bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-term follow-up results of medial opening wedge high tibia osteotomy with a pre-countered non-locking steel plate
Authors: Miettinen Simo S. A. , Miettinen Hannu J. A. , Jalkanen Jussi , Joukainen Antti , Kröger Heikki
Published: May 2021

Introduction

This retrospective study investigated the long-term follow-up results of medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) with a pre-countered non-locking steel plate implant (Puddu plate = PP) used for medial knee osteoarthrosis (OA) treatment.

Materials and methods

Consecutive 70 MOWHTOs (66 patients) were performed between 01.01.2004 and 31.12.2008 with the mean follow-up time of 11.4 (SD 4.5; range 1.2–16.1) years. The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate the cumulative survival of the implant in terms of age (< 50 years old and ≥ 50 years old) and gender. Adverse events were studied and Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate risk factors [age, gender, body mass index (BMI), preoperative mechanical axis, severity of OA, use of bone grafting or substitution and undercorrection of mechanical axis from varus to valgus] for revisions.

Results

The estimates for the cumulative survival with no need for TKA after MOWHTO were 86% at 5 years, 67% at 10 years and 58% at 16.1 years (SE 0.6, CI 95% 11.1–13.5). A total of 33/70 (47%) adverse events occurred and 38/70 (54%) knees required some revision surgery during the follow-up. Cox regression did not show any statistically significant risk factors for revision.

Conclusions

The PP has feasible MOWHTO results with a cumulative survival of 67% at 10 years with no need for conversion to TKA. Many adverse events occurred and revision rate due to any reason was high. Age or gender did not have statistically significant differences in terms of survival.
Using the ‘good farmer’ concept to explore agricultural attitudes to the provision of public goods. A case study of participants in an English agri-environment scheme
Authors: Cusworth George , Dodsworth Jennifer
Published: May 2021

Across the European Union, the receipt of agricultural subsidisation is increasingly being predicated on the delivery of public goods. In the English context, in particular, these changes can be seen in the redirection of money to the new Environmental Land Management scheme. Such shifts reflect the changed expectations that society is placing on agriculture—from something that provides one good (food) to something that supplies many (food, access to green spaces, healthy rural environment, flood resilience, reduced greenhouse gas emissions). Whilst the reasons behind the changes are well documented, understanding how these shifts are being experienced by the managers expected to deliver on these new expectations is less well understood. Bourdieu’s social theory and the good farmer concept are used to attend to this blind spot, and to provide timely insight as the country progresses along its public goods subsidy transition. Evidence from 65 interviews with 40 different interviewees (25 of whom gave a repeat interview) show a general willingness towards the transition to a public goods model of subsidisation. The optimisation and efficiency that has historically characterised the productivist identity is colouring the way managers are approaching the delivery of public goods. Ideas of land sparing and land sharing (and the farming preference for the former over the latter) are used to help understand these new social and attitudinal realities. The policy implications of these findings are discussed, with reference to the new scheme’s ‘priority themes’.
PositiveLinks and the COVID-19 Response: Importance of Low-Barrier Messaging for PLWH in Non-urban Virginia in a Crisis
Authors: Campbell Breanna R. , Swoger Sabrina , Tabackman Alexa , Hilgart Eleanor , Elliott Benjamin , Coffey Sylvia , Ingersoll Karen , Dillingham Rebecca , Flickinger Tabor E.
Published: May 2021

PositiveLinks (PL) is an evidence-based mobile health intervention promoting engagement in care for people living with HIV. PL offers secure, in-app patient-provider messaging. We investigated messaging during the early COVID-19 pandemic, comparing messages exchanged between 01/13/2020 and 03/01/2020 (“Pre-COVID”) to messages exchanged between 03/02/2020 and 04/19/2020 (“early COVID”) using Poisson regression. We performed qualitative analysis on a subset of messages exchanged between 02/01/2020 and 03/31/2020. Between “Pre-COVID” and “early COVID” periods, weekly member and provider messaging rates increased significantly. Of the messages analyzed qualitatively, most (53.3%) addressed medical topics, and more than a fifth (21.3%) addressed social issues. COVID-related messages often focused on care coordination and risk information; half of COVID messages contained rapport-building. PL patients (“members”) and providers used in-app secure messaging to reach out to one another, identifying needs, organizing receipt of healthcare resources, and strengthening patient-care team relationships. These findings underscore the importance of low-barrier messaging during a crisis.
Detecting and explaining unfairness in consumer contracts through memory networks
Authors: Ruggeri Federico , Lagioia Francesca , Lippi Marco , Torroni Paolo
Published: May 2021

Recent work has demonstrated how data-driven AI methods can leverage consumer protection by supporting the automated analysis of legal documents. However, a shortcoming of data-driven approaches is poor explainability. We posit that in this domain useful explanations of classifier outcomes can be provided by resorting to legal rationales. We thus consider several configurations of memory-augmented neural networks where rationales are given a special role in the modeling of context knowledge. Our results show that rationales not only contribute to improve the classification accuracy, but are also able to offer meaningful, natural language explanations of otherwise opaque classifier outcomes.
Alien plant invasions in Mediterranean habitats: an assessment for Sicily
Authors: Guarino Riccardo , Chytrý Milan , Attorre Fabio , Landucci Flavia , Marcenò Corrado
Published: May 2021

Levels of plant invasions in different habitat types were assessed in several regional studies, but few of them were from the Mediterranean. Here we compare the levels of vascular plant invasion across habitats and plant communities of Sicily. We used a large dataset of plant species presences/absences in vegetation plots to analyze the invasion patterns across habitats considering biogeography, life form and phenology of alien plants. Vegetation plots were classified based on the EUNIS classification of European habitats. The invasiveness of each species was expressed in terms of its absolute and percentage frequency. Representation of different life forms and phenological patterns was compared between alien and native species. The fidelity of alien species to individual habitats was calculated using thephicoefficient. Our analysis shows that annual and woody species are the most represented life forms in the alien flora of Sicily and that alien species tend to have a longer flowering period than the native species. The investigated habitats differed strongly in their level of invasion by alien species, ranging from 0 to 15.6% of aliens of all species recorded. Most of the habitats were colonized by very few alien species or completely lacked them, except for sandy coasts, naturally-disturbed riverbeds, and synanthropic habitats. It must be noted, however, that the number of alien species occurring in a given habitat does not relate to the severity of the impact of invasion in that habitat. Some habitats are invaded by few (or single) species, which attain a high cover, transforming the whole ecosystem. The habitat-based approach proved to be suitable for evaluating the habitat specificity and frequency of alien species at a regional scale, improving the capacity for risk assessment in different ecological contexts.
Supporting mountain agriculture through “mountain product” label: a choice experiment approach
Authors: Mazzocchi Chiara , Sali Guido
Published: May 2021

The valorization of typical food products contributes to local economy sustainability. The European Union introduced the optional "mountain product label” (European Commission, EUR-Lex 2014, European Parliament 2012) to promote the mountain economic system sustainability. Although some researchers have focused their studies on the mountain product label, at our knowledge, the mountain product label value has never been investigated before. The aim of the study is to assess consumers’ willingness to pay for a typical mountain cheese with different sustainable production characteristics, among which the “mountain product label”, using a Choice Experiment approach. More in detail, we tested as sustainable issues: the presence on the label of the mountain product certification (i), the organic certification (ii) and some animal welfare information (iii). We also investigated socio-demographic and attitudinal variables influencing consumers’ propensity towards the three attributes. The main results confirm the consumers’ interest for the mountain product label, probably for a renewed consumers’ interests for environmental respectful production process in food market and because the mountain territory is perceived as carrier of positive values. Moreover, also the other attributes, organic label and especially the indication on animal welfare resulted to have a premium price. Another result emerging from our study is the sensitivity of young people to the issue of mountain product brand and animal welfare, suggesting an interesting target to address.
Mathematical models of supersonic and intersonic crack propagation in linear elastodynamics
Authors: Bonet Javier , Gil Antonio J.
Published: May 2021

This paper presents mathematical models of supersonic and intersonic crack propagation exhibiting Mach type of shock wave patterns that closely resemble the growing body of experimental and computational evidence reported in recent years. The models are developed in the form of weak discontinuous solutions of the equations of motion for isotropic linear elasticity in two dimensions. Instead of the classical second order elastodynamics equations in terms of the displacement field, equivalent first order equations in terms of the evolution of velocity and displacement gradient fields are used together with their associated jump conditions across solution discontinuities. The paper postulates supersonic and intersonic steady-state crack propagation solutions consisting of regions of constant deformation and velocity separated by pressure and shear shock waves converging at the crack tip and obtains the necessary requirements for their existence. It shows that such mathematical solutions exist for significant ranges of material properties both in plane stress and plane strain. Both mode I and mode II fracture configurations are considered. In line with the linear elasticity theory used, the solutions obtained satisfy exact energy conservation, which implies that strain energy in the unfractured material is converted in its entirety into kinetic energy as the crack propagates. This neglects dissipation phenomena both in the material and in the creation of the new crack surface. This leads to the conclusion that fast crack propagation beyond the classical limit of the Rayleigh wave speed is a phenomenon dominated by the transfer of strain energy into kinetic energy rather than by the transfer into surface energy, which is the basis of Griffiths theory.
The asymptotic of curvature of direct image bundle associated with higher powers of a relatively ample line bundle
Authors: Wan Xueyuan , Zhang Genkai
Published: May 2021

Let $$\pi :\mathcal {X}\rightarrow M$$

π
:
X
→
M

be a holomorphic fibration with compact fibers and L a relatively ample line bundle over $$\mathcal {X}$$
X
. We obtain the asymptotic of the curvature of $$L^2$$

L
2

-metric and Qullien metric on the direct image bundle $$\pi _*(L^k\otimes K_{\mathcal {X}/M})$$

π

∗

(

L
k

⊗

K

X
/
M

)

up to the lower order terms than $$k^{n-1}$$

k

n
-
1

, for large k. As an application we prove that the analytic torsion $$\tau _k(\bar{\partial })$$

τ
k

(

∂

¯

)

satisfies $$\partial \bar{\partial }\log (\tau _k(\bar{\partial }))^2=o(k^{n-1})$$

∂

∂

¯

log

(

τ
k

(

∂

¯

)

)

2

=
o

(

k

n
-
1

)

, where n is the dimension of fibers.
Does the Arc of Science Bend Towards Impact? Four Decades of Empirical Research Published in JADD Since the DSM-III
Authors: Doehring Peter
Published: May 2021

The present study explored the shift from understanding to intervention to population impact in the empirical research published in this journal at five points of time over 40 years since the release of DSM-III. Two-thirds of the more than 600 original studies identified involved basic research, a pattern that is consistent with previous analyses of research funding allocations and that did not change over time. One of every eight studies involved intervention research, which occurred in community-based programs only about one-quarter of the time. These gaps in intervention research and community impact did not improve over time. The findings underscore the need to broaden the training and experience of researchers, and to re-consider priorities for research funding and publication.
Genome Editing in Livestock, Complicity, and the Technological Fix Objection
Authors: Devolder Katrien
Published: May 2021

Genome editing in livestock could potentially be used in ways that help resolve some of the most urgent and serious global problems pertaining to livestock, including animal suffering, pollution, antimicrobial resistance, and the spread of infectious disease. But despite this potential, some may object to pursuing it, not because genome editing is wrong in and of itself, but because it is the wrong kind of solution to the problems it addresses: it is merely a ‘technological fix’ to a complex societal problem. Yet though this objection might have wide intuitive appeal, it is often not clear what, exactly, the moral problem is supposed to be. The aim of this paper is to formulate and shed some light on the ‘technological fix objection’ to genome editing in livestock. I suggest that three concerns may underlie it, make implicit assumptions underlying the concerns explicit, and cast some doubt on several of these assumptions, at least as they apply to the use of genome editing to produce pigs resistant to the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome and hornless dairy cattle. I then suggest that the third, and most important, concern could be framed as a concern about complicity in factory farming. I suggest ways to evaluate this concern, and to reduce or offset any complicity in factory farming. Thinking of genome editing’s contribution to factory farming in terms of complicity, may, I suggest, tie it more explicitly and strongly to the wider obligations that come with pursuing it, including the cessation of factory farming, thereby addressing the concern that technological fixes focus only on a narrow problem.
Guided Goal Setting in Therapy Towards Being Fully Functioning
Authors: Renger Susan , Macaskill Ann
Published: May 2021

This qualitative study considered whether the provision of a framework of potential goals based on Rogers’ idea of the fully functioning person would be of any benefit to therapy clients in their goal setting process. It also considered addressed whether client goal setting was methodologically acceptable to integrative therapists who used Rogers’ non-directive principles as the foundation to their approach. We provided a goal setting instrument to 9 therapists and 23 of their clients, enabling them to define therapy goals, and feedback on the process. The clients set their goals using the instruments, before having at least six sessions with their therapist. We then sought joint views on the process from the therapists through a questionnaire or an interview. The data from the responses were analyzed using Thematic Analysis. The majority of the therapists considered that guided goal setting using a description of the ‘fully functioning’ individual was helpful. In terms of the applicability of goal setting to an integrative approach based on non-directive, person-centered principles, the results were mixed and in some cases contrary to those expected. For example, some of the more directive therapists disliked guided goal setting processes, whilst the more non-directive therapists appreciated the approach.
Taste Masking Study Based on an Electronic Tongue: the Formulation Design of 3D Printed Levetiracetam Instant-Dissolving Tablets
Authors: Wang Zengming , Li Jingru , Hong Xiaoxuan , Han Xiaolu , Liu Boshi , Li Xianfu , Zhang Hui , Gao Jing , Liu Nan , Gao Xiang , Zheng Aiping
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Proper taste-masking formulation design is a critical issue for instant-dissolving tablets (IDTs). The purpose of this study is to use the electronic tongue to design the additives of the 3D printed IDTs to improve palatability.

Methods

A binder jet 3D printer was used to prepare IDTs of levetiracetam. A texture analyzer and dissolution apparatus were used to predict the oral dispersion time and in vitro drug release of IDTs, respectively. The palatability of different formulations was investigated using the ASTREE electronic tongue in combination with the design of experiment and a model for masking bitter taste. Human gustatory sensation tests were conducted to further evaluate the credibility of the results.

Results

The 3D printed tablets exhibited rapid dispersion (<30 s) and drug release (2.5 min > 90%). The electronic tongue had an excellent ability of taste discrimination, and levetiracetam had a good linear sensing performance based on a partial least square regression analysis. The principal component analysis was used to analyze the signal intensities of different formulations and showed that 2% sucralose and 0.5% spearmint flavoring masked the bitterness well and resembled the taste of corresponding placebo. The results of human gustatory sensation test were consistent with the trend of the electronic tongue evaluation.

Conclusions

Owing to its objectivity and reproducibility, this technique is suitable for the design and evaluation of palatability in 3D printed IDT development.
The impossibility of a satisfactory population prospect axiology (independently of Finite Fine-Grainedness)
Authors: Thornley Elliott
Published: May 2021

Arrhenius’s impossibility theorems purport to demonstrate that no population axiology can satisfy each of a small number of intuitively compelling adequacy conditions. However, it has recently been pointed out that each theorem depends on a dubious assumption: Finite Fine-Grainedness. This assumption states that there exists a finite sequence of slight welfare differences between any two welfare levels. Denying Finite Fine-Grainedness makes room for a lexical population axiology which satisfies all of the compelling adequacy conditions in each theorem. Therefore, Arrhenius’s theorems fail to prove that there is no satisfactory population axiology. In this paper, I argue that Arrhenius’s theorems can be repurposed. Since all of our population-affecting actions have a non-zero probability of bringing about more than one distinct population, it is population prospect axiologies that are of practical relevance, and amended versions of Arrhenius’s theorems demonstrate that there is no satisfactory population prospect axiology. These impossibility theorems do not depend on Finite Fine-Grainedness, so lexical views do not escape them.
Measuring capability wellbeing in adults at different stages of life for use in economic evaluation of health and care interventions: a qualitative investigation in people requiring kidney care
Authors: Mitchell Paul Mark , Husbands Samantha , Sanghera Sabina , Caskey Fergus John , Scott Jemima , Coast Joanna
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Capability wellbeing measures, such as the ICECAP measures, have been proposed for use in economic evaluations to capture broader outcomes of health and care interventions. The ICECAP measures have been developed to reflect capabilities at different stages of life. Some patient groups include patients of different ages and at different stages of life, so it is not always apparent which ICECAP measure is most relevant. This study explores the impact of age and life stage on completion, where both ICECAP-A and ICECAP-O were completed by the same patient.

Methods

A think-aloud study, and an associated semi-structured interview were conducted with people receiving kidney care as a renal outpatient, kidney transplant outpatient, or through receiving facility-based haemodialysis. Qualitative analysis focused on (1) differences in responses across measures by individuals, where attributes had conceptual overlap, (2) key factors in self-reported capability levels, and (3) measure preference.

Results

Thirty participants were included in the study, with a mix of older and younger adults. Attributes with similar wording across measures produced similar responses compared to attributes where wording differed. Age and health were key factors for self-reported capability levels. ICECAP-A was slightly preferred overall, including by older adults.

Conclusion

This study suggests use of ICECAP-A in patients with certain chronic health conditions that include a mix of adults across the life course. This study highlights the importance of considering the stage of life when using capability measures and in economic evaluations of health and care interventions more generally.
Harnessing Metabolomics to Describe the Pathophysiology Underlying Progression in Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Hasegawa Sho , Inagi Reiko
Published: May 2021

Purpose of Review

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), a leading cause of end-stage kidney disease, is the result of metabolic network alterations in the kidney. Therefore, metabolomics is an effective tool for understanding its pathophysiology, finding key biomarkers, and developing a new treatment strategy. In this review, we summarize the application of metabolomics to DKD research.

Recent Findings

Alterations in renal energy metabolism including the accumulation of tricarboxylic acid cycle and glucose metabolites are observed in the early stage of DKD, and they finally lead to mitochondrial dysfunction in advanced DKD. Mitochondrial fission-fusion imbalance and dysregulated organelle crosstalk might contribute to this process. Moreover, metabolomics has identified several uremic toxins including phenyl sulfate and tryptophan derivatives as promising biomarkers that mediate DKD progression.

Recent advances in metabolomics have clarified the role of dysregulated energy metabolism and uremic toxins in DKD pathophysiology. Integration of multi-omics data will provide additional information for identifying critical drivers of DKD.
Biosynthesis of Lactobionic Acid in Whey-Containing Medium by Microencapsulated and Free Bacteria of Pseudomonas taetrolens
Authors: Goderska Kamila
Published: May 2021

The aim of this research was to develop a method of its production from whey using bacteria of the species Pseudomonas taetrolens. Analyses of the lactobionic acid production method from whey showed that the following factors have a significant effect on its efficiency: the frequency of whey batch feeding, pH and the type of bacteria application, i.e. microencapsulated vs. free. Lactose and lactobionic acid were assayed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS). The highest concentration of lactobionic acid of 22.03 mg/cm3 was obtained when whey was batch fed at 72-h intervals, pH was maintained at 6.25 and bacteria were enclosed in alginate microcapsules.
Mechanismen des nicht konventionellen RNA-Spleißens
Authors: Peschek Jirka
Published: May 2021

The cellular pool of RNA is immensely diverse and complex. During their biosynthesis, RNA molecules undergo a vast number of co- and posttranscriptional processing and modification steps. A unique example of RNA processing is the non-conventional splicing of RNAs. This protein-catalysed splicing mechanism is an essential step during tRNA maturation and a main mode of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signalling. Here, I discuss the cellular roles and catalytic machinery of non-conventional splicing in eukaryotes.
Biologische Festkörper-NMR-Spektroskopie in der Strukturbiologie
Authors: Lakomek Nils-Alexander
Published: May 2021

Biological solid-state NMR elucidates the structure and dynamics of biomolecules at physiological temperatures. It provides high-resolution structural information for a wide range of biomolecules and assemblies, from small membrane proteins embedded in a lipid environment, over fibrillar structures up to supramolecular assemblies. Recent developments allow for proton detection at fast magic angle spinning frequencies, which reduces the required sample amounts to a few hundreds of micrograms.
Produktion von Öl in Cyanobakterien
Authors: Hölzl Georg , Dörmann Peter
Published: May 2021

Cyanobacteria are photosynthetically active organisms like plants and algae, but their cell structure is less complex and they can therefore be changed more easily. The elucidation of the biosynthetic pathway for oil in cyanobacteria in 2020 will now enable new strategies for biotechnological oil production in microorganisms. Due to the simpler possibility of genetic modification and their photosynthetic activity, cyanobacteria are ideally suited for the biotechnological production of oil.
Antivitamine oder Trojanische Pferde in der Mikrobiologie
Authors: Jankowitsch Frank , Schwarz Julia , Konjik Valentino , Schneider Carmen , Mack Matthias
Published: May 2021

Vitamin analogs can be potent antibiotics. We exemplarily study the structural riboflavin (vitamin B2) analog roseoflavin synthesized by Streptomyces davaonensis to pave the way for the structured analysis of other vitamin analogs yet to be discovered. We investigate the biosynthesis of roseoflavin, its mechanism of action, and the resistance mechanism of the producer. As riboflavin is the most important organic cofactor roseoflavin has a broad impact on the soil microbiome.
Chylothorax after esophagectomy treated with inguinal intranodal lymphangiography and transvenous retrograde thoracic duct embolization
Authors: Sato Yuta , Tanaka Yoshihiro , Imai Takeharu , Kawada Hiroshi , Okumura Naoki , Matsuhashi Nobuhisa , Takahashi Takao , Matsuo Masayuki , Yoshida Kazuhiro
Published: May 2021

Chylothorax after esophagectomy is a serious complication that is associated with major morbidity due to dehydration and malnutrition. Reoperation with ligation of the thoracic duct is considered for patients with high-output chyle leaks that have failed conservative management. In this report, we present the treatment options for chylothorax after esophagectomy: inguinal intranodal lymphangiography and transvenous retrograde thoracic duct embolization. A 74-year-old man with esophageal cancer had been operated with thoracoscopic esophagectomy. Six days after surgery, he presented with high-output chyle leaks. Conservative treatment did not result in a significant improvement. Inguinal intranodal lymphangiography and transvenous retrograde thoracic duct embolization were performed 13 days after surgery and were technically and clinically successful. Inguinal intranodal lymphangiography and transvenous retrograde thoracic duct embolization are an effective treatment option, especially for patients after esophagectomy with reconstruction performed via the posterior mediastinal route, without the potential for damage the gastric tube and omentum.
How does a nature-based solution for flood control compare to a technical solution? Case study evidence from Belgium
Authors: Turkelboom Francis , Demeyer Rolinde , Vranken Liesbet , De Becker Piet , Raymaekers Filip , De Smet Lieven
Published: May 2021

The strategy of reconnecting rivers with their floodplains currently gains popularity because it not only harnesses natural capacities of floodplains but also increases social co-benefits and biodiversity. In this paper, we present an example of a successfully implemented nature-based solution (NBS) in the Dijle valley in the centre of Belgium. The research objective is to retrospectively assess cost and benefit differences between a technical solution (storm basins) and an alternative NBS, here the restoration of the alluvial floodplain. The method is a comparative social cost–benefit analysis. The case study analysis reveals similar flood security, lower costs, more ecosystem services benefits and higher biodiversity values associated with the NBS option in comparison to the technical alternative. However, the business case for working with NBS depends substantially on the spatial and socio-ecological context. Chances for successful NBS implementation increase in conditions of sufficient space to retain flood water, when flood water is of sufficient quality, and when economic activity and housing in the floodplain is limited.
New Secodaphnane-Type Alkaloids with Cytotoxic Activities from Daphniphyllum angustifolium Hutch
Authors: Lu Qing-Yun , Zhang Jia-Hui , Li Ying-Yao , Pu Xue-Xue , Zhang Cui-Shan , Liu Shuai , Wan Jia-Jia , Di Ying-Tong , Hao Xiao-Jiang
Published: May 2021

One new Daphniphyllum alkaloid, daphnioldhanol A (1), together with three known ones, were isolated from the stem part of Daphniphyllum angustifolium Hutch. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and comparing with the literature data. Compound 2 is a new natural product, but known by synthesis as a racemate. Compound 1 exhibited week cytotoxic activity against Hela cell line with IC50 of 31.9 μM.

Graphic Abstract
Simplified analytical solution for stress concentration ratio of piled embankments incorporating pile–soil interaction
Authors: Luo Qiang , Wei Ming , Lu Qingyuan , Wang Tengfei
Published: May 2021

Piled embankments have been extensively used for high-speed rail over soft soils because of their effectiveness in minimizing differential settlement and shortening the construction period. Stress concentration ratio, defined as the ratio of vertical stress carried by pile heads (or pile caps if applicable) to that by adjacent soils, is a fundamental parameter in the design of piled embankments. In view of the complicated load transfer mechanism in the framework of embankment system, this paper presents a simplified analytical solution for the stress concentration ratio of rigid pile-supported embankments. In the derivation, the effects of cushion stiffness, pile–soil interaction, and pile penetration behavior are considered and examined. A modified linearly elastic-perfectly plastic model was used to analyze the mechanical response of a rigid pile–soil system. The analytical model was verified against field data and the results of numerical simulations from the literature. According to the proposed method, the skin friction distribution, pile–soil relative displacement, location of neural point, and differential settlement between the pile head (or cap) and adjacent soils can be determined. This work serves as a fast algorithm for initial and reasonable approximation of stress concentration ratio on the design aspects of piled embankments.
Advances in Land Surface Modelling
Authors: Blyth Eleanor M. , Arora Vivek K. , Clark Douglas B. , Dadson Simon J. , De Kauwe Martin G. , Lawrence David M. , Melton Joe R. , Pongratz Julia , Turton Rachael H. , Yoshimura Kei , Yuan Hua
Published: May 2021

Land surface models have an increasing scope. Initially designed to capture the feedbacks between the land and the atmosphere as part of weather and climate prediction, they are now used as a critical tool in the urgent need to inform policy about land-use and water-use management in a world that is changing physically and economically. This paper outlines the way that models have evolved through this change of purpose and what might the future hold. It highlights the importance of distinguishing between advances in the science within the modelling components, with the advances of how to represent their interaction. This latter aspect of modelling is often overlooked but will increasingly manifest as an issue as the complexity of the system, the time and space scales of the system being modelled increase. These increases are due to technology, data availability and the urgency and range of the problems being studied.
Design of transformation initiatives implementing organisational agility: an empirical study
Authors: Kovynyov Ivan , Buerck Axel , Mikut Ralf
Published: May 2021

This study uses 125 responses from companies of all sizes predominantly headquartered in Germany, Switzerland, France and UK to reveal perceptions of the drivers of organisational agility. It further investigates current understanding of managing principles of multiple organisational dimensions such as culture, values, leadership, organisational structure, processes and others to achieve greater organisational agility. The data set is disaggregated into four major profiles of agile organisations: laggards, execution specialists, experimenters, and leaders. The approach to agile transformation is analysed by each of those profiles. While the positive effect from a more holistic approach is confirmed, leaders tend to focus more on processes and products rather than project work. Respondents perceive that IT, product development and research are most agile functions within their organisations, while human resources, finance and administration are considered being not agile. Furthermore, organisations with higher levels of organisational agility tend to use more than one agile scaling framework. Implications on theories of agile transformations and organisational design are discussed.
Understanding Animal Behaviour
Authors: Pellis Sergio , Pellis Vivien
Published: May 2021

All students and researchers of behaviour – from those observing freely-behaving animals in the field to those conducting more controlled laboratory studies – face the problem of deciding what exactly to measure. Without a scientific framework on which to base them, however, such decisions are often unsystematic and inconsistent. Providing a clear and defined starting point for any behavioural study, this is the first book to make available a set of principles for how to study the organisation of behaviour and, in turn, for how to use those insights to select what to measure. The authors provide enough theory to allow the reader to understand the derivation of the principles, and draw on numerous examples to demonstrate clearly how the principles can be applied. By providing a systematic framework for selecting what behaviour to measure, the book lays the foundations for a more scientific approach for the study of behaviour.
Presidential Elections in Iran
Authors: Pargoo Mahmoud , Akbarzadeh Shahram
Published: May 2021

The dominant narrative of Iranian society and politics heralds the reformist movement as the epitome of Iran's transition to secularity, while conservative political forces are positioned as advocates of Islamization and a bulwark against secularization. Examining all the presidential elections since the revolution, Mahmoud Pargoo and Shahram Akbarzadeh argue that in contrast, political and cultural imagination and expectations in Iran have actually secularized regardless of the reformist/conservative divide. Exploring the evolution of campaign discourses from the 1980s elections which brought Abolhassan Banisadr, Mohammad-Ali Rajai and Ali Khamenei to power, to the more recent campaigns of Mohamad Khatami, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hassan Rouhani, this book suggests that current debates in Iranian domestic politics are not between secularists and their opponents, but rather, between different kinds of secular forces.
A Southern-Hemisphere all-sky radio transient monitor for SKA-Low prototype stations
Authors: Sokolowski M. , Wayth R. B. , Bhat N. D. R. , Price D. , Broderick J. W. , Bernardi G. , Bolli P. , Chiello R. , Comoretto G. , Crosse B. , Davidson D. B. , Macario G. , Magro A. , Mattana A. , Minchin D. , McPhail A. , Monari J. , Perini F. , Pupillo G. , Sleap G. , Tingay S. , Ung D. , Williams A.
Published: May 2021

We present the first Southern-Hemisphere all-sky imager and radio-transient monitoring system implemented on two prototype stations of the low-frequency component of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA-Low). Since its deployment, the system has been used for real-time monitoring of the recorded commissioning data. Additionally, a transient searching algorithm has been executed on the resulting all-sky images. It uses a difference imaging technique to enable identification of a wide variety of transient classes, ranging from human-made radio-frequency interference to genuine astrophysical events. Observations at the frequency 159.375 MHz and higher in a single coarse channel ($\approx$0.926 MHz) were made with 2 s time resolution, and multiple nights were analysed generating thousands of images. Despite having modest sensitivity ($\sim$few Jy beam–1), using a single coarse channel and 2-s imaging, the system was able to detect multiple bright transients from PSR B0950+08, proving that it can be used to detect bright transients of an astrophysical origin. The unusual, extreme activity of the pulsar PSR B0950+08 (maximum flux density$\sim$155 Jy beam–1) was initially detected in a ‘blind’ search in the 2020 April 10/11 data and later assigned to this specific pulsar. The limitations of our data, however, prevent us from making firm conclusions of the effect being due to a combination of refractive and diffractive scintillation or intrinsic emission mechanisms. The system can routinely collect data over many days without interruptions; the large amount of recorded data at 159.375 and 229.6875 MHz allowed us to determine a preliminary transient surface density upper limit of$1.32 \times 10^{-9} \text{deg}^{-2}$for a timescale and limiting flux density of 2 s and 42 Jy, respectively. In the future, we plan to extend the observing bandwidth to tens of MHz and improve time resolution to tens of milliseconds in order to increase the sensitivity and enable detections of fast radio bursts below 300 MHz.
Mulberry leaf activates brown adipose tissue and induces browning of inguinal white adipose tissue in type 2 diabetic rats through regulating AMP-activated protein kinase signalling pathway
Authors: Cheng Long , Wang Jingkang , An Yongcheng , Dai Hongyu , Duan Yuhui , Shi Lu , Lv Yinglan , Li Huimin , Wang Chen , Du Haifeng , Zhong Xiaoqing , Zhao Baosheng
Published: May 2021

The current epidemic of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) significantly affects human health worldwide. Activation of brown adipocytes and browning of white adipocytes are considered as a promising molecular target for T2DM treatment. Mulberry leaf, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been demonstrated to have multi-biological activities, including anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. Our experimental results showed that mulberry leaf significantly alleviated the disorder of glucose and lipid metabolism in T2DM rats. In addition, mulberry leaf induced browning of inguinal white adipose tissue (IWAT) by enhancing the expressions of brown-mark genes as well as beige-specific genes, including uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), PRD1-BF-1-RIZ1 homologous domain containing protein 16 (PRDM16), cell death inducing DFFA-like effector A (Cidea), CD137 and transmembrane protein 26 (TMEM26). Mulberry leaf also activated brown adipose tissue (BAT) by increasing the expressions of brown-mark genes including UCP1, PGC-1α, PPARα, PRDM16 and Cidea. Moreover, mulberry leaf enhanced the expression of nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) genes that are responsible for mitochondrial biogenesis in IWAT and BAT. Importantly, mulberry leaf also increased the expression of UCP1 and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT-1) proteins in both IWAT and BAT via a mechanism involving AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and PGC-1α pathway. In conclusion, our findings identify the role of mulberry leaf in inducing adipose browning, indicating that mulberry leaf may be used as a candidate browning agent for the treatment of T2DM.
Minimal changes in telomere length after a 12-week dietary intervention with almonds in mid-age to older, overweight and obese Australians: results of a randomised clinical trial
Authors: Ward Susan J. , Hill Alison M. , Buckley Jonathan D. , Banks Siobhan , Dhillon Varinderpal S. , Holman Stacey L. , Morrison Janna L. , Coates Alison M.
Published: May 2021

Diet is a modifiable risk factor for chronic disease and a potential modulator of telomere length (TL). The study aim was to investigate associations between diet quality and TL in Australian adults after a 12-week dietary intervention with an almond-enriched diet (AED). Participants (overweight/obese, 50–80 years) were randomised to an AED (n62) or isoenergetic nut-free diet (NFD,n62) for 12 weeks. Diet quality was assessed using a Dietary Guideline Index (DGI), applied to weighed food records, that consists of ten components reflecting adequacy, variety and quality of core food components and discretionary choices within the diet. TL was measured by quantitative PCR in samples of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and whole blood. There were no significant associations between DGI scores and TL at baseline. Diet quality improved with AED and decreased with NFD after 12 weeks (change from baseline AED + 9·8 %, NFD − 14·3 %;P< 0·001). TL increased in neutrophils (+9·6 bp,P= 0·009) and decreased in whole blood, to a trivial extent (–12·1 bp,P= 0·001), and was unchanged in lymphocytes. Changes did not differ between intervention groups. There were no significant relationships between changes in diet quality scores and changes in lymphocyte, neutrophil or whole blood TL. The inclusion of almonds in the diet improved diet quality scores but had no impact on TL mid-age to older Australian adults. Future studies should investigate the impact of more substantial dietary changes over longer periods of time.
Beyond behaviorism, positivism, and neo-institutionalism in economics: a conversation with Deirdre Nansen McCloskey
Authors: McCloskey Deirdre Nansen , Silvestri Paolo
Published: May 2021

Silvestri interviews McCloskey about her forthcoming book, ‘Beyond Behaviorism, Positivism, and Neo-Institutionalism in Economics’, critical of recent economics, especially of neo-institutionalism. Neo-institutionalism uses the ugly character ‘Herr Max U’ as its central idea: the elevation of Prudence to the only virtue. Institutions are mainly intermediate, not ultimate, causes in society. Ethics, rhetoric, identity, ideology, and ideas matter. McCloskey's turn to defending liberalism is in the background of her critique of behaviorism, positivism, and neo-institutionalism as anti-liberal, reducing the analysis of people to a model of childish slaves. Liberalism is the theory of non-slave adults. Of the big ideas of the past few centuries, only liberalism treats people with suitable dignity, and permits them to have a go, and make others rich. Neo-institutionalism shares the two sins of modern Samuelsonian economics: a devotion of mere existence proofs; and a deviation to arbitrary tests of statistical ‘significance’. And in its tale of a rise of ‘capitalism’, it shares the errors of amateur economic history. The better word for the modern economic world of the Great Enrichment – fully 3,000% increases in real income per person – is ‘innovism’. Neo-institutionalism, as the method of historical economics, must be replaced by ‘Humanomics’.
Supraphysiological estradiol levels on the hCG trigger day are associated with SGA for singletons born from fresh embryo transfer
Authors: Zhang Junwei , Du Mingze , Sun Lijun
Published: May 2021

The effects of supraphysiological estradiol (E2) on neonatal outcomes and the significance of specific E2 concentrations remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether supraphysiological E2 levels on the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) trigger day are associated with small size for gestational age (SGA) in singletons born from fresh embryo transfer (ET) cycles. Patients with singleton pregnancies who delivered after the transfer of fresh embryos, during the period from July 2012 to December 2017, at our center were included. We excluded cycles involving a vanishing twin, maternal age >35 years, basal follicle-stimulating hormone ≥10 mIU/ml, or anti-Müllerian hormone ≤1 ng/ml. We then divided all cycles into five groups by E2 level on trigger day: group A, <2000 pg/ml (reference group); group B, 2000 pg/ml≤E2<2999 pg/ml; group C, 3000 pg/ml≤E2<3999 pg/ml; group D, 4000 pg/ml≤E2<4999 pg/ml; and group E, ≥5000 pg/ml. The prevalence of SGA among singletons from fresh ET was the primary outcome. The SGA rate significantly increased when the E2 level was ≥4000 pg/ml, as observed by comparing groups D (odds ratio [OR]: 1·79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1·16–2·76, P = 0·01) and E (OR: 1·68, 95% CI: 1·10–2·56, P = 0·02) with the reference group. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that a serum E2 level of at least 4000 pg/ml on the hCG trigger day was associated with increased SGA and with significant differences for groups D (adjusted OR [AOR]: 1·65, 95% CI: 1·05–2·59, P = 0·03) and E (AOR: 1·60, 95% CI: 1·03–2·53, P = 0·04) relative to the reference group. In conclusion, in fresh ET cycles, the supraphysiological E2 ≥4000 pg/ml on the hCG trigger day increases the risk of SGA.
Lightning Enhancement in Moist Convection With Smoke‐Laden Air Advected From Australian Wildfires
Authors: Liu Y. , Williams E. , Li Z. , Guha A. , Lapierre J. , Stock M. , Heckman S. , Zhang Y. , DiGangi E.
Published: May 2021

The 2019–2020 Australian wildfire crisis broke the historical bushfire record and heavily contaminated the continental and offshore atmosphere. This study found that lightning strokes increase considerably, by 73% over land and 270% over ocean, during the wildfire season. Thermodynamic parameters support a weaker forcing, unfavorable for frequent lightning activity over ocean. Clear augmentation of smaller cloud ice particles is identified with aerosol, while cloud liquid water path changes are feeble over ocean. Added aerosol invigorates positive intra‐cloud (IC) strokes and negative cloud‐to‐ground (CG) strokes in moist oceanic convection and facilitates a noticeable positive correlation between precipitation and lightning strokes. Rainfall events accompanied by lightning increase by 240% with added aerosol. Aerosol advected from land to ocean can lead to a larger hydrometeor concentration and smaller‐size ice crystals above the freezing level and thereby, invigorate convective strength systematically to stimulate more frequent and more robust mixed‐phase development, energizing the lightning discharge process.