , Moroe Matebejane , Motlhaoleng Katlego , Gómez‐Olivé Francesc Xavier , Wagner Ryan , Tollman Stephen , Wafawanaka Floidy , Ngobeni Sizzy , Kleynhans Jackie , Mathunjwa Azwifari , Buys Amelia , Maake Lorens , Wolter Nicole , Carrim Maimuna , Piketh Stuart , Language Brigitte , Mathee Angela , von Gottberg Anne , Tempia Stefano ,   for the PHIRST group
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The PHIRST study (Prospective Household cohort study of Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial virus, and other respiratory pathogens community burden and Transmission dynamics in South Africa) aimed to estimate the community burden of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) including the incidence of infection, symptomatic fraction, and to assess household transmission.

Participants

We enrolled 1684 individuals in 327 randomly selected households in a rural and an urban site over three consecutive influenza and two RSV seasons. A new cohort of households was enrolled each year. Participants were sampled with nasopharyngeal swabs twice‐weekly during the RSV and influenza seasons of the year of enrolment. Serology samples were collected at enrolment and before and after the influenza season annually.

Findings to Date

There were 122 113 potential individual follow‐up visits over the 3 years, and participants were interviewed for 105 783 (87%) of these. Out of 105 683 nasopharyngeal swabs, 1258 (1%) and 1026 (1%) tested positive on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for influenza viruses and RSV, respectively. Over one third of individuals had PCR‐confirmed influenza each year. Overall, there was influenza transmission to 10% of household contacts of an index case.

Future Plans

Future planned analyses include analysis of influenza serology results and RSV burden and transmission. Households enrolled in the PHIRST study during 2016–2018 were eligible for inclusion in a study of SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission initiated in July 2020. This study uses similar testing frequency to assess the community burden of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and the role of asymptomatic infection in virus transmission.
Excellent thermal stability and enhanced piezoelectric performance of Bi(Ni2/3Nb1/3)O3‐modified BiFeO3–BaTiO3 ceramics
Authors: Wang Ziling , Huangfu Geng , Xiao Hongyuan , Guo Yiping
Published: July 2021

Lead‐free piezoelectric ceramics with excellent piezoelectric performance and temperature stability are vital to “stack up” against PZT in various applications. Thus, xBiFeO3‐(1‐x)BaTiO3(BF‐BT)‐based ceramics with high Curie temperatures have drawn increasing attention. However, BF‐BT based ceramics often show large leakage current due to the valence fluctuation of Fe ion. In this work, it is found that Bi(Ni2/3Nb1/3)O3 (BNN) can suppress the valence fluctuation of Fe ions effectively. The effects of BNN on the crystal structure, morphology, and electrical properties of 0.69BF‐0.31BT ceramics are investigated. For composition near morphotropic phase boundary of rhombohedral and tetragonal phases, the Curie temperature (Tc) is as high as 453°C, and the piezoelectric constant (d33), planar electromechanical coupling factor kp, and electric‐field‐induced strain ΔS can reach up to 191 pC/N, 31% and 0.236% (peak to peak), respectively. Moreover, these ceramics show excellent thermal stability. The d33 of 100 pC/N is still maintained at about 360°C and an ultrahigh strain (ΔS = 0.684%, peak to peak strain) is obtained at 190°C. Our work illustrates that the BF‐BT based ceramics can serve as potential candidates for sensor and actuator applications over a broad temperature range.
Microstructural evolution of droplet phase separation in calcium aluminosilicate glasses
Authors: Clark Nicholas L. , Chuang Shih‐Yi , Mauro John C.
Published: July 2021

Glasses with nanoscale phase separation have the potential to possess improved hardness and fracture toughness while maintaining their optical transparency. Here we present the results of isothermal heat treatments of phase‐separated calcium aluminosilicate glasses. Our results indicate that a transition from Lifshitz–Slozof–Wagner (LSW)‐type kinetics to a diffusion‐controlled pseudo‐coalescence mechanism occurs at ~17% droplet volume fraction, which results in the droplets becoming increasingly elongated and interconnected. The activation barrier for both mechanisms suggests that calcium diffusion is the underlying means for the coarsening of the silica‐rich domains. Simple approximations show the transition cannot be explained by Brownian motion or Van der Waals attraction between domains, and instead suggest various osmotic forces may be responsible.